RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?

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What is going on?

September 2008

0

Pope Nazi the third issues a dire warning that the Catholic Church and all of organized Christianity are in danger of becomming extinct. ::HIGH FIVE::

3

Dick Morris can be dismissed, he's crazy... But when Karl Rove projects an Obama victory, the Republicans are in trouble

4

When a woman who has problems with simple geography says that someone is "palling around" with terrorists, it's hard to take them seriously.

2

McCain tries to forge new ground in the last throes of the election. By using the same tired tactics.

0

Friday movie openings include Bill Maher's religion satire/documentary Religulous and a conservative attempt at satire with a new "Michael Moore" film. Friday's box office numbers have Religulous at $1 million in 502 theaters while An American Carol only got $1.3 million from 1,639 locales.

4

God's not just cool - he's a financial whizz too! Like, God helped countless Americans get a no-money-down, 5 year ARM.

4

Gasp! The Curse of the Billy Goat still plagues Chicago.

2

Sarah Palin's greatest hits.

2

MTV awards get Rickrolled!

End EZ edit section

8

Sarah Palin cannot name a single newspaper or magazine that she has read

8

When friggin' newsmax has Barack Obama winning big, something is in the works.

3

Asia Times: "Bush had no plan to catch Bin Laden"

2

New research from Harvard suggests the "Bradley effect" might have disappeared in the last decade. John McCain's firewall might be in jeopardy.

3

10 Trillion Turkish Lira to anyone who can find an intermediate-form fossil! Of course, all you have to do is convince a crazy (muslim) creationist that what you have is an "intermediate-form" fossil, and then hope he doesn't change his definition of what one is. But we're sure he's honourable, just as we're sure he has 10 trillion Lira hidden under his mattress to give away. Coming soon: Rationalwiki's Pi Gazillion dollar challenge to prove there isn't a china teapot orbiting the sun.

1

Dayton area mosque attacked with "chemical irritant" 2 days after a "be afraid of those muslims... be very afraid" DVD goes out from the McCain camp Clarion Fund. [1]

5

Here we go again, a Brunswick school board in North Carolina is seeking a way to teach creationism in the class room. Keep an eye out, we may have our next Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District.

7

Give me some of that old time religion! Tony Alamo after being arrested for child sexual abuse charges: "In the Bible it happened. But girls today, I don't marry 'em if they want to at 14-15 years old. Because we won't do it, even though I believe it's OK."

4

More religious leaders willfully breaking the law. Will the IRS revoke their tax exempt status?

2

Bring on the Neil Young jokes - world's oldest rocks found in Canada.

2

Another naughty vicar. in Wales this time.

1

Anglican archbishop John Sentamu condemns financial speculators as "bank robbers" - he should have looked more carefully at his own church.

1

Financial crisis: McCain blinks

5

Something is tugging at our universe from beyond our universe. Crazy stuff

2

Hey all you bible thumpers out there, starve yourself for forty days! If you do, God will be happy and will prevent a minorty from gaining equal rights.

2

Many may find socialistic tendencies in Google's 10100 project. You're only supposed to help those with wealth and power to get more wealth and power.

0

The spirit of Schlaflyism is alive and well in Manchester apparently.

3

Fresh from investigating the vandalism on Conservapedia, the FBI turns it sights to Wall Street

3

News Hounds -- "We watch FOX so you don't have to." Too much content here to single out just one entry.

2

Wonder of wonders! MSN not only posted their own article about voter caging, they linked to it on their home page.

2

Now we've seen everything, an honourable business man. Still, $22 million for four months work, that had to be mighty tempting.

5

This. Explains. Everything!

1

The last two major US investment banks crumble into dust.

2

A fine display of open Government; see section eight.

5

Once again, a so called "Christian church" is exposed as a hotbed of pedophilia.

3

Arch-Henchman Dick Cheney has been maneuvering to hide the actions of the Bush/Cheney Presidency from history, but a judge has overruled his attempt to wipe the slate clean.

4

Ah, the new fall movie release schedule is out, where the fundies unveil their new censorship campaigns.

5

Guess those close-minded scientists aren't the only ones to be fooled by a clever hoax

5

The Southern Baptist Convention is censoring a religious magazine. Its crime? It dared to cover female preachers in a positive way. The bastards

3

Now THIS is a church I could make time for on Sunday mornings.

3

A Scientologist running for the Senate. Good luck with that.

5

Conservatives frighten easily. We could have a lot of fun with this

2

The "liberal" America media reports that Democratic candidates are avoiding Obama. Meanwhile, the British press reports that not only has the Palin!!! - (McCain) campaign peaked, but that Caribou Barbie's "strong anti-abortion views and withering put-downs of Mr Obama seem to have galvanized Democrats." Hmmm. Who to believe?

3

Today it is... ahem *hack**cough*, Today, it be International Talk Like A Pirate Day for all piratical goodness. It be manditory to talk like a pirate, except if yee be conservative. Yarrgh.

2

Forget about firearms. Buy yourself a defensive weapon of vacuum

6

Have YOU voted at the PBS poll on whether Palin is fit to be VP?

4

While the dumbasses neo-cons filibuster about the strength of the economy, others say that this is the worst financial crisis since the '30s.

8

The Vatican says that evolution is compatible with the Bible, though wasn't going to apologize to Darwin.[2][3] In other news, a Vatican sponsored gathering about the evolution debate will not include any creationists or intelligent designers.[4]Jesuit Father Marc Leclerc, a philosophy professor at the Gregorian, told Catholic News Service Sept. 16 that organizers "wanted to create a conference that was strictly scientific" and that discussed rational philosophy and theology along with the latest scientific discoveries. He said arguments "that cannot be critically defined as being science, or philosophy or theology did not seem feasible to include in a dialogue at this level and, therefore, for this reason we did not think to invite" supporters of creationism and intelligent design.

6

Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Hillary Clinton supporter, multinational coporate CEO, New York/London commuter, and wife of international banker - Sir Evelyn Rothschild, is supporting John McCain because she thinks Barack Obama is an "elitist".

3

Michael Reiss resigns from The Royal Society after basically retelling its own official position on creationism.

3

MSNBC story: "Alaska AG: Palin subpoenas won't be honored." But the real story may be that Attorney General Talis Colberg (a Palin appointee) said that state employees are being asked to choose between their respect for the Legislature and their loyalty to the governor.

3

"Former congressional aide ruled unfit for trial." Why? Because "(a) psychiatrist called by prosecutors testified at a hearing on Monday that (the former aide) was unfit to stand trial as she had a delusional optimism about her chances of winning the case." I bet even George Orwell would be surprised by that.

4

Not only did Al Gore invent the internet... John McCain created the BlackBerry!

3

"Professor Michael Reiss has quit as director of education at the Royal Society following the controversy over his recent comments on creationism." bbc (see earlier WIGOW)

3

I swear Grandpa I didn't toush your whiskey!

2

Sharia law quietly moves into the UK. Actually, no it doesn't, but thanks for playing!

4

Anglican Church admits it owes an apology to Darwin.

6

The Institute of Creation research publishes article on Loch Ness Monster sighting!

4

The Royal Society decides it time educators discussed with students why creationism has no merit.

7

Even Karl Rove thinks McCain's 'Lipstick' ad was waaay out of line.

3

Oh, uhm, right, yes, Sarah Palin didn't actually go to Iraq, no, now that you mention it, no, she, uhm, didn't. Sorry.

4

Even The Pope of Capitalism disagrees with McCain's economic policy. Also, more edumacahsun puhleez

5

My naked weapon of gun is out. Quarrel, I will back thee!

-1

After Evo Morales accuses the U.S. ambassador of aiding violent protests in Bolivia and expells him, Hugo Chávez copycats the move in Venezuela.

2

Scientists 1, Crazy nutjobs 1

4

One for Genghis Kant: Goats working on city of Los Angeles project.

11

Learn all about the Large Hadron Collider though the unlikely medium of rap.

4

A jury considers global warming such a threat that it acquits coal-power protesters.

2

Un-ethical oil officals? Now I have seen everything!

6

McCain campaign's cheap shot ad, which linked two random comments that included the word 'lipstick' has an EPIC PHAIL as it included a Katie Couric quote, so CBS had the ad pulled for copyright violation.

7

Scientists 1, Crazy nutjobs 0

6

Imprisoned goats given their freedom in Congo.

9

So sick and wrong, I don't even know what to think. While mayor, Palin was aware of and endorsed charging rape victims for the "rape kit", an essential part of the investigation. [5] (Note: tracking down the original articles).

6

Schlafly has it back to front, it's not atheism that gives kids mental problems.

0

Obama and McCain keep tradition alive by politicizing the anniversary of 9/11.

1

Troy Davis' execution has been schedule for September 23rd, and his clemency hearing is on the 11th. Please help save him.

2

What harm can a 14 year-old, a bot and 4 hours to kill do to a wiki? Find out here. It takes a while to load the 4000 changes

1

Free market embarassing PHAIL.

1

Perhaps Palin isn't utterly beloved by evangelicals after all?

6

Obama answers the Science Debate questions. And McCain nominates a creationist.

4

R.I.P.

-3

And in local news: Molesting kids, not just for Catholics anymore. Who knew we had Mormons in the UK too?

3

A study re-confirms that autism and the MMR vaccine are not linked, yet we always have to hear the opposing point of view.

7

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! The Republicans have been playing fast and loose with the truth during their convention. We at Rationalwiki are shocked.

0

When the speech of a Vice-Presidential candidate is said to be "reminiscent of Ronald Reagan", that shouldn't be taken as a compliment. Apparently, these people believe it is.

2

Ben Stein on Sarah Palin: "She scares me"

3

Goats to play major role in upcoming Angolan election.

4

Girls! Avoid the faux pas and stick to the recorder.

8

As if an evangelical, anti-choice Republican VP candidate's daughter getting pregnant at 17 wasn't ironic enough, McCain and Palin each have opposed funding for teen-pregnancy programs. And they thought they'd have a hard time getting the media spotlight off of Palin...

-3

Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic is being streamed live!

1

And who said Americans couldn't stage a fucking protest?

2

Unfortunately for the new evangelical Republican party Vice Presidential nominee, it seems abstinence education didn't help maintain her 17 year-old daughter's virginal sanctity. Incidentally, pro-lifers are lauding her for making the choice decision to keep the child.

1

Hurricane Gustav rains on the Republicans' parade. Poetic justice or meteorological omen? You decide.

8

Just in time for the convention, machine-gun-wielding Police are barging into random houses and confiscating computers and cardboard, Link 1: Republicans Are Coming To Minneapolis…Quick! Hide The Bill of Rights! Link 2: The Police State comes to Minneapolis/St. Paul

August 2008

3

Barack Obama answers a set of questions from science and engineering groups. McCain's response is still awaited.

3

Sarah Palin's Wikipedia entry gets whitewashed - before the big announcement!

3

Quoted on Dawkins Net The original article shows dung beetles evolving now.

2

Pat Buchanan praises Obama's nomination speech, causing everything from pigs flying to Hell freezing over to occur.

3

John McCain picks Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his running mate. Expect an increase in "mooseburger" jokes.

6

According to a John McCain adviser, "everyone in the U.S. has some health coverage" - because emergency rooms are the best place to get preventative care, a physical, advice on how to lose weight...?

2

Need to know where (magnetic) north is? Then align yourself with a cow.

4

An outbreak of listeria kills 15 and hospitalizes another 14 in Canada. For his part, Health Minister Tony Clement thinks that's hilarious, while PETA uses it to jump start their Eat meat and die! campaign.

7

Times are tough all over. Even the price of rat meat has quadrupled.

8

CERN announces the end of the world. September, 10th, 2008. Live webcast here. Well okay they aren't colliding the beams yet, so we have another month to live.

-9

The Christian Right's Got a New Stealth Tactic to Smuggle Creationism into Science Class (Christian Science Monitor: August 27, 2008) Hattip Fark.com

5

If the GOP has given McCain priority over some of their favorite topics like oil-drilling in Alaska and denying citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants then you can tell how desperate they are.

1

The Obama assassination threats (big page) have begun.

16

In Sweden schools can't say religion is true. Scandinavia 1 Rest of world 0

7

LPGA to South Korean players: rearn Engrish! Kansas commentators enthusiastically support the move.

9

In Arkansas an initiative to ban adoption outside of marriage is on the ballot. But we're sure the kids would rather not have parents than have two daddies. Or a mommy and a daddy without a magic piece of paper.

4

Physicists announce that they can reverse the Casimir force producing levitation.

5

Australia's Northern Territory is under attack by not just one UFO, but several. Take cover!

0

Margaret Thatcher? Crazy? Who would have guessed?! (Also in WIGO CP)

2

Ah, the maturity of American Voters. Meet Puma, a new political non-party that serves as an outlet for Hillary supporters to bitch about how they had the election stolen from them. (PUMA is an acronym for "Party Unity, My Ass".) Read more about their craziness here.

8

Did dinosaurs help build the pyramids?

2

Joseph Biden announced as Barack Obama's choice as running mate.

2

A set of high quality photos of Barack Obama's birth certificate are released. Is this finally going to shut up the internet cranks (and Fox News)?

4

A report was released about the cause of WTC tower 7's collapse. No controlled demolition, but rather broken water mains. The 9/11 conspiracy kooks are not impressed by mere "science."

3

The Republican National Committee has recommended not seating any of the Nevada delegates. Two warring slates of delegates have been proposed - one by the state chair, another by a group of Ron Paul supporters who hijacked the state convention.

8

A man faces losing everything because he's on the US government's unspecified "watchlist". Kind of sucks for an American citizen with a 13-year military career who happened to convert to Islam

0

Troops may leave Iraq by 2012.

1

Two hot topics combined into one: sex and the Olympics

4

So, John McCain, how many houses do you own? "I've lost count, but I'll have one of my staff tell you."

8

After a lesbian high school student complained to the principal about harrassment he reported her to her parents, suspended students who protested, and caused the school district $325,000 in legal fees. Yet the small Christian community still supports him

4

How many goats are you worth? Find out!

2

The IOC finally opens a formal investigation into possible probable cheating from the Chinese gymnastics team

4

Darwin gets airtime

3

Two also-rans for the Republican presidential nominee plan to gatecrash the DNC. Whether this is hilarious, sad or just plain annoying is up to you.

4

A preacher from Australia's growing evangelical movement admits he lied to his congregation, friends and family about having cancer - which he had previously claimed gave him divine inspiration to write his hit song.

1

Re-education in China for applying to protest at the Olympics.

1

In American schools, minority and disabled students are more likely to be spanked than white non-disabled students.

4

Toddler starved to death by religious cult because he wouldn't say amen.

0

A Texas school district allows its teachers to carry guns.

-1

You wait decades for a cryptid, then all of sudden two of them come along at once.

4

Thank God for low petrol prices!

0

James Hoyt, the last surviving of the four initial U.S. soldiers to discover Buchenwald, died this week.

4

Virginia town holds "Sheep and Goat Olympics" - gives a whole new meaning to an awkward dismount

0

Obama and McCain to appear Aug. 16th in evangelical forum at the Saddleback Church in California.

2

On a lighter note - Scottish penguin receives Norwegian military honours.

2

Bad news for journalists which doesn't help anyone interested in the truth.

1

McCain shows his mettle in defending Georgia. Perhaps Fox News is on to something this time?

2

Gunman shoots and kills Arkansas Democratic chairman.

2

Iraq may have a budget surplus of $79 billion by the end of the year. Wait, WHAT THE FUCK?! Content Warning: This is an editorial by Christopher Hitchens, you might not like it, but if you try arguing with him it'll make your head asplode

2

Attorney General Mukasey won't file charges against people that politicized the Department of Justice. Wow, big surprise there... New York Times. August 12, 2008

7

Federal court rejects lawsuit trying to force University of California schools to accept creationist and ahistorical Christian fundamentalism classes as college credit. And more: the application for a teaching position at the rejected hallowed halls of learning (this takes a while to download). Of particular note: Page 11: "Briefly give your Christian testimony." Page 15: "What is your philosophy of discipline? Your attitude toward physical punishment?" Page 16: "What do you believe about the origin of the earth and mankind?"

7

Suggesting your opponent either has the support of god, or is the anti-Christ might just show how desperate you really are. The ad

3

The invisible hand of polygamy?

-1

Police in Maryland raid the mayor's home, killing his two dogs in the process. His crime? He saw a package on his front porch addressed to his wife and carried it inside. Or is that the whole story?

-4

Bush might be the first U.S. president to go abroad for the Olympics, but we doubt that's going to overshadow all the other wonderful acts he's (in)famous for.

6

Leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams, says that "an active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, and expressed that he hoped the church might change its stance on homosexuality.

6

Remember the McCain ad that compared Barack Obama to Paris Hilton? Well, Paris Hilton replies. We can now add "Making Paris Hilton look smart by comparison" to McCain's list of accomplishments.

3

Nebraska State Senator sues God, in an effort to have Him cease making "terroristic threats". (He's apparently doing it to make a point about frivolous lawsuits, but it's still funny.)

1

War on Terror(TM): New "fake-proof" electronic passports can be easily faked. Back to square one...

2

Catholic Italy tops the wife-swapping league

3

International treaties don't apply in Texas if they get in the way of an execution.

2

Preacher by day, killer, rapist, sodomist and child abuser also by day. - according to charges.

2

Supporting continuing gas and oil production in Alaska over protecting a threatened species of bear. Seems fair, doesn't it?

2

Another reason to hate the Olympics - it's making work hard for Chinese prostitutes and strippers

2

A police officer in Ohio has been acquitted in the shooting death of an unarmed woman holding a baby Hmmm, white officer, black woman, all white jury in a predominently white state.... Why does this not surprise me?

-3

Tired of waiting in line for airport security checks? Get the Clear Card, and fly through those checkpoints!

3

Need an urgent operation? Of course you can have it, but only if you spy for us.

5

The Church of England welcomes peoples of all nations and colours. But not liberals.

0

Move over, Muslim extremists; here come the wine terrorists!