tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81659829169584511932024-03-13T13:27:18.917-07:00Inside CredulityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-2724758761970354462009-03-24T07:41:00.000-07:002009-03-24T07:42:59.645-07:00Want!<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">Flying Car anyone?</span></span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9EW-GVNTpHc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9EW-GVNTpHc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/flying-car-0319.html">MIT Press Release</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-90119778741128770242009-03-18T07:08:00.000-07:002009-03-18T07:10:08.021-07:00Counter-Intuitive<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold;">In End of Faith, page 183 :<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: courier new;">When asked how thick a piece of newspaper would be if one could fold it upon itself one hundred times in succession, most of us imagine something about the size of a brick. A little arithmetic reveals, however, that such an object would be as thick as the known universe.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/embed/DanDennett_2009U-embed_high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/DanDennett-2009U.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=485"><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/embed/DanDennett_2009U-embed_high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/DanDennett-2009U.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=485" height="326" width="446"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-59189146733446863732009-03-12T08:38:00.000-07:002009-03-12T11:23:53.348-07:00Caribbean Cruise - Miami > Turks > Halfmoon Cay > Nassau > Miami<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/Sbks9-MVACI/AAAAAAAAApk/zoE073uvFxo/s1600-h/CarnivalDestiny.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/Sbks9-MVACI/AAAAAAAAApk/zoE073uvFxo/s400/CarnivalDestiny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312326678638559266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;" >Setting sail on September 21. Going to be a blast.</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.myspace-toys.com/" target="_blank"><small></small></a><p></p><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nauticalcities.com/"><img src="http://ticker.nauticalcities.com/001/adb7b4b2a5d937e7f3c3316ed69a6f91.png" alt="nauticalcities.com Ticker" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SblTD-vwO4I/AAAAAAAAAps/BmoyG9ErFfU/s1600-h/carnivaldestiny-stateroom.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SblTD-vwO4I/AAAAAAAAAps/BmoyG9ErFfU/s400/carnivaldestiny-stateroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312368563308215170" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-21509712314035041732009-02-26T07:53:00.000-08:002009-02-26T07:55:23.840-08:00Homage!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/Saa7WKtlJGI/AAAAAAAAApc/V66xI3AnaRk/s1600-h/hitchikersguide.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 124px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/Saa7WKtlJGI/AAAAAAAAApc/V66xI3AnaRk/s400/hitchikersguide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307135200409756770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://xkcd.com/548/">http://xkcd.com/548/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-10520601964546419092009-02-23T11:43:00.001-08:002009-02-23T11:43:47.966-08:00Charlie Darwin<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JbucnNX5t2g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JbucnNX5t2g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-13602084746082542142009-02-20T12:41:00.000-08:002009-02-20T12:43:33.560-08:00The Future is Now!<object width="450" height="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/6d3_1235009360"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/6d3_1235009360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="370"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: courier new;">This is probably not the first time this video has come around, but it is still worth watching nonetheless. Advanced magnetics have so much potential....so much imagined by speculative scientists and authors of fabulation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Way too cool.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-5394553689804966942009-02-09T08:13:00.000-08:002009-02-09T08:17:23.122-08:00"Up the Universe" - Eint Truzenzuzex, Bran Tse-Mallory*<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c64Aia4XE1Y&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c64Aia4XE1Y&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">A TED Talk that examines quite a bit of our knowledge of cosmology, and the origins of the universe. There is a really nifty visual rendering of a tour through several galactic clusters at a virtual speed in the billions of lightyears/sec (Seen in the still-frame of the embedded video. Definitely worth taking a gander.<br /><br /><br />*Eint Truzenzuzex and Bran Tse-Mallory are fictional characters created by Alan Dean Foster in his "Continuing Adventures of Pip and Flinx" science-fiction novels.<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-13653214426782589182009-02-06T07:51:00.000-08:002009-02-06T07:53:21.942-08:00Nostalgia<span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Saturday Mornings, in my P.J.'s watching "Land of the Lost".</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /><object style="font-family: courier new;" height="261" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/8683"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.traileraddict.com/emd/8683" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="261" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">I'll try not to let Will Farrell as the star bother me.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-44766192826677096372009-02-02T13:28:00.000-08:002009-02-02T13:29:59.952-08:00Bus Slogan Generator!<a href="http://ruletheweb.co.uk/b3ta/bus/">Generate Your Own Slogan</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYdlvnJEY7I/AAAAAAAAAoo/wOrJw1791Ds/s1600-h/aquaman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYdlvnJEY7I/AAAAAAAAAoo/wOrJw1791Ds/s400/aquaman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298315355259954098" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-83870195464008632982009-02-02T12:58:00.000-08:002009-02-02T12:59:38.684-08:00If you had a super power, what would it be?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYdepYBHgTI/AAAAAAAAAog/MS1S991Ea5Q/s1600-h/common-sense.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYdepYBHgTI/AAAAAAAAAog/MS1S991Ea5Q/s400/common-sense.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298307551539462450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">hmmmm.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-71316508726356827782009-02-02T09:03:00.000-08:002009-02-02T09:11:37.586-08:00Robots will Rule the World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYcnpjsV0XI/AAAAAAAAAoY/pswv4pwmI3I/s1600-h/motivation.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYcnpjsV0XI/AAAAAAAAAoY/pswv4pwmI3I/s400/motivation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298247081534017906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">The First Law of Robotics Stories: In the Future, Robots will rebell and a) Kill Us All; b) Enslave Us All; c) Protect Us All (from ourselves).<br /><br /><br />* Jack Williamson, in his short story "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_Folded_Hands"><span style="font-style: italic;">With Folded Hands</span></a>" (1947) set the stage for robots stifling human expression in the future. This story predates Asimov's collection, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot"><span style="font-style: italic;">I, Robot</span></a>" (1950) by a mere 3 years.<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-69529608300744958552009-01-29T09:53:00.000-08:002009-01-29T09:57:27.828-08:00Coming soon to Calgary...<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYHtXlbcb-I/AAAAAAAAAoI/iL2Y8-Ic0eI/s1600-h/Atheist-advertising-campa-001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SYHtXlbcb-I/AAAAAAAAAoI/iL2Y8-Ic0eI/s400/Atheist-advertising-campa-001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296775626204409826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">The Atheist Bus Ad is going to make its debut in the Chinook City.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">I think this is a good thing. A symbol of freedom of speech, open social discussion, and non-discriminatory or censorial ad laws. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;">Some on the </span><a style="font-family: courier new;" href="http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/reader-comments/Calgary+next+atheist+activist+group+says/1225788/story.html">Calgary Herald website commentary</a><span style="font-family: courier new;"> are suggesting that they might not take transit anymore because of this. To me, this just seems over-reactionary and petty. It is interesting, however, to see the number of folks who's belief structure is so tender that a little difference of opinion leads to outcry.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-71185502020842791632009-01-26T06:48:00.000-08:002009-01-27T05:48:35.199-08:00100 Abandonded Houses....A pictorial study of abandoned properties. No location specified for each picture:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.kevinbauman.com/test_site/images/03150401_08_lg.jpg"/><br><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.kevinbauman.com/test_site/images/04150404_16_lg.jpg"/><br><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.kevinbauman.com/test_site/images/12150405_10_lg.jpg"/><br><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.kevinbauman.com/test_site/images/09150403_04_lg.jpg"/><br><br />....from Kevin Bauman Photography:<br /><a href="http://www.kevinbauman.com/100abandonedhouses/">http://www.kevinbauman.com/100abandonedhouses/</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:courier new;" >Some of these have potential. I wonder if there will be a new trend for fix-er-uppers to buy interesting, but abandoned, architecture and restore these properties to their former glory?</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-84284496243716975762009-01-20T12:37:00.000-08:002009-01-20T12:39:39.361-08:00Quote for the Day: President Obama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SXY2hXFabNI/AAAAAAAAAnA/yxpawIA2aYY/s1600-h/barak-obama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 244px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SXY2hXFabNI/AAAAAAAAAnA/yxpawIA2aYY/s400/barak-obama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293478358780898514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-19173127430898967112009-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:002009-01-20T12:09:52.722-08:00Thought for the Day: Circle of...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SXYvWz6bdTI/AAAAAAAAAmw/FP3oWoJu_pM/s1600-h/indexed-science.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 228px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SXYvWz6bdTI/AAAAAAAAAmw/FP3oWoJu_pM/s400/indexed-science.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293470480959501618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://thisisindexed.com/2009/01/unforeseen-difficulties/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://thisisindexed.com/2009/01/unforeseen-difficulties/</span></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: courier new;">Pithy!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-52287306490666336082009-01-12T08:09:00.000-08:002009-01-12T08:10:15.989-08:00Defying Gravity<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ttz5oPpF1Js&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ttz5oPpF1Js&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: courier new;">Want!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-28302775445727861042009-01-07T09:01:00.000-08:002009-01-07T09:03:51.372-08:00Stellar Nursery<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SWTgE6hSV1I/AAAAAAAAAmU/02vEohYbpgA/s1600-h/newstarcluster.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SWTgE6hSV1I/AAAAAAAAAmU/02vEohYbpgA/s400/newstarcluster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288598237472773970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">The cluster of thousands of stars lies 20,000 light years from Earth in the Carina spiral arm of our galaxy. It is embedded in a star-forming nebula called </span><a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_3603" target="_blank">NGC 3603</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">, a cloud of gas and dust with enough material to form 400,000 stars like the Sun.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Previous measurements by Hubble and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile had come to the same conclusion for two of these star systems, indicating that the heaviest star involved is as </span><a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);" href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12015-star-duo-are-biggest-yet.html" target="_blank">massive as 114 Suns</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">, which is at the borderline of what some theoretical models allow.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Very cool and interesting.</span></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-59026544562424759062008-12-31T07:31:00.001-08:002008-12-31T07:31:53.212-08:00Why are we so ignorant?<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oj9rDCrKSHw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Oj9rDCrKSHw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-50560739753857610292008-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:002008-12-30T10:56:41.829-08:00Quote for the Day: Ann Dillard<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">A Ugandan walked up to a christian missionary and asked: "</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">If I didn't know about God, sin and Hell, would I go there?</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Well, no, you couldn't</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">", replied the missionary.</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">Then why did you tell me about them?</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">" asked the Ugandan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Annie Dillard.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-4449493394063378322008-12-09T14:50:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:18:15.423-08:00Dog: Man's best friend - for Eons?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST736JZhp3I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/joxyl_rac_Y/s1600-h/snowpaws1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST736JZhp3I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/joxyl_rac_Y/s400/snowpaws1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277928391652255602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27240370/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27240370/</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><h3 style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">World's first dog lived 31,700 years ago, ate big</span></h3><h3 style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Discovery could push back the date for the earliest dog by 17,700 years</span></h3><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" >Ancient, 26,000-year-old footprints made by a <a href="http://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/dog.htm">child and a dog</a> at Chauvet Cave, France, support the pet notion. Torch wipes accompanying the prints indicate the child held a torch while navigating the dark corridors accompanied by a dog.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-family:courier new;">And a related blog entry that asks whether Neanderthal extinction may have been related to a lack of dog-empathy.<br /><br /><a href="http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/why-are-the-neanderthals-extinct/"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/why-are-the-neanderthals-extinct/<br /></span></a><br /></span></span></span><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">Why Are the Neanderthals Extinct?</span></h2> <h4><span style="font-size:100%;">23-November-2008 · <a href="http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/why-are-the-neanderthals-extinct/#comments">17 Comments</a></span><br /></h4><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">"</span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" >This brings us to where we started this article — dogs! Our idea is that while humans formed an early and mutually beneficial relationship with dogs, the Neanderthals never did; and that is what made all the difference." -The Sensuous Curmudgeon<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:courier new;" >As a dog lover, of course I'm biased toward agreeing with this hypothesis. I won't say I do so without evidence, but it is certainly a charming notion (apart from the more squeamish thoughts of mutual survivability in times of starvation). </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-family:courier new;" >I'm going to have to watch this Curmudgeon for a while. Maybe add him to my 'reader' list.</span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-45094456460908248392008-12-09T08:09:00.001-08:002008-12-09T09:48:18.149-08:00Pale Blue Dot<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST6vW2-2-WI/AAAAAAAAAkI/r1BrnqiiTNg/s1600-h/smallworld.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST6vW2-2-WI/AAAAAAAAAkI/r1BrnqiiTNg/s400/smallworld.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277848620575947106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST6YTLd79SI/AAAAAAAAAkA/Rn_RrImrjug/s1600-h/smallworld.jpg"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-41582193042673415712008-12-08T08:29:00.001-08:002008-12-08T08:30:15.314-08:00I can has brainz?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST1LdHeanlI/AAAAAAAAAig/t8SLDfOSU_E/s1600-h/brainz.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/ST1LdHeanlI/AAAAAAAAAig/t8SLDfOSU_E/s400/brainz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277457301943000658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: courier new;">This picture in response to this post:</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" href="http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/12/this_photograph_needs_a_captio_34.php">http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/12/this_photograph_needs_a_captio_34.php</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-66200188522617902682008-12-01T08:06:00.001-08:002008-12-01T08:07:27.898-08:00Want!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/STQLqGWcMcI/AAAAAAAAAiY/_aL1k7lc1z8/s1600-h/Ithinkcap.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 350px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/STQLqGWcMcI/AAAAAAAAAiY/_aL1k7lc1z8/s400/Ithinkcap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274853881444839874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Hee!</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-10086604234915630312008-11-28T08:06:00.000-08:002008-11-28T08:46:12.594-08:00Crib Notes from Andy Thompsons "Why we believe in gods" lecture.<p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Religion may be a bi-product of other common, well-understood cognitive mechanisms (or adaptations) that evolved to solve survival problems not related to religion or faith. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Some of these mechanisms include: </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Minimally Counter-intuitive Aspects: </b> When we picture god(s), we attribute them with all the normally expected attributes of another thinking, conscious being. god(s) think, and feel, and are presented as vulnerable to all the same emotional and cognitive weaknesses that humans are. With a few “minimal” exceptions that step outside of our intuitive expectations. god(s) talk to us (in our minds), god(s) know what we are doing (because they are presented as omnipresent), god(s) know what we are thinking (because they are presented as omniscient), etc… But we still imagine them as thinking and feeling much the same way that we imagine ourselves to. We are more prone to accept something with minimal detours into the counter-intuitive than things that are firmly counter-intuitive. (Yes I understand the soon to be voiced problems with use of the word minimal in this example....) </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Decoupled Cognition: </b> We can envision and enact conversations with absent family members, deceased family members, etc.<br />(Some of us can envision conversations with god(s) and can further carry that conversation into an imagined or projected 2-way dialogue - using simple decoupled cognition to fill in the blanks of what our god(s) reactions might be to these conversations - interestingly this might explain why our mythological miracle makers seem to have a very anthropomorphized ability to perform miraculous events that seem to be limited or tied to the cultural understanding of the time of their origin.) </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Reciprocal Altruism:</b> We have cognitive mechanisms that automatically keep track of who we owe and who owes us. We track these things (to varying degrees) automatically.<br /><i>(Religion is full of reciprocity. Just look at some of the “IF you do this...” and “IF you don’t do this...” messages inherent in nearly all religions.)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Childhood Credulity: </b> Our cognitive development leaves children and adolescents open to the influence and suggestion of authority figures in their lives. So much so that they soak up the culture that surrounds them and adapt it as the status quo. This aids in the rapid learning of survival behaviours. It also allows for the infiltration of non-survival and/or toxic learning if presented from recognized authority figures like Parents, Teachers, Religious figures of authority, etc… </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Vulnerability to Authority: </b>all humans are vulnerable - to varying degrees - to figures of authority. IF we perceive an instruction as sourced in suffiecient authority, we may follow it even if it would otherwise be an instruction to perform a repulsive, abhorrent or out-of-character action.<br /><i>(It should be fairly obvious how this relates to religion and authority structures inherent in same. Ref: Stanley Milgram - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment</a>)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Attachment System: </b> When we are in distress - at all ages of life - we turn to a care-taker figure. Whether that be a parent when a child or adolescent, a spouse or partner when an adult, or some other care-taker figure we hope will succor us from our distress, this mechanism is present in all of us.<br /><i>(This mechanism is likely responsible, in part, for romantic love and parental attachment. It should be fairly obvious how religion might make use of this mechanism and allow us to turn to a super-parent, per se. Ref: Letters of Mother Theresa indicating her “falling in love with jesus”, “getting married to jesus” etc...)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Transference:</b> We base our present relationships on past relationships. We learn as children how to treat relationships. Our perceptions use this to form images of people like “Fatherly Figure” or “Good Motherly Figure” etc… </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>The Problem of Dead Bodies: </b>We have “theory of mind” mechanisms that allow us to project a mind (somewhat like our own) into other people. We imagine them as having similar thought processes, motives, and emotions. When we’re confronted with dead bodies we recognize (from physical clues) that there is no life present, but our “theory of mind” mechanism continues to look for the thought, feelings, emotions etc that we expect to find there.<br /><i>(It should be fairly obvious how this mechanism might relate to some religious concepts of continued consciousness or mind, after death.) </i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Hyperactive Agent Detection/Attribution:</b> We all have mechanisms inherent that look for a cause where there may not be a cause. Sounds we hear at the edge of conscious audibility might be translated into ‘whispers’ or ‘other anthropomorphized’ sources. There is a strong benefit to experiencing false positives with this function over the potentially fatal repercussions of experiencing a false negative using this mechanism. We may see 1000 imaginary tigers in the trees and suffer no ill consequence, but to miss just a single tiger that is actually there could have fatal consequences. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Intuitive Reasoning:</b> We fill in the blanks. When we don’t actually have knowledge, our brain attempts to fill in blanks in our knowledge.<br /><i>(Hyperactive Agent Detection helps us to try to fill in these blanks with humanized or anthropomorphized reasons. Many optical illusions work using this mechanism where will envision a line that completes a ‘shape’ that may not exist. See attached image. Our mind creates the edges of a white-triangle where one does not actually exist.)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Motivated Reasoning: </b>We doubt what we don’t want to hear.<br /><i>(We don’t change beliefs easily, because this may put us at odds with the group (adopted kin) and that, in the past, was a counter-survival trait.)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Confirmation Bias: </b>We tend to look for evidence that corroborates our opinions, or notice data that confirms our beliefs (much more so than data that does the opposite or is neutral to our opinions and beliefs) - sometimes even when presented with evidence to the contrary. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Mere Familiarity:</b> We favour what is familiar (tradition) over something new or relatively unknown. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Belief in Belief:</b> We have a bias toward belief. Our brain is set up to ‘form opinions’ rapidly - we perceive, form opinion or believe, then at leisure may pause and think about that which we’ve formed opinions about.<br /><i>(Example - in the past, if a tribe-mate told us there was a tiger behind a tree, it would be a net positive survival mechanism to believe that claim, even if there were no tiger behind said tree. Another example of false positives being far more survival focused than any single false negative. Ref: Some republicans continuing to hound upon Obama as being a terrorist. If we continue to hear something, our cognitive mechanisms tend towards believing that - in spite of evidence to the contrary.)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Kin Recognition: </b>We have strong tendencies to favour ‘kin’ over ‘non-kin’ in our social mentation - sorting our world into “kin” and “Near-Kin” and “not kin”.<br /><i>(Interestingly, religion is rife with false or appropriated Kin-Terminology to describe figures of importance {to the religion} - Father for Priest/Minister/Pastor, Brother for Monk, Sister for Nun, etc.... Further there were - in the past - some very real benefits for ‘religion’ and ‘survival’ inherent in the artificial expansion of Kin-Perception in people belonging to a religious group.)</i></span> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Mirror Neurons: </b> If you were in a room with another person and they raised their left arm - that portion of their brain that controls the left arm, right motor cortex - would light up with activity. So would your brain. If that person hurt their left hand, their right-thalamus would light up with activity in response to that pain. So would your right-thalamus, even though your hand was not injured. You would literally feel the other person’s pain (to a reduced degree). </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> All these mechanisms, if appropriated by religion, can play upon our cognitive functions to reinforce the stories and functions religions attempts to appropriate - Particularly in artificial-kin environments. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> EG: saviour mythology co-opting our cognitive mechanisms: artificial-kin, authority figure, agent attributed, decoupled mental conversationalist, object of reciprocal altruism, authority figure, super-brother/parent/caregiver, transferred-kin, object of attachment, source of intuitive answers to metaphysical questions, source of confirmation biased opinion/faith, familiar, playing upon mirror neurons with readily available images of suffering<br />------------------------ </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">This post is composed of crib notes taken by myself while listening to a lecture by Andy Thompson. All attribution, sourcing, credits, etc. should be directed toward his comprehensive research.</span></span> </p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/STAXy1GHhZI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/NevSIYWpkks/s1600-h/triangleillusion.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 265px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/STAXy1GHhZI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/NevSIYWpkks/s400/triangleillusion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273741325664486802" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family: courier new; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Andy Thompson's lecure is available for download or viewing here:</span><br /><a href="http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,3373,Why-we-believe-in-gods,J-Anderson-Thomson">http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,3373,Why-we-believe-in-gods,J-Anderson-Thomson</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165982916958451193.post-85510046905062479372008-11-13T10:00:00.001-08:002008-11-13T10:10:36.713-08:00I still think I want a Yurt - 21 Century Style<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">Money-View:</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsM_h-bvI/AAAAAAAAAiI/T0VQ48yvHhA/s1600-h/moneyview.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsM_h-bvI/AAAAAAAAAiI/T0VQ48yvHhA/s400/moneyview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204634584805106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Round Kitchens</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsJmkeRQI/AAAAAAAAAiA/vlQnFMqPliM/s1600-h/AnotherRoundWallYurtKitchen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsJmkeRQI/AAAAAAAAAiA/vlQnFMqPliM/s400/AnotherRoundWallYurtKitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204576344786178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Ultra-mod round kitchen</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsGHiAjLI/AAAAAAAAAh4/dTQeBTDaN1c/s1600-h/RountWallYurtKitchen2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsGHiAjLI/AAAAAAAAAh4/dTQeBTDaN1c/s400/RountWallYurtKitchen2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204516473343154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Ultra-mod Round Kitchen 2</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsDaXcMXI/AAAAAAAAAhw/wbrIwlqkeUI/s1600-h/RoundWallYurtKitchen.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsDaXcMXI/AAAAAAAAAhw/wbrIwlqkeUI/s400/RoundWallYurtKitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204469989683570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Loft: Open to Below</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsAHIGA9I/AAAAAAAAAho/FnhfGzRgSF0/s1600-h/loft2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxsAHIGA9I/AAAAAAAAAho/FnhfGzRgSF0/s400/loft2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204413285434322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Loft 2</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxr9KoLb9I/AAAAAAAAAhg/EHU4CXqYNmc/s1600-h/loft.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxr9KoLb9I/AAAAAAAAAhg/EHU4CXqYNmc/s400/loft.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204362685706194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Stunning night view</span><br /><a style="font-family: courier new;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxr5z1HLTI/AAAAAAAAAhY/mGpgyQ7Nd9Y/s1600-h/StunningNightView2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxr5z1HLTI/AAAAAAAAAhY/mGpgyQ7Nd9Y/s400/StunningNightView2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204305026329906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Another stunning night view</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxr3KV5BII/AAAAAAAAAhQ/VfSUgis99II/s1600-h/StunningNightView.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FbBc7endjYM/SRxr3KV5BII/AAAAAAAAAhQ/VfSUgis99II/s400/StunningNightView.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268204259529786498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">So, I found a site at http://www.yurtworks.com/ for an Oregon Company that makes round-homes in yurt-like fashion - utilizing the same wall-strap to hold the whole house together.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">These, however, look and act just like a real home at a fraction of the cost!</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">They had a blog: http://www.yurtworks.blogspot.com/ </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">On their blog I found a link to a flickr album from which I scooped these images. They are a reminder for me in my thinking about alternate dwellings. They are the property of their originator and not my own. I do think, however, that they illustrate some of the best of Yurt-dom out there, and serve as an excellent inspiration piece.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com61