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Search found 1299 matches

by Paolo
March 8th, 2012, 7:10 pm
Forum: Religion
Topic: Cardinal Keith O'Brien strikes again
Replies: 63
Views: 7838

Re: Cardinal Keith O'Brien strikes again

Hello all - it's been a long time since I last posted (actually not entirely true...). The whole O'Brien thing had me fuming - wrote a brief blog post on it. It strikes me as obscene that someone in a position of authority can get away with making such demonstrably misguided comments. But then again...
by Paolo
March 1st, 2011, 8:14 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis
Replies: 11
Views: 3856

Re: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis

John has been particularly funny today - he lost track of the post he was trolling on and went to the wrong place, so he thought I'd deleted his posts. So he had the following little rant : I take it then that paolo, like Pee Zee, “godless ejaculating liberal” Myers, Dicky “blind watchmaker climbing...
by Paolo
March 1st, 2011, 8:04 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis
Replies: 11
Views: 3856

Re: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis

Dave B wrote:What you, and many others, need, Paolo, is some of this
Spoiler:
Image
LOL!

That is absolutely GENIUS! If only they sold it near me!
by Paolo
March 1st, 2011, 7:29 am
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis
Replies: 11
Views: 3856

Re: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis

I take 11 different tablets every day, three of which are to control my blood pressure. Therefore I think it would be unwise to read what these trolls say. Don't let them get your blood pressure up. However Paolo, keep up the good work when you feel so inclined. Thanks Val, but I personally find it...
by Paolo
February 28th, 2011, 8:34 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis
Replies: 11
Views: 3856

Re: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis

Alan H No, but now you've mentioned him here, he may just pop up! However, I have faith in your ability to deal with whatever nonsense he comes up with... I wait with baited breath :popcorn: If you're in the mood for some troll-baiting then please feel free to have a poke here . I was too busy with...
by Paolo
February 28th, 2011, 7:30 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis
Replies: 11
Views: 3856

Re: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had encountered him, his zany hypothesis and his trolling ways? No, but now you've mentioned him here, he may just pop up! However, I have faith in your ability to deal with whatever nonsense he comes up with... Doh! That crossed my mind, but I think he's more...
by Paolo
February 28th, 2011, 6:50 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis
Replies: 11
Views: 3856

The Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis

Hello all, it's been a while, but things are beginning to calm down a little with blogging, public speaking and such-like, so I thought I would return to the friendly fold of TH. Whilst blogging I encountered the legendary troll called John Davison - banned on all good biology blogs on the interwebs...
by Paolo
February 4th, 2011, 2:50 am
Forum: Humanism, secularism, freethought...
Topic: Anthropocentrism
Replies: 137
Views: 29823

Re: Anthropocentrism

Believe it when I see it...
by Paolo
February 4th, 2011, 2:26 am
Forum: Humanism, secularism, freethought...
Topic: Anthropocentrism
Replies: 137
Views: 29823

Re: Anthropocentrism

That one. Such an agent is an entirely fictional concept. not fictional, just unrealized By unrealized I assume you mean that it isn't yet real (since that's what it means) - if something isn't real then I think it's pretty reasonable to call it fiction - it's a pretty common convention. History. a...
by Paolo
February 4th, 2011, 2:07 am
Forum: Humanism, secularism, freethought...
Topic: Anthropocentrism
Replies: 137
Views: 29823

Re: Anthropocentrism

So you're comparing reality against an entirely fictional concept? what one Compared to an agent whose behaviors are appropriately suited for an industrial civilization That one. Such an agent is an entirely fictional concept. It's just the way we roll as a species. We'll never be perfect, we'll al...
by Paolo
February 4th, 2011, 1:47 am
Forum: Humanism, secularism, freethought...
Topic: Anthropocentrism
Replies: 137
Views: 29823

Re: Anthropocentrism

I don't see any problem with that. what about how people are dumbshits? Compared to what? You? Me? compared to an agent whose behaviors are appropriately suited for an industrial civilization someone who, say, wouldn't contribute to the festering stage IV cancer of vacuous consumerism on this plane...
by Paolo
February 4th, 2011, 1:27 am
Forum: Humanism, secularism, freethought...
Topic: Anthropocentrism
Replies: 137
Views: 29823

Re: Anthropocentrism

I don't see any problem with that. what about how people are dumbshits? Compared to what? You? Me? Sure, most people aren't as intelligent as me, you or the other people that frequent this forum. Intellectual discourse isn't for everyone and the bellcurve that gives us IQ has most people at 101 or ...
by Paolo
February 4th, 2011, 12:46 am
Forum: Humanism, secularism, freethought...
Topic: Anthropocentrism
Replies: 137
Views: 29823

Re: Anthropocentrism

What that a neural architecture built up ab initio could surpass the human brain? When it comes to neural architecture the human brain is pretty good - put enough of them together and you can plan and build the artificial intelligence that exists today. But this is all presupposing that intelligenc...
by Paolo
January 21st, 2011, 11:29 pm
Forum: Comedy Club
Topic: Fun videos
Replies: 883
Views: 260310

Re: Fun videos

Probably been seen by everyone already, but it's just so catchy! The Pope song by Tim Minchin: http://vimeo.com/11338327

N.B. strong language from the start
by Paolo
January 21st, 2011, 4:33 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Homeopathy
Replies: 1207
Views: 299587

Re: Homeopathy

I used to be pretty ambivalent about homeopathy, but the rampant bullshit that homeopaths insist on pushing on people has left me decidedly opinionated. At present I am sorely tempted to write a spoof homeopathic paper and see if it gets accepted for publication by one of the Alt Med journals. In f...
by Paolo
January 20th, 2011, 9:39 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Interesting stuff
Replies: 120
Views: 13292

Re: Interesting stuff

. ... the Italian word "ape" (pronounced ah-peh ) means a bee which has six legs for getting around on - plus its wings the sound of which gives the name to the Fiat Ape - that tiny little multi-style, three-wheeled van which buzzes around everywhere. P.M. I thought you were making a reference to t...
by Paolo
January 20th, 2011, 8:11 pm
Forum: Sciences and pseudo-science
Topic: Homeopathy
Replies: 1207
Views: 299587

Re: Homeopathy

I used to be pretty ambivalent about homeopathy, but the rampant bullshit that homeopaths insist on pushing on people has left me decidedly opinionated. At present I am sorely tempted to write a spoof homeopathic paper and see if it gets accepted for publication by one of the Alt Med journals. In fa...
by Paolo
January 20th, 2011, 6:16 pm
Forum: Religion
Topic: Druidry granted charitable status.
Replies: 12
Views: 2311

Re: Druidry granted charitable status.

This kind of recognition lends more credibility to the neo-druidism movement - which in itself I don't have a problem with, but I will start having a problem when neo-druids start making repatriation claims for the remains of Ancient Britons held in museums, using their new-found charitable status a...
by Paolo
January 20th, 2011, 5:54 pm
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Interesting stuff
Replies: 120
Views: 13292

Re: Interesting stuff

this has made me realise I don't really know what the difference between elbow and knee is for a tetrapod - could you explain please, Paolo? The obvious difference is the kneecap (patella), but there may be more to it than that. Both hinge joints, a little move movement in the elbow, some muscle, t...
by Paolo
January 20th, 2011, 7:57 am
Forum: Miscellaneous Discussions...
Topic: Interesting stuff
Replies: 120
Views: 13292

Re: Interesting stuff

I believe I read (somewhere) recently that humans and chimpanzees are the only two animals that have a prostate gland, the biggest cause of cancer in men. I stand to be corrected of course. I might have dreamt it :) I think you must have dreamt it Alan, to the best of my knowledge all male mammals ...