Dust That Sings

Following on from my post by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, YouTuber philhellenes gives his take on the subject.

Ramp up the quality, make it full screen and enjoy...

Dust That Sings [12:37]
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A thought for a Sunday - only moments late

"It may not be said that there is no god.
It may be said that there is no reason to think that there is one."

Christopher Eric Hitchens (1949 – 2011)

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This is how I want to remember Hitch

Christopher Hitchens has died and the world has lost one of the greatesat speakers in the debates for rationality and human rights. May the spirit of his words endure...

This, I think, is Hitch at his best Debating free speech laws at the University of Toronto in 2006. The motion is: 'Be It Resolved: Freedom of Speech Includes the Freedom to Hate.'



"Stay cool" Grow into these trousers... >>

Richard Dawkins on faith schools

I post this without comment as most people will know my views anyway.

A Channel 4 documentary I haven't seen before. Note: Vimeo's embed code seems a bit wonkey so follow the link instead.
Faith School Menace?

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Via Unreasonable Faith. Grow into these trousers... >>

Religious survey results not good for American Christians

Earlier this year the Pew Forum on Religion and Public life conducted a survey on religious knowledge among the American populace. The newly released results were not surprising, to me at least. In the 32 question survey atheists and agnostics scored the highest, closely followed by Jews and Mormons who were way ahead of the average Christian believer. There's a summary of the results here.

To test yourself, click on the image for a shorter sample of the questions asked. I scored 14 out of 15 and am kicking myself for dithering over the one I got wrong rather than going with my first thought.

The New York Times reports

On average, people who took the survey answered half the questions incorrectly, and many flubbed even questions about their own faith.

Those who scored the highest were atheists and agnostics, as well as two religious minorities: Jews and Mormons. The results were the same even after the researchers controlled for factors like age and racial differences.

What is it about religion that suppresses what should be no more than basic general knowledge? Grow into these trousers... >>

Dude, you have no Quran

I'm sure we all remember the Quran book burning threat from a couple of weekends ago. I wanted to comment at the time but other commitments got in the way. Now I have a quieter day so here we go:

Burning books is stupid and ignorant.

Note, I am not saying that all books are sacred, or that any are. Nor am I saying that an individual is forbidden to destroy a possession, so long as it is legally their own or they have suitable permission. But each book has a value greater than that printed on the cover and the combined writings of humanity have a value greater than the summed content of the individual books. That value is context.

Important texts from times past are often difficult to interpret without contemporary texts to set things in a social or linguistic structure. Structures which, 2000 years ago say, have no modern counterpart for comparison. We need the legacy of books from all ages to understand ourselves and how our societies have developed.

Burning any book has the potential to rob the future of a storehouse of historical knowledge. Just think of the attacks on the Library of Alexandria where humanity lost forever texts which, even then, were of great antiquity.

Of course the unadulterated word of Allah has been a previous victim of book burning, and surprisingly Moslems themselves were responsible, as this news report from 653AD informs us. An incalculable loss to religious scholars and historians of every generation since.

So I am glad that the September 11^th Quran burning fizzled out into a non-event: except for one incident in Amarillo, Texas.

Some religious nutter was planning to burn a copy in an Amarillo park when Jacob Isom rescued the kerosene dowsed volume from a barbeque and ran off. In an interview for the local News Channel 10, Isom said he snuck up behind the organiser, David Grisham, liberated the book and said “Dude, you have no Quran”.

The book was delivered unsinged to a local Muslim leader and Jacob Isom is now an internet hero. Well done Sir!

Dude You Have No Quran AUTOTUNE REMIX

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Via Unreasonable Faith Grow into these trousers... >>

Protesting against the Pope

Richard Dawkins does a remarkable shakedown. Brief, to the point and utterly true.

Richard Dawkins' Speech at Protest the Pope March


<rant> Perhaps this should have been today's Sunday thought... My use of the English language is far from perfect; but I protest against something, or I protest in favour of something. Or if someone makes a statement with which I disagree, I can say "I protest" in reply.

I do not protest something!

I do not protest the Pope. I protest against the Pope and will never protest in favour of him. </rant> Grow into these trousers... >>

This is made of awesome

Over the next weekend BlogTV is to present an interactive, 24 hour, non-stop fundraiser in aid of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders - international links), a very worthy charity. Starting on Saturday 18th September at 4pm BST (click for your local time) the lineup is... Well, awesome. The live broadcast will be here:

http://www.blogtv.com/People/dprjones

Watch the promotional video!

Roll Call - who's on the show?


Sadly Michael Shermer only did the promo clip and won’t be involved, but those who will feature include a whole bunch of my favourite YouTubers such as:

ZOMGitsCriss
NonStampCollector
LaciGreen
AronRa
Thunderf00t
DonExodus

Matt Dillahunty and the Amazing James Randi are involved and I also understand that PZ Myers will be sticking his oar in.

Donations to MSF can be made safe and secure using JustGiving (PayPal or cards) or FirstGiving (cards only).

That's my weekend sorted! Grow into these trousers... >>

Pope? Pap!

So the Ratman arrives in Edinburgh and immediately contradicts himself. The BBC reports him saying he wants to "extend the hand of friendship" to the whole of the UK during his visit. Hmm, OK...

He continued:

"Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate".

Well fuck you Ratman, I do respect the traditional values and cultural expressions of others so long as they don't impose them on those who see the world otherwise. Sing to the clouds and eat magic crackers all you like but don't expect me to do the same and never, NEVER EVER, try to tell me how to behave. My morals are not dictated to me by invisible magical spirits but by a genuine care for all of humanity. In fact I care for all life on this beautiful planet which gave me birth. How about you respecting my values, my expression, and my right not to believe?

How anyone can think that this fallible, ignorant, old man is the spokesperson on Earth for an all-powerful, benign creator defies my understanding.

This comes after one of his 'advisors', Cardinal Walter Kasper, espoused that

"when you land at Heathrow you think at times you have landed in a Third World country".

Walter is not accompanying the Ratman to the UK and the Vatican issues the ludicrous claim of 'ill-health'.

Ratman, don't lie. Your own book of lore says this (see Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:20), how can anyone form any respect for an individual who says one thing and does the opposite?

Admit the truth Ratman, you are human, you were not appointed by a deity, you are not even a head of state but the elected leader of a vastly wealthy organisation dedicated to self-preservation at the expense of billions of ordinary people.

Until then I exercise my freedom to repeat...

Tim Minchin - Pope Song (Warning - Offense Possible)
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Another reason to like Hitch

I was saddened to hear recently that Christopher Hitchens has been diagnosed with cancer. I wish him well.

Hitch is not a 'light in time of darkness' but a small glow of rationality which, I hope, may herald a sunrise. I like his wit, erudition, honesty and unshakable self confidence. Even in illness he is a wise sage:

Christopher Hitchens Interviewed by Anderson Cooper


But Hitch is just Hitch:

Christopher Hitchens - The State of Human Intelligence
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I can say no more... than this...

"Offensive Ideas" - Campaign for Free Expression PSA #1
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Just for Jill

Go visit Jill at Elemental, my dear for great photos of what she found in her garden.
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The image is a design from T-Shirt Hell if anyone wants to buy me one (size M). Grow into these trousers... >>

Boobquake Day - a bit of a flop?

No major earthquakes yesterday, nothing but the normal everyday tremors. Go to Blag Hag for the low down and the stats.

News reports and photographs are everywhere.

So Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi you've got what you deserve for babbling your ignorant, primitive beliefs. Utter ridicule all over the world. Let it be an education Mr Sedighi, because you really need one. Grow into these trousers... >>

Boobquake

We have (probably) all heard of crazy Iranian Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi, who believes earthquakes are caused by immodest dress codes. If not. catch up at Madhatters.

Well, the Blag Hag has the answer: Boobquake!

"On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. Yes, the one usually reserved for a night on the town. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of their breasts. Or short shorts, if that's your preferred form of immodesty. With the power of our scandalous bodies combined, we should surely produce an earthquake".

I am right behind this project and will offer whatever support I can. Grow into these trousers... >>

I don't want to be counted

Catholic American Paul Constant, a 'confirmed' member of that faith, has written an outspoken letter to the Bishop of Portland asking to be excommunicated. It's a penetrating piece and worth reading, here's a snip:

"I demand to be excommunicated because I do not believe women are second-class citizens. I demand to be excommunicated because your missionaries are informing impoverished citizens of third-world countries that birth control is a sin..."

It is not all such a rant; here is a clear thinking man asking not to be included in the ranks of such believers. If this is a free world his wish will be granted, it's no different from changing political allegiance, but I wonder what the Bishop will say.
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Via The Freethinker. Grow into these trousers... >>

Without God, how can we have sexual morals?

The wonderful Greta Christina gives this excellent talk on the nature of human sexuality as seen from a non-religious viewpoint. She is open, funny, and has some great ideas. Go watch...

Greta Christina on Atheism & Sexuality

See other videos by Jennifer McCreight on Vimeo.

Warning 1! It's 90 mins long and once you start you may be hooked. I was.

Warning 2! Beware of broccoli.

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From Jen @ Blag Hag via Pharyngula. Grow into these trousers... >>

The rat man cometh

"The taxpayer in this country is going to be faced with a bill of £20-million for the visit of the Pope, a visit in which he has already indicated that he will attack equal rights and promote discrimination".
Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society

I have been meaning to sign this petition for a few days... done that now. I have no respect at all for this man but, currently, I see no reason to deny his right to visit the UK. The question for me is about the responsibility for his security while he is here. Surely, some deity is ultimately responsible? If his superior sees the need for guard details then surely the company is responsible for the cost. Grow into these trousers... >>

Be excellent to each other

A short essay on morals from AtheistStuff.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Philosophy [8:18]


Party on, dudes!
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Via Common Sense Atheism. Grow into these trousers... >>

What if...?

Todd Friel: American radio and television host, Christian speaker, evangelist, and former stand-up comedian described by PZ Myers as "one of those glassy-eyed glad-handing used-car-salesmen of the soul types"

plays a game of 'what if' with

Christopher Hitchens: English/American author, journalist and freethinker who is humorously known as one of The Four Horsemen (along with Dawkins, Harris and Dennett).

Fun and games ensue.

todd friel interviews christopher hitchens on "wretched radio" (full interview) - part 1


todd friel interviews christopher hitchens on "wretched radio" (full interview) - part 2


Yet another reason for why I like Hitch.

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Hat tip to Common Sense Atheism for the memory jogger. Grow into these trousers... >>

Is the Catholic church a force for good in the world?

Make up your own mind watching this debate with Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Ann Widdecombe MP, Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry.

The Intelligence Squared Debate (Part 1/5)
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