The famous female philosopher, mathematician, and atheist--played by Rachel Weisz--is the heroine in what looks like a very anti-Christian movie: Agora (tr: Prediction).
6.30.2009
6.27.2009
Colonel Bob Boatwright
Mint Juleps begin at 6:59. "Do you heah me? I know that you do, I know that you do."
Seen It
The Space and Rocket Center is getting a huge Star Wars exhibit. It's pretty cool: I saw it in Boston late 2006.
6.26.2009
6.25.2009
Hitchens On Iran
No pleasing Mullahs, so why even try?
It is a mistake to assume that the ayatollahs, cynical and corrupt as they may be, are acting rationally. They are frequently in the grip of archaic beliefs and fears that would make a stupefied medieval European peasant seem mentally sturdy and resourceful by comparison.
6.22.2009
Real Journalism Vs Scientology
The St. Petersburg Times is running a 3-part series skewering Scientology. Parts 1 and 2 are published. I have only read 2/3 of part 1 so far, and it is as fascinating as it is scathing. Hooray for real journalism!
Part 1
Part 2
Of course, the Thetan-haters are displeased.
Part 1
Part 2
Of course, the Thetan-haters are displeased.
6.19.2009
6.16.2009
6.14.2009
We need this book
Would You Wear a Serial Killer's Sweater?
On jellyfish genes, autism, politics, and how our intuitions lead us into strange territory.
On jellyfish genes, autism, politics, and how our intuitions lead us into strange territory.
Psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist Bruce Hood has been known to brandish a cardigan belonging to the serial killer Fred West in the lecture hall. West tortured, raped, and murdered at least 12 women. Of course, a moment's reflection will reveal that his sartorial choices probably had nothing to do with his grisly hobby. And there's no possibility of catching serial killer disease from his sweater, right? Nonetheless, most people will refuse to wear the sweater once they know its provenance (false provenance, actually, the sweater Hood uses is not really West's). Odder still, in large lecture halls, members of the audience will physically recoil from the few people who say they are willing to wear the sweater. The crowds, which often consist of highly-educated, secular people, laugh nervously as this little drama is played out, says Hood, because they realize that there is something odd and illogical about their reaction.
Hood has made a study of these intuitive ways of seeing the world. In his new book Supersense: Why We Believe in the Unbelievable (HarperOne), he looks at the moments where our intuitions come into conflict with our rational faculty. We're born with a proclivity to see patterns that aren't there, to sense agency where there is only randomness, and to tell stories about cause and effect that may or may not be true. Hood examines religion through this lens, but most of the book focuses on the ways that even people who don't consider themselves religious—or even superstitious—are governed by intuition.
6.13.2009
So Will Michael Sheen Be Playing Tony Blair Or Q?
The next James Bond film is going to be the best ever: Peter Morgan has been hired as one of screenwriters.
Morgan wrote The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, and Frost/Nixon, all of which are WAY better than you would ever think or than they have any right to be. If he can make David Frost's interview of Nixon an enthralling, edge-of-your-seat suspense drama, imagine what he'll do with Bond.
Morgan wrote The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, and Frost/Nixon, all of which are WAY better than you would ever think or than they have any right to be. If he can make David Frost's interview of Nixon an enthralling, edge-of-your-seat suspense drama, imagine what he'll do with Bond.
6.12.2009
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