. I hope it will offer a fulfilling diversion from some of the more tedious issues of being a serious scientist in this bizarre political era. Best!Tell the Spartans...
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rocketscientist
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That's wonderful! Congrats! You will have a lot to offer the institute, which is, I'm sure, why they offered you the spot (and not just because of what a cool gal you are - but that too . I hope it will offer a fulfilling diversion from some of the more tedious issues of being a serious scientist in this bizarre political era. Best!
. I hope it will offer a fulfilling diversion from some of the more tedious issues of being a serious scientist in this bizarre political era. Best!-
Windwalker
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Thank you, Kathryn. And yes... the hoops that academic scientists have to jump through are becoming so many and complicated that scant time is left to do science. Maybe I should just move the lab to my basement.rocketscientist wrote:I hope it will offer a fulfilling diversion from some of the more tedious issues of being a serious scientist in this bizarre political era. Best!
For I come from an ardent race
That has subsisted on defiance and visions.
That has subsisted on defiance and visions.
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rocketscientist
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Windwalker
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As some of you know, I'm still waiting for the formal grant award notice but also have been plagued in the last two weeks with severe tooth pain that literally robbed me of clear thinking. It didn't help that Peter was also very ill. And painkillers, in addition to making you drowsy, also act as depressants. In that state of mind, it did me good to read this entry in PZ Myers' science blog:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007 ... ghts_o.php
It did me good because it affirms humaneness and humanity -- the passages from Gilgamesh alone are worth the reading.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007 ... ghts_o.php
It did me good because it affirms humaneness and humanity -- the passages from Gilgamesh alone are worth the reading.
For I come from an ardent race
That has subsisted on defiance and visions.
That has subsisted on defiance and visions.
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rocketscientist
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Great essay. Propably the best atheist apology I've yet to read.
The point that athiest idiology cannot be turned to inhuman practices is a fallacy proven by Stalinist Russia, but I think that the gist is more that every human idiology is capable instigating atrocity. That humanity itself is divine, if you will, is something we all need to remember before we think about condeming anyone for thinking differently.
We really should be evolved enough for that by now.
The point that athiest idiology cannot be turned to inhuman practices is a fallacy proven by Stalinist Russia, but I think that the gist is more that every human idiology is capable instigating atrocity. That humanity itself is divine, if you will, is something we all need to remember before we think about condeming anyone for thinking differently.
We really should be evolved enough for that by now.
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Windwalker
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intrigued_scribe
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This is truly a thought-provoking and powerful essay; thanks for sharing this with us. 
Indeed, it unflinchingly underscores the fact that even--or perhaps especially--the most devout ascribers of any ideology are capable of descending into to inhumanity, due to the narrow, dangerously uncompromising mindsets that too often occur, in the instances where devotion becomes fanaticism. Also:
rocketscientist wrote:
Heather
Indeed, it unflinchingly underscores the fact that even--or perhaps especially--the most devout ascribers of any ideology are capable of descending into to inhumanity, due to the narrow, dangerously uncompromising mindsets that too often occur, in the instances where devotion becomes fanaticism. Also:rocketscientist wrote:
Absolutely; no truer words.That humanity itself is divine, if you will, is something we all need to remember before we think about condeming anyone for thinking differently.
Heather
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Windwalker
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Still here...
As you can tell from the relative silence, health issues are still plaguing me, to the point that I cannot get myself together to write a blog essay or even a brief forum post. A couple of things did happen to boost my mood a bit -- I was invited to join the scientific board of the Lifeboat Foundation... and the well-known sf writer and futurist David Brin mentioned my Star Wars essay in his blog -- midway into the February 23 entry.
I met David once, in a Planetary Society conference, and we exchanged a few e-mails over the years. This round arose because he was the co-editor (along with Matt Stover) of a tongue-in-cheek volume titled Star Wars on Trial, in which he acted as the chief prosecutor. The book came out about two years ago, one of several "Smart Pop" books by BenBella Press. Pity that we didn't know of each other's activities, we could have included my essay in his book.
I met David once, in a Planetary Society conference, and we exchanged a few e-mails over the years. This round arose because he was the co-editor (along with Matt Stover) of a tongue-in-cheek volume titled Star Wars on Trial, in which he acted as the chief prosecutor. The book came out about two years ago, one of several "Smart Pop" books by BenBella Press. Pity that we didn't know of each other's activities, we could have included my essay in his book.
For I come from an ardent race
That has subsisted on defiance and visions.
That has subsisted on defiance and visions.
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intrigued_scribe
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