Just the one module on Saturday, but it was many hours, and no cake is served as paygrades are changed. Note: the module deals with adult subject matters. Kids: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.
There was also chatting afterwards, but we were all at the end of long days, so not of a lot. Gamer Talk 25: Part 1, Part 2.
[END]
Monday, 30 June 2008
HC Again
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Preach the controversy
Taking a page from overseas, Christians are sending "intelligent design" material to schools to "teach the controversy" regarding evolution in science class. (The same thing happened after the media reaction to the Dover trial.)
Oh dear... There is no good here. First of all, yes, let's teach about intelligent design... in philosophy or religious discussion classes. ID is religious. It can basically be summed up as "I don't know how the universe got to be as amazing as it is... so Goddidit is the answer I choose".
Evolution is a theory - in this case, "theory" means "an explanation that encompasses facts and is scientifically rigorous" and not "educated guess" as TV (and other media) has it. It can be challenged, for example "rabbits in the Cambrian", ie fossils where they shouldn't be. ID explains nothing (how did god do it? Who or what created god?), and cannot be challenged ("I don't know, but it happened.")
Louisiana recently passed a bill that allows teachers to teach the "controversy". This is a major set back. Creationism was denied access to science classes because it was religion. It recast itself as ID and tried again, and was shot down again (Dover). Now the tactic is "allow teachers to teach both sides of evolution". This has been successful once, and opens the doors.
THERE IS NO CONTROVERSY. EVOLUTION IS AS CLOSE TO FACT AS SCIENCE WILL ALLOW. (And anti-evolutioners who feel like commenting, take it to Pharyngula.)
There is a poll for "should ID be taught in science classes?". Yes is currently winning... but I'm not sure how much of it is unbiased (not that an internet poll is exactly rigorous).
Let's be honest here. Evolution is a part of reality. Check this out: reality is cool. (As is xkcd!)
[END]
Saturday, 28 June 2008
George Carlin RIP
(Definitely NSFW. And there seem to be ten words not seven. And you can say some of those words on TV anyway...)
[END]
Friday, 27 June 2008
Star Trek Motion Picture: Pon Farr Edition
(Note: the visuals are fine, but the audio is definitely NSFW.) Check out the background to this.
[END]
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Me? In The Princeton Premier? Never!
It's finally happened! I've finally gotten the notice!
It is my pleasure to inform you that you are being considered for inclusion into the 2008-2009 Princeton Premier Business Leaders and Professionals
Honors Edition section of the registry.
Really? I feel so honoured! Of all the people you could have possibly asked, all those "business leaders" and "professionals", you picked on little ol' me! And to think, if I hadn't had my email on a website that has nothing to do with this, but where any web spider could pick it up, I might never had been selected at all!
The 2008-2009 edition of the registry will include biographies of the world's most accomplished individuals. Recognition of this kind is an honor shared by thousands of executives and professionals throughout the world each year. Inclusion is considered by many as the single highest mark of achievement.
Wow, all those people... many, many people... beside whom I might have an entirely paragraph of self-dictated indulgence... it's like some kind of dream come true... the chance to be associated with all those other people who received this very same email!
For accuracy and publication deadlines, please complete your application form and return it to us within five business days. There is no cost to be included in the registry.
That's likely to be true. Yes, there is no cost to be in the registry. Can't accuse them of any dishonesty there. What they miss out in mentioning is that pretty much anyone can get in (so it's not that exclusive) and that to get a copy of the registry, all nicely printed up and bound... that's where the money earner is. The chance to be associated with all those names!
Yeah... sign me up... I'd rather Send Your Name to the Moon!
[END] Read more!
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Hulk Go Squish Now!
There were many posts around when Iron Man came out, but almost nothing for the feature The Incredible Hulk. Not sure why. I'm sure just as many when to the latter than the former... are we tired of Hulk movies?
Certainly, this movie could easily fit after Ang Lee's one. The opening credits are all about how some guy got gamma-radiated, got his mad on, kicked General Ross' arse, and moved to South America... which was basically Hulk. Added bonus: no long origin sequence, yay! (Also could consider a link to that movie with the Hulk getting mad at a lightening storm. But a far better link is the classic soulful music of the TV show.)
Anyways, when watching a Hulk movie, mainly you're just marking time until the latest CGI creation hits the screen, and this is no exception. Fortunately, we do get a lot of Hulk, and the rest of it isn't too dreary. There are some, as ever, emotional moments (ironic considering that Banner is supposed to be emotionless), and lots of military scenes of General Ross being a complete idiot... I mean, exceptionally militarily minded. This movie takes the line that General Ross wants Hulk under control and just runs with it...
But not entirely. There's also a sub-plot to develop a real bad guy, but for that I'll just link to Dork Tower. (Will add: another CGI battle...)
There's also some cast I guess I could talk about. Edward Norton is a fine actor, not quite sure he fits here (but any Banner is going to play second fiddle to his alter-ego). Liv Tyler... is in the movie, but again Betty is never going to be the screen draw. Frankly, the best actor in the entire movie is William Hurt as General Ross, can't go wrong with that hair and mustache. (And then there's that guy that turns up at the end... but I won't say more.)
So if you've seen Iron Man, why haven't you seen this yet? And if you have any intention of seeing the Avengers movie, again, why haven't you seen this yet? Not to mention it's a good general action movie. (However, general buzz is the next one is Ant Man... now there's a draw card!)
[END]
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