The latest, greatest edition of Carnival of the Liberals is now at The Otherwhirled. Hop on over for your biweekly best of the liberal blogosphere. Edition #67 will be in 13 days on June 18th at Globally Rational. 

Carnival of the Liberals #65: Skepticism In Politics is at my place, Neural Gourmet. Right here.

Brave Sir Robin at Sir Robin Rides Away posted the 64th edition
of the venerable Carnival of the Liberals on Friday. We've been having
trouble getting posts, plus there's been a couple of complaints about
all the themed editions so Sir Robin dropped his theme this time out.

I also had a theme for Carnival of the Liberals #65 scheduled for Wed., May 21 at my blog, Neural Gourmet
but in light of how things have been going lately I'll make it
optional. So if you have something to say about skepticism and American
politics, please do. Otherwise, go with your usual schtick. I'll post
something after the relaunch of Neural Gourmet on Monday.

Batocchio has posted this biweek's edition of Carnival of the Liberals
with a focus on human rights. The ten posts he selected, all well worth
your time to read, can be found at his blog Vagabond Scholar.

Edition #64 will be on brought to us courtesy of Brave Sir Robin
on May 7th with a May 5th deadline. The theme this time is "Thinking
Liberally, Thinking Positively". That's right, no nattering naybobs of
negativity this time around! Check the call for submissions at the link
for the details.

Before I lose your attention completely, the theme for Edition #65
is skepticism and critical thinking in American politics. #65 will be
hosted by me
on May 21st. I'll post a formal call-for-submissions type post in a few
days but of particular interest to me are instances where skepticism
and critical thinking have given way to irrationality and how those
instances have shaped politics. Conspiracy theories,
anti-intellectualism, global warming (and other forms of) denialism,
and reactionary populism all fall under this general rubrick and there
are plenty of examples both historical and current.

Larry has posted the latest edition of Carnival of the Liberals over at A Revolution Of One, this time with a new media theme. A very nice mix of contemplative posts in this one. Oh, and while you're checking Edition #62 out, do give the post a Digg if you can. It not only helps Larry, but it helps increase the visibility of Carnival of the Liberals which helps everyone out with more readers. Thanks everyone for being patient while Larry put together this biweek's carnival.

Edition #63 will be on April 23rd at Vagabond Scholar's place courtesy of Batocchio. The theme for this edition is "human rights". You'll want to give the call-for-submissions post a read to see exactly what Batocchio has in mind.

As you might know, I was on Hans Meyer's Situation Awareness radio program this past Saturday talking about Carnival of the Liberals. If you couldn't tune in you can listen to the show on the Free World Radio Network's site or (hopefully if the embedding works) with the widget to the left.

As always, I really enjoy doing these sorts of things, and besides, it got Hans to volunteer to host Carnival of the Liberals! I think I'm becoming more comfortable talking extemporaneonously although I've got to relax more (if only to get rid of that high pitched edge to my voice). Perhaps in the future, if I ever get my act together, I'll start my own skepticism podcast. Although, I've got to say, Brian Dunning's Skeptoid would be hard to beat.

In any case, thanks go to Hans, FWRN, and Blogtalk Radio. I look forward to doing the show again sometime.

I'm beginning to think that Carnival of the Liberals should come with a warning sticker. Something like: WARNING: HOSTING COTL WILL CAUSE WAR, DISEASE, PESTILENCE AND RUPTURING OF THE SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM. Well, maybe that's a little bit hyperbolic but it does seem like our hosts have had more than their fair share of troubles this year. In any case, Alicia has recovered from her computer woes and posted the 61st edition of CotL over at Last Left Turn Before Hooterville. Lots of really smart, thought-provoking posts this time around so go give it a read before your hard drive crashes.

Up next is A Revolution Of One on April 9th. This is a themed edition focusing on new media. Check the call for submissions post at the link for the details but basically the host is looking for posts that either incorporate or talk about new media. This is a great idea I think and I just know we're going to get a ton of incredible submissions for this one.

Also, I'll be Hans Meyer's guest on Situation Awareness (part of the Free World Radio Network) this Saturday, March 29th at 10AM EST talking about all things Carnival of the Liberals. From what I understand, it's a call-in show so if you've got a question about CotL, give the show a call and we can chat directly.

One more thing before I let you go... I'd like to do a special edition devoted to skepticism and critical thinking in American politics on May 21st. Of particular interest to me are instances where skepticism and critical thinking have given way to irrationality and how those instances have shaped politics. Conspiracy theories, anti-intellectualism, global warming (and other forms of) denialism, and reactionary populism all fall under this general rubrick and there are plenty of examples both historical and current. I realize this isn't an area most of you write about every day so I wanted to give everybody who is interested in participating a heads up and hopefully we can expand the range of blogs contributing to Carnival of the Liberals.

Mike at Tangled Up In Blue Guy may have declared Carnival of the Liberals #60 the Dance of Death but don't let the downer of monicker stop you from reading some great liberal blogging. While it's doubtful that any of us are unfamiliar with any of the topics covered in this edition it's important to be reminded of how strange and macbre things have become over the past years. So go give TUIB Guy some respect and see what has your fellow bloggers bummed.

It looks like this is a busy week for Mike. In addition to this edition of CotL, he's doing Tangled Bank this week and he'll be hosting the Minnesota Atheists radio show next Sunday at 9AM. You can listen in via the magic of the web. In other news, I'll be Hans Meyer's guest on Situation Awareness (part of the Free World Radio Network) on March 29th at 10AM EST talking about all things Carnival of the Liberals.

Next up on Carnival of the Liberals is Alicia who can be found just beyond the Last Left Turn Before Hooterville. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Alicia this past November at Americans United For Separation Of Church And State's national meeting in DC. You'll definitely want to get a copy of her book The Price Of Right wherein she neatly dispenses with the myths the right wing has used to sell Conservatism to the American public.

One more thing before I let you go... I'd like to do a special edition devoted to skepticism and critical thinking in American politics on May 21st. Of particular interest to me are instances where skepticism and critical thinking have given way to irrationality and how those instances have shaped politics. Conspiracy theories, anti-intellectualism, global warming (and other forms of) denialism, and reactionary populism all fall under this general rubrick and there are plenty of examples both historical and current. I realize this isn't an area most of you write about every day so I wanted to give everybody who is interested in participating a heads up and hopefully we can expand the range of blogs contributing to Carnival of the Liberals.

PS: I lied. There is one other announcement. My partner and
I have started a food blog featuring not just recipes, but also local
restaurant and vendor reviews, as well as general commentary on all
things edible. So if you enjoy food you might also enjoy Food In The Fort

Manila Ryce posted Carnival of the Liberals #59 early this morning over at The Largest Minority and boy did we have a bunch of contentious submissions this time around. Fitting as it should be for the liberal opposition to the conservative status quo. Won't it be grand when we can get somebody, anybody back into the White House and steer the conversation back to talking about ideas and progress rather than just how much everybody in power sucks? Even if that somebody isn't our personal somebody? Anyhow, go give this fine batch of liberal blogging a read.

Next up is Tangled Up In Blue Guy on March 12th, but before I let you get back to your dinners let me give a couple of shoutouts. First, big thanks to Hans at Free World Radio Network for helping support Carnival of the Liberals. Secondly, props to everyone at Freethought Fort Wayne, the finest bunch of atheists and agnostics you're likely to meet in Fort Wayne, Indiana aka The City Of Churches. Freethought Fort Wayne is organized under Center For Inquiry Indiana.

Well, we may have had that little tiff a couple of hundred years or so back but that little thing wouldn't stop Carnival of the Liberals. And so the 58th edition and second Anglo-American edition of Carnival of the Liberals is up at Liberal England. 10 posts from us Yanks, and 10 posts from our British friends. Would have been up sooner, but Jonathan had to have his tea before he finished.

The Largest Minority is up next time on February 27th but Carnival of the Liberals needs hosts. In fact, we pretty much need to fill every slot from April 9th onward. If you'd like to host, check the schedule and then hit the volunteer form or shoot me an e-mail. While the wonderful submissions we continue to get, almost unbidden, are the heart and soul of Carnival of the Liberals we wouldn't exist if it weren't for our hosts. So if you've contributed to CotL before but have never hosted, why not give it a shot? It's fun!

Karl over at World Wide Webers posted the latest installment of Carnival of the Liberals earlier today. There's something for everyone from iPods to porn (sort of), so don't forget to catch up on this biweek's best liberal blogging.

Next up is Liberal England in two weeks on February 13th. Just like the last time, this will be an Anglo-American edition of Carnival of the Liberals with posts from both sides of the Atlantic. Keep on sending that great liberal blogging!

Also, Carnival of the Liberals needs you! In particular we need a February 27th host but the schedule is wide open from March through the end of the year. So head on over to the CotL site and volunteer today.

Fran at Blue Gal posted the latest edition of Carnival of the Liberals earlier today. Carnival of the Liberals has resumed its normal bi-weekly schedule with the next edition on January 30th at the World Wide Webers. Keep on sending that great liberal blogging!

Karen at The Greenbelt posted the latest edition of Carnival of the Liberals earlier today. Despite it being an odd week for CotL due to the scheduling change we still had a good number of excellent posts sent in.

Carnival of the Liberals #56 is next week, Wednesday, January 16th over at Blue Gal's place after which CotL resumes its normal schedule on January 30th at the World Wide Webers. Keep on sending that great liberal blogging!

It's posted. Finally! Carnival of the Liberals #54
at Neural Gourmet. Apologies for the extreme lateness. To make up for
it we've adjusted the schedule so we're actually going to have Carnival
of the Liberals this coming Wednesday and the Wednesday immediately
following. This will allow us to get back on schedule. Details in the
post.

Also, I still need hosts, particularly in February and March at
this stage. What I'd really like to see are people who have never
hosted before step up to the plate, but our old friends are always
welcome. Volunteer here.

Want this badge?

Dear CotL hosts,

Over the weekend I upgraded the Carnival of the Liberals site to the latest release version of Drupal as well as tried to get things all set up for Year 3 of Carnival of the Liberals. As part of the upgrade I finally got around to creating a newsletter specifically to handle all things CotL hosting. Now all we need is some hosts!

I've got the first edition this Wednesday, December 5th but from there on out the field is wide open. So if you'd like to host this year just use the form on the CotL site (link below) or reply in e-mail. Either way, let's try to fill up the December and January slots first. Don't forget to include two dates in case your preferred date is taken.

Lastly, I'd also like to see a lot more new submitters this year (who will hopefully also become hosts). If you can, try to encourage some of your bloggy friends who haven't participated in CotL to start sending in entries.

Liberally yours,
-- Leo ("tng") Lincourt
http://www.neuralgourmet.com
http://www.carnivaloftheliberals.com

Carnival of the Liberals Year 3 Schedule

Just a friendly reminder that Carnival of the Liberals #53 is coming up Wednesday, December 5th, 2007. This is the first edition of our third year! As such it's our annual best-of edition. Here's how it works:

Last week about a dozen other bloggers and myself attended Americans United For Separation Of Church And State's national meeting and 60th anniversary reception in Washington, DC. In addition to getting to meet and discuss issues with a large number of enthusiastic, committed activists, chapter leaders and bloggers there were sessions designed to hone our organizing, fund-raising and lobbying skills. Personally, it's sometimes disheartening observing the casual abuse and disregard of our first freedom in this time when religious extremism holds such sway. However the opportunity to join together with both believers and non-believers alike was a great reminder that very many people do take separation of church and state seriously and went a long way toward giving me renewed hope that this freedom that so many take for granted won't be thrown aside because AU will be there fighting for as long as it takes.

So when Beth Corbin, AU's National Field Director and proprietrix of Yikes! volunteered to host this edition of Carnival of the Liberals it was only natural to make church-state separation the theme and dedicate it to AU. Beth's edition is up now. Go read and enjoy.

CotL #52 also marks the end of Carnival of the Liberals' 2nd year. Two Wednesdays hence will be our annual best-of edition hosted by me at Neural Gourmet. I'll post/e-mail details tomorrow. Lastly, I'm now scheduling hosts for our 3rd year. Please e-mail me if you'd like to host. We reward our hosts with extra rations of rum and hard tack. As for the rest of you, the beatings will continue until morale improves.

Blue Steel over at Pollyticks.com has your bi-weekly fix of the all that's good in the liberal blogosphere. As always it's great to see some new faces amidst all our old friends.

I also wanted to mention that I'll be headed to DC this weekend. Americans United for Separation of Church and State has invited myself and several other bloggers down to participate in organizing, fund raising and lobbying training, not to mention help AU celebrate it's 60th anniversary. I'm not sure who all is coming but I'm told that among those attending will be Blue Gal, DCup, Phil Plait, and PZ Myers. Wonder if I can finally convince DCup and Phil to host Carnival of the Liberals? In any event it'll be great to meet so many of my bloggy friends in real life.

Speaking of carnival hosts... Next bi-week's edition of Carnival of the Liberals is the very last edition of our 2nd year. Hosting will be BAC from Yikes! who will also be attending AU's DC blogger meet-up. To commemorate AU's 60th anniversary we'll be making this edition dedicated to AU. Carnival of the Liberals 52 is seeking submissions on separation of church and state. As usual we'll run the ten best submissions (as determined by BAC) but we'll also be running posts from any of the DC attendees who wish to contribute.

Sorry everyone, I'm a little late getting this out but you've got to read this bi-week's Carnival of the Liberals. Faith at That Is So Queer... has what can only be described as the best rhyming edition of Carnival of the Liberals to date!