1. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204680 by bugaboo on July 5, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Teapot
Seems maybe I got the wrong end of the stick and so I apologise.

Its past my bedtime.

2. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204674 by bugaboo on July 5, 2008 at 1:34 pm

23. Comment #204630 by the great teapot
Just spotted this gem

National service seems the only reasonable answer to me.

Yeah, heard it.

Arsehole

3. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204667 by bugaboo on July 5, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Comment #204658 by the great teapot
Dont you think that its absolutley amazing that humans are " religous"? I do, and think its a fascinating area for study and that includes in schools.

4. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #204077 by bugaboo on July 4, 2008 at 5:10 am

clodhopper

Conspiracy theories seem to me to be a sort of secular version of religion.

I'm not a great fan of memetics but when considering the two they both fit the model of memeplexes like a glove.

5. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #204024 by bugaboo on July 4, 2008 at 3:40 am

436. Comment #204014 by hungarianelephant

Classic!
Edit: need to go get a new mouse. 8teists avatar applies.

Edit: clodhopper
GENIUS!! What does it retail at?

6. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203989 by bugaboo on July 4, 2008 at 2:20 am

Morning All

Apathy

They actually do a useful role as diplomats

Diplomat Philip:- A few from the collection..

Still throwing spears? (Question put to an Australian Aborigine during a visit in March 2002)
"British women can't cook." (1966)
"Everybody was saying we must have more leisure. Now they are complaining they are unemployed." (during the 1981 recession)
"We didn't have counsellors rushing around every time somebody let off a gun, asking 'Are you all right? Are you sure you don't have a ghastly problem?' You just got on with it." (commenting in 1995 on modern stress counselling for servicemen)
"If a cricketer, for instance, suddenly decided to go into a school and batter a lot of people to death with a cricket bat, which he could do very easily, I mean, are you going to ban cricket bats?" (in 1996, amid calls to ban firearms after the Dunblane shooting)
"Bloody silly fool!" (in 1997, referring to a Cambridge University car park attendant who failed to recognise him)
"It looks as if it was put in by an Indian." (in 1999, referring to an old-fashioned fuse box in a factory near Edinburgh)
"Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf." (in 1999, to young deaf people in Cardiff, referring to a school's steel band)
"They must be out of their minds." (in 1982, in the Solomon Islands, after being told that the annual population growth was only 5%)
"You are a woman, aren't you?" (in 1984, in Kenya, to a native woman who had presented him with a small gift)
"Your country is one of the most notorious centres of trading in endangered species in the world." (in 1991, in Thailand, after accepting a conservation award)
"Oh no, I might catch some ghastly disease." (in 1992 in Australia, when asked to stroke a Koala bear)
"You can't have been here that long - you haven't got a pot belly." (in 1993, to a Briton in Budapest, Hungary)
"Aren't most of you descended from pirates?" (in 1994, to an islander in the Cayman Islands)
"You managed not to get eaten, then?" (in 1998, to a student who had been trekking in Papua New Guinea)
"If it has got four legs and it is not a chair, if it has got two wings and it flies but is not an aeroplane, and if it swims and it is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it." (at a 1986 World Wildlife Fund meeting)

7. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203726 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 12:37 pm

324. Comment #203717 by Steve Zara

But let's criticise the religions about the real, substantial issues.

Agreed

Akheloios

I think i may have flew off the handle just a bit. :)

8. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203714 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 12:17 pm

318. Comment #203708 by Steve Zara

Its indicative of the current climate where its simply not PC (no pun intended) with the fear of the cry of racist! This acts as a very effective buffer against the real criticism we wish to direct against these religions.

9. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203711 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 12:09 pm

311. Comment #203699 by Steve Zara
I'm familiar with the paper and agree wholeheartedly with all derogatory comments posted on it. I couldnt bring myself to buy it even if they were giving away the complete Kurosawa collection free in a single edition. (well maybe i exaggerate)
I'm not convinced that sentence wasnt rascist, it was certainly chauvinistic.

10. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203703 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 11:52 am

The initial story of the outcry from the muslim community was a non story. I think the incident became newsworthy when the police apologised.

Edit: The story was reported in the torygraph and in local newspapers

11. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203698 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 11:33 am

Comment #203685 by Akheloios

Go hang your heads in shame and check that the stories you read aren't knee jerk right wing agitprop aimed at selling more newspapers to the uneducated white male ignoramuses that pass for that rag's readers in future.

Thats the first racist/chauvinist comment ive seen for a while

12. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203625 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 9:08 am

284. Comment #203614 by al-rawandi

I don't she will post that she accepts death for apostates, but she may well believe it personally.

Ive often thought that it may well be the other way around and that many Muslims (particularly women) don't really believe the shit about apostasy, but are afraid to condemn the punishments meted out or threatened within their community. That may of course be wish thinking on my part.

13. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203606 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 8:28 am

TeraBrat

Just because something is hard doesn't mean it can't be fun.

Couldnt agree more Tera

14. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203603 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 8:22 am

9. Comment #203589 by Oystein Elgaroy

How much effort is involved in getting a piece of paper and some iron filings to give a visually stunning demonstration of lines of force? get DNA from a vegetable with washing up liquid and alcohol etc etc Even the schools that are really strapped for cash or equipment could come up with some fab hands-on experiments.

15. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203593 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 8:01 am

276. Comment #203580 by rchoquette

Slange var Robert

PS. Is that a PRS i see?

16. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203588 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 7:53 am

6. Comment #203581 by pwl

As a science teacher can I assure you that sodium into water is still allowed (with a few precautions) as are many other exciting experiments.

Thanks pwl. Apologies, I have been misinformed.

17. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203575 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 7:31 am

In secondary school when the science teacher threw some sodium into a jar of water or burned some Mg that woke the class up. I dont think this sort of thing is allowed anymore (HSE). A crying shame!

18. Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat

Comment #203567 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 7:13 am

199. Comment #203371by Brian English

If you've ever had a squiz at the
Alhambra in Granada or some of the Moorish architecture in Seville or Cordoba I don't think you'd say that Islam and beauty are necessarily at odds

Nice picture. The tiles/mosaics in the Alhambra are astonishing but i wouldnt give Islam the credit. These masterpieces were created in spite of Islam not because of it- just like Bach's or Mozart's music came from them and not a sky fairy as some claim. It's my contention that they really are at odds.

19. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #203475 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 2:13 am

On education in schools.
Ive thought for a long time that this would be a good idea.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2288603,00.html

20. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #203472 by bugaboo on July 3, 2008 at 1:58 am

152. Comment #203384 by chuckgoecke
Think its a double edged sword. Some brains can cope and may well become awestruck and interested in science eg cosmology. But many acid casualties in the 60's and 70's found Jesus.

Edit:I think the rest went into politics.

21. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #203043 by bugaboo on July 2, 2008 at 9:36 am

epeeist

I think I promised earlier that there would be no more Python references from me but
You lucky bastard, you lucky, lucky......

22. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #203038 by bugaboo on July 2, 2008 at 9:27 am

So, I take it this wouldn't be a good time for me to re-post the link to the photographs of me skippering a boat across the Irish sea with a crew of scantily clad young ladies from Withington Girls' School?

I want to see it. Show it to me. I wanna see it!!

23. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #203035 by bugaboo on July 2, 2008 at 9:24 am

627. Comment #203032 by Vaal

Don't forget the Beatles though!

And all those Anglo-saxon heavy rock bands so beloved by our friends on the other side of the pond.

24. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #203027 by bugaboo on July 2, 2008 at 9:02 am

Just a tenuous link to the comments posted by Robert O'Brien.. I see Hitchens has had himself "waterboarded"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/02/humanrights.usa

25. Biologist Teaches the Nation's Judges About Genetics

Comment #202872 by bugaboo on July 2, 2008 at 5:10 am

Accused: " my genes made me do it"

Judge: "my genes are making me sentence you to...

26. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #202838 by bugaboo on July 2, 2008 at 3:45 am

Muslim scholars see the pursuit of knowledge as a duty, with the
Quran containing several verses to the rewards of learning

Then why are death sentences pronounced on people who write books and make films?

27. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202454 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 2:00 pm

I have a sneaking suspicion that Dawkins is, in fact, a social Darwinist but realises it would be unwise to admit as much in this PC climate.

He has said on many occasions that he abhors the ideas of Social Darwinism. The emphasis on the word gene remember

28. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202441 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 1:44 pm

Typical current western social meme in your brain!

seems theres a bit of the Social Darwinism meme in yours

Edited for clarity

29. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202438 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 1:40 pm

54. Comment #202433 by Henri Bergson

Why do you idealise it? Why not idealise hierarchy? Why not promote the evolution of man rather than the equality of man?

Is it right? Is it fair?

30. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202421 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 1:22 pm

40. Comment #202402 by Henri Bergson

All men are not equal

Absolutley. But not grounds for discrimination.

31. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #202406 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 12:54 pm

113. Comment #202373 by Steve Zara

Given recent comments, I thought this might be appropriate:

Imagine my disappointment when there were no inflatons!!

32. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #202273 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 7:25 am

Re: Branes /Superstrings I watched a TV programme ( M-theory I think it was called) a couple of years ago and some particle physicists /cosmologists seemed to have dismissed it as "unscientific" since the theories were untestable.

Any comments on this?

I've had my head buried in molecular biology the last twenty years . Never had the tools ie maths to grasp, at a deep level, all of the developments in physics/astronomy but love reading these posts. Makes my head spin but in a very pleasant way

33. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #202175 by bugaboo on July 1, 2008 at 2:15 am

Styrer

I'm feeling pretty small at the moment, thanks to Steve's and Oystein's mind-boggling propositions, and I'm delighting in it. The fact that all those I know and love, including shithead old me, have actually come about at all in this astonishing place is surely worth more than an infinite number of theistic miracles.

Fucking amazing.

I second that.

34. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201938 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 12:53 pm

I would also ban people for trolling the way that arsehole a few weeks back named Richard_Dawkins (note underline)did.
I wouldnt want Robert banned, I was being facetious with the boring comment.

Morning 8teist

35. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201860 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 10:46 am

415. Comment #201858 by qomak

I tend to agree qomak. But if all Robert ever does is refer us to the ontological argument could we ban him for being boring?

36. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201855 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 10:35 am

412. Comment #201849 by Corylus

Guilty on four counts of stupidity, one of trolling and one of wanking!

Oh well, we live and learn

Edit: Well spotted Corylus

37. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201835 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 10:00 am

Oh come on Robert. Is this it? Saying that you agree with Godel then add links like this.

Evidence please. Pretty please.

38. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201792 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 9:15 am

Hi Robert

Welcome back.
Are you now prepared to address the questions posed above? I'd like to hear your reply to Brian English's question.

What is your argument for God's existence?

39. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #201754 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 8:05 am

9. Comment #201749 by jimbob

"Faith" is still seen as virtue. Perhaps we should all start using the term "dogma schools."

I like it but in Scotland if you said you were going to dog ma school it would mean that you were playing truant :)

40. Charles Darwin was not the father of atheism

Comment #201729 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 7:45 am

Now i remember why i dont buy the torygraph.

41. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201692 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 4:28 am

Enjoyed reading the rest of this post this morning. Well done all. And I now have more reading to do but looking forward to it

Seems to me however that Robert was using the argument from authority all along. If Kurt Godel says its ok then that's good enough for me!

Steve. I thought you were off on another sabbatical
PS have been reading your blog-great stuff.

42. Richard Dawkins on Doctor Who

Comment #201658 by bugaboo on June 30, 2008 at 2:19 am

Chips away at the "un-cool serious people in white coats" image. Remember Stephen Hawking on Star Trek or The Simpsons ( I must say Homer I find your theory that the universe is doughnut shaped very intriguing)

43. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201421 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Robert

You havent addressed Brian Engish's questions yet.

44. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201384 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 3:57 pm

242. Comment #201378 by 8teist

Yes it is.

45. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201374 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 3:51 pm

233. Comment #201368 by Goldy

No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!!


Edit: Too slow

46. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201360 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 3:44 pm

211. Comment #201342 by BillySands

Yes. it does stick out like a sore thumb.

Thanks for that.

47. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201339 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 3:29 pm

199. Comment #201330 by Robert O'Brien

And he had at least one brother? Josephus claims he did does he not?

48. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201321 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 3:16 pm

184. Comment #201313 by Robert O'Brien

Is this another literary device then?

49. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201290 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Robert

Since Genesis contains another creation account that refers to the creation of human beings (both male and female) without any reference to Adam or Eve, it is pretty clear to me that Adam and Eve are meant as literary devices.

So you dismiss the idea of original sin?

50. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #201274 by bugaboo on June 29, 2008 at 2:27 pm

8teist
"Is there any mention of jesus outside of the bible?
I`ve never seen any independent claims of his existence "



He is mentioned in the Talmud and in Josephus's "Antiquity of the Jews" written about 60 years after the supposed events. But even if he did exist it means diddly squat .