901. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129261 by Quine on February 18, 2008 at 11:41 pm

Very sad.

902. Machines 'to match man by 2029'

Comment #128974 by Quine on February 18, 2008 at 11:47 am

Keep in mind that Turing's goal was to make a test that could establish the ability to think, without having to define "thought." As such, it is a one sided test, at best (passing the test may establish thought, but failing the test says nothing). One could imagine an AI who refuses to take part in the deception of the test, or does not pass because it understands the overall situation and tells you where to stick it.

Ref: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/turing-test/

903. Machines 'to match man by 2029'

Comment #128793 by Quine on February 18, 2008 at 12:35 am

Is our present weirder than Homo erectus could have imagined? That was but an evolutional eyeblink ago.

904. Machines 'to match man by 2029'

Comment #128705 by Quine on February 17, 2008 at 5:56 pm

Suppose uploading is possible in the reasonably near future. Now suppose that a criminal who has done something very horrible is sentenced to 200 years in prison, but dies only 20 years into it. Should this person be uploaded into a cyber cell where the bits that now represent him/her can be "punished" for the next 180 years? And if so, is there some standard clock speed that would make the virtual 180 years run at 180 years of current human time, or is it okay to give the prisoner a 1% processor slice so that he/she experiences serving 180 years over an actual 18,000 years?

905. Machines 'to match man by 2029'

Comment #128654 by Quine on February 17, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Who will be we in 2033?

906. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124554 by Quine on February 9, 2008 at 8:02 pm

Perhaps it is time for the Church of the FSM to put up some good old faith based billboards.

Been touched?

907. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124119 by Quine on February 8, 2008 at 12:04 pm

It is the nature of some people to keep adding complexity to inventions, to keep pushing the realization that it just doesn't work, past their personal horizon of understanding.

908. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123033 by Quine on February 6, 2008 at 11:38 am

Given that 75% are finding out that they were taught BS as children, heaping more BS on is not going to solve the problem.

909. Documents detail church coverup

Comment #120703 by Quine on February 2, 2008 at 10:54 am

Just the tip of the iceberg. See:
http://www.amazon.com/Deliver-Us-Evil-Thomas-Doyle/dp/B000NIVJH2/

910. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #120327 by Quine on February 1, 2008 at 1:17 pm

When speaking to the public, one simple thing needs to be repeated in every address:

It is a fact that species evolved, as proven by the fossil record. How that happened is the subject of the theory of evolution.

Any gaps or flaws in the current theory (understanding the 'how') does not impact the fact that species evolved.

911. Pope says some science shatters human dignity

Comment #120134 by Quine on February 1, 2008 at 9:33 am

What the Pope will not mention is that, under natural conditions, only about one in four embryos will carry to birth. With a world birth rate of 120M/yr this gives us a rough estimate of 30 million embryos every month that do not make it to become "someone." Perhaps he should have a little talk with his deity about this problem.

912. Happy Birthday Josh Timonen!

Comment #119133 by Quine on January 31, 2008 at 10:40 am

Thanks for everything you do, Josh. Have a great day, just for you!

-Q

913. What should a scientist think about religion?

Comment #118163 by Quine on January 30, 2008 at 12:34 pm

The battle line is, as it has ever been, in biology.

914. Why (Almost All) Cosmologists are Atheists

Comment #110522 by Quine on January 11, 2008 at 12:28 pm

In other words, it might turn out to be that the constants of nature really couldn't have had any other values. I don't think that, if we discovered this to be the case, it would count as evidence against the existence of God, only because I don't think that our present understanding of these parameters counts as evidence in favor of God.

915. Two Ex-Jehovah Witnesses to Tell Why They Became Atheists

Comment #110020 by Quine on January 10, 2008 at 10:02 am

One of the most useful aspects of discussion on this site is the opportunity for the rest of us to hear the inside story of religious tactics to hold members. My admiration goes to all who must pay a family price to speak truth.

916. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'

Comment #105179 by Quine on December 30, 2007 at 8:29 pm

windweaver, here it is but I don't believe it will ever stand up to a double blind test.

P.S. I liked what the other caller had to say about not believing in the Loch Ness Monster, but I have to say that, given the supernatural requirements for deities, Atheists are orders of magnitude less likely to be found incorrect than are Anessieists.

917. Could there be a Darwinian Account of Human Creativity?

Comment #105114 by Quine on December 30, 2007 at 3:31 pm

Billy, you are so clueless that you have no idea how deeply you have stepped in it. And, of all the folks around here to call uninformed, Steve was practically the worst choice.

918. Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

Comment #104774 by Quine on December 29, 2007 at 12:06 pm

Denials from the Vatican? Where is Father Guido Sarducci when we really need him for the inside story? (Also, if you need an education but have only $20 to spend, catch his 5 Minute University.)

919. Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

Comment #104595 by Quine on December 29, 2007 at 1:21 am

The man has gone over the edge.

[Edit: Looks like they keep adding a couple of inches to the hat each year; maybe the weight has compressed his brain.]

920. Response to Dinesh D'Souza op-ed

Comment #104579 by Quine on December 28, 2007 at 9:25 pm

D'Souza makes the Beast 50 worst list (29th):
http://www.buffalobeast.com/122/50mostloathsome2007.html

The blurb is refreshingly accurate.

921. What We Believe: Atheism

Comment #104307 by Quine on December 28, 2007 at 10:03 am

It's the way we live that carries the message.

922. Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms

Comment #99721 by Quine on December 17, 2007 at 12:22 pm

For many years there has been a push among a branch of developers of molecular nanotechnology for a path through synthetic biology. Whereas the nanotech folks struggle with a very difficult problem of how to make the first replicator, biologists already have replicators (virus, bacteria etc.). (Although some Grey_goo worriers are pushing for the no-replicator nanofactory approach.)

Synthetic biology does provide a mind-blowing space of possibilities, but it also provides the ability to substitute inorganic molecules for components. Some natural bacteria do build things like magnetic field direction sensors out of inorganic materials. Progressive substitution over generations is a path to completely inorganic replicators (inorganic life forms). Even near term hybrids, such as substituting symbiotic nanochondria for symbiotic mitochondria would produce benefits mind-blowingly ahead of mind-blowing synthetic biology.

[Edit: Also see developments in which DNA itself is used as a programmable structural material or even computer.]

923. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #99227 by Quine on December 16, 2007 at 1:38 am

ADH, before you go quoting Joni, you should check what she says about religion lately:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/24/joni-mitchell-lashes-out-_n_65587.html

924. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #99139 by Quine on December 15, 2007 at 6:01 pm

What we saw, here, was a wonderful example of four extremely intelligent and well informed people operating in a state of rational thought. Notice the contrast with the "debates" in which folks on the other side (esp. D'Souza) throw out emotionally inflammatory statements just to get the audience out the "rational state" and into a mode of "rah rah" appropriate to cheering at a football game. This "witnessing" of rational people may be more powerful than we know.

One of the things mentioned was that one can, sometimes, get religious people to hold something of a rational thought state, if you talk to them about somebody else's religion. I think this is important and leads to a constructive process of interaction. At Beyond Belief 07 Jeff Hawkins talked about just asking people what they really believed and working from there. It seems to me there is also an adjunct approach that gets them to stay in the rational mode while considering the nonsense that others believe. The proposed technique is just to ask them what they really believe (without any criticism) and then to ask them about the beliefs of others. Let them go on about how crazy such and such belief is, and then just let it go. The unconscious mind will make the connection.

925. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98918 by Quine on December 14, 2007 at 10:35 pm

This was wonderful. I suggest Richard read Tavris and Aronson's book on cognitive dissonance to get some added ways to describe what he has noticed about the capability of people to hold these contradictory positions.

926. U.S. Congress Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

Comment #97978 by Quine on December 12, 2007 at 11:58 pm

The House of Representatives can pass a resolution to establish their favorite cookies, but those cookies will have no special standing outside the House. This resolution is neither a law nor allocates funds. They already have chaplains and partake in prayer. All of that should properly be thrown out, along with this resolution, but it may take some time.

[Edit: I wonder if the House considers Mormons as Christians (some Christians don't) given that they were not around until after the "history of the founding." Also, putting "Jesus Christ" in the resolution steps over the line, because Jews do not recognize Jesus of Nazareth as "the Christ" so this slaps them down as written.]

927. Ayaan Hirsi Ali versus Timothy Garton Ash

Comment #97975 by Quine on December 12, 2007 at 11:22 pm

AHA: "no angels whispering"

She just keeps getting better.

928. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #97093 by Quine on December 11, 2007 at 11:52 am

thirdchimpanzee:

The celibate priesthood is weird, always has been, and our collective response should be disdain, not veneration, for someone who so egregiously turns their back on such a fundamental aspect of humanity.

No other modern church (of any stripe) continues to make this demand - and consider the origins of this absurd tradition.

http://www.libchrist.com/bible/catholiccelibacy.html

929. The empty myths peddled by evangelists of unbelief

Comment #97079 by Quine on December 11, 2007 at 11:19 am

Truthiness in Genesis, isn't that Steven Colbert's territory?

930. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #96770 by Quine on December 10, 2007 at 10:11 pm

I agree that Prof. Dawkins should not give this the dignity of a direct answer. Perhaps if Pat Condell is not too busy ...

931. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #96610 by Quine on December 10, 2007 at 6:46 pm

"When Stalin was back there in seminary school, there was a person there who said, 'You can petition The Lord with prayer ...'"

Yo, Guy in black nightie, see my Supreme Being post before you go talking for HIM (or more probably IT). And watch that equivocation of the philosophy of materialism with the pop usage of "he who dies with the most toys wins."

So back to Stalin, why do you suppose, when young Stalin was on his knees petitioning The Lord to make him His tool, even foreseeing the vast damage Stalin was about to do The Lord chose not to send Stalin enough grace to hold his soul in the fold?

[Edit: Perhaps, knowing the arguments Dawkins, et al., would make in the future, The Lord needed a vehicle to use to besmirch the name of Atheism, so He put Stalin to this use. After all, from His view, all those people were going to die, anyway, and we are talking about the deity who wacked all of humanity, save one family, with The Flood.]

932. Is Infant Male Circumcision An Abuse Of The Rights Of The Child?

Comment #96053 by Quine on December 9, 2007 at 10:07 pm

Just let them decide for themselves when they get old enough for piercings and tattoos and other ritual scarification.

933. Fear of censure deflects The Golden Compas

Comment #95665 by Quine on December 9, 2007 at 12:07 am

I went out and saw the movie, and was generally pleased. It was a bit choppy because so much material had to be compressed for time. However, some scenes were very well done, such as when Lyra tells her panzerbjorne where he can find his armor.

There is something new I am noticing about the blogs of the religious folks who are trying to get parents to keep their kids away from the movie and the books. It looks like kids are trolling these blogs and intentionally winding up the old folks. There was no real way to do this when I was a kid (and survive). If I had tried to write a nasty note to the editor of the parish newsletter, that would have been my mom.

934. Keith Olbermann talks about the Romney 'Religion' Speech

Comment #95560 by Quine on December 8, 2007 at 3:27 pm

Comment #95513 by Communist

Did any of you see the whole Family Research Council conference video? The video was referenced at this side in the article with the headline ''Expelled' Movie: The Extended Trailer'. Here is the link:

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/stream_it.php?format=rm&program_id=201624-3

935. Keith Olbermann talks about the Romney 'Religion' Speech

Comment #95499 by Quine on December 8, 2007 at 12:59 pm

There are actual reasons for Americans to be afraid. If you have not seen it, I strongly suggest you rent a copy of the DVD Hacking Democracy which is about the voting problems. One of my friends was on the team at the University of California that did voting machine analysis last summer, leading to the decertification of these machines here in California.

936. Secret Swami - About Sai Baba

Comment #95158 by Quine on December 7, 2007 at 1:15 pm

The acceptance of "holiness" as above natural human behavior sets this up. I strongly advise all to see the DVD Deliver Us from Evil in which you will see the very same things.

937. Highway to hysteria

Comment #94077 by Quine on December 4, 2007 at 6:02 pm

If they want to be on fire, that's fine, but let them not stand near flammable materials.

938. Why Science Can't Save the Republican Party

Comment #93341 by Quine on December 2, 2007 at 7:07 pm

Thanks Kell,
I did send PZ a PM over at the RD forum and also started a thread there so folks could feed back info.

939. Why Science Can't Save the Republican Party

Comment #93246 by Quine on December 2, 2007 at 1:51 pm

Please see my embryo deaths question from earlier today.

940. Why debate dogma?

Comment #93231 by Quine on December 2, 2007 at 1:12 pm

One of the questions that has been tugging at me lately is, "How many human embryos die every month?"

I turns out not to be so easy to answer, because medical science does not recognize this as being connected to "illness" except in some special cases of infertility. Here is my current thinking:

A very rough guess is that about 1 billion human eggs are produced each month. The vast majority of these billion eggs do not get fertilized and just pass on. Of those that do become embryos, some fraction develop into enough cells at the right time to attach and carry to term. Some cannot attach because of medical, IUD, genetic, etc. problems and so die. However, this still leaves a number that do not attach because fertilization was late in the cycle so not enough development could happen before it was too late. I would especially like to know that last number, which I suspect is still in the millions.

If true, I think it would be important for the public to know that under perfectly natural conditions, millions of human embryos die every month. It should put the relatively few lab stem cell extractions in context. Perhaps this is a question for PZ.

EDIT: I started a thread at the RD Forum so folks could feed back info.

941. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #93206 by Quine on December 2, 2007 at 12:30 pm

... pray aloud for guidance, then use the Eight Ball to determine the right one.

942. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #92998 by Quine on December 1, 2007 at 11:15 pm

Well, my understanding is that the cosmological constant has to be tuned within 1 part in 10 to the 50th power to prevent the universe blowing up.

943. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #92771 by Quine on December 1, 2007 at 12:35 pm

D'Weasel knows the old saying from law:

"If you don't have the facts, pound the law. If you don't have either the facts or the law, pound the table."

944. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #92572 by Quine on November 30, 2007 at 7:35 pm

Spinoza, I am sure you know I am on your side of this. I did, also, wince twice listening to Gregg. When Prof. Dawkins does these interviews, these days, I suspect he is also careful about the words in the questions he is asked. Clearly, in this case he was comfortable to go ahead and answer the question he suspected Gregg meant without either first correcting Gregg, or working the correction into his answer (although, he did on the first, skip over the erroneous categorization of the specific questions and just answered those questions).

The constant danger of being misquoted in the press has put pressure on Prof. Dawkins, and the others in his position, to have to be vigilant against a situation in which a questioner asks an erroneous question, gets the answer to the question that should have been asked, and then that is taken out of context to the detriment of the interviewee. I was gratified when Prof. Dawkins stopped Gregg and said it depends on what you mean by 'god.' Richard then went into a very nice description of the misquoting of Einstein. It was an excellent pushback against a gathering misquoting of cosmologists we see today.

945. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #92534 by Quine on November 30, 2007 at 5:54 pm

Spinoza:

'Words' is serious business.

946. Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Comment #92462 by Quine on November 30, 2007 at 2:47 pm

Some believe that it would be "good" for humanity if Santa Claus did exist and did deliver toys to "good" little boys and girls. However, as has been expressed by others on this thread, even if true, it would not matter a bit about the truth of the existence of Santa. Get over it.

947. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91861 by Quine on November 29, 2007 at 1:15 pm

Frankus1122:

... as part of of Media Literacy (which is part of the curriculum in Ontario).

948. This Friday: Debate between Dan Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #91671 by Quine on November 29, 2007 at 12:15 am

Check out Pat Condell's little video on polite debates:

http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2007/11/on_being_polite.html

949. This Friday: Debate between Dan Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #91540 by Quine on November 28, 2007 at 2:19 pm

D'Souza won't be able to use any of his silly claims of the great works of Christianity, as that has nothing to do with the central question of Gods existence.

950. This Friday: Debate between Dan Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #91513 by Quine on November 28, 2007 at 1:29 pm

When D'Weasle makes his usual comment about the target rich room full of nudists, I hope Dan says something like, "Dinesh, there is really no need to compare yourself to a tiny blood sucking pest."