Conspiracy theories have long been an area of focus for skeptics.  The Illuminati, the JFK Assassination and more recently the events of 9-11 have all spawned their own.  A couple of things are happening next week to bring conspiracy theories back to the forefront here in Atlanta.

First, Atlantan Ben Ruder is promoting a sort of “conspiracy night” at the Plaza Theatre on Ponce on Tuesday, December 1st at 8 PM. The main event is a screening of John Carpenter’s cult conspiracy theory classic They Live starring none other than “Rowdy” Roddy Piper of wrestling fame. The evening will also feature a display of conspiracy-themed art in the lobby. The event is being promoted via a website that links to many conspiracy theory believer videos on YouTube. It will be interesting to see if the night is populated more with conspiracy believers or wrestling fans. (Perhaps there’s some overlap there?)

Second and more prominently, Atlanta’s own Turner Broadcasting is launching a new program dedicated to the topic, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, which premieres Wednesday, December 2 at 10 PM on truTV (formerly Court TV). Read more about the new show after the fold… » Continue reading “Apparently it is “conspiracy theory week” next week”

Hey, for all of you who don’t get to peruse your very own Ray Comfort “Banana Man” edition of  Darwin’s Orgin of Species (mine sits next to me at my desk, just in case…), you can go see an actual early edition copy without the moron creationist introduction at our very own Emory University.

ORIGIN celebrates the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.

Not unlike Darwin’s famous voyage aboard the HMS Beagle (1831 – 1836), the exhibition brings together people of diverse disciplines and presents connections between poets, scientists, scholars, thinkers and visual artists in dialogue with one another. The origin and immutable evolution of their ideas, research and creations stem from passionate and novel exploration, interpretation, translation and collaboration.

Here is more info

I’ve been to the exhibit and it is cool.  Bringing the arts and science together is a new mandate of Emory’s Center for Creativity and the Arts, and they are doing a smash up job.

My goal for this time next year is to get my own place. While I like my roommate, we’ve known each other since high school, after three years I’m ready to live alone again. While I’ve debated moving to Decatur, since many of my friends live there, and also because it feels like I’m either in Decatur or the Highlands every other weekend. However, my job is in Alpharetta. Every time I think about moving toward Decatur, the ominous thought of Atlanta traffic raises its frustratingly slow head. Because of this, I’ve zeroed into an apartment complex on Glenridge Drive between the Glenridge Connector and Roswell Road. This would give me quick access to 400 going either direction, as well as 285. I’m not sure how I feel about my potential neighbors however.

More after the break:

» Continue reading “There goes the neighborhood, maybe.”

Coming to college campus near you (and in my case outside the front door of my place of work): Banana Man!

Yes, that shining example of open-mindedness and outright intelligence, Ray Comort, and his Hollywood minion, Kirk Cameron, will be visiting and sending minions to visit, college campuses all over the country to further “educate” our college students.

Apparently there is a “new” version of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species.  Who knew Chuck would come back from the dead to write a new version, complete with an introduction by the genius Ray Comfort.  And Ray has seen fit to make sure that our college students get a free copy of this wonderfully reworked version of the Origin.

Now, I must be clear, this is an abridged version (edited by Comfort himself) and the introduction really has nothing to do with science, evolution, or reality.  It has much to do with creationism and lies spouted by Comfort to try to sway students away from the science of evolution and toward the BS known as “intelligent design.”  He goes so far as to argue that Darwin and his “theory” were to blame for such things as the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust.  Neither of which had anything to do with Darwin or the Origin of Species.

Typical low ball tactics from the ignorant duo of Comfort and Cameron.

This week Comfort, Cameron, and their minions will be visiting Emory University.  On November 19th they will be handing out free copies of the bastardized Origin around the Dobbs University Center on Emory’s campus (like I said, right outside my place of work which is in the DUC) so if you happen to be around or want to make a special trip to thwart these fools, here is some information and a response (after the fold): » Continue reading “The Banana Man is Coming, The Banana Man is Coming!”