1. Museum in censorship row over Darwin sign

Comment #239086 by Nathanial_BB on August 29, 2008 at 3:17 am

My response to the council.


Dear Madam,

I am genuinely sickened, appalled and outraged, having just finished reading an article in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, regarding the censorship of a sign about Charles Darwin.

I cannot believe that in my home county, in the 21st century, the council ( and as a tax payer I wish to know who made this ignorant, ill-judged decision ) has cowtailed to the whims of one (ONE!) individual, who is clearly ill informed (dare I say blissfully ignorant) to the FACTS of evolution.

What about the vast majority of the populous who might actually wish to be educated in truth and evidence based information??Are we to be encouraged to accept religious driven bigotry and ignorance in its place???

And am I to believe that there are NO well informed, educated members in Northampton County Council anymore?

I understand that the reason given for the censorship was that the syntax was somehow incorrect.
If this is really the case - why not 'cut and paste' over the incorrect section with a correctly re-worded paragraph ? This would seem to be the logical thing to do. But clearly logic and sense are qualities the council is very uncomfortable in handling.

Whoever is responsible for this shameful charade should reverse the decision immediately and proffer an open apology to the residents of Northamptonshire and the wider community.

As the Senior Museum Education Officer, I would appreciate your response.

Please do not reply with words along the lines of 'respecting a person's beliefs' and 'not wishing to offend', etc. Would the council take my complaints seriously, should I wish to object to the wording placed on billboards outside the many churches (of all denominations) in the borough??

I wonder?

Thanking you in advance.

Nathanial Burton-Bradford

I'll post a response here should one be forth coming...

2. We need to stop being such cowards about Islam

Comment #230139 by Nathanial_BB on August 14, 2008 at 10:43 am

Bonzai

Yes thanks - I did think for a millisec that it was the FSM ;) but reread, hence my query....

Hideous practice. Thanks again.

And people find solace in all that - ( shakes head in bemused disbelief )

3. We need to stop being such cowards about Islam

Comment #230134 by Nathanial_BB on August 14, 2008 at 10:36 am

332. Comment #230129 by Bonzai

Sorry - what is FGM??

4. We need to stop being such cowards about Islam

Comment #230028 by Nathanial_BB on August 14, 2008 at 7:16 am

Hi All -

266. Comment #230015 by Dhamma
Here is a link to the article you missed ;)

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2964,Novel-on-prophets-wife-pulled-for-fear-of-backlash,Suzanne-Goldenberg---Guardian

5. Optimism in Evolution

Comment #229337 by Nathanial_BB on August 13, 2008 at 11:36 am

20. Comment #229225 by bamafreethinker

Hi bamafreethinker -

I appreciate the dilemma you clearly find yourself in.

I consider myself very lucky to live in a socially 'secular' community, here in the UK, where religion plays a minor role - the ubiquitous social get togethers for hatches/matches/dispatches ;) - there is very little reference to religion in everyday life.

I have heard a number of comments, from US citizens, regarding the difficulties inherent in some states with wanting to 'step out of' a religious commitment within their community, whilst wishing to retain personal connections with people who are still very much part of its web. And I'm appalled at how readily 'professed friends' turn their backs at such times.

Have you heard of Dan Barker - http://www.ffrf.org/about/bio_dan.php - Freedom from religion?? He discusses, very eloquently, the issues he had to face in such a situation.

6. Novel on prophet's wife pulled for fear of backlash

Comment #227186 by Nathanial_BB on August 9, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Free speech submits to tyranny once again...

Great publicity though - should it ever appear ;)

7. Rochester Physicist's Quantum-'Uncollapse' Hypothesis Verified

Comment #226404 by Nathanial_BB on August 8, 2008 at 3:40 am

Comment #226071 by J Mac
It means if it did die it could come back to life ....


My Gawd - that means Jesus is the ultimate Wavefunction!!!!

8. Rochester Physicist's Quantum-'Uncollapse' Hypothesis Verified

Comment #225868 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Comment #225822 by phil rimmer

(slaps forehead with palm)

Of course - why didn't I think of that!!

For the wavefunction to behave like it 'ort ta
a measurement has to be made which is sort ta'
but if the measurement is 'weak'
we can pretend we didn't peek
which all leads us back to nought ta'

9. Rochester Physicist's Quantum-'Uncollapse' Hypothesis Verified

Comment #225793 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 11:34 am

How the hell does one 'unmeasure' something that has already been measured???????? even if it is only partially....

And I thought QP was odd when I studied it at Uni... I need a drink.

10. Richard Dawkins, the naive professor

Comment #225773 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 11:10 am

note to self - scan the letters page of The Times over the next few days...

Thank you Richard :)

11. Richard Dawkins, the naive professor

Comment #225756 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 10:56 am

Go Go Prof!!!

12. Congresswoman Slams Religious Right's Assault on Science's 'Edgier' Side

Comment #225724 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 9:42 am

He Shoots - He Scores - a second time!!

My gawd - Two in a row :) and Yes I am THAT bored!!

13. How Our Culture Keeps Students Out of Science

Comment #225719 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 9:40 am

He shoots - He scores!!

I was bored... Can you tell :)

14. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225588 by Nathanial_BB on August 7, 2008 at 3:45 am

Talking of biblical inaccuracies/contradictions - what are these please? does someone have a URL I could visit??

I for one would be very willing to start a campaign to 'out' the bible.

PJG

Thanks for the link - I am TRULY horrified!!!

Has anyone seen the trailor for Larry Charles film Religulous???

The scene about Santa Claus (Father Christmas) is hilarious!!

15. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225410 by Nathanial_BB on August 6, 2008 at 2:34 pm

Whether you're Heterosexual, Homosexual, nosexual - who cares.!!

I certainly don't.

What is the religious stance on Bisexuality??

Anyone know!!

16. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225384 by Nathanial_BB on August 6, 2008 at 2:03 pm

Completely off topic for one moment -
To Quetzalcoatl and thewhitepearl

http://cdsweb.cern.ch/record/1082255

Check this out - 12 minutes 25 sec in.... brilliant

17. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225314 by Nathanial_BB on August 6, 2008 at 12:41 pm

Phil Rimmer

Classic comment mate - I love it!!!!

18. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225241 by Nathanial_BB on August 6, 2008 at 11:09 am

Ohhhhh!!! I haven't laughed so much in 20 minutes...

If you have time go and read the comments section of the original article - Big Tit is hilarious...

19. Call to teach biblical creation as science

Comment #225173 by Nathanial_BB on August 6, 2008 at 10:10 am

OMG!!!!

I don't know about Ballymoney Free Pres Church - more like Baloney Free Pres Church...

and I have often stated that the average lay person ALWAYS misinterprets the scientific term of Theory...

""Evolution is a theory - it is not a proven fact...."

I really do wish science hadn't adopted that term -

20. Losing Sight of Progress

Comment #215701 by Nathanial_BB on July 22, 2008 at 9:08 am

To comment 13 Bluecastle - #215473

Regarding the appendix and its uselessness...

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/the-appendix-does-have-a-use--rebooting-the-gut-396277.html

Not sure if this has be corroborated but interesting, non the less...