Category: Uncategorized
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On the ambiguity of words
Words are a very imperfect means of conveying our thoughts. The original idea is distorted by a vague and stereotyped vocabulary, ambiguous grammar and meaning. And then it is distorted again by the different definitions and mental models of the recipient. Meaning is in people. Words are very imperfect symbols for communicating an idea. When…
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As I grow older, I wonder if I am becoming more wise or senile. When I was younger, my worldview changed radically every day, but my position at any given time always seemed clear and binary. Now, I rarely discard any idea entirely, but gradually layer my worldview with more layers of complexity and nuance.…
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Taking death-worship to a whole new level
..in Mexico
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Salon: The religious state of Islamic science
Turkish-American physicist Taner Edis explains why science in Muslim lands remains stuck in the past — and why the Golden Age of Mesopotamia wasn’t so golden after all. Q:Why did the scientific revolution happen in Christian Europe and not in the Islamic world? A: … My perception is that a number of factors came together…
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WSJ: Why Rich Kids Don’t Stay Rich
Rich kids, we hear, have it all. Money. Connections. Top educations. Cars and clothes. For those who are part of what Warren Buffett calls “the Lucky Sperm Club,” life is supposedly one long shopping trip with an no-limits ATM card.But what if it’s not? The great thing about America is that your parents’ social status…
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Socialist healthcare failing in Canada
NY Times: Canada remains the only industrialized country that outlaws privately financed purchases of core medical services. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other politicians remain reluctant to openly propose sweeping changes even though costs for the national and provincial governments are exploding and some cancer patients are waiting months for diagnostic tests and treatment.But a…
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'Sicko' pictures
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that non-elite native Cubans don’t exactly receive the same level of treatment as wealthy foreigners, but if your friends have been taken in by ‘Sicko,’ these photos might be a rude awakening. For more, read my One Minute Case Against Socialized Healthcare
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"Human greed takes lion's share of solar energy"
You can’t make this stuff up: enviro-wackos are now attacking human civilization for using too much solar energy. The human dominance of this natural resource is affecting other species, reducing the amount of energy available to them by almost 10 per cent, scientists report. Researchers said the findings showed humans were using “a remarkable share”…
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Can you answer these six basic scientific questions?
Of the six prominent UK intellectuals, only the scientists had mostly-correct answers. If you find yourself having similar trouble, Bill Bryson’s book is a good place to start.
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Did pedophilia hysteria cause a child's death?
Fox News: On Nov. 28, 2002, 2-year-old Abigail Rae died by drowning in a village pond in England. Her death is currently stirring debate because the ongoing inquest revealed an explosive fact. A man passing by was afraid to guide the lost child to safety because he feared being labeled “a pervert.” … Peachey’s fears…