Comments by Diacanu

Comment #130018 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 11:07 pm

Lol, an image just popped into my head of that scene in Superman 2 of the three villains shooting Superman with their finger rays, and Superman catching them in his palm, struggling a bit, turning red hot for a couple seconds, and then deflecting the beams back, and knocking the villains over.

Except Dawkins is Superman, and D'Souza, Cornwell, and McGrath are the villains.

Oh, and instead of his palm, Dawkins is using the shiny cover of TGD.

1752. Fleabytes

Comment #130004 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 9:43 pm

Steve Zara-

a sort of "let's all shout at the same time" approach.

Sort of like a Jesus-y Carebear stare?

1753. Why do we believe in God? 2m study prays for answer

Comment #129993 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 9:17 pm

*Claws at temples*

Ahh-ahh-ahh-AAAHH!!!!!!

1754. Fleabytes

Comment #129956 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 8:13 pm

Hey, Steve, don't get all "*sob*...I'm no good...I'm no goo-hoo-hoo-hooodd!! *sob* *blubber*", on us.

That's my job.
;)

1755. Fleabytes

Comment #129943 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 7:45 pm

I'd like to more or less echo what Steve said...except, I don't see where I have much to add to the fray....I'm more of a jokes/fiction guy...guess I could sneak stuff into those spots like the Golden Compass guy...*shrug*

1756. Fleabytes

Comment #129929 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 7:17 pm

Paula the Wonder Woman of the Justice League?

Hmm, yeah, I could see that.

1757. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129906 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 6:26 pm

scooternyc-

..we understand

Mouse in your pocket?

1758. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129902 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 6:22 pm

scooternyc-

I'll give better when I receive better.

As it is, goodbye, you'll have to stroke off to Atlas Shrugged by yourself.

1759. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129897 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 6:15 pm

scooternyc-

You call everyone who deviates from your position in he slightest a moron.

What's to debate?

You're a jackass troll in love with himself.

Go sit and spin.
*Shrug*

1760. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129893 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 6:10 pm

scooter-

Blah, blah, fucking blahhh

Yeah, heard it all before.
Get some new material.

1761. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129880 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 5:44 pm

Libertarian circle jerks always end up as big crocodile tear weep-fests for the right to be a wolf among sheep.

I find them as hilarious as the big victim routine the American south is trying to revise the Civil War into.

1762. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129876 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 5:37 pm

Oh, here we go, scooter's dragging it into partisan bullshit land.

1763. Fleabytes

Comment #129862 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 5:11 pm

Course, this flea massacre just goes to show how tight as a fuckin' drum TGD really is, if the above arguments are the best the fleas can muster.

:)

1764. Fleabytes

Comment #129855 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 4:53 pm

So, how do we get this to be #1 on the top 20 favorite stories list?

1765. Why Darwin matters

Comment #129832 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 3:58 pm

What Mark said.

Fair weather friends are WORTH kicking away, despite the initial gut-wrench.

Lets you know who your real friends are, and I rather really know, than live in ignorant bliss.

1766. Why Darwin matters

Comment #129827 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 3:54 pm

The good reverend beat me to it.

But yeah, warm fuzzies from fellow cultists is no reason to buy into a superstitious worldview.

And alienation from said cultists for changing said worldview is no incitement whatever for me to be their friends.

1767. Why Darwin matters

Comment #129813 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 3:41 pm

Tch, poor Krisking, he juuust dooon't quiiiite wanna let go of it.

I gotta ask, Kris, what does your faith have to offer you, that a reason based world doesn't?

I mean, apart from the pie-in-the-sky supernatural stuff like afterlife?

1768. Fleabytes

Comment #129753 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 2:39 pm

Paula-

I'd give a standing ovation, but I'm too weakened.
Both by the drivel represented in those flea books, and on your behalf for having endured them in entirety.

Ah, screw it *forces self to stand and applaud anyway*

1769. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #129344 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 2:04 am

So, wooter, how about you think up some creationism based experiments for us to try out?

Y'know, instead of just endless glassy-eyed blather about "only a creator could have..".

Let's take this shit to the lab.

How about you whip up some creationist vaccines?

1770. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129269 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 12:09 am

D'OOOHH!!

1771. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129266 by Diacanu on February 19, 2008 at 12:03 am

Marjoe!!

Hah!! Thank you, Google!!

1772. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129264 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 11:58 pm

Say, wasn't there a PBS documentary on that one evangelist kid from the 80's who was on Donahue, and how he turned out?

Think he realized how he was being exploited, and snapped out of it.

Ahh...fuck, details are all swiss cheesed away in my head, I can see the kid's face....

1773. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129262 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 11:49 pm

Yep, them kids are broken.

Scratch another generation.

1774. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129163 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 6:29 pm

....well shit, who knew THAT'D be the thread killer?!?!

You people are weird.
*Head shake*

1775. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129160 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Steve Zara-

You can take things at a certain pace, or you can pause to conjure up a mental image, and it is the mental imagery that is so stimulating with books.

You have to pause?
Not me.
The whole thing slurps right into my head as a VR movie; I don't even see the words anymore after a little while.

The brain really has to work at this, and the imagery can be different for each individual.

...work at it?
I've done it since I was little.
...y'know, I don't even remember learning to read.
The basics sorta clicked for me from about 3-4 years old somewhere.
The rest has been sounding out new words, and fine tuning my grammar.

1776. Debate between Richard Dawkins and Madeline Bunting

Comment #129113 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Eric-

Use notepad.

1777. Bill Moyers Interviews Susan Jacoby

Comment #129111 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 4:15 pm

I conducted a war on the heebee-jeebees by laying out ratraps for the boogeyman.

You're welcome, rest of the world.

1778. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #128920 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 9:55 am

Oh, and are my eyes going bad, or did wooter just fucking say God indeed designs all the snowflakes?

I thought he handed that duty off to Jack Frost.

Is he calling those Rankin & Bass x-mas specials lies?

Time to burn wooter for heresy methinks.

1779. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #128912 by Diacanu on February 18, 2008 at 9:44 am

(Wooter impression)

*Ignores everything that's been said*

Complexity requires a designer!!

*Stomps foot*

Complexity requires a designer!!

Complexity requires a designer!!!

*Grabs sides of monitor, and screams everyone down*

Complexity requires a designer!!!!

*Someone points out the infinite regression problem*

Except for God!!

Cuz he's goddy, goddy, god, GOD!!

Nyyeeehhh!!!!

Oh, and complexity requires a designer.

Humf!!

PPPPTT!!!

Bummy.

1780. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128738 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 9:12 pm

righton-

What?

Why, you redneck luddite!!

1781. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128730 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 8:34 pm

righton-

We can just inject you with nanites to diddle your DNA, and give you a detergent immunity!

...of course, if Marvel Comics laws apply, they'll run amuck, and turn you into Detergent Man.

1782. A match made on RichardDawkins.net?

Comment #128696 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 4:53 pm

What Paula said.
;)

1783. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128676 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Lucas-

we're all on the same side against the bastards who have made our world so disappointing to people like Diacanu. Let's not bicker amongst ourselves, but rather pry their fingers from our throats together.

*Begins forming a cunning plan*
Yes...yes...I have a reason to live now....

1784. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128666 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Lucas-

Cool, might check it out.

1785. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128661 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 2:15 pm

Okay..okay...IF..IF...biiiig fuckin' IF...IF mankind really advances....
Really fuckin advances, socially, abandons superstition, and credulity, and religion dies with a whimper, and war fizzles, because nanobuilders fulfill everyone's needs, so no one's scrabbling over resources, and then we finally build the starships, and get out there, and hang out with aliens, and do all that cool shit...

IF all that comes to pass, and IF I have a place in it, and ain't just a fuckin mop boy, IF the future turns out that way, THEN I'd like to live to see it.

But more of this shit we've got now?
Not interested.
At all.
Has nothing to offer.
At all.
I BARELY have reason to go on in THIS society.
I end up an immortal in a dystopia, that's hell on earth.
No thanks.

1786. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128657 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 2:05 pm

Right on, righton.
:)

1787. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128656 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 2:04 pm

And before someone jumps in, no, I'm not a knee jerk luddite on transhumanism.

I've realistically weighed the costs and benefits, and honestly don't see anything in it for me.

1788. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128649 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 2:02 pm

Lucas-

Does he paint it as a pie in the sky utopia?

Cuz I'm immediately suspicious of those.

As much so as Crichton with his knee jerk luddutism.

1789. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128642 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Nice America hate there.

So, if I don't embrace every aspect of this technology whole cloth, I'm a superstitious redneck?

Sorry, neither.

1790. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128623 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Okay, put it this way...

When I signed on for progressive utopianism, I signed on for Star Trek, not Ghost In The Shell.

1791. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128608 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 12:47 pm

MaxD-

Well, then you're one of those people with something to lose I spoke of in post 65.
;)

Me, I'm a shlubby talentless goober with a boring life, I don't desire 150-170 more years of this drudge.
Lol.

1792. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #128452 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 3:32 am

wooter-

while entire huge painting exhibition like universe lies in front of him

Design in the universe is an illusion of your mind.

The human brain is a pattern finding instrument.
It often finds patterns where there are none.

Like how you see shapes in clouds.
Or faces in wood grain.

Did someone design every single snowflake?
No, water molecules just got cold enough, and tumbled together.

Evolution explains how a designer is not necessary, and indeed how a brain arose that sees these false design patterns in nature.

1793. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128422 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 1:32 am

quill-

I assume if you had children, you would want them to have such benefits?

I'll cross that bridge if I ever get there.

And would you not want to have them yourself?

See the third paragraph in post 65.

1794. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128418 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 1:13 am

quill-

Well, what are we really talking about?

Keeping myself suspended at factory specs at about 25 or so?
Can't say I've ever had a prime.
Even then, I'd be in rough shape.

Or, are we talking about being morphed into Arnold Schwarzenegger with Bruce Lee's skills, and Ron Jeremy's tool?

1795. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128416 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 1:06 am

Hmmm, looking over post 62, I guess the ones most fervently hoping to grasp the brass ring of immortality, are the ones with something to lose.

And I guess that's why and where we part ways.

Maybe I'll renegotiate my terms if I ever come across a reason to require some extra decades.

As it is, if I found myself with 170 more years that were going to pass like the first 32, I'd be an unhappy camper indeed.

1796. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128411 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 12:45 am

quill-

Diacanu, you wouldn't extend your lifespan,

Why?

reverse aging, etc.,

Eh, gotta admit, not looking forward to being 90...
I dunno....
Let me think on that for awhile...

if the technology allowed? If not, why? And if so, where do you draw the line? Just curious.

It's like plastic surgery, once you start down that road, there's no end to it, then you end up like Michael Jacksn, or one of those leather skinned lizard women from California.

Imagine a genetic version of that.
Bleh.

Nah, not interested.
If others want to diddle their DNA, let 'em.

1797. Why Darwin matters

Comment #128410 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 12:39 am

TonyA-

this is just dumb.

You could've just said this part.

Walking wooter through logic is like putting a leash on a sloth, wherever you're going, you're never fucking going to get there.

1798. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128407 by Diacanu on February 17, 2008 at 12:29 am

Okay, lemme clarify my position, as it's softened somewhat since the last transhuman discussion.

Fine, transhumanism buffs, dream your dreamy little dreams, and when this tech comes, do what you want, turn yourselves into fucking dolphins with jet-ski blowers in your assholes, and laserbeam eyes for all I fuckin' care.

But, the second one of your lasers even accidentally hits my property, I'm going to fuckin' harpoon you, and eat you.

And as for you future superbeings classing me as obsolete, and disposable, well, fuck it, a large majority of humanity, especially the right wing yuppie money-chasers out there, already consider me extraneous worthless flesh, so that's just more fucking opinions to disregard.

Just another fucking ideology to add to my shit list.

There, see? Tolerance. Like for a cold.
Progress, no?

1799. Dumb and Dumber: Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

Comment #128393 by Diacanu on February 16, 2008 at 10:39 pm

annabanana-

Who called you naive?

Want me to break his legs for ya?
:D

1800. Study: Religion colors Americans' views of nanotechnology

Comment #128386 by Diacanu on February 16, 2008 at 10:23 pm

crazy old man-

Diacanu.

That is a distinction worth making. We should inhabit, in the best health possible, the forms into which we are born. I suppose this would signal your disapproval of persons seeking sex-change operations present day.

It seems like what you are wishing for is for evolution to stop in our special case. You know it isn't going to do it. This is just another "crane" we're talking about.

No, I didn't say any of that mess.
nor can you honestly infer any of it.

As with the last discussion, you're leaping to conclusions, and putting words in my mouth.