Posts by acsot

16

Out-of-body experiences recreated in a lab

by acsot in

jw
friends

wonder what paranormal believers will make of this.

british and swiss researchers have succeeded in deliberately inducing out-of-body sensations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/rtgam.20070823.wbrain0824/bnstory/science/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsup.

acsot

I find this stuff fascinating also, FreedomFrog, but do I believe in the paranormal? Uh, no. And yes, I've had what would be described as an out-of-body experience, therefore my fascination with said subject. Did I ever think it was my "soul" or a "god experience" or whatever? No.

As research is beginning to demonstrate (and as other experiments have shown that supposed "god experiences" = temporal lobe stimulation), there are (unfortunately for paranormal believers), rather more mundane medical/scientific explanations for what I/others have experienced. I know, of course, that those who want to believe will continue to do so, evidence to the contrary will be dismissed or somehow explained away, and their comfort zone will remain intact.

16

Out-of-body experiences recreated in a lab

by acsot in

jw
friends

wonder what paranormal believers will make of this.

british and swiss researchers have succeeded in deliberately inducing out-of-body sensations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/rtgam.20070823.wbrain0824/bnstory/science/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsup.

acsot

Wonder what paranormal believers will make of this. British and Swiss researchers have succeeded in deliberately inducing out-of-body sensations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070823.wbrain0824/BNStory/Science/?cid=al_gam_nletter_newsUp

111

I REALLY DON'T CARE...............................

by Warlock in

i believe in god, but i also realize he may not exist.. if you don't believe in god, i really don't care, i'm just curious.. i don't have this need to start threads like "why you must believe in god", or other such nonsense, but some of you still have this "control" issue that you thought you left in the org.

it seems like you must still try to control what others think.

"think like me, or you are an idiot.

acsot

Seeker4:

Finally, when you wrote "(a fact is a fact, a not proved theory is a not proved theory and an opinion is an opinion)" - well, I'm just not going to deal with that again. You've shown in thread after thread that you have no concept of what a scientific theory is. Perhaps it's a language problem, but it is very hard to respect someone writing about what scientists think or don't think, when that person doesn't even understand the basic concept of scientific theories. There must be a few science books written for the layman in French. You need to take the time to read a couple.

This very discussion took place here:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/129048/2288307/post.ashx#2288307

I provided RAF with a McGill University paper (in French) detailing what "theory" means in the scientific field as well as the mountain of proof that exists concerning evolution. As you can see from her subsequent responses, it didn't do any good.

22

Updated on Orangefatcats husband Marco

by orangefatcat in

jw
friends

hi again, sorry i haven't been able to get to the computer for days now as i am so tired when i get home from the hospital.

yesterday i was just so out of things i had to take a break mentally and emotionally.. it is terrible seeing marco everyday being sick and deteriating.

on sunday after church i went to the hospital and just got there in time to speak to the cadiologist.

acsot

I'm so terribly sorry to hear about this . I haven't been around too much here lately and I had no idea Marco was in such a bad way. ((((orangefatcat)))

35

Were motoring through Canada -- need tips.

by Fatfreek in

jw
friends

end of july, early august -- we're coming, the four of us.

wife judy and brother-in-law and sister-in-law and i are squeezing into our buick and heading north.

we're thinking of starting our east to west trek at nova scotia and make it to british columbia after some two weeks.

acsot

I guess we'll have to do some deciding before trekking into Quebec City. We'd probably feel like some of the espanics in this redneck territory.

I hope you're kidding. Would you refuse to visit Charles Bridge in Prague just in case you didn't come across any English speaking people? It's up to you, if you want to miss out on one of the most picturesque, European-style cities in North America. Old Quebec reminds me more of Europe, Prague in particular, than Old Montreal.

Read this: http://radio.weblogs.com/0117154/stories/2002/12/14/quebecCityCanada.html

And the venerable Fodors: http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=quebec_city@127&cur_section=fea&feature=30008

Guess what? Tours can be booked in English!

Actually, some of the funniest times I've had, and the most memorable, have been trying to converse in a language I don't know, with the people of those countries trying to help me or just switching to English to ease my embarrassment. As sammieswife said, so much depends on the tourist doing the visiting. I mean, if you're going to visit another country wouldn't you seek out the different cultures, languages, culinary experiences, etc. etc.?

If I visit South America, expecting Spanish everywhere, then I would be the one with the wrong expectations if I want the Quechua people in certain areas to speak to me in Spanish, since that's the language I understand. If I'm in a place where Quechua is spoken, I'd do my best to communicate in any way I could, and try and enjoy the process.

Of course, in a lot of my travels, I've gone to places where I don't understand the language, so to me it's not really a big deal. If this is the first time you're thinking about going someplace outside your comfort zone with respect to communicating, then I understand it may seem somewhat daunting. Whatever you decide, make sure you HAVE FUN!!

35

Were motoring through Canada -- need tips.

by Fatfreek in

jw
friends

end of july, early august -- we're coming, the four of us.

wife judy and brother-in-law and sister-in-law and i are squeezing into our buick and heading north.

we're thinking of starting our east to west trek at nova scotia and make it to british columbia after some two weeks.

acsot

Good luck. From what I hear, if you don't speak french while in Quebec (Montreal and Quebec City), you're an outcast. My wife almost got arrested there for causing a disturbance - she was stopped from bringing food to her mother while at the Montreal airport. My wife got pissed off because people were yelling at her in French.
From what I've heard about Quebec, I don't want to go visiting there

Completely disagree. I live in Quebec and though I'm trilingual (English, French, Spanish), when I don't feel like speaking French in stores or restaurants, I don't. Quebec City will be a madhouse of tourists in July and August. I was there a few months ago, with visiting German friends, and we spoke English exclusively. If you visit small towns off the beaten track you'll probably find fewer English-speaking people, but I doubt you'll have time for that if you're planning on getting across the country in two weeks.

Before hitting Quebec City, stop at Tadoussac, (http://www.tadoussac.com/newsite/tourismeeng/accueil.htm) (notice the website is bilingual, English and French). Go whale watching, August is perfect timing.

While in Quebec, visit Montmorency Falls. For the hardy, there's a path up to the top (it's higher than Niagara), for the non-hardy there are cable cars. (http://www.rtsq.qc.ca/quebec/dc012.htm)

Montreal is very English-oriented, and all tours/hotels/b&b establishments, etc. cater to English-speaking tourists. However, I enjoy trying out the language of the country I'm in when I travel (although my Czech is horrendous ), just for the fun of it. People always appreciate it (as you would also, I'm sure) when others make a bit of an effort to speak their language.

You may hit some of Montreal's many festivals at that time, perhaps the Just for Laughs festival (I don't know the dates off hand). Last year many of the acts were in English only.

BTW, on the street where I live, the neighbours to my right, left and directly across the street are all English. Although the breakdown is 33% English in my neighbourhood, most people are bilingual.

If you or others in your party are the religious type, there are cathedrals, basilicas and places of pilgrimmage all over the province.

The Botanical Gardens are one of the largest in the world (I'm a member and have taken several workshops there), and the Insectarium is kind of cool ) (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/menu.htm (again, notice the link is the English one).

Any other info on Montreal, just pm me.

72

For women: your view of strip clubs

by Paralipomenon in

i have heard two vastly differing viewpoints on this subject over the years.

regarding your significant other, would you care if they went to a strip club or not?

some examples: .

acsot

I don't mind if I go with him, but I get to go here (www.club281.ca) without him .

12

Home and Garden Tips for Spring

by onlycurious in

jw
friends

for those who are interested, i have a monthly newsletter i have published.. this month i gathered articles on "tips for a cozier and more inviting home" and "5 quick gardening tips to save you money".

feel free to forward this to a friend.. .

.

acsot

onlycurious, interesting newsletter!

Frannie, thanks for the tips!

262

Global Warming Hysteria

by metatron in

jw
friends

http://cjunk.blogspot.com/2007/02/quacks-cranks-and-junk-science.html.

are global warming skeptics really just cranks?

i don't doubt that we are having some effect on .

acsot

INDEPTH: FRASER INSTITUTE

The Fraser Institute at 30

CBC News Online | October 12, 2004

The Fraser Institute was founded in 1974 by a group of academics and business executives who were concerned that government was getting too big, and that debate on the best way of meeting the economic and social aspirations of Canadians centred on heavy government involvement.

There are those who say the organization's birth was not completely benign; they charge that Michael Walker, an economist from the University of Western Ontario, helped set up the institute after he received financial backing from forestry giant MacMillan-Bloedel, largely to counter B.C.'s NDP government.
To counter charges that it had an agenda, the Fraser Institute said that:

Its research priorities would be determined by its staff, not its funders.

Its research would be based on sound methodology and facts. To ensure this, an Editorial Advisory Board would be established.

No institute staff would engage in political activity, and the institute's conclusions would not be modified to favour any political or economic group.

The Fraser Institute is clear about its focus. Its website and all its major publications state:

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian economic and social research and educational organization. It has as its objective the redirection of public attention to the role of competitive markets in providing for the well-being of Canadians. Where markets work, the Institute's interest lies in trying to discover prospects for improvement.

Where markets do not work, its interest lies in finding the reasons. Where competitive markets have been replaced by government control, the interest of the Institute lies in documenting objectively the nature of the improvement or deterioration resulting from government intervention.

The institute – which came to be known as a "right-wing think tank" – didn't attract much attention nationally in the early years, mainly because the prevailing notion in most of the western world was that government had a large role to play in improving the social and economic conditions of citizens.

High interest rates, soaring government deficits and public debt began to change some minds by the late 1970s. In Britain, Margaret Thatcher swept into office with a promise of getting the country's finances in order and the government off people's backs. In the U.S., Ronald Reagan's promises of tax cuts and a return to prosperity through smaller government also led to a big win.

The Fraser Institute identified hot button issues early and got into the debate. Some of the reports it published include:

Caring For Profit: Economic Dimensions of Canada's Health Care Industry (1987)

Privatization: Tactics and Techniques (1988)

Waiting Your Turn: Hospital Waiting Lists in Canada series (1990-present)

Economics and the Environment: A Reconciliation (1990)

The Fraser Institute has called for changes such as a flatter tax system, private involvement in health care, and allowing parents more choice in their children's education (vouchers that can be used to help pay the cost of a private school education).

One issue the Fraser Institute has paid considerable attention to is taxation. It has consistently called for tax relief for corporations and individuals, to bring taxes more in line with those of the United States, Canada's largest trading partner.

For years, the institute's researchers have determined which day of the year you would have to work until to meet all your tax obligations to all levels of government. The Fraser Institute's Tax Freedom Day is generally towards the end of June, although the day varies depending on which province you live in. The institute has been very successful in attracting media attention to the annual announcement.

The Fraser Institute has come under harsh criticism from several groups. Trade unions have lambasted the organization for its recommendations to abolish minimum wage regulations and to end rules that force workers covered by a union agreement to pay union dues.

In 1999, the Fraser Institute raised the ire of scientists and health professionals when it sponsored two conferences on the tobacco industry. They were titled "Junk Science, Junk Policy? Managing Risk and Regulation" and "Should government butt out? The pros and cons of tobacco regulation." The institute was accused of putting its credibility on the line by allying itself with the tobacco industry's efforts to undermine credible scientific research.

The institute has also come out with some surprising recommendations: it declared the war on drugs to be lost and called for the decriminalization of marijuana. Its researchers argued that illegal pot meant a boost for organized crime, as otherwise-law-abiding people went underground to make their purchases.

The Fraser Institute has a history of attracting high-profile people. Michael Walker remains at the head of the organization. Former Ontario premier Mike Harris and Reform party founder Preston Manning are both senior fellows with the institute.

62

MCLEANS SEXTUPLETS AND BLOOD ARTICLE - SCANNED COPY FOR YOU

by hawkaw in

please just add an http:// at the beginning of all of these urls, then copy to your browser address area and click away.. i really didn't like to read about how the jws won all these court decisions on freedom when they don't even let their members be free but still the article is balanced enough to leave a serious indent on the side of shane's head.. hawkawl.freeservers.com/mclean's%20cover.jpg.

hawkawl.freeservers.com/mcleans%20page%2034.jpg.

hawkawl.freeservers.com/mcleans%20page%2035.jpg.

acsot

And there's that "annonymous poster" named "Lady Lee" quoted in the article. Anyone know who that could be?