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Search: Posts Made By: keyfeatures
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 1st June 2013, 12:20 AM
Replies: 99
Views: 3,369
Posted By keyfeatures
There is a point at which we cannot observe the...

There is a point at which we cannot observe the existence of information. This does not mean that nothing existed before the big bang, just as it does not mean nothing exists inside a black hole. ...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 30th May 2013, 02:01 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
How would you spot a short-necked wingless swan?

How would you spot a short-necked wingless swan?
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 02:36 PM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
What are ligers...

What are ligers (http://www.ligers.org/liger-pictures) also called?
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 02:32 PM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
And how would a 17th century Roman catholic...

And how would a 17th century Roman catholic answer the question "Is a beaver a fish?"
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 01:39 PM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
Okay, so is it fair to assume all swans have long...

Okay, so is it fair to assume all swans have long necks? Or all swans have two wings? And if so, why?
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 01:36 PM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
Absolutely. How was the decision that black...

Absolutely. How was the decision that black swans are swans arrived at?
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 01:06 PM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
Drawing the borders around a species is certainly...

Drawing the borders around a species is certainly tricky (http://deepseanews.com/2013/02/when-2-becomes-12-cryptic-species-need-some-love-like-theyve-never-needed-love-before/)
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 12:36 PM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
It could be deduced that; All swans are...

It could be deduced that;

All swans are white
The birds observed are black
Therefore, the birds are not swans
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 11:57 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
Why is that so ridiculous, given that lions and...

Why is that so ridiculous, given that lions and tigers can interbreed? They obviously get a bit confused themselves sometimes.

(And a black swan is as likely to breed with a Canada goose as a...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 11:56 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
Agreed. However, I'm having a problem seeing...

Agreed. However, I'm having a problem seeing what the problem is supposed to be, giving that all the examples are really a failure of observation, not a problem with induction.
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 10:39 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
As for the Mr Chicken story, I'm not convinced...

As for the Mr Chicken story, I'm not convinced that highlights the problem of induction either. Rather it shows the limits of observation. In the example, Mr Chicken was unable to observe that the...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 29th May 2013, 10:32 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
Is it fair to assume that all swans have very...

Is it fair to assume that all swans have very long necks? How accurate is this assumption when faced with a goose? Or should we assume that all zebras are stripy when faced with a donkey - or even...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 28th May 2013, 08:46 AM
Replies: 33
Views: 9,598
Posted By keyfeatures
Sturgeon were 'found' to have scales in order to...

Sturgeon were 'found' to have scales in order to maintain income from this previously haram food, and resulting caviar, after the Islamic revolution in Iran.
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 28th May 2013, 08:38 AM
Replies: 54
Views: 3,236
Posted By keyfeatures
The problem of induction

Why are black swans called black swans, but tigers are not called stripy lions?

Why don't we decide that all swans are white, and that swan-shaped birds of other colours should be called something...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 25th March 2013, 08:53 AM
Replies: 136
Views: 6,861
Posted By keyfeatures
Let's assume that quantum states are not based on...

Let's assume that quantum states are not based on probability but on distinct physical states. Just as the coin toss is not actually random, if it was replayed with the exact same variables you...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 28th January 2013, 07:56 AM
Replies: 326
Views: 19,731
Posted By keyfeatures
No, I mean if everyone was immunised how would...

No, I mean if everyone was immunised how would the genetic drift identification work? Presumably it takes time to manufacture and distribute the vaccine. So where and when would the newly mutated...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 27th January 2013, 04:01 PM
Replies: 326
Views: 19,731
Posted By keyfeatures
I'm not a biologist or immunologist so please...

I'm not a biologist or immunologist so please correct me if I'm wrong...

My understanding is the contents of the 'flu vaccine are determined annually by worldwide trends. The three most likely...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 26th January 2013, 11:36 AM
Replies: 248
Views: 12,997
Posted By keyfeatures
There is no evidence that everything imaginable...

There is no evidence that everything imaginable must be possible. This is why maths alone cannot model the universe.
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 26th January 2013, 11:25 AM
Replies: 123
Views: 6,030
Posted By keyfeatures
Talking in mind-boggling timescales, isn't the...

Talking in mind-boggling timescales, isn't the universe moving towards a state that will not sustain life? Just as there were no solar systems in the (very distant) past, there will be no solar...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 23rd January 2013, 08:24 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
They are not like ping pong balls in space either.

They are not like ping pong balls in space either.
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 23rd January 2013, 08:22 AM
Replies: 123
Views: 6,030
Posted By keyfeatures
It's not really just about numbers, it's about...

It's not really just about numbers, it's about impact. Other species have fairly typical and predictable impact but humans don't because we develop in terms of technological capability. Future...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 23rd January 2013, 03:30 AM
Replies: 51
Views: 4,492
Posted By keyfeatures
Obviously being optimistic and positive is a...

Obviously being optimistic and positive is a happier state to be in. No one is denying this. The issue comes when people suggest that being positive impacts on outcome. Not only is this unproven,...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 23rd January 2013, 03:25 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
So even if electrons absorbed several photons at...

So even if electrons absorbed several photons at once that would not mean they were not discrete? In that case, how does the fact they only absorb one at a time prove they are discrete? My point is...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 21st January 2013, 01:42 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
I'm not talking about the photoelectric effect. ...

I'm not talking about the photoelectric effect. Can you see light intensity or not? I can stamp on several ants at once but can only stamp on one elephant at a time no matter how much energy I put...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 20th January 2013, 01:37 PM
Replies: 2,761
Views: 375,655
Posted By keyfeatures
2007 I think. MOre here on why cyclic...

2007 I think.

MOre here on why cyclic theories may be compatible with dark energy and cosmic acceleration. http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/a_cyclic_universe/
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 20th January 2013, 01:34 PM
Replies: 2,761
Views: 375,655
Posted By keyfeatures
So which physicists aren't crackpots?

So which physicists aren't crackpots?
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 20th January 2013, 10:37 AM
Replies: 2,761
Views: 375,655
Posted By keyfeatures
I happen to like his ideas. Maybe this is...

I happen to like his ideas. Maybe this is because they echo some of my own physics crackpot thinking.

http://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0612053v3.pdf
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 19th January 2013, 03:53 PM
Replies: 2,761
Views: 375,655
Posted By keyfeatures
Out of interest, would you say this guy...

Out of interest, would you say this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lynds) is a crackpot physicist?
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 19th January 2013, 03:42 PM
Replies: 49
Views: 2,564
Posted By keyfeatures
Adult cats do not meow to each other. They meow...

Adult cats do not meow to each other. They meow to communicate with humans. This would seem to be a case in which animals are initiating communication. There are also cases in which sailors say...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 19th January 2013, 12:47 PM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
I appreciate that a photon may only release an...

I appreciate that a photon may only release an electron if it contains sufficient energy - in this situation it can't gang up with its fellow photons. Such are the limits of topology. Think of the...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 18th January 2013, 06:18 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
Photons can have varying frequency/energy. ...

Photons can have varying frequency/energy. Likewise, their energy is divided into work function and kinetic energy provided to an electron. This shows photon energy is capable of division. The fact...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 18th January 2013, 05:16 AM
Replies: 51
Views: 4,492
Posted By keyfeatures
Hi there - I was diagnosed with breast cancer in...

Hi there - I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and have had surgery and completed chemo four weeks ago. I'm now having radiotherapy. Unfortunately, this diagnosis does seem to open the door...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 18th January 2013, 01:38 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
True. But does the ability to have half of...

True. But does the ability to have half of something, or not, determine if it is discrete? My point is that none of these arguments, that are simply an act of measuring or counting wholes or...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 18th January 2013, 12:25 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
Have you ever seen half a wave crash on the...

Have you ever seen half a wave crash on the shore?

So, assuming there is enough energy for the work function, a photon releases an electron and the remaining energy increases the kinetic energy of...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 17th January 2013, 01:33 PM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
Dear Pot, Let me scroll up and find the...

Dear Pot,

Let me scroll up and find the evidence for photons being discrete...I seem to be a page short of a peer-reviewed paper...

When you talk about a photon, is it the unit or the stuff...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 17th January 2013, 11:06 AM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
Pick a cow. Any cow. If it is defined by its...

Pick a cow. Any cow. If it is defined by its functions, can we have half a cow? No. But we know that a cow is made up of 'stuff' of which it is possible to have half of. It just won't function as...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th January 2013, 03:13 PM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
I use it to mean a separate thing. We don't know...

I use it to mean a separate thing. We don't know that a photon is a separate thing.
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th January 2013, 02:47 PM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
We don't know that photons are discrete.

We don't know that photons are discrete.
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th January 2013, 02:41 PM
Replies: 161
Views: 7,062
Posted By keyfeatures
Is a wave a particle? Is a particle a wave? ...

Is a wave a particle?
Is a particle a wave?
Where do we draw the line? And why?
Forum: Economics, Business and Finance 1st November 2012, 02:02 PM
Replies: 202
Views: 15,549
Posted By keyfeatures
It's a bit like a decent person. Hard to define...

It's a bit like a decent person. Hard to define but you know it when you come across it.
Forum: Economics, Business and Finance 1st November 2012, 10:49 AM
Replies: 202
Views: 15,549
Posted By keyfeatures
So where does corporate social responsibility fit...

So where does corporate social responsibility fit into this? Corporates have departments set up specifically to give to charity, sponsor events, improve environmental footprint etc etc. Some do...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 1st November 2012, 09:13 AM
Replies: 79
Views: 5,240
Posted By keyfeatures
Springs and neaps as every sailor knows. Also,...

Springs and neaps as every sailor knows. Also, it's not just the sea that has a tide, all matter responds to the tidal influence.
Forum: Economics, Business and Finance 1st November 2012, 08:59 AM
Replies: 202
Views: 15,549
Posted By keyfeatures
When it comes to issues such as tax I always...

When it comes to issues such as tax I always separate legality from morality. Just because something is legal doesn't make it right.

It's legal to cheat on your partner. It's legal to smoke in a...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 1st November 2012, 07:44 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,046
Posted By keyfeatures
No, a biopsy can't tell you this. A fine needle...

No, a biopsy can't tell you this. A fine needle biopsy will only tell you if there are cancer cells there and a core biopsy will only tell you how that core of cells is lying within the breast (e.g....
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 1st November 2012, 07:27 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,046
Posted By keyfeatures
I'm currently having chemo for primary breast...

I'm currently having chemo for primary breast cancer. The cancer wasn't found by a mammogram but by self-check confirmed by biopsy. In fact, the mammogram didn't show any lump / cancer as my...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 1st November 2012, 06:54 AM
Replies: 6
Views: 735
Posted By keyfeatures
"I nearly poisoned myself many times"... ...

"I nearly poisoned myself many times"...

Well, sounds reasonable to me. I'm going to start eating dog poo and see if it helps my asthma. I saw a couple of white ones the other day, they've got to...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 31st October 2012, 12:41 AM
Replies: 117
Views: 9,137
Posted By keyfeatures
These things are serious business. In order to...

These things are serious business. In order to determine, the court first had to find a definition of a cake and a biscuit (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vfoodmanual/VFOOD6260.htm). For there to...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 30th October 2012, 10:29 PM
Replies: 117
Views: 9,137
Posted By keyfeatures
It's an invention. Are Jaffa Cakes cakes or...

It's an invention.

Are Jaffa Cakes cakes or biscuits?
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 30th October 2012, 10:19 PM
Replies: 930
Views: 48,945
Posted By keyfeatures
Something to take the edge off Where do we...

Something to take the edge off

Where do we draw the line; -
At mountain, or river, or lake?
Intelligent Border Design: a misnomer we give to The Take.

Where does a ‘person’ begin; -
With...
Forum: Religion and Philosophy 2nd May 2012, 12:11 AM
Replies: 4,959
Views: 238,498
Posted By keyfeatures
Please can you give more detail or link to your...

Please can you give more detail or link to your original post.
Showing results 1 to 50 of 432

 
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