1. The detail in the Devil

Comment #176220 by Ducklike on May 7, 2008 at 12:17 am

Ultra-human?

Sounds like Bradshaw has been watching too many re-runs of "Stupor Duck".


At least SD was funny!

2. A God blog

Comment #136894 by Ducklike on March 2, 2008 at 1:00 am

Yes, a dated (this is now over a year old) but well written review. The comments it received on the Telegraph web are hardly surprising though; typical creationist bunk, the old "How about Hitler / atheist morality" trash, and the "bible is just so good" dogma.

3. A Tyrannical Romance

Comment #126673 by Ducklike on February 13, 2008 at 10:40 pm

So that's why Olivia had that measuring tape! Oh well, we both got what we wanted; and it was in the name of science.

Now,... should I return her calls?

4. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #126671 by Ducklike on February 13, 2008 at 10:04 pm

I nominate Olivia Judson.

She has a doctoral degree in biological studies and is a research fellow in biology at Imperial College London, so she knows her science. As well, she certainly knows how to make it "attractive"; (Woo Woo!) at least as judged by this article:

http://richarddawkins.net/article,2256,A-Tyrannical-Romance,NY-Times

And I'm not just saying this because of the, *ahem*, impressive things she has to say about ducks. *Grin* Really!

5. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124219 by Ducklike on February 8, 2008 at 8:20 pm

It seems this generator has already been debunked over at PesWiki:

PesWiki Article

"It appears that the Perepiteia Motor is nothing more than a hysteresis brake. Placing the steel rods (wound by coils) near the spinning magnets induces alternating magnetic flux within the rods, the resulting magnetic hysteresis causes drag on the rotating disk, and heat losses within the steel rods. Shorting out the coils effectively shields the steel rods from the disk's magnetic field, eliminating the hysteresis drag. This causes the motor to speed up - but not as much as it would if the steel rods were removed completely."

also,

"This is a common phenomenon regards "generators", but one often not commonly known about if you are not working with AC motors and generators all the time. So the professor at MIT may not have this practical engineering savvy to identify the issues at first glance."

6. A Letter From Hell

Comment #117285 by Ducklike on January 28, 2008 at 1:43 pm

Ah Diacanu,

*Groooaan*

Is this yet another post-modern tearing down of the pillars of reality to shove God into a jury-rigged gap?

These are always so eye glazing.

Wake me when it's over.

7. Launch of 'Atheists in Foxholes' Book Anthology

Comment #116088 by Ducklike on January 25, 2008 at 1:26 pm

From the look of the web site, it would seem this only concerns the American military; oh well.

All the best anyway.

8. A Letter From Hell

Comment #115841 by Ducklike on January 24, 2008 at 10:51 pm

I hope Zack saved the stamp, it'd be worth something.

9. This Week's Flea

Comment #114032 by Ducklike on January 21, 2008 at 8:55 am

Can the concepts discussed here: Theism, Atheism and Agnosticism, be properly represented in a Venn Diagram? If so, what would it look like?

I don't have an answer, that's why I'm asking.

10. Pacific Islanders' Ancestry Emerges in Genetic Study

Comment #113752 by Ducklike on January 20, 2008 at 12:48 pm

Bravo Zulu to the good folks at PLOSGenetics et al, for this fascinating look at how DNA can reveal our history. Keep up the good work!

11. Violence fear over Islam film

Comment #113736 by Ducklike on January 20, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Steve fixed the italics with a little HTML magic. It seems Robotaholic left out the "i" in his closing tag. When Steve added an extra closing tag for italics to his comment,... problem solved.

Thanks Steve

12. The New Theology

Comment #113173 by Ducklike on January 18, 2008 at 6:40 pm

Okay, everybody run up to your attics and dig out those "Sgt. Pepper" albums, we've got some work to do!

13. Science, Evolution, and Creationism

Comment #112258 by Ducklike on January 16, 2008 at 4:30 pm

If you're trying to quantify evolutionary change in one organism compared to the change in another organism, do you not also have to account for the respective changes in each organisms' environment as well? If the environmental changes differ for each organism (and I assume they would), then it'll be really difficult to make a comparison just from the points of view of the organisms.

Kinda like trying to track a shot from a shooter's rifle to a target, except the shooter is riding on one roller coaster and the target is on a completely different roller coaster.

14. Canadian fossil makes waves in Huckabee's presidential run

Comment #111880 by Ducklike on January 15, 2008 at 11:49 pm

It's always encouraging to see a Canadian have a positive impact on the global scene. Okay, in this case a really, really old Canadian but hey, there's no need for age discrimination here.

Way to go Rosie!

15. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109868 by Ducklike on January 10, 2008 at 1:16 am

BAEOZ,

Thanks for the tea!

Cheers,

16. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109767 by Ducklike on January 9, 2008 at 4:30 pm

An Inquisition? Ouch, didn't expect that!

Okay Okay,... the Teddy Bear does not exist (no cause).

May I please have some tea?

17. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109746 by Ducklike on January 9, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Hi BAEOZ,

How dare you profane the sacred acts of Quetz! Heretic! He is not like the pagan gods. I need a tea after that.

18. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109737 by Ducklike on January 9, 2008 at 3:27 pm

Hi BAEOZ,

Quetz. Why does a deity need sleep? It doesn't make sense. My faith is being tested. Why do you test me oh Quetz? Have I not drunk the holy drink? Have I not praised you?

19. Irreligion: A Mathematician Explains Why the Arguments for God Just Don't Add Up

Comment #109678 by Ducklike on January 9, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Intriguing!

Note to self - Stop in at Chapters this weekend.

20. US 'doomed' if creationist president elected: scientists

Comment #109654 by Ducklike on January 9, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Hi annabanana,

Re: #109509

I noticed this in the forum:

Dollar bill stamp

Considering a dollar bill lasts about 13 months in circulation, it might be fun.

Cheers,

21. The battle of the butterflies and the ants

Comment #107992 by Ducklike on January 5, 2008 at 7:28 pm

Fascinating stuff.

Add another rock to the mountain of evidence supporting evolution!

22. Debate between Michael Shermer and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #102812 by Ducklike on December 23, 2007 at 5:24 pm

Thanks epeeist,

A troll is as a troll does. It's now very apparent that dsouzaphile is only here to practice the "25 Rules of Disinformation" rather than provide an effective argument. A win by default for us I suppose.

So far, I've noted dsouzaphile commit the following:

4, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 22.

(See http://www.whale.to/m/disin.html for the numbering system.)

Did I miss any?

23. Debate between Michael Shermer and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #102453 by Ducklike on December 22, 2007 at 9:24 pm

dsouzaphile,

The good Doctor asks you for an textual reference, and you offer the shoddy artwork of the christian forger Eusebius? That would be your point "lost".

I'll leave it to Diacanu to add the appropriate emphasis.

24. Three wise men just legend: archbishop

Comment #101441 by Ducklike on December 20, 2007 at 11:18 am

annabanana,

Is that the one where he said "eating his flock (with mint sauce?)" relates to "taking them unto god" and other such mysterious gospel?

I remember an old Saturday Night Live skit about a land-shark that was obviously religious humor. It's all starting to make sense now.

25. Three wise men just legend: archbishop

Comment #101433 by Ducklike on December 20, 2007 at 11:05 am

annabanana,

"there are certain species of sharks, that if kept in captivity, adapt by becoming hermaphroditic and actually produce offspring"

26. Abstinence Programs Face Rejection

Comment #100159 by Ducklike on December 18, 2007 at 10:20 am

Interesting. Do the abstinence supporters believe if they give kids (only) abstinence, then the kids will have to turn to religion to make it work?

It's refreshing to see opposition to this "garden path" approach.

27. What Your Brain Looks Like on Faith

Comment #99834 by Ducklike on December 17, 2007 at 4:28 pm

So how will Sam get "believers" to submit to the test? Easy:

Step 1 ~ Show them a copy of the brain scan image as per the example in the article;

Step 2 ~ Tell them "If you're a "true" believer, we may find a religious icon in your scan like the Virgin Mary on the grilled cheese sandwich. Just think how famous your brain will be!"; and,

Step 3 ~ Ask them for a "donation" to do the scan.

28. Here's an improvement on democracy

Comment #98361 by Ducklike on December 13, 2007 at 2:08 pm

Peter Watson... an "under-rated" intellectual historian... source of clarity and proponent of secularism. This sounds like a job for... The TEMPLETON FOUNDATION!

AAAKK! Run! Hide your Freethinkers!

29. Here's an improvement on democracy

Comment #98280 by Ducklike on December 13, 2007 at 12:16 pm

Diacanu,

"flat Earth, and geocentrism, and the demon theory of disease"

30. Here's an improvement on democracy

Comment #98269 by Ducklike on December 13, 2007 at 11:57 am

Great article, but wait for it, I think I hear the christians shouting that they, not secularism, were responsible for all these advances.

31. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #97963 by Ducklike on December 12, 2007 at 10:21 pm

Thankfully I'm not American!

I see two points of potential concern in this resolution. The first follows from point (4):

Resolved, That the House of Representatives ... acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization

Resolved, That the House of Representatives ... rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide

32. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #97633 by Ducklike on December 12, 2007 at 1:00 pm

The story so far:

- "Imagine No Religion" (in the beginning);

- "Imagine No Men" (a world of horny women);

- "Imagine No Science" (back to the stone age);

- "Imagine No Sticks and Stones" (well, if there's no science... is a stick considered science?);

- "Imagine No Thumb Wrestling" (it is opposable after all).

and they said a picture is only worth a thousand words. Yeah, right.

33. This deadly religious resistance to vaccinations

Comment #96782 by Ducklike on December 10, 2007 at 10:36 pm

To my friends in Great Britain, please accept my heartfelt sorrow regarding the travesty described above. Focus your disappointment into determination and call forth your indomitable resolve. For you must defeat the source as well as the unfortunate symptoms of the affliction currently besetting your children.

34. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #96442 by Ducklike on December 10, 2007 at 2:46 pm

To say that it's like our having to look at Christian displays is ridiculous to me. They're not saying that our worldview is responsible for a horrible terrorist attack when they put up a cross, for Christ's sake!

35. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #96273 by Ducklike on December 10, 2007 at 9:09 am

sidfaiwu,

Regarding your comment #96235: Nicely stated! Logical and clear. That should be added to the debate points section.

It'll be intriguing to see if the sign receives any vandalism/defacement as the next step in an escalation of force.

Thanks,

36. Biologist fired for beliefs, suit says

Comment #95990 by Ducklike on December 9, 2007 at 4:19 pm

He has a master's degree in biology and a philosophy doctorate, both from St. John's University in New York

37. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #95656 by Ducklike on December 8, 2007 at 11:28 pm

Ruht,

For your list:

7) The Gideons have proven the bible fits in any hotel room bed-side table drawer, so it was also intelligently designed.

Wait a sec, was that the bible or the drawer that received ID?

Ha Ha Ha Ha!

38. The art of the soluble

Comment #95644 by Ducklike on December 8, 2007 at 10:48 pm

What is this... yet another flea?

That thumping sound must be Galileo taking a few more rotations in the tomb.

39. Sherri Shepherd needs to go away now

Comment #94529 by Ducklike on December 5, 2007 at 11:40 pm

It's clear that her sole purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

40. Fear of censure deflects The Golden Compas

Comment #93842 by Ducklike on December 4, 2007 at 9:45 am

GoatBoy36,

Yeah, but talk about getting carried away with himself; getting all Prophet-y with his Scientology and everything.

41. Fear of censure deflects The Golden Compas

Comment #93836 by Ducklike on December 4, 2007 at 9:31 am

How dare you say Lyra is vile! You deserve 40 lashes or a prison term. If I ever see you in the street I will behead you myself!

42. Fear of censure deflects The Golden Compas

Comment #93824 by Ducklike on December 4, 2007 at 9:13 am

I was first hooked by the John Carter of Mars series by Edgar Rice Burroughs and been a Sci-Fi fan ever since.

I just bought the Golden Compass and am intrigued by your comments (both positive and negative); I'm looking forward to giving it a critical read.

Here's a handy list of famous Sci-Fi authors:
http://www.adherents.com/adh_sf.html
with their secular (or otherwise) affiliations.

43. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91273 by Ducklike on November 27, 2007 at 10:33 pm

Frankus1122,

Just as there's a valid reason for teaching evolution, so should there be validity in teaching how to "develop higher order thinking skills" and "analyze and synthesize and come to some conclusions". It sounds like you already have a perfectly defensible and sensible answer for their questions.

If necessary, and only if they insist, you may need to remind them that teaching religion in school is illegal; atheism isn't, christianity is. It'd sure be nice to tell the pastor to keep it in the church!

Good Luck,

44. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91167 by Ducklike on November 27, 2007 at 12:59 pm

"candy-coated atheism"

45. D'Souza - Nothing to Refute Here

Comment #86637 by Ducklike on November 9, 2007 at 7:41 pm

Kelly,

For you: Applause!

Janus,

Valid points, but then again she maintained brevity for greater impact; besides, that's what online dictionaries are for.

Nouneme,... nemene,.. moumen,.. NEWMAN!? Aw shucks, it's a good thing I'm a slow reader.

46. Response to Dinesh D'Souza op-ed

Comment #85361 by Ducklike on November 5, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Admittedly, I haven't read much of her work as yet, but I enjoyed this article. She made her point(s) and tore a strip off of D'souza in the process. The fact she has "put her literary self out there" in the first place, not to mention the stated commitment to do so continuously for a year, shows a lot of courage and passion. Good on ya!

I hope she reads this string with a positive view of taking CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. That is what it is,... right? I'm no grammatical expert, but I'd have to give the benefit of the doubt to those who offer such criticism. If they intent to insult, then let them do a better job of it.

I look forward to reading her future work, applaud her effort, and will cheer on her successes.

Dower - I also agree.

47. The new wars of religion

Comment #84558 by Ducklike on November 2, 2007 at 12:50 pm

As a humble atheist, this kinda makes me feel like the proverbial teapot in a china shop gaining the realization that there's a whole herd of bulls in here with me, and they're all angry about the cramped quarters. Makes me wish I was safely up in orbit.

48. Tests of faith over 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #83283 by Ducklike on October 29, 2007 at 1:54 pm

The film hasn't been rated yet, perhaps the Catholic League can also force the MPAA to change its movie rating system to include a religious vs. anti-religious aspect. Rate it "Chr17"?

Maybe we'll be able to hear such commentary as "Well Gene, I'll give it credit for it's pure entertainment value, but it just didn't have enough crucifixions to make me convert; I'll give it two and a half crosses."

49. Don't write off religion - it can be the key to a stable family

Comment #82581 by Ducklike on October 26, 2007 at 7:53 pm

All I see in this article is someone describing the positive effects of a placebo. The only time a placebo works is when there's nothing wrong in the first place. Hey wait,... maybe that's the message here; religion is a placebo!

50. Pascal's Wager

Comment #81356 by Ducklike on October 24, 2007 at 4:10 pm

Thought it might be worth stating this at the top of the string:

What is Pascal's Wager?

The modern Pascal's Wager basically says, if the Christians are wrong and there is no Christian Hell, one has lost nothing in becoming a Christian because when you die, that's it. But if the Christians are right, if there is such a thing as the Christian Hell, one has lost everything in remaining an atheist. Thus, they argue, you best become a Christian just in case, even if you are very sure that Christianity is not true -- because you really don't know for sure and you surely don't want to take any chances with your eternal future!