PCR has been around since the 80s, though it has continued getting more efficient and cheaper

Yes, I worry we’re entering the exponential curve, with the new effort to put ten commandments in schools

Creeping theocracy

Perhaps the better metaphor would he cilantro. Which to some people tastes like soap. Though sometimes I wonder if I also think it tastes a bit like soap, and maybe I’m just less picky

I could definitely see that. Their obsession with the idea that kids are being ‘groomed’ to be gay suggests they think it’s a choice. Makes one wonder if they are dealing with internalized uncertainty and cognitive dissonance about their personal choice

There are a lot of aspects of the world that are wonderful, can’t yet be explained, and maybe don’t even need explanation to be worshiped and enjoyed. Religion is just a means to make sense of these parts of our cosmos (I myself am a complete atheist, but have friends whose lives have been definitely enriched by finding religion). The problems arise when manipulative people codify these beliefs into regimented systems of control. That creates an incentive to coerce others to follow the same beliefs. That in turn leads to religions beginning to be shaped by a kind of memetic survival of the fittest. Some religions try to short-cut the hard work of having actually good ideas that improve people’s lives, by instead coercing people into beliefs that maximize birth rate and reduce individual thought.

Reminds me of the chants in the game Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOI-uY7m-Og

The loudness of the plane, plus looking down at the device, plus the prop moving so fast and high enough off the ground that she didn’t see it in corner of her eye.

It is nice to generate generalizable code examples, to give me clues how stuff works. I find that my work (marine biogeochemistry) is obscure enough that there’s a certain level where I am still on my own. Which is a good sign for my future employability!

Religious extremists will always work to propagate their beliefs by coopting state resources: in this case, the education system. They know their ideas can’t stand on their own merits, so they instead work to weasel their way in through forced prayer in school, teaching of religious ideas in science class, and of course, censorship of school libraries. It is theft of our taxpayer dollars to support their proselytization, which is ironic because some of these creeps are the same people raving about welfare queens and food stamps.

The thing is that the mainstream aspect will burn out, like most fads do, but the people who really love it will keep loving it, and some (usually small) amount of the new influx will also stick around permanently and enrich the community. It’s just about surviving through the fad part that is hard.

that’s disturbing, I’m very sorry you had to deal with that, having someone you were supposed to trust with your health, who suddenly pulled back the curtain and revealed themselves as an utter moron.

Same with leaded gas: it is a wonderful fuel additive; very effective and engines ran so well as they covered the world with lead microparticles. And CFCs: a really great refrigerant but it just also loves reacting with stratospheric ozone! Oddly enough, both commercialized by the same dude https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Midgley_Jr.

I know time is relative but that’s going a bit too far

I think Quora is on another level. It’s a weird zombie site these days

Agreed. But it’s likely because Howard Shultz finally handed over the reins. He is such an anti-union ideologue that he was willing to risk the health of his own company rather than make a deal

They aren’t irrelevant. They can be mobilized, and their turnout made the difference in Georgia and Arizona flipping blue. Some are apathetic, but others would vote if they had transportation, time off work, childcare, were informed about what interests of theirs were at stake

Around 36% of voters there went for Biden, and only a 46% turnout. So a lot of people who didn’t vote for Trump.

Yeah, I’m not clear on whether it’s the same deduction or not. Either way, it’s surreal that we are actually discussing this as a real life scenario.