1. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175368 by Floris Meijer on May 5, 2008 at 10:17 am

"the Taliban carried out at least two revenge attacks on Dutch troops, resulting in five Dutch casualties"

These casualties were the consequence of road-bombings. These bombs are planted sometimes months before and have no clear connection with the movie. Bombs are already being planted since NATO is in that province. The deaths of these brave servicemen after the release of that movie is therefor in all likelyhood not linked to that movie.

2. Six Reasons to be an Atheist

Comment #108118 by Floris Meijer on January 6, 2008 at 4:01 am

Another good reason:
Not having to use retorical tricks to explain everyday occurences.

3. Controversial Anti-Muslim Dutch Film Adds to Already Simmering Tensions

Comment #97570 by Floris Meijer on December 12, 2007 at 11:18 am

Obviously, the more attention this movie gets the more it will be noticed. If this movie was just ignored in news media the stirrup now would be much less.
Then again, I don't see what the problem is. So what if someone makes pictures of the Prophet or tears pages out of the Koran. Why can't these Islamists just laugh about it and move on? The problem isn't Wilders but the inherent intolerance of religion.

4. Evolution Debate Led to Ouster, Official Says

Comment #92810 by Floris Meijer on December 1, 2007 at 1:59 pm

"she had given the appearance of criticizing the teaching of intelligent design"

I thought in America evolution was tought in the context of science and intelligent design had been prohibited by court to be tought in that specific context (ie, legally it's not science). Why is it then a teacher get's fired for giving students the opportunity to follow a lecture concerning evolution which is the standard in schools?

I read in this article about "a pending science curriculum review". This does probably mean Texas is wanting Intelligent Design tought in the context of science. I find it troubling that a teacher not bowing to the demands of religious people is fired, while you know that people who teach Intelligent design (which is outside the science curriculum) will not be punished for going outside the curriculum. Apparently religion goes above the law.

5. In the name of God: the Saudi rape victim's tale

Comment #91762 by Floris Meijer on November 29, 2007 at 7:21 am

Going from oil to renewable fuels is fine but alas to late. Saudi Arabian companys have already started investing an enormous amount of money in other industries. This means that when their oil runs out they will sadly keep a strong financial base.
In the Netherlands Sabic a few years ago took over part of the Dutch state mines. One of the first actions by the new management was prohibiting pictures of women (pinup girls) in the offices of the Dutch workers. Thus beginneth the sexual repression again :(

6. Pupil defends teacher in Muhammad teddy furore

Comment #91761 by Floris Meijer on November 29, 2007 at 7:13 am

This is the problem of having laws which are supposedly made to protect peoples feelings from being hurt. This is not an objective criterium so always subject to the opinions of complainers and judges. If hurting other people's feelings is forbidden this creates inequality between the people whose feelings that law must protect and the others.
I remember a remark by a high vatican offical (maybe it was the Pope himself) after the cartoon riots about Denmark, where he said a universal law should be made in which it was forbidden to hurt another one's feeling on all major religions. I'm glad that didn't find much support since it would have made many people including myself second grade citizens.

7. Megachurches Add Local Economy to Their Mission

Comment #91758 by Floris Meijer on November 29, 2007 at 7:02 am

Churches now paticipating in banking? It's getting more and more dificult in some states not to be involved in religion. Already the setup is making everyone's social life dependent on the communal activities in these mega-churches, but soon it will be considered immoral to have your financial affairs regulated by a real bank, since you will then not be using a service offered by the church and that's against god now, isn't it?

8. Tropical fish can live for months out of water

Comment #88248 by Floris Meijer on November 15, 2007 at 3:02 pm

Hopefully these findings can help increase our understanding about how our far ancestors came to be landanimals.

When studying these fish these researchers must feel like they're looking back in time, wow.

9. Bill Moyers interviews Jonathan Miller

Comment #87572 by Floris Meijer on November 12, 2007 at 1:45 pm

This was a very good interview. I like the way he explains his points do clearly even whilst being very careful with choosing his words.

10. Monkeys show sense of justice

Comment #72853 by Floris Meijer on September 23, 2007 at 8:43 am

I finally got it. The reason the Bush administration is doing nothing to preserve nature, is to eradicate all species except the Texas Longhorns (for the excellent steak and hamburgers that is) so no evidence like this can show up anymore.