Comments by Laurie Fraser

801. Puncturing the Acupuncture Myth

Comment #286372 by Laurie Fraser on November 18, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Comment #286367 by Frankus1122

Now who's sick, Frankus? He should have started at the head, if you ask me.

802. Puncturing the Acupuncture Myth

Comment #286363 by Laurie Fraser on November 18, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Comment #286342 by Steve Zara

Linda McCartney Sausages are less adequate substitutes

Now, that's just SICK!

803. Puncturing the Acupuncture Myth

Comment #286357 by Laurie Fraser on November 18, 2008 at 1:56 pm

Steve - I misread one of your previous posts as "Best thing I ever had for breakfast was a teenager." Talk about laugh!

epeeist -
Alexander technique is the method of treatment for many posture problems at the NSW Conservatorium. Works a treat.

804. Puncturing the Acupuncture Myth

Comment #286345 by Laurie Fraser on November 18, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Comment #286329 by Goldy

Goldy, speaking of chiros,

http://churchofrationalism.blogspot.com/2008/08/few-years-ago-i-was-suffering-from.html

805. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #286020 by Laurie Fraser on November 18, 2008 at 1:06 am

Lying cowardly piece-o-shit, you're still on, and will lurk until you feel the people who can properly kick your ass have logged off.

Unfortunately for him, Diacanu, that's all of us.

806. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #286003 by Laurie Fraser on November 18, 2008 at 12:30 am

Stop. Stop, Dave, stop. My mind is going...I can feel it...I can feel it... Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do...

That's how this feels, Dianelos.

807. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #285989 by Laurie Fraser on November 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm

Why have I got a vision of Bob Geldoff singing Feed the tro-oll?

*Edited for rooted shift key.*

808. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #285974 by Laurie Fraser on November 17, 2008 at 11:09 pm

Steve - you're right. After persistent reasoning, and absolutely killer logic on the part of many here, Dianelos refuses to recognise the paucity of his infantile claims. Ergo, he's either a dill or a troll.

809. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #285793 by Laurie Fraser on November 17, 2008 at 3:55 pm

Frankus - you've been reading my mail, mate. In the NSW department of education we have exactly the same computer/communications system. It is ponderous, and full of irrational barriers to the free flow of information. I'm not even allowed to access youtube, for instance. When I complained that youtube was a very handy and quick resource for my subjects, I was just told "stiff."

810. Educated Catholics have sown dissent and confusion in the Church, claims bishop

Comment #285316 by Laurie Fraser on November 17, 2008 at 2:32 am

At least the ignorant prick (probably) won't breed

You can never be sure, irate. What about all dem popes siring dynasties? If it's good for the goose...

811. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #285302 by Laurie Fraser on November 17, 2008 at 2:00 am

Phew! Just read through all of the posts over the last day or so. I'll start simply by saying: DG - your last post just hides a huge non sequitur - I'll leave it up to you to find it.

Secondly, I think the discussion between (mainly) Steve, Mike, Bonzai and Mitchell has a little of the carts and horses about it. I don't want to go into all of the philosophical details at this point, but I think all of you are a little bit right, and a little bit wrong. The argument is about metaphysics, really (or meta ta physika), to be precise. In other words, the argument orbits the question of epistemology regarding the nature of scientific insight: its grounding in the relationship between whatever it is we believe is reality and what we choose to describe it.

So far, I agree with Steve (not unusually) that we must separate the so-called "maps" from what they describe. I think this is crucial for ontology: we cannot remain platonic idealists, and rely on science not to equate assertions about reality with reality itself. (Because, I think, we leave ourselves open to such a charge if we don't think of scientific language as an approximation of reality. This is where I think Penrose, for all his brilliance, falls short.)

Nevertheless, the only reliable language we have to describe reality is that of science. In particular, mathematics is so reliable a descriptor that it is easy to misunderstand its language as a "reality" in itself (Dasein, Mike?)

To conclude (I, too, have lots of things to do tonight, so shouldn't shirk), perhaps we might avoid any hubris in the (to me) non-existent tension between science and philosophy, and concentrate on examining the quite exquisite mutuality of the two disciplines.

812. Educated Catholics have sown dissent and confusion in the Church, claims bishop

Comment #285259 by Laurie Fraser on November 17, 2008 at 12:12 am

But how does this stack up as idiocy at its finest:

"However, every human endeavor has a dark side, due to original sin and concupiscence. In the case of education, we can see its distortion through the widespread dissemination of radical scepticism, positivism, utilitarianism and relativism."

So, on this logic we have lust responsible for, say, scepticism. No wonder the educated are leaving in droves.

813. Educated Catholics have sown dissent and confusion in the Church, claims bishop

Comment #285256 by Laurie Fraser on November 16, 2008 at 11:53 pm

Comment #285244 by Layla Nasreddin

I'd put it this way, Layla: "Catholics who are truly educated demonstrate this by leaving the church altogether." Nothing wrong with that, is there?

814. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284994 by Laurie Fraser on November 16, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Modern? of course. Piazzola - the Tango for the mind.

815. Leukaemia case raises hopes of possible AIDS cure

Comment #284851 by Laurie Fraser on November 16, 2008 at 1:04 am

All the best, mate.

816. Leukaemia case raises hopes of possible AIDS cure

Comment #284849 by Laurie Fraser on November 16, 2008 at 12:54 am

Hehehehe! Gotta watch those vindaloos, mate. I went to a hangi last night for the local scouts association. Brilliant! Evilcor's about to become a firey - hope he doesn't have to struggle in those terrible Californian fires. Jebus, I feel for them.

817. Leukaemia case raises hopes of possible AIDS cure

Comment #284844 by Laurie Fraser on November 16, 2008 at 12:25 am

Evilcor, sorry, mate, but I shall never resile. You Americans are just going to have to accept our natural superiority in language and sport. However, I will give you jazz, aerospace and cheese in an aerosol can. Can't be fairer than that.

818. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284836 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 10:21 pm

That's nice, ev-lov (and probably true!)

819. Leukaemia case raises hopes of possible AIDS cure

Comment #284834 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 10:19 pm

Always colour, neighbour. :)

820. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284831 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 10:13 pm

In order to convince themselves that their beliefs are actually valid, they tend to resort to long winded paragraphs with complex sentences using big words to obfuscate their lack of clarity not only to others, but also to themselves

Priceless, 2.

821. Leukaemia case raises hopes of possible AIDS cure

Comment #284830 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Evilcor - sorry, but it's called the "English" language. Just thought I'd remind you ;) Besides, the diphthong is a damn fine ideae.

822. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284800 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:37 pm

Comment #284799 by Mitchie2006

Yeah, but we'd have to leave one of them out so's we could form a nice little trinity. I suggest Paul.

823. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284792 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:21 pm

why there aren't fairies in the garden, or why there isn't a teapot orbiting Jupiter

OK - I challenge you: prove it.

824. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284787 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:12 pm

Oh, that's easy: I would stop believing in God if I found a naturalistic ontology that works better than idealistic theism.

Fuck - me - dead.

825. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284785 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:09 pm

Agreed, KRKBAB. I was fortunate enough to see him twice in concert, once with THAT band (fell in love with Ruth Underwood immediately.)

826. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284783 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:06 pm

719. Comment #284770 by Steve Zara

Well, cricket is certainly created by gods, Steve: Sachin Tendulkar, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards...

827. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284779 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:01 pm

Love them both to bits. If I had to list, say, my five favourites, they'd be Joe's Garage, OSFA, Grand Wazoo, Yellow Shark, and Sheik Yerbouti (if only for the closing stages of Yo Mama).

828. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284767 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:38 pm

Comment #284757 by Steve Zara

Well, if he starts posting shite about cricket, I will DEFINITELY flag him!

Edit: Mitchell, that is the kind of response that separates the rational, honest thinker from the wooter. *claps*

829. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284766 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:35 pm

Some versions of Sofa are not particularly good. Steve Vai's "mega guitar" version on Zappa's Universe is one such. For me, the original (instrumental) on OSFA (love the anagram) with George Duke's superb, stately piano, is the best.

830. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284756 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Jeez, Steve - you ARE feisty today. I won't post him as troll, but his obstinance in the face of serious questioning is wearing. Not worth engaging with, I'm afraid. I wonder when we'll get a theist on this board who can really hack it.

831. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284746 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:16 pm

Comment #284733 by KRKBAB

Haha - I remember the Nice doing the Karelia Suite. At the time (I was about 17) I thought it was extremely groovy. I listened to it again recently and realised just what a travesty it actually is. But never mind - it got me interested in Sibelius, so thank you, The Nice. Isn't that a nice version of Sofa, KRKBAB?

832. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284741 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:10 pm

You got something against Flibbles, Steve?

Your point is entirely correct. The problem for theists, even before discussing their tortured ontology, is to provide an epistemology that makes sense. This is why I've asked Dianelos et al (as have several others) to provide sound epistemological conditions that would even allow us to "debate" the existence of his deity. I simply don't believe that theists can do this. They skirt around the edges, forever using circular arguments. This provides, I think, eloquent support for your refusal to enter into the theist/atheist distinction.

833. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284691 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 4:17 pm

I've always despised the religion versus science divide. It is crass and simple minded in the extreme. No, the true divide is religion versus art, fellowship, literature, music, politics, science, theatre, culture etc.

Beautifully put, Phil.

834. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284689 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 4:15 pm

Tch, tch, Titania. Just remember you're going to need plenty of match practice before July - I'd be starting now.

As to your Jewish friend, if he says anything superstitious, just laugh uproariously, as if he is the possessor of a fine wit and a deep sense of irony. And if he says anything pro-rethuglican, throw your fork at him.

835. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284684 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 4:06 pm

Oy vey, indeed - Titania. Sounds very much like the conversation I had last night with a couple of Catholic friends. I'd just go ahead and order pork, for starters. BTW, how was last night's dinner?

836. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284682 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:59 pm

D'Arcy - I'm shattered! Zappa is as close to the divine as you'd like to get. (Just between you and me, though - I agree about Vangelis;) )

837. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284680 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:53 pm

Comment #284678 by NewEnglandBob

You might have added, NEB, "...than just about everything but Bach."

838. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #284679 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:52 pm

Comment #284673 by decius

Decius, I think poor old Dianelos is in a quandry - he knows the end is near. He has realised that imaginary gods, imaginary logic and imaginary atheists exist only in the imagination of the imaginer!

(Sorry - I'm in a Zappa mood this morning.)

839. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284675 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:48 pm

Chris - I'm exactly the same. You've only got to bring Brahms' German Requiem within cooee of me and I'm a blubbering baby. But, big deal - I'm not crying for "Gawd" - as any rational human understands, music is just about the most powerful emotional stimulus there is (especially as you get older).

840. Church Preaches The Music Of Beethoven

Comment #284669 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Comment #284582 by KRKBAB

I live in that church, KRKBAB! Try these for size (one size fits all):

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=VcnBE9kfRTU

http://churchofrationalism.blogspot.com/2008/11/brief-musical-interlude_5479.html

841. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284435 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 7:24 am

"How many angels can dance on a pin?
Few if fat, more if thin."

Theological philosophy in a nutshell.

842. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284416 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:58 am

To satisfy my curiosity, Paul, which of the standard arguments for god (if any) do you support? Ontological, cosmological, teleological, moral, causal? If you can provide a coherent set of definitions of your arguments, and we agree on a few principles and so-on, we might get somewhere. I assume you'll be happy to change your mind about the existence of god if all of your arguments are logically refuted.

843. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284407 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 6:47 am

Comment #284399 by paulb

You might find that a few of us are, indeed, "actual" philosophers, Paul - you know, with graduate and post-graduate degrees in the subject. Many others are educated in various branches of the sciences, humanities, etc., with enough experience to have a pretty good stab at tackling these kinds of issues.

So, you wanted someone who had studied philosophy, in particular logic (do you mean formal, symbolic, modal, or what?). What would you like to ask?

844. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284371 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 5:23 am

So, Steve, how would you view theologians positing a Deistic god? (Deolgians?) And what about a theologian positing a theistic God, who has a plan for us, but that it were, say, accessible only through the use of introspection and the use of our faculties?

Hit 'em with a fucking cricket bat, Phil. (See, I told you that game would come in handy.)

845. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284365 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 5:04 am

As you say, Mike - it's the premises what does 'em in. These, combined with the repeated mantra of "faith", which, when I told my friends tonight, was nothing more than a wish, provoked a very stern reaction.

846. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284357 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 4:41 am

Of course, Mike - I've just had one of those "beating the head against a brick wall" evenings with two perfectly lovely catholic ladies.

847. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284349 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 4:31 am

Comment #284339 by MPhil

and Clarence Darrow, and Ernest Nagel, and... ah, fergit it, Mike - the loony tunes don't want to know anyway.

848. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284330 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:46 am

Comment #284328 by Steve Zara

Logic at its finest!

849. Interview with John Lennox

Comment #284326 by Laurie Fraser on November 15, 2008 at 3:40 am

It sounds like Archbishop Jensen channelling a post-modernist.