I hope Richard gives O'Really a pass on his next visit to the US. There are other places to go to promote a book that would serve the purpose better and I doubt if the fox audience would be likely to consider buying the book in any case. I think O'Really, like Ben Stein are best avoided and serve no useful purpose, especially when they are in control of the venue and can edit what is said to suit their own purpose.

Comment 15 by upsidedawn I just can't imagine her daughter having that reaction

I think you have hit the nail on the head there. Her daughter didn't actually say anything like that. This is a typical misrepresentation of science such that when you understand something it loses it's ability to capture the imagination with it's beauty. To me it is totally bogus. Sounds like a typical creationist who cannot see any other way to see things and wants to put down real understanding in favor of 'their way' being the only way. I don't know anyone involved with science who thinks like this.

I think some are being a bit harsh here. The demonstration was of how changes caused by incomplete copying can accumulate. There was no attempt to introduce any 'selection' natural or otherwise. So while the straight line is only part of the story I don't think there was anything to say this was all that evolution was. I don't know how you could add natural selection into the example as it was only aimed at explaining one part of evolution.

I suppose though you could start with a group of lines, then have people pick from a group of lines which one they wanted to copy and then select some to throw away to add in some sort of 'selection simulation'. This process could then be repeated to see which lines survived!

Exactly right. The only problem is the religious will never admit this is true!

Oops - Sorry I missed the photo of the Tetons!

Glad you enjoyed your trip to Wyoming. I do hope you managed to see the Tetons and some of Yellowstone, certainly one of the most beautiful places to visit in the US. Thanks for the extra photos - Sorry that you didn't go for the full outfit and have some western boots to go along with it!

I just noticed there were no pictures of Richard's feet! We all want to know if you had real cowboy boots on too - to compare with Jerry Coyne's!

That looks like a somewhat tame ground squirrel next to one of the 'walks' at the Old Faithful geyser. They are used to having visitors close by and I cannot imagine Richard going to Jackson Hole and not going to see the wonders of Yellowstone park near by!

Hi Steve, I've always gone by the old adage don't talk about religion or politics. However there are plenty who insist on doing so and many who consider themselves 'right' in their particular views. When it comes down to it those who think they're right will probably never change their minds and are essentially a 'lost cause' when it comes to logic and reason. I've always found the best thing to do is keep away from them as much as you can and this is where the workplace sometimes makes it a difficult environment, especially if the person is in a position of influence with respect to the job. Hopefully this will not deteriorate into a worse scenario and I wish you luck with your situation.

I recently had to work with a devout muslim and managed to not talk about their religion, although it was 'all' they were talking about. I used the situation to learn more about what they believed in and educate myself - I'm all for an easy life and normally just 'go with the flow'. They assumed I was a christian and didn't even ask me about my belief. That says a lot as to where their thinking was at. I normally try to avoid conflicts and leave these people to their delusion and their closed minds - sometimes it is just a lost cause and not worth making the situation worse. Mind you if they escalate the situation keep good records and witnesses if it becomes intolerable.

Hi Nick, Congratulations on 'coming out' although I have to admit that I haven't yet myself but have often thought about it. A couple of reasons why I haven't.

When in religious company I always say I'm agnostic, so that nobody gets too upset with me. (I'm all for an easy life) It also leaves room for them to explain why they believe their religion and says that I'm not fully committed one way or the other. In fact we are all agnostic as nobody can prove, or not prove the existence of a god of some sort. Nobody knows, although the possibility appears very remote.

The other thing that I disagree with is any form where you are asked to fill in your 'religion'. I always say 'none' while this is the same as saying 'atheist' it doesn't have the same connotations to the religious who think that all non believers are to be steered clear of and are not to be bothered with. Not that I really care what they think but it does sometimes get in the way of doing your job!

Maybe one day I'll join you in 'coming out' about being atheist but the term still has too many negative connotations (to the religious). Somehow I don't think that is going to change any time soon.

Happy Birthday Richard from California and congratulations on completing another orbit around the sun.

I appreciate all of your books and videos. Thanks for helping enlighten all those with an open mind who seek the truth.

Of course they couldn't hover, there was no sign of any feathers on the legs.

Thanks for sharing the Skepticon PZ lecture. Very informative and fun for novices like me.

Francis Collins said at the end 'There are many ways of knowing."

Science is a way of Knowing, Religion is a way of not Knowing!

Not to keen on Techno, EBM or whatever but surely the main point is here to get across to some of the god worshippers, mainly the younger generation a message about atheism.

Good or bad if it helps some people start to think about what life is really about, then it helps.

I just found this on the abc homeopathy web site: " the majority of studies have given a group of patients with the same disease, the same remedy. This is not how Homeopathy works. For the same disease, different patients may exhibit different symptoms; the negative findings are in large part polluted by this factor."

So the treatment is based on the symptoms - not the disease - and that is why their 'medicine' doesn't always work effectively! Wow.

I am amazed that this is sanctioned by the NHS. The whole concept of the more diluted something is, the better it is, is illogical. There must have been controlled scientific studies done by someone on the effectiveness of these remedies by now Surely this has been disproven.

As far as I know this is not approved in the US as medical treatment. Anybody in the US know if this is covered by obama care?

Did Bill O'Reilly actually say he didn't know what makes the tides work? - Well actually he didn't he just posed the question of what makes them move in and out.
I think David Silverman had the best response there - ignore the question.

DS could certainly have done better in other areas but then he was up against the king of the Scam artists.

Stafford. No problem with 2 more gaps. Each time we get two new gaps, replacing the previous one, the gaps will be smaller. Eventually the gaps will be invisible. We just need time...

Dear Richard, Very sorry to hear of your loss. Sounds like he was a wonderful man. As others, and you have said "we are the lucky ones for we have lived." I will be thinking of that when my time comes. My condolences. Mike

A suggestion: How about posting some more videos of Richard reading his hate mail - This could be posted on Christmas day to give all of atheists something to laugh about - After listening to the queen's speech naturally.

My definition of a miracle - Anything religious people do not understand!

Thanks Steve. I agree with your article. Now the problem is how to get this sort of thing discussed in the main stream where most people sit back and drink a beer in front of the TV while watching sports and pay lip service to god just so they can get on with their lives.

I'm watching less and less TV as the internet provides much more for much less. Eg where else can you find the Dawkins Tyson talk on Poetry of Science or anything like it.

Good to see science coming to the aide of those that god will not (for some reason) help.

Science has reduced the 'god of the gaps' to 'god of the crevices'. There are not many places left where god can exist.

I also agree with Sir David Attenborough - I don't read fiction. Not that there is anything wrong with fiction as long as you treat it as such.

Wonderful, clever and to the point. Make a good signature tune for RDnet

Thanks Ivan, The lady on Newshour was fantastic. We need people like her speaking up more often to help show that Christianity has no bias towards other religions. ;<{)

The main difference between what Andrew Penman did and many others is that he has been open about his Atheism.

I think there are many people in many religions that feign religion to be accepted by society, or to get into the right school, or get the right job. Only the outspoken religious ones who actually believe what their religion says will be saying something against what Andrew did. Many people pay lip service to their religion just so they can get on with their lives.

Comment 57 by chawinwords "we need some counter-measure to display to hold off the vampires sucking the blood of free thought."

How about crossed arms - but forming an X instead - meaning 'No --- keep away'

Excellent progamme. I guess it will take a few years to make it to BBC America. Thanks for sharing and for YouTube for all 4 parts.

Science finds answers - Religion is guesswork.

"Comment 67 by Gunga Lagunga With immense respect, I beg to differ with Professor Dawkins on his interpretation of the "squaring for a fight" photograph. "

My problem with the photograph and maybe Richard's too is that it doesn't represent the tone of the discussion that he and DA had. According to Richard's account it was a fun and jovial encounter. I would have preferred to see a picture representing this instead. So one has to think that the editorial decision was made to perhaps stimulate circulation by indicating a disagreement between the two participants.