Links Roundup: Oh God! Please deliver to us some cheap gas!

- Happy Birthday Atheists

Russell T Davies (born Steven Russell Davies,[1] 27 April 1963) is a Welsh television producer and writer. He is a prolific writer, best known for controversial drama serials such as Queer as Folk and The Second Coming, and for spearheading the revival of the popular science-fiction television series Doctor Who, and Torchwood. Both are filmed in Cardiff and the latter is set there.

- 1, 2, 3 Atheist Blogroll

Pharyngula: A beautiful sacrament
Aces Full of Links: Sunday Links
Mirth, Musings, & More

- News

• Pray-in at S.F. gas station asks God to lower prices
  Rocky Twyman has a radical solution for surging gasoline prices: prayer.
  
  Twyman - a community organizer, church choir director and public relations consultant from the Washington, D.C., suburbs - staged a pray-in at a San Francisco Chevron station on Friday, asking God for cheaper gas. He did the same thing in the nation's Capitol on Wednesday, with volunteers from a soup kitchen joining in. Today he will lead members of an Oakland church in prayer.

• NWAnews.com :: Northwest Arkansas' News Source
  Prison kitchen fills special needs
  When inmate Kelvin Love demanded meals he considered acceptable under Jewish dietary laws, the best the Arkansas Department of Correction could do was transfer him to New Jersey, where kosher food is regularly provided to inmates.
  

• Bloomberg.com: Worldwide
  BP Shuts Pipeline on Strike, Cutting U.K. Oil Output (Update4)
  By Fred Pals
  April 27 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc shut a pipeline that carries 40 percent of the oil produced in the U.K. because of a strike at a refinery in Scotland that supplies power to the system.
  

I wonder how this is going to affect oil futures worldwide.

• 'Silence' appropriate
  [opinion]
  As a Binghamton citizen, I express my support of the Binghamton High School Gay-Straight Alliance in its observance of the Day of Silence.
  
  
• Star-Telegram.com: | 04/23/2008 | Commissioner recommends rejection of creationist program
  AUSTIN -- The Texas Commissioner of Higher Education has recommended that a state panel reject a school's proposal to offer a Bible-based online master's degree program to science teachers.
  
  
• AAAS - AAAS News Release
  The contemporary theory of biological evolution is one of the most robust products of scientific inquiry. It is the foundation for research in many areas of biology as well as an essential element of science education. To become informed and responsible citizens in our contemporary technological world, students need to study the theories and empirical evidence central to current scientific understanding.
  
  
• TPMMuckraker | Talking Points Memo | Schaffer: What Forced Abortions? I Didn't See Any Forced Abortions
  Bob Schaffer's Jack Abramoff problem isn't going away.
  
  
• Disobeying the Pope by by Robert D. Novak
  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the aftermath of the visit by Pope Benedict XVI, a troublesome question is asked by traditional Catholics: Did American pro-choice politicians receiving Communion at the papal masses indicate a softening on the abortion question by the pope? The answer is that it did not.
  
  
• Capital News 9 | 24 Hour Local News | TOP STORIES | Ralph Nader makes stop in Glens Falls
  GLENS FALLS, N.Y. -- Independent Presidential candidate Ralph Nader made a campaign stop in the North Country at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls.
  

  During Saturday night's event, Nader spoke about his campaign for presidency, corporate power and many other issues, including the occupation of Iraq. Nader says a six month deadline for withdrawal from Iraq is needed, with continued humanitarian aide. He also spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and what the government should do to help get a solution.

• Tectonic change in Nepal
  By Praful Bidwai
  4/26/2008 The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has created history by becoming the first Far Left current in any country since the end of the Cold War to come to national power through democratic elections. Not only has it scored a spectacular victory in direct first-past-the-post elections to Nepal's Constituent Assembly. It's leading in the Assembly's proportional representation (PR) component too, over its main rivals, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist).
  
  
• TheSpoof.com : Rosie O'Donnell Asked To Leave Reno After Earthquake Like Tremors funny satire story
  Rosie O'Donnell has been asked to leave Reno Nevada after her trampolining escapades resulted in more than 100 aftershocks being recorded on the western edge of the city.
  
  
• Muslim Rebel Sisters: At Odds With Islam and Each Other - New York Times
  AYAAN HIRSI ALI and Irshad Manji are two of the most prominent and outspoken critics of what they and others see as “mainstream Islam.” Brilliant, dynamic women — the overused word “charismatic” is not inappropriate for either one — they have each rebelled against a Muslim upbringing to become public figures with large and devoted followings. Both are successful authors: Ms. Hirsi Ali’s autobiography, “Infidel,” was a New York Times best seller; Ms. Manji’s combination memoir-polemic, “The Trouble With Islam Today,” has been published in almost 30 countries.
  
  
• Law aims for biblical literacy without proselytizing | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
  "David and his Goliath of ambition." That is how one newspaper article during the 2007 session of the Texas Legislature was headlined regarding Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Without any knowledge or understanding of the biblical story behind David and Goliath, this headline and its intended impression has little or no meaning. Without a second thought, the reporter or editor who crafted the headline unwittingly demonstrated that the literary influence of the Bible extends well beyond Sunday mornings.
  
  
• Murfreesboro and Rutherford County news from The Daily News Journal - www.dnj.com - Murfreesboro, Tenn.
  Stop everything in fear of terrorist attacks
  I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hays for pointing out the potential for the increased terror threat that Rutherford County would be exposed to if Bible Park USA was built. The only problem is that their thoughts do not go far enough. We should immediately discontinue the Rover and MTSU bus systems. I hope the rail system that Wilson County has doesn't come to Murfreesboro. There already have been terrorists attacks on mass transportation.
  
  
• 'Expelled' flops on silver screen - Entertainment
  "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" may just be the most appropriately titled movie to come out this year. For a movie that so brazenly insults the intellect of the viewer as well as the academics they attempt to discredit (without a shred of reliable evidence) there really isn't anything remotely redeemable about this steaming pile of cinematic garbage.
  
  
• Peace activist Cindy Sheehan plans to run for Congress - San Jose Mercury News
  SAN FRANCISCO—Peace activist Cindy Sheehan is starting to gather the signatures she needs to run for Nancy Pelosi's Congressional seat in November.

  Sheehan was at City Hall taking out the papers she needs for her independent candidacy on Friday.

  But she also needs the signatures of 10,198 supporters—three percent of the district voters—to get her name on the ballot.

  She acknowledges it'll be an uphill battle to take on Pelosi. But she says she's looking forward to collecting the signatures and talking to voters about her campaign.

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