1. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #244590 by acarrionwasp on September 9, 2008 at 7:51 am

is there a chance i can get my comment fixed? its been bugged-up since i posted it 3 days or so ago. I cant even delete it at this point--which i would rather do than have someone elses name on my words.

2. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #243286 by acarrionwasp on September 5, 2008 at 11:23 am

the avatar for the first poster-> Quantum Flux... just wanted to call attention to it. A dog with sunglasses, of all things!, and the caption "Strive for perfection"... Is it a circus in your mind everyday? Like clowns on stilts and bubbles? Let me try to draw you to some sincerity. Perfection is unattainable. It is the constant pursuit of perfection that defines mastery. These ideas were writ by a human being of such a quality you have never dreamed of fathoming. What I'm skirting is the question-- when do you feel serious?

I recently finished watching an amazing documentary about the life of Thomas Jefferson. I feel such terrible! grief! when I reflect on the current state of things in this great country... that he had such an individual hand in crafting... for countless millions of human beings to enjoy...
I am sick with it. I actually think I might look for some of his words to include in a flyer promoting rational thinking regarding the election. I don't think I will ever feel okay again if I don't try to help things.


I also recently finished The Varieties of Scientific Experience. Carl Sagan's Gifford Lectures transcript has also left me feeling similarly depressed. He was an atheist- but Ive never seen such pure honest adoration for the human species in a religious man. He can never receive enough memorial.

I don't want to leave my home, but I fear if this country decides they want another Bush-puppet in November, I will be looking elsewhere for freedom.

This woman should be viewed as insane. What she believes would be found such by a psychological examination. No less dangerous than any other extremist.
Anti-intellectualism. YAY! Go watch american idol, and praise the magic wizard jesus. things will just fall into place with his magic and you wont even have to make hard decisions or even think critically.

3. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235692 by acarrionwasp on August 23, 2008 at 11:59 am

aww, what a day. Ive been reading up the comments since just last night (!!) and it seems you have all been busy. I really would only like to cut through the miasma and let a little sunlight through. :)

The best part of "all of this" is the simple underlying probability. Its so supported by experimentation and reproducible, readily observable evidence. I had the opportunity to observe a little wasp working on her burrow this morning. Trundling small bits of dirt and rocks out and as I finished my coffee she had returned with a paralyzed cricket to stuff down her hole. I am not certain whether this genus paralyzes or kills victims, but I was reminded of tarantula wasps that paralyze their prey and lay eggs on/in them. The victims are alive and are devoured by wasp larvae while alive.
This brings me to my reflection-- IF there be a "Creator of All Things" it cannot possibly be benign in respect to living things. IF there is such an intelligence out there-- WE cannot POSSIBLY hope to fathom "its" thoughts or motives WHATsoEVER. So then, why waste time thinking about "it"? (especially when there really is NO good evidence to support "its" existence, and there is SO much in support of a natural origin.)



I think my new neighbor is a member of the genus Chlorion. :) Have a good day.

4. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235145 by acarrionwasp on August 22, 2008 at 1:25 pm

I'd really like to see Richard doing a "proof of evolution" programme.

by Primenumbers, first page of comments...


in science "proof" is elusive, it is the evidence--(the MOUNTAINS of evidence, in the case of the common ancestry of life on this planet)--that we must reflect upon. You cant rule out another possibility as there is always more data to be observed. A program devoted to the remarkable evidence of evolution would be what you are looking for. I find it hard to believe that someone that payed attention in advanced biology classes, or honestly sought the truth about life's origin, could possibly deny the evidence for the process of evolution here on Earth.

5. An Interview with Prof. Richard Dawkins

Comment #199539 by acarrionwasp on June 26, 2008 at 12:00 am

wow, great exchange between you two...maybe stop acting like children and STOP thinking for a sec...take a breath ok? Now please do not post such uncouth trash EVER on this site. It is disrespectful and immature. Get a HOLD of your MIND. Exercise a little control.

getting children excited about science is always a great idea. It seems like a lost cause facing all the anti-intellectualism running rampant in this country. A more daunting task would be to increase the 'coolness' of being an educated person. Looking at advertising lately is making me gravely ill. It is not cool to be smart. Thats a big problem for us.

The next book will probably contain some specific examples of amazing evidence for common ancestry. (I hope! SO AWESOME) maybe the striking homology of larvae in some of the invertebrate groups, or that big one about Rickettsia and mitochondria :P

6. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #193156 by acarrionwasp on June 14, 2008 at 9:56 pm

for leaving islam, and then speaking out against it she SHOULD be protected. and how terrible that she should need it...what a disgusting thing a human being can be.

i feel sadness watching her. strange like watching an endagered animal thats being kept at a zoo. how terrible

7. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor

Comment #185734 by acarrionwasp on May 28, 2008 at 11:45 am

easy now.

just breathe a sec... I seriously believe this is just a little of the garbage we're going to witness in the wake of Ben Stein's pea-brained movie. Nothing really to do but continue what we have done. I will write my representative for certain. You really can't do much more.

As for religion in schools. ABSOLUTELY. I had the great fortune of access to a Comparative Religion course at a local community college. This is a course that should be mandatory senior high school curriculum. Not only for the chance to really see what the WORLD has in regards to religions, but to see them ALL in succession, compared under the same light. To be shown their individual histories and when they all first appeared according to historical documentation. So often when religion is brought up in casual circles, people talk about Islam-this or Christianity-that. Its rare to find someone that actually KNOWS what those dogmas entail. If religion is going to be propagated, then everyone should at least know wtf they are talking about.
If it were brought before legislation properly there really isn't a reason NOT to pass it. I firmly believe this could be one of the best ideas to deal with the problem. It needs proper funding and motivation. (well HELL I know the motivation is there just from reading these comments)

keep your stickers on your cars, wear a t-shirt, let your personal voice be heard. I have a letter to write. I hope you do the same! Have a great day. (I think I will brush-up on my history of Galileo's ordeal with the church before I write...just to get things moving in my head)

8. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181106 by acarrionwasp on May 16, 2008 at 12:35 pm

I have some atheist/anti-religion adornments on my car... and I can, unfortunately, report some vandalism. I almost knew that it would happen. My "Darwin-fish" had his rear leg and the ventral side of his caudal fin removed during the winter. I found the leg in the snow, but i could not find the tail. (The patient is in stable condition after 5 minutes of surgery, and the glue is holding nicely--but there is some concern for his ability to ascend in water...) I will put up a picture of my rear bumper as soon as my camera is charged. I am very proud of it, and I would really like to see you all "come out", as well! GET THOSE BIG RED A'S ON YOUR CARS AND LAPTOPS. It makes me feel so good to see them. Have a great day!

9. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #176380 by acarrionwasp on May 7, 2008 at 8:11 am

Bonzai... show some initiative, save some time--look it up.

1. a tall rooflike projection above a theater entrance, usually containing the name of a currently featured play or film and its stars.
2. a rooflike shelter, as of glass, projecting above an outer door and over a sidewalk or a terrace.
3. Also, marquess, marquise. British. a large tent or tentlike shelter with open sides, esp. one for temporary use in outdoor entertainments, receptions, etc.

10. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #176163 by acarrionwasp on May 6, 2008 at 5:51 pm

this really has come to a point now... I have seriously been considering leaving the US after I finish school. The place has gone mad...but where do we go? Norway? TO HIDE? ... or stay behind and teach biology--hoping to educate a handful?

11. Interview with Dan Dennett

Comment #172164 by acarrionwasp on April 29, 2008 at 9:35 am

*laugh* what law? tigers voting? You do realize that our explosive population is ecologically indicative of big problems in the near future? An increasing population like the trend for our species isn't a sign that we are "winning" the game of life...
Dr. Dennett certainly does NOT state that he thinks we are better than animals. He compares our differences (specifically laughter) and ponders the significance they may or may not have.
Tigers need conserving? We humans are to blame for their decline. Our numbers have pushed them back to the edges of our cultivated lands and we hunt them for sport and profit.
Speaking of broad and narrow spectra of abilities...perhaps you should consider sitting back and really pondering what we are. Even if you come back full-circle to what you started with and find no changes, it is worth the journey.
"Learn to unlearn one's learning"

12. Interview with Dan Dennett

Comment #170119 by acarrionwasp on April 27, 2008 at 12:05 pm

regarding comment #169781 (number 50 on this thread)...
hmm.

"I say this not to do us down but to put the case that "dumb chum" beings with which we share the world, some of which are taller or faster than us, should be respected. "

...should be respected why? qualify what "dumb chum" beings are? Do you mean other living things or other, less-educated humans? In the case of tigers deserving respect... certainly, however that respect should be shallow and keep in mind how the tiger respects you. In the case of other humans--if they simply are not interested in learning, they should at least acknowledge that they are ignorant and differ to those who have the drive to understand such things. (not hold mysticism to be truth.)

13. Interview with Dan Dennett

Comment #169566 by acarrionwasp on April 26, 2008 at 10:00 am

I personally feel such self-important humanist ideas are the root of a greater "weed". Religion is a blossom of that thinking. Getting off that pedestal is paramount to seeing the beauty of the natural world. Many times over, thank-you Dr. Dennett.
Breaking the Spell is a great book! Check it out if you can.