July 2009
A New Approach to Fusion →
Basically bang on a tin drum … but with a lot more accuracy.
Facing 40 lashes for wearing trousers →
A Sudanese court has adjourned the case of a woman journalist facing 40 lashes for wearing “indecent trousers. Ten, of thirteen women arrested, have already been whipped for similar offences against Islamic law. Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein has waived the immunity given to UN workers, saying that she wants the case to continue.
The good oil
We are running out of oil right, so what are we to do?
Well a number of science stories might offer some ideas …
First up. For awhile now a number of Russian scientists have being saying that oil (hydrocarbons) is formed under intense pressure in the Earth’s mantle and this is an ongoing process. Most other scientists laughed. Well recent US research seems to indicate that the...
Evolution makes women more attractive →
A recent study seems to indicate that evolution is making women more attractive.
No such luck for men, who seem to be getting smaller, and balder, but have bigger and bigger cars.
Tweet the Wall! →
Jewish? Can’t make it to Jerusalem? Want to speak to God?
Well now you can from where ever you are. Yes you can now Tweet God!
Guaranteed that the result will be the same as actually being there. Absolutely nothing.
“Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man — living in...”
– George Carlin (via webbunny)
Unless of course your a 12 year old girl with diabetes and stupid parents in which case you die.
God, fail! →
A mother of an 11-year-old girl who died of diabetes as the family prayed for her to get better has testified that she believes sickness is caused by sin. She also believes that such sickness can be cured by God.
Given the very sad and distressing outcome in this case we can clearly see that God failed.
Algae to Ethanol →
Dow Chemical is going to build a demonstration plant that produces ethanol from algae, they expect to produce 100,000 gallons of ethanol a year. The technology itself comes from Algenol Biofuels.
The algae which are grown in containers filled with sea water will be fed a stream of carbon dioxide from Dow’s chemical production facility and exposed to sun light. The algae have been...
“No turning back” by Sarah Blasko.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews trash streets over starved... →
Ultra-Orthodox Jews rioted in Jerusalem after police arrested an Orthodox woman accused of starving her child. The Ultra-Orthodox Jews accuse the state in interfering in their affairs.
So what the police were supposed to sit back and wait for the child to die and then say it was an act of god?
Churches vow to fight State equality laws →
Religious schools and institutions in Victoria, Australia have vowed to fight any moves by the Victoria government to change the states discrimination laws.
The church groups want the right to continue to discriminate against women, gays, people of other religions and the non-religious.
Currently there are 53 exemptions to the Equal Opportunity Act. A recent parliamentary review has recommended...
Palin Ties To Militant Religious Movement... →
via goodreasonnews:
retropolitics:
Bruce Wilson | Talk To Action
Since the 2008 presidential election, mounting evidence suggests a dramatic, widespread failure of media to investigate and inform the American public about Sarah Palin’s extensive ties to a radical, growing global movement whose leaders proclaim that an end-time army of young Christians led by Apostles and Prophets will cleanse...
“The world of 1906 was hardly perfect — I wouldn’t want to live then. And the...”
– The Public Domain (via azspot)
“PLEASE people! If I see another cat picture I’m gonna hock up a hairball!!!”
– Stephen Van Tuyl (via stephenvantuyl)
Straight razor shaving →
Apparently the use of straight razors (also known as a a cut-throat razor) and safety razors is making a come back. This article covers the use of a straight razor. The site also has articles on pre and post prep, lathering etc.
“…I didn’t want to single out just the cracker, so I nailed it to a few...”
– PZ Myers (via The Young Australia Skeptics”
The cracker in question was a communion wafer (host)…
“We’ve got a great percentage of our population that, to our great shame, either...”
– Walter Cronkite, 1916 - 2009
via QOTD
(via shawnblog) (via afghanibanani)
(via danielholter)
“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has...”
– Adolph Hitler [1935] The Weapons Act of Nazi Germany. (via thediamondage) (via ilgobbomalefico)
“This is why we fight. Minds are at stake. Somewhere in the world is a student...”
– The Atheist Experience (via webbunny)
“I don’t believe in god. I don’t believe in an afterlife. I don’t believe in...”
– Joaquin Phoenix (via webbunny)
Solar Cycle Linked To Global Climate →
Researchers at the US National Science Foundation have established that there is a link between the 11-year solar cycle and the global climate.
Just wait for the global-warming- deniers to start crowing about this one.
“The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”
– Benjamin Franklin (via thinkfree)
Atheism requires as much faith as religion
via friendlyatheist:
objectionblog:
Some religious people say:
“Being an atheist requires just as much faith as being religious. Science and evolution are just your beliefs, and are just as valid as my religious beliefs.”
OBJECTION!
This is just plain wrong.
If atheism is a religious belief, then ‘bald’ is a hair colour. Atheism is as much of a belief system as ‘non-stamp collecting’ is a...
Australia Wins Again →
This years Internet Villain of the Year, as voted by the Internet Service Providers’ Association, is (drum roll please) ….
Australian politician Stephen Conroy.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!
Big Steve won the award for his amazing work on trying to implement a firewall that would isolate Australia’s Internet users from the rest of the world. The scope of his dream even...
Steve Fielding wants to convince Al Gore he's... →
Steve Fielding is an Australian Senator. He belongs to a party called Family First. Despite having talks with some of Australia’s top scientists, he thinks global warming is a crock, so he is on a mission to convince Al Gore of the “truth”.
This from a man who has no scientific education and only got into the Australian Parliament because of preferential voting on the back of a...
