AzurePhoenix

Boulders can also be a result of volcanic activity.

Exactly. That is the primary issue. The government is pushing for it to be taught alongside evoltuion, as a science, in the science classroom. To be sciecne, we should be able to "see" or "sense" it in some way, and we simply must be able test the hypothesis. Faith is fine, but it has its place. Although I do think that ID should only be taught alongside all other major religions from across the globe, in a class suitable for the subject-matter. Otherwise it's simply more Christian politics and favoritism.

There is nothing wrong with believing in some sort of guide to the universe. The problem is that intelligent design most simply isn't a science, and under no circumstances should be taught as such, especially not in a science class. If highschools and such offered theology and philosphy classes in which to teach it, there'd be no problem. As it stands, this whole ID war is a political ploy to soften up the populace to reintroduce us to good ol' fashioned Christianity.

Your comparison is most obviously not the same thing. Not in the tiniest sense. Evolution is not a moral dilemma. It's a scientific fact, ripe with evidence and support. If people prefer to seek out and adopt speculatory psuedoscience, they should do so on their own time, rather than be force-fed poorly camoflauged creationism in an environment in which they should be learning hard facts and sound science. EDIT: hmmm, got left behind while responding

Damn You Kyrisch!!! Damn You And Your Infectious Tune Of Evil!!!!!

Meh, I'm sick of this "attempt to stop it before we die" crap. We should all band together to induce an eruption!! Who's with me?!?!?!

We all know it's true, so we're pointing out the ones we WISH were true. At least, that's my cornball hypothesis, or my original intention. Either way. EDIT::: OH GREAT AND PARMESEANY FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER!!! I TAKE BACK WHAT I JUST SAID! I DESERVE TO BE SMOTEN FOR MY BLASPHEMY!! MY ONLY EXCUSE IS THAT I HAVE SPENT 19 YEARS FOLLOWING THE HEATHEN WAYS OF SCIENTIFIC INFIDELS!! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!! I PLEAD FOR YOU TO GRANT ME YOUR INFINITE AND INFALLIBLE COMPASSION!!!

Man, that's just what They want you to think...

Oops, I should have been more clear. I meant "The one that most appeals to you, no matter what you might actually believe"

Ah, yes, I too faced that dilemma. Whereas I pledge my faith to His infinite pastacity, I feel that He'd forgive me for finding such appeal in the idea that our world is naught but a snot bubble.

Mmmm, yes, I should've done multplie votes. Dammit.

Okay, just to sate my own amusement (and mind-numbingly pathetic case of boredom), I wanna get a good grasp on all the best ideas concerning the universe, its creation, and the origin of life, including any new ones anyone might like to share. I don't want theological debates, I just wanna hear ideas from anybody that might be interested. I've also inlcuded several of the more common ideas, just in case someone considers them crackpot but loves them regardless. So far we've got; I - The Sneeze of the Great Green Arkelseizure II - The Flying Spaghetti Monster and His Noodly Appendage III - Sciency Stuff IV - Literal Biblical Stuff V - Intelligent Design VI - It's all an Illusion, Man!

Damn, I wish I had a teacher like him when I was doing the astronomy section of Earth Sciences. It might sound crazy, but I loved doing similar stuff when I was in school, and even had fun doing the homework. In fact, I always felt we weren't going nearly as indepth as we should have. EDIT: Except for the lisp, some of the concepts are hard enough to learn to pronounce as it is

I doubt they'll ever make kids remember very many specific things that exist outside of our own solar system, except for maybe a few notable stars, galaxies and nebulas, and at most two or three particularly important or curious extrasolar-planets. Well, that is until we start finding indications of life on some. I would certainly hope that students would have to learn all about every single one of those worlds.

I'd think it'd be better to give planetesimals simple designation codes (or whatever they're called). I'd think it'd be nicer to let the astronomers from a million years in the future wait till they actually form planets before giving them names. Except for really pretty and wierd ones. We should name those .Meh, I'm eccentric beyond my years. Or senile. Whatever.

Sorry if I came on a little strong. I know you get it Darkky (mind if I call you Darkky?)... The rant itself was intended to be directed at Scholtzy, to try and show why classification is so meaningful. Your post just seemed like a good reference point.

Another awesome movie-baddie...the Tripods from "War of the Worlds." I know, I know, lots of people hated it for some reason, but those things were awesome. EDIT: Never mind. A simple Wikipedia search has proven me wrong yet again. Curses !!

Meh, to each his own opinon. I myself like it, except for the idea of so many humans spread across at least two, maybe three galaxies, with very few truly alien races. Oh yeah, last night I remembered another two stargate races that were totally non-human... a liquid species in which an ocean was composed of countless tiny sapient organisms, and a misty world in which the mist was similarly composed of countless tiny spaient organisms. Wow, you notice that originality???

I'm stuck between Darth Vader (post molten-pit) and Sauron (prior to his loss of the Ring), even if the latter didn't get a lotta screentime...

I disagree. I feel that making distinctions and classifications simplifies the job of udnerstanding planets, rather than complicates it. I think it should be obvious to anyone that a terrestrial world is enormously different from a jovian world, and is even more different from a pluto-like world it certain regards. It's just like stars. People look into the sky and say "what a pretty star," and they're done with it. An astronomer lookes up and makes distinctions between red giants, supergiants, blue stars, neutron stars, white dwarves and main-sequence stars. A common non-sciency person might not care about the distinctions, but they're enormously important to the experts. In order to understand something, you first must know its nature, where it comes from, what its made of, its natural history. By classifying planets into distinct categories, it actually simplifies the astronomer's job. I think of it like buying a car. In essence, they're all just automobiles, but by breaking them down into groups, such as models and brands, it makes it easier to decide which you want, based on what you know about those models.

The Flying Spaghetti Monster came to me in a dream, and asked me " LOOK ABOUT AND TELL ME, WHAT IS IT THE WORLD SEEMS TO BE LACKING?" so I looked about and replied "mmmm, screwing turtles?" and thus he decreed "THEN MAKE IT SO, DAMMIT!!"

I think I can vaguely recall ten or so non-human sentient races throughout the Stargate galaxies... but only the Goauld are completely non-humanoid.

Well, that depends on whether or not they're carrying legally sanctioned passports duh ( )

Goddamn tyrannical Northwichian Bank Managers. I'm tellin' ya, they're the greatest scourge to civil rights since the invention of pepperspray.

And who can forget giants and the occasional threesome?