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Re: Hey Boston People - 6 years ago

I was several blocks away on a rooftop. Fewer people to share our joints among. I seem to recall hearing the Pops. But maybe it was just in my head. The fireworks were grand.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: When do the effing mosquitos disappear? - 6 years ago

Quotedeckeda Have you seen the Black and Yellow Argiopes we get here? Yeah, I've got one about the size of my palm (leg span) outside my garage door (the door I don't open, lucky for it). The web (about 2-3 foot diameter) anchors at the roof gutter and at a few clay pots on the driveway in front of the door. I routinely come home after dark, and the outside garage door light Wifey turns on for

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

The definition of the word paradigm seems fuzzy to me. According to ( Wiki), Kuhn defines a scientific paradigm as "universally recognized scientific achievements that, for a time, provide model problems and solutions for a community of practitioners,...". I take this to mean that the paradigm is the "truth" that has been discovered in any given field of study. But it is t

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

Quoterjmacs Quoteneophyte Clearly, the application of scientific discoveries in a society is seldom objective, but rather is aimed at achieving a particular goal and is often biased. But the underlying facts? I am interested in the phenomenological experience of being a human who can turn off bias and historical conditions long enough to do 'objective science' that produces 'facts.' Is it a con

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

Quoterjmacs Things that are objectively true (that is to say, facts) must necessarily be free of the trappings of bias which are inherent to human perception. I agree. But it seems you are claiming that ALL objective "truths" that we discover are colored by human perceptions and thus are not "truths". Can you help me understand how Ted's example of our observation of acceler

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

QuoteTed King But what of moral truths? Surely those are not determinable by testing of hypotheses. Are the "moral truths" you wrote about earlier the same "moral facts" you write about now? I had originally intended to respond "Are there such truths?", but had second thoughts before fully reading Carrier's thoughts on the subject. I'm not so sure such universa

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Americans now 8 feet further from the White House - 6 years ago

Put a moat in between the fences! With breeding swans! That'll keep 'em out!

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: As I was going to... - 6 years ago

Looks similar to Port Isaac, just up the coast from St Ives. Not that I've been to either place, but Wifey likes to watch Doc Martin on the telly, which was filmed in Port Isaac.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

QuoteTed King But what of moral truths? Surely those are not determinable by testing of hypotheses. I'm still reading through Richard Carrier's thoughts on the subject.

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Does the blue button show up for you, in Chrome? - 6 years ago

The blue button does not appear in Chrome version 37.0.2062.120 m running in WinXP either.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

QuoteTed King Quoteneophyte Quotecbelt3 The philosopher's search for 'truth' has, at its root, the same driving force as the scientists search for truth. Innate human curiosity. Just curious: how does a philosopher test a hypothesis? How does a scientist do science without making epistemological and ontological assumptions? How does a scientist do science without logic and care with sema

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Physics and philosophy - link to CalTech physicist's thoughts - 6 years ago

Quotecbelt3 The philosopher's search for 'truth' has, at its root, the same driving force as the scientists search for truth. Innate human curiosity. Just curious: how does a philosopher test a hypothesis?

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: non-iPhone user here; who has OLDEST phone in daily/primary usage? mine is 2006 model - 6 years ago

My daughter is still using her Nokia 3587i from 2004. And my Moto Starmax clone from 1997 with Clarisworks for all her writing and Reunion for her genealogy documentation. I swear she would prefer to live in a Steampunk world.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Live results from Scotland, streaming on BBC - 6 years ago

Does this mean the Stone of Scone will be moved back to Westminster Abbey?

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: The best show today: British coverage of Scottish Referendum - 6 years ago

So THAT'S what happens when you eat haggis. Just as I thought.

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: American Boots On The Ground In Iraq - 6 years ago

Well certainly depriving ISIS of some sources of money will not make them vanish completely. But it should hinder them without making martyrs of them in the eyes of those they are trying to recruit. I think ISIS leaders are trying to provoke a Western military response so as to use it as a recruiting tactic - "See how the infidels are trying to kill us and our way of life? We must put an end

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: American Boots On The Ground In Iraq - 6 years ago

QuoteDeusxMac Quoteneophyte I wonder how loyal their fighters will be if they don't get paid? To digress. Do you really think the ISIS fighters are motivated by money? Yes, according to a NYT article and Business Week.

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: American Boots On The Ground In Iraq - 6 years ago

I think these boots are required in Iraq. But I would like to see economic disruption of ISIS in Syria. EMP bombs on oil pumping stations they control, blockade of bank accounts if possible, and blow up every oil tanker in territory they control. I wonder how loyal their fighters will be if they don't get paid?

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Anyone remember when this time of the year was actually the beginning of the year? - 6 years ago

Yes to all. Also Rosh Hashanah, which starts the evening of the 24th this year.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Do we support the "Democracy for All" amendment? - 6 years ago

Can you clarify whether state laws or federal laws would take precedence? If federal law allows corporate spending but a state law prohibits it, then what prevails in that state? And if state law prevails, can a state block corporate ads on cable TV stations that originate outside that state?

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: September 10th is "Internet Slowdown Day" - 6 years ago

Well, maybe not where you are, but my ISP supported it.

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Apple Event 9.9.2014 - Let's get this out of the way first -- Apple is doomed. - 6 years ago

Is U2 playing live in Cupertino?

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: just another DROP in the bucket?!....Amazon just DROPPED this in price.... - 6 years ago

Quotesilvarios QuoteGuyGene Eh, if they sent it to me free… I'd take it, that's all. Would still get iPhone. Not going on droid system. Droid is a Verizon brand of phones. This isn't a Droid. Nor does it run stock Android, so if you were trying to avoid Google vendor lockin, you could substitute Amazon vendor lockin. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't buy one either, it's too pricey for my budget

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: "An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth" - 6 years ago

QuoteSteve G. I think it was an extremely stupid thing to do and yet another reason why Israelis should vote Netanyahu and his coalition out of office. And vote in Mandy Patinkin. He told Colbert last night that he wants the job. First we have to get him elected to the knesset.

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Islamic State kills US hostage - 6 years ago

Quotehal A microwave munition? Is this Tom Clancy stuff? The technology exists. I'm hoping cbelt will chime in if it's not classified.

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Islamic State kills US hostage - 6 years ago

Would it be possible to cripple IS-controlled oil wells with an airburst EMP or microwave munition, without causing an ecological disaster?

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Celeb photos leak; fingers point at Apple - 6 years ago

Quotegraylocks Quotevision63 That's cuz we ain't hooked up. Oh btw, I just finished a bag of delicious Cafe Verona. I loves that coffee. Verona is my go-to coffee. do you have a picture of you nude and the empty bag on your iphone? If it were me, the photo would show the empty bag on ME rather than over my phone. But that's just how I roll.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Woody Allen - meh... - 6 years ago

I don't know anything about this movie. But my daughter was born in 1986, and she'll be happy to learn that being "mature for your age" means that you are older than you think you are. Or maybe not so happy.

by neophyte - Tips and Deals

Re: Imperial Troops have entered the base... Imperial Troops have entered the base.... Russian army rolls into Ukraine - 6 years ago

Quotecbelt3 Damn. Now I'm having visions of Soviet tanks pouring through the Fulda Gap, and all the stuff I helped design being used to blow them all to hell. Back in the USSR indeed. Red Storm Rising?

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: 13 Year old arrested for writing a story about killing a dinosour - 6 years ago

rjmacs, I understand your opinion as you stated earlier in the thread. My post in response to Max was about a "scenario" that in fact occurred, that I did not make up, and the reason it occurred. Facts of the event, not opinion. I respect your view on the matter. "level of imminent physical violent threat..." may be what the police were trying to find out, but not getting answ

by neophyte - 'Friendly' Political Ranting