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Comments by Shaden


1. God hates Mars

Comment #199666 by Shaden on June 26, 2008 at 7:08 am

I thought the most popular candy bar in the UK is Kit Kat. If not, then other things on the History channel may be wrong too...

I personally think Symphony is the best candy bar (with almonds and toffee)

I like Whatchamacallit as well.

2. Religion is a product of evolution, software suggests

Comment #185190 by Shaden on May 27, 2008 at 7:11 am

RickM,

Or you were lucky enough to not have been brought up to believe such things.

3. Philippe Starck: Why design?

Comment #182437 by Shaden on May 20, 2008 at 6:02 am

rod-the-farmer,

I'm glad to hear you went through the trouble of letting the company know that its product was horrible. Most people wouldn't have bothered.

It's hard not to feel bad for your family members that got you the gift though, since they wanted you to be happy and instead you got a hassle.

I know I feel bad when someone gives me a gift and I either don't use it or is was of poor quality in which I can't use it, since they only wanted me to be happy.

4. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180239 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Sorry, had to take it offline while we repair the power coupling to the starboard nacelle.

We shouldn't even be talking about this for fear of violating the prime directive.

5. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180232 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 12:15 pm

AtheistJon,

I think it may be about time to drink that beer you're holding there.

6. 'Spiritual' dentist fined $10,000

Comment #180182 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 10:48 am

al-rawandi,

My dentist has a bowl of chocolates and candy at the receptionist's desk, it ensures return customers.

7. 'Spiritual' dentist fined $10,000

Comment #180176 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 10:37 am

He said his Highton practice was booming because "we successfully deal with the spirit of fear that oppresses so many patients".


Can you deal with the spirit of plaque? Oh wait, that sounds ridiculous because we know how that works.

8. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180132 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 8:55 am

If you're going to be aboard my ship, I would appreciate it if you used the correct term: tachyon

9. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180123 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 8:42 am

How about a rail gun?


A rail gun powerful enough to shoot nuclear waste into space? Assuming it didn't use more power to fire than what generated the waste, I'm sure it would piss off just about every other country in the world.

I guess we could play nuclear waste paintball with China if we wanted to...

10. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180118 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 8:31 am

Al,

As Quetzalcoatl said, the problem is rockets are just too unstable to load one up with tons of nuclear waste and then have it explode in the upper atmosphere.

Hopefully in the future this will be a solution, once we have a more reliable means to launch into space.

11. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180105 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 8:16 am

annabanana,

Nuclear power, like other energy sources, is getting more efficient as we move forward. It is far from perfect, but holds a lot of promise. I don't think the current problems are unsolvable. We need to maintain the pressure for increased efficiency and environmental protection instead of reverting to our normal complacency.

From the article:

Here's a fun fact: Spent nuclear fuel - the stuff intended for permanent disposal at Yucca Mountain - retains 95 percent of its energy content. Imagine what Toyota could do for fuel efficiency if 95 percent of the average car's gasoline passed through the engine and out the tailpipe. In France, Japan, and Britain, nuclear engineers do the sensible thing: recycle. Alone among the nuclear powers, the US doesn't, for reasons that have nothing to do with nuclear power.


In the short term, reprocessing would maximize resources and minimize the problem of how to dispose of radioactive waste. In fact, it would eliminate most of the waste from nuclear power production. Over decades, it could also ease pressure on uranium supplies. The world's existing reserves are generally reckoned sufficient to withstand 50 years of rapid nuclear expansion without a significant price increase.

12. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180097 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 8:06 am

al-rawandi,

Hollywood thinks of that for me. At least once a year, if not more.

13. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180090 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 7:54 am

annabanana,

The authors are business men and journalists, not scientists.


Good to hear that. Business men (and women) are exactly the ones that need to understand the science and then do something viable with it.

address greenhouse gases


Luckily nuclear power plants don't release CO2.

14. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #180077 by Shaden on May 14, 2008 at 7:20 am

Dr Benway,

About your top-opening refrigerator idea, you could almost use current refrigerators if you laid one on its back with the doors facing up. Of course you would have to right the compressor since that can't run if it's at 90 degrees. Wouldn't be perfect but might solve Tyler's problem of crawling into a 6-foot deep refrigerator from the top.

15. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179702 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 2:19 pm

annabanana,

I read this article in Wired a few years ago, if you have the time it's worth the read.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/nuclear.html?pg=1&topic=nuclear&topic_set=

16. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179697 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Quetzalcoatl,

I understand that it's a common idea, but it's hard to weigh pros and cons without actual evidence.

riandouglas,
:-P

annabanana,
I'll try to find some resources that compare them, though I mostly agree with you that it's probably a wash in the end. I'm sure this thread will be pages deeper tomorrow though, since I'm going home to ponder why my gas stations think $3.99 is the best price for gas.

17. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179683 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 1:57 pm

I agree with you mesomodel, I wish we would devote more resources towards fusion research, being the holy grail (if you would) of energy production. If anything good comes from high oil prices, I hope it's better energy sources.

18. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179675 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 1:50 pm

annabanana,

What I was saying was that nuclear power isn't necessarily a better option


What I was saying is compared to the alternitives, Coal being the United States' main source of electricity (48.9%), nuclear is better.

I skimmed through the Wiki page, didn't find anything about running out of room for storing waste. Although you may be right, I don't know if that claim is substantiated.

19. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179653 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 1:23 pm

annabanana,

We're running out of places to put it as it is.


Really, where did you hear that?

Would you rather store the waste from power plants in the atmosphere (Coal)?

20. 85% of Americans Want a Presidential Debate on Science

Comment #179650 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 1:16 pm

I hate surveys.

21. God seekers go public

Comment #179415 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 8:19 am

konquererz,

I'm sure they just ordered one chicken and one egg to be delievered to their lab. A full report of which one came first to follow...

22. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179337 by Shaden on May 13, 2008 at 6:17 am

someonefree,

So I'm praying to FSM for $5/gallon since these idiots still didn't learn their lesson.


Hell yeah man! I hope it gets to $20 a gallon, that'll really teach those fuckers who drive! Meanwhile I'm safe here in my bus, what a hoot! Fuck anyone that doesn't live in a 18 million person metropolitan area like me! While I'm at it, I pray that milk goes up to $15 a gallon, that'll really teach everyone that hasn't canned 20 years worth of his mother's breast milk like I have! I'm so SMRT! Why isn't everyone in the world more like me!!!

Idiot.

23. Evolution: What is 'Natural'?

Comment #179038 by Shaden on May 12, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Artful_Dodger,

I am a Christian parent, and know a lot of other Christian parents. Christian parents in my experience do not subject their kids to threats of eternal damnation unless they behave in a particular way.


I know a lot of Christian parents too, and every one of them would threaten their children with eternal damnation if they try to follow a different path. This leaves no room for children to find God on their own, it must be force feed by their parents, or else.

...indoctrination and mental torture


Absolutely.

24. Rover instrument to sniff out life on Mars

Comment #177648 by Shaden on May 9, 2008 at 12:12 pm

AtheistAspy,

An Astronaut aboard the International Space Station was interviewed by Stephen Colbert last night. That's all the reason I need to continue supporting space exploration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTPMjq_hU2E

25. Trouble ahead for science

Comment #176943 by Shaden on May 8, 2008 at 11:20 am

Frankus1122,

That's an easy science project. Just bring in nothing, since that's the answer.

26. Gunk in T. Rex Fossil Confirms Dino-Bird Lineage

Comment #170960 by Shaden on April 28, 2008 at 7:26 am

I'm sure that the creationists are going to cry fowl on this finding.

27. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168941 by Shaden on April 25, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Remnant,

By the way, those that have avatars like yours sometimes do that to compensate for their emasculated status or other impairment. Sort of like a comb-over or rug. What's your reason?


Way to take the high road there Remnant. Tell me again why I would want to become more like you? I think Jesus should look for a new spokesperson.

28. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168883 by Shaden on April 25, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Tyler Durden,

According to Leviticus: I should kill my room-mate who's gay


Tyler, I don't know if you know this or not, but you don't have a roommate...

29. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168265 by Shaden on April 24, 2008 at 8:28 pm

Frankus1122,

He may be praying for answers and is confused and frightened by the silence that is the response to his prayer.


You'd think he would have caught on by now. Bring on the cognitive dissonance.

30. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168260 by Shaden on April 24, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Frankus1122,

Why then, is Remnant so reticent to answer any tough questions?


Yeah, he's been absent all of the sudden. He must have went out to see Expelled again to get some answers.

31. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #168253 by Shaden on April 24, 2008 at 7:51 pm

Remnant,

Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.


Ok, now read these verses:

Mark 16:17-18
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.


That's from the same bible, in case you didn't know. Assuming you "beleive," you should be able to drink poison like it's kool-aid.

I would say don't drink the poison, but since you should have your trust in the LORD (and not me), and the LORD's word says you can drink any deadly thing and not be harmed, what will you do?

32. Yoko Ono, Filmmakers Caught in 'Expelled' Flap

Comment #162820 by Shaden on April 17, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Chicago Tribune,

When [Ben Stein] blurts out in one "interview"--apparently he didn't actually sit and confront some of these people himself, the film is just edited that way--"Where's the data?" you can almost hear him choke on the irony


Says it all right there. Thanks Quine for the link

33. Yoko Ono, Filmmakers Caught in 'Expelled' Flap

Comment #162808 by Shaden on April 17, 2008 at 1:42 pm

Santi Tafarella,

What's wrong with seeing a movie in which you have substantial intellectual disagreement?


Nothing, I would want to see anything that differs from my own view. But the point of not wanting to pay to see it is I'm casting my vote with my money, which unfortunately I can't do anything about.

I think a movie should be based on something other than it's gross, but it really isn't.

34. Yoko Ono, Filmmakers Caught in 'Expelled' Flap

Comment #162788 by Shaden on April 17, 2008 at 1:12 pm

The problem Santi Tafarella is that the only real way of measuring a movie's success is by how much it made. I can go to the movie, pay my $8.50 and then disagree with everything in it, but they don't care about what I thought about the movie, they only care about the $8.50 I just gave them. It's just as if I said "I like this movie" before I even saw it.

That's why I wouldn't see this movie.

35. The List: The World's Worst Religious Leaders

Comment #159086 by Shaden on April 11, 2008 at 12:28 pm

I was looking for Pat Robertson, he would fit right in.

36. Faith healing church parents charged over toddler's death

Comment #153346 by Shaden on April 1, 2008 at 12:08 pm

fides_et_ratio,

Careful. If Prof. Dawkins and many other visitors here are correct in their assertion that faith is a virus, that's their defense on a golden platter.


That's almost what they're being tried for; not treating something deadly when there is a known cure. Which would be the same in their case, since there is a known cure for faith - it's called reason.

37. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #149919 by Shaden on March 26, 2008 at 10:31 am

A very Happy Birthday Richard!

Even though I live in the United States, I think this should be a national holiday nonetheless. I'd vote for it.

Is there anything a Yank can do to nominate someone to be knighted? I'll pay back-taxes on some tea if I must.

38. The Atheist Apocalypse

Comment #146772 by Shaden on March 19, 2008 at 11:47 am

It appears that the two people have quests available once they see the four horsemen approaching.

...I wonder how much experience the party got

Heh, looking at the differences in the before and after scenes reminds me of the child magazine Highlights.

39. God's cure for gays lost in sin

Comment #146510 by Shaden on March 19, 2008 at 6:46 am

You don't need enemies when you have friends like these.

40. First 'Rule' Of Evolution Suggests That Life Is Destined To Become More Complex

Comment #146486 by Shaden on March 19, 2008 at 6:12 am

by Mitchell Gilks

It's become obvious to me now, in order to fend off extinction, we need to eliminate any species that is equal or greater complexity to ourselves.


Isn't that the plot of X-Men?

41. Fleabytes

Comment #143043 by Shaden on March 13, 2008 at 11:42 am

5064. Comment #142990 by al-rawandi,

I will stop here. God created man after the other creatures were created. This part suggests they were created in their current form. Thus no evolution.


See, this is where I get confused with the "inerrant" bible. Were the animals created before God made man (Genesis 1:25-27) or did he make them after He made man (Genesis 2:18-19)?

42. Full house captivated by atheist Dawkins' take on religion

Comment #142456 by Shaden on March 12, 2008 at 2:14 pm

I agree with you about the title Matt7895, I was thinking I would read about Bob Saget and the crew when I clicked on it.

43. Beauty ad banned after Christian outcry

Comment #142421 by Shaden on March 12, 2008 at 1:01 pm

Well, they got the music right at least; can't go wrong with Yann Tiersen.

44. Contribute to science directly by volunteering some of your computer's processing power!

Comment #139706 by Shaden on March 6, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Remind's me of Stanford's Folding@Home http://folding.stanford.edu/

Of which I've contributed quite a few work units with my PS3 and computer. The only thing I don't like about these is how much power my devices draw. I worked it out to be several hundred dollars a year in electricity.

Now, with the new Intel processors coming out consuming under 10watts (some under 1watt) I would be much more interested in doing more of these type of things.

45. Fleabytes

Comment #139271 by Shaden on March 5, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Frankus1122,

I just converted this article along with the comments up to #3584 to pdf. It took my computer 22 minutes to complile the 1437 pages into a 6MB file. This thing is a book.

If anyone wants me to send it to them just let me know. I can do it again in the future as well.

46. US Treaty with Tripoli

Comment #138541 by Shaden on March 4, 2008 at 1:49 pm

hungarianelephant,

If I suggested that I could bring certain intangible benefits to the economy and people's lives, but I would have to kill 20,000 people a year in order to do so, you would probably think I was deranged.

What no one has yet managed to explain to me is how this is morally distinguishable from allowing people to have cars.


By you stating you have to kill 20,000 people in order to do so, you sound like you're picking who you want and murdering them. This just isn't the case for driving. There is an inherent risk that every driver takes by getting behind the wheel, but it's a very low risk. Do a lot of people die every year from driving? Yes, but that doesn't stop people from choosing to do so. It's their choice.

Do people die every year from food borne illnesses? Yes, but that doesn't stop people from eating. There is risk in everything we do.

Therefore, your statement is morally distinguishable from allowing people to have cars.

47. Bulldozers tear down giant religious teapot

Comment #138524 by Shaden on March 4, 2008 at 1:25 pm

Now how am I going to make the Captain his Earl Grey?

48. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #138427 by Shaden on March 4, 2008 at 9:45 am

First, I have to say that I completely agree with Dr. Benway on comment #64.

Second, I would really enjoy attending one of these, but no Michigan universities are listed :(

Probably for the best, this way I won't have to come up with an excuse to tell my ultra-Christian co-workers for going. Especially since I probably wouldn't come up with an excuse and just tell them how it is, which would get me fired I'm sure.

49. God, power and money

Comment #137707 by Shaden on March 3, 2008 at 11:22 am

What a perfect business plan.

1. Convince people that giving you money is somehow giving an all-powerful god money.

2. Take money.

I wonder how many Pat Robertson/James Dobson/Benny Hinn's there would be if there was no financial incentive to "spread the word."

50. US Treaty with Tripoli

Comment #135911 by Shaden on February 29, 2008 at 10:48 am

Cartomancer,
"Without guns violent criminals would use whatever weapons they had to hand, and knives, fists, coshes, chair legs..."

I think you're assuming that making guns illegal would take guns away from said criminals. What kind of criminal would you be if you couldn't break the law and possess a firearm?

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