1. Children need to be sprinkled with fairy dust

Comment #273140 by irvine.intervention on October 28, 2008 at 8:07 am

Off Topic:

The new appointee to the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science is

Marcus Du Sautoy:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_du_Sautoy

2. Two new fleas are discovered!

Comment #261291 by irvine.intervention on October 6, 2008 at 4:15 pm

Nicky Gumbel, the vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton and the man who heads up the Alpha ministry

3. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #192929 by irvine.intervention on June 14, 2008 at 9:19 am

As the world becomes smaller, the need to deride each other's faith grows.

4. Male circumcision is a weapon in the sperm wars

Comment #189501 by irvine.intervention on June 6, 2008 at 11:19 am

This sounds like a Cock and Ball story.

5. Richard Dawkins Responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #181228 by irvine.intervention on May 16, 2008 at 5:15 pm

Bravo Richard!

6. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177312 by irvine.intervention on May 8, 2008 at 10:54 pm

Surely there is a difference between an ad hominem fallacy and a personal attack:

In the original open letter Richard pointed out Shmuley's ignorance concerning evolution AND that his shreiking, ranting style would have made Hitler proud.

If Richard had dismissed Shmuley's argument against evolution BECAUSE of his shreiking, ranting style - that would be an ad hominem fallacy; it would be entirely possible to shreik and rant a lot of sense regarding evolution.

Personal attacks are cathartic, we all indulge from time to time.

The worst you could say is that it may have been ill judged because it handed Shmuley a big stick with the words 'I'm being persecuted' written on it with which to wave about manically.

Excuse the caps - don't know how to italicise.

7. Dawkins warns of human extinction

Comment #155594 by irvine.intervention on April 5, 2008 at 3:13 am

Apologies if this has been posted before:

Hitchens vs Hitchens debate is now on utube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sE4LhSh4iQ

8. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #152294 by irvine.intervention on March 30, 2008 at 4:04 pm

"In one scene,the sound of paper ripping can be seen as a reader pages through the Quran"


How do you see the sound of paper ripping - unless you're a synesthete?

9. Sue Blackmore debates Alister McGrath

Comment #149627 by irvine.intervention on March 26, 2008 at 2:35 am

Alister McGrath:

A man who has absolutely nothing to say - and by christ does he say it!

10. Dinesh D'Souza: Winner of the 2007 Bad Faith Award

Comment #112134 by irvine.intervention on January 16, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Confuckulations Dinesh!

11. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95008 by irvine.intervention on December 7, 2007 at 6:51 am

'...so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer.'

So Mit thinks 'enlightened' is a dirty word - ignorance is bliss.

I was expecting him to end his speech with a rousing 'Allah O Akbar'.

Scary shit.

12. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #88863 by irvine.intervention on November 19, 2007 at 4:57 am

What a coincidence - I've been thinking about this very issue over the last couple of days. It seems to me that Clive Thompson has identified a real problem but suggested the wrong solution . Scientists could do with a new word to describe what is specifically meant by the word 'theory' in scientific circles. the problem with using 'law' is that is has its own specific meaning. A brand new word can have its own distinct definition unencumbered by the baggage of the past. I'm not a scientist nor am I etymologically knowledgeable so I would tentatively suggest the word:

Veriscientum. (noun) meaning a body of knowledge or logical explanation verified/verifiable by recourse to empirical evidence. veriscient: (adj) knowledge having the quality of verifiability.

(The above definitions may need tweaked)

the 'veri' part of the word deriving from the latin word veritas meaning truth and 'scientum' meaning body of knowledge.

The veriscientum of evolution?

Anyone out there more neologistically talented and etymologically knowledgeable than I care to develop the idea?

Perhaps I.D can be reffered to as maliscient !

Paul Irvine 19 November, year 7 p.t.e.[Post Theological Era;)]