Fair enough. I can understand that point of view. More research and data won't hurt anyone, but rather the contrary.

The theory being offered is supposedly an alternative explanation for the appearance of expansion. The problem is several key pieces of evidence supporting expansion are ignored by the offered model. In order to be useful, it needs to incorporate those factors or allow explanation of factors for which current models…

Reflecting on the situation and responses to it, this whole thing has, disgustingly, become an ideological football. Rape apologists on one side are making big hay of the "crazy bitch" stereotypes, in vile and unfair fashion. Many opposed to rape culture are using the "brave speaking out" narrative and waving away all…

I think this glosses over what Allen's supporters regard as a key point: The noteworthy lack of physical evidence (and the accompanying perception of intact virginity). Despite the other ugliness and apologia involved, that seems a massive, valid point.

It could be argued, but only as an irrational appeal to emotion. Even if we presume it makes Allen an ephebophile (which in itself would be incorrect, but let's pretend), it bears no relevance to presuming his guilt. Actually, quite the contrary, ephebophilia and pedophilia are entirely distinct; they are even…

Falsifying is not needed, in this instance. The predictive and explanatory power of the theory is weak. He fails to account for several factors in evidence of the Big Bang. For example, a significant flaw is failure to account for large scale cosmic structures that suggest a Bang followed by an inflationary universe;…

Galaxy Quest!

Disney actually did a good job of brand segregation and management. Marvel Studios is not Disney branded, it's Marvel branded. Also, they already used Ultimate versions for the movie universe (notice the big gun SHIELD protagonists).

This is, unfortunately, picture perfect ammunition for the MRA nuts and rape culture apologists. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/…

Thank goodness she's realized the error of her ways. It was so wrong when she didn't award the vagina trophy to the hero. I just couldn't wrap my fragile little man brain around the concept of personal chemistry and romance. Women are to be won, like an award or gift certificate. I'm happy to see she understands that…

I'd add that even very severe brain damage, so long as consciousness is permitted, usually leaves qualia and continuity of self intact. Observer awareness and sense of "me" remain. That is one of the points supporters often raise.

Ah, the testable concern; I get where you're coming from now. On an utterly logical and philosophical level, we can express agnosticism as to the nature of a soul and ignorance of its method of interface with the biological machine without harming rationality or coherence. Mind body dualism of such a sort is…

Your missing the point. If the brain is an interface and it is damaged, the output will be garbled despite the underlying consciousness being unharmed. To make a crude analogy, think of when you have video streaming problems like pixelization. The video itself in origin is "perfect." The delivery and decoding systems…

False memories are ridiculously easy to generate. Such studies prove nothing and are merely aping science thereby. This may not even be a testable claim at all. We're currently unaware if there's a coding difference between confabulations and "true" memories.

Actually, neurological correlations to consciousness do not but superficially imply biological consciousness. That is because the brain can be said to be an interface, filter, or display unit for consciousness inhabiting a corporeal form. Damage to that unit would corrupt the expression of consciousness but not…

The totality argument also has complex systems theory and other similar oft-repeated observations to back it up. All systems are, fundamentally, complex interactions of simple rules. The idea is raised in the cliche about the whole being more than the sun of its parts. It also had the strength of logically and…

Of all the bad things one can say about Disney, mismanaging brands is not even close to one of them. For example, Star Wars is now in much safer hands since Lucas sold it to Disney. Why? Because they understand branding and audiences extremely well (something Lucas didn't quite entirely get). They get what makes…

Trademark defense. Most of you need to look that up so you actually have the first clue about what is being discussed and then come back. Kotaku, the intellectually dishonest click bait was old already yesterday; cut it out.

Trademark defense. Come back to the discussion when you understand the basics.

GRRM has completely lost his ability to be controversial or upsetting anymore for me. Seriously, after a 40-page chapter entirely about someone nearly crapping themselves to death, I'm pretty inured.