Monthly Archives: June, 2008
George Carlin: A wake-up call
No one can say it more clearly, more plainly, more concisely than Carlin.
Plastic Brain Outsmarts Experts
Training can increase fluid intelligence, once thought to be fixed at birth
Training a person’s working memory may increase his or her general intelligence.
Can human beings rev up their intelligence quotients, or are they stuck with IQs set by their genes at birth? Until recently, nature seemed to be the clear winner over nurture.
But new research, [...]
“Mind Control Made Easy or How to Become a Cult Leader”
By Carey Burtt (2000) Thanks, Mark Frauenfelder (BoingBoing)
One of the more interesting periods of my life occurred when I was in the Army, the Army Security Agency to be precise. The ASA was, on the military intelligence (no, not an oxymoron, but I appreciate the humor in that old joke) side of the Army [...]
My group thinks, therefore we are
It’s unfortunate that many people prefer to let their religion or their nationalism or any sort of group think community (any group, including rationalist and humanist groups) tell them what to think.
Neither I nor atheism is a religion. I do not think that my particular point of view is superior to anyone else’s nor [...]
Puppy Killer
<originally posted as a reply in this forum thread at Volconvo. com regarding a Marine accused of killing a puppy. I thought the preceding comment, which mentioned trained killers and innocent civilians, was inconsistent in my experience.>
In defense of those of us who have served in the military, I feel a need to object [...]
Fine Tuning, debunking ID
Probably the most important conclusion we can draw is that even if the universe were intentionally created, we can discern nothing about that creator that we cannot discern of the physical universe. We cannot say anything about this supposed creator other than it is the sort of creator who would create this particular universe in [...]
Why are we here?
Trying to extract meaning or purpose from nature is what philosophy is all about.
Trying to impose meaning or purpose on nature is what theology is all about.
Insecurity with reality
I hang out a lot in Volconvo, a debate forum. Triad, a member of the forum and atheist, used the phrase “insecurity with reality” which I thought was both profound and thought-provoking.
The phrase “insecurity with reality” really resonates with me. I think it’s what motivates so many people to invent elaborate scenarios with personified [...]
Why our brains are so clumsy
Free thinking, indeed any kind of thinking, is dependent on the abilities of our brains. Learning more about our brain can give us insight into the process and products of thinking.
In his new book, Kluge: The haphazard construction of the human mind, Gary Marcus aims to take the human species down a peg or two. [...]
Guerrilla gardener movement takes root in L.A. area
Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
Scott planted the garden on the median early in the morning to avoid detection. He continues to weed and clean. Residents encourage his work.
BRIMMING with lime-hued succulents and a lush collection of agaves, one shooting spiky leaves 10 feet into the air, it’s a head-turning garden smack in the middle [...]
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