Comments by rod-the-farmer

101. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #208033 by rod-the-farmer on July 10, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Woo hoo ! A bug on this web site....you can't see the NEXT button when you get to Comment 900. I guess no one ever expected it to get this big. Over to you, Josh.

102. Susskind Quashes Hawking in Quarrel Over Quantum Quandary

Comment #207872 by rod-the-farmer on July 10, 2008 at 8:40 am

Re # 37. Comment #207805 by Quetzalcoatl

there's a big difference between the singularity at the centre of a black hole and the "singularity" that happened around the time of the Big Bang. So, even if the expanding and contracting idea was true, I don't think it would be possible.

Wouldn't that make TWO DIFFERENT singularities ? A contradiction in terms, methinks. Heehee.

103. Susskind Quashes Hawking in Quarrel Over Quantum Quandary

Comment #207588 by rod-the-farmer on July 10, 2008 at 3:21 am

I get a little uneasy when I read the author saying "Just buy my book" so many times.

104. Atheism on the buses

Comment #207050 by rod-the-farmer on July 9, 2008 at 6:00 am

Comment 17, #206613 by Captain Kendrick

How well would THAT go over with the NASCAR set ????? Excuse me if I'm stereotyping too much, but I can just picture Bubba standing outside his F-350 telling you "ya'll have anything to say 'bout *MY* God, then we have a problem!"

Possibly true. I, however, am a believer in the one true faith, road racing. We regard ourselves as a superior sect, since we race in the sun, in rain, and in darkness. Racing in fog is a mortal sin. Drag racers and those who compete on oval tracks stop when it rains. Wimps. Their faith is weak.

From my experience, road racers tend to be non-believers, generally, possibly due to the fact that most race weekends have a feature/points race on Sunday. Perhaps I should purchase a bunch of those scarlet A shirts for my pit crew, such as they are. "Racing AGAINST Jeebus" doesn't really work, does it.

105. IT'S A GODDAMNED CRACKER!

Comment #206955 by rod-the-farmer on July 9, 2008 at 2:53 am

I have another idea. Let's ask Penn & Teller to do this routine, similar to the one where they explain how the "magic" is done, by doing it in slow motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQX-jayixQ

Anyone know them personally who can ask them ? I will ask them via their web site.

106. IT'S A GODDAMNED CRACKER!

Comment #206949 by rod-the-farmer on July 9, 2008 at 2:26 am

For the umpty-seventh time, you could NOT make this stuff up if you tried. The article linked to in Comment 21 says someone tried to "physically" take it from him, and the cracker was "snatched" from the church.

If I were him, I would absolutely NOT have returned it. I would have stepped on it in a public place, where the birds could eat it. Or, maybe put it in a floating paper funeral pyre, gloriously aflame while heading out to sea via the Inland Waterway.

Good grief. An own goal indeed. I suggest we wait to see what other reaction comes from interested parties around the world. Who is that TV guy who points out ridiculous things ?

107. A trip to the Creation Museum

Comment #206579 by rod-the-farmer on July 8, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Here is a different type of museum.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/08/joggins-unesco.html

One with fossils. Personally laid down by Satan.

108. Atheism on the buses

Comment #206573 by rod-the-farmer on July 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm

4,680 atheists to contribute Â£5 each, that would pay for an ad on a London bendy bus for a two weeks.

That works out to 23,400 POUNDS for a two week advert. Good GRIEF. I didn't want to BUY the bus, just post a sign on it. Tell you what. I have a 20 foot long enclosed trailer, which I use to haul my race car to tracks around Ontario, New York, Ohio and Michigan. For the same money, I will put this sign and any others that will fit, on the front, back, both sides and even the roof. I will keep them on for a year, PLUS, we can use the body of the race car for whatever signs will fit. Please send your contributions (along with any suggested messages) via PayPal. PayPal ID will be supplied to those wishing to donate.

109. Landlords protest after pub swearing ban gets them sacked

Comment #206465 by rod-the-farmer on July 8, 2008 at 11:44 am

What possessed (pun intended) this couple to take on management of a pub in the first place ? Were they so busy having children they never got out much, and had no clue what might go on in a pub ? Maybe they never went in one ? I guess their favourite TV show is NOT The Sopranos. Next on their list of management jobs, a garage. After that, a military barracks. And the beat goes on.

Civil discourse is always admirable, but to ban profanity.....gee whillikers, Batman. They could try a voluntary piggy bank for curse words, the proceeds to be given to a local charity, perhaps. Who knows, maybe all patrons would support it.

110. McDonald's Makes Jesus Cry

Comment #206459 by rod-the-farmer on July 8, 2008 at 11:37 am

Are you going to help gays eradicate sand? WHAT WILL WE DO WITHOUT SAND!?!?"

Uhhh.....sorry to appear so dim here, but is this an age-related joke of some type ? Being past the age of whatever, I am afraid I don't get the reference here. Someone more "with it" please explain. Thenk yew verra much.

111. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #205686 by rod-the-farmer on July 7, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Re Comment #205537 by bryantee

Better dot your i's and cross your t's before you send a book with animals to a zoologist.

Actually, I was thinking he crossed his eyes and dotted his tee's. THAT might explain the goofy mistakes.

112. Churches' secret talks to stop gay surge

Comment #205681 by rod-the-farmer on July 7, 2008 at 4:18 pm

Re Comment #205611 by Quiddam

This touches on the conversation I had with the duchess over dinner a few moments ago. Should there be some sort of schism, what will be the position of, and effect on Her Majesty ? Not being really current on her exact role vis a vis the CoE, I expect there will some ripple that will rock the ship of state, so to speak.

Plus I wonder what will be the reaction of the more conservative churches world-wide, once they find out some of the church leaders, but NOT the AB of C, have been meeting in secret with the dreaded Catholics ?

113. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205470 by rod-the-farmer on July 7, 2008 at 10:19 am

I propose to test this myself, using locally available source material. No theory is secure unless & until other experimenters can duplicate the results.

114. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205468 by rod-the-farmer on July 7, 2008 at 10:17 am

Now if someone could only relate angel hair pasta, (note the connection with heavenly bodies) to string theory, we would have everything solved. It could even fit into a GUT.

115. Churches' secret talks to stop gay surge

Comment #205466 by rod-the-farmer on July 7, 2008 at 10:07 am

Is it just me, or am I wrong in thinking whatever was said at this secret conference would be legally construed as 'hate speech'. If a corporation met secretly to discuss a restriction of roles / positions such that women and gay MEN were not allowed, they could be sued in most western countries. For substantial damages too, I think. So howcum a tax-exempt organisation can (apparently) get away with it ? And once again I point to the lack of any discrimination against gay women. Yet another proof that the Abrahamic religions were developed by sexually abnormal MEN.

116. The Boundaries of Belief

Comment #205283 by rod-the-farmer on July 7, 2008 at 2:34 am

I remember as a small boy, when I was already drifting away from believing in the Protestant Dog, that the Dog I MIGHT believe in was larger than me, more powerful, and spoke from on high with a deep voice. The Jolly Green Giant.

117. Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Comment #204494 by rod-the-farmer on July 5, 2008 at 4:28 am

And I fucking hate lawyers. The fuckers have cost me an arm and a leg over the years.

Under Sharia Law, you might only lose a hand. (sarcasm off)

What I don't understand is why, after hundreds of years of use, including several major expensive upgrades, that English Common Law has gaps in it, which can ONLY be filled by installing the Sharia Law add-on ?

Can someone provide an example of such a gap ? And if such a gap exists, why a suitable upgrade to the base cannot be done without requiring a Sharia Law add-on that would by definition only apply when using islamic individuals ?

How about this suggestion....any arbitration hearing using concepts other than those of English Common Law MUST be publicly reported. No exceptions. Any and all plaintiffs & defendants MUST have representation by those licensed to practise under English Common Law, and who will be permitted to question the defendants and/or plaintiffs.

The harsh light of public awareness might make this sort of thing go away.

118. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #204467 by rod-the-farmer on July 5, 2008 at 3:33 am

Re Comment #203636 by Edouard Pernod

You mention the lectures by Eric Landers. Can you provide a link for us ? Thanks. I very much like the idea of learning HOW and WHY people first discovered what they did, rather than total emphasis on WHAT they discovered.

In one high school year, my science teacher was so dull and boring that, I amused myself in other ways. Sitting in the back of the class, and only when in his class, I calculated the cribbage score of an entire deck of cards. I forget what it was, but in that number of inches (not sure what the unit was) you could go several times around the world at the equator, if I remember correctly. It was many months into the school year before he even noticed me, and had to look up my name on his class chart to find my name. Thank dog I am still interested in science, with teachers like him.

119. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203430 by rod-the-farmer on July 2, 2008 at 11:11 pm

Hooray for her. But winning this case may not be as easy as some her (all ?) hope. In any case, she has my vote. I bet her counsel chooses trial by judge. Sounds like a Texas jury would be opposed to her complaint.

120. Evangelical Christians sign up to a 'Church within a Church'

Comment #203139 by rod-the-farmer on July 2, 2008 at 11:59 am

Never mind Rowan Williamson, what does Rowan Atkinson have to say about this ?

121. Can't Darwin and God get along?

Comment #202804 by rod-the-farmer on July 2, 2008 at 2:46 am

Evolution has so much of its data missing in history

Why did the interviewer not pounce on this and ask for details, examples whatever ?

And as for clotting of blood....I am not a scientist, but it seems obvious to me that this only really happens in an open wound, otherwise we would all seize up internally. So, build a lucite box big enough to contain a live human arm, replace the atmosphere inside with a pure set of different inert gases, and cause a cut to the skin. Observe any clotting effect. My limited knowledge and common sense would suggest it is something in the external air that causes blood to clot. Any mammal who did not have this capability would die out through natural selection.

Or I am displaying my usual ignorance of a subject ?

122. Biologist Teaches the Nation's Judges About Genetics

Comment #202792 by rod-the-farmer on July 2, 2008 at 2:04 am

I don't suppose anyone FILMED these sessions, so they could be posted on YouTube or something where we could ALL get the benefit of the additional knowledge ? I for one would spend whatever time was required to watch them all.

123. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202791 by rod-the-farmer on July 2, 2008 at 1:57 am

What if a burka-wearing muslim woman applied for a job at a cosmetics counter in a large department store ? Part of the job involves showing off your own makeup skills, I would think. Surely it would be reasonable for the store to refuse her application, based on her CHOICE to hide her face.

I can see it now....all new Help Wanted ads will say "Must bear own face to customers". Good grief. I fall back on my reaction to burkas. I whisper to my companion "I think she has leprosy".

124. CFI-UN Hamid Karzai Letter

Comment #202193 by rod-the-farmer on July 1, 2008 at 2:55 am

When this story first surfaced, I sent letters both to my local Member of Parliament, and the Prime Minister of Canada. I suggested that we withdraw Canadian troops from Afghanistan (which I would normally support strongly) if the belief system of their government is so far from our own. I got no response from one, and a form letter from the other. Last I read, we have lost more than 80 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

125. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #202189 by rod-the-farmer on July 1, 2008 at 2:41 am

Two-thirds of the top-rated primaries in recent league tables were Anglican, Roman Catholic and Jewish schools.

No mention is made of muslim schools. The conclusion is that it is either too early for them to be visible in the statistics, or, the quality of education they provide is inferior, when measured against the same criteria as the other schools. Anyone have data on when they first started appearing ? Also, are there any fundamental evangelical schools whose "owners" believe in literal truth of the bible ? It would be interesting to see how they fare in any science portion of some standardised testing.

126. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #201107 by rod-the-farmer on June 29, 2008 at 3:48 am

Latest news from Canada

Rights commission dismisses complaint against Maclean's

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/28/macleans-steyn.html

But note this is not the British Columbia chapter of the Human Rights Commission. But since one section made a positive ruling, it may well be hard for the BC version to rule the opposite.

127. Dawkins on Darwin

Comment #201098 by rod-the-farmer on June 29, 2008 at 2:51 am

Here is a question I would like to hear answered by others on this site. I am trying to come up with the single most convincing evidence for an old Earth, in the sense that this one piece would have the most effect on YEC types. Something that would show that evolution by natural selection, while quite slow in some areas, has an enormous amount of time in which to operate. What I have come up with is the combination of plate tectonics and the matching coastlines of South America and Africa, particularly if you examine the continental shelf. We can already detect their on-going slow separation, and by extrapolation, they have been moving apart for much longer than 6,000 years or so.

My thinking is that it is probably not hard to convince YEC's that the theory of plate tectonics is real/legitimate. It should be even easier to get them to agree the coastlines certainly appear as if they were once connected. That is just a visual thing anyone can see. The factual data regarding the separation should be demonstrable in a convincing fashion, so that the combination of all three should inevitably lead them to the conclusion that the Earth is many times older than 6,000 years.

Then can posit that Dog created & buried fossils to confuse us, or test our faith, or whatever. Or the speed of light changed over time, or the rate of radioactive decay, or some such fabrication to make their argument for a young earth possible, by countering other scientific proofs. But I personally would find it hard to suggest that Dog made the shorelines of the two continents nearly identical, plus made the various plates move around the surface of the earth, and at varying speeds, just to give scientists something to amuse them.

Any comments, or suggestions for a different "single" argument that would convince them ?

I know, there are a great many scientific proofs that together, make up an enormous body of evidence. I don't think we can get YEC types to listen to them all. I would just like to hit them with one big bang, so to speak.

128. A secular world is a sane world

Comment #200620 by rod-the-farmer on June 28, 2008 at 2:02 am

Re Comment #200596 by mordacious1

When is Josh going to get this site back to automatically posting links? It is annoying.

My experience is that when you add a link to your first posted Comment, it works, but if you add one during a subsequent Edit, the link does not work.

129. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.

Comment #200140 by rod-the-farmer on June 27, 2008 at 1:28 am

And in a related story

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=5253239

an 11-year old girl in Romania who was raped, will be allowed to have an abortion, says the government. But pro-life Christian Orthodox groups are challenging the decision.

It would seem there are nuts in more than one branch of religion.

130. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #199950 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm

I tried to put that first paragraph on Wikipedia as an entry for Anousic, which didn't exist until then. It looks like it will fail to pass some tests. Hee hee

131. Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Comment #199818 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 11:36 am

Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Is it just me, or is the headline poorly written ? I first thought it meant "critics of creationist(s) get their comeuppance". Then I realise that it would have been crystal clear if it read "Creationists get their comeuppance". Anyway, just another in the long line of recent articles helping to once again, prove evolution. "No one ever saw evolution happening". Duh.

132. God hates Mars

Comment #199701 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 8:05 am

As a small boy I lived in Antwerp (Belgium, for the geographically less inclined) for a year. I distinctly remember a corner store which had chocolate BARS. These were, as best as I can remember, almost 12 by 6 by 2. Inches. I could never afford one as a youth, but I remember them still.

133. God hates Mars

Comment #199699 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 8:01 am

Re #2. Comment #199392 by acs

I regularly debate with a chapter of local baptists.

How did this come about ? You challenged them ? Or was it a natural occurrence ? I'd like to do something like this. Not especially with baptists, just any fundies.

134. God hates Mars

Comment #199671 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 7:15 am

For you die hard chokkie fans, my sister runs a shop for you. She makes neat things like chocolate flavoured with things like Grand Marnier and Pina Colada. Mmm.

http://www.copperkettlechocolate.ca/store/

But she only ships to Canadian addresses.

135. Fossil of most primitive 4-legged creature found

Comment #199608 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 4:14 am

"It's sort of out of sequence in timing," Shubin said of Ventastega.

Oh, geez. Now there's an opening for the "teach the controversy" people.....

But some photos would indeed be nice.

136. God hates Mars

Comment #199595 by rod-the-farmer on June 26, 2008 at 3:51 am

Mars is a desert planet and perhaps there is ice and maybe even water there. So what? Who cares? It's water! That doesn't mean a thing. Life originated on Earth when God spoke it into existence and there is no need in wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer money searching for an answer that is based upon faulty evolutionary ideas.

Warning...warning....logical disconnect, Will Robinson....

Muy brain hurts just trying to parse this into something I could handle.

No need...to search for an answer based upon faulty evolutionary ideas.

So, which "answer" are we talking about here ? Is water present on Mars ? That is the only thing I can dredge up from his sentence. Just how is the question of water in any way related to based upon "faulty evolutionary ideas". For the umpteenth time, evolution has nothing to do with planetary formation. On second reading, maybe he means (without saying so, which would certainly help the clarity here) the search for life on Mars.

If you read his credentials in the original article, he appears to be an electronics technician. No disrespect to them as a group, but this guy seems to have blown his mental capacity - OR - he is lying for jeebus, because he knows full well just how false his words are. No mention is made of his qualifications or education in the sciences.

I am going to post a question on his web site, asking what his reaction will be if they DO find life on Mars. That would mean that abiogenesis can operate in places other than Earth. Again, this too is not evolution, but it certainly would give credence to those who say abiogenesis happened here on Earth. Talk about a wedge document !

137. Galaxy map hints at fractal universe

Comment #199298 by rod-the-farmer on June 25, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Way WAY back when I had one of the first 286 computers, there was a fractal program that would chunk along and display random fractal designs. I suppose there are modern ones available these days, that would run much quicker with all the hardware upgrades since then. Mandelbrot was the name I remember.

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

Comment #199062 by rod-the-farmer on June 25, 2008 at 6:39 am

Religion: definition - an organisation devoted to worship of an imaginary figure, which tries to impose its beliefs on non-members of that religion, indeed members of any or no religion.

139. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.

Comment #198699 by rod-the-farmer on June 24, 2008 at 11:24 am

Who says all men are ferocious wolves?

Well, I guess that would be muslim men. After all, isn't it they who insist that women cover their hair, their faces, and their bodies ? Why cover the women, if not to keep them from inciting ferocious islamic wolves ? And not just their own relatives, other women too, even if they are just visiting. Do not pass Go, do not collect 200 lashes. Does it never occur to men in muslim countries, to ask how western and other non-islamic societies survive for thousands of years, with all those uncovered women out there ? I mean, are these other men not ferocious wolves too ? Why is the population of such wolves restricted to just muslim countries ? Hmm.

Also, has anyone asked what happens if the woman/girl/child does not WANT to marry the person the father has chosen ? Oh, sorry, that would be holding Islam up for hatred. My bad.

Now that it is official a muslim man can marry a one-year old, I think I better start keeping score as to how many times I say "You couldn't make this stuff up". I am already into the high single figures.

140. Should We Rid The Mind of God? A Debate

Comment #198470 by rod-the-farmer on June 24, 2008 at 4:55 am

Codswallop. I actually took the time to listen to it while counting the number of times McGrath says "It seems to me". I found about a dozen of them. This is perhaps just a phrase he is in the habit of using, and no more need be said about it, OR, an indication of how weak his arguments are, that he can only make a point based on his own thinking. Never mind the facts, this is how I think....

141. Should We Rid The Mind of God? A Debate

Comment #198460 by rod-the-farmer on June 24, 2008 at 2:56 am

In the first section where McGrath speaks, he lost my vote. He says he had to "re-orientate" himself. No such word. Re-orient himself, certainly. A professor ? Bah.

142. New discovery proves 'selfish gene' exists

Comment #198226 by rod-the-farmer on June 23, 2008 at 11:57 am

OK, here is the link to the PDF, prior to "real" publication. You have to download it to see the file, it is not viewable in place.

Peter R Oxley, Graham J Thompson, and Benjamin P Oldroyd

Four QTLs that Influence Worker Sterility in the Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera)

http://www.genetics.org/cgi/rapidpdf/genetics.108.087270v1

143. New discovery proves 'selfish gene' exists

Comment #198068 by rod-the-farmer on June 23, 2008 at 6:42 am

UWO has called me back to say they will either send me the PDF, or find a link where the full article is posted. Stay tuned.

144. The Flea Delusion

Comment #197720 by rod-the-farmer on June 22, 2008 at 2:31 pm

One is tempted to do some investigation into just how many copies of these fleas have been sold, world-wide. Not sure if an informal inquiry to their various publishers would produce an accurate answer. I am also not sure it would be wise, as I fear that info about really poor sales by one or more flea authors would somehow cause some random fundie preacher to exhort his sheeple to run out and buy a copy. Or even for the well-endowed to buy boxes of them for handing out to whoever.

Suggestions ? Is there a web site where we could do random checks ?

145. White Patches Found in Mars Trench Are Ice, Scientists Say

Comment #197549 by rod-the-farmer on June 22, 2008 at 10:09 am

Here is the latest weather from Mars

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/marsweather/

146. Where do US lawmakers stand on science?

Comment #197546 by rod-the-farmer on June 22, 2008 at 10:05 am

Here are the seven questions....

1. Innovation. Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American economy since World War II. But several recent reports question America's continued leadership in these vital areas. What policies would you support to ensure that America remains the world leader in innovation?

2. Climate Change. The Earth's climate is changing and there is concern about the potentially adverse effects of these changes on life on the planet. What is your position on the following measures that have been proposed to address global climate changeâ€"a cap-and-trade system, a carbon tax, increased fuel-economy standards, and research? Are there other policies you would support?

3. Energy. Many scientists and policymakers say energy security and sustainability are major problems facing the United States this century. What policies would you support to meet the demand for energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?

4. Education. A comparison of 15-year-olds in 30 wealthy nations found that average science scores among U.S. students ranked 17th, while average U.S. math scores ranked 24th. What role do you think the federal government should play in preparing K-12 students for the science and technology driven 21st Century?

5. Water. Thirty-nine states expect some level of water shortage over the next decade, and scientific studies suggest that a majority of our water resources are at risk. What policies would you support to meet demand for water resources?

6. Research. For many years, Congress has recognized the importance of science and engineering research to realizing our national goals. Given that the next Congress will likely face spending constraints, what priority would you give to investment in basic research in upcoming budgets?

7. Health. Americans are increasingly concerned with the cost, quality, and availability of health care. How do you see science, research, and technology contributing to improved health and quality of life?

147. What Happens When a School Board of Religious Zealots Will 'Lie for Jesus'?

Comment #197274 by rod-the-farmer on June 21, 2008 at 2:20 pm

Although my driveway is about 1300 feet long (we live on a farm) I am hoping they come by one more time. Last time I said "Boy have YOU come to the wrong place - I'm a militant atheist". They left immediately.

This time I plan to ask them if they know about the prescription against blood transfusions, and if they know transfusions have been done since the early 1900's, and finally if they know when their leadership decided "they" were against it. I think it was 1949. I will ask them to explain why it took so long.

I will make sure there are chairs on my front porch, so we can sit down and have a looooong discussion about their beliefs, and see how many holes I can poke in them before they give up and leave. I figure this is a sort of charitable donation to the community. I figure I am deflecting this sort of nonsense from others who may not have the time or inclination to debate with these guys. I wonder if I can get a tax deduction ?

And epeeist, I like your idea of the age of the earth and the flood as topics worthy of discussion. Myself, I am partial to Noah and his ark. In a farming community there are always people who can tell you off the top of their heads, just how much fodder a cow or horse eats in 40 days. Not many boat-builders around here who can explain why you DON'T load a ship with the cargo while the boat is sitting in drydock, you wait until it is afloat and the entire hull can help bear the weight.

148. New discovery proves 'selfish gene' exists

Comment #197233 by rod-the-farmer on June 21, 2008 at 12:14 pm

I have contacted UWO to ask for more details. Stay tuned. Movie at 11.

149. PZ Myers - Science and Atheism in the Blogosphere

Comment #197179 by rod-the-farmer on June 21, 2008 at 9:43 am

Steve, I was thinking (hoping ?) that there may be room for a NON-scientist, just an ordinary bloke, to participate in one of these debates. Sort of the average man on the street. While we all love to watch Hitchens eviscerate a fundie who simply does not know his stuff, I think there is room for the idea that you DON'T have to be a multiple university degree holder, to be educated enough to see through the bafflegab that is much of religious thought. There are so MANY of them out there, that the Four Horsemen cannot reach them all. Local debates might help get the idea across that "Woo hoo, there are atheists among us, and actually, they are nice people. One of my best friends is an atheist."

I did not complete my university courses, and have no intention of going back now. But I feel rather strongly that I could give as good as I get in a civil debate with someone at my level, even a local preacher who irritates me no end, and prove that ANYONE can be rational. Even a dummy like me.

I am tempted to issue an invitation to a debate with this preacher, to be held in the local community hall. I am afraid it might cause problems within my family, though. Son in high school, and all that.

150. PZ Myers - Science and Atheism in the Blogosphere

Comment #197162 by rod-the-farmer on June 21, 2008 at 9:02 am

The Richard Dawkins Foundation web site has Richard asking for volunteers to pick up some of the invitations he receives for debates. He gets far too many to respond to them all. So, over to you Steve. I would be happy to do some myself, but my scientific background is nowhere near as impressive as yours, or many others. I think I could be described as moderately well-read in a several areas of science, but I might do more harm than good. What I offer is some passion for the subject, extensive experience in public speaking on four continents, plus (brags here) I am one of the minor contributors to the BBC "Have Your Say" program. They have called me four times in the past year and a bit, to appear on their radio show. I am, in their words, 'articulate and thoughtful', and a Canadian. That, and a dollar, will get you a coffee or a tea in the local shops. Could have knocked me over with a feather the first time they called. My sisters' response was "Of COURSE you have an opinion, you're a {insert family name here}."