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Comments by Johnny O


1. A natural selection

Comment #180045 by Johnny O on May 14, 2008 at 6:21 am

Islam might turn out to be a greater danger for the teaching of evolution in Europe than Evangelical Christianity which is still pretty marginal.

Maybe in Britain, but not in other European countries. Especially France. They don't even let Muslim children wear headscarfs at school.
And they won't get a sniff in the Scandanavian countries

2. Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens

Comment #180034 by Johnny O on May 14, 2008 at 6:11 am

So what happens when the spaceships arrive and a set of talking snakes comes out?

You mean more Catholic Priests??

3. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179301 by Johnny O on May 13, 2008 at 4:59 am

Fuel in Britain is more than twice that in the US, but I bet I still pay less because I get decent mileage from my car.

If the American car industry knew how to build decent cars there wouldn't be so much of a demand and that really would be a miracle...

4. I Am Evolution

Comment #178829 by Johnny O on May 12, 2008 at 5:43 am

To believe in something takes faith, trust, effort, strength.

Oh no...
I need none of these things to believe evolution

WOO-HOO!!! I was worried there. What an excellent article.

5. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171412 by Johnny O on April 28, 2008 at 1:29 pm

The MoD had no official advice for troops on how to behave with Iraqi women. The serviceman involved would not have been told that any relationship with her could put her life at risk, the paper said.

When I went to Iraq, during the first Gulf War, we were told about not getting 'involved' with local women as it would cause great offence to the local men and might cause tensions between the coalition troops. That however was in reference to a romantic involvement, this seems to be a totally inoccent working relationsip.

I will do some investigating with mates I have out there at the moment to see if they are aware of this incident.

6. Religion a figment of human imagination

Comment #171399 by Johnny O on April 28, 2008 at 1:22 pm

Humans alone practice religion because they're the only creatures to have evolved imagination

An interesting article, but they're forgetting that goddidit...

7. Responses to 'Gods and Earthlings' by Richard Dawkins

Comment #167505 by Johnny O on April 24, 2008 at 5:37 am

Even Jesus didn't worry about proofs for God's existence.

That is the funniest thing I've ever read, I had coke coming out of my nose when I read it.

EDIT: Coke as in Coca Cola, not the Columbian variety

8. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #167499 by Johnny O on April 24, 2008 at 5:31 am

Here's what seems like a decent summary of the debate.

Dennet V Winston

The motion was defeated by the way.

9. Pope's Views on Science Invoke Spirited Debate

Comment #165522 by Johnny O on April 21, 2008 at 2:53 pm

The tree of knowledge is fed through spiritual roots," he wrote, "and without those it will wither and die."

Was it not the 'Tree of Knowledge' that Eve picked the forbidden fruit from and gave to Adam?

We'd all be living it up in Eden if wasn't for that bloody tree...

10. Resentment Over Darwin Evolves Into a Documentary

Comment #165512 by Johnny O on April 21, 2008 at 2:38 pm

"Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" is a conspiracy-theory rant masquerading as investigative inquiry.


Amen

11. Evolution exhibit shows why nobody's perfect

Comment #165509 by Johnny O on April 21, 2008 at 2:35 pm

This sounds amazing. I hope there are events like this in Britain too, to celebrate "The Year of Evolution"

12. Sexpelled: No Intercourse Allowed

Comment #164234 by Johnny O on April 19, 2008 at 7:11 pm

Now that they;ve disproved Evolution, it looks like they've moved on to Gravity...
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512" target="_blank">Intelligent Falling

13. Evolution fray attracts top scientist

Comment #162456 by Johnny O on April 17, 2008 at 2:20 am

I love Sir Harry Kroto, he gave the Charles Simonyi Lecture this year, which I have on my lectures playlist on my phone/MP3 player. ( I also have The God Delusion, Ancestor's Tale, Origin Of Species, God is Not Great, and many of the debates from this site and others)

Charles Simonyi Lecture

And he runs/contributes to the following website which has some amazing interviews with Nobel Winners:

vega.org

14. British schools are falling for the pseudoscience of Brain Gym. Why fill kids' heads with nonsense?

Comment #161276 by Johnny O on April 15, 2008 at 5:20 am

Replace history lessons with screenings of the Star Wars trilogy?


I wish...

15. Christian Founders 3D Adventure Computer Game

Comment #153128 by Johnny O on April 1, 2008 at 5:11 am

rod-the-farmer,

The trick is to stay still and let them come to you. It's always the last few that are the hardest to get.

I bet there's an anology there somewhere...

16. Vote on freedom of expression marks the end of Universal Human Rights

Comment #153049 by Johnny O on April 1, 2008 at 12:57 am

In total, more than 20 of the original 53 co-sponsors of the resolution withdrew their support.


Why didn't they vote AGAINST it then? If they had it wouldn't have gone through.

Abstentions achieve nothing.

17. Christian Founders 3D Adventure Computer Game

Comment #153047 by Johnny O on April 1, 2008 at 12:49 am

Here is the game for the one true religion....

FSM Conversion Game

18. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #152280 by Johnny O on March 30, 2008 at 3:40 pm

This is a sad day for freedom of speech on the net

And we all know whose side the politicians and religious leaders will come down on... that of the ignorant, intolerant bigots that threaten violence against those that espouse a view that is contrary to their own.

The one good thing is that corroborates the film's message

19. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #152269 by Johnny O on March 30, 2008 at 3:08 pm

FSM Game

My highest score is 6300 so far. I only had one person left to convert...

20. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #152266 by Johnny O on March 30, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Note that this is comment #152195, which contains two 5's (Law of Fives). It was also posted in 2008(2008 - 8 = 2000, 2000 / 1000 = 2), and on March 30 (30 / 10 = 3) thus giving 23!!!

Spooky eh?

And people say there is no evidence for Religion. What have you got to say about that Prof Dawkins?? Eh?

21. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150161 by Johnny O on March 26, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Happy birthday to you,
Squashed tomatoes and stew,
You look like a monkey
and you've evolved from one too.

(Yeah I know it should be ape and not a monkey, but it doesn't work in the song)

Professor, thank you so much for all I have learned from your writing in the last few years and for bringing me into this wonderful community.

Happy Birthday

22. John Templeton: God's sugar daddy

Comment #149089 by Johnny O on March 25, 2008 at 5:29 am

Now, having made and saved more money than most people can imagine

What's that story about the camel and the eye of a needle again...

23. 'Anonymous' takes anti-Scientology to the streets

Comment #144512 by Johnny O on March 16, 2008 at 9:12 am

They should have all worn Tom Cruise masks, that would have been hilarious.

Must say I agree with the IRS's original opinion...

Scientology was a business and not a religion

Hail Xenu

24. I don't believe in atheists

Comment #144504 by Johnny O on March 16, 2008 at 8:59 am

Harris is just intellectually shallow. Harris doesn't know anything about religion or the Middle East
He forgot to add...
And ripped me a new arse in our debate


What a cock!!

25. Deadly Sins 101

Comment #144501 by Johnny O on March 16, 2008 at 8:45 am

And 'SE7EN' will have to be changed into 'FOURTEEN' and have twice has many victims.

AH!! You've hit upon the source of these new sins.... Hollywood.

It's all just so they can make a sequal

26. The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing

Comment #144497 by Johnny O on March 16, 2008 at 8:33 am

This book has been out a couple of weeks hasn't it? I got it at the beginning of March from my local Waterstones and was very surprised not to have heard about it first on the website.

I've been picking and choosing chapters so far and have loved it. It's the sort of book you can take in the bath, read any part of and be satisfied when you emerge, hours later from the tepid water.

Brilliant

27. The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing

Comment #144496 by Johnny O on March 16, 2008 at 8:28 am

Does anyone else have Hitchen's "god is not Great" audio version?


I do and whilst I still enjoyed it, I got the impression Hitch was bored and wanted to do something else. At times it was like he was reading a list.

28. Beauty ad banned after Christian outcry

Comment #142857 by Johnny O on March 13, 2008 at 6:37 am

The ASA said that while previous ghd campaigns did not "mock" faith or belief, the new ads went further with the women appearing to be praying while being erotic.
I hope they don't try an ban shouting, "OH, MY GOD" everytime someone reaches sexual climax???
Can I ban 'Songs of Praise'? I find it offensive. Thanks.

Matt7895, that is a brilliant idea. I wonder what would happen if enough secularists complained?

29. How to abandon your God

Comment #139583 by Johnny O on March 6, 2008 at 6:26 am

What by the hair on Odin's chin is...

open-throated sex
I'm scared to Google it

30. Survey shows Non-Religious Outnumber Those of Every Single Faith (But One)

Comment #137631 by Johnny O on March 3, 2008 at 9:21 am

The study also shows the number of Americans who identify as atheist or agnostic has risen from 3.2 percent to 4 percent
That seems very low.

31. A God blog

Comment #137532 by Johnny O on March 3, 2008 at 5:17 am

Whilst I like the article I'd like to point out...

Posted by Ceri Radford on 25 Jan 2007 at 16:50

It's over a year old and was written not long after the release of the book, when everyone was still reading it after receiving it for Christmas.

32. A natural phenomenon

Comment #137522 by Johnny O on March 3, 2008 at 4:27 am

Tonight, after 54 fabulous years of globetrotting for wildlife, David Attenborough bows out


I'd just like to say that Sir David isn't "bowing out".

On Jonathan Ross last month he said he was already making another documentary series, this time about.... wait for it.... EVOLUTION!!!

I can not wait

Edit: Just found this link -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/01_january/18/ross.shtml

33. The Dog Allusion

Comment #128164 by Johnny O on February 16, 2008 at 11:36 am

'As with dogs, so with gods - by and large, you should blame the owners


I'm getting that put on a t-shirt... GENIUS!!!

34. Ben Stein Wins Intelligent Design Money

Comment #128152 by Johnny O on February 16, 2008 at 11:20 am

Watch the trailer for the film. It almost made me cry. Those poor down trodden Fundies. With all us nasty rationalist requiring some kind of evidence from them.

We are apparently intolerant and do not allow free speech when it is against Darwin.

And there was me thinking it was US being shouted down for questioning faith based beliefs???

What a cretin, I wonder if he actually believes the shite coming out of his mouth... shocking

35. A match made on RichardDawkins.net?

Comment #128149 by Johnny O on February 16, 2008 at 11:07 am

Congratulations, Veronique and Yorker.

When's the big day?

36. My Saudi Valentine

Comment #126788 by Johnny O on February 14, 2008 at 8:25 am

Guys took their chances by handing out their land-line numbers to any nearby female, just in case there was an eligible young woman hidden under that shapeless abaya and niqab. I remember my mother yelling at boys who would knock on our car window and "number" her; offer her cards with their home numbers.
I'm beginning to understand why the women cover themselves head-to-toe. All the men are sex mad. Why else would they give their number to a woman in a sheet, on the off chance that she's nice looking?

Mental

37. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123426 by Johnny O on February 7, 2008 at 6:22 am

Madness, complete fucking madness.

I can't believe that the AB of C has said
"An approach to law which simply said - there's one law for everybody - I think that's a bit of a danger"

Of course there should be one law for everybody, WTF is he trying to achieve? Even more seperation and 'multi-culturalism'.

If Muslims find it, "...hard to live or work in some areas of the UK", they can always try living in Iran, they'll get all the Sharia law they can handle there.

What I hate most about this sort of bollocks is that they've made me sound like Enoch 'bloody' Powell.

38. Ad 'likely to offend gay people'

Comment #123420 by Johnny O on February 7, 2008 at 6:08 am

Sadly many straight people (even those not particularly homophobic) can have such a response, which has been conditioned by family, friends, society.


I have to admit to having fallen into this group. When I was 14 or 15 I bought a Bronski Beat album, they had had a couple of catchy singles so I bought the album. When I listened to it I looked through the sleeve and saw them at gay bars and clubs and then truly understood the lyrics to the song "Run Away".

I'm ashamed to say that I felt disgusted and threw the album away. I wasn't religious and had never even knowingly met any gay people, but the thought of it turned my stomach. I can only think that these views were based on ignorance and the views of my peers, (and definitely my Father).

I'm glad to say that I no longer hold these small minded views and have gay friends who laugh like drains at my story when I tell it. As penance they once made me wear a t-shirt with the word "BREEDER" on it, on a pub crawl round various gay bars in Soho...

39. Documents detail church coverup

Comment #121757 by Johnny O on February 4, 2008 at 4:50 am

..a coverup of pedophilia that involved top church leaders and touched a prominent law-enforcement official...

What an unfortunate turn of phrase...

40. Morality and the 'new atheism'

Comment #119954 by Johnny O on February 1, 2008 at 3:54 am

What a great article. I did have to read it in two goes however as this comment had me in hysterics...

When a monkey experiences pain from, say, being kicked in the testicles, several neurons can be observed to fire in his brain

It just summoned pictures of a monkey in an MRI scanner with some guy in a lab coat kicking it in the nuts... LMFAO

41. Scientists want rewrite of Earth's time line

Comment #117589 by Johnny O on January 29, 2008 at 7:26 am

this isn't an Americocentric viewpoint


I know it isn't mate, I was just taking the piss.

I do however think that the Industrial Revolution has had a bigger effect on the planet, apart from the obvious Industrialisation of what had previously been manual labour and the many inventions and discoveries that it drove, there was also the mass migration of populace. People lost their livelihoods to machines, the land owners evicted them to replace them with sheep to supply textile mills. It might have made Britain "Great", but it filled North America with it's unwanted masses.

And then of course there is the polution which we are feeling the effects of today.

42. Scientists want rewrite of Earth's time line

Comment #117579 by Johnny O on January 29, 2008 at 6:26 am

I'm inclined to agree with Opisthokont's choice of 1492 as emblematically marking the point when transcontinental transfers of species began to ramp up by orders of magnitude more than they had before

Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle-East have had, "transcontinental transfers", for quite a while. Alexander got to India, the Persians would have got into Europe except for those 300 buff looking nekid fellas, the Romans pretty much owned the Mediterranean basin and that Marco Polo chap put himself about quite a bit. There have even been well preserved ginger headed corpses in kilts found in China.

Is this another example of America re-writing history? It's bad enough when you do it in films. The Scottish invented just about everything used in the Industrial Revelution, please don't try and steal the new (Mc)Epoch.

;-)

43. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117557 by Johnny O on January 29, 2008 at 5:37 am

Given that you wrote a chapter about Dennett, why didn't you include him in with the other three?

Because he wanted to use the term "Unholy Trinity" and forgot about Dennet.
Dawkins's stupid assertion that a religious upbringing is worse than sexual child abuse

RD has never said that religious teachings are worse than child abuse, he says that "Labelling" a child as Christian or Muslim is a "form" of child abuse.

I get so bored of these people misquoting him, you have to wonder if it is deliberate. He gets questioned about it all the time and no matter how many times he corrects them, people still keep spouting it.
Atheists have felt that science was on their side ever since the Enlightenment, and now they see it slipping away from them
Does he work for the Templeton Foundation? What Science is "slipping away" from us?
There is very little ... that was not already said by Jean Meslier prior to his death in 1729.

Evolution, General & Special Relativity, Big Bang, Quantum Theory...

I would have considered reading this book, but this interview shows that the guy is just an ignorant dullard.

44. Three Little Pigs 'too offensive'

Comment #115371 by Johnny O on January 24, 2008 at 5:25 am

..."could not recommend this product to the Muslim community".


Can we assume that they have been perfectly happy offending the Jewish community for years? Although I am unaware of a single Jewish protest against it.

I wonder if Texans are offended by the new title...
The Three Little Cowboy Builders

45. Mixing Mammals

Comment #115366 by Johnny O on January 24, 2008 at 5:19 am

Come on everyone admit it; when you read up to there you already had an image in your head of a mouse with bat wings!


Isn't a mouse with bat wings... A Bat???

lol

46. Ken Ham in Leicester April 2008

Comment #114889 by Johnny O on January 23, 2008 at 6:03 am

He's coming to Oxford???

Please tell me RD is in the country and popping along for a chat?

47. Mandrake: Charles's letter in support of Islamic 'fundamentalism'

Comment #113958 by Johnny O on January 21, 2008 at 4:50 am

I'm not sure what's worst.

Charles being a Religious Fundamentalist or William being a Villa fan...

48. Mandrake: Charles's letter in support of Islamic 'fundamentalism'

Comment #113939 by Johnny O on January 21, 2008 at 3:48 am

Whilst those comments are alarming, I'd like to read the whole letter to see the context in which they were used. We've all seen how RD is quoted as saying Religious Education is child abuse, by paraphrasing him.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for one moment defending the inbred, jug eared fuckwit, I'd just like to see the complete letter.

49. The God Delusion: Now Available in US Paperback

Comment #113277 by Johnny O on January 19, 2008 at 7:42 am

I have to say I'm not taken by the shiny silver cover.

It looks like a prop from the set of a 1960's sci-fi film.

This how all books will look in the future when we drive our hover cars and live on the moon...

50. The New Theology

Comment #113274 by Johnny O on January 19, 2008 at 7:27 am

He rides around Oxford on a simple blue bicycle with a wicker basket on the handlebars, and he hasn't quite mastered his iPhone

RD has an iPhone?

C'Mon Professor, they're all hype. A superb media player but with a 4 year old phone attached, (no picture messaging, no video camera, internet connection is almost slower than drawing it unless you are in a wi-fi hotspot, not bluetooth compatible).

Take it back and get yourself a Nokia N95, (8GB memory, 5 Mega Pixel camera, 30 Frames p/s video, sat nav, 3G)

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