Saturday, October 01, 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

The Santa Delusion: Why 'Religion Is Useful' Is a Terrible Argument For Religion

The Santa Delusion: Why 'Religion Is Useful' Is a Terrible Argument For Religion

The argument from utility -- the defense of religion, not because it's true, but because it's psychologically or socially useful -- is freakishly common.

"But religion is useful. It makes people happy. It comforts people in hard times. It makes people better-behaved. And losing religious faith can be traumatic. So what difference does it make if it isn't true? Shouldn't we be perpetuating it anyway -- or at least leaving it alone? Why do you want to persuade people out of it?" More here.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Reel China: Targets an elusive film fan — the Chinese American

China Lions

Masanobu Ando as "The Chef" in the movie "The Butcher, The Chef and the Swordsman" from China Lion Film Distribution and Fox International Productions. (China Lion Film)

For years, Chinese films shown in U.S. theaters have fallen into two distinct camps, both driven by largely white patrons: martial-arts movies for young men, such as Jet Li's "Hero," or critically acclaimed art-house fare, such as Kaige Chen's "Farewell My Concubine." More here.

"No more time-travel drama", authority says it disrespects history

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From QQ:

Now there’s an interesting trend in China’s film and television industry: more and more time-travel themed dramas are made and aired. In these time-travel based TV plays, usually the protagonist is from the modern time and for some reasons and via some means, travels through time and all the way back to the ancient China where he/she will constantly experience the "culture shock" but gradually get used to it and eventually develop a romance in that era. Though obviously the Chinese audience is found of this genre of shows, the country’s authority -General Bureau of Radio, Film and Television, to be exact, is not happy about this trend and calls a halt to the making of this type of drama. More here.

Stop the Meddling: Incorporate Your Uterus Today!

Isn’t it interesting how Republican politicians are so eager to get regulators out of corporate boardrooms and into women’s bedrooms? More here!

Kim Jae Wook and Kim Dong Wan to star in musical, “Hedwig”

Kim Jae Wook and Kim Dong Wan to star in musical, “Hedwig”

Kim Dong-wan of Shinhwa and model-turned-actor Kim Jae-wook will take the stage as a transgender rock singer in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” from May. More here.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Neanderthals cooked and ate vegetables

NEANDERTHAL Hunter, gatherer, vegetarian masterchef?

Neanderthals cooked and ate plants and vegetables, a new study of Neanderthal remains reveals.

Researchers in the US have found grains of cooked plant material in their teeth. More here.

Political views 'hard-wired' into your brain

Tories may be born not made, claims a study that suggests people with right wing views have a larger area of the brain associated with fear.

Political views 'hard-wired' into your brain
The brains of MPs and students were examined Photo: CORBIS
5:00PM GMT 28 Dec 2010
Scientists have found that people with conservative views have brains with larger amygdalas, almond shaped areas in the centre of the brain often associated with anxiety and emotions. More here.

Deadman-Follow the night light PV

hide w/ L7 - Eyes Love You (live POP JAM 1993.08.11)

A quarter of young men 'won't take no for an answer when it comes to sex'

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:00 PM on 17th November 2010

  • 40% of young people pressured into sex they did want
  • 1 in 5 men aged 18-25 expect to have sex after kissing

A quarter of young men don't believe it is rape if a woman says no to sex and the man continues anyway, shock new figures suggested today. More here.

16 of the Dumbest Things Americans Believe -- And the Right-Wing Lies Behind Them

We’ve gone beyond Stephen Colbert's' truthiness' into a 'truth-be-damned' environment.

Americans are often misinformed, occasionally downright dumb, and easily misled by juicy-sounding rumors. But while the right wing is taking full advantage of this reality, the Left worries that calling out lies is "rude." More here.

Soft Ballet