Inside Obama's Whitehouse
This is a superb 4 part BBC series with behind the scenes footage, scenes and interviews with the people behind the decisions, and Obama himself. I learnt a lot from this. It is
Jonathan MS Pearce
The Science of Near-Death Experiences (part 2)
Yesterday, I introduced the topic of Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), and today I will talk about naturalistic, scientific explanations for such phenomena. The problem with scientific explanations and hypotheses for such phenomena is that
Schopenhauer, the Will and Free Will
Man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills. I've always liked this quote from Arthur Schopenhauer, so much so that I thought I'd post
The Science of Near-Death Experiences (part 1)
As a skeptic, certain ideas and associated names often come up. Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) are one such phenomenon, and accompanying names and pieces include the 2014 movie Heaven Is for Real (the book
Tim Minchin Appreciation Corner
Tim Minchin is great, of that there is little doubt. Cerebral comedy drawn together with great musicianship. The classic assault on pseudoscience that almost everyone reading this has already seen: On miracles and
My Interview of Counter Apologist
Counter Apologist is a blogger with a lot of sensible stuff to say, and has contributed a deconversion account that was expanded for my recent book of deconversion accounts, Beyond an Absence of
Tim Minchin's Awesome Graduation Speech (For Those Who Haven't Seen It)
This still remains one of my favourite speeches ever. Brilliant. Nice bit of free will bit in there, too.
Tom Clark's Transcript of Sam Harris' Delusion of Free Will Talk
Tom Clark, or the Center For Naturalism, and someone whom I have interviewed, has created this transcript of the excellent talk given by Sam Harris at the Dangerous Ideas event in Sydney recently.
Bright flash of light marks incredible moment life begins when sperm meets egg
The Telegraph reports on this fascinating finding: Human life begins in bright flash of light as a sperm meets an egg, scientists have shown for the first time, after capturing the astonishing ‘fireworks’
First happiness genes have been located: Genetic overlap between happiness, depression discovered
This information is released by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: For the first time in history, researchers have isolated the parts of the human genome that could explain the differences in how humans experience happiness.
DfE bows to churches’ demands for privilege and protection in face of full academisation
The BHA reports, concerning the ongoing issues in the UK educations system (much of which I have reported on extensively here): The Department for Education (DfE) has published memoranda of understanding formally setting
Bangladesh LGBT editor hacked to death
The BBC is reporting this breaking news, so check back there for updates: Police in Bangladesh say two people including a leading gay rights activist and editor at Bangladesh's only LGBT