Comments by severalspeciesof

551. Broken symmetry: Answering the solace of quantum

Comment #263925 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 10:54 am

Sciros,

You're a quick study there... ;-)
Yes, trying to sneak in a bad pun, it's a bad Monday...
...sigh...

552. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263921 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 10:46 am

That's Okay TWP,
Us people know you're a person ;-)

553. Broken symmetry: Answering the solace of quantum

Comment #263919 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 10:42 am

Okay people, I wasn't dense when making that comment, I was joking, apparently very badly joking.... :-P

554. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263916 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 10:39 am

You people refuse to admit that the messiah hangs out with domestic terrorists

So you're saying he still does? (And his past 'hanging out with' IS debatable) Where's he been seen doing this?

555. Broken symmetry: Answering the solace of quantum

Comment #263913 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 10:34 am

Colwyn Abernathy,

Yea, same law. Works as well when working on a car engine... ;-)

556. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263910 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 10:28 am

Deserves repeating:

6340. Comment #263897 by Vaal on October 13, 2008 at 9:28 am
Ouch. Hitchen's doesn't take any prisoners...

http://www.slate.com/id/2202163/

Ouch. Is right! Thanks for the link Vaal

557. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263876 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 7:28 am

irate_atheist

Tee hee! To wit: "Who's the more foolish: The fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi

Now you've gone and done it...
Tainted this thread with Star Wars Speak...
Shame on you... ;-)

(Course, if Palin was to be asked about Star Wars she would be quite befuddled)

558. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263862 by severalspeciesof on October 13, 2008 at 6:37 am

Titania (Comment #263852),

That was a wonderful link, thanks.

DP, did you read it?

559. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263058 by severalspeciesof on October 10, 2008 at 7:01 am

Re 263056

Not any more...

...scampers off!!... ;-)

560. Broken symmetry: Answering the solace of quantum

Comment #263057 by severalspeciesof on October 10, 2008 at 6:59 am

From the article:

Had things been symmetrical in the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago, equal amounts of matter and antimatter should have been formed, rather like the hole you dig in the ground is equal to the mound of earth that comes from the hole.

Huh, funny thing is whenever I've dug a hole in the ground, and go and refill it, I usually have dirt left over...
;-P

561. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #263048 by severalspeciesof on October 10, 2008 at 6:36 am

Only 4,083 more to go...

Edit: Only 4,082 more to go

562. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #262671 by severalspeciesof on October 9, 2008 at 8:08 am

Just a drive-by here:

I was just wondering what would our founding fathers think of all this that's happening politically in our country? Are they rolling in their graves?

...sigh...

...shakes head...

...less than a month go till elections...

...can't wait...

...sigh...

563. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261735 by severalspeciesof on October 7, 2008 at 9:29 am

Hawt4dawk,

This is pretty much a waste of my time.

I sometimes feel that way too, but hell, sometimes it can be fun in a decidedly wicked way. But looking at all this, maybe I'll take my own advice and also give to you, which I also gave to Steve: pull back a bit (or a lot) and remember that this site isn't really alive and worry about whether the site implicitly supports any view if you don't respond, though as Cartomancer said, that's a noble thing if you do.

Bye all!

564. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261713 by severalspeciesof on October 7, 2008 at 8:55 am

Hawt4dawk,

Isn't the subtleties of language fun? I had a whole lotta somethin' to say before, spent nearly 25 minutes trying to work it out so as to be as precise as possible, then forgot to save it, hitting the send button only to have the netherworld swallow it whole.
Everyone here would have been impressed ;-)

565. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261693 by severalspeciesof on October 7, 2008 at 8:21 am

Hawt4dawk,

Again, I'd be interested to hear someone truly elucidate how liberals are "intolerant" and "dogmatic" and particularly how that compares to the hostile, rigid views of conservatives, who foment hatred against liberals by the hour and, in particular, ones on this site, who ignore all evidence regarding Palin.

I'll go 'True Scotsman' here and say false liberals are 'intolerant' and 'dogmatic'. ;-)

Also, if I may be so presumptuous I'll change your quote into something more palatable:

Again, I'd be interested to hear someone truly elucidate how liberals are "intolerant" and "dogmatic" and particularly how that compares to the hostile, rigid views of SOME conservatives, who foment hatred against liberals by the hour and, in particular, ones on this site, who ignore all evidence regarding Palin.

566. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261617 by severalspeciesof on October 7, 2008 at 6:31 am

Hawt4dawk,

(Forgive my free thought free fall...)

I'm going to defend al-rawandi here (surprised?). He said ranting liberals, not liberalism, though I know he doesn't agree with that either. That's a subtle difference, but it makes more sense to me when placed in that context. I've always thought of liberalism as being both open-ended and open minded. But many people who call themselves liberal don't or can't see how it would be possible to see anything other than their own views. It's a very complicated way of thinking, because the same can be said about ranting conservatives, which now leads me to think maybe we've lost most notions of what a true liberal stance is, or at the least it's been hijacked by dogmatists parading as liberals. And as for defending or at least respecting DP's stance, well... DP may be trying to make an honest argument, but it surely hasn't been very concise, and he's done it in such a way here that, being the sharks we are (or should I say... 'many' are, I can be included), when we see dangling meat, we/many snap at it. And DP certainly has left many pieces a' dangling!!!

Okay, done with my rant for the day, I'll probably change my mind on this sometime soon, then maybe not...

[EDIT: As always, rip this apart where you will...]

567. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261229 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 2:40 pm

decius,
Really?!?! The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

[EDIT: make that: The Stockmarket's falling... the Stockmarket's falling]

568. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261222 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 2:34 pm

5076. Comment #261215 by Caudimordax

...Earth created sometime around the time the Sumerians were inventing beer.

Give me enough beers, and I think I created the earth!

569. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261210 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 2:26 pm

hawt4dawk,

Thanks for the info, and... like what Goldy said ;-)

570. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261196 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 2:15 pm

"Why are the greatest universities in america private universities?"

and

"The government can hardly never do anything as good as the private sector."

The second statement describes why I think private schools are better then public schools. Wheres the contradiction? Is it the word "hardly" that you think is a contradiction?

Okay, got it, those statements in and of themselves don't contradict each other. But it's a non-sequitur in a general sense, since as you yourself have said, not all private schools are great and not all public schools are bad.

571. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261099 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Darwinspitbull,

Funny, I didn't think I was talking shit about you. Obviously you didn't read my comment just a few above (though I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't read it. I'll repeat it:
Darwinspitbull:

Just wondering... just what is all this talk about schools?
There are good schools and there are bad schools, in both the public and private sectors... so what?
Where are YOU going with this argument?

I guess this goes along with root2squared question: Comment #261002: Did you figure out your contradiction?

Until that is answered, I guess I won't see where you're coming from with regard to this school issue.

I'll re-read previous posts to see if I missed something, or you could (for the benefit of others, re-post your answer, if you gave one) I may not be back for a while, just to let you know.

572. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261008 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 10:07 am

Sciros

So... WE can definitely go somewhere good with this discussion.

True, but I'm not betting a whole lotta money thinking DP will go somewhere good on this.
We'll see...

573. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261004 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 10:01 am

Darwinspitbull:

Just wondering... just what is all this talk about schools?
There are good schools and there are bad schools, in both the public and private sectors... so what?
Where are YOU going with this argument?

574. Dying of the Light

Comment #260967 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 8:36 am

ok forget this discussion let's talk about Batman.

Okay... which incarnation? I prefer the campy TV series one, loads of laughs from that.

575. Dying of the Light

Comment #260964 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 8:33 am

43. Comment #260960 by MikeStorm

you can not walk away from death.

uhh, wasn't there a dude called Jeesus or somethin' that did just that?

Actually (serious note):

That's the reason religion still has it's grip on the populace, you can't walk away from death. And until death no longer is a phobia, we may be stuck with religion in one form or another.

576. YouTube Reinstates Pat Condell

Comment #260943 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 7:56 am

I'm sorry folks, but I just can't resist:

To isthatclear,

about your Comment #260905

Here is my response:

Read

the

books

before

you

open

your

(what seems to act like a mouth)

ass.

There, I feel better now.

577. YouTube Reinstates Pat Condell

Comment #260928 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 7:36 am

180. Comment #260907 by al-rawandi

I have, once or twice, argued for the sake of it. To draw out ideas, make thing stimulating. Not a crime.... yet.

And for that we can all be grateful ;-)

578. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #260908 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 7:03 am

To Darwinspitbull:

...To be read in a sing-song voice:
My university is better than your university! So there!!!!

...sticks tongue out...

[EDIT: adding ...Sarah Palin... ...Sarah Palin... sigh, I know, it's old...]

579. Dying of the Light

Comment #260881 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 6:29 am

31. Comment #260834 by serendipity1

An agnostic contends or accepts that the existence of gods can't be known with certainty.

which puts the agnostic in the camp of non-believers i.e. atheists, unless one is willing to also label believers as agnostic, since faith isn't certainty... most believers I know wouldn't dare call themselves agnostic.

This, I must ponder on...

580. Dying of the Light

Comment #260872 by severalspeciesof on October 6, 2008 at 6:17 am

I can see why this book would be right up Garrison Keillor's alley. Sounds very schmaltzy and sentimental.

I'm with Diacanu on this:

Waa waa waa.

to which I can see Keilor, as he read the book, going "aaw... aaw,,, aaw..."

Also. just how does one go from atheist to agnostic- 'I don't believe in god' to 'I think I don't believe in god, I think' ?

581. YouTube Reinstates Pat Condell

Comment #260058 by severalspeciesof on October 4, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Hate to cut and run, but...
75. Comment #260054 by Old Sarum

...at its best & most basic, religion can be thought of as an interface between humans & the cosmos, which engages a powerful cognitive array: the imagination, emotions, dreams, memories, artistic creativity as well as the rational intellect, to transform an otherwise cold & meaningless world into a rich, human-centred experience, helping provide a sense of place & purpose for individuals & communities, an existential anchor for the profound milestones of life, as well as a launchpad for creative & explorative spiritual journeys, a "clearing in the forest of chaos" to which one can retreat for timeless reflection, or festive celebration of the joys of being alive.

In other words 'a reasonable society'?

582. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259441 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 11:09 am

4475. Comment #259437 by al-rawandi

Precious!!

583. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259438 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 11:06 am

On another note it's nice to see that the arguing has mostly died down.

Oh Yeah? Wanna start something with that comment? I'll pit SkyLark against you any day.... ;-) ;-)

584. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259411 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 10:33 am

Remember when Styrer got after me over Richard Morgan? Those two rhetocial styles could have ripped space time, or created a black hole.

Hadron Collider be damned.

Maybe that's why the damage occurred last week at the collider, it just took that long for the reverberations to set in...

585. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259355 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 9:35 am

4441. Comment #259347 by Mitchell Gilks
[EDIT: and 4443. Comment #259352 by Styrer]

Ahh, called out on that one, thanks.

That's what happens when I'm a lazy bastard for not reading every single post on this site!
So I say the same to Corylus...

...but could it be that ~~Corylus~~ Styrer has nothing more to say, or is trying to figure out what to say, or is actually away from this site taking a break, or a myriad of other choices...
No need to swing at something that might not be there.

There, fixed.

586. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259345 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 9:24 am

4435. Comment #259333 by Styrer

Duly noted and agreed, but could it be that Corylus has nothing more to say, or is trying to figure out what to say, or is actually away from this site taking a break, or a myriad of other choices...
No need to swing at something that might not be there.

and you DON'T have to greet it all again in one uninitiated.

Hugs and kisses from SkyLark

...Sarah Palin...
...Sarah Palin...

587. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259329 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 9:09 am

4432. Comment #259328 by Styrer

Aww, jeesus christ already, enough with the unwarranted jabs, you're an intelligent man, use it wisely ! !

588. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259326 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 9:02 am

levity time...

Feel free to choose any base of your liking, my only concern was directed at the general mood of the assembly.

ooooo... I always loved assemblies at school...

589. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259311 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 8:39 am

Steve,
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Maybe you need to take a break, and not worry too much. No need to worry whether or not this site will look like it implicitIy supports any view if you don't respond, it's not a living thing...
(though sometimes I wonder... ;)
I try to blow past any emotive terms used in any argument, so as to get to the core. Sometimes that's impossible.

590. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #259296 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 8:24 am

True... True...

more active moderation may be needed, though more self moderation would even be better...

and yes, those were some REALLY bad arguments. Lessons learned all the time around here!

591. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259286 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 8:15 am

(For all this is worth...)

Styrer, Steve,

Check out God fearing Atheist's last post at the fanatical atheist thread. Think about, and no name calling (yet).

592. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #259276 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 8:05 am

??? o_O It was clear what he was trying to do, but he was so bad at it and smug at the same time that some pwnage was in order.

Agreed, but...

(takes a deep breath)

my own perception of this site as a feethinking oasis is starting to wane, and too many petty things are popping up all over the place. I don't mind levity, which is what I try to do sometimes, (maybe too often) but it seems like emotions are staring to run things here, which is not a good thing.

593. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #259263 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 7:42 am

That Fanusi has fucked off - because of sheer fucking bullying - makes this a black day for me.

Some fucking oasis.

It's everyone's loss, should he decide never to come back.

594. Catholic priests cane YouTube over blasphemous vids

Comment #259249 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 7:20 am

For the record:
The priests have every right to request what they want, YouTube has every right to either ignore or accept. Just wish they wouldn't censure themselves willy nilly as it appears they do.

595. Catholic priests cane YouTube over blasphemous vids

Comment #259246 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 7:05 am

I haven't made up my mind on this yet (still feeling a bit woozy at the smack down on the fanatical atheist thread), but I'm leaning towards agreeing with bucketchemist with his statement:

As atheists I suspect we don't like to acknowledge the idea of the sacred, but I do think something very like it is being revealed in the distinction we draw here.

This kind of symbolism which we have here, isn't magic or supernatural or whatever, it's emotive. Are we right to tell others that their emotions are wrong?

Just a thought

596. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #259230 by severalspeciesof on October 3, 2008 at 6:17 am

[whiny voice...]

aww maannn, I only got it half right...

(points finger)...but mjr1007 started it, with that odd posting 'bout- oh hell forget it... :(

-sulks off to corner, licking himself, hacks up hairball...

There, I feel better now.

597. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #258767 by severalspeciesof on October 2, 2008 at 10:48 am

413. Comment #258652 by God fearing Atheist on October 2, 2008 at 8:54 am
BTW, just for fun, the rest of you should read:-

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/howto.html

I think I got it. See: Comment #258722 by God fearing Atheist

598. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #258747 by severalspeciesof on October 2, 2008 at 10:26 am

Less than 8 hours to the debate...
I'm trembling in anticipation...

599. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #258746 by severalspeciesof on October 2, 2008 at 10:21 am

435. Comment #258722 by God fearing Atheist

Ok, ok,

... please everyone calm down, switch off your emotions, and take 8 hours to read this entire thread, and try to understand it. As I said, emotions off brain on. If you want the short cut, just read the last few tens on posts. Do not prejudge. It is all here in black and white for anyone who can do this!!

If you really don't get it, please do all atheists a favour and don't engage theists online!

Now I'm off to the pub. I need a drink, I'll be back tomorrow.

...scratches head...

Hmmmm....

600. Those fanatical atheists

Comment #258709 by severalspeciesof on October 2, 2008 at 9:51 am

428. Comment #258699 by Mark Jones

but does anyone have a scooby what he's trying to say?

He's trying to say we're missing a point that he is some how more intelligent than the collective atheist reasons for dismissing god, by using non sequitur thought patterns caught in the matrix of his warped little mind...

in other words, we're trying to figure it out. ;-)

[EDIT: well, others are trying to figure it out, I'm just lurking in the background for amusement]