Atheism and the Stock Market

Not many people combine these 2 subjects.

Nassim Taleb is a controversial but influential and entertaining intellectual whose views on probability and 'decision-making under uncertainty' are outlined in his best-selling book 'The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable'.

In this short clip he derides those skeptics who criticise religion on rational grounds while putting their faith in the stockmarket.

A full version of the lecture which was presented as part of a Long Now Foundation series is available here - but you might want to hunker down for it, it's an hour and half long.

Controversy at the Royal Society

On a more serious note (and in case you missed it) there has been controversy this week at the Royal Society, the oldest scientific society in existence, after an article in the Guardian claims that the Education Director Professor Michael Reis had called for Creationism to be taught in schools. Michael Reis claims he was misrepresented in a subsequent letter to the editor but apparently he has since resigned from his post anyway. Now, Richard Dawkins enters the debate.

On a related theme, Humanists are currently suing the UK's government's exam agency over its decision to prevent a board giving humanism equal status to faiths in a religious education GCSE.

A 'Secret' Eco-Village

The only reason I've posted this is because part of me wants to live here (and have a beard).

For five happy years they enjoyed simple lives in their straw and mud huts.

Generating their own power and growing their own food, they strived for self-sufficiency and thrived in homes that looked more suited to the hobbits from The Lord of the Rings.

Then a survey plane chanced upon the 'lost tribe'... and they were plunged into a decade-long battle with officialdom.

Read all about it.