1. Physicist Claims First Real Demonstration of Cold Fusion

Comment #188202 by ab_initio on June 3, 2008 at 10:44 am

I'd be more convinced if they didn't use temperature measurements but extracted the He which wasn't there before!

Why hasn't that been considered - because only a small amount of fusion is supposedly occuring?

Palladium is very very expensive (orders of £25,000 for a very very small handful).

2. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #134302 by ab_initio on February 27, 2008 at 2:52 pm

I haven't finished listening to it yet, but its actually hosted as an MP3... am I too late and the quicktime plugin has been added since people requested it?

If not, then here's the MP3:
http://media.richarddawkins.net/audio/2008/jca080227c.mp3

3. Secret Swami - About Sai Baba

Comment #95005 by ab_initio on December 7, 2007 at 6:34 am

Oh but you forget how much good comes from it as well!

4. 2006 Charles Simonyi Lecture: 'Can the Internet Save The Enlightenment?'

Comment #90912 by ab_initio on November 26, 2007 at 4:34 pm

The first paper I ever referenced was Kroto's on C60. Was suprised to see him here - I previously didnt know of his activities outside of chemistry.

It was an enjoyable talk - he certainly likes his Sam Harris doesn't he!

5. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #79561 by ab_initio on October 17, 2007 at 5:51 pm

I think I understand McGrath's movements at last! I took notes on when he moves from side to side and when he talks BS. A simple plot showed a very strong, positive correlation.

6. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69481 by ab_initio on September 11, 2007 at 12:24 pm

ah i think that worked!

7. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69480 by ab_initio on September 11, 2007 at 12:23 pm

i'll try, not expecting much though <

8. Amnesty to defy Catholic church over rape victims' abortion rights

Comment #63162 by ab_initio on August 13, 2007 at 10:19 am

Well done AI, you've made me proud to be a member.

9. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Edd Doerr

Comment #58356 by ab_initio on July 24, 2007 at 3:28 pm

Seems to me that the argument against Hitchens here was along the lines of "some people who aren't theists call themselves religious, therefore you're being too narrow in your case against religion, hence religion does not poison everything."

Hitchens clearly stated the sort of thing he was calling religion, perhaps he needed to clarify that he has nothing against a humanist who calls himself 'religious' other than their misleading and inappropriate use of the word.

10. Small, Yes, but Mighty: The Molecule Called Water

Comment #55225 by ab_initio on July 10, 2007 at 9:42 am

Rtambree,

Temperature relates to the average kinetic energy of a body's substituent particles (water molecules in this case). So at 100 degrees C, the average kinetic energy of the water molecules is equal to that which is needed for the molecules to break away from the attractive forces between other molecules and leave the liquid.

At 100 degrees C most of the molecules will have sufficient energy to escape (the liquid is desribed as boiling). At a room temperature of 25 degrees C, the average molecule will not have near enough energy. However, there will be a distribution of kinetic energies; some molecules will have less and some more than the average. Of those which have more, some will have enough to escape from the liquid...which is how water dries up below its boiling point (evaporates).

-Greg.

11. In Defense of Witchcraft

Comment #52293 by ab_initio on June 26, 2007 at 4:23 pm

Oh sorry i didnt mean to make a joke, i was being serious - i thought you were comparing to apologists who say they like the religious culture, etc...

12. In Defense of Witchcraft

Comment #52277 by ab_initio on June 26, 2007 at 3:53 pm

Thanks John Turner,

What is the point of the Alternative Thread?

13. In Defense of Witchcraft

Comment #52257 by ab_initio on June 26, 2007 at 3:24 pm

mind rebel where did our posts go?

14. In Defense of Witchcraft

Comment #52250 by ab_initio on June 26, 2007 at 3:14 pm

Mind Rebel - you got me at first i must admit. :)

15. Evolution: God as Genetic Engineer

Comment #49162 by ab_initio on June 10, 2007 at 6:11 pm

A good, informative read, thanks.

How do you pronounce Behe? Is it bee-hee or something else?

Ta.

16. Christopher Hitchens and Al Sharpton: A Debate God Is Not Great

Comment #38600 by ab_initio on May 8, 2007 at 5:51 pm

Did anyone else think that Al Sharpton was secretly trying to lose. Thats the only way I can try to understand how poorly he performed. And then to recommended the book! Lol.

I agree, Fire1974, it seemed the only thing he wanted to debate was the title, not the content of the book. It seemed his tactics for making it through the debate were:

-hide behind his version of what the debate was when tricky situations come up (criticism of the Bible, etc)

-say "I cant understand how the universe works so God did it" and "I dont know enough about the revelent science / philosophy so I'll say theres only objective good and naughtiness with God". Repeat until 90 mins up.

The audience didnt fall for it either - I was kinda embarrassed with the silences following Al Sharpton's contributions.

17. How multiculturalism is betraying women

Comment #36830 by ab_initio on May 2, 2007 at 1:21 pm

Im shocked at how absurd this is. Has anyone read about this elsewhere? Whilst it is very unlikely the author is over-exaggerating or fabricating this stuff, I'm finding it too ridiculous to believe. :|

18. Believe in God Spray

Comment #36228 by ab_initio on April 30, 2007 at 2:43 pm

"Because not all people who claim to have an invisible friend get locked up, you know!" - pulpshop.co.uk

hahaha

For a lot of people however, lonliness, fear of death, etc is enough to make them believe the unbelievable