Tuesday 27 October 2015

Burnee linkee catchup

I read the 100 “best” fantasy and sci-fi novels - and they were shockingly offensive
It so happens I've just finished reading Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice.

Assisted dying would be ‘profoundly Christian and moral’ – former Archbishop of Canterbury - Telegraph
Well, that's a surprise, given that he's previously maintained that Christians should be prepared to die in the fight against humanism.

Deepest Mandelbrot Set Zoom Animation ever - a New Record! 10^275 (2.1E275 or 2^915) - YouTube

Complexity from simplicity.

Unbelievable? Is atheism a belief system? Andy Bannister vs Ed Turner - Saturday 22nd August 2015 02:30 pm
Andy Bannister's book sounds like more of the same run-of-the-mill apologetics texts that profess to be targeted at non-believers while being convincing only to those who already believe. His main thesis appears to be the usual attempt to shift the burden of proof. Ed Turner​ was having none of it.

Sunday Times on our Peter Popoff Investigation: “Debt-busting ‘con’ comes to Britain” » Good Thinking Society
Fraudulent or just deluded? Presumably some of these "prosperity gospel" preachers genuinely believe what they preach. Others, however, have previous form.

Dr. Eben Alexander Proof of Heaven Investigation - Proof of Heaven Factual Omissions
To some, Eben Alexander's thesis is obviously false, and his motivation questionable at least.

3quarksdaily: The Scopes "Monkey trial", Part 1: Issues, Fact, and Fiction
Inherit the wind, but not the facts.

What Is Science? | Sean Carroll
Sean Carroll in questioning mode. Hypotheses + Data = ?

The Dad Who Wrote a Check Using “Common Core” Math Doesn’t Know What He’s Talking About
It looks weird, but as Hemant Mehta (a maths teacher) explains, it isn't.

‘But…but…I JUST KNOW!’ | Center for Inquiry
Stephen Law​ gives a brief and to-the-point exposition on knowledge and belief with examples of the difference between justified and unjustified true belief.

US man sets petrol pump alight over spider - BBC News
Idiot.

Sleep – the eight-hour live-broadcast lullaby for a frenetic world | Culture | The Guardian
Those who went to Richard Wiseman's talk in Winchester — "How to be Great" — during which he talked about sleep research, you may be interested in reading about a live "sleep concert" reported in the Guardian.

Woman has benefits stopped because taxman believes she is having an affair - with the post office | UK | News | The Independent
Guilty. (Until you prove yourself innocent.)

How to defend the arts using liberal values - Spectator Blogs
When it takes courage to say no.

UFO sightings used to be ‘better’ — what happened? - Science
What happened? Smartphones with hi-res cameras, that's what. It's all about the quality of the evidence.

“If you suggest we have anything to do with sex, we’ll sue you!” says “COUGAR” dating website | Bad PR
Glad Michael Marshall isn't taking the easy way to victory here (which would be simply telling them he works for libel-reformer Simon Singh).

Scientists have found one tactic that can change anti-vaccers' minds - ScienceAlert
For those who tend to be a bit cynical about advertising and PR (myself included) this is a bit depressing. But perhaps the positive take is to admit that what science and skepticism need is a really good spin-doctor.

Advice From the Creator of Calvin and Hobbes (Comic by Zen Pencils) | High Existence
Meaning.

Philosophy Tech Support - Existential Comics
Who says philosophy is no use in real life? Not me (I wouldn't dare).

Jesus and Mo
Time to repair your irony meter again...