JD Stockman
Skeptic. Atheist. Freethinker. Concerned citizen. Writer. I write about the things that matter to me, and do so for community and personal awareness; not just for myself, but for anyone interested in taking a moment to think.
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- 11/1/2010
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life experience, above average intelligence, professional tattooist of 10 years, studies the human experience in my free timeInterests
equal rights, opinion, atheism, evolution, tattoo, movies, music, philosophy, life, texas, hate, love, depression, crime, religion, humanity, society, education, science, self-empowerment, recoveryMotto
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Displaying Results 1 - 82 (of 82) for All Content
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Greydon Square and Tombstone Da Deadman: Atheist Rappers and the Anti-LabelYou find a lot of rappers drop a line in for God or Jesus; but what about particle physics and quantum mechanics? Greydon Square and Tombstone Da Deadman chop it up about breaking the rap mold and kicking it to the curb. -
What Happens when Your Faith BreaksThis isn't meant to judge every person that loses their faith, but to provide insight on the event of losing faith, as well as providing rational thought for the people trying to escape the void of faithlessness. -
Faisal Al Mutar: The Rationalist from an Irrational World Pt. 1Once our paradigm is defined, we like to think we would risk life and limb for them. I cannot say I have earned the right to make this claim because I met a man who is the result of a life testing that very fate: Faisal Al Mutar. -
The Failure of No Child Left BehindWhile the nation has been paying attention to the cacophony of misery that pours from the television and internet, the cracks in the educational system deepen and spread. Now, "No Child Left Behind" is entering college. -
Fissures in the U.S. Educational SystemThis is a summary of how we have failed our children and their future. -
In Considering the Optimal Environment for WritingThis is an essay discussing the perceptions of the perfect place to write. I've highlighted the primary points of interest, and even provided an example of my perfect place to write. -
The Human Experience 6: Malala Yousafzai Verses the TalibanThis slice into the events around Malala Yousafzai is less a look at her and more a look at those responsible for shooting her. You would have to be a monster to not sympathize with Malala, so I move on to question the Taliban. -
The Human Experience: RebootedJust a letter of notation for the readers. Oh... and some nonsense about bad movie sequels towards the end. It's all a fairly loose read. -
The Human Experience 5: The Ten CommandmentsHitchens, Carlin, and Jillette have all taken a shot at the "Big Ten" in their unique brand. Hitchens shared his personal Decalogue. Carlin offered a realist's take and chiseled them down to 2+1. Penn wrote "Ten Suggestions". I offer universal morality.
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Simplistic Suggestions to Stay SoberSometimes sobriety is as simple as deciding you wish to quit, understand why you were using, and then rejecting those reasons as sane. For people having a hard time managing the 12 Step, I offer an alternative. -
The Human Experience 4: Skeptical of SkepticismHave you noticed the level of common usage people are prone to in titling themselves as skeptics. It's easy to see how skepticism might be beneficial, but do we believe this because we have fully considered this or because it works so well scientifically?
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Neil DeGrasse Tyson Bonus QuestionsNot all questions actually make it to the interview. Sometimes, a question dead-ends on you. Sometimes, time or space becomes a problem and you need to pick a direction and trim it down to that. That means deciding what can stand to be lost. -
Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Space Mining, the Future of NASA, and Space Exploration for AmericaDr. Neil deGrasse Tyson could almost be said to have been called by the cosmos to serve as it's champion. Being the same age as NASA by just a few weeks and earning the place as one of the top astrophysicist in the world helps, of course.Also published on:
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The Human Experience 3: A Manifesto to the Fissures in EducationThe wealth of a country depends on the intelligence and productivity of its people, and America is in terrible need of repair. The benefit of good education is rarely seen until years down the line; the sooner we fix this, the better we will be.
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The Murder of an AtheistFor the most part, atheists deal with a level of passive-aggressive malcontent mixed with verbal condemnation for not believing in a concept that requires the abandonment of science and reason. Occasionally, this personal belief can lead to their death...
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The Human Experience 2: Valuing Life and DeathSometimes we are quick to call for the death of someone for ambiguous or vague reasons, while life is devalued for petty and superficial reasons. Do we really understand what human life is and what it isn't?
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The Human Experience 1: The Second Age of ReasonThe human experience is has become relevant globally thanks largely to the Information Age creating a level of interconnectivity in the world, bridging the gaps between people regardless of distance. That connection is creating grounds for a new age...
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New Vaccine for 90 Percent of Cancer Cases on the HorizonImMucin has passed its first human trial in the constant struggle to cure and prevent cancer. As of current, this new treatment has not shown any signs of failure; however, the broad ambition for this vaccine means trials will be long and extensive.
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Multiple Studies Blame Pesticides for Honey Bee Colony Collapse DisorderThree separate studies are blaming a nicotine-like pesticidal chemical called neonicotinoids for the strange disappearances of entire beehive colonies. Bayer CropScience has since come out in attempts to defend their pesticide against the claims.
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Riding Out the Dallas/Fort Worth TornadoesTornadoes can and will form without warning sometimes, and that is illustrated with the tornadoes that rocked the Metroplex in Texas one placid afternoon on April 3, 2012.
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Will Ferrell Selling Stupid Once More with "Anchorman 2" AnnouncementAmerica has been on a trend for the past decade or more of releasing "idiot comedies". Will Ferrell, the King of Celluloid Stupid and Obnoxiousness, has mistakenly green-lit his misadventures of the misinformed Ron Burgundy.
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Tennessee's "Monkey Bill" Passes House and Threatens to Hobble EvolutionThe Tennessee House of Representatives passed House Bill 368 yesterday. Now a distinct and specific education regarding a scientific understanding of evolution stands on the edge of being treated as equals to disproven theories without credit.
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"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter": the Hstorical/Gothic Fantasy/Action MovieIt isn't very often that a movie covers more than one contradicting genre. If they do, it usually falls into Sci-fi/Action/Drama (Star Wars, Star Trek: NG). Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is trying to cut a new niche: the Historical/Fantasy/Action movie.
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"Dark Shadows" Movie Should Have Stayed Buried Where Tim Burton Found ItDespite a cult following that has persisted for years, the movie adaptation of the classic gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" looks like it could have been something amazing; but ends up being ushered out like yet another gimmicky joke. For shame Burton!
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Racism Hiding Behind Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Law Leads to Death of Trayvon MartinNews of an unarmed 17 year-old being gunned down took the nation by surprise, but then the nation became horrified to learn after each detail surfaced, the murderer- George Zimmerman- is not only free, but defended by the law.
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Uganda Hunts for Kony, Russell Has Meltdown and Clooney Gets Arrested#KONY2012 produces an impact on events both internationally and privately. A multi-national troop to find Joseph Kony forms, face-of-the-movement Jason Russell cracks under physical and mental stress, and George Clooney is arrested for protesting Sudan.
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Murder of 16 Afghan People, Including 9 Children, by a U.S. Army SergeantOver the weekend, a US Army sergeant walked to a couple of villages a mile from the base where he was stationed and proceeded to kill and burn several citizens- including children- before returning to the base and turning himself in.
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KONY2012 and Invisible Children: Reality of a MovementIn the past few days, not knowing the name Joseph Kony is almost impossible. KONY2012 has become the single most viral campaign I have seen in a very long time; and when anything rises that fast, someone will throw a rock at it.
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Asteroid 2012 DA14's 'Tunguska Impact' on Earth Is UnlikelyPanic over the incoming Asteroid 2012 DA14 seems to be just that: panic. The odds of impact are extremely low for 2013; and the damage from a worst case scenario, though tragic, is hardly a worldwide threat.
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Aron Ra: Religion, Morality, and AtheismIn an attempt to pick at the brain of Aron Ra, I found a few key points that either he hinted to or I personally wondered about. The answers were genuine and honest... which means they will not always be kind.
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Aron Ra: The Reason Rally and Why it Should MatterI spoke with Aron Ra: Texas biker, former tattooist, and world-wide respected evolutionary intellect. This is a man on a mission. His goal: save the nation from madness. His method: intellectual debate, community effort, and now- the Reason Rally.
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Pitt, Clooney, and Others Show Support for Gay MarriageSaturday evening, a star-studded cast shows its support for repel of Proposition 8 with the reading of the play, "8". Pitt, Clooney, Sheen, Curtis, and many others perform a live reading on YouTube to draw attention to the unconstitutional law.
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Reason Rally: Giving Voice to the VoicelessOne of the more common misconceptions for the Reason Rally is that is an effort to "deconvert" the masses. Spokesperson Aron Ra informs me this is a lie and the rally is targeting those without faith, not with. The following explains why.
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The Reason Rally: Godless Doesn't Mean VoicelessThe secular community has long been one of the voiceless due largely to a very broad system of beliefs. After atheists survived fearing certain death in America, the collection of the unbelievers grew, and now with the Reason Rally, is becoming fortified.Also published on:
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Chardon High School Shooting Leaves 2 DeadYesterday morning, the day for a handful of Chardon, Ohio residents turned tragic as TJ Lane took seemingly long bottled up frustrations out on the lives of fellow students.
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Qur'an Burning Leads to Afghanistan Violence Once MoreIf there is one thing that has become acutely clear to the world, it is that burning the Qur'an will never be taken lightly in Afghanistan. In the midst of trying to withdraw from Afghanistan, it is becoming clear it will be anything but peaceful.
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From Tohoku-oki Tsunami to the Great Pacific Garbage PatchLast year we watched the tragic death and destruction of countless lives to the might of mother nature through a massive tsunami. The debris from that disaster has sense charted a course for the worst man-made marine disaster: the Pacific Garbage Patch.Also published on:
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Waterworld Discovered 40 Light Years AwayA new class of planet is now being recognized with the initial observation of GJ1214b complete. The newly distinguished "Waterworld" has scientists and astronomers rethinking their understanding of possibility for planets.
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Google Autonomous Technology Brings Driverless Car to NevadaGoogle has been working on autonomous technology for a few years through active application to driverless cars. Now, Nevada becomes the first state to let the self-driving car enter its roadways through the consumer.
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Creationist Rick Santorum's Speech Against Environmentalism Popular in OhioRick Santorum has gained a jump in the polls in Ohio this week, yet there are still people scratching their heads and wondering why. Aside from denying solidly proven science about the environment, he appealed to the highly religious in pious Ohio.
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Indiana Bill 1169: Schools Discipline Students While Off CampusIndiana House Bill 1169 is offering teachers a chance to manage students in relation to school while they are off-campus. Questions raise whether this is sound legislation or a fast-track to teachers trampling students First Amendment Rights.
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Alix Jules: The Man on the BillboardThe new sign on a billboard over I-35 southbound and Illinois Avenue has caught headlines in Dallas as a campaign for atheist group African Americans for Humanism launches to address the origin of some of history's more famous African Americans.
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New Developments in the Murder-Suicide of Josh PowellAs evidence and new details continue to surface regarding the murder-suicide of Josh Powell and his two sons, the case of Susan Powell's disappearance grows more complicated. Police have several pieces of the puzzle and hope to solve this soon.
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Atheist Billboard Up on Dallas's I-35The African Americans for Humanism has made a big push into the public eye, but members say this is only the beginning...
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Man in Black, Johnny Cash, to Have New MuseumJohnny Cash had built a career in music most people envy. After 48 years in music his name remains relevant even now, 9 years after his passing. He was recording music to his last days. Now, Nashville will be graced with a museum in his honor this summer.
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The Westboro Baptist Church, the Powell Boys, and Gay RightsOver the weekend, the outcome of a scenario no one could predict came to a close. Despite revolving around a terrible tragedy, the Powell boys' memorial went as is should: peacefully. This, thanks to some unlikely heroes of the weekend.
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Dad Unloads Gun into Daughter's LaptopTommy Jordan had come to the end of his rope with his daughter. His constant attempts to teach her respect and gratitude didn't seem to sink in... so he let his 45. do the talking.
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President Obama Asks America to Stand Against WashingtonThe pressure is rising and the two-month payroll tax cut that President Obama fought to get is about to come to an end. Now he is taking the offensive, and this time he isn't asking nicely.
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Maureen Walsh's Pro-Gay Marriage Speech Goes ViralMaureen Walsh caught the media and the Gay Rights movement's attention by breaking away from the Republican agenda to help vote in legislation giving marital rights to gay couples in Washington.Also published on:
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NASA's Dr. Loftus Invents Medical Marvel, the BiocapsuleFew people have earned the chance to save millions of lives, but Dr. Loftus might be counting himself among those people. The NASA scientist wanted to protect astronauts while in space years at a time. What he created was medical genius.
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No Child Left Behind Leaves 10 StatesNo Child Left Behind was intended to genuinely be a law to help improve the odds of your child getting an education. What it did is lower the universal education standard and create a principle of "just made it."
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On My Mind: Kentucky Fried Creationism Part 1There are certain things that get my blood boiling. The willful and misguided (and possibly not so misguided) corruption of the educational system is one of those things. This is my grief with the mismanagement of Kentucky schools.
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The Discovery of Lake VostokThe world waits in awe and concern as the Russian researchers breach the 20 million year old Lake Vostok. Here is a look at how we knew about the ancient lake and how the curiosity of Andrei Kapitsa might have prevented this from being accidental.
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The Sentencing of Child Thrill Killer Alyssa BustamanteThe last step in the now 18-year-old Missouri "Thrill Killer" Alyssa Bustamante being legally dealt with has come to an end as she was sentenced yesterday for the 2009 murder of a 9 year-old neighbor.
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On My Mind: Oklahoma Fetus FoodMy opinion on the story about Oklahoma's satirically worded bill against human fetus consumption.
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Breaking and Entering Lake VostokCelebration and cheer ignites... and immediately quiets again. The Russians have reported they have broken through to Lake Vostok. They say they have a sample of the ancient lake. They also say they can't take it home until next research season.
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On My Mind: Flu Right Over the PointWhen I wrote about the censorship fight over the research for the bird flu, I couldn't shake the feeling that the point was completely missed. We are fighting over showing the world how to die.
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A Brief History of Prop 8 and Gay RightsProp 8 is now on the last leg of its journey to being overturned. I offer a brief recap on the struggle of Gay Rights and marriage in California.
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The Origin of the 20 Million-Year-Old Lake VostokExtensive data has been compiled on Lake Vostok, shy of simply dipping into the lake. This is what scientist have concluded about the lakes origin.
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The Story Behind the Josh Powell Murder/SuicideThere has been a long and twisted road for friends and family of Josh and Susan Powell. Now, as this story closes, too many things remain unanswered and might not ever get an answer.
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Bank of America Struggling to SurviveThere have been a great deal of hatred for the bank that was caught with the 'hot potato' that is Countrywide. Now, in a dramatic effort to stabilize, Bank of America is pulling every stop out, for good or for ill. Will it be enough?
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Bank Transfer Day Gaining New MomentumSince the Occupy Movement kick-started Bank Transfer Day in November, many thought it was a good try. Now that the numbers are in on how many did transfer, "good try" might be changed to "solid hit".
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John Goodman, Manslaughter, and Adopting His GirlfriendJohn Goodman may have sealed his fate with the public regarding his image. Is this a noble sacrifice or a rich man's solution to protect his wealth?Also published on:
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Indiana: Evolution Vs Creationism (and Others)Senate Bill 89 has been passed with modifications. Now we wait to see if this bill will take off in the House.
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Don Cornelius Boards the Last "Soul Train"One of the arguably most influential figures in modern African-American culture is dead today. I'd like to look back just a little bit...
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President Obama Addresses Education ReformMany subjects have been outlined by President Obama to fix the economy in the past few weeks. Education seems to have a pivotal role in this.Also published on:
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Occupy Oakland ReignitesOver the weekend, there was a new twist to the Occupy Wall Street movement: as Oakland protesters redouble their efforts, Occupy members in New York where this demonstration started march in the name of Oakland.Also published on:
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Will Bird Flu Research Make it to Public Eyes?There is a critical debate on the future of the bird flu research. Many moral and ethical problems arise on whether or not to publish the findings, and little of this is clear cut 'black and white'.
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Kentucky Educational System vs. Creationist Theme ParkGovernor Beshear pushes for new cuts to the education system budget in his $19 billion plan but leaves the tax break of a controversial Creationist theme park alone.Also published on:
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Starbucks Moving Forward on Expanding to Serve AlcoholStarbucks is planning to expand its very limited trial of offering wine and beer at its locations outward to other states.
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The Truth Behind Oklahoma Outlawing Fetuses Use in FoodThis is information on the confusing and possibly outrageous origin of Senate Bill 1418.Also published on:
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The End of the Kodak LegacyThese are a few final words highlighting a national legacy to photography and film and it's many accomplishments.Also published on:
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Myths and Stereotypes About AtheistsI took some time to have a look at some myths about atheists. The myths people seemed genuinely concerned about that were not blatantly idiotic were collected and answered with my undivided attention. Enjoy.
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Movie Night: ThorInterested in seeing "Thor"? Here is a spoiler-free review of what to look forward to when seeing the movie.
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Proof of Faith: A Definition of the Many Aspects of Believing in SomethingFaith is a key element in the everyday life of the standard human. Some of them are glaringly obvious. Others are more sublime.
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Master of the Arts, Director Christopher Nolan: The Renaissance Man of FilmLondon born Christopher Nolan has made a speedy climb to the top over the past 10 years. If you are not familiar with him, here is a summary of his carrier and why you should become familiar.
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Epic Failure: Mankind's Worst Box Office SequelMany movies have failed to meet our expectations, but none have failed so horribly as a sequel than 'Batman & Robin'.
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Addiction and the Atheist: How I Stay Sober Without God on the 12-Step ProgramA fundamental breakdown of seeking sobriety through a 12 Step Program for atheists and a possible solution to make it work.
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4 Fundamental Reasons to Get a TattooHave you ever wanted a tattoo and just couldn't figure what to get? Here are 4 tattoo ideas to start you out.
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5 Rules that Were Made to be Broken, Ignored, or DismantledAre there certain things you like to do that you know others don't approve of; yet every time you do them, you do them with feeling?
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Top 10 Pieces of Advice I Would Tell Myself at 15What would you tell yourself when you were 15 and thought you were on top of the world? Here is a little advice I would hand myself.
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A Brief Account of Becoming an AtheistWhat is Atheism? How does one become an Atheist? Is Atheism evil? One man offers his view of a journey to Godlessness. It might surprise you where it ends up.