101. How Our Culture Keeps Students Out of Science

Comment #225743 by Lucas on August 7, 2008 at 10:31 am

Wow. Good article. I don't think I've ever read one on this site that I agreed with more. I'm not sure what the solutions are, but Wood correctly states the problem. Every day the feeling grows in me that I was shafted on science and math education somewhere between 7th and 11th grade, thus leading me to become one of those many high-IQ baristas with college degrees. Ironically, now that I have an MA, even coffee shops won't hire me because I'm TOO educated, and my knowledge is so specialized that there are no jobs I can get with it outside of academia. I am far from alone in this. I really should have been a scientist. If I could switch to neuroscience or astrophysics at the age of 30 and after 7 years of college (and many thousands in student loan debts), I would, but it's too late. I have to wonder if I am one of those wasted potential scientists.

EDIT: Honestly, if the government would pay for it, I would scrap everything I've done and start all over as a freshman physics major.

102. Dawkin 'bout a revolution

Comment #225736 by Lucas on August 7, 2008 at 10:08 am

Most of you are being far too cynical. Almost every post here confirms the cat-herding metaphor, and it's a self-defeating way of thinking. The bus thing is a good idea; not perfect, but good. Support it. Nitpicking is fine from your couch or desk behind your computer, but I'm getting a little disheartened with the amount of argument and flack people catch on this site anytime somebody tries to actually DO something in the REAL world as opposed to repeatedly making tired cracks about believers.

103. Brainwashed by a parasite

Comment #225424 by Lucas on August 6, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Eshto - Haven't played it, but I'd like to. Funny you said what you did, because as I was reading the article I had this sudden vision of using parasites to kill mosquitos in Africa to stop malaria, only to then have them infect all the people and turn them into brainless zombies. So, yeah.

And let none of us forget the historical role of fungi in the promotion of religious visions, from ancient Greece to today. That's what I love 'em for.

104. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220434 by Lucas on July 28, 2008 at 12:35 pm

eh-theist - Yes, but believers dying of AIDS, and having children infected with AIDS, doesn't help the Church much, so the logic you correctly explain no longer works. They just can't face up to it because changing the official doctrine tends to lessen people's faith in the absolute authority of the church. Thus they are shooting themselves in the foot. I say let them. Adapt or die.

105. Daniel Dennett: Autobiography (Part 1)

Comment #220420 by Lucas on July 28, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Good stuff. Too bad Tufts doesn't have a graduate program. My old roommate had Dennett as an undergrad advisor; sad to say it was probably wasted on him that he had such a genius advising him. What he's doing at the Center, though, is worth it I suppose. I should really get around to his books.

106. Toward a Type 1 civilization

Comment #218645 by Lucas on July 25, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Apathy - We'll just have to educated everyone in multiple languages on the assumption that none of them will ever totally disappear. No offense to all the other countries and languages, but if everyone on the planet spoke English, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Spanish, they'd get along pretty well on a wide swath of the planet. Of course there are other languages that one could argue to be on the list, but folks that speak those should also be able to speak one of these five, so what would it matter? One language might eventually win out, but I'd bet we get off the planet (or blow it up) before that happens.

107. Toward a Type 1 civilization

Comment #218613 by Lucas on July 25, 2008 at 2:46 pm

JAMCAM87 - To your last two questions: no, and not really. There will be an invariable loss of some aspects of culture as time moves on no matter what, and as we mix our cultures further, new subcultures grow, some old ones are forgotten, some are remembered. And we can all do without nationality. These things are important to some degree, but not nearly to the degree they are currently held by most folks. Time moves on. Humans evolve. Our cultures evolve and morph and mix. All this will lead us to a Type 1, if we don't totally botch it in the process. We will be able to maintain a sense of social grouping and culture and self-identity through memories of our tribal and nationalistic customs, but in a less divided context in which all kinds, and all kinds of knowledge, mix freely.

That, or we're about six months away from pure Mad Max anyway, so who cares. Horde those bullets and cans of food.

108. Surgeon General Nominee Dismisses Homosexuality Paper

Comment #215201 by Lucas on July 21, 2008 at 1:28 pm

...and I respected you.

109. Surgeon General Nominee Dismisses Homosexuality Paper

Comment #215184 by Lucas on July 21, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Ha! First. Now I'll read the article.

EDIT

Okay, so the questions are, 1) what exactly does his 1991 paper say? and 2) can a scientist who has interpreted science in a religious framework to support anti-homosexual views ever be trusted to look after the public health? I suppose he could have changed his views, i.e., he may have become less homophobic over the years. Everyone can change their minds, presumably. But I still don't trust him. I think the paper, if it is as it is presented here, disqualifies him from the office of surgeon general. But a close examination of the paper itself is necessary in order to know for sure.

110. Calling World Conference on Dialogue a Symbol of Unity Among Different Traditions

Comment #213674 by Lucas on July 18, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Abdullah sounds like an arrogant prick speaking down to everyone else. Ki-moon sounds like a coward. There are plenty of platitudes to agree with in what both of them say, sure, but I warn you all now that we have the makings of maybe our biggest foe yet. Imagine all the religions ganged up together on us, while insisting they promote tolerance and peace. Does anyone trust those who can be so deluded about reality to even recognize, much less cop to it, when they are being hypocritical?

111. Bush Bureaucrats at Dept. of Health and Human Services Redefine Contraception as Abortion

Comment #213377 by Lucas on July 18, 2008 at 12:10 pm

I guess we can have the Obama religion discussion AGAIN, but... Okay, here goes. The dude, from much evidence (i.e. his own words previous to 2007 or so), seems to not be a believer. His involvement with the Chicago church, and all his recent statements about faith, are necessities in order to be elected into high office in the USA. We can all hate that all we want, but it doesn't change the situation Barack finds himself in. He made a clear choice to hide his personal lack of belief many years ago as his political ambition grew. In case anyone wants to get all whiny about his faking being religious, keep in mind all politicians fake things all the time. That is the game they play. Many of my friends are back-peddling on voting for Obama, and are either going to vote for Nader or not vote at all. I think this is fucking retarded. It's as if they expect perfection and total honesty from politicians. AGAIN, I will say that Obama can pay lip service to whomever he wants - suck up to the Scientologists for some cash for all I care - as long as what he does once he's gotten the office is more in line with my interests. In this sense, I have some faith (sorry). He is an intelligent man, and he knows the rules of the game. Play on.

EDIT: As far as McCain, I doubt it takes more than a week or so in a Vietnamese prison camp to realize there is no God to come save you.

112. Researchers Discover Remnant of an Ancient 'RNA World'

Comment #213325 by Lucas on July 18, 2008 at 11:41 am

Over my head. But nonetheless, GO SCIENTISTS!! I can see this sort of research colliding with our Mars ice findings in the next ten or twenty years. Hmm...

113. Ten Commandments' of race and genetics issued

Comment #213319 by Lucas on July 18, 2008 at 11:36 am

Seems like cheap, high school student council-level decision making to me. All their points are either painfully obvious or annoyingly PC. I could do without the religious allusions as well. My responses to this article ranged from, "Duh!" to "No!" to "That's just stupid" to "Why am I still reading this? Oh, it's short."

114. The Return of Religion

Comment #212056 by Lucas on July 16, 2008 at 2:23 pm

"Scruton was educated at Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe (1954-1961) and Jesus College, Cambridge (1962-1969). He received a B.A. in Moral Sciences in 1965, M.A. in 1967, and a Ph.D. in philosophy, with a thesis on aesthetics, in 1972."

'Nuff said. From Wikipedia.

115. France rejects Muslim woman over radical practice of Islam

Comment #210600 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 10:05 pm

gilous007 - I think your definition of government is kinda wonky. We have three branches of government here in the USA; legislative, judicial, and executive. The Supreme Court is a part of the government; it decides the finer meanings of the laws made by the legislative and enforced by the executive. Caveat: this is just the grade school explanation, I'm not saying that's how it works in reality.

116. Lourdes fears priestly scandal will make profits dry up

Comment #210597 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 9:51 pm

I'm sorry, why are we all suddenly so compassionate toward the rubes? When people believe in silliness, we ridicule them. Then, when some enterprising folk fleece the rubes, we feel bad for them and condemn the fleecers? Naw. Rubes get no sympathy, despite that fact that tricking them into giving you something valuable for something worthless is pretty sleazy. But by that logic, most of consumer culture is pretty sleazy. Miracle Grow with make your lawn healthier! This car has new tires! McDonald's salads are good for you! SUVs are a good investment! A bachelor's degree will get you a good job! C'mon. Everybody's a huckster.

117. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210589 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 9:17 pm

I would happily endure 21 hours of preaching and teaching for a free assault rifle. It's not that I love Jesus, of course, but rather that I do love guns. Would they be cool with that?

118. Dalai Lama defends Islam as peaceful religion

Comment #210583 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 8:56 pm

The Dalai Lama may subscribe to religious superstitions of a sort, but let's not alienate potential allies. Quite generally, I think the man's heart is in the right place, despite visions of reincarnation. Again I submit to everyone here the idea that while indeed benevolent and malevolent religious beliefs are equally incorrect as descriptions of reality, some are more malignant than others. In fact, didn't Dennett say, or at least imply, basically this in that little video recently posted? The virulent strains should be our concern. Of course, it doesn't help to have some of the less problematic meme pushers apologize for the violent ones. But he is right to say that there are some non-threatening believers in Allah. I absolutely do not say, nor should any of us, that you CANNOT believe in Islam; believe what you will, just don't spread the destructive forms.

119. Periodic Table of Videos

Comment #210578 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 8:37 pm

Awesome, Toad. Thank you so much.

I do have to admit, adamantium would be my favorite element if it was found to exist. SNIKT!! I only go for nitrogen because of Sangamon's Principle.

120. Periodic Table of Videos

Comment #210418 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 1:47 pm

Can anyone provide a link to a larger image of the cover of the book in post 7? Or maybe point me toward a list where these symbols are matched with their elements? Are these commonly used or is it just to look cool?

121. France rejects Muslim woman over radical practice of Islam

Comment #210414 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 1:40 pm

I Iove French girls. Please send more. And Pierre Woodman has made a fantastic contribution to international culture. Also, thank you for everything west of the Mississippi and for the significant economic boost derived from the sale of billions of french fries every day.

All joking aside, this is a hard decision. I don't mean "hard" like difficult to decide, but "hard" as in hard-hearted and because of the fact that there are likely to be dire consequences. The French government deserves credit for standing up for its principles and having the courage to make such a decision; I sincerely hope there is no racism lurking in the shadows of this decision, though that would be almost impossible to determine. I sympathize with this woman considerably, but governments must look far ahead to determine the best course for social cohesion and security. Other than that, Matt7895 said it all very well and very succinctly.

122. Periodic Table of Videos

Comment #210400 by Lucas on July 14, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Extremely, extremely cool. Shall we start a vote for favorite element? Count one for nitrogen.

123. Thousands Flock to Revival in Search of Miracles

Comment #208844 by Lucas on July 11, 2008 at 9:49 am

I don't believe his life story. There are surely shreds of truth in there, but given that he makes his living as a professional liar, I'm suspicious of his little conversion story. Can anyone verify his story without recourse to his autobiography?

124. Sir John M. Templeton, Philanthropist, Dies at 95

Comment #206367 by Lucas on July 8, 2008 at 10:06 am

Hope Heaven is all you hoped for, Johnny boy.

There are many people who's deaths would make me smile; some would even make me dance. This one doesn't move me much, really, but I'll admit a sigh of relief.

125. The Boundaries of Belief

Comment #205144 by Lucas on July 6, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Anybody want to guess the difference in money and time spent between Pew and Sam's deal? Hilarious that Sam was able to get as large a sample and even more useful results, minus millions of dollars.

126. Evangelical Christians sign up to a 'Church within a Church'

Comment #203386 by Lucas on July 2, 2008 at 7:16 pm

At one point, the comic Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson shows a "religion convention" very much like what you describe, scottishgeologist, but even crazier.

Schism is always good, for them AND for us. The religion evolves; polarizing, then settling, and what's left is a finer and more modern version of the religion (which we may or may not like) and overall less of them. Their power diminishes as it is divided, and whatever is left is easier for us to deal with, because it is either less offensive, and thus relatively harmless, or more offensive, and then we can take action.

127. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203383 by Lucas on July 2, 2008 at 6:59 pm

newandrew - Well said.

gummidge - I doubt there is any plot to do this, but I do think that what you describe might be the end result anyway. So maybe there is a bright side to his backpeddling.

Incidentally, after showing a recent clip of Obama saying the exact same thing as a clip of Bush from a couple years ago, Jon Stewart simply threw his arms up and screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOO!" I think that about sums it up. No heroes here folks, just politicians. But we have to push him hard, because I'm sure he'll be the next president.

128. Former state science director sues over intelligent design e-mail

Comment #203380 by Lucas on July 2, 2008 at 6:40 pm

This is a big case. We need to get behind this one with all we've got. Winning will change the whole debate, maybe even ending it.

129. Non-voters: It's all in God's hands

Comment #200359 by Lucas on June 27, 2008 at 11:51 am

The results are part of the nationally representative Baylor Religion Survey, 2005.

"It can be reasoned that if one believes God determines worldly affairs, then there is little reason for individuals to participate in civic events," study leader Robyn Driskell and her colleagues write in the June issue of the journal Social Science Quarterly.

130. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200357 by Lucas on June 27, 2008 at 11:44 am

Comment #7 - My god there is another me! And it sounds like my personal cartoon channel!

Comment #2 - I am man. Yes, I am.

131. The Latest Wedge Document

Comment #200351 by Lucas on June 27, 2008 at 11:33 am

Discipline - That article was great. What's weird is that it's a joke, but it's exactly what's being done with ID. There is no exaggeration, just parallel. I propose, as other's have on this site before, that every time we get any kind of ID argument we just say, "Gravity," and leave it at that.

Vecingetorix - I'm a Columbia grad who grew up in urban Indiana (there is such a thing) and has lived in Oregon, Arizona, New York, Turkey, and Malawi: and you are right. There are negative attitudes and assumptions between urbanites and ruralites, Easterners and Westerners, coastal folks and midwesterners, southerners and just about everybody. Much of this is small minded bullshit, meant only to boost the ego of those uncomfortable with living anywhere but where they are from. I personally find no place to be overall superior or inferior to any other, but each has its own qualities, good and bad. However, there is a distribution of qualities that does correspond to geography, and that plays a part as well. Does that help?

132. The Latest Wedge Document

Comment #199806 by Lucas on June 26, 2008 at 11:29 am

Is there another me? I didn't send this link. I do, occasionally, but none of them have ever been posted. Last one was June 10th.

EDIT: I do like this bit ever-so-much, though. "I don't see hordes of scientists beating down church doors to teach rationalism to parishioners in their pews. In a fair world, supernaturalists would similarly refrain from foisting their beliefs on kids in science classes."

133. Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Comment #199802 by Lucas on June 26, 2008 at 11:23 am

Exquisite. How many times do they have to be shot down like this before they just shut up?

134. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199783 by Lucas on June 26, 2008 at 11:01 am

Excellent. Break down that wall. For too long we have lived with the homicidal hubris that we are somehow intrinsically more valuable than other forms of life. Without God, without a soul, all of that breaks down, and rather than losing our sacred status and becoming profane, all the rest of the glorious life on this planet becomes as sacred as we are, thus destroying the distinction entirely. To enshrine that in law is more than I could have ever hoped for.

135. Band T-shirt draws charge

Comment #199352 by Lucas on June 25, 2008 at 2:55 pm

This reminds me of that time in middle school when my buddy almost got sent home for wearing the Metallica t-shirt that says "METAL UP YOUR ASS!" with the knife coming out of the toilet. We negotiated, and put a piece of masking tape over the word "ass." Then we took a sharpie and wrote "ASS" on the piece of tape.

My pops told me long ago to avoid the C word unless it's totally necessary, though I understand it has gained a new meaning in England. I really find it hard to say, in fact. I find it weird that this isn't an obscenity issue, but a religious one. Can I just have a shirt that says "cunt" all by itself?

136. World Youth Day condom protest against Pope

Comment #198658 by Lucas on June 24, 2008 at 10:50 am

The Raelians may be a little wacky, but they are relatively harmless, and in this case, they are being positively helpful. As we've all discussed before, you don't have to agree with someone on everything to accept their help on the important things. Clones, space gods, ex-race car driver prophets or not, the followers of Rael have the right attitude about condoms, so I welcome their help in challenging those who do not.

137. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #198209 by Lucas on June 23, 2008 at 11:25 am

"The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things - bad language and whatever - it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition," Carlin told the AP in a 2004 interview. "There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have."

Love ya, George. Many thanks old man.

138. Teen's death blamed on faith healing

Comment #196671 by Lucas on June 20, 2008 at 10:16 am

comment 41 - Hobbit, you're thinking about this backwards, from the unintended end result to the decision to make a law. The law about 14-yr-olds determining their own best medical interests was intended to protect children from parents who either refuse treatment or insist on medicating their children unnecessarily. It was a good idea. It's being twisted in this instance. It is only because the child was brainwashed that he made such a poor choice, and we have yet to figure out how to legislate against parents teaching their children bullshit. Unfortunately, the flip side of a having laws based on the freedom to determine one's own fate is that such freedom is not beneficial to anyone in the hands of idiots, especially to themselves.

139. Teen's death blamed on faith healing

Comment #196661 by Lucas on June 20, 2008 at 10:04 am

comment 11 - Hey, marv78rpm, go fuck yourself. Back off my state. I wasn't even born there, nor do I live there now, but back off nonetheless. Need I point out the stupidity of blaming the actions of the Followers of Christ on the state they live in? Wasn't there a problem in Minnesota recently? Splice in any geographic location and you would be wrong, and you would also be pissing off the people who live there or love the place. And as I've repeated many times, and apparently need to keep repeating, there is not a more affable and intellectually comfortable place for atheists in the US than Oregon. It's just too bad the economy sucks.

140. Kenneth Miller on Colbert Report

Comment #195467 by Lucas on June 18, 2008 at 9:27 am

Colbert is indeed a practicing and fully believing Catholic, or at least that is what he says when NOT playing his public persona. (Look for the NPR interview from 2005). I also think he is a highly intelligent man with a top notch bullshit-o-meter. I would venture his religiosity is probably more complex than any of us can conjecture.

141. Reverse Engineering The Brain To Model Mind-body Interactions

Comment #192584 by Lucas on June 13, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Ran across this a couple days ago. Seems to indicate that brain deterioration is perhaps less powerful than we think. Am I wrong? Is there indeed some sort of specific loss of cells, proteins, synapses, dendrites, etc. that are normal and not environmentally created? I guess what I mean is, given the ability to, say, grow a new body and transplant an old brain into it, would the brain cease to function just because it is old?

"115-year-old Woman's Brain in Tip-Top Shape"

http://www.livescience.com/health/080609-oldest-brain.html

142. From Big Bang to Us - Made Easy

Comment #192580 by Lucas on June 13, 2008 at 12:56 pm

First one is great. Especially liked that last line. I appreciate the condensing of this information, not just because it simplifies it for the layman, but because it is dense and quick, without filler. I don't feel like I'm being spoken to like a child as I do with most science documentaries. No BS here, just facts, explained lucidly.

143. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192265 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Peace - Nah, I sort of thought you were kidding. Almost deleted my post, but I figured I'd leave it in case somebody actually did think otherwise.

144. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192261 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 3:37 pm

7Fred7 - "I imagine that would be unlikely to be picked up in a standard survey. " Absolutely, and that's why standard surveys do us almost no good. I do encourage everyone to do that UCCS thing on the Featured page, though. The more data the better, even if there are flaws in the methodology. Of course, as I've pointed out before, the religious make-up of Colorado Springs is quite interesting. You gotta wonder who these professors actually are. See "Religion and Public Life in the Mountain West: Sacred Landscapes in Transition" by Jan Shipp et al.

145. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192245 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 3:21 pm

mordacious1 - Black Bolt in fact has no voice; or rather, his whisper can shatter worlds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Bolt

I've considered changing the avatar to my real face, as Black Bolt looks particularly arrogant in this drawing by Moebius, but I figure we all learn about each other in some oblique way by the avatars we choose. We might learn more by seeing each other's actual faces, but then again maybe not.

As far as the discussion goes, I just think we should all be more careful about writing off religious believers as either crazy or stupid. There are just too many counter-examples. That doesn't mean that ignorance and mental imbalance don't help encourage the acceptance of absurd belief, but there must be something more to it. I've angled my work to try to figure out what this something is, but I don't expect any clear results anytime soon. I once said to my friend something like, "All religion is caused by epileptics, schizophrenics, junkies, and conmen." This was a gross over-simplification, and while I still think it's sort of true, as I was speaking about messiahs and leaders, not followers, I think it ignores the fact that some totally sane, sober, honest people have religious experiences, visions, etc., and they communicate those. Outright derision, and blowing it all off as crazy and stupid, cuts us off from further fruitful inquiry.

146. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192184 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 2:27 pm

Well, that's all very nice, but this guy has proven nothing. It is FAR more complex than he presents it. The religious = stupid, or ignorant, or uneducated argument holds a kernel of truth, but over-simplifying does not help us reach the actual answer. There are lots of correlations and causes, but there has simply not been enough work done to make any conclusions. Gallup polls are almost meaningless to the larger question here.

147. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192175 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 2:14 pm

"Is it really as simple as that? Only masser can have a gun, not the cotton picker?"

Awfully predictable and petty reaction. From what I can tell, Al is just stating the facts, with no judgment, racist or otherwise, implied. There are of course myriad social reasons that explain these facts, but I'm not an expert, so I'll leave it. Sufficed to say, all sorts of historical injustices have indeed occurred, but even with complete sympathy and empathy toward those causes and the victims of such injustices, usually one dude shooting another has nothing to do with anything other than greed or rage, neither of which are excused by social ills.

148. Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech

Comment #192130 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm

"compensate Muslims for injuring their 'dignity, feelings and self-respect.' "

The waaaaaambulance is on its way! Waah! Waah!

EDIT: Peace, you got to it first. I guess "ditto" will do.

al and FF - Yup. Spot on, both of you.

149. Godless

Comment #192118 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 1:15 pm

The Obama video is great. If he stuck to that, we'd all be happy. It's too bad he has to, or feels he has to, pander to the believers. There are parts of this speech that the most fervent would object to, but I think most believers would be okay with what he said. They would do well to realize that they would all benefit from this attitude toward religion.

EDIT: Also, I'm happy to let him say a bunch of pandering crap to get into office, as long as he actually operates according to the ideas in this speech.

150. The 14-year-old Afghan suicide bomber

Comment #192101 by Lucas on June 12, 2008 at 12:53 pm

FF- "If these people voluntarily choose to live in the 7th Century, there isn't much we can do about it. This is the price you pay for imposing democracy on a society that isn't ready for it."

Absolutely right.