Propeller.com Stories voted on by smithichie

Atheist soldier sues Army for 'unconstitutional' discrimination

david_nwpa — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:34:24 EDT

Hall said he met some atheists who suggested he read the Bible again. After doing so, he said he had so many unanswered questions that he decided to become an atheist. His sudden lack of faith, he said, cost him his military career and put his life at risk.

Channel: News Tags: Military Atheism Secretary Robert Gates Freedom from Religion

Iraq insists on withdrawal timetable for US troops

ProudBlueTexan — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:37:17 EDT

BAGHDAD - Iraq's national security adviser said Tuesday his country will not accept any security deal with the United States unless it contains specific dates for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

Channel: Politics Tags: bush cheney Iraq Baghdad war crimes

Gas Stations Hit Skids

STONERS — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:41:02 EDT

Shuttered gas pumps in Blue Point, N.Y. New York state has lost 200 gas stations during the past year, and the closures stretch across the country.

Channel: Money Tags: Gas Stations Closures Across Country

Zogby: Barr Is McCain's Nightmare

smithichie — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:25:33 EDT

As the race for President passes the Independence Day holiday and heads toward the dog days of summer, Sen. Barack Obama holds a 44% to 38% lead over Sen. John McCain in the horserace contest, but also leads by a substantial margin in a state-by-state Electoral College tally, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.

Channel: Politics Tags: election McCain Obama Independents third party

McCain urged to bash gays to try and woo the right.

hamy — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:50:32 EDT

The desperate McCain campaign has since agreed to do just that. They are using gay issues such as serving in the millitary and marriage equality to try and divide the nation again just like Bush did so they can win.

Channel: Gay & Lesbian Tags: McCain Barnes gay marriage division millitary

untheist, atheist, nontheist, intheist... Let's Call the Whole Thing Off!

Stingerstein — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:04:48 EDT

I have inadvertently stepped into a web-debate that I had no idea was even occurring. In my post about some of the misunderstandings of atheism I used the made up word "untheism." While...

Channel: Religion Tags: formed from in verbs the act the existence theism other before words atheism formed

John McCain: "I Hate the Bloggers"

Neophile — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:26:59 EDT

JOHN MCCAIN: "Now we've got the cables. We've got talk radio. We've got the bloggers. I hate the bloggers. We've got all kinds of sources of information."

Channel: Politics Tags: john mccain bloggers hatred election 2008

Silly Christians Praying For Cheap Gasoline

Radiofreeeuropa — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:01:07 EDT

Rockville preacher Rocky Twyman started this goofiness in April, annoying station owners and managers in D.C.- and prices began rising rapidly. Undeterred, he has spread his dumb movement to places like Florida and Ohio. Wherever his prayerful dupes show up, gas prices rise even faster. Guess how he tops this!

Channel: Religion Tags: Religion Oil Idiocy Buffoonery Get a brain pal

Wisconsin Gay Couples Could Face Jail for Marrying in California

david_nwpa — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:44:21 EDT

Same-sex couples from Wisconsin who go to California to marry could find themselves facing criminal charges when they return home. A little known Wisconsin law makes it a criminal offense to enter into a marriage outside the state if that marriage were illegal in Wisconsin.

Channel: Gay & Lesbian Tags: Wisconsin California Gay Marriage Marriage Equality

Science curriculum director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Jayson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:09:22 EDT

A former state science curriculum director filed suit against the Texas Education Agency and Education Commissioner Robert Scott on Wednesday, alleging she was illegally fired for forwarding an e-mail about a lecture that was critical of the teaching of intelligent design in science classes.

Channel: Religion Tags: intelligent design creationism evolution science education

Chef Proves School Lunch Can Be Healthy, Cheap

engineer — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:00:33 EDT

Eating healthy and cheap at school

Channel: Food Tags: Food chef cheap inexpensive French high school health

Torture, Communism, and the American Way

populist — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:20:24 EDT

Pentagon officials knew that while the U.S. Supreme Court would be likely to strike down its communist methods as being antithetical to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the Pentagon knew that Cuban officials would be unlikely to object to communist methods on Cuban soil.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: torture american way communism criminals

Breaking News: Chicago Police Officer Killed in Shootout

y_soitenly — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:43:27 EDT

CHICAGO -- A Chicago police officer was shot to death by a woman who allegedly grabbed the officer's gun during a struggle. Police Superintendent Jody Weis said the officer, a 27-year veteran, noticed the woman was engaged in a disturbance early Wednesday and stopped to investigate. A struggle resulted, during which the woman allegedly gained cont

Channel: News Tags: Chicago ABC7 news AP Chicago Police Officer killed in Shootout

Ad Featuring Popular Police Pup Sparks Anger in Muslims

cmetzger4 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:51:12 EDT

Muslims in the Scottish district of Tayside are outraged by the appearance of a wide-eyed, 6-week-old puppy on postcards distributed by the local police force.

Channel: News Tags: police puppy muslim islam unclean

Engaging Theism and Creationism

RickyDawkins — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:31:26 EDT

A scientific world-view entails atheism and thus contradicts Creationism. I am relatively sanguine when it comes to scientists who believe in God, as opposed to the much greater alarm I exhibit toward scientists who espouse Creationism. I believe that the battle against Creationism will be won, just as the battle against Geocentrism was won.

Channel: Religion Tags: theism atheism creationism science razib

Bird evolutionary tree given a shake by DNA study

GregD — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:21:55 EDT

A new study -- the largest analysis of birds to date using modern genetic methods -- has turned up numerous surprising relationships that will force biologists to reevaluate much of what they thought they knew about avian evolution.

Channel: Science Tags: birds dna evolution

Gay revelers celebrate pride, marriage rights

david_nwpa — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:54:22 EDT

A lesbian motorcycle group dressed in wedding gowns and wearing bridal veils lent a matrimonial touch to San Francisco's gay pride parade Sunday as revelers celebrated their newfound freedom to marry.

Channel: Gay & Lesbian Tags: Pride Festivals Marriage Equality Parades

City Vehicles Vandalized With Racial Slurs Targeting Obama

TimALoftis — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:23:51 EDT

Phrases including "Obmama smokes crack" and others phrases with racial slurs were written in blue spray paint on the white city cars and trucks.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: racism racial slurs florida orlando obama

Bobby Jindal's Experience As A Exorcist...

Aidenag — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:25:13 EDT

In an essay Bobby Jindal wrote in 1994, he narrated a bizarre story of a personal encounter with a demon, in which he participated in an exorcism with a group of college friends. And not only did they cast out the supernatural spirit that had possessed his friend, Jindal wrote that he believes that their ritual may well have cured her cancer.

Channel: Politics Tags: Bobby Jindal Demons Spirits Exorcism Politics 2008 election John McCain

Texas Supreme Court rules church can't be sued in exorcism

bubba2 — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:14:27 EDT

A divided Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of a former Colleyville church Friday, saying church members who were involved in a traumatic exorcism that ultimately injured a young woman are protected by the First Amendment.

Channel: Religion Tags: Texas exorcism lawsuit first amendment casting out demons church doctrine

Ceremony Is Marred By Male Organ Prank

TimALoftis — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:11:14 EDT

The Saratoga Springs High School graduation ceremony was suddenly interrupted Thursday morning when a 19-year-old man dressed as a set of male genitals streaked across the stage of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: propeller weird news saratoga springs male organ

Jindal: Intelligent Design "The Very Best Science"

Aidenag — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:57:25 EDT

Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Governor, exorcist, and potential McCain running mate, was interviewed on CBS's Face The Nation on Father's Day. Among the topics covered, Jindal was asked about his opinions on the debate over intelligent design's place in the public school curriculum.

Channel: Politics Tags: Bobby Jindal Creationism Intelligent Design John McCain 2008 election Politics

McCain claiming credit for passing the GI Bill he opposed

Aidenag — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:59:05 EDT

What does McCain mean by 'we' in this context? "I'm happy to tell you that we probably agreed to an increase in educational benefits..." Claiming credit for a bill you opposed and didn't vote for is the ultimate form of credit claiming and McCain is just the person to go where every person with half a brain would know not to go.

Channel: Politics Tags: John McCain Liar GI Bill Politics 2008 election

Propeller Week In Review: June 27, 2008

JamesMarcus — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:36:40 EDT

A spike in white supremacist activity caught the attention of the Propeller community this week. But so did stories about abstinence, defense spending, and the death of the late, great, and hilarious George Carlin.

Channel: News Tags: propeller week in review wir

John McCain Is Way Behind Online

Aidenag — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:24:05 EDT

The polls aren't the only place John McCain is trailing Barack Obama. Republicans also lag Democrats when it comes to using social media, such as blogs and social networks.

Channel: Politics Tags: John McCain 2008 election Internet Online Campaign

Supreme Court says individuals have right to own guns

TechnologyExpert — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:44:01 EDT

The Supreme Court said on Thursday that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.

Channel: Politics Tags: Gun RIghts Supreme Court United States

Outraged, Politicians Vow to Execute Child Rapists Despite Court Ruling

daducha — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:48:43 EDT

Angry politicians vowed to keep writing laws that condemn child rapists to death, despite a Supreme Court decision saying such punishment is unconstitutional.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags:

Fossil of most primitive 4-legged creature found

TechnologyExpert — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:57:50 EDT

Scientists unearthed a skull of the most primitive four-legged creature in Earth's history, which should help them better understand the evolution of fish to advanced animals that walk on land.

Channel: Science Tags: Four Legs Fossil Evolution

Closing the gap between fish and land animals

capn_caveman — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:00:44 EDT

New exquisitely preserved fossils from Latvia cast light on a key event in our own evolutionary history, when our ancestors left the water and ventured onto land

Channel: Science Tags: science evolution biology fossils paleontology

The Surge Is Working? Not If You Read the Latest GAO Report

expursuit — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:11:41 EDT

The statement is made in the U.S. media, over and over again, as if it is as factual as the sun rising in the morning and setting in the evening: "The surge is working." But just because the media has parroted the talking points of the Bush administration and John McCain's campaign in making such an assertion, it does not make it true.

Channel: News Tags: Iraq War George W. Bush John McCain

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) ad touts ties to Obama, and Democrats protest

ybdogsct — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:04:44 EDT

Gordon Smith's ad begins with an announcer saying, "Who says Gordon Smith helped lead the fight for better gas mileage and a cleaner environment?" After a dramatic pause, the announcer adds, "Barack Obama." Over shots of Obama, the ad talks about how Smith co-sponsored a bill written by Obama in 2006 to raise fuel efficiency

Channel: News Tags: Gordon Smith Barack Obama

As Long As We're Talking About Michelle Obama, Did You Know Cindy McCain Was A Drug Addict?

mesodude — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:58:38 EDT

It's a psychedelic experience this week, watching Cindy McCain out on the campaign trail, attacking the opponent's wife. In rally after rally she says, "I've always been proud of my country," a not so subtle jab at Michelle Obama's gaffe earlier about really being proud of America for the first time.

Channel: Politics Tags: Cindy McCain drug addiction charity theft substance abuse John McCain Rachel Ray

Pharyngula: Lenski gives ConservapÃ;Â¦dia a lesson

Coatl — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:16:52 EDT

Once again, Richard Lenski has replied to the goons and fools at ConservapÃ;Â¦dia, and boy, does he ever outclass them.

Channel: Science Tags: Evolution E Coli Conservapedia Richard Lenski Pharyngula

Jerry Seinfeld on George Carlin's Life and Comedy

Neophile — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:25:03 EDT

"The honest truth is, for a comedian, even death is just a premise to make jokes about. I know this because I was on the phone with George Carlin nine days ago and we were making some death jokes."

Channel: Celebrities Tags: jerry seinfeld george carlin

McCain Adviser: Terror Attack Would Help John McCain

ybdogsct — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:12:23 EDT

Charlie Black concedes that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil "certainly would be a big advantage to John McCain." Black's lobbying firm received millions from the brutal Angolan guerrilla leader. Black was a registered foreign agent for a collection of foreign leaders whose human rights records were harshly criticized.

Channel: Politics Tags: John McCain Charlie Black terrorist attack 2008 elections

Israel Court Refuses to Ban Gay Pride March in Jersusalem

david_nwpa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:09:47 EDT

Israel's Supreme Court refused Monday to issue an injunction barring gays from holding a pride march in Jerusalem this Thursday.

Channel: Gay & Lesbian Tags: Israel Jerusalem Gay Pride Parade Open House

For One Anti-Gay Woman, 30 Days Is Not Time Enough

david_nwpa — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:52:44 EDT

We've seen it a dozen times before on scripted television: an intolerant conservative, often a devout Christian, expresses anti-gay views at the beginning of the episode, but then encounters an actual gay person or couple, only to rethink their homophobic attitudes by the end of the show.

Channel: Gay & Lesbian Tags: Homophobia Anti Gay Reality Television 30 Days Morgan Spurlock

Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution

Neophile — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:15:52 EDT

Nine academic, scientific and cultural institutions around the city are holding a Year of Evolution, a series of exhibitions, seminars and lectures to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin next February, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, "The Origin of Species."

Channel: Science Tags: philadelphia evolution darwin anniversary biology charles darwin year of evolution

Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary Survival Skill

Neophile — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:45:36 EDT

Neurophysiologist Katherine Rankin at the University of California, San Francisco, has recently discovered that sarcasm, which is both positively funny and negatively nasty, plays an important part in human social interaction.

Channel: Science Tags: sarcasm neurology biology evolution

Britain's last Neanderthals were more sophisticated than we thought

capn_caveman — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:29:47 EDT

An archaeological excavation at a site near Pulborough, West Sussex, has thrown remarkable new light on the life of northern Europe's last Neanderthals. It provides a snapshot of a thriving, developing population Ã¢â;¬" rather than communities on the verge of extinction.

Channel: Science Tags: science Neanderthals caveman archaeology