Ken Miller’s “The Collapse of Intelligent Design”

[youtube]JVRsWAjvQSg[/youtube]

This is a very interesting discussion on the subject of Intelligent Design by Brown University’s Kenneth Miller. It’s just under two hours long, and if you have the time I highly recommend watching it. There is even a mention of Pastafarianism at around 90 minutes.

438 Responses to “Ken Miller’s “The Collapse of Intelligent Design””
  1. 1 - Thumper â„¢ - Mar 25th, 2007

    Ummmm…two hours long huh…can someone summarise this into a paragraph for me…scroll rule applies…and make it funny…

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  2. 2 - Cari - Mar 25th, 2007

    He called you lube.

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  3. 3 - Thumper â„¢ - Mar 25th, 2007

    @Cari
    Nice…what’s a lube?…it’s something good right?

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  4. 4 - Wench Beth - Mar 25th, 2007

    I wish I had the two hours. Can someone loan me a few? I don’t even have enough minutes in the day to properly check this awesome site on which we currently are!

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  5. 5 - Nudel - Mar 25th, 2007

    What’s the time stamp for the mention of FSM? I want to loop that part for prayer and meditation.

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  6. 6 - Meatball Canoneer - Mar 25th, 2007

    For those of you who are too impatient to wade through two hours just to hear the mention of our Noodly Lord, proceed to the time stamp of about 25 minutes before the end (that would be about 92 minutes in for those of you who can’t do math).
    .
    However, if you can spare the time, watching the entire lecture is entirely worthwhile. You can even just listen to the audio while trying to get other work done (though some images presented are funny and should definitely be seen).
    .
    All in all, this is a very good scientific lecture in which the present and future situation of Religion vs Science is discussed.
    .
    May ye all be touched by His noodly appendage.
    RAmen

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  7. 7 - Thumper â„¢ - Mar 25th, 2007

    @Cari
    When he called me a lube did he mention me specifically or was he referring to Pastafarians in general?…what’s a lube?

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  8. 8 - Miserenz - Mar 25th, 2007

    Is there anywhere we can purchase said talk? Saw a good part and want more. Well worth the 120min.

    RAmen

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  9. 9 - Lisa - Mar 26th, 2007

    Ooh, a friend just pointed me toward this site. Kenneth Miller is my hero. His book Finding Darwin’s God is one of the best things anybody ever put on paper, for my $. Can’t wait till I have time to sit down and watch this. And the FSM is hilarious. I want to knit one.

    I can visit & be welcome & pay homage to that cute lil noodly one if I’m not an atheist, right? I’m a Methodist but fundies p*ss me off too. Maybe more so than some of you who aren’t Christian, because the few freaks that get all the press give those of us who have some sense a bad name.

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  10. 10 - John Phillips (aka Iron John Bonney) - Mar 26th, 2007

    I have seen this lecture before and this guy is a class act as a lecturer.
    RAmen

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  11. 11 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 26th, 2007

    Well sounds like a good enough referral for….must find two hours somewhere now :)

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  12. 12 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 26th, 2007

    Hai Lisa,
    Always nice to meet someone with sense. You are most welcome to ‘visit & be welcome & pay homage to that cute lil noodly one.’

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  13. 13 - Bubba - Mar 26th, 2007

    Very entertaining and funny
    The einstein\magic comic-strip was very funny

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  14. 14 - The Paladin - Mar 26th, 2007

    I promise that i will watch it and post comments on each and every part of it…when i have the time that is..damn coursework!

    *Prays that the great floating noodles will come down and do the work for her…please 0=)*



    The Paladin,

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  15. 15 - Booty - Mar 26th, 2007

    Somehow I don’t think my boss will let me watch this for 2 hours! Bugger! I have a 13 hour shift today, and a 12 hour shift tomorrow :(
    Do you think I could get religious dispensation by saying my prophet told me to watch it?
    Oh, and Hi Lisa – methodists?? Argh! Don’t you lot disapprove of beer? Not sure that would work around here! LOL! ;)

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  16. 16 - Nick the Missionary - Mar 26th, 2007

    That was a great lecture! Didn’t plan on watching the whole thing but just got carried away. He summed up the topic pretty well.

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  17. 17 - St. Jimmy - Mar 26th, 2007

    About to go for the plunge for two hours… thought it was just a teensy bit typical of the damn americans to pray before they said anything mildly controversial… in europe we just get on with the science.

    Does anyone know what the “online oyun” link is for? Have we been commandeered? It seems to be a completely non-FSM related site about video games. In Turkish.

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  18. 18 - Nick the Missionary - Mar 26th, 2007

    Yeah the trackback on the hollywood flock of dodos screening links to some porn catologue site, go figure.

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  19. 19 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    “…thought it was just a teensy bit typical of the damn americans to pray before they said anything mildly controversial… in europe we just get on with the science.”
    .
    Can you please come over here to the United States, St. Jimmy, and explain this concept to the @#$%! Republicans who run this country? They need the lesson :(

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  20. 20 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 26th, 2007

    Booty: You do 13hour shifts??? Wow, how do you manage?

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  21. 21 - St. Jimmy - Mar 26th, 2007

    Beth: every time I see a Democrat make a speech on TV, they always end with “God bless America”.

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  22. 22 - Gnocci Man - Mar 26th, 2007

    @St. Jimmy
    Trust me, it irritates us a lot more than you. It feels like the seperation of church and state is just some sort of legal formality which no-one in the government really cares about.
    However, if you in Europe see every democratic speech-maker say “God bless America,” how come we in America don’t? Some do, but definitely not all.

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  23. 23 - St. Jimmy - Mar 26th, 2007

    @gnocci man
    sorry if i overgeneralised. I haven’t really seen lots of different democrat speech makers. I certainly didn’t write that I’ve seen all of them. I could just be suffering from availibility bias.

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  24. 24 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    To St. Jimmy… then please come over and slap some freakin’ sense into the Democrats, too! I don’t think they’re all like that, but unfortunately everything you see on the news caters to the Bible-thumpers. Our country needs BIG HELP, that’s for sure.

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  25. 25 - Captain Noodulous Silicate TBHNA - Mar 26th, 2007

    The universe is saying ‘Captain buy an iPod Video and watch it on the train to work’.
    .
    How long can I resist its demands…

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  26. 26 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    Captain, pray to the FSM for guidance. If He in His great wisdom wants you to buy an iPod Video, you will know — and you will do it.

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  27. 27 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    An interesting tidbit for you all: according to my Bush Countdown Clock, today (March 26) there are exactly 666 days left until The Beast is cast out of office.

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  28. 28 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ CNS TBHNA – Never argue with the universe! Buy, buy, buy! ;)

    @ Wench Beth – “Our country needs BIG HELP, that’s for sure.” RAmen to that my Pirate Wench friend! *Rowdy uses very small voice for this admission* I voted for Bush DON’T HATE ME PLEASE! :) But I am soooo disappointed with the whole fiasco. At this point I am neither republican or democrat. Most definitely Pastafarian and hope to vote for The Peter and you in 2008!!

    I’m off to take care of the 4-legged Rowdy and will be back to play this evening.

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  29. 29 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    It’s ok, Rowdy, there are a lot of people who voted for Bush and then gradually realized what a mess he and Cheney were making and continue to make. The entire country was lied to. Bush has committed so many war crimes that it’s unfathomable. And another crime is that the Democratic Party has not gotten itself a backbone and put an end to this raping of the Middle East, the desertion of our own citizens (i.e., Hurricane Katrina), and the fascism that the U.S. is headed straight for.
    .
    So being a Pastafarian is the best choice by far!! :)

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  30. 30 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 26th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    “We had a poll recently on who comes from where – think DPG started it – any results? I don’t really care about location but it would be interesting.”
    .
    Ok, it’s nationality update time! People, if you see your country is not among the list, please copy-paste it into a new post and add yours. It would be nice if it turns out that we have (almost) all the world covered by now.
    Argentina
    Australia
    Belgium
    Brazil
    Britain
    Canada
    China
    Denmark
    France
    Germany
    Guatemala
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Italy
    Mexico
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Poland
    Russia
    South Africa
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    United Arab Emirates
    USA

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  31. 31 - Beastly Rich - Mar 26th, 2007

    The title of this thread is wrong as ID never stood, thus making it’s collapse impossible.

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  32. 32 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    DPG, can you please correct the spelling of the last entry? It should be “UPE” (United States of Embarrassment). Thank you ;)

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  33. 33 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    Oops, now *I* can’t spell… that should have been “USE”, of course :)

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  34. 34 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 26th, 2007

    @Wench Beth
    Ok, feel free to read it as USE if you like.
    Going through the list of countries I just noticed that we have only one Asian entry, China (and maybe the Beast from the East is from the Asian part of Russia?). And that was from someone remembering a possibly one-time post by a Chinese girl. Creationism and it’s scientifically dressup-up puppet ID are of course part of Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). There are no Buddist/Hindu/Shinto/Sihk/etc ID’ers as far as I know. Would that be the reason behind a general lack of interest from Asia? Or would it just be the language barrier?

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  35. 35 - Alchemist - Mar 26th, 2007

    Cheers DPG – I’m limping-well impressed – (coughing too) – got an offer of work today (Samaritans) – woot! Me:)) “Hello, I’m depressed!” “So?”

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  36. 36 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 26th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    I read about your not-so good news on the disciples list too. Even though some things are some way of from being over, I hope they all will be over for you and that both body and spirit return to being 100% ok.

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  37. 37 - Jean Bart - Mar 26th, 2007

    @Wench Beth “United States of Embarrassment”
    .
    Poor Wenchie, some European knight will have to rescue from there, until the end of the tunnel comes in sight…
    .
    @DutchPastaGuy Mar 26th, 2007 at 3:49 pm “Or would it just be the language barrier?”
    .
    Yup, don’t underestimate that obstacle… Recently, while tasting some beers with a former student of mine, I told him about CoFSM, and he said he didn’t feel able enough with language (not just English: his job makes him use it frequently) to discuss matters (other than linked to his job)… And he’s an intelligent bloke, no doubt about that. But not comfortable with language…

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  38. 38 - Alchemist - Mar 26th, 2007

    hahahaha – thanks! Really – I’m not that worried, just don’t fancy a GA!

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  39. 39 - Jean Bart - Mar 26th, 2007

    @Alchemist Mar 26th, 2007 at 4:35 pm “hahahaha – thanks! Really – I’m not that worried, just don’t fancy a GA!”
    .
    Well, WHO does? I know ONE person who does, but that one is notorious for his lack of sense of responsability and his ability of running away of reality… not a real reference, I think. With a mighty flock of Pastafarians guiding mentally the whole performance (together in the right direction, of course!), nothing could go wrong. Unless you don’t trust us, of course. Made a lot of enemies here? Please disregard my topical bad taste in tapping people on the back…

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  40. 40 - Alchemist - Mar 26th, 2007

    Made a few enemies I think :) Not that I give a shit =))

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  41. 41 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ Wench Beth – “It’s ok, Rowdy, there are a lot of people who voted for Bush and then gradually realized what a mess he and Cheney were making and continue to make.” *Phew* :) I know this is a tolerant group but I’ve been worried about that one…

    @ Alchemist – I’m still 70 posts behind on the disciples site, so I’m off to find out what’s going on with you.

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  42. 42 - Enya - Mar 26th, 2007

    Hi everyone, I added Austria. Actually, my husband is Austrian, not me, but he visits this site occasionally (most of the time, I keep him updated ;)), so I hope that counts.
    You guys really saved your country! When I first heard about ID, I thought it was a joke, then I began to think the whole US are going nuts… then I found your site and I immediately was touched! Finally an answer to all questions of faith! RAmen!

    Argentina
    Australia
    Austria
    Belgium
    Brazil
    Britain
    Canada
    China
    Denmark
    France
    Germany
    Guatemala
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Italy
    Mexico
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Poland
    Russia
    South Africa
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    United Arab Emirates
    USA

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  43. 43 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ Enya – RAmen! Welcome to the site. Please post more often – it’s really fun! Although quite addicting…

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  44. 44 - Enya - Mar 26th, 2007

    Yes, that’s soo true! I am reading here way to often (results in a lack of sleep or burnt food) and hardly get the time to post. But I love you guys!

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  45. 45 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ Enya – Aww, thanks! It does take time to post…my husband says this site is for people with no life! Although he likes it really, and likes me being a wench! :)

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  46. 46 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    I must humbly disagree with Sherlock, Rowdy Wench. I think this is a site for people *WITH* a life, truthfully — but those who are more intelligent than the average bear and who are frustrated with the state of things in the world. I think this is a site for “thinkers” who have their heads in the right place — problem is, a lot of the world is in the WRONG place now and we need a place to find sanity and intelligence (and humor). So that’s why we’re all here, IMHO. What do you think?
    .
    Welcome, Enya — did you name yourself after the singer or is that your real name?

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  47. 47 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ Wench Beth – Sherlock is Booty’s! :) Although he is awfully cute… hee hee! I have certainly learned to speak my mind far more clearly here, and honed my sense of humor too. And probably found a whole new direction for my life – I am seriously considering your suggestion to become a counsellor! I think the time I spend on this site is *very* well spent and my whole life is better for it. I think he’s kidding on good days – and sometimes I think he’s just in a bad mood!

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  48. 48 - Wench Beth - Mar 26th, 2007

    Aw, shit, sorry, Rowdy — of course I knew that :( My brain is only functioning at half-mast today — apologize to D. for me if he reads that.
    .
    And I will say again (more in person later) that you would be an excellent counselor! You’ve got what it takes (many people don’t) and that’s valuable.

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  49. 49 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ Wench Beth – he’s hard to offend! Really! I told him today I think I’d be a really good counselor, but it’s scary too. More privately…will put that together now.

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  50. 50 - Enya - Mar 26th, 2007

    @Beth: It is an Irish name which I always loved, but actually the name of my daughter ;) … so I kinda have a life…. I guess…. not my own maybe… but we live with a lot of Pasta, if that counts!!!!

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  51. 51 - Alchemist - Mar 26th, 2007

    Hi Enya :) erm – you don’t have any sheep perchance?

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  52. 52 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 26th, 2007

    @ Alchemist – missing your sheep today my friend? Hahaha!

    @ Enya – it’s a lovely name! And living with a lot of pasta counts for a great deal!

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  53. 53 - Wench Beth - Mar 27th, 2007

    To Enya… IGNORE ALCHEMIST!! He’s trying to get your goat… I mean, your sheep… ;) Just kiddin’ ya, Alchemist.
    .
    I love the name Enya. It’s beautiful. How cool to give that name to your daughter! How old is she?

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  54. 54 - Booty - Mar 27th, 2007

    hahaha! Hands off, Rowdy – he’s mine :)
    And yes, he is very cute! I am at work for the next 10 hours! Argh! Want a cuddle now!
    Have a good day all :)

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  55. 55 - Storm Petrel - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Alchemist, if you’re ever in Ireland you should go to Connemara, more sheep than people and the main crop is rocks

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  56. 56 - Kev3056 - Mar 27th, 2007

    Wow, this video is amazing. If anyone actually believes intelligent design, I would highly recommend them seeing these facts. If they still believe in ID after this, then nothing will ever be good enough to change their minds.
    .
    I also think Bush is a horrible President, but there really isnt much we can do at this point. Hopefully he will leave before going to war with Iran, because it seems he wants too. If anyone watches Faux(Fox) News then Iran is what they try and relate all their stories about Iraq to.

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  57. 57 - Amber - Mar 27th, 2007

    I’m glad I found the time to watch that, it was one of the most interesting lectures i’ve ever seen. I think there’s a bit of overreaction there. Proving evolution does not disprove the existence of a creator.

    Anyways, hello all the rest of you. This is the first time i’m posting here, though i’m a long time lurker and huge fan. Unfortunately, the obscenely long lists of comments tend to crash poor MUFFY, my laptop, so I had to wait for a chance to post on something newer.

    Er, so, hi. Probably won’t see much of my words, since MUFFY can only take so much, but i’m always lurking.

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  58. 58 - Alchemist - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Storm Petrel – Wow! I’m there :) Few years ago I lived in the Pennines (well, I lived in a house but you get the idea) Sheep as far as the eye could see.
    .
    A good example of the personality type of my compadres can be seen there. In the 60s the M62 (motorway – our version of an American country lane) was built. It goes through farm land. One farmer wasn’t playing and decided to tough it out. I think the M62 is the only motorway with a farm in the middle of it :)
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/features/2003/m62.shtml
    .
    Hi Amber :) Welcome. Poor MUFFY – give her a cuddle for me :)

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  59. 59 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 27th, 2007

    weird. But then, you do get used to the traffic.

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  60. 60 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Amber
    Welcome. May you and your laptop be touched by His Noodly appendages. Open your heart to the FSM, as you have done already, and with time He will take care of all your troubles. RAmen.

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  61. 61 - Thumper â„¢ - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    Hello…buona mattina ‘n’ all that…been a long day…how’s tricks?…I’m off to bed…nite!…*wabbit wanders off in a daze ears dragging on floor*

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  62. 62 - Storm Petrel - Mar 27th, 2007

    Welcome to CoFSM Amber, I know what you mean about the long threads, when I used post from home the old computer went a bit crazy with them, I usually just stick with the ones in college now, they’re pretty new, if you were willing to spend the money, the computers in internet cafés would probably be able to cope with the long threads, but if you have you’re own it’d be a bit of a waste

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  63. 63 - Third Eye Patch - Mar 27th, 2007

    Wow! Awesome! Definitly worth the watch! For those of you with short attention spans, the actual lecture is only an hour, the last half is questions from the audience.

    Scientists definitly need to work on their PR. I had never heard about that fused chromosome thing. That’s rad!!

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  64. 64 - Alchemist - Mar 27th, 2007

    Night Thumper – I’m on a go slow today :)
    .
    RDPK – true :) Think I’d be worried about a lorry popping in for tea though!

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  65. 65 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 27th, 2007

    But you don’t have to worry about them building a block of flats right across you house or something like that.

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  66. 66 - EarthRise - Mar 27th, 2007

    This guy actually came to Clemson University and delivered this very speech, which turned out to be very successful, despite the handful of anti-evolutionists who felt the urge to ask such ridiculous questions as “Why isn’t evolution a law yet?”

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  67. 67 - Storm Petrel - Mar 27th, 2007

    Making evolution a law would probably be seen as religious discrimmination by mental fundies

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  68. 68 - Jarmin Desecrator - Mar 27th, 2007

    I used some of the arguements presented within the lecture with a Fundie YEC (Young Earth Creationist for those unfamiliar, pronounce it yech, like something disgusting ;) ) and I even managed to get him to admitt, based upon the definition of science, that ID was not a science. Unfortunately, he tehn began quoting scripture to explain why it was true anyway. Which caused my fire-spewing aetheist friends to go totally crazy. They totally ripped into him. I almost felt sorry for the poor guy… but then I remembered he was using something which is obviously parable, translated multiple times, and even then, highly dubious (in regards to it “divine inspiration and infallibility”, not so much its physical existance), so I sat back and watched the shit fly.

    What struck me most was his incapability to even formulate a rational arguement. But then, that always surprises me.

    Just thought I would share some utility this particular topic has generated for FSM.

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  69. 69 - Storm Petrel - Mar 27th, 2007

    He probably couldn’t come up with an arguement himself because he’s gotten too used to being told what to think and basing his decisions off that not so little book

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  70. 70 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Jarmin Desecrator
    The ones that try to flee out of it by quoting scripture are pityful creatures. I might also almost pity him, because of his brain washed state. On the other hand it really makes you feel good about yourself as an independent self-thinking person.

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  71. 71 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 27th, 2007

    Oh shit, let me try to turn off bold again …..

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  72. 72 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 27th, 2007

    Failed, see if this works.

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  73. 73 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 27th, 2007

    HELP!! HELP!!

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  74. 74 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Amber – Welcome! I hope you get the chance to post. I will pray that Muffy his touched by His Noodly Appendage and gives you more opportunities! :)

    @ DPG – I’ve been scared to try using bold…now I know why! I can’t help you my friend – I don’t know how! :(

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  75. 75 - Enya - Mar 27th, 2007

    I finally made it!! The speech is great! But it’s sad that you have to ‘prove’ that ID is wrong… I mean, as he said, who wants a proof against Astronomy. But I don’t think you can change any of ‘those’ minds with proof or logic!
    P.S. my maiden name was shepherd, but that’s all I have to do with sheep. Cool stuff, though, you can eat them, drink their milk, make clothes and if you are a religious leader they follow you wherever you want without asking questions…

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  76. 76 - Enya - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Alchemist: that link was tough! Wow, nothing worth anymore, I guess. But the pictures were so terrible, is it always raining over there?!

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  77. 77 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Enya – Alchemist’s interest in sheep is, well, more weird than the ones you mention! Hahaha…one of our sick little running jokes…
    “if you are a religious leader they follow you wherever you want without asking questions…” RAmen to that! hahahaha! I’ve said for years that Jesus wasn’t being complimentary when he called people sheep…

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  78. 78 - Wench Beth - Mar 27th, 2007

    “I’ve said for years that Jesus wasn’t being complimentary when he called people sheep…”
    .
    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! LOL, Rowdy!

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  79. 79 - Enya - Mar 27th, 2007

    Yes, he probably was just making fun of them and nobody noticed ;) and with the sheep… everyone the way he likes! As long as the sheep are happy with it…

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  80. 80 - Lisa - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Booty–”methodists?? Argh! Don’t you lot disapprove of beer? Not sure that would work around here! LOL! ;)” hehe! It’s kinda irrelevant to me…I hate beer. Hard cider’s more my thing. *g* And this Methodist cheerfully lets others do their thing too. :-)

    I see politically, you lot are right up my alley! Guess I’ll have to break down & sign up in the forum. Besides, I like pirates…I’m crocheting Jack Sparrow as we speak.

    Thanx for the welcome, & I might be bringing a friend to the noodly Presence soon!

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  81. 81 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 27th, 2007

    Rowdy, good thinking! But so true, most of them ARE sheep, and they don’t even care.
    *
    Lisa, the more the merrier. Anyone willing to talk, discuss, talk nonsense and laugh is welcome here. (especially another wench who likes pirates, this is the place for you!)

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  82. 82 - Pixel Pop - Mar 27th, 2007

    I’m wearing a FSM comstume made out of Caution Tape right now, it’s pretty sweet!
    RAmen

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  83. 83 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Pixely – Kinda weird, but we go for that sort of thing on this site! :)

    @ Wench Beth – glad to provide the laugh!

    @ Lisa – I second RDPK!! Welcome and have fun.

    OK – now I’m off to my martial arts class…first must get rid of several pounds of horse hair and dirt. It’ll be nice to be able to see thru my glasses! ;) I wonder if I got horse hair in my underwear again today?

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  84. 84 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Rowdy Wench
    not gonna ask what ya did to get it in your undies:P

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  85. 85 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    Oh dear O-EJ

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  86. 86 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Pixel Pop Mar 27th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
    “I’m wearing a FSM comstume made out of Caution Tape right now, it’s pretty sweet!”
    .
    Could we have pics please Pixel

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  87. 87 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkie
    what? I’m behaving myself and not going dirty minded with it:P

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  88. 88 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    “not going dirty minded with it”
    Oh no… for FSMs sake O-EJ, I would never think that of you :)
    Well it was just that….erm…asking a Wench how they got something into their undies…well…*coff*

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  89. 89 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkie
    I’m a gentleman too, why I didn’t ask:P

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  90. 90 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ OEJ and Wench Nikkiee – Must admit, wouldn’t have posted it if I didn’t want to stir up trouble, hehehe. OEJ – I have also been getting horse hair in my ears, nose, mouth and socks to name a few more places! ;) It’s the time of year when grooming a horse has one disappearing in a cloud of hair! But, really, I did have some in my underwear. Have no idea how it got there…

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  91. 91 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ RW
    maybe you’ve been hanging around Alchemist too much:P

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  92. 92 - spamtrap - Mar 27th, 2007

    OK, I have added Hungary.

    >People, if you see your country is not among the list, please copy-paste it into a
    > new post and add yours. It would be nice if it turns out that we have (almost) all
    > the world covered by now.
    Argentina
    Australia
    Austria
    Belgium
    Brazil
    Britain
    Canada
    China
    Denmark
    France
    Germany
    Guatemala
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Italy
    Mexico
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Poland
    Russia
    South Africa
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    United Arab Emirates
    USA

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  93. 93 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ OEJ – That is entirely possible! Hee hee…anything can happen on this site! :)

    @ spamtrap – Welcome, and thanks for your addition! RAmen!

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  94. 94 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ RW
    you and Alchemist and your animals……:P

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  95. 95 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ OEJ – wahahahaha! Somewhere around here (I think it was Alchemist that suggested it) is a comment we should sing a rousing round of “Bestiality’s Best”.

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  96. 96 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    “Have no idea how it got there…”
    Yeah right Rowdy…we believe you :p
    Not a little roll in the hay with hubby after a few Whiskies… perhaps….hmmm

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  97. 97 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ RW
    could be fun!
    @ WN
    I’m thinkin more along the lines of the horse;)

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  98. 98 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    Umm…I meant on the horse blankets…not the hay….ouch!

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  99. 99 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    “I’m thinkin more along the lines of the horse;)”
    .
    Oh were you now O-EJ. Well I would never have guessed ;)
    Oh dear! :))

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  100. 100 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkiee – I’ve never understood the whole “roll in the hay thing”. That stuff is darned uncomfortable! Ouch is right!

    @ OEJ – I like my horse but not *that* much! :)

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  101. 101 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkiee – This site seems to attract some rather weird characters! I mean, people with a rousing good sense of fun!

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  102. 102 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    “we should sing a rousing round of “Bestiality’s Best”.”
    Yes and right after the seeming sincerity of his previous post, regarding his sensitive side ;))

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  103. 103 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    nah, this is just from sleep deprivation:P

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  104. 104 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    “This site seems to attract some rather weird characters!”
    .
    No Rowdy, it’s just that everyone else spends too much time trying to pretend they are not weird…so therefore everyone here is just honestly normal….whatever that is :))

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  105. 105 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    Sleep or sheep O-EJ??

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  106. 106 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ OEJ – Ooooh, the sleepy sillies! Been there recently…sleep deprivation that is. I didn’t feel particularly silly.

    @ Wench Nikkiee – do you suppose it is a good idea to just assume (I hate that word, but oh well) that if a pirate says he has a sensitive side we should laugh hysterically and go on? Hahahaha…

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  107. 107 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkiee – “it’s just that everyone else spends too much time trying to pretend they are not weird” By FSM that’s the truth! People should revel in their weirdness! I have made people laugh so much more since I gave up hiding my sense of humor…
    “Sleep or sheep O-EJ??” WAHAHAHAHA! Brilliant! :)

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  108. 108 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    hahahahahahahaha

    Pass….next question

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  109. 109 - The FSM loves you - Mar 27th, 2007

    I’m back from something. I know all of you missed me. I don’t know what got into me! But what’s up people???

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  110. 110 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    Rowdy Wench Mar 27th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
    “Sleep or sheep deprivation”.
    .
    Well Alchemist has always seemed to prefer moonlighting with sheep, (I think he takes a torch on moonless nights) so often suffers from sleep deprivation so as to avoid sheep deprivation.

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  111. 111 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    @The FSM loves you
    “But what’s up people???”
    Umm….define “up” :)

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  112. 112 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ everybody
    I’m not like Alchemist, I just get my kicks outta shaving them during the night:P

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  113. 113 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ The FSM loves you – Just having our usual good time! Making ourselves and each other laugh…welcome back! I did think it odd that you were gone.

    @ Wench Nikkiee – “Well Alchemist has always seemed to prefer moonlighting with sheep, (I think he takes a torch on moonless nights) so often suffers from sleep deprivation so as to avoid sheep deprivation.” WAHAHAHA!! *Rowdy is breathless* You are killing me here! I am speechless, and you should be proud! That doesn’t happen very often! :)

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  114. 114 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ everyone – pretty soon we are going to start stories of cow tipping…

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  115. 115 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    @One-Eyed Jimothy Mar 27th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
    “I just get my kicks outta shaving them during the night:P”

    I’m sure blue Shiny Sheep will be happy to hear that O-EJ….probably heaving a big sigh of relief as we speak :))

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  116. 116 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkiee – We have another sheep around here – ah yes, Blue Sheep, that will be similarly relieved!

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  117. 117 - Innocent Bystander - Mar 27th, 2007

    Wench Nikkiee Mar 27th, 2007 at 8:04 pm

    “This site seems to attract some rather weird characters!”
    .
    No Rowdy, it’s just that everyone else spends too much time trying to pretend they are not weird…so therefore everyone here is just honestly normal….whatever that is :))
    .
    Ahhh… yes. We are looking in the mirror again. *sigh*

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  118. 118 - Batman - Mar 27th, 2007

    @O-EJ
    Sound like you would enjoy one of our Canadian hobbies, then; cow-tipping. Or do people do that everywhere?

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  119. 119 - Batman - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Rowdy
    HA HA HA HA HA HA… oh no!! Took me too long to catch up on the thread and post a reply… now I feel like an ass!

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  120. 120 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Batman
    haven’t done it, not stealthy enough:P and yes, I think its an everywhere thing:P

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  121. 121 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    @One-Eyed Jimothy Mar 27th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
    “I just get my kicks outta shaving them during the”
    Oh I forgot to mention O-EJ, that in Oz they call that “moonlight shearing” and the term has a very specific meaning :))
    .
    @Rowdy
    “you should be proud”
    .
    Yes he has managed to avoid arising the suspicion of most of the local farmers ……I guess that takes talent. Although there was that one time when the newspapers got hold of a story from one of his neighboring farmers…….erm… I’ll let him tell you about that.

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  122. 122 - Batman - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Anyone
    I finally managed to watch the entire video. I kept trying, but getting interupted. So now I have seen it. Don’t really have much to add, the video speaks for itself, but just wanted to say that I loved it. =)

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  123. 123 - Batman - Mar 27th, 2007

    @One Eye
    You don’t have to be that stealthy!! Gotta do it when the fields are moist, so as to avoid rustling the stubble.

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  124. 124 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Batman – no need to feel like an ass! I think that just makes us both funny! :)

    @ everyone – it’s 9:45pm in the world where I live and I haven’t had dinner yet coz hubby is on the phone. I think I’ll go kick him…and see if we can eat! Oh, and I’m sober too, which is just annoying!! Hee hee…

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  125. 125 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Innocent Bystander Mar 27th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
    *sigh*
    .
    Yes indeed….sigh of boredom here
    Been doing any impersonations lately IB?

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  126. 126 - One-Eyed Jimothy - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ WN
    ……now I’m scared:P

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  127. 127 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    Hi Batman ;)
    You’ll probably be ok O-EJ…just don’t ask “will you shear your sheep” those moonlight shearers are very selfish.

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  128. 128 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    Oh well back to work here :(
    Catch you all later :))

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  129. 129 - Pansy - Mar 27th, 2007

    Innocent Bystander
    sniff….sniff sniff….snarl…woof woof woof…growl..woof woof…grrr..

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  130. 130 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkiee – It’s been fun! See ya later…

    @ OEJ – I’m not completely up on who is who all the time…Not sure who Innocent Bystander really is, but you can bet they really aren’t innocent!

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  131. 131 - Batman - Mar 27th, 2007

    Who is innocent bystander? What does he say? I’m too far behind here these days.

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  132. 132 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Pansy – Goooood girl! Get him, Pansy, get him!

    @ Batman – I am not certain who he is, but I know he ain’t innocent!

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  133. 133 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 27th, 2007

    @Batman
    “Who is innocent bystander?”
    .
    Not 100% sure Batman…have a fairly good idea going from post content, rhetoric and style.
    .
    What does he say? I’m too far behind here these days.
    .
    “What does he say?”
    Nothing worth noting usually…it’s posts appear to be mainly a form attention seeking.
    It has impersonated me in the past (made a slip up and outed itself in a post that was supposedly mine) It seems to just hide behind that tag to make derogatory remarks about posters and how it thinks they should post!
    .
    It was mainly around just before your arrival I think. I have a file of links to its posts…I’ll dig it up later. As Rowdy said though….far from Innocent…think its tag is meant to be sarcastic…maybe.

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  134. 134 - Pansy - Mar 27th, 2007

    Goooood girl! Get him, Pansy, get him!
    .
    Woof..woof woof….wag wag wag wag…lick lick…wag wag…woof

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  135. 135 - Pansy - Mar 27th, 2007

    Rowdy :)

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  136. 136 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 27th, 2007

    @ Pansy – Thanks! ;) Good girl!

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  137. 137 - Thumper â„¢ - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Pansey
    *wabbit pats dog*
    @Innocent bystander
    *wabbit pats bystander*

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  138. 138 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 28th, 2007

    *wabbit pats bystander*
    .
    hahahahahahahaha

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  139. 139 - Gnocci Man - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Pansey
    Good girl! Now do a triple compound backflip with 9.37 meters/second squared constant upward velocity, switching to 1/2 gravitational coefficient in a downwards direction at 31.56 meters high, while singing “Snow (hey oh)” by the Red Hot Chile Peppers and eating a marzipan coated tarsir skull.
    Or just bite someone, if you prefer :)

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  140. 140 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Thumper
    .
    “@Pansey
    *wabbit pats dog*
    @Innocent bystander
    *wabbit pats bystander*”
    .
    Erm – *Cow pats get everywhere?*

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  141. 141 - Pixel Pop - Mar 28th, 2007

    Sorry folks, I took off the costume and never took any pics, I still have it but there’s not a camera to spare areound here.
    I’ll try and find one for ya.
    RAmen

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  142. 142 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 28th, 2007

    Alchemist
    Mar 28th, 2007 at 11:42 am
    @Thumper
    Erm – *Cow pats get everywhere?*
    *
    Mwahahahahahah, oh my. :) :) :)

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  143. 143 - Some random person - Mar 28th, 2007

    great lecture, if you have the time, i strongly suggest listening to it.

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  144. 144 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    RDPK – make a lethal impromptu “killing discus” too! (when ritually dried to the prescribed manner!)

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  145. 145 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    @everyone
    Is anyone trolling today? I am on a paid “vacation” starting today, and already I am bored.

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  146. 146 - Storm Petrel - Mar 28th, 2007

    If you’re really bored, read some of the really old hate-mail, the stuff from when the fundies were still trying, the more mentions of oars the better ;>

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  147. 147 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Batman – Weeeell :)
    http://www.topix.net/forum/religion/scientology
    .
    kinda looks interesting – been pretty active today too :) I’m under a different name – not posted yet but am sorely tempted – I’m in under an old e-mail addy.

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  148. 148 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    Sweet! Give me 30 minutes to grab a sandwich and open up a couple of email accounts, and I’ll be in. I can’t keep track of any of my old ones anymore. Better start writing them down.
    .
    I’ll be back.

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  149. 149 - PastaServer134 - Mar 28th, 2007

    The lecture was well worth the time. I especially liked the part about nylonase at the end. Just proves that evolution is alive and going strong.

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  150. 150 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    Aargh – Batman. The trouble with temptation is that it’s so damned tempting! I’m the evangelical “Floorarian… we believe that the Universe was created by Ikea -$22.99 per square yard – discount for bulk purchse :)”
    .
    Shit – here we go again
    (btw – I keep my eaddys and pwds in an encrypted pendrive (dirt cheap – plugs into your usb socket) – used to write them down on paper but you can imagine what happens to loose bits of paper with me :)

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  151. 151 - Nick the Missionary - Mar 28th, 2007

    Everyone to arms a fellow pastafarian student has been suspended for his pirate attire!
    .
    http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Pastafarian_student_suspended_for_wearing_religious_pirate_attire
    .
    If you have a Digg account please Digg it so that we can get this story out! If not create an account and Digg it!

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  152. 152 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    The same thing that happened to all your loose marbles? =) I’m kidding… I don’t think you’ve lost your marbles. I have a notebook now… I just started keeping track of my stuff a little while ago. =S
    ,
    All right Floorian…

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  153. 153 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    Nick – I’ve made a note and will visit soon :)
    .
    What loose marbles Batman O:)

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  154. 154 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    The ones your sheep kicking tripping over! =P It is taking me a while to get my registration confirmation from that site. Sigh. Wish it would hurry up. I am going to be going nuts for the next week and a half, I can just tell.

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  155. 155 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    keep tripping over. I can’t type anymore.

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  156. 156 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    No problem – trouble with time differences – It’s 2355 here – but only 1655 where you are – about the same (+/- an hour, in the states) major activity in forums later on. No replies to mine yet – it’s about time we all used the same timezone :) and decimaised it too – 100 seconds to a minute, 10 minutes to an hour, 10 hours to a day, 10 days to a week (5 being statutory holidays) etc.

    We might need to change the spin of the planet, but what the hell – would make life easier!

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  157. 157 - Dread Wench L’TUAE - Mar 28th, 2007

    Hey Alchemist, if we’re changiing it to 10 days a week, can we just go ahead and make it 20? That way we could have 3 rest days to each working day. That would seriously rock. ^(^_^)^ ^_^)>
    @Nick- The OUTRAGE! We need to organize a march NOW!
    ‘xcept I’m on spring break. can we wait a week?

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  158. 158 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    I replied. =)
    .
    If Superman were here, he could fly around the planet and reverse it’s spin, thus sending us back in time. Assuming he has his “flux capacitor” or whatever it is… I had this argument with a guy at work. Can’t remember the reasoning, but this flux thing is apparently quite important.
    .
    Oh, and yeah… I got escorted from the building at work today. Not in a bad way, but I gave my “official” notice that I was going to work for a competitor, and they gave me half an hour to gather my stuff.

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  159. 159 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    L’TUAE – I’m not going to try to work that one out :) Hell yes, I’m game – although I think it’s called Consultant :))

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  160. 160 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    Dread Wench;
    If you have any luck, will you let me know? I would love more days of rest. (I shouldn’t say that at this moment, perhaps… but when I’m working, I always feel like I am three short steps away from utter exhaustion.)

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  161. 161 - Wench Beth - Mar 28th, 2007

    Batman, so you’re officially off work for good now? (Maybe it was that brilliant e-mail… just kidding!)
    .
    That is SO TOTALLY RUDE that they escorted you out. It has happened to me. My company had a huge layoff — lots of people had to go and unfortunately I was one of them — and when I got my notice they not only escorted me out but had someone WATCH ME while I gathered my things!! And I had worked there for years; I probably was the only honest person in the place!! Well, their karma kicked them in the butt; they went out of business soon after. SO THERE!!
    .
    Plan to have lots of fun in the days before your new job starts! Live it up!

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  162. 162 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    Batman – nice :) Inflammatory but not abusive – I think I’ve found a new target :)

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  163. 163 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Wench Beth
    .
    “….and when I got my notice they not only escorted me out but had someone WATCH ME while I gathered my things!!”
    .
    What!
    How the hell are you going to walk out with stuff then?
    .
    I always thought paper, office stuff, central heating systems, safes etc were part of a standard severance package!
    .
    Bastards!

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  164. 164 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Wench Beth
    Yeah, I was more insulted than anything. It’s all to the good. Time for myself is always the kind of time I enjoy. I am pretty sure it was not from that email I sent… unless the bag who sent it out originally complained. I think it’s just a company policy, which I suppose I can agree with; I was just totally shocked by it. =S
    .
    @Alchemist
    ha ha ha ha… well, maybe just a tiny bit abusive. =) My character on the pursuit of god site is always pretty polite, and I wanted to try something a little bit different.
    .
    You’re off somewhere else now? =(

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  165. 165 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    Batman – hell no – I’m playing here and there until I flop. In fact, that site could be fun for a bit – especially if scientologists visit it (a bit meaning weeks)- I’ve no plan on being too sensible though – the more ridiculous the better I think =))
    Time to relax and be stupid again!

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  166. 166 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    @Alchemist
    Always good to have some silly fun every so often!! I’m sometimes too serious, but I’ve learned that I can’t always be thinking like that. So, let the fun begin!!! =)

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  167. 167 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    I posted a quote from C.S. Hyatt (paraphrased) “the strength of a person is a function of their beliefs. The more they have, the weaker they are.”
    .
    Let the good times roll =))

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  168. 168 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 28th, 2007

    @ Alchemist – “What! How the hell are you going to walk out with stuff then? I always thought paper, office stuff, central heating systems, safes etc were part of a standard severance package! Bastards!” Wahahaha! LOL! :P

    @ Alchemist and Batman – have fun, be careful too though…and report back!

    @ Dread Wench – hope you can visit more since you’re on break!

    Back later…I’m off to cook supper…spagetti and meat sauce tonight!! :)

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  169. 169 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 28th, 2007

    @ Alchemist – Quote from Heinlein in Stranger in a Strange Land: “Belief gets in the way of learning.” Not as much fun as the one you just posted, but hope it comes in handy…

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  170. 170 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    hahahaha – going to plant this one given half a chance :)
    .
    Exercise 26.3
    .
    Go to a church this Sunday; get yourself invited to an after-church social event…..watch them with a smile on your face and the cold dead eyes of the shark…….This is it! This is – what it – is all about………

    I liked the one about bringing a pie or casserole to the event. With a wrist-watch or ring in it :)

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  171. 171 - Batman - Mar 28th, 2007

    I’m out for the night, guys. Have fun, Alchemist… give ‘em hell! Have a good one, all you pirates and wenches.

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  172. 172 - Alchemist - Mar 28th, 2007

    Alas, I’m out too :( – made one last post on a different forum.

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  173. 173 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 28th, 2007

    @ Batman and Alchemist – Catch you later!

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  174. 174 - Wench Beth - Mar 28th, 2007

    To Alchemist… yeah, they were on to me, the big thief of the company (ha ha). They made sure I didn’t walk out with even a pencil. Ironic thing was, I knew people who were regularly stealing from the company! I think they were watching the wrong gang :)

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  175. 175 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 28th, 2007

    Hi everyone :)
    Catching up while on a short break here
    @Batman Mar 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
    @Alchemist
    “What loose marbles Batman O:)”
    @Batman
    “The ones your sheep kicking tripping over!…..keep tripping over”
    Hehehehehehehehe :))
    Poor Alchemist ;)
    Alchemist doesn’t have loose marbles Batman…they’re just a funny colour ;))
    The sheep trip over because he prefers blind sheep so as they can’t see him sneaking up on them ;)
    Sorry Alchemist….you know we all love you dearly….especially when you wibble….hehehehe :)))
    In a silly mood here…must be the ether fumes from the lab next door to where I spent the afternoon.
    Say an FSM prayer for all the now defunct fruit flies :)
    Back later

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  176. 176 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 28th, 2007

    Ooh have to respond to this one before I go… I just read an article on this very issue in the paper today.
    @Alchemist Mar 28th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
    “time we all used the same timezone..
    We might need to change the spin of the planet, but what the hell – would make life easier!”
    .
    “Stop the clocks: make it British time everywhere”
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1880801.htm
    .
    Bobby would most definitely need a bigger server if that were adopted…would be a mad house here at certain times of the day :))

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  177. 177 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 28th, 2007

    And one more for the all cows and cow pats. Solving that methane problem.
    .
    “New research to solve a windy problem with cows”
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1883294.htm

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  178. 178 - Storm Petrel - Mar 29th, 2007

    So how are they planning on doing it?

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  179. 179 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 29th, 2007

    Umm…a big cork maybe . Don’t know about the burping…I think you can buy pills for that though :)
    There was another great story there today as well (ABC News Online)
    .
    “Thai panda gets daily dose of porn”
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1882096.htm
    .
    :)))

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  180. 180 - Wench Lisa - Mar 29th, 2007

    (waves at all) See, I joined up. Thanx for the welcomes. I’ll be visiting in the forum whenever I ahve a chance.

    @Rowdy–“I’ve said for years that Jesus wasn’t being complimentary when he called people sheep…” I missed this when you posted it before! He wasn’t dissing exactly, but it sure wasn’t a compliment. He had a heck of a sense of humor, which most folks don’t know. I love when a bunch tried to stone Him & He went ‘I’ve done many good deeds among you. For which one of those are you planning to stone me?’ lol

    @Nikkiee–the panda p0rn story rocks. Bwah!

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  181. 181 - DutchPastaGuy - Mar 29th, 2007

    @Wench Lisa
    Glad to have you join up. There is not an awful ‘criss-cross’ between the threads here and the forum. At some stage in the chat room even Bobby H said he doesn’t visit it much. Some of the CoFSM regulars who visited there also came back with the opinion that the unmoderated threads here are probably the best part of the FSM website experience (and the chat room of course once that is back up).

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  182. 182 - Rowdy Wench - Mar 29th, 2007

    @ Wench Lisa – Welcome! *Waves back* I’ve only been to the forums once, to see what they are like. I have difficulty following the format, so I stick with this part of the site.

    @ DPG – RAmen! You said it very well.

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  183. 183 - Enya - Mar 29th, 2007

    @Wench Nikkiee: yeah, sure, why not make it British time. In Australia they celebrate Christmas in summer, so why not having the US eat dinner at midnight? But I would prefer the metric way Alchemist suggested… I hate it having to calculate with 60min/h, 24h/d and then the days of the month! Always changing… how stupid is that! Why did the holy Noodlieness let that happen????

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  184. 184 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 29th, 2007

    Enya, he was probably a bit tipsy at the time.Too much beer.

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  185. 185 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 30th, 2007

    Err….having some in depth thought processes here at mo. Not at anyone in particular…
    Why are we here this site?

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  186. 186 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 30th, 2007

    Hi RDPK :)))
    Due to recent circumstances….having some random thought processes here. It’s a “dealing with boring ineffective contributor* people problem. Ho Hum!! Yawn :(
    And RAmen

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  187. 187 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 30th, 2007

    Hellooo…hello…just shout if you can hear me? I’ve have become comfortably numb…
    Think it’s a Floyd thing :p
    Any warriors out there??? Other than the usual suspects??? :))

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  188. 188 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 30th, 2007

    I can here you Nikkiee, I think you’re a bit tipsy as well :)

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  189. 189 - One Eyed Jack - Mar 30th, 2007

    Nobody here but us bilge rats.
    .
    I think therefore I am.
    If I think not, then am I not?
    I think not.

    -OEJ, Ship’s Navigator

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  190. 190 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Mar 30th, 2007

    To speak with the bruces of Monthy Python:
    The philosophers song:
    I drink therefore I am.

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  191. 191 - Alchemist - Mar 30th, 2007

    Thank FSM the site’s back up. I was worried I might have to learn scientology – although I suspect I might pop back to that site later on. The image of John frantically red flagging posts brings me out all tingly :)
    .
    Nickiee – thanks for the link re. GMT – they were pretty nice to the Daily Telegraph – most people I know call it “That Fascist Rag” – if they had their way the entire world would be wearing tweed and doffing our cap to the aristocracy.

    There would be “little match girls” at the corner of every street and “shoe shine boys” to greet you with a cheery “polish yer shoes govn’r? – cor an ‘ole penny! Gawd bless ya sir! Me an me sisters can eat like royalty for a month now”
    The good old days!
    .
    Enya – re decimalisation of time. Hell yeah, the calculation side – what a nightmare! I remember that (vaguely) from A’Level Physics.
    .
    What would we call the ten days of the week though? I’ll propose a variation on Latin numbers;
    Unday, Dosday(holiday), DosdayII (likewise), DosdayIII (ditto), DosdayIV(guess), Sexday (self-explanatory), SexdayII, TalkLikeAPirateDay, Friday(for tradition – also a holiday) and Decday (for fighting and drinking, likewise a holiday)

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  192. 192 - Enya - Mar 30th, 2007

    I would say, we make it one workday following one holiday, so there will be still 5 work days but you can go out late every other day. But the II’s are too complicated, let’s make it (… u-oh I always sucked in Latin!!) Unday, Dudeday (free), Triday, Quadday (free), Cincday, Sexday (fine with me), what was seven again? Octday, Nudeday (!) and Decay… or whatever…. and just 10 month, that’s enough

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  193. 193 - Alchemist - Mar 30th, 2007

    hahaha – seven would be septday – perhaps change it to septicday – where we all throw a sickie :)

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  194. 194 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 30th, 2007

    @Red DutchPasta Kidd Mar 30th, 2007 at 2:39 am
    “I can here you Nikkiee, I think you’re a bit tipsy as well :)”
    .
    Think I was too RDPK :)
    Better now…had some more drinks :)))

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  195. 195 - James - Mar 30th, 2007

    We had a visit to our campus last night by a speaker associated with Answers in Genesis. I’ve posted my response on my blog at http://blue.butler.edu/~jfmcgrat/blog/

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  196. 196 - Enya - Mar 30th, 2007

    must have been interesting (!). I know it is preaching to the choir, but the Bible is clearly proofed wrong. Alone the simple fact that the Y-chromosome is a degenerated X-chromosone proofs that male developed out of female and not vice versa. How does those morons explain that??? And what about the 4 different mitochondrial RNAs? Then there must have been 3 Eves.

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  197. 197 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 30th, 2007

    @James Mar 30th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
    “speaker associated with Answers in Genesis.”
    .
    Ooooh…my favourite meal :)))
    Grrrr…

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  198. 198 - Wench Nikkiee - Mar 30th, 2007

    “Alone the simple fact that the Y-chromosome is a degenerated X-chromosone proofs that male developed out of female and not vice versa.”
    .
    I’m not a feminist but do study molec bio…pass on that one :)))))

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  199. 199 - Avatar of Reason - Apr 1st, 2007

    @Thumper, and anyone else who wants a summary of the 2 hours:
    You requested a one paragraph summary of the lecture. Miller proved that scientists are far more self-critical than intelligent design theorists, but that despite scientists’ skepticism about evolution, fossils have always provided the required data to show evolutionary theory to be accurate. Conversely, ID theorists, instead of focusing objective peer review, fossil records, and DNA, focus on political sway and persuasion. He remarked that ID, although they claim it is secular and scientific, is supported mostly by religious people. He quoted Behe (sp?) himself as saying that in order to accept ID as science you would have to also accept astrology, phrenology, magic, and witchcraft based theories as well. Miller disproved irreducible complexity, a central tenet to ID. He even proved that Pandas and People was not actually an ID textbook, but a Creationism textbook in disguise. He showed what has been obvious from the start: that ID is a form of creationism and that if teaching creationism in public school science classes is unconstitutional than so is teaching ID in those same classes.
    .
    Personally, after watching that lecture I’m not sure if I want ID taught in public schools in science classes. I know that it’s pseudo-scientific nonsense, and that it could harm the education of a lot of people, but I feel that it might be worth it in the long run when we get to hear fundies make the following (deliciously ironic) argument: “Witchcraft based theories of the origin of humanity are positively insulting when taught in science classrooms. Science is about observable evidence, natural phenomena, and experiments intended to verify hypotheses. No one can observe magic, and no one can design an experiment intended to verify the origin of the human race with witchcraft. Most importantly, magic is a supernatural explanation of events. Witchcraft simply isn’t scientific. These witchcraft-based theories are pseudoscientific, ludicrous, and no more than deceitful attempts to put the Wicca religion in places it doesn’t belong. You shouldn’t teach witchcraft in our classrooms and we won’t teach our scientific theories in your covens!”
    .
    (For those who can’t take a joke, I was kidding. I don’t want ID taught in schools, although I DO think it would be very funny to hear a fundie recite our arguments to keep such theories out of public schools.)
    .
    -Avatar of Reason

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  200. 200 - Avatar of Reason - Apr 1st, 2007

    @Thumper, and anyone else who wants a summary of the 2 hours:
    You requested a one paragraph summary of the lecture. Miller proved that scientists are far more self-critical than intelligent design theorists, but that despite scientists’ skepticism about evolution, fossils have always provided the required data to show evolutionary theory to be accurate. Conversely, ID theorists, instead of focusing objective peer review, fossil records, and DNA, focus on political sway and persuasion. He remarked that ID, although they claim it is secular and scientific, is supported mostly by religious people. He quoted Behe (sp?) himself as saying that in order to accept ID as science you would have to also accept astrology, phrenology, magic, and witchcraft based theories as well. Miller disproved irreducible complexity, a central tenet to ID. He even proved that Pandas and People was not actually an ID textbook, but a Creationism textbook in disguise. He showed what has been obvious from the start: that ID is a form of creationism and that if teaching creationism in public school science classes is unconstitutional than so is teaching ID in those same classes.
    .
    Personally, after watching that lecture I’m not sure if I want ID taught in public schools in science classes. I know that it’s pseudo-scientific nonsense, and that it could harm the education of a lot of people, but I feel that it might be worth it in the long run when we get to hear fundies make the following (deliciously ironic) argument: “Witchcraft based theories of the origin of humanity are positively insulting when taught in science classrooms. Science is about observable evidence, natural phenomena, and experiments intended to verify hypotheses. No one can observe magic, and no one can design an experiment intended to verify the origin of the human race with witchcraft. Most importantly, magic is a supernatural explanation of events. Witchcraft simply isn’t scientific. These witchcraft-based theories are pseudoscientific, ludicrous, and no more than deceitful attempts to put the Wicca religion in places it doesn’t belong. You shouldn’t teach witchcraft in our classrooms and we won’t teach our scientific theories in your covens!”
    .
    For those who can’t take a joke, I was kidding. I don’t want ID taught in schools, although I DO think it would be very funny to hear a fundie recite our arguments to keep such theories out of public schools.
    .
    -Avatar of Reason

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  201. 201 - Avatar of Reason - Apr 1st, 2007

    Sorry about the accidental double-post.

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  202. 202 - Storm Petrel - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Maybe we should make a textbook for the origin of life based on magic, send it to any schools planning on teaching IDiocy, there was at least one wiccan here a while ago…

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  203. 203 - Alchemist - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Storm Petrel – I think Jingles is Wiccan – not seen him around lately. Probably got a lot on at Uni (hahahahahaha – yeah, sure!)

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  204. 204 - Enya - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Magic is cool. Can explain anything, like a god. Wonder why anyone still believe in science or even truth. It is the hardest thing to prove!

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  205. 205 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Hi Alchemist :)
    “I think Jingles is Wiccan”
    Jingles is a Wiccan? Never knew that. A Wiccan nanotechnologist! Cool :))

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  206. 206 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 3rd, 2007

    @Avantar of reason
    The words ‘pot’ and ‘kettle’ spring to mind when I read your hypothetical exchange between IDiots and sourceror-teachers. I like your post.

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  207. 207 - Alchemist - Apr 3rd, 2007

    @ Nikkiee – pretty sure he is – unless he was taking the piss – not unusual with your lot :))

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  208. 208 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 3rd, 2007

    @Alchemist
    “unless he was taking the piss – not unusual with your lot :))”
    .
    National sport :))
    .
    Just came across this article re Creationism and Canadian schools (already posted on group site). Don’t really know how much there is behind it yet.
    .
    Creationism debate continues to evolve (Toronto Star)
    Intelligent design creeping into Canadian schools, academic warns
    http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/198318

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  209. 209 - Rowdy Wench - Apr 3rd, 2007

    @ Avatar of Reason – Thank you for the summary! I appreciate it…and I loved your commentary on Wiccan vs. Fundie. Brilliant!

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  210. 210 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Um… wiccan? I’m a hippy, but a secularist one… maybe you are thinking of Saucywench, I know she is ex-christian, then went to UU then I think she went wiccan.
    .
    And alchemist… you have no idea how much I have had on… between the advanced calculus, electromag, radiation physics, analytical chem, physical chem, the committee of the physical sciences social entertainment division (PHYSSED) and work, I have struggled to fit in the quiz night, pubcrawl, beachbash, movie nights, poker nights and occasionally pestering you lot (note; struggled, not failed :p).
    .
    Thank FSM for study break is all I can say… 2 weeks to study (*cough**cough*) for my midsemesters…

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  211. 211 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    ahhh crap… italic… does this fix it or this ? Maybe or .
    .
    Hope this works…

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  212. 212 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    hmmm

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  213. 213 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    sorry for the post fest… :P

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  214. 214 - Rowdy Wench - Apr 3rd, 2007

    @ Jingles – Good luck with the italics thing! I think it was DPG who had real trouble with the bold text a week or so ago. Wow, your list of studies makes my head hurt just thinking about it! And this from a wench that did well in school and at almost 37 is going back to get another degree and then a Masters! But wow not in stuff as difficult as what you are doing…good luck on the midsemesters!
    Yes I am rather tipsy at this point! :)

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  215. 215 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Cheers Rowdy, and there is nothing wrong with being tipsy. It keps you young (it must, all us students do it).
    .
    Now to test the italic cures. I know one of the following worked above, but I cannot remember which…
    .
    /i in triangle brackets
    .
    i/
    .
    \i
    .
    i\
    .
    Testing…

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  216. 216 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    No, let’s try cutting and pasting…
    .
    or this

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  217. 217 - Jingles - Apr 3rd, 2007

    Arggh!

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  218. 218 - Alchemist - Apr 4th, 2007

    jingles – you’re probably right – I remember a conversation about “headology” before xmas – thought it was you – see if /em works

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  219. 219 - Alchemist - Apr 4th, 2007

    nope – abandon thread!

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  220. 220 - Avatar of Reason - Apr 4th, 2007

    My post was not intended to be offensive to members of the Wiccan faith. I was only discussing Miller’s idea of magic/witchcraft based theories of the origin of human life. Sorry if I accidentally offended anyone!

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  221. 221 - Rowdy Wench - Apr 4th, 2007

    The italics curse has hit the entire thread! It’s very strange, and not altogether pleasant!

    @ Avatar of Reason – you certainly didn’t offend me! I’ve known a couple of Wiccans and they are entertaining, decent people who seemed difficult to offend…no worries best I can tell!

    @ Jingles – Thanks and I’m glad there’s nothing wrong with being tipsy because I am again and dang it if my keyboard has quit cooperating with me tonight! :)

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  222. 222 - Storm Petrel - Apr 5th, 2007

    One of my best friends is wiccan, and knowing her, given half the chance she’d go to a school in person with a magic theory of the origins of life

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  223. 223 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Jingles Apr 3rd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
    “Thank FSM for study break is all I can say… 2 weeks to study (*cough**cough*) for my midsemesters…”
    .
    Hi Jingles :)
    I really do feel for you…I know how it is.
    However I’ve just pulled out of my uni commitments for the semester to take up an offer to put some of what I’ve learnt (hopefully!) into practice for the next few months. Still haven’t quite eliminated the feeling of study pressure yet! It’s only been a few days since I decided. After seven years tough this new found freedom feels weird :))
    Good luck with your mid semesters. If your posts are anything to go by, I reckon you’ll cruise through them. :)))

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  224. 224 - Jingles - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Nikkiee
    Cheers, I hope so too… yet, at the same time, I am defeated by a blasted italic font.
    .
    Die font, die!!!!

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  225. 225 - Jingles - Apr 5th, 2007

    Argghhh!

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  226. 226 - Jingles - Apr 5th, 2007

    I will defeat you whatever it takes.

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  227. 227 - Jingles - Apr 5th, 2007

    Score! I found the secret! For future reference, to close italics it’s /i in triangle brackets, spammed multiple times.
    .
    Because every time you write it incorrectly, (ie i/ or i\ etc, it opens a new italic thingumajig, so you have to close each one.
    .
    I feel special! :)

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  228. 228 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 5th, 2007

    Brilliant Jingles! Brilliant :))
    So many have tried and failed previously. That does make you special.
    RAmen

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  229. 229 - Booty - Apr 5th, 2007

    Hahaha! Maybe it is a sign from the FSM that your exams will go well :)
    On my ‘puter at home it was in bold too, but not on this one at work – I wonder why?

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  230. 230 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Jingles
    Let me try if I can do this
    gone yet?
    gone yet?
    gone yet?
    gone yet?

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  231. 231 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @jingles,
    I follow your reasoning, but alas it doesn’t work for me. Was your recipe supposed to fix threads that had been mucked up (like this one) or was it only a precaution to ensure future ones are not messed up due to typos? I would still find the latter of some use btw, so thanks in either case.

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  232. 232 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @DPG
    Hello…slightly messy wabbit here…honestly…you’ve got to admit…Jingles is a pretty righteous animal…and frankly you’re a pretty righteous animal yourself…hell…we’re all righteous animals…

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  233. 233 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    Hellooooo!!!! *insert wabbit echo*….this bites!!!…just when I’m in the mood to chat no one is here….HELLOOOOO!!!!….shouting doesn’t help….HELLOOOOOOO!!!!…

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  234. 234 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    Jingles is great. I rather liked Jingles recent post on the book discussion thread to the student.
    And how are you doing yourself as a wench lately, Thumpy?

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  235. 235 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    Uh, Thumper, doing the fundie impersonation with capitalisation and exclamation marks is unlikely to get the wench talk going that you were looking for recently.

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  236. 236 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @DPG
    I’m rather well…in the future it’s neally midnight on Thursday of a long weekend…typing is tough at present…twas an excellent post by Jingles on Book Discussion and I must say yours was pretty fine as well…have always considered ole Jingles a “good egg”…how’s tricks DPG what are you going to do once you get that PHd???…use it for good or evil???

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  237. 237 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    tHAT’S pHd…or is it PhD…*insert confused wabbit…*

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  238. 238 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Thumper
    I got my PhD some years ago and since then I’ve been studying FeCr alloys with a possible eye towards applications in fusion energy reactors, But that ’s still decades off, if it will ever work at all. See website for more detail (althouh boring to most probably). So mostly good purposes I guess.
    .
    Lately I’ve been shifting gears though. Jingles, Navigator Spider, Nikkiee and a few others on board the pirate fleet science vessel have been secretly working on mind control. We’re developing a secret weapon that will make people crave for pasta all day. We’re going to deploy it against the evil rice eaters of this world soon.

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  239. 239 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @DPG
    “Uh, Thumper, doing the fundie impersonation with capitalisation and exclamation marks is unlikely to get the wench talk going that you were looking for recently.”…hahaha!!!…I’ve always been a misunderstood wabbit Pete…Fundie talk???…jesus will punish you for being that mean to the wabbit…

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  240. 240 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “fusion energy reactors, But that ’s still decades off, if it will ever work at all.”…are we talking “cold fusion”….”laboratory sun”…I’m a science dumb ass but I was under the impression that containment was the problem…years ago there was report that scientists in the UK managed containment within magnetic fields???…did I totally misunderstand the 7.00pm news???

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  241. 241 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG…I hope you haven’t gone anywhere…FeCr???…a “fellowship”???…of what???

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  242. 242 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    No it’s not cold fusion. That canard has died a couple of times because results that reported it could not be reproduced by others. It may come back some day and work, but not for now.
    .
    So it would be a labratory sun. And as you say, strong magnetic fields are used to contain a super-hot plasma in a toroidal ring. If you’re interested, look up ‘Lorentz force’ in e. g. wikipedia. Charged particles will make a circular motion in a magnetic field. The stronger the field, the smaller the radius of the circle. That is actually a gross simplification, but it helps to understand the principle. So a magnetic field can be used to contain a plasma, because plasma if made up of all charged particles and in a strong magnetic field they can’t run away. They can run as many circles as they like, but they’ll remain confined to the same limited volume.

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  243. 243 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Thumper
    ‘fellow’ is just a scientific grade in the UK. It’s a fancy way of saying that I didn’t get a permanent job, but a fixed-term postdoc contract intead.

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  244. 244 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    Oh, and FeCr is iron-chromium, an alloy that is reasonably well-resistant to radiation damage. Good thing too, because components of a fusion reactor will suffer horrendous doses of radiation damage.

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  245. 245 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    Can you dumb it down…as I understand it a laser can produce the fusion effect of the sun but for a split second…(hydrogen to helium???)…bear with me…the magnetic feild allowed the “sun” to remain longer then a split second…is this totally off the mark???…again dumb it down…

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  246. 246 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG…how the fuck can someone with a PhD in nuclear physics have trouble finding employment???…honestly…all I know how to do is draw up a divorce and perhaps speak enough shit to wrangle another couple of $1,000 out of the former spouse…our society has some pretty fucked up priorities…

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  247. 247 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    You’re doing well. A laser can heat some hydrogen to such a temperature that it will fuse into helium, just like in the sun. You’re fully correct there. But without a magnetic field, the energy that the fusion process will produce, will blow the other hydrogen fuel apart into a diluted cloud. It needs to remain concentrated for the fusion process to continue. The picture is about the same as when you’d throw a hand grenade into a wood fire. The wood would scatter and the fire would die. So the plasma is placed in a magnetic field. In that (see Lorentz forces bit earlier), the particles will make circular motions and therefore not ‘run away altogeher’. They’ll be kept in a confined volume. That allows to the fusion process to contunue. At least in theory. Sofar, the maximum life time of a fusion plasma is still very short, but slowly scientists and engineers manage to make it last longer.

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  248. 248 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “‘fellow’ is just a scientific grade in the UK. It’s a fancy way of saying that I didn’t get a permanent job, but a fixed-term postdoc contract instead.”…but surely you’d choose whether to be an academic or pursue a career in private enterprise???…there must be heaps of opportunity???

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  249. 249 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @W Thumper
    I’m not a nuclear physicist, but a materials scientist. That’s considerably easier. Still, the lack of permanent jobs in (academic) science is something that deters many people from seeking a career in science, true enough.
    .
    And without getting personal, yes, many academic scientists have the usual prejudice against lawyers (why do you probably earn more than double of what I earn?). But then most scientists I know do like the academic freedoms and possibility to follow your curiosity as far as you like. Everything has plusses and minusses I guess.

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  250. 250 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    I don’t entirely understand so I’m going to look up “Lorentz forces: and get back to you…don’t go anywhere…how do you theorise that the process can be made too last longer???

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  251. 251 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    Yes, I chose an academic job. There would have been plenty of oppurtunity for work at companies. Including research jobs. But few that do research just to find out how nature works. ‘curiosity-driven research’ as it is called. And that I find the most interesting. And I live a reasonably non-materialist life style, so no big problems for me.

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  252. 252 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “But few that do research just to find out how nature works. ‘curiosity-driven research’ as it is called. And that I find the most interesting. And I live a reasonably non-materialist life style, so no big problems for me.”…*insert wabbit new found respect for that Dutch Pasta bloke*…good for you…you’ll probably become rich and famous 50 years after you’re dead…tis the way of the world…still…people forget rich arseholes…
    .
    I looked up Lorenz forces and frankly it’s beyond my comprehension…what is it’s relationship to “relativity”…???

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  253. 253 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    I’m less ‘noble’ than you think. There’s people who studied shorter than I did that make tons more than I do. But as a postdoc I probably still earn more than a good number of others. Not that many complaints there.
    .
    Lorentz forces and relativity are usually not much related. Lorentz forces act on charged objects in a magnetic field. Those can be a macroscopic, every-day objects that have nothing to do with relativity. Relativity comes into play when objects move very, very fast. Fast means a non-negligible fraction of the speed of light. So not for every-day, tangible things.
    Space craft are probably the fastest man-made, macroscopic objects. When calculating the orbit of a satelite you do need to take relativity into account. But even then, the correction for it is minute.

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  254. 254 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    Do you think that “perpetual motion” is possible??? Have you heard of “Browns Gas”???…hydrogen fuel cell…zero emissions…this stuff fascinates me…please feel free to contact me as follows:
    .
    shockbadger@hotmail.com
    .
    I may be a bit pissy but I’ve gotta say I love this site…and the reason is the quality people…I’m a fun lover by nature and I enjoyed being the troll…the quality of the people made me feel bad about being a troll and thus here I am…decided to stay…I really hope that the Thumper dislikers will come round one day…anywho Dr DPG…just keep firing that science in my direction…and be sure to dumb it down…

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  255. 255 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    “Do you think that “perpetual motion” is possible???” and other questions.
    .
    To echo Nikkiee here: I am supposed to be working here. But I’ll answer that one question for you, others may come some other time.
    Yes perpetual motion is possible. It has already been realised for e. g. electrons. Take a ring-shaped piece of super-conductor (some materials become super-conductors when you cool them to a pretty low temperature) and induce a small electric current to run through it. If you leave it alone and don’t artificially stop the current, the electrons will keep flowing and flowing as long as you keep the ring cold enough for it to remain superconducting.
    .
    I don’t know if perpetual motion of macoscopice objects has been realised, other than the trivial examples of e. g. objects circling the sun which would never encounter any friction or resistance anyway. Ok, maybe the word trivial is too harsh. Bertrand Russel caused many people to think twice when he mentioned a china teapot circling the sun.

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  256. 256 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    My understanding of “relativity” is that it encompasses a great many things such as the inability of an object to move beyond light speed to the possibility of space and time being altered…relativity was mentioned in Wikpedia under Lorenz forces and made me curious…I have a best friend who is a science type…computer systems engineer…he once told me that a 3 dimensional universe was an accident of nature and that further dimensions were possible??? Do you ahve an opinion on this??? he also explained time travel as follows…” a star supernovas and you witness it from a space vehicle capable of speed beyond light speed…you travel faster then light ahead of the explosion and watch it explode again and again as many times as you like…” Is this what Einstein was talking about in terms of the relationship between light speed and time travel…*wabbit lives in the future*

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  257. 257 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “Take a ring-shaped piece of super-conductor (some materials become super-conductors when you cool them to a pretty low temperature) and induce a small electric current to run through it. If you leave it alone and don’t artificially stop the current, the electrons will keep flowing and flowing as long as you keep the ring cold enough for it to remain superconducting.”
    .
    Yes but it takes energy to cool the rings…perpetual motion…as I understand it…is where the energy to create the motion is in a sate of equilibrium…

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  258. 258 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    The relativity answer will have to wait but the latest one is less time-consuming to take care of:
    “Yes but it takes energy to cool the rings…perpetual motion…as I understand it…is where the energy to create the motion is in a sate of equilibrium…”
    True. But you could place the ring of superconducting material on a satelite. Space is horribly cold, you woudn’t have to cool it at all to keep it superconducting. So there the electrons could flow forever without putting in energy.

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  259. 259 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    And for the record I don’t make that much $ as a lawyer…the future Mrs Thumper made heaps though getting her “kit off” and by investing wisely ….the said “kit off” remuneration…go figure…*wabbit starts getting its “kit off”…wabbit lacks wisdom*

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  260. 260 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    “the future Mrs Thumper made heaps though getting her “kit off” ”
    Not sure if the future Mrs Thumper would like you to tell too much about that……or if everyone here wants to hear.

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  261. 261 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “True. But you could place the ring of superconducting material on a satelite. Space is horribly cold, you woudn’t have to cool it at all to keep it superconducting.”…
    .
    That’s cheating…we need this the size of a shoe box under the bonnet of a car…I could also just use the sun to heat a cell to cool the rings…come on DPG…I want to be blown away by cutting edge massive brain science…

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  262. 262 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    “That’s cheating…we need this the size of a shoe box under the bonnet of a car”
    That’s no use inside a car. Things will only keep moving if you don’t take out the energy somehow. So you can’t drive a car with it. Each time you accelerate, you’d take out energy and that will not be spontaneously replaced. That’s probably the most consistent ‘no free lunch’ law in all of physics: conservation of energy. Beat that, and the Noble prize is yours for sure. In the process of winning the Noble prize, you’ll also have brought down all of physics as we know it today btw.
    The important lesson to learn from this post is the following: perpetual motion means constant energy. Perpetual motion does NOT mean unlimited energy.

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  263. 263 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “Not sure if the future Mrs Thumper would like you to tell too much about that……”…you’re correct…but that’s also one of the things she loves about me…my irreverent sense of humour…she does get a bit “funny” about her sordid past…ha ha…in point of fact she modeled “adult” garments for sex shops on severalo occasions…lucky she loves me heaps…but seriously…she now 32 and that was all….5 years ago….a life time…

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  264. 264 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    Does she ever read here on CoFSM?

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  265. 265 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “The important lesson to learn from this post is the following: perpetual motion means constant energy. Perpetual motion does NOT mean unlimited energy.”…
    .
    I don’t get it…if we can move the turbine perpetually why can we harvest it???…friction???…in space there is no friction or inertia…there must be a way!!!…Do you believe that you will ever win a Nobel prize for something??? If not why???…People like you Peter have the ability to make massive beneficial changes to the world we live in…think outside the box…*wabbit is naive and had too much to drink…yet remains hopeful*

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  266. 266 - Enya - Apr 5th, 2007

    Oh FSM, this is getting a little too high for me. Loved chemistry, but I always sucked in physics. But, DPG, when you mentioned cold fusion: I thought it was impossible to hold a circular magnetic field, because of the polarities… don’t laugh if I sound silly in this high conversation… :(

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  267. 267 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “Does she ever read here on CoFSM?”…read yes…post no…she thinks this is “silly”…we have no secrets and she respects my love of the FSM and it’s faithful…she posted once ages ago…she was smashed and McOar gave her a caning….suffice to say wabbit appeared in shining armour and bested the wretch…errr…by wretch I mean…errr…what the hell…McOar will never like me…I bested the wretch…

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  268. 268 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    Hello Enya…I actually failed year 11 Chem and thought I’d give physics a miss on principle…fear not wading in without wellingtons…

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  269. 269 - Enya - Apr 5th, 2007

    :)

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  270. 270 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    “I don’t get it…if we can move the turbine perpetually why can we harvest it???…friction???…in space there is no friction or inertia…there must be a way!!!…”
    .
    No, the reason is that your friction-less turbine will only keep moving if you don’t touch it. The moment you e. g. couple it to the wheels of your car, you take out energy from the turbine. So it slows down, eventually it stops as you continue to drain energy from it. So it won’t be of great practical use: you can watch the turbine spin forever, but only if you don’t extract energy from it. Sucks, doesn’t it?
    .
    “Do you believe that you will ever win a Nobel prize for something??? If not why???…People like you Peter have the ability to make massive beneficial changes to the world we live in…think outside the box…*wabbit is naive and had too much to drink…yet remains hopeful*”
    .
    I won’t win any Noble prize. The work I do is academic research yet somewhat ‘applied’. Maybe ‘non-theoretical’ is a better word. What I do may well prove useful to others in the future. Or maybe not, maybe it will all be forgotten. But it certainly won’t revolutionise any field of physics. And the bar for a Noble prize in physics is awfully high. You need to revolutionise at least one field. But several people manage to do that occasionally, so that’s still no guarantee. Do something that revolutionises two fields, and then you can get your hopes up. I won’t revolutionise one field, let alone two.

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  271. 271 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “But it certainly won’t revolutionise any field of physics. And the bar for a Noble prize in physics is awfully high. You need to revolutionise at least one field. But several people manage to do that occasionally, so that’s still no guarantee”…
    .
    certainly not with that attitude…another friend of mine who is a gardener has a saying…”if you reach for the stars you may not catch them but at least you won’t come up with a hand full of mud”…never underestimate what you do…if you handed Da Vinci a TV we wouldn’t have had TV any earlier…point is that it’s the advances made every day that add to the wealth of knowledge that drives us forward as a species…you my friend are an integral cog in that wheel…come what may…
    @Enya
    Always hide the “green dream”…animals are people to…

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  272. 272 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    I meant “cog” in the machine….wheels have no “cogs”…damn scientists…fancy cars and all the rock badger they can eat…

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  273. 273 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Enya
    I’m not sure if I understand your question. You can maintain a magnetic field in a toroidal ring for instance. That’s like a rather thin donut with copper wires wrapped around it. If you put a current throught the wires, it will generate a magnetic field inside the ‘donut’. So that’s one way of creating a circular magnetic field.
    Another (quite simple) way is to take a number of long-shaped magnets and lay them down in a way that all the + and – poles connect and the magnets make approximately a circle. Many of the magnetic field lines would just pass from the end of one magnet into the next. So if you arranged the magnets in a circle, you’ve now got a circular magnetic field.
    .
    You may have meant something else?

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  274. 274 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    “certainly not with that attitude”
    Trust me, I’m not suffering from a lack of confidence (check out my annoyingly arrogant post when debating Johnny Corvette on an older thread if you don’t believe me). But Nobel prizes are not for everyone. There’s people in my group at work who are a good bit more intelligent than I am. They won’t win any Noble prizes either. It’s not something to be embarresed about if you didn’t win one.

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  275. 275 - Enya - Apr 5th, 2007

    DPG I just heard that they try to do fusions in a magnetic ‘ball’ (=all around, not just a ring), but the problem was, that the different polarities are bond to touch each other in a circle., so that the magnetic field won’t be stable inside the ball… oh it is so hard to explain, but maybe the solution is a Donut ;)

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  276. 276 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    …you need to assert your salutation…i.e. Dr DPG…when Enya said…”I thought it was impossible to hold a circular magnetic field, because of the polarities…”…as a lay wabbit I thought she was referring to + and – not being able to be contained within a circular configuration….but then again…I also thought that Laura Mars was a show about colonisation of alien worlds…

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  277. 277 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Enya
    As I am a materials scientist, not a nuclear physicist, I don’t know the stuff well enough to pick up the right bits from your post. You probaly say it clear enough, but I don’t know it well enough to understand where you’re going.

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  278. 278 - Dread Amish Pirate John - Apr 5th, 2007

    Why not antimatter as an energy storage media? IIRC, CERN was able to manufacture and store antiprotons(I think) for some time. There is the whole “Total conversion w/ hard radiation” problem when containment is breached, but still…

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  279. 279 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Wench Thumper
    “you need to assert your salutation…i.e. Dr DPG”
    No, definately not. In a scientific debate, the first thing you do is to leave your title at the door. A first year PhD student can ask the correct question to a professor who is a leader in his field. If the professor can’t answer it, it’s scientifically very bad if he were to stamp out the discussion based on his title. If someone is asking questions that show a complete ignorance you can ask the person if he is familiar with the basic concepts of course. But (good) science is non-hierarchical. The person with the best ideas deserves the most attention. That will often be the famous professors in the field, but not always. In fact, if you’re a young researcher and you ask the questions that well-established people can’t answer, you’re on your way to gaining a reputation. So let’s not have too much salutation around.
    .
    Ok, I’m going home now, catch you people later.

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  280. 280 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “There’s people in my group at work who are a good bit more intelligent than I am.”…and Einstein was a patent clerk…DPG I’m not suggesting you lack confidence or anything like that…I guess that I’m just a little envious of people who have the mind that can understand scientific concepts in the vein of applied physics…a PhD in anything is one hell of an achievement…I can understand the science community “press releases” but I have no ability to make head nor tail of the “meat and potatoes” of it all…*confused wabbit = MC…* I don’t even know how to make my ‘puter do the squared thing…

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  281. 281 - Enya - Apr 5th, 2007

    Thanks WT, that’s what I meant, but it was a nuclear-guy who tried to explain this to me (me equals: no idea of physics), so I better shut up now ;)

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  282. 282 - Ships Cat - Apr 5th, 2007

    The wabbit has passed out in a puddle of its own filth…nasty wabbit…I think I’ll apply make up, strip it naked and place it in a taxi to “The Beat”…nasty wabbit…

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  283. 283 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Enya
    “Thanks WT, that’s what I meant,…but maybe the solution is a Donut”…I find that a nice donut is the solution to most of life’s more complicated dilemmas…I’m not sure about being called “WT” though…becoming a wench was a big step and I’d like to bask in my feminine glory for a bit longer thank you…men are pigs…lucky I’m a committed lesbian…good night…

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  284. 284 - Enya - Apr 5th, 2007

    Sorry ’bout the shortcut, Wench Thumper, I am lazy in typing. I read something about your gender change. Isn’t it a dilemma to be transexual and lesbian but love straight women and not lesbians? somehow I’m stuck in my thoughts again… damn, should sleep more and drink less coffee…

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  285. 285 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    Warning: long post ahead
    @Wench Thumper
    There still was the bit about relativity and the speed of light to answer.
    “My understanding of “relativity” is that it encompasses a great many things such as the inability of an object to move beyond light speed”
    .
    Correct, objects can’t go faster than the speed of light. It’s best explained by looking at the equation that covers this, see equations 2 and 3 at
    .
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relativistic_mass
    .
    These two equations can be turned into one that would read
    .
    m(v) = m0/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
    .
    As equations show poorly in html, in words it reads that the mass m of an object moving at velocity v is equal to its mass in rest m0, divided by the square root of 1 minus the velocity squared divided by the speed of light squared. The speed of light is 3 times 10 to the power 8 m/s. Makes sense? Let’s look at some cases.
    We begin with a stationary object, v=0. If v=0 then v^2/c^2 = 0 and the square root is just one. That leads to m = m0, which is as expected of course.
    Now we take a moving object. Say it’s you, running slowly at just under 11 km/hour, or 3 m/s. That means that v/c is 10 to the power -8. The square of that is 10 to the power -16. So the term under the square root is just under 1, and so the demoninator is just under one. And therefore your mass is just a tiny little bit larger than when your were standing still. But when I say tiny bit it really is a tiny bit. The effect is present only at many digits behind the comma. You won’t notice. The mass of the air you breath out is orders of magnitude heavier.
    Now we speed it up a bit. Instead of going at 11 km/h you’re now sitting in Concord. It’s heading towards the sound barrier, you’re doing 1100 km/h, or a hundred times fatser than running. v/c is then 10 to the power -6 and the denominator is still only very little smaller than one. The effect is still present many digits behind the comma, but fewer for the case where you were running. Still tiny, but already a little bigger.
    Now we switch to space craft that go 25 times faster than your Concord flight. Then the effect on the objects mass moves another digit closer to the comma. If a GPS satellite didn’t correct for it, it would slowly drift away from the position that controllers thought it would be. So we are now looking at the fastest macroscopic objects we humans make, and the effect of relativity is only just becoming noticeable.
    Now we make a big leap. Suppose we borrow some sci-fi tech and we can go at 90% of the speed of light. If you now calculate the demoninator in the equation it’s 0.43, so the mass of our space ship is now more than twice that of the rest mass.
    We go on to 0.999 times the speed of light. Then the mass is more than 22 times the rest mass.
    .
    You can see the pattern emerging. For slow-moving objects, relativity plays no noticeable part at all. That is one reason why people trusted the classical, Newtonian, non-relativistic physics for almost 3 centuries (from around 1600 to early 1900s), they didn’t have things like rockets or particle accelerator that showed Newtonian mechanics to be wrong for fast-moving objects. But as things start going faster, the mass of an object increases. Hardly noticeable at first, but as the speed becomes a sizeable fraction of the speed of light, the mass goes up very fast. To infinity as you get very close to the speed of light. So no matter how powerful your missile engine is, it won’t have much luck pushing forward an object that appears infinitely heavy due to its velocity. So you can’t go faster than the speed of light. Ramen.
    .
    Questions about todays class on relativity?

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  286. 286 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 5th, 2007

    @Dread Amish Pirate John
    “Why not antimatter as an energy storage media? IIRC, CERN was able to manufacture and store antiprotons(I think) for some time. There is the whole “Total conversion w/ hard radiation” problem when containment is breached, but still…”
    That makes no sense at all. Creating anti-matter takes lots of energy. So converting energy to antimatter loses energy. It’s also incredibly volitile as it annihilates on contact with ‘normal’ matter. And getting the stored energy out will be not be easy, as it comes out in the form of very high-energy photons.
    .
    You’re a Star Trek fan aren’t you? You listened to all that silly jargon Jordy spews out in The Next Generation. And you thought you could bluff your way into our pirate fleets science vessel with that, didn’t you? Nice tried, but no.
    Not that there is anything wrong with Trekkies btw. In fact, nerds are held in high esteem in the CoFSM.

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  287. 287 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 5th, 2007

    @DutchPastaGuy
    “And you thought you could bluff your way into our pirate fleets science vessel with that, didn’t you?”
    .
    I don’t know too much physics :( I do like Star Trek though :)
    Can I be on the science vessel anyway?

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  288. 288 - Jingles - Apr 5th, 2007

    Long Post.
    .
    In addendum to DPG, antimatter is only ever produced a few particles at a time… kinda hard to blast a ship around space with only 10^(-27)kgs (thats 0.000000000000000000000000001 kgs) of matter.
    .
    .
    Incidentally back up the thread enya commentented on the failure of cold fusion (ie fusion in solution as opposed to hot fusion, a la DPG’s explanation).
    .
    From what I understand, the basic theory is that by using platinum electrodes (platinum being a very porous metal – full of little holes and tunnels) in a solution rich in heavy water, it is possible to use electrolysis (in this case splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen) to produce free floating hydrogen (correctly, deuterium), which then fuses on the platinum surface. Also, trace amounts of *I think* Boron are supposed to help somehow.
    .
    The problems are two-fold. One; our current theories cannot realistically explain how two nuclei can fuse through adsorption (sticking) on a surface. (electron interactions -chemistry in other words- yes, nuclear fusion, no).
    .
    Secondly, it is only limitedly reproduceable. Several scientists have claimed to acheive it, hundreds more have failed totally. Even the people that claim to do it, have had trouble, though they often blame it on things like microfine cracks in the electrode, or incorrect boron ratios.
    .
    Cold fusion isn’t dead, it’s just that nearly no self respecting scientist will touch it, either for fear of ridicule or complete disregard for shaky psuedoscience.
    (note all this info is shamelessy stolen from new scientist :p)

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  289. 289 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Wench Nikkiee
    “I don’t know too much physics :( I do like Star Trek though :)
    Can I be on the science vessel anyway?”
    I thought you had stepped on board ages ago?! Didn’t notice you stepped off, please come on board again. We appear to be well stocked on physicists but short on biologists, so excellent if you can cover that angle.

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  290. 290 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Jingles
    I like the addendums you do to some of my posts, thanks. Maybe I can do a small one to yours.
    “From what I understand, the basic theory is that by using platinum electrodes (platinum being a very porous metal – full of little holes and tunnels) in a solution rich in heavy water, it is possible to use electrolysis (in this case splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen) to produce free floating hydrogen (correctly, deuterium), which then fuses on the platinum surface. Also, trace amounts of *I think* Boron are supposed to help somehow.”
    Apart from the electrolysis experiments, there also was the claim by a man (I believe an Italian) that the implosion of small bubbles caused such acceleration that it could also make nuclei fuse. I believe some sonic wave pulse was supposed to induce the process. Unfortunately, that also prove irreproducible. So one more cold fusion attempt consigned to the Journal of Irreproducible Results (that’s a journal that really exists btw, it wouldn’t have a very high citation index I imagine).

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  291. 291 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 6th, 2007

    “I thought you had stepped on board ages ago?! Didn’t notice you stepped off”
    .
    Ah yes it’s coming back to me now :) Think I fell overboard and bumped my head resulting in temporary amnesia. :)
    Biology….*salutes*… aye aye Captain

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  292. 292 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 6th, 2007

    Ooh goody :) Can we look at some sea life which may contain compounds useful in chemotherapies? I like that :))

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  293. 293 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    “Think I fell overboard and bumped my head resulting in temporary amnesia. ”
    No reason to ever let a bump on the head keep you from the beer, right?

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  294. 294 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 6th, 2007

    Beer :(
    But Vodka, Tequila, Jack Daniels, Sambuka (sp.), a nice wine….ect. ect. No way :)
    Not that big a drinker to tell the truth but when I do I…..well when I do, I’m not that small a drinker…leads to a very late night/early morning :))
    I just saw a post somewhere that said “Google the worlds most annoying website”…so I did. It’s all… YELLOW…CAPS…and bad spelling.
    .
    http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/mostannoying/

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  295. 295 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 6th, 2007

    Oh worse I think….scroll down on this one
    http://www.voy.com/48912/

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  296. 296 - Enya - Apr 6th, 2007

    I wanna be on the starship to! Please! I specialist in non-human medicine, don’t you need that on a spaceship? Me! Take me!!! Pleeeeaaase!!!

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  297. 297 - Enya - Apr 6th, 2007

    @DPG maybe we could develope something to make mass into energy. Like a Transporter. We could ’store’ the mass there until dropping out of warp-speed, then put it back again… :)

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  298. 298 - Enya - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Jingles: yes, that’s what I meant ;))

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  299. 299 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Enya
    Once we get a pirate space ship, you’re happy to come on board. But we’re still looking for ways to obtain an ordinary fleet of sailing ships first. We can use someone skilled in non-human medicine aboard those too btw. The ships will carry lots of animals, and these animals suffer tons of abuse. Verbal abuse in the case of wabbits, or physical abuse in the case of sheep and giraffes. Maybe you could help the poor things recover after their sufferings?

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  300. 300 - Enya - Apr 6th, 2007

    Giraffes??? I mean, I get the sheep, but.. c’mon!! Giraffes! do you really think you are that long… eh… tall?!! :) and don’t overdo it with the animals, I’m good in neutering hehe

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  301. 301 - Red DutchPasta Kidd - Apr 6th, 2007

    DPG, don’t forget the fysical AND verbal AND psychological abuse that poor Ships Cat had to endure for a while. It does look like its doing a bit better now….

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  302. 302 - Enya - Apr 6th, 2007

    I guess for THAT screwed up cat, I would have to get a blow gun!!

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  303. 303 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Enya
    “Giraffes??? I mean, I get the sheep, but.. c’mon!! Giraffes! do you really think you are that long… eh… tall?!! :) and don’t overdo it with the animals, I’m good in neutering hehe”
    .
    The giraffes are part of a Pastafarian plot to win the presidential elections in 2008. Peter Popoff will be our candidate. I’m his chief policy maker and fund raiser. Look for the word giraffe in some of the older threads and all will become clear (practical advice on how to search old threads: insert a term like “giraffe site:venganza.org” into google). In short: oil is the last decades strategic resource, from now on nations will go to war for control of herds of giraffes, not oil. The giraffe initiative that Popoff will introduce after his election will radically change the geo-politcal landscape of the world, as well as the fashion industry.
    .
    And apart from the practical implications of it, wabbits, sheep and giraffes have also become an integral part of the Pastafarian spiritual and cultural heritage. Yes, we are a spiritual and intellectual, yet intelligent group of believers.

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  304. 304 - Enya - Apr 6th, 2007

    wabbits are rabbits, or am I mistaken? Oh FSM, there is still sooo much to learm about your holy ways!!

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  305. 305 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Enya
    “wabbits are rabbits, or am I mistaken? ”
    Correct. Think of the Life of Brian and the public address the local Roman ruler gave to the citizens of Jerusalem: “Wome is youw fwiend”

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  306. 306 - Dread Amish Pirate John - Apr 6th, 2007

    @DrDPG:
    That’s why I called it an “Energy Storage Media”, not an “Energy Source”. Hydrogen has this problem as well. As to usage, how about an Orion (classic, not ‘new’ version) type space-to-space drive. Nothing wrong with discussing Absurdium drives, is there?

    And, for the pirate space vessel:
    http://inferno.slug.org/jpeg/captain-harlock/greenarcadia.jpg

    and:
    http://www.damianobrigo.it/arcadiatot.jpg

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  307. 307 - Alchemist - Apr 6th, 2007

    Hi – Dread Amish Pirate John (do you mind if I abbreviate that?)
    .
    “Nothing wrong with discussing Absurdium drives, is there?”
    .
    Nothing at all wrong with that :) Why do space ships always have to be streamlined though? One of your links’ even had stabilisers – why? Mind you, they do look pretty :)
    .
    As to the antimatter thing; after one of Dan Brown’s shitefests “Angels and Demons” the following was put on the web by CERN;
    http://public.web.cern.ch/Public/Content/Chapters/Spotlight/SpotlightAandD-en.html
    .
    Like I said – nowt wrong in being daft – I’m usually quite sensible when I post here!
    (You do realise that ‘Dread Amish Pirate John’ abbreviates, quite nicely, to DAmP John)
    Henceforth ye shall be known as DAmP John =))

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  308. 308 - Alchemist - Apr 6th, 2007

    Not an insult BTW DAmP John – just thought it was funny – meh :P

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  309. 309 - Wench Thumper â„¢ - Apr 6th, 2007

    @Dr DPG
    “And apart from the practical implications of it, wabbits, sheep and giraffes have also become an integral part of the Pastafarian spiritual and cultural heritage.”…and wock badger…let’s not forget wock badger…

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  310. 310 - Alchemist - Apr 6th, 2007

    Bloody hell Wench Thumper – you’re up early for a Saturday – I try not to surface until afternoon :)
    How goes it mon amie?

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  311. 311 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 6th, 2007

    Hi Wench Thumper,
    Of course, wock badgew too. And how do you like general relativity sofar?

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  312. 312 - Alchemist - Apr 6th, 2007

    Oh – Wench Thumper (nice bra BTW!) – the only reason I placed you below TLM as “my favourite troll” was TLM got mad with us :) I think he really did bang his little head against the wall in frustration with a few of us. That’s what made him fun =))
    .
    You were a bit different. The only thing you banged was your wikkle tail wagging furiously against your desk in paroxysms (?) of glee :)
    .
    Hell, I know I bit to start with – ’twas fun :) (I loved the bit about what did the priest do to me :) )
    .
    Woot – OZ v Eng tomorrow! wonder how many we’ll lose by :((

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  313. 313 - Alchemist - Apr 6th, 2007

    This site is getting boring! Who’s off to liven it up?
    baccahnaliandelight@yahoo.co.uk
    .
    If anyone can be arsed!

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  314. 314 - SaucyWench - Apr 6th, 2007

    Hey, Alchemist! Hello! What are you proposing? I’ve been out of the loop. (Another damn series of &*(#!-storms passing through my life). I was feeling rather unimpressed by life today when I was informed the Jesus loves me! Go figure! I guess I’ll go skipping off into the sunset now. Boy do I feel better.

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  315. 315 - Peter Popoff - Apr 6th, 2007

    Hi Saucy.
    Hope all is well with you!
    Ramen

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  316. 316 - Alchemist - Apr 6th, 2007

    erm – Saucy – hi pet :) I’m stirring things up on the Cthulla website – sorry folks :) had to do it – you ok?

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  317. 317 - DAmP John - Apr 6th, 2007

    K; new handle, I guess. Can’t be arsed at the moment to find the proper term for an acronym-infused title. :p
    ,
    The ships pictured have aerodynamic features because they are supposedly capable of operating in atmosphere as well as space. I found the fins of less importance, asthetically, than the 30′ bas-relief skull and crossbones on the bow of the ship, or the wood and glass Captain’s Quarters on the stern.
    ,
    Is it wrong to think of Wench Thumper when I see this?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjLEITUtTOc
    ,
    Ah, well, time to go to sheep. SLEEP! Time to go to sleep, yeah…*shifty eyes* Anyone seen Alchemist?

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  318. 318 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 6th, 2007

    @SaucyWench
    Hi Saucy :))
    .
    “I was informed the Jesus loves me!”
    .
    The Pink Unicorn and the Teapot love you more. But His Noodlyness, the FSM loves you the most. ;) As do all of us that know you a little from your posts.
    Come back again to CoFSM again soon.

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  319. 319 - bill - Apr 6th, 2007

    @DutchPastaguy
    You give this formula for mass
    m(v) = m0/sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)

    A similar formula for time and based on the same special relativity theory is
    t(v)/t0=sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
    of interest to time travel fans.
    Again, as you point out, small velocities mean nothing
    When you get to 86% the speed of light time slows down to 1/2 speed compared to place of origin (simplifying here because velocities are relative to speed of framework).
    The part I am interested in is that going faster than the speed of light doesn’t make you go back in time. (In fact if it did with the usual projection, you would stop aging and just get younger not go back in time), but when the velocity is greater than the speed of light (c), time becomes imaginary. So much for most time travel science fiction based upon einsteins relativity.

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  320. 320 - Alchemist - Apr 7th, 2007

    @ DAmP John – hahahahahaha – you’ll do for me :)
    Sorry. had to sleep – damn these sins of the flesh. Oh ok – atmospheric capable ships – ya ok, understood :) – can they go into a gas giant though? The “Beyonders” live in gas giants – mind you, ya don’t want to mess with them!
    They look like radioactive squid crossed with a ferret :) I’ll show you a ‘photo when I can be arsed photoshopping it!

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  321. 321 - SaucyWench - Apr 7th, 2007

    @ Alchemist, Wench Nikkiee, and Peter – Thanks for your greetings and kind words.
    I know the FSM loves me, and what a comfort that is! Now I don’t have to get all dressed up to go to church tomorrow! Well, I could get dressed up like a pirate… As an aside, I had fun over the past few days when people asked me, “Are you all ready for Easter?” or “Are you having turkey or ham for Easter dinner?” While trying to be as matter-of-fact as possible, I said things like, “I’m not Christian. I prefer to go on fairy hunts with my kids at the Vernal Equinox.” and “It’s Easter Sunday?”, and, my personal favorite, “I guess I’ll have to dig out the polyurethane Buddha for the dashboard of my car.” People just looked at me and said, “Oh”. Self-rightous, presumptive sheep! Bastards. I guess I better have some more coffee. I’m a little cranky this morning.

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  322. 322 - SaucyWench - Apr 7th, 2007

    And, furthermore, I listened to a piece about the Easter story on the radio on the way home from the gym yesterday. I listen to a Christian radio show every now and then just to re-affirm my non-faith in Jesus. It was then that I was reminded that Jesus loves me, died for me, yadda, yadda, yadda. I see the whole thing as just another piece in the development and evolution of thousands of belief systems through the millenia. I prefer the story of Persephone’s return from the Underworld as the cause for the world returning back to life. When I see crocuses blossoming in the Spring, I think of her. Maybe I should go around asking people whether they’re going to serve pomegranites or apples at their Equinox celebrations. When they look at me quizzically, I could say, “Well, Hades suffers each year as he allows Persephone to return to her mother for half of every year. Can’t you be a little grateful, you unsufferable bastard?”

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  323. 323 - SaucyWench - Apr 7th, 2007

    Er, is that insufferable bastard?

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  324. 324 - DutchPastaGuy - Apr 7th, 2007

    @Bill
    “The part I am interested in is that going faster than the speed of light doesn’t make you go back in time. (In fact if it did with the usual projection, you would stop aging and just get younger not go back in time), but when the velocity is greater than the speed of light (c), time becomes imaginary. So much for most time travel science fiction based upon einsteins relativity.”
    .
    That would not exclude the possibility of moving forward in time. Go sit in a space ship that moves very fast (much faster than we can make them go at the moment) and return to earth some time later. Your younger brother will have have a more wrinkled forehead than you when you get back. That part of sci-fi is not practical yet, but not theoretically impossible. In fact, a very tiny amount of that goes on each time we get of the couch and walk over to the kitchen to pick up a new bag of crisps. Not that you would notice though.

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  325. 325 - Alchemist - Apr 7th, 2007

    Saucy – Not Pomegranates! The food of the dead they are! Mind you, at least Proserpina/Persephone gave us seasons! Can you imagine perpetual summer? Where I’m from that means warm(ish) rain :)

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  326. 326 - SaucyWench - Apr 7th, 2007

    Alchemist – Here in New England we have 3 seasons: Winter, mud, and construction. Oh, I spelled pomegranate incorrectly. Shoot.

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  327. 327 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 7th, 2007

    @SaucyWench Apr 7th, 2007 at 5:19 am
    “I listened to a piece about the Easter story on the radio”
    I listened to one about a classroom full of different nationalities learning English and discussing what Easter was about. It was hilarious. Unfortunately there was no mp3 download on that one. (ABC…our national govt. broadcaster) I think it was called “Why not a bell” Don’t remember the story tellers name either. There were a number of Islamic students learning English language in the scenario as well. Willtry to find the speech….I believe it, or at least the author may be relatively well known. Good to virtually see you again :))

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  328. 328 - SaucyWench - Apr 7th, 2007

    @ Wench Nikkiee,
    I read something similar by Dave Barry? Maybe it was the same thing. Maybe it was Dave Sedaris. Anyway, it really made Easter seem silly. Go figure.

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  329. 329 - Alchemist - Apr 7th, 2007

    Saucy –
    “Oh, I spelled pomegranate incorrectly. Shoot.”
    .
    Firefox – my patron saint of spelling – if I turn it off I spell like a fundie! In fact, that’s exactly what I do when playing silly buggers :)
    Honestly, my spelling is shite! I spell pomegranets to start with :)

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  330. 330 - SaucyWench - Apr 7th, 2007

    Alchemist – Thanks. I feel better now. I won second place in a spelling bee in 2nd grade. The work I spelled incorrectly? Potato. I could be Vice-President!

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  331. 331 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 7th, 2007

    Dave Sedaris sounds familar :)
    .
    @Alchemist
    F..! spelling :)

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  332. 332 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 7th, 2007

    Yep that’s the one Saucy…thanks :)
    http://www.csuchico.edu/pub/inside/archive/00_04_20/6.sedaris.html

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  333. 333 - Wench Nikkiee - Apr 7th, 2007

    “……..When a student asked for an explanation of Easter, her fellow students responded: “He called himself Jesus and then he died one day on two morsels of lumber. . . . He died one day, then he went above my head to live with your father. . . . After he died the first day, he came back here for to say hello to the people.”