Apple donates $100,000 to fight Prop. 8Apple Inc. is donating $100,000 to fight Proposition 8, which aims to end same-sex marriage in California by amending the constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.”Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation,” the company said in a statement posted on its Web site Friday.Apple joins Google, which came out publicly against Prop. 8 last month. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page reportedly have donated a combined $140,000 to fight the measure.In revealing its support, Google officials voiced similar points, saying the company sees the issue as one of equality and is opposed to the elimination of fundamental rights.”While we respect the strongly held beliefs that people have on both sides of this argument, we see this fundamentally as an issue of equality. We hope that California voters will vote no on Proposition 8 — we should not eliminate anyone’s fundamental rights, whatever their sexuality, to marry the person they love,” Brin said.It is not common practice for either company to take a stand on political measures. It remains to be seen what effect the move might have on Proposition 8 supporters, who might avoid doing business with companies that oppose the measure.

No comment, just interesting site:http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

AMERICAN ATHEISTS MEDIA ALERThttp://www.atheists.org ED BUCKNER ON MINNESOTA ATHEISTS RADIO\SHOW NATIONWIDE THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 ED BUCKNER, the new President of American Atheists will be the guest this Sunday on the Minnesota Atheists Radio Show live from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Central Time. The program can be heard on 950 KTNF in the Minnesota/St. Paul region, and is streamed live on the Internet at http://www.am950ktnf.com/listen . You can call in with comments or questions at 952-946-6205 or via e-mail at radio@minnesotaAtheists.org . Podcasts of the show will be available at http://MinnesotaAtheists.org or through iTunes. Dr. Buckner has had a distinguished career in the Atheist/Humanist movement and until recently headed the Atlanta Freethought Society. He has also served as Director for the Council for Secular Humanism. WHO & WHAT: Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists on the Minnesota Atheists radio program, streaming live on the Internet WHEN: This Sunday, October 26, 2008 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Central Time. WHERE: 950 KTNF in the Minnesota/St. Paul region, and is streamed live on the Internet at http://www.am950ktnf.com/listen . You can call in with comments or questions at 952-946-6205 or via e-mail at radio@minnesotaAtheists.org . Podcasts of the show will be available at http://MinnesotaAtheists.org or through iTunes. MORE INFO: http://www.MinnesotaAtheists.org (AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights of nonbelievers; works for the total and absolute separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

Last night, October 22, 2008, in Northern Kentucky, a rather remarkable thing happened.At Northern Kentucky University, within the shadow of the Creation Museum, in a mock trial, a jury of the entire audience overwhelmingly voted on the side of Evolution and against the teaching of Intelligent Design in the public schools.Some had opined that it was foolish to hold such an event?that the vote would be overwhelmed by the fundangelicals, that Evolution would lose, and that this would be harmful for the future of education in Kentucky.Well, that did not happen. The opposite happened.The issue for the pretend trial was the case of a ninth grade teacher in the Kentucky public schools who had been fired for teaching Intelligent Design in a Kentucky classroom. She sued, alleging she had a right to teach such mythology and to get her job back. Leading trial lawyers in the Northern Kentucky area represented the parties, a real retired judge presided, and the former dean of the law school moderated a discussion.A creation scientist testified for the teacher. Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists, and identified as such, testified as to his opinion that Intelligent Design is a religious, not a scientific, view and that the teaching of this religious view is prohibited by the Constitutions of the United States and of Kentucky.The result from the clickers of the audience:— 38% said the teacher should not be restored to her job.— 28% said the teacher should get her job back, and be permitted to discuss Intelligent Design, but only if she agrees to made it clear that most scientists reject Intelligent Design.— 31% said the teacher should get her job back without conditions.The clear result was that a large majority accepted the teaching of Evolution over Intelligent Design and did not see Intelligent Design as a scientific view. The audience accepted the position of the Atheist witness over that of the expert who held the religious view that life was created by magic.This victory should be noted by those who are afraid to challenge the forces of darkness in public dialogue.Edwin KaginNational Legal DirectorAmerican Atheists, Inc.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/10/dont-count-us-o.html

Don’t count us out?Nation of believers? must not marginalize ? or worse undercount ? secularists, an invisible minority.By Ronald AronsonAs the presidential campaign winds down, members of America’s largest and most silent minority may be excused for feeling a little left out. As Republicans and Democrats escalate their appeals to 2008′s most contested and prized constituency ? swing voters among evangelicals and Catholics ? they treat those who are not religious as if they are invisible.

This is not news, but it is very well-written and heartfelt.