All entries by this author

Libraries Should Put ‘Holy Books’ on Top Shelf *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

‘No offence is caused, as the scriptures of all the major faiths are given respect in this way, but none is higher than any other.’… Read the rest



The Chimpworks Z-1000 Taurean Stool Detector *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

Q-zone crystal quantum z-rays in its homeopathically-advised dodecahedron-shaped water molecule engine. … Read the rest



Ben Goldacre on How to Get the Figures Wrong *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

It’s a tricky process, and then at the end you still have to inflate at will.… Read the rest



‘Vixen’ Returns to the Stage *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

And sexist vocabulary never left the New York Times, apparently.… Read the rest



Clawback of Executive Pay is Gaining Traction *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

‘When companies fail to perform, should they give millions of dollars to their senior executives?’… Read the rest



Colin Blakemore on Science and Religion *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

Science has rampaged over the landscape of divine explanation, as ‘why’ questions became ‘how’ questions.… Read the rest



Women and fundamentalism

Feb 21st, 2009 12:22 pm | By

Rahila Gupta points out the horrible ironies and tensions:

The fallout from the Rushdie affair was the widespread growth of religious identities at the expense of racial and gender identities. Secular anti-racists began to declaim, even reclaim, their Muslim identity. Muslim women increasingly adopted the hijab as a symbol of pride in their religious identity, not recognising or even accepting the fact that it set women back by placing the onus on women’s safety on their modest dress and behaviour rather than male aggression. The left displayed a reluctance to challenge reactionary forces within our communities because it might be seen as racist.

And goes on displaying – so we get people defending the archbishop of Canterbury’s reactionary embrace … Read the rest



Free Speech or Freedom to Hurt? *

Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by

‘If playing with people’s beliefs and trampling on all that they hold sacred is freedom, then we’re better off without it.’… Read the rest



Goldacre on the Dangers of an Ill-informed Media *

Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by

This is a ‘debate’ where one person asking stupid questions has complete control over the microphones.… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre on Pay to Play *

Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by

In an ideal world, all drugs research would be commercially separate from manufacturing and retail.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo on Creationism *

Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by

Of course Jesus does not believe the earth is six thousand years old.… Read the rest



Vatican Attempts to Censor ‘Blasphemy’ *

Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by

An Israeli comedian jokes about Jesus, Vat lodges a formal complaint with Israeli government.… Read the rest



Women Fought Fundamentalism Before the Fatwa *

Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by

Women are the first to feel the chill of religious fundamentalism when their freedoms begin to atrophy.… Read the rest



Fold the tents

Feb 21st, 2009 11:47 am | By

Volunteers no longer needed; volunteers can pack up blankets and canteens and waterproof hats and go home; cache is made; many thanks.

And don’t forget to take care of yourselves, and stay alive. Seriously now. I’m not kidding.… Read the rest



Elliott

Feb 21st, 2009 11:40 am | By

Here’s some horrible news. Elliott Grasett died of a heart attack on Tuesday. I was in his address book so a relative very kindly let me know.

I checked, and – he commented here that day. On Indulge me for a moment. There’s always something so poignant about that – you know – ‘Why I was just talking to him yesterday…’

Very sad. I always enjoyed his comments; they seemed to bespeak a sterling guy.

Christian Jago died more than a year ago. And I suspect that something major – death or disability or kidnapping or something – happened to Karl, who used to comment regularly and often (and amusingly) and who also emailed me a lot, and then … Read the rest



Atheism is on the March *

Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by

‘Public statements of non-belief are treated as threatening, an affront to the religious, while the reverse is not true.’… Read the rest



A C Grayling on Secularist Students *

Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by

‘This critical, evidence-based, enquiring mindset also thinks afresh about the good for human lives and societies.’… Read the rest



Mental Torture and Bullying in an Indian Convent *

Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by

‘There are many nuns undergoing ill-treatment from the order, but they are afraid of challenging it.’… Read the rest



Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Protests *

Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by

‘A journalist has become the first victim after the peace deal in Swat, which is most alarming.’… Read the rest



Pakistan: 32 Bullets in Murdered Reporter *

Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by

Hundreds of journalists protested the murder of Musa Khan Khel in Swat.… Read the rest