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Archive for February, 2012

Ron Paul: Liberty or Tyranny

February 15, 2012 2 comments

(Originally Published in the UCC Express in February 2012)

It’s somewhat difficult to believe that Barrack Obama won the U.S presidential election in November of 2008. This difficulty arises because it seems as if it was just yesterday that it happened. Time has a nasty habit of doing that; passing by at a rate so fast that the next thing you know, there’s another election looming. Obama personified hope during the 2008 election campaign and he marketed it as such, as that’s what the U.S presidential elections boil down to: marketing. Everyone believed in this concept called “change” that he promised he would bring to the U.S political landscape. His followers were fanatical in their devotion with “Yes We Can” becoming their mantra, which if they repeated often enough, would ensure that the opponents of their idol were crushed. Well now, just over three years later, there appears to be another man who has captured the collective imagination of the voters across the Atlantic. The man in question is of course, Ron Paul.

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Science and Non-Science: Relief from Belief (Christopher Hitchens Remembrance and Tribute 31/1/12)

February 4, 2012 1 comment

Here is the thirteenth show of Science and Non-Science: Relief from Belief in which I talk about Christopher Hitchens, who passed away on the 15/12/11. I talk about his life and rise to prominence interspersed with some clips, taken from different sources, of Hitchens himself.

The song at the start of the show is A Wave of Reason by Symphony of Science.

Click on the player below to listen.


Science and Non-Science: Relief from Belief (Evolution and Debunking Creationism 24/1/12)

February 4, 2012 1 comment

Here is the twelfth show of Science and Non-Science: Relief from Belief in which I talk about Evolution and debunking Creationism and Intelligent Design. This episode is follow-on from the previous episode.

The song at the start of the show is A Glorious Dawn by Symphony of Science.

Click on the player below to listen.


Science and Non-Science: Relief from Belief (Creationism 17/1/12)

February 3, 2012 1 comment

Here is the eleventh show of Science and Non-Science: Relief from Belief in which I talk about Creationism. To be precise, I talk about what Creationism and Intelligent Design are, the main beliefs and proponents along with some recent developments regarding the issue. This episode is followed up in the next episode.

The song at the start of the show is Children of Africa (The Story of Us) by Symphony of Science.

Click on the player below to listen.


Tunisia, One Year On

February 1, 2012 Leave a comment

(Originally Published in the UCC Express in February 2012)

Just over one year ago, on January 14th 2011, Tunisia finally managed to oust presidential despot, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, after a relatively short but explosive struggle. His regime came crashing down around him as the Tunisians revolted in a way not seen in 30 or so years. His fifth term as president came to an inglorious end, after he rose to the position in the aftermath of “the medical coup d’état” or the “Jasmine Revolution”, with Ben Ali of course preferring the latter term, in 1987. The incident which provided the metaphorical and literal spark for the uprising was the self-immolation of 26 year old street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi. He had been harassed by the local police and bureaucrats for years with the climax of this abuse being reached on December 17th 2010 when his cart and produce, his only source of income, were confiscated by the local authorities. Bouazizi’s family have also claimed that he was verbally abused by a local female municipal official who spat in his face and tossed aside his cart before it was confiscated. The latter incident has been disputed and we will probably never know exactly what happened, but what happened next is something which will be recorded for decades to come. He ran to the Governor’s office seeking the restitution of his goods where upon the Governor ignored him. Bouazizi then went to a local gas station, filled up a gas canister and then returned to the Governor’s building. He stood in the middle of traffic, doused himself in petrol, shouted out “How do you expect me to make a living?” and set himself alight.

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