Gateway Skepticism

Monday, September 1, 2008

Google Chrome

Gee, Google, what are we going to do tonight?
The same thing we do every night, Flavin. Try to take over the Internet!

On tonight's episode, Google releases a browser. Will they succeed in their plan of network domination? Watch and see!

(... I'm going to try it.)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Madden Curse

I just read a great article on the "Madden Curse." For those who don't know, every year a new edition of the football video game Madden NFL is realeased, and for ten or so years it has featured an NFL star on the cover. Over the years, some of the players appearing on the cover have gone on to be injured or have bad seasons. A rumor has grown that the cover brings a curse to any player on it, plaguing them with injuries, bad seasons, or other maladies.

Luke Plunkett writing on Kotaku has written a great breakdown of who's been on the cover every year and exactly what did or did not happen to them during that season. My favorite paragraph is this one:

...[the curse is] all based on hearsay, selective statistic cherry-picking and misinformation. When you look at two key factors - the NFL's injury rate and the actual performance of all twelve cover stars in the year they appeared on the box - you'll see the curse is nothing but a load of baloney.

That some good skeptical thinking there, something I don't normally see crossed over from my video game sites. But, then, he's an Aussie. What else would one expect?

Thursday, July 24, 2008

10 Most Scientifically Inaccurate Movies

I found this entertaining: Top 10 Scientifically Inaccurate Movies

My personal favorite is the Matrix: "Much in the way of physics in the Matrix -- like dodging bullets and running up walls -- gets a pass because it's all within a massive virtual world. But in reality, our supposed robot overlords are a bit dim. Humans are a remarkably inefficient energy source. Instead of turning the human race into Duracells, the machines would probably get more energy just setting those goopy people pods on fire."

I also think Alien should at least get a dishonorable mention.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

In Support of PZ

I'm emerging from my intermittent blogtirement to ask for a bit of advice.

You probably know of PZ Myers' recent run-in with Catholic hysteria. I'll give a brief run down anyway, more for me than for you. An undergrad in Florida went to a Catholic mass and took the Eucharist home with him rather than eating it. Catholics believe that this Eucharist becomes Jesus, so they got very upset. PZ wrote about it and tried to burst the Catholic bubble on this issue. (Note: His post is entitled "It's a Frackin' Cracker!" but you can tell he tempered his words. The URL is .../its_a_goddamned_cracker.php)

PZ's post stirred up a lot of shit. The Catholic League called for his job and organized a letter writing campaign to the UMM President Robert Bruininks to demand reprimands at the least.

PZ has asked for help in a counter-campaign to write his university President in support of his job. I'd like to write something, and I have several thoughts on what it should be about, but I'd like to have a nice, clean thesis. Any thoughts? Should I stick to the First Amendment and his rights to ridicule? Obviously I don't want to respond to the comments of the rabble, but what about Catholic League president Bill Donahue? Should I reference his arguments?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Do you think PZ was right? Do you think he was within his rights? How do you think he should handle this situation?

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

This just in: Fools. Money. Parted.

I wish there were some details as to what people think she has done. Read here.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Ewww...

In general, I think these guys have the occasional funny comic, but this one just kind of grossed me out.

Nothing even remotely kinky should be associated with that troll.

Kudos to Robert Lancaster for handling himself perfectly when confronted by that wicked woman.

Monday, June 23, 2008

George Carlin Dies at 71

He will be missed. There is a little story here. My favorite Carlin joke was about those psychos at Waco. It's goes something like "The government and religious people shooting at each other? I'm OK with that."

Here's a classic Carlin clip for you.

Feel free to leave your favorite Carlin moment below.