Daylight Atheism » Media

Update on Fort Worth Bus Ads

Ebonmuse — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:17:27 +0000

I have a short update on the atheist ad campaign running on Fort Worth buses. In my last post, I mentioned that a coalition of city pastors were furious over the ads and tried to organize a boycott. (Would it help to tell them that this is how atheists feel all the time? Probably not.)

The boycott appears to have gone nowhere fast, but ... [visit site to read more]

Atheists Don't Debate (Except When We Do)

Ebonmuse — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:52:08 +0000

A Review of When Atheism Becomes Religion, Part II

In chapter 3, Hedges gives a two-and-a-half-page-long excerpt of a debate he had with Sam Harris at UCLA in May 2007, moderated by the columnist Robert Scheer, about whether Islam encourages suicide bombing:

HARRIS: OK, well, let me deal with your taking the measure of the Muslim world. Happily we do not assess public opinion by having New York Times journalists go out and live in the Muslim world and make friends and ... [visit site to read more]

The Bechdel Test for Religion

Ebonmuse — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:52:46 +0000

If you're an informed observer of media, you may have heard of the so-called Bechdel test, popularized by cartoonist Alison Bechdel, that's used to judge the female-friendliness of movies and other media. For a movie to pass this test, it has to have:

(1) two or more female characters;
(2) who talk to each other;
(3) about something other than a man.

Despite this being such a low hurdle - it ... [visit site to read more]

Find Me in Free Inquiry

Ebonmuse — Mon, 17 May 2010 01:58:20 +0000

By Ebonmuse

Before my flight leaves, I'm just dropping by to post a quick note: the newest (June/July 2010) issue of Free Inquiry magazine contains an original article by me, "Diplomats and Rabble-Rousers". The article discusses my views on the New Atheist movement and those who criticize it, pointing out that our accommodationist opponents are overlooking a basic lesson from history about what makes social reform movements successful. Go check it out! I'll post a web link at a ... [visit site to read more]

The Science Gap

Ebonmuse — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:02:00 +0000

While we're on the topic of science and the public, I came across another opinion poll worth mentioning: a survey released this month by Pew, Public Praises Science; Scientists Fault Public, Media, which analyzes how the public views scientific achievement and what professional scientists think of how their work is covered in the media (HT: visit site to read more]

Science Needs Good PR

Ebonmuse — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:49:00 +0000

My recent post on Project Steve brought several comments arguing that it's pointless to take a survey of scientists, like this one from Freidenker:

Frankly, I have no idea whatsoever how many scientists accept or reject evolution, and furthermore - it doesn't matter: even if all scientists all over the world rejected evolution, the evidence for evolution is still there.

...to really survey the ... [visit site to read more]

New Post on Dangerous Intersection

Ebonmuse — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:55:04 +0000

I've put up a new post on Dangerous Intersection, "A 24-hour news network lineup I’d like to see".

This is an open ... [visit site to read more]

Elizabeth Dole's Campaign Manager: We Regret Nothing

Ebonmuse — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:45:01 +0000

Regular readers of Daylight Atheism may recall how this site became involved in the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina last October. Trailing in the polls and running low on money, Republican senator Elizabeth Dole visit site to read more]

Fertile Soil

Ebonmuse — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:17:12 +0000

We've arranged a global civilization in which most crucial elements - transportation, communications, and all other industries; agriculture, medicine, education, entertainment, protecting the environment; and even the key democratic institution of voting - profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later ... [visit site to read more]

Daylight Atheism in the News

Ebonmuse — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:31:11 +0000

I just have to boast: I'm on TV!

Well, sort of, anyway. Daylight Atheism commenter RiddleOfSteel has brought to my attention this clip, in which Richard Dawkins is interviewed for the Canadian TV program The Agenda. As we all know by now, my essay "The New Ten Commandments" is quoted in Dr. Dawkins' ... [visit site to read more]

New Post on Dangerous Intersection

Ebonmuse — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:14:46 +0000

I've put up a new post on Dangerous Intersection, "The traditional media is dying".

This is an open thread. Comments and discussion are ... [visit site to read more]

TV Review: Planet Earth

Ebonmuse — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:15:08 +0000

I recently finished watching Planet Earth, the award-winning BBC nature documentary series narrated by David Attenborough. As its title implies, Planet Earth is an effort of considerable ambition: the filmmakers set out to produce a series that would provide a survey of our world's natural grandeur and biodiversity. To a remarkable extent, I think they succeeded. Of course the full richness of Earth's biosphere could not be exhaustively chronicled, but this series touches on many ... [visit site to read more]