spookypeople - tag

Ben Stein's Expelled

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:25:00 GMT

In the new science-bashing movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, Ben Stein and the rest of the filmmakers sincerely and seriously argue that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution paved the way for the Holocaust. By "seriously," I mean that Ben Stein acts grief-stricken and the director juxtaposes quotes from evolutionary biologists with archival newsreel clips from Hitler's Reich

Expelled frequently repeats that design-based explanations (not to mention religious ones) are "forbidden" by "big science." It never explains why, however. Evolution and the rest of "big science" are just described as having an atheistic preference.
Actually, science avoids design explanations for natural phenomena out of logical necessity. The scientific method involves rigorously observing and experimenting on the material world. It accepts as evidence only what can be measured or otherwise empirically validated (a requirement called methodological naturalism). That requirement prevents scientific theories from becoming untestable and overcomplicated.

From Six Things in Expelled that Ben Stein Doesn't Want You to Know...: Scientific American
And Ben Stein's Expelled: No Integrity Displayed: Scientific American

Haven't these people heard of Godwin's Law? While debate by Hitler comparison seems to be par for the course in conservative politics, its just annoying for those of us that view these tactics as an admission of the lack of an argument rather than proof of of the strength of an argument. If your argument is based on things that would get you laughed out of a high school debate club, then you shouldn't be taken seriously.

Join Dark Side, NYPD

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:40:18 GMT

Join Dark Side, NYPD
Originally uploaded by karmakazesal.

You can't make up stuff like that.

Dish Washer Wanted

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:51:47 GMT

Dish Washer Wanted
Originally uploaded by karmakazesal.

The fact that the help wanted sign isn't in English says everything no one else will say.

House Democrats pass contempt citation

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:32:33 GMT

The House Judiciary Committee approved a contempt of Congress citation Wednesday against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and one-time Counsel Harriet Miers, setting up a constitutional confrontation over the firings of federal prosecutors.

From House Democrats pass contempt citation - Yahoo! News

As much as I appreciate the shot across the bow, the show of force that the dems mean business, one thing comes to my cynical mind. Can W pardon them? Or commute the sentences?