tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post1752756965734784826..comments2024-03-29T00:39:31.629-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: The New Modernism: Blending Science, Engineering, Art, and Human ImaginationDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-82202993789745716252012-09-22T14:53:55.546-07:002012-09-22T14:53:55.546-07:00onward
onward<br />David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-35577968703468400172012-09-22T14:35:35.243-07:002012-09-22T14:35:35.243-07:00Anyone interested in the disinfo promulgated by an...Anyone interested in the disinfo promulgated by anti-GM-foods activists can find a good summary of some recent bad science here:<br />http://ksj.mit.edu/tracker/2012/09/rancid-corrupt-way-report-about-science<br /><br />And again I will note that the Knight Science Journalism Tracker site went on my favorites list soon after it was pointed out to me.Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-59925228977961686602012-09-22T12:19:21.535-07:002012-09-22T12:19:21.535-07:00These are the spheres mentioned:
http://en.wikiped...These are the spheres mentioned:<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klerksdorp_sphereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-73614411900485907352012-09-22T11:55:30.921-07:002012-09-22T11:55:30.921-07:00Huh... grooved metal spheres. Drat. In EXISTENCE...Huh... grooved metal spheres. Drat. In EXISTENCE I portrayed them as holographic crystals. But of course they'd have an outer metal shell for surviving atmospheric entry....David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-66266318521653701652012-09-22T09:40:25.200-07:002012-09-22T09:40:25.200-07:00Unexploded ordinance from the Krikkit wars.Unexploded ordinance from the Krikkit wars.Paul451https://www.blogger.com/profile/12119086761190994938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-86923879144937881892012-09-22T08:07:20.759-07:002012-09-22T08:07:20.759-07:00Were you aware of these?
http://paranormal.about.c...Were you aware of these?<br />http://paranormal.about.com/od/ancientanomalies/ig/Most-Puzzling-Ancient-Artifact/grooved_sphere.htm?r=facebook<br /><br />...assuming it's real, of course.ERichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00578283790067334744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-11100220349415540662012-09-22T07:12:20.380-07:002012-09-22T07:12:20.380-07:00Perhaps we should have an anti-tribalist demonstra...Perhaps we should have an anti-tribalist demonstration in the U.S. to counter vicious trolls such as our "anonymous."Jumperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794110173836133321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-39466456656253988792012-09-22T06:09:04.385-07:002012-09-22T06:09:04.385-07:00 Extremists are to Islam what Fred Phelps is to B... Extremists are to Islam what Fred Phelps is to Baptists?Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-58256314313093534442012-09-21T21:26:04.721-07:002012-09-21T21:26:04.721-07:00A few threads back I talked abotu the fact that th...A few threads back I talked abotu the fact that the anti-western extremsists in the Muslims world don't represent the majority.<br /><br />Case in point:<br /><br />"Hundreds of protesters stormed the compound of one of Libya's strongest armed Islamic extremist groups on Friday, evicting militiamen and setting fire to their building as the attack that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans sparked a public backlash against armed groups that run rampant in the country and defy the country's new, post-Moammar Gadhafi leadership.<br /><br />Armed men at the administrative center for the Ansar al-Shariah militia, suspected to have led the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, first fired in the air to disperse the crowd, but eventually withdrew from the site with their weapons and vehicles after it was surrounded by waves of protesters shouting "No to militias."<br /><br />"I don't want to see armed men wearing Afghani-style clothes stopping me in the street to give me orders, I only want to see people in uniform," said Omar Mohammed, a university student who took part in the takeover, which protesters said was done in support of the army and police."<br /><br />http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444620104578010750711899438.html<br /><br />The attack on the militia bases was an offshoot of a larger demonstration condemning the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.<br /><br />There were an estiamted 30,000 attendees for that demosntration - which probably comes close to outnumbering ALL the anti-western protests across the Muslim world. Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-30515661258793186602012-09-21T20:23:19.111-07:002012-09-21T20:23:19.111-07:00Begins on the 14th year? Heh. I guess we treat the...Begins on the 14th year? Heh. I guess we treat the ones before that as a transition period?<br /><br />I seem to recall there was a financial panic in 1907. Maybe we are just doing a Groundhog Day thing and repeating things until we get them right. If someone tries to guide toward too much repetition I'm going to get serious annoyed, though. We've got something good going here where we are on the verge of being able to educate ALL children. My mind boggles and my eyes tear up at that possibility.Alfred Differhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01170159981105973192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75165376892553202052012-09-21T19:04:06.935-07:002012-09-21T19:04:06.935-07:00Anonymous may consider that the .01% are already a... Anonymous may consider that the .01% are already a different culture, as intolerant as any. Concerning the forteenth year, we can all hope for the resumption of building the proud tower, but another, greater Wall $treet "Charlie Foxtrot" seems more likely.Tim H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-85873815384411204022012-09-21T17:53:16.571-07:002012-09-21T17:53:16.571-07:00Alfred... each century "begins on the 14th ye...Alfred... each century "begins on the 14th year".<br /><br />Scary? Given what started in 1914? Or maybe we can resume the optimistic march that 1914 interruptedDavid Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55985559243156285922012-09-21T17:35:06.807-07:002012-09-21T17:35:06.807-07:00@Ian: I've seen it on the shelves. I haven'...@Ian: I've seen it on the shelves. I haven't bought it, though. I love many types of fiction, but I prefer to focus on doing something in THIS world.<br /><br />When I do go for (mostly) mindless entertainment in that direction, though, it currently involves Flint's 1632 soap opera series. 8)<br /><br /><br />If I had a single use time machine I'd go back just before WWI and kick someone's behind. The British could have (and should have) stopped WWI from happening. I'd find whoever seemed most able to change their decision and try to halt a century of war. Someone seriously messed up.Alfred Differnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-87862626745220407912012-09-21T17:06:03.762-07:002012-09-21T17:06:03.762-07:00Alfred: Harry Turtledove wrote an excellent series...Alfred: Harry Turtledove wrote an excellent series of alternate history novels abotu a wrodl in which the confederacy won the Civil War.<br /><br />In it, the United states edns up fighting on the side of the Central Powers in World War I while the Confederacy sides with the Entente.Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-37730687458425312212012-09-21T16:55:44.108-07:002012-09-21T16:55:44.108-07:00@Paul451: I have relatives in those states (some I...@Paul451: I have relatives in those states (some I actually like), so I won't be voting to kick them out if it came to that. I think you'd find that is true of a lot of us. 8)<br /><br />Great Britain would have been foolish to invade us from the CSA. We were already strong enough by then to make such a war incredibly expensive for them. They would have been bled so dry that their empire elsewhere would have suffered. <br /><br />What they could have done instead, though, is counter some of what we did from close up. They could have meddled and set one group against another. This is precisely what they did elsewhere in the world with much success. We've copied that approach in how we deal with European and Asian powers. We learned from masters. 8)Alfred Differnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55113747461882365962012-09-21T16:53:18.546-07:002012-09-21T16:53:18.546-07:00Rob,
"Inbreeding results in disease and mutat...Rob,<br /><i>"Inbreeding results in disease and mutation and a loss of strength."</i><br /><br />Coincidentally, Aus TV sci show, Catalyst, did a story this week on the interbreeding between Homo Sapiens, Neanderthals, and a new Homo species/variant called Denisovans. What is interesting is that strongest concentration of "foreign" genes are those for immunity. And the further you go from Africa, the greater percentage of immune genes belong to Neanderthal or Denisovans. (Up to 100% by the time you reach New Guinea and Australia.) In other words, Modern Humans were interbreeding with "locals" in order to pass on the local immunity to local diseases. Those who interbred the most, had more successful offspring, those who were true purists did not survive.<br /><br />What is ironic is that all non-Africans have these non-HS genes. The only "pure" humans left are in Africa.<br /><br />Troll,<br /><i>"millions of people are waking up to the deceptions and lies they have been taught and are starting to realize that their greatest enemy may not in Iran, Iraq or Libya but right here in the USA…"</i><br /><br />No wonder you hide.<br /><br />Rob H.,<br />Re: Opinion Ju Jitsu.<br />I don't think it works. I've mentioned here before, my attempt to redefine gay marriage as promotion of marriage/family to young people who have a culture influenced by gays. Never gets traction. Similarly, US liberals/dems have repeatedly openly told Republicans how to steal their base, that African Americans and Hispanics have a higher religiosity, are less tolerant of gays and liberal culture, and would make ideal conservatives... If only they could drop the whole racism thing... And the Republican core responds by moving even further right, becoming even more isolationist.Paul451https://www.blogger.com/profile/12119086761190994938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-57051848587755399332012-09-21T16:50:25.417-07:002012-09-21T16:50:25.417-07:00I went back and looked again. Anon is an asshole ...I went back and looked again. Anon is an asshole who can go straight to hell.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-13968008087760158322012-09-21T16:20:49.476-07:002012-09-21T16:20:49.476-07:00Here's a genuine question for anonymous: even ...Here's a genuine question for anonymous: even if oen granst all your ludicrous propositons: what do you plan to do about it?<br /><br />Convince every white fmaily to have six kids?<br /><br />Mass deportations of African-Americans and Jewish-Americans?<br /><br />Forced sterlization?<br /><br />Repeal the 14th Amendment and strip non-whites of the vote?<br /><br />finally, an observation: Blacks have always voted "tribally" in the US. First they voted overwhelmingly for the Republican Party because the Democrats were the party of jim Crow and segregation. <br /><br />Then when the southern racist whites switched "tribally" to the Republican Party, the Blacks shifted their support to the party that actually thought they should be allowed to vote and use public toilets.Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-60196685929343147952012-09-21T16:14:26.566-07:002012-09-21T16:14:26.566-07:00Romney Says No to "Net Neutrality"
Romn...<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/09/21/obama-romney-ne-neutrality/" rel="nofollow">Romney Says No to "Net Neutrality"</a><br /><br /><i>Romney thinks the FCC’s rules promoting “net neutrality” are the fulfillment of a campaign promise that was made to “special interests.” Obama reiterates his support for an open internet, while listing all the issues that compete for regulatory attention–from protection of intellectual property to cybersecurity to privacy.</i><br /><br />I cannot remember a presidential election where I could find just about NO common ground with a presidential candidate…Naumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741963276339044331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-75774013986422410102012-09-21T15:24:36.321-07:002012-09-21T15:24:36.321-07:00Robert: on a similar vein, there's fairly good...Robert: on a similar vein, there's fairly good economic evidence than devoting additional resources to educating children of below average IQ has economci returns as great as or greater than giving additional resources to educate children of above average IQ.<br /><br />Children of slightly below average IQ are more likely than others to end up incarcerated or unemployed. Additional vocational training and prgorams like Head Start ahve been shown to reeuce these negative otucomes.<br /><br />Fro children with signficantly below average IQs, additional edcuational resources can be the difference between institutionalization and living indepednently and holding a job.<br /><br />So, logically, if you claim that African-americans on average are of lower intelligence than other americans, the logical conclusion should be that the state should invest mroe in their edcuation. Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-49169356599151306852012-09-21T15:14:58.320-07:002012-09-21T15:14:58.320-07:00"I understand that wars have consequences, an...<br />"I understand that wars have consequences, and the more I saw of the new Western world being engineered in the wake of the last war, the more I realized that my country was on the wrong side."<br /><br />"By the way, I'm just trying to stimulate conversation here, don't take it too seriously."<br /><br />Assuming, as others have said, that this is the same "Anonymous": I'm Jewish, motherfucker. I taek your expressed desire that the Nazis had succeeded in exterminating my family very fuckign seriously.<br /><br />David: I know that sort of language is not usually employed around here but I think it's warranted here.Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-70557108187753999012012-09-21T15:05:30.323-07:002012-09-21T15:05:30.323-07:00"...and you, my fellow white men,..."
O..."...and you, my fellow white men,..."<br /><br />Other than David, how do you know that any of the other commenters here are either white or men?<br /> <br />Or for that matter American.<br /><br />I, for example, hail from the gloriously successful multicultural country of Australia.Ian Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07666385933765478081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-68778382435727626672012-09-21T14:26:14.717-07:002012-09-21T14:26:14.717-07:00Aw, Tacitus, woulda been a yuk if you had left the...Aw, Tacitus, woulda been a yuk if you had left the typo "work ethnic" in there. <br /><br />Considering what we're talking about, the captcha "reacex" was amusing.<br /><br />ToddRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-56393258599865870422012-09-21T14:10:02.245-07:002012-09-21T14:10:02.245-07:00Using ju jitsu to get crazy folks to be slightly l...Using ju jitsu to get crazy folks to be slightly less crazy is a technique I try all the time.<br /><br />e.g.... I will NOT delete anon so long as he is being as hilarious as his last few tries!<br /><br />BTW... Watch Sarah do her thing….. hilarious video!!!!!<br /><br />http://youtu.be/ypRW5qoraTw<br /> <br />David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-55947278375009362682012-09-21T12:57:38.242-07:002012-09-21T12:57:38.242-07:00Anon's little confession (assuming it's no...Anon's little confession (assuming it's not a second troll having fun at the first troll's expense by ruining said troll's "fun" - see, this is why being anon is problematic as anyone can post as an anon and disrupt the troll's festivities) has led me to consider something and wonder if anyone else here has used a similar tactic in dealing with the unrepentant neocons: in short, using selfish analogies to explain liberal perspectives.<br /><br />For instance: universal free birth control for women. I have several times stated a position which is in fact not the truth: that I support free birth control for all women because it will reduce the number of pregnancies by poor minorities and thus lessen my own financial burden (through taxes) paying for the welfare of these unexpected children. While I personally feel universal free birth control is logical and something women should be allowed without question, I have defended this belief with the above argument.<br /><br />I can even argue it further by stating those "unwanted children" end up committing crimes and going to prison. Thus by providing free birth control these potential criminals never come to be... and my future tax burden is lessened while simultaneously making society a safer place.<br /><br />When you look at the argument, it's a reprehensible statement. If you take it to its extreme, it's a form of eugenics. But it also takes a subject and changes its trajectory. Free birth control goes from an entitlement to a method of cost control that could be examined from multiple perspectives.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the argument is also flawed. I've yet to get a neocon to accept the argument from the opposite angle, which suggests they instinctively find it reprehensible (possibly due to eugenic undertones). Thus the argument needs refining further.<br /><br />Mind you, this can also be used for other purposes. For instance, I recently saw a conservative friend of mine admit that while he doesn't believe in global warming, he <i>does</i> believe in pollution control because he's an asthmatic (as is his son and his dad) and he wants to be able to breathe without trouble.<br /><br />So then. What policies and viewpoints are out there that Republican-conservatives and neocons oppose but which could be twisted to make them palatable to these people?<br /><br />Rob H.Acacia H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07678539067303911329noreply@blogger.com