1. Machines 'to match man by 2029'

Comment #128502 by technogogo on February 17, 2008 at 8:32 am

I have just finished reading Jeff Hawkins book "On Intelligence" and would highly recommend it.

Jeff describes a proposed method which explains how our slow brains (yes, very slow compared to the Ghz instruction speed of computers) are still able to achieve so much. There is a lot of emphasis on hierarchy and pattern recognition. Its all fascinating stuff.

2. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123043 by technogogo on February 6, 2008 at 11:58 am

I just pinched off an 'atheist movement' that was far less offensive and far more honest than this bit of video dross

3. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #122577 by technogogo on February 5, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Sound quality is not great. But if you are using Realplayer (via the linked to site) you may have a graphic equaliser. On Mac its on the Window pulldown menu. Or command-E. Not sure about PC vesion. Lower all the sliders apart from those for the 3 or 4 highest frequency bands.

4. Islam in Europe

Comment #114532 by technogogo on January 22, 2008 at 11:25 am

Class, pure class. As always.

I do wonder if the forward projections about birthrates are genuine cause for concern in the longer term. I wonder if 2nd and 3rd generation muslims, raised in Europe, will care much for the more extreme variety of islam. Isn't there some evidence that these future generations will become more european? Of course this depends on us being able to prevent the creation of isolated and enclosed sections of muslims within Europe. That is something that deserve political focus.

5. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #102271 by technogogo on December 22, 2007 at 8:12 am

I believe there is a strong tide of feeling against excessive political correctness. The church appear to be trying to channel that force against atheism.

It is a particularly sneaky trick. What worries me is that the general public might fall for it!

The best defense is to insist they point to specific events, known actions or attributed speech as being fundamentalist atheism. Of course this will be impossible because the basis for this created non-entity is pure here-say and sentiment that has no real basis.

6. Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher

Comment #92438 by technogogo on November 30, 2007 at 1:48 pm

I was thinking about this today. Trying to work out how the demonstration might come about. It seemed so orchestrated. The demonstration was after Friday prayers. So I wonder if it went like this: the imams fed their congregations with lies about a western woman who came to humiliate islam, to name a dog after the prophet (some stories suggest such lies are circulating) and various other misrepresentations. They rouse the crowds up. Then tell them to take to the streets to show the world that they will not be messed with. Tell them not to go back to work. Hand out of few prepared banners and there you have the demonstration. If you look at the footage several of the banners have very similar appearance. The protesters, in the main, appeared good natured.

So I wonder the extent to which this was all about a staged demonstration of political power? Not religious power? Perhaps its about the imams grabbing the chance to show the sudanese government that they can put poeple out on the streets?

7. Malaysia firm's 'Muslim car' plan

Comment #87581 by technogogo on November 12, 2007 at 2:20 pm

Well this is an interesting development. A car manufactured to appeal to a specific religion. Start of a trend?

From the description though, I don't think there is much to appeal. I'm guessing that many muslims will already have a compass to point to mecca. They may also be cautious about taking their koran out in their car - I thought they kept them at home in a safe place where they cannot get dirty? Anyway, most cars nowadays have different storage areas.
So whats left that makes this car uniquely appeal to muslims? some kind of branding appeal? but isn't that a bit like idolatry?

I think this idea could seriously backfire!

8. Atheists don't believe in anything

Comment #81972 by technogogo on October 25, 2007 at 1:15 pm

I still believe in love.

9. If Muslim doctors are intolerant, let them go

Comment #77469 by technogogo on October 9, 2007 at 11:38 am

I am starting to cringe slightly when I hear criticism of islam contain a contrived reference to christianity being equivalent in terms of extreme dogma (usually care of the vanishingly small number of violent anti-abortion militants). I am not convinced such equivalence is reality. In fact there are some surveys on the attitudes of british muslims do make worrying reading. They suggest a much more embedded and pervasive views which are contrary to the prevailing sentiments in the UK on many things. Islam appears to be unique in being a religion that tries to control so many aspects of life. Well, all aspects really.

Otherwise a good article which makes its point fairly clearly.

10. Teachers 'fear evolution lessons'

Comment #76457 by technogogo on October 6, 2007 at 12:02 am

Kind of related, because it mentions attitudes in science, check out this publication from the muslim council of britain:

http://www.mcb.org.uk/downloads/Schoolinfoguidancev2.pdf

The document describes how schools can be made more suitable for muslim pupils. Warning, you may get increasingly annoyed as you work your way through the pages.

11. Borehamwood eruv granted planning permission

Comment #56159 by technogogo on July 14, 2007 at 6:47 am

Epicure... you are right, there are more important things. But presumably the council officers of this borough also had more important things to consider, but instead had to deal with this issue. I wonder what the public cost have accumulated as a result of this scheme.

12. Borehamwood eruv granted planning permission

Comment #56151 by technogogo on July 14, 2007 at 4:31 am

There is an opportunity to comment in the local newspaper on this situation:

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/indepth/features/display.var.1524272.0.0.php

It would be good to raise some of these issues there because the views would be directly read by those on the council and those effected by this in the community.

13. Floods are judgment on society, say bishops

Comment #53660 by technogogo on July 2, 2007 at 12:35 pm

I think they should report these sorts of comments widely. I read the article to my 14 year old and he could not believe how rediculous it was. In fact, he said what about the family of the man that drowned in the drain last week?!

Let the clergy talk themselves into oblivion.