Hello, and welcome to another segment of the Filipino Freethinkers’ weekly news updates! It has been a very busy week on the net, compounded by a mix of some truly interesting, and truly depressing news.
The tech geeks among you will probably have heard of the prototype touch pad that has been unveiled in India recently. At just $35 dollars, it’s definitely going to be a serious competitor for the likes of the iPad. Its inventors explained that the device was intended to be used for the education market, so if Dick Gordon’s still serious about using the Kindle for classrooms, you might want to give him a ring.
In other good news, we also have historian Ambeth Ocampo’s ongoing series of talks over at the Ayala Museum. The second talk just concluded this Saturday, but you can still catch up for his August and September lectures.
There’s also the matter of Phil Plait’s upcoming show on Discovery Channel, Bad Universe. I have no details yet, but based on the trailer that was recently taken down by youtube (Booo!), it will cover some of the more prominent theories on how the universe can destroy earth (killer asteroids, alien invasions, etc.) Doubly awesome is that the format will use copious amounts of Mythbusters-style explosions.
As for the bad news, Desmond Tutu has recently announced his plans for retirement. I’m not a very big fan of religion, as many of you know, but I have come to respect Tutu for his progressive thinking and tolerance. It saddens me that he is stepping down at a time when the religious community need people like him the most.
There was also the matter of the three near-simultaneous earthquakes that recently rocked Southern Philippines, and the passing of pinoy comedian Redford White. In any case, just click on the links below for more details, and be sure to visit the News Thread at the forums for further updates.
Oh yeah, and before I forget: Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty is launching this July 27.
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Friendly Atheist interviews Burn-a-Koran-Day founder (via The Friendly Atheist) Link
Desmond Tutu announces retirement (via The Daily Beast) Link
How to Convert an Atheist (via Greta Christina’s blog) Link
Three intensity 7 earthquakes rock Philippines, Moleman wanted for questioning (via The Hindu Business Line) Link
WBC trolls San Diego Comi-Con. Where’s your Batman now? (via Comics Alliance) Link
India’s $35 iPad contender (via BBC) Link
New Discovery Channel show: Bad Universe (via Discover Magazine) Link
How Sexism Hurts Men (via The Blowfish Blog) Part 1 Link, Part 2 Link
Ambeth Ocampo does Ayala (via The Philippine Star) Link
R.I.P., Redford White (via Yahoo News) Link
woohoo! Phil Plait! go Bad-Astronomer go!