Idle Words submits the evidence that, next to governments and religions, airline checkins are one of the great bastions of illogical thinking.
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No Free Passes
This man Keith Olbermann is a magnificent orator speaking words of truth. Pity that his fellow countrymen seem incapable of waking up to it.2 responses to “No Free Passes”
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This was great. Maybe the tide is turning?
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Perhaps, but on the other hand, the force of inexorable logic seems to have been ignored by people up to now…
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Evolutionary Design
Interesting little video about the use of computers to provide evolutionary design alternatives in, for example, drug design or civil engineering.Leave a comment
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Undertaking Betty
I’d not heard of this film before, but it looks to be the sort of offbeat humour that appeals to me, and with a good cast (Brenda Blethyn, Alfred Molina and Christopher Walken). It appears to be a little difficult to get hold of (Amazon in the UK doesn’t have it), but fortunately Bol.com here in The Netherlands has it in stock.Leave a comment
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How Logical Are You?
You Are Incredibly Logical 
Move over Spock – you’re the new master of logic
You think rationally, clearly, and quickly.
A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!(hat tip to Terrance)
One response to “How Logical Are You?”
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You and me both Geoff. That was fun.
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Still Here…
Alex, over at the Museum of Hoaxes, wonders whether the Netherlands has disappeared as a result of a nuclear explosion. I am glad to report that we’re all still here…Leave a comment
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Sweet…
…that’s this photo of David Birch – a most unusual Carnival Queen. Good luck to him. Also, there’s this rather nice story in The Guardian about it.Leave a comment
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Putting The Boot In
Sometimes, I think that Mr. Duck can be unnecessarily cruel. My imagination is working overtime about the fallout from this one.Leave a comment
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Fun With Figures
Not Saussure reminds us that statistics have a habit of turning around and biting those who wield them.Leave a comment
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Cautious Cars And Cantankerous Kitchens
Donald Norman has posted the draft first chapter of a new book on his web site. It’s about how machines take control, and why this can lead to unintended results. Worth reading.Leave a comment
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Attacking The Enlightenment
Johann Hari points out that the real message that Pope Benedict was attempting to deliver last week amounted to an attack on the Enlightenment. Not surprising, really. I expect nothing less from Ratzinger. He has the chutzpah to claim that "the free pursuit of reason will lead all people to a rational belief in the Christian God described in the Bible". Um, no, I don’t think so. Quite the opposite, in fact.(hat tip to Ophelia over at ButterfliesAndWheels for the link)Leave a comment
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Who’s Deluded Here?
Richard Dawkins’ new book: The God Delusion is out. And the reviews are appearing. First up is a very negative review in Prospect Magazine by Andrew Brown (followed by a further negative ramble about the review in the Guardian’s Comment is Free). However, his dyspeptic review is countered by Joan Bakewell’s review of Dawkins’ book in today’s Guardian. She, by contrast, finds that "Dawkins gives it to believers with both barrels and cheers him on".I’ll make my own mind up on the book once I’ve read it. I’m currently awaiting it to drop into the postbox. But I can confidently predict that my reaction is more likely to be closer to that of Bakewell’s rather than Brown’s.Leave a comment
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White And Nerdy
I’ve always liked Weird Al Yankovic ever since "Eat It" and "Like A Surgeon", which to my horror, were released over twenty years ago. But he’s still going strong, his latest is White and Nerdy. Listen to the words and watch the video. Both are a tour de force… I love the M.C. Escher reference…2 responses to “White And Nerdy”
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Hey Geoff,
I had friends over from the States last week and they are huge fans of his…always singing some of his songs ….drives me mad mind…lol…David was amazed when we realized that his first recollection of Dear Al was over 20 years ago…and now his teen age kids are into them. time flies!! -
Hi, Vince,
"Time flies" – yeah, doesn’t it just! I think that the older I get, the faster time seems to be passing…
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Oedipus – The Movie
The story of Oedipus – in an 8 minute short film, performed by vegetables. Nicely done, particularly the bit where he puts out his eyes…(hat tip to In4mador)Leave a comment
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Scientific Alliance
I see that the news about the letter from the Royal Society to ExxonMobil has drawn a response from the Scientific Alliance. Luckily, Steven Poole is on hand to point out the unspeak in the response. Reading their web site, it doesn’t surprise me, it scores high on the Unspeak Meter (which I also like to think of as the Bullshit Meter).Leave a comment
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Face Illusion
An interesting illusion that plays with the way in which we perceive people’s faces. Though to use the face of Margaret Thatcher is enough to give me nightmares in any event.Leave a comment
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English Is A Patient On Life Support
Dr. Crippen is having a Victor Meldrew moment. I can well understand why. The Essence of Care programme has clearly laboured mightily, and doubtless at enormous expense, to produce a load of management-speak – otherwise known as twaddle and tripe.Leave a comment
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Letter From Thailand
Doug Ireland, on his DIRELAND blog, has a report from Alan Platt on the coup in Thailand. It makes interesting reading. Perhaps it is indeed "a step back to make a step forward".Leave a comment
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Camp Coffee
I grew up with foodstuffs such as Robertson’s Jams (with their golliwog labels) and Camp Coffee. And I never gave a thought to the semiotics. Nowadays, of course, we must agonise over the possible offence that we may be guilty of giving. Sepia Mutiny has a wonderful post about the evolution of the Camp Coffee label, an evolution that has been driven by political correctness. And what I really liked about the story was the totally from the left field bit about the Major General Sir Hector MacDonald. We are everywhere and everywhen…Leave a comment
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