Technorati Profile

I don't use it much, but that's where to find me.

Tomorrow night is Skeptics in the Pub again; our speaker is Julian Baggini.

Come along, it's a good, mind-stretching night out. With beer. :¬)

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Julian Baggini is a philosopher, writer and journalist. He was awarded a PhD from University College London for his thesis on the philosophy of personal identity in 1996. He then went on to found The Philosophers' Magazine with Jeremy Stangroom, supporting himself with jobs that included teaching and, increasingly, journalism and writing.

He has authored, co-authored and co-edited several books. Among the most significant of these was his first major trade book, Making Sense: Philosophy Behind the Headines and the textbook he co-authored with Peter S. Fosl, The Philosophers' Toolkit, which went through several reprints in its first year. The Pig that Wants to be Eaten became a popular science best seller and his latest book is Welcome to Everytown, which charts six months in a "typical" English town.

Julian is increasingly in demand as a journalist and commentator, writing for The Guardian, for BBC News Online, Prospect, Times Education Supplement, the Observer and New Humanist, among others. He makes regular appearances on national radio and television.

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Being sceptical of scepticism: Ways of being wrong.

John Stuart Mill once said, "In all intellectual debates, both sides tend to be correct in what they affirm, and wrong in what they deny." He was wrong in what he affirmed, but right in what he denied, namely that people are usually wholly right or wrong. To undertake a sensitive critique of any belief, it is important to be very clear not just about the literal content of the belief in question, but what lies behind it and motivates it. Although some beliefs are just irredeemably batty, many wrong beliefs mask valuable truths. A scepticism which fails to save these from the wreckage of critique is an impoverished one. In my talk, I will attempt to outline some of the ways in which scepticism can fail to see the coal for the dirt.

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http://skeptic.org.uk/pub/index.html

Current Music: Sofaspace - www.sofaspace.ch (Swiss ambient net.radio)

Boy, am I getting tired of customised profiles that are a rat's breakfast of the worst abominations of HTML since 1996. I am also getting pretty fed up of random strangers asking to Add me. They can if they like; I'm only likely to Add people back if I actually *know* them. Preferably IRL.

This isn't the blog - I've already said that. There's also a new microblog at Twitter: http://twitter.com/lproven .

However, as far as the social-networking thing goes, if you want to contact me, try through Facebook. I'm "Liam Proven" over there. Myspace is slow, unresponsive, poorly-designed and implemented, full of /dreadful/ web "design" and generally a bit of a pain. If you want me, go look on Facebook from now on.

It figures. This bank hol weekend, I've got little on - but next weekend I'm triple-booked.

However, tonight, folks, in association with the Irrepressible Ed "Mr Flay" Wills, come along to the splendiferous

House of Wheat's Burning Love Masked Ball!

I shall be assisting Mr Wills in his famed escapology act in the capacity of announced, introducer or barker, call it what you will. I hope than an inability to walk in more than a pained shuffle will merely add atmosphere.

For what? JETS! What's that? Read on...

I have finally finished the layout of my Norwegian trip travelogue. It comes in as a rollicking 42MB PDF. I'm trying to get it hosted online, but in the meantime, if you'd like a copy, email me or text me (07939 087884) & I'll try to work out a way of getting it to you.

What's this about? Well, it is, in theory, a showcase for my writing skills, 'cos I'm running for JETS, a fan fund to send someone to Japan for the Worldcon in Yokohama in August. Go download a form and vote for me! It'll only cost you a few quid...

More about JETS.

If you've already pledged a vote to someone else, I would be very grateful for your 2nd or 3rd place selections!

Ad for the French version of "March of the Penguins". They're Emperor penguins, you see...

This is the funniest thing I think I have ever seen on YouTube so far. Recommended!

My ex Rachel now has her own Myspace...

http://www.myspace.com/rachelhayward

Go have a listen to her steel drum stuff. It's not what you'd expect.

In other news, I'm on the Inquirer again:

http://theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36685

& I have a new tech blog on Daniweb, too:

http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/blog138256.html

Well, now I really am single. I've also just been dumped and my house has been robbed. So, things are not so good.

Still, chin up... [Sigh]

Smegging MySpace says I'm 39 already! Well, it ain't so! Not for... ooh... More than 12 hours yet!

And is there any way to remove my "starsign" from my info? I don't believe in that load of superstitious old cobblers...

It's about time for one of my increasingly-regular steps off the
wagon, as on this coming Wednesday evening (the 8th) I shall be
celebrating turning 39.

I shall be doing this from 6pm in the Lowlander Café in Covent Garden.
I've booked a table; it should be just inside the door on the left
hand side, where there's a sort of alcove that I should have to
myself.

Details, directions and so on are on LJ here.

All welcome. I've told them to expect a dozen or so people but lots
more would be good! Just don't expect me to be terribly coherent by
the end of the evening.

My apologies if you've seen this before elsewhere - I am cross-posting
it all over the shop furiously in an effort to get it seen by as many
friends as possible. Feel free to pass it on if I've missed anyone!