1. Beware the Believers

Comment #152303 by rejohnsonil on March 30, 2008 at 4:35 pm

have to say i'm pretty saddened at how closed minded so many of a group of supposedly open-minded folks are. making such harsh condescending judgments on a fairly affectionate (if not in your exact taste) parody just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

if you don't get it that's absolutely fine, but try not to be so condescending and tight-arsed about it. the 24 year old guy, alexander, sounds like my dad and i'm 36.

there are all types of art, culture, and people out there. we should appreciate it all--it's a short life and anyone who takes the time to make an anthemic positive statement about science, which has a chance of reaching hundreds of thousands of people (if not millions), should at a minimum be respected.

2. Beware the Believers

Comment #152213 by rejohnsonil on March 30, 2008 at 12:55 pm

if it is a promotion for the film (which I don't think it us), it fails miserably as such. First, "the machine" is an absurd "depiction" of science as ruling out obviously mistaken non-science. It looks more a parody of expelled's asinine accusations.

Secondly, the rap is too convincingly pro-science (while being a little cocky), showing all the success science has had.

Regardless, if it was made by them, they failed miserably and it does betray how much they miss the mark.

On the other hand, the pull string judge jones video is ignorantly and obviously right up their alley.

3. Beware the Believers

Comment #152191 by rejohnsonil on March 30, 2008 at 11:59 am

it's a good thing!!!

it works on many layers, but you just have to have been exposed to this type of music/culture to really get it. we don't just want white, classical music listening, "proper", "upper class" people learning the facts about our world and universe, right? so, this makes it something more accessible to younger people and those who may not even think of science as something interesting.

really, it's just absurdity with sam's teeth. they're just making everyone a stereotypical rapper. it might be a very american thing too actually. however, regardless of most folks who don't quite understand it, it is complimentary while a bit satirical/a parody as well as just absurd.

when those rappers are posturing, it's their confidence that shines through. they're really saying that the messages richard, sam, dan dennett, et. al. are "the only" game in town and expressing it in that style. it really is crossing over into different territory. hell, if some folks who aren't interested in science see this, but enjoy rap, they might actually get a bit of a nudge to investigate this.

it's good and the message is good, whilst "over the top".

make i take this opportunity to thank richard for all the great education i've gotten from him (since he's very much around in this thread)? i admire you sir, very much. and you have really written some excellent books that have changed my life. :)

4. Beware the Believers

Comment #152119 by rejohnsonil on March 30, 2008 at 7:17 am

i have to vote for hilarious. i'll even LOL for Richard. :) it's the juxtaposition between richard's gentle (but fierce in the face of nonsense) disposition and rap culture as well as the very informed and clever references to Paley, Darwin, etc.

if you didn't laugh at darwin getting down or saying, "if you don't know me, you don't know dick!" you're missing it! :) that double meaning, where "dick" is short for richard as well as a euphemism for penis, in this context, "you don't know anything".

also, it's sort of endearing seeing dan dennett, hitch, sam harris, eugenie scott, et al in this context as a bunch of hip hop characters bragging about their skills. very nicely done! :D

5. Richard Dawkins on five of his favorite books

Comment #132339 by rejohnsonil on February 24, 2008 at 3:54 pm

aw, i wonder if the hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy was #6? :)

i miss douglas adams still and wish i could read a new dna book...

6. Darwin Day (Feb 12th) E-Cards

Comment #114226 by rejohnsonil on January 21, 2008 at 3:23 pm

i understand why bulldog would be good, but perhaps a more subtle and apropos image would be a beagle instead? :)