401. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #118688 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 9:04 pm

As to #3 the question you are posing is essentially the same as "Should cigarettes be marketed to children?" the answer is the same for both and for the same reason.

402. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118646 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Becomingthearrow: (the one who brought you such wisdom as "why do you all use big words" and "I gotta go pee")
So now that one part of the charade is over what is the purpose of your visit and are you carrying any plants, animals or other contraband?

403. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118596 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 7:29 pm

Should Becomethearrow return here's a cheat sheet for his likely next comments also from the Waterboy:

Young Bobby Boucher: [Flashback To Bobby's Childhood] Mama, When Did Ben Franklin Invent Electricity?
Mama Boucher: That's Nonsense, I Invented Electricity. Ben Franklin Is The Devil!

404. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118587 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 7:20 pm

Sorry al-rawandi, I thought this had to be somebody with a sense of humor just screwing with us. Apparently it is not as funny as I thought.

405. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118568 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 7:04 pm

al rawandi -- you must post right now, you just made up this new member name to pull a joke on us didn't you?

406. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118539 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 6:33 pm

Becomethearrow

Frankus1122, is that your picture? you got real white teeth. Mom says brush your teeth after every meal and you will always have white teeth like yours.

My Mama says that alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush.

407. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118519 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 6:16 pm

I'm concerned that nordicthunder may have fallen into a stupor and crashed the book delivery truck that he Pretty lady and Blacknad were riding in.

408. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #118084 by Radesq on January 30, 2008 at 10:05 am

If this book is "logically unassailable" it is also "logically unassailable" that "nordicthunder" is likely little more than the product of combining Carlsberg beer and lutefisk. But I'm not going to bother testing that either.

409. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117794 by Radesq on January 29, 2008 at 4:52 pm

I'm not going to waste my time reading this book. Based on what I read above it isn't worth bothering with. There are too many of these flea books that (apparently from their reviews and excerpts) all say essentially the same things. If someone who does read it wants to recommend it as something novel and worthwhile I might reconsider.

410. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117433 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 7:42 pm

Given his other comments in this article perhaps he needs more than one (bring on the Neo Druids and their nanobots). If that doesn't make sense read my post 11 above - actually it still won't make any sense.

411. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117424 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 7:08 pm

Farah: Are you considering an apologetic sequel making a case for Christianity?

Day: Not at the moment. Right now, I'm more interested in... writing something that someone will actually buy

412. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117419 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 6:59 pm

Easy Dr. Steve...don't fly off the handle! I'll talk you down.:)

~ All I've read of this guy is what's in the article above it's hilarious. No need to get torqued off about this guy, I think this post was meant to be comic relief.

413. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117414 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Electronic Monk -- just wait a day or two someone will top it. A quick internet search on this guy Day/Beale and his dad will show you some background. Apparently dad was a founder of the Christian Coalition of Minnesota and is a board member of WorldNet Daily. Maybe others already knew this. I've never even heard of this publication...I've seen the WeeklyWorldNews is this the same company?
http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/

414. Heath Ledger Death: Baptist Group To Protest At Memorial

Comment #117407 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 6:43 pm

Foxworthy on a half shell - fascinating.

415. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117403 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 6:32 pm

Cross some of biotech's more questionable developments with globalism and post-Christian paganism, and it's not hard to see that we're looking at some crazy days ahead.

416. A Letter From Hell

Comment #117366 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 4:29 pm

Giggle, snicker, sputter (tears of appreciation)

417. Math Religion Trouble

Comment #117360 by Radesq on January 28, 2008 at 4:15 pm

In relation to large groups Giskard is correct. Why do you think atheism has so much baggage? Because a large group of theists have subjected atheists to ridicule for so long (and burning at the stake I suppose) it is little more than negative peer group reinforcement and it works. Clearly you are also correct NC that it is unlikely to be convincing to any individual or small group to act arrogant and belligerent. If that is what you meant.

418. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116948 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 9:20 pm

Or in other words "don't be hasty". I look forward to your next manuscript but now I need to get some rest - back to work tomorrow.

419. Fish out of water: Your Inner Fish

Comment #116946 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 9:16 pm

Not bad at all, was it published in the USA? I was not around for the McCarthy era but I get the feeling that there was some mid 20th century backsliding into religiosity here in the USA due to the fears of Fascism and Communism. The only thing that comes to mind in evidence of this is the insertion of "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance" during that time. Had to be the Truman or Eisenhower administrations. I'll go look it up.
~ yes it was Ike in 1954.

420. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116937 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 8:35 pm

Joshua and Steve ~ I have to say I agree with the gist of your argument about standing up for your rights. But can you come up with some other phrasing. Now I can't seem to get the image out of my head of Fabio saying "I can't believe it's not gay but ery"

421. Banks are helping sharia make a back-door entrance

Comment #116933 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Cartomancer If there were enough of you Mammonites around looking for mortgages and car loans I think you could get banks to come around to your way of thinking. By the way I did go and look up Mammon to see what you were referring to very clever. I also went and looked up what a cartomancer is. My apologies -- I originally thought you really liked cats and were a bad speller.

...and yes if you had a nickel for every time you heard that you would probably be Mammon right?

422. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116929 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 8:05 pm

dragonfirematrix ~ I like your idea it seems kind of Eastern in its cyclical nature. I don't know that the evidence backs it up at the moment (but I secretly think it might someday) you still have the issue of something from nothing though. The cycle had to start from nothing I guess. These cosmological absolutes are hard for me to grasp.

423. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116928 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:59 pm

No I wouldn't think so as you aren't in the Bible belt (although Joseph Smith did discover Mormonism in upstate NY if memory serves). I'm no advocate of violence but wouldn't it be nice if (like in old movies when there was someone, usually a woman, in hysterics)you could just slap them across the face and say "get a hold of yourself" and that would work?

424. Math Religion Trouble

Comment #116925 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:48 pm

DBA ~ I assume that the NY Times was reporting on a study of mathematicians and biologists in Canada? If not that is pretty funny.

425. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116923 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Good for you Fire1974 they may not go and look it up but at least you get points for trying.

426. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116919 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:35 pm

That's in addition to the red shift caused from the movement away from us then? So it has to be taken into account or we would think things are receding from us faster than they really are?

427. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116917 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:29 pm

Please tell me you told them to look up Tiktaalik at the U Chicago website! That was just discussed on another thread a little while ago (the Leeds interview article)

By the way where were they from these JW science teachers? How does that happen? Must be at a religious school (I hope) Oh sorry I see you already said you didn't know where. Would you mind saying where you are? Only as specifically as you wish to.

428. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116915 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:26 pm

That is so cool I really hope it is right. The analogy I added afterward is a little off as not everything on the Earth was expanding but I was really driving at the sense of gaining distance without actually moving oneself. I can't understand why anyone would want to go with Genesis when they could go with this alternative -- even if this turns out to be incorrect.

429. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116913 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:16 pm

Argh..science hard! Would it be better if I imagined that the matter wasn't really "moving" (like an arrow moving away from an archer and toward a target) at all but that new space was being created between all of the matter everywhere in the universe? I could imagine that.

Sort of like you could stand still long enough on one part of Pangea and even though you didn't move you would find yourself farther away from the other continents as they drift?

430. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116907 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 7:01 pm

Rational G I went a read the inflation piece you posted a link to thanks. If any of you are still awake (I know Dr. Steve is in UK timezone don't know about the everybody else)-- what I'm still not getting about the shape and size of the universe is why everything is moving away from us and why there isn't a big hole that everything is moving away from . Sort of like a donut shaped universe. I remember the expanding surface of a balloon analogy but I'm still having a hard time with a three dimensional picture of this. SHouldn't something that was closer to the "center" of the inflation be moving closer to us. There probably is no discernible center as I am thinking of it -- but does someone have a better way for me to try to visualize this? If you are all getting annoyed with my not getting this I can move on...but I do find it very interesting.

431. A Letter From Hell

Comment #116882 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm

I wasn't going to say anything DB but since Paula and NMcC have somewhat conflicting views I thought I might add my opinion. When I was a young man I rarely appreciated my parents getting involved in issues with other school children and I was not kind to children who got their parents involved. Certainly, it is always an option and sometimes the best one when your child's safety or well being is at stake. Since your child seems not to be afraid of or particularly close to the kid spreading this stuff around; maybe he should survey his (it was your son right?)friends and see what they thought if they viewed it. Then they could ask this boy "why did you send us that garbage?" and ask him not to do it again. Maybe they could tell him it makes him look bad to send such nasty messages to other people and why they think so. Not in a threatening way but in a confident way. You could support him in that endeavor. Of course you and others may think that is not enough and you/they may be right...but I would ask your child what he would prefer before pressing the issue. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

432. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116877 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 5:16 pm

That larger universe would probably be 10 to the 90th power bigger in volume! our visible universe is the smallest speck in the larger universe.

I was just saying that if we are only basing our estimates of the size of the universe on extrapolating data form the visible (tiny)portion then wouldn't there be a lot of room for error in the calculations sort of like sample size and margin of error in a survey. No?

433. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116875 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Oh come on dlitt, you're not even going to give me a smiley face or a haha ? You're going to play straight man? That was my "A" game punnery there, give me something a smirk, a chuckle (*off stage crickets*). This is a tough crowd - I tell ya I can't get no respect...

434. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116867 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 4:59 pm

That is very interesting...so time doesn't really exist (or at least pass) for photons then? Everything is now and there is no past for them?

See what a lack of math can do for you (I do understand a 3,4,5 triangle though)
...the last part of your response relates to Doppler shift right? But what does learning what you can about what you can see tell you about what you can't? Now I'm not saying you can't - I understand for instance that you can surmise celestial objects that are unseen from the influence they have on things you can see. But you are extrapolating a really big universe from a relatively small (though also really big)sample wouldn't that normally have a pretty high margin of error? Thanks for your informative replies.

435. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116864 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 4:40 pm

That is a whole other story dlitt...but I'm not so hardened in my position that I feel the need to butt heads with you about this topic any longer in the face of such stiff opposition. My hat is off to you sir. Wink wink nudge nudge. Dr Benway care to chime in?

436. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116858 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Ok Dr. Steve I checked out the tesseract which struck me as sort of a cubist's mobius strip. Your advice - height, width, depth why stop there? Well that's the problem I guess what else would there be? Time I understand a little - although time and its relationship to movement is difficult for me and also its relation to the speed of light seems a bit arbitrary to me. That may have more to do with my lack of math prowess but I'll work on it. Which leads me to a less existential question -- why do you go through the process of squaring your measurements and then taking the square roots? Also what (if it is not too much trouble or too mathematically intense for me) do you base your estimate of the size of the universe on?

437. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116855 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 3:58 pm

MeIM ~ I think you are suggesting we teach the controversy! In the context you are using it -- I like it (even if it is only controversial out of stubborn resistance to reason).

438. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116831 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 2:54 pm

Thanks Dr. Steve. Does that mean there is no space outside the universe or is there empty space (in which case traveling into it would then increase the size of the universe)? I have trouble conceptualizing something in more than three dimensions. I keep thinking of the universe as a giant bubble, but that is still 3-D and there should still be something on the other side of it. The concept of time as another dimension also gives me the creeps. As in if you could stand in the fifth dimension (not the singing group) you could view us all as a sort of squiggling 4 dimensional shape encompassing our entire life history. Sort of "God like" in fact and detrimental to freewill to say nothing of my world view. Which is why I don't like it, I like an infinite universe...but smarter people than me seem to think it is otherwise so I'm willing to listen. Anymore thoughts on the shape or size of the universe?

439. Banks are helping sharia make a back-door entrance

Comment #116811 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Nanaj: are you being facetious? Were there really pigs in the banks in Scotland? Or do you mean they got rid of piggy banks? Please clarify

440. Fox News Attacks 'Godless' Free Thought Radio

Comment #116803 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 1:28 pm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Doublespeak is language deliberately constructed to disguise or distort its actual meaning, often resulting in a communication bypass. Such language is often associated with governmental, military, political, religious, secular, interest group and corporate institutions and its deliberate use by these is what distinguishes it from other euphemisms. Doublespeak may be in the form of bald euphemisms ("downsizing" for "firing of many employees", "enhanced interrogation techniques" for torture, or extraordinary rendition for the process of kidnapping people from countries where torture is illegal to countries where it isn't) or deliberately ambiguous phrases ("wet work" for "assassination", "take out" for "destroy", "red tape" for "bureaucracy").

441. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116785 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 12:02 pm

I think I understand why people are against this procedure. I think there are good reasons not to do it. I simply dislike the venom of the comments. I have a different view of the appropriate level of outrage to be had over the difference of opinion on this topic (in general at least if not the specific scenario in this article). People have their adenoids and/or tonsils removed (sometimes as a preventative measure) as well. That's not outrageous is it?

442. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116778 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 11:33 am

My point is that Mango provided two studies that make at least some claim that there are health benefits to the procedure. Secondly, that although the circumcision procedure on a baby undoubtedly hurts -- so do vaccinations -- we do not consider those to be child abuse. My overzealous outrage was simply to point out that the people on this board are overreacting and projecting motives on Mango that are not justified. The second post relates to your heaping of praise upon my intellectual ability. The rest of the saying is whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.

443. The Science behind the Large Hadron Collider

Comment #116777 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 11:26 am

Gentlemen, while you're at it could you explain an even simpler concept which is also beyond my grasp? People often state the the universe might be finite and they compare it to traveling around the Earth in one direction and returning to the spot you started. Of course we know that in that example we are constrained by the surface of the Earth rather than just going up out of the atmosphere or down through the Earth and out the other side. My question is what direction would we have to go to get outside of our universe if it is finite?
~~
I'm asking seriously, in case that sounded flippant.

444. Launch of 'Atheists in Foxholes' Book Anthology

Comment #116771 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 11:13 am

The big question is who polices things? And if no-one does, does this mean we stand by and let a disaster like Rwanda happen again?

445. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116768 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 11:05 am

agn - I'm rubber you're glue. :)

446. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116767 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 11:04 am

Teratornis:

I really enjoy reading your posts they are always well written in my experience at least. However, I am beginning to wonder if you aren't really an Ent rather than a human - because as we learn from Tolkien:

"...it takes a long time to say anything in Old Entish. And we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say."

447. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116756 by Radesq on January 27, 2008 at 10:46 am

That's right Mango and you should be ashamed if you have your baby vaccinated as well. Those needles hurt! Children can/do not consent to be inoculated - it is clearly child abuse.

448. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116633 by Radesq on January 26, 2008 at 9:39 pm

I don't think I would want this done to me if I was twelve. But in terms of having it done to babies, I think it falls short of barbaric, horrific or child abuse. Mango has presented some evidence of non-religious justifications for the practice, whatever the religious origins. I think the rhetoric here is a bit overheated.

449. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #116606 by Radesq on January 26, 2008 at 7:51 pm

I believe he coined the phrase "it's Miller time"

450. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #116600 by Radesq on January 26, 2008 at 7:39 pm

Totally awesome avatar dude!
But I think the four corners of the Earth or the Ends of the Earth quotes are too vague to be convincing. The star in the hand one is better. I think the whole book of Genesis in general and story of Noah and the flood in particular are the best evidence for the Bible's lack of divinity. Ten thousand plus mammals, ten thousand reptiles, twenty thousand birds, two million insects, etc... on one boat? All the vegetation on Earth under water as high as mountains for ten months and it grows right back? There are olive sprigs available as soon as the water recedes. How can anybody claim to believe that unless they're just trying to be difficult.