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Archive of posts filed under the Uncategorized category.

Child sacrifice in India

Murder in India: Parents sacrifice 4-yr-old girl to become rich http://richarddawkins.net/articles/502877-parents-sacrifice-4-yr-old-girl-to-become-rich Most of this is “sources said” and investigations are continuing so the full facts are not yet know. Regardless, the tragedy and the stupidity here fills me with sadness and rage. But one thing I did notice was that the village, at least, knew [...]

Law chief urges Scots courts: consult the Bible in judgments

Link over here: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/law-chief-urges-scots-courts-consult-the-bible-in-judgments-1.1048316 Perhaps we need to look at Jephthah (Judges 11) for guidance in making judgements (please, watch all of it): Definitely a “…sick, unjust, cruel, violent, mass murdering, psychopath”. More fun than turning the other cheek, right? The proposal is obviously not ever going to happen but I wonder what prompted the [...]

Taliban justice

It took me a while to decide whether to post this here. Time’s circulation is huge but I wanted to add my own small contribution. And I remember this barbaric law being passed when I was in Afghanistan last year: Afghanistan passes ‘barbaric’ law diminishing women’s rights http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/14/afghanistan-womens-rights-rape So even with a government installed by [...]

I wish I’d thought of this

Having recently read Ben Goldacre’s book “Bad Science” I wished I’d thought of this brilliant idea from Tom Scott: Journalism Warning Labels http://www.tomscott.com/warnings/ I have been using the guidance in “Bad Science” to critically examine news media stories and cut through all the bullshit, and Scott’s idea makes it a lot more fun. Well done. [...]

The murder of Karen Woo

An Afghan driver who survived the ambush tells how Karen Woo and the other charity workers died at http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/67168,news-comment,news-politics,british-aid-worker-karen-woo-was-killed-by-a-grenade-as-she-hid-in-4×4-afghanistan-ambush#ixzz0wUgXF958 I can remember how a year ago we were waived down by masked gunmen in Afghanistan. That was a nervous time; nowhere to run or hide as we were led out of our vehicle at the [...]

Ofquack

Dave Colquhoun of DC’s Improbable Science provides further insight into Ofquack also known as the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). He makes the case that Ofquack will ultimately fail. The problem with Ofquack is that it does not seem to have a rigorous method for determining the efficacy of the various treatments that fall [...]

There, there, dear Popesy, have a cookie!

Is that Pharyngula being nasty to you again? There, there. Have a cookie. Here’s a man basing his morality, his way of live, on that hilariously hideous book called the Bible. The more I look at that book, the more I find it incredible that anyone can take it seriously (the Koran is just as [...]

Revulsion at burka

Richard Dawkins is quoted by The Daily Mail “I do feel visceral revulsion at the burka because for me it is a symbol of the oppression of women.” The Daily Mail also reported His comments prompted fury among Muslim groups who accused him of being ‘ignorant’ and ‘Islamophobic’. I’m not sure who these “Muslim groups” [...]

Karl Giberson

Just seen an article at Evolution Is True: Giberson: Math works, ergo Jesus http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/giberson-math-works-ergo-jesus/ I’m no genius, but even I can see the infantile, naive and flawed logic expounded by Karl Giberson. Really, why bother with all these convoluted “disappear up your own exhaust tube” logic? Religion is faith based, and a rational and consistent [...]

Boris Johnson’s initiative for literacy in London – update

Following my post “Boris Johnson harming kids?” at http://www.metalvortex.com/blog/2010/08/03/449.html, I’ve found an earlier article from fullfact.org “Literacy in schools: are the statistics unsound?” which describes serious issues in the validity of statistics and data sources. Much work still to be done to confirm source data and validate the statistics. Article by Kulvinder Singh Matharu – [...]