Hello Humanists and Friends,

Tonight we have Coffee & Conversation. We will be talking about how the City of Warren, MI must pay $100k for denying an Atheist ‘reason station’ next to a ‘prayer station’ at city hall; How Bill De Blasio has pushed for the inclusion of Muslim holidays on the public school calendar and to removed consent form for oral-suction circumcision rituals for Jews; how Costco is being sued for religious discrimination and a man suing Applebee’s has no standing for burning himself on a fajita-skillet while praying; we will be talking about the Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court once again; the Justice Department’s report on the Ferguson MO police department; how marriage equality is now almost in Nebraska; how Ben Carson apologize for calling homosexuality a choice; how Mars had a vast, ancient ocean; and other things (articles below).

Next weekend we have C&C as well as a discussion on the surge of religious-conscience objections: science, discrimination, and reproduction. The new policy preferred by those who  can no longer contravene the valid secular law necessary for a just and equitable society is to “opt-out” as a modern social-conscientious objector. Our heard-immunity bolstered by mandatory inoculations has been suffered structural insecurities by those who avoid their social responsibility of vaccinated their kids. We have also seen organizations like the Human Rights Campaign distance themselves from their hallmark work (i.e., the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) as those formerly offering the greatest obstacle to full civil and social equality now portray themselves as victims. Though it hits the news in matters of bakers refusing to bake wedding cakes for gay and lesbian couples, this issue runs far deeper and has a greater intensity of toxic effects. Lastly, the reproductive freedoms established in the last 50 years are under a new wave of assault. Join us for a Third Sunday monthly Humanist Meeting (Sunday, March 15th, 6 p.m. at the Joyce Beers Center).

Lastly, coming up in May, we will be holding a Day of Reason Party. Stay tuned for that.

Here are your articles for C&C tonight.

-Jason

Coffee & Conversation:[masked]

1. Who/How Are You/
2. Upcoming
3. Interesting Incidentals
   1. Artist included “blue dress” into Clinton’s official portrait http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/03/02/artist-claims-he-included-lewinskys-blue-dress-in-clinton-portrait/.
   2. White Christians now a minority in 19 states: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/05/white-christians-minority-america_n_6811484.html.
   3. “I’m an Atheist, but I have no interest in joining your movement.” http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/25/i-am-an-atheist-but-not-joining-atheism-movement?CMP=share_btn_fb.
   4. Study on the Average Penis Size: http://news.yahoo.com/penis-size-researchers-long-short-065620878.html.
   5. U.S. Security Demands on exportable Consumer products have led to a fatal security claw in computers: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/03/03/freak-flaw-undermines-security-for-apple-and-google-users-researchers-discover//
4. Separation of Church & State
   1. City of Warren, MI must pay $100k for denying Atheist group a ‘reason station’ next to a ‘prayer station’ at city hall. http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2015/03/warren_must_pay_100000_for_den.html.
   2. De Blasio has announced inclusion of Muslim Holidays to public school calendar http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/03/04/de-blasio-to-announce-addition-of-muslim-holidays-to-city-schools-schedule/.
   3. De Blasio to lobby the NY Board of Health to waive consent forms for oral-suction circumcision. http://7online.com/religion/orthodox-jews-and-de-blasio-reach-agreement-on-circumcision-ritual/533233/.
5. Pernicious Piety
   1. Islamists Continue to destroy
      1. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31760656
   2. Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi may now face the death penalty http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raif-badawi-the-saudi-arabian-blogger-sentenced-to-1000-lashes-may-now-get-the-death-penalty-10077877.html. 
      1. Spike in Executions since Salman’s Coronation: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-executions-now-at-unprecedented-rate-after-kingdom-kills-four-more-in-two-days-10085646.html.
   3. Former Employee Suing Costco for Religious Discrimination: 
      1. http://7online.com/religion/former-employee-suing-costco-for-religious-discrimination-/532866/.
      2. New Jersey man can’t sue for “burns while praying.” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/new-jersey-man-cant-sue-applebees-for-burns-suffered-while-praying-over-sizzling-fajita-skillet/#.VPiUyCatZ6E.facebook.
6. Politics
   1. Bernie Sanders on the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement. http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/the-trans-pacific-trade-tpp-agreement-must-be-defeated?inline=file.
   2. Affordable Care Act: The Court hears the case.
      1. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/03/sotomayor_saved_obamacare_she_may_have_convinced_kennedy_and_roberts_in.html?wpsrc=fol_fb
      2. http://www.forwardprogressives.com/justice-scalia-makes-look-like-fool-obamacare-arguments/
      3. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/when-the-subject-is-obamacare-never-forget-about-chief-justice-roberts/2015/03/05/e12b0ec2-c36e-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html.
   3. U.S. Running out of places to put our extracted oil: http://news.yahoo.com/us-running-room-store-oil-price-collapse-next-171025276--finance.html.
7. Human Rights
   1. Race:
      1. Ferguson Report shows systemic racism:
         1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/04/us/justice-department-finds-pattern-of-police-bias-and-excessive-force-in-ferguson.html?_r=0.
   2. Privacy Rights
      1. http://thefreethoughtproject.com/supreme-court-rules-cops-warrant-search-home/#tLbdkQEh0ihSx6g4.99
   3. LGBTQ
      1. Positive
         1. Marriage Equality: Nebraska now has it, Republicans lobbying the court for it, 
            1. One Nebraska County Clerk is ready: http://www.ketv.com/news/nebraska-clerks-offices-react-to-samesex-marriage-ruling/31571426.
            2. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/corporate-america-tells-the-supreme-court-that-gay-marriage-is-good-for-business/#.VPptfjU0G98.facebook
            3. http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/eighth-circuit-court-of-appeals-postpones-same-sex-marriage-in-nebraska-pen utm_content=buffer1699d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=hrcsocialteam
            4. http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/03/06/a_ton_of_republicans_just_asked_the_supreme_court_to_rule_for_gay_marriage.html
            5. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/06/gay-marriage-supreme-court_n_6819712.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013.
         2. More than 100 Arkansas Businesses sign equality pledge: http://arkansasnews.com/news/arkansas/more-100-arkansans-businesses-sign-equality-pledge.
         3. U.S. now has an LGBT Rights Envoy: http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=70431.
      2. Challenges 
         1. Ben Carson
            1. Says Being Gay is a Choice (e.g., Prisons)
            2. Apologizes: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/04/ben-carson-apologizes-prison-gay_n_6804464.html.
         2. Equal Rights To… GOP lawmaker says that denying service is ok, 
            1. http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/_they_don_t_have_a_right_to_be_served_in_every_store_says_gop_lawmaker_about_gay_people
   4. Reproductive:
      1. Colorado Debates Whether IUD’s are “contraception” or “abortion” http://nwpr.org/post/colorado-debates-whether-iuds-are-contraception-or-abortion.
   5. Animal Rights: 
      1. Ringling Bros. to Give Up Elephant Acts within the next three years: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/df575148221544f4adaf3bea2adbb635/apnewsbreak-ringling-bros-eliminating-elephant-acts.
8. Science
   1. Are we “under-using” our brain, and is it leading us toward failure? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2976614/Is-satnav-harming-brain-Scientists-warn-use-modern-technology-linked-memory-loss-depression-later-life.html.
   2. NASA finds evidence of vast, ancient ocean on Mars http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/mar/05/nasa-finds-evidence-of-a-vast-ancient-ocean-on-mars.