201. Pope condemns 'pagan' love of money, power

Comment #247918 by aquilacane on September 15, 2008 at 9:23 am

Every real christian is a pagan,
every real christian is a jew.

Every real christian believes much like a catholic,
and real christians agree with muslims too.

Oh, every real christian wouldn't be a real christian,
if other religions weren't as real too...

So, take out your good book and circle the similarities.
That's where all the plain truth lies.

Every Real Christian....

and so on

202. Pope condemns 'pagan' love of money, power

Comment #247909 by aquilacane on September 15, 2008 at 9:13 am

In all this is nothing more than blasphemy against humanity and the quest for truth an knowledge. The pope is an enemy of humanity and should be treated as such

203. Pope condemns 'pagan' love of money, power

Comment #247908 by aquilacane on September 15, 2008 at 9:10 am

Vaal,
My mother does often tell people she is a pagan (although she's atheist). I think she enjoys pissing christians off by telling them christianity is just a hack religion ripped-off from pagans, which she supports by real examples of evidence. Every real christian is a pagan!

204. Pope condemns 'pagan' love of money, power

Comment #247906 by aquilacane on September 15, 2008 at 9:05 am

Vaal,
I'm not actually pagan, but yeah, lots of the ceremonies and stories are evolved from pagan or some other earlier belief system. My family, for the most part, seem to be tolerant atheists, although I'm sure there are some believers of some kind or another. None are hardcore anything, but we do tend to partake in Pagan like rituals on certain holidays. Just because...

205. Pope condemns 'pagan' love of money, power

Comment #247831 by aquilacane on September 15, 2008 at 6:55 am

As a Pagan, I am very insulted. This is blatant bigotry against Pagans.

I think Catholics should show the Vatican just how much they believe and quit their jobs. Just become beggars. Every Catholic should join the church and beg food from them. That would end their terror in a week.

206. Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview

Comment #241854 by aquilacane on September 3, 2008 at 6:45 am

I'm taking bets. How long before one of us atheists loses it and goes on a shooting rampage. It's going to happen; not even a sane individual can stand this retard's sandlot much longer. I put my money on Diacanu! There's a double bonus for a twin hit!

207. Plan to exhume cardinal is 'homophobic'

Comment #237767 by aquilacane on August 27, 2008 at 6:09 am

How does the church have any say in the location of this man's remains? How completely ignorant of his wishes. This is like a company deciding it's top sales executive will be buried out in the front lot, so the other workers can rub the tomb for better luck on their sales. Retarded.

208. Religion out of medicine, a new message for Ontario doctors

Comment #232047 by aquilacane on August 17, 2008 at 2:19 pm

For example, he said a doctor might refuse to help a same-sex couple to use reproductive technology to have a child.

"There are a lot of doctors who feel uncomfortable with this and think it's detrimental to the child's welfare down the road. The way were reading this draft document is a doctor could be hit with a misconduct" if the new rules are adopted.

This is a good example of why this law is needed. It is not up to a Doctor to decide whether or not it is right for same sex couples to have a child, but whether they are fit enough to. They have the right by law, the doctor's opinion on the matter is irrelevant. Never mind that there are several studies that show similar or greater success rates for children raised by same sex couples.

If a doctor doesn't want to follow all of the rules of reproductive health, they shouldn't be in reproductive medicine. Just as a heart surgeon who doesn't believe in pacemakers or artificial hearts, because they are machines or something, shouldn't be a heart surgeon.

Likewise, a doctor should only be able to refuse medical intervention if it is harmful to the patient, like circumcision; which should only be performed by a doctor for medical reasons, as it is a medical procedure.

In other words, a doctor must be forced to deny their religious or personal opinion if it counters the legal rights of the patient, as well as be empowered to override religious or personal beliefs of the patient if they promote non-medically needed procedures.

Any form of body deformation, such as earrings, should be illegal for people under the age of consent. I consider baby piercing a form of child abuse.

209. Al-Qa'eda in Iraq alienated by cucumber laws and brutality

Comment #229260 by aquilacane on August 13, 2008 at 9:33 am

"Other farcical stipulations include an edict not to buy or sell ice-cream, because it did not exist in the time of the Prophet, while hair salons and shops selling cosmetics have also been bombed."

I guess the tomato isn't allowed either, as aren't most fruit and veg. The tomato originated is South American and wasn't even introduced to Europe until around 1500 or so. It wasn't even a human food product until the Spanish discovered it. It took until 1700 for it to reach North America. As for the Middle East, I expect it is very recent, and completely unheard of to the Lunatic Mohammed.

210. Charlie Brooker's screen burn

Comment #227854 by aquilacane on August 10, 2008 at 11:31 pm

Comment #227847 by Spinoza on August 10, 2008 at 10:53 pm

"Meh.

Also, I really hate the use of "yeah?" at the end of sentences. It has the effect of nails on a chalk-board... "

I really hate people who need to live vicariously through someone else, even so far as to adopt their name. Never mind the dickheads who begin their posts with Meh.

Of course, this is a stupid post.

211. Richard Dawkins, the naive professor

Comment #225841 by aquilacane on August 7, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Another guy who thinks his personal belief (void of evidence) needs to be considered. What an idiot.

212. The best way to undermine the jihadists is to trigger a rebellion of Muslim women - and establish energy independence

Comment #225837 by aquilacane on August 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm

anyone who thinks empowering muslim women was their idea is a fucktard

213. Is our universe fine-tuned for life?

Comment #225252 by aquilacane on August 6, 2008 at 11:18 am

Saying the universe is fine tuned for anything is like saying the environment between a baseball bat traveling at 80 mph and my face is fine tuned for scull breaking. You're not fucking special, you just are. get over it. Besides, for something to be tuned requires a tuner.

214. Evangelically Serious Science

Comment #225074 by aquilacane on August 6, 2008 at 7:00 am

A few hours of evolution. I was taught about evolution for eight years. There was no discussion in biology class that did not relate back to evolution, and Biology was mandatory for four years in high school.

I hate how mockingly religious terms like apostle are used to describe Dawkins. Do people really think that using religious terms to mock a non-religite don't actually mock the religite more? Or is this some bizarre twisted way of saying your failures are a good excuse for mine? (If you get what I mean)

And can we not drop Darwin, and just focus on the discovery. darwin is dead, who gives a crap about Darwin, I'm sure thousands of people thought much the same way as him, never mind the fact that his study on the Beagle was pure fluke, he just wrote it down. Observation is inevitable; I don't think we need to blow smoke up the ass of the person who's doing the watching.

Get off yer horse

215. Islam subway ads cause stir in New York

Comment #216034 by aquilacane on July 22, 2008 at 5:14 pm

I propose that we dub September International month of no religion. In this month, we live as if there were no religions at all, we pay them no respect, attention, or acknowledgment. If someone asks you if you believe in god, you just look at them funny and inquire as to what the hell they are talking about. When they explain, laugh, look at them evem funnier, ask if they are serious, and walk away (assuming you don't already)

216. The brain in love

Comment #215843 by aquilacane on July 22, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Love is a word used to describe a powerful chemical dependance

217. Antony Flew reviews the Index of The God Delusion

Comment #215838 by aquilacane on July 22, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Flew will be dead soon. He is hedging his bets.

218. Ten Commandments' of race and genetics issued

Comment #215830 by aquilacane on July 22, 2008 at 12:22 pm

InfuriatedSciTeacher> You are probably correct about the white swimmers. The problem is, we don't really know and that's why we need to expand the study of genetics. I personally couldn't care if it was true or not. I mentioned swimmers not because I see more of them, but because I recalled a paper on muscle mass and structure that suggested it was more difficult for certain genetic types.

I notice this problem in my writing often. I just make a statement assuming everyone knows this is an example of how something could be true, and not so much how it is hard fact.

I myself would be called "white" but I have a black great grandmother in my family history, and some Spanish/Moorish blending. It isn't clear enough to distinguish, but on a genetic level, knowing I have those relatives may perhaps lend a hand in some medical arena.

personally I couldn't care about colour, shape, size, smell or whatever, I just care that we learn as much as possible so that we can all get an equal understanding of who we are and how we can improve our lives.

As we come closer together as a planet, and racial divisions get blurred through genetic redistribution it will become more difficult to trace genes to their origins. The sooner we look inside and forget about the outside the better.

219. Periodic Table of Videos

Comment #215185 by aquilacane on July 21, 2008 at 1:14 pm

In response to comment #210418 (#9) by Lucas on July 14, 2008

"As an old chemistry teacher I would want to know which percent of the people on this site have seen such experiments in school when they were about 16-18 years old.
Is it possible to organize a poll here?"

We started this sort of science teaching in grade 6 (11-12 years of age in Canada). I remember nicking some magnesium to burn, we also collected and burned hydrogen and several other fun things. Steel wool was often used.

220. Ten Commandments' of race and genetics issued

Comment #215143 by aquilacane on July 21, 2008 at 11:39 am

I must get a grip on my language, sorry. I won't edit, I'll allow it to stand, perhaps someone will give me a hard time about it and I'll learn my lesson.

I talk tough, but I can't really say I know what I'm talking about. I guess that's why I'm so dismayed at how far short this list falls; after all, I don't know much, but I know this group of really smart people didn't prove themselves. I can only wonder if it's because we really aren't that smart or we're just too scared.

had they selected a group of average people of this forum they would have had better results, and a more rational list. That's sad.

221. Ten Commandments' of race and genetics issued

Comment #214809 by aquilacane on July 20, 2008 at 11:29 pm

I have issues with this stuff. Committees are useless. Even smart people sound stupid in committee.

"1. All races are created equal

No genetic data has ever shown that one group of people is inherently superior to another. Equality is a moral value central to the idea of human rights; discrimination against any group should never be tolerated."

Are these people creationists then? I don't know if there is proof we were created, or for that matter, that we are equal, and by equal, I mean the same.

And since when was the human race plural? I thought there was only one human race. Also, there is plenty of genetic data that suggests one group of people is inherently superior to others; with respect to MS, males are genetically superior, women get MS at rate of 3 to 1. The vast majority of the worlds top swimmers are white due specifically to genetic superiority in the art of swimming. If I was going to look for a world class sprinter I would probably look for someone who's african decent is more recent than, let's say, a Japanese sprinter.

I think they need to define superior a bit better. Do they mean on the whole, or in specific?, because there are plenty of very good reasons to be a geneticist ( following the -cist tradition, geneticist is a far better word than racisit). After all, I was a racist, I ran the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m and I don't like peoples' miss use of the word to mean something that is technically impossible.

Who gives a shit about the "idea of human rights" I thought this was a science list not a wish list. Oh, and to never tolerate discrimination against any group is discrimination against a group, never mind the fact that we are hardwired to discriminate against groups, individuals, ugly animals, bad hair, cheap shoes, bla bla bla... I thought these were smart people.

"2. An Argentinian and an Australian are more likely to have differences in their DNA than two Argentinians

Groups of human beings have moved around throughout history. Those that share the same culture, language or location tend to have different genetic variations than other groups. This is becoming less true, though, as populations mix."

Who gives a shit about this statement. How the hell is this a commandment? This is like saying the apples that fell on the sidewalk tended to have a different amount of bruising than those that fell on the grass. Fuck off genius.

"3. A person's history isn't written only in his or her genes

Everyone's genetic material carries a useful, though incomplete, map of his or her ancestors' travels. Studies looking for health disparities between individuals shouldn't rely solely on this identity. They should also consider a person's cultural background."

Just so long as we don't have to respect culture's sensitive underside when telling patient x he really needs to stop drinking his magic mixture of mercury, oil and goat dung because that particular cultural trend is really fucking stupid and harmful.

"4: Members of the same race may have different underlying genetics

Social definitions of what it means to be "Hispanic" or "black" have changed over time. People who claim the same race may actually have very different genetic histories."

Back to commandment 1, I thought there was only one race

"5. Both nature and nurture play important parts in our behaviors and abilities

Trying to use genetic differences between groups to show differences in intelligence, violent behaviors or the ability to throw a ball is an oversimplification of much more complicated interactions between genetics and environment."

True, but it's a fucking good place to start if you're looking for, oh I don't know, something random. How about an artist. I've been to art school and you can't teach someone to be an artist, they are or they are not. You can teach theory, appreciation but not talent. If you don't have it, at least, genetically, you won't be working on my creative team.

"6. Researchers should be careful about using racial groups when designing experiments

When scientists decide to divide their subjects into groups based on ethnicity, they need to be clear about why and how these divisions are made to avoid contributing to stereotypes."

No they don't, people have to realize there are true and real differences between people, and studying them in every light is very important. A stereotype that turns out to be true is called knowledge, we shouldn't avoid stereotypes, just rule them out or in.

"7. Medicine should focus on the individual, not the race

Although some diseases are connected to genetic markers, these markers tend to be found in many different racial groups. Overemphasising genetics may promote racist views or focus attention on a group when it should be on the individual."

Assuming these idiots mean the variations within the one race I would say bullshit; specifically if it is the genetic variation that is the cause.

8. The study of genetics requires cooperation between experts in many different fields

Human disease is the product of a mishmash of factors: genetic, cultural, economic and behavioral. Interdisciplinary efforts that involve the social sciences are more likely to be successful.

The study of genetics requires studying genetics. Both what it influences and how it is influenced, bar nothing.

"9. Oversimplified science feeds popular misconceptions

Policy makers should be careful about simplifying and politicising scientific data. When presenting science to the public, the media should address the limitations of race-related research."

Why should they address the limitations of race-related research, what limitations? Why can't they discuss its many advantages? Will the rate of Diabetes in North American aboriginal tribes get better if we don't address it?

"10. Genetics 101 should include a history of racism

Any high school or college student learning about genetics should also learn about misguided attempts in the past to use science to justify racism. New textbooks should be developed for this purpose."

Genetics 101 should teach the truth that there is only one race so there is no possibility of racism. We could have Pigmentism or Geographism instead.

The Stanford group didn't always agree when coming up with these ideas. Predictably enough, the biomedical scientists tended to think of race in neutral, clinical terms; the social scientists and scholars of the humanities argued that concepts of race cannot be washed clean of their cultural and historical legacies.

But both groups, according to the letter, recognise the power of the gene in the public imagination and the historical dangers of its misrepresentation as deterministic and immutable.

Journal reference: Genome Biology (DOI: 10.1186/gb-2007-9-7-404)

222. An Irishman's Diary

Comment #208931 by aquilacane on July 11, 2008 at 12:00 pm

People using language in the way they were taught.

Incredible!

This is groundbreaking, if I may use the evolved meaning of the word.

223. Degrees of religion

Comment #206562 by aquilacane on July 8, 2008 at 1:18 pm

"Some will say that's a cop-out but religion isn't a vehicle for gathering kudos from dogmatic worshippers; it is there as a personal bond between a human being and God."

Actually, religion is there as a method for controlling the will of the masses. It is an impersonal bond between an individual, a symbol and a list of behaviours. It is aggressively promoted publicly without any evidence or meaningful support. For it to work, a person must have faith in the person introducing them to it, such as a rabbi, priest or family member, and not an actual faith in god.

She is a cop-out and a hypocrite, and although she realizes it she will not accept it. Instead, like most, if not all religious people, she will find a way to make two things that don't work together work together. Closing her eyes when they don't. This article is a waste of data.

224. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205717 by aquilacane on July 7, 2008 at 5:53 pm

I hear the Pastafarians are organizing a huge antipasto rally tonight.

225. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #185715 by aquilacane on May 28, 2008 at 10:55 am

White males need not apply

Internal e-mail reveals hiring ban at Public Works

Tom Blackwell , National Post
Published: Saturday, November 19, 2005

A major federal department (Ontario, Canada) has temporarily banned the hiring of able-bodied white men in an unusual move critics say could spark a backlash against the very disadvantaged groups it is meant to help.

Managers in the Public Works department must hire only visible minorities, women, aboriginals and the disabled, except with written permission from their superiors, David Marshall, the deputy minister, ordered in an e-mail circulated yesterday.
The policy, designed to address shortfalls in the department's employment-equity goals, will last at least until the end of next March and be reviewed then, the memo said.

"As executives and managers, our role includes ensuring that the public service is representative," Mr. Marshall said in the memo. "This involves providing direction and leadership by example, and demonstrating a firm commitment to an inclusive workplace(unless you're white, of course)."

Canadian Human Rights Act

Section 8) It is a discriminatory practice

(a) to use or circulate any form of application for employment, or

(b) in connection with employment or prospective employment, to publish any advertisement or to make any written or oral inquiry

that expresses or implies any limitation, specification or preference based on a prohibited ground of discrimination.

1976-77, c. 33, s. 8.

You can discriminate in Canada, but only against white people. Hell, the government does it quite regularly.

We even discriminated against seniors up until 2006, before mandatory retirement was abolished.

idiots

226. Car dealership advert tells atheists to 'shut up'

Comment #185558 by aquilacane on May 28, 2008 at 4:22 am

Having been a very involved copywriter on Ford's advertising campaign trail I can tell you that properly targeted letter writing to their corporate head office will bring hell down on this dealer. Ford doesn't like bad press, especially in the face of an ever strengthening Japanese car market in the US. A few letters, and they will say it's not our issue, the dealer is independent. Remind them in the letter that the dealer is using the Ford's name in vain and you will see action. I've already written my letter; although, ever since quitting their brand over the F-150 ball-joint issue, I've written a few letters to these guys.

227. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor

Comment #185553 by aquilacane on May 28, 2008 at 4:09 am

What will they teach? I haven't seen any science surrounding ID. If they want to teach it in science class I don't think strong opinion is testable in lab or essay form. There is also the problem of explaining the evolution of the intelligent designer, what are its origins, how did it evolve, who is it and where is the evidence? Even if our genes turn out to be the extension of a more intelligent being it still doesn't answer the origin, or demonstrate progression from designer to independent life from. I can only see an argument that is based around imaginary holes in evolution and not actual evidence to support ID. Silly subhumans.

228. Mail-boat record 'proves Darwin stole his original ideas from a Welsh scientist'

Comment #185143 by aquilacane on May 27, 2008 at 4:40 am

This serves to support my belief that it is the content that should be considered and not its author. Who is much less relevant than what.

229. Five Things Humans No Longer Need

Comment #184032 by aquilacane on May 23, 2008 at 1:03 pm

My wise-ass teeth came in at 17 and didn't cause a problem. They took them out anyway (cash grab) under a local. As for Darwin's Point, I've seen it on many friends and thought nothing of it.

I have noticed that for many people the brain is becoming a vestigial organ. Not much thinking going on with the majority of the human race, I think we'll discover we're better off being stupid in numbers than smart and alone.

230. Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

Comment #183885 by aquilacane on May 23, 2008 at 5:11 am

If this goes poorly for the young chap I say we protest the courthouse as a cult, must be to have their heads so far up their asses.

231. 'Reverse Evolution' Discovered in Seattle Fish

Comment #183878 by aquilacane on May 23, 2008 at 4:51 am

So a genetic advantage (whether old or new) managed to protect its bearer from death before it procreated, thus passing on the genetic advantage; incredible!

232. Turkish Islamic author given 3-year jail sentence

Comment #180737 by aquilacane on May 15, 2008 at 4:35 pm

So Turkey has taken a larger step against one of its crackpots than the US has against any of its own. I guess you would have to start with Bush, and he's kind of running the country at the mo'. North America is so doomed.

233. Faith in Britain today

Comment #177762 by aquilacane on May 9, 2008 at 4:11 pm

Ooh... you bugger, almost got my fiver!

Bit long, but I think I'll use his style on my next fund raising letter. Stroke the chords then open the back door. Classic advertising technique. Could have chopped the last ten paras though; he didn't need them. Get your ass back to church, we need the cash. Might lose a few short focused buyers on the scan; not many callouts to catch the eye.

Put the logo in the corner, no bigger. I said bigger. Look I'm the client, I want that damn cross to jump off the page. I want a star burst with a 50% limited time offer deal. No, bigger. An I want a P.S., it needs to support the whole "Get back to church" campaign message. No, BIGGER!

I hate clients

234. The History Channel might do something right

Comment #176369 by aquilacane on May 7, 2008 at 8:01 am

I guess this is good, but it will probably still do more to make people ignorant of how evolution works with language like this:

Eyes are one of evolution's most useful and prevalent inventions (evolution does not invent)

Dinosaurs adapted their eyes to become such successful hunters of prey (Dinosaurs did not adapt their eyesto hunt prey, they can hunt prey because their eyes adapted. Their eyes adapted them in other words)

Tiny early mammals developed night vision to populate the night as a survival technique (There is no such thing as a survival technique. Survival is a byproduct of evolution. In other words, tiny mammals could populate the night because night vision developed, thus surviving)

learn how primates underwent several adaptations to their eyes to better exploit their new habitat (Primate eye adaptation
didn't happen to better exploit their habitat, they could better exploit their habitat because eye adaptation occurred)

The ability to see colours helped them find food (got this right)

They evolved for a common reason - to give these animals a critical edge in interspecies warfare. (There is no reason to evolve only a cause of evolution. The byproduct of which is survival)

key innovations that have driven nature's evolutionary arms race from the dawn of life to today (innovation requires intelligence. I don't think supporting ID is the goal of this piece; however.)

To illustrate our and our fellow species' eternal struggle for survival on earth (We don't struggle to survive, survival is neither positive or negative in the eyes of genes; however, it is hard to study genes that cause death because they don't last, so we are left with the only alternative, which is to study genes that have resulted in the byproduct of survival. We have merely assumed that this means there is intent to survive, but that's impossible unless you follow the ID model)

235. The emerging moral psychology

Comment #175586 by aquilacane on May 5, 2008 at 4:30 pm

"Greene interprets these different activation patterns, and the relative difficulty of making a choice in the Footbridge Problem, as the sign of conflict within the brain. On the one hand is a negative emotional response elicited by the prospect of pushing a man to his death saying "Don't do it!"; on the other, cognitive elements saying "Save as many people as possible and push the man!" For most people thinking about the Footbridge Problem, emotion wins out; in a minority of others, the utilitarian conclusion of maximising the number of lives saved."

First of all, no one in this position would have time to think, so the test is faulty. I doubt any of the people who said they would push the man would have pushed the man. I doubt they would have considered the man as a suitable object for stopping a runaway cart, it is after all a man. Once the option of pushing the man is planted; however, only then do they consider it and take time to think about it, of course, the cart would have raced past by now and it wouldn't have mattered.

There is also the problem that we did not evolve with the ability to kill a person at the push of a button or flick of a switch, we had to use our hands. We don't associate button pushing as killing quite the same way we do throttling a person to death, I expect you could ask a fighter pilot, especially one who has killed with their hands.

As well, if I'm seen pushing the man I cannot say I didn't do it, if I flick a switch I can say I didn't realize what would happen. Each step between the cause and effect separates us from ownership. Self preservation surely plays a role, I can hear the excuses in my head. I figured the cart was going to fast and would crash from the abrupt change, I did everything I could, blah blah blah. You can't talk your way out of pushing someone off a bridge though.

236. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169481 by aquilacane on April 26, 2008 at 7:24 am

Szymanowski wrote:

BE HAPPY NOT CHRISTIAN

That isn't clever enough I'm afraid. Straight out attack if you ask me. You could; however, write:

BE HAPPY NOT DELUSIONAL

237. Student's 'Be Happy, Not Gay' t-shirt ok

Comment #169466 by aquilacane on April 26, 2008 at 6:45 am

That's actually not bad (for a Christian). It can be argued easily in a court of law, amazed it made it that far (what a waste of money). I prefer seeing some thought in their bigotry, rather than just pure hate.

238. Mount Vernon schools to hire investigator in Bible case

Comment #169447 by aquilacane on April 26, 2008 at 5:57 am

I was probably my most verbally abusive with the religious in grade eight. My father had died a few years earlier. That really strengthened my atheism making me extremely sensitive to any religious influence. I refused to sing Christmas carols in music class (the teacher did not know what to do). I would stand outside of the school during the lords prayer. Any time any teacher ever made a ref. to god, I would ask for proof, or tell them to shut up. If this teacher had branded me with a cross when I was in grade eight, I probably would have killed him were he stood. And I mean that. I would have made every effort to throttle him to death. Today I would only beat him to within an inch of his life. Oh how the wisdom of age tempers our hand in the fog of furry.

239. Responses to 'Gods and Earthlings' by Richard Dawkins

Comment #166037 by aquilacane on April 22, 2008 at 5:17 pm

"In the end, he, like everyone else, must confront one of two choices: Either the universe has always existed, or it was created by someone who has always existed."

I don't really agree with this statement, but if I were confronted with only two choices, I would probably chose eternal existence for the one that I actually know exists (universe). I don't see a need to create a second level of complexity based on nothing but opinion with an even less likely chance of it ever being explained.

Besides, if god's plan is so grand and beyond human contemplation, everyone (including theologians) should be hell bent on discovering what science can teach us about everything else we can know (that's only if god's will can not be known, of course).

240. Lizards Undergo Rapid Evolution After Introduction To A New Home

Comment #164869 by aquilacane on April 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm

Was the capacity to develop Cecal valves brought about by the introduction of a slowly growing nematode population in the hindguts, or something else? Just want to know the full nature of the relationship.

241. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #164847 by aquilacane on April 20, 2008 at 6:41 pm

I'm disturbed people may actually start to believe we are somehow responsible for the Holocaust. How the hell did this happen? This is all I bloody need. I'm really put off. I've felt the hate, but this is different; can't say I fancy being on the other end of that stick.

242. Sex for diploma offer caught on tape

Comment #164252 by aquilacane on April 19, 2008 at 9:02 pm

I didn't see any evidence that it was actually him saying those things or him sitting in that truck. I don't even know if those things were said in that truck. I don't know if mother actually spoke at all, or if the female voice was actually hers. I have no idea who mother is, and no face to check against. I see no evidence of a daughter. I reserve judgment for further information.

243. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #163862 by aquilacane on April 19, 2008 at 7:49 am

The Count wrote:
"The subtitle echoes a bumper sticker I thought of (which could perhaps be made a bit more catchy):
"Don't believe in evolution? Maybe you just don't understand it."

How about spreading the notion "Understand then believe" If someone asks "believe what" reply "you'll know when you understand" Short bumper stickers are more effective. 5 words max, less is better. How about just "realize"

244. The Child Preachers

Comment #163858 by aquilacane on April 19, 2008 at 7:38 am

Santi wrote:
"would you also prevent parents from putting their little girls in beauty contests ala "Little Miss Sunshine?"

Why we wear the clothes, makeup, and other sexual attractants that we do is pretty much a basic social forms of sexual solicitation. It can only be said that a parent who dresses their 8 year old as a solicitor of sex is vile. When a women or man get dressed up and go out on the town they are displaying their sexual capability and readiness. There is only ever a problem when an unsuitable caller makes a call. Unfortunately he or she are merely responding to the advertisement as any interested person would. To put a child in the position of inviting interested parties is asinine. I puke each time I see it, and it's always the ugliest least promotable mothers doing the advertising.

245. The Child Preachers

Comment #163845 by aquilacane on April 19, 2008 at 6:59 am

I've actually stood next to a child preacher in Georgia and started preaching evidence is our savior, evidence will set you free (I didn't even go atheist on him) as a joke for about 10 seconds. I was hit with the bible by the child and had my life threatened by the father who was hanging out back. The kid was a robot, no life in the eyes, just a machine. No one else cared that any of us were there, except the 5 or 6 drunk rugby players I was with. They just laughed at me. I felt sad for the kid after I sobered up a bit.

246. Flea of the week

Comment #163697 by aquilacane on April 18, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Paula wrote:

"And how ironic it is that the ONE thing that really MIGHT make us special in the universe is the ONE thing that the religious want to guard against and subdue with every fibre in their bodies."

Funny you should say this Paula. I was thinking the other night how it was a bit drole how the ones among us who can't accept that we are just animals are the ones who behave the most like them.

247. Richard Dawkins' secular army must be stopped. God is behind some of our greatest art

Comment #160889 by aquilacane on April 14, 2008 at 2:18 pm

Religion could have no historical effect on the arts before the arts had an effect on religion. We would still have art without religion, but perhaps not religion without art. This idiot doesn't even have it the right way around. Religion is a message, art is a medium. And no, despite being a nice little sound bite like the Selfish Gene, Marshall McLuhan's the Medium is Message horse crap (using really bad, non literal words to explain what you literally mean) isn't what I'm talking about. Art does not need religion, religion needs art.

248. Science Debate 2008

Comment #160872 by aquilacane on April 14, 2008 at 1:56 pm

Hourglass Memory Wrote:
"I really really really do hope America gets to do this. And makes people watch it. It's a way to get tons of ignorant americans thinking about science at least once in their lives."

Unfortunately some of those ignorant people are the candidates themselves. They don't want a science debate because they don't know what to say.

You may as well have a debate on the benefits of Scaliptigonal Functionality inside the Rotoscopic Membrance and how those benefits can cause greater Rapinticlular Behaviour in the Oscilabnum Nodes of a Polansticious society. It's pure mumbo to these people. The most you can hope for is a prepped answer to a typical question.

249. Ancient serpent shows its leg

Comment #159440 by aquilacane on April 12, 2008 at 7:46 am

People, people; this is obviously a test of faith. What, with the current religious climate and the rampant arrogance of atheists, this can only be seen as a test from god. The timing is perfect; a true believer will see the designed significance.

IDiots

250. Did pre-big bang universe leave its mark on the sky?

Comment #158793 by aquilacane on April 11, 2008 at 3:41 am

What roles do the other universes beyond our own universe play? What if our universe collides with another universe, what would happen then, would they pass through each other like a galaxy. I'm disturbed that we only ever seem to consider our universe as the only universe, hence the uni. I can imagine several universe existing side by side in a soup of universes.