gdp's Comments

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Thouands stage Belfast City Hall flag protest - Northern Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegrap

Sat, 8 Dec 2012 21:15:36 +0000

Do Nobel laureates count?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Without change DUP won\'t attract Catholics - Liam Clarke, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 15:51:31 +0000

Seems like your position is faith-based. Once last try then. What territorial gains did the parliament in London in 1801 make over the parliament in Dublin in 1800?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Without change DUP won\'t attract Catholics - Liam Clarke, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 15:33:16 +0000

Let me assist you: "Ireland was never united under Westminster. At different times in it's long history Westminster covered various parts of the island and various lordships, feifdoms and clergy posts, sometimes covering large areas sometimes not but at no time did it govern the whole of a united island." Tell me in what way the above statement is wrong.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Without change DUP won\'t attract Catholics - Liam Clarke, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 15:18:55 +0000

Quote: "Ireland was never united under the Parliament of Ireland. At different times in it's long history the PoI covered various parts of the island and various lordships, feifdoms and clergy posts, sometimes covering large areas sometimes not but at no time did it govern the whole of a united island." Please replace "Parliament of Ireland" with "Westminster" in your comment above. You would have me believe the former is true and the latter false? This is nonsense.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Without change DUP won\'t attract Catholics - Liam Clarke, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 14:57:57 +0000

The exact same argument can be made for administration from London.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Without change DUP won\'t attract Catholics - Liam Clarke, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 14:39:51 +0000

I would have thought my post was quite clear. If you are making the assertion that Ireland was united under administration from Parliament in London, then a similar argument can be made that Ireland was also united under administration from Parliament in Dublin, surely.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Without change DUP won\'t attract Catholics - Liam Clarke, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sun, 2 Dec 2012 04:08:39 +0000

Quote: "When you say united again, are you suggesting that the Republic should re-join the UK as that was the only time that Ireland was ever united?" You might be interested to know that prior to union with the UK, the Parliament of Ireland existed for more than 500 years, pre-dating the Parliament of England.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Tricolour is flag of alien nation - Letters, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:05:07 +0000

With such an interest in British flags, perhaps the author will also take an equal interest in British Law. Ireland Act 1949 Subsection 2. Republic of Ireland not a foreign country. (1) It is hereby declared that, notwithstanding that the Republic of Ireland is not part of His Majesty’s dominions, the Republic of Ireland is not a foreign country for the purposes of any law in force in any part of the United Kingdom or in any colony, protectorate or United Kingdom trust territory, whether by virtue of a rule of law or of an Act of Parliament or any other enactment or instrument whatsoever, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, and references in any Act of Parliament, other enactment or instrument whatsoever, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, to foreigners, aliens, foreign countries, and foreign or foreign-built ships or aircraft shall be construed accordingly. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14...

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : The real creation question: did it happen? - Letters, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:34:59 +0000

Quote "How can science answer philosophical questions about ethics or aesthetics?" I would direct you moral naturalism, recommend Sam Harris as a useful primer, and also direct you to evolutionary aesthetics. Regarding this subject of nothing, there are so many concepts of philosophical nothing that it seems you can pick whatever one fits your preconception. So, I´ll stick with the concept of nothing as understood by those who actually study the nature of the universe (physicists), and you can go doodle your god into any concept of nothing you want. Quote "the hypothesis is that a transcendent something, analogical to a "mind" is the source of that universe of intelligibles". Firstly, hypotheses need to be clear and direct. Using words like "something" and "analogical" is just lazy. Secondly, they also must be falsifiable. Ignoring the confirmation bias running through your final paragraph, I can’t see any way your assertions can be coherently formulated into hypotheses and falsified, can you? If you can claim any of your assertions have been empirically tested, repeated, and verified, then let’s have a look. Titles and Journals please, I'll take it from there.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : The real creation question: did it happen? - Letters, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 16:21:40 +0000

Quote "That's not from nothing" Physicists will state that this IS the definition of nothing. No matter, no energy, or curvature of space. Now, you can have a very elaborate debate about "philosophical" nothing, but ultimately that will not provide any answers to your god question. In the words of PZ Myers "Philosophy is a useful tool for generating good questions, but then science is what answers them". Ultimately, the most important question you should be asking is "Do I have empirical evidence for the existence of god?" The answer is a resounding NO.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : The real creation question: did it happen? - Letters, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 05:51:45 +0000

The final paragraph illustrates the author’s ignorance: Quote "Much of scientific thought talks in terms of theory, yet we still teach it as fact" When making assertions about science, you could at least get the terminology correct. FYI: "A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment" Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Creationism response shows its utter absurdity - Letters, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:31:06 +0000

Well, it is certainly clear you are not a biologist. So by "information" you mean nucleotides, and you simply do not believe nucleotides can be added the genome? I mentioned a couple of pointers for you earlier, but you chose to ignore them. I can refer you to a selection of studies which describe mechanisms for increasing genome size, but my recommendation would be for you to start with the fundamentals of biology. PS no more ridiculous metaphors please.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Creationism response shows its utter absurdity - Letters, Opinion - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:43:12 +0000

First of all, John Sanford is a young earth creationist. His book "genetic entropy" is painful. Please read the scientific rebuttals to it. Secondly, a cursory reading of a high school biology book will show that the processes that drive "macro" evolution, as you put it, are exactly the same as those that drive "micro" evolution i.e mutation, migration, genetic drift, and natural selection. This macro/micro distinction only really exists for creationists. Finally, I bet you don't even know what you mean by "information". But let´s imagine you do, then I would direct you to understanding mutation, strand slippage, horizontal gene transfer, transposable elements, and polyploidy, for starters.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Video: Loyalist band filmed playing sectarian songs outside Catholic church in Belfast - Northern Ir

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:09:25 +0000

Wait a minute, "British ethnicity"? What is that exactly?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Ghost of DUP\'s past reappears as gay rights row haunts party - Politics, News - Belfasttelegraph.co

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:28:47 +0000

The fact that the bible was written over 1500 years by scores of authors, many anonymous, in different languages very much weakens the argument that it is a reliable account of events occurring more than 2000 years ago. You will be aware that large sections of earlier bibles were added and deleted at will which means for long periods of time pious christians believed their version was the right one. I don´t suppose you see a major problem with this! "Are these books consistent and just? Are they logical and consistent?" - It condones genocide, rape, infanticide. Not even the most contemporary authors to Jesus (Matthew and Luke) can agree. Logical? That´s funny. "Have these books spread to the four corners of the world and effected the history of the world, like no other?" - So marginally better than the Koran then!

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Ghost of DUP\'s past reappears as gay rights row haunts party - Politics, News - Belfasttelegraph.co

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:34:08 +0000

Likely: - Getting drunk with his mates before important events. - Not much of a worker, travels quite a lot. Unlikely: - Suspending the laws of physics.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Irish government stays firm on Catholic Church abuse vow - Republic of Ireland, Local & National - B

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:28:48 +0000

"The reality is that paedophiles do not go near or next to confession in the Catholic religion or any other religion" What concerns many is being trapped in a confessional with one.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Ghost of DUP\'s past reappears as gay rights row haunts party - Politics, News - Belfasttelegraph.co

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:00:50 +0000

"The Bible is a supernatural book and unlike any other" There is nothing unique about the bible. It is among scores of other literature detailing other gods with similar claims. In fact, if you study the religions that preceded the creation of the bible you will find the authors of the bible were plagiarists, and the so-called miracles attributed to Jesus, such as virgin birth, crucifixion, resurrection, raising the dead, had all been done before by other gods. There is a debate to be had as to whether a man called Jesus ever existed. However, if he existed at all, he was likely nothing more than a wine guzzling vagrant from the middle east.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Evangelist pastor James McConnell facing surgery following major heart attack - Northern Ireland, Lo

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:25:05 +0000

It might not be a good time to tell him the importance of evolutionary biology in the development of his antibiotic treatments.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Vatican \'stung\' by Irish PM Enda Kenny\'s rebuke - Republic of Ireland, Local & National - Belfast

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:03:50 +0000

"Well niamh, we're not all like that, say there is 200 million priests in the world and 5 per cent of them are paedophiles, thats still only 10 million." - Father Ted.