Paul ’s Comments (group member since Sep 12, 2010)

Paul ’s comments from the Atheists and Skeptics group.

Hazel wrote: "WHitby is a good place for fossils. We got my daughter her first fossil on friday, she chose a polished ammonite, a whole one, not one thats been split to show the whorls inside. She loves it. I al..."

I was about to say that myself, and Robin Hoods Bay further north is also excellent, thousands of incredibly clear ammonites in the dark rock. Madge, I do keep meaning to pop to Lyme Regis, I really must make the time.

And thanks for that Tim Minchin clip Hazel. I've been a fan of his since I first heard him on Mark Watson's Radio 4 show a few years ago. Can't believe how huge he's suddenly become!

Xox wrote: "I don't believe this could really happen in real life. I did write a few reviews about nonsense books that got threatened by the writers. The whinny authors complained to Goodreads and they asked me to take down the bad reviews."

Seriously? GR asked you to removed reviews? I am actually shocked by that - and am surprised it hasn't happened to me! I must try harder...

I know the bigger problem in the UK used to be poor science teaching before secondary school. I distinctly remember being taught that giraffes had long necks because of all those generations stretching to reach leaves...

I can believe that an ill-educated population believing anything, because of TV debates giving equal weight to both sides of an argument - or daytime TV just teaching crap. The other week my sister actually came out with the "if we're descended from monkeys how come there are still monkeys around, eh?" When I'd picked my jaw up I explained things.

ah, the Mail. They ran this same story a few years ago. Turns out it is a tiny handful of students - although I agree, John, of course any students who do this should be failed.

After reading the reviews of this (positive ones as well as negative; I don't think I've ever seen a book get so many one- or five-star ratings and hardly anything else!) I've decided to break the habit of a lifetime and review a book I haven't actually read. Doing so does make me feel slightly grubby, but I have been cleansed by my righteous anger. ;D

Okay, I'd heard of this book but it hadn't really impinged on my consciousness. This vid by these Aussie comedians is superb. I can't believe people are gullible enough to buy into this shite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usbNJM...

Outstanding, Matt is awesome ad I think that really is one of the finest expositions of secular humanism I've heard.

Will wrote: "Of all of Walken's appearances on film, this is my favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMZwZi..."

Awesome. He certainly got that uncomfortable hunk of metal out of his ass.

Dutch wrote: "LOL!! Oh Paul you crack me up. I can just imagine you sitting there hollering, "SHITE!!!" *typing* atheism atheism atheism atheism atheism bears atheism atheism atheism atheism atheism popcorn makers atheism atheism atheism pelicans atheism atheism atheism Chinese calendars atheism atheism atheism.... ."

yup, that's about right ;D

Will wrote: "Ah, yes, but their decisions were "inspired by God." "

Aye, because in His omniscience he wrote bits down that he later decided weren't relevant. Not because He changed His mind, of course, it was all part of His Ineffable Plan...

oh, ffs. a perfect way to foster a diverse community. this really does make me angry!

Awesome! Thanks Hazel - and Linus!

I did occasionally, I admit, used to envy religious people the certainty it seemed to sometimes give them, in my weaker moments at least. I have seen several, however, get increasingly frightened as they approach death. For example, my dad's partner (I suppose technically my stepmother, but as they've only been together since I was about thirty that does't sound right. anyway) is a fairly devout Catholic and is getting increasingly frail, and it's increasingly obvious how terrified she is of her god's judgement when she dies. If I thought it would do any good I might try to de-convert her for her own peace of mind.

okay, that website has just taken the last 90 minutes of my evening...

very funny stuff, thank you!

That's fascinating. I'm hoping that, even with England's ridiculous libel laws anything said would still be covered by a 'fair comment' defence.

Obviously as a publicity stunt by the author, which hopefully will backfire and see him stuck with massive court costs. Having just looked the book up on amazon, the only non-negative review was saying that it would make a good joke present.

I can't help but notice that, when you loo at this on amazon, most of the 'you might also like' recommendations are christian, @how to raise you child in christ' type tracts, so i assume that this and the other similar books are from a christian perspective?

crap, just realised that this is in my amazon browsing history and it's going to affect my recommendations. time to go and look at a shedload of atheism to correct the system...

https://apps.facebook.com/theguardian...

The excellent Aussie atheist comic writes wonderfully about his expectations and experiences of touring the US of A

Outsnding.!

If I may add my favourite M&W sketch (which also fits the theme)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVV3QQ...

on an aside, has it occurred to anyone else that, if David Mitchell, being a rather intelligent chap and good at writing comedy, wants to take go down the route of writing novels he'll need to change his name...?

As the comedian Shappi Koursandi once said: I went to a christian school but, as this was the 1970s in England it was just called 'school'...

I decided I didn't believe in god when I was nine or ten, and I used to get into so much trouble for refusing to join in the the prayers and carols every morning.

I've often been told that we only get the cream of US TV here in the UK, and never see most of the dross. We have quite enough of our own, fortunately.

I hardly watch TV these days, and then usually by catching up on the BBC iPlayer, the channel websites or... other methods. ahem.

One recent US comedy I do love is Community, set in a community college. I friend loaned it to me, I watched the first episode and thought 'meh'. He insisted I stick with it and as soon as they'd got the obligatory set up episode out of the way it is hilarious.