text:
By Jason Miks
GPS digital producer Jason Miks sits down with renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, author of the Selfish Gene and An Appetite for Wonder, to discuss readers' questions on religion, its role in society and whether children can be described as "Christian."
A number of readers noting your skepticism over religion's role in society ask whether an absence of religion would leave us without a moral compass?
The very idea that we get a moral compass from religion is horrible. Not only should we not get our moral compass from religion, as a matter of fact we don't. We shouldn't, because if you actually look at the bible or the Koran, and get your moral compass from there, it's horrible – stoning people to death, stoning people for breaking the Sabbath.
Now of course we don't do that anymore, but the reason we don't do it is that we pick out those verses of the bible that we like, and reject those verses we don't like. What criteria do we use to pick out the good ones and reject the bad ones? Non-biblical criteria, non-religious criteria. The same criteria as guide any modern person in their moral compass that has nothing to do with religion.
So the moral compass of any person is very much a part of the century or even the decade in which they happen to live, regardless of their religion. So we live in the early 21st century, and our moral compass in the early 21st century is quite different from 100 years ago, or 200 years ago. We are now much less racist than they were, much less sexist than they were. We are much kinder than non-human animals than they were – all sorts of respects in which we are labeled with a moral compass. So something has changed, and it certainly has nothing to do with religion.
You've been travelling to the States from the U.K. for a number of years. Have you noticed much of a change in the place of religion in the two countries over that time?
Notoriously, the United States is the most religious of the Western advanced nations. It's a bit mysterious why that is. In Britain, Christianity is dying. Islam, unfortunately, isn't. In Western Europe generally, Christianity is dying. Even in America, the figures show that religious adherence is being steadily reduced, and the people who now record themselves as having no religious affiliation is something like 20 percent. Many people don't recognize what a high figure it is, and so politicians here who feel they have to curry favor with religious lobbies should maybe take a look at those statistics and realize that not everyone in this country is religious.
You say it's a bit of a mystery why America is so much more religious than other advanced countries. Do you have any thoughts on why it might be? Tied to that question of disposition, several readers also wondered if there is a genetic predisposition toward faith?
There probably is, but I don't think that really explains why America is so different from Britain. The least implausible suggestion that I've heard is that Britain and Scandinavian countries, which are also very non-religious, have an established church, and that kind of makes religion boring. Whereas in America, there is constitutionally a bar against an established church, and that could be one reason why religion has become so popular – it has become big business, it has become free enterprise, rival churches vie with each other for congregations and especially tax free ties.
Some readers see you as very evangelical in your atheism. Do you feel it a duty, just as some Christians might to share the word of God, to spread an atheist point of view?
Duty is a funny word. But when you say evangelical, I like to think that I don't shout or shriek, but employ a quiet, sober voice of reason. And reason is on our side.
You've talked about feeling uncomfortable with the impact of religion on children. In fact, one reader asked whether you would prefer to see no under-18s at church. What's your take?
I certainly wouldn't wish to prohibit parents influencing their children. However, for the rest of the world, to label a child a Catholic child simply because its parents are Catholic, seems to me to be a form of child abuse. The child is too young to know.
You can see the absurdity of talking about a Catholic child of four when you think what it would be like if we talked about an existentialist child of four, or a logical positivist of four. In other words, we wouldn't accept the labeling of a child based the parents' belief, so why do we accept it when it's religion? Why does religion get a free pass when it comes to labeling children in this way?
Do you knôw the chances of a pool of proteins truck by lightning to make human life as we know it today? Your chances of taking a rock and saying I pronounce you alive, are better than what the odds were of life being formed frrom elements like this. The unbelievable billions to one odds to have a conscious life on an inhabitable planet. From nothing.
Keep touching yourself and pontificating about your religious morality, pal!
On snap. Lets make a stupid comment unrelated to my point. You told me!
Evolution by natural selection is more nuanced than you are thinking of it. It isn't just about lightning striking something. In fact, I don't think Darwin ever even mentioned lightning, you should actually read the origin of the species.
Who said I was referring to Darwin? Actual comscios Life supposedly came from some random lightning strikes of a protein pool and elements . Maybe you should read up on the science that you profess to follow.
Actually no it isnt. Your explanation of one theory misses key aspects of what makes abiogenesis so complex yet simplistic. For one it doesn't use lightning as the only energy source and two no random pool is considered the precursor to all life. In fact early stages of our planet contained vast oceans compromising of various chemicals. These theories simplify the fact that these chemicals would have naturally bound together in the presence of catalytic reactions and the source of these reactions being anything from UV radiation(earth had no oxygen based atmosphere then), lightning, thermal vents, and even the elements themselves(such as nickel). Now through these reactions polymers came into existence way before any proto cell ever arose. And through time everything evolved naturally as more polymers bound with other polymers(creating simple DNA or RNA) and life arose through the very first or perhaps multiple first cells which could have happened in multiple places around the world(vast ocean). Simple biology.
Yeah, religious people who think gods just randomly showed up and started creating things can't compete in the real world of science.nits a shame.
Nothing random about it. Atheist think all of this complexity, energy and matter just "happened"
There's nothing random about a god randomly showing up and creating everything? Wow, man. You are too far gone for me. Atheists do not maintain that the universe is random. Natural selection is the opposite of a randomized process. It is a process of cause and effect.
Hey m.o.r.o.n, once upon a time, 99% believed that the earth is the center of the universe!
There is a huge difference between people not being aware of things before they are discovered and the general religious concept of a higher order of life. Exploration proved there world was connected on the other side somehow but the concept of a planet was hard for most to grasp before we could fly over the surface and see the planet. As we see more of the universe around us our knowledge about that universe expands. Evolution explains the mechanism that allowed for higher orders of life and we can trace those changes on this planet but it does not tell us why. There is so much out there that we do not know yet and we have not discovered. Some of it might be beyond what we will ever see considering how vast the distances in the universe are. The fact that we do not see or hear life on far distant planets does not indicate weather or not they actually exist. The religious concept of a higher order of life might never be proven but that alone is never going to be proof that a higher order of life does not exist. Your insistence in the idea that there is no possibility of a higher order is just as closed minded as the people who insist that the world is 6000 years old despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Personally ... I keep an open mind with a great curiosity in what we can still discover. The truth is out there somewhere.
Just shows more and more that Atheism is a religion of it's own.
No it doesn't.
Religion is the belief in a supernatural being (a god, a spirit etc.). Since atheists don't believe in that, atheism cannot be a religion. Or what's your definition of religion?
except that as an atheist I am ok with your religion and all religions as long as they don't hurt anyone, dont' cram it down my throat and don't attempt to impose your beliefs in my life. Your religion, like all of them are out to turn as many people as possible, not because of some desire to bring us into the fold but rather to bump up your numbers, increase your revenues and take all the joy out of life. Since after the 2010 the fastest growing "group' was atheism, I am confident that your numbers are going to soon be a joke.
I see this a lot, the deluded acolytes trying to claim that we're a religion just as much as they are. And I wondered, why would this be so important for them to try and convince everyone that atheism is a religion no different from their own. I can only figure it must make them feel a little less stupid for having such inane beliefs. So fine, if it makes you all feel better and you feel less like burning people at the stake then yes, we atheists are adherents of a religion just like you.
I'm not comfortable with any politician pandering to any religion. Whether it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Atheism
right m.o.r.o.n
it would make sense this happened by accident. My guess would be that an infinite number of times an infinite number of universes exists. And given enough times, this would happen.
I'm aware of this postulate... But it makes no sense to me.
Too many issues with matter and energy.
Obviously there is no God sitting on high on his throne, but the Eastern view of God, as the total of everything in
the Universe with no no separation from each other and the world around us,
fits the view of current Physics, both micro and macro.
So I guess you're pretty dumb to believe that an omnipotent and omniscient being "just happened"?
Oh, you used all caps. Well now I am convinced! It was definitely the capslock that convinced me. Well done!
Actually, the position of most atheists is to admit that they simply don't know what created or initiated the Big Bang. This is a perfectly rational and reasonable position on this issue. What is "ludicrous" is for people to ascribe creation to a specific deity of their choosing and claim with absolute certainty their deity is behind it all.
nobody said anything about an accident, You can see all types of complexity in nature and the world in general all around us on a daily basis. Cause and effect, we change the world just as much as it changes us. You are only your religion because you were born in a specific country and your parents made sure to braiswash you from birth. No matter how much religion is proven wrong, now matter how evil it really is, no matter how much you try to ignore all the rules of your book because it doesn't fit in modern times, you still seem to not question.....have you ever wondered why? you would still believe there is a santa clause had your parents kept that ruse up. think about it, you are only the religion you are because of where you were born....period.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; but give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish
IF the Earth were "created" by some being of higher intelligence for our benefit, then why are there so many ways it can go horribly wrong? We live on a climatic knife edge and there are places on the planet where humans cannot survive. Death is everywhere.....so many ways to innocently come to one's end on this rock. So, God was created by man because man is an animal who fears everything-and we humans have created a LOT of them. So we tell ourselves the invisible man in the sky has it all under control in spite of the fact that it refuses to offer any evidence and instead insists on blind faith as a "test" of our gullibility...and I will be the first to say if there was ANY evidence that there is a God who smiles on his believers and keeps them safe, I.E. believers were reliably spared horrible deaths, or always got "A's" in school, or had a better moral track record than non-believers, then I might be inclined to grant the believers a point or two.
Instead, we are told we don't find out until we die, and that's a One Way Street....no one has ever brought evidence of an afterlife, good or bad....and if an omnipotent and omniscient being can't find a way to convince anyone without threats of a horrible demise, then......
Atheists get courted all the time. The problem is that the ways that it is done are less obvious.
How so? Be sure to differentiate between secularists and atheists since they are not the same thing.
Secularists believe in the separation of church and state. They may or may not belong to a religion or believe in a higher order of life. It does not mater to them what other people believe as long as it is not dictated to others through government.
Atheists want to end any feeling that a god or higher power exists. It bothers them that other people have those feelings which they feel are ridiculous. Religion is a threat in their mind.
This doesn't do anything to explain how we are courted.
You wanted to be sure that people knew the difference so I explained that I did know the difference.
Please don't speak for atheists – especially when your definition is way off from what I can see...
Courted? In some states we cannot even hold public office or testify in court. Boss finds out that you are an atheist and you cannot sue. I was stabbed in junior high school. Stabber said that he was justified because I said that I was an atheist. Principal agreed. We are not courted, we are asked to leave. I wish that I could move to UK or Scandinavia. But, they would probably assume that I am a religious maniac.
Make that a habitable planet.
define habital
Life as we know it on Earth is specifically adapted to planet Earth. If we look around at life here, it is easy to believe that life could only exist on a planet like ours. I think life could exist on any planet that has any cycles with large enough changes in entropy.
Then you would be wrong. Billions upon billions of supposedly random happenings had to occur to have conscious life on a habitable planet occur from a universe that came from a single point of mass, that came from nothing.
and how many planets in universe to try for the billions of random happenstances. If you get a large enough sample size, you can make an improbable event probable. P = 1 – (1-chance of event)^number of trials
Ted, learn how to shut off the cap lock key, then you can talk about how smart you are.
sit, stand, kneel, stand, sit, kneel, pray, pray hard, pray really hard to win the lotto, pray so hard it hurts and you can't pray no more and then pray some more. Kneel, heel. Like the dog you are, obey.
so you're telling me as religions around the world are going down violence and drug abuse and disease are all going up. kind of sounds like we are losing our moral compass
homicides per capita has steadily decreased over the years (well, it went up during WWI and WWII). It is the lowest it has ever been.
your mistaking more coverage of these events as technology gets better with an increase in the evil in the world. Statistically we are right on track with the amount of "evil" things which happen in the world, some years more than others but each year less then historically tracked. Try to understand that your religion went through exactly what the muslim world is going through currently, they are 1400 years old and when your religion was 1400 years you were stomping around Europe forcing people to convert and outright killing them all in the name of god and your man made book.
Some have argued against the probability of spontaneous generation of life.
There are countless planets in the universe. Lets call the probability of spontaneous generation of a self-replicating compound(i.e. life) on a specific planet in 1 earth year PL. The probability of life spontaneously forming anywhere in the universe is 1-(1-PL)^Number of Planets in the universe * number of years.
Obviously, PL is really, really small, but the number of planets in the universe is really, really large.
We can't replicate this kind of sample size in the lab.
Atheists are politically dangerous because they are so intolerant. The proof? All the insults and death threats I'm about to receive.
@Magister – crickets.....
death threats?? you are tooooo funny. Your beliefs are laughable at best.
Don't mistake pity for malice. Yes it's frustrating dealing with the brainwashed, anyone can tell you that. But that shouldn't make us lose our patience with you. Let me apologize for those that have (unless of course you begin by insulting them). People tend to universally react to hostility with hostility, doesn't matter what you do or don't believe in.
But still, we as the adults in the situation need to be more patient since we're dealing with people inculcated at childhood. It takes patience and understanding. We'll get there.
Burn in hell demon!
You have a right to believe in whatever you want, as do I. Atheists are some of the most tolerant people in the world - we have no dogmas to line up behind. Our compassion comes from within ourselves, not from the guidelines of some ancient scripture.
Atheist by the definition is intolerant. Anti Theistic ( anti religion) is an active belief that a higher order does not exist and people need to be purged of that idea.
Agnostic is the absence of the belief in a higher order of life. They could care less what other people believe but are willing to entertain the Idea of a higher order of life if any such proof is found.
You got some pretty interesting definitions of belief. I'm an agnostic atheist – is that OK with you?
I don't believe that absolute knowledge of the existence of god can be proven (agnostic), but based on the lack of evidence, I don't believe there are any (atheist). I'm not an anti-theist, but I will call BS when I hear it, no matter what the source.
Darwin created the idea of evolution by natural selection, the process which you are so pitifully attempting to speak about. I read plenty of science books, guy. I'm just laughing at how dumb you are.
You're pretty stupid if you can't recognize to what I'm referring. Like I mentioned, reading a book on actual science might help you to support your apparently pitiful idea that you follow, you know- actual science.
It's however way funny that a believer has to inform you of basic scientific ideas.
No, it's the other way around. I'm the one explaining things to you.
Really? Do it then. Life is said to be formed from a plasma of proteins being struck by lightning. Apparently this is new scientific news to you.
Dillisuioned – Says who? Who are these people saying that life started when lightning struck a pool of goo? I know of quite a few theories of abiogenisis (notice – NOT evolution) but I guess I'm not familiar with these.
Religion is just another name for a fraudulent scam. It relies on presenting the impossible as probable, lies as the truth, and myths as tools for fools. Religion is not a guide for moral values. It's quite the opposite as we well know. Divisiveness is its main feature. The Bible should never be taken seriously. Rather, it should be taken to the nearest landfill and deposited there anongst the other trash.
Most of the crooks I've encountered are Christian!
I am proud to be an atheist but I don't believe atheists should push their own agenda on others just as Christians shouldn't. Whatever makes you feel better going to bed at night is your business. I was raised by a devout catholic family and even as a child I knew something wasn't right. I would look around at other parishoniers and get scared by how brainwashed they seemed to me. So as I got older and did research the answer was obvious to me. Religion especially Christianity denouces knowledge. It doesn't want you to think for yourself! Take the story of Adam and Eve. They get punished for eating fruit off the TREE OF KNOWLEDGE! I could never believe in something that doesn't promote intellect.
And that is exactly why it is worthy of atheists to be publically outspoken.
If it was really a situation of live and let live then I agree. But it's not. We had a madman start a war (that I had to fight in, mind you) because a god told him to. That deserves to be spoken up against. There are also states that don't allow atheists to hold public office and serve on juries. How is that not discrimination. If you can't discriminate against blacks, jews, tall people, or gays then you shouldn't be able to discriminate against people who don't share your delusion. That deserves to be called out.
Atheist is a religion. Atheist is anti the concept that god or any high order of being exists. They do not want to have anything to answer to. Their main goal in life is to disrupt any thought of a higher being by others since they are the center of the universe.
No that isn't true. That's just your hate speaking.
My main goal is to be a drummer. Doesn't have anything to do with my atheism. My atheism is the least important aspect of who I am, it's just because I always have to fend off people like you that it seems important to me to you.
Atheist by the definition is intolerant. Anti Theistic ( anti religion) is an active belief that a higher order does not exist and people need to be purged of that idea.
Agnostic is the absence of the belief in a higher order of life. They could care less what other people believe but are willing to entertain the Idea of a higher order of life if any such proof is found.
Your reaction alone is proof that your Atheism is an active belief. None of my comments have have been for or against the existence of a higher power. My comments are based on the dictionary definition of atheism and scientific discovery but you find even that is a threat to your active belief.
Atheist comes from anti theistic. Theistic is religious. Therefore atheist is anti religious which is an active belief.
atheism is nota religion. it is simply lack of belief in any deity. how can that be a religion?
Agnostic is the lack of belief in a higher order/god. The word Atheist comes from anti theistic or in simple terms anti religion. Anti is an active belief unlike the agnostic who could care less either way.
I answer to myself, and I am a harsh judge. Jesus forgives Christians if they acknowledge their sins and believe in him. I am a much hasher judge on myself than that.
HA! Such drivel. A bartender, a maid, a truck driver or a clerk could have said as much.
If god created me then why did he make me an atheist?
I did not realize your parents were god since it was their actions that created you. You might want to ask them about the mechanics involved.
you sound bitter, UpsetVoter
No matter how many times you copy/paste those definitions, they'll still be wrong...
Me = Agnostic Atheist. Get it?
I myself had religion forced upon my at a young age - school, church, the whole 9 yards. Not Catholic but Protestant. I had no choice in the matter, and it was through a great deal of mental anguish that I realized I just don't believe in the supernatural. I believe in the Golden Rule, and being a decent human being generally, but I have no desire to believe things like the rest of humanity who doesn't agree with me either a. gets tortured eternally or b. gets death, depending on your view of Christian hell doctrine. If you choose to believe that yourself, fine, but please do not expect the rest of the world to without proof. And no, books are not proof.
Well said Willow, just plain common sense 🙂
90% of the people reading this article are believers. 10% are not believers (most of those, about 8% are agnostics, meaning they don't know what to believe). So lets say 2% of the people reading this are atheists. Yet, the vast majority of the comments on here are obviously left by atheists because they are so hateful towards believers. So to sum up, 90% of the people who read this article (on average) are not atheists and about 2% are. Yet most comments are left by atheists. Conclusion: Atheists have nothing better to do all day but sit around and leave anti-christian comments on CNN articles. Thats just sad... and one wonders why that is.
Where did you get these numbers and percentages from? Are you telling me that you have personally been with every single person who has read this article and asked what their beliefs were? I am glad I don't follow ignorant sheep like you. You sound so much like your religion right now. Making up facts to try and save face. This is hilarious. I thought you people were supposed to have love in your heart for all of "God's" creatures. I guess that pertains only to fellow christians.
So atheists commenting = sad existence with nothing better to do
Christians commenting sad existence with nothing better to do
Do I have that right? I'll give you deluded acolytes one thing, you guys have hypocrisy down to science. I mean, wow!
What? I don't see any atheist being hateful. We actually don't care whether you believe or don't believe in a god, as long as you don't try to force it upon us. More power to you if believing in god helps you! You on the other hand seem a little hateful, so I'm not so sure it's helping your compassion much.
Scientists do not join hands every Sunday and sing "Yes gravity is real! I know gravity is real! I will have faith! I believe in my heart that what goes up, up, up must come down, down, down. Amen!" If they did, we would think they were pretty insecure about the concept
People can choose to believe what they want, but when you base your argument against something (in this case, religion) on a literal interpretation of a translation of an allegorical/poetic text and demonstrate no understanding of the time or place in which it was written you pretty much have no credibility. In other words, you are no better than the religious zealots. Offer me some hard proof and I'll believe you, otherwise you are just blowing smoke up your own butt.
That's a really good point that most "believers" steadfastly refuse to wrap their heads around. When was your dogma written? what was happening in the world at the time? Who wrote it? what was their influence?, etc etc etc. If you look at all belief systems Man has had for just the last 8,000 years or so, you will see quite an evolution to religion. The next ones coming will probably last longer than just a few thousand years because they will incorporate much more of the knowledge that has been gained since the last ones were written.
Religion will be the death of the human race.
as a Realist I don't see atheist pushing anything. However the religionist do,, the sheep.
I understand that religionist live by the fear of death and hope of some afterlife that's never been seen or proven to exist,, and they buy the vapor that's sold to them.But they should really keep their witchcraft private,, away from other kids.
I prefer to treat religion as po–rn as it should be and away from children. Religionist pollute children.
Dawkins seems to be pushing his beliefs. So do you.
your beliefs are merely an opinion. That's right,, your god is nothing more than an unprovable opinion.
Mr Dawkins is talking of logic and common sense,, the normal stuff some people do.
The problem isn't with people pushing their views on others. The problem is when those views aren't informed. I'm an atheist and I'd gladly try to share that with everyone. The only reason we think being vocally in favor of your own system is such an offensive thing is because religions have done such a horrible job of it. There is nothing wrong with telling someone else they are wrong though.nif they are mistaken then they are mistaken, and you do them more justice by telling them so than by avoiding the issue.
I am an atheist. Dawkins is not using logic. Logic relies on following premises to their conclusions, but he is choosing poor premises, mooting his point.
sorry you pretend to be an atheist deep blue.. The proof you are stands out in your post.. Yes,, Dawkins used logic and common sense. Don't expect you to understand that though. Fear is your ruler.
and world peace, don't forget about world peace
How dismal it is to see present day Americans yearning for the very orthodoxy that their country was founded to escape.
It is not the only cause that affects human existence and consciousness. Like I said if it is, then why not advocate for the killing for sick and elderly peoplle that can't contribute to our society. But We are more than that.
religions and dictators do enough killing already,, no wonder you bring up religion.
Now you are just changing topics and trying to bring up the whole baby eating stereotype which is so dumb. ago read "the moral landscape" by sam harris. He wrote an entire book about this topic. I dare you. You don't even identify any other causation, you just say "there is something more" while waving your hands in the air like a magician, I presume.
Off the top of my head – because I may be old or sick one day so maybe treating those people well is to my advantage...
You are right. I don't know what you are talking about because you don't make sense. Evolution by natural selection is as established in science as the theory of gravity. It is the basis for all of the study of biology.
It is not the only cause of human evolution. If atheists believe this, then why dont they advocate for the eradication of our sick and elderly that can't contribute to our society and use our resources.
Wy use a hospital, when natural selection would allow people to die. Why wear glasses, when if you have trouble seeing you should die off naturally. My save your sick kid with medicine.
If you believe that there exists a universal moral code, then your actions or inactions are morally equivalent to similar actions or inactions by others. With that simple premise, we derive the golden rule. As I child, I would want to be cared for. As a visually impaired individual, I want to be able to see. As an elderly person, I would want to be cared for. And, by applying principles universally, it is easy to see that I should treat others as I would have them treat me.
Why not kill yourself if you think you are going to get to meet god and be in heaven?
On what basis or framework do you pin your morality? If you don't believe in soul or good or evil?
I do believe in good and evil. When did I ever say I didn't?
And my morality comes from within.
Your morality comes from a set of past religious views that have long been established as acceptable in our society. As does most everyone's. lets face it people pretty much follow the basic tenants of what the bible has said in terms of treatment of each other. Te Ten Commandments.
Then that's not natural selection.
Disillusioned: Understanding biology doesn't mean you want people to die. You are making outrageous connections. If you learn how microwaves worked, would you feel compelled to put every being and object into a microwave? Natural selection is an observable process. We don't need to do anything for it to happen. And there is no reason for us to want to add or reduce selective pressures just because we know how it works.
No biologist thinks natural selection is the only evolution force, far from it. YOu are very ignorant about this subject. And it's bizarre that you think people who understand biology should want to kill old people.
What's amusing here is that your personal example of what you think is contradictory to natural selection is actually an example OF natural selection.
"Wy use a hospital, when natural selection would allow people to die. Why wear glasses, when if you have trouble seeing you should die off naturally. My save your sick kid with medicine."
In humans, Natural Selection highly favors group support and the use of technology. So in hospitals we see very very intense selective pressures for social support, problem solving, and technology us. Glasses are a perfect example of how natural selection now favors people with access to the technology of eyeglasses- just like natural selection favors crows who use tools for food.
You clearly do not understand what natural selection is and what it is not.
I have a very clear understandiing of what natural selection is. It is letting nature take its course on the sick and weak. To establish compassion for others that are, is the mark of a society that does not let itself only be ruled by simple ego and the fallback excuse of mere evolution. . Simple animals let the wilds of nature take its course. Altruistic ideals are what have kept so many people alive, by far one of the most abundant species today, the ideals of a higher meaning of existence than he who does with the most wins. I don't need your lecture on biology. I have a quite crlear understanding of how it works. Bit dont think its a squirts of chemicals that make humans worth saving minus souls and spirit. And most atheists know it.
"I have a very clear understandiing of what natural selection is. It is letting nature take its course on the sick and weak."
Then we have found the problem straight away! That is not, in any way shape or form, what natural selection is!
You are confusing biological natural selection with the social movement of social darwinism (with which darwin had no part and it was not based on biology, but sociology).
Natural selection is the simple, observable, factual process that:
1) when there are genetic traits that are inherited + 2) different rates of reproduction for each individual = A second generation that has a different genetic make up than the first. And those differences will reflect which traits increased reproductive success and which did not.
It simply means that the organisms that reproduce pass on their genes and that the ones that don't reproduce, do not pass on those genes.
You are so misinformed. Natural Selection is an observable process, not a philosophy that we should do or not do anything.
There are people that takes the ideas of natural selection and apply them socially. What do you think manifest destiny was. What do you think Aryanis, , is. What do you think lazed afire capitalism is. What do you think hitler fought about. Wake up. Ipauot putting words in My mouth. My biology teacher was a nun. I don't need your pontificating about what I think of biology teachers.
Disillusioned, You are so ignorant it's upsetting.
Just because someone uses an idea inspired by a biological process by name, does not mean that that suddenly becomes the definition of that biological process.
You've made it clear that you can't distinguish between biological processes and people's opinions of sociology. I tried to educate you about what natural selection is- and you ignored it. You have no interest in reality.
And the fact that your understanding is based on your high school nun's bio class makes it all clear to me how you could be so poorly educated about biology.
You're sad to hang onto your ignorance like it's a good thing. Somewhere I suspect you now you're ignorant about biology. I suspect at this point you are just too embarrassed to admit it.
I feel pity for you.
Ww i Know you like to patronize but may I inform you I don't need your lectiure on biology. Thanks but I took it already very a quite capable teacher amd yes, the biological process and the thinking that succeeds it are not difficult to link and many, many people have done so. I'm sorry that you are too ignorant to make the connection yourself.with your various degrees.
Always a good laugh when the religious folk start trying to explain it in science terms.
Is satan alive and well or what folks.
No, satan doesn't exist.
the man made satan,, let's also not forget the anti-christ.. You know, the guy created to get the mass delusionals attack those who live by common sense.
Religions had many years to practice their manipulations. They create fears in the mind of their sheeple.. And when that doesn't work, they label those who threaten them with common sense.
Well if he was you'd have only your sadistic god to thank for it since he made him knowing full well what he would turn into right? Or is god only kind of omniscient, usually only on Thursdays? Talk to Yahweh about this devil you fear so much. We had nothing to do with it.
There was a time when religion ruled the world. It is known as the Dark Ages
I've found similarities in dictators and religions..
1) they love to control people
2) they fabricate stories they expect you to believe
3) and they use fears to make you believe their made up stories
let's also not forget,, both groups have caused more harm to innocent women and children. Quite a similar bunch.
4. Money!
Let's not forget the most important reason. Amazing how a deity can be so omnipotent and still basically become a panhandler.
The idea that people "pick and choose" verses from the Old Testament to follow or not follow is the reason that religion is a fallible source as a moral compass is logically flawed and intellectually dishonest. Christians...those who follow the teachings of Christ...are not people who practice Judaism, which is the religion of the Old Testament.
As an atheist, it saddens me to see prominent atheists using flawed arguments to justify being unilaterally dismissive of the possible good that can come of religious teachings. Certainly, teaching others to love each other as yourselves and to turn the other cheek are valid...even honorable moral compass headings.
It is good to invalidate religious teachings that have been hijacked by certain individuals to further their own ends and agendas; however, claiming that religion should never be a source for moral guidance is just preposterous. The problem is not that Jesus taught to be an honest, empathetic, honorable and kind person...the problems is how people INTERPRET those words to create mechanisms to control people for power.
JR...here is the problem. As you stated, it is "good to invalidate religious teachings that have been hijacked by certain individuals". Okay, this comes back to the point you made about people picking and choosing. Yes, there are good AND bad things taught in the bible. The question Dawkins raises is...how do you determine which is which? And the answer is that you already have your own moral compass. Religion is not necessary to be good or bad.
It is a delusion that "you have your own moral compass"; morals are LEARNED behaviors and reflect a person's environment, upbringing and many other things. As a natural being, humans are predators and spent millennia working out way to the top of the food chain on this planet. The notion that we all have inherent moral compasses is preposterous.
The problem isn't whether or not their moral teachings help. Certainly that alone benefits society. The problem is that they claim morality itself. Good deeds from the church are attached to their religion as proof of their own moral standing. Claiming moral authority gives religion power. And generosity wins adherents. The problem comes down the road when that position is used against outsiders, be it atheists or believers. This is a common method of any societal structure, whether it's religion, government, or even smaller groups like sports teams. It's a form of marketing, really. I mean, good marketing. Lol.
All I keep hearing is "Athiest is a religion". I guess this is because the religious nuts just can't really comprehend anything else. They are entirely incapable of removing themselves from their delusions and so they project them on others in futile attempt to grasp the really very simple concepts that athiests and other nonbelievers embrace. Things like common sense, logic, and science.
and if they want to call atheism a religion,, then perfect. That allows atheist to put up signs around schools where your brainwashed children go. And the signs can read.. 'There is no god kids,, make your parents prove it without question...
You see, signs as that will help kids cope and shake the fears. Brainwashing starts to vanish.
Indeed. Notice that they don't like the followers of other gods that much but nothing really gets their dander up like someone who doesn't pick a god (or gods) to worship. It's like their saying to us that we have to pick one. Which leads me to believe that they're really just scared that their fellow acolytes will start to follow our example.
Don't fear deluded ones, I'm sure the threat of eternal torture will keep them in line. Especially if you start young enough.
Wait a sec. If atheism IS a religion we've got a lot of perks coming our way. I'm thinking holidays, tax benefits, traditions(I've always been jealous of their traditions). We need to stop requiring people to think, and just give them low-entry, silly stories to keep them interested. People shouldn't have to work so hard to join us. Shakespeare knew. His plays are riddled with low-brow crowd-pleasing scenes. Let's follow his and religion's lead.
suddenly every atheist thinks they're a scientist.
suddenly every atheist thinks he or she is a philosopher.
On some level I would have to say that most athiests are philosophers. It takes an open mind and the ability to ask yourself difficult questions and challenge certain concepts to wade through the religious crap.
corey you keep telling yourself that why? to feel mentally superior to non atheists? your iq is genetically predisposed – your iq of 60 will not just raise simply because you tell yourself you were able to "challenge the concept of religion."
And every theist thinks they speak for god, pen-day-ho
I'm not comfortable with any politician pandering to any religion. Whether it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Atheism
Atheism isn't a religion
False. I am an atheist and I do not consider myself a scientist. Stop lying.
Why can Christians preach about God and set up churches all around but when an atheist speaks about what it is to be an atheist, they get crucified for it?
It's surprising how generic this gentleman's view of religion is. Nevermind the fact he doesn't understand, in other than a very stereotypical way, the definition of "evangelical" he neglects to address the fact that by his definitions you can change morals to whatever you want if you define them by societal means. Say what you want, but I see way more "evangelical" athiests nowadays than I do Christians.
morals are subjective,, In fact good deeds and good behavior are created by secular societies, not religions. Religions still can't get it right.
That is not what Dawkins proposes. Read the book "the moral landscape" b Sam Harris so you can learn a little bit more about what atheists actually think.
To be an atheist, and declare yourself so, still has social stigma associated with it. I believe there are many more who don't declare themselves for that reason. It's easier to stay quiet. What that means is – those who declare themselves atheist already have a propensity to be vocal.
Because religion poisons everything.


text:
This line has been designed to offer today's women the support they need to reveal their assets and feel beautiful and desirable, whether it's for a night out or all day long.
Although invisible under your clothes, Body Wrap® will give you immediate visible results, creating the illusion of a slimmer, firmer, younger, sexier, well-toned figure.
Industry research and advanced technology led to the manufacturing of unique cuts and paneling. By having panels with different levels of control in each style, Body Wrap® maximizes the slimming effect on strategic points of the body while enhancing others to create perfectly tailored body shapers.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
$ 12.00
Please note: we do not sell plants, flowers or gemstones at Delta Gardens. Our flower and gem essences are energetic tinctures.
We ship anywhere in the world through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Please contact Steve directly for help with international orders - firstname.lastname@example.com
Enhances shamanic work; strengthens insight, intuition and clairvoyance
$ 355.00
Honduras was the fifth country to yield a set of flower and gem essences. The country's diverse climate and topography - mountains, jungles and shorelines - are home to a host...
$ 12.00
For those who fear being seen; helps to relieve self-directed anger; provides energetic support for throat irritations and viral rashes
$ 12.00
Aligns passion and reason; for disconnected feelings and impulsiveness
For Assistance:
Sign up for events, news and posts.
With the exception of the Home Use Set, Delta Gardens essences may not be relabeled or resold - either singly or in custom blends - without our written permission. Thank you.
© 2020 Delta Gardens. Powered by Shopify


text:
Calendar | About Us | Contact Us
In 1972 the County Auditor was given an additional title of Commissioner of Elections by the legislature. In addition to federal, state and county elections, the Commissioner of Elections then assumed the duties of all city, school, and special elections.
The Commissioner prepares and supervises the printing of ballots and/or programming of voting machines, as well as orders all election supplies. The Commissioner conducts Schools of Instructions, according to law, for all precinct election officials and is responsible for their employment on Election Day. The Commissioner also prepares and monitors the processing of all absentee ballots in order to aid voters who will not be voting at the polls on Election Day.
As Custodian of the Election Returns and Records, the Commissioner certifies the results to the state or subdivision involved and issues certificates of election to the proper persons.
Other duties of the Election Commissioner include:
Online Voter Registration
Election Calendar
Information for Candidates
In 1975 the Auditor became the County Registrar of Voters with the implementation of a state-wide voter registration law. The Auditor is responsible for maintaining the current records of residents desiring to vote and purging the records of those no longer eligible to vote. The Auditor is then able to prepare the necessary lists of qualified voters for each election.
Information for Voters
Am I registered to vote in Iowa?
Where do I vote?
How do I vote Absentee?
Absentee Ballot Request Form
Voter Registration Form
For more information on the Auditor as Commissioner of Elections:
Iowa Auditors Elections
Iowa Auditors Election Presentations


text:
It can get better and we can help.
We all know how isolating OCD can be, it can make you feel trapped and cut off from the rest of the world. In this section of our website you can find out about the support that is available to anyone affected by OCD. Finding the right support and building up a support network can make a massive difference; it can give you the tools and the strength to fight back and make you feel that you are not facing OCD on your own.
I have been bullied by severe OCD since I was 14 years old. Now I can finally say that I'm in charge.
I need some support
Support from the community
Talk to UsCall us:Act now!
0845 390 6232
Email firstname.lastname@example.com@ocdaction.org.uk
Local GroupsFind independent support groups near youLocal Groups
AdvocacyHelp with problems accessing treatment or discriminationAdvocacy
ForumPeer support in a caring online communityForum
Creative CommunityWhat OCD really feels likeCreative Community
Personal StoriesShare your story and read other peoples' experieincesPersonal Stories
Real AchievementsCelebrate your achievementsReal Achievements


text:
Real problems dealing with the past exist!
The pst is a deep field of blood! it unfortunate! The inability to go deep into it and heal from it brings to shallowness; no depth! I don't know myself or have a strong ability to stand up for my values! they were all crippled! and I had absolutely no one, ever standing up for me or what I believed in! I was crushed by bullies and everything else one can imagine! that life, my child life was destroyed!
I was gotten rid of!
The serial killer bags his victim after abduncting them! If they are young; puts them in a sleeping back or plastic bag to cover them up! then later, uses them for his will, when done! takes them, opens the side door of the van, throughs the bag out into a field and drives of! They got what they wanted, used what they wanted to used and dumped the body! Got rid of it!
And it was no different then for me! the whole experience was heart breaking and terrifying; the loss of my small precious life! and I did not now why it was happening to me! I thought I was safe! I had no idea what was really going on or whom I was really with! I found out!
The past is a horror story; much like something you would find on Youtube! its unfortunate!
Im alive and learning again, slowly how to interact again with society! its very very slow, and I cannot control the dissociations when I get to close to people! its horrible!
Im alive! and part of me; a good part of me is coming out again! However, I would like to face the deeper issues of abandonment! I would like to heal from the losses of the past! meaning; I know what the losses were, and I can see them, feel them, deal with them, heal from them! the loss of ones life; to have to completely abandon and thrown away! this is a brutal nightmare of heavy proportion! it ranks up with death and rape and torture!
This is the equivalent of being abducted; sold, and never coming home again! One night your in your house as a child; next your being sold down the river, never to come home again! your home is being sold! All of your possessions from childhood are being sold! Your being sold down the river!
One has to keep forgiving everything! enough evidence; overwhelming evidence indicates that the predators responsible for this were sociopaths and sadistic psychopaths! for this reason, you forgive everything! you see the resentment!, your see what they did, how you feel about it! you start the forgiveness process!
Forgiveness creates separation from you and the perpetrator! You want to forgive to the point, you've moved forward! You move forward and never remember them or what they did! you have forgiven then dept and moved on! you don't care; you don't remember them; you have a new life!
Problem; the problem is when the forgiveness needs to be so deep and long, it takes half your dam life to forgive anyone! but it must be done on all levels with all people involved, regardless of what they have done! I must be dislodged from the psychopath! this can only be done through forgiveness!
You want all things associated with these monsters; in the past! I don't ######6 care if they killed you, raped, you, burned, you, abandon you, sold you! stole all your inheritance money; get the ###$ out of their! never go back!
I ended up with a broken destroyed life! Im still alive! and in the recovery process! its hard! you have resentments! they are in human deep! does not matter!
"I forgive the psychopath and pray they have everything I could ever want in my life" you do this 20 times in a row! then do it again and again and again; 20 times in a row! you do this until their is no more interest in this psychopath, regardless of what they did to you or took from you! if you keep thinking about them, then you apply the forgiveness techniques!
It takes time! I have allot of un attached memories floating around as PTSD! it will take time before I can remember and process them! this is not easy!
It takes time; thats the problem! but it can be done! I have people I trusted growing up that should not have been trusted! thats the problem! Its all very hard to deal with; all of it! nothing is easy! none of this!
It must be done, and freedom lies at the other side of it! God directs all of this for me! I must trust God!
I saw this movie once; the good guy and his wife; they were told by God " when you leave the city, do not look back or you will be turned to stone"! Unfortunately, the guys wife looked back! she wanted her past back! her heart was still with the evil city, and she looked back; she turned to stone! The main character of the movie moved onward! he walked for miles until he was out of site of the city! and he made it! one cannot serve 2 masters! one cannot serve God and Satanboy!


text:
2017 is going to be a busy year for IAMTEEJAY! We have on-boarded
so many new faces that I wanted to highlight a few of our new customers and share the diversity of the websites and services we routinely work on for
our clients. Welcome Faith, Justin, David and Marc! Read On
Read On


text:
Tribe does not expect hip soreness to sideline Kluber
MINNEAPOLIS -- Corey Kluber has emerged as one of the most reliable arms in the Indians' rotation this season. The right-hander is also poised to play an important role down the stretch for a Cleveland club trying to stay in the postseason hunt.
Under the circumstances, Indians manager Terry Francona did not want to take any chances when Kluber experienced soreness in his left hip in a 3-2 loss to the Twins on Saturday. Kluber was pulled from the game after turning in five strong innings.
"If he gives up runs because of that, I would've kicked myself," Francona said. "This kid is obviously important to what we're doing moving forward."
Francona does not believe that Kluber's hip issue is serious enough to sideline the pitcher for an extended period of time. With an off-day coming on Thursday, Cleveland could push Kluber's next scheduled start back by a day or two, or skip his turn in the rotation and bring him back for a start against the White Sox on July 30.
"I talked to [head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff] during and after the game," Francona said. "I don't think this is anything that's going to [cost him much time]. We have the off-day coming, so if we need to buy him an extra day or two, we could. But I don't think anybody thinks it'll get in the way."
Kluber kept the Twins off the board and ended with seven strikeouts, giving up three hits and two walks. The right-hander logged 93 pitches, including 55 strikes. Kluber, who indicated that the hip discomfort first flared up in his start on July 12, said that he pitched with soreness throughout the game on Saturday.
The Twins scored three runs in the sixth inning after Kluber's exit.
As Kluber got deeper into his outing, Francona felt the pitcher's delivery was being affected by the injury.
"I would've liked to go more than five innings," said Kluber, who has a 2.22 ERA in July. "But [Francona] said he wanted to get me out of there before it got to the point where I hurt myself. ... He said I was kind of starting to alter my delivery a little bit, throwing with a little more arm and not using my legs."
Kluber is 7-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 18 appearances. Dating back to May 15, the right-hander has posted a 5-3 record and a 3.13 ERA across 77 2/3 innings, during which he has compiled 81 strikeouts against 18 walks.


text:
No posts to display
Recent Reviews
15 Best Driveway Alarm Review in 2020
To Improve your property's security and protect it from trespassers, you need a device. Can you guess what it is?
Affiliate DisclaimerMippin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


text:
6 People Search Engines Tested: Can They Find Me?
People search is an area being pursued by a variety of startups, with PeekYou joining the ranks with its launch on Tuesday. But are any of these services worth using? Here's a look at how the people search players stack up when it comes to finding yours truly.
Launched on Tuesday, PeekYou claims more than 50 million profiles in its index. However, the results of my search would indicate that the index isn't necessarily up-to-date, with a query for "Adam Ostrow" yielding an old photo from my MySpace profile (which I thought had been taken down from public viewing!), and incorrectly identifying my hometown as College Park, MD, where I graduated school from three years ago. Missing from my page are the obvious Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social profiles, although the service does offer the ability for users to submit information about a person.
Wink scours the major social networks and the Web to find people. Additionally, the site provides search filters such as location, age, and interests to help narrow down your search for common names (i.e. – "Mike Jones"). For myself, Wink pulled my LinkedIn and Friendster profiles, in addition to the LinkedIn profile of an "Adam Ostrow" imposter in New York. However, when you add "University of Maryland" to your search, the other Adam Ostrow is removed from the results, and a link to my updated MySpace profile is provided. Additionally, Wink provides Google results for the name search, which links to my personal blog, my Mashable author page, and a few press releases issued by my company over the years. The latest incarnation of Wink launched last September. VERDICT: Passes the taste test.
Still in private beta, much-hyped Spock first debuted at the Web 2.0 Expo in April. In addition to scouring the Web, the site also includes options for users to add information about people such as tags and relevant links. Spock did not seem to conclude that my LinkedIn and MySpace profiles are the same person, and thus created two separate listings for me. Additionally, Spock used old "About Me" information from MySpace to create my biography. On the plus side, Spock did pull the most relevant information from my LinkedIn profile to assign tags – my title and industry. It would appear that the site still has some work to do in pulling data in from more sources and connecting the dots between profiles of the same person.
ZoomInfo's people search claims more than 35 listings in its business-oriented directory. The search is focused more on tracking your career and the different places you've worked. The results go more than a decade into the past, with an "Adam Ostrow" search going all the way back to the very first web page I created in middle school, a tribute to my favorite baseball player Chipper Jones on Geocities. Digging a little deeper, when you click on my profile, you see information about my business, although the wrong address and phone number is provided. For more common names, your best bet on finding relevant information is knowing the company the person is currently associated with. For example, clicking on "Michael Jones" of Userplane will provide you with information on him and his past occupations. We've previously raised some concerns over ZoomInfo's methods and accuracy. Nonetheless, it found some info.
yoName searches the major social networks to return results in a tabular format so you can easily navigate between the different profiles that are found. The site was successful in finding my profiles on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and an archaic Yahoo account. yoName also allows you to do a public records search, powered by Intelius, though it will cost you money to see detailed results. We first reviewed yoName in April.
Ex.plode.us is another cross-social network search, allowing you to search for both specific individuals and people with certain interests on their supported sites. My most frequently used services – MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn – are not part of their search at this time, but ex.plode.us was able to locate my seldom used Flickr page. While it's currently missing some of the more popular social networks from its search, Ex.plode.us does index people from a few sites that the other's don't, such as Greatest Journal, Jaiku, and Vox.. Kristen reviewed ex.plode.us in May.
The challenge for people-focused search startups will be providing a service that is significantly more valuable than just searching for individuals in the main search engines. At the moment, Wink would seem the most useful of those vying for the market, as it combines a specialized search of social networking sites with standard Google results. Some of the other services also do a good job of searching the social networks for information about you, but whether or not it's enough to attract masses of regular users will remain to be seen.


text:
So now dblejeune just needs to use a LED-Resistor calculator to limit the current (and thus drop the voltage)and hope that works.
There are other pages on this site, other than the forum, you know. One, quite easily to get at from the front page, "Products" show the basic specifications: 3V3. A 3.3 volt supply generated by the on-board regulator. Maximum current draw is 50 mA.


text:
Huawei board member and former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer has warned that a culture of "paranoia" around China would deprive the Australian telecommunications industry.
Downer, who has been on the Chinese networking vendor's board of directors since mid-2011, said the company had accepted the Federal Government's decision to ban it from NBN Co tenders.
The reason for the ban has not been publicly disclosed but was reportedly based on a security advisory from ASIO.
Downer would not clarify whether Huawei had been told the reason why it was not allowed to participate.
But Downer said Australia should be wary of "transmitting a message that somehow we are paranoid about Chinese investment".
He told the Commsday Summit in Sydney on Tuesday that closing off Australia off from Chinese investment would deprive the telecommunications industry of significant research and development.
He also pointed to statistics showing more than half of Australian telecommunications equipment is sourced from China, forming a large part of the $12 billion in Chinese imports to Australia over the 2010-2011 financial year.
"We would be foolish to close ourselves off from that technology," Downer said.
"A strong relationship with China and a mature relationship with China will guarantee we have access to that technology as it evolves.
"There are of course risks involved with the emergence of any new, great power [but] there are enormous risks involved if we endeavour to bypass China, to turn our backs on China.
"This is a pivotal moment in history where we have to work out, as a country, how we're going to manage our relationship with China."
Downer urged the Government to "not pursue a policy of containment with China".
The subject has continued to be a matter of controversy for the network and Government, forming the centre of questions put to Telstra and Vodafone at a parliamentary hearing in Sydney yesterday.
Huawei's equipment is used in mobile networks for both Optus and Vodafone, as well as ADSL equipment for some internet service providers
Telstra has partnered with Huawei for a proposed submarine cable extending from Western Australia to Singapore and uses the company's national rival, ZTE, for equipment in the incumbent's Hong Kong networks.
Although LTE trials were also held last year on Huawei equipment, Telstra group manager of corporate affairs Tony Warren assured the committee the company did not use the equipment on "domestic Australian networks".


text:
A symbol of British quality craftsmanship, this pink-toned coat is a much-loved Mackintosh favourite. Crafted by hand from bonded cotton and finished with taped seams, this knee-length raincoat is completely waterproof. Characterised by a firm structure that will mold to your body over time, this wardrobe perennial features underarm vents that lend the piece breathability.
Product ID: 13529054
Size & Fit
Model wears size UK8
Model measures: bust 33.5"/85cm, height 5'9"/175cm, waist 25"/64cm, hips 35"/89cm.
Details & Care
Water-repellent bonded cotton
Fly-front 5-horn button closure
Front slash pockets
Underarm eyelet vents
Fully taped seams
100% cotton (bonded)
Do not wash/do not dry clean
Made in the United Kingdom
Style ID: RO4724
Model: LR-021/SH IDJ131
Returns & Exchange
If you are not happy with your purchase you can return it to us within 14 days for a refund.


text: X99-A II LGA2011-v3 5-Way Optimization SafeSlot X99 ATX Motherboard for Intel Core i7 X-Series Processors With DDR4 M.2 U.2 USB 3.1 Type C Next-gen connectivity – Includes extensive upgrades including onboard U.2 / M.2 slots that tap into 32Gbps of PCIe bandwidth, as well as onboard USB 3.1 Type C ASUS Aura – Features controllable RGB onboard lighting and 4-pin strip header that can be synced with an ever-growing portfolio of Aura-capable ASUS hardware Patent-pending SafeSlot – Reinvented, strengthened PCIe slot utilizes a new insert-molding process to bind the slot to fortifying metal for superior retention and shearing resistance 5-Way Optimization: Fan Xpert 4 – Elevates customized cooling to new heights, with the ability to detect PWM/DC fans on all headers, utilize high-amperage fans and control water-cooling pumps in software and UEFI Crystal Sound 3 – Gaming-grade audio with unmatched clarity featuring a new power pre-regulator for clean power delivery, which joins ASUS-pioneered noise isolation design and premium audio components Shop Modal header Tune It To Your Will Make It Your Own Connect with Unparalleled Speed Seamless Entertainment EZ DIY 1BIOS Flashback™ button 2Intel® LAN 34 x USB 3.0 42 x USB 3.1 (1 x Type-A and 1 x Type-C) 58CH Audio with DTS Support 63 x PCIE 3.0(GEN3) 3-Way SLI & CFX Support 7 Crystal Sound 3 Power pre-regulator Top notch audio profile EMI protection cover Audio shielding Unique De-pop circuit Audio amplifer Separate layers for left/right track Premium Japan-made audio capacitors 8DIGI+ Power Control 9EPU 10 O.C. Socket Intel® LGA 2011-v3 Socket 11DDR4 3333(O.C.) Support 124 x USB 3.0 13Asus SafeSlot 14SATA Express 158 x SATA 6Gb/s 16U.2 1732Gb/s M.2 X4 support 18TPU 19RGB header Tune it to your will Awaken the true performance new Intel Core i7 processor family for socket LGA 2011-v3! Let loose up to 10 cores with new Intel® Core™ i7 processors for socket LGA 2011-v3, in both 28- and 40-lane options — and awaken the true multi-threaded performance! X99-Deluxe II is engineered from the ground squeeze every last drop of power from Intel's latest architecture, so you'll always be one step ahead! Overclock Frequency PERFORMANCE INCREASE 44% 0GHz 0GHz+* Default Auto Tuning Memory Frequency PERFORMANCE INCREASE 62% 0MHz + 0MHz Default O.C. Cinebench Testing PERFORMANCE INCREASE 28% 0 0 Default O.C. *Overclocking range will varies according to CPU capabilities, cooling, motherboard support and tuning options. Testing configuration: Intel LGA2011-3 i7-6950X | X99-A II | G.SKILL DDR4-3200 8GB*4 | GTX680-DC2-4GD5*1 Drive CPU and DDR4 performance beyond all expectations! ASUS Pioneered OC Socket Designed to break performance barriers, ASUS OC Socket utilizes extra pins to connect a proprietary circuit to contacts found on land grid array (LGA). Combined with our customized UEFI, this exclusive feature enables higher DDR4 memory frequencies, lower latencies and enhanced stability while overclocking, extending all the way to extreme overclocking conditions, such as liquid nitrogen (LN2). OC Socket is 100% compatible with all LGA 2011-v3 CPUs, ensuring the ideal combination of overclocking performance and compatibility. Other X99 Sockets Voltage CPU Core 0 Voltage 1.728v Huge voltage drop on other X99 motherboard OC Socket Voltage CPU Core 0 Voltage 1.824v Almost no voltage drop with OC Socket Under 100% load with CPU voltage set to extreme 1.825v Testing configuration: CPU: Intel Core i7-5960X | MB: X99-A II | DDR4: Corsair DDR4-2133*4 | GFX: GTX680 | OS: Windows 7 64-bit, Prime95 Better Protection from Overcurrent The extra 4-pin power plug shares current with the standard 8-pin power connector to balance loads and provide ample margin to overclock Intel's latest CPUs to the limit. Unique Cache Bus Voltage Adjustment The cache bus links areas such as CPU cores, DDR4 memory controllers, system agent and the shared L3 cache — so it's a critical interconnect for the whole CPU subsystem. A higher cache-bus frequency directly accelerates subsystem performance, so ASUS OC Socket exclusively provides an adjustable cache-bus voltage to reach higher cache bus frequencies. Reference tuning ratio range is up to 30. ASUS OC Socket tuning ratio range is 45+! Cache bus links all the essential CPU areas together. Higher cache bus frequency boosts PC performance! 3DMark Physics 10% PERFORMANCE INCREASE 0 0 Reference design OC with X99-A II Memory frequency 40% PERFORMANCE INCREASE 0MB/s 0MB/s Reference design OC with X99-A II DDR4 read speed 21% PERFORMANCE INCREASE 0MB/s 0MB/s Reference design OC with X99-A II DDR4 write speed 36% PERFORMANCE INCREASE 0MB/s 0MB/s Reference design OC with X99-A II 3DMark Physics CPU: Intel Core i7-5960X 4.8G| MB: X99-A II | DDR4: Corsair DDR4-2133*4 | GFX: GTX780 | OS: Windows7 64-bit AIDA64 memory benchmark CPU: Intel Core i7-5960X | MB: X99-A II | DDR4: Corsair DDR4-2133*4 | GFX: GTX780 | OS: Windows7 64-bit Make your memory go faster Drive your memory frequencies to 3333MHz and beyond! ASUS-exclusive T-Topology circuit design plus OC Socket provides a superb memory-overclocking capability to unleash the full power of DDR4 by minimizing coupling noise and signal reflection. With innovative equidistant memory channels, it delivers the most balanced control and powerful overclocking compatibility. ASUS works with almost every DDR4 memory vendor to ensure the best compatibility. One click overclock and cooling, done! 5-way Optimization One click takes care of all that complex tuning. Your PC is smart with ASUS 5-Way Optimization. It dynamically optimizes essential aspects of your system based on real-time use — so you get superb CPU performance, everyday energy savings, ultra-stable digital power, cool and quiet fans and now even networking and audio settings that are tailored for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimization ensures that your PC is perfect for gaming, entertainment, productivity or just about anything else! Games run swiftly and smoothly with high performance, prioritized bandwidth and vivid sound. Fans stay whisper-quiet for everyday computing, and ensure extreme cooling efficiency when gaming. Energy waste is reduced so you'll save money. Overclock CPU Speed 43% 0G 0G O.C. Default Overclocked CPU Silence up to 1000 RPM reduction 0RPM 0RPM Away mode Default Extreme Quiet Mode Saving 14% 0W 0W Away mode Default Away Mode Testing configuration: Intel LGA2011-3 i7-5960X 140W | X99-A II | CRUCIAL SSD 64G |ENERMAX EMR1350EWT 1350W | ASUS PB278Q 27" | MICRON MTA8ATF52164AZ-2G1A1 4GB*2 | GTX650Ti-DC2T-1GD5*1 CPU performance boost All-round energy efficiency Advanced fan controls Precise Digital Power Control Game faster, rank higher CPU performance boost TPU Unleash your PC's full performance with a simple two-phase onboard switch or the ASUS AI Suite 3 utility! The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring for the CPU and the graphics card, enabling great freedom to adjust CPU frequencies and ratios for optimized performance and to exploit the potential out of your graphics card*. *Please see the graphics card QVL All-round energy efficiency Cut off add-on IC power EPU With the Energy Processing Unit (EPU) you'll enjoy real-time, system-wide power savings. EPU detects and adjusts power consumption according to the PC's needs — automatically. It can also reduce CPU wattage to a set level and deliver even more savings with Away Mode. This creates an extreme energy-saving scenario by shutting down unused extra I/O controllers and reduces the graphics cards' power level while you're away, so the PC consumes only the energy it needs — and not a drop more! Flexible cooling controls for air and liquidThe latest ASUS X99 motherboards feature the most advanced cooling capability to date, controllable from both Fan Xpert 4 and UEFI. Fan connectors Pump Fan Thermal sensor Fan Ext Header Water Pump Header Full control of PWM or DC water pumps, perfect for both custom and self-contained cooling setups. High-amp fan support A dedicated fan header that can supply up to 3 Amps, for high-speed high-current fans. Multiple temperature sources Multiple temperature sources: Each header can be set to monitor and react up to 3 multiple thermal sensors. 4-pin PWM/DC fan support with Auto Detection Every onboard header supports auto detection of PWM or DC fans. Smart Protection A dedicated integrated circuit that protects each fan header from both over-temperature and over-current. Fan Ext Header Next Page > Comprehensive fan controls:Full control of fan speeds, hysteresis, and fan stop modes on every header, via Fan Expert 4 or the UEFI. Auto-Tuning Mode:Scans fan parameters and all fans with a single click. Extreme Quiet Mode:Reduces all fan speeds to below the default minimum, for extra-quiet operation and power savings during light loads. « Previous Page Precise Digital Power Control DIGI+ Power Control Power control is one of the most essential motherboard designs. Intelligent CPU-power-draw detection with ASUS DIGI+ Power Control is an innovative, industry-leading technology that fully complies with Intel® IMVP8 specifications, increasing overclocking potential, enhancing system stability, and improving power efficiency with superior flexibility and accurate control. Optimize per-core performance for every app Turbo Core AppIntel's latest processors feature per-core tuning, and the ASUS Core app lets you exploit this feature by prioritizing specific applications so that their processing demands are met the order you want — optimizing performance in just the ways you need! Media-acclaimed UEFI BIOS The smoothest, slickest mouse-controlled graphical BIOS has been improved to make it even more appealing. Whether you're a PC novice or a seasoned overclocker, the EZ and Advanced Modes help you find your way, quickly and easily. EZ Flash 3 Update the latest BIOS via the internet, and from within the BIOS. S.M.A.R.T Check up your storages devices' Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T) logs to gauge reliability, and even determine if they're about to fail. EZ Tuning Wizard — OC and RAID Select your hardware and apply different scenarios to tune system performance, or streamline your RAID configuration for faster data retrieval and backups! My Favorites Quickly find tuning options and add preferred tools to the list. EZ Mode Intuitive Graphical Fan Control: Fine-tune individual fans simply by dragging a curve with the mouse. EZ XMP: Improve your DRAM performance with a click. SATA Information: View SATA port details for easy device recognition. Fast Clock Adjustment: Use mouse controls to change the time and date. Advanced Mode GPU POST: Recommendation for multi-VGA configuration and detailed information for selected ASUS graphics cards . Secure Erase: Restore your SSDs to factory-fresh condition. Last Modified Log: Track last change and save preferred profiles onto a USB drive. SATA Port Renaming: Rename SATA ports for easy identification. Aura (LED Control) Customize your favorite RGB LED style direct from the BIOS. Make it your own Brighten up your build AURA Lighting Control A well-tuned enthusiast system deserves a matching aesthetic. ASUS Aura offers full RGB control with a variety of functional presets for both built-in RGB LEDs, as well as LED strips connected to the onboard 4-pin RGB headers. Future software updates will allow the onboard lighting to be synced with an ever-growing portfolio of Aura-capable ASUS hardware. Static Breathing Strobing Music effect Comet Flash & Dash Rainbow Color Cycle CPU temperature AURA 4-PIN RGB-STRIP HEADER Patent-pending SafeSlot Protect Your Graphics Card Investment SafeSlot is the PCIe slot reinvented by ASUS and engineered to provide superior retention and shearing resistance. Manufactured in a single step using a new insert-molding process integrates the slot with the fortifying metal for an inherently stronger slot, which is then firmly anchored to the PCB through additional solder points. Multi-GPU support With support for both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™ 2/3-WAY configurations, the X99 motherboard enables multi-GPU setups so you can harness the full power of the latest graphics technologies to drive games at 4K and beyond. CPU 40 Lane 3-Way/2-Way CPU 28 Lane 3-Way/2-Way Flawless audio that makes you part of the game Crystal Sound 3 1 Noise Isolation Separate layer for left and right tracks Ensures both channels deliver consistent, equal quality. 2 Audio shielding Ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced multi-lateral interference. 3 Clean Power Power pre-regulator Reduces power-input noise to ensure consistent performance. 4 Audio Enjoyment Audio amplifier Produces the highest-quality sound for headphone and speakers. 5 De-pop circuit Reduces start-up popping noise to all audio outputs. 6 Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors Provides warm, natural, and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity. Intel Ethernet More throughput, less CPU usage and great gaming experiences X99-A II features the very latest Intel® Ethernet for faster, smoother gaming — always. Intel's LAN has the serious double advantage of reducing CPU overhead and offering exceptionally high TCP and UDP throughput. This significantly reduces the processor's workload, so there's more power for your game and your gameplay! Turbo LAN Network-optimization software for customizable packet prioritization Turbo LAN with cFosSpeed traffic-shaping technology adds even more lag-reducing support and intuitive user interface. It allows you to lower lag with no expert knowledge — by up to 1.45X! If you're a tweaker, use Advanced Mode for hardcore controls. 1Real-time speed monitor 2Grouping your own favorite list 3Set priority to speed up for your application LANGuard Pumped-up throughput. 2.5X higher surge tolerance. ASUS LANGuard is hardware-level networking protection that employs signal-coupling technology and premium anti-EMI surface-mounted capacitors ensuring a more reliable connection and better throughput, plus electrostatically-guarded and surge-protected components for greater tolerance to static electricity and improved protection against surges. Connect with Unparalleled Speed Ultimate-speed 10Gbps with USB 3.1 onboard With USB 3.1 Type-A ports , which is completely backward-compatible with your existing USB devices, and reversible USB 3.1 Type-C for the very fastest USB data transfers, you'll experience data-transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps — or twice as fast USB 3.0. And you'll be all set for USB 3.1's breakneck speeds. And ASUS-exclusive USB 3.1 Boost technology automatically accelerates USB 3.1 performance even further! Join the NVMe revolution with built-in U.2 connector Unlock the full potential of your storage with NVM Express (NVMe), the revolutionary specification that lets your SSDs scream at top speed. Just attach your drive to the built-in U.2 connector with plug-and-play ease to experience data-transfer speeds of up to 32Gbps — and free up a PCIe slot for another expansion card! Fast storage speed with SATA Express Current SSDs devour up to 550MB/s bandwidth, which is close to saturation point for SATA 6Gbps connections. Backwardly compatible with up to two SATA drives, SATA Express is the next-generation connectivity standard — and ensures that you and your system won't get left behind. Speed up with onboard M.2 up to 32Gbit/s With x4 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 bandwidth, M.2 supports up to 32Gbps data-transfer speeds. It is the perfect choice for an operating system or application drive, making your whole PC or professional apps work as fast as possible. Upgrade with ThunderboltEX 3 to experience blistering speeds and any-way-up connectivity ASUS X99-A II offers support for ThunderboltEX 3 card, an Intel-certified Thunderbolt™ 3 add-on card enables breathtaking bi-directional speeds up to 40Gbps - four-times faster than other PC data-transfer cables with twice the video bandwidth for the latest 60 Hz 4K/UHD displays. Beyond sheer bandwidth, Thunderbolt 3 supports daisy-chaining up to six devices, utilizes a Type C reversible connector for compatibility with the latest USB 3.1 Type-C devices and supports the USB Power Delivery specification for fast, high-power charging of up to 36W. >>Learn More *Available to purchase separately. Seamless Entertainment Total control anytime, anywhere with Remote GO! Remote GO! gives you complete control of your PC — even when you're away from home. Access your forgotten files at home, and work on your PC from almost anywhere. Plus, it takes just one click to manage all your public clouds or sync files across your PC and devices! Cloud GO! Gather your ASUS WebStorage, Dropbox®, Google Drive™, and OneDrive® accounts in one place and even back up to PC at the same time. Remote Desktop Easily access and control your PC, anytime and anywhere! File Transfer Sync files between your PCs and smart devices with just a click! Remote Keyboard & Mouse Control media playback from your sofa! Your digital PC hub for sharing and home theater Media Streamer Enjoy your PC's multimedia content — anywhere! Pipe music from your PC or cloud storage, including ASUS WebStorage, Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive while sipping coffee in a café, or sit back with friends and stream a favorite movie to a smart TV. With ASUS Media Streamer, your entertainment goes wherever you go. Watch your smart device content on the big screen HyStream With HyStream you'll enjoy the ease and freedom of streaming HD content from your supported* Apple iOS smartphone or tablet straight to your bigger screen! * Contact your device vendor for support information. All-in-one control between your PC and smart device Mobo Connect Work with your PC and smart device at the same time through a single keyboard-and-mouse set. A simple hot key lets you switch between your PC and smart device quickly. It even charges your mobile device at the same time. EZ DIY You will love DIY! We understand how you use your PC. From assembly, system setting and monitoring, and to firmware and hardware updates - we're all about making your life easier. That's why we never stop developing new and exciting DIY opportunities to make PC DIY easy, fun and free from hassle! MORE Intel® CoreTM X -Series processors Installation Tool Easy CPU installation, no more damaged pins X99-A II has the ASUS-exclusive CPU-installation tool to prevent pin damage. Just pop the latest Intel® Core™ i7 X -series (LGA 2011-v3) processor into the tool, and then insert the package into the CPU socket. Close the latches and you're good to go! MORE PC Cleaner Work faster, start quicker and smoother Your computer is running slow? PC Cleaner sweeps out unused and unwanted files and programs that take up space in your storage drives, eliminating the clog. It also accelerates PC start-up with a click! MORE Q-DIMM Easy memory removal Even if you work with a smaller case, just push down on the one-sided clip and push or pull RAM modules in or out — couldn't be simpler! MORE Q-Slot Effortless PCI Express component removal The large winged clip is easy to reach and easy to operate. Just press the Q-Slot clip lightly, and graphics card just pop out. Installing or removing even the biggest graphics cards is no sweat! MORE Q-Connector Easy, quick, and accurate connections You no longer need to worry about which front-panel wire goes where. Just pop the wires into Q-Connector's one-piece plug and you're good to go. MORE Q-Shield Easy and safe on fingers Unlike other I/O shields, with their sharp edges, the exclusive Q-Shield is soft and pliable to protect your hands from cuts. MORE Q-LED Easy PC diagnostics Q-LED indicates problems with the CPU, memory, graphics card or boot device, so you can quickly diagnose and remedy any issues — and wave goodbye to endless frustrations! MORE Q-Code Detailed PC status display and diagnostics Instantly recognizes and displays the POST status for precise troubleshooting. Just check the code in the user guide to solve your problem. *The CPU Installation Tool is compatible only on selected motherboards Intel CPU and chipset features Intel® Core™ i7 Processor LGA2011-v3 Ready This motherboard supports Intel® Core™ i7 processors in the LGA2011-v3 package, with memory and PCI Express controllers integrated to support 4-channel (8 DIMM) DDR4 memory and 40/28 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 lanes. Intel® X99 Chipset The Intel® X99 Chipset is a single-chipset design that supports new Intel® Core™ i7 processor family for socket LGA 2011-v3 processors. It provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. Additionally, X99 provides a maximum 6 USB 3.0 ports, 10 SATA 6Gbps ports and 32Gbps M.2 support for faster data retrieval. Tune it to your will Make it your own Connect with Unparalleled Speed Seamless Entertainment EZ DIY


text:
Red Cross shelter that opened in Brevard now closed
The Red Cross shelter that opened due to severe weather has now closed.
According to the Red Cross, the flash flood conditions which prompted the opening of the shelter have subsided. The shelter will remain on standby if needed and the Red Cross will continue to be in contact with emergency officials should it need to be re-opened.
The request for the shelter to be opened came from Transylvania County authorities due to the strong potential for flooding in the Davidson River Road area of Brevard, said authorities.
According to the Red Cross, there is no mandatory evacuation at this time.
The shelter will be at the Transylvania County Recreation Center at 1078 Ecusta Rd. in Brevard.
In addition to opening the shelter, the Red Cross is still urging residents to monitor the weather situation in their area, be aware of tornado watches issued for their area and be prepared to move to safety if that watch is upgraded to a warning.


text:
Dates & Prices
Special Offers
Up to $500 onboard credit (spending cash) per cabin on this sailingMention Promo Code: PC-AT100
Military Personnel Offer, up to $250 Onboard Credit!Mention Promo Code: PC-29611
Military Personnel Offer, up to $250 Onboard Credit!
Military Personnel Offer, up to $250 Onboard Credit!
Promotion Details
This offer is valid for a maximum of two military personnel per booking.
• This offer is combinable with other Onboard Credit offers.
• This offer is non-transferable.
• This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges.
• This offer is combinable with most cruise fares. Some restrictions apply.
• Applications to receive this benefit must be made no later than 14 days prior to the cruise departure date.
Offer is valid for eligible military personnel in the United States and Canada only. Maximum of two onboard credit offers per stateroom. This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges. Onboard spending money is applied to the folio of the veteran or active duty personnel's stateroom. Offer excludes Travel Agent fares. Offer is combinable with other Onboard Credit offers. Other restrictions may apply.
Eligibility includes active military, retired military and disable military veterans with proper verification as outlined below.
Please ensure that documentation provided has the Social Security Number crossed out.
Active personnel currently serving in the following service divisions:
i - United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves with a copy of a military verification certificate confirming active duty status available for free online at Servicemembers Civil Relief Act website.
ii - Canadian National Defense -- CF1FC Silver Card with the word Veteran in the lower left corner for retired or the initials CAF for active military.
Retired Personnel defined as A) enlisted personnel or officers with a minimum of 20 years of service, B) medically retired, or C) 100% disabled. Proper identification for United States is DD214, WD AGO (War Department Adjunct General Form) or NAVPERS (Naval Personnel Discharge Form). For Canadians, NDI 75 - Record of Service Identification Card or CF 75 or cert ificate of discharge; is used.
Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years or 6 months in an active war zone in any of the United States service divisions listed above or in the Canadian National Defense. Proper identification in the form of a DD 214, plus a current photo ID is required. For Canadians, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Health Identification Card is used.
|Jun 15, 2021
Alaska's "Golden Heart City" of Fairbanks is a great introduction to the heart of this unique state. Check in to your hotel and get ready for the beginning of your adventure.
|Jun 16, 2021
A full day in Fairbanks gives you time to get a feel for the unique culture and history of the region. You'll take a cruise on an authentic Sternwheeler Riverboat down the Chena River then enjoy a Gold Dredge 8 tour with the chance to pan for your own gold. A hearty miner's lunch is included. The evening is at leisure.
|Jun 17, 2021
|Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
This morning, you say goodbye to Fairbanks for the spectacular trip to Denali National Park via motorcoach. You'll be welcomed at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge for a 2-night retreat. Check in with the Guest Service Desk for help in planning your own Denali adventure like a husky homestead tour, river rafting, glacier flightseeing or an off-road ATV adventure. Or you may enjoy the spectacular main lodge, river view deck, and Princess Village with the popular Christmas cottage and sugar shack. Be sure to check out Fannie Q's Saloon, named after a famed local homesteader, or sit outside at a fireside patio.
|Jun 18, 2021
|Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Start your morning with a quick stop at Fannie Q's saloon for a hearty buffet breakfast. Explore Denali National Park on a Natural History Tour, watching for glimpses of Denali as well as Denali's "Big Five"; bears, moose, caribou, wolves and Dall sheep. Later today, you may want to simply relax with a glass of wine on the deck overlooking the Nenana River. Visit the Grizzly Burger to indulge in the Ernesto Burger, or grab a slice at Lynx Creek Pizza.
|Jun 19, 2021
Enjoy the scenic rail journey through some of the best wilderness in the Great Land on the exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service. Once in Whittier, you'll step from the train onto your ship for the beginning of your unforgettable cruise.
|Jun 19, 2021
|Whittier, Alaska
|8:30 p.m.
|Jun 20, 2021
|Hubbard Glacier
|3:00 p.m.
|8:00 p.m.
|Jun 21, 2021
|Glacier Bay, Alaska
|9:15 a.m.
|7:30 p.m.
|Jun 22, 2021
|Skagway, Alaska
|7:00 a.m.
|8:30 p.m.
|Jun 23, 2021
|Juneau, Alaska
|6:30 a.m.
|4:00 p.m.
|Jun 24, 2021
|Ketchikan, Alaska
|10:00 a.m.
|6:00 p.m.
|Jun 25, 2021
|At Sea
|Jun 26, 2021
|Vancouver, Canada
|7:30 a.m.
Book With Flexibility
- Cruise With Confidence
Making It Easier to Change Plans - Cancel Up To 30 days before you sail
- Change Cruise / Date
Change to a different destination, sailing, or departure date
- Final Payment
Due 60 days before departure, not the usual 90 days
- Great Service
Award-winning service, low prices, client satisfaction
Health and Safety Protocols
Princess is actively working with public health officials and medical experts in an effort to do everything possible to prevent illness, including COVID-19, onboard Princess ships. Here are some actions that Princess is taking to ensure our guests can sail confidently and safely with Princess.
Changing Itineraries
Princess is constantly monitoring the global health map and cancel or modify itineraries to impacted areas. Princess also prevents guests and crew who have recently traveled through these high-risk locations from boarding.
Enhancing Health Requirements
Princess will deny boarding to guests and crew if they:
- Have been in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or a person being monitored for COVID-19.
- Are suffering from a fever or flu-like symptoms prior to embarkation.
Stepping Up Screenings
At embarkation, Princess will require all guests and crew to participate in mandatory health screenings, which may include a thermal scan to check temperatures, and in some cases secondary screenings. Depending on the results, Princess will deny certain individuals boarding if they feel they could pose a risk to others.
Enhancing Sanitation Procedures in Embarkation Terminals
Enhancing Sanitation Procedures in Embarkation Terminals Beginning in select terminals on March 7, 2020, highly touched surfaces throughout each embarkation terminal will be sanitized continuously, and terminals will be thoroughly sanitized and, where possible, fogged before and after each embarkation and debarkation.
Cleaning Everywhere!
In addition to the rigorous daily cleaning regimen they already have, Princess is establishing additional sanitation measures on all of their ships, which include sanitizing frequently touched surfaces in all public areas – from tables and chairs to casino chips and fitness machines – even more often than they did before.
Free-flowing Hand Sanitizer
Princess already has hand-washing sinks or hand sanitizer dispensers in front of entrances to all dining venues and the buffet. Crew will monitor entrances to all venues to encourage all guests wash their hands before entering. Princess is also adding additional hand sanitizer dispensers in high-traffic areas around the ship.
Keeping Crew Healthy
Each day, Princess is raising awareness daily of how to maintain a healthy environment on board by reinforcing frequent hand-washing, avoiding hand contact, reporting guests who present signs of illness and more. Princess will also more actively enforce crew hand-washing and provide more hand sanitizers in crew areas.
Revising Medical Protocols & Staying Prepared
Every Princess ship sails with a highly capable medical team that will receive special training for COVID-19. Any guest or crew member who exhibits symptoms of respiratory illness will strongly be encouraged to visit the Medical Center for a complimentary consultation and, if appropriate, screening for COVID-19.
24/7 Monitoring and Preparedness
Princess' team monitors world health developments from state-of-the-art Fleet Operations Center in Santa Clarita, California, and offices around the world 24-7. Princess is also in close contact with major health agencies, medical experts and partners in the travel industry so Princess can act quickly to revise plans and protocols as the situation evolves.
Ship Information
Built Year
Refurbished Year
Pax Capacity
Life on Board
Questions & Answers
Question: When should I arrive at the port?
Question: How can I communicate with my family and friends at home when I am on the cruise?
Very easy to work with..
The staff and crew of the Star Princess were the best. Always responsive to needs and requests and able to meet all needs. The ship is showing signs of age (almost 18 years old) and needs some overhaul.Princess plans to sell ship in early 2021 and new ship to replace.
The quality of the shore excursions offered by Princess was good, but the organization and time management by the staff was poor. We were often asked to assemble in large groups early in the morning, wait for up to an hour for our tour to be called, and then finally be lead to our excursion buses. This seems to be done for the convenience of the crew and not in the best interest of the passenger. Also, on the last day of the voyage, we all had to be off the ship early in the morning and transferred to the airport as early as 12 noon. The counters for American Airlines did not open until 5:30pm, forcing hundreds of Princess passengers to stand with their luggage for 5 hours before being able to check in.
Easy and best value. We have booked through Affordable 4 times and always been satisfied.
Very easy to book. Very professional help when needed.
The Princess Star Princess is showing her age and constant use. She is now in dry dock for up fitting. The staff and crew were very good. This 15 day cruise appeals to older, limited mobility people and a significant number of passengers required special assistance. We adjusted to electric wheelchairs, walkers and canes very quickly! Five days on the North Pacific to and from Hawaii also requires some adjustments. The ocean was a little rougher and passengers need to know that this type cruise is different than those that make land in a few days.
The "Star Princess Denali Explorer - Voyage" was an outstanding trip and exceeded expectations. The services and activities on the ship were outstanding.
Our cruise was amazing! The Star Princess exceeded our expectations. Our booking agent was top notch. He knew what he was talking about and gave us some very useful tips and information. There were no hidden cost and we had a wonderful week!
The cabins we had exceeded my expectations. The ship was wonderful and the itinerary was exciting.
The service, food and accommodations were what we expected. Very friendly staff, varied and excellent cuisine.
Everything was perfect Thank you so much. Looking forward booking the next trip
I was very satisfied with my trip in every way--both in the planning of it and the wonderful result!
Cruise Line
Royal PrincessStarts
Fairbanks, AlaskaEnds
Vancouver, CanadaDays
Cruise Line
Royal PrincessStarts
Fairbanks, AlaskaEnds
Vancouver, CanadaDays
Cruise Line
Royal PrincessStarts
Fairbanks, AlaskaEnds
Vancouver, CanadaDays
Cruise Line
Royal PrincessStarts
Fairbanks, AlaskaEnds
Vancouver, CanadaDays
Call Us Now 1-800-627-3753
How It Works
Vacationing has never been easier or cheaper with the help of a dedicated travel consultant from AffordableTours.com
1. Free Quote
Find your perfect trip on our website and simply request a free quote. Need to speak to a live person? Call us 7 days a week at 1-800-627-3753. No robots here!
2. Dedicated Travel Consultant
Your personal travel consultant will reach out and be your point of contact for your entire travel experience from start to finish. Did we mention you'll be working with an award winning team? Sweet!
3. Lowest Price Guaranteed
Because we're one of the largest sellers of travel, we're able to give you a discount on your vacation package. No one beats our prices!
4. Stress Free Travel
Knowing you got the best deal, all that's left is for you to pack your bags and enjoy your vacation!