Steel City Skeptics

Starts

February 5^th at 12:00 am

Ends

February 5^th at 2:00 pm

Start the month off right. Come and join your fellow freethinkers/skeptics/humanists for brunch. And bring the family since this is a family friendly environment.

Hellafreakinlooya boys and girls, it’s official.  The billboard, and others just like it, are goin’ up soon around Colorado Springs.  I hope this puts the matter to rest, at least in Colorado Springs.

And what might be the objections to encouraging others to seek sanity and reason in their daily lives?  Wonder no more.  The geniuses at Colorado’s KKTV found some of the Spring’s more enlightened citizens to give us the low down.

Chris Mathews – MSNBC’s host of Hardball – suddenly discovered that one of his favorite guests was a troglodyte.

His discovery could help everyone to recognize early when they’re confronting a trog.

Recently, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution proclaiming 2012 to be “The Year of the Bible”. (Read commentary along with much of the text of the resolution in the Scranton Examiner http://www.examiner.com/atheism-in-scranton/pa-house-of-representatives-declare-2012-to-be-year-of-the-bible . Funny that there is no mention of this in the Post-Gazette. Maybe Ann Rodgers got to the story first.) This is so wrong on so many levels that in addition to being absolutely infuriating, it is almost mind boggling.

In the first place, it shows how completely hypocritical these idiots are. They take an oath of office in which they swear (on their book of fairy tales) to uphold and defend the Constitution. It goes like this:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey
and defend the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the
duties of my office with fidelity.”
They just swore this oath less than a month ago. And then they turn around and thumb their nose at the Constitution, completely rejecting the intent of the Establishment clause of the First Amendment.

Not only that, but the same conservative assholes that push this kind of nonsense through are the same ones that blather on at length about the importance of the Constitution and how we need to get back to following it and… and… – Yeah, right. Obviously, they don’t really believe that. Nor do they have even one shred of integrity.

But let’s look on the bright side. At least they have dropped any pretense of actually wanting to promote jobs and keeping the Commonwealth competitive into the future. By loudly proclaiming their devotion to ignorance and superstition, they have shown their true agenda behind the Draconian cuts to public education and the school voucher proposals – namely the destruction of public education. Forget what their oath of office says about discharging the duties of their office with fidelity. Instead, let’s keep the populace even more ignorant so they are even more easily manipulated.

Where: The Quiet Storm Coffeehouse (5430 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

When: 2/2/2012

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45674582/

Hi Everyone,

Our topic this month comes from Chris:  picking our battles.  As atheists and nonbelievers, we are a minority and an oft maligned group–how do we choose when to defend our rights and valuesand whento back down?  Which situations are worth your intervention, and which are not?  Some examples: debunking; opposing nativity scenes or prayers on public property; debating with individuals; legal actions.  How do you prioritize your personal battles, and how can we prioritize our actions as a movement?   

To get the discussion started, here is an recent example of a 16-year old girl who sued her school over a prayer hanging on the wall.  She won the suit, but has been discriminated against by businesses, individuals, and even legislators in her community: here’s a video of Jessica Ahlquist being booed at a school committee meeting.

See you there!

*Our monthly discussion group at the Quiet Storm Coffeehouse in the East End.  They have a great menu that’s veggie and vegan friendly if you get hungry. I post the discussion topic a few weeks in advance, so stay tuned for more information!

Please note:  The Quiet Storm continues to be a wonderful meetup site for us.  Out of respect for the servers and for everyone’s convenience, please approach the front counter to order and pay for your food or drink separately.  In this way we will avoid combined checks and interruptions to the group, and they can ensure we get the best service and individual attention.  Thanks! :)

Thursday, February 2 at 7:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45674582/

Starts

January 25^th at 7:00 pm

Ends

January 25^th at 9:00 pm

Join Nicole and the rest of the Pittsburgh Secular Freethinkers gang for a night of chasing away the chill with some warm cider. Of course, if cider is not your thing, there is always wine or other things.

www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/

Where: Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar (300 39th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201)

When: 6:30PM TONIGHT

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45637872/

Is it cold yet?  Do we need to warm up?  Or do we just want to try Pittsburgh’s most awesome cider house?  Let’s head over to Arsenal Cider House and Wine Cellar in Lawrenceville and tip back a few, civil war style.  Aftwerward we can head on down to Piccolo Forno or Tram’s Kitchen if drinking only makes you hungrier. :) 

Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/45637872/

Starts

January 24^th at 7:00 pm

Ends

January 24^th at 9:00 pm

The fourth Tuesday means that it’s once again time to partake of the hospitality of our ever gracious host, Bill H., and socialize with like-minded friends. So come on out and join us. For more information or directions, email pgh@centerforinquiry.net or call BillK at 412-384-5893.