All entries by this author

Homeopathy By Very Very Very Big Numbers *

Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by

How much arnica is in Boots-brand 84 arnica homeopathic 30C Pills for £5.09?… Read the rest



The Theological Language of Punishment and Mercy *

Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by

Either God is punitive and interventionist, or as capricious as nature and so absent as to be effectively nonexistent.… Read the rest



Flashing lights, and a beeping noise

Jan 23rd, 2010 5:31 pm | By

Call me sentimental but I do think this is a quotation for the ages. It’s from the guy who made the ‘bomb detector’ thingy out of an antenna and a hinge and a plastic tag, and sold lots of them for $40,000 each, and got arrested on suspicion of fraud for doing that.

We have been dealing with doubters for ten years. One of the problems we have is that the machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.

Do admit. The sunny innocence, the tenderly confiding honesty of that brings tears to the eyes, does it not? He sweetly admits there are ‘doubters’ – people not convinced that a … Read the rest



Obama Disputes Supreme Court Ruling *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Conservative majority said limits violated ‘corporations’ constitutional right to free speech.’… Read the rest



No More Jesus Rifles *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

‘It is not the policy of the Department of Defense to put religious references of any kind on its equipment.’… Read the rest



Paula Kirby on Suffering and Significance *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Theologians start with their desired answer – God is good! – then contort themselves to make the evidence fit.… Read the rest



McCormick Planned Improvements to ADE-651 *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

‘The machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.’… Read the rest



150 Bodies Found in Nigeria After Religious Riots *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Many of the bodies found in Kuru Karama had massive burns, other victims were hacked to death or shot. … Read the rest



Phil Plait on the Arrest of Jim McCormick *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Say it twice: he has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. … Read the rest



Jim McCormack Arrested on Suspicion of Fraud *

Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Sold ‘bomb detectors’ to Iraq for $40,000 apiece.… Read the rest



Export Ban on Useless Bomb Detector *

Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Iraq paid $40,000 apiece for a device that contains a cheap electronicky tag-thing that detects nothing.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo on Science and Religion *

Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Religious scientists do exist, as do pedophile priests. That’s simply a fact.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen on Chomsky *

Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Chomsky doesn’t seem to get the nature of clerical fascism.… Read the rest



National Association of Muslim Police Protest *

Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

Stigma, communities, faith, black, ethnic, wrong to blame Islam.… Read the rest



Wall St Journal Gloats Over Freedom of Bribery *

Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by

‘Corporations are entitled to the same right that individuals have to spend money on political speech.’… Read the rest



It won’t work unless the operator is relaxed

Jan 22nd, 2010 11:57 am | By

Another entry for the ‘I thought I was beyond being shocked’ category – a very expensive ‘bomb detector’ that has nothing in it but ‘the type of anti-theft tag used to prevent stealing in high street stores.’ Iraq has been paying $40,000 apiece for them – and using them to detect bombs – and they can’t detect bombs because all they have is ‘the cheapest bit of electronics that you can get that look vaguely electronic and are sufficiently flat to fit inside a card.’

Well that’s a nice way to make money!

The Iraqi government has spent $85m on the ADE-651 and there are concerns that they have failed to stop bomb attacks that have killed hundreds of people…The

Read the rest


Fresh Air on 36 Arguments for the Existence of God *

Jan 21st, 2010 | Filed by

Part academic farce, part metaphysical romance, all novel of ideas.… Read the rest



A Visit to the Creation Museum *

Jan 21st, 2010 | Filed by

There’s a room that has all the stuff God made on each day; the exhibit looks like holiday photographs.… Read the rest



A Jump Too Many *

Jan 21st, 2010 | Filed by

From contempt for philosophy to contempt for the idea that we should strive to have beliefs that make sense.… Read the rest



Christian-Muslim Riots Spread in Nigeria *

Jan 21st, 2010 | Filed by

As street clashes broke out in Pankshin and Mangu, one report said 464 people had died in Jos.… Read the rest