unreality

I DID NOT MAKE UP THIS PROBLEM (but I'm putting it in my own words) I did a search, and didn't find it, so I'm posting it ;D *** An amoeba population starts out with 1 amoeba. At every generation, each ameoba has a 1/4 chance it will die without producing offspring, otherwise (a 3/4 chance) it divides into 2 new amoebas. What is the probability of the amoeba population lasting forever?

I know, it was a simplified point- it was presented badly, sorry yes, I see what you mean about the fallacious reasoning now. But I'll try to restate the point I was trying to make (but didn't make very well, lol) Let's look at Christianity and Greek Mythology. You might think they are very different, but they're not. They're very similar. Each are equally plausible, and equally un-plausible. There's no palace atop Mount Olympus- yet, there was no worldwide flood either. Etc. They have similar concepts of life, afterlife, god wars, monsters, heroes, etc. There's a similar flood story. And many other parallels. The only major difference is the actual 'Christ' part of Christianity. I guess I'm just talking about the Old Testament and its relations with Greek Mythology. Now why do you think God > Zeus? Why Noah > Deucalion? Well, hopefully I presented my point better this time ;D The overall point was, why one religion over the other? I know it's sort of not related to the actual religious debate, cuz it's not about the existence of God but of which god... so I apologize for the crappy A/B/C/D diagram lol Yeah, but do you believe in everything the Bible says blindly without questioning it? I hope not. I was making that remark based on your remark, that the Bible is a simple-downed version, so the stories are simpler to understand for a more primitive person. That was what you said (not word for word, but close)- so I took that to mean that you knew much of the Bible was simplified stories or metaphors. Building on that, aren't we ready for an "update"? We understand more of the universe around us and the physics that guide us, shouldn't God make us a slightly-less-simplified Bible? I like the analogy. But did Satan ever get the chance to show the class how he would solve the problem? Or are you saying that's what's going on right now? We're the class? Or the angels are the class?

Yeah, that's one way. I think of it like this: What is 1 - 0.99999...? Look at these first: 1 - 0.9 = 0.1 1 - 0.99 = 0.01 1 - 0.999 = 0.001 1 - 0.9999 = 0.0001 etc for an infinite number of 9's, the 0's go on forever. There is no difference with a bunch of 0's and then a 1 1 - 0.999999999... = 0 thus 1 = 1

GC: we don't have names here... format your questions like I redid em in the quote: Ar'ara: Axon's parents died when he was very young... poor boy. They were on a royal vacation with baby Axon when a group of jackals got them. For some reason the dogs left Axon alone. Gnosso: Dinner? At Rome, it's usually just before sunset. I just arrived here, so I don't know yet. Like I've already said, I was touring Alexandria and got back late. I was hungry, so I made some fish. Ar'ara: Read Unreality's post of the scenario (lol). After the death of Queen Mara from a mysterious illness a few years ago (Ar'ara sniffles here), the Pharaoh turned to alcohol to ease his pain. After only a month of heavy drinking and uncaringness to his son and his empire, he was a full-fledged alcoholic, lingering almost always in a drunken stupor. The Pharaoh loved Queen Mara very much- I highly doubt he would have had an affair, especially with Mara so sick. Joana: (Hoana stares at her, as if trying to talk to her silently) We were talking about... my, uh, relationship with Axon. Gnosso: How in the afterlife should I know? Raxwell met me as I arrived, told me he was another emissary from Rome, undercover, living here for a while- a sleeper agent. He gave me the knife and told me it would help me fit in. Then he was gone. Horus: Speaking of the knives, I've been inspecting the two of them... something's been bugging me... (comes back with a huge history book) Horus: (distractedly, while flipping through a heavy tome) Both appear to be in ruddy, dented condition. The handles of both blades are in good condition, some sort of shiny black metal, ebony-like, with a greyish symbol etched into the handle: The blades themselves are both π pi inches long and made of old, ceremonial metal. Something old and not very strong. The ends of both knives are rusting. So while the handles of both blades are in good condition, the actual knife ends aren't. I can't imagine making such a precise wound with such a corroded blade... but maybe... hmm... no... no, it's not possible. Nevermind. Yeah, it would be hard- I can't really- (flips to the next page in the book) Yes! Exactly what I thought! The Cult of Pi... a bunch of radical nutheads who believed that pi is 3.14159265... and goes on forever without repetition. Ha! All Egyptians today know that pi is 256/81, or 3.16049383. These guys worshipped pi... they used the Pi Knife, which was exactly 3.14etc inches long, and was emblazened with the Greek symbol of pi on its handle. For 3 years, 1 month and 21 days, which is 3.14159 years, they were active, terrorizing mathemiticians to believe in their "True Pi"- then they suddenly disappeared. A short reign of terror. That was... 36 years, 5 months and 17 days before Axon's death.

orange, ocelot

Ar'ara: I'm 6'4", and I weigh 8 Persian Rugs Gnosso: I'm 6'2", and I weigh 7.5 Persian Rugs... I got the knife from an acquaintance here in Alexandria. A man named Raxwell... he gave me the knife, he told me I would fit in better. Pah! (spits) Wasn't much of an "acquaintance", was he? Coroner: Bodies? There's another body??? Axon, at least, was only 5'7", and weighed about 6 and a half Persian Rugs. He was a smaller-sized kid, but then again, people will become taller in the future. Don't ask me how I know that. (lol) No prizes until the whole thing is cracked ;D what do you mean, "okay one"??? lol Hoana: I was walking with my friend, Joana, in the Royal Gardens. We were discussing her relationship with Axon. Horus: Either suspect? I thought we were all suspects... and no, I don't. Joana looks a bit familiar, though... I might've seen her before. And I'm still studying this knife. Pharaoh: (snores, suddenly jumps awake) Phew... sorry... bad dream... (takes a huge "sip" of wine) Joana: He's a f*cking liar!!! He lies about everything, he- I mean, I don't know him, but he MUST be a liar, as that's not true! Gnosso: Calm down, man! Someone put you up to this, wasn't it? Who was it??? Don't tell me it was a guy named Raxwell!!! This is rediculous! I have places to be, things to do, people to meet with. The High Prince, for instant. High Prince: I'm right here, Gnosso. And I assure you, this is all one big mistake. I trust you won't tell your superiors in Rome about your little arrest? Gnosso: Little arrest??? Pharaoh: Wha bou' me? High Prince: Go to sleep, dad. Listen, Gnosso- we can work this out- Gnosso: I'm done working things out! I was just accused of murder- all because I have a knife! I got it from a guy named Raxwell! I was framed! High Prince: Exactly what I was getting to. Captain Ar'ara, free this man instantly. Ar'ara: (hesitates) Uh, yes, sir. But he was found with the knife- it was bloody- I saw him- High Prince: He was cutting up fish, Osiris-D*mn-It! Ar'ara: Yes, sir. (grabs Gnosso, who glares at him, and Itachi, as he's led out of the room) Coroner: thanks ;D

Interesting... so you're saying that humans are God's jury? People that believe vs those that don't? Well, it's an attempt at explaining the discrepancies and falsehoods of the Bible and the pointlessness of religions doctrines... but what about all the other religions of the world? Seriously. They have similar arguments as yours- yet each claims that only their own religion is right. Look at this way, a simplified version but accurately capturing the image: Say there are four religions: A, B, C and D. Religion A claims that B, C and D are unfounded and wrong. Religion B claims that A, C and D are unfounded and wrong. Religion C claims that A, B and D are unfounded and wrong. Religion D claims that A, B and C are unfounded and wrong. Atheists say that they're all wrong. Really they're saying the same things as the other religions, just showing how all four are the same thing, with slight differences, and claiming each other are wrong. There is no evidence in the first place to support A, B, C or D, and certainly no evidence to support a single one of those over another.

Joana: Me and Axon were just having some problems... nothing big. Do you seriously think I would kill my boyfriend after a few arguments??? You're a bunch of lunatics! And Hoana and I are good friends- she had no name before I rescued her from slavery- so they just named her Hoana, after me. Isis above... you people are nuts! All these detectors, scurrying around like jackals going in for the kill... well I didn't kill Axon! Gnosso: Uh- sneaking around where? I was touring Alexandria. I'm just a bit suspicious sometimes- I have to be. Tensions between Rome and Egypt and really really tight right now... for a few big reasons... and I'm left handed. So what? Joana: when Axon was killed, I was walking with Hoana in the Royal Gardens, all the way across the city! What's up with you??? And why does it matter what handedness I am? Coroner: Well sir, I really can't say. It looks like it entered perfectly straightly, puncturing exactly 3.14159 inches or so, very specifically done. Because of this, they took much care in their killing- it's almost impossible to say. But from this I can gleam that the killing was carefully calculated. I guarantee it wasn't just some impulsive act. Joana: (looking nervous) Gnosso? Who the afterlife is that? Hoana: maybe... dunno... I have a dim memory... we were drunk... she mighta said... nah, it's too hard, I can't remember. Please, don't tell anyone that we were at one of the High Prince's parties!!! Coroner: As I've told another detective, the wound was very exact. No signs of struggle, all very precise. So if Axon did struggle, he would've been overpowered easily. So it's either that, or he was taken by surprise, with no time to react before he was dead. However, he does have a wound to the head, but the jarring around the bone suggests it was never even started to heal- it happened after he died- he must'v hit his head on Queen Mara's sarcophagus after being stabbed. Ar'ara: I don't guard Axon- I guard his cousin, the High Prince. (sniffles a bit here) If I'd've guarded Axon, he never would've died. (hardens up again) It's not my responsibility, even though I extend my general protection and investigation to all members of the royal family, including Axon. Which is why I've made two arrests already (Gnosso and Joana). Those knives are suspicious... I've brought in a new guy, a mathemetician named Horus. He said that the knives are both exactly 3.14159- or pi- inches long, and seem to be of the same make. He's studying them as we speak... Horus: hi! Joana: I've already answered this question!!! GAH! Leave me alone! I'm innocent. Gnosso: I was back at my room by the time of the murderer. It was just after my tour of Alexandria, and it was late, I was hungry. So I made myself some steamed fish. Or, I WAS making it, in the process of cutting up the fish, when that båstard Ar'ara barged in... I can't see how the High Prince is allowing such atrocity, especially to the ambassador from Rome. This is gonna worsen the tensions between Rome and Egypt even more! Let me out of this stupid sandstone jail cell! I demand of you!

lol theist responses to this are usually like "he is infinitely mysterious, we cannot even began to imagine to think to be able to perceive the possibility of maybe understanding an infintesimal of Him and His Wondrousness!" lol. Or "Do not question Him!!!!!!!!!!!! He must have His own Good reasons!"

don't worry I've done a similar thing to what I'm doing right now on The Revival- a guy named Catrbird came up with it ;D anyone got questions?

Yeah I like first person better as well (sometimes, they both have their use- and SECOND PERSON lol, which would be choose your own adventure books)... but for RPs, it's always third person... cuz the person isn't you, ya know, and often times people have multiple characters and and and... lol, I guess it's just how it's done. Any RP I've seen, always third person. Though we can make an exception for you if you want yeah, about the airplane, seriously read my first post, everyone should. And subsequent posts. About the world they live in- read the spoilers too

yep you guys just do something formatted like this: Gnosso: What kind of fish were you chopping up? etc. You can ask up to... *picks an arbitrary number, lol* 5 questions per post (I don't wanna be swamped by questions)

No, I'm actually gonna think of the scenario first anyone can go next, though ;D alright... got one This is set in the height of the Egyptian Empire. The pharaoh is a rash alcoholic named Pen'ra'tenutet IV who sits on his throne in a drunken stupor, while his son, Pen'ra'tenutet V, the High Prince, does all the work. The Prince is only 18, yet this burden falls upon him. He's a good kid and determined to not become an alcoholic like his father. Already the leaders of nearby empires consult with only him- they don't even bother with his father. The High Prince is the true leader of Egypt. Some more background stuff: the High Prince's Honor Guard is led by Captain Ar'ara, a close friend of the Pharaoh before the Pharaoh became an alcoholic (after the death of his wife, the High Prince's mother). Ar'ara made a pledge to the Pharaoh's dying wife (she had a mysterious illness, unknown at that time) to look after the Prince and make sure no harm comes to him, and Ar'ara, who was also very close to the Queen (her name was Queen Mara), has taken on that promise relentlessly, with his Honor Guard of 12 men. To the actual crime: the Pharaoh's orphan nephew, Axon, was found dead in the tomb of Queen Mara (the Pharaoh's late wife). He was stabbed once with a small knife in the throat. It is believed the knife went all the way through his esophagus and severed his spinal cord, but it didn't poke out the other side, which is close to the spinal cord, thus the knife has to be a very specific length... something a little above 3.14 inches. Axon was wearing prayer robes and fell harshly against the tomb, bashing his head (though he was already dead from the stab wound) and then collapsing on the floor next to the sarcophagus. The body was found by the cruel caretaker of the tomb, Ryramidus. The old cripple has to use a gnarled cane to get around- as he was coming in for the weekly dusting of the sarcophagus, he came across the body. A day after the murder, as you, the detectives, were being called here, Captain Ar'ara (who has taken his charge to mean protecting the entire royal family, including the Prince's cousin, Axon) discovered a young girl, Axon's age, that had a knife exactly 3.14 (and a little more) inches long. Her name is Joana, and she was Axon's lover (they are both 18). Joana's friend, Hoana (lol), has said that Axon and Joana had been having arguments up to the point of Axon's death. Another suspect is somebody that was seen, by multiple witnesses, sneaking around the tomb's pyramid the night Axon was found dead. The man's name is Gnosso, an emissary from Rome. Ar'ara tracked him down and found that he also has an identical knife- 3.14 inches long, and when Ar'ara barged into the household in which he had been staying, Gnosso was seen, by all of the Honor Guard, cutting fish with the knife, making it bloody. They presumed he was trying to cover up Axon's blood, and they arrested him, too. People you can talk to and ask questions: Coroner (person studying the body) Ar'ara (him personally, or him and his entire Honor Guard) The Pharaoh, Pen'ra'tenutet IV The High Prince, Pen'ra'tenutet V Joana Hoana Gnosso have fun ;D

you say "God's original intention for humans", which leads me to another thought- do you, theists, really have free will? You say you do, yet God knows everything that's gonna happen. So you don't. And, on a side note of that, how is it your fault if you sin and go to hell? God made everything, designed everything, knows everything that happened or will happen, according to you. You can't argue against that, it's what you yourselves say. So how does that fit in with the free will bit?

Hey guys.... glad this has picked up remember what I said- no first person ;D though if that's the only way you right, Thuhchris, that's fine and there are no airplanes, lol. Please read the introduction post

This is similar to "murder!", but different at the same time. We'll take turns making up a mystery scenario (usually murder), detailing all the suspects as well as police people, etc. Make it as complicated as you want- usually there are other crimes being committed on the side, some related to the bigger case, most not. Make it as complex and juicy as you want. Then we, the players, play as investigators, asking questions to the various suspects, including police and stuff. Everyone involved (except us, we were called in later) are suspects. The person that made up the scenario will answer as each character, as well as add new plot to the story- they can see new evidence/clues have been found, or they can add another murder in the middle of it, etc. Just everything has to match up and make sense as to why that person would say that (they don't need to necessarily tell the truth) and you can't change the scenario or whodunit halfway though or something lol Sound good? You don't need to sign up to play, anyone can pop in and ask a question. And if you want to make a full-on Accusation, you have to have enough evidence to present your case. You can pull a full-out Sherlock and reveal all the mysteries and side-crimes with one monologue, or figure things out as a group as you go along. Whatever. So who wants to be the first mystery inventor? I will be, if people want me to. Though I'm sure other people want to, so please go ahead everyone will get a turn

hey linius and no, I haven't. I'd like to, though. Maybe the library has em... he seems to be kind of a jack@ss though, from what I've heard about him. Though that's mainly theists speaking, so I'll decide for myself ;D

for #5, are we talking permutations or combinations? repeating or non-repeating? Are these different or the same? Three Quarters Two Dimes One Nickel and One Nickel Three Quarters Two Dimes I would assume you would say those are the same

obviously he does now ;D

the grammar/spelling stuff fixed: *** Two Bumps are passing by the Baptist church and one stops and says: "They say that any new member gets $50. God knows, I need it badly, look at my pants. We could also buy some drinks. Wait here." The other Bump waits and waits... After 30 minutes, the first one comes back with a wet forehead. "Did you get any money?" asks the other one. "You nonreligious sinner! You Bump! All you care about is money!"

Yeah. If you have Firefox (at least Mac Firefox) go to: Firefox > Preferences > Content > Enable JavaScript

There are no absolute morals, no good and evil, etc. We as animals do what we do to survive and keep surviving... to live and keep living... we do everything to get satisfaction which is doled to us from our own brains... all of these functions which have evolved to further the continued survival of our species. Morals don't fit into the picture... but some governments definitely get some of their morals from religious texts. However most are common sense, since we as people (advanced animals) are altruistic, we like to help others, not just ourselves. So things like murder- sometimes we see them as a bad thing, but sometimes a good thing. We've had wars for thousands of years. Monkeys have wars, too- at least they murder each other sometimes. What I'm saying is, laws are made by what the government feels as common sense of what is commonly accepted... and thus some of this can derive from what religions say, but what the religions say is what's also commonly accepted, know what I mean? So it doesn't matter, the laws would be the same either way- the laws are made to please the people. And nobody wants to be murderered- thus, that law. See?

We have little hope of specifically convincing the people we argue against... but many people may read this thread, and see the stuff we're saying, and realize things they might not have even considered before, even if they don't post... we try to help as much as we can

wikipeda article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation

It's like immediate people knowing... you can't say you're connected once to every person in your school- only if you KNOW them all, every single one. But you can probably connect to most people in your local community with 1, 2 or 3. I can connect myself with most of Hollywood with 4, and 5 at the max I'm connected to all geologists and seismologists with 2 & 3 connections, even though I have little interest in that field I'm connected to Bill Clinton I think by only 4 degrees... my dad's colleague has a son that was his speechwriter and since you are connected to me (I would think so... over the internet it's more complicated, probably) you're connected to all of those +1, thru me, though more likely you are connected to all of those people in other ways too