Politics On nonscience smear campaigns 23 Jan 2010 In Scientific American: … the only strong evidence we have that Oklahoma Senator James M. Inhofe isn’t a clown is that his car isn’t small enough. Continue Reading
Humor “More than a theory” Lyrics 6 Nov 2009 After I made a bad pun on the alt.fan.pratchett Usenet group, SteveD came up with this: More than a theory (to the tune of Boston’s “More than a feeling”) I woke up this morning and the sun still shone Bath of neutrinos to start my day The spectrum’s light was… Continue Reading
Politics Is evangelicalism the walking dead? 14 Oct 200918 Sep 2017 An essay in Christian Science Monitor today suggests that within 20 years, the evangelical movement will be dead. I think it is wrong for several reason, but first, what it is right about: It is true that by tying their religious movement to a particular political philosophy, they would be… Continue Reading
Biology Psychiatric Tales 23 Sep 2009 This comic book, which is on psychiatry in general, looks very good. Click here for an eleven page excerpt on schizophrenia. I can vouch for the accuracy of this: I once had a staff member fall victim to the disorder and my manager behaved like she was a potential ax… Continue Reading
Philosophy I will not read Dan Brown’s latest 17 Sep 2009 He’s a pap writer. Nicely chewed and digested screenplays for filming. Nothing deep, nothing that might stretch a reader. Obvious plot turns. So the reviewer at First Post UK suggests some other reading. I add this: I am surprised that the reviewer did not suggest some Umberto Eco novels. I… Continue Reading
Philosophy Veerryyy interesting, but so sad 17 Sep 2009 Another icon from my youth, Henry Gibson, has died. *sigh* If there is a heaven, I hope he gets a good audience for his poems. Continue Reading
Humor A new argument for scientific realism 11 Sep 2009 Argumentum ab pop… [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty33v7UYYbw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1] Continue Reading
Pop culture Pullman says Jesus isn’t God. Film at 11 9 Sep 2009 Philip Pullman, the author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, has a book coming out that asserts Jesus isn’t God: The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. It will be interesting to see how the religiosi play this, but let’s just note now that so too do the Muslims,… Continue Reading
Humor Guards! Guards! trailer 8 Sep 2009 Will someone get Terry to employ this guy gal (but make sure there’s a proper foley and sound editor)? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhLyeVTmZGc&hl=en&fs=1&] Continue Reading
Philosophy Things are not always what they seem 8 Sep 2009 First the Earth was flat But it fattened up when we didn’t fall off Now we spin laps around the Sun Oh the gods lost 2-1 The host of Heaven pointed out to us from lightyears away We’re surrounded by a billion galaxies Things are not always, things are not… Continue Reading