CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-15 04:06:19 (17 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Edit: Original link was a troll page. Leaving it up to remind myself to think before acting. Here's a link to the real story: http://gawker.com/nightmare-restaurateurs-who-scared-chef-ramsay-flip-out-505815263

I'm assuming most everyone has caught wind of the Samy and Amy Facebook meltdown crap going on. It's getting even better. Instead of shutting down their page, they've opened a new one, and this one is ten times more delicious than the those psychotic Hello Kitty cupcakes in the thumbnail.

Why is this relevant to an atheist community? Well, it goes a long way in explaining what type of people are behind all the Christian persecution bullshit we hear about. And as you'll see on the page, these two are the epitome of every negative stereotype you might lob at a Christian.

Enjoy! 

2013-05-15 03:35:08 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 12 +1s)

Here's an idea. Next time you see someone wearing Fitch or Hollister, dig deep into your pocket, and give them some spare change. "Geez bro, had no idea you were homeless. There you go. Get yourself something to eat and something decent to wear".

#fitchthehomeless  

2013-05-15 02:17:11 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Yeah, I'm actually using Google Plus. (You'll understand at the end of the video...)

This is fantastic. 

2013-05-15 01:55:50 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

My son was studying for his Grade 3 provincial test. We came to this poem, "The Six Blind Men and The Elephant". Give it a quick read and scroll to the bottom for the funnies (Don't complain it's long--he's eight and didn't have trouble):

IT was six men of Indostan
 To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
 (Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
 Might satisfy his mind.

ii.

The First approached the Elephant,
 And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
 At once began to bawl:
"God bless me!—but the Elephant
 Is very like a wall!"

iii.

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
 Cried:"Ho!—what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
 To me 't is mighty clear
This wonder of anElephant... more »

2013-05-15 00:19:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

This Kitchen Nightmares fiasco is amazing. I've worked in restaurants - real dives, mind you - for years, and I've never seen anything like this.

Here's a quick primer on the drama (http://ow.ly/l28Ye), and here's the episode on YouTube (http://ow.ly/l294G).

2013-05-14 23:42:49 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

+Sarah Hill called it - this 'revolution' will happen :)

Good to see that it is picking up steam!

2013-05-14 03:47:23 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Yeah baby! 

Man, bastard actually had me worried. I'm a pretty callous dude when it comes to public figures, but he showed my kids how you brush your teeth in space. He expanded their world. 

2013-05-14 02:14:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Only about 20 minutes until +Chris Hadfield  is back on Earth.

So very proud to be Canadian!

2013-05-13 23:42:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Scientists are warning the planet has now reached a grim climate milestone not seen for two or three million years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has topped 400 parts per million. The 400 ppm threshold has been an important marker in U.N. climate change negotiations, widely recognized as a dangerous level that could drastically worsen human-caused global warming. We speak to leading climate scientist Michael Mann, who warns: "We have to go several million years back in time to find a point in Earth’s history where CO2 was as high as it is now. ... If we continue to burn fossil fuels at accelerating rates, if we continue with business as usual we will cross the 450 parts per million limit in a matter of maybe a couple of decades. With that amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, we commit to what could truly be describeda... more »

2013-05-13 02:58:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

So, would this be the first music video filmed in space?

2013-05-12 06:35:41 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Carbon Dioxide Reaches the Highest Level ever in Human History

#globalwarming #carbondioxide #climatechange 
#sciencesunday #euromaestro 

Congratulations to mankind, we have managed to set a new record.

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached a new high obtaining 400 parts per million.  This concentration level is substantially higher than the pre-industrial levels which varied between 180 and 280 parts per million. 

The scientific consensus largely attributes this substantial rise to anthropogenic sources.  (That mean us). 

The data in the chart is gathered from the NOAA, a US government agency that has monitored carbon dioxide levels continually since 1959 from an observatory in Hawaii. 

It is true that in Earth's history, there have been higher levels of Carbon Dioxide but this hasnot be... more »

2013-05-11 17:15:55 (53 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Now this is going to be a delicious story to follow.

I haven't been able to find any Republican or NRA reaction to this story. But here is my thinking on the subject.

The GOP and NRA have both been fighting against firearm regulation on the basis that it violates an American's right to bear arms. Some people would argue that their motivation is far less noble, having instead to do with opposing the President or keeping gun sales strong.

If they are legitimately concerned about the rights of Americans, and not their own pocketbooks or election chances, they will obviously fight against banning the private manufacture of guns. Isn't this the epitome of their ideology? 

If, however, they are more concerned about their pocketbooks we'll see them oppose 3D printed guns and rationalize it with talk of safety or some such thing. That there hasn't,to... more »

2013-05-10 17:45:08 (59 comments, 4 reshares, 11 +1s)

No need to register to post a prayer. The troll in me may have posted a couple. You can decide.

And.... have fun... ;)

2013-05-09 16:20:55 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 5 +1s)

Expansion of the Alberta Tar Sands. 1984-2012. Note the feeding frenzy since the Conservatives came into power in 2006.

2013-05-09 13:18:38 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

The Real Reason Israel Attacked Syria

There is much more to Israel's recent attacks on Syria than we are being told by the mainstream media.

The REAL Reason Israel Attacked Syria

2013-05-08 12:22:01 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Petition to protect "freedom of expression" in Canada for scientists.  People in all countries are welcome to sign it.

Please consider showing national or international support for Canada's rights that protect its citizens' freedoms by signing this petition that opposes recent decisions to restrict the publishing of results of scientific research.

2013-05-07 17:10:01 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Anyone know of a good site for the naughty downloading of ePubs or PDFs? Everything I've found seems to require registration or payment. If I had to cash to pay for the book I would be paying the author before I paid some dude hosting the pirated material. 

2013-05-06 13:59:35 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

10 basic rules for humans and therefore Humanists. Agree? Disagree? Why?

2013-05-02 23:03:28 (398 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Question: Is there something profoundly wrong with American society? 

My stance: Yes.

Making the decision to give a gun to a four year old child for his birthday might, in ages past or countries torn with war, be an appropriate decision. In a wealthy, civilized society, such a thing seems not only inappropriate, but also downright irresponsible. 

What is worrying, as shown by the link, is this decision isn't an isolated case, as there is a market for products specifically designed for children. While I can understand teaching children about guns, particularly in rural areas, designing them specifically for use by children is going too far. It is indoctrinating them into the gun culture that has made any rational conversation about gun control next to impossible in America.  

2013-05-02 09:54:27 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

We need to understand the inadequacy of an educational system so slanted towards material values. The solution is not to give an occasional lecture, but to integrate ethics into the educational curriculum. To do this effectively requires a secular ethics, free of religious influence, based on common sense, a realistic view and scientific findings.

2013-05-01 23:00:27 (13 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

So, we often hear the religious talk about how we need God back in our schools. Here's my idea: let's do it.

I think ethics and empathy are two very important skills that should be taught to children, and frankly, religion does have some good things to say on the subject. As such I think schools should start exposing children to the Bible, the Koran, the Buddhist Sutras, Plato, and some good old secular philosophers. 

Christians can't really argue against it, as we are including their bro JC in the mix, and since some kids are not Christians we have to include a good mix--right? 

2013-04-29 01:12:06 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 2 +1s)

Take that, white guy.

2013-04-24 12:50:36 (206 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

This trend isn't anything new. From 1979-2004 the percentage of money going to the top was around 176%. (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=957) From 2009-2011 it was 7% which shows the trend is going to continue.

This issue has some very severe consequences as the higher the gap becomes,  more pressure is put on the lowest class, and society starts to buckle. Crime goes up, alienation from society goes up, mental illness goes up, religiosity goes up, and in general the entire society suffers.

Yet, this issue barely registers in the national conversation, which is instead focused on who can marry who, whether background checks on weapons violate freedom, and what to do with Islam.

My view is that fixing this problem should be top priority for our nations and the only thing standing in the way are very wealthy people with the means to convince the populationot... more »

2013-04-22 23:25:35 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

There have been a few posts question why moderate Muslims don't stand up to extremism more often. Sometimes they do:

The two suspects had been under investigation since last August, according to a person briefed by police. The police were tipped a year and a half ago by members of the Muslim community in Toronto, a source said.

2013-04-20 23:00:37 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

OK Glass, RIP privacy: the democratization of surveillance - http://tcrn.ch/XWCoyk

2013-04-19 18:00:40 (11 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

The argument between science and religion is one we often see in this community. It is an essential question of our age, but too often I think we fall short in understanding the stance of our opponents. 

This lecture follows my personal views very closely and my stance is what they're talking about here is correct. Specifically that atheists have a flawed definition of religion, and as such, their arguments against religion are misplaced. 

2013-04-19 17:55:17 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

I'm sure, as this is a community of atheists, there is nothing sweeter than having our views and conceptions challenged. So I present this short lecture and wonder what everyone thinks of the ideas presented. 

2013-04-19 15:52:27 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Today in Geek History: In 1987, The Simpsons first appeared on TV. It was a good night.

2013-04-18 19:47:34 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

April 18, 1955: Physicist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein died at age 76. Widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time, he once said:
" When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute and it's longer than any hour. That's relativity. "

2013-04-16 02:15:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

#prayforboston  

2013-04-15 23:11:27 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Question for you

What should have been a joyful day for 26,000 people running the #BostonMarathon  turned out to be a tragic day for them and their loved ones. Casualty reports are still coming in. 

As I pay attention to what's happening on Google+ and Twitter, one topic keeps coming into play:

Should companies STOP posting on social media during a tragedy?"

Some people get very upset that companies would "have the indecency to post" while the world is paying attention to a terrorist attack (whether or not it's foreign or domestic is still to be determined by the way). Often, companies have auto-tweets scheduled that get released at an unfortunate time. They can often seem uncaring or inappropriate. But auto-tweeting is necessary for businesses on social media under normal circumstances. 

The question is:<... more »

2013-04-15 10:26:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)