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Professor J. Anderson Thomson on Why We Believe
October 20, 2010 § 1 Comment
This is a great talk by Professor J. Anderson Thomson from the American Atheist convention in Atlanta, Georgia in 2009, which addresses ideas of human evolution, the mind's coping mechanisms, and the way religion probably evolved with us as a by-product of social mechanisms which emerged within us.
Watch and enjoy!
Lovingdoubt Interview – Prominent People Project
October 17, 2010 § Leave a comment
This is the second in a series of interviews with people who are prominent in the worlds of atheism, science, skepticism and rational thought.
This interview is with one of YouTube's most prominent atheists and skeptics, Stephanie (AKA Lovingdoubt). Her videos are powerful, moving and poignant, and leaves the viewer thinking about the personal aspects of religion and faith, and how these affect us as individuals. Her YouTube videos have attracted nearly a quarter of a million hits, and as you watch them you are presented with a gradual unfolding of one person's journey from the insistence of belief in God, to the rational position of disbelief.
Lovingdoubt is very interested in the human brain, and what it is within us all that makes us want to believe, or feel the need to believe, in the supernatural and a higher being.
This interview was conducted via email in October 2010.
AC: I have found my blogging to be one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. For instance, if I don't know something but think it would be useful for my blogs, I like to search out information and then transfer my new knowledge into my writings. Has the experience of making your YouTube videos increased your knowledge about your life and position on religion and the universe, or has it remained relatively unchanged since you realised that you don't believe in God or religion?
LD: There is so much I've learned from being involved on YouTube. I love hearing other's opinions and I learn a lot from watching people's videos. I also learn a great deal about making my own. When I publish a video, I get so much feedback, good and bad. This has really helped me learn a lot. I feel I've had some opinions changed and refined overtime, but it's been very subtle.
AC: You have over 6000 subscribers on your YouTube channel. What do you think makes your channel so popular? What is the main reason that you make these videos?
LD: What makes me popular? Well, I'm very fortunate that atheism is a popular topic on YouTube. I think that is a major contributing factor. I also think being female makes me stand out from the crowd a bit. Other than that, I simply work hard on the videos I make and hope people find them interesting. Since I have an audience, I must be doing something right.
AC: The United States is one of the most outwardly religious countries in the world, and yet we see a growing trend among people to renounce their faiths in favour of more secular or atheistic ideals. Recent articles have emerged which state that of all the people in the USA, atheists are the most knowledgeable about what religion really means. What do you make of this? Can you see a growing trend, or is it simply that people without religious faith are less afraid to make themselves known?
LD: I can't say I'm surprised about the survey. Most atheists/non-believers I know came to their position from research, although this certainly doesn't apply to everyone. I do see a growing trend away from religion in the United States. Most religions are losing numbers and non-belief is on the rise. On the other hand, there are fundamentalist Christian religions that have a lot of power and influence in politics right now, so it's a very strange time in United States politics.
AC: You have spoken before in your YouTube videos about your brain injury. Can you step us through what happened, and the effect this had on your faith if any? Was this a pivotal moment, or do you see it as just a step toward the person you are now?
LD: I sustained a head injury from a car accident in June 2009. I can't really tell you the details of the accident because I don't remember it. The injury did have an effect on my faith, but I do think I would have become an atheist even without the accident.
The injury simply sped up the process since I had time off work to do a lot studying. There is one major impact that my brain injury had on my religious ideas. I spent a lot of time reading about brain injuries when I was trying to understand my own. After reading about and experiencing various symptoms of a brain injury, it really changed my idea of a soul. I think humans want to believe their sense of "self" is consistent, but having my brain injured taught me that this is not the case. There isn't some stable soul within us. Who we are is dependent on our brain. I will be going through this cohesively on my video blog.
AC: I am a firm believer that everything we perceive about our world and our universe is received and interpreted by the brain. Every day we see advances in the understanding of how the brain works, whether it be from ideas around mirror neurons or the "god-centre" in the brain. You're very interested in psychology and the workings of the brain, right? What do you find most fascinating about the human brain and the human mind?
LD: It's tough to pick one thing. There are very few subjects regarding the human brain that don't fascinate me. I really enjoy studying how people thinking and reason using their brain. I also like studying various problems that can occur in the brain and the effect they have. Perhaps that is why I've always have been drawn to the mental health field.
AC: Many people while growing up find themselves searching for a place in society; some find it in sport, some in art and some through religion. Your religious faith was strong earlier in your life, but you have also mentioned that you found yourself "testing the waters" of other religious faiths. Do you think that maybe this dissatisfaction with different religions was a hint that religion wasn't actually for you?
Many people don't realize this, but I rejected religion pretty early in life. I always valued learning and skepticism, even though I was young. I was 14 or so when I decided I thought the concept of god, especially one outlined by a religion, was man made. Even though I had decent reasons, they weren't very well-developed at that age. I went through a period of my life where I went through a lot of hardship and felt unhappy with my life. I had a need to feel loved, appreciated and special. Religion met that emotional need for a period of time. The problem is I was never able to rid myself of that inner skeptic. Perhaps that is the biggest reason I couldn't hold on to religion permanently, no matter how badly I wanted to at the time.
AC: Sam Harris once said "I see religion as a sort-of failed science" and then goes on to tell how religion was all humans had to make sense of the world at the time of their inception. I tend to agree with him. We can also see, as time goes on, with ideas and discoveries in science the "God-Gap" seems to get smaller and smaller. I believe this has made the religious leaders very nervous. What do you think about this?
LD: I agree with you. There is a trend away from organized religion, and one major factor in this could be the discoveries in science. I think some religious leaders have handled this better than others. I'm certainly not telepathic, so I can't say much beyond what various leaders have been quoted to say.
AC: You have spoken in your videos about your husband and you speak very highly of him. Does he share your views about religion?
LD: He and I have very similar views, but it hasn't always been that way. When I became an atheist, he was still a Christian. I was afraid of driving him away once I told him I was an atheist, but he was very open to my views. He wanted to understand why I now believed differently, so I started explaining myself over a period of time. At the same time, he started doing some research of his own. It was only a few months before he wasn't a Christian. For six months after this, he considered himself a deist. Then, one day, he told me he was an atheist. I honestly didn't care that much at that point, as long as we were able to accept and love each other for who we were.
AC: I know that when people leave faiths they can be shunned by the immediate religious communities and families. Did you feel this when you announced you no longer believe? Is your family religious? Did you feel a certain amount of distancing by those around you?
LD: This was one area I was very lucky in. I do have extended family that is disappointed in me, but I was not shunned. My parents are very secular. My mother is a theist, but not religious in any way. My dad used to be an atheist, but is now a deist. As you can imagine, things were actually more awkward when I was religious with them. They've always accepted me. I don't talk to people from church anymore. It's not that I wouldn't talk to them, it's just I wasn't that close to very many people there.
AC: For many people, the discovery that they don't believe can be extremely difficult. If you had one message for those who are suffering through the throes of doubt about religion and faith, what would it be?
LD: Well, I would say that I know what it's like to be terrified of doubt, but for me, facing my doubts was the best thing I've ever done. Learning to follow truth rather than my own desires is a difficult lesson to learn, but it was worth it for me. It's frightening to doubt when one has been taught it's sinful, but I believe that real truth can stand up to scrutiny. Now I'm not afraid to have any of my beliefs and ideas questioned. I am a much stronger, happier, and balanced person for that.
AC: You're also very theatrical in your videos, sometimes sinister, sometimes just plain fun-loving. What types of videos do you enjoy making the most? Which bring you the most satisfaction? Are you a theatrical person in your daily life?
I think I'm a very expressive person in real life, so I think I represent myself how I am. I enjoy being silly in my videos, but I really enjoy doing the serious videos best. There aren't very many people in my real life that enjoy discussing a lot of the issues I discuss in my videos, so it's a wonderful outlet. Also, I started my YouTube channel to help others, and when I do my serious videos, I hope to accomplish that.
AC: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for interviewing me for your blog!
Stephanie's YouTube channel can be found here. Make sure you dig through the older videos, it's well worth the time. Thank you so much Stephanie for taking the time to answer these questions.
Vox Populi 3 – The Realistic Future
October 13, 2010 § 4 Comments
Welcome to the third in the series of "Vox Populi" articles on my blog, where I ask for your feedback and thoughts on a given topic. Hope you enjoy these short topical pieces, and please leave your feedback in the comments.
Topic 3: The Human Future
I tend to see myself as a slightly pessimistic Extropian, but with my pessimism based in realism. However I still think we need to strive forward.
Michio Kaku has a lot to say on this subject. In one interview by George Noory, the interviewer says something along the lines of "It always seems like a race between self-destruction on the one hand, and Type 1 Status on the other." I tend to agree. We are racing toward self-destruction, but at the same time are making advances toward the longevity of humanity and the planet at the same time. Which will win? Well it really depends upon a lot of things.
However along with my pessimistic extropian ideals comes a healthy dose of optimism, but only when I see the "ifs" than need to be satisfied. For instance, nuclear fusion, solar power, geothermal and wind-power, if harnessed in the right combination could result in an inexhaustible source of energy for nearly free, and with this would allow us to leap forward on a technological scale without further damaging the atmosphere with carbon based pollutants.
While we make advances in medicine, we also negate common causes of death, which leads to lower mortality rates from given diseases. Humans can now be fertile well into their forties (but not always successfully). If we cure cancer we could stop a certain form of suffering in humans. But by giving people a longer life of better "standard", we also allow for more people to be born, thereby increasing the possibility of population growth.
Religion has played a role in the views of the future also, and there are several things I would point at to illustrate this. One of the problems with religion and belief is that the doctrines of religious belief stand in opposition to the very real need humanity has to face about our future. There are even those who believe that The Rapture is a very real thing, that the faithful will be swept up into heaven, and all the heathens and non-believers will be left behind on Earth to fend for themselves, abandoned by God. What sort of incentive does this give one to strive for betterment of humanity? To give up on striving, and to place your future in a god is like having no want for the future at all, except for the false future of the afterlife. "The Rapture is not an exit strategy."
Catholicism's ban on abortion and contraception is counter-intuitive to viewing the needs of the future, as well as allowing for the spread among the world's poorest people of HIV/AIDS. And it is precisely the places where the poorest are denied birth control, that there is a very real need to curb population growth based on very real resource shortages.
Religion is one of the main reasons I tend to err on the side of realism, for religion is irrational and disruptive, and sometimes dangerous, and is not going anywhere any time soon.
The main problem that I see with optimism is this; if we move blindly forward with an optimism that suggests that everything will be ok, we are denying the reality of the situation, and may ignore many of the realistic problem we face.
What do you think about the future? Are you optimistic? Do you think the extropian idea of the exponential betterment of humanity is possible? Is it even feasible?
Greydon Square Interview – Prominent People Project
October 10, 2010 § 3 Comments
To celebrate my blog's First Birthday, I am today launching the Prominent People Project.
This is the first in a series of interviews I will be posting of people who are prominent in the worlds of atheism, science, skepticism and rational thought.
My first interview is with the American Hip Hop artist Greydon Square. Born Eddie Collins in 1981, Greydon is an atheist musician whose topics cover science, faith and politics. His lyrics are intelligent and succinct, and since listening to his music I have been sent on a journey of discovery about topics like The Kardashev Scale, Extropianism, and Dyson Spheres, and have also been introduced to other prominent people in science such as Michio Kaku. His latest and third album entitled "The Kardashev Scale" includes samples from Michio Kaku and Carl Sagan among others.
This interview was conducted via email in October 2010.
AC: Greydon Square, I absolutely love your new album "The Kardashev Scale". Musically it is complex and varied, and the whole album is refreshingly intelligent in a world where music is more about profiteering and selling product than making a true artistic statement. The content and context of your lyrics are intelligent, questioning, enlightening and thought-provoking. How difficult is it to write music and lyrics with substance?
GS: Well thank you first for your comments on the album. I would answer by saying you go through writing periods that are more substance filled than others. What I try to do is keep only the lyrics and songs that convey that substance, and the stuff that doesn't rarely makes it to album.
AC: You have a very interesting story to tell about your life; orphaned and brought up in a group home, gang life, Iraq war veteran, and physics student. To what degree do each of these elements of your life influence your work? Which is the strongest influence on you?
GS: Nothing influences any more than the other as far as I know. I think it all depends on where I'm at at the time. I know that's a simplified answer but, its only really as complicated as calling on life experiences to help fortify the meaning of lyrics I wish to convey more vividly. Group Homes, ganglife, deployment, school, it all plays a part in song writing.
AC: I was brought up in a secular household, where both of my parents had studied science in university in the USA. Their parents were strong Protestants, as were their grandparents. What was the religiosity like when you were growing up? Can you tell me if there was a pivotal moment in your life at which time you realized you were in fact atheist? If so, what was it?
GS: Nearly all of the group homes I was in growing up was sponsored or had some direct relationship with a church or religious organization. From 7th Day Adventist to LA church of Christ, Episcopalian group homes, even Catholic sponsored boys homes. I didn't understand or became an atheist until I was 25. My de-conversion had to do with a devout ex and our disagreement on the nature of god. After a lot of reading, and research, I realized, I didn't have any secret channel picking up secret messages from god or anyone else. That voice in my head was my own. Then I started thinking about if an all-powerful being is even possible, by that time, I had already declared my position agnostic, and shortly after denounced and rejected all other remaining religions. Since my beliefs do not include the supernatural or any deities, and stem from a humanistic perspective, I recognize that as an atheistic position.
AC: Your work is not all about atheism. You talk philosophically about the future of humanity, politically about problems in society, particularly in the USA, and also about science and technology. What would you say is your favorite topic for your music, and why?
GS: Believe it or not, my favorite subject is about how shady the music industry is. An old topic i know, but i find that a lot of underground and independent artists, still have this idea that some record company is going to ride in and sweep them off their feet. Give them the lifestyle they always wanted and dreamed of. Sadly, that's never the way it was, and most artists never get the memo. Or research the history of the music business. I may not be a millionaire, but in the words of Immortal Technique "You don't own me". I like that.
AC: You talk about being "a black atheist, and there's more of us than you think," on more than one occasion. What importance do you give to being "a black atheist", and is atheism becoming more prominent in black communities, in your experience?
GS: Well its a big deal because as a recent study showed agnostics and atheists tend to be more educated about the religions they reject. So you have to ask yourself, do blacks know enough about the religion they subscribe to so blindly? I think if blacks knew more about said religions, there would be more African American non-believers, but because in OUR communities blind faith is more valuable than "white man's science", it's harder to convince your peers that religion is an empty answer regardless of your race or creed. I'm just trying to convince more blacks to just READ more about religion. I have no problem reading religious text, because i can process such information objectively, why can't my reading suggestions be received the same way by my black peers?
AC: I have a huge love for Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan's work, and take a lot of my worldviews from his words. What do you think was so special about Carl Sagan's work that makes him such an inspiration for so many, even 14 years after his death? Who else influences your work and why?
GS: He was science's poet as far as I'm concerned. Sagan's passion for knowledge and truth is what drives me and what I do. He was always on a quest for knowledge, wherever it led. I think that's brave. I aspire to be like that. Kaku is great, Robert G Ingersoll, Laurence Krauss, The Four Horsemen, and Fela Kuti.
AC: When we look at the news, climate forecasts, environmental reports and the like, the future for humanity seems quite bleak, and yet your lyrics talk optimistically about the future. Where does this optimism come from?
GS: I don't know to be honest with you. I don't know if I'm as optimistic as I once was. Don't get me wrong, I'm no armageddonist or anything, but I do think in the next 5 to 10 years its going to get worse for humanity before it gets better. I'm optimistic about the far future, but i think this society has to see that it has been wrong the whole time about some of its major institutions. Only then can we actually try to take that next step, and THAT'S the part I'm excited about. Right now there isn't much to be excited about though…Sorry.
AC: Religion is in the news much more commonly than in previous decades. From an outsider's perspective it would seem that matters of faith are more prominent in people's minds than ever before. What, in your opinion, would you say is the reason behind this? Is religion getting more powerful, or is it losing its grip on the psyches of humankind?
GS: Well first, a lot of what was done in the dark is starting to come to the light, just ask the vatican. Seriously though, I think its just becoming more polarized. The believers REALLY want you to know they believe, and non-believers really are tired of old fables and books having a say in our development as a species. So the voices are getting louder. I think more and more people are waking up, and the religious people are a bit concerned about it.
AC: Your latest album "The Kardashev Scale" and particularly the opening track "Star View" talks about longevity and immortality. We now have technologies that can change the way humans live, and yet a lot of these technologies are being held back for pseudo-religious and political reasons. Why do you think people are so afraid to step forward into a possible new human future? Do you think what we as a society will get past this fear?
GS: THIS society wont. Those who are interested in such an endeavor, are in the extreme minority, and probably wouldn't be allowed to pursue something like extreme longevity legally. Our society fears this type of tech because its something we can't really comprehend. To live for that exceptional amount of time, those would think those who have the ability to do so shouldn't be able to. How do to you prevent this technology from being only available to the wealthy? This would make us have to challenge what rights we have at a fundamental level. I mean who has the right to live forever?
AC: Do you look to the future with fear and trepidation or with optimism?
GS: The short-term, I'm very pessimistic about the future of America, and the world. In the long-term, humans will be just fine. This is just a stage we are in, and in a couple thousand years, there will be virtual exhibits about the stupidity of today's human.
AC: Discovering your music was such a refreshing change from the dull corporatized music that is prevalent these days. It has inspired me on more than one occasion. Tell me, what is it that inspires you to make music?
GS: Well thank you. Other non corporatized music. I like emcee's that make me say "ugh" like the rhyme is just super gross. Check out cats like Canibus, Big Gripp, Johnny Hoax, Span Phly, Prince Ea & MegaRan. These are emcees that make me want to write.
Greydon Square's latest album "The Kardashev Scale" and his earlier 2 albums "The CPT Theorem" and "The Compton Effect" are available for download at Bandcamp and also through iTunes. Go buy them! You won't be disappointed!
Atheist Climber has turned 1! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
October 10, 2010 § 5 Comments
Atheist Climber is now 1 year old! AND OH HOW IT'S GROWN!
In the year that I have been writing this blog I have had over 60,000 hits and written 120 articles about Atheism, Science and Rationality, and have had over 1200 comments! That's a lot more interest that I dared dream of, after all, who really cares what I have to say? But that said, I must say it has been a learning experience, and this blog has helped me solidify my opinions about the universe.
Thanks to all those who have supported my writings and rantings. I'll do my best to keep it up.
"Who do you need to forgive?" – Outreach Media
October 6, 2010 § 2 Comments
It's October, which can only mean one thing; Outreach Media have a new billboard! They seem to have hit a few nails on the head this time.
Not everything that religion touts is harmful, in fact there are some valuable lessons that can be learned from the stories and parables of the Bible. The idea of forgiveness, for instance, is a useful tool to allow people to move on from conflicts or incidents, and to not allow small problems to become larger ones. It is useful to us for letting go of people's trespasses upon our own territories, and allowing us to balk around fighting or killing everyone who does us wrong. This is one of the basics of civilization, and it is one of the things that allows us to form societies and cultures, and to live in such close proximity to each other. It allows for tolerance of other people, and rather than us reacting against everyone violently or aggressively, we can allow others to go on with their lives in relative peace.
So I don't really have a problem with the idea of forgiveness. It can be more difficult to forgive people than to hold a grudge, but holding a grudge can be harmful to the mental health of a person, and can be extremely harmful to a culture or society, especially when one of the Bible's other tenets "An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" is acted upon. The Gaza Strip is a perfect example of a culture not forgiving the acts of people from their own histories, and continually lashing back and provoking further conflict.
But the idea of forgiveness for the sake of appeasing a God that forgave me for its bringing me into existence in the first place is ridiculous. Having to forgive those around me for their wrongdoings unto me to please a god makes even less sense.
What I'm saying here, yes forgiveness is very important, and worthy of accolades, but not for the sake of going to Heaven. Forgiveness allows us to get along better on Earth. What use can it possibly be to a God? Forgive people because you are a good person, not because you want to appease your God.
On a side note, Steven Pinker speaks at length about the idea of "determinism" in his book "The Blank Slate", covering off the fear that people have of either being fully at the mercy of our animal instincts to do wrongs to others (this has been used this as a defence against rape, saying that men can't control their animal urges), as well as the opposite fear (which is scarier) that we are beings of choice and selfishness and do wrong to others because we feel like it or can see some benefit in it for ourselves (mugging and home-invasions etc.).
If either of these cases turned out to be true, in which situation would you find easier to forgive? Why would you forgive someone? Would it be because you can empathise with their situation, and would just like to move on? Or would it be because you were told to forgive so you can reap the reward? Would it make a difference to you if someone stole from you if they had to feed a small baby, or if they stole from you to buy drugs?
Empathising with a situation helps with forgiveness, but even if you can empathise with someone who was stealing to get their next drug fix, would you forgive them? We do use deterrents in society as a way to stop people from causing arbitrary harm to others, such as incarceration and fines, but what we see as acceptable is also up to the societal norms and accepted morality of the culture in which you exist. So when someone goes against what we call societal norms, and mugs, rapes, steals or murders regardless of the outcome, we tend to figure it must be for a reason, whether it is the result of upbringing or genetics or societal pressures.
Having some sort of insight into the reasons behind why someone might cause harm to someone else, regardless of what it might be, makes it easier to forgive. Of course I can see there are some situations where forgiveness is not necessary (someone bumps into int the street on accident), or situations where you don't want to forgive (murder), and I think this is fine too.
The idea of forgiveness is a good part of human societies, it allows for people to get on with their lives and not dwell on situations they no longer have any control over. As the article from Outreach Media quite correctly says "Letting go of anger and bitterness is a real struggle and you may need to keep working on it all your life," and counselling may be needed in order to get past certain situations.
Forgiveness was not invented by religion. It was developed by people as a way to get past conflict. It is a useful tool, and it makes for a less stressful society for us all. To be told we have to forgive in order to be forgiven by God is a carrot we don't need in society today.
Science is irreconcilable with religion
October 4, 2010 § 17 Comments
There are people who claim that science and religion can exist side-by-side, one asking the "how" questions (science) and the other asking the "why" questions (religion). I'd like to say I disagree with this stance, and for a few simple reasons.
Scientific inquiry is based on measuring interactions and outcomes from observable and repeatable phenomena, based on established empirical principles and existing theories. Outcomes are then observed, tested and compared to create a hypothesis. Scientific method also allows for the falsification of any established hypothesis if information or data arises which is counter to the hypothesis being presented. It is constantly evolving and changing, and if the evidence is great enough, then an agreement is struck among the science community.
Theological inquiry, if it happens at all, is based on interpretations of texts written by men during times when little was understood about the world and the universe. Theological discourse about "what the texts really mean" as opposed to what they say makes up a great deal of the discourse between theologians. Those who go beyond the religious texts tend to talk in vague ways around metaphysical ideas, claiming there must be something more, although ideas like soul have never been observed.
Science does ask the "why" questions, because "why" follows "how" in inquiry, but the "why" of science is actually asking for an answer to the reason something occurs, whereas the "why" from theology is asked without any real intention of arriving at an answer.
Francis Collins, in his video interview at Big Think:
"But faith in its perspective is really asking a different set of questions. And that's why I don't think there needs to be a conflict here. The kinds of questions that faith can help one address are more in the philosophical realm. Why are we all here? Why is there something instead of nothing? Is there a God? Isn't it clear that those aren't scientific questions and that science doesn't have much to say about them? But you either have to say, well those are inappropriate questions and we can't discuss them or you have to say, we need something besides science to pursue some of the things that humans are curious about."
I would argue that there is a LOT of philosophy in science, but it lies more in the realm of interpretations for what a scientific outcome might mean for humanity, what the implications for society and cultures are, or what possibilities might arise from a scientific discovery. I say there are no questions that can't be asked of science, but I would say that in lieu of an answer that mysticism is not a real-world solution to these questions.
I think the irreconcilable nature of religion versus science comes from their origins. Sam Harris makes a good point in this video, where he equates the role of religion historically as the one now filled by science.
When we ask questions of our universe using current methods of inquiry we arrive at answers that can then be compared against other observances and outcomes. When we use the method of inquiry of theology, the answer has already been pre-determined from the outset, and the answer is always "God". This is not a viable way to find answers, especially if we truly desire to know truths.
I feel that Francis Collins is falling victim to his own cognitive dissonance, where he knows that science has the answers for the big questions, and I think he secretly believes that science will eventually have the ability to answer the philosophical questions we all ask. At the same time he deeply wishes that there is a creator for the universe, whether it be an Abrahamic god, or an alien creator. If there were a creator then we can stop asking questions safe in the knowledge that the ways of the universe are out of our control and beyond our understanding. And some people find it difficult to imagine a universe without a creator because it leaves us alone and isolated in the universe even more so than we already understand ourselves to be.
Why is it such a horrible fate than man is the result of natural processes and not the result of some divine creature's tinkering with subatomic particles? We do think ourselves so special that there must be some preordained reason for our existences rather than simply existing, and to be special means to be created.
Furthermore, rather than falling into the downwardly spiraling argument "if there is a creator then who created it?" I think it is enough to say this. Just because we don't understand something fully does not mean we should attribute it to a universal creator. Just because emotions and other non-physical interactions occur between people does not make it magic. One day, as scientific inquiry advances forward we shall see where the "unaccountable" stuff comes from, and we'll look back at our immaturity and laugh, much as we do about ancient mythologies of a flat earth, elephants and turtles. People once believed that Atlas held the earth aloft on his back, but does anyone believe that now?
Bertrand Russell said this in 1927:
"If everything must have a cause, then God must have a cause. If there can be anything without a cause, it may just as well be the world as God, so that there cannot be any validity in that argument. It is exactly of the same nature as the Hindu's view, that the world rested upon an elephant and the elephant rested upon a tortoise; and when they said, "How about the tortoise?" the Indian said, "Suppose we change the subject."
Science remains unafraid to ask the difficult questions, while theology will skirt around the subject matter, posing questions with circular reasoning and asking for disproof of something science has never claimed to exist in the first place. It's not the job of science to disprove the existence of god, nor is it the desire outcome. Science is here to help us understand the universe, and one day, given enough time, we may discover why we keep asking for there to be a god.
Further Reading:
Science and religion aren't friends


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Celebrating with family and reflecting on the past while looking forward to the future are what birthdays are all about.
But you may be surprised to hear that's exactly what the Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh has in store to mark its 175th anniversary this month.
The family? Artists who regularly exhibit as well as several who haven't for some time ... just like our own families then!
This family also comes bearing gifts: contributions to not one but three new exhibitions running until the start of June.
The first will see one of Scotland's finest landscape painters return to the renowned gallery, while the second will consist of a collaboration of unique paintings and one-off pins from current and significant artists on a massive canvas.
Lastly, Portrait of a Gallery II builds on the successful 2013 exhibition showing important works of Scottish art including paintings from the landscape tradition, the Scottish Colourists, the schools of Scotland, the war years, modern Scottish women and contemporary painters.
Christina Jansen, the gallery's managing director, said: "Curating a show to celebrate such a milestone is no easy task.
"As the first public gallery in Scotland, the Scottish Gallery's history is in many ways the history of art in Scotland.
"To recognise this while also celebrating our current artists, we knew no one exhibition could capture it so we're delighted to be able to mount three for our birthday month.
"It's a privilege to host Duncan Shanks' latest show and also to give voice to some of our favourite artists with a unique 175mm x 175mm canvas brief.
"How artists including Alison Watt, Jock McFadyen and Kate Downie have responded has us excited to see the public reaction to these small, but perfectly formed, works.
"Portrait of a Gallery II is a snapshot of the then and now of the Scottish Gallery, offering an opportunity to see some of the finest works created in and for Scotland."
The Georgian gallery in Dundas Street is the oldest public gallery in Scotland.
The three exhibits capture some of its unique history, showcasing never before seen works and unique commissions.
Duncan Shanks, who is celebrating his 80th birthday in 2017, presents a thematically-rich new exhibition which takes centre stage in the main gallery until June 3.
Born in Lanarkshire, Shanks draws his subjects and inspiration from the countryside around his home in the Clyde Valley.
Winter Journey includes self-portraiture in a narrative of movement of time and place.
Guy Peploe, one of the gallery's directors and a relative of the Scottish colourist Samuel John Peploe, said: "We are thrilled with the Duncan Shanks exhibition.
"He has been exhibiting with us since the late 1960s and his contribution to Scottish painting is very significant.
"He is an expressionist who paints from the heart.
"His landscapes are very strong in colour and very powerful.
"But these are not just pretty pictures – they are a story of life and death, the changing of the seasons and regeneration."
The 175 Years of Art Pins and Paintings is a show of 37 selected artists painting on 175mm x 175mm canvas and a further 45 who have crafted one-off decorative pins emulating their practice on a small scale.
Over 100 artists have created special celebratory works as paintings, pins, prints, photography and ceramics for the aptly-titled A Birthday Celebration: Small Works of Art.
Guy said: "This is not a new idea in art terms, but we've never done it before.
"We had a great response from our artists, most of whom stuck to the uniform scale of 17.5 square inches to echo our anniversary.
"We've had a lovely imaginative response.
"The Aberdeen artist Barry McGlashan, for example, painted our founder Aitken Dott – a bald, bearded Victorian gentleman in his workshop. It's very nice.
"We've got what we wanted – the works to be typical of each artist but scaled right down."
The Portrait of a Gallery exhibition will give a flavour of what's contained in a commemorative book about the Scottish Gallery.
Guy added: "Having been at the forefront of Scottish art for 175 years, the story of the gallery marches alongside the history of Scottish art.
"The book, which should be arriving this week, is 300 pages and is a lovely commemorative edition, one that will certainly remain relevant – at least until our 200th anniversary in 25 years time!"
* An outdoor installation is also running to celebrate the anniversary year.
The Sound of Iona is the first site-specific installation from sculptor Lucy Gray, representing a journey through the sounds of Iona
The director added: "It's mesmerising and almost haunting sitting as it does in our triangular garden in the heart of the New Town of Edinburgh."

subset: commoncrawl


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WASHINGTON — The final verdict on the Keystone XL pipeline rests with Obama administration officials in Washington, but the project's fate may hinge on decisions made in Canada.
Analysts say that the administration is telegraphing willingness to approve the project, which would transport diluted bitumen from Alberta's oil sands, as long as stakeholders north of the border do more to shrink their carbon footprint.
In a June 25 speech, President Barack Obama vowed that his administration will approve the pipeline only if it "does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution."
"The net effects of the pipeline's impacts on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward," the president said.
Obama's emphases on the "net effects" of the pipeline and whether it "significantly" exacerbates greenhouse emissions suggest TransCanada could take steps to make up for the 830,000 metric tons per year of carbon dioxide the State Department estimated would be linked to Keystone XL.
Keystone for climate: Could Obama craft a horse trade?
While U.S. officials couldn't compel such action, said ClearView Energy Partners analyst Kevin Book, "it might be a behind-the-scenes wink and a nod."
For TransCanada Corp., the Calgary-based company behind Keystone XL, options include greening its own portfolio by investing in renewable power and buying carbon offsets. Keystone XL supporters also can argue that Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia already tax carbon.
TransCanada may have taken the first step already. Last Tuesday, the company announced it was paying $470 million to buy 86 megawatts of solar capacity in Ontario.
CEO Russ Girling touted the deal as part of a companywide move to the greener and cleaner.
TransCanada already has sunk more than $5 billion into U.S. hydro power facilities and wind farms in the U.S. and Canada.
"One-third of the power we provide to North American consumers today comes from carbon-free energy sources," Girling said.
Expensive offset
Spread over 20 years, the cost of the carbon emission displaced by TransCanada's new solar investment amounts to as much as $857 per metric ton, making it an expensive offset, according to ClearView Energy's number crunching.
But the real value isn't numeric, Book said.
"Solar sends a message that buying offsets in the market does not," he said. "It says 'we're changing us.'"
Moving forward: Oil to flow through Keystone XL's southern leg this year
Broader efforts by Canada or oil sands developers working there also could support a White House decision to approve the pipeline.
In a letter blasting the State Department's analysis of the project's carbon footprint, the Environmental Protection Agency suggested a better review of "specific ways that the U.S. might work with Canada to … reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of oil sands crude."
Cynthia Giles, the EPA's assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance, wrote that work could include "a joint focus on carbon capture and storage projects and research, as well as ways to improve energy efficiency associated with extraction technologies."
Math disputed
Still, Keystone XL opponents dispute the State Department's math on the carbon emissions tied to the project. In calculating that the emissions associated with Keystone would be "no substantial change" in global greenhouse emissions, the State Department assumed that other pipelines and crude-carrying trains would fill the gap and sustain oil sands development even if Keystone XL were never built.
Environmentalists say that assumption overlooks opposition to pipelines proposed to carry oil sands crude to Canada's West Coast, the maxed-out capacity of railcars and the long lead times for possible pipelines to ferry supplies east.
Prevention: Keystone XL pipeline shuns high-tech oil spill detectors
The opponents are pressing the State Department to revise that calculation and redo its entire analysis before issuing a final environmental impact statement. The Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups outlined their case in a 48-page letter June 24.
"The oil industry wants you to believe that large-scale tar sands production is inevitable," said Jeff Gohringer, of the League of Conservation Voters. But, he said, "the facts aren't on their side."


text:
New 2020 GMC Yukon XL 4WD 4dr Denali
- See Important Disclosures Here
May not represent actual vehicle (options, colors, trim and body style may vary).
Current Specials
Contact the Store
1 Location Available
Sewell Buick GMC of Dallas
7474 Lemmon Avenue Dallas, TX 75209 US
Hours Of Operation
- Mon-Fri
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- Sat
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Key Features
Vehicle At A Glance
- Fuel Economy 14 city / 20 hwy
- Mileage N/A
- Transmission 10-Speed A/T
- Exterior Color Dark Sky Metallic
- Interior Color Cocoa/dark Atmosphere
- Engine Data 6.2L 8 cyl
The Sewell Difference
We have spent more than a century perfecting the art of customer service, which has resulted in convenient, inspired services like complimentary loan cars, Saturday service, 24/7 roadside assistance and complimentary car washes. We listen, learn and deliver beyond the expected.
- Active aero shutters, front
- Assist steps, Black with chrome strip (Deleted when (BRS) power-retractable assist steps are ordered.)
- Generic Sun/Moonroof
- Luggage rack side rails, roof-mounted, Black (Includes bright accent.)
- Mirror, inside rearview auto-dimming
- Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, power-folding and driver-side auto-dimming, body-color with integrated turn signal indicators and ground illumination.
- Moldings, bright bodyside
- SUNROOF, POWER, TILT-SLIDING with express-open and close and wind deflector
- Sun/Moonroof
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Tire Fill Alert (does not apply to spare tire)
- Tire carrier, lockable outside spare winch-type mounted under frame at rear
- Tire, spare P265/70R17 all-season, blackwall
- Trailering equipment, heavy-duty includes trailering hitch platform, 7-wire harness with independent fused trailering circuits mated to a 7-way sealed connector and 2" trailering receiver
- WHEELS, 22" X 8.5" (55.9 CM X 21.6 CM) BRIGHT ALUMINUM with Midnight Silver premium paint
- Wheel, full-size spare 17" (43.2 cm) steel
- Windshield style, acoustic laminated glass
- Windshield, solar-absorbing
- Wiper, rear
- Assist handles, 1st row passenger and 2nd row outboard seats
- Bluetooth Connection
- COCOA/DARK ATMOSPHERE, PERFORATED LEATHER-APPOINTED SEAT TRIM (Interior color has lighter/darker two-tone effect.)
- Cargo net
- Climate control, tri-zone automatic, with individual climate settings for driver, right-front passenger and rear passengers
- Console, floor with storage area, cup holders
- Cruise control, electronic with set and resume speed (Not included when (Y66) Adaptive Cruise Control - Advanced is ordered.)
- Daytime Running Lamps, with automatic exterior lamp control
- Defogger, rear-window electric
- Door locks, power programmable with lockout protection
- Driver Information Center, 8" diagonal customizable driver display
- ENHANCED SECURITY PACKAGE body security content, includes (UTR) self-powered horn, (UTV) interior movement and (UTU) vehicle inclination sensors, door and liftgate lock shields and glass break sensors in rear quarter glass and liftgate window, removes sunglass holder and conversation mirror from overhead console
- Enhanced Driver Alert Package includes (UEU) Forward Collision Alert, Safety Alert Seat, (TQ5) IntelliBeam headlamps, (UHX) Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning and (UHY) Automatic Emergency Braking (When (Y66) Adaptive Cruise Control - Advanced is ordered, RPO Code (Y86) will be removed. All content of (Y86) will remain standard except (UHY) Automatic Emergency Braking, which is replaced by (UGN) Automatic Emergency Braking.)
- Floor covering, color-keyed carpeting
- Fog lamps with chrome surround
- Front and Rear Park Assist
- GMC Connected Access capable (Subject to terms. See onstar.com or dealer for details.)
- Glass, deep-tinted
- Head-Up Display Includes digital multi-function readouts
- Headlamps, projector beam, high intensity discharge
- Keyless start, push button start
- LPO, ALL-WEATHER FLOOR LINER 1st and 2nd rows, bright finish badge
- Liftgate, rear power programmable, hands free
- Lighting, interior includes courtesy lighting with theater dimming, lighting for front and rear door handles, front and rear passenger footwells and door storage area
- Lighting, interior with dome light driver- and passenger-side door switch with delayed entry feature, cargo lights, door handle or Remote Keyless Entry-activated illuminated entry and map lights in front and second seat positions
- Mirror, inside rearview auto-dimming
- Mirrors, outside heated power-adjustable, power-folding and driver-side auto-dimming, body-color with integrated turn signal indicators and ground illumination.
- Navigation System
- OnStar and GMC connected services capable (Terms and limitations apply. See onstar.com or dealer for details.)
- Passive Entry System includes (AQQ) Remote Keyless Entry
- Pedals, power-adjustable for accelerator and brake
- Power outlet, 110-volt, 1.1 Amp, 150 Watt
- Power outlets, 5 auxiliary, 12-volt includes outlets in the instrument panel, console, back of the console, 1 in 3rd row and 1 in the cargo area.
- Rear Vision Camera
- Remote vehicle start includes extended range Remote Keyless Entry
- Requires Subscription
- SEATS, FRONT BUCKET WITH PERFORATED LEATHER-APPOINTED heated and ventilated seat cushions, 12-way power driver and passenger seat includes 6-way power cushions, driver seat 2-position memory, 4-way power lumbar control and power recline (STD)
- Safety Alert Seat
- SiriusXM NavTraffic. Avoid congestion before you reach it by enhancing your vehicle's navigation or entertainment system with NavTraffic. With detailed information on traffic speed, accidents, construction, road closures and more, you will get to your destination faster and more easily than ever before. (SiriusXM Satellite Radio and NavTraffic subscriptions are sold separately or as a package after trial period. If you decide to continue service after your trial, the subscription plan you choose will automatically renew thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates. Fees and taxes apply. To cancel you must call us at 1-866-635-2349. See our Customer Agreement for complete terms at www.siriusxm.com. All fees and programming subject to change. NavTraffic available only in select markets. For more information, see www.siriusxm.com/navtraffic.)
- Steering column, power tilt and telescopic
- Steering wheel controls, mounted audio controls, cruise controls and Driver Information Center controls
- Steering wheel, heated, leather-wrapped
- THEFT-DETERRENT ALARM SYSTEM content theft alarm, self-powered horn
- Universal Home Remote includes garage door opener, programmable
- Windows, power all express down, front express up
- Wipers, front rain-sensing, intermittent
- 4-wheel drive
- Air cleaner, high-capacity
- Alternator, 170 amps
- Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc
- Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc, VAC power with Brake Assist
- Cooling, auxiliary external transmission oil cooler, heavy-duty air-to-oil
- Cooling, external engine oil cooler, heavy-duty air-to-oil integral to driver side of radiator
- Differential, heavy-duty locking rear
- ENGINE, 6.2L ECOTEC3 V8 with Active Fuel Management, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing, includes aluminum block construction (420 hp [313 kW] @ 5600 rpm, 460 lb-ft of torque [624 N-m] @ 4100 rpm) (STD)
- Exhaust, aluminized stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe
- GVWR, 7500 lbs. (3402 kg) (Standard on 4WD models.)
- Powertrain grade braking
- Steering, power
- Suspension Package, Magnetic Ride Control
- Suspension, front coil-over-shock with stabilizer bar
- Suspension, rear multi-link with coil springs
- TRANSMISSION, 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC electronically controlled with overdrive, tow/haul mode and tap up/tap down shifting (STD)
- Tools, mechanical jack and wheel wrench stored in rear quarter trim
- Trailer brake controller, integrated
- Trailering equipment, heavy-duty includes trailering hitch platform, 7-wire harness with independent fused trailering circuits mated to a 7-way sealed connector and 2" trailering receiver
- Transfer case, active, 2-speed electronic Autotrac with rotary controls, includes neutral position for dinghy towing (Requires 4WD.)
- Airbags, Frontal airbags for driver and front outboard passenger; Seat-mounted side-impact airbags for driver and front outboard passenger; Driver inboard seat-mounted side-impact airbag; Head-curtain airbags for all rows in outboard seating positions (Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat in the appropriate child restraint. See the Owner's Manual for more information.)
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc
- Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc, VAC power with Brake Assist
- Brakes, Hill Start-Assist
- Daytime Running Lamps, with automatic exterior lamp control
- Forward Collision Alert
- Front outboard Passenger Sensing System for frontal outboard passenger airbag (Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat in the appropriate child restraint. See the Owner's Manual for more information.)
- IntelliBeam, automatic high beam on/off
- LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), for child restraint seats lower anchors and top tethers located in all second-row seating positions, top tethers located in third row seating positions
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- StabiliTrak, stability control system with brake assist, includes traction control.
- Suspension Package, Magnetic Ride Control
- Teen Driver a configurable feature that lets you activate customizable vehicle settings associated with a key fob, to help encourage safe driving behavior. It can limit certain available vehicle features, and it prevents certain safety systems from being turned off. An in-vehicle report card gives you information on driving habits and helps you to continue to coach your new driver
- AM/FM Stereo
- Audio system feature, Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound premium 10-speaker system
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bose Active Noise Cancellation
- ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, REAR SEAT, BLU-RAY/DVD with remote control, overhead display, Wi-Fi wireless projection capability, four 2-channel wireless digital headphones, auxiliary HDMI/MHL audio/video input and 2 USB ports
- Entertainment System
- HD Radio
- MP3 Player
- Satellite Radio
- Smart Device Integration
- Wireless charging (Not compatible with all phones. Compliant batteries include QI and PMA technologies. Reference Mobile devices manual to confirm what type of battery it uses.)
Tax, title, license and dealer fees (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance or lease offers. MPG estimates on this website are EPA estimates; your actual mileage may vary. For used vehicles, MPG estimates are EPA estimates for the vehicle when it was new. The EPA periodically modifies its MPG calculation methodology; all MPG estimates are based on the methodology in effect when the vehicles were new (please see the Fuel Economy portion of the EPAs website for details, including a MPG recalculation tool). The features and options listed are for the new 2020 GMC Yukon XL and may not apply to this specific vehicle. Tax, title, license (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance, lease and some other offers.


text:
ITpreneurs Hong Kong Limited
Available qualification programs
The EXIN Information Security Management (based on ISO/IEC 27001) certification program is designed to instill a security-conscious mindset for employees on every level within organizations. Each of the exams includes practical skills for handling confidential information. Professionals benefit from learning the essentials of managing in-house security policies from set up to implementation and monitoring. EXIN Information Security qualifications are based on the international standard ISO/IEC 27001.
EXIN IT Service Management focuses less on the theory and more on the practical side of ITSM. It combines key IT service management elements with the quality principles of the ISO/IEC 20000 standard. The EXIN IT Service Management certification program offers several side-entry and bridge possibilities for those professionals with ITSM qualifications.
EXIN's certification program IT Service Management based on ISO/IEC 20000 and Changes in the ISO/IEC 20000 standard.
Version 2018 of the ISO/IEC 20000 standard has been released.
The main changes are summarized below.
The impact of these changes on the certification content are minimal. EXIN's certification based on ISO/IEC 20000 tests your understanding of IT service management using ISO/IEC 20000 as a guideline, as opposed to testing knowledge of the standard. Moreover EXIN's certifications have a lifetime validity so if you do your exam now your certificate remains valid.
The main changes in the standard:
a) it is restructured into the high level structure used for all management system standards (Annex SL). This introduces new common requirements for context of the organization, planning to achieve objectives and actions to address risks and opportunities. There are some updated previous requirements, for example, documented information, resources, competence and awareness;
b) growing trends in service management have been taken into account, such as commoditization of services, management of multiple suppliers by a service integrator and the need to determine value of services for customers;
c) addition of requirements about knowledge and planning the services;
d) separated out previously combined clauses (for example incident management and service request management, service continuity management and service availability management);
e) the organization cannot demonstrate conformity if other parties are used to provide or operate all services, service components or processes within the scope of the SMS;
f) changes to definitions, mostly due to Annex SL.
g) minimized the required documented information leaving only key documents such as the service management plan.
A clear overview of the changes in the 2018 edition can be found in 'A Guide to ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Service Management' by Dolf van der Haven ISBN 9781912651344
EXIN Agile Scrum is the world's first certification program to combine Agile service management with the Scrum process framework. Scrum is being used by over 70% of Agile teams* which makes this an ideal combination. The advantages of using Agile include increased productivity, improved visibility and being better able to deal with changing priorities. These benefits have led to it being adopted across a wide range of disciplines and organizations and not just in software development.
*The 10th Annual State of Agile report
By applying principles borrowed from lean manufacturing the IT industry has embraced a new way of working. This lean method focuses on reducing waste through the elimination of work that adds no value to a service or product. Lean IT aims to instill a continuous improvement mindset within organizations. This is done striving to understand customer value, the processes that deliver that value and the needed attitude to achieve that value. The Lean IT certifications offered by EXIN have been developed by the Lean IT Association (LITA). This non-profit organization comprises 3 examination institutes (APMG, EXIN and PEOPLECERT) and 3 accredited training organizations (ITpreneurs, Pink Elephant and Quint Wellington Redwood).


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Defending champion Yevgenia Kanayeva regained her footing on Friday, topping the standings as the rhythmic gymnastics qualification concluded at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Kanayeva, who took second on Thursday after a dropped hoop, rebounded Friday with the top scores on clubs 28.975 and ribbon 29.400. Her total of 116.000 put her comfortably ahead of teammate Daria Dmitriyeva, who totaled 114.525 after two days. Dmitriyeva, the top gymnast on Thursday, had a second-best score of 28.925 with the ribbon.
Azerbaijan's Aliya Garayeva, fifth after Thursday, moved up to third (111.850) with the second-best score with the clubs (27.850). Bulgaria's Silvia Miteva moved up two spots to finish fourth (110.925).
Belarusian Lyubov Charkashyna, third after Thursday, dropped to sixth after struggling with her ribbon exercise (14th-best 26.550).
Korea's Son Yeon Ja, Ukraine's Alina Maksymenko, Poland's Joanna Mitrosz, Israel's Neta Rivkin and Ukraine's Ganna Rizatdinova rounded out the top 10 gymnasts who will advance to Saturday's all-around final.
China's Deng Senyue finished 11th, just fractions from the final. With the exception of Korea's Son, all 10 finalists are Eastern European.
Kanayeva, the most successful rhythmic gymnast of all time with 17 world championship titles, is favored to win again on Saturday. No rhythmic gymnast has ever won two individual gold medals at an Olympic Games. Only three rhythmic gymnasts have two Olympic medals: Ukraine's Anna Bessonova (bronze in 2004 and 2008), Russia's Alina Kabayeva (bronze in 2000 and gold in 2004), Alexandra Timoshenko (bronze in 1988 for the Soviet Union and gold in 1992 for Ukraine).
Russia also topped the standings in the group competition, outscoring Italy 56.375-55.800. Belarus qualified third with 54.750.
Groupss from Bulgaria, Spain, Ukraine and Israel also advanced to Sunday's final.
The Russian group also is favored to defend its title, but the world champion Italian squad is looking for an upset.
"Today it was very hard to compete, the team was concentrating very hard," Italy group member Marta Pagnini said. "Russia is a great team, they are ready and they are strong, but on Sunday the competition is very hard because there are two apparatus so we will see who will be the mentally strongest."
The rhythmic gymnastics competition is taking place at the world-famous Wembley Arena, which also saw badminton competition during these Olympic Games.
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UPDATE (March 14, 2012): — I have just confirmed that Pip's battle episode will air 8/7 Central on Monday, March 19!
Good thing a Scout is Brave. Phillip Arnold will need all the courage he can get.
The Eagle Scout singer, who goes by the stage name "Pip," is entering the battle round on NBC's hit reality singing show, The Voice.
Three weeks have passed since the blind audition episode where Pip blew away the judges — and me — with his rendition of "House of the Rising Sun." (If you missed it, click here and watch it immediately!)
Of the 75 singers from last round, only six got all four judges to press their "I Want You" button. Pip was one of the six, a clear sign he's an early favorite.
But he can't rest on his laurels. It's time for Pip to go head-to-head with a competitor: Two singers enter, and just one moves on.
The Battle Rounds begin tonight at 8/7 Central and continue every Monday night until April 9. Pip will sing Monday, March 19!
NBC hasn't released a schedule of who will sing when, so Pip's battle could be shown tonight or it may not air until later this month.
Once he does sing, I'll post the video and my thoughts here so we can discuss Pip's performance.
Then, if Pip survives his battle round, he'll need your help for the next step. That's when the power shifts to the viewing public, who get to vote for their favorites during the live shows that begin in April.
Photo of Pip as a Scout is courtesy of the Arnold family.


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Dog Walking
Children's Playground
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Small public open space with amenity grassland, play facilities, water feature and ornamental shrubs.
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In 2005 we started producing products, mainly made out of Biothane® under the brandname Marylot®. The concept is still the same:
strong, practical products, friendly for the horse and very usefull in Endurance. In the past years our brifdles were used all over the world:
The National teams of for example the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Bahrein, Luxemburg, Malasia and individual riders
from Europe, South-America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East are using our products.
Handmade, in every colour combination in the size and modell the user desires... That makes Marylot® unique!
In our workshop we have a lot of different materials, machines and knowledge to make what is neccessary for high performance.
All Marylot products are available through our webshop: www.goedhard.nl


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Go on you tube, too. Entered quadriplegic motorcycle. He shows the kit and stabilizer bars. Pretty hopeful. I can slowly ride my atv, but not on trial yet. Far cry from my dirt bike. Thinking of doing the stabilizers. Pretty slick.
So, I take it from your pics that you are still able to ride a motorcycle, although with some modifications, I'm sure. My boyfriend was injured while racing motocross, and he misses riding even more than walking! I'd love to know what can be done to get him back on a bike.
You ride? What's your injury level? I'm t-10 and have a chopped triumph bonnyville and can't imagine jumping on it. Would love to figure out some way to modify.
Junior Member
Senior Member


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Get your tickets at KMUD, Wildeberries Marketplace, Blue Moon Gift Shop and online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/group/2561161
KMUD is proud to announce that Amy Goodman from Democracy Now! will be joining us at the Mateel Community Center on Saturday, April 16th. She will be giving a lecture followed by a book signing. Beverages, fine cocktails and dinner will be available.
**There will only be 40 VIP Meet and Greet tickets sold for this event! Don't miss this incredibly unique opportunity to meet Amy Goodman while supporting your favorite community radio station!
5PM: Doors Open
*5:30-6PM: VIP Meet and Greet
6:30PM: Lecture
7:30PM: Book Signing
Tickets available at Redway Liquor, Wildberries Marketplace in Arcata and online at brownpapertickets.com. More information at 707-923-2513.
Fraktal Productions & Butter Music Brazil present
with very special guest
JENÖ (Wicked SF)
Marjo Lak (Fraktal/Butter Music/DGS)
Mr. 415 (Deep Groove Society)
TIGRE & Copperton3
Visuals by Pineapsys
Fine libations provided by KMUD
Friday, March 25th
Mateel Community Center
All ages
More about Jeno
Fueled by an enigmatic mystique, Jenö has remained one of San Francisco's most beloved and sought after DJs for over two decades. Developing a passionate love for music from an early age he spent several years as a punk musician & songwriter, before discovering djing and falling into the vibrant London warehouse party scene of the mid 80s. Once Acid House fever hit the UK, Jenö never looked back, becoming known for his heady Whoosh parties, and his involvement in the early days of the notorious Tonka Sound System.
Inspired by Tonka's cheeky f**k the rules attitude, and in search of a more psychedelic groove, Jenö, along with his British cohorts Garth, Markie & Thomas headed to San Francisco in the early 90s. This was the beginning of the now world renowned Wicked Crew, who were instrumental in firing up the SF dance music scene with their now legendary "Full Moon" parties. These wild & free outdoor gatherings were the foundation for an eclectic and soulful underground dance scene, and the driving force of the growing rave community on the West Coast.
By the mid 90s, Jenö's musical talents and commitment to the dance floor had helped inspire and define a new "San Francisco sound," bringing international attention to the city's burgeoning dance music scene. With all eyes on San Francisco, DMC sought out Jenö's talents for a mix on their prestigious CD series "United DJs of America." Joining the ranks of legends Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Little Louie Vega and Doc Martin, he put together a mix of fresh local music and classic house sounds that helped put San Francisco firmly on the dance music map.
In 1995, he and the Wicked Crew took things to the next level, importing a custom made Tony Andrews designed Turbosound system from the UK. With Wicked very much in demand there was nothing else to do but hit the road, piling into a beautifully restored 1947 Grayhound bus with their own band of merry pranksters, delivering their soulful psychedelic sounds with a rock'n'roll attitude that took the U.S by storm. The touring continued through the late 90s, including some unforgettable stops at Burning Man, Reggae on the River, and even a Jane's Addiction concert in 2001.
As the new millennium approached, Jenö took his talents to the studio and began producing his own unique take on dance music. He met all expectations with several remixes on fellow Wicked DJ Garth's Greyhound label, including the internationally acclaimed "Stormy Weather" remix of Rocket's "People." This was followed by remixes on Cheeky, Turnaround Sound, NRK & others. Jenö's production talents aren't limited to the dance floor, having worked on some dark brooding indie music in recent years, and currently producing live acid house for his monthly "Cult of the Acid House" party.
In 2004, Wicked disbanded after 13 years of amazing collaboration. Undeterred, Jenö and Garth have kept the spirit alive with their regular Back2Back appearances up and down the West Coast; a fun loving and boundary pushing musical romp through the last 40 years of dance music. In 2011, Wicked reformed with a "Twenty Years of Disco Glory," reunion tour encompassing 13 cities across the country. The success of the tour has put a vital missing piece back into the global dance community.
Jenö's mythical mixing talents have translated far and wide with a diverse international cult following. He has demonstrated these talents on the decks in the premier clubs across the globe, including the legendary Twilo in NYC, The End, Fabric & Ministry of Sound in London, Unit in Tokyo and the Rex Club in Paris. Jenö continues to perform & present music with a unique and psychedelic perspective, djing regularly again across the US, as well as hosting his own musically mischievous cult radio show – Noise from the Void, broadcast bi-monthly with the changing cycle from Full Moon & New Moon.
Live Set:
Set from NoiseFromTheVoid radio show:
Interview of Jenö for Test Pressing:
NoiseFromTheVoid Podcast:
Social Media
VISION Statement - Redwood Community Radio envisions a community of listeners who, guided by the example of RCR programming, work together to create better, more just and sustainable world systems, to ensure that all humans and other living species on earth move toward a higher quality of life, and are able to survive challenges in the times ahead.
MISSION - Redwood Community Radio will encourage a communication center of open airways (KMUD) for all voices to inform, educate, entertain and inspire the listening community through quality programming.
Redwood Community Radio - Board of Directors
Oct. 6, 2015 – 3:30
Healy Sr. Ctr., Redway, CA
I. Call to order: Meeting ground rules; opening comments from the President
Roll call: board-appointed Christine Doyka, Mark Marchese, Treasurer Sarah Scudder
members' reps Vice-president Siena Klein, Cody Comfy Dillon, Maria Savage
programmers' reps Secretary Jack Frybulous, President Dan Murphy, Jimmy Durchslag
station manager Jeanette Todd
II. Sept. minutes were unanimously approved.
III. Approval of agenda. Dan moved to add Closed Session – personnel. Christine seconded, unanimously approved.
IV. Closed session – Personnel
V. Open time
VI. Management report – submitted.
VII. Discussion / questions for Management – Some discussion of compliance calendar. Ruby will take a month to help with audio-engineering, Nate to assist, perhaps work on a Procedures manual.
VIII. Consent calendar – unanimously approved.
A. In order to conform with changes in California law, the following sentence is hereby deleted from RCR's Bylaws [art. IV, sec. 3]: The station Management, whether it consists of one person or a team at any given time, shall serve as ex-officio (non-voting) member(s) of the Board of Directors. [2nd approval means this is now policy.]
B. Management Evaluation is made a standing committee.
C. The Board authorizes the Station Manager to withdraw from reserve funds to cover payroll costs without prior approval. The Station Manager will immediately notify the Board that s/he has done so.
IX. Finance Com. report – Dan asked about stringers: JT leave as-is at $45K and leave salary where it's at until transitions: leave till we know more, first pass at budget. Sarah will invite CCUSH reps to next Finance meeting. Comfy mentioned endowments.
X. The board welcomed Simon Frech to address "power increase on 91.1" (New Business, item F). JT asked about additional costs; Simon said he didn't think Gray would charge us for filing. RCR will negotiate with PG&E to switch from the peak day plan to a lower-cost program. He also noted that the HAF gives advice on endowments for non-profits; and that our live audio streaming is handled by a company different than the one providing us web hosting.
Jimmy moved to approve the power upgrade, and look into the more cost-effective situation. Dan seconded. Unanimously approved.
XI. Unfinished business
A. Strategic plan, check-in. TBA at Thursday's meeting, at which we'll ID action-items. Siena: last Strat Plan only mentioned the Board. Sarah suggested those interested in certain items work on them: start email threads. Comfy suggested focusing on items costing money.
B. 40 5-lb bags coffee, 5:00. (Cost per: ~ $45 each.) Siena moved we give it away to non-profits, unanimously approved.
C. Aug. 13 report fm Policy. Dan moved to table, no progress.
D. Syndication. Tabled; sent back to Policy.
E. Photos of Mudders. Announce group photo in advance of the Programmers meeting. Jack moved to adopt Jeanette's suggestion of having Agnes and Lynn start taking photos of Staff, then those Ps whose photos are NOT in the 2012 Program Guide. Dan seconded; unanimously approved. (Comfy will get directors' photos.)
F. Financial emergencies: $20K in reserve. Jack moved to table this item; Dan seconded; unanimously approved.
G. Security update. Jeanette will update the KMUD family on developments in the security situation.
XII. New business
A. Elections time-line. Announcement and "nomination open" season go out early November.
B. Honoring KMUDders who cross over. Tom McBride: first BoD president, recently passed. Jeanette will look into memorializing.
Jack moved to have the PD or PAD to notify community of deaths of programmers. Christine seconded: unanimously approved.
C. Paul Encimer arrived to discuss his omsbuddy proposal which would provide a sort of advocate for those who feel unfairly treated, and report only to the Board.
Sarah moved to table, Dan seconded; unanimously approved.
D. Collecting past due pledges. Look more closely at who owes how much. Jack moved that the SM email Board members the list; unanimously approved.
E. Move location board meetings. Jack moved that BoD meetings happen at CR; Sarah seconded. Unanimously approved.
F. Power increase on 91.1 [See item X.]
XIII. Committee Reports
A. Programmers' Reps. Oct. 17 meeting.
B. Members' Reps.
C. Community Advisory Boards: David O., Rob Bier, Tanya Lynne (Central)
D. Correspondence Secretary. Thank you's sent.
E. Development
i. No one blocked the poll question: Would you block Pledge Drive becoming a standing committee?
F. Policy
G. Grounds
H. Mediation. Meeting upcoming.
I. Emergency Preparedness – JT will call a meeting.
J. Management Evaluation – next step: job description.
K. Transition / Hiring meets Monday at 10. Replace Dave, Terri and Emily; Dian to be gone a couple of months.
L. Elections – Time-line is next step.
M. Networking. Jack will contact the Garberville CoC.
XIV. Schedule - Committee meetings
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings take place at KMUD, 1144 Redway Dr., Redway, CA.
If you plan on attending a meeting, it would be wise to confirm no changes have taken place.
A. Board of Directors 1st Tues., 3:30 pm (Redwood Playhouse)
B. Development 1st Wed., 10 am (Wed., Oct. 14, 10 am; Nov. 4, 10 am)
C. Executive 2nd Tues., 10 am
D. Policy Wed., Oct. 21, noon
E. Program Selection 2nd + 4th Tues., 1 pm
F. Finance 3rd Tues. (Oct. 20), 3 pm
G. Board talk show 2nd Wed. (Oct., Jan., Apr., Jul.) Jimmy, Maria, Sarah.
H. Board / Staff meeting Oct. 8, 10 am.
This meeting started at 3:34 and ended at 6:50 (3 h, 16 m).
Approved minutes submitted for publication on 12 NOV '15.


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I'd like to grab some drinks and do some salsa or bachata dancing on a first date.
Kissing hugging touching
The Sea Monster bar does live funk music on Fridays, I've heard it's awesome, but haven't been. Let's go dance and share drinks and get down.
Dancing or maybe a bite to eat at the lake to hang out
My first idea of a date is meet in a park dressed in the same color clothes for a drink or something to eat and maybe a party after
Nice resturant or bowling movies i love to skate we can go dancing walk the boardwalk take you to my favorite cheese steak spot
Well first date I would love to go out to a nice restaurant and have dinner then maybe go to a night club and have a couple of drinks then go to a movie then take a walk and just talk about what we both like to do
Well a real romantic dinner and dancing
A few drinks and a great time is all that I need
Have a nice romantic time with each other.just to be with to enjoy spending time with each other.
Meet at a bar or some other place and hangout.
Go to movies, dinner, maybe a walk on the beach. Maybe sex on the beach or lake. Music, with a candle or two
whatever floats your boat and finds your lost remote. i aim to please.
If I plan the date then I wont tell you I like to suprise but for first date something simple like dinner or movies first just to get to know you better