1. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #191442 by oskorei on June 11, 2008 at 1:26 am

rebelest; speed of light in vacuum is a limiting velocity for travel within spacetime; spacetime itself can stretch much faster than that (there is no limit, really). If inflation is correct, which at the moment sort of hangs in the balance, that is what happened. Nothing actually travelled through space; the universe itself inflated at enormous rate until the scalar field driving that inflation collapsed.

2. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #191229 by oskorei on June 10, 2008 at 12:27 pm

#1: QM has little to do with stellar structure. It is mostly rather standard thermodynamics and nuclear physics, but I see your point...;)

In any case, the Universe is usually taken to be our spacetime continuum, and that is most likely finite. We use the word "multiverse" for everything else, and that is, just as likely, infinite, although such terms may not even be applicable to it.

#7: The era of inflation is defined as that time within which the universe, in a fraction of a second, inflated 10^30 times its size...or so. It is certainly over, although normal expansion is still ongoing and is, perhaps, accelerating (there are other solutions to the supernovae problem that do not involve accelerating expansion, but it is the most likely one).

3. Hitchens' flat world

Comment #41559 by oskorei on May 16, 2007 at 9:54 am

"Hitchens inhabits a flat world, devoid of the spirit even broadly understood, and thinks that he can see farther, not realizing that he has razed all the interesting features of the landscape."

If evolutionary biology, inflationary cosmology, M-theory, branes, astrobiology, algorithmic complexity and a slew of other "features of the landscape" do not seem to be exciting to Father De Souza, I can only conclude that he has a not-very-exciting mind, and leads a rather blinkered existence. Can't restrain myself: what a stupid piece of shite!;)

4. Now Muslims Get Their Own Laws In Britian

Comment #36649 by oskorei on May 1, 2007 at 11:33 pm

I am sorry; at a risk of sounding "nationalistic", I must say that people who move into any country must accept the due processes and laws of that country. If Muslims want to impose specific Islamic laws onto Britain, they must proceed by means provided democratically, or else have a violent revolution, instituting their own government, or be removed. I see no other options...Damn...and I consider myself strongly leaning towards anarchism! Maybe I am wrong (about myself, that is).

5. The Coulter Hoax: How Ann Coulter Exposed the Intelligent Design Movement

Comment #30869 by oskorei on April 10, 2007 at 7:30 am

I've been thinking that Coulter's arguments must have been satirical for a long time...Not to boast, but I attempted to say so back in June, although, admittedly, I was much less articulate at that than Olofsson. I admire his attempt: it is very difficult to remain level-headed and try to be logical when faced by such garbage.

6. 1986 Oxford Union Debate

Comment #25358 by oskorei on March 12, 2007 at 1:40 pm

Thank you! This is a fascinating historical document; I am amazed how little the creationist arguments have changed since then. I guess nothing at all can be done about certain kinds of arrogant ignorance..