Tuesday Tonic - Evolution Stated Clearly

Tuesday Tonic - Find Yourself

via NewfoundlandandLabrador

I'm on the road, so posting will be light over the next couple of weeks.

Here is a few minutes of beauty to tide you over!

Tuesday Tonic - The Bible in 10 Minutes

via Cult of Dusty

For your Tuesday Tonic, Comedian Dusty Smith gives a hilarious (but NSFW) recap of the History Channel's The Bible series. In under 10 minutes, Dusty strips away the religious mind-twisting (no, really! evil is good, brutality is love, insanity is a "plan"! Check it out in the Good Book™) and gets down to what the Bible actually says.

Seriously, I need to hire Dusty to revive my Barmy Bible Study series!

Tuesday Tonic - Humanity's Epoch

Exciting news! There is a new video from melodysheep!

For your Tuesday Tonic, may I present the freshly created Humanity's Epoch.

Tuesday Tonic - Happy Darwin Day!

There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being,

evolved.

There has been an effort to have February 12 officially declared "Darwin Day" in honor of Charles Darwin who was born on this date in 1809. The famous naturalist is the author of The Origin of Species (full title: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection) his seminal work which first introduced the public to the theory of Evolution.

A simple demonstration of natural selection.

"As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as, consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected. From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form." Charles Darwin

To mark Charles Darwin's 204th birthday, here is a BBC Horrible History performed by (an actor portraying) the man himself! As if this awesome video about an awesome man and an awesome subject is not enough of a treat, you get an extra bonus: the entire thing is set to the tune of David Bowie's awesome song, Changes!

Enjoy! And Happy Darwin Day!

Tuesday Tonic - Interspecies Cooperation!

via Keller Laros

According to this article, diver Keller Laros was taking a group out for a night dive to swim with the manta rays when a lone dolphin appeared and seemed to be asking for help. Mr. Laros, an experienced diver with over 10,000 dives to his credit, quickly spotted a fishing hook imbedded in the animal's pectoral fin. While the dolphin bobbed patiently next to him, Mr. Laros was able to remove the hook from the fin and then used his diving tools to cut the animal free from the attached fishing line in which it had become entangled.

Because the diver regularly takes groups out for these dives, he often has a professional photographer along to record the experience for the group. On this occasion, videographer Martina Wing managed to capture the whole amazing encounter on film.

Above is a version of the encounter that Mr. Laros has posted with captions explaining what is happening. For the full eight minutes of raw video of the event (with captions, too), look here.

Nice work, Keller Laros!

Tuesday Tonic - You Make Your Own Purpose

Reprising this outstanding song from rapper Tombstone da Deadman. Purpose has been a consistent favorite on my blog since I first posted it on April 10, 2012. In fact, it is the eighth all-time most viewed post on my blog!

More excellent work from the Rational Warrior can be found here.

Purpose is the perfect tonic for winter musing about the meaning of life and our place in it. Sit back and take in some inspiration on a Tuesday morning.

It's my life.

It's my time.

It's my choice.

It's my mind.

So I define my purpose

and see the world through my eyes.

No excuses.

via Tombstone da Deadman 

The History of Climate Change Negotiations in 83 Seconds

via ciceroinfo

Concerned citizens were pleased and relieved, during yesterday's inaugural address, to hear President Obama publicly recognise global climate change as one of the great challenges facing the world. The President signalled that he is formulating a strategy to handle the determined opposition in the Republican-controlled House. That will be great for putting our own house in order, but what of the rest of the world?

This little video cleverly recaps the deucedly difficult state of negotiations for carbon emissions reduction among the world's nations.

Fair warning: the tune has massive ear worm potential!

A Role For Humanism In Society

Back in the summer, I posted part one of "An Introduction to Humanism" presented by the British Humanist Association.  Here is the second part which focuses on the important role a humanist association can and should play in a civilized, free society.

"It's important to have an organization and a voice for humanism in the public sphere, because it gives expression to a large number of people that haven't really thought'what they are' but know they're not religious."

Watch the brief video to hear several British humanists' answers to these questions:

Why should humanists involve themselves in public debates and discourse?

What is secularism and why does the BHA support it?

Why should we oppose the influence of religion in education?

What is the importance of humanist funerals?

Why should someone become a member of a humanist association?

There is an American Humanist Association, too. Here is their website, which I encourage my readers to visit. The AHA answer to the question, What is Humanism?:

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

Tuesday Tonic - DNA and Life

Another awesome video from Symphony of Science.

Quote for the win:

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, 

and learn as if you were to live forever." 

Tuesday Tonic - The War On Christmas

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's best Christian, reports on the war on Christmas from her embedded position in the enemy's maw - er, the shopping mall.

Quote for the win:

"We stole December 25 fair and square and we're not giving it back!"

Tuesday Tonic - Ode to Newfoundland

This post is in honour of my amazing daughter who was born on this day 

        in this beautiful place, during a shimmering white snowstorm. 

                                     Happy Birthday, J!!

Ode to Newfoundland

1. When sun rays crown thy pine clad hills,
And summer spreads her hand,
When silvern voices tune thy rills,
We love thee, smiling land.
We love thee, we love thee,
We love thee, smiling land.

2. When spreads thy cloak of shimmering white,
At winter's stern command,
Thro' shortened day, and starlit night,
We love thee, frozen land.
We love thee, we love thee
We love thee, frozen land.

3. When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore,
And wild waves lash thy strand,
Thro' spindrift swirl, and tempest roar,
We love thee windswept land.
We love thee, we love thee
We love thee windswept land.

4. As loved our fathers, so we love,
Where once they stood, we stand;
Their prayer we raise to Heaven above,
God guard thee, Newfoundland
God guard thee, God guard thee,
God guard thee, Newfoundland.

--Sir Cavendish Boyle

Tuesday Tonic - Macushla

In loving memory of a fine man who would have been 83 today.
                               Happy Birthday, John.

For The Zombie Apocalypse, Romney's Your Man!

A little humour to distract you from Sandy's misery. Stay safe out there!

"Romney is ready to make the deep rollbacks: healthcare, education, social services, reproductive rights that will guarantee poverty, unemployment, overpopulation, disease, rioting...all the crucial elements in creating a nightmare wasteland.
But it's his commitment to ungoverned corporate privilege that will nosedive this economy into true insolvency and chaos - the kind of chaos you can't buy back!"

Young Americans Vote!

Thanks to rockthevote for this informative and entertaining video.

Young Americans, you know what you need to do!  Share this video and

VOTE!

Tuesday Tonic - This Is What A Feminist Looks Like

Tuesday Tonic - My Stand (Tombstone da Deadman)

from the incomparable rationalwarrior aka Tombstone da Deadman.

Lyrics - My Stand

My tolerance for ignorance is nonexistent
why resist it cause faith-based claims can't
go the distance
you're either going to stand up for reality
or surrender to the fantasy
but either way don't care if people mad at me
my criticisms so much bigger than religion
it's about the fact that we're lacking in total skepticism
these days it kind of seems like being a skeptic is a
negative
so my position is that faith's a type of mental sedative
the type of things I rap about are really not cerebral
there's just an overabundance of really stupid people
who get offended when I challenge all their sacred shit
fuss and complain but then abstain from debating it
they want me suppressed so they try to say that I'm
obsessed
the knee-jerk reaction whenever they hear my views
expressed
some of the ones that ain't blind sit on the sidelines
too scared to offend but then defend all those dumb
lies
you really think these theists see you in a different light
because you're the type that's passive you're favorable
inside their sight
you really think they think that you and I are not alike
and that they don't imagine you burning in hell in afterlife?
To them, you're just a sacreligious blasphemy
a tragedy, a heathen who doesn't respect his holy
majesty
my contention you're respected on condition
that you never contradict them or ever speak your
convictions

(Chorus)
I know that you don't see this as imperative
but I refuse to lose and let stupid frame the
narrative
so this is where I making my stand
and now regardless who don't like or how they get
mad
see while they rest of you capitulate and go with the
plan
I'll be beating on this wall until I breaking my hand
so listen while I state official policy
no matter how I'm threaten with hell they'll never 
silence me
I know that you don't see this as imperative
but I refuse to lose and let stupid frame the narrative.

(2nd verse)
Being a skeptic means much more than being
atheist
and until you accept that you won't relate to this
that cognitive dissonance that you experience
is when there's things you claim to believe in but ain't
living it
most of you say that you're the type to question
everything
until I hear the conspiracy theories that you're echoing
and when I scrutinize the things you try to say are lies
expose your sources as suspect I see your logic dies
some still believe in pseudo-sciences...
engage in special pleading
when theists use the exact same reasoning
I've ven seen atheists use arguments from ignorance
and seem hard pressed to tell me exactly just what the
difference is
a skeptic without the ability to analyze
is just as bad as theists cause he probably will accept a lie
just as long as it verifies all his biases
applying it to his knowledge pool and diving in
I'm not saying that some conspiracies do not exist
I'm just saying that a lot of them are some bullshit
so I'mma call a spade a spade no matter who asserts
it
no one is perfect, just one lie and then it's all perverted
bring down the curtain on that sad display
the only way's to question yourself and all the things
you say
start today
and maybe we can rise above and be examples
for others to emulate and that's the way we win the
battle.

(Chorus)
I know that you don't see this as imperative
but I refuse to lose and let stupid frame the
narrative
so this is where I making my stand
and now regardless who don't like or how they get
mad
see while they rest of you capitulate and go with the
plan
I'll be beating on this wall until I breaking my hand
so listen while I state official policy
no matter how I'm threaten with hell they'll never 
silence me
I know that you don't see this as imperative
but I refuse to lose and let stupid frame the narrative.

Tombstone da Deadman, the Rational Warrior

Tuesday Tonic - Take A Deep Breath

via Newfoundland Labrador

The cooler fall days are sweeping in on a fresh autumn breeze.  Soon the whale season in Newfoundland will be drawing to a close as the humpbacks head back down to the Gulf of Mexico to over winter. But before they go, there is always time for a little more exuberant fun in their northern playground!

These are busy times - take a deep breath and relax for a minute!

(This is a great video to view in fullscreen)

Tuesday Tonic - Do You Believe in Me?

Your Tuesday Tonic - This is one of the best things you may see all week. It is 8 minutes of awesome.

Dalton Sherman, from Charles Rice Learning Center in Dallas, speaks at the opening convocation in front of thousands of Dallas teachers, and he brings down the house.

"We need you to know that what you're doing is the most important job in the city today...Do you believe in me? Because I believe in me and you helped me get to where I am today. Thank you. Thank you."

via bergmandi, September, 2008.

You Might Be An Atheist!

Tuesday TwoFer!! via CobourgJD (The Cobourg Atheist)

Professor Daniel Dennett speaks engagingly here.

20 minutes:  fun, enlightening and thought-provoking!

I, for one, try to avoid uttering deepities. :D