Comments by The Flying Trilobite

Comment #137514 by The Flying Trilobite on March 3, 2008 at 3:25 am

I really did not like this article.

It careens all over the place, crashing into each issue and then drives off.

At the beginning, is Pevere suggesting that Darwin's biggest contribution was showing us that humans and dinosaurs didn't live together?!

"Irresistibly cool as the idea may be, they never met people.

Or so science insists."

Yeah, the edifice of science insists. That phrase sounds like the authour begs to differ. I was so disappointed. Darwin on the front page of the Star, and look inside and we get this too-short, unfocused article.

2. Murder plot against Danish cartoonist

Comment #125996 by The Flying Trilobite on February 12, 2008 at 11:07 am

Agn,
Unless by "torture" you mean "educate and persuade through reasoned arguments," I'm gonna have to go with al-rawandi on this one. Physical torture isn't justified.

Also, we can't persecute people based in "internal morality" since we have no thought police. You can think whatever you want in your own head. It's when an individual acts on it that they may reap rewards, punishments or embarrassment.

3. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #125987 by The Flying Trilobite on February 12, 2008 at 10:56 am

Not a card, but I've done a surreal portrait entitled "Darwin Took Steps".

It will be displayed at The Eloquent Atheist (http://eloquentatheist.com) some time today.

I also blogged a 'making of' post at my site, The Flying Trilobite (http://glendonmellow.blogspot.com)

Great to see such good work by so many people!

4. Whale 'missing link' discovered

Comment #102534 by The Flying Trilobite on December 23, 2007 at 6:50 am

Let's spread some illustrator's credits around, shall we?

I believe the pic above is by the legendary Carl Buell, (link at http://olduvaigeorge.com/ )and the university has also had the help of the talented Jacqueline Rae Dillard (link at http://jacquelinerae.deviantart.com/ ).

As an artist myself, it's nice to see the credits, and these two scientific illustrators are excellent.

5. Girl, 16, dies after hijab dispute with father

Comment #97562 by The Flying Trilobite on December 12, 2007 at 11:02 am

I read the National Post a few times a week. I read the Globe a little less. I would agree with Sharon McT's descriptions. Sorry Bonzai, I wouldn't call it a rag. Certainly right-of-centre.

The main reason I like the Post over the Globe is that the Post has better science reporting. They may run a breakthrough in medical research as a headline, where it will be buried in the Globe.

I'd say the reporting in the Post is almost of two minds. They have regular columns by a priest, but also carry columns by Christopher Hitchens. A few years ago, they devoted two editorial pages to the Intelligent Design debate. The explanation of evolution by natural selection was written by Jerry Coyne and so good I had it plaquemounted and it hangs in my art studio.

6. Girl, 16, dies after hijab dispute with father

Comment #97273 by The Flying Trilobite on December 11, 2007 at 8:48 pm

In a much smaller connection, this is why movies and books like The Golden Compass with strong, free-thinking heroines are so important. It's empowering, whatever you think of Pullman's story.

If this father did this to preserve honour or punish a disobediant child, I hope the example does not cow into submission more girls in that community.

I can't believe this happened in a community I visit once a week. I have family there. That poor girl. It would be nice to hope that religion doesn't mitigate the circumstances into a lower sentence when this mess is in court.

7. Girl, 16, dies after hijab dispute with father

Comment #97261 by The Flying Trilobite on December 11, 2007 at 8:25 pm

Whether or not she was pretty is irrelevant. Whether or not her father looked her in the eye is irrelevant.

This is an ugly, ugly crime. Killing his daughter because of clothes. All parents sometimes fear their kids grow up too fast and fear they are wearing inappropriate clothing.

I'm sure some would say this is a cultural issue. Resorting to anger, abuse, and dogma make this uglier and harder to understand, rather than easier.

If a religion calls for raising a hand against the child, I'd stand with the child, not the religion.

8. Getting Overheated

Comment #89541 by The Flying Trilobite on November 21, 2007 at 3:27 am

If you are enjoying Stephen Fry's blessays, I'd recommend picking up a copy of 'Paperweight', his collection of newspaper articles, op-ed pieces, and transcribed in-character radio commentaries.

The bit about dicatator's moustaches alone makes it worth the read.
--
The Flying Trilobite
http://glendonmellow.blogspot.com

9. Deep in the Sea, Imagining the Cradle of Life on Earth

Comment #79353 by The Flying Trilobite on October 17, 2007 at 3:09 am

Fascinating.

If the human race succeeds in visiting Europa, those skills may be useful on a second world.

That being said, it must feel like such a different planet down there. A whole world of organisms removed from our daily view, their evolution separated from ours by so many millions of years.

One of my favourite concepts in sci-fi is of humans leaving the Earth, and the evolved descendents returning millions of years later to the descendents on Earth (Man After Man, Dougal Dixon). Somehow life at the vents has that feel.

10. The New Atheists

Comment #67619 by The Flying Trilobite on September 4, 2007 at 3:11 am

As CruciFiction points out, Stenger's book is forgotten, as is Michael Shermer's excellent "Why Darwin Matters", and the newly published Carl Sagan lectures.

I know many journalists want a 3 or 4 book hit parade (and if its three, they leave out Dennett). But it's a shame. These other books are so good.

I have a feeling the reason the other books are chosen is that God is mentioned directly in the titles, and in a non-flattering way.

The Flying Trilobite
http://glendonmellow.blogspot.com

11. Cartoons from Evolution: a journal of nature 1927-1938

Comment #67557 by The Flying Trilobite on September 3, 2007 at 7:39 pm

Thanks Bluebird. The work proceeds slowly this summer, but I don't have too far to go to finish the Richard Dawkins painting.

Lovely avatar. Please forgive me if I am incorrect, but is that the little mermaid in Denmark?

The Flying Trilobite
http://glendonmellow.blogspot.com

12. In God we doubt

Comment #67372 by The Flying Trilobite on September 3, 2007 at 6:27 am

How much more time is spent by a "devout sceptic" until they become an unbeliever and atheist?

For me, it was reading River Out of Eden that had me drop my adolescent pagan-pose. A devout sceptic was what I was.

Reading "Time to Stand Up" in The Devil's Chaplain and Genome by Matt Ridley after 9/11 is what had me reluctantly admit there is no evidence for God and plenty for a natural universe. Perhaps a couple of more popular science books will nudge Mr. Humphrys along.

13. What do these atheists understand of religion?

Comment #67362 by The Flying Trilobite on September 3, 2007 at 6:02 am

As AdrianB pointed out, the pyramids were built on slave labour. Hardly being inspiring, they are monuments of great oppressive evil.

The pyramids were built to last, and they were built not in deference to the Biblical God, nor even to Horus or Osiris. They were built to house the "god-kings", ruler of the slaves building them. Religions were certainly one type of building block of modern civilisation. They are also pulling back the curtain in how rulers use religion to control the masses.

Unless you think the Atlanteans built them using telekinesis. Then they are just pretty.

The Flying Trilobite
http://glendonmellow.blogspot.com

14. Cartoons from Evolution: a journal of nature 1927-1938

Comment #67359 by The Flying Trilobite on September 3, 2007 at 5:47 am

The one with the ostriches and the Fundamentalist rustlers is just brilliant.

It would be great to work without worrying about opposition, but a large part of science is paying attention to opposition - reasoned arguments from colleagues in the field, AND "alternatively-informed" views from outside the field.

Pehraps the mysterious monkey/ape just shows what was on the minds of cartoonists of the era.

The Flying Trilobite
http://glendonmellow.blogspot.com

15. Teaching assistant quit in protest at Harry Potter

Comment #48769 by The Flying Trilobite on June 9, 2007 at 2:54 am

pewkatchoo: you are right. The Weirdstone of Brisengamen and The Moon of Gomrath are haunting. Alan Garner is an exceptional writer. The idea of the Brollachan used to keep me up at night trying to picture something darker than darkness...

It's interesting to note that the Harry Potter books steer completely away from any talk of religious faiths when Muggles are brought up. I wonder if Arthur Weaseley would be fascinated by transubstantiation, or appalled?

For that matter, I notice that the spells in the Potter books don't invoke any kind of deities. Most of the magic works through mystical herbs, and incantations and gestures. But they don't invoke specific spirits or demons. Quite different from Wicca.

16. Christopher Hitchens: Religion Poisons Everything

Comment #48577 by The Flying Trilobite on June 8, 2007 at 12:41 pm

The more I read of Hitchens, the more I like his style. He's direct, and has a great command of history and personal anecdotes.

Hitchens: "That's not faith, by definition. You can't have faith in reason. It's not a dogma. It's a conviction that this is the only way that discovery and progress can be made."

So true. You can't whitewash science and reason with the faith brush and make it another sect.

17. Should Science Speak to Faith? A dialog between Lawrence Krauss and Richard Dawkins

Comment #47564 by The Flying Trilobite on June 5, 2007 at 1:15 am

I like this debate since it allows us to see two intelligent people explaining their styles. Whether each of us prefers one style or the other doesn't really matter, the end goals are the same; spreading rational thought & pushing back the boundaries of ignorance in society.

Oh, and CJ22: it's obvious 31% of Americans think that Cthulhu is on their side. "Why choose a lesser evil"?

18. Groundbreaking Research Has Scientists Talking With Apes

Comment #46731 by The Flying Trilobite on June 1, 2007 at 10:02 am

I'm still astounded my animal intelligence. I used to live with a blue-front amazon parrot for about 10 years, and he came up with quite a few suprising statements when he wanted things.

*sigh*
I wish the Great Ape Project was given a higher profile in the media.

19. I Believe In Evolution, Except For The Whole Triassic Period

Comment #46722 by The Flying Trilobite on June 1, 2007 at 9:24 am

This article is awesome, typical of the Onion.
pewkatchoo, I know what you mean. I'm going to turn 33 soon, and someone pointed out that 33 is the age Christ was when he died, so this age is about rebirth.
Yeah, happy birthday, cake & crucifixion!

To be fair, the person meant it in a positive way, of life moving forward...