Monthly Archives: September 2009

How Derren Predicted the Lottery… Or Not

Posted on September 12, 2009 by Daniel Florien

Derren Brown explains how he predicted the lottery (sound is off-sync but it’s the best I can find): So, in conclusion, he says he used a “wisdom of the crowds” method where people guessed random numbers, then he averaged them … Continue reading →

Posted in Magic, Superstition, Videos | 62 Comments

The Evils that Homeschoolers Do

Posted on September 12, 2009 by vorjack

by Vorjack A scene of depravity from Robert Kunzman’s Write These Laws on Your Children: Inside the World of Conservative Christian Homeschooling: Shortly thereafter, as I gather up my things to leave, I tell the kids that I’ll be back … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Education | 23 Comments

Beware the Homeschoolers!

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Daniel Florien

Yesterday’s post on homeschooling turned into a fairly heated debate, with one of our readers (who I shall not name lest I incur her wrath) managing to insult McDonald’s employees, homeschoolers, and brgulker. So I thought this video might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Humor, Videos | 113 Comments

Atheist Cat Finds Your Prayer Futile

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Daniel Florien

BTW, did you know that my cat tweets under @atheistcat? He haz no other gods before him. (via)

Posted in Atheism, Humor, Pictures | 41 Comments

We're Born to Believe in God

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Daniel Florien

There is some news making the rounds that we are born to believe in God: Atheism really may be fighting against nature: humans have been hardwired by evolution to believe in God, scientists have suggested. The idea has emerged from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Religion, Science | 78 Comments

How to Persuade Skeptics, by Al Franken

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Daniel Florien

I thought he did a great job of keeping people calm and explaining his perspective. It’s hard — sometimes impossible — to argue with unreasonable people. What have you found effective when arguing with angry people of opposing viewpoints? (via)

Posted in Debate, Politics, Videos | 54 Comments

Church Reform (Twain)

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Daniel Florien

The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little, by way of example. —Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad

Posted in Christianity, Quotes, Religion | 10 Comments

Homeschooler Ordered to Attend Public School

Posted on September 10, 2009 by vorjack

by VorJack I’m reading Robert Kunzman’s Write These Laws on Your Children, a collection of case studies about conservative Christian homeschoolers, and it’s got me thinking about the careful balance of rights and interests that come to play in homeschooling. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Education | 193 Comments

Derren Brown Predicts UK Lottery!

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Daniel Florien

Derren Brown predicted the UK lottery tonight live, 10 minutes before the machines picked the numbers. Here is his amazing feat: You can tell how excited he is — usually he doesn’t talk so fast and ramble like that. Or … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Magic, Videos | 52 Comments

Eddie Izzard on the Church of England

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Daniel Florien

Posted in Catholicism, Christianity, Videos | 13 Comments