Wednesday in pictures

The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins' book "The Selfish Gene" is what I'm reading at the moment. It certainly has hyped itself up a lot, with the foreword warning that previous readers have been brought to tears (and not in a good way) and depressed. Some places have banned it because of the purposeless it promotes.

It's also the book that is responsible for the deconversion of Douglas Adams, one of my heroes. Being dead he can be a hero. I'm not going to meet him IRL and find out he's a total bastard, thus destroying my image of him.

I must say that it's an interesting, thought out and convincing argument for looking at life from a different point of view. It isn't a new idea or theory, but a new way of looking at an existing theory: from the point of view of the genes.

It's not too much dense science, but keeps it interesting and lively whilst putting across some rather difficult topics. A feat not achieved since I read "Quantum Physics Cannot Hurt You."

The other notable feature is that it included a "purpose of life" segment, rather similar to the one I posted a few weeks ago.

Coincidental? I think not. Dawkins clearly travelled from the '60s (I think that's when it was written) and poached my idea.

Rather good so far.

with a mace!

Coming of Age, probably one of the crudest shows on TV, was back in form last night.

Although I'm still not happy with Matt being changed to some idiot (he was much better in the first one when he had some intelligence [about 0:50]), this episode was of a very good standard.

The first two of the new series were a bit meh, but this one had me loling very much. In particularly, the inclusion of "with a mace!" after sentences.

"But then you'll leave me....with a a mace!"

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Also, I saw Charlie Brooker's Newswipe. It basically examines the news coverage of the week and in a no nonsense way. This show is cynical brilliance and I highly recommend it to you all. Last week featured a rather nice segment about the snow.

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There was also the "9 lessons and carols for godless people." It took a little while to get going (although no fault of the acts, I think they were just a bit poorly scheduled. Starting with a lecture wasn't the way to go) and act 3 was a bit crap, but otherwise it was largely enjoyable. Nothing outstanding, just enjoyable.

It was at its best when it diversified into other sceptical topics, taking a swipe at homeopathy, the bible code, crystal healing etc. and at its worst during act 3 which, as far as I can tell, seems to some form of pan-show trolling. Either that or the guy can't believe he can say this stuff without being burnt at the stake and so is trying to be as outrageous as possilbe. Either way it was a bit meh, just stating what they already knew

But if finished with an excellent song which had the hold crowd screaming at the top of their voice "peace and quiet" [about 3:50]

The full line up was:
Robin Ince, Richard Dawkins, Brian Cox, Mark Steel, Richard Herring, Shappi Khorsandi, Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden, Robyn Hitchcock, Jim Bob and Baba Brinkman

AiG

Hate is a particularly strong word but in the case of Answers in Genesis, it is apt. I truly despise that group for several reasons, all of which combine into one lump of hate.

And the feeling is more than mutual. After taking $20 million in donations by whipping up a fuss over the "evils" of evolution they built a creation 'museum.' The money from this they then spend on a public campaign against atheism. It's not against the idea but the people. It's a personal attack.

Ya'all can call me El if you want

I can empathise with Ellis. Perhaps not his Southern stereotype, but the role of the team he fits into.

He is no experienced, super-cool dude that has some back story creating a hard-as-nails kick-ass character.

He's just a bloke who got swept up in things, carried along and found himself in an extraordinary position with people who are better than him in every conceivable way.

He carries no weight with them because he has no inherrent qualities of leadership or respect and even if he did, his companions are greater. This is demonstrated by his introduction:

"My name's Ellis but some people call me El. I prefer Ellis though 'cuz El kinda
sounds like a girls name. But ya'all can call me El if you want"

Because he is on the bottom rung he doesn't try to dictate their actions because he knows he cannot. He is simply a worm being carried along with them.

He also has a naivety about the world, not quite viewing things in the way they should be but with a tint more often associated with a child. The rose coloured hue of a kid's eyes.

"Man, it's like we bought the [theme] park for ourselves! Ya'know,
that was the first thing I was going to do if I won the lottery"

Ah well, I suppose I'm not like him to the extent that I'm not surviving a zombie apocolyspse.

But one can always dream....

I am RAGE!

Long story short, a new equality bill protecting homosexuals* from discrimination in the workplace** has made certain groups who want to discriminate angry.

Specifically, the church. They are worried that their "rights" will be ignored if they can no longer be bigoted homophobes.

Those who want to continue to be twats (including the 5th highest ranking Anglican) are asking for a "conscience clause" that would allow people to continue to discriminate if it's what they believed***

My views on the legislation were summed up nicely by one of it's proponents:

“While the Equality Bill maintains everyone's right to express in a legitimate manner both religious and non-religious beliefs, it is only right that people employed by commercial and publicly funded organisations are not allowed to discriminate on any grounds, no matter what their private belief.”

They're still allowed to hire and fire as the fuckwits want at churches etc. but no, they want to be able to discriminate in the wider public as well.

Well no. Your rights end where other's begins and you don't get to go around oppressing minorities just because you believe it, no matter how firmly. Your beliefs don't render you immune to decent society and it's laws.

It makes me so mad. All of it. The fact such bigots exist. The fact that they want exception to the law so they can continue their bigotry.

Please, GTFO my country



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*amongst others, but it's the gays which are causing the problem so it's those I'll be using as an example

**and not the free-speech eroding 'hate speech' legislation I don't like, but proper, "you can't fire somebody because they are gay" legislation

***which would be the people who discriminate in the first place rendering the bill pointless.

And a big middle finger to you too

I'm getting sick and tired of the world's constant attempts to emasculate me.

Asshat extraordinary

(CNN) -- Pat Robertson, the evangelical Christian who once suggested God was punishing Americans with Hurricane Katrina, says a "pact to the devil" brought on the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Officials fear more than 100,000 people have died as a result of Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti.

Robertson, the host of the "700 Club," blamed the tragedy on something that "happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it."

The Haitians "were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever," Robertson said on his broadcast Wednesday. "And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you will get us free from the French.' True story. And so, the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' "

Native Haitians defeated French colonists in 1804 and declared independence.

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(life fail if title reference passes you by)

Mediations from a lonely walk home:

Life carries no inherent purpose. Like language, there is no built in meaning or point.

When you speak, it is the cognitive ability of you and those around you which lend meaning to the sounds you make.

It is this cognitive ability which allows us to saddle our existence with a purpose. We decide and craft a point to our lives, lend it hope and meaning.

Because lacking an inherent purpose does not make it purposeless, but rather, gives rise to one of the greatest parts of the human experience. The discovery and forging of our own destiny.

To those who have truly awakened to the universe our life can be assigned to a purpose we see fit.

We are presented with blank canvas on which to craft a masterpiece.

And even the smallest speck of paint has ramifications far beyond the ken of humanity. The simplest action changes the very fabric of reality.

Only you can create a change for the better.