I wonder if a better projection can be done using ArcGIS... Anybody have any idea if this can be done?

An effective early currency must be rare, easily carried, distinguishable, durable, and mainly of symbolic value. The precious metals would probably serve this purpose, as they have in the past.

Just take the usual precautions.

This isn't about the actual intent of the bridge question. It's about putting the (humorously) literal interpretation to the actual test. This is just a "clever" intro to an article about crowd behavior. smh

I see science as a technology of the mind (like mathematics, a language, an alphabet, etc.). Any of these things can be learned without any knowledge or connection to the culture of origin. What about the culture that invented wheels, for example? Are wheels inherently a part of the extinct culture(s) that first…

Power without accountability. That's what it is about the holy professions that attracts these kind of people. Society just assumes they are better and more moral than other people, so it's easy for them to hide. These are also, in my opinion, people who are real good at rationalizing their beliefs and actions. …

These traits may make us distinct as a species of animal, but many other species have their own distinguishing traits. Intellect and rationalism are still behaviors in response to stimuli.

About what?

The leopard is still not convinced.

Wait. So humans aren't bundles of behaviors triggered by stimuli? It's funny when people try so hard to avoid anthropomorphism that they step right into anthropo-exceptionalism.

You sound pretty certain of that.

I know! When they could've easily gotten a non-ethnic person. (Um, no.)

lol

Agreed.

I am one of those who agree with Pinker on that. I'm pretty sure Diamond does as well. The statistics support it, for what that's worth. Civilization is specialization. Of course humans living in populated areas found a way to specialize (and thus somewhat compartmentalize) the violence that is deemed necessary. …

"probably computronium made out of nucleonic matter—that might be sufficient. "

Secret society of social scientists sounds more fun to me, but I'd be willing to let the public social scientists play around with these simulations while my operatives study them (the researchers that is). Would a human history simulator have to contain a human brain simulation as well? I'm also thinking we need a…

The universe having a purpose clearly implies a being who intends the purpose. Purpose must be understood in the context of a conscious being capable of will. Therefore it does imply a creator god when people speak of the universe as having purpose. To be fair, I think this is just a poor choice in title. I don't…

Yeah, that was a poor name for the article. Purpose is for tools and beasts of burden and imperfectly conceived plans. The universe is beyond mere purpose.

Another thing that needs to be controlled for is a kind of observer effect from the public. We can't have published research altering the subject. So therefore, I propose a secret society of social scientists who share their studies only amongst themselves who also study the public social scientists and their…