The Cosmic Boondocks

The Cosmic Boondocks- Episode #8, May 15, 2012

Lalit — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:22:59 +0000

The Cosmic Boondocks is the podcast started by Ajita Kamal for promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India. Nirmukta hosts both open and closed hangout sessions. The time would be around 9-11 pm IST The open hangouts would be live-streamed at the facebook pages(1,2) , the blog and the channel and are often held at Google+ . And closed hangouts would be recorded,edited and composed to a podcast. To be a part of the closed hangouts send an email to editor@nirmukta.com (If you prefer, your details will be maintained confidential) with the body of the message containing Brief introduction, Key area of expertise, Other areas/related fields of interest and Time-zone(in case not IST). Your suggestions for topics of discussions are most invited. This week we interview Bill lauritzen,author of The Invention of God ,who explains how several features of religion reveal themselves to be invention of man and an outcome of attempts at understanding natural events. Bill Lauritzen is an educator, scientist, and visionary. Among his other accomplishments, Bill invented a new number system, designed a modern-day Stonehenge, called SpaceHenge, and wrote a paper explaining the value of geodesic domes. He also wrote a book about the invention of religion and mythology called,The Invention of God.

More about Bill

How to get the book

Kindle version:http://www.amazon.com/The-Invention-God-Mythology-ebook/dp/B002FB650G

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/The-Invention-God-Mythology-Religion/dp/0978754336

Blog:http://www.earth360.com/

Author FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/bill.lauritzen

Book FB Page:http://www.facebook.com/The.Invention.of.God

Music for this episode

Rising Legends, by Epic Soul Factory

Linear System, by Grendjohn

Bust This Bust That, by Professor Klig

Earth, by David Schombert

The Cosmic Boondocks- Episode #7, Feb 18, 2012

Lalit — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:38:56 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

The Cosmic Boondocks is the podcast from Nirmukta Radio, promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

After the unfortunate death of Ajita Kamal,the SENHS were stalled for some time.

Starting this Saturday, we would be hosting closed hangouts every odd saturday and
open hangouts every even Saturday here.
The time would be around 9-11 pm IST
The open hangouts would be live-streamed at the facebook pages(1,2) , the blog and the channel .
And closed hangouts would be recorded,edited and composed to a podcast.
To be a part of the closed hangouts send an email to editor@nirmukta.com (If you prefer, your details will be maintained confidential) with the body of the message containing Brief introduction, Key area of expertise, Other areas/related fields of interest and Time-zone(in case not IST).

Your suggestions for topics of discussions are most invited.

Topic for the meet on 18th was “how religion infects our lives and culture”
Guest was Darrel Ray

Darrel Ray (born 1950) is a writer and speaker on leadership and organizational development and author of two books on the topic. He is the author of the book The God Virus: How Religion Affects Our Lives and Culture and Sex & God: How Religion Distorts Sexuality . Ray is founder of the organization Recovering Religionists, a national self-help group for those leaving their religious indoctrination. In May 2011, he published the survey Sex and Secularism: What Happens When You Leave Religion?

Music for this episode

Rising Legends, by Epic Soul Factory

Linear System, by Grendjohn

Bust This Bust That, by Professor Klig

Earth, by David Schombert

The Cosmic Boondocks- Episode #6, Nov 1, 2011

Ajita Kamal — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:18:00 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

The Cosmic Boondocks is the podcast from Nirmukta Radio, promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

Starting with this episode the show will feature clips of conversations between Nirmukta members, from our SENHS (Saturday Evening Nirmukta Hangout Sessions) meets. In this week’s episode we discuss ’A Freethinker’s view on the Science and Ethics of the Environmentalism Movement’. The attendees at this meet were Bobby Krishna, Geetha T.G., Satish Chandra, Lalit Mohan Chawla and myself, Ajita Kamal.

Music for this episode

Rising Legends, by Epic Soul Factory

Linear System, by Grendjohn

Bust This Bust That, by Professor Klig

Earth, by David Schombert

The Cosmic Boondocks – Episode #5, June 21, 2011

Ajita Kamal — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:29:45 +0000

The Cosmic Boondocks is a podcast promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

Episode #5, June 21, 2011 – Shownotes

Stories:

1. Follow up on Baba Ramdev’s antics.

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/fasting-indian-yoga-guru-972877.html

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/baba-ramdev-stable-in-hospital-but-feeling-weak-doctors-say-1.820343

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/jun/110611-news-delhi-Baba-Ramdev-in-hospital-ICU.htm

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/baba-ramdev-fast-did-bjp-help-ramdev-end-fast/1/141650.html

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/dont-link-ramdev-episodeyoga-say-experts/438878/

2. Sun-spot activity decline, the Maunder Minimum and the Little Ice Age

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/14/ice_age/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2004535/The-new-Ice-Age-Climate-change-slow-sun-simmers-down.html

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/06/17/are-we-headed-for-a-new-ice-age/

3. Pseudoscientific claims about Vedic ritual, Athirathram, in Panjal, Kerala

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012502071.html

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/athirathram-begins-state-936

http://zeenews.india.com/myearth/story.aspx?aid=680260

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2103881.ece

4. Rare form of nucleotide substitution reveals new information about the genetic code

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/331345/title/Loophole_found_in_genetic_traffic_laws

Fallacy Hunt

Last week’s discussion:

http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Fallacy-Hunting-Episode-4-Science-in-the-Quran

This week’s discussion:

http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Fermented-Food-Meat-Digestion-Fallacy-Hunt

Music

Rising Legends, but Epic Soul Factory,
Chase the Vagabonds, by Heifervescent
Désaccords, by Eracilon
Hunger for Life, by The Nuri
3vs1, by Stefano Targa

All music is distributed under Creative Commons non-commercial, attribution, sharealike license.

The Cosmic Boondocks – Episode #4, June 7, 2011

Ajita Kamal — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:19:14 +0000

The Cosmic Boondocks is a podcast promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

Episode #4, June 7, 2011 – Shownotes

News Stories:

1. WHO study concludes that more study is required to establish or eliminate any link between cell phone use and cancer.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100272731>1=31036

http://www.skepticnorth.com/2011/06/cell-phones-and-wifi-and-cancer-oh-my/

2. Measuring quantum level phenomena without influencing the observations.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602153046.htm

3. Baba Ramdev’s Anti-corruption Hunger-strike – Caught between a fraud and a disgrace.

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main44.asp?filename=Ne010510politicians_should.asp

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_baba-ramdev-s-rs18-crore-fast-icus-100-cctvs-780-fans-1300-toilets_1550782

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/06/03/nine-more-things-baba-ramdev-wants/

http://www.dnaindia.com/blogs/post.php?postid=2751

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/baba-ramdev-asked-to-leave-delhi-police-crackdown-at-ramlila-ground-110200

4. New faster Solid State Drives based on phase-change technology.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110602153046.htm

5. Live fish asthma “cure”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13645211

6. High CO2 in the water causes Clown fish young to go deaf

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531201221.htm

Fallacy Hunt:

Last week’s fallacies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equivocation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_of_necessity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_of_the_single_cause

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/resources/logicalfallacies.aspx

http://www.fosterswift.com/news-publications-Hospice-hospice-care-palliative-care.html

This week’s clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmE6LrztFnw#t=00m24s

This week’s discussion thread on the forums:

http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Fallacy-Hunting-Episode-4-Science-in-the-Quran

Music:

Rising Legends, but Epic Soul Factory,

Murder, by Mujaji

Celt, by Nadiejda

Diablo Swing Orchestra, by Ballrog Boogie

Bling Bling, by Les Pieds Dans L’Herbe

All music is distributed under Creative Commons non-commercial, attribution, sharealike license.

The Cosmic Boondocks – Episode #3, May 29, 2011

Ajita Kamal — Tue, 31 May 2011 00:48:10 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

The Cosmic Boondocks is a podcast promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

Episode #3 (29/5/2011) Shownotes

Stories:

1. 5-year long experiment confirms that dark energy is constant throughout the universe.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/galex/galex20110519.html

2. More Americans are praying for health.

http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/rel-3-2-67.pdf

3. More water on the moon than previously thought.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-05-moon-interior-earth-upper-mantle.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110526141400.htm

4. Naadi Jyothidam.

Sun TV expose. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mrup498kbQ

Prof Nayak’s article: http://nirmukta.com/2008/10/30/the-exact-science-of-nadi-jothidam/

Cold reading: http://www.skepdic.com/coldread.html

5. Drug helps reduce stress associated with bad memories by affecting recall of negative memories.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/05/27/drug-metyrapone-to-erase-bad-memories/26532.html

Announcements:

1. Prof. Nayak’s talk on rationalism to 100 children at Belthangady near Mangalore.

2. Links to previous visits by professor Nayak, for training programs in rational thinking for faculty of Periyar Maniammai University, Vallam.
http://nirmukta.com/2011/03/06/rationalist-club-of-periyar-maniammai-university-trichy-tamil-nadu-india/

http://nirmukta.com/2011/04/03/second-rationalist-programme-at-periyar-maniammai-university-vallam-trichy-tamil-nadu/

Quiz:

Last week’s question: When was rice first cultivated in India?

Answer, ~ 4000 years ago.

http://www.pnas.org/content/108/20/8351.abstract

This week, fallacy hunting:

Deepak Chopra:

Discuss here: http://nirmukta.net/Thread-What-fallacy-ies-do-you-think-apply-to-this-sentence-by-Chopra

Music:

Rising legends, by Epic Soul Factory
Warrior of the light, by David Palmero
Cherubs, by Josh Woodward
Tout sera plus comme avant, by OST
Corri, by Talco
8 Noves Fora, by Camerata Brasileira
Jim & Ruth, by The Wind Whistles

All music is distributed under Creative Commons non-commercial, attribution, sharealike license.

The Cosmic Boondocks – Episode #2, May 22, 2011

Ajita Kamal — Sun, 22 May 2011 13:30:46 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

The Cosmic Boondocks is a podcast promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

Episode #2 (22/5/2011) Shownotes

News Stories:

1. The End of the World:

Harold Camping and his Family Radio organization, on Judgment Day: May 21, 2011.

2. Yoga can help fight breast cancer

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Yoga-helps-fight-breast-cancer-say-scientists/Article1-699620.aspx

3. Ramdev’s quackery; near-death by asphyxiation:

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/15/2011051620110516033811382ad49a8b/Baba-Ramdev%E2%80%99s-cure-for-hair-loss-blocks-woman%E2%80%99s-food-pipe.html

CDSCO: http://cdsco.nic.in/html/Drugs_ContAd.html

4. Indian government to link caste, religion to poverty survey:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-19/india/29559870_1_caste-enumeration-bpl-census-obc

Science News:

1. Elective amputation for bionic limb.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13273348

2. Endeavor carrying microbes to space station to test theory that alien life may have spawned life on earth:

Pictures of the “Ring of Fire” from the Endeavor launch: http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2011/05/17/space-shuttle-launch/

3. Potentially the first habitable exoplanet identified:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516080124.htm

Superstition of the week:

Clipping your nails at night can bring bad luck.

Quiz:

When was rice first cultivated in India?

Music:

Rising Legends, by Epic Soul Factory

I thought of you, by Maria Montilla

Built to last, by Fall Walk Run

Androzo, by Dudledrum

Gotas de nectar, by Thisan

What you want is lost, by Orphan Songs

People need people, by Kachkin

Strutin, by Tyrad

David and Goliath, by Wooden Legs

All music is distributed under Creative Commons non-commercial, attribution, sharealike license.

The Cosmic Boondocks- Episode #1, May 15, 2011

Ajita Kamal — Sun, 15 May 2011 12:28:42 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

The Cosmic Boondocks is a podcast promoting science, freethought and humanistic values in India.

Episode #1 (15/5/2011) Shownotes

News Stories:

1. Sai Baba’s Death:

http://nirmukta.com/2011/04/16/the-bhagwan-of-puttaparthi/

http://www.gurusfeet.com/blog/controversy-about-sathya-sai-baba-039-s-death-date-etc

http://robertpriddy.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/sai-baba-prediction-of-his-death/

2. God’s banks In UP:

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/05/06/idINIndia-56818720110506

3. USCIRF puts India on religious extremism watch list:

http://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/uscirf-in-the-news/3616-5022011-india-on-us-watch-list-cath-news-india.html

4. National Technology Day:

http://in.news.yahoo.com/former-president-kalam-presents-national-awards-technology-day-154823826.html

5. Lisa Burke Lakshmi

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-12/shows/29535356_1_swimwear-hindu-sentiments-collection

Science stories

1. Ozone hole is getting smaller faster than predicted.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/74280/title/Ozone_hole_on_the_mend

2. Einstein’s General Relativity holds for large scales such as galaxies and super clusters.

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100310/full/news.2010.113.html

3. Harbor seals used whiskers to determine the size and shape of objects.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/science/17obseals.html

4. Tasmanian Tiger extinction news.

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/04/29/rsbl.2011.0364

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/science/10obtasmania.html?ref=science

Superstition of the week

Fear of Friday the 13th.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Quiz question

When is National Science Day in India, and what is its significance?

Music:

Rising Legends, by Epic Soul Factory

Get back in line, by Julandrew

Painted Dream, by The Green Waltz

Tortuga, by Talco

Sitarial, by DJad

Grandmaster Turtle, by Anitek

Pueblo Duerme, by La Barca De Sua

Between Light and Shadow, by Triplexity

Je cherche Mon Chemin, by Et Pourtant

All music is distributed under Creative Commons non-commercial, attribution, sharealike license.

Nirmukta Radio Podcast Episode 5 – Hemant Mehta, Narendra Nayak, Rakshi Rath

Ajita Kamal — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:50:39 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

Episode 5 of the Nirmukta Radio Podcast features two pre-recorded online conversations that I put together. The first one is between myself and a couple of activists in India- Prof. Narendra Nayak, the president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations and Rakshi Rath, a co-editor at Nirmukta. Professor Nayak talks about his tours and recent television appearances. We also discuss a couple of contentious topics that came up on the forums. The audio quality of this first conversation is pretty bad because of the technical limitations (on the India side of the conversation, me being in the US at present) that we were working with. We are terribly sorry about the quality of this first part of the podcast. The second conversation is between myself and Hemant Mehta, the author of I Sold My Soul On Ebay and creator and author of the Friendly Atheist blog. Hemant and I talk about his work with the Secular Student Alliance (he was the Chair of the Board of Directors at the time of the recording), an organization who’s mission, according to the website, is as follows :

This episode of Nirmukta Radio will be the last of this series. I’ve had a blast recording my conversations with the leaders of the Freethought movement, putting them into the podcast format and bringing them to the Freethought community in India. But it is time for the podcast to grow and represent what Nirmukta has grown into. Starting next month, September 2010, we will be posting a new series of Nirmukta Radio Podcasts, featuring an entire team of panelists and a new and exciting podcast format. We will discuss news and opinion on the issues that relate to science, skepticism, atheism etc.

Thank you for listening to the Nirmukta Radio Podcast. Nirmukta Radio is a production of Nirmukta.com. Music is Te Laudant by Cryptocrat.

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-437a218916e14ccc61b5874d27953487}

Nirmukta Radio Podcast Episode #4: Interview – Blair Scott, Affiliate Director for American Atheists

Ajita Kamal — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:03:22 +0000

Subscribe to Nirmukta Radio

Blair Scott is the Affiliate Director for American Atheists, an organization founded in 1963 by Madalyn Murray O’Hair to fight for separation of Church and State and equal rights for Atheists in the US. He is also the Alabama State Director for American Atheists. Blair’s activism in the Freethought movement is not limited to his work with AA. He is also the Press Relations Director of the North Alabama Freethought Association, and has been a prominent figure in Alabama Freethought circles since he founded the organization in 2002. He uses the internet extremely effectively as a promotion tool, through social media such as facebook, twitter and myspace, as well as through his own website, alabamaatheist.org. Blair has been one of the most vocal Atheist activists in America and is widely recognized for his work in promoting Atheist and Freethought causes both online and off.

This interview covers everything from Blair’s early brush with religion and his experiences as an atheist in the US navy, to his current work in Atheist activism and his multi-dimensional approach towards promoting freethought. Blair Scott’s experience in Atheist PR makes him a valuable source of information for our quest to promote Freethought in India.

Nirmukta Radio is a production of Nirmukta.com. The host is Ajita Kamal and the music is Te Laudant by Cryptocrat