301. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #161855 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Nice parting shot...drop a couple moabs like abolish the income tax and go back to the gold standard -- yawn, off to bed... I'll expect you to defend those wild eyed ideals upon your return.

Cheers,

Radesq

302. For sale: 13-year-old virgin

Comment #161850 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 7:29 pm

Dr. Steve:
That reminds me of variation of a story I remember from school. A priest, a lawyer and a scientist are having a discussion while riding on a train. They look out the window and see a dozen white swans floating in a pond. After they pass by the discussion turns to the question - What do we know about swans? The priest says "swans are white", the lawyer says "those dozen swans are white" the scientist says "those dozen swans are white on one side". So I suppose that the laws of physics and mathematics may not hold in some places we haven't observed yet. I have no reason to think so - but I am uncertain. He is confusing uncertainty with faith - I think.

303. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #161836 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 7:15 pm

FF: Thank you for your service.

On the founders and the private sector: this from Wikipedia-

"In the United States, government chartering began to fall out of vogue in the mid-1800s. Corporate law at the time was focused on protection of the public interest, and not on the interests of corporate shareholders. Corporate charters were closely regulated by the states. Forming a corporation usually required an act of legislature. Investors generally had to be given an equal say in corporate governance, and corporations were required to comply with the purposes expressed in their charters. Many private firms in the 19th century avoided the corporate model for these reasons (Andrew Carnegie formed his steel operation as a limited partnership, and John D. Rockefeller set up Standard Oil as a trust)."

About the only thing I trust less than the government is a large corporation created to amass wealth and practically speaking unaccountable to the public. Too many Enrons, Tycos, Adelphias, etc... Government often screws the public out of incompetence or indifference -- corporations that reach the bureaucratic size of governments seem to screw people on purpose. Pick your poison. Capitalism like Democratic Republicanism is a flawed system - it is just better than anything else that has been tried.

304. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #161831 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 6:48 pm

FF: You're right a greedy and incompetent government is not a good answer. Still, a marketplace is a competitive place. Like most competitive activities -- in order to have an organized competition you have to have rules. If you are going to have rules -- you'll need a referee to ensure that the rules are followed and that the competition is fair. That is the government's role. Poor referees can interfere too much or too little. If you don't like the government -- vote -- if you can't find anybody to vote for -- stand (run) for election yourself. If your party (Libertarian - although I recall you are not an actual member)can't win single member district elections lobby for multi-party elections. Holding contempt for the government (which sounds like a trait you and I share though I speak for myself)and wishing it would go away doesn't make it any better - quite the contrary.

edit: What a load of self righteous crap I just wrote...take it or leave it... your a grown up... you don't have to listen to me, after all it's still a free country (for the most part).

305. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #161815 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 6:03 pm

FF:

Both Rand and myself take for granted that people will act honestly, openly and with integrity.

306. For sale: 13-year-old virgin

Comment #161807 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 5:44 pm

Using the financial calculations in this article. Muslim martyrs should be able to purchase 72 virgins for about 26,000 pounds - no suicide bombing required.

307. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #161802 by Radesq on April 15, 2008 at 5:35 pm

bih4u

How would faith defined as "firm belief in something for which there is no proof" be of any use in finding the truth? One can have a firm belief in something that is false as easily as something that is true. Faith is superfluous.

308. For sale: 13-year-old virgin

Comment #161103 by Radesq on April 14, 2008 at 7:52 pm

Goldy "bedouins would be close" bedyoungins sounds closer.

309. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #161101 by Radesq on April 14, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Libertarian arguments always seem to boil down to -- "I really can't understand why you all think I'm nuts...must be something wrong with you."

310. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #161084 by Radesq on April 14, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Diacanu,

Athe-ism?

311. For sale: 13-year-old virgin

Comment #161083 by Radesq on April 14, 2008 at 7:18 pm

"Two of her sisters, Ritu, 35, and Manju, 25, have built one of the few stone houses in their village, for which they paid the equivalent of £14,600..."

"The normal rate is 100 rupees (£1.30)"

*shudder*

312. Hitchens vs. Hitchens

Comment #161073 by Radesq on April 14, 2008 at 6:31 pm

Ever notice that Christopher Hitchens bears a strong resemblance to Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus from the Pink Panther movies?

313. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #160233 by Radesq on April 13, 2008 at 8:41 pm

What about hemp Teratornis? Could we make oil out of hemp? That'd be far out man.
If we are about to have a world food crisis because of peak oil/ethanol. What about hydrogen cars? Worldwide water shortage?
No stationary power should be coming from fossil fuels there are enough alternatives for that out there. Solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, water, nuclear, landfill gases higher efficiency superconducting transmission wires or "heaven" help us microwave transmission of energy...

314. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #160225 by Radesq on April 13, 2008 at 8:31 pm

I only said "your" Militiamen because you first mentioned them. Best of luck to you FF, I won't be able to get any sleep if Mike Timlin continues to give up damn homeruns and loses this game for Dice K.

315. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #160215 by Radesq on April 13, 2008 at 8:09 pm

Apology accepted Captain Needer...

What about GOP protectionist like Pat Buchanan or Lou Dobbs? I believe the theory that free trade is good for growth -- in practice it is pretty worrisome though especially in the short term. I am generally supportive of immigration being of positive impact on the economy -- again there are short term problems in that arena as well.

My point is that the free market is never really free in the real world -- your classroom absolutist theories just do not work as a practical matter. There will be winners and there will be losers but the government does have to manage this so that your Montana and NH Militiamen can still afford to buy their bullets and there way too large reflective sunglasses when the black helicopters arrive.

316. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #160203 by Radesq on April 13, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Falcon read the post next time before you comment. It is because corporations clearly behave as you say that regulation is neccesary. Jesus Maria Olazabal!* Pay attention when I am agreeing with you - it won't happen often so you have to be on the look out for it. Once again Libertarians take good idea to their logical extremes where they become nonsense. and you wonder why everyone thinks your ilk are kooks!

*lesser known relative of the Spanish pro golfer

317. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #160197 by Radesq on April 13, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Laurence are you out there? Your definition of Libertarianism is rapidly losing ground. Dreamertarianism might be a better descriptor.

318. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #160175 by Radesq on April 13, 2008 at 7:12 pm

F'ing Falcon

An Oligopoly has generally the same effect as a monopoly in stifling competition and innovation all to the detriment of the consumer and to the unjust enrichment of the cartel members. If mom & pop could get into the gasoline production business and undercut price they would quickly be bought out. Sound like any other industry you mentioned earlier? It is not free market capitalism it is merely power politics. While tree huggers and basically anybody would NIMBY an oil refinery in their neighborhood -- the petroleum companies have the political clout to get them built if they want to ... but why should they? Nobody else can afford to do it and keeping supply restricted increases the marginal return on every gallon they produce.

When you have a product that everyone wants, that is hard to substitute, in a market that is collusive and barren of real competition -- you no longer have a fair bargained exchange for value. You have a US economy that has been snake bitten and corporations with the only available antivenom.

edit: I wouldn't expect corporations as you describe them or their officers to act differently (in terms of some unwritten social contract to offer their product at some "fair" price other than the maximum they could get). That is precisely why government regulation of the market place is both necessary and desirable in many cases.

319. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159711 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 11:48 pm

GLX I buy gasoline so that I can drive to work. (don't you dare give me a bunch of BS suggestions on how I should solve that dilemma) There is not enough competition in the gasoline production industry and that is a problem. It leads to collusion and artificial supply line problems to inflate prices. I don't want government price fixing I want oversight. I want the oligopoly broken up to increase competition (the barriers to entry in that business are too high). I want the government to require additional refining capacity to be built so there isn't a supply/demand problem with every change of the seasons or when there is a fire or flood at one facility. The market is not the masses speaking if it was the price of gas would not have dropped dramatically prior to Bush's last reelection bid.

And Monopoly is the only unfettered capitalism you are likely to find in a western country so giggle all you want.

320. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159704 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 10:41 pm

131. Comment #159688 by FightingFalcon

The Austrian School of Economics makes so much sense to me that I find it hard to believe that there are actually people out there who continue to advocate government intervention in the market place.

321. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159676 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 7:16 pm

Teratornis wasn't oil discovered in Western PA? At $175.00 per barrel maybe you can set up a derrick to find some black gold there in OH.

322. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159659 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 6:18 pm

Laurence -- thanks for the explanation of Libertarianism. If I understand you correctly Libertarians are swingers who often find themselves in awkward positions. Just kidding...I think your view of centrists is mistaken however. Whereas your Libertarians compromise by moving toward the middle of the political spectrum -- centrists compromise by moving toward the fringe because there are no moderate non-partisan candidates in US politics. What you are describing as centrists are the mis/uninformed (clearly the largest voting block).

323. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159590 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Laurence: I'm the one who said that Maher was partly Libertarian. To me a Libertarian is just a Conservative or a Liberal who abandons pragmatism for ideals. Since you claim to be one, please feel free to school me on why that description of Libertarianism is incorrect.

324. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #159582 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Steve -- if the condensate reduces the speed of light to zero would it then be dark matter? Perhaps not, but that got me thinking what were the theoretical percentages of dark matter and dark energy in our universe again? Pretty high I thought. How come our space exploration vehicles that have been traveling the solar system and beyond for the last 30 years haven't run into any yet? If the Voyager spacecraft or some other vehicle flew into dark matter would it be like smashing into matter? Like an asteroid?

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

Comment #159558 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm

There's a good psychology paper opportunity here. When I worked at a mental hospital twenty years ago there was a patient who used to listen to old records on headphones all day while rocking in his rocking chair. His conversations would inevitably boil down to "hey do you know Elvis Presley? I f***ed him last night in the shower. You know Ricky Nelson? I f'd him too." Now I thought this guy was a riot. But because I saw him often and sort of "knew" him I would have been sad if his illness caused him to beat himself bloody (or possibly to death)with a log or whatever else.

Had this guy been a real problem at the hospital attacking other clients or staff or if I had known he had done horrible things to other people...I probably would have had less sympathy for him. Likewise, just reading a story about some Russian guy who beats himself with a log kind of seems funny -- add in the fact that he was talking sh*t to people and endangering their safety in a cave over some religious mumbo jumbo and I have even less sympathy for what must be a pretty high level of mental illness (is there something else you could call this guy's behavior?). Still, I am reminded a little bit of that guy with the headphones and the rocking chair and I think ...what a shame that people can go so wrong in the head.

So I suppose there could be a sympathy equation involving a)how close you can relate to the person who is mentally ill and b)what sort of evil acts they may have committed and c)how irrational versus simply irritating they are.

This story doesn't score much sympathy from me because a) is relatively low in comparison to b) and c).

326. Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher

Comment #159552 by Radesq on April 12, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Agreed. Bill Maher is far from perfect, apparently some on this site are far closer. Given the typical fare on American television that passes for political discussion -- I'll put up with Bill's eccentric views on health/medical care and some of his ScooterNycish Libertarian ideas to get the rest of the frank discussion. Whoever was complaining about him equating and bashing religion and belief - you need to find something else to complain about.

327. 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*

328. 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.

329. 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.

330. 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.

331. 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.

332. 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.

333. 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?

334. 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.

335. 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.

336. 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!

337. 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.

338. 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?"

339. 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.

340. 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. :)

341. 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.

342. 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.

343. 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"

344. 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?"

345. 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?

346. 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?

347. 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.

348. 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.:)

349. 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.

350. 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.