Earthquake-devastated Haiti has become a magnet for kooky, misguided (but perhaps well-intentioned) religious groups. Scientologist John Travolta (disguised, apparently, as L. Ron Hubbard–see photo at right) has personally flown his private 707 to Haiti, delivering food, medical supplies, and “volunteer ministers” who claim the ability to heal through therapeutic touch. Meanwhile, a Christian group called Faith Comes By Hearing has sent 600 solar-powered audiobook Bibles. Finally, a group of Idaho Baptists were arrested trying to transport Haitian orphans (some of whom weren’t actually orphans) across the border into the Dominican Republic.
Archive for the ‘humor’ Category
Podcast #79 – E-meters for Haiti?
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Festivus for the rest of us!
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009Podcast #71 – Eye of Sauron Edition
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
We look at three recent TV programs that have attracted the attention of the Eye of Sauron, a.k.a. Catholic League president Bill Donohue, whose job it is to manufacture outrage anytime anyone makes fun of the Church or offers sharp criticism of it. Sarah Silverman’s video “Sell the Vatican, Feed the World” appeared on the season finale of Real Time with Bill Maher. The Simpsons mock the Eucharist in their annual “Treehouse of Horror” special with the segment “Don’t Have a Cow, Mankind.” And Curb Your Enthusiasm auteur Larry David accidentally splashes urine on a portrait of Jesus in the episode “Dealing with the Midriff.” Bottom line: if it makes the Eye apoplectic, it warms our hearts.
Speaking of TV, Muslims have yet to riot or issue any fatwas over a controversial commercial by German lingerie company Liaisons Dangereuse.
Mr. Deity and the Science Advisor
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009More great vids this morning. My favorite online video series and my favorite curmudgeonly blogger–what’s not to love?
Sell the Vatican–and then what?
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009We saw this Friday night on Real Time with Bill Maher. I nearly fell off the couch, I laughed so hard. But Sarah, once you sold the Vatican, what would you do with it? What amazes me is that the Eye of Sauron has yet to comment on this!
Podcast #70 – Randy Olson
Monday, October 12th, 2009
We interview Randy Olson, marine biologist turned filmmaker, and author of the new book Don’t Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style. Randy is best known for the 2006 documentary Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus and his 2008 global warming comedy Sizzle. Don’t Be Such a Scientist is part memoir, part instructional guide, in which Randy offers advice to scientists and other intellectual types on how to better communicate to general audiences. For more about Randy’s projects, visit DontBeSuchaScientist.com, SizzletheMovie.com and FlockofDodos.com.
Don’t Be Such a Scientist
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
Review by John C. Snider © 2009
Science is controversial, whether we like it or not. The nature of science is churn: old ideas are replaced by newer, better ideas; everything “known” is contingent, accepted only as long as new data doesn’t contradict it. Still, science is a human process, and therefore imperfect. Factions dig in their heals, refusing to see the truth even as the data piles up to the ceiling. Reputations are lost (and, of course, made) when paradigms shift.
That said, not every paradigm shift becomes an eternal battlefield. Astrologers don’t vie with astronomers to teach alternative facts about the cosmos, nor do alchemists lobby state legislatures for the right to be called chemists.
DVR Alert: Dawkins and Collins on Colbert
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009While it would have been super-cool to have Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins on The Colbert Report at the same time, we’ll have to settle for them one-at-a-time. Dawkins (author of the new book The Greatest Show on Earth) will be on tonight at 11:30PM Eastern, while Francis “Three Waterfalls” Collins (the new head of the National Institutes of Health) will appear Thursday night.
Evolution, Lucky Edition
Saturday, September 19th, 2009
We stumbled across this yesterday, quite by accident, while doing our grocery shopping. It’s Evolution Wine, a blend of nine white varietals produced by Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon. Too bad it wasn’t around for Darwin Day back in February, but this vintage wasn’t released until September 9th. Still, it’s the perfect choice for the upcoming 150th anniversary of the release of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species on November 24th. And you know we’ll be celebrating that!
Podcast #65 – Live at Dragon*Con
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009(more…)
Tags: cieaura, dragon*con, homeopathy, science reporting, skeptics track
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