1. Comment #223057 by MBC Morgan on August 1, 2008 at 11:33 am

Why is it that we never get programming like this in Canada? If we ever received anything of the sort, I might even consider getting cable again.

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2. Comment #223060 by J Mac on August 1, 2008 at 11:35 am

I feel the same way. But give it a week, it'll be on youtube.

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3. Comment #223064 by Elles on August 1, 2008 at 11:43 am

Damn it!

Ok, I want to believe I have UK TV... I want to believe I have UK TV... I want to believe I have UK TV...

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4. Comment #223076 by Friend Giskard on August 1, 2008 at 12:07 pm

It'll be on Youtube the next day, or even the same day.

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5. Comment #223077 by mordacious1 on August 1, 2008 at 12:17 pm

I wish PBS in the states would pick programming like this up. They've really gone downhill since the republicans took over and appointed their own religious people in top positions. Also, I'm sick of watching how Exxon/Mobile or Texaco is doing such wonderful things for the environment.

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6. Comment #223092 by D'Arcy on August 1, 2008 at 12:45 pm

How depressing when someone of Darwin's stature is still regarded by reactionary religios, as some sort of Satan. The man was the most modest and apologetic of revolutionaries. It took Wallace's influence to prod him into publication. Darwin understood the effect his book would have, because the central idea cut right through the religious orthodoxy of his time. However the ground had been prepared for Darwin's ideas by the geologists and others who actually investigated nature, and didn't just pontificate about it.

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7. Comment #223098 by bujin on August 1, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Looking forward to this. I bookmarked it on my Sky planner earlier this evening after seeing it mentioned in this month's BBC Focus magazine.

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8. Comment #223102 by HandyGeek on August 1, 2008 at 1:16 pm

I'd pay money to see that here in the states. Looks like Elles is practicing a method akin to "the secret". :D

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9. Comment #223140 by InYourFaceNewYorker on August 1, 2008 at 2:51 pm

I hope somebody will capture this and put it on YouTube. Any volunteers? :)

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10. Comment #223156 by qomak on August 1, 2008 at 3:36 pm

Why is it that we never get programming like this in Canada?

Canada's discovery channel is a major embarrassment. Its prime time shows include a bunch of reality TV shows, "real" "documentaries" on haunted houses and ghosts and the related non-sense, UFO "documentaries" and once in a while an interesting documentary on something worth-while. Although, given their reputation on the first series of subjects, I tend to not trust their good documentaries either.

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11. Comment #223167 by Mr_W on August 1, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Ah yes the Joys of Channel 4 HD :)
It's been added to my SKY planner.

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12. Comment #223168 by Happy Hominid on August 1, 2008 at 4:21 pm

One of the topics on this weeks' Another Goddamned Podcast is the greatness of Darwin; but that it not so great being referred to by religionists as "Darwinists". http://anothergoddamnedpodcast.blogspot.com/

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13. Comment #223175 by Sarmatae1 on August 1, 2008 at 5:00 pm

TV in the U.S. isnt any better. I saw a listing for a scientific investigation of "The legendary bigfoot" on The Discovery channel. They called it a documentary. So I thought well lets see what science found out. There was nothing scientific about it. It was a complete farce. It was nothing but a bunch of tour guides using pseudo-scientific jargon that would have been at home on star trek.

The history channel aired A scientific investigation of noahs ark. Well, I thought lets see what science has to say about that. Turns out scientist think the U.S. government is withholding pictures of noahs ark. A whole lot of "scientific" ways to measure the ark. And a buch of crap like that. Nothing scientific about it. It was actually just a dressing up of the old myth with some pseudo-scientific ranting.

It goes on and on. Instead of just putting out hundreds of other shows about the myth of bigfoot and the myth of noahs ark and UFO's and any other ideea you can think of. They submit these "Documentaries" to the viewing layperson as if they are scientifically investigated. There are scientific ways to prove these things and there is no reason to think these things are not real.

Its absolutely incredible. On many of these shows they will have a "scientist" that is investigating. In the bigfoot show.(I refuse to call it a documentary) I actually saw them interview a guy that looks like the proverbial scientist with a lab coat, tape on his glasses and pocket protector. The works. He was stating in the documentary how "The cumulative evidence is conclusive. It would indicate that a large ape like man does in fact live here in these mountains." This same "scientist" can be seen as one of the joking actors on the TV show Scare tactics.

Not only are TV networks putting out the believe it or not shows here in the U.S. They are putting out shows that are deliberately misleading. Its disgraceful.

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14. Comment #223185 by Sifl on August 1, 2008 at 5:44 pm

You know, they (the BBC) really do produce a fair amount of high-quality programming. E.g. I really enjoy QI (presented by Stephen Fry) and Top Gear (which, as a resident of the U.S., I've been able to see bits of only because of YouTube). I expect this new series presented by Richard will be at least as engaging.

I just wish I could get the BBC programming here. I mean, it's 2008 already! Shouldn't every country be able to directly access every other country's television programming by now? It's not as if we don't have the bandwidth; there are nearly a thousand channel spaces offered by Comcast on the east coast, and the vast majority of it isn't worth a moment's notice. Why can't we have a little bit of *good* programming for a change?

Update: Oops; I referred to the BBC, but this series from Richard is being offered by Channel 4. (I was under the mistaken impression that "Channel Four" was a synonym for BBC Four.)

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15. Comment #223190 by bluebird on August 1, 2008 at 6:22 pm

Looks great--will keep an eye out for non-BBC broadcasts. If it's made into a DVD, we'll buy it--for sure,for sure!

In the meantime, Sir D.A.'s "Life in Cold Blood" is slated for DVD release 8/5 :)

Last night our local PBS aired the "Kansas vs Darwin" one hour documentary. If it becomes available for online viewing, I'll post it for anyone interested. A preview:
http://kansasvdarwin.com/

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16. Comment #223209 by Border Collie on August 1, 2008 at 7:27 pm

The History Channel in the US is showing Evolve. I missed the first episode but it's repeated I think on 8/5/08. They and National Geo do have some other good stuff like Raw Science, Universe, etc. However, most of the programming on Discovery, NG, History & A&E consists of: Bigfoot, Sharks, Snakes, Crocodiles, Bible 'History', UFO's, Animal Attacks, Ghosts, Alien Abduction, Loch Ness Monster, other monsters, giant squids ... what did I miss? Seems as if they 'balance' an hour or two of good science programming with twelve hours of tripe.

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17. Comment #223213 by foxfire on August 1, 2008 at 7:52 pm

As usual - Channel 4 UK TV.

Sure. Fine. Whatever.

So when will the DVD be available for those of us in the United Theocracy of Bush?

(P.S. - saw Evolve on the History channel - good stuff! - pre-ordered the DVD)

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18. Comment #223236 by Scandinavian07 on August 1, 2008 at 9:53 pm

Wow, something good on a monday! .. That's unusual.

The editing on the previous documentaries by the team was really good. This looks very promising indeed.

Will there be any Darwin T-shirt with a catchy phrase to remind people of the anniversary?

P.S. Richard should do a interview on Top Gear with Jeremy Clarksson(reasonably priced car). Maybe he's the quickest scientist aswell as one of the smartest.

Scandinavian07

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19. Comment #223307 by j s bach on August 2, 2008 at 1:34 am

I've taught biology for some years in British secondary schools. Evolution and natural selection are firmly in the curriculum for 15 - 18 year olds. Dawkins is right however - just a few hours will be devoted to the subject. This can't be helped. Were it not so - other scientific topics would have to be omitted to avoid over-loading the syllabus.
I recall spending a considerable time (more than I should have) teaching genetics and evolution to a class of 15 year olds a couple of years ago. At the end of the module and during a general discussion, a Muslim boy casually declared that Allah gave him his physical characteristics. I was momentarily stunned. I thought what the hell had I been teaching and what on earth had this boy learned. Dawkins is right - a few science lessons is not going to shift this religious influence.

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20. Comment #223320 by V'Ger on August 2, 2008 at 2:30 am

Can't wait.

Teachers should have to power to eject all the creationist children before begining science classes. After all - why waste my money, as a tax payer, on the pointless task of trying to teach dim-wits.

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21. Comment #223324 by Dowirunem on August 2, 2008 at 3:05 am

"It'll be on Youtube the next day, or even the same day." Friend Giskard.

Within the hour if the demand is there.

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22. Comment #223340 by Animavore on August 2, 2008 at 4:06 am

I'm usually in the pub for my monday cure but, I think I'll give it a miss this week unless I can get the lad behind the bar to put it on and maybe teach a few of the auld lads a thing or two.
Or I could just record it.

Didn't that religious student at the end sound really unsure of himself? There may be salvation for him yet.

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23. Comment #223367 by RichardofYork on August 2, 2008 at 5:10 am

I dont pay my license fee for god damned foreigners to watch programmes ive paid for ;o)

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24. Comment #223379 by Border Collie on August 2, 2008 at 6:00 am

Richard of York ... What about the American colonies?

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25. Comment #223391 by SOAS on August 2, 2008 at 6:48 am

I think we should maybe let the foreigners watch our license paid for TV.( All be it Channel4).


Has it not proved to be a fantastic model for paying for TV and radio for only £139.50 a year.!
Bargain.!! ( there is a comedy sketch there somewhere).

Maybe the foreighners will try and improve on this system? {:-)

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26. Comment #223400 by Marku on August 2, 2008 at 7:41 am

Looks very interesting.

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27. Comment #223406 by doethcaru on August 2, 2008 at 8:22 am

There is definitely insufficient emphasis placed on natural selection in the UK educational system. However, there are ways around this. The existing requirements can be taught, I believe, more efficiently and more coherently by placing certain key ideas at the core, and one of these is natural selection. I am presently in the process of developing a new curriculum in which evolution will be taught systematically to children from the age of 8 or 9. At present, I teach it to 10 and 11 year olds. The core ideas for science teaching include, I believe, (1) structure and function, (2) Life Cycles, (3) Adaptation, (4) Innate and Learned Behaviour, (5) Natural Selection (6) Mass (7)Force (8) Work (9) Energy (10) POwer (11) Atom (12) Molecule (13) electron

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28. Comment #223418 by Chris Jackson on August 2, 2008 at 8:49 am

Looks to be a decent, informative series. One concern, though: How sinister did RD look when he was looking through the door of the classroom?

I was half expecting him to start the lesson by hacking the door down with a fire axe and shouting "Heeere's Darwin!".

Seriously though, Looking forward to seeing this.

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29. Comment #223420 by Rational_G on August 2, 2008 at 8:54 am

Keep spreading the truth, RD. Great stuff.

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30. Comment #223421 by Lemniscate on August 2, 2008 at 8:56 am

I can't believe I'm on holiday from the 11th to the 18th!

I'm glad to see Dawkins addressing the situation of evolutionary theory in the U.K. With faith schools, PFIs and funding from American creationists, this documentary and Dawkins' upcoming book on the evidence for evolution are exactly what we need.

I agree with others who have pointed out the insufficient emphasis on natural selection in Biology. I took Biology to AS, and the only memory I have of it is some vague, weak questions on changing colours of moths at GCSE. This appeared an implicit indication that natural selection was on shakier ground than other theories.

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31. Comment #223424 by HourglassMemory on August 2, 2008 at 9:05 am

Richard Dawkins with students! Now that's something I really like watching.
I hope there were seeds of doubt planted in those innocent heads.

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32. Comment #223481 by eclampusvitus on August 2, 2008 at 2:12 pm

"give it a week, it'll be on youtube. "

God willing.

So to speak.


ECV

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33. Comment #223494 by Sargeist on August 2, 2008 at 2:40 pm

I expect that a nice, high quality version will eventually available on DVD through the RD.net shop.

Or so I hope.

The clip with the boy and his "holy book" staggers me, even though I should be used to such nonsense by now.

"So the reason you believe it is that was the one you were told first?"
*chortle*

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34. Comment #223532 by ingodwerust on August 2, 2008 at 4:24 pm

I would like to have seen Richard trot across the room and throttle that ignorant little bastard with his 'holy book'. How does he put up with that level of willful ignorance and not despair? It's shocking to think that someone so young can have the thought process completely removed by his up-bringing.

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35. Comment #223534 by Nails on August 2, 2008 at 4:29 pm

For all of those who arn't in the UK, there is a very good chance that this will be available on c4 on demand for limited-time download:

http://www.channel4.com/4od/index.html

Maybe not straight away, I think it should be there after tranmission and available for a couple of weeks after that.

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36. Comment #223540 by 8teist on August 2, 2008 at 4:45 pm

I thought it a little unfair to title the 2nd clip ,The unteachables, based on one student parroting ,probably, his parents opinions.This kid has had 15 years of indoctrination,we didn`t get to hear his response to Prof Dawkins last comment on believing the first thing he was taught .
The fossil in the first clip ,brilliant.

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37. Comment #223547 by Laurie Fraser on August 2, 2008 at 5:16 pm

I would like to have seen Richard trot across the room and throttle that ignorant little bastard with his 'holy book'.

Agreed, Ingod. Those ignorant little toe-rags deserve a good dose of clarity, which can be defined as "That force, which, when applied to a fist travelling in the direction of a face, has no difficulty in causing the recipient to see stars."

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38. Comment #223550 by NewEnglandBob on August 2, 2008 at 5:53 pm

"...I believe in the greater evidence. The holy book..."

Fantasies are now evidence? Which courtrooms allow holy book text as evidence? None that I know.

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39. Comment #223558 by 8teist on August 2, 2008 at 6:14 pm

Laurie, I admire your teaching technique.:)

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40. Comment #223561 by Goldy on August 2, 2008 at 6:32 pm

Aaah, Laurie, your comments always make me smile :-)
Here, a funny story for Sunday
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2485331/Atheists-fail-to-cough-up-for-London-bus-ad.html
Comments are hilarious :-)

Good game, eh?

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41. Comment #223562 by Laurie Fraser on August 2, 2008 at 6:35 pm

Thanks, 8teist - I do my best ;)

Great game, boys - ABs were astonishingly good. Our boys didn't have an answer. Nonu is LIVING PROOF OF EVOLUTION!

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42. Comment #223566 by 8teist on August 2, 2008 at 7:10 pm

Very relieved today,but the ABs had their backs to the wall.
That was probably the best game I`ve seen from them in the last decade.Just hope Henry can bottle that attitude for them .
Its amazing what electrodes to the genitals can accomplish.

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43. Comment #223567 by Goldy on August 2, 2008 at 7:18 pm

8teist, given the hints in the Herald before hand regarding Henry's future, I dare say words were spolen. Shit, after all, always appears to roll downhill... :-)
A great game, I thought.

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44. Comment #223569 by Laurie Fraser on August 2, 2008 at 7:19 pm

Agreed - best game I've seen them play in years. Precision kicking, winning the line-outs, great break-downs; they made us look like we'd been feasting on valium sandwiches (and the thing is, had Australia played like they did against any other team in the world, they would have beaten them.)

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45. Comment #223572 by mordacious1 on August 2, 2008 at 7:43 pm

The "little bastard" as you say, may actually help others in the class see science in a good way. He is probably the class nerd, others in the class will be thinking: Oh, if that's what he believes, then I better take a look at what Dr. Dawkins is talking about. I know if I had someone like Richard enter my high school science classroom, I would have been floored. I hope the rest of the kids appreciated what they had the oppurtunity to participate in.

[edit] besides, Richard sowed some seeds, sometimes that's all it takes with young minds.

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46. Comment #223580 by dragonfirematrix on August 2, 2008 at 8:57 pm

I applaud Dr. Dawkins for his efforts to spread the truth of our existence. However, as we all have too awfully learned, the religious use indoctrination to infect young minds with lies, fear, and hate about everything.

I guess Abrahamic parents are proud that they are pumping lies, fear, and hate into the minds of their children.

The cycle of lies, fear, and hate by the religious must be outlawed. The truth and reasoning of science must be taught. How do we accomplish such a monumental task? Can we accomplish spreading the truth and reasoning of science without having the religious executing a holocaust upon us?

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47. Comment #223629 by Matt7895 on August 3, 2008 at 1:48 am

I imagine if I decided to bring up evolution among the religious people I know, they'd probably all react exactly the same way that boy did in that second clip.

They wouldn't go out and campaign against it, they wouldn't want to push their doctrine into schools, but they would proudly stand up and say, 'I don't believe that, my holy book says otherwise'.

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48. Comment #223688 by MLi-698 on August 3, 2008 at 7:15 am

I hope that, like "The Root of all evil?", Dawkins releases this complete programme on DVD.

Pity that here in the states "Bigfoot" will make the Discovery channel, but this programme does not. WTF? :(

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49. Comment #223701 by HourglassMemory on August 3, 2008 at 8:29 am

48, Dawkins has said that they'll release it on DVD along with unedited interviews that were done for this series.

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50. Comment #223775 by Stu1974 on August 3, 2008 at 12:03 pm

I hope this is made available on 4OD. Living in this part of Wales we don't get Channel 4 on terrestrial telly only S4C :(

Mind you, Root of All Evil? is still available, I might watch that on Monday night, then download TGOCD on Tuesday morning (my day off) and watch it over me muesli.

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