You can't please everyone- and I guess it's still news to most people in this country that religion is just a big ritualistic superstition- but what's really new here or in Shermer's book?

For instance- is there anything surprising that I won't have read in Dennett's latest book- or for that matter in Shermer's numerous other books on religion and science?

Is there anything in the book that I wouldn't be able to find out in less time and for less money on a good website devoted to evolution? Probably not.

I too like Shermer (when he's not being too facile), but can't he write a book on gardening, or the PowerPuff Girls or something- anything- else for a change?

This article is embarrassingly dumb. Astrology has no more predictive power than looking at chicken entrails- as if you needed me to tell you that. This isn't my opinion- this is the result of all proper double blind tests- and if it could be shown to work then James Randi at www.randi.org will be only too happy to pony up a million smackers for proving the paranormal. (You can also do a search for astrology at www.badastronomy.com to find out more than you'll ever need to know about why astrology is worthless.)

Lamar writes that "seven decades' worth of science projects are suddenly off the mark." OK then- give me an example of a science project which is now invalidated by changing the category of Pluto from a planet.

If 'real' astrologers can make any testable predictions- then why haven't they applied for and won the million dollar prize money offered by James Randi (www.randi.org) for proof of the paranormal?

I don't have to spend years of my life studying the 'talmudic' made-up pseudo-science of astrology to know with absolute certainty that it doesn't work! All it requires is a high-school education in physics and a brain.

In the final analysis it doesn't matter whether I (and every other scientist) you meet thinks astrology is worthless- just show me the studies in accredited statistical journals that prove it works. As a warm up exercise you could also explain to me which force (gravitational, electromagnetic etc.) is affecting us from the planets- and why this force influences our personality.

Sorry if that appears 'vitriolic', but I'm not very tolerant of people who choose to believe in small-minded lies when they live in an age of unprecedented astronomical discoveries.

Proof please- send me the peer reviewed journal references of papers demonstrating the power of astrology. Also let me know why these serious astrologers have not applied for the 1 megabuck James Randi Educational Foundation prize for demonstrating proof of the paranormal.

You said that your chart describes you better than a chart composed for someone else. Well- that statement can be and has been tested many many times. The result is that there is no effect above what random numbers dictate.

For the record, you try to be a nice person but you sometimes feel that people take undue advantage of your generosity. Many people think you're an easy going person but in reality you feel quite shy on the inside. You don't find money particularly easy, but you don't feel that riches will bring you happiness. You fall too easily in love and are looking for someone to love you just as you are.

How well does the above apply to you? In experiments it's found that it's not too difficult to come up with statements that almost everyone thinks applies to their unique personality- but are in fact pretty general.

1) If astrology works then please tell me why no astrologer has applied for and won the James Randi prize of one million dollars for supplying proof of the paranormal? Sorry to be repetitive here but I'd like to know.

2) If astrology works then please tell me why I haven't stumbled across any peer reviewed papers in Nature, Science etc. recently which supply the relevant statistical evidence?

Again- anyone who chooses to believe in astrology at a time when real scientists are examining the geological composition of Mars using robotic probes- is showing stupidity of a special order.

1) Either astrology works or it doesn't. If it does work then it's eligible for the Randi prize of one million dollars. If you have a problem calling astrology 'paranormal' then don't worry too much- the astrologer will still receive the one million dollars.

2) It matters not whether astrology is a 'science'. If it works then statistics will show its efficacy and papers showing this can be published in mainstream peer reviewed journals. The fact that this hasn't happened- i.e. the papers haven't appeared- shows me that astrologers are completely unable to show that their methods have any effect whatsoever.

Even though astrology is not a science- it does claim to make predictions which are eminently testable by statistical and scientific methods.

There are many statistically testable properties which do not appear in peer-reviewed journals- because they're either unimportant, unremarkable or do not increase our understanding of the world. I can assure you though that showing through statistics that astrology has any predictive power is a major result and if it could be replicated would probably lead to a Nobel prize- since it would overturn centuries of scientific results.

You're right. If you want to live in your fantasy world and if it harms no-one else and if you don't try to teach your falsehoods to others then it really is no concern of mine.

Just don't pretend that your fantasies are anything but. The moment you start claiming that astrology works I think it's justifiable for others to ask you to point to the proof.

I also personally find it sad that you're lucky enough to be living in a time of unprecedented scientific discovery about our universe- and you're retreating into psuedoscientific nonsense.