‘What kind of ‘believer’ considers anal rape a suitable punishment for sin?’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Scott McLemee on Fresh New Ideas in Conspiracy 
Sep 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
9/11demands new theoretical approaches to explain the evidence, or even to bring it into existence.… Read the rest
Seyran Ates
Sep 7th, 2006 7:37 pm | By Ophelia BensonThis is horrible news.
Seyran Ates, lawyer, writer, and human rights activist was attacked at the beginning of June…by the screaming husband of one of her clients. “You whore”, the man shouted. “What ideas have you been putting into my wife’s head?” No one intervened when Mehmet O. lashed out at Ates, her client and another woman. Now Ates is facing the consequences. She has handed in her law licence and also her membership of the women’s rights organisation Terre de femmes. “This acutely threatening situation has brought home to me once more how dangerous my work as a lawyer is, and how little protection I have had and have as an individual,” Ates explains.
Great. The bullies win, … Read the rest
Seyran Ates Quits Law Practice After Attack
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Has handed in her law licence and quit women’s rights organisation Terre de femmes.… Read the rest
Chomsky and Trivers Discuss Deception
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We can see self-deception in others but not in ourselves.… Read the rest
Sad to See Usual Response of Scientists
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Yet again, certain selfappointed gatekeepers of science are attempting to halt progress.’… Read the rest
Life at a ‘Faith’ School
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Teacher questioned about her virginity by school’s owner.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne Reviews Follies of the Wise
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Crews takes on fields of inquiry which have caused rational people to succumb to irrational ideas.… Read the rest
Who needs sophistry, anyway?
Sep 7th, 2006 | By Ben NelsonScientists and philosophers need sophistry. This article will
show why and how. The argument will need to draw from the history and
philosophy of science of Pierre Duhem, as well as the concepts of
intellectual property and the science of persuasion.
I. A choice of arms.
As you are reading this, you may hear a popping noise. Do not fret: it
is the faint, disquieting sound of science being broken. It is this
tiny bit of irksome vibration that really gives content to the name,
“pop science”. Well-intentioned hands of varying degrees of competence
are to blame for it.
We all know of professional errors. The most recent case that comes to
mind is that of Dr. William Hammesfahr, a … Read the rest
Do come in, the door is wide open
Sep 6th, 2006 5:01 pm | By Ophelia BensonSo what is the British Association for the Advancement of Science up to?
… Read the restOrganisers of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (the BA) were accused of lending credibility to maverick theories on the paranormal by allowing the highly controversial research to be aired unchallenged. Leading members of the science establishment criticised the BA’s decision to showcase papers purporting to demonstrate telepathy and the survival of human consciousness after someone dies. They said that such ideas, which are widely rejected by experts, had no place in the festival without challenge from sceptics…Critics including Lord Winston and Sir Walter Bodmer, both former presidents of the BA, expressed particular alarm that the three speakers were allowed to hold a promotional
Pharmacists and Plan B
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If a person’s purpose is to kill a fertilized egg, then I disagree with that.’… Read the rest
Zoe Williams on the HPV Vaccine
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As vaccine for cervical cancer becomes available in the UK, conservative opinion mobilises.… Read the rest
Peter Tatchell on Death Threats from Fanatics
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Anti-gay hatred is free speech, but anti-homophobia is hate crime against religion.… Read the rest
Lancashire Hospitals Adopt Green Burqas
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Horrifying naked women finally covered up. Whew.… Read the rest
Boy Born in Japan
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Relief, rejoicing: baby not a worthless female.… Read the rest
Panels Should Have Been Balanced
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s reasonable to discuss woolly subjects, but skeptics should be on the panels.… Read the rest
Woolly BA Sessions Criticized
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Robust challenge was lacking. … Read the rest
Rupert Sheldrake Claims Evidence of Telepathy
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The odds against this being a chance effect are 1,000 billion to one,’ he says cautiously.… Read the rest
Aids Experts Condemn SA Health Minister
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang tells those with HIV to eat garlic and beetroot.… Read the rest
The overwhelming majority
Sep 5th, 2006 10:36 pm | By Ophelia BensonA little more on that BBC article about attitudes to ‘honour’ killing and its evasiveness about who exactly gets killed in such killings.
Sometimes it is men; Dsquared provided the link to this nightmare.
A university student was murdered to “vindicate a family’s honour” after he fell in love with their daughter and made her pregnant, a court was told yesterday.
Student was Iranian, daughter and family were Bangladeshi, father disapproved of student, said there was already a marriage arranged for daughter; she was forbidden to see student, confined to house, phone taken away; they met anyway, she got pregnant, they planned to marry.
… Read the restOn November 20 Mr Ghorbani-Zarin was found dead in his car, a green Renault, in
