Interesting Stuff Thread

Hotblack Desiato · 07-07-2015 3:43pm

'Mocking God' ? :rolleyes:

Viewing it on Youtube suggests the following delectable titles:

Dr. Benjamin Carson Wipes The Smile Off Obamas Face At The National Prayer Breakfast
by Mat Larson
1,496,936 views
7:05

Obama Admits He Is A Muslim
by FeelTheChangeMedia
12,749,361 views
9:57

Obama Hates Christians
by CleanTVcom
11,762 views
3:00

Obama / The rise of the Beast 666 / NWO (Part 2)
by sammyanddaiana
385,926 views
4:42

The most dangerous Barack Obama video ever!!!
by Truthzonetvcom
8,776,728 views
5:00

Obama says he is God, mocks the Bible, and supports Homosexuals (Mirror)
by 1John2v27
35,470 views
6:56

Obama Devil Horns Appears During Speech?? Christians Watch!!
by FisherOfMen
755,713 views
15:01

Scientific Proof That Hell Exists
by Planet Zion
75,529 views
17:38

Bible Codes - The Proof of God
by TheCompleteTruthBlog
297,862 views
1:32:28

OOPS... Video of Obama's shapeshifter agent hits MSM and Glenn Beck tries to debunk it.
by StillSpeakingOut
284,953 views
7:16

ISIS in Bible Prophecy: Six Trumpets Have Been Blown! Revelation 8 & 9
by Alan Tattersall
890,070 views
18:38

Barack Obama Mocks & Attacks Jesus and the Bible
by Mohammed Amin
226,415 views
2:09

Looney tunes.

robindch · 14-07-2015 12:11pm

Adam Gopnik: Power, Persecution and Pluralism

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0612wdr

BBC wrote:

Adam Gopnik wonders why religious people are feeling "persecuted" following the US Supreme Court ruling making same sex marriage legal in all fifty states. Can a religious person free to practice their religion actually feel persecuted? Are they just offended by the practices of a pluralistic society, or do they have a point?

"Their complaint is, in its way, one that seems fixed in the political choices of the late Roman Empire: the only alternatives they can recognise as real are either power or persecution. Either you are the magistrate making rules, or else you are the martyr being sacrificed to them."

robindch · 14-07-2015 2:10pm

The New Horizons probe finds a few:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33524589

The probe has turned away from Earth to go do its stuff. Next call home is tomorrow evening when it's hoped there'll be a bunch of new stuff!

PopePalpatine · 14-07-2015 6:30pm

There's something very stark about that image. There's Pluto, and then just the darkness surrounding it. I suppose it seems stark because it's somewhere so cold that as it recedes from the Sun, it has snowfall composed of nitrogen.

robindch · 15-07-2015 1:08pm

PopePalpatine wrote: »

There's something very stark about that image. There's Pluto, and then just the darkness surrounding it.

The surrounding piece of sky is dark probably because the probe's camera is calibrated to Pluto's brightness and that's probably too low an exposure setting to allow the background stars to be seen. The same issue exists with that magnificent Earthrise image - no stars in the background either (and all the conspiracy theorists called "Fake!")

The probe survived the encounter and is due to start transmitting photos home shortly.

BTW, Pluto's been spotted, on - well - Pluto!

robindch · 19-07-2015 2:21pm

Disappointingly quickly ride in the Pluto Truthers:

http://gizmodo.com/these-pluto-truthers-insist-nasa-images-are-fake-1717828679

Brian Shanahan · 19-07-2015 5:09pm

robindch wrote: »

Disappointingly quickly ride in the Pluto Truthers:

http://gizmodo.com/these-pluto-truthers-insist-nasa-images-are-fake-1717828679

Of course, eny fewl kno dat it were the conjunction of Plooto and Your-Anus which caused the Costa Concordia to sink, and the alternate "explenation" given by teh govmint is part of a conpireecy for the illuminatI and the rand CORPORATION!!!!!! to take over the world and enslave us all.

They control our minds, people, control OUR MINDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111!!!!!!!!

obplayer · 19-07-2015 8:39pm

robindch · 20-07-2015 11:00am

expectationlost · 21-07-2015 9:25pm

there was little bit in the Sunday Times this week the Rev P burke has the most bylines in the Irish Times in the year, I think they said over a hundred via his letters to the ed

obplayer · 21-07-2015 11:11pm

recedite · 22-07-2015 3:37pm

Can't quite hear what he says at the end there; give tubercular something to the aggressive males??

obplayer · 22-07-2015 4:05pm

recedite wrote: »

Can't quite hear what he says at the end there; give tubercular something to the aggressive males??

Tubercular meat. It comes from a case where he was doing field studies on a baboon troop and the dominant males got access to a meat source which was tubercular and killed them. The whole 'culture' of the troop changed for the better and it has actually stayed changed through the subsequent generations. It is covered in one of his other lectures, I'll find out which one.
I don't think he really intends to try it with people though :eek:

obplayer · 22-07-2015 4:30pm

recedite wrote: »

Can't quite hear what he says at the end there; give tubercular something to the aggressive males??

This explains the tubercular meat quote.

recedite · 22-07-2015 4:32pm

OK yes, I remember that study, it was posted on this forum a while ago.
I think he was having also having a go at the overly demanding questioning style of the guy he was responding to

I like his style; witty but not afraid to say he doesn't know all the answers.

robindch · 22-07-2015 5:23pm

obplayer wrote: »

Tubercular meat. It comes from a case where he was doing field studies on a baboon troop and the dominant males got access to a meat source which was tubercular and killed them. The whole 'culture' of the troop changed for the better and it has actually stayed changed through the subsequent generations. It is covered in one of his other lectures, I'll find out which one.

Not so much the dominant males, but the aggressive males - they all died in a fairly short period of time.

He writes about it, so far as I remember, in his book 'A Primate's Memoir':

http://www.amazon.com/Primates-Memoir-Neuroscientists-Unconventional-Baboons/dp/0743202414

(which really is an excellent book).

obplayer · 22-07-2015 5:36pm

robindch wrote: »

Not so much the dominant males, but the aggressive males - they all died in a fairly short period of time.

He writes about it, so far as I remember, in his book 'A Primate's Memoir':

http://www.amazon.com/Primates-Memoir-Neuroscientists-Unconventional-Baboons/dp/0743202414

(which really is an excellent book).

Yes it's a first rate book, entertaining and informative. It deals with the die off but I don't remember it covering the subsequent effects on the culture of the troop.
In baboon troops the aggressive males are the dominant ones. Therein lies the problem; as he says the baboons are awful to each other. The hierarchy defines who can torture who and who in turn they can torture.

robindch · 22-07-2015 11:30pm

obplayer wrote: »

It deals with the die off but I don't remember it covering the subsequent effects on the culture of the troop. [...] In baboon troops the aggressive males are the dominant ones.

The subsequent effects were what fascinated Sapolsky the most - the troop became relatively peaceful when the habit of violence died with dominant males who used it. So far as I recall - and it's been years since I read the book - after the die-off, dominance often didn't require violence.

Hotblack Desiato · 22-07-2015 11:53pm

obplayer wrote: »

In baboon troops the aggressive males are the dominant ones. Therein lies the problem; as he says the baboons are awful to each other. The hierarchy defines who can torture who and who in turn they can torture.

Very reminiscent of my schooldays. Not joking.

obplayer · 23-07-2015 12:00am

robindch wrote: »

The subsequent effects were what fascinated Sapolsky the most - the troop became relatively peaceful when the habit of violence died with dominant males who used it. So far as I recall - and it's been years since I read the book - after the die-off, dominance often didn't require violence.

That is about it but as I say I don't recall that side of it being covered in the book though it's been a few years since I read it. Must dig it out again. In this 10 min video Sapolsky explains wonderfully.

robindch · 23-07-2015 4:23pm

Hadn't realized that Darwin went in for a little bit of artificial selection himself:

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-11137903

robindch · 25-07-2015 2:57pm

The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog has found!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MHUlVIJy94

obplayer · 25-07-2015 9:31pm

Watch in full screen mode with sound on.

robindch · 26-07-2015 12:08am

obplayer wrote: »

Watch in full screen mode with sound on.

That's Mr Botchelli.

Sound off.

Pronto.

obplayer · 26-07-2015 1:25am

robindch wrote: »

That's Mr Botchelli.

Sound off.

Pronto.

Your loss I fear, I think the music complements the video wonderfully. But isn't it an amazing world humanity has built, that we can send a camera into the sky to watch little rockets exploding around it, and all purely for pleasure?
Oh, and for the other forum, no magic tricks involved!

recedite · 26-07-2015 4:50pm

That's much better footage than the stuff you usually see from the national broadcasters of fireworks events.

Hotblack Desiato · 26-07-2015 8:26pm

Heavy flak over target...

magicbastarder · 26-07-2015 9:17pm

obplayer wrote: »

But isn't it an amazing world humanity has built, that we can send a camera into the sky to watch little rockets exploding around it, and all purely for pleasure?

i'm fairly sure this was the video which gave the organisers of the fireworks display - and the authorities - the heebie jeebies because someone flew an unauthorised drone into the 'hot zone' which could potentially have sent a firework off its carefully calculated course.

Hotblack Desiato · 28-07-2015 12:08am

At least the drone wasn't near an airport :eek:

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=48996163&opt=0

A Lufthansa Embraer ERJ-195, registration D-AEBD performing flight LH-1614 from Munich (Germany) to Warsaw (Poland) with 108 passengers and 5 crew, was on final approach to Warsaw's runway 33 descending through 2500 feet at ILS DME 6.5nm when the crew reported in quite aggravated/shocked tone that they had just had a near collision with a drone, definitely a drone, at DME 6.5nm at 2500 feet, the drone passed in about 100 meters distance, they (Warsaw ATC) "should take care of your airspace", "it is really dangerous", with tower responding quite apologetic. The Embraer continued for a safe landing on runway 33 about 3 minutes later.

... The 39 year old is being questioned by police, admitted to have flown his drone in the area on Jul 20th and faces charges of endangering aviation safety that could imprison him for up to 8 years.

Good enough for him, too.

robindch · 28-07-2015 12:53am

One down, six to go:

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/07/27/catholic-church-leaves-antarctica/

obplayer · 28-07-2015 1:26am

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

At least the drone wasn't near an airport :eek:

http://www.avherald.com/h?article=48996163&opt=0

Good enough for him, too.

It's an interesting/terrifying thought that this kind of thing (down with it!) is going to be very difficult to police.

recedite · 01-08-2015 8:21pm

New Ebola vaccine 100% effective.
The last time Europe was threatened with a comparable disease was arguably the bubonic plague or Black Death which repeatedly spread from Asia in the 14th Century and then killed half the population. Having probably already killed as many or more in China and the Mongol controlled lands. But back then, all we had to deploy against it were prayers, incantations and pockets full of posies (aromatherapy).
Well done science, and humanity.

Hotblack Desiato · 02-08-2015 11:42am

robindch wrote: »

One down, six to go:

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/07/27/catholic-church-leaves-antarctica/

Interesting, what are the school options like there

wp_rathead · 02-08-2015 3:18pm

Any Tim Minchin fans should enjoy him on You Made It Weird Podcast.
First 45 minutes is him talking about his comedy career, but he starts talking about Empathy, Ethics and Religion from then on- worth a listen

magicbastarder · 17-08-2015 2:30pm

a map of the theories of everything.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/20150803-physics-theories-map/

TheChizler · 17-08-2015 4:50pm

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster: 1
Abrahamic religions: 0

http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/fun-times/video-bizarre-spaghetti-monster-discovered-4000-feet-under-water-348690.html

mr.anonymous · 22-08-2015 9:50pm

Have any of you read Christopher Hitchens' books? I was thinking of getting "God is not great"

MrPudding · 22-08-2015 10:35pm

mr.anonymous wrote: »

Have any of you read Christopher Hitchens' books? I was thinking of getting "God is not great"

I enjoyed it personally. Hitch-22 was also very good. He really was a very interesting person, and this book give a fantastic insight into his life. But what I would say is this; if you could only ever read one Christipher Hitchen book, read Mortality.

MrP

robindch · 26-08-2015 12:46pm

The case for teaching about ignorance:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/opinion/the-case-for-teaching-ignorance.html?_r=0

robindch · 26-08-2015 4:30pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To7X4VAjNi4

kylith · 26-08-2015 6:56pm

I have to say, I don't buy it. Granted I'm only going on a sample size of two but my pair never span before pooing, or seemed to show any interest in what direction they faced. They just stopped walking and got to business.

recedite · 26-08-2015 7:55pm

I have one spinner and one stop'n'drop. The spinning seems to arise from some continuous feedback loop, ie they can't decide which way to face.

Hoagy · 27-08-2015 12:08pm

http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2015/08/Church&MentalHealth.aspx

pauldla · 27-08-2015 12:32pm

Hoagy wrote: »

http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2015/08/Church&MentalHealth.aspx

"Cramming for the finals"

Ah I'm being mean. Good luck to them if it gives them peace of mind; may we all find such peace.

recedite · 27-08-2015 11:48pm

Not quite "the key to good mental health" but being in a church community is associated with less "depressive symptoms" in the elderly, whereas being part of an ordinary community organisation is associated with more "depressive symptoms" compared to the control group.

Which just goes to show that religion can be the opium of the masses, but doing something really useful is often a thankless task.

Hotblack Desiato · 28-08-2015 12:26am

Meh, it's probably as much to do with the social aspect as anything else, and there's bound to be a selection bias / some sort of flaw here as those who partake in religious activities enjoy it. Those who hate it don't and do other things.

But "Meeting like-minded people and doing things you like makes people happier" would be a bit less of a grantattention-grabber :rolleyes:

Even 'oor Dickie' Dawkins is partial to a bit of church singing...

recedite · 28-08-2015 10:37am

If you surveyed 10 year old kids for depressive symptoms/happiness, and compared the results of those who don't believe in Santa Claus to those who do believe, you'd probably get a similar result.
Probably not too many of the latter group going on to become brain surgeons though.

One eyed Jack · 28-08-2015 6:26pm

recedite wrote: »

If you surveyed 10 year old kids for depressive symptoms/happiness, and compared the results of those who don't believe in Santa Claus to those who do believe, you'd probably get a similar result.
Probably not too many of the latter group going on to become brain surgeons though.

Funny you should mention brain surgeons. Have you met Ben Carson -

Benjamin Solomon "Ben" Carson, Sr. (born September 18, 1951) is an American author, politician, and retired Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon. On May 4, 2015, Carson announced he was running for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election at a rally in Detroit, his hometown.[1]

Carson was the first surgeon to successfully separate conjoined twins joined at the head. In 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

After delivering a widely publicized speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, he became a popular conservative figure in political media for his views on social and political issues.

...

Carson's views on evolution and creationism have also been controversial.[94] In a 2006 debate with Richard Dawkins, Francis Collins, and Daniel Dennett, Carson stated: "I don't believe in evolution...I simply don't have enough faith to believe that something as complex as our ability to rationalize, think, and plan, and have a moral sense of what's right and wrong, just appeared."[95] In 2012, nearly 500 professors, students, and alumni of Emory University wrote a letter expressing concern about his views in advance of his commencement speech (there was no request to rescind the invitation). They cited a quote in an interview with the Adventist Review: "By believing we are the product of random acts, we eliminate morality and the basis of ethical behavior."[96] Carson clarified that "Those of us who believe in God and derive our sense of right and wrong and ethics from God's word really have no difficulty whatsoever defining where our ethics come from. People who believe in survival of the fittest might have more difficulty deriving where their ethics come from. A lot of evolutionists are very ethical people."

And now running in the US Presidential election...

Bizarre :pac: