Escape Pod, episode 400: "Rescue Party" by Arthur C. Clarke

Wow. I just listened to something truly awesome. Check out the 400th episode of Escape Pod, the science fiction podcast magazine. For this landmark episode the Escape Artists crew serve up a full-cast performance of a classic SF short story — the very first story sold by my all-time favourite SF author, Arthur C. Clarke. "Rescue Party" was written in 1946, and bears the hallmarks that identify Clarke as the visionary he was later to be acknowledged as.

http://escapepod.org/2013/06/18/ep400-rescue-party/

Clarke is a hero of mine. See this article at HumanistLife to find out why:

http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/06/humanist-hero-arthur-c-clarke-by-paul-s-jenkins/

Disclosure: I've narrated stories for Escape Pod myself in the past. Here's one of my favourites, done for an earlier milestone in the podcast's illustrious history:

http://escapepod.org/2006/04/20/ep050-the-malcontent/

The doom of rational interchange between believers and non-believers

This short thread illustrates why the Unbelievably Distilled Facebook group as a forum for rational discussion between believers and unbelievers is, in my opinion, pretty much doomed:

Paul Leffingwell

From another thread: "I'd be pissed about all of the unnecessary suffering he watched happen and did nothing..." My personal take on the problem of evil as an imaginative exercise. God's answer: "Did nothing? I endowed the entirety of Western Civilization with advanced medical technology, incredible excess wealth, leisure time in abundance and logistical ability to deliver any and all aid - food, shelter, clothing and medical to all parts of the world within 24 hours and the free will of everyone of my creations to choose to relentlessly and sacrificially do good as a lifestyle choice. What do you mean I did nothing? By the way, that hungry homeless guy with Hep C you ignored yesterday and the 'junk mail' you shredded asking for donations to build a well in an African village was my way of asking YOU what your answer was to the same question you asked me. Motes and beams, my son, motes and beams."

Like · · Unfollow Post · Thursday at 03:46 near Lawrence, KS

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  Tom Tozer Like the guy in the flood sitting on his rooftop who waves away the guy in a boat and the rescue helicopter and then ask God why he let him die. "I sent a boat and a helicopter."

  Thursday at 04:55 · Like
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  Paul Jenkins "I sent a boat and a helicopter." Who sent the flood?

  Thursday at 12:27 · Like
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  Tom Tozer God did because he hates you.

  Thursday at 13:54 · Like
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  Paul Jenkins Figures.

  Thursday at 14:19 via mobile · Like
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  Paul Leffingwell -- is starting to wonder if the "Problem of Evil" is also "The Giant Excuse to Do Nothing But Complain"

  Thursday at 15:44 · Like