Comments for Billions & Billions http://www.postnuclear.net ideas about science and the cosmos Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:45:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on There is a new wave of reason by OrbMonky http://www.postnuclear.net/2010/11/there-is-a-new-wave-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-273 OrbMonky Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:45:09 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?p=760#comment-273 The only thing that can bring about the fall of science is it's membership becoming a self-reinforcing collective that is only partially understood in either method or meaning by it's subscribers. When we start playing this game of 'scientists/skeptics vs everyone else' we become a football team in competition with everyone else. When that occurs, we become corruptible by the effects of emotional investment into our 'team' as well as our innate desire for self validation through said competition. Science and skepticism are not by their nature incorruptible sources of reason and advancement - it's the people performing it and why they are doing so that matter far, far more. The easiest metaphor I have for explaining this is that science is like a vehicle capable of winning any race you'd ever get into. The catch being, you have to be a great driver in the first place to get results any better than any other vehicle would have gotten. The only thing that can bring about the fall of science is it’s membership becoming a self-reinforcing collective that is only partially understood in either method or meaning by it’s subscribers. When we start playing this game of ‘scientists/skeptics vs everyone else’ we become a football team in competition with everyone else. When that occurs, we become corruptible by the effects of emotional investment into our ‘team’ as well as our innate desire for self validation through said competition. Science and skepticism are not by their nature incorruptible sources of reason and advancement – it’s the people performing it and why they are doing so that matter far, far more. The easiest metaphor I have for explaining this is that science is like a vehicle capable of winning any race you’d ever get into. The catch being, you have to be a great driver in the first place to get results any better than any other vehicle would have gotten.

]]> Comment on It’s a small world… by OrbMonky http://www.postnuclear.net/2010/10/its-a-small-world/comment-page-1/#comment-246 OrbMonky Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:01:37 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?p=754#comment-246 I thought the testosterone base crystals where pretty manly myself. Pretty revealing stuff! I thought the testosterone base crystals where pretty manly myself. Pretty revealing stuff!

]]> Comment on A true Scotsmen believes the world is flat by Chris http://www.postnuclear.net/2010/09/a-true-scotsmen-believes-the-world-is-flat/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Chris Fri, 17 Sep 2010 07:57:26 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?p=743#comment-198 "Sungenis published the book Galileo Was Wrong in the hope that people will "give Scripture its due place and show that science is not all it's cracked up to be."" That's more than a little scary. It makes you wish against all odds that he's being satirical. But you look at his history and realize, he actually means what he says. “Sungenis published the book Galileo Was Wrong in the hope that people will “give Scripture its due place and show that science is not all it’s cracked up to be.”"

That’s more than a little scary. It makes you wish against all odds that he’s being satirical. But you look at his history and realize, he actually means what he says.

]]> Comment on Philosophy of Science by Le Squish http://www.postnuclear.net/videos/most-inspirational/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Le Squish Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:05:28 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/wordpress/?page_id=223#comment-186 Most of the shorter clips seems cases for the importance of philosophy and only the practicality of science. Most of the shorter clips seems cases for the importance of philosophy and only the practicality of science.

]]> Comment on Journey to the Moon by Drew http://www.postnuclear.net/2010/07/journey-to-the-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Drew Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:23:43 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?p=663#comment-158 Interesting, I never knew that there was a prepared speech in case they were never able to make it home. Interesting, I never knew that there was a prepared speech in case they were never able to make it home.

]]> Comment on Journey to the Moon by Chris http://www.postnuclear.net/2010/07/journey-to-the-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Chris Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:14:43 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?p=663#comment-135 Have you ever read the speech that was prepared had the Moon landing gone bad? I thought it was pretty excellent, though obviously glad it wasn't needed. "Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace. These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice. These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown. In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man. In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood. Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts. For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind. " Have you ever read the speech that was prepared had the Moon landing gone bad? I thought it was pretty excellent, though obviously glad it wasn’t needed.

“Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.

These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.

These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.

They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by their nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.

In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.

In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind. “

]]> Comment on Wonders of the Solar Sytem by Wonders of the Solar System http://www.postnuclear.net/videos/series/wonders-of-the-solar-sytem/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Wonders of the Solar System Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:56:06 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?page_id=446#comment-101 [...] Wonders of the Solar Sytem [...] [...] Wonders of the Solar Sytem [...]

]]> Comment on The Mars Underground by Video Updates http://www.postnuclear.net/videos/series/the-mars-underground/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Video Updates Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:28:29 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?page_id=449#comment-95 [...] The Mars Underground [...] [...] The Mars Underground [...]

]]> Comment on Wonders of the Solar Sytem by Video Updates http://www.postnuclear.net/videos/series/wonders-of-the-solar-sytem/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Video Updates Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:23:00 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?page_id=446#comment-94 [...] Wonders of the Solar Sytem [...] [...] Wonders of the Solar Sytem [...]

]]> Comment on Science and Politics by Amy http://www.postnuclear.net/2010/05/science-and-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Amy Sun, 06 Jun 2010 07:48:43 +0000 http://www.postnuclear.net/?p=409#comment-89 Luckily, this doesn't mean that the bill is dead or anything, but that they'll have to resubmit it with the new language. Of course this is just one shining example of how they can delay the passing of a bill with completely unrelated topics being added to it. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that the bill is dead or anything, but that they’ll have to resubmit it with the new language. Of course this is just one shining example of how they can delay the passing of a bill with completely unrelated topics being added to it.

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