30AugConversation with a creationist

Apparently there are still some anthropocentrists around. I came across one of these gems on YouTube.

I turned the conversation into a video:

Mr88playmaker
DNA code is empirical proof that biological life forms are a creative product of information and language. i.e.: Nous / Logos (Einstein called this: “The MIND of GOD”).

tcorp
Dude. DNA is just a self-replicating molecule that emerged naturally as a result of organic chemistry. Any degree of complexity it may have is because of natural processes and not intelligent magic. Get over your anthropocentrism and smell the coffee.

Mr88playmaker
DNA code and DNA molecule are not the same thing.

Information and medium are not the same thing.

If I call you on the phone to inform you that you’ve won the lottery, the INFORMATION is not the telephone. Same as the information I am communicating to you now. The information I am communicating to you here is NOT your computer monitor nor this web site. I could transmit the same info via 100 different mediums. So it is with DNA information. They’re now making man made DNA-computers!

tcorp
With DNA, the information IS the medium. It’s nothing more than a molecular chain. What you consider information is simply the order or combinations of amino acids as they have accumulated through time by the natural selection of their consequences. It’s really not that hard to understand.

Mr88playmaker
You’re mistaken. I understand the social and political implications surrounding the fact that information is neither matter nor energy; and how that fact strikes against what atheists are trying to show (that there’s no God). However, when it comes to science, it is every thinking man’s duty to accept the scientific facts as they are. No atheist scientist has refuted the facts I’ve shared with you. Many do double-talk about redefining terms in irrelevant venues but not OFFICIALLY.

Mr88playmaker
Within the scientific community, no one will place himself on record to state, as his official scientific position, that code is not code or that information is not information. It would be ridiculous and can not be published UNLESS he could prove what he means. There’s a lot of irrelevant “mere suggestions” floating around on atheists sites about how DNA directions / instructions are “abstract” thinga-majigs that constitute as matter (not information) but it flies in the face of all science

tcorp
Gods? I’m sorry, I live in Europe. Most of us gave up believing in gods and goblins as operators in the world many centuries ago. Science and education has progressed quite a bit since you left this side of the pond. Hopefully, one day your education standards will follow suit. For example, geocentricism was defeated a long time ago here. Do you still hold the religious belief that the Sun revolves around the Earth over there? Also, where do you stand on curses and witchcraft?

Mr88playmaker
Your “science” and “education” has not made you any wiser and I’ll prove it.
There are only two options. Pick one!
Either:
(1) Intelligence arises from an INTELLIGENT source
OR
(2) INTELLIGENCE arises from a NON-Intelligent source.
Atheists are illogical. You’re disqualified from all things logic and logical.
You can NOT logically defend you position; whereas, I CAN mine!

tcorp
You’re assuming there’s intelligence in DNA. I don’t exactly know where you take this assumption from, but if you had any understanding of chemistry, biology or genetics you would know that there is no intelligence in DNA patterns. Complexity does not require any intelligence. You can look at sand dunes and conclude their geometry is complex, but it’s just wind blowing on sand. Natural processes spring forth complexity. I’m afraid your view of genetics isn’t very scientific.

Mr88playmaker
Those “patterns” you speak of are INFORMATION i.e. the communication of knowledge or intelligence.
Try getting a “pattern” from your couch cushions to serve as blueprint language instructions for the creation and governance of biological life forms. It aint gonna happen. Language has rules and information is neither matter nor energy.
Moreover, both language and information arise only from a MIND.
I said info, not data.

tcorp
You’re confusing results of emergence with purpose. It’s just not how the laws of physics work I’m afraid. I also notice you’re having trouble comprehending the time scales involved in abiogenesis and the progression of complexity. Furthermore, simply because we can gather accumulated data and information from nature, doesn’t mean the data or information was implanted by an alien intelligence. Natural processes suffice on their own for the emergence and continuation of complexity.


29AugHow to stop Scientology from advertising on your site

In this tutorial you will learn how to block Scientology or any other nut jobs undesirable companies from advertising on your site or blog using Google’s AdSense.

Category Filters

The first layer of filtering you can apply is by category. Remember, like any other money making cult, Scientology claims to be a “religion”. Google’s Category Filter allows you block religious ads from your site. Here’s an easy step-by-step on how to set up category filtering on AdSense.

Step 1
Login to your Google Adsense.

Step 2
Click on “AdSense Setup” tab.

Step 3
Click on the “Ad Review Center” tab.

Step 4
Next to “Filtered Categories” click on “change”.

Step 5
Select the category you want to ban from your site and click on “Submit” when you’re done.

If you have multiple Client-ID’s, make sure to switch over and apply the filters on them too.

You have now successfully set up category filters on AdSense. Changes could take up to 10 minutes to propagate.

Competitive Ad Filter

The second best way to filter out unwanted parties from advertising on your site is by using the Competitive Ad Filter. This is for those advertisers that don’t categorize correctly when they submit their ads (for whatever reason) or sites belonging to competitors that you simply do not wish to be associated with. We’re going to use it to block out Scientology. Here’s how in works:

Step 1
Again, click on the “AdSense Setup” tab but this time select the “Competitive Ad Filter” tab below it.

Step 2
Enter the URL of the offending website (scientology.org) in the “AdSense for Content filters” box and click “Save changes.”

Finding the URL of the advertiser can be tricky sometimes. Since it’s against Google’s policy to actually click on the ads to find their URL’s, you will have to use the Google’s AdSense Preview Tool to do it.

Don’t forget to update your list of sites for Mobile ads as well (if you have them).

As you can see from my screenshot, I have all kinds of organizations on my lists, including www.newsmax.com, a right wing propaganda group operating in the United States, but you can compile your own lists as you please.


13AugWordPress Plugin for Twitter’s Tweet Button

I decided to write a WordPress plugin for Twitter’s new Tweet Button.

The plugin implements Twitter’s Tweet Button on your blog or site. The tweet button can be positioned as you please and can be styled to your delight in the settings page.

Features and customization possibilities

  • Custom recommendations per post entry for relevancy.
  • Option for tweeting the entry title, page title, blog name or a custom text.
  • Each post can have custom tweet texts.
  • Custom text for tweets can be made using tags (%POSTTITLE%, %BLOGTITLE%).
  • Tweet Button can be positioned at the top, bottom or both.
  • Tweet Button can be align right, left, center (or none).
  • Tweet Button can be excluded from bottom of posts on front page.
  • Can be set to be positioned by the [tweetbutton] shortcode.
  • Can be set to be positioned manually.
  • Styling options for the div that surrounds the button.
  • Can be set to vertical, horizontal or no counter.
  • Option to switch between ‘{text} {link} via {@user}’ and ‘RT {@user} {text} {link}’ formats.
  • Referral can be turned off by removing the username.
  • Authors can configure their own Twitter accounts on their profile pages. (WP3.x only)
  • Tweet button language can be set to Twitter’s supported languages.
  • Tweet Button can be generated manually using the tweetbutton(); function.
  • Supports WordPress 3 shortener functions.
  • Initial URL shrinking with 3rd party services (b2l.me, bit.ly, cli.gs, sl.ly, snipr, su.pr, tinyurl)
  • Initial URL shrinking with the Twitter Friendly Links Plugin.
  • Initial URL shrinking with the YOURLS: WordPress to Twitter Plugin.
  • WPTouch Support.
  • counturl support for consistent url counts across URL shorteners.
  • Supports adding a rel attribute (SEO).
  • Hooks for 3rd party developers.
  • Supports option to output in data tags.
  • Includes caching controls for WP Super Cache and W3 Total Cache.
  • Google Analytics support for campaign tracking.

Continue reading ‘WordPress Plugin for Twitter’s Tweet Button’


11AugA Tribute to Carl Sagan

A wonderful series of videos by callumCGLP, narrated by Carl Sagan from his book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space.

Lost fans will recognize the music by Michael Giacchino but will also see parallels in the narrative with the grand concept behind Lost.

Part 1: A Universe Not Made For Us

Part 2: Consider Again That Pale Blue Dot

Part 3: Wanderers





Calendar

September 2010
MTWTFSS
« Aug  
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930