Is our idea of privacy really changing?

The Introduction
Is our idea of privacy really changing? This seems to be the case according to a recent PC World article, Privacy is Not Dead, Just Evolving.
The Anecdotal Evidence
Netflix recently offered a $1 Million dollar prize to anyone who could make a 10% improvement in their recommendation engine. Netflix’s recommendation engine is the software that [...]

Texas Board of Education re-writes history

Thomas Jefferson

Here’s the intro to an article in today’s New York Times, Texas Approves Curriculum Revised by Conservatives,
After three days of turbulent meetings, the Texas Board of Education on Friday voted to approve a social studies curriculum that will put a conservative stamp on history and economics textbooks, stressing the superiority of American capitalism, questioning [...]

Open Flower Fridays

It’s a bit early but signs of Spring are all around us…

An early sign of Spring

Unplanned Parenthood

… because this made me smile and pretty much sums up the first couple years of my marriage.

Debt Free and Prosperous Living

During down-turns in the economy, when many people have either lost a job or fear that they will lose their job, scams for making money or getting out of debt abound. Of course, these scams are always floating around. I’ve often wondered if they maintain the same “noise” level and other noise just recedes bringing [...]

Ayaan Hirsi Ali speaks at the University of Wisconsin

Ayaan Hirsi Ali spoke recently at the University of Wisconsin as a part of their Distinguished Lecture series. If you are not familiar with Ayaan Hirsi Ali she was born in Somalia, is a former Muslim, escaped an arranged marriage, became a member of Dutch Parliament and is an outspoken critic of Islam. She is [...]

The Interaction of Man and Nature

The Storybook Wolf

Jose Luis Rodgriguez* recently won the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 award for his photograph, The Storybook Wolf.
For more information on the contest and other winners, go to this BBC article, Leaping wolf snatches photo prize, or the this photo gallery at The Guardian.
The BBC article quotes one of the [...]

A beautiful sunrise and a random story

I don’t have anything to say about health care or bombing Iran or whatever happened on the last Open Forum Friday.
I did however happen to notice a particularly beautiful sunrise about a week ago and felt compelled to pull over and take a few pictures.

Sunrise 1

Sunrise 2

Taco Bell Sunrise

Sunrise 3

As I’m posting these pictures I [...]

The Coming Obacalypse

Since National Health Care seems to be the topic of the moment, I thought I would weigh-in. Rae has already posted, her take on health care, so here’s mine.
Like Rae I don’t think National Health care is a Free Thought issue per se mostly because the merits of having a government-mandated/subsidized health care system really [...]

Michiana Skeptics

I want to draw attention to another Indiana skeptics group. The group is the Michiana Skeptics and holds monthly meetings at the St. Joseph Public Library.
Here’s the notice I received via Atheist Nexus:
We are a fairly new, local band of atheists and skeptics located in NORTHERN INDIANA!! Called “Michiana Skeptics”. We have our own website(google [...]