28.3.07

Picture of the Day



A bizarre six-sided feature encircling the north pole of Saturn near 78 degrees north latitude has been spied by the visual and infrared mapping spectrometer on NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Cool, non?

22.3.07

Rumsfeld

Is being feted by the Claremont Institute as it's 'Statesman of the Year'.

Harper and Quebec

It seems that Harper has the same problem all other Federal politicians do when it comes to Quebec. He just can't give them money fast enough.

Three Short Films about Saturn


Courtesy of the New Scientist, are these three short films of Saturn.

Picture of the Day


Japan's telescope 'Hinode' captures this awesome view of the sun.

14.3.07

Just in case his Klingon constituents vote...

Click here to see Finnish politician Jyrki Kasvi's website, translated into Klingon.

From his website:

Translation to non-warriors
Policy-maker Kasvi

My name is Jyrki J. J. Kasvi and I participate in Finland's High Council. There I represent the Green League.

I strongly trust in love. I want to improve the world, challenge standards, and add new ideas when policies are being debated. These ideas are interesting to me: information society, the status of working procedures, university policy, and courage to invent; I also consider all people having identical possibilities and difference being tolerated.



Nerds. We're here, and we're running for public office!



Support Lord Black

It's just like 'Vote for Rory' except that in this case your vote is to support an ego-maniacal plutocrat accused of looting his own companies, having the political convictions of Attilla the Hun, and the moral compass of Darth Vader on a coke bender.

Ok, so it's nothing like 'Vote for Rory'.

13.3.07

The Secular Menace

It seems the US now has at least one openly atheist member of congress.

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or throw up.

9.3.07

Neo Vs Robocop

The Rise of the Machines


From 'The Philosophy Magazine' an article on how primitive consciousness is evolving in robots.

"
Their aim is to build the next-generation robot for NASA to send to Mars or its outer moons. Given the vast distance between Mars and the Earth, a robot that can continue its mission even if it loses a limb, or encounters some other unforeseen event, without the need for further instructions, would be a great asset. This is the advantage of the Bongard Lipson Zykov robot; it is able to carry out self-awareness tests and keep track of its own functions and abilities."

I for one, welcome our robot overlords.

7.3.07

Oh, Alberta

Clearly, with Harper in power, the Tories ascendant, and the confusion exhibited by the Liberals, it's time for a right of centre Federalist party to advocate for Alberta.

Sigh.

'Cosmos' for Rednecks

Short, sweet and hilarious!

I gotta get to Drumheller so I can see what a 'Jesus-a-saurus' looks like!

5.3.07

Quote of the Day

Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today - but the core of science fiction, its essence has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.
Isaac Asimov

2.3.07

Political Theatre

Best. (NDP) Press conference. Ever.

(via Calgary Grit)

Shriekback - Nemesis

One of the all-time best 80's songs, has one of the all-time worst videos.

Enjoy!

Quote of the Day

"You know we're doing a bad job of communicating our own message when we're losing the propaganda war to people who cut other people's heads off on camera."

- Evan Kohlman of CTB

Associated Press breaks Paris Hilton news blackout

Why? Why? The blackout was going SO WELL!

Money quote:

"It was only meant to be a weeklong ban -- not the boldest of journalistic initiatives, and one, we realized, that might seem hypocritical once it ended. And it wasn't based on a view of what the public should be focusing on -- the war in Iraq, for example, or the upcoming election of the next leader of the free world, as opposed to the doings of a partygoing celebrity heiress/reality TV star most famous for a grainy sex video. No, editors just wanted to see what would happen if we didn't cover this media phenomenon, this creature of the Internet gossip age, for a full week. After that, we'd take it day by day. Would anyone care? (
NO!) Would anyone notice? (NO!) And would that tell us something interesting? (YES, we are bored to tears of Paris Hilton, PLEASE MAKE HER STOP!!)"

(All items in parenthesis are my additions - Cameron)

Proof that a week without Paris Hilton is like a week without the Ebola virus.

Spartans and Covenant oh my!


Halo 3 is coming! Trailer here!


1.3.07

Inside Credulity - Heff's Blog

Another of my friends gets into the blogging gig...his insights are now available at Inside Credulity

I've added his blog to my 'friends' list at the left under 'Heff'

Go visit him and give him some love!

Also, check out the new home he and his lovely wife Nicole are building together!

Harris V Prager

Sam Harris in another debate, this time with rabid weirdo Dennis Prager. The tenor, substance and argument of this debate differs greatly from the one with Andrew Sullivan. Whereas Sully and Harris was in good spirits, without rancor, and with a real desiret open a dialogue between two opposing positions, this is more or less an obliteration of Prager's nonsense by Harris.

My favourite quote so far...

"
Atheism does not assert that “it is all made by chance.” No one knows why the universe came into being. Most scientists readily admit their ignorance on this point. Religious believers do not. One of the extraordinary ironies of religious discourse can be seen in the frequency with which people of faith praise themselves for their humility, while condemning scientists and other nonbelievers for their intellectual arrogance."- Harris