There are valid criticisms of evolution

Wichita Eagle ^ | 3/9/2005 | David berlinski

[PatrickHenry]

Not even a birth cert.

I always knew there was something strange about you. This is how the aliens work their way into our population, awaiting orders from their green masters. How many of you Martians live among us, undocumented as you are?

[longshadow]

Not even a birth cert.

Just as I suspected; you don't exist!

[VadeRetro]

I think I finally realized what you are saying.

Going back to my own example, the plate would not be lifted from the ground by this particular ultra-feeble BB pressure. Rather, it would just "weigh" (press down on whatever is under it) microscopically less with the BB stream hitting it than without. In orbit, this means the equilibrium when it happens is slightly higher because of this pressure. But that's it. There is no constant new acceleration.

Am I getting close?

[Junior]

Martians, my patootie. They're from Zeta Reticuli.

[PatrickHenry]

Could be the Seventh Planet. Nothing good comes from there.

[Gumlegs]

He ended up using his daughter's birthdate to create me a birth cert so I could be naturalized.

So when it's "your" birthday, does everyone sing, "Happy judge's daughter's birthday to you/Happy judge's daughter's birthday to you..."?

Just curious. How've you been, RA?

[longshadow]

In orbit, this means the equilibrium when it happens is slightly higher because of this pressure. But that's it. There is no constant new acceleration.

Am I getting close?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner!

As for the rest of our contestants, we hope you enjoyed being on the show, and as a consolation prize you'll be provided with the home version of our game, plus other parting gifts.....

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you oh so very much for your wonderful, encouraging reply!

somethimes I get the distinct impression that rather than engage the issues brought to the table, some resort to challenging the qualifications and/or motives of the person making an argument they evidently choose to avoid.

Indeed. That is always troubling and points to a weakness in the correspondence using such methods.

The Chinese professor angst on the other thread is a case in point - rather than address the substance of the quote, the entire discussion was derailed to the refusal to attribute the quote and accusations of dishonesty, global condemnations of all associates, etc.

Here's the rub - even if the quote were a clever rephrasing of the sentiment - the substance of the quote remains, which is the entire point of the excerpt of Dr. Cheing's interview at post 145.

All questions are ignored, one never learns what a person's actual, active thinking about the issue under dispute is, what grounds his view of the matter is based on, why the avoided question was improper on evidentiary or logical grounds, and so forth. In short, one gets pure polemics and zero rational discussion.

Indeed. I agree that any side which is reduced to "circling the wagons" with ad hominen attacks and other redirects is in really big trouble. Advantage, betty boop and Alamo-Girl.

[Elsie]

Most qualified mathematicians and physicists don't apparently agree. In fact, many collaborate with biologists in helping to further the research you are casting aspersions on. How do we evaluate the strength of your claim versus their claims?

Appeal to authority?

[Elsie]

Unless you are able to produce the research yourself, your only outlet is to rely on those that can and have done the research.

This sure SOUNDS good, but it's the INTERPRETATION of the 'research' that is being debated in these threads.

[Elsie]

It's WORSE in INDIANA!


If the Enlightened get their way, we'll have daylight savings time again, and OUR poor astronomers will have less time to actually see stars!

How will science advance?

[Right Wing Professor]

Appeal to authority?

Not really. We're talking about an appraisal of the status of a scientific field. Anyone can make such an appraisal, but you'd tend to trust someone who had worked in the field.

For instance, one of the reasons they use athletes in commercials for athletic apparel is that we presume athletes have some experience with athletic apparel. Consider the alternative:

Physical Chemistry Professor RWP says: "When I need that great takeoff boost and hang time near the bucket, I'm glad I chose Reeboks for my basketball footware needs. They're a slam dunk!

Cut away to the imposing figure of an over-40 college professor, under 6 feet and slightly overweight (and ahem, belonging to the racial group that notoriously can't jump anyway), who can slam dunk only with the assistance of a step-ladder.

[js1138]

placemarker

[Elsie]

White men can't JUMP!