Camp Quest, a summer camp for atheists. Their slogan? “It’s beyond belief!” of course. They welcome “Children ages 8 to 17.”
Archives for February 2006
Intelligent Design FAQ
This is hilarious.
What are three important discoveries made by Intelligent Design researchers?
- Some parts of some organisms are very complex.
I’m confused about Intelligent Design’s stance on the theory of evolution, can you summarize it?
Of course. The evidence gathered by Intelligent Design proponents clearly shows that:
- Evolution does not happen.
- Evolution happens in some cases.
- Some evolution is directed evolution.
- Natural selection does not work.
- Natural selection works in many cases, but not all.
- Microevolution does not happen.
- Microevolution is evidence of directed evolution.
- Macroevolution does not happen.
- Macroevolution is evidence of directed evolution.
- Life was created 6000 years ago.
- Life was formed over millions or billions of years through design and the processes of directed evolution.
- Life was formed over millions or billions of years through design, and the processes of directed and undirected evolution.
Basically, we think something is wrong with the theory of evolution, we’re just not sure what.
Isn’t the “Intelligent Designer” just another way of saying “God”?
Of course not. The Intelligent Designer could be advanced aliens or the Christian God. We don’t say which.
Do you really believe it could be aliens?
No.
Go read the whole thing. Hat tip to Dorkafork.
Body Armor for Olympic Skiiers
This is way cool.
A futuristic flexible material that instantly hardens into armour upon impact will protect US and Canadian skiers from injury on the slalom runs at this year’s Winter Olympics.
The lightweight bendable material, known as d3o, can be worn under normal ski clothing. It will provide protection for US and Canadian skiers taking part in slalom and giant slalom races in Turin, Italy. Skiers normally have to wear bulky arm and leg guards to protect themselves from poles placed along the slalom run.
Skiwear company Spyder, based in Colorado, US, developed racing suits incorporating d3o along the shins and forearms and offered members of the US and Canadian Olympic alpine ski teams the chance to try them out several months ago. “Now they love it and won’t ski without it,” claims Richard Palmer, CEO of UK-based d3o Labs, which developed the material.
[…]
The resulting material exhibits a material property called “strain rate sensitivity”. Under normal conditions the molecules within the material are weakly bound and can move past each with ease, making the material flexible. But the shock of sudden deformation causes the chemical bonds to strengthen and the moving molecules to lock, turning the material into a more solid, protective shield.
NewScientist: US and Canadian skiers get smart armour
You know in Back to the Future II when Marty, his girlfriend Jennifer, and Doc go to the year 2015? In one scene, a female police officer tells Jennifer “be careful in the future.” Jennifer, who was knocked unconscious earlier, and isn’t sure of where (or when) she is asks quizzically “the future?” The police officer, of course, meant “be careful next time,” but Jennifer (ludicrously, really) takes it as meaning that she is in the future, when things are apparently more dangerous than they were in 1985. Yeah, well… that’s what I feel like reading this news. Am I in the future?
Anti-gay Military Policy Cost $363 Million
Depriving our nation of the protection of more than 10,000 dedicated soldiers and deterring countless more from joining the military is only part of the cost this country has paid for the so-called “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy against homosexuals in the military. It also has cost us $363 million over 10 years, according to a new study by the University of California.
So how badly do you want to keep homosexuals from serving this country? Ponder that for a minute. That’ll be $69.06.
And don’t even try to claim that only soldiers who publicly reveal their sexuality are the only ones discharged. Admissions that would normally be kept private, such as those between a soldier and his doctor or her psychologist can be used as evidence against them. People who are suspected of being gay are investigated, and private statements made before joining the military are used to discharge soldiers who have never disclosed their sexuality while in the military.
Official WordPress Contributing Developer
It seems that I have gotten a promotion of sorts. I’ve also been promised my own legion of adoring MySpace groupies. Fine… but only if I can call them my “minions.” I don’t have time for adoration, but I’d certainly like an army to do my bidding.