1. Biologist Teaches the Nation's Judges About Genetics

Comment #202620 by Veon on July 1, 2008 at 5:25 pm

If your genes made you kill, surely the only option open for the judge is to lock you away for life. For the greater good of all. A killer gene will not be rehabilitated so there is no chance you will ever be safe.

If someone pulled the gene defense in my courtroom I would be ready to render a verdict at once.

DISCLAIMER: I do not work in any branch of the legal system.

2. Richard Dawkins on Doctor Who

Comment #201051 by Veon on June 28, 2008 at 9:52 pm

Surely Richard would be the first to go to as he holds the chair for the public understanding of science.

EDIT: And for those complaining about the acting. Watch a few episodes of Dr. Who and you'll see that the clip is in keeping with the style of the show.

3. The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete

Comment #199842 by Veon on June 26, 2008 at 12:12 pm

I hope this article is written by an economist.
Going with whatever works best is economics (hence Google's success)
Figuring out how and why it works best, now that is science

4. Five Things Humans No Longer Need

Comment #184108 by Veon on May 23, 2008 at 4:07 pm

I don't know how the postal service is where you are from; but here in Norway it's great.

What we really don't need is these silly delivery companies that can't even deliver a single package. I'm looking at you DHL.

EDIT: Oh and my wisdom teeth fit just fine. I guess wisdom just comes natural for some of us. Or not, as I'm gonna have to have them removed due to bad diet and maintenance.

5. What really goes on at the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #175921 by Veon on May 6, 2008 at 8:40 am

Sorry Rod but you are just plain wrong about the kilOmeter thing. People are free to pronounce it like that. I won't argue the fact that it sounds better the way you want it to be pronounced though.

Your other examples are spot on and a great annoyance to me as well.

EDIT: To add that Brian Cox reminds me of Noel Fielding (which is funny.... to me)

6. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175813 by Veon on May 6, 2008 at 5:21 am

Ok, how are you going to exclude the grownups you refer to. What criteria will you use to determine this group. Who's going to make that decision?

I was just arguing that exclusions should not be discarded out of hand. I have no plans for excluding people and I do not know what criteria voters should meet.

The problem, I think, is democracy itself. The whole letting people decide stuff. Because people are invariably idiots. Persons are smart, but even if you gather only smart persons together they will turn into a group stupid people.

To quote Douglas Adams: "People are a problem"


And to answer your follow up question:
No, I have no better idea than democracy; but I know that democracy isn't good enough.

7. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175712 by Veon on May 5, 2008 at 11:32 pm

There is so much here that I can't keep quiet.

Firstly: Fitna. Horrible movie, should not be stopped; but not worth watching.

Secondly: Voting limitations. What some seem to be forgetting, even though Crazy_Steve mentioned it, is that all western democracies already exclude at least one group which is not aware enough about the world they live in to vote: Minors. I see no valid reason to exclude minors but not grown ups that don't know what they are doing in the voting booth.

Thirdly: Peak Oil. This is an important issue that is often forgotten or ignored. We really need to get serious about replacing oil as our main energy source. I know BMW has done some research and trials with hydrogen powered cars; which might help a lot IF we can get a clean plentiful power source, like fusion, to make the hydrogen.

I think this could be the cure to the energy crisis. If we can get fusion going we've got many ways to transport this energy. we could dump oil altogether.

Just throwing my two bits in. Or two bits times three. Crap I'm down a metaphorical 75 cents.

EDIT: included some crucial words that where missing.

8. Richard Dawkins on The Alan Colmes Show

Comment #144000 by Veon on March 14, 2008 at 8:48 pm

That's just amazing.
I don't know if I should point in the general direction of the Americas and laugh or admire them for making commercials that would fit right into any sketch or joke.

Either way our commercials are not even half as fun.

9. Richard Dawkins on The Alan Colmes Show

Comment #143993 by Veon on March 14, 2008 at 8:09 pm

I have to ask.
Are those commercials real or are they spoofs?

10. It was a bad year for God.

Comment #109243 by Veon on January 8, 2008 at 4:25 pm

This was the year I was saved.
So that is one down for you God.

11. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98901 by Veon on December 14, 2007 at 9:24 pm

I have been hoping someone would make something like this. Getting the four big ones in one go only makes it better.
No disruptive format, no annoying moderator, just a nice informed, and dear I say informal, conversation.

There should be more of this!