It’s really not surprising that the god-fearing Daily Mail has taken this approach to the BA “cross-banning” story. And it was obvious that they would side with the Archbishop of York. But what I do find surprising is that they feel the need to point out that Dr Sentamu is Ugandan. I’ve thought about it… Continue reading Nonsense
Author: Dave Cross
Creationist Lobbying
Tom Watson reports that he has been sent a DVD by a group of creationist nutters (that’s probably a tautology isn’t it?) which he assumes has been sent to all MPs. Apparently it’s sent from the people at creationresearch.net and the covering letter includes the following: I have yet to find any credible examples of… Continue reading Creationist Lobbying
Geo-Coding the UK
I’m currently building a web site that will involve plotting the positions of buildings onto maps. I’m going to be using Google maps for that. Unfortunately, the data that I need to plot is a list of postcodes and as far as I can see, the best way to plot stuff on a Google map… Continue reading Geo-Coding the UK
Shooting the Messenger
I was going to write something about Matthew Taylor’s little tantrum about blogs. But I see that Rachel has already said everything I would say – and far more eloquently that I would say it.
Web Petitions
The new petitions site that MySociety have set up is a really good idea, but I hope that it doesn’t get so overwhelmed with petitions that it’s hard to find what you’re looking for. It seems that every time I look at the list, there are more petitions that I want to sign. Here are… Continue reading Web Petitions
Bye-Bye Backing Blair
The Backing Blair campaign is closing down. The closing statement that is now on the front page of their web site says this: Right now, at every level of politics, people can be split into two groups: Those who feel distanced from politics and/or helpless to change matters because of a growing culture of obfuscation… Continue reading Bye-Bye Backing Blair
Thin End of the Wedge
I’ve been mostly happy with my bank, First Direct since I started banking with them about seventeen years ago. So it’s a bit disappointing to see that they are the first bank to break ranks and start charging certain customers for banking with them. Under these new rules, it looks like I won’t be charged… Continue reading Thin End of the Wedge
Windows Refund
I thought that the Windows refund campaign had died in 1999. But the BBC are reporting that a Sheffield man has got a refund of £55.23 from Dell by refusing to accept the standard Windows licence that came with his new PC and installing Linux on it instead. PC manufacturers like Dell have a deal… Continue reading Windows Refund
Creationist Museum
Oh, and whilst we’re talking about creationist loonies, the Guardian has a report from the Creation Museum which will open next year in Kentucky. The Creation Museum – motto: “Prepare to Believe!” – will be the first institution in the world whose contents, with the exception of a few turtles swimming in an artificial pond,… Continue reading Creationist Museum
Planet Earth
Writing in yesterday’s Times, A A Gill put his finger on a problem that has been bothering me about the BBC’s latest wildlife extravaganza – Planet Earth. For a science programme, it has very little science in it. The factual content is now virtually nil, just scene-setting and needless telling you what you’re seeing. There… Continue reading Planet Earth