20 JUN 2017 by ideonexus
Underreported Atheists
The authors of the study, published earlier this year, adopted a novel way to measure atheist identity. Instead of asking about belief in God directly, they provided a list of seemingly innocuous statements and then asked: “How many of these statements are true of you?” Respondents in a control group were given a list of nine statements, such as “I own a dog” and “I am a vegetarian.” The test group received all the same statements plus one that read, “I do not believe in God.”... 1 
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notes31 MAY 2015 by ideonexus
Flatland
Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons, and other figures, instead of remaining fixed in their places, move freely about, on or in the surface, but without the power of rising above or sinking below it, very much like shadows—only hard with luminous edges—and you will then have a pretty correct notion of my country and countrymen. Alas, a few years ago, I should have said "my universe:" but now my mind has been opened to higher views...Folksonomies: speculation science fiction
Folksonomies: speculation science fiction
1 notes
notes31 MAY 2012 by ideonexus
In the Long Run, Ignorance Loses
Books won't stay banned. They won't burn. Ideas won't go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. The source of better ideas is wisdom. The surest path to wisdom is a liberal education. 1 notes
notesThe truth is truth and no amount of authoritarianism can change it.
18 MAY 2012 by ideonexus
The Bible Tells Us to Look at Nature
The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens. And let no one believe that the reading of the most exalted thoughts which are inscribed upon these pages is to be accomplished through merely staring up at the radiance of the stars. There are such profound secrets and such lofty conceptions that the night... 1 notes
notesFor god's majesty is in all his works.
16 MAY 2012 by ideonexus
The Difference Between Engineers and Scientists
The inventor and the research man are confused because they both examine results of physical or chemical operations. But they are exact opposites, mirror images of one another. The research man does something and does not care [exactly] what it is that happens, he measures whatever it is. The inventor wants something to happen, but does not care how it happens or what it is that happens if it is not what he wants. Folksonomies: science engineerin
Folksonomies: science engineerin
1 notes
notesThe work of both appears similar, but one does not care about the result and merely records it, the other cares about the result and cares not about the process to achieve it.
04 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Enemies Make the Best Peer Reviewers
One way of dealing with errors is to have friends who are willing to spend the time necessary to carry out a critical examination of the experimental design beforehand and the results after the experiments have been completed. An even better way is to have an enemy. An enemy is willing to devote a vast amount of time and brain power to ferreting out errors both large and small, and this without any compensation. The trouble is that really capable enemies are scarce; most of them are only ordi...
1 Quoting Georg von Békésy, who says that enemies will work hard to disprove you for free, but sometimes they are ruined by becoming friends.
18 SEP 2011 by ideonexus
"Look for Me Under Your Bootsoles"
I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.
I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.
Walt Whitman comments on his demise.
20 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Nature's Stories are More Amazing than Human Stories
“I approve of your wanting true stories,” said he. “You
will find in them at the same time the marvelous, which
pleases so much at your age, and also the useful, with which
even at your age you must concern yourselves, in preparation
for after life. Believe me, a true story is much more
interesting than a tale in which ogres smell fresh blood and
fairies change pumpkins into carriages and lizards into
lackeys. And could it be otherwise? Compared with truth,
fiction is but a pitiful trif... 1 notes
notesOne is the work of god, the other the work of man.
