1. Evolution fray attracts top scientist

Comment #162203 by a tree with roots on April 16, 2008 at 10:32 am

Bravo Sir Harry!

I saw him give a talk in person a couple years ago about science education, and it was truly one of the best I've heard.

I don't blame him for being just a little bit peeved at the situation in his current home state. When it comes down to it, yeah many people do have to re-learn this stuff. Better late than never.

2. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150040 by a tree with roots on March 26, 2008 at 12:12 pm

Let's have another round! For the Professor! Here's cordially wishing you a Happy Birthday. Cheers!

3. Expelled Overview

Comment #149506 by a tree with roots on March 25, 2008 at 7:13 pm

I'd love to see the full uncut footage of that Shermer interview haha

... it's unlikely I ever will, though.

4. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100201 by a tree with roots on December 18, 2007 at 11:30 am

I find that rather pitiful on their part. Really? 'O Come All Ye Faithless' really bothers you? Please...

5. Creation college seeks state's OK to train teachers

Comment #99039 by a tree with roots on December 15, 2007 at 10:02 am

"Our students are given both sides," said Dr. Nason, who has a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Texas A&M University. "They need to know both sides, and they can draw their own conclusion."

I am SO tired of hearing this. The two sides are NOT equally viable. One is an entirely useless crackpot superstition which no scientist in any good standing takes seriously, the other is a remarkably well supported, frequently updated scientific theory. Even if there were another potential theory to replace evolution, it would NOT be ID and CERTAINLY not CREATIONISM! Get over it! Augh!

But what's the use in ranting. You folks on this site know what I'm talking about.

PS I @#!$ing forgot how to quote properly.

6. Jumbo shrimp, creationist astronomy

Comment #98789 by a tree with roots on December 14, 2007 at 10:25 am

Heh, "scoff scoff" indeed. What a bunch of junk, nevermind the fact that the whole damn thing is built on a false dilemma: "If the universe did not originate from an explosion, the only other option is that it was created." Is that right, knucklehead?? (ahem...pardon my french)

The laziness of these people always makes me squirm.

7. The Pagan Christ

Comment #95078 by a tree with roots on December 7, 2007 at 10:21 am

Comment #95061 by monoape
--about the wikipedia thing, you probably meant the genetic fallacy: dismissing a claim solely because of its origins, not by adressing the claim itself.

(I have a philosophy test on this stuff tomorrow! haha)

On another note,
I wish I could've seen this doc. If only I would've got home four days sooner...

8. Chimps beat humans in memory test

Comment #93769 by a tree with roots on December 4, 2007 at 7:28 am

Maybe this has something to do with how adult humans have pretty much learned to use crutches for memory instead of actually remembering things -pads of paper with notes written on them, for example. I remember reading that ancient speakers like Cicero would have no choice but to memorize each one of their entire speeches since they didn't have a convenient way of bringing notes along with them.
I wouldn't be surprised if young human children displayed memory as well as these chimps (or at least better than adult humans), since they presumably haven't yet learned to rely on these external tools to remember things.

Or maybe I'm just a little foggy on the details...

9. 2006 Charles Simonyi Lecture: 'Can the Internet Save The Enlightenment?'

Comment #90950 by a tree with roots on November 26, 2007 at 7:17 pm

I saw Kroto give a talk last year. It wasn't about this specifically, but it was still fantastic! I was really enchanted by what he said. One of the best talks I've seen. Glad to see him here.

10. God Talk on 'The View'

Comment #71645 by a tree with roots on September 19, 2007 at 11:55 am

All their arguments have "...I believe..." in them. I can't stand when people do that. You believe --so what?? People believe alot of things. It's a pitiful thing to hinge an argument on.
I guess that's what you get when the "virtue" of faith is still lauded by so many.

Of course, even if they'd left that out, it still would've been an empty discussion. I stopped watching halfway through...

11. Interview with Michael Behe

Comment #61107 by a tree with roots on August 3, 2007 at 4:40 pm

I saw this last night (I'm a semi-regular viewer). It irritates me how Behe seems unaware that each of his arguments have been entirely torn down, and how he goes on trying to convince people with them. He still uses the mousetrap analogy, and I was just waiting for him to come out with the flagellum example again. He probably would have, had he been given enough time.
I did like the *subtle* challenging that Colbert did while pretending to agree completely. Could've done a bit more, but he has to stay in character, after all. Luckily Behe didn't get much out anyways.

12. Christopher Hitchens and Al Sharpton

Comment #53311 by a tree with roots on June 30, 2007 at 6:12 pm

"...a pile of dust named CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS!"
that was funny.

Actually, for how lousy the actual substance and debate was between them, Hitchens and Sharpton make an amusing duo.

13. Richard Dawkins on Canada AM

Comment #38349 by a tree with roots on May 7, 2007 at 9:03 pm

Yeah this was pretty dull. I have a bit more confidence in Stroumboulopoulos, though. I think he does his job well, despite what Bonzai said. He's not supposed to be some deep-digging reporter. Richard's not hiding anything, anyways. He has his ideas and he's perfectly happy communicating them. George is good at being a catalyst for conversation, I think.
We'll see, though. It may turn out crap, I don't know!

14. Interview with Steven Pinker

Comment #26100 by a tree with roots on March 16, 2007 at 9:39 pm

Yeah, Colberts awesome. This wasn't exactly the best of his interviews, though. Still good.

15. Out There

Comment #25296 by a tree with roots on March 11, 2007 at 7:34 pm

I feel bad for all the fundies missing out on this fascinating stuff (but then, they'd probably say the same thing about me missing out on their wonderful god. Sigh.)

Brilliant article!

16. Foreword for the UK edition of 'Letter to a Christian Nation'

Comment #22261 by a tree with roots on February 13, 2007 at 6:53 pm

I really loved Letter to a Christian Nation. Wonderful and important piece of work, considering the times. I have the North American version, though. Dang, we didn't get the awesome bookmarks!

17. Fossils: The Devil's Handiwork

Comment #22242 by a tree with roots on February 13, 2007 at 4:53 pm

ahaha I love Lewis Black! Thanks for posting this, I hadn't seen it before.

18. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #20809 by a tree with roots on February 6, 2007 at 5:02 pm

That was awful. I cringe to think that some people take this type of program seriously.

19. Interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson

Comment #20164 by a tree with roots on January 31, 2007 at 4:57 pm

Those are two of my favourite people. It was short, but it's sure better than nothing! Funny AND fascinating.

20. 'Friends of God' Documentary

Comment #19955 by a tree with roots on January 30, 2007 at 9:17 pm

"God said it, I believe it, that settles it!" Yeah, that settles it alright...
I never get so disgusted with creationists than when I see them confuse children so severely with their lies. It saddens me. What's more, they'd probably say the very same thing about kids being taught evolution. Sigh.

And that one guy who wants to win a Nobel Prize made me laugh. Hey, he can try if he wants...

21. 'Hobbit' human 'is a new species'

Comment #19952 by a tree with roots on January 30, 2007 at 8:55 pm

The creationists will prob'ly reject this research as "bad science" and cling desperately to the microcephalic pygmy theory.

22. Benny Hinn examined

Comment #19763 by a tree with roots on January 29, 2007 at 8:23 pm

It's sad on many levels that people would put their health in that guy's hands (if you can even call it that). I don't know how he can live with himself knowing that he's made his incogitable fortune by conning the sick and weak out of their health and money. He must himself be ridiculously delusional.

23. Durham Council Votes To Continue Saying Lord's Prayer

Comment #19384 by a tree with roots on January 26, 2007 at 7:25 pm

I find it sad that people find prayer necessary at all in parliament, never mind "who" they pray to.

24. The Bright Revolution

Comment #19067 by a tree with roots on January 24, 2007 at 3:54 pm

I don't call myself an atheist, really, although I am one. I don't particularly like 'bright' either.

Godfrey made me laugh, though! I like it.

There's always the option of improving the connotation of 'atheist'?