This sounds like one of those “militant
atheists” I've been hearing so much about

post from Pharyngula on 05 November 2008 11:01:11 AM. © Pharyngula

On 13 November, at 7pm, Sunsara Taylor will be speaking at Blegen Hall 10 at the UMTC campus. This is part of a national college speaking tour that draws from and promotes Bob Avakian's new book, "AWAY WITH ALL GODS! Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World", and here's what she'll be talking about:

Freethinking activist Sunsara Taylor will explore the questions:

Is believing in gods actually harmful?
How has Christianity for centuries served as an ideology of conquest and subjugation?
Why is the "Bible Belt" in the U.S. also the "lynching belt"?
In the intensifying conflict between U.S. imperialism and Islamic fundamentalism, is the only choice to take one side or the other?
Why is patriarchy and the oppression of women foundational to so many religions?
Can people be good without god?

Unfortunately, I'll be in Nebraska, but you should go — it'll be firebreathing fun!

Read the comments on this post...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/scienceblogs/pharyngula/~3/443382944/this_sounds_l
ike_one_of_those.php

Digg this

The enormity of the challenge

post from The Island of Doubt on 05 November 2008 10:54:20 AM. © The Island of Doubt

"Now the hard part" writes Peter Baker in today's New York Times. Sure enough. It's never too soon to be reminded that Barack Obama is just this guy, you know? But it doesn't take Baker two paragraphs to completely misconstrue the enormity of the challenge facing the next president:

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/scienceblogs/eDgp/~3/443376532/the_enomity_of_the_
challenge.php

Digg this

Today's Mystery Bird for you to Identify

post from Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted) on 05 November 2008 09:59:59 AM. © Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

[Mystery bird] photographed in central New York. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Rick Wright [larger view].

NOTE: Rick says this is a favorite image because it shows the wing formula so well, so in this case, we are going to ask you to age and sex this bird as well as identify it.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/scienceblogs/grrlscientist/~3/443344019/todays_mys
tery_bird_for_you_to_83.php

Digg this

Mystery Bird: Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus

post from Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted) on 05 November 2008 09:59:59 AM. © Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

tags: Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus -- a hatching-year bird of unknown sex -- photographed in central New York. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Rick Wright [larger view].

NOTE: Rick says this is a favorite image because it shows the wing formula so well, so in this case, we are going to ask you to age and sex this bird as well as identify it.

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/scienceblogs/grrlscientist/~3/443344019/todays_mys
tery_bird_for_you_to_83.php

Digg this

Self-sufficient sensors

post from CR4 - Recent Blog Entries on 05 November 2008 09:38:38 AM. © CR4 - Recent Blog Entries

From The Engineer: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Technology Group TEG in Germany have successfully developed a transducer capable of creating electricity from the fluid movement of surrounding air or water. The technology could enable pressure monitor sensors to supply themselves

Read The Full Article:
http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/7312/Self-sufficient-sensors?from_rss=1

Digg this

Change is Scary

post from CR4 - Recent Blog Entries on 05 November 2008 09:28:58 AM. © CR4 - Recent Blog Entries

From TreeHugger: Imagine what it was like to walk into a room and not know what to do. When the gas companies were spreading rumors that electricity is harmful to health and will affect the soundness of sleep. Fortunately, when something is such an immediate and obvious improvement

Read The Full Article:
http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/7311/Change-is-Scary?from_rss=1

Digg this

Engineers design self-stabilizing electric
bicycle

From PhysOrg: In the experimental set-up, the bicycle ran on rollers. The motor on the handlebars controlled steering, while the motor in the back drove the rear wheel. The gyro sensor, LED, and camera detected the bicycle's position, which gave feedback to a control system that ad

Read The Full Article:
http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/7310/Engineers-design-self-stabilizing-electr
ic-bicycle?from_rss=1

Digg this

Duckies in research

Read The Full Article:
http://science.easternblot.net/?p=790

Digg this

Evolving Tides

post from Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted) on 05 November 2008 08:59:58 AM. © Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

tags: North Norfolk Coast, UK coastline, salt marshes, shingle dunes, shorebirds, seabirds, streaming video

This wildlife film shows the wildlife that can be found along the North Norfolk Coast of the UK during the winter. From Seals to migrating waders, salt marshes to shingle dunes, we are able to see many species and beautiful sights in this special part of Norfolk -- lots of amazing and interesting bird behavior! [11:18]

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/scienceblogs/grrlscientist/~3/443266498/evolving_t
ides.php

Digg this