Boy, lately the Pope just can’t steer away from hilariously ironic statements. Now he’s warning us against genetic discrimination (under the guise of protecting fetuses who might turn out weak or ugly, I guess), whilst sitting at the head of an organization that practices the ultimate in genetic discrimination–against those born with XX chromosomes. Way to go, Ratzi!
Archive for February, 2009
Pope condemns genetic screening (except for priests)
Saturday, February 28th, 2009
Join us at the AA Nat’l Convention
Friday, February 27th, 2009It’s official: American Freethought’s John Snider and David Driscoll will be in attendance at the upcoming American Atheists National Convention, April 10-11, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. Guest speakers include Richard Dawkin’s, AA president Ed Buckner, novelist James Morrow, author Michelle Goldberg, radio broadcoaster Mike Malloy, and others. (Just to be clear, the extended Convention has events April 9-12, but we’ll be in attendance merely as audience members and only on the 10th and 11th, but if you see us, don’t be shy–we always enjoy meeting our loyal listeners and readers.) We hope to see you there!
Supremes deny Summum in Utah
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
The Supreme Court hasIt’s official: we’re goin’ to Dragon*Con!
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Look for us (John and David) at this year’s Dragon*Con, the largest pop culture convention in the United States (perhaps the world). Dragon*Con 2009 will be held Labor Day weekend (Sep 4 – 7, 2009) in Atlanta, GA. Sure, the ‘Con focuses mostly on science fiction, fantasy and horror, but it also features a complete Skeptics Track, organized by Derek and Swoopy of Skepticality fame. Last year’s guests included James “The Amazing” Randi, Phil Plait, George Hrab, Soccergirl, Ben Radford, Lori Lipman Brown, and lots more. For more visit DragonCon.org.
Podcast #44 – Urotherapy
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
It’s our TMI edition! First, we respond to recent listener feedback, and revisit our analysis of Joshua 10:12-13. What would really happen if God made the sun “stand still” in the sky for a whole day? Next, we tell you more than you ever wanted to know about urotherapy. What is it? What benefits do its advocates claim? And what does medical science have to say about it? [Caution: While we don't go into graphic detail, some listeners may nonetheless find this discussion distasteful (no pun intended).]
Religulous on DVD!
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
Are you one of the unfortunate souls who missed out on seeing Bill Maher’s documentary Religulous during its limited theatrical run in late 2008? That’s too bad: Maher’s religion-is-dangerous exposé became the seventh highest grossing documentary of all time, bringing in over $13M in 11 weeks (it kicked the snot out of Ben Stein’s not-so-thinly-veiled creationist propaganda piece Expelled, earning nearly twice what Expelled made in half the time and in half the theaters).
Wrap the bacon of your mind around the fig…
Saturday, February 21st, 2009Here’s “Far,” the latest video from musician/comedian/podcaster/skeptic George Hrab. “Far” is the theme George wrote for the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast. Damn your eyes, George Hrab! Now this song is stuck in my head, and every time I hear a random stranger say the word “far” I have to resist the urge to shout “Like UBER far!” Enjoy.
Death from the Skies
Friday, February 20th, 2009
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
SWEET MERCIFUL HEAVENS,
is this really the way the world ends?!?!?!
Review by John C. Snider © 2009
We’ve all read the nightmare scenarios: a massive asteroid is going to slam into the earth unless a team of hastily-gathered astronauts can land on it and blow it to smithereens; the sun belches out a particularly energetic tongue of solar material that threatens to boil us in our own juices; or a rogue black hole comes sauntering through the solar system and sucks up the earth like it was the last slurp of milkshake in the bottom of the glass. Sure, it’s scary fun, but how realistic are these imaginings? For that matter, how likely are they? How will the world end, anyway?
Hitchy-Hitch roughed up in Lebanon?
Thursday, February 19th, 2009Hmmm. This could be complete malarkey, but the buzz in the blogosphere is that our favorite curmudgeonly contrarian anti-theist, Christopher Hitchens, got beaten up in Lebanon after he defaced a political poster. Whether true, partially true, or completely false, it only adds to the bizarre reputation of Mr. Hitchens. [Update: A "dispatch" posted at Forbes.com seems to confirm this story.]
Phil “The Pundit” Plait on bloggingheads.tv
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Have you people not had enough of Phil Plait of late? Nay? Then check out his recent appearance at bloggingheads.tv (one of my favorite sites for detailed punditry). Good job, Phil!
Tags: bad astronomy, bloggingheads.tv, phil plait
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