Coal the heat and pressure of deep burial causes the loss of water, methane and carbon dioxide and an increase in the proportion of carbon. Thus first lignite (also called "brown coal"), then sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, and lastly anthracite (also called "hard coal" or "black coal") may be formed. The wide, shallow seas of the Carboniferous Period provided ideal conditions for coal formation, although coal is known from most geological periods. The exception is the coal gap in the Permian–Triassic extinction event, where coal is rare. Coal is known from Precambrian strata, which predate land plants—this coal is presumed to
Andrew Brown (writer) attacked Harris for what he has described as Harris' advocacy of torture in situations where we are willing to accept collateral damage (i.e.; from bombing, etc.), as it relates to fighting the war on terror. Brown has criticised Richard Dawkins for what he calls the cult of personality that has grown around him and his positions. He is also sceptical of the scientific concept of memes, as developed by Dawkins. Brown has described himself as someone for whom "Christianity is only true backwards." He has written that he is "constantly astonished by the way in which the Church of England