Reveilled

Err...no. They were democrats, but way back when the Democrats were conservatives, and the Republicans proto-Libertarians. Then later on, the Democrats became Liberals, the Republicans became Conservatives, and the Libertarians became the Libertarians. All the great presidents pre-1900 were pro-seperation of church and state and didn't introduce things like social security or ban narcotics. Sorry, they're ours.

Actually, stars are in spherical orbits, in equi-distant layers travelling outwards from a central point (we can currently see a couple of degrees of an arc and about three layers using the Hubble telescope), consistent with the Big Bang theory (aptly named telescope). Asimov wrote an interesting short story about how to reverse entropy, about fifty years ago. ... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I see a big clump of stars arranged in no particular order spinning around. Considering that there's a big clump in the middle, either these layers aren't of a uniform thickness or some parts of that galaxy have more layers than others. That's not perfect order. " If they were arranged in lines, I'd be able to draw a line through all of their centres without touching any other stars except in the centre. If they're not in those sorts of lines, then they are, at least to some degree, arranged in a chaotic manner. And if so, you're saying that they're roughly this and rouhly that, and I would say you're trying to impose your need for patterns on a chaotic system. "

http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/dead.htm <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hmm, I'd like to see the working for their statement. The world population was tiny (technical measurement) for thousands of years: to claim 6 billion since 5000BCE is a bit rich. I take the point that it's a little difficult to estimate the beginning of humans, so the normal cut off is generally human history (which we can safely cut off at Babylon and the writing of the Bible -- insults to other indigenous cultures notwithstanding). " <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Remember that most of the population from the 19th and Early 20th century are also dead, so that gives you a head start of a few billion right off the bat. in the 1800s, the population is 1 billion, and they're all dead. By 1927, it's 2 billion, and almost all of them are dead. There's 3 billion right off the bat. Then remember the huge infant mortality rates in ancient times, meaning that any documents of population from earlier times won't include whatever number of humans would die every year in infancy, so in many cases you could triple the population of any early source assuming infant mortality to be somewhere around 30%, which considering that some countries today are still at rates of 20%, could be rather generous. I'd guess a figure far higher than 6 billion for all the people who are not alive today. I don't have their specific working, but how about your statement? Can I see your working?

Rangers, Celtic, Rugby or none of the above? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Rugby, mostly. On that note, a joke: Rab MacTavish is in Glasgow Sherrif Court after being arrested when he ran over two people from Edinburgh. The Magistrate Enters the court, and says to him: "Mr. MacTavish, it might be in your best interests to tell us the truth about hwat happened that evening." "Ach, yer honour, ah didna dae anythin'!" "Come on, Mr. MacTavish," says the Magistrate, "You can do better than that. The Truth, please." "Awright, awright. I wis drivin' doon Great Western Road when all o' a sudden, these two men run oot in frontie ma car! I couldna stop them!" "That's a little better, Mr. MacTavish. A little closer to the truth, now." "Fine, fine, ah wis drivin back frae the pub after watching us get a drubbin aff Edinburgh at the Rugby, when ah see these two Edinbuggers walkin alang the street. An' ah thought 'Right ya bampots, ahm gonnae get ye fer that!', so I plow right intae one frae behind, an he goes right through ma windshield, shatterin it! Ah chased the ither wan, but he wis too quick, and got away." "That sounds like the truth," says the Magistrate, "All right, we'll charge one with Breaking and Entering, and the other for Leaving the Scene of a Crime!"

Truly religious I suppose. The way I see it, something had to have created the universe. But when you look at the universe, stars aren't placed in lines, plants don't grow naturally in rows, entropy in the universe is always increaing, and the most complex and highly ordered system we know of, mankind, only uses such a highly ordered system to spread even more chaos and disorder. With all this chaos around, how can any religion that stresses order, inner peace and following rules millenia old be correct? Why would a creator make a universe filled with chaos and then tell us not to participate? Thus it seems to me that if there is a Supreme Being, it has to be one that sees benefit in Chaos. And Eris is that Supreme Being.

Lucky you. I still have a short story and a personal-reflective essay to write. Eris Discordia was the Greco-Roman god of Chaos, Discord, and Quarrels. Legends say she started the Trojan War. Unlike most religions, Discordianism has very few rules, (most of which contradict each other), and stresses competition and innovation over tradition and order. You can find a transliteration of our holy book, The Principia Discordia, here. However, much of the Principia's chaotic beauty is lost in that version. So no chance you'd believe me when I tell you you've been led astray by Greyface? I'd hate for you to spend an eternity in hell as a result.

Reminds me of Monty Python and the quest for the Holy Grail... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You read my mind. I can see it now... Like I told 'Vixen, its a speciality of mine... If your asking about the series of events that took me from Communism to Christianity its a long, long story...and I do sense God's presense in my life, even if he doesn't physically manifest himself and talk over a hot cup of tea. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, since I have some essay writing to do that will take me all night, I have a long, long time. But my only real question is, sure you can feel God's presence, but if he's not physically identifying himself, how do you know which God it is? I mean, I can talk with Eris over a hot cup of tea, so I'm pretty sure it's her presence I feel, and her work I see all around me, but without that ability to talk with her, how would I know whether the presence I was feeling was her, Thor, Vishnu, or Jehovah?

Reminds me of Monty Python and the quest for the Holy Grail... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You read my mind. I can see it now... God: I order you not to eat from the tree of Knowledge! Eve: Order, eh? Who does he think he is? God: I am the supreme being! Eve: Well, I didn't vote for you. God: You don't vote for Gods! Eve: Well, how did you become God then? God: I've always been God! Adam: Listen. Eternal Existence and supreme power is no basis for a religion. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical words beginning with "omni"! God: Shut up! Adam: I mean, if I went round saying I was God just because I'm really old, they'd put me away! [Adam eats an apple] God: Stop that! I cast you out of this garden! Adam: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system! But on a more or less serious note, why do you believe out of all the religions there are, Chrisitanity and its book are the correct religion? I mean, your God doesn't even take the time to have one to one chats with you. No offence, but a Supreme Being that doesn't talk back to you seems like a pretty crappy Deity given the choices out there.

Who put God in charge anyway? I didn't vote for him.

Hmmm. May I suggest Prague or Edinburgh for nice internet cafes, clean streets and thriving night life? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No, you may not! Edinburgh sucks, Baley, don't go there. It is a place full of...full of...well, full of people from Edinburgh! I mean, one person from Edinburgh is bad enough, but a whole city of them? It's too horrible a thought to imagine. No, no, if you want nice internet cafes, moderately tidy streets, and thriving night life (that during the day doubles as pond life), come to Glasgow. we're sMiles Better than Edinburgh!

Leaving all the folio work you have to do for English until the night before it has to be handed in is a Bad Idea

Not if your safesearch is on... "

I'm Scott from Scotland. I too have a passion for Bukkake.

After discovering that one of my close friends has been openly gay for several months without me knowing, despite a whole heap of not-so-subtle hints about it, I now realise that my Wisdom has to be about three, tops. Plus, I seem to roll a 1 on every sense motive check I ever make.

(w00t) :D Hamala will not be stoped...Humans are alowed to join too What sayeth thie ? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, since I already believe in Llamas and Giant Space Hamsters, I see no reason why not!

Oh! Well, in that case, I declare--with the power vested in me as a Pope of Discordianism--such a faith to be fully compatible with Discordian teachings. And as such, followers of Hamala are now honourary Discordians of the Fenderson order. Congratulations Baley! You're now going to Heaven! I'm afraid there will be no in-flight movie, but we will be serving free nuts and little cheese biscuits.

What's a hamala? Is it a new brand of cold meat? Your evil attempts to lead me into the arms of Greyface shall fail, evil one! I shall never abandon my true faith! In fact, I declare a Discordian Fatwa on you and your ham sandwitch! Crusade! CRUSADE! :ph34r:

Ah, you mock now, but you shall regret your ways, sinner, when the Great Old Ones arise to eat you in the final days. I'll be at the pre-Elysium party on Mount Olympus (to which the other Greek gods will most certainly not be invited), protected by my Goddess, while you, heathen, will have to face the three-fold dangers of Cthulhu, The Realm of Greyface (a.k.a. Hell, a.k.a. Heaven), and worst of all--shudder--THUD. Repent, O sinner man! REEEEEEPEEEENT!!!! :ph34r:

Nah, why have partying and fighting in Valhalla when you can have partying and partying in Elysium? Lots more fun, plus, when you invite all the scandanavians and anglo-saxons over for a party, you can make them bring the beer. :D The way I see it, everything in this universe ultimately boils down to Chaos. Other religions might emphasis order and harmony, but stars aren't placed in lines, flowers don't grow natually in neat little rows, entropy is always increasing, and even the most highly ordered system we know of, humans, only serve to create more chaos, driving our progress and happiness through competition, freedom, nonconformism, innovation, and out-of-the box thinking. With all this Chaos in the universe making it such a wonderful and interesting place, how can you accept anything less than a Chaotic deity? Hail Eris! All hail Discordianism! :D

+ > Political Picture Math is fun. "

It has plenty to do with individual rights. You're denying individuals the right to form organisations of like-minded people. Everyone in these organisations ultimately has the choice as to whether or not to join or to remain in these groups; they are voluntary organisations. And advocating banning them on the basis that they could cause potential harm seems worse to me than any harm these organisations could ever do.

I still say it was Perfect Dark.

Doesn't denying people with similar religious beliefs the right to assembly strike you as a bit...evil? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's cetainly illiberal, as it interferes with the rights of the individual. You could say as much for some other organisations, including political parties. There's nothing more pathetic than seeing some of the sheep that have been elected to our parliament voting for exactly what their masters tell them to vote for. Very little critical thinking, and quite a lot of bullying and abuse, I think. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There's no denying that such things can be and are abused, and there's no denying that it is a sad thing to see when people do what others tell them purely because they said so, but attempting to prevent that by taking away people's freedom is all the more horrifying, and I would say an olympic-long-jumper-on-the-moon sized leap in the wrong direction.

Doesn't denying people with similar religious beliefs the right to assembly strike you as a bit...evil?