Comments by aegis

Comment #279987 by aegis on November 6, 2008 at 5:53 pm

"He probably won't say God told him to go to war, but it seems very unlikely that he's going to do anything to challenge the religious status quo."

At this point, i'd be pretty happy with an administration that didn't try to promote it.

2. ELECTION DAY IN THE USA. GO VOTE.

Comment #278835 by aegis on November 5, 2008 at 9:37 am

"This will never happen. amerikkka would vote for hitler before they vote for a black man. The voter fraud has already started across amerikkka. "

Hahahahahaha! Guess you got that one wrong in a massive way, 1st page poster!

As for this comment from Greg:
"I'm still suspicious of who President-elect Obama is beholding to because of donations. It's just a by-product of living in America."

You can enjoy that he is beholden to no one person or group in any large extent. The average campaign contribution was $80, almost entirely from private citizens. He is easily the LEAST influenced president in modern times, and perhaps in ANY time.

"Well done America, you’ve averted a McCain/Palin travesty and replaced it with a person that has little more leadership experience than I do, maybe less. "
Maybe - but I doubt it. Baby steps, Zeroangel, baby steps.

3. Children need to be sprinkled with fairy dust

Comment #272971 by aegis on October 28, 2008 at 12:50 am

"Magic may be real in fantasy stories, but it's seldom easy and never without consequences."

Wrong. In Harry P, there are several scenes in the first book in which items are levitated, people transformed, etc where there are no consequences and where a simple incantation did the trick.

I just left a message to Libby, letting her know (again) that her miniscule intellect has caused her again to completely mis-characterize and misunderstand the professors comments.

One could take a small issue with one thing the Professor has said, and that is that science fiction NEVER takes liberties with science fact. That said, if we take a common example - light-speed travel - and compare it to, say, summoning a protector with magic - we can easily see why one is potentially beneficial and the other, not. Inspired children, in attempts to understand and build an FTL ship, might make advances that miss the mark but are otherwise helpful (to themselves or society if their interest takes them that far). But no matter how many times you try a summoning, the only useful thing you will learn is that it doesn't work.

4. Heavy Metal-Eating 'Superworms' Unearthed in U.K.

Comment #264169 by aegis on October 13, 2008 at 8:12 pm

"magine how healthy the fauna would be at the "toxic woods" where a waste ground used to be."

I suspect that the idea would be to plant crops on this soil, grow it, clear-cut it, process the plants as safely as possible off-site, repeat until the PPM is acceptable for soil samples taken. I don't think that "woods" is a likely candidate here - you'd want a massively quick growing groundcover that you could overturn many times a year.

5. Heavy Metal-Eating 'Superworms' Unearthed in U.K.

Comment #262925 by aegis on October 9, 2008 at 8:14 pm

Miyazaki was right. The funny thing is that this is life imitating art. This news story is essentially the plot of "Nausicca - Valley of the Wind".

As for "VenomFangX", is that the idiot kid from YouTube? I'm sure they'd say that these worms (like every other new discovery that breaks a hole in the wall of their stupidity) were there all along, just undiscovered. See what foresight god has? Ugggh.

6. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #261495 by aegis on October 6, 2008 at 11:44 pm

"So in essence, I take offense to your questioning my humanity, who the fuck have you tried to help today? And what has it cost you?"

Hahahhahahaha! That is just great. Best of luck over there, and try not to come home TOO depressed when you do get out. Stay safe, sir.

Also, Palin sucks. Worst Veep pick in history, bar none.

7. Catholic priests cane YouTube over blasphemous vids

Comment #261491 by aegis on October 6, 2008 at 11:13 pm

"Agreed, but perhaps persuading the believers isn't the only goal. Perhaps it's an unrealistic goal by any method."

Correct. True Believers can only convince themselves. I think that it cannot be underestimated just how powerful early learning can be. When kids absorb early on that there is a vocal and sizable group that finds the ideas of the "sacred" utterly ridiculous, it plants doubt - perhaps the only doubt they'll get to see since media outlets can't sell the "let's be positive and get along" angle so well. But a single rough comment or incident might get coverage for weeks. The people who are outraged won't be convinced by nice or mean tactics anyway - but the un-indoctrinated might see a glimmer of their own doubts there and make a leap to becoming a freethinking person.

8. Strippers, armadillos inspire Ig Nobel winners

Comment #261481 by aegis on October 6, 2008 at 10:50 pm

"In fact the "Red" wine was in fact, some of the white wine that had had some flavourless red food colouring added to it."

I had read this as well - that the common perceptions of reds vs whites (whites are 'dry, whilst reds 'hearty') was mostly an invention of sommeliers. When given blind tests, laypeople and experts alike were unable to consistently identify reds vs whites beyond what chance accounted for. In fact, the whole "wine experts" business seems an awful lot like "theology doctorates" to me.

9. Strippers, armadillos inspire Ig Nobel winners

Comment #261477 by aegis on October 6, 2008 at 10:46 pm

I hadn't followed the IgNobles recently, but when I read this years results in an article on discovery it occurred to me that none of the topics seemed frivolous or useless, just really, really focused. As a matter of fact, it seemed that each had a specific (if somewhat narrow) practicality.

I figured that my past perception of the event might be in error - rather than a freak show or a discussion of voodoo science, it is a celebration of the sometimes remarkable specificity of scientific pursuits. I suspect that Kinsey's wasp obsession would have earned an IgNoble if they were being awarded back then.

10. Dawkins: a theologian's perspective

Comment #261372 by aegis on October 6, 2008 at 6:13 pm

"Those who do find him find love, adventure and satisfaction beyond what they imagined possible."

Funny - this is how I describe myself to women ;).

11. Dawkins: a theologian's perspective

Comment #261371 by aegis on October 6, 2008 at 6:11 pm

So many words signifying nothing.

"Potterism asserts that wizards operate on a level apart from muggles, yet also operate IN this world"

Complete bullshit. I wish I could debate this guy. All you need is one question: How can you demonstrate god working?

12. Atheist group sues Bush over national prayer day

Comment #260652 by aegis on October 5, 2008 at 8:01 pm

"This argument can by used about National day of anything. Because whatever the day is about, there will always be someone who doesn't support it."

Not exactly, in that for most "xxxxx days" there isn't a proscription in the constitution against instating them.

The "day of prayer" is a de facto establishment of religion by the government; as such it is unconstitutional in ways that "Grandparents Day" and other days, are not.

13. Catholic priests cane YouTube over blasphemous vids

Comment #259747 by aegis on October 3, 2008 at 8:25 pm

"If we feel that they need to change their minds, we need to do a bit better in terms of arguments."

You will never change their minds. What I strive for is to change the mental landscape that new minds grow up in. One where religion is made to appear completely backwards and foolish. This has worked well (in America) regarding racism. Every year, it becomes less and less. How is that done? By ridiculing racists at every turn, and belittling them as lesser. That makes an environment hostile to racism, and as such it gets pushed into ever smaller pockets of influence.

As new minds grow in a culture of intolerance for myths that allow a cracker to be equated the status of a person or more, among others, religion will slowly become antiquated and silly-seeming. The folks that are already religious will either need to save themselves, or die off eventually after wasting their one life on a lie.
It's their choice in the end. Only THEY can change their minds at this point.

Who I am after is the kids who haven't made up their minds yet; I want them to grow up knowing that myths can, should, and will be challenged, and that there are viable solutions for the world's problems and explanations for what they see that are far more compelling than "magic".

14. The God Delusion's cameo in season premiere of 'Family Guy'

Comment #258352 by aegis on October 1, 2008 at 10:16 pm

"Parker and Stone are politically/ethically/spiritually/wholly apathetic and never take a stance on anything."

QFT; every SP episode seems an exercise in the middle ground fallacy (except the scientology one).

15. Artist Builds Temple of Science

Comment #258347 by aegis on October 1, 2008 at 9:25 pm

Frankly, I like it and (as I am seeing it) the author is not trying to turn science into a religion. He is exploring what science AS religion might look like, and questioning if that would be a good thing. For those people who aren't wired to find awe in the natural world, would it be wise to turn science into a religion, to bring them into the fold? I think the artist here is saying that no, it would not be. As for the "schizm that doesn't need to be there" comment, I found that (as I always do) to be pandering, but otherwise I can appreciate it as a neat piece. I mean, I would LOVE to have a two story stained glass COBE install at my house. I bet it would make a hell of a reading room.

RE the "Two Cultures" side, I took this as an exposition of how often some scientists (albeit not the best ones) enjoy the work of answering questions, but can't think of the questions themselves. They are excellent technicians, but can't make the creative leap once a question is answered to asking more questions that lead to new discovery or refinement.

16. Texas university scientists criticize attempts to water down evolution instruction in public school science classes

Comment #258338 by aegis on October 1, 2008 at 8:42 pm

Beyond a doubt, the poster"scienceteacher" is by far the most annoying commenter at the Dallas site: My response to his latest ramblings follows:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/100108dntexscicurriculum.546c30.html

"First, it is criminal that scienceteacher is (A) using the nomiker of an educator to attempt to gain credibility or (B) sadly, possibly an actual teacher.

Secondly, your statements RE mutational rates being insufficient to account for the diversity of life are false, as even a mild knowledge of the subject matter would reveal. Either you read your info in some cretinous pamphlet at our local church, or you misunderstood something you read somewhere else from a reputable source. That's OK, since you are a "Scienceteacher" and not a "Mathteacher" I guess you can be forgiven your ignorance RE statistics and probabilities.

"Evolution violates the basic known laws of nature. That's why an evolutionary scientist who discovered DNA "believed" in aliens starting life on earth. Therefore, evolution is based upon as much faith as most religions."

You are either disingenuous or stupid to make such a flawed argument. Firstly, it would be great if you named the scientist you are referring to. I suspect that you may be referring to Francis Crick, who (in addition to lobbying for a "Darwin Day" in the UK) was vehemently against creationism in all its forms, and acknowledged that even if panspermia were the explanation for terrestrial life, it did not explain life's ultimate origin. In essence, the idea of directed panspermia was a conjecture of his, and he hated your lot as much as any thinking person does.

Secondly, your "therefore" does not follow your "that's why". Simply put, Crick offered Panspermia as yet another POSSIBLE explanation for the diversity of life, and nowhere does he discuss it as a likely possibility. His conjecture was to point out the fact that science does not actually know. Luckily, unlike you when scientists don't know something they search for evidence to find just what did happen, and assign that "what" a provisionality in concordance with the strength of that evidence. Thusly, we know for a fact that evolution occurs based on massive amounts of corraborative evidence from a variety of disciplines. We do not yet know how proteins formed, thusly there is not yet a viable firm answer to exactly how life began. However, after it did begin, the evidence is insurmountably strong in favor of evolution by natural selection.

"Also, it amazes me how such deep thinkers can only think of name of calling when others don't agree with their superior thoughts."

Look, I know it hurts to be mentally hogtied by a belief disproven millions of times over the course of a century of scientiic advancement. I know it must hurt to have people not take your drivel seriously. I know that lying is all you have left, as you've done in nearly all your previous posts (either directly or through ommission or misrepresentation). But you know what amazes me? The inability of the creationist side to offer ANY evidence (Behe and the Bible are not evidence) that their fable is true. You've had almost 4000 years! I mean, really - how long will you wait?

Oddly enough though Crick might not have been too far off the mark with his flight of fancy. Organic compounds are omnipresent in outer space, in both asteroids (which occasionally fall as meteors into earth) and comets (which occasionally visit us as well). One thing is for sure though - it wil be scientists, and not lazy idiots like you that provide us with increasingly solid answers to our deepest questions."

17. Art teacher made student pray to Jesus for forgiveness

Comment #251681 by aegis on September 21, 2008 at 11:00 pm

"C'mon... what she did was irresponsible and idiotic, but it is hardly worth her ruination."

I've rarely read a statement that was so patently wrong. Ruin her utterly.

18. Palin: average isn't good enough

Comment #242887 by aegis on September 4, 2008 at 5:00 pm

I agree with Sam completely on this, and I've been saying the same for years - if you elect people because they are "just like you" you deserve the same. The problem is that people are generally not qualified to be a president of a bridge club, let alone the free world.

Palin is governor partly because she's fairly pretty and is from a state that is mostly men. It certainly isn't because she is qualified, and DEFINITELY is not because she is well spoken. She sounds like a moronic teenager. I hope their ticket burns straight to the ground.

19. Central Texas Man's Death Sentence Upheld Despite Bible In Jury Room

Comment #234800 by aegis on August 22, 2008 at 3:32 am

32:

The death penalty does in fact deter crime: http://www. (here is where I stopped reading your post)>>>>>>foxnews

Seriously.

20. Do they really think the earth is flat?

Comment #224292 by aegis on August 4, 2008 at 12:30 pm

http://www.theflatearthsociety.net/forum/

I have a confession. I made the logo for this site, for filthy lucre. I was assured by the person that ran it that the "new" flat earth was going to break away from its old religious origins, and was mostly a "thought experiment". I can't believe that he actually made the site :(.

Call me a Judas in the cause of reason.

21. The Flea Delusion

Comment #219418 by aegis on July 26, 2008 at 11:56 pm

RE: "The New Atheist Crusaders and Their Unholy Grail" cover art.

Someone has obviously not watched enough Indy - That's not the cup of a carpenter!

Someone has chosen....poorly.

22. Texas Fiction Science

Comment #218960 by aegis on July 25, 2008 at 10:03 pm

"heck, peole are going to be homeschooling their kids for the opposite reason they usually do so now."

This is already my plan. I unfortunately and currently live in Texas. In the larger cities, there is a slightly more enlightened attitude than in other smaller areas (Austin, being a college town most so). Hence, we in Houston, Austin, et al pay the price for the overwhelming abundance of fools in places like Vidor and Midland (apologies to fellow Texans of rationality who have the misfortune to live in those holes).

23. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #215087 by aegis on July 21, 2008 at 8:52 am

"it reminds me of the Ted Hughes poem Full Moon and Little Frieda, when Hughes's toddler daughter is in the garden in the evening and suddenly shouts "Moon, Moon" in the silence. "

This happened to me the other day... My daughter looked up at the sky and said "Boon", pointing to the moon of course. She's 18 months at this point, and I have to admit I teared up a bit.

24. The Return of Religion

Comment #212541 by aegis on July 17, 2008 at 10:11 am

Roger Scruton:
So much space used to say so very little. Enjoy your champagne wishes and caviar dreams of a world where rationality is shat upon and those who value it are silent.

This article would have been a lot better had it been a list of links to tired old arguments and fallacies.

25. We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!

Comment #196230 by aegis on June 19, 2008 at 1:36 pm

My Letter:

Governor Jindal, you are the last line of defense in stopping bill SB 733 from passing. Since you have stated an intent to sign it, I can only assume that you truly don't understand its intent. Instituting the bill will assist Louisiana in keeping the worst or near worst educational reputation it has enjoyed for all the 15 years I have been in the southern US.

Children need to learn. Part of that learning is through questioning what is told to them. However, there is a time and place for this questioning. We don't allow students or teachers to propose 'alternatives' to gravitational concepts, the value of Pi, the germ theory of disease or any host of other well established scientific or mathematic principles because to do so is to harm their education. This bill is a canard from the ironically named "Discovery Institute", which despite its name has yet to make a single discovery. It attempts to insert religious hogwash into science class.

As such, it replaces mysticism and miracles for real-world data, and misleads children to believe that there is a controversy where none exists during their most impressionable years. Additionally, it violates the first amendment, which has been upheld in every case so far brought to trial against similar bills. Pennsylvania and Kansas have already paid dearly for entertaining these dimwits. Here's hoping that you have the guts to make sure Louisiana isn't the next victim of yet more public mockery and a gradual dumbing-down of your populace.

26. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192190 by aegis on June 12, 2008 at 2:30 pm

"Mr. Lewis wrote that there was "genuinely dangerous" speech that did not meet the imminence requirement."

Why do I think that he might fail to include nearly every evangelical christian sermon ever in this "genuinely dangerous" speech?

27. Group wants Wi-Fi banned from public buildings

Comment #186193 by aegis on May 29, 2008 at 10:04 pm

First,
Steve, I believe that Jack MAY have been making a joke about the excremental state of US television programming in general.

Second;
For all those who are claiming the need for 'further study', the US embarked on an exhaustive, multi-year study regarding the EMF effects of living near power lines. Even though the study was, from the start, decried as a waste of funds and time, the study plodded forward because some people couldn't understand the concept that 'correlation does not mean causation". In the process, several years were spent, along with almost a HALF BILLION dollars. The Results? That the initial scientists, who noted that you get far more exposure to EMR from the sun in a few moments than you do in a week near a power tower, were right. That's a half billion that could have been spent on real medical research, or in improving the lives, medical care, and environment of those economically disadvantaged people prone to live in areas where the towers ran through. Instead, it was dumped down a drain created by the hole in the public misunderstanding of the most basic science.

There is NO EFFECT, and to continue to coddle these people is as bad as coddling the religious who demand 'respect' without evidence that demands that respect.

Two miles from me, there is a guy that runs a Beignet shop (a type of pastry). He has this stupid sign that says that he has some kind of 'brain problems' caused by cellphones. As such, you cannot use one within "35 feet of the register", which, incidentally, is bigger than the whole place. It's fracking ludicrous, made moreso by people who keep telling him that "his opinion is as valid as anyones, and besides, we can't prove that he ISN'T getting tumors from our cellphones". So, that means that we can't criticize his hypochondria. Does that sound vaguely familiar to another mind-disease that you may have heard of on this site?

28. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #151371 by aegis on March 28, 2008 at 2:58 pm

Well, I posted a comment at Ben's website:

"Well, it appears that your movie was successful in proving one thing - ID was rightfully and roundly destroyed a century ago. All the ID movement seems to have left is defunct ex-politico- almost-actors droning on about things they know nothing about. Will this comment be posted, or, like PZ, will it to be 'expelled' in the interest of making your audience feel good?

If you think that expelled will HELP your cause, you should think again. It's going to make your group more silly-looking and marginalized than ever before. enjoy reaping what you've sown."

Oddly, the comment does not appear. And by "Oddly", I mean "expectedly".