0pheliA

*checks your list* Must subscribe to the Watchtower? Really?

This makes me so excited. Just a few months ago there was legitimate concern they wouldn't find it, and much of our physical models and theory since the 70s would have been flipped on their ass. As of April they were speculating that there was only a 1% chance they were going to find it at all, and it actually may not have existed.

My internet is being crappy tonight and I am having trouble connecting to a lot of sites, or I could post similar links showing other animals that are able to communicate. Cuttlefish, Octopus, Dolphins. All three are proving to be able to communicate and learn language (though the inability to sign or use any other form of easily recognizable form of human communication is a barrier in these studies.) Parrots and relatives come close to passing similar testing, however it seems more to be specific exceptional individuals as opposed to the entire species. Out of thousands of parrots you may get one in captivity that advanced. However the implications are pretty staggering, because if you get a few together you could breed for it.

Compromise is finding a middleground which benefits everyone, settling is giving up and giving in.

The tests I am referring to test for all four.

Then you do not understand that definition. It refers to self awareness. They have tests which can tell if animals are self aware, as well as other traits they use to define sentience. The animals that so far pass this test are Humans, some Chimps/Bonobos, certain Species of Dolphin, and some species of Cephalopod (squid/octopus/cuttlefish.)

<3 the Cylon

Unless you invent a quantum science accelerator.

Your passport isn't up to date? How do you expect to take me for a burger and a Heineken without a passport?

Communication and compromise And knowing what you want from the get go and not settling, most people tend to take whatever comes along. Human beings are prone to projecting ourselves onto others and think they have so much in common, while being oblivious to who the other person really is. Then at some point the blinders come off and we go "you changed!"

Abortion should be up to the individual, the government's place in it is to guarantee the individual actually has that choice to make.

I agree it is not a place for the government. In Canada we handled things a lot differently. Things like abortion, gay rights, etc ; very little public discourse. Here it has always boiled down to "is this a basic human right?" If it is decided it is, then the laws are changed to reflect that. Until now that has worked wonderfully, except now we have a Neo-Con in office abusing how our system works. Instead of filling the air with emotion filled debates, he's just pushing shit through and hoping nobody notices.

The fact it is an issue that triggers strong emotions on both sides is exactly why it has been brought up again. It is something very hard to get people to think rationally on, on either side. It is a distraction. It gets people heated and divided before even having a chance to talk about more politically important issues, and once divided people tend to stay that way.

Yeah, it is a rule of the internet ; you cannot spot sarcasm/humor unless emoticons are used. However that completely destroys the ability to deadpan something, which is often a lot funnier.

My friend Nymada (on this forum) has been experiencing really bad computer issues the last few weeks, and today it finally died completely. I purchased myself a new machine just yesterday, with intent of giving her my old one as one of the major deciding factors to do so. It was originally going to be dropped off for her on the 11th, however now it is a bit of an emergency situation. I am wondering if anyone with a vehicle and passport could swing by where I am in downtown Windsor and pick my laptop up, and drop it off for her in Hamtramck.

lol I knew you were joking hun, so was I. I actually really like your personality.

because normal is for idiots I am thinking I hope I get fudge for my bday

If I were to pick a fictional computer from Hitchhikers, I'd name it Earth.

There is a difference between Libertarian as a political party and Libertarian as a political dynamic. You need a governing force of some sort to maintain Liberty, otherwise someone just comes and takes it away. The American system actually managed to protect it for a good while, but has become broken. The Canadian system as well greatly protected liberty, but itself is starting to falter. It isn't a failing of the political systems we have. Each system builds on the successes and learns from the failures of the last. We are due for another big reset, with the next step having better guidelines to protect from what has happened this time. The Libertarian party in the USA is very Conservative, while Anarchists tend to be excessively Liberal. Both views are valid, we need the right and left to be able to debate with each other to keep each other in check and for real progress. Real political debate has not existed for quite a while though.

Sorry Troy, you need to develop a personality it seems.

An entire internet of cats and porn, and you give me the wrong kind of pussy you are no friend of mine!!!!!

A raspberry beret Like the kind you find at a second hand store