john5746

I think it is important to try and preserve at least some plant diversity in case of disease or some other problem develops with the GE'ed plant. Bananas and potatoes(Ireland) provide some examples with lack of diversity.

I think this explanation makes sense. I think she is an unusual politician, she has much less to lose by quitting than trying to keep her job. She doesn't have a spouse who has devoted their whole life to her public persona. In contrast, Sanford probably feels he loses everything if he cannot redeem himself with the rest of his term. What is usual politics is her spin to try and put a selfless face on it. I also agree with Severian

Does there have to be? We are not robots, there is more to life than logic and rationality. Empathy is emotional. We save the whale because we feel for it, not because it will someday save the planet.

I agree with you in the way that most people use the phrase, but I do think there is logic and good reasons to have marriage in a society. Do I think homosexual marriage damages it? No. Well, to be fair they are not outlawing homosexuality - they just don't want to endorse it. I don't think they want to endorse adultery either.

I think the car model works as well, with one exception. The primary use of cars is for transportation. If someone steals your car and kills someone with it, then that driver bears complete responsibility. If you own an armory of weapons just laying about and someone used them to take out half a school, then you should be shot with each of them, starting at the toes, IMO. That's some personal responsibility there.

Sounds like he died of OD on pain killers. Seems to be a common theme. Demerol - I was injected with that when I had my first gallstone attack. I thought an alien was trying to rip out of my stomach. 10 seconds after receiving that injection, life was good. I'll never forget that drug.

I don't think guns should be banned, but with great power comes great responsibility. If a gun is used in a crime, then the sentencing should be greater. If you own a gun that is used in a crime and it can be shown that you did not reasonably keep it safe, then you should be held partially to blame. Its just a slope from fists to bombs - as you increase that slope of death potential, more control is needed, either in outright bans(bombs, anti-aircraft guns) to registration and punishment.

Since the superior aliens picked me, then my genes must be important. Therefore, effective immediately, project spread my spermia will take place. I will start with supermodels and other beautiful women and move on from there. It will be very hard work, but I must succeed. Yes I can!

I see gun ownership as a state issue. Not that a state should ban guns, but we live in a large country with very different demographics and geography. What works in Montana may not apply as well in New York. I would also like tougher sentencing on irresponsible gun ownership. Allowing easy access to a gun is much worse than having drugs, IMO.

Yet there are many species of rabbits and hares. You are expecting a rabbit to turn into a dog or some other very different animal in a blink of an eye. That would be magic. Evolution occurs over long periods of time, so we have difficulty grasping such changes.

I think this exchange is key. After watching Dennett, I realized that my expectation of free will was basically randomness. We aren't even asking the right question.

And economic wealth.

Obama extends benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/us/politics/17gays.html?ref=your-money I never realized that this was something he could pretty much do on his own. Its progress and shouldn't bother anyone who has a hangup with the marriage word.

I see a few crosses in there. You are missing the larger picture regarding sacrifice. Seriously, nice try, but no "body" in that picture.

I think this video is relevant to the topic. I can't say that I completely understand, but I will try to explain. Dennett argues that we shouldn't even want free will proper, but even though we may not have had a choice in that exact situation, we can improve our competency to do better in similar situations. So, you miss the foul shot and you practice more. You kill someone and you are punished so you don't do a similar action again. He floats above the meat of the issue, but it did get me to look at this in a different way.

There is physical therapy in "western" medicine - sounds like this may be what you received. Basically relaxing, stretching, strengthening certain areas and allowing the body to heal itself. No magic there.

I guess that's mostly right, but our actions do affect our brain. While we have constraints on our potentials, how close we reach them is controlled by our actions - what we eat, exercise, reading, etc?

I have no idea what this guy is up to, but I am guessing he feels some internal pressure and wants to prop up domestic support by this show of power. He gets to shoot off some fireworks and maybe get some aid. Or maybe he wants his name in the history books before he dies. I like that China is finally making some sense - Obama must have turned up the heat. I think we are close to a bombing raid if this crap continues.

Sorry, but anyone with any life experience and forsight should be able to see that this will just result in gang land. Details, such as money, transportation, public services, foreign relations/disputes, etc are not provided. It reminds me of communism - simple ideals that sound good, but result in disaster. I can see where you may want to make that the ideal and strive for smaller government, but to eliminate it all together - well, good luck.

Not always. Rape - A criminal offense defined in most states as forcible sexual relations with a person against that person's will. but your point regarding the animals' awareness is a good one. I wouldn't consider it the same - just similar from the perpetrator perspective.

lots of people carry these things around - never heard much hoopla about them exploding while someone was carrying them. I would think that would get a lot of press if it happened more than a couple of times.

Good points. I should distinguish between masturbation(with oneself or a non-living thing) and using a living thing to relieve oneself. Masturbation is healthy and much safer than sex with another living thing. It isn't wrong at all - its good. A relationship is superior to masturbation, IMO but both are great and not mutually exclusive at all. Using another living thing for this purpose is not the same as having a sexual relationship with another person. You are being selfish and you are not getting the psychological and physical benefits of a relationship. Using another living thing for your purpose requires thinking about that being. I guess its all opinion - there might be some studies showing the benefits of marraige or relationships to health, but I am assuming most people would have the opportunity to become better people by engaging in a relationship, rather than just using an animal to beat off all the time. I recognize that the statement is offensive, but really didn't offend me personally. Of course, I wouldn't be offended if someone said all sex was sick and demented. That's their problem, but you got your point across. Saying something is un-natural and sick are not arguments. I am fine with it being a matter of opinion, but can't we provide reasons for our opinions? Saying I don't like something because my parents said so or because a book says so is different than saying there is concern for the beings involved and that relationships between human adults provide benefits that do not occur with much less intelligent beings? Based on those reasons, we can sometimes change opinions. Ah, dogs get away with murder. They can have sex, pee and crap in public - even be intoxicated. Man, what a life! I'm sure in some cases it would be pleasurable for both parties, but it is my opinion that using another being like this would not be as psychologically healthy as having a relationship with someone with whom you can communicate. If we could be sure that the animal is happy with the situation, I really could care less about it - but I would not consider this type of coupling to be anything close to a good relationship between two adults.

My point was really that sex with a blow-up doll is really just masturbation - not a relationship. In the same way you could say sex with an animal would be more like masturbation in the least and rape at the worst. For some people sex with their wives may be this way as well, but at least with another human being there is an opportunity for a more meaningful relationship. This would be my reasoning for saying it is less healthy. It is a moral judgement, but I think one backed by reason. I wouldn't be offended, but I feel for those that would be. Honestly, I think I am probably genetically inclined to find bestiality sickening. Does that automatically mean that I should be against it for society? No. My reasons for being against it are that 1) The animal has no ability to say if it consents to the relationship. 2) I see no opportunity for a meaningful relationship as with two adult humans. So the difference in this case are my reasons, not just the ick factor. #1 would keep me from giving it legal status, that same as not giving dog fighting legal status. The dogs may enjoy it, but its still wrong to use them like that. I also don't find sex with a man appealing, but I overcome that personal feeling with reason. Except for genetalia, the relationships seem to be the same to me or have the same opportunities. Merged post follows: Consecutive posts merged I think it is. The only problem I have with dying is the care of my family. So without a family to support, I would much rather be killed quickly than raped repeatedly.

I happen to agree with her overall opinion that diversity will bring a diversity of opinions and should result in better decisions for a diverse population. However, I would expect someone with her education to be able to express her opinions more clearly and to apologize if she misspoke. Replace white with black in her comment and you can see the problem more clearly. This should not rule her out, but it is something for her to explain.

you mean to tell me that the chinese even invented swiss watches?