₦airaland Forum

About the head of a new baby. I think so.

I was giving a series of freshman physics lectures, and after one of them, Tom Harvey, who assisted me in putting on the demonstrations, said, "You oughta see what's happening to mathematics in schoolbooks! My daughter comes home with a lot of crazy stuff!"

But the next day I got a telephone call from a pretty famous lawyer here in Pasadena, Mr. Norris, who was at that time on the Board of Education. He asked me if I would serve on the State Curriculum Commission, which had to choose the new schoolbooks. You see, there is a law that all of the schoolbooks used by all of the kids in all of the public schools have to be chosen by the Board of Education, so they have a committee to look over the books and to give them advice on which books to take.

It happened that a lot of the books were on a new method of teaching arithmetic called "new math," and since usually the only people to look at the books were schoolteachers or administrators in education, they thought it would be a good idea to have somebody who uses mathematics scientifically, who knows what the end product is and what we're trying to teach it for, to help in the evaluation of the schoolbooks.

I must have had, by this time, a guilty feeling about not cooperating with the government, because I agreed to get on this committee.

Immediately I began getting letters and telephone calls from schoolbook publishers. They said things like, "We're very glad to hear you're on the committee because we really wanted a scientific guy . . ." and "It's wonderful to have a scientist on the committee, because our books are scientifically oriented . . ." But they also said things like, "We'd like to explain to you what our book is about . . ." and "We'll be very glad to help you in any way we can to judge our books . . ." That seemed to me kind of crazy. I'm an objective scientist, and it seemed to me that since the only thing the kids in school are going to get is the books (and the teachers get the teacher's manual, which I would also get), any extra explanation from the company was a distortion. So I didn't want to speak to any of the publishers and always replied, "You don't have to explain; I'm sure the books will speak for themselves."

Mrs. Whitehouse started out telling me about the stuff they were going to talk about in the next meeting (they had already had one meeting; I was appointed late). "They're going to talk about the counting numbers." I didn't know what that was, but it turned out they were what I used to call integers. They had different names for everything, so I had a lot of trouble right from the start.

She told me how the members of the commission normally rated the new schoolbooks. They would get a relatively large number of copies of each book and would give them to various teachers and administrators in their district. Then they would get reports back on what these people thought about the books. Since I didn't know a lot of teachers or administrators, and since I felt that I could, by reading the books myself, make up my mind as to how they looked to me, I chose to read all the books myself. . . .

A few days later a guy from the book depository called me up and said, "We're ready to send you the books, there are three hundred pounds."

I was overwhelmed.

"It's all right; we'll get someone to help you read them."

I couldn't figure out how you do that: you either read them or you don't read them. Crazy. Crazy. Absolutely crazy.

You should not believe everything that is published. I tell you from experience maybe one in 100 or 1000 is a real good one. I also find a lot of mistakes sometimes.

You see now how difficult it is for us poor men

When I was in Jr. High, all I wanted was a girl with big breasts.

In high school, I dated a girl with big breasts, but there was no passion. So I decided I needed a passionate girl.

In college, I dated a passionate girl, but she was too emotional. Everything was an emergency, she cried all the time. So I decided I needed a girl with some stability.

I found a very stable girl, but she was boring. She never got excited about anything. So I decided I needed a girl with some excitement.

I found an exciting girl, but I couldn't keep up with her. She rushed from one thing to another, never settling on anything. She was without direction. So I decided to find a girl with some ambition.

After college, I found an ambitious girl and married her. She was so ambitious, she divorced me and took everything I owned.

Now all I want is a girl with big breasts!!

codec seems to want to be picked up

ok. ok. ok. i'm wrong and you're right, but come to think of it... why would God give different religion the option to worship and interpret/translate his word and comandment. Can someone answer that...?

God did not give different religion the option to worship and interpret/translate his word and comandment. But people have found God, the same God in different ways. There are lots of ways towards God.

rtain biologists claim that human babies resemble larvae in that regard. They are not yet full humans. the argument makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. The head of the new baby would be too large for a woman to give birth, so the moment of delivery is set earlier, meaning that the baby is still very much undeveloped.
This goes rather in the direction that a newborn baby is not fully human yet.

Quote from: chrisd on Today at 01:11:23 PM
It appears that the amount of inter-neuron connectivity is related to the level of consciousness. Professor Greenfield Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University explored the idea of different levels of consciousness and the possible physiological reasons for these different levels. For example, people who do activities such as bungee jumping or white water rafting report having a feeling of time standing still i.e. having a lower level of consciousness, which could be because such activities cut out external stimuli.
Interesting, but how does this observation have anything to do with the discussion we're having?

It has all to do with the discussion. It shows that a lower level of consciousness does not go in the direction that a newborn baby is not fully human yet because of lower level on consciousness.

The head of the new baby would be too large for a woman to give birth, so the moment of delivery is set earlier? What kind of idea is that. You get out because it's your time.

It is not just the capacity to perceive sensations. The question should me how does the brain generate consciousness. Then we can look to define a when. Till now we cannot even understand how. And we still do not understand the human phyche. Go ask any pshycologist.

Consciousness cannot be said to have a single (or more than one) fixed location in the brain but can be triggered off almost anywhere in the brain and then spread out via the interconnections between neurons. Consciousness must also be a continuum to allow for the possibility of changes in the levels of consciousness. For example, at what stage can a foetus be said to be conscious? The only rational explanation is to think of consciousness gradually increasing, rather than suddenly coming into existence. Physiological behaviour which seems to confirm this is that new-born babies, which we assume have a very low level of consciousness, have fewer connections in their brains than adults. It appears that the amount of inter-neuron connectivity is related to the level of consciousness. Professor Greenfield Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University explored the idea of different levels of consciousness and the possible physiological reasons for these different levels. For example, people who do activities such as bungee jumping or white water rafting report having a feeling of time standing still i.e. having a lower level of consciousness, which could be because such activities cut out external stimuli.

Never said it was ok.

That concept says that the limit is whether we can measure it or not. I thought you said that pain should not be the only criteria. If one still wants to define a threshold base it on cerebrum development than feeling pain or not. That's where consciousness is related to right.

Now, according to Jesus himself, some of those who are good, still will have to give an account even for their idle words (which can be bad). Second, Paul says that we will have to give an account for all the deeds that we do, either good or bad. Thus, it shows that even those who are in Christ will be judged for their sins. Third, in the Book of Revelation, there is a great white throne judgment, when all will be judged. All will be judged according to their works. Those who have bad works, and are not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15). However, all will be judged on all their works. Finally, we see in 1 Peter 1, that the Father judges each one, according to his deeds. Thus, for believers, it is not just that we get judged for good deeds, but we get judged for all our deeds. These passages do not give us any idea that since we have an imputed righteousness of Christ, we won’t be judged for the bad works, which are sins. On the contrary, even believers will be judged for sins we commit. This destroys the theory of imputed righteousness of Christ as serving as the basis for the idea of there being no need for purgatory.

You ensure that there is absolutely no chance that sentience is present (that's why 26 weeks is a reasonable limit)? Weren't we talking of margin or error?

It certainly sounds charitable and fair to say that it is equally good – until you think about it. What would we think of a geologist who said, "Some people believe the world is round and some believe the world is flat, and I think we should let everyone choose the belief with which he is most comfortable"? Would you say he’s an exceptionally wise and tolerant geologist?

Yep, I agree with you on that. Perhaps because I am young and would rather begin a family from scratch.

Is very interesting. But is difficult to define reasonable margin of error. One needs a quantitative calculation. Perhaps we can come up with a differential equation or something.

Reasonable margin of error means overlap. Adam Smith said, the best result comes from everyone doing what's
best for himself, right?

That means there is overlap yes?

Federal law. Ah. I won't rust those lawyers. Let's say abortion is a decision. At this point in history we cannot understand where to drawn a line. Perhaps the line does not exist. What shall we do then. We have to decide some way or the other. In the US they decided that way, no?

I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be: it's their mistake, not my failing. If that's not good enough, it's good enough for me.

All it says is that giving is a nesessary part in being in closeness with God. But should not be a kind of tax. You give from the heart. Then if some pastor, or anyone for that case, thinks he is not happy with that, it's not my problem.

We are saying tithing is requirement for all. Everyone the same to be fair right? You have to tithe no matter what just to do as the book says. Very nice but the heart is not there.

Yep, me again. . Strange but true.

Feeling of pain and consciousness are two different things

After my job in Slough (my boss tried to have me fired, she says I made pass at her.
Is not true, that is the real problem, she was angry at me I think. Maybe I should have
made pass at her, but so what, just because she wears Valentino suit at work she thinks
she is beauty queen. So I been out of job, just for having photo of my girlfriend from back
home in Tivoli on my desk at work.

Anyway back to my story about my good old friend with a pizza restaurant, we know each
for years, we even at business school together, like, you know, so he should know how
hard business is, he should know about networking and stuff so I says to him, I give Italian
lessons and I have nice business cards printed, can I put my business cards around in his
pizza restaurant, like near the cashdesk or on the wall something like you know. He say no,
very sorry (like hes’ very sorry – why he very sorry? , I’m the one who is sorry, I have problems
paying my car to be fixed, you know, my cheque was late in the post from Italy that month I need
extra money to bridge me across some time do I explain that, so I can make some money from
giving Italian lessons.

He says, no very sorry he cannot let me show my business cards in his pizza restaurant. I say
why not mate, we are mates, so why not? He says if he let me do that then he have to let everybody
do it too. I say what? Explain that to me please. He said again, if he let me put my
cards in his restaurant he would have to let everybody else put their cards in as well. I said how come?
He say, because you have to. I say what you mean you have to? What everybody else? He say
you have to treat everybody the same. It has to be fair he says. He says you
can’t do one for thing for one person and something different for someone else, it has to be fair, the
same for everyone. And he hasn’t got room on his wall for everyone else’s business cards, so he
won't take my card and stick it up at the start of it.

I say him “you missing the point my mate – You don’t have to do the same for everybody. You do a
favour for a friend, you do because he is a friend. People who is not your friends, you don’t have to
do nothing for them. He says who is going to do them the favour then, how is it fair? I say “of course
its fair they have their own friends somewhere, it like a family you know, everybody have a family of
they friends, they do each other favours you know'. Nothing about they treat everybody the same, that
a load of puke. You my friend you do me a favour you don’t have to do it for everyone else as well –
they have they own friends and family to do them a favour. Else what is friendship mean? You know?
And one day I do you a favour backwards you know what I mean? What is value of it, what is value of
special friendship if you treat everybody the same? Then he says anyway you are not a friend you an
acquaintance. Man, I think this is at the root. They don’t have friends. They only want acquaintances.

They got some piece of paper with laws written on it telling them what to do and they all do it, they never
make exception for a friend, and they never do anything special for a friend, they never, like do any special
thing for a friend that has a value to it you know. They buy you a present and they say “heres the receipt, if
you don’t like my present you take it back to the shop and get something else you like instead”
What kind of present is that? What special about that? In newspapers classified ads they have lots of adverts
saying unwanted gift, for sale. So what kind of friend takes a gift from you and then sells it, unwanted and
advertise in a newspaper to tell everybody that it was unwanted?

People have no feelings, its all on paper only, You know, when you don’t want a gift from a friend you don’t
want that friend, but they don’t admit that. Man, they really got a problems with their friendships. Treat everybody
the same. Yes right, they even treat they family members the same – When they parents and grandparents
gets old, you know what, they throw them out of the house! They put them in institution,
in a home for old peoples, and then they only goes see them maybe once or twice a year, sometimes less. In
the institution all the old people is treated the same, they happy at last yes? Ha ha.


The same with tithing.

3 Weeks: The eyes and spinal cord are visible and the developing brain has two lobes.
4 Weeks: The heart is beating. The portion of the brain associated with consciousness (the cerebrum) and internal organs such as the lungs are beginning to develop and can be identified.

What? We have established that sentience and consiousness, does not begin in a human structure until after 26 weeks of his/her conception.
Who says that. Crazy. Being a person is not whether one can feel pain or not.

What? Allah is God's name. Allah is the name of the only God. The Holy Name of GOD Almighty was indeed "Allah" in the original Bible.
It is also interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic. Thus the God of Islam, Allah, is indeed the God of Christianity.

One can put web cam in each other's house and see what happens no?

The adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Making the same mistake over and over again is foolishness. Am one does not need to make such mistakes to understand that it is a foolosh way to act. However I appreciate someone that despite that learn the right way to do things. As for myself I feel I would deserve better. That's only my opinion.

Am very intelligent and balanced too, have a chip on both shoulders.

Sometimes I think that God is not interested in our convictions but in our attitudes. They have their good though. Not all are the same. I went to a charismatic group in Italy which was quite nice, I got closer to God in a different way than what I am used too and it still worked out ok

For me sometimes God is not interested in our convictions, but in our attitudes. I mean your ways are more expressive right.