Naked Paul Toast’s Insights

Jack Szostak created …

Biologists on the Verge of Creating New Form of Life

A Harvard team of biologists and chemists have created protocells from fatty molecules. These protocells meet almost all criteria for life, the exception being they don’t replicate completely on their own. They still need a little nudge.

One of the biggest arguments against evolution made by Fundies is “Life must have been created”. Of course evidence is never presented. Positions with out evidence, simply stating something “must have…”, are always a poor arguments. What’s even worse is abiogenesis, has absolutely nothing to do with the mounds of evidence supporting evolution.

But since creationists and ID proponents still insist that abiogenesis could not have happened, and therefore evolution could not have happened. This development brings us one step closer to understanding the natural formation of life.

A few months ago, I brought Science Made Easy. An excellent YouTube video series, by potholer54, describing the scientific process, and explaining how we know, what we know.

Potholer54 has a second YouTube video channel, Potholer54debunks. He deliberately keeps his debunking videos, and videos critical of Christian dogma, in a separate channel. One of the common tactics of the Christian Apologists, to silence critics; is filing false copyright infringement complaints to YouTube. Complain loud enough and often enough, even if the complaint has no merit, and the channel can get shutdown and the videos removed.
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Just when I thought people couldn’t get any stupider.

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Intelligent Motion.

Plus, I love the name of the website.

OK, let’s clear some things up right away.

Yes, I am aware that IQs, testing methods, distribution curves are problematic. Especially when IQs are compared between individuals, sexes, cultures and countries. Even with the problems, there are strong correlations between IQs and intelligence, academic performance, income, and other markers.

And yes, I’m also aware that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Though, often it does.

Lately, I’ve noticed a few members posting their perceived IQs in their signatures.

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I stumbled upon an excellent set of YouTube videos.

These videos describe the science behind; how we know how far away planet’s, stars, galaxies, age of the earth, rocks, evolution, etc. What is so wonderful about these videos, is not just the evidence is presented, but the layman’s explanation of how the meaning of the evidence is important.

potholer54 is pretty critical of creationist, largely Christian dogma. I don’t disagree with his criticisms, but I think the video’s are likely to disenfranchise a lot of Christians, to the point where they will not watch the complete series. Given potholer54 is encouraging people to download and create DVD’s of the video, this could be a fatal to the video’s success.
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When will the senseless persecution of Christians in the USA, stop?

CAPALERT (ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture) are a bunch of fundies. One of their roles is to analyse movies from a Christian perspective. They state; they don’t quantify the “artistic” or “redeeming” entertainment value.

Basically, they look for inappropriate Christian content in movies.

They reviewed 10,000 B.C., and wrote the following:

http://www.capalert.com/capreports/10000bc.htm

10,000 BC? How can that be since non-ape biped life is only about 6,000 years old? Only in the movies. The title would be more accurate if it were, say, 3,000 BC. Or 2,000 BC.

“non-ape biped life is only about 6,000 years old?”

“Only in the movies.”

Absolutely stunning!

This Nova documentary chronicles the Dover trial.

Two hours in length, conveniently broken into twelve chapters. You don’t have to watch it in one sitting. The trial demonstrates conclusively, that Intelligent Design is nothing more that Creationism in cheap sheep clothing. It also shows how Micheal Behe, Christian School Boards and other ID proponents will outright lie, even after swearing on the Bible.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/program.html

A few weeks ago the Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate, moderated by Tim Russert was on.

In the closing minutes Russert asked:

RUSSERT: Before we go, there’s been a lot of discussion about the Democrats and the issue of faith and values. I want to ask you a simple question.

Senator Obama, what is your favorite Bible verse?

He then gave all the candidates an opportunity to respond.

The very question disgusts and saddens me.

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