These short rules will arm you in your fight against woo-woo mysticism, anti-second-law patents, and fantastic claims. It is good education for anyone.
Category: Skeptic
-
Blasphemy Challenge
Damn yourself to hell. Get a free DVD.
The linked website is the Blasphemy Challenge, sponsored by the Rational Response Squad. I learned about this challenge through Skepticality, a skeptics podcast I listen to as time presents. Skepticality is also the official podcast of Skeptic Magazine, so you can hear interviews with Michael Shermer, Richard Dawkins, and others on a regular basis.
-
Irish Switching Sides?
Of the road, that is…
This popped into my feedreader today. Normally, I would include it in my weekly traffic posting, but I believe that it (potentially) deserves its own entry.
According to grandad, Ireland will be switching from left-side driving to right-side this summer. Unfortunately, a search for some official statement or speech to this effect turns up nothing. I’ve asked for a reference, or at least a confirmation that this is a joke. Once that is supplied, I’ll pop it in here.
But, I’m inclined to think that this is a joke because of this:
Initially, all buses and articulated vehicles will move to the right to allow for a period of adjustment. Car owners may opt to make the switch themselves on an individual basis, depending on their level of confidence.
Call me small-minded, but I don’t see a transition period working so well. In the spirit of jokingness, it would be quite funny, but in the spirit of seriousness, it would be ridiculous not to mention dangerous.
Posted elsewhere is a reference to this wikipedia article covering a similar transition in 1967 in Sweden.
My skeptical nature comes rampantly to the fore when I read blog entries like this with no citations. But, I will apologize in advance to grandad if my googling skill is merely inadequate to the task of producing the necessary citations on my own.
Edit 10:25: As noted in the comments, this was indeed a joke by grandad. Make sure you take a look at his potential impacts during the period of transition…
-
Mr. Socky Speaks Truth!
If you want to know The Truth as Mr. Socky, a.k.a. The Gummit, speaks it, please follow this link to Pharyngula. I promise that you’ll be amused.
(Or insulted. I was amused.)
-
Analogic Bear Volcano
Here is a link to a post by PZ Meyers of Pharyngula with a very thinly disguised methaphor for science vs. religion.
Let it not be said that I either endorse or anti-endorse this post. You must only read it, then start going through the comments. It’s the comments that make this post worthwhile.
If you aren’t familiar with stripper factories or beer volcanoes, I recommend to you His Noodly Appendage.
And I, too, want to have a flaming tiger next to my bear volcano.
-
Blogoshpere: The Great Experiment
Free speech is a wonderful thing; I fully support it. I think Fred Phelps is currently the USA’s biggest penis-head, but I support his right to preach his message of hate. The blogosphere has increased everyone’s ability to get their message out there, and a lot of people certainly have.
For example! This person has some interesting ideas on the foundations of civilization.
I will disclaim this post by saying that, no, I have not personally investigated the claims made on the linked essay. My skeptical incredulous nature does go BOOOM while perusing it, though.
Still, it makes for interesting reading. There are some things listed I’d never heard of:
- Rust Proof Iron Pillar, New Delhi
- Platinum found in Peru!. (I can’t imagine why this is a big deal)
I was fascinated reading the essay. Now I’m going to go be fascinated with something else.