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By Neece, on February 4, 2010, at 5:20 pm
 The Secular Coalition of America sent me a request a few minutes ago, asking me to write a letter to Obama about the Faith Based Initiative Program. I pretty much keep my nose out of politics, but I thought I’d pass this along because I firmly believe in the Separation of Church and State as my God Given Right! 
Seriously, this country was founded on the incredibly important idea of religion and politics being separate. If you want to see a country where there is no separation, just go to Iran. I’m pretty sure they are a theocracy. Don’t hold me to that, though. My world politics skills have never been very sharp.
Anyway, I think letter writing campaigns work best when the people or organization targeted gets absolutely inundated from all over the place with the same request. Here is what the [...]
By Neece, on November 15, 2009, at 9:57 am
 I belong to a book club that has been reading Nonsense: Red Herrings, Straw Men and Sacred Cows: How We Abuse Logic in Our Everyday Language by Robert J. Gula.
I really wanted to share part of chapter 17 with you. Mr. Gula lists the most important principles to be gleaned from the rest of the book. I highly recommend getting the book and reading it. It has really helped me think more logically. The other thing it’s helped me with is to realize when someone has used a logical fallacy on me. I might not remember the name, but I remember that it is nonsense. It sort of gives me a red flag when someone uses bad logic in an argument. I think that’s pretty invaluable.
So here’s the list of important principles from Robert Gula:
By Neece, on October 11, 2009, at 1:49 am
 I don’t have children, but this issue is still very important to me because I care about kids being indoctrinated and screwed up by their parents and role models.
But as an atheist, freethinker, or skeptic, what do you teach kids about religion? Maybe because I’m removed from the issue it seems rather easy to me. Teach them the same thing about christianity, islam, judaism and all the other active religions that I was taught about Greek Mythology.
I think religion plays such a huge role in the world today, you can’t ignore it. But you don’t have to believe it to share it with young people any more than my teachers believed Zeus threw lightning bolts at people when he was mad at them. I don’t feel religion is helpful in any respect except as a cultural phenomenon. The big three certainly don’t have good moral values. So [...]
By Neece, on April 2, 2009, at 10:26 pm
 A couple weeks ago, I wrote about Sheeple: Studies About Social Conformity. I focused on 3 studies that show how people are easily influenced and manipulated, mostly by the authority figures in their lives. The other day a new study was published that added to this and I wanted to share it with you.
Financial Advice Causes “Off-loading” In The Brain shows that expert advice may shut down areas of the brain responsible for decision making processes, particularly when individuals are trying to evaluate a situation where risk is involved. This study focused on financial advice given by an “expert” to participants in an fMRI machine who were told to make a decision on how to spend money. I have a feeling that this is also the case in other areas of decision making as well. Hopefully it will be investigated and tested.
It makes sense though, [...]
By Neece, on January 21, 2009, at 1:12 am
We have a new president! Our 44th president of the United States of America!
The full video of the oath and address available here.
This is an exciting time! And dare I say it? The future looks promising. We have some hard work to do, to hopefully fix the mistakes of previous administrations, but if President Obama really meant what he said in his speech, I think things are looking up. I’ll say this for our new president, he gives a great speech. It’s thrilling to see an eloquent and educated person leading us to our bright future once again.
I want to go through and highlight some of the points he made. My emphasis is in bold, the transcript is in its entirety, thank you Huffington [...]
By Neece, on January 12, 2009, at 12:42 pm
 There is no plainer way to say it, The Law of Attraction is complete pseudo-scientific nonsense.
Here is the premise of the Secret, as well as other systems that use the principle of the law of attraction. You can call it whatever you like, positive affirmations, the power of positive thinking, Bernie Siegal’s Love, Medicine and Miracles, Deepak Chopra, and on and on.
Put on your thigh high wader boots, and cover your ears, the bullshit meter is about to sound off loud and [...]
By Neece, on January 5, 2009, at 4:09 am
If I believed in divine providence I would say that destiny helped me stumble upon the following movie. But I’m as godless as can be, so I just have to thank whoever posted Religulous to AtheistNation. I don’t go to the movies, so I didn’t get to see it in the theaters. But I watched it a bit ago and I have to say I’m glad I did. It was excellent.
Here is the full movie (140 minutes)
I learned some interesting facts and tidbits, but most of what Bill Maher finds out in these interviews around the world are not new to me. But combined with his commentary, it is interesting and provocative, to say the [...]
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The Secular Coalition of America sent me a request a few minutes ago, asking me to write a letter to Obama about the Faith Based Initiative Program. I pretty much keep my nose out of politics, but I thought I’d pass this along because I firmly believe in the Separation of Church and State as my God Given Right! 
Updates: A New Study and Obama’s Faith Council
Financial Advice Causes “Off-loading” In The Brain shows that expert advice may shut down areas of the brain responsible for decision making processes, particularly when individuals are trying to evaluate a situation where risk is involved. This study focused on financial advice given by an “expert” to participants in an fMRI machine who were told to make a decision on how to spend money. I have a feeling that this is also the case in other areas of decision making as well. Hopefully it will be investigated and tested.
It makes sense though, [...]