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Comments by bentleyd


1. Bill Good Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #173451 by bentleyd on April 30, 2008 at 7:24 pm

In Comment 21, Steve Zara said:

Perhaps we need to point them at a site that shows a thousand further sites with evidence for evolution.


Well, here's to you, Steve!

http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/3541_project_steve_2_16_2003.asp

The National Center for Science Education's "Project Steve" is a tongue-in-cheek parody of a long-standing creationist tradition of amassing lists of "scientists who doubt evolution" or "scientists who dissent from Darwinism." Project Steve mocks this practice with a bit of humor, and because "Steves" are only about 1% of scientists, it incidentally makes the point that tens of thousands of scientists support evolution. And it honors the late Stephen Jay Gould, NCSE supporter and friend.

As of 14 Apr 08, the Steve-O-Meter is up to 877 scientists named Steve who affirm the validity of evolution.

2. The Child Preachers

Comment #163857 by bentleyd on April 19, 2008 at 7:33 am

Perhaps if Professor Dawkins danced around the podium, gave his lectures in a sing-song higher octave, and added a "Ha" at the end of each breath, he might reach a wider audience.

3. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #163010 by bentleyd on April 17, 2008 at 8:05 pm

Great article! Unfortunately from NewScientist.com it's just preaching to the choir.

4. Full house captivated by atheist Dawkins' take on religion

Comment #142563 by bentleyd on March 12, 2008 at 6:24 pm

I'd be interested to read what the local mainstream media has to say about the lecture. This article is from "The Capital Times-Your Progressive News Source". I would expect them to have a positive response.

I agree that RD and the rest of the Four Horsemen are preaching to the converted, and that we've all heard the arguments before. I think it's like cheering for your favorite sports team. We know what our team is going to do (run, pass, kick, hit, etc) We just enjoy watching the opponent being defeated.

5. Oklahoma: One Step from Doom

Comment #141471 by bentleyd on March 10, 2008 at 1:26 pm

Sorry. I didn't intend to steer this debate on a political/economic tangent. My original intent was to demonstrate that when it comes to workers complaining about ["They tookar jabz" when the local factory is closed because these half-wits want to get paid loads of money for work 95% of the world can do better and cheaper.] I was pointing out that's it's not the Southern state bible belters that make this complaint, it's usually the Northeastern rust-belt union types.

Labor unions which demand more wages than the jobs are worth in the open market tend to put the companies out of business, (Detroit), and/or drive up consumer prices causing an inflationary spiral. Government mandated minimum wages also interfere with the free market. Many small businesses must cut jobs or go out of business to comply. Not to mention it's just plain socialism.

6. Oklahoma: One Step from Doom

Comment #141412 by bentleyd on March 10, 2008 at 11:12 am

Dover, Pennsylvania! Yes, of course. Sorry. I used to fly into Dover AFB, Delaware when I was in the Air Force. Still, my point is valid that these nutters are in the Northeast as well.

As quill mentioned, the Dover school board was eventually voted out, but only after much controversy and national attention. The famous Kansas school board Intelligent Design ruling was also eventually voted down. My article link in post #54 from the Oklahoma newspaper seems to indicate that this bill in Oklahoma is also causing controversy and is at least in for a fight if not eventual defeat.

7. Oklahoma: One Step from Doom

Comment #141394 by bentleyd on March 10, 2008 at 10:49 am

quill,

Now, Now. Let's not forget Dover, Delaware. These nuts are in ALL regions of the country.

8. Oklahoma: One Step from Doom

Comment #141365 by bentleyd on March 10, 2008 at 9:53 am

56. by notsobad:

And the same people will whine "They tookar jabz" when the local factory is closed because these half-wits want to get paid loads of money for work 95% of the world can do better and cheaper.


notsobad, I think you're confusing ideologies. The conservative, right wing, Republicans are the religious nutters. But at least they are the anti-union, free-market, small gov't party.

It's the "progressive", left-wing, Democrats that insist on gov't mandated minimum wages, and being paid $80/hr to bolt a bumper onto a Chevrolet. Which is why Detroit is called the rust-belt, and the new automobile factories (Honda, Toyota) are opening in the South.

9. Oklahoma: One Step from Doom

Comment #141335 by bentleyd on March 10, 2008 at 9:28 am

From what I can tell, Bad Astronomy is a rather obscure blog with a readership limited to freethinkers like us. Here's what The Edmond Sun (A large suburb of Oklahoma City) has to say:
"Bill promotes school religion at expense of education",
http://www.edmondsun.com/opinion/local_story_067125346.html

This reporter seems to agree with us that the bill is nonsense. It's nice to see that not everyone in the Midwest is crazy.

10. Out of the Blue

Comment #140695 by bentleyd on March 8, 2008 at 11:18 am

Just how real such a supercomputer might become...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA4iPFsEW0I&feature=related

11. When blasphemy bit the dust

Comment #140494 by bentleyd on March 7, 2008 at 2:39 pm

Lord Elystan-Morgan quoted approvingly from The God Delusion, in which Dawkins describes the Christian God as "a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak...

I think RD was misquoted. Wasn't he referring to the Old Testament (pre-Christian) god?

12. Contribute to science directly by volunteering some of your computer's processing power!

Comment #139713 by bentleyd on March 6, 2008 at 12:20 pm

* Supercomputers are prohibitively expensive and are often already busy with other projects such as weapons design, espionage and surveillance of one's own citizenry.

Well, I was interested until you started in on this left wing, peacenik, hippy shit.

13. How to abandon your God

Comment #139615 by bentleyd on March 6, 2008 at 8:10 am

stevenray in post #24 says: HOLD IT! Lot of nonsense being talked here.


Now I can't let that go unchallenged! This June 4, 2007 San Francisco Chronicle article discusses the land vs cell phone issue: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/06/04/BUGI6Q5L141.DTL&type=tech

Here are a few excerpts:
In its biggest challenge in 30 years, the survey research and public opinion industry is cranking up its efforts to account for the growing number of respondents who use cell phones exclusively these days.

About 13 percent of all households in the country have "cut the telephone cord" in favor of cell phones, according to federal figures released last month. That puts this group out of reach of traditional surveys that rely heavily on calls to standard landline phones.

To remedy the situation, surveyors are trying to reach this demographic segment by turning to cell phone surveys and online polls and reworking the survey parameters that have served them for years. There is even talk of returning to more traditional methods like mailing questionnaires and visiting respondents door to door.

The shift to wireless-only households is worrisome for the survey industry because researchers fear that this group, if uncounted, could invalidate or undermine their data.

Researchers have a rough idea who's in this group from early demographic and behavioral data. Basically, they are mostly young, less financially well-off and single. It also includes a larger proportion of minorities and tends to be more progressive in thinking than the general populace.

A separate study last year found that 53 percent of cell phone users lean toward or identify with the Democratic Party compared with 30 percent that favor the Republican Party.


In my case, I have cable TV & internet connection. When I got my first cell phone, I saw no reason to pay $40 a month for a land line, and dumped it.

14. How to abandon your God

Comment #139353 by bentleyd on March 5, 2008 at 4:23 pm

I'm not buying it. I suspect a huge chunk of respondents merely check the "Christian" box for lack of something else, because they felt they needed to choose something, even though they don't actually follow Scripture in the slightest...


If the Pew study was conducted via land line phones only, then it would exclude a great deal of younger and technically adept people who have switched to cell (mobile) phone only. This excluded demographic includes a higher percentage of nonbelievers. Also, respondents to telephone surveys tend to tell the surveyor more politically correct answers, so as not to feel embarrassed or ashamed, especially when family members in the room are within earshot. A truly anonymous survey would yield a more accurate response.

15. Hebrew University researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai

Comment #138392 by bentleyd on March 4, 2008 at 9:02 am

Is the author trying to prove the story of Moses by offering a possible scientific explanation, or to demonstrate that the story of Moses was untrue? Either way, he's assuming that the character ever existed in the first place.

I've read many other examples of science explaining how some seemingly miraculous biblical event may have actually happened by natural means. Rising sea levels rushing in to flood the Black Sea. Lowered sea levels, extremely low Spring tides, and a strong wind combine to part the Red Sea at it's shallowest depths.

The rational atheist looks at these as possible historical explanations of how biblical myths got started. It's funny to see religionists latch onto these as "proof" that a particular biblical miracle occurred.

16. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133150 by bentleyd on February 25, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Roughly 3 million to 5 million of Pakistan's 165 million people have Internet access, according to Siraj's association.

That's only 1.8% to 3%, and those few people would really have to search out the videos and websites that are offensive to them.

17. Pakistan blocks YouTube over blasphemous video

Comment #133141 by bentleyd on February 25, 2008 at 4:52 pm


Wilders, a far-right Dutch lawmaker, announced last month that he would release an anti-Islam film. Both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have expressed concern that the film would spark global protests and riots.


This is the most upsetting part of the article. My country siding with the Islamic wackos, instead of standing up for 1st Amendment rights (freedom of speech & freedom of the press).

18. My Argument With God

Comment #131630 by bentleyd on February 22, 2008 at 7:35 pm

defaithed asked:


"75% of Americans are God-fearing Christians; 75% of prisoners are God-fearing Christians. 10% of Americans are atheists; 0.2% of prisoners are atheists"

Anyone know a source for that data? (I'd like to confirm it before quoting it all over the place! : )


As much as I would enjoy quoting that statistic too, it appears to be inaccurate. An atheist website published this statistic of US Federal prisons:
http://holysmoke.org/icr-pri.htm
Yes, it shows that 0.209% of prisoners selected "Atheist" on the questionnaire. But if you read further down you see that 18,381 of the 93,112 total respondents (19.8%) answered "Unknown/No Answer". Surely this 19.8% includes atheists, agnostics, and people who just don't care.

This religious website debunks that 0.2% claim in more detail:
http://www.adherents.com/misc/adh_prison.html

It's very easy to lie with statistics. Always examine carefully and consider the source.

19. Dumb and Dumber: Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

Comment #127387 by bentleyd on February 15, 2008 at 8:14 am

Here's the referenced YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOQhTuzDQ0

Keep in mind that the "contestants" on these types of shows are intentionally selected based on their "lack" of intelligence for the purpose of ridicule. This genre of television show is similar to Jerry Springer, who displays the dregs of society for public amusement.

As an American, I cringe when this kind of crap from Hollywood is exported overseas. This nonsense is what gives us a bad reputation.

20. New meat-eating dinos identified

Comment #127298 by bentleyd on February 15, 2008 at 6:27 am

I disagree. The following definition of Design from www.Dictionary.com seems to very strongly imply intelligence, forethought, and planning.

The faithheads have already bastardized the word "theory". Lets not hand them any more ammunition.


DESIGN
â€"verb (used with object)
1. to prepare the preliminary sketch or the plans for (a work to be executed), esp. to plan the form and structure of: to design a new bridge.
2. to plan and fashion artistically or skillfully.
3. to intend for a definite purpose: a scholarship designed for foreign students.
4. to form or conceive in the mind; contrive; plan: The prisoner designed an intricate escape.
5. to assign in thought or intention; purpose: He designed to be a doctor.
6. Obsolete. to mark out, as by a sign; indicate.
â€"verb (used without object)
7. to make drawings, preliminary sketches, or plans.
8. to plan and fashion the form and structure of an object, work of art, decorative scheme, etc.
â€"noun
9. an outline, sketch, or plan, as of the form and structure of a work of art, an edifice, or a machine to be executed or constructed.
10. organization or structure of formal elements in a work of art; composition.
11. the combination of details or features of a picture, building, etc.; the pattern or motif of artistic work: the design on a bracelet.
12. the art of designing: a school of design.
13. a plan or project: a design for a new process.
14. a plot or intrigue, esp. an underhand, deceitful, or treacherous one: His political rivals formulated a design to unseat him.
15. designs, a hostile or aggressive project or scheme having evil or selfish motives: He had designs on his partner's stock.
16. intention; purpose; end.
17. adaptation of means to a preconceived end.

21. Murder plot against Danish cartoonist

Comment #125967 by bentleyd on February 12, 2008 at 10:36 am

Congratulations, Professor Dawkins, for your bravery in reposting the above cartoon. This is the first time I've actually seen one of the Danish cartoons on a formal website.

22. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #125653 by bentleyd on February 11, 2008 at 7:30 pm

Hang the fossils on the Tree of Life!
Put the Wreath of Reason on the front door!
Hang the Lights of Logic on the eves!
And serve up the Eggnog of Knowledge!
Merry Darwin Day, to one and all!

23. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #118211 by bentleyd on January 30, 2008 at 1:33 pm

The reason faith-heads insist that children be raised in the faith of their parents is that they know full well that without early and continued religious indoctrination (brainwashing), no clear thinking adult in his right mind would believe in the invisible man in the sky.

It's important to understand their motivation: If you sincerely believe that your religion is true, then you have a moral obligation to save your child from hell.

24. A Letter From Hell

Comment #116325 by bentleyd on January 26, 2008 at 8:51 am

"Do what I say, give me money, etc, or I will injure, torture, kill you" This is called extortion, and it's very much illegal. Unfortunately, because it's religion, polite society gives it a pass and dares not criticize.

I cringed when watching this video because I too was subjected to this sort of propaganda from the pulpit as a youth. I spent many sleepless nights fearing for my eternally damned soul.

Unfortunately, most mainstream moderate Christians here in America still believe in heaven & hell. Although most would be shocked by the graphic nature of the video, they still would mostly agree with it and think it a useful tool for their cause. A secular example might be a graphic video of the autopsy of a lung cancer victim, with the voice-over of Christopher Hitchens asking, "Why? Why didn't you tell me smoking was bad? (hack, hack, cough)"

25. Huckabee: Guns, God and rock'n'roll

Comment #106969 by bentleyd on January 3, 2008 at 7:03 pm

Oh well, remember Bill Clinton strapped on a saxophone and rocked the vote on late night TV. Both sides can be just as wacky. I'm rooting for Giuliani among the conservatives.

26. Changing my Mind

Comment #106113 by bentleyd on January 2, 2008 at 11:27 am

It's like arguing with children. Reason and logic don't matter to a fundamentalist. The more illogical or outrageous a biblical claim may be, the greater the miracle.

27. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104312 by bentleyd on December 28, 2007 at 10:08 am

Matthew 19:23-24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

I guess they're choosing to overlook this passage.

28. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #103862 by bentleyd on December 27, 2007 at 6:26 am

Here's a classic Doonesbury comic strip on the subject:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/images/1218doonesbury_lg.gif

29. The Squirrel Wars

Comment #77047 by bentleyd on October 8, 2007 at 9:34 am

Interesting article and commentary. But what does this have to do with religion, atheism, or even evolution? Ahhh! Perhaps the Gray squirrels are a metaphor for radical Islam invading and out-populating the peaceful secular Red Squirrels?

30. New Rules: A Religious Test

Comment #73156 by bentleyd on September 24, 2007 at 9:44 am

On the issue of 'religion' on a hospital form; I was in the military for 20 years and your religious preference was stamped on your dog tags. I'm ashamed to admit that I claimed my parent's religion as my religious preference, just to avoid any possible discrimination in the promotion process. A common response was 'NRP', (No Religious Preference). This too was a bit of a cop out as it could also imply that you were a believer but just not a member of an organized religion.

31. Airline sacrifices goats to appease sky god

Comment #71341 by bentleyd on September 18, 2007 at 1:26 pm

I first saw this story on Fox News where the anchor man's tone of voice seemed to smugly criticize this Hindu sacrifice. (Implying the Christian religion is smarter than this). I imagine the cost of sacrificing two goats is very small compared to the Christian tradition of tithing 10% of your income to the church. Less morbid but just as wasteful and useless.