actual thoughtful question
 

someone who feels that life started on the Earth from spontaneous generation (or whatever the alternative to creationism is- these guys say they believe in evolution, but that is another question) said he does not believe there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe; aren't those inconsistent?

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

Not necessarily, although someone saying that is probably underestimating the size of the universe.

Who said that?

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

Yes necessarily, I think. But I'm wanting people to support the answer with an explanation of how the math that supports spontaneous generation could negate the plural. Not sure you are up to it, but have a shot.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

You're assuming a traansitive property that isn't there. A huge set of happy coincidences creates the solar system. I don't think science has ruled that happening elsewhere is impossible. Current conventional wisdom appears to be only that we haven't found evidence of another ecosystem that would support human life yet.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

Translation: I'm not aware of the math that support the postulate that god didn't create everything.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

You inserted the modifier "intelligent." Is that necessary to your argument?

I anticipate (not "believe"; anticipate) that there is matter capable of self-replication elsewhere in the universe. I also anticipate that bipedal, bilaterally symmetrical carbon-based humanoids that are universally described by 20th-21st century alien encounterists starting, by some enormous coincidence, exactly during the Jet Age are utter horseshit. I anticipate our peculiar brand of intelligence is an adaptation to our environment, which is staggeringly unlikely to exist in precisely this form anywhere else. Whether there are clouds of plasma capable of what we consider consciousness is a matter of doubt, although given the vast distances necessary to get the math for infinite alternate environments, on the timescales of human civilization from inception to destruction I doubt we'll ever be in contact with any of them, or that we would ever realize it if we had.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

translation: Every week i pray to the baby Jesus.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

I think it's for the best that we all leave the "Translation:" posts to Thurgreed.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

ty says the economy needs to grow

And all that science, I don't understand. It's just my job 5 days a week.
 

Uh, you are aware that you're posting this to a bunch of lawyers? Speaking solely for myself, if I could have handled math involving letters, I'd have gone to medical school.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

This person needs a less cerebral hobby. Navel gazing only works if you've got intellectual horsepower to burn.

George Bush seems to have done well with painting. Recommend that to him.

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

That's conventional wisdom? We either have the evidence or we don't. (I guess someone could be misreading something, or have misplaced a file containing all the dispositive evidence... but those guys with telescopes are really fucking smart.)

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

I was grabbing an hors d'oevre when it happened. Bad as Theismann?

Re: actual thoughtful question
 

Are you looking for a fucking equation? If so you're on the wrong board (and you know it).

TM

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

SKIP IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH

Worse. Theismann's was a clean break as a result of LT coming down on it. Ware's tibia and fibula just seemed to shatter, with breaks in multiple spots. His bones came way out of the skin and it seemed as if his skin was the only thing that kept the lower part of his leg and foot from being separated from the upper part altogether.

TM