I help coach the Speech Team (a.k.a. Forensics Team) at my high school. It’s very competitive. There are hundreds of people all across Illinois vying to become state champion in each of the 13 different events. Sectionals is this weekend, and hopefully, we’ll be sending a number of kids to the State finals next weekend. [...]

The International Humanist and Ethical Union will be hosting the 17th Humanist World Congress in Washington, D.C. June 5-8. This event will be in conjunction with both the American Humanist Association‘s and the Secular Student Alliance‘s 2008 conventions. Each organization will hold their own breakout sessions, while coming together for bigger speakers and larger events. [...]

Hehe This made me laugh: The movie is coming out soon… (via Bay of Fundie) [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]

The Clinton School of Public Service (at the University of Arkansas) just released copies of its new publication Frank. The publication… embodies the Clinton School’s philosophy of straight forward, practical solutions through its “Academics for the Real World” curriculum. Joseph Ballard interviewed Richard Dawkins in the premier issue. FRANK: What would the “Richard Dawkins School [...]

If you’re interested in sending your 6-8th grade child to Camp Quest West (in California), you have a chance to win a free campership! All the child has to do is write a 200-400 word essay (DOC) answering any one of these three questions: 1. Should Intelligent Design be taught in school along with evolution? [...]

The image below (click it for a larger version) was made in 1918. What can we learn from it? The Dark Ages occurred in A.D. 1000. (And that was it.) The AntiChrist appeared in A.D. 2000. Satan’s around for another thousand years. Good thing no one believes in that type of foolish thinking anymore… (*sigh*) [...]

Maria (aka Masala_Skeptic) is trying to send Basava Premanand to The Amaz!ng Meeting 6 in Las Vegas this summer. She writes: Premanand founded the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, which tours the villages of India to educate people by debunking gurus and fakirs. … I think it would be fascinating to hear from this man [...]

This is what you miss out on when you don’t join the Friendly Atheist Forums: That’s courtesy of SusanB, who I hope makes that into a t-shirt If you haven’t joined the forums, jump right in! (via the aptly named Atheism and Coffee) [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]

The proposal by Raymond Zbylut, a resident of Omaha, Nebraska, to get a street named after the late founder of American Atheists has been rejected. The proposal was shot down with a 6-0 vote. Councilman Garry Gernandt said after the meeting that he was contacted by close to 200 constituents concerning the Murray O’Hair sign, [...]

Last night, Bill Maher appeared on Larry King Live. In the clip below, he discusses religion, the Catholic League’s Bill Donohue, and his upcoming movie Religulous: Whether you like him or not, you gotta admit he’s blunt, honest, and passionate. [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags]

The cute couple above (and to the left) were wed in Poland’s first ever Humanist wedding ceremony. Jane Bechtel is the Scottish humanist celebrant who conducted it. Held in Warsaw on Sunday the 9th of December, as part of the 100th anniversary conference of the Polish Freethinkers Association, the wedding generated a lot of interest [...]