1. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #203619 by schmeer on July 3, 2008 at 8:51 am

I would have settled for a large pizza. Did Hell Pizza place the final bid for $456? Good deal for the seller.

2. Where do US lawmakers stand on science?

Comment #198162 by schmeer on June 23, 2008 at 9:45 am

I'm also an engineer and rabid atheist. I know many atheist engineers, but I do also know religious ones. The religious ones seem to be very content compartmentalizing and trying not to think about the issue.

3. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #195974 by schmeer on June 19, 2008 at 6:28 am

This psychic should be charged. They may have to settle for slander or something less than he/she deserves, but justice calls for a conviction.

4. Astronomers find batch of 'super-Earths'

Comment #193942 by schmeer on June 16, 2008 at 8:26 am

"can someone explain to me (or point me in the right direction to find out)why the orbits are of such short duration?"

Most likely it is because the "wobble" in brightness that indicates a planet is present is much easier to see when the variation occurs over a shorter time period. To find a planet with a year comparable to our own, you'd have to watch it for years. If the planet orbits in a few days you can see the change in brightness in a week's work.

5. Godless

Comment #192321 by schmeer on June 12, 2008 at 6:57 pm

Regarding "In God We Trust":
The phrase was added to paper currency in 1957, but had been rejected by T. Roosavelt who believed it was blasphemy, as correctly stated above.
However, it did appear on some coins beginning in 1864. Regardless of when it first appeared, it still doesn't belong there.
The US Treasury website has a lot of information on that government approved violation of the Constitution.

6. Trailer for Religulous

Comment #191231 by schmeer on June 10, 2008 at 12:37 pm

Volguus,
Though I can't be bothered to find an example for you right now, I think you will find that there are many people here who do criticize Hitchens' views on the Iraq war. I can recall several topics in the forums where people argue over Hitchens.

7. Blogger spreads the gospel of science

Comment #189551 by schmeer on June 6, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Of course I'm originally from West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, named for Bridgewater, Somerset, England.

The original name was Nunkatateset, but of course the Iriquois chief who owned this territory became uppity with the Puritans. They cut off his head, put it on a stick to warn off the other natives and gave it a proper name.

8. Blogger spreads the gospel of science

Comment #189433 by schmeer on June 6, 2008 at 9:18 am

GrumpyMax: are there any Bristols / New Bristols in the US?

I live in Taunton, Massachusetts, which is in Bristol County. I believe Taunton is a port in England.

Most of the towns and cities in New England are named after English locations. Hanover, Plymouth, Bourne, Dartmouth, Essex, Ipswich, Manchester and Worcester are all cities in Massachusetts.

As you go west it is increasingly unlikely that the founders of a city (Like Kent, Washington) were originaly from England. For example, Kent England was incorporated in 1890.

9. The amazing intelligence of crows

Comment #181035 by schmeer on May 16, 2008 at 10:33 am

Fascinating. I wonder how much they are capable of learning. If they are able to learn to use a crosswalk by watching humans, how long will it be until one of them gets a pointy hat and tells the others that he has exclusive access to the invisible crow that sees all.

10. Pope's Views on Science Invoke Spirited Debate

Comment #165794 by schmeer on April 22, 2008 at 10:50 am

"Surely by flying isn't he committing the sin that he made up the other day regarding environmental pollution? Or is he exempt?"

Maybe he performed transubstantiation on the offending pollution and changed it to Jesus' body and blood. Poof! No pollution.

11. Should Galileo's tomb be opened for DNA tests?

Comment #141375 by schmeer on March 10, 2008 at 10:16 am

Why not gather a sample from the finger and then allow Galileo to give the Church the finger one more time?

12. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution

Comment #112092 by schmeer on January 16, 2008 at 10:03 am

He also instituted the first "universal" health care plan in Mass.

Ah yes, but the plan stipulates that you either get your own healthcare (the government will sell you some if you want to use their plan) or pay a $200 penalty at tax time, along with your taxes, but don't worry it's not a tax. Not much of a plan. I'm surprised they didn't just go with a more simple solution like "Stop being poor!"

I would also like to remind everyone that Romney recently said "Freedom requires religion" and curses "the religion of secularism".
http://www.slate.com/id/2179404/
Though I agree he would be better, I think the improvement is not enough to make me happy.

13. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #79191 by schmeer on October 16, 2007 at 12:19 pm

I found McGrath evaded nearly every question asked, even though Hitchens was very direct in asking.
McGrath's answers were almost always mind-numbingly 'murky', I was forced to rewind several times to follow his nonsensical rant.