While I love Mr Diety this is my favorte episode of the whole bunch

Mr. Deity and the Science Advisor

You’ll love the Ray Comfort dig in it.

Today is Darwin Day

Today is a great day for science. Notably today marks the 200th anniversary of evolutionary biologists Charles Darwin’s birthday. (an interesting ironic aside is that another important figure in world history Abraham Lincoln was also born today and Darwin and Lincoln are rumored to be born only hours apart)

And on another front the U. S. Supreme Court has ruled that Vaccines Are not to blame for autism! Scientific research and the scientific method triumphs over woo, pseudoscience, and guessing! Quoting from the article ABC News: Court Says Vaccine Is Not to Blame for Autism:

The judges in the cases said the evidence was overwhelmingly contrary to the parents’ claims — and backed years of science that found no risk.

"It was abundantly clear that petitioners’ theories of causation were speculative and unpersuasive," the court concluded in one of a trio of cases ruled on Thursday.

Interestingly PBS had a rebroacast of another landmark court case won by science on just the other night with Nova – Judgment Day Intelligent Design on Trial perhaps in honor of Darwin’s birthday week celebration.

Happy Darwin Day to everyone!

And here are the YouTube Videos for Episode 3 of The Genius of Darwin

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 3 (1 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 3 (2 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 3 (3 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 3 (4 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 3 (5 of 5)

The other day I posted an article that had a Google Video of Episode 1 of the UK’s Channel 4 three part series The Genius of Charles Darwin and while I haven’t seen a contiguous Google Video for Episode 2 I did find it published as a series of YouTube Videos and I post them here:

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 2 (1 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 2 (2 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 2 (3 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 2 (4 of 5)

Richard Dawkins’ Genius Of Darwin – Part 2 (5 of 5)

The United Kingdom’s Channel 4 has put together a three part series The Genius of Charles Darwin. Fortunately for us here in the United States the first episode in the series can be viewed via Google Video:

Penn & Teller on Creationism from thier Emmy-nominated Showtime television series Bulls***!

Penn and Teller Bullshit – Creationism 1/3

Penn and Teller Bullshit – Creationism 2/3

Penn and Teller Bullshit – Creationism 2/3

Well it’s about time! Flock of Dodos (wikipedia article), Randy Olson’s (wikipedia article) great documentary on the Evolution – Intelligent Design debate was just released as a Google Video so now anyone can watch it online. (click for a full screen version)

Randy’s irreverent light hearted humorous approach will also soon be taking a look at Global Warming too with the coming release of the mockumentary-reality-documentary Sizzle sometime this summer (I think maybe even next week???).

Also of interest is a podcast/interview Randy Olson did with Derek and Swoopy from Skepticality: Skepticality #064 – Interview: Dr. Randy Olson

Wondering what at the hubbub is surrounding the anti-Darwinist nonsense in the film ‘Expelled’ that you’re seeing advertised on the internet and TV is all about?

Visit Expelled Exposed for the naked truth and to learn more.

This past week we saw the birth of a grassroots call for a Presidential Debate on Science and Technology Policy pop up on the web called Science Debate 2008.

The effort began with "the support of almost sixty eminent scientists (including 11 Nobel laureates), business leaders, journalists and editors (including the editors in chief of both Science and Scientific American), politicians (including several members of Congress and two former Science Advisers to the President), the president of Princeton, and several presidents of large science organizations." and you can support the call by singing the petition and giving the petetion organizers your comments about the idea or questions you like to see dealt with in the debate by clicking here.

The petition which was the brainchild of Chris Mooney who described the evolution of the idea like this (from: Call for a Presidential Science Debate):

Let’s begin with some background: Nearly a month ago, I linked up with Matthew Chapman, the author, screenwriter, and great grandson of Charles Darwin. Chapman, I already knew, had a great idea that I wanted to write about in my forthcoming Seed column: A call for a debate among the current crop of presidential candidates solely devoted to issues in science and technology.

One thing led to another, and before long–along with many others, including Sheril (whose contribution has been invaluable) and Physics of Star Trek author Lawrence Krauss– I was helping Chapman organize a push to make this happen. First we got together a distinguished list of scientific luminaries, and later, we assembled a complementary blogger coalition, all in support of the following statement:

Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, we, the undersigned, call for a public debate in which the U.S. presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Medicine and Health, and Science and Technology Policy.

Sheril Kirshenbaum is a marine biologist at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and blogs with Chris Mooney over on ScienceBlogs.com in The Intersection blog. Lawrence M. Krauss (wikipedia) is Professor of Physics, Professor of Astronomy, and former Chair of the Physics Department at Case Western Reserve University and just the other day wrote this Op-Ed for the WSJ: Science and the Candidates ] and along with Chris Mooney wrote this Op-Ed for the LA Times: Make science part of the debate.

What the organizers are so far hoping to see discussed in The Debate are topics such as:

The Environment

• Climate Change
• Conservation and Species Loss
• The Future of The Oceans
• Fresh Water: Drought, Pollution, Ownership
• Population Growth and Its Effect on Environment
• Renewable Energy Research

Health and Medicine

• Global Diseases and Pandemics
• Stem Cell Research
• Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
• Drug Patents, Generic Drugs
• The Genome
• Bioethics

Science and Technology Policy

• Scientific Innovation and Economic Growth
• Improving Science Education
• Space Exploration
• Preserving Scientific Integrity in Government
• Energy Policy

So again you can support the call by singing the petition and giving the petetion organizers your comments about the idea or questions you like to see dealt with in the debate by clicking here.

I think it’s somewhat ironic that on the eve of the premier of PBS’s Nova production of Judgment Day which covers the story of the famous Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case I somehow stumbled across a collection of YouTube videos of Creationism vs. Evolution debate that William Buckley had on his excellent show Firing Line back on December 19, 1997.

The cast of debaters was impressive with four respected names representing each side. The debate was organized into a series of mini-debates, some one-on-one between two individuals, and some involving the whole group.

The subject of the debate:

Resolved: Evolution Should Acknowledge Creation

Moderator: Michael Kinsley

The Debaters:

• Pro (creationist):
  • Mr. William F. Buckley
  • Mr. Philip Johnson (lawyer, author, Darwin On Trial)
  • Dr. Michael Behe (biochemist, author, Darwin’s Black Box)
  • Dr. David Berlinski (mathematician, author, The Deniable Darwin)
• Con (evolutionist):
• Mr. Barry Lynne (Americans for the Separation of Church and State)
• Ms. Eugenie Scott (Exec. Director, National Center for Science Education)
• Dr. Michael Ruse (philosopher)
• Dr. Kenneth Miller (biologist, author, reviewed Darwin’s Black Box)

Some interesting commentary and review of the debate: PBS’s Firing Line creation/evolution debate scores well for scientific view – Public Broadcasting System.

1-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

2-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

3-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

4-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

5-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

6-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

7-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism

8-8 Evolution -VS- Creationism