The latest “ordinary person” singing sensation

Perhaps you remember Paul Potts, the singing mobile phone salesman? Now there's singer Susan Boyle, who did her training in a small village pub (when she wasn't taking care of her sick mother), but who is now a household name in British television. I do love these occasions where ordinary folks (especially ordinary-looking folks) are discovered for their special talents. The embed codes have been turned off on these youtubes, so you'll need to click on through.

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My hat is off to Danny MacAskill for his bicycle skills

I can't say that I've ever tried (or even imagined) these stunts. Danny's Youtube commentary states "Without a doubt, this video pushes the envelope of what is perceived as possible on a trials bike." Yep, especially those lonnnggg drops. He must really open the eyes of the folks walking around Edinburgh.

Continue ReadingMy hat is off to Danny MacAskill for his bicycle skills

What are the teabag protests really about?

What are the teabag protests really about? Their message is so incredibly incoherent, that it's clear that these sparsely-attended "protests" weren't really about what they were supposedly about, at least for many of the protesters. Therefore, we need to explore the subterranean reasons. On Keith Olberman's show, Janeane Garofalo suggests that what really upsets the teabaggers is that there is a black man in White House. With her theory, Garofalo is echoing one of my suspicions. And check out the blogger who took the microphone at one of the protests and had the protesters eating out of his hand, to demonstrate the incoherence.

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NCSE has now signed up more than 1,000 Scientists named Steve.

The National Center for Science Education has now signed up more than 1,000 scientists named "Steve." Here's the petition that all 1082 Scientist Steves have signed:

Evolution is a vital, well-supported, unifying principle of the biological sciences, and the scientific evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the idea that all living things share a common ancestry. Although there are legitimate debates about the patterns and processes of evolution, there is no serious scientific doubt that evolution occurred or that natural selection is a major mechanism in its occurrence. It is scientifically inappropriate and pedagogically irresponsible for creationist pseudoscience, including but not limited to "intelligent design," to be introduced into the science curricula of our nation's public schools.

Continue ReadingNCSE has now signed up more than 1,000 Scientists named Steve.