101. Inadequate, private and late apology with grotesquely inadequate excuse

Comment #159234 by Radesq on April 11, 2008 at 5:44 pm

Yes those poor beleaguered physicians. They must get so mad at lawyers sometimes they want to just drive their Porsche right of the end off the pier at the yacht club. *tear*

102. Rep. Davis: The Worst Person in the World

Comment #157951 by Radesq on April 9, 2008 at 8:31 pm

I noticed that Prof. Dawkins is scheduled to be on Real Time (HBO) next week. I suspect his comments on Rep. Davis will be a part of the program.

103. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156509 by Radesq on April 7, 2008 at 5:16 pm

Dr B. I was just remembering the other day how socially conscious television programming was in the 1970s. Archie Bunker on "All in the family" was a comedic figure...his bigotry was to be learned from. Now "Archie" surrogates appear on talk radio stations from coast to coast daily and on half a dozen fox news channel programs. Their brand of bigotry is merely to be learned and parroted or "dittoed" if you follow my meaning.

The woman in this article presumably holds "liberal" views on most issues given her minority background and Democratic party membership. She has learned Conservative talk radio debating skills however... yell loudly, keep talking even if you have stopped making sense, claim a phony sense of outrage, and turn off the other guy's microphone.

104. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155664 by Radesq on April 5, 2008 at 7:14 am

Bullocks all round? I can only think of two Sandra and James J.

105. Pastor attacks scientist's talk

Comment #154807 by Radesq on April 3, 2008 at 6:23 pm

Perhaps Robertson's intent is to try to take over UHI and have them teach creationism. They would of course have to change the name to R UHI.

106. Thy will be done

Comment #154800 by Radesq on April 3, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Why is reason so unpersuasive? Because listening to reason can be a real drag on one's not so reasonable (but oh so enjoyable)lifestyle.

107. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #154792 by Radesq on April 3, 2008 at 5:58 pm

It's sometimes difficult for me to decide who to mock and have disdain for because of their preaching of obviously absurd and delusional beliefs and who to feel pity for because of their mental illness. Is there a qualitative difference here or is it the same sickness and just a matter of degree and deciding where to draw a line?

108. Beware the Believers

Comment #151745 by Radesq on March 29, 2008 at 9:49 am

After reading the transcribed lyrics by BCWC and others... I find this to be pro-science despite the plug for Expelled and the use of the robot from the Incredibles movie accessorized with a giant subwoofer. I didn't laugh much but I do appreciate that someone put a good deal of effort into it and it seems well done technically. Those who focus on the images only and not the message may reach a different conclusion -- I wonder if this is the video maker's intent in order to reach a wider audience.

109. Flipping particle could explain missing antimatter

Comment #147509 by Radesq on March 20, 2008 at 6:53 pm

How can they measure 3 trillion oscillations per second? Is this done by an equation rather than observation? Let me know when they can make a 300 hp car engine that runs on these particles instead of gasoline.

110. Fleabytes

Comment #144445 by Radesq on March 16, 2008 at 5:05 am

Richard Morgan here's a verse for you to the tune of Camptown Races

Richard Dawkins sings this song
No God, No God

Sam Harris sometimes chants along
There's No God in my cave

Oh dee do da dee
Oh dee do da day

Dennet says it's all in your head
Hitchens says No God, No Way!

111. Fleabytes

Comment #139384 by Radesq on March 5, 2008 at 5:20 pm

Frankus, I have heard that there have been some studies done attempting to compare brains that were (of course) not identical, but as close as could be found as measured by the best technology available. The similarity of consciousness (again as best as could be measured)was still markedly different except for the comparative study of wooter and the sea cucumber.

112. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #138035 by Radesq on March 3, 2008 at 7:06 pm

RE: 21. Comment #138023 by Saerain on March 3, 2008 at 6:50 pm

Tomorrow's headline on every Creationist Blog everywhere:

"RichardDawkins.net member asks - why doesn't the Professor go to Hell?"

113. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #137997 by Radesq on March 3, 2008 at 6:09 pm

A clear thinking oasis? or like the music group Oasis? I've heard that Austin is nice though...I like to watch Austin City Limits on PBS from time to time.

114. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #137994 by Radesq on March 3, 2008 at 6:05 pm

Stanford, Berkeley, Columbia, NYU closer to the Bible belt? The only one that comes close is Univ. of Texas Austin and that is really hitting below the belt. Which is entirely called for IMHO. :)

115. Fleas on the Horizon: In Defense of God

Comment #137981 by Radesq on March 3, 2008 at 5:28 pm

To paraphrase one apologist's apologist...

Read them and weep. Read them and weep.

116. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #137427 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 8:35 pm

You've just coined new expressions for subatomic particles to be discovered (send them in to the LHC) I don't know who should get the credit for jumpy, tingly, and naughty quarks or whatever they will be. Much better than the other contenders sleepy, dopey, and grumpy.

117. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #137420 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 8:26 pm

Also you need to shorten the title How about "Quantum Leap - of Faith"

118. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #137418 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 8:23 pm

Why didn't Cain say "Am I that other Cain's brother's keeper?"

119. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #137409 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 8:06 pm

The answer to the grand unifying theory then can be found in black holes formed by extremely dense morality?

120. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #137401 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Steve if there is a flaw in your logic here I would say it is Eden's lack of police boxes readily available for conversion into a TARDIS. While were on the subject of contorting Biblical fallacy -- (that was the topic right?) The story of Noah seems a bit dicey on the subject of fish, ocean mammals, crustaceans, etc...but more simply what about ducks and pelicans why wouldn't they survive a flood?

121. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #137389 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Brian: To this day I don't understand why what you just wrote (without anything else in any of the 4 horseman books or anything else that appears on this blog) isn't enough for almost anyone to realize that the Bible is not the word of God.

122. Fleabytes

Comment #137387 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 7:19 pm

It seems to me MaxD that such an extraordinary claim requires extraordinary evidence.:)

123. It's Make Believe!

Comment #137348 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 5:18 pm

After viewing the first segment I was ready to retract my statement on another thread that George has lost something off the fastball. The end of the second video, however, is just foolish.

124. US Treaty with Tripoli

Comment #137313 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 4:21 pm

Hey I never heard of this treaty before...lots of comments though. I guess other people have more to say about........o for cryin out loud! Scooter, there you go again. What is it with you ooter types? Always turning threads into 50 car pile-ups.

125. Fleabytes

Comment #137026 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 6:59 am

Paula Instead of clicking on the link you and Quetz provided, I typed FCOS into google. Not being from the UK - I was not familiar with what FCOS abbreviated. The only option on the first page of results that appeared to be a likely candidate was the First Church of Satan. Anyway, I came back and clicked the provided link. There I found this quote from DAR:

"Eventually atheism collapses under the weight of its own blathering fatuousness!"

The definition of fatuous -- adjective

1. Imbecilic, obnoxiously stupid, vacantly silly. (Refers especially to foolishness and disregard of reality)

~~~~~ I would agree with DAR's assessment and prediction except for the obvious typographical error of having the "a" in front of "theism".

126. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #137015 by Radesq on March 2, 2008 at 6:28 am

Well, there you have it -- sometimes what is funny depends on who is being made fun of...and by whom. Glad we cleared that up.

127. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #136829 by Radesq on March 1, 2008 at 7:33 pm

Actually robotaholic, after looking at the link you provided it appears to me more likely that Buddha is coming from the same place all religions come from.

128. Fleabytes

Comment #136808 by Radesq on March 1, 2008 at 6:25 pm

My telepathic "bat sense" is tingling!

I can tell you what it is like to be a human super bat. It freakin' awesome! Except for eating bugs...but you get used to it (the bat cycle has no windshield).

129. Add another flea to the list...

Comment #133172 by Radesq on February 25, 2008 at 6:45 pm

Yeah but the ice hotels in Alabama are crap.

130. Church is paying a high price for its celibacy rule

Comment #133169 by Radesq on February 25, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Vaal your avatar makes me wonder if Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Conn. had an acting career before taking up politics.

131. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #133148 by Radesq on February 25, 2008 at 5:31 pm

Give me a guided tour of heaven and/or hell (assuming I meet the height requirements for the rides). That would go along way toward convincing me. Not sure how that would help anyone else.

132. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132492 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 9:05 pm

Juxta monkeys must be nocturnal. I rarely get to see your posts except a day later - and it's already past my bed time. :(

133. My Argument With God

Comment #132488 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Determinism? Really? I choose not to believe in that either.

Although, the US philosopher Leonard Skinner did wrestle with this issue of free will versus determinism in the 1970s. In the end, however, his research lead to the contradictory conclusions - that he was free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot change.

134. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132470 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 7:41 pm

Would like a link for that show Quine -- got one?

135. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132450 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 7:04 pm

According to Wikipedia Paul is on staff at the Rocky Mountain News (where this editorial presumably originates). Interestingly, he also wrote "The Obesity Myth" leasing me to question if he uses the same definition of the word myth and alternatively if Campos is a hippo.

~ Incidentally, I can't tell you the speed Troy, but they'll all be strikes as far as I'm concerned.

~ See how I tied that all together Cartomancer - Augustine of Hippo ;)

136. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132434 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Cartomancer the only Saint title that has any significance to me is that of Roger Moore. If that's the title that people know Aurelius Augustinus by then I have no problem using it.

137. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #132426 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 6:29 pm

As so frequently happens lately -- the writer equates atheism with belief and dogma. Atheists do not have a different invisible imaginary friend they want you to believe in. They are not trying to get Theists to believe in anything -- just to stop believing in the invisible imaginary friend they already have.

That isn't so hard to grasp unless you really try not to...(see St. Augustine citation above). Would any evidence convince me to believe in their invisible imaginary friend? It is pretty unlikely , the writer is correct about that -- but so what?

There is no equivalence between unfounded faith and skepticism...even if they are both intransigent which I do not grant as a premise.

138. Fleabytes

Comment #132405 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 5:59 pm

Donald don't go away mad -- just go away.

No I'm only kidding. I will check your previous posts before the one I commented on to try to see where you are coming from. In the meantime, I felt that delusion applies because there is no reason not to be in possession of the evidence necessary to conclude that belief in God is unwarranted. We are not presently pre-Einstein or pre-Darwin at least in Western countries. In fact many believers become theological contortionists to maintain their viewpoint in the face of strong argument to the contrary. To persist as such is to delude oneself, and the organization of the church and community of faith is complicit in that delusion. Or so it seems to me. Again maybe I was jumping into a discussion that wasn't really taking place - wouldn't be the first time.

139. The Salamander's Tale

Comment #132391 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 5:29 pm

Ahh Romana(um, I mean Lalla) your voice is still so gentle on my ears. What a fortunate man you are Professor Dawkins -- and you write best selling books too!

(P.S. your voice is lovely too Professor in its own way -- no offense :)

140. Fleabytes

Comment #132372 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 4:40 pm

All of these Fleas have fallen victim to one of the classic blunders; The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go into richarddawkins.net without reason on your side.

(apologies to Rob Reiner)

141. Fleabytes

Comment #132367 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 4:28 pm

True Romans today or ancient Romans? Not that it matters much to me as I am neither -- although some dates in the past have mentioned that I have Roman hands.

142. Fleabytes

Comment #132353 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Cartomancer, if you do I might be willing to translate it into gibberish for the benefit of wooter et al.

143. Fleabytes

Comment #132343 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:58 pm

Fortran? You've kept yourself fit Steve what are you 160?

144. Fleabytes

Comment #132340 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:55 pm

Dangerously Latin:

Dominus vobiscum nabisco. Espiritu sanctum. De gustibus. Me gustibus. You gustibus. We missed the bus. They missed the bus. When's the next bus? Summa cum laude. Magna cum laude. The radio's too laude. Adeste fidelis. Centra fidelis. High fidelis. Post meridian. Ante meridian. Uncle meridian. All of the little meridians. Magna carta. Master charga.

145. Physicist Neil Turok: Big Bang Wasn't the Beginning

Comment #132325 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:42 pm

Good advice Geoff, since I've no Guinness available I'll make do with an India Pale Ale. Cheers,

146. Fleabytes

Comment #132317 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Donald,

Was the title The God lack crucial relevant knowledge already taken or just nixed by the publisher then?

147. Physicist Neil Turok: Big Bang Wasn't the Beginning

Comment #132315 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Ack... this article just caused me to visualize our universe as one bubble colliding with another in God's giant pint of Guinness. Somebody help!

148. Fleabytes

Comment #132306 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Jeesh Brian I'd at least expect you to speak English, it's practically your middle name. This is not Latin America ya know.

149. Physicist Neil Turok: Big Bang Wasn't the Beginning

Comment #132294 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 3:05 pm

OK leaving string theory aside because I clearly don't understand it. Steve Z and others have helped me with some of the astrophysics of big bang and inflationary universe theory.

Still, I am human and humans like to form patterns and to mentally categorize things. It seems to me much more likely that the universe does behave cyclically like many other systems in nature. Forever is along time to stay in a state of endless expansion or even stasis. I keep coming back to the phrase "and then what happened next".

I don't have any science to back this up with of course, right now the evidence appears to the contrary or you have to contort yourself with theories as outlandish (though not necessarily wrong)as the above. There is I suppose dark matter, dark energy, ...the dark side of the force. I just have a feeling that the universe is not a one shot deal (it would be too wasteful -- you know like we are all just recycled stardust man -- isn't that a trip man:) and I think someday we might figure out why it isn't.

I am open to persuasion on the ever expanding universe -- as it stands right now proponents of it seem to have the better of the argument. Still, a universe that goes on forever and just burns itself out doesn't seem naturally thrifty enough for me [insert Scot joke here].

150. Fleabytes

Comment #132267 by Radesq on February 24, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Brian it's no good quizzing someone who has access to online dictionaries, google and Wikipedia on a word or phrase definition.

Sorry Brian I meant Goldy it's no good...