IS Forum
Forum Index Register Members List Events Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Help

Go Back   International Skeptics Forum » Search Forums
 


Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today.
Showing results 1 to 50 of 600
Search took 3.02 seconds.
Search: Posts Made By: Dinwar
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 18th November 2015, 08:56 AM
Replies: 25
Views: 3,772
Posted By Dinwar
The issue is, if nations do not recognize one...

The issue is, if nations do not recognize one another's contracts/licenses, international commerce basically stops being a thing. And unfortunately, that means recognizing as valid contracts and...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 18th November 2015, 08:02 AM
Replies: 25
Views: 3,772
Posted By Dinwar
If they are a citizen of Sweden, only a marriage...

If they are a citizen of Sweden, only a marriage license from Sweden should count--if they are traveling abroad to marry off their children, quite obviously they are attempting to circumvent the law....
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 18th November 2015, 06:23 AM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
I was--quite obviously, I must add--speaking in...

I was--quite obviously, I must add--speaking in general. I was responding to a question, and doing so in standard English. If this confuses you and English is not your first language, I apologize,...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 03:18 PM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
To start with, we can't think of this tactic in...

To start with, we can't think of this tactic in isolation--it's part of a larger context. The goal here is to allow them to communicate via a known method so that we can intercept information that...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 03:04 PM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
My question is, why? No one in this thread...

My question is, why?

No one in this thread has presented any good that can come of this. At best, we mildly disrupt communications for a bit and find the locations of a few additional operatives....
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 02:42 PM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
Fair enough; it was the "has a few teeth" comment...

Fair enough; it was the "has a few teeth" comment that made me think you were in favor of this sort of thing.

Probably the best option. A single pedophile can do a lot of damage via social media...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 02:28 PM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
How is that good? We've shut down a means of...

How is that good? We've shut down a means of communication that we know about. The italicized portion is the important bit: now we have to expend time, effort, and resources looking for where they...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 12:10 PM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
If they wanted to be effective, this wouldn't be...

If they wanted to be effective, this wouldn't be a bad plan. Do something big, showy, and--above all--fundamentally irrelevant. At the same time, do something like compiling databases of terrorist...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 11:32 AM
Replies: 44
Views: 6,666
Posted By Dinwar
Depending on methodology, this probably isn't...

Depending on methodology, this probably isn't going to be an issue. If they find known communications pathways for ISIS and trace back those communications to where they originate, the odds of...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 17th November 2015, 09:10 AM
Replies: 25
Views: 3,772
Posted By Dinwar
Taxes, insurance, and the like. Renting a car,...

Taxes, insurance, and the like. Renting a car, buying a house, divorce....the list goes on. I once flew out of Romania with two professors. They were married, but she didn't take his name (typical in...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 16th November 2015, 01:25 PM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
It works for propane tanks because the companies...

It works for propane tanks because the companies put systems in place to make it work for them. There is absolutely nothing inherent in propane tanks that isn't applicable to batteries, except for...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 16th November 2015, 01:20 PM
Replies: 254
Views: 26,051
Posted By Dinwar
I was going to respond to you point by point, but...

I was going to respond to you point by point, but if you can say this in response to my statement than it's obvious you've no interest in a serious discussion. It's obvious that this screening...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 16th November 2015, 01:12 PM
Replies: 254
Views: 26,051
Posted By Dinwar
Taking a bit of time to re-evaluate how we handle...

Taking a bit of time to re-evaluate how we handle a complex and dangerous situation is "surrendering to fear"?

I'm genuinely curious: Is there a rational argument to be had in this discussion? Or...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 16th November 2015, 01:06 PM
Replies: 254
Views: 26,051
Posted By Dinwar
I notice that you are evading the fact that this...

I notice that you are evading the fact that this is a known pathway by which terrorists enter their target countries. Please address that. What reason--REASON, mind you, not Argument from...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 16th November 2015, 12:55 PM
Replies: 254
Views: 26,051
Posted By Dinwar
I don't think so. Again, they are not US...

I don't think so. Again, they are not US citizens, and therefore we are under no obligation to take care of them. Don't confuse mercy with obligation. Secondly, this is a known pathway by which...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 16th November 2015, 12:47 PM
Replies: 254
Views: 26,051
Posted By Dinwar
While I hate to agree with racists, there is...

While I hate to agree with racists, there is something to be said in favor of refusing refugees at this time. We know that terrorist organizations targeting the USA are using the influx of refugees...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 16th November 2015, 12:03 PM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
See the early days of electricity for that....

See the early days of electricity for that. Standardization for how the batteries deliver power is such an obvious step that anyone who doesn't do it would pretty much immediately be relegated to a...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 16th November 2015, 07:04 AM
Replies: 8
Views: 2,292
Posted By Dinwar
Given my background, I'm well aware of this. I'm...

Given my background, I'm well aware of this. I'm also well aware of the other arguments attempting to explain this stuff. Please see Valentine's "On the Origin of the Phyla" for an overview of the...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 13th November 2015, 09:28 PM
Replies: 8
Views: 2,292
Posted By Dinwar
Everyone wants to interpret evolution under their...

Everyone wants to interpret evolution under their own pet paradigms. Geneticists want to limit it to genetics, chemists want to limit it to thermodynamics, etc. They're all important, but there have...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 13th November 2015, 02:27 PM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
I'm sorry, but this is so obvious that I can no...

I'm sorry, but this is so obvious that I can no longer take you seriously in this conversation. I've already explained it, and if you can't figure out how providing more efficient batteries would be...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 13th November 2015, 02:01 PM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
I get what you're trying to do. I'm calling the...

I get what you're trying to do. I'm calling the validity of that approach into question. Even if you pin SG down to a specific criteria (which will not happen, in my opinion), that opinion is,...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 13th November 2015, 01:19 PM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
I have to disagree with you here. It has more...

I have to disagree with you here. It has more serious IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL effects, but for non-immediate effects (ie, chronic conditions) it's not clear and for psychological, emotional, and other...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 13th November 2015, 10:46 AM
Replies: 42
Views: 5,193
Posted By Dinwar
I remember, back when we invaded Iraq, explaining...

I remember, back when we invaded Iraq, explaining to someone that it is in fact possible to support the military but oppose the political aims it is being used for. This concept was completely alien...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 13th November 2015, 09:08 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
Is this supposed to be a serious argument? I can...

Is this supposed to be a serious argument? I can see it being presented as a particularly pathetic strawman argument, but not put forward for serious consideration.

If we opt for the "battery...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 13th November 2015, 07:56 AM
Replies: 42
Views: 5,193
Posted By Dinwar
The issue I have isn't that the military gets...

The issue I have isn't that the military gets recognized--it's right and proper that a society honor those who defend it.

In the USA, however, the military fanboys seem to think that anything...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 13th November 2015, 06:07 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
Not necessarily the answer. Companies are...

Not necessarily the answer. Companies are actually pretty good at standardizing things. Sometimes (like with Microsoft Office) it's because someone becomes so big that not being compatible with them...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 12th November 2015, 08:56 PM
Replies: 167
Views: 21,429
Posted By Dinwar
I don't have links handy, but from what I've seen...

I don't have links handy, but from what I've seen about PornHub's stats it's certainly true as of a few years ago. And by "a few" I mean five on the outside. Slut shaming is still a thing. There's a...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 12th November 2015, 08:51 PM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
There's a running theme in this thread that the...

There's a running theme in this thread that the only abuse that matters is physical violence (no, I DON'T care what they say--that's their criteria, so that's what they say matters, regardless of any...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 02:27 PM
Replies: 14
Views: 1,699
Posted By Dinwar
Like many things, it's a question of incremental...

Like many things, it's a question of incremental improvement. What we have now is much, much better than what was going on even 50 years ago. We need to ensure that what we do next is better than it...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 02:22 PM
Replies: 159
Views: 20,677
Posted By Dinwar
For a Dyson sphere or ring, maybe not. For a...

For a Dyson sphere or ring, maybe not. For a fleet of panels in orbit around the star, though, you very well could have sufficient material. It'd be a nightmare to account for them interfering with...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 01:47 PM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
In a typical EIR/EIS there are sub-sections for...

In a typical EIR/EIS there are sub-sections for each resource dealing with operations and maintenance activities. It's not an issue for paleontology, as O&M generally does not include new excavation;...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 12th November 2015, 01:41 PM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
You're still trivializing non-physical forms of...

You're still trivializing non-physical forms of abuse (emotional, psychological, financial, etc). The image of an abuser as some out-of-control brute who gets his jollies off by beating women into...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 10:27 AM
Replies: 159
Views: 20,677
Posted By Dinwar
A Dyson sphere would give you a LOT more power....

A Dyson sphere would give you a LOT more power. Fusion on any planet has a maximum limit of the planet's volume, and the star in any planetary system will dominate the mass of the system; ergo, if...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 10:09 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
There would be adjustments, sure--but getting...

There would be adjustments, sure--but getting liquids to various places isn't exactly easy. Got a former uncle (divorced from my mom's sister) that works on oil pipelines, and I had a few talks with...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 08:07 AM
Replies: 249
Views: 19,947
Posted By Dinwar
I'll be the first to admit my ignorance on this...

I'll be the first to admit my ignorance on this topic. At what density does the repulsion between atoms become a significant factor?

We're asking if all the air can suddenly go into one side of...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 07:10 AM
Replies: 249
Views: 19,947
Posted By Dinwar
The issue appears to arise from competing...

The issue appears to arise from competing perspectives. One group is looking at this from a macroscopic perspective, where fluids act as units and can be addressed via thermodynamics equations. The...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 12th November 2015, 06:46 AM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
It's a bit more than that, though. I mean,...

It's a bit more than that, though. I mean, doctors see people as patients because that's their training. Cops see people as criminals/witnesses/victims because that's THEIR training. It's not a...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 12th November 2015, 06:24 AM
Replies: 167
Views: 21,429
Posted By Dinwar
People are known to report what they think...

People are known to report what they think society wants to hear when it comes to sex. Women DRASTICALLY under-report pretty much anything to do with sex, in large part because women tend to think...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 12th November 2015, 06:12 AM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
This is called the Clinician Fallacy. Doctors...

This is called the Clinician Fallacy. Doctors working in a clinic only see the worst case of any disease--after all, the folks who get just a mild version don't show up at clinics. Thus, the only...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 12th November 2015, 05:50 AM
Replies: 159
Views: 20,677
Posted By Dinwar
I would say no. For one thing, a Dyson...

I would say no.

For one thing, a Dyson sphere would only supply power to the planets inside it. Anything going on OUTside of that sphere would still need an external power source. For another,...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th November 2015, 10:07 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
Agreed. I've got a report somewhere about fossil...

Agreed. I've got a report somewhere about fossil collecting in the Mojave Desert that includes detailed instructions for how to get to the sites. It included using ICE-driven vehicles as a...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th November 2015, 09:18 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
While the theory is better than he describes,...

While the theory is better than he describes, implementation is often lacking. While the folks designing these can't be blamed for how they're built necessarily, it does mean that a fair amount of...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th November 2015, 09:07 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
And when a company posts here I'll give a hoot...

And when a company posts here I'll give a hoot what they say. I've worked on geothermal power plants. When I say that to folks on job sites, a very specific image pops into their heads (bear in mind,...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 11th November 2015, 08:15 AM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
That's playing pretty fast and loose with the...

That's playing pretty fast and loose with the definition of "geothermal". The standard definition--the one we can assume everyone is using unless they specify otherwise--is large-scale energy...
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 10th November 2015, 08:43 PM
Replies: 641
Views: 34,576
Posted By Dinwar
Pretty much. Far as I can tell, the physical...

Pretty much. Far as I can tell, the physical damage is just another way to psychologically damage the person.

Physical pain is easy to deal with; you suffer for a bit, then it goes away. Anyone...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 10th November 2015, 07:47 PM
Replies: 159
Views: 20,677
Posted By Dinwar
Right. It's not "There is no alien life there"....

Right. It's not "There is no alien life there". Rather, it's "Here's one line of evidence that hasn't panned out". There are alternatives being explored.
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 10th November 2015, 03:26 PM
Replies: 167
Views: 21,429
Posted By Dinwar
To expand a bit on what I was saying earlier: ...

To expand a bit on what I was saying earlier:

Scientists can work with really crappy data. It's actually not nearly as unusual as even well-informed non-scientists think; I'd say most if not all...
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 10th November 2015, 03:05 PM
Replies: 190
Views: 15,318
Posted By Dinwar
I assume there are other endangered species...

I assume there are other endangered species crawling around. ANY species that tries to cross a maintenance road will suffer at least some attrition.
Forum: Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology 10th November 2015, 03:04 PM
Replies: 159
Views: 20,677
Posted By Dinwar
http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/ata-checks-out-...

http://www.seti.org/seti-institute/ata-checks-out-star-kic8462852

It's just a summary, but it outlines the data.
Forum: Social Issues & Current Events 10th November 2015, 01:59 PM
Replies: 167
Views: 21,429
Posted By Dinwar
So you're basically saying that social science...

So you're basically saying that social science boils down to "Pics or it didn't happen".

It's hard to come up with a less coherent view of science than the one you've presented. I'm truly...
Showing results 1 to 50 of 600

 
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:19 PM.
Powered by vBulletin. Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

This forum began as part of the James Randi Education Foundation (JREF). However, the forum now exists as
an independent entity with no affiliation with or endorsement by the JREF, including the section in reference to "JREF" topics.

Disclaimer: Messages posted in the Forum are solely the opinion of their authors.