The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri (they are part of the Anglican Communion) has said that Creationism/Intelligent Design does not belong in the science class room. I can strongly agree with this statement they have agreed on: [We strongly recommend] that if 'intelligent design' is taught in Missouri, it should be taught in a religious context and in a religious setting, and it should not be mandated as an official part of the public school science curriculum in the state of Missouri. Creationism/Intelligent Design is not science. What is science? What scientists do, and scientists don't ...

Hitachi has tested a mind controlled train set. By wearing a really funny, completely unfashionable, hat you can think a switch on or off. It's pretty low tech (relatively), just measuring blood flow in the brain. Apparently they hope to give more independence to paralysed individuals. Source:Engadget: Hitachi creates brain controlled model railroad ...

Some people are really stupid. They see the world their way, and don't like to see it any other way. They use very specific ways of measuring something, and use it even when it's no longer useful. Think of a Sci-Fi critic who reviews a classic work of literature. Perhaps Shakespeare. If the review of Shakespeare said that Romeo & Juliet failed as a modern Sci-Fi story because there was--literally--no technology involved, and thus the social, political, and personal ramification of technology was not dealt with in the story, you would think the reviewer was nuts. Of course it doesn't ...

I dislike the Motion Picture Association of America. Why, you may ask. Well, this being my blog, I'll tell you. It seems that this special interest group which represents many of the big Hollywood studios thinks that you shouldn't be able to watch the movies that you buy. When I buy a movie, I want to watch it. If I purchased a movie, and then put it in my computer, made a digital copy, and put it on my iPod so I could watch it on a long flight, or the bus, or at the beach, the MPAA would likely sue me. This means that if I want to watch a movie I own, I would have to buy it again at ...

According to a study from the University of Minnesota (March 3, 2006), atheists are the most distrusted minority in the United States. We all know recently that lesbians and gays have had a hard time finding acceptance. Well, they are more widely liked than atheists. university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.(University of Minnesota ...

In September (2006) the Baylor Institute released a study called "American Piety in the 21st Century". With field work conducted by the Gallup Organization, it had some very interesting results. First off, they found 4 types of gods that Americans (mostly Christians) believe in. Type A: Authoritarian, 31% These people believe that God actively interferes with their lives and will punish those he doesn't like. Type B: Benevolent, 23% Type B god is one who is active in our lives, but won't really get angry or wrathful. Type C: Critical, 16% The Critical god does not ...