UNITED WE STAND - AT LEAST ON ONE ISSUE APPARENTLY

Despite the perception that American Citizens are universally divided against themselves, there do appear to be things that most Americans agree upon. For example, it appears that American citizens of virtually every political point of view agree that America's ubiquitous system of financing campaigns with “donations" not only appears in conflict with the United States Constitution’s most basic ideals, but also creates the appearance of - and opportunity for - bribery.

War makes it legal to kill people on the industrial scale. Success is uncertain, and killing both “combatants” (formerly soldiers) and “non-combatants” (formerly civilians) is acceptable - under certain circumstances. International law(1) and ethical ideals forbid "pre-emptive" war against people who might attack in the future – but allows people under attack to defend themselves with defensive and aggressive deadly force. Therefore, pre-emptive war appears to facilitate, if not guarantee, the outcome it supposedly prevents.

Available through The Brookings Institution website, Religious Expression in American Public Life: A Joint Statement of Current Law could be a useful tool for anyone interested in remaining free from government intrusions into personal beliefs - or lack thereof.  Unfortunately, representatives of non-believer groups were apparently not a part of the drafting process.

Freethinkers have their very own on the ground helping in Haiti.Humanist Charities(HC)is working with Sebastian Velez, evolutionary biologist at Harvard University and director of the Children of the Border project.
Mr. Velez is currently in Haiti assessing the situation and will report back to Humanist Charities an organization that can receive funds directly to help with relief efforts. If none is found, HC will make a donation to the American Red Cross' International Response Fund on your behalf.

The Pikes Peak Skeptics Society is holding their monthly Drinking Skeptically event.

Drinking Skeptically is an informal social event designed to promote fellowship and networking among skeptics, critical-thinkers, and like-minded individuals.

Drinking Skeptically provides an opportunity for skeptics to talk, share ideas (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. We discuss the issues of the day and whatever else is on our minds. Most of all this event is about having fun.

Everyone is welcome even if you do not drink.

For more information please check out:

http://www.meetup.com/pikespeakskeptics/

Weather permitting, there will be a hike on Sunday, January 17th. The hike will be the trails around Ute Valley Park. There are several trails from which to choose. They are all relatively easy trails. The parking lot is off Vindicator Drive a bit east of Centennial Blvd, but is very small and very crowded on weekends. Therefore, we will carpool from the Woodmen Valley park-n-ride, which is just south off of Woodmen Road just west of interstate 25. We will leave the Woodmen Valley park-n-ride at 10:00 AM.

The Colorado Springs Streetcar Feasibility Study will hold public meetings on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at 30 South Nevada Avenue regarding the possibility of (re)implementing a streetcar system in Colorado Springs. 

http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=2831

For millennia, humans have celebrated the winter solstice (the actual "reason for the seasons") at this time of year.

National Geographic: Winter Solstice 2009: Facts on Shortest Day of the Year

Why Darwin Matters

by

Michael Shermer

Freethinkers of Colorado Springs

Membership Meeting

7:00 to 9:00 PM

315 East Costilla in Colorado Springs