The 44th President

Hopefully this will be a turning point for the U.S.

President Obama specifically mentioned bringing science to it's rightful place in his speech! I am definitely optimistic for this administration.

"We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."


I'm amazed.....he mentioned nonbelievers!

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth" More>>

Friends of God

This is more than a little creepy. Brainwashing is certainly happening in this documentary.

I'm sure we'll hear that these people don't represent Christianity, and that their god isn't like this. The problem is, the fundamentalists do represent the biblical literalism within Christianity and have a very loud voice. How much money do you think is poured into the so-called Mega churches and used for political lobbying?

This is from the HBO documentary Friends of God. More>>

Facepalm Award: Astrologer Predicts Second Term for Obama

I'm going to present the first ever facepalm award for things in the news that defy common sense. After being presented with the abortion doughnuts story, I think a new category of idiocy needs to be recognized.

Why would the AFP even hear about an astrologers opinion? Especially one in Myanmar?

What does the pet psychic have to say?

Apparently, the unnamed astrologer predicts a glorious re-election for President Obama in four years. (S)He also predicts possible "threats" to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and possible attempts on President Obama's life, which is not necessarily the most journalistically responsible thing to report on.

Why must our media feed us these feces filled pigs in a blanket. More>>

The List: 10 Essential Books for the Skeptic

I think every skeptic has one of those "this is bullshit" first step moments that pushes them over to the side of science and reason. Once that moment happens, there are some fantastic authors who can provide a wealth of information in transforming yourself, much like Optimus Prime, into a critical thinking dynamo.



10. Phil Plait - Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing "Hoax"


Dr. Phil Plait is one of the best science bloggers on the internet. His Bad Astronomy blog, on which this book is named tackles space and scientific fallacies with wit and candor. Bad Astronomy the book, is also incredibly readable and informative, Plait has a gift for mocking the true believers without being overly snarky.

9. Martin Gardner - Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science



Martin Gardner is the progenitor of modern skepticism and a master thinker. Any one of Gardner's books could have been on this list, but Fads and Fallacies is a good introduction. In this book Gardner climbs into the over inflated egos of pseudo scientists and scam artists with much of the vitriol that they deserve. Something to look for here as well, included is a very early critique of L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics, which would become Scientology.

8. Michael Shermer - Why People Believe Weird Things



Michael Shermer is one of the most lauded skeptics active today, and this book shows you why. Packed with information on everything from Holocaust denialism to the Latter Day Saints. Shermer's writing is clear, concise, and infinitely readable.

7. James Randi - Flim Flam!


Everyone's favorite grumpy magician. James Randi rocketed skepticism and debunking to the forefront with his exposes on Uri Geller and the faith healing movement. Flim Flam! is a very entertaining and pissed off refutation of psychic scammers by a very intelligent curmudgeon.

6. Chris Wanjek - Bad Medicine



The sister book to Bad Astronomy, Bad Medicine explores the alternative medicine movement and the general poverty in medical journalism. The emotions usually piqued by Wanjek's book start out with incredulity and morph into horror as the dangers of faux medicine become apparent.

5. Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson - Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)


The story of how human minds can explain away the fallacies and horrors they have committed. equal parts fascinating and terrifying Tavris and Aronson's book touches on the makeup of human nature itself.

4. Steve Salerno - Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless


A much needed critique on the self help movement. Salerno attacks the pseudo-scientific meanderings of frauds like "Doctors" Laura and "Phil". Be careful when toting this book near true believers and Opraholics.

3. Jon Ronson - The Men Who Stare at Goats


Jon Ronson's humorous tale of the U.S. Military's paranormal dabblings. Much like his book THEM, Ronson gets very close to the people he writes about, and his experiences with extremists are hilarious until you realize that they are deadly serious. Just remember to tell yourself that this book is not fiction, because it will be hard not to be exasperated with his subjects.

2. Richard Dawkins - Unweaving the Rainbow


Like all of Professor Dawkins works, Unweaving will actually make you feel smartter after having read it. Richard Dawkins treatise on rationalism and the beauty of science is a must on every skeptics shelf.

1. Carl Sagan - The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
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Simply put, I think this is the best book on skepticism ever written. Sagan has the soul of a poet, the curiosity of a child, and the intellect of a scientist. Beautifully written and thought provoking, Sagan weaves a tale accessible to everyone. Demon Haunted World is a one book Baloney Detection Kit.

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Dr. Kaku on The Skeptics Guide to the Universe

My favorite theoretical physicist on my favorite podcast! It's like chocolate and (salmonella free) peanut butter. The guys and gals of the NESS put together a great show that skeptics will quickly become addicted to.

Dr. Kaku on The Skeptics Guide to the Universe More>>

fundaMENTAL Deficiencies: Just Say No to Abortion Doughnuts

There was a time on this Earth when you could eat a doughnut without having a Holy book toting lunatic condemning you to a myriad of nether worlds.

Alas, that time has passed us now that the courageous American Life League is here to save us. It looks like those communistic Obama loving baby-killers at Krispy Kreme are giving away free doughnuts upon the new president's inauguration this Tuesday.

Now if that alone wasn't insidious enough, those limp wristed pastry atheists have dared to use the word CHOICE in their press release. Of course we all know what choice means don't we? MURDERING BABIES!

In the immortal words of ALL's president "Downtown" Judie Brown on the ALL website:

"The next time you stare down a conveyor belt of slow-moving, hot, sugary glazed donuts at your local Krispy Kreme you just might be supporting President-elect Barack Obama's radical support for abortion on demand – including his sweeping promise to sign the Freedom of Choice Act as soon as he steps in the Oval Office, Jan. 20.

The doughnut giant released the following statement yesterday:

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies -- just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet "free" can be.

Just an unfortunate choice of words? For the sake of our Wednesday morning doughnut runs, we hope so. The unfortunate reality of a post Roe v. Wade America is that "choice" is synonymous with abortion access and celebration of 'freedom of choice' is a tacit endorsement of abortion rights on demand.

President-elect Barack Obama promises to be the most virulently pro-abortion president in history. Millions more children will be endangered by his radical abortion agenda.

Celebrating his inauguration with "Freedom of Choice" doughnuts – only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion – is not only extremely tacky, it's disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy.

A misconstrued concept of "choice" has killed over 50 million preborn children since Jan. 22, 1973. Does Krispy Kreme really want their free doughnuts to celebrate this "freedom.""

As of Thursday morning, Communications Director Brian Little could not be reached for comment. We challenge Krispy Kreme doughnuts to reaffirm their commitment to true freedom – to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and to separate themselves and their doughnuts from our great American shame."

This is absolute insanity. My Poe's Law sensor was ringing like Egon's PKE meter, but it does seem like this group is as genuine as any nutty pro life crackpot organization can be.

As the immortal D.P. Gumby once said "My Brain Hurts!" More>>

The List: 10 Insane Chick Tracts

Ahh...Jack Chick. Is there anyone more bugshit insane than you? The amount of unintentional humor you have created almost makes up for the awful fundamentalist brainwashing pamphlets foisted upon an unwitting populace.

It was hard to pick just ten, but I think I have found a pretty broad range of Chick's psychosis.


10. Apes, Lies, and Ms. Henn


Jack takes on EVILution with the tale of Brave little Susy Barnes. I like the fact that the teach is clearly not married as denoted in the title, and the many things that Jack is likely inferring with this.

What the hell is wrong with the little bald kids face? Is he Hydrocephalic?

As the picture shows, Susy is pointing out God's words in Tyrannasaurians 15:4.

9. The Devil's Night


Susy.......you're kind of a bitch.

Wait...why does Susy's grandfather look like Dr. Quest?

Halloween demands human sacrifices! This is, of course, the exact opposite of the festivals origins. Samhain was largely a harvest and ancestor honoring event.

Why did Susy choose a Santa suit? Come on Jack, isn't Santa evil too?

8. Fairy Tales


Did George Lucas write this tract? Now go kill the younglings in the name of Darth Santa!

7. In the Beginning


"But before that, there were dinosaurs who were a bit crap so fuck 'em."
- Eddie Izzardius 101:4

More Dinosaur nonsense. Like many creationists, Chick likes to use the Bible as proof of The Bible.

6. First Bite


This vampire is scarier than the ones in Twilight. What in the utter hell is going on in this tract? Is there some sort of vampiric messiah in the Bible? Tomb of Dracula is not Biblical canon Jack, even though it's probably a better read.

5. Angels?


Satan created Christian Rock?



OK, I'll give him that one.

4. The Last Generation


Apparently the faith healer shops in the DC Universe. You could probably replace the made up NWO in the strip and the meaning would be exactly the same.

3. Moving On Up


Few million years? But of course, 6 days sounds much more plausible.

2. The Accident


Damn, and it really tied the room together.

1. Dark Dungeons



The mother of all Chick tracts.

I couldn't imagine a DnD group could get a successful witches coven off the ground. After every prayer or spell there would be three hours of arguing about experience points.















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