1. Group wants Wi-Fi banned from public buildings

Comment #186281 by adamd164 on May 30, 2008 at 4:05 am

Styrer, why should the governmental determination exclude such empirical testing? It's all very well to say that they could make a decision under the assumption that these people genuinely do suffer the effects of WiFi exposure, but are we to treat all similar claims equally? What a mess that would leave us in!

2. 'Expelled' ripped off Harvard's 'Inner Life of the Cell' animation

Comment #158982 by adamd164 on April 11, 2008 at 9:29 am

Well, that about says it all. As if we needed another reason to believe that these people are frauds and charlatans, they go and produce a blow-for-blow copy of what is an excellent video on the cell. I've seen the screenshots posted on PZ's blog, and it's clearly a poor imitation when viewed in contrast with the original.

Take a look at the comparison for yourself, here.

3. The simple falsehood at the heart of Expelled

Comment #158407 by adamd164 on April 10, 2008 at 12:53 pm

PZ makes an excellent point. It's precisely because the people who associate Hitler's regime with "Dawinism" do not understand the meaning of the term that it even comes into the equation at all.

4. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157824 by adamd164 on April 9, 2008 at 3:14 pm

That was an absolute pleasure to watch. Richard, I could listen to you forever and not get bored. Insightful, eloquent, witty.

And the final comment to the last questioner -- "You are obviously sincere, I don't doubt your sincerity, but I think you are hallucinating. That's all I can say." Love it. :)

5. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157377 by adamd164 on April 9, 2008 at 2:36 am

Richard, it seems they may have comment verification on that video, which means they have to OK every comment before it appears!

6. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #157152 by adamd164 on April 8, 2008 at 3:34 pm

That was painful viewing. The audience seemed (at least to a large extent) to find bigotry and small-mindedness worthy of applause and praise.

If I remember rightly, Richard was on there not so long ago, and it was much the same. Full of conservative cynics who wouldn't give him a word in edgeways.

7. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156358 by adamd164 on April 7, 2008 at 11:37 am

She should resign; but she won't. Instead, they'll praise her for standing up to us morally bankrupt aggressive atheist folk. That's what's most sickening.

8. Beware the Believers

Comment #152237 by adamd164 on March 30, 2008 at 2:09 pm

So why is it funny if Sam Harris has a grill? What is the satirical association with Sam and enhanced teeth? Or bling? The connection with Sam seems about as strained as the connection between me and buggering a bald transvestite, which is what South Park had me do. Do these people think satire means making reference to something that has not the smallest connection with the target of their satire? That is not how I have always understood satire.
Richard

Nail. Head.

There is nothing particularly intelligent about this brand of so-called comedy. Any old fool could come up with a sketch in which real-life figures were placed in out-of-context roles, it doesn't make said sketch instantly amusing and witty. The dialogue in the video is question is - it would seem - mere filler; secondary to the set piece of Professor Dawkins' head cut and pasted onto the body of what appears to a slightly overweight middle-aged chav.

Sad state of affairs if this is what passes for "excellence" in comedy. If you're looking for some really decent satire, take a look at the Adam Buxton video, which is linked-to on this site, a few posts below this.

9. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150203 by adamd164 on March 26, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Happy birthday, Richard! I sincerely hope it's been a good one, and very very VERY many happy returns to you. :)

Adam

10. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125236 by adamd164 on February 11, 2008 at 5:31 am

Don't worry, you are not getting rid of me that easily! Retirement from the Oxford Chair will free me up to be even more strident, shrill etc etc etc. I expect to be busier than ever, with two Foundations to run (the British and American branches of RDFRS), books to write (I have already started the next one) and who knows what else?
Richard

Excellent, I'm really looking forward to an increased output of genius (no pressure, Prof., but it's your own fault for being so bloody inspirational!) ... :-)

Adam