StringJunky

Found a higher qualilty version; link changed.

Genesis live from Seventies

As very much a novice, I can say this is a biggie and probably very important to get across in some understanble way to those not familiar with them.

If space is just volume, how do reconcile 'quantum foam' or are you intending to make a clear distinction between what GR says and QP says?

If we compare some sodium chloride (table salt) from raw rock salt and sodium chloride made from a sodium + chlorine reaction, the two are chemically identical in every way. I'm not surprised, given the marketing towards organic stuff. but synthetically-derived chemicals.are purer and more predictable; 'natural' products are not. Quite honestly, the 'Organic' industry is just selling a dream for the purpose of making money. Going back to artificial wombs, it's rather hard for us swallow at this time but some decades in the future, society's mindset may well be different.

Regardless of where it's development occurs and the means by which it was conceived, it is no less artificial than baby a born inside a woman. I think of an artificial object as something that is made from something different to the original.

Yeah, it's like 'chemical' vs 'natural' pills... it's ALL chemical, DAMMIT!

A few million... peanuts. Big Pharma spends hundreds of millions on one drug that may take a minimum of 12 years, and only about 1 in a 1000 exploratory drugs get there on the chemist's shelf. Once the essential technological pathway for artificial wombs has been successfully worked out, billions will be invested.

Yes, when thinking about future society, one must be careful not to judge its potential behaviour and practices, by our contemporary ethical standards. You've only got to cast your own mind back a couple of generations - assuming one is old enough - to see clear disparities in generational aspirations.and expectations.

Not by our current measures of what constitutes good care, but societal expectations and standards change over ensuing decades. Given that a not negligible number of women avoid breastfeeding and have Caeserean sections in order to preserve their bodies, I think other, possibly artificial, methodologies will be found to meet the needs of a developing foetus that are found wanting in an artificial womb. I can just picture a device, say the size and look of a water cooler/dispenser in the corner of a typical home; "Darling, can you get some more Baby-Gro tablets from Walmart on your way back?". Think of the photo opportunities: it'll bring a whole new phase of child development into constant view.

It would sell by the million; no more stretch marks.

Nice acoustic version of Floyds' Breathe.

It is when one introduces metaphysics and mysticism as apparent components of it. I think, to have a sound footing in philosophy, one must know the mechanics of human consciousness and that means being fluent in cognitive neuroscience or biopsychology. By understanding this subject one can get a grip on the limits of perception of the world around us. If we don't know how our brain pieces the world together how can we hope to extrapolate the external reality in a scientific way? Without this prior knowledge of objectively-observed cognitive functioning philosophy will forever remain founded on sand. Dennet is at least, in my opinion, on the right track in his field of studies by including cognitive science as part of them.

If you made it seem like a direct quote but the content or spirit was distorted beyond the author's intent that would be misleading and can't be good form. Also, I think you need to preface or follow your version of what someone said in such a way that the reader is clearly informed that it is paraphrased. On topic: There seems to be two ways to get the cursor out of the quote box after editing depending on what mood the software is in. Normally I can just click it outside the box and there the cursor will be but sometimes it it gets stuck. If you take it to the end of the quote after editing it then double-tap the enter button it should be outside the box.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Jeff Healey

No laws are violated because space is being created between non-gravitationally bound objects ie the objects themselves are not actually experiencing any acceleration due to the expansion.

There is.

Thanks. Yes, children are merciless when they find anything they can take the mickey out of in their fellow peers...I was not immune from it. C'est la vie.

Yes, I'm deaf. With my hearing aid in I use probably a fifty-fifty hearing and lip-reading and all lip reading when I don't have it in. I choose to only use one aid but am severely deaf in both ears. It's all I've ever known so it's no big deal after 50 years. My hearing seems to be equally knackered across the spectrum so amplification is good enough for me to enjoy music sometimes...has to be loud though! Gave up on TV 5 years ago because I eventually had to have it unsociably loud! I access information almost exclusively through the written and visual world now like this forum and the internet in general. On-topic, I'm an avid Pink Floyd fan and I recently have come to appreciate a tribute band called Brit Floyd who I think to do a great job. Played this to death so far: "Time"

Nothing...I haven't got my hearing-aid in.

I would go and consult an ophthamologist.

This article seems informative. http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm If after reading this you still feel concerned take steps to seek expert advice.

Stardust - John Gribbin

About in the same league as trying to make a perpetual motion machine then?

I'm glad the old system of Rep Power has gone....it created and encouraged a situation that I remember Severian called 'one big circle jerk'. Now people's rep is more inclined to represent merit rather than influence. Wise move CR.