951. The Age of Darwin

Comment #32246 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 11:39 am

savroD, non-hominids are intriquing because us humans have limited knowledge of their mind/body experience. I regard my cats as being soulful.

It is very difficult to talk about spirituality with atheists because they are so skeptical about spirituality as being equivalent with the supernatural. But as Anne Druyan, has mentioned, us atheists need to recapture the word spiritual from the believers in the supernatural. Spirituality can be natural.

952. The Age of Darwin

Comment #32245 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 11:34 am

poppythinks, it is just the way I look at the union between my body and my mind. Nothing special, really on one level, but then again, it is very nice to be grounded in the recognition of your body and mind as working together in unison. I have been mediating for decades--just plain, simple yoga postures which I regard as deep muscle massage and breathing which slows down the rate of thinking and is very calming to the mind. Biofeedback, and certainly the recent forms available, can accomplish similar results.

Some eastern practices are absurdly punishing to the body in order to control the mind. And in the west, the body again is regarded as a detriment to having control over your mind, as being just some wild, often 'disgusting' aspect to hide, suppress, and whip into shape to the best of our abilities.

I often think of the African American use of the word 'soulful' which does not necessarily denote the supernatural. Soulful in that context signifies both the mental/emotional/physical appreciation of one's senses as in soul food and soul music. Soul is sensual, comforting and grounding, but in my sense it is not eternal, it does not exist after my life is done. The effects of my 'soul' however could perhaps, in the sense, that memories of a grounded person can positively influence posterity in often unexpected ways.

953. Kadra attacked in public

Comment #32239 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 10:29 am

Perhaps, I am being naive, but what I get from the posts in this thread, is that female sexual mutilation including infibulation is wrong, whether it is done by immigrants in their adopted countries, or by natives in their own. I got a sense of world citizenship very strongly in this thread, but then again, I have been reading and posting for about 6 months, so perhaps I have a better edge in understanding posts written by frequent posters.

954. Kadra attacked in public

Comment #32222 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 8:28 am

the fight against sexual mutilation:

http://www.montagunocircpetition.org/

955. Genie shows barred by Islam, clerics say

Comment #32212 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 7:48 am

edge100, congrats on your graduation from lurker to poster. Nice post. Trolls are always useful for serious posters because trolls provide fodder and ammunition for the atheist's viewpoint. Hardworking trolls, gotta love 'em.

956. The Age of Darwin

Comment #32211 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 7:44 am

"...the soul cannot be detached from the electrical and chemical pulses of the body."
________

savroD, I find the above quote to be a heavy weight despite the word 'soul.' So many religious believers say that they know God has touched their supernatural souls because of the way they 'feel.' This moderate author is opening the door to reason by connecting the two, and by this connecting, not necessarily giving validity to the 'soul', but giving validity to the sensation of one.

I am one of those 'spiritual' atheists that encourage us to reclaim that word, which does not always or have to mean beyond the natural. My own definition of my soul is the union of body with my mind. I have been chastised in regarding myself in this way, because the soul apparently must be defined only in supernatural terms. Bollocks.

957. Genie shows barred by Islam, clerics say

Comment #32202 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 7:03 am

I see our Sunday drive-by godder is still hanging out. Odd that the neutered Spagmonster vanished, vowing to return, and lo and behold, a miracle--the awaited apparition of Chamber is amidst our heathen, brighty bright persons.

Here's hoping that chamber will have a glorious brighty, bright day!

958. The Age of Darwin

Comment #32183 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 5:33 am

I just read Brooks Wikipedia's entry, sounds like an interesting bloke. Excerpt from the article:

"Brooks also broke with many in the conservative movement when, in late 2003, he came out in favor of same-sex marriage in his New York Times column. He equated the idea with traditional conservative values: "We should insist on gay marriage. We should regard it as scandalous that two people could claim to love each other and not want to sanctify their love with marriage and fidelity.... It's going to be up to conservatives to make the important, moral case for marriage, including gay marriage." (New York Times, November 22, 2003, A-15.)"

959. The Age of Darwin

Comment #32172 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 4:21 am

Excellent article. Particularly appreciated the following quote:

Human beings, in our current understanding, are jerry-built creatures, in which new, sophisticated faculties are piled on top of primitive earlier ones. Our genes were formed during the vast stretches when people were hunters and gatherers, and we are now only semi-adapted to the age of nuclear weapons and fast food. Furthermore, reason is not separate from emotion and the soul cannot be detached from the electrical and chemical pulses of the body. There isn't even a single seat of authority in the brain. The mind emerges (somehow) from a complex light show of neural firings without a center or executive. We are tools of mental processes we are not even aware of.

Brother, that's righteous.

960. For Some Hispanics, Coming to America Also Means Abandoning Religion

Comment #32167 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 3:58 am

"Here, the people get more materialistic," Mr. Cerritos said. "The culture here is really barren. There's no traditions."
______

Interesting and informative article. There are national American traditions, like celebrating Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. In addition there are regional and State traditions, like clam bakes, barbecues, Mardi Gras, etc. Being a fairly new country, it does lack the historical punch of traditions in older countries. As for as materialism, one is not forced to consume, and some Americans choose to embrace voluntary 'poverty.'

My goodness, where is Helian when you need him!

961. For Some Hispanics, Coming to America Also Means Abandoning Religion

Comment #32153 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 2:25 am

"I hope you were joking about your analysis of USA."
______

Pantore, Frequently using your beloved LMAOs and LOLs, you are a fine one for calling the kettle black. I got this mental image of you--yeah, I am one of your admirers also, LOL--of looking like the Joker from Batman.

Seriously, and risking total boredom on the part of anyone reading this comment, I, myself, do not enjoy the American lifestyle, but not only do I know many Americans that do, but also some foreigners in various countries in which I have lived, would love to live in America.

In addition, I adore American cultural achievements, like Jazz and literature. If anybody thinks that there is no real culture/education in America, then he/she sadly needs their narrow horizons pried open to let in a nice, fresh blast of reality.

962. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #32148 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 1:58 am

Mind_Rebel, From what I have read, your written English is more than adequate for communication at this site--heaps better than my pathetic grasp of written French (I live in France). Do what you think is right for yourself, and I will be looking forward to your return so you can teach me some things I don't know and perhaps learn something you don't from me. And thank you for elaborating a bit on the style/content of your posts.

963. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #32144 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 1:36 am

Shrommer, I appreciated your enjoyable post regarding C.S. Lewis because I am a writer of fiction myself, though Lewis is one of my least favorite authors!

Your explanation of how God's omniscience does not contradict the free will of his subjects does not wash with me. When I write fiction, I certainly do imitate to perfection the human-made concept of God--which is the only concept of God in my mind--I have decided before hand and sometimes after hand via editing and revisions similar to adding a Jesus in the midst of existing myths, what the meaning, purpose, and process of my character's lives will and can be. And then my little characters proceed to delude themselves to think they have any choice in the matter! They are just fulfilling the fate that I have determined for them, running through the hoops I set for them.

The reader of any fiction has the ability to choose how they will interprete the fiction, and they can very well interprete it differently from the writer(s), but does that cancel the intent and purposes of the writer(s)--just as the many interpretations of human written 'holy' books cannot obliterate the often unknown intent and purpose of the human writers of 'holy' books.

Since you offered me the chance to pray, I am offering you the chance to let go of your personal God. Do a Julia Sweeney. Walk outside for awhile and just entertain/pretend that there is no personal God, and see how it feels. See if you feel differently, if the world appears differently to you. Julia was amazed that nothing changed, she was the same, the world was the same. Except she felt lighter and less encumbered without the weight of make believe burdening her, freeing up emotional and mental focus allowing her to embrace the reality of her humanity more fully.

964. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #32140 by Logicel on April 16, 2007 at 12:49 am

Shrommer, An absolute 'why' to life has never appealed to me. It is the how. I was remiss by not emphasizing that I view how life works is what is important, what fulfills me and give me a sense of joy and satisfaction.

Evolution passes genes on through a random/non-random process. The non-random part of it, that is, natural selection, gives shape and direction to the natural world. To me, evolution made the continuation of life possible. I accept it as reality, not as some kind of ideal absolute. The how of evolution shows that these marvelous little units of replication replicated because they could. There is significant evidence via fossils, rocks, and DNA to support the scientific theory of evolution.

The why is what I give as meaning to my life, using my humanity, rooted in the natural world.

I do understand how my view can be completely null and void for someone who needs the supernatural to give meaning and purpose to their lives. However, the supernatural that nourishes you, does absolutely nothing for me, except bore me! I am sorry, I cannot pray. I have tried, and all I do is burst out laughing. Understanding the natural world is wonderful enough, why flirt with the supernatural?

965. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #32090 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 2:41 pm

Here is a link relating to the definition of child neglect/abuse:

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/foundation/foundationc.cfm


The only way that I can see following these guidelines to fit Dawkins notion that labeling a child a certain religion is child abuse, would be the emotional category. Such labeling results in imprinting on the child restricting limits to the development of his/her own self identity and encouraging division with other children such as per the Northern Ireland sectarian schools.

Child abuse is a very emotional issue, and although I can see Dawkins reasoning, it is not surprising that his using child abuse to describe religious labeling of children rocks a lot of boats. As a victim of the more classic form of child abuse, I do not feel alienated from Dawkins description of religious labeling of children as child abuse. I think he has a very good point, despite the emotional dynamite of the term.

966. Against God

Comment #32048 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 10:36 am

"And that's the main problem for atheist evangelisers: just because something isn't true doesn't mean it's not real."
____

I am taking this sentence to mean that the author appreciates the difficulty of deconversion, not that atheists are unable to accept the reality of religious beliefs. In general, I thought this article was spot on, doing an adequate job of describing the situation realistically.

967. Kadra attacked in public

Comment #32037 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 10:20 am

"...by seven or eight persons of Somali origin,..."
______

At first I wondered why comments were focusing on the attackers as being male. Then I saw the below quote:

"...the gang of Somali men attacked her around 3 a.m..."

Kadra, like any person confronting potentially lethal opponents, takes my breath away.

Her attackers must be found and punished. And Kadra needs to be protected from any future brutality. These fanatics are such desperate, pathetic fools. They are providing the best ammunition with which atheists can fight them.

968. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #32018 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 8:36 am

Yorker, Obviously, you can post whatever you desire as can Mind_Rebel. However, until I see more flesh in Mind_Rebel's comments, I will stick to my guns, and to avoid pedantry regarding dogma, I will say instead the Mind_Rebel's posts reflect a very rigid understanding of atheism, one that I do not support. In addition, Mind_Rebel's not responding to comments which other posters took the time out to write to him, adds to my discomfiture.

Bad cop, over to good cop.

969. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #31996 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 6:52 am

Briancouglandworldcitizen and Rtambree, thanks for the hilarious running spoof of dogmatic atheists.

970. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #31991 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 6:35 am

Yorker, If you consider yourself dogmatic in your atheism, then, you disappoint me. A passionate belief based on evidence does not dogma make.

As for my 'attacking' Mind_Rebel, fine, if that is the way you view my opinion. As for the 'wonderful' aspect of the thoughtful replies to Mind_Rebel's narrow-mindedness, wonderful as in the sense that commenters took out time to address the blinkerness of his comments.

971. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #31973 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 4:48 am

"I've noticed that MIND_REBEL does not attack anyone here personally, even when attacked! I suggest therefore that we all cut him/her a little slack, allow this person to perhaps learn and gain experience."
______

But I also have noticed that he/she seldom if ever replies to the wonderful thought-out responses to her/his staccato barrage of predictably dogmatic comments. Mind_Rebel is dogmatic in her/his atheism, and it is very unpleasant to behold. Dogma sucks. PERIOD.

972. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #31937 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 1:46 am

Ok, Veronique, you should have my msg in your PM (Personal Message) box. It seems nothing is necessary to activate the PM box, just that one needs to remember to check it. I found it by clicking on my name, Logicel, and was presented with my profile and the PM box.

973. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #31928 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 12:57 am

Veronique, how do I turn on my notification button, and what is that exactly in terms of what gets sent where?

974. Nisbet and Mooney in the WaPo: snake oil for the snake oil salesmen

Comment #31923 by Logicel on April 15, 2007 at 12:48 am

The only other common garbage that is thrown my daily way, besides theism, is marketing:

Theism is the way to truth?

Marketing is communication?

Nisbet and Mooney have no evidence that their marketing based on appeasement is going to further the acception of evolution.
Appeasers comes in all flavors, and Nisbet and Mooney just served us a (half) Baked Alaska: hot, sexy, fluffy topping covering a cold, hard center of bullsh't.

975. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31827 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 1:31 pm

86. Comment #31484 by Liveliest Crib on April 12, 2007 at 11:22 pm

Thanks for that very helpful post. Something similar has been simmering in my head for some time now. However, you have given the proper wording and explanation so I don't need to wrestle with my mental musings anymore!

976. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #31824 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 1:06 pm

hogi wrote: "as we have seen in history, we should avoid the concept of regarding ourselves as special in some way, and as naturally as we reject geocentrism and heliocentrism, we should reject the idea, that our time is and will be forever the most enlightened time of all. so we should expect the scientific method to be transcended in the future."

and

"...it seems that they and their believers are desperately looking for shortcuts to transcendence, actually to avoid the hard work of using the scientific method."
________

Definitely agree with the second quote, but the first one is confusing. Science can certainly lead humanity down the path, which it has done already, of achieving such advancements that if previous generations could be transported to the present, they would think these scientific accomplishments were magic.

Their reaction would be similar to our own present generation's if we were confronted with the scientific achievements of a more advanced alien race. Through science, humanity can transcend perhaps some of their limitations, and in the process, make science an even more potent process and body of knowledge, which would then expand human understanding and ability to confront difficult issues even more--a kind of continuing, compound scientific interest.

977. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #31821 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 12:52 pm

ksskidude wrote: "Needless to say, my spinal cord did indeed give me a window of opportunity, and I maximized the opportunity to recover most but not all of my physical attributes."
________

Way to go!

978. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #31795 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 10:20 am

Dr Benway wrote, "Something having to do with mentalism, or the ability to represent other minds to one's self. Seems to me this skill plays a role in the formation of group belief systems, such as religion."
________

My own musing is that imagination/creativity plays a role in the ability to embrace religion. The same imagination/creativity which plays a role in scientific developments. Trying to pinpoint the role of cerebral prowess without simplifying it via the left/right hemisphere, rationality versus irrationality, artistic versus technical, etc., has always been very difficult and challenging. But now, with more sensitive cerebral scanning technology and with developments in the merging of physics and biology--I enjoyed James Watson saying that last century's big duo was the overlapping of biology and chemistry, and in this century, it will be between physics and biology--we perhaps will gain a better understanding of the human brain.

979. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #31791 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 10:09 am

We certainly need to continue researching the wonders of the human brain. I do remember seeing a TV program years ago about Grandin, and being deeply affected by it. I especially loved her devising a treatment for her autism by using the mechanical device designed to 'calm' bulls down. I think that what it was, anyway.

Now that religion is coming under the critical eye, more and more studies will be made applying the acceptance/nonacceptance of religion as a variable/factor.

980. For God's Sake

Comment #31735 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 3:21 am

The neutered Spagmonster is a troll who apparently regards the neutered self as being beyond Brighty bright, occupying a realm of certainty in which all will be revealed to the neutered self eventually. The neutered spagmonster needs not be concerned with being bright and sees such brightness in others to be silly and unnecessary, and CERTAINLY not bright.

All trolls give out a frisson of delight, and the neutered spagmonster is not an exception to that delicious rule of thumb.

981. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #31721 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 2:08 am

Since a certain proportion of atheists were theists, then apparently they went from having healthy brains to damaged ones?

Brain health--various scientific fields are helping to add to our understanding of brain functioning--is a bit more complex than the simple, empirical notion presented by Benway: just because the majority of an alien population proposes to a set of religious beliefs, the non-earthlings would conclude, by just the common occurrence of this activity, that these practitioners of these religious beliefs are the healthy ones. So if these alien chaps viewed Nazi Germany, they would conclude that the Nazis were healthy per this rule of thumb?

Atheists are just as emotional as theists--rationality needs emotionality in order to guide our actions. Being a theist does not make a human more human. And being an atheist does not make a human less human. Atheists can be emotional without believing in the supernatural, and theists can be rational, despite believing in the supernatural.

The trigger that I see generating the stirring of the pot by the likes of the bored Benway, is that religious folks have been so pampered by lack of criticism, that this new flow of criticism coming from atheists via new technology like the web, is causing them to feel badly. Drug addicts/alcoholics feel badly also when they are challenged as to the danger of their drug/alcohol related activities, so why don't we just let them wallow in their problem because it makes them feel badly?

As many atheists point out, it is because atheists do NOT regard theists as being stupid that we are so passionate about them listening to our criticism and for them to respond to the core debate--faith-based beliefs without any significant evidence/proof and its consequences. Atheists do realize that we humans are the dominate species and we have the power to work together for the good of all. In other words, those alien critics need to learn human language in order to understand that atheists are not brain damaged.

982. Is God poison?

Comment #31716 by Logicel on April 14, 2007 at 1:33 am

Qball, thanks for the thoughtful post, and I hope your disagreeable experience will not interfere with your continuing posting.

Posts apparently get timed out on this site. If that happens you can use the back icon to go back to the comment window, copy its contents, sign back on, and paste it in a new comment window. Some just type long posts into a word processing vehicle and then copy and paste it directly into a comment window on this site.

There is no editing of posts on this site by site management. The posters themselves can flag other posters as being trolls, spammers, or users of offensive language. But no censorship or tapering with content via editing other then by the posters, themselves, who can delete or edit their own comments via the delete/edit icons in the upper right corner of their own comment (as long as they are logged in).

983. Einstein & Faith

Comment #31498 by Logicel on April 13, 2007 at 2:01 am

6. Comment #31495 by Rtambree on April 13, 2007 at 1:31 am
______

nice post, with which I happen to agree.

984. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31354 by Logicel on April 12, 2007 at 5:31 am

Veronique, thanks to your attention, I may start to refer to myself as Logicel outside of virtual circles, but I doubt I will ever change it legally as I abhor legal crapola and bureaucracy and I don't want to feed it any more than I already do. When I got married about 20 years years, the main reason why I did not change my name to my husband's, is because I could not be bothered.

985. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31353 by Logicel on April 12, 2007 at 5:29 am

Hip_Priest, nice post, thanks.

986. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31330 by Logicel on April 12, 2007 at 3:20 am

very true, Philip1978, and since Great Britain is not a non-profit setup, it is very wise to use its royal traditions as tourist attractions. However, I still think it is asking a lot from just ordinary folks to force play the royal role.

987. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31319 by Logicel on April 12, 2007 at 2:35 am

Great post, Veronique. English royalty and the Pope both live in goldfish bowls, their ordinary lives are given so much more meaning than there actually is. I had thought that if Princess Diana really wanted to shake things up, she would take her boys and raised them up to be the ordinary people that they are--take them out of the inherited fishbowl . Maybe someday, these ordinary people thrust into these ridiculous roles of supposed significance, will just do that. Leave the goldfish bowl and live normal lives. If Benedict is intelligent as you surmised, then the chap is for all practical purposes, trapped. His trappings may be lush, but that is what they are. And the Catholic peeps are the ones to blame more than the Pope--they give him his power. Catholics need to go on strike, and put the Pope out of business.

988. Sex, Love, and SSRIs

Comment #31310 by Logicel on April 12, 2007 at 1:47 am

I have found psychiatrists to be useless, and the American kind, prohibitively expensive. Freud and Jung both make me gag. Feynman's description of that loony psychiatrist vetting him for a government job described the prejudiced, blinkered narrow-mindedness, all protected by the psychiatrist's 'expert and professional' stamp, to a T. Another kind of psychiatrist, not so filled with themselves, basically listens to you, and admit if you can find someone else to listen to you, the effects will be very similar, like the neighborhood priest or bartender. And as pointed out, medical doctors also can prescribe psychiatric drugs, so a psychiatrist is not needed for that often wonderful boon to be given to long-time sufferers of clinical depression.

Psychiatrists have done so much harm to minorities, gay people, and women that they should all move in with the Pope, and mutter about in that festering pustule together, mumbling doublespeak until they can no longer talk, therefore rendering them harmless to the population. And yes, I know, just like there are with priests, there are some psychiatrists that are worth their worth in gold, but they are the exception.

The Economist, recently, had an article discussing research regarding that our increasingly sterile environment, just as it has played a role in the increase of asthma in kids, may also be playing a role in the increase of depression. Apparently some organism has a positive effect on our mental/emotional state of well being.

989. The Human Body as an Evolutionary Patchwork

Comment #31243 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 5:10 pm

I interpreted Walker to mean that the co-hunters, the other hunting members of the same tribe, needed to be able to see where the spear was being thrown, so they, themselves, would not become the target accidentally. And in that way, the eye whites did serve a co-operative and communicative purpose in lieu of shouting, "You mother, get out of the f'cking way!!!" Perhaps Cheney lacks eye whites, and that is why the lawyer whom he shot in the face could not identify he was Cheney's target?

990. Sex, Love, and SSRIs

Comment #31239 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 5:01 pm

Depression severely interferes with normal functioning. While sadness may slow it down a bit, but after a reasonable time, sadness will lift. Clinical depression stays there, a millstone of crushing blackness, sapping the individual of motivation, meaning, and purpose, and contributing to suicide. Clinical depression is correlated with an imbalance of neurotransmitters, hence treatment via drugs which aim to regulate the imbalance as much as possible. However, tailoring medicine to an individual is still fairly crude resulting in various problems. A person with clinical depression has no choice but to work with medical specialists(s) to come up with the best drug treatment. Some are more fortunate than others in this often demanding trial and error approach in finding the best drug for the depression sufferer.

It is my experience that nutrition plays an important role in holding some kinds of depression at bay.

991. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #31181 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 9:14 am

"What is the collective noun for religious fanatics anyway?"
_______

Fine, nobody play this game with me.

A bouquet of bollocks?

992. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #31177 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 9:09 am

"What is the collective noun for religious fanatics anyway?"
________

A galaxy of galloping goons?

993. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #31174 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 9:01 am

"What is the collective noun for religious fanatics anyway?"
_________

A lot of loonies?

994. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #31173 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 8:59 am

"What is the collective noun for religious fanatics anyway?"
________

A zero of zealots?

995. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #31171 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 8:56 am

"What is the collective noun for religious fanatics anyway?"
_____

a vacuum of votaries?

996. Sex, Love, and SSRIs

Comment #31169 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 8:48 am

timothygmd, very astute comment, thanks.

997. Is God poison?

Comment #31125 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 4:44 am

Fishpeddler, your humor is precious. Hope you have not maltreated any cans of corn lately! (:-)))

998. The Human Body as an Evolutionary Patchwork

Comment #31122 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 4:22 am

A superb lecture from a working scientist. Walker comes across as a very creative, hardworking, and gentle guy, and this demeanor enabled me to really listen to what he was describing. His presentation was simply charming, especially his use of football yard lines to peg various stages of evolutionary development. His responses to the audience's questions showed his immense knowledge and experience, and his willingness to share what he knows in a friendly and non-threatening manner.

Listen and you will learn why testes are on the outside and men have nipples. I found his opinion that we are Homo Erectus to be a blast of fresh air: populations of our species died out like Homo Erectus, but not our species. He thinks that naming so many hominid species was a little too energetic. Occam's razor, anyone?

999. Study shows humans and plants share common regulatory pathway

Comment #31103 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 2:39 am

Fascinating stuff. Our mitochrondia evolved from bacteria and now an activating protein in plants is found in humans.

1000. On Desire

Comment #31102 by Logicel on April 11, 2007 at 2:29 am

Damg, I selected no rank and submitted. I wanted to select excellent! I enjoyed this interview and will check out the NYT for more science presentations in the future. Could the NYT finally be waking up to the digital world?

Yorker, I don't know if I am becoming a dirty old lady or what, but I found watching Corcoran and Fisher interacting in this interview very sexy--2 attractive and intelligent people discussing sex is quite a frisson. I am convinced Corcoran wanted to jump Fisher's bones.