All entries by this author

Russell Blackford on “extremism” and dogmatism *

Jun 27th, 2010 | Filed by

One’s position on a spectrum says nothing about how dogmatic one is.… Read the rest



Et tu AAAS?

Jun 26th, 2010 4:54 pm | By

Jen McCreight of Blag Hag is at the Evolution 2010 conference in Portland and she went to a 2 hour symposium on Communication this morning. It started well, with Robert Pennock giving some good advice…but then…

But it quickly went downhill. Much of the talk was about distancing support of evolution from atheistic views – that we need to stress that religion and science is compatible so people in the “middle” can still accept theistic evolution. That people are more willing to accept evolution if they hear it from their pastor. He lauded Francis Collins and the BioLogos foundation for being pro-evolution…even though BioLogos just had a piece trying to reconcile Biblical Adam and Eve with evolution.

Well that … Read the rest



Atheist bashing at the Evolution meetings *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

A 2 hours symposium was devoted to accommodationism; someone from AAAS said atheists are extremists.… Read the rest



No, rape is not “cultural” *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

The European aid worker who dismissed the violence as “cultural” implied that Congolese women should expect to be raped.… Read the rest



Crispian Jago: Skeptic Park with Evan Harris *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Ben, Dickie and Simon ask questions.… Read the rest



David Colquhoun on herbal medicine *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

It need not be mystical nonsense, but it usually is.… Read the rest



Study finds fetus can’t feel pain before 24 weeks *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Nerve connections in the brain are not sufficiently formed to register pain.… Read the rest



Sholto Byrnes: Rethinking Islamism IV *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

It’s much much much nicer than you think. Really.… Read the rest



Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

“The people who believe themselves to be on the left, and who defend the agents of Islam in the name of tolerance and culture, are being right-wing.”… Read the rest



Reporter has opinions, resigns *

Jun 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Is it possible to report accurately despite opinions?… Read the rest



Bangladesh: girl given 101 lashes for being raped *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

The village elders pardoned the rapist.… Read the rest



Ratzinger v Belgium

Jun 25th, 2010 1:19 pm | By

The pope is pissed off because Belgian police are investigating Belgian citizens over allegations of crimes against other Belgian citizens (who were underage at the time) along with concealment and perpetuation of those crimes. What business, exactly, does the pope have being pissed off about this? He is the head of the organization the suspects work for, but so what?

The Vatican has expressed shock at raids, including the “violation” of a cathedral crypt, by Belgian police investigating alleged child sex abuse.

Well that’s typical, isn’t it – they’re “shocked” about the “violation” of a crypt – an inanimate object – when they were never all that shocked about the repeated violation of living breathing feeling human beings at their … Read the rest



Helping

Jun 25th, 2010 12:57 pm | By

Hey – want to do something? Want to make a difference? Want to make all the horrid oil in the gulf turn into nice healthy salt water and plankton and plastic water bottles? You can do all that. Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston and all those people will show you the way.

First step is tomorrow, 10 a.m. where I am, whatever time it is where you are. That’s Setting Our Sacred Intention time.

We begin by setting our collective intention. Join Deepak Chopra to set our powerful vision and participate in a worldwide Intention Experiment with renowned author and journalist Lynne McTaggart. Explore how our collective intention, our voice and our commitment can impact the cleanup of the

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Join The Gulf Call to Sacred Action *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

Our collective prayers and thoughts have the power to cause a profound shift on the planet. Srsly.… Read the rest



Frontline on vaccine alarmism *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

Bad thinking, pseudoscience, batshit craziness.… Read the rest



That Rolling Stone article *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

General seems unaware that the US has civilian government.… Read the rest



Supreme Court versus anti-corruption law *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

Ruled that the concept of committing fraud through depriving an employer of “honest services” was not adequately defined in the law. … Read the rest



Mayor of Leicester stands by prayer decision *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

“Saying prayers for a particular religion before council meetings was not inclusive.”… Read the rest



Ratzinger “indignant” about Belgian law enforcement *

Jun 25th, 2010 | Filed by

“The Vatican has summoned the Belgian ambassador to the Holy See to voice anger over Thursday’s raids.”… Read the rest



Saudis sentenced to lashes, prison for “mingling” *

Jun 24th, 2010 | Filed by

4 women, 11 men got lashes and one to two years in prison for attending a party.… Read the rest