StringJunky

I think that If something passes all known tests of sentience, then it follows that it is sentient until such a time comes that a another test shows that it isn't.

I saw a video once of a small fire starting in a room and what seems to happen is the room heats up for a while until the ignition temperature of the gases released by the warming is reached, then everything seems to catch fire instantly in an almost explosive manner.

Ultimately, Barr and Mueller are only messengers and the real court will be Congress and the public. I think Mueller seems to be leaving quite a bit open for interpretation from the little bits I've read, as you say. If there's anything that will bring Trump down in that report, I don't think choosing now to release it as a way to lessen the impact will make any difference; it's been going on too long.

I bet there will be many puzzle enthusiasts focussing on the redacted parts.

I shall look it up. I would call it an inability to grasp or even acknowledge the idea of emergence. I get the feeling that some otherwise very bright people dismiss it as a tenuous 'fill-in' or place-holder word for things that we can't explain.

The thing is, sometimes, people don't know what they don't know and are genuinely naive to the rigours of scientific discussion. It would be unfair not to give everybody the benefit of the doubt initially, so that we don't frighten off those that are genuinely naive and don't have an ego and agenda to promote; rare though that they are.

It is the whole neuronal ensemble from which a 'person' emerges. I agree that persona and decision-making is a top-level process. Stepping down to a lower operational level - like some distinct ensemble of neurons within the total that perform a specific task but not all of them - you lose sight of the property that is 'the person'.

Cuz that's the 'in' word, Man.

Stuff that requires a lot of processing, like weather prediction.

In a word: empathetic. In other words: the ability to recognise or sense feelings in others. How would one know? I hurt myself. I express distress. My neighbour comes over and says "Are you OK?"

Absolutely.

Yes, it is interesting. Thanks for posting. It makes sense that there is prior processing for many things that we think because it increases efficiency in completing tasks. If we didn't have this ability to utilise memory to make choices, everything we did would be like the first time every time, and having to consciously choose each time.

But what will you do when it is finally usurped... "Would you like some salt with that hat, Sir?" A silent response doesn''t mean you've lost the argument. It just means you've said your piece and there's nothing more to add. There's always a next time. Try it.

Either way, I'm annoyed it was turned into a ''gender opportunity' by all sides. The BBC is a PITA for it. I think the anti-feminist element kicked off when the feminist element held it up as a pro-women achievement. We will see a lot more of this politicisation. Gender should have nothing to do with this.

This simulation of the early universe expansion might give a clue: Formation of the large-scale structure in the Universe: filaments

He who lives by the sword...

I found a research paper but it's not simple reading: The Human Endometrium as a Sensor of Embryo Quality

Did a search and the biocide might prevent micro-organism degradation and the oleamide is a slip agent to stop the films adhering during production.

I think this is the balanced position.

Preference can be seen as predetermination, based on previous exposure to some stimuli, which has been saved in memory as productive, positive or rewarding in some way.

Is the bright bit/ring actually a sphere and not a disc?

Exactly, it's a pointless distraction. Internetcynic: read the thread and keep your posts in context of the OP.

The OP is about the US.

The last known slave died in 1937; still in living memory. https://www.history.com/news/last-slave-ship-survivor-redoshi-clotilda

So, GR is correct again?