All entries by this author

Bad science education impairs US economy *

Sep 27th, 2010 | Filed by

US mathematics and science K-12 education ranks 48th worldwide.… Read the rest



How a journalist should report on a scientific paper *

Sep 27th, 2010 | Filed by

First make an obvious pun, then ask an inane question, then say which existing scientific ideas this new research “challenges.”… Read the rest



Hossein Derakhshan could face execution *

Sep 27th, 2010 | Filed by
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and PEN Canada say the prosecutor in Derakhshan’s case has called for the death penalty.… Read the rest


Blogger Hossein Derakhshan on trial in Iran *

Sep 27th, 2010 | Filed by

He has been charged with “collaborating with enemy states, creating propaganda against the Islamic regime, insulting religious sanctity” and more.… Read the rest



Pragna Patel at protest the pope rally *

Sep 26th, 2010 | Filed by

“Nor am I surprised to learn that the Muslim Council of Britain will be taking part in the papal visit.”… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre on medical ghostwriting *

Sep 26th, 2010 | Filed by

Academics put their names on papers written by commercial medical writing companies working for drug companies.… Read the rest



Should science journalists take sides? *

Sep 26th, 2010 | Filed by

If you just report what people have said, you’re a megaphone, not a journalist. Analysis is part of the job.… Read the rest



Salil Tripathi on the ‘incompetence Raj’ *

Sep 26th, 2010 | Filed by

This is not a failure of the Indian people or Indian culture. It is the Indian government who have failed so badly with the Commonwealth Games.… Read the rest



Ignore the logo, no matter how big it is

Sep 25th, 2010 6:07 pm | By

I saw John Shook’s Huffington Post article on “O lord how awful are the ways of thy gnu atheists” a few days ago, and even read a bit of it, but I got bored so I didn’t finish, or comment on it. But Jerry did a post on it today, and the response has been energetic. A good many gnu atheists are irritated at yet another bucketful of crap being thrown at them by another atheist.

In turn, Ron Lindsay is irritated that Jerry criticized the Center for Inquiry (where Shook works) because Shook wrote what he wrote.

Jerry Coyne: I am extremely disappointed that you would make such an unsupported and rash accusation against CFI. If you can point

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A little list

Sep 25th, 2010 11:51 am | By

A beautiful takedown of Ahmedinejad by Muhhamad Sahimi at Frontline. One ludicrous boast after another countered with a statement of the reality.

“Sakineh Mohammadi has not been condemned to death by stoning”:

This is while activists have already posted a copy of the judiciary verdict and punishment for her, and the judiciary chief of East Azerbaijan province, where Mohammadi is from, has stated repeatedly that she will be executed as soon as Sadegh Larijani gives the go-ahead.

Oh – er – ah – that’s a different Sakineh Mohammadi.

“No one has been imprisoned for taking part in demonstrations”:

This is while the Tehran police chief acknowledged last year that on the anniversary of the Revolution on February 12

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Australia’s “saint” exposed a paedophile priest *

Sep 25th, 2010 | Filed by

And was excommunicated partly for revenge, a new documentary claims.… Read the rest



Scattering blessings

Sep 25th, 2010 10:45 am | By

The archbishop of Westminster is full of advice to fellow Catholics (I beg your pardon, I mean to his “flock”) on how they can make themselves disliked by pestering and nagging people.

The Archbishop of Westminster says Catholics should be more ready to make the sign of the cross and say “God bless you” to people.

The Archbishop called on Catholics to respond to the Pope’s hope that they would become “ever more conscious of their dignity as a priestly people”.

Brilliant suggestions. Make intrusive public displays of superstitious gesturing and invoke something called a “blessing” from a non-existent being. Force your religious beliefs on people so that they will be impressed by your “dignity as a priestly people.” Act … Read the rest



Muhammad Sahimi on Ahmedinedjad’s lies *

Sep 25th, 2010 | Filed by

Some of his lies are so brazen that even his supporters in Tehran have expressed astonishment and rebuked him.… Read the rest



Poll: 1 in 5 Americans believe Obama is a cactus *

Sep 25th, 2010 | Filed by

The most Americans to identify the president as a water- retaining desert plant since he took office.… Read the rest



Archbishop urges Catholics to be more irritating *

Sep 25th, 2010 | Filed by

Archbishop of Westminster says Catholics should be more ready to make the sign of the cross and say “God bless you” to people.… Read the rest



Geoffrey Robertson on the Holy See as Santa Claus state *

Sep 24th, 2010 | Filed by

The world’s most absolute dictator presumes to lecture our present leaders on the sins of democratic society.… Read the rest



Henning Mankell: argue with Sweden Democrats *

Sep 24th, 2010 | Filed by

“It was precisely the refusal of the other parties, from left and right, to debate with the SD that allowed them to grow from nothing to 6% of the vote.”… Read the rest



Larry King: Now why don’t you interview Mina Ahadi and Sajjad Ghaderzadeh?‏

Sep 24th, 2010 | By Mina Ahadi and Maryam Namazie
Larry King’s overly cordial interview with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad failed to press the head of a repressive Islamic Republic of Iran on many issues raised, including on the Iran stoning case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.   When asked about the stoning case, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad replied: ‘This lady’s case has not been completely examined yet. No verdict has been issued yet. She is accused of being — of murdering her husband. And I don’t think in the world if someone is accused of murdering their husband, people would pour on the streets and rally in support of her.’ Without correcting the facts on the case, King then went on to say: ‘If they were going to stone her, they would.’ Ahmadinejad then said:… Read the rest


Deaf abuse victim is suing the pope *

Sep 24th, 2010 | Filed by

The headmaster of St. John’s School for the Deaf raped and molested as many as 200 deaf boys, according to court and church documents.… Read the rest



Johann Hari on Liberal Democrats as hostages *

Sep 24th, 2010 | Filed by

They twitch nervously as they mouth supportive platitudes about Cameron’s planned cuts.… Read the rest