THE SKEPTIC ARENA

In an effort to modernize American education and make it more relevant,
here is the new curriculum for political science majors at all major Universities:

New undergrad required courses:
Fundraising
Hiding money obtained from fundraising
Avoiding taxes resulting from fundraising
Remaining anonymous in conflict of interest cases
Avoiding direct questions from the press
Avoiding direct questions from your spouse
Kissing Babies
Kissing Ass

New Graduate-level courses include:
Advanced fundraising techniques (or how to cultivate The Rich)
Advanced avoidance techniques when dealing with the press
Hiding Affairs
Hiding Bodies
When and how to "Lawyer Up"
Fundraising while incarcerated
Tax loopholes for the imprisoned
Restarting your career


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More bad news for Determinists

Neuroscientists locate important decision-making area in the brain

More evidence that the subconscious plays a role in our decision-making.
It is not necessary for our conscious mind to be aware of every decision.
Determinists take the position that because the subconscious mind is deciding,
that we are not exercising free will.
They ignore the fact that we (our minds) are much more than just our conscious mind.
The subconscious mind controls our breathing and heartbeat and countless other actions.
Our conscious mind can overrule the subconscious (veto).
One example would be when you hold your breath.


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The Christian America that so many Evangelicals cherish ... is fading fast.

White Christian America no longer represents the majority of Americans

Can I get an Amen?


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Have you ever met a person who can barely feel pain?
How about a mouse?

Researchers discover key to eliminating chronic pain


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Probably the best "pledge of allegiance" on the planet ...

"We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language, or religion,
to build a democratic society based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation."


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Natural gas may, or may not, be better for the environment than coal.

It all depends on how it's handled


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The Panama Papers brought down several government leaders.
But some, like Putin, were too powerful to be affected.
Within weeks, the story of the century
was quashed by Plutocrats and the media went silent.
In Pakistan, The Panama Papers exposed the corruption of Prime Minister Sharif.
The Supreme Court found him guilty and removed him from office.
How did the Plutocrats fight back?

His wife ran and won his old office ...

which means he is back in power and free to plunder the country once again

Until the masses develop the rational thinking skills necessary to defend themselves,
they will continue to be controlled by the Plutocrats.


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The oldest animal has been definitively determined.
And the winner is ...

the sea sponge

And the Silver goes to ... the comb jellies

UPDATE - 2/22/16

More evidence supporting the theory
that the "Sea Sponge" was the Earth's first animal




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America is a Christian nation ...

just look at our money

More evidence that we didn't start out as a Christian nation
but that theocrats are working hard at turning us into one.


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Scientists discover that interferons
are not our first line of defense against viruses and bacteria ... but our second

(note: the story is in a pop-up window - so don't dismiss it)


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The Plutocrats not only control the Supreme Court ...

but most of our judicial system as well

I like her remedies:
"Let’s start with nonpartisan elections,
the public financing of judicial campaigns ...
and merit-based selection of judges,
a system that can include nonpartisan screening commissions,
gubernatorial appointment, and retention elections ...."


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We have a new GMO: genetically modified ...

mosquitoes


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Want another example of the difference between Democrats and Republicans?

Read this

Democrats want to stop Big Business from profiting off the computer hack
that allowed half of Americans to have their personal information stolen.

But they stand little chance in a Republican-controlled Congress.

Keep voting Republican ... the rich sure do appreciate your support


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When Europeans invaded the New World
tens of millions of natives were slaughtered;
not so much by the Conquistadores, as by plagues.

So why didn't the Europeans get decimated by American germs?
(12:08)


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Still think that America is a Christian nation?

Read this quote from Conservative icon Ronald Reagan - then click the picture.



Facts to Conservatives ... are like garlic to a vampire

But the saddest thing is that we could be here all year,
piling on evidence day after day,
and they would still refuse to accept reality ...
as they have proven every time that the facts proved them wrong.


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I know how smart parrots and macaws are ... but pigeons?


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The 2016 presidential election had something more important at stake than a brief 4-year presidency:
control of the third branch of government (the judiciary) for the foreseeable future.

That control is already paying big dividends

Nice goin' rural America ... you sure showed us.


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Dinosaur extinction



Whatever the reason for their extinction - we should thank our lucky stars


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The moral arc of humanity swings very slowly;

but it is swinging towards social justice and equality


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Check out this guy:

The Good News: It can live forever
The Bad News: It defecates through its mouth ... forever




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"America is a Christian nation? "

You decide (5:02)

Yes, most Americans are Christian.
Most Americans are also women - are we a female nation?
Most Americans are also caucasian - are we a white nation?
Most Americans are not college graduates - are we a poorly-educated nation?
The average American has one testicle - are we a deformed nation?

America is famous for being the first nation in history
to write a secular constitution.
If Christians want to change that, they should be honest and say so,
rather than trying to make a claim that is easily disproven.
That tactic only exposes the dishonesty that pervades all aspects of their faith.


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9/21/15

For those of you who don't believe that viruses should be classified as life

"Life" is merely one direction that the evolution of matter can take.
There is no boundary line between life and nonlife,
other than the arbitrary one created by humans for our convenience.


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Lynching: a shameful history that America cannot hide from



If I had to guess, I would say that all those white people who were lynched
probably died while trying to save African-American victims.

They probably tried to reason with all those Bible-Belt Christians
by showing them the 10 commandments;
and were rewarded by being given a great view of the event ... from a tree.


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Using viruses to deliver payloads to targeted cells to fight cancer ...

is getting closer and closer


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Stephen Pinker on Freedom of Speech (9:49)


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Water has memory.
Has Homeopathy been vindicated?

not quite


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Bad Christian arguments:
"America is a Christian Nation? "

The Supreme Court held
that “the ‘establishment of religion’ clause of the First Amendment
means at least this:
Neither a state nor the Federal Government
can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions,
or prefer one religion over another.”

Everson vs. Board of Education (1947)


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How the cancer known as "Alternative Medicine" has metastasized in the U.S. (14:44)

How much would you give to be able to examine
Senator Harkins' offshore bank accounts?

Maybe this will give you an idea why candidates
will spend millions of dollars to win a job ...

that only pays thousands


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