Blogs

There is a new survey online that is attempting to get some information on atheists and atheism around the world.

It will take about 20-30 minutes depending on how much information you want to give. No personal information is collected.

So I was looking at an e-mail from Meetup and saw a suggestion from the Six Degrees group. I was thinking that Meetup's recommendation algorithms could use some work because the last thing I saw in that group was someone pushing Reiki lessons.

This week we are opening a parcel from Steve Darroch and I suspect it may be jammed full of placebo wrist bands. Jeff Grigg owes me thirty dollars. He gets fifteen of the suckers, and I dare him to wear them all at once. A megaplacebo superpower balance will result. A new superhero will be born. Captain middle America.
Talking with David Guest, we have some prize woo all the way from England to get our teeth into.
I want talk about Irlen Syndrome with you guys:
http://bit.ly/LFFLgx
Some unbelievable bollocks being perpetrated about this syndrome.

Go skeptically amidst the lies and the guile, and take comfort in whatever rationality there may be.
As far as possible, without being an asshole, question established orthodoxies and fatuous argument. Speak your truth quietly and clearly even to the dull and ignorant, for though it conflicts with the evidence, they too have their story.
Avoid creationists and climate change deniers, for they are vexatious to rational argument and their minds are lost. You will argue with them in vain and become bitter.

Thanks very much to those of us who turned up at Mao’s Bar on George Street two weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to get this typed up!
We had some great discussions and I thought I should summarise some of what went on for those of us who didn’t make it. David.

Looking forward to our regular meetup at this new venue!

Thanks to everyone who cam to the skeptics in the pub on Thursday. A fun evening. One of our members is unraveling a genetic mystery in algal dna that is a billion and a half years old. The evidence, not the actual dna. I am in awe of Barbara Schoenfeld. But don't tell her I said that. :-)
We had a great evening and we set about solving six mysteries that science cannot explain. I thought it would take about thirty minutes, 5 minutes per mystery, but I forgot how distractible skeptics are. But we nailed most of them, even with a pub quiz booming in our ears.
http://bit.ly/wBHJ6P

Tim Minchin gave me back the joy for the season...

Christopher Hitchens has just died.

The #RIPHitch and #hitch hashtags are going more than a little nuts right now, which is hardly surprising.

I have few friends that claim to be religious and when I see shit like this I wonder how they can be so firm in their position. This is just disgusting. How can they claim 'moral conviction' as an exception when the law itself is so blatantly immoral?

Michigan Republicans Allow Bullying If ‘Religiously or Morally Motivated’ (Video)

In Michigan, the State’s Republican-controlled Senate has passed an anti-bullying law named after a gay victim.

Good thing you might think. Except it’s not.