"Darwin was the first to use data from nature to convince people that evolution is true, and his idea of natural selection was truly novel. It testifies to his genius that the concept of natural theology, accepted by most educated Westerners before 1859, was vanquished within only a few years by a single five-hundred-page book. On the Origin of Species turned the mysteries of life's diversity from mythology into genuine science." -- Jerry Coyne
José Raúl Capablanca was a Cuban and Spanish chess player who was world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. A chess prodigy, he is widely renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play.
Hello everyone. I'm a GM since 2005. I started in 2600 Fide Rating since 2010 and I have played 7 Olympics and a few individuals and team World Championships. I won a gold medal on the 3rd board in the 2015 Armenian Team Championship. I was Cuba champion in 2008 and 2011. I have been dedicated to training other players for more than 10 years. I'm currently living in the U.S.
If people want to believe in ridiculous religious fantasies they should be allowed to do that without being harassed by countries like Cuba and China.
But this shouldn't be a subject. Every religion and every god fairy ever invented is totally wrong. Supernatural nonsense doesn't belong in the 21st century. We know things these days. The god thing was never required for anything.
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Somebody else wrote this at the Wall Street Journal:
Americans should have the freedom to believe any superstitious nonsense that makes them feel better about themselves, no matter how devoid of evidence in support, or how overwhelming the evidence in opposition.
Just don't ask me to pay for it directly or indirectly through billions of dollars in tax exemptions. At the end of the day, all religions are simply businesses and they should be treated the same as every other business.
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Update:
A few hours later, as I expected, numerous god-soaked crybabies complained about what I wrote. Christians are fucking morons. I never met a Christian who wasn't a stupid fucking asshole.
Yo soy un hombre sinceroDe donde crece la palmaY antes de morirme quieroEchar mis versos del almaGuantanamera, guajira GuantanameraMi verso es de un verde claroY de un carmín encendidoMi verso es un ciervo heridoQue busca en el monte amparoGuantanamera, guajira GuantanameraCultivo una rosa blancaEn julio como en eneroPARA el amigo sinceroQue me da su mano francaGuantanamera, guajira GuantanameraCon los pobres de la tierraQuiero yo mi suerte echarEl arroyo de la sierraMe complace más que el marGuantanamera, guajira GuantanameraGuantanamera in EnglishI am a truthful manFrom where the palm tree growsAnd before dying I wantTo let out the verses of my soulMy verse is light greenAnd it is flaming redMy verse is a wounded stagWho seeks refuge on the mountainI grow a white roseIn July just as in JanuaryFor the honest friendWho gives me his OPEN handWith the poor people of the earthI want to cast my lotThe brook of the mountainsGives me more pleasure than the sea "Guantanamera" (Spanish: "from Guantánamo, feminine" indicating a woman from Guantánamo) is perhaps the best known Cuban song and that country's most noted patriotic song, especially when using a poem by the Cuban poet José Martí for the lyrics. The official writing credits have been given to Joseíto Fernández, who first popularized the song on radio as early as 1929 (although it is unclear when the first release as a record occurred). In 1966, a version by American vocal group the Sandpipers, based on an arrangement by the Weavers from their May 1963 Carnegie Hall Reunion concert, became an international hit. It has been recorded by many other solo artists, notably by Willy Chirino, Julio Iglesias, Joan Baez, Albita, Jimmy Buffett, Celia Cruz, Bobby Darin, Raul Malo, Joe Dassin, Muslim Magomayev, José Feliciano, Biser Kirov, Wyclef Jean, Puerto Plata, Trini Lopez, La Lupe, Nana Mouskouri, Tito Puente, Andy Russell, Gloria Estefan, Pete Seeger, Robert Wyatt (under the title "Caimanera"), and by such groups as The Mavericks, Buena Vista Social Club, Los Lobos, and the Gipsy Kings.
Media captionTear gas and water cannon hit Venezuela protesters on Wednesday
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó has called for an escalating series of strikes to force President Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power.
Mr Guaidó urged public employees to act on Thursday, saying the stoppages would lead to a general strike.
A woman was killed in clashes between protesters and security forces in Caracas on Wednesday, reports say.
Mr Maduro meanwhile dismissed suggestions he had been ready to flee and accused the US of directing a coup.
Those involved would be punished, he said.
Tensions over the crisis are also rising between the US and Russia.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US could take military action to resolve the crisis and accused Russia and Cuba of destabilising the country through their support for Mr Maduro.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Mr Pompeo that America's influence over Venezuela was destructive and a violation of international law.
Mr Guaidó declared himself Venezuela's interim leader in January and has been recognised by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and most in Latin America.
But Mr Maduro - backed by Russia, China and the top of the country's military - has refused to cede power.
How significant is Guaidó's latest move?
In a series of tweets (in Spanish), Mr Guaidó said the final phase of the "Operation Liberty" had begun and it was the turn of public workers to join in.
He urged protesters to stay on the streets until Mr Maduro's government would be finally forced to resign.
Mr Guaidó has been courting the public sector for weeks - but winning their support will be difficult, the BBC's Americas editor Candace Piette says.
For years, state employees have been told that if they did not turn up at government rallies they would lose their jobs.
So if the opposition leader does win them over, it will be a huge victory against President Maduro, our editor says.
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGESImage captionMr Maduro also addressed his supporters in the capital
On Wednesday both pro- and anti-government supporters held large demonstrations.
Both were initially peaceful but there were then reports of gunfire in the city. Later on Wednesday a local NGO, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, said a 27-year-old woman had been shot dead during a rally in the opposition stronghold of Altamira.
At least 27 people were injured in the clashes.
How did the 'attempted coup' unfold?
On Tuesday Mr Guaidó posted a video showing him with a number of men in military uniform. He said he had the support of "brave soldiers" in Caracas.
He urged Venezuelans to join them in the streets, and appeared alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo López, who had been under house arrest since 2014.
Supporters on both sides then gathered around Caracas throughout the day, and there were clashes between Mr Guaidó's supporters and armed military vehicles.
Media captionMilitary vehicles were filmed driving into demonstrators on Tuesday
Spain's government later said that Mr López and his family had sought safety in their embassy, but said the opposition figure has not claimed political asylum.
Media captionWhy Venezuela matters to the US... and vice versa
Governments who still back Mr Maduro - including Bolivia and Cuba - condemned Mr Guaidó's efforts as an attempted coup.
The Mexican government expressed "concern about a possible increase in violence" while Colombian President Ivan Duque urged the Venezuelan military to stand "on the right side of history" against Mr Maduro.
An emergency meeting of the Lima Group of Latin American countries has been scheduled for Friday.
Canada
United States
