The 35th National Convention of American AtheistsATLANTA, APRIL 9-12, 2009 Join us for another spectacular convention of American Atheists, April 9-12, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia! The venue is the magnificent Emory Conference Center, 1615 Clifton Road in Atlanta. Get ready for a weekend of blockbuster speakers, panels, dinners, social events and much more, all headlined by Dr. Richard Dawkins!YOU can introduce Dawkins: Just be a member, register for the convention, email ed Buckner asking to be included in the random drawing, and win. Other confirmed speakers include: * Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists* Michelle Goldberg, Noted author and journalist* Mike Malloy, nationally syndicated talk show host* Jim Morrow, Award winning novelist* Dr. J. Anderson Thompson, Psychiatrist, researcher, author* Nate Phelps, Estranged son of notorious pastor Fred Phelps (“God Hates Fags”)* John Lombard, Beijing Secular Activist Plus A Very Special Event — “Mass De-Baptism Ceremony”featuring the insights and antics of Edwin Kagin and Frank Zindler!*Register on-line now and use the coupon code “nogodblog” for a discount (expires 2/28/09). (AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for nonbelievers; labors for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

I am a Republican Atheist, but I haven’t voted for a Republican since Christie Whitman because I haven’t been able to do so.I believe in gun rights, a small government, low taxes, and a strong military. I believe the unions can be just as corrupt as corporations, and I believe in “workfare not welfare”.But I can’t vote Republican, ever, because they have become tools of the Religious Right. They are, in my opinion, much more concerned about Intelligent Design, Faith-Based Initiatives, and making ME a 2nd class citizen than any of the issues on which we agree. I support President Obama, but I really had no choice but to vote for him as Senator McCain had promised more Supreme Court Justices like Scalia. That was a deal killer. It would be like a black person voting for someone who supports segregation — it doesn’t matter what else a candidate says, it’s just not going to happen.So here is my open plea to the incoming GOP President Michael Steele: Please give me my party back. Divorce yourselves from the corruption that is the Religious Right, and return to the values that gave you strength. Religion and politics don’t mix — please learn that. Please be a leader of change, diversity, and modern common sense. Please let me vote Republican, or at least let me give you serious consideration, in the next elections. There can be no change if you give us no choice.

A new molecule that performs the essential function of life – self-replication – could shed light on the origin of all living things.If that wasn’t enough, the laboratory-born ribonucleic acid (RNA) strand evolves in a test tube to double itself ever more swiftly.”Obviously what we’re trying to do is make a biology,” says Gerald Joyce, a biochemist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. He hopes to imbue his team’s molecule with all the fundamental properties of life: self-replication, evolution, and function.Joyce and colleague Tracey Lincoln made their chemical out of RNA because most researchers think early life stored information in this sister molecule to DNA. And unlike the stuff of our genomes, RNA molecules can catalyse chemical reactions.”We’re trying to jump in at the last signpost we have back there in the early history of life,” Joyce says.

From AU:

Protect Church-State Separation in the Stimulus Package!Urge the Senate to keep funding for the Compassion Capital Fund outThe House recently passed its version of the economic stimulus package, which would provide funding for many services designed to relieve Americans from the burdens of our current economic crisis. Throughout this process, the staff of Americans United has engaged our many allies in Congress to ensure that this bill, which provides $819 billion dollars of funding, does not disrupt the important separation of church and state or diminish important religious liberty or civil rights protections that we hold dear.We applaud the drafters of the House bill for their wise prohibition on the funding of private or religious schools. This is consistent with the Constitution and an important safeguard to place on the expenditure of our tax dollars. We are disappointed, however, that the House economic recovery package contains funding for the Compassion Capital Fund. The Compassion Capital Fund has a myriad of Constitutional problems. The Fund lacks oversight, sends money directly to Houses of Worship, and allows recipients to hire employees based solely upon their religion for government-funded jobs. Clearly, more taxpayer dollars should not be expended on this program.Fortunately, the Senate version of the bill does not contain unwise funding for the Compassion Capital Fund – and we need it to stay that way! Please thank your Senators for eliminating this funding stream and urge them to use our tax dollars wisely in this important time. As we all know, now is not the time to continue unwise and unconstitutional practices of the Bush Administration. Please enter your information below to urge your Senator to maintain the ban on funding religious schools and the elimination of funding for the Compassion Capital Fund. With your help, we can ensure that the separation of church and state is unharmed in the first major act of the 111th Congress.

This would not be the first time the country was caught up an a fervor that led to inappropriate spending. We need to make sure this doesn’t happen. Use our legislative page to find your Senators and Representatives and CALL THEM ON THE TELEPHONE to express your concern for funding discriminatory religious organizations with the stimulus package, specifically the “Compassion Capital Fund”. Don’t forget to mention you’re an atheist!Do it NOW and post about it.

Many statistics and people say that atheists aren’t charitable people. However, they seem to miss that the nation’s largest charitable foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded by an atheist – Bill Gates.It was reported by the Associated Press today that several charitable groups have committed to continue charitable giving during this time of economic crisis. Among those committing to do so is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. What’s more is they have gone a step further.Though Microsoft has experienced a decline in profits, it was announced this week that the foundation is increasing its giving percentage from five to seven.

Helooooo Mr. Gates! Atheists over here… Need a bit of money to fix the country. Not very muuuuuch! A measly 10M could change things.