251. Only secular schools will overcome sectarianism

Comment #65762 by Yorker on August 26, 2007 at 11:18 am

20. Comment #65756 by willbonds

Aha, a man after my own political heart, I wouldn't put it as strongly as you but there's truth in what you say.

252. Only secular schools will overcome sectarianism

Comment #65761 by Yorker on August 26, 2007 at 11:11 am

14. Comment #65741 by monkey2

Wow! I never thought my simple sentence would have that effect, I must do it more often. :)

But seriously, I heartily applaud your action.

253. Only secular schools will overcome sectarianism

Comment #65730 by Yorker on August 26, 2007 at 7:15 am

McKie was writing mostly about the west of Scotland, his remarks are not nearly as applicable to the east. Where I was raised, sectarianism was unheard of, the area was overwhelmingly protestant and at school the very few catholic children were excused the protestant RI periods. Until I had the misfortune to attend a football match at Parkhead as a young man, I was unaware of how the religious nonsense had such an effect on people. My abiding memory of that event though, is not a religious one. In the old days boozing during the match was the norm and there were no seats, I remember having to bin my shoes on returning home because of the river of piss I was forced to stand in for an hour and a half; I've never been back since.

I must also say that most of the crime I saw committed during my youth was perpetrated by Catholic kids. My father had Catholicism forced on him as a child and my mother had suffered a similar Protestant fate, she used to say that religion had done nothing for her whatever. My dad called Catholicism "a religion of fear" but told me to make my own choice when I felt able.

I too have signed the petition even though I know they're generally ineffective. I'm glad to see the long-awaited (at least by me) politicisation of atheism has begun, once we gain strength the political vote-whores will have to change their ways.

254. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65627 by Yorker on August 25, 2007 at 7:35 am

10. Comment #65578 by petermun

"...crossbows I assume."

Not exclusively, they also use hi-tech archery style bows that shoot aluminium-shafted arrows with broad-bladed barbed steel heads. Some states allow hunting with - believe it or not - telescopic sight-equipped handguns!

Most American hunters aren't; they're mostly just animal killers. I like hunting and did quite a lot of it as a kid, I was raised in the wilds of Scotland where fish and game were killed for food, I see nothing wrong in that but I can't abide killing for "fun" or "sport".

255. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65626 by Yorker on August 25, 2007 at 7:18 am

Based upon experience, this was my list of things an American religite must be:

1. Pro-God (of course)
2. Pro-guns
3. Pro-war
4. Pro-republican
5. Pro-death penalty
6. Pro-militia groups
7. Pro-huntin' 'n fishin'
8. Pro-patriotism
9. Anti-abortion
10. Anti-Chomsky
11. Anti-rationality
12. Anti-anyone who disagrees with them.

Now I'll have to add 'pro-camo bibles' to a mix that's starkly contradictory for followers of a loving god.

256. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65624 by Yorker on August 25, 2007 at 7:01 am

9. Comment #65554 by USA_Limey

"Don't judge a book by its cover!"

You mean like not judging an avatar by its image?

(hated to rake it up, but too good to resist!) :)

257. Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Comment #65507 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 1:55 pm

4. Comment #65499 by oxytocin

...and does anyone else see a problem with publishing something that she explicitly wanted destroyed? This seems profoundly unethical to me.

Since when has the media been bothered about ethics?

258. Feeding the fear gene

Comment #65501 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 1:36 pm

20. Comment #65476 by oarwhat

I mentioned earlier about a cop advising me to get a home defense weapon, he also said that if I had to use it make sure I didn't shoot the attacker in the back and only inside my house, then he grinned and said:

"...or at least make sure he's inside before we get here!".

My neighbor had one of those signs that says:

"This house is guarded 4 nights a week by Smith & Wesson; you guess which 4!"

Philip:

Guns are popular in the UK because they're illegal and they make frightened people feel braver. Given that many kids today are raised to be selfish by selfish or uncaring parents; have no respect for life, even their own; and will always want what society won't give them, then it's not really a surprise they are violent. From an early age all they see and hear is buy this, buy that, the message is you're not cool without possessions, but many can't buy so they steal.

Yes, the IOD must accept some blame but they are themselves driven and funded by corporate greed; they are the real villians, they screw everyone, some even make the mistake of screwing their own kind and of course that's a big no-no as recent scandals have shown. I myself was screwed out of a huge sum of money, but I wasn't a member of the right club so I lost. It's a club you can only be born into or have so much money that they make sure you become a member. The sad fact is the average sucker stumbles through life not even knowing what goes on, many of them fall for the bullshit and criticise people like me, it's a disease very much like religion actually. Indeed, the best consumer is the person who toes the line, keeps buying without thinking, is religious, royalist, patriotic and dies on command. Identical for the USA - just skip the royalist.

I've ranted politically: must be the mood I'm in; no apology though. :)

259. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65441 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 7:14 am

61. Comment #65176 by NMcC

Thanks, and of course I agree with you. I like his phrase "The Industry of Deception" (advertising) but I extend it further to encompass 90% of all the media. When I first came across him many years ago, I was naive and couldn't believe some of the things he said. It took me months of research to find out it had all been correct, I've liked him ever since. The lecture he gave at Edinburgh University in 2005 was terrific. No-one can be always right but those who think Chomsky is wrong generally, are blinkered or don't understand how the world works, the reason he doesn't say much about religion is because it's not important enough. He does sometimes mention it along with sport as a control tool beloved of governments.

260. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65440 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 6:59 am

67. Comment #65297 by walk

You're right. That was my experience, in fact I'd say American religites seem to think we Scots are even more godly than they are! A few were genuinely shocked when they learned I was an atheist. They seem to like us Scots though, I've mentioned before on this site the guy from Bartow FL. who's seen the movie "Braveheart" 543 times; that was several years ago, it'll be thousands by now. Talk about getting a life!

261. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65436 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 6:49 am

69 & 70. Comment #65425 by pewkatchoo

Stereo.

262. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65434 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 6:47 am

64. Comment #65246 by walk

That's pretty funny :)

Here's another one for you. I once stopped at a filling station in Texas, the guy -- noticing my accent -- asked where I was from so I told him, he replied:

"Gee you speak English real good, they teach you that in school?"

I just nodded.

263. Feeding the fear gene

Comment #65427 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 6:24 am

5. Comment #65413 by Philip1978

The two strongest points the pro-gun lobby in the USA has are these:

1. The police come after my wife has been murdered or my daughter raped, how can I protect my family without a gun?

2. When you take away guns from law-abiding citizens, only criminals will have them.

The increase of gun-crime here lends weight to their 2nd point. I was burgled twice in the USA, the second time the police advised me to buy a home defence weapon; I did.

264. Feeding the fear gene

Comment #65414 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 5:42 am

"The worst that can happen from the reports of octogenarians with gonorrhoea is longer queues in Boots as arthritic fingers fumble out the change for a packet of three"

'Er....I don't think so, an octogenarian with arthritis isn't even going to try applying a condom to an imaginary erection, his partner will have probably died before he even got the packet open!

265. Feeding the fear gene

Comment #65410 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 5:34 am

"..potentially fatal insect bites are increasing in Britain"

What insects? I'm sure I'm not alone in noticing the severe lack of insects in the UK these days. In years past you could guarantee plenty of wasps around in Scotland during August, this year I've yet to see a single one! Not just wasps; bees, moths, daddy-long-legs, flies and even spiders seem to be in deep decline. Ever since I returned to Scotland I've noticed this, not just this year; seems that E.O.Wilson was right on the button.

266. Feeding the fear gene

Comment #65409 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 5:25 am

"Within the pages of a single British newspaper, it was reported that pensioners risk sexually transmitted infections because of their energetic bedhopping;"

What! Where is this happening? I'm almost a pensioner and there's not much coming my way I can tell you! Please give me directions, I'll take the risk. :)

267. Feeding the fear gene

Comment #65408 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 5:15 am

"His conclusion was that, though homeopathic treatments consist of water and a speck of something else..."

No, there's not even a speck!

This guy watched the program, I guess he didn't listen. People who wrongly report on something annoy me, it's not as if he had to figure anything out, just pay attention!

268. Send In the Clergy!

Comment #65407 by Yorker on August 24, 2007 at 5:09 am

11. Comment #65352 by roach

"I think humans are generally selfish."

Couldn't agree more, just look around; that's why there are "haves" and "have nots"!

269. Diamonds unlock secrets of early Earth

Comment #65321 by Yorker on August 23, 2007 at 3:20 pm

Yes, definitley the work of Satan, all this radio-active dating nonsense, tut, tut!

270. Scientists Induce Out-of-Body Sensation

Comment #65319 by Yorker on August 23, 2007 at 3:16 pm

No, but it does prove he doesn't have a monopoly on illusions!

271. Send In the Clergy!

Comment #65296 by Yorker on August 23, 2007 at 2:00 pm

3. Comment #65282 by Rtambree

"Another example of the government being afraid of its own population"

Indeed. This immediately brought to mind Chomsky's words following 9/11. He predicted that governments would use it to further control and subjugate its citizens in the name of security. Everything he said is happening, in the USA and the UK, I just didn't expect it to happen so fast.

272. Artificial Life Likely in 3 to 10 Years

Comment #65216 by Yorker on August 23, 2007 at 7:53 am

29. Comment #64566 by prettygoodformonkeys

"...I'm almost praying that this works."

Don't worry and don't pray, it will work however long it takes. Humanity, if it exists long enough, will be able to do everything that's possible to do, the only question is whether we should do things. We must of necessity advance, stagnation is not an option. Bleating religites who refuse to face facts will simply be ignored by reality and their stagnant, static, out-of-date doctrine will simply wither and die, it has already begun.

273. PZ Myers sued for a negative review in a blog post

Comment #65063 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 7:41 pm

Pivar probably knows he'll lose, perhaps his aim is just to get as much publicity and therefore book sales, as possible. There are people whose low self-respect allows this crap.

274. Rational Atheism

Comment #65061 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 7:28 pm

24. Comment #64858 by Dr Benway

"So I say, let's reassure religious people that we appreciate the many valuable social functions religion provides. There's nothing wrong with getting together with others in a beautiful building for music and inspiring talks. Keep all that."

I basically agree with you, as long as we can render religion innocuous and irrelevant as far as human progress and decision taking is concerned. But somehow I don't think the religites will take kindly to themselves and their god being shunted onto some unlit back-burner, we may have to nudge them - hard.

275. Open letter to Michael Shermer in response to his letter...

Comment #65057 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 7:04 pm

5. Comment #64934 by Corylus

I'm with you here, I've always found the word "chick" tasteless, it would embarrass me to use it. To liken a young woman to a young bird is not to my taste, even the British use of "bird" meaning woman shows a lack of taste also. Of course it may be the fact I'm an older and possibly "uncool" dude that makes me feel that way but no matter, I'd just kick the ass of any young cool dude who disagreed with me! :)

276. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65052 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 6:28 pm

58. Comment #65032 by walk

I'm glad you liked the Beatles but I have a few American friends I think highly of so your country's not all bad! I agree though that you have a remarkable number of people prepared to throw their brains out the window in defence of James Jesus!

277. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #65049 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 6:17 pm

36. Comment #65019 by Veronique

Hi Veronique, Thankyou, I had a very interesting time, incidentally I sent you a PM.

Re your comments.

I haven't seen Nature on a regular basis for some years but in the electronic research lab where I once worked, I always read it. As boss, I made sure it got delivered to my office first before it put it in the library (selfish bastard). It has always been a well respected scientific journal, perhaps the world's best and in my day religious writings never appeared in it. I'd be saddened if it sank into prick pandering.

You talk of Biz posts but I did notice on another thread that the trolling hooks of a weirdo named Darwin2 had sunk their barbs into quite a few willing snappers! Aha, not like me to wax poetically, I'll try it again sometime.

278. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65023 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 4:48 pm

I too wrote a CNN comment but see no need to repeat it here.

279. Enemies of Reason

Comment #65017 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 4:18 pm

2. Comment #64951 by Tyler Durden

You make an interesting point.

Since homeopathy is clearly a placebo effect, babies could be excellent test subjects since soothing words and mumbo-jumbo bullshit would be lost on them. The ethics of such testing is another matter of course but still, a good weapon to use against woo-woo supporters.

280. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65005 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 3:52 pm

49. Comment #64840 by pewkatchoo

Noam Chomsky is a true anarchist not a communist.

He's also the finest debater I've ever seen due to his tremendous knowledge and impeccable research. I make a point of digging into claims made by public figures and have found fault with all except Chomsky, I cannot find a single instance where something he has stated as fact has been wrong. Religites dislike atheism because they can't face the truth, some people dislike Chomsky for the same reason.

His fellow Americans don't like his sensible ant-patriotism stance and hated it when he revealed that it was a Russian submarine commander who saved their ass from nuclear war during the Bay of Pigs conflict. One of the many times Noam has caused me to smile!

As a nod to the topic, I like Sweeney but this whole American faith/no faith stuff is increasingly boring and I must discipline myself into not watching it.

281. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #64986 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 3:06 pm

"it is my conviction that a truly comprehensive and accurate understanding of science ultimately leads one to the conclusion that the physical world is a contingent entity, and could not exist without the force of will of a higher power."

Bizarro,

You really are a wanker, and not just in the sexual sense. You're 20; you can't possibly know what the hell you're talking about with that statement!

We are stupendously lucky being born into this beautiful and wondrous Universe, I see it the duty of each one of us to learn as much as we can about it and exult in our humanity. I have seen and done many things in this life that followers of your pathetic imaginary god would consider sinful, yet I've never even been arrested. I see all religites as life-wasters, worse still; they want to make me waste my life also.

Let's pretend for an insane moment that your God really exists. I cannot imagine why anyone would come into this world and throw their life away by becoming a slave to a petty arsehole who demands to be worshipped and threatens us with silly post-life punishment. What a useless demeaning existence! I bow to no man and wouldn't even dream of bowing to a non-existent god that is clearly the construct of other men; as Carlin says, they really must be men; no woman would come up with such a childish transparent bullshit story! Sometimes I wish your God did exist and would judge me after death, I'd really like to get my hands round his fucking neck!

The fact is that you and I are both going to die and will cease to exist; the good part is that non-existence means we'll never even know we once lived! Now isn't that marvelous? What more could one ask for? It sure beats the hell out of spending trillions of years in heaven wishing you'd poked a few more ladies when you were young!

Do yourself a favour; dump that dozy school, get a grip on reality and enjoy the only life you're ever going to have.

282. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #64960 by Yorker on August 22, 2007 at 1:49 pm

8. Comment #64939 by Bizarro Dawkins

"I'm still a virgin. Sure, it hasn't been easy, but I've chosen to wait until I am married. And trust me, if a 20 year old male can do it, anyone can do it ;-)."

Holy shit! is that what religion does to a young man? Now I'm really glad to have been a lifelong atheist, you must be "King of The Wankers", Biz! One of my fondest memories of that time over forty years ago is the delight I had in seeking out compliant young ladies to regale and impale! Alas, I admit the flames of ardour in me are now just glowing embers, I no longer have a wife but I'm not dead yet. (ladies take note) :)

I can't help picturing your future wedding night where you proudly confess your virginity and your wife confesses an already lengthy sexual experience! How will you respond?

Oh, and I'm disappointed in Nature and agree with Harris. I think Collins is simply loony, clever perhaps, but that's no guarantee against being loony. I'm not big on the so-called compartmentalisation idea, slightly nuts is more accurate I think.

283. Science and the Islamic World

Comment #62741 by Yorker on August 11, 2007 at 5:03 am

The zero was invented in India. Eratosthenes measured the circumference of the Earth 2300 years ago using only sticks and sunlight. I'd bet that unless they already knew how, 90% of people today couldn't do it even if you gave them the sticks and sunlight clues.

Nonsense rules, must fly.

284. Charles Brooker's screen burn

Comment #62736 by Yorker on August 11, 2007 at 4:43 am

Hmm...this guy reminds me of me therefore I must like him. However, had I written the exact same words in a post here, I don't think it would've met with the same apparent approval. I'd love to expand on this but Madagascar beckons.

285. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion

Comment #62658 by Yorker on August 10, 2007 at 4:21 pm

68. Comment #62647 by Alastor

Nice avatar Alastor, two of the cleverest people who ever lived. The Warsaw photo of Dirac and Feynman if I'm not mistaken.

286. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #62633 by Yorker on August 10, 2007 at 1:29 pm

179. Comment #62632 by Veronique

Please check your email Veronique, you should have two.

287. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion

Comment #62629 by Yorker on August 10, 2007 at 1:14 pm

51. Comment #62593 by k1mgy

"Having read all the comments above I am now convinced that it would be equally beneficial (and tremendously entertaining) if somehow all of the contributors to this thread might come together in the same hall before an audience and engage in debate."




To what end?

Most of the comments made here have raised points and issues made elsewhere on this site, in some cases several times. Debate with religites is generally a waste of time as evidenced by discussions here, I have yet to hear of, see or take part in, any debate where a religite has made a conversion declaration. This site has a place for such persons who wish to make public their conversion; I have yet to see one that credited debate as the reason.

Many would say that newcomers benefit from ongoing religious bantering, I disagree; I think an intelligent newcomer would quickly become bored with it. I have become bored with it and I'm not even very intelligent! I contend that most newcomers even of average intelligence will take the time to read some of the material here before deciding to participate or not. I think it's certain that some very intelligent people have visited this site and decided not to participate, in fact, I know they have.

Some very good points have been made on this website and I applaud the authors, but it's been a very long time since anyone has made a truly original valuable point and of course that's not surprising. Perhaps a document could be prepared that gathered together all the best points and issues raised here and present them as a paper for visitors and enemies to read.

Religion is dying, as die it must. As knowledge increases the gaps will shrink, gods of all flavours will find less and less room in which to hide. Islam or any other crackpot religion will not take over the UK or Europe. Once a religion becomes of no value to politicians, steps will be taken to curb its influence. The danger we face is the chance that a religite might press the button, if that happens it will be because we did nothing to prevent it. The only way we can prevent it is to do what the RDF has begun to do, we must politicize our cause; even so, we might fail but at least we will have tried.

My goal and I hope that of many others, is the complete political castration of religion; any and all religions. I want them out of politics, out of schools, and out of my face! I have no desire to see religion banned or its followers tormented but it should be made clear that the days of automatic respect for unrealistic beliefs are over. I'm realistic enough to know that my chances of achieving that goal by myself are very close to zero and I also know that individuals, no matter how noble, strong or correct they may be, can achieve nothing in isolation and are easily brushed aside and rendered impotent. That's why I fully support an assembly of persons holding atheism in common.

The OUT campaign is a good step, worrying about trivia like what's on the shirt is a waste of time; uniforms alone do not hinder causes but can help them. As an example, Hitler would still have risen to power even if his brown-shirts had been black, green, or white shirts. Incidentally, they didn't even have a big red "S.A." on their garments! Nazism is a good example because it shows that even a flawed and evil doctrine can win support if managed well. Goebbels was a good marketing man. First you get organised, then you worry about the marketing which is only a problem if the product is weak. We have a marvellous product and a good and noble cause, indeed, is there any cause worthier than the freeing of humanity from oppression, whether imagined or real?

I'd like to see more concentration on the practicalities of making things happen on the religion front rather than endless circular debate that will achieve nothing.

The banner headline of the RDF is "A Clear-Thinking Oasis", of course this doesn't exclude religion but it doesn't mandate it either. A reading of other threads shows that some of us would like to see and take part in more discussions of a scientific nature, so while we should keep plugging away on the religious front with periodical clear statements and progress reporting, perhaps a bit less antagonism over minor religious issues is in order. Such a policy would improve public relations whilst still leaving the enemy in no doubt as to our long-term intentions.

Atheists have been likened to cats; personally I prefer what I call the "one-man-band" analogy. I've seen quite a few very good one-man-bands but I've yet to see one half as good as a well-conducted orchestra!

288. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion

Comment #62548 by Yorker on August 10, 2007 at 4:46 am

"If homeopathy was the only form of practised medicine, it would still be commonplace to die in childhood.)"

Very likely, and if religion still wielded the power it once did, most of us would still be uneducated and poor.

In many parts of the world religion is strong where poverty and ignorance reign, even in the wealthy USA this is true. Because religion is a business there, "God shops" vary enormously. In many poor areas of the South they are obviously feeling the financial pinch; dilapidated buildings, unkempt grounds etc. Not for them a glorious pipe organ, more often an old out-of-tune upright piano with some of the keys missing! But even so, the beat up church is often better that the shacks the population live in.

289. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion

Comment #62544 by Yorker on August 10, 2007 at 4:19 am

"After all, if religion has been forced to become little other than an assembly of ethical opinions - however passionately adhered to and however elegantly housed-- then it cannot actually be depicted as "wrong"."

But it can be depicted as undesirable and unlikely to be correct, this is what Richard Dawkins and most atheists say.

"...anyone who became a Catholic priest - or indeed a Church of England cleric - for the money would have to be even crazier than Dawkins thinks they are."

Not so, I personally knew one Catholic priest who "confessed" to me that he became a priest because it was a lot better that being a miner! He was fond of saying he didn't need money because most of his comestibles were gifted by his flock and a housekeeper looked after him. You must be walking around with your eyes shut Mr. Lawson, in almost every small town or village I've visited in the UK, the church manse is frequently the best house in town. Even in modern new towns at least in Scotland, this still seems to be true. There's still money in God and not just in the USA.

290. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62400 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 3:29 pm

52. Comment #62378 by rydrum2112

Are you serious? It's a joke, nobody can force anyone to put anything on their blog! That's what gives it away as satire, no blogger would tolerate that!

291. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62399 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 3:24 pm

"Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett"

Taffy Davenport Gaines-Crockett is mentioned on Landover's site so I guess they are behind the whole thing.

Incidentally, they have a new piece on Falwell worth reading if you haven't visited in a while.

292. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62390 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 2:44 pm

39. Comment #62317 by USA_Limey

Ah, well I never saw the LOR movies so to me it still looks the same, putting it in ink wouldn't change it. Happily:)

293. Curriculum for Baptist School

Comment #62351 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 11:16 am

"Students will understand the absolute consistency of mathematical principles and know that God was the inventor of that consistency."

What percentage of religite kids are going to have to worry about their education when they come across Godel, if indeed any get that far.

294. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62315 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 8:43 am

4. Comment #62268 by Dr Benway

"Hilarious. Who are the evil geniuses behind this site? It has a Betty Bowers feel."

Chris Harper is the guy behind Landover Baptist, Betty Bowers, Pastor Deacon Fred etc. Maybe it's him again.

Come to think of it, time for my annual pilgrimage to Landover, see if there's anything new on "them thar evul homersexurals"! Should be required visiting for new religi-bashers. :)

295. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62307 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 8:23 am

32. Comment #62305 by USA_Limey

You know, I'm loath to say it but there's something vaguely pornographic about your avatar ny fellow ex-pat!

296. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62304 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 8:09 am

Now that I've stopped laughing I'm slightly surprised that nobody read the article. It seemed like the "AutoAntiReligite" trigger was pressed by the first few paragraphs in a few people here.

297. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62293 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 7:52 am

I'm cracking up due to a vision of PZ pleading tearfully with the Science Blogs police:

"Oh no, please, please don't FORCE me to put this big 'A' on MY blog, what will I do? I don't know how to EDIT, will you WRITE for me in future?"

Ho,ho ho and a bottle of rum...

298. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62291 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 7:46 am

Come on guys, get a grip! Doesn't this give the game away!

"Hopefully, tragic mishaps like that will soon be history. After two days of intensive lobbying by Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett, Lynelle Bryant and myself, the "Science Blogs" community, which hosts Pharyngula, has agreed to place a scarlet "A" on the left-hand sidebar of the blog."

Yeah, right!

299. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #62282 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 7:33 am

159. Comment #62222 by Veronique

I took a look at an astrology chart once, it seems I'm a LeoTaurCapriVirgo!

I was once rejected by a girl who said she couldn't go out with me because of incompatible star-signs, it seems that some people are daft enough to base their lives upon this crap. Her loss, she could have joined the list of ex-Mrs Yorker's!

300. Fossils in Kenya Challenge Linear Evolution

Comment #62261 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 6:52 am

Very interesting, - I'll leave those with more expertise in human evolution to comment on it. But given the way of the world, it doesn't surprise me.