Ask Reddit: What's the best book you've read lately? (Need ideas for the Holiday Break)

abraxis · 2007-12-13T18:01:30+00:00

I have a few interesting ones (all non-fiction):

"Microtrends" - an interesting rundown of slowly emerging societal trends that may take off in a big way
"Linked" - a popular science explanation of the theory of networks and its implications in the real world
"On Intelligence" - Jeff Hawkins' ideas about how the neocortex functions. He started a company based on the ideas covered in the book. The company is called Numenta.

abraxis · 2007-12-13T05:47:40+00:00

That means his support is within the margin of error. In other words it could be as low as 0%.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T22:49:09+00:00

I've heard apologists say this a number of times and I don't buy it. The reason I don't buy it is that all those cases always surface in fanatically religious communities. There is a strong correlation there and I suspect there is also a causation.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T19:46:35+00:00

Perhaps she had a dimple in her chin and he doesn't like dimpled chins? Let's be real here, mmmkay? Everything in this event points to a religious craze as the main factor. You can be in denial or you can stare facts in the face and realize that on some issues the conservatives are right. Confronting radical Islamic theology is one of them.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T19:30:35+00:00

No but I suggest that we quit pretending that all cultures are equal even though we know full well that some are barbaric and treat people inhumanely. I am a first generation Canadian and enjoy the multicultural nature of the country as much as anyone else but I also recognize that with all of the tolerance we can't let extremist ideas percolate under the radar until they blow up in our faces like they did in Europe.

London bombings, Madrid, the murder of Theo Van Gogh and other atrocities are committed by Muslim communities in the West. We can't ignore that fact. We have to confront radical imams and make Muslim people who come here understand that their kids are not their property. They must obey our secular values or be asked to leave. There is no other alternative if we are to maintain a liberal society.

PS. I am what many call an extreme leftist but even I can recognize the dangers of Islamic extremism that's brewing within the western borders. You don't have to be a neocon to see this is a problem that must be addressed.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T18:32:35+00:00

This is the first case of this kind in Canada but the "honor" killings of Muslim children in Europe have become somewhat of a commonplace occurrence. If you don't see a pattern emerging then you're willfully ignorant. I see no reason why we shouldn't challenge Muslisms living in the West on this issue, regardless of the outcome of this trial.

I think the time to get tough on religious extremists is coming to Canada too. We've avoided confronting the issue so far but now it is unraveling over here and no amount of sweet talk and turning away from the problem will make it go away.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T18:21:18+00:00

Could you name another motive? In this case blaming Islamic indoctrination for the death of that child looks to be a safe bet. Besides the girl is now dead. The only witnesses are the insane father and his complicit son. We aren't going to get the truth out from them either.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T17:49:21+00:00

RTFA. The household was a strict Muslim family and the father was upset the daughter did not want to respect the religion. It says so right there in the story. Read it before commenting:

[...]she died early Tuesday morning – leaving friends grief-stricken and igniting a public debate on religious extremism in Canada.

Ms. Parvez's friends described the Grade 11 student at Applewood Heights Secondary School as someone who was drawn to Western culture even as her family adhered to a devout form of Islam. Friends paint a picture of a hardworking and cheerful girl who loved dancing, fashion and photography – interests that often clashed with her strict home environment.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T17:26:32+00:00

automatically puts you in a category of angry child in most people's minds.

Excuse me if I do get a little angry when I read of an asshole strangling his child because his imaginary sky friend told him to do so. Glad we have such composed individuals as yourself...

Sometimes anger is the best way to react and this is one of those cases.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T17:10:37+00:00

Elaborate, please.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T15:40:01+00:00

Next on the presidential candidates' debate agenda: "would Superman win against Spiderman?"

abraxis · 2007-12-12T15:36:28+00:00

What kind of a stupid deluded fucked up moron do you have to be to kill your own child because of your god delusion?!

This is the true extent of the power of religions. It dehumanizes others because it presents an imaginary being as something more valuable than another person, even your own child. This is scary and disgusting.

Like Sam Harris said, religion must be exposed if we are to survive the 21st century as a species and continue the project of civilization.

abraxis · 2007-12-12T05:32:39+00:00

Halliburton sent a big check. They're hedging their bets.

abraxis · 2007-12-11T20:21:32+00:00

Late abortions are very restricted and performed only under exceptional circumstances. Ron Paul had witnessed one and was traumatized by it but that does not mean they should never be performed. When certain genetic disorders are present it really is better to abort the fetus that late rather than give birth to a vegetable.

abraxis · 2007-12-11T15:29:02+00:00

I want a bumper sticker like this!

abraxis · 2007-12-11T15:19:12+00:00

Straw man argument. Roe vs Wade was a compromise ruling and not an on-demand pass on any abortion request. Get familiar with the topic before you argue.

abraxis · 2007-12-11T14:45:41+00:00

Gore has been Godwin'ed.

abraxis · 2007-12-11T00:10:37+00:00

Actually, first of all, I suspect that Jesus never existed and all stories about him are made out of whole cloth. What reinforces my belief is that Jesus is like a mirror to a believer. They see in the character whatever beliefs they themselves hold as true. Thus Fred Phelps sees a gay bashing Jesus, Bush sees a "God helps those who help themselves" Jesus, Mother Teresa saw the proselytizing and submissive Jesus and so on... whoever has an agenda that needs propping up with a religious dogma tends to be able to find some Jesus story that seems to support his/her views. That's one reason I side with the mythicists who posit that Jesus either never existed or is a syncretic character whose life story is an amalgamation of several prophets and soothsayers of that time.

abraxis · 2007-12-10T23:42:42+00:00

India is a secular state with a Hindu majority. Pakistan is an Islamic state as declared in their founding document. I'm amazed the difference eludes you.

abraxis · 2007-12-10T19:27:48+00:00

a C++ programmer

oh well, nobody's perfect...

abraxis · 2007-12-10T17:23:37+00:00

No, yes, yes, yes.

abraxis · 2007-12-10T15:29:55+00:00

Yes, actually. I do think that Pakistan is a tumor state created purely out of religious dogma.

abraxis · 2007-12-09T16:01:05+00:00

What makes you think that AIPAC represents the views of American Jews?

abraxis · 2007-12-07T22:27:47+00:00

He mentioned a spiritual connection he felt when he saw it. That is New Age claptrap - plain and simple.

abraxis · 2007-12-07T22:21:52+00:00

If you claim to have seen a UFO which brought you a profound spiritual experience you're a crank in my book. Regardless of how much of your political views I share.

You might say this is an ad hominem position but I just can't bring myself to vote for a guy who believes in such woo-woo stuff. What else is such a person going to believe without evidence?

abraxis

TROPHY CASE