1. Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Comment #146305 by David Williams on March 18, 2008 at 10:46 pm

I had the honour of corresponding with Sir Arthur on a number of occassions over the last 10 years. I was always humbled when he took the time to respond to the cards I sent him on his birthdays. I am deeply saddened and a little numb about the news of his death and I was fortunate to speak on ABC Radio (Australia) this morning following a brief tribute to him.
He has done so much and influenced so many over his life, including my own, we as humanity have much indeed to thank him and I guess he knew how much he was respected and how much wonder he enthused by his many books. He was the greatest science fiction writer we have seen and his works will move and inspire generations into the deep future. How wonderful indeed when the day comes that our decendents look down upon the Earth from a Clarke Tower and perhaps rememeber a man who dreamed like no other.

2. Richard Dawkins on five of his favorite books

Comment #133822 by David Williams on February 26, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Childhoods End by Sir Arthur C Clarke (The greatest sci book ever written by the greatest sci writer that ever lived and lives!)
Time Eough for Love - Robert A Heinlein
Titan - Stephen Baxter
A short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
The Demon Haunted World - Carl Sagan

And number 6!.....The Power of One - Bryce Courtney.

So many great books, but lets face its not always the best written its the book that changes you and defines you as a human being.

3. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #112333 by David Williams on January 16, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Best wishes to you sir. My Uncle Albert fought at Dunkirk. What a coincidence it would be if he had used some of your ammunition which you and your comrades carried onto the beach!
Get well soon, and keep well.

Perth, Western Australia

4. Ask Richard!

Comment #41787 by David Williams on May 17, 2007 at 2:28 am

When my kids were born I had been an agnostic and then Atheist long before they were conceived, and my wife had as much interest in religion as she had in room temperature super conductors (i.e. none) so the concept or idea of a god never became part of our lives and their developing minds were never tarnished by that nonsense. I honestly don't recall ever discussing what happened after you died with them as kids, as they got older whenever it was discussed it was incredulous to them that anyone would believe such inane believes as a life after death. Yep, they had Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Captain Kirk and John Carter of Mars but they knew pretty early on these were just great stories - they could tell the difference, it is unfortunate christians just don't get it, they just can't tell the difference between fact and fantasy. I am also fortunate indeed to live in Australia but alas we still have our CC's (christian cranks).

5. Pale Blue Dot

Comment #40791 by David Williams on May 15, 2007 at 2:03 am

Carl is one of my greatest heroes and it was a joy to hear his voice again, after hearing him quote the pale blue dot it reminds me how proud I am to be an Atheist.

6. Pop Tech Lecture

Comment #36406 by David Williams on May 1, 2007 at 3:56 am

As excellent as ever, clear, concise, amusing, inspiring. I was especially pleased to hear so many of my heroes quoted.

7. Across the Universe: A Guide to the Past, Present and Future of the Cosmos

Comment #28382 by David Williams on March 29, 2007 at 3:15 am

Sir Patrick is quite a legend. He has hosted the monthly The Sky at Night on the BBC since 24th April 1957, thats 50 years with the same presenter! It would be most cool if life was found on Mars in his lifetime, only time will tell on that one.

8. Benny Hinn examined

Comment #19799 by David Williams on January 30, 2007 at 1:28 am

Disturbing. I find disheartening that people can be sucked in by this conman. Group hysteria at its worse.

9. Send The God Delusion to your MP

Comment #18949 by David Williams on January 24, 2007 at 12:44 am

An excellent idea, I will start off in Australia with a copy to our Federal Member, Premier of Western Austrlia, Alan Carpenter. I wonder indeed if each member (of any country) was to receive several copies of the God Delusion it would somehow compel them to read it - not a bullying system but rather the concept that if they were to receive the tenth book they would grudgingly pick it up to read, if only to see what the fuss was about! Nice one, J Christie.

10. To be Read at my Funeral

Comment #9969 by David Williams on November 26, 2006 at 7:45 pm

A hundred years after we die no one will even know our name. Look at any headstone and you will see two dates, the date of birth and the date of death. Between these two dates there is a dash, and that insignificant dash, my friends, is our entire life. It doesnt matter when we are born and it doesnt matter when we die its what we do with that 'dash'. As to the words at my funeral, I know what they will be (read the last page on Arthur Clarke's Childhoods End and you will know). I know there is no life after death and to think otherwise is foolish and at best immature but as I write these words and knowing what will be said makes me feel good, and everybody needs that.
Professor Dawkins, you are a legend. Have a great dash.

11. Reading of The God Delusion in Lynchburg, VA

Comment #6130 by David Williams on November 12, 2006 at 7:06 pm

After a belated viewing of Dawkins' speech in Lynchburg re The God Delusion, I looked at richarddawkins.net and the comments regarding the speech. I found Dawkins' comments in Lynchburg close to my own thoughts. The comments on the website troubled me (although they were not dissimilar to pro and con arguments on the existence of a god I have previously been privy to). The majority of those comments in favor of god and those in favor of athiesim were very angry in tone. I have come to expect pro god commentators to be very heated but I thought the athiests would be more rational. Gloating in Dawkins shooting down the undergraduate Liberty students does nothing to further the cause of a dialogue. Most religious believers live in fear of their god; their beliefs honed at their parents' and educators' knees; criticism and ridicule only hardens their resolve. To the extent that it is either necessary or proper to convince them of the wrong headed nature of their beliefs, it will not be accomplished by calling them stupid. As Dawkins alluded to in his Lynchburg address it is more appropriate to show that although athiests are not "god fearing" they are moralistic. That being said it is notable that the pro god comments were seemingly written by undereducated if not illiterate luddites. Their comments on the website and at the Lynchburg address do nothing to contradict Dawkins admonition to Liberty students to quit now and attend a real educational institution.

12. God vs. science: Can religion stand up to the test?

Comment #4933 by David Williams on November 7, 2006 at 12:20 am

On morality,to quote Arthur Clarke: "The greatest crime in human history was when morality was highjacked by religion."