http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1627 New Answerbag answers from Aristocles Tue, 29 May 2012 06:44:01 -0700 Tue, 29 May 2012 06:44:01 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/9412460 What crimes deserve the death penalty?<br /><br />The death penalty is a weak punishment. Once the person is dead, the punishment ends. Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:52:17 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/9412460 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/9412456 What crimes deserve the death penalty?<br /><br />Share your answer... Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:51:00 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/9412456 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8586220 Why doesn't the USA get a clue and close our borders?<br /><br />I agree. Large-scale conflict wasn't here until the whites arrived. Seriously though, where's the huge immigrant problems? If a Mexican comes to the US and is hired by an American, who's to blame for the hiring? If an Indian comes here and buys a gas station, who's to blame for selling it? If... Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:11:00 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8586220 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8548101 Is "CHRISTMAS" without Christ how we got "X-mas"?<br /><br />The X is the first part of the word Christ in Greek. It's been around since the 1500's. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:23:23 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8548101 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8548031 Is it smart for me to ask a girl out on FACEBOOK??????........PLS HELP............THX :<br /><br />You only live once. Besides, you can always just exchange phone numbers through email. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:43:11 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8548031 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547932 Should Religious Symbols be Displayed on Public Property?<br /><br />Yes! I want tax dollars funneled into making a giant marble statue of the noble Ganesh. More than a billion Hindus can't be wrong. I can't think of a better place to put our money. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:47:07 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547932 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547922 If its Answerbag why is the logo a question mark in a suitcase?<br /><br />I thought the rectangle was a computer monitor, where all Q's and A's can be found. Perhaps the bag itself is phased out, like the Inter"net"'s original fishing net that caught stray electrons from back alleys and then stuffed them into copper wires. That's illegal now, by the way. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:42:44 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547922 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547708 Which do you think was worse, the way Michael Vick treated his dogs, or the way Tiger Woods treated his wife?<br /><br />Vick was worse. At least adultery doesn't involve profiting from sadism. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:49:19 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547708 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547619 What can we do when life isn't going the way we want it to?<br /><br />Realize that not everything is within our control. If that cannot be done, then shout and curse and swear and cry and destroy all you want, and the rest of us can feel better about our own situations. Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:51:57 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8547619 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8546743 To address global warming, which strategy do you prefer?<br /><br />I tend to side with the mountain of evidence that supports the existence of global warming. I think we should start using the finite fossil fuels we have now to develop all kinds of alternate energy resources: geothermal, solar, wind, etc. Why assume the opinions of oil companies are more... Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:47:09 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8546743 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8545666 What is your personally favorite youtube video?<br /><br />Too many to name, but this one does it for me every time. <object width="425" height="344"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b7ElRBUak2g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:07:04 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8545666 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8545660 What is your personally favorite youtube video?<br /><br />Flag it. Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:05:26 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8545660 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8537404 "Ultimately one loves one's desires and not that which is desired. "Friedrich Nietzsche What does Friedrich Nietzsche mean by this?<br /><br />It probably stems from the simple observation that people often speak highly of the things they want, but seldom of the things they have. A thing you desire to have has an unknown number of possibilities; a thing you have has a known number of possibilities. In other words, it's a downgrade. Once... Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:10:31 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8537404 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8531933 Tips and tricks to catch a cheating spouse, without hiring a PI?<br /><br />Look up how to read someone's face to tell if they're lying. Memorize the techniques. Then spontaneously ask the spouse the questions you want to ask. Then do everything in your power to keep your head on your shoulders, because you may go berserk. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:37:15 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8531933 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8523986 When someone states that they "like to party"; what exactly is "partying"?<br /><br />"I like to party" equals "I like screaming over loud music to a person next to me." It is usually safe to assume that the person saying this also likes to get inebriated and celebrate others' inebriation. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:05:33 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8523986 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8521179 Can we defeat eco-fascists like Al Gore? Or will millions continue to starve to death because of insane agricultural policies?<br /><br />I hope we don't defeat people armed with armloads of facts and sensible arguments. That would be a downer for me. &nbsp; Which insane agricultural policies in place now are keeping us from feeding people? Perhaps one is government payments to farmers to NOT raise crops? Yep. Which policies... Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:51:25 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8521179 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8514289 Do you think gay marriage should be legal? Why or why not?<br /><br />Half of US marriages fail, and the divorce rate for Christians is much higher than atheists and agnostics. So much for the "holy matrimony" and "sacred institution" talk. http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:20:38 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8514289 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8469341 Were the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki designed to defeat Japan only or also to intimidate Russia and stop them becoming a major military force?<br /><br />I think the bombing was something simple like, &quot;OK, Mr. President, we have successfully developed the atomic bomb, and we know it will be more than destructive, but we&#039;ll only be able to tell to what extent until it is used. So if we want to end troop casualties we should employ the... Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:05:11 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8469341 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8455228 Athiest: Can you PROVE you love your S/O?<br /><br />Can you, assuming theist? The burden of proof that atheists have no or some tenuous understanding of love or commitment seems to be on your shoulders. Click it! http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:37:13 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8455228 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8455187 I recently discovered a childrens show called "handy mandy". Its like dora the explorer, but instead of exploring he does manual labor for white people. Is disney not only sexual, but racist?<br /><br />Manny owns his own shop. He has no other human colleagues to share the workload. He earns the respect of his townspeople with hard work, reliability, and a friendly demeanor. And, if I say so myself, he does a damn good job of building a bridge. So I don&#039;t think we should hold it against him... Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:27:11 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8455187 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8418496 As a new atheist, or at least agnostic concerning any atribute as to the cause of the universe, what reason do I have for not killing, stealing or raping at will, if I don't get caught, please dont say empathy, where is the empathy for the other animals.<br /><br />In my view, the golden rule is more natural than social; it isn&#039;t humans&#039; warm and fuzzy idea, we just make it sound like it is. When we do wrong toward others, they will return the favor. In order to receive acceptable treatment, one must give it. Of course, with a wide range of... Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:39:17 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8418496 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8346850 What punishment fits the crime of 9/11?<br /><br />As usual, I&#039;m perplexed by the support of execution. I just don&#039;t see how forcing someone to go to sleep is an acceptable punishment. Therefore I vote for life imprisonment, removed from society, free to continue living but without freedom. In a society like ours that constantly... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:05:33 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8346850 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8332117 For those who celebrate Christmas: Would you please post a picture of your idea of a perfectly decorated Christmas tree?<br /><br />This is a battle my wife and I fight late in the year. She takes the traditional approach, with all the glitter and lights, while I prefer leaving trees outside, where they can, y&#039;know, live. (A fake tree is, to me, completely self-defeating. Which is why I also don&#039;t eat veggie... Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:01:17 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8332117 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8315044 How long has Obama been our president? I lost track.<br /><br />Obama has been Prez since eight years after our worst President was &quot;elected.&quot; Let&#039;s keep things in perspective. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:08:59 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8315044 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8306364 Why would atheists have a problem killing people? They are going to die anyway!<br /><br />People have problems doing wrong toward one another regardless of their beliefs about the supernatural. I generally believe, as many others do I&#039;m sure, that religious people are *more* likely to do wrong toward others than their less religious counterparts because they know they can always... Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:56:17 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8306364 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8210886 Do atheists use the term 'Thank god!' ? For example, if their son was finally home after being 3 hours late, do they say "Thank god!" or "Thank god,a being of supernatural powers or attributes,believed in and worshiped by a people,but who doesnt exist!"?<br /><br />I use it sometimes, but usually I like to say, &quot;Thank gods&quot; or &quot;Thank [some god no one believes in like Thor or Odin or Ra].&quot; I also say: &quot;Damn!&quot; Although I&#039;m not really damning anything. &quot;S**t!&quot; Although there&#039;s never excrement lying... Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:49:52 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8210886 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8150519 Athiest: why do you keep answering religious questions when religion doesn't adhear to you?<br /><br />That&#039;s like saying, &quot;Why do you protest --- war? You won&#039;t be drafted, so what do you care?&quot; Because we&#039;re concerned about the way things are going. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:13:30 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8150519 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8096658 What headline would you like to see in tomorrow's newspaper?<br /><br />Fun question. I need to write a few answers. &quot;GOP Implodes, Replaced By Actual Elephant&quot; &quot;Area Man Searches For Keys, Finds Cure For AIDS&quot; &quot;New Study Finds Smoking Tobacco Safe If Followed By Snapping Fingers Twice&quot; Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:40:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8096658 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8083033 What make a major/minor key relative to another major/minor key?<br /><br />Relative scales share the same notes. The major scale&#039;s intervals between notes go W-W-H-W-W-W-H while the minor scale&#039;s intervals go W-H-W-W-H-W-W. So if you pick the sixth note of a major scale, that note&#039;s minor scale will have the same notes. Examples, with the convenience... Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:17:54 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8083033 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8014041 Can you name something, that is nothing?<br /><br />Zero equals zero, and zero never equals non-zero. Therefore nothing can never be something. Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:23:24 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8014041 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7980476 How did you become an atheist? Was it a slow process or very sudden enlightenment? How old were you?<br /><br />After a year of living recklessly at 18 (oh, the horror!), I thought that what I needed was a good ol&#039; dose o&#039; God. So I remained silent most of the day as I read my little Gideon&#039;s Bible. Me and God were like this [crossed index and middle finger symbol, whatever you call that].... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:28:56 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7980476 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7945640 Imagine; a world without religion. No crusades, witch hunts, 9/11, Inquisition., etc. Would the world be a better place?<br /><br />Imagine: you&#039;re planning to move, so you pack up everything and rent the big truck and all that jazz. You have to move boxes, chairs, tables, TV&#039;s, everything you normally expect to transport when moving. Lots of stuff to move, sure. But after a little while of moving the items out... Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:20:38 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7945640 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7945610 If you've been in the US Army recently, what’s your honest opinion of the beret and the gray / greenish "Universal CamouflagePattern" uniforms?<br /><br />The beret sucks. It doesn&#039;t keep the sun out of your eyes, it is often hard to shape it into something that looks decent, and the metal unit crests it bears (instead of the rank as it was on the soft cap) sometimes looks like officer rank, so preparing to salute requires your eagle-eyed... Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:07:37 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7945610 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7908696 What is a catchy title for an essay on reincarnation and the soul?<br /><br />This Take, Try Harder Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:24:26 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7908696 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7853290 Is it easy or difficult to read "tab" notation if you can already read music? (tablature notation for guitar).<br /><br />For the guitar player, reading music is much more difficult than reading tablature. Tab is direct: it tells you exactly what to play in plain &quot;language&quot; without any ambiguity. Music notation forces you to know every tone capable of being reproduced on the fretboard. Because tab is... Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:57:44 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7853290 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7849972 Substracting 6 % of x from x is equivalent to multiplying x by how much?<br /><br />Put the words into math symbols: Subtracting 6% of x from x...: (x-0.06x) ...is equivalent: = ...to multiplying x by how much: xy (x-0.06x) = xy 1x-0.06x = xy etc. Remember, &quot;is&quot; means &quot;=&quot; and &quot;of&quot; means &quot;multiply.&quot; Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:57:41 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7849972 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7839669 I'm a beginner at guitar and I snapped one of my guitar strings. I plan on replacing all the strings, but I'm clueless about the different gauges and compositions. I have an Ovation Standard Elite, what kind is best for it?<br /><br />It doesn&#039;t make much difference. If you are a beginner, then get whatever pack of strings that has the high E string listed as .009 or .010. People prefer different kinds of strings, but I&#039;m not one of them. I buy D&#039;addario if I can, but only because they sent me free strings and a... Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:47:56 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7839669 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7829642 What do conservatives stand for? What do liberals stand for?<br /><br />I think this video sums it all up very nicely. Day in the Life of Joe Middle-Class Republican Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:10:39 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7829642 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7807355 Do you believe Marijuana is a gateway drug (that should be banned because of this)? Or do you believe Marijuana has been given this bad rap because of it's easy accesability and people with addictive personalities would end up the same anyways?<br /><br />The gateway theory is nonsense. You will hardly find anyone who has tried marijuana before the much more addictive and deadly (but legal) tobacco and/or alcohol. Furthermore, and more importantly, most people who try marijuana are *not* likely to try harder drugs later, even if those who do use... Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:47:57 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7807355 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7802309 What if every one on this earth convert to atheist?<br /><br />It would be a better world. One less thing to worry about. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:33:33 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7802309 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7777203 Why does a negative times a positive always equal a negative?<br /><br />Think of 3(4). It means you add 3 to itself 4 times total: 3(4)= 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 Now think of -3(4): -3(4) = -3 + (-3) + (-3) + (-3) = -3-3-3-3 = -12 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:11:34 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7777203 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7776400 Atheists, if you were dying of a terminal illness and therefore had a few days before you knew you were going to die, would you pick a religion because "what the hell"? I'd pick Mormonism because there are some pretty hot missionaries.<br /><br />Now that you mention it, sure. Just before I die I&#039;ll invent and follow a religion that allows the deceased to become infinitely powerful. But until that point of desperation I&#039;ll keep my thinking cap on and consider this religion as silly as the rest. I&#039;m kinda excited now.... Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:08:03 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7776400 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7775613 Algebra help? i have tried over and over again and im confused i hate algebra could someone pls help sovle 5p+7=3(4-p) i need the workings out too!! and another one 2x+7=6(x+3) need workings out again<br /><br />I&#039;ll use this problem instead to show you how to do this: 10x + 4x + 6 = 20 - 3(x-1) Combine like terms on the left side, and get rid of the parentheses on the right side. Keep in mind how to multiply positives and negatives; if the signs (+ and -) are the same, the product is... Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:24:17 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7775613 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7742292 If the 9/12 protesters really believe Obama is a jackbooted thug, a "neo-Hitler", and a Stalin-style Communist who wanted to kill and enslave white people, why did they wander around in D.C., so casually, unarmed, showing their real faces?<br /><br />Because their aim is simply to let everyone know they&#039;re angry. With them, everything is a knee-jerk reaction. In my view, they just cannot stand having a relatively popular, intelligent, calm and collected black* man as their President. He&#039;s an exception to every prejudice they have... Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:13:29 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7742292 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7741733 I NEED HELP ON THIS PROBLEM - 5X -Y =4 5X - 2Y = - 22<br /><br />You have two equations, so you find y for each. Then remember that if y=a and y=b, then a=b. Once y is solved, just plug it into one of the original equations to find x. Different example: y+1=6z 5y=26-z so: y=6z-1 y=(26-z)/5 Therefore 6z-1=(26-z)/5 Get rid of the 5 in the... Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:14:39 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7741733 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7713134 Are atheists the success of Satan?<br /><br />Hmmm, this is quite a conundrum. Does Satan try to get people to do evil generally? Or does he merely try to get people to do things that will make God angry? After all, since there is no indication that atheists are less moral than theists, Satan wouldn&#039;t be getting very far with his evil... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:55:28 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7713134 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7713050 The black king was cornered and had no choice but to make an illegal move by moving into a check. In this situation, can the opponent take out the black king? If not, what is supposed to happen?<br /><br />In either case, the game is over. Illegal moves are not to be made. 1) If the black king is currently in check and cannot prevent staying in check with any move, then Black is checkmated, and he loses. 2) If the black king is currently *not* in check and cannot prevent going into check with... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:32:24 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7713050 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7709523 Why are Agnostics seen as "fence sitters?" What is wrong with saying, "I don't know, all the information isn't in yet?"<br /><br />Agnostics are seen as fence-sitters because agnosticism is not a third alternative to theism and atheism. Theism and atheism are concerned with the possession of the belief in god(s). Theists have that belief while atheists do not. Agnostics, too, must fit into one of these categories. &quot;Do... Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:31:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7709523 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7704900 John Marcotte, Author of the 2010 California Protection of Marriage Act wants to return to traditional values and ban divorce in California. What do you think of that?<br /><br />Technically, marriage is merely a social contract, making a one-person &quot;company&quot; into a two-person &quot;company.&quot; In a nutshell, each person becomes the co-owner of the other&#039;s belongings, debts, earnings, etc. Obviously such a company will run most efficiently when its... Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:20:53 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7704900 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7695174 Tax on soda pop... is it a choice of personal freedom vs social responsibility?<br /><br />I say bring it on. If something that we consume is so addictive and/or destructive to the point of significantly affecting the national average in overall health, then why not issue a tax to curb such consumption? Why not use the tax to mirror the claim that responsible use requires... Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:54:35 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7695174 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7676636 Just how many crimes are not reported in the USA what is our true Crime Rate?<br /><br />From my intro to sociology textbook (2000): &quot;Most crimes are never reported to the police, principally because many people don&#039;t think their victimization is important enough to be worth reporting or because they doubt that the police can help them.... About 1/5 of all crimes... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:08:25 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7676636 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7666107 Do soldiers learn how to sew?<br /><br />No. In my five years in the Army, I cannot recall ever seeing a soldier holding a needle. Every post has an alterations shop in which patches and whatnot can be sewn onto uniforms. It&#039;s perfectly fine for a soldier to do his own patchwork, but if it isn&#039;t done perfectly then it&#039;s... Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:43:18 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7666107 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7641376 Atheists : ultimately believers will think they are accountable for their behaviour to their God. How do you think you are accountable for your behaviour? And do you have a sense of an ultimate accountability? Thank you.<br /><br />Like Moongrim, I disagree with that premise, *if* it relates to how we live. True, some people believe that there exists some &quot;ultimate&quot; accountability after we die, and others do not. But if we are going to go further and claim that those who believe in it are more likely to be good in... Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:14:26 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7641376 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7635710 What are the benifits of practicing scales on guitar regularly?<br /><br />It depends on what style of music you want to play. Playing scales are helpful if you want to play serious lead guitar in any genre, whether it&#039;s jazz, classical, metal, or whatever. If your primary interest does not lie in showcasing your solo skills, then it is unnecessary to play those... Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:56:18 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7635710 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7635442 Why are people so bent out of shape about what is natural/unnatural when it comes to sexuality? Did I miss the meeting where we collectively decided to shackle ourselves to our primal past?<br /><br />I agree. And what is &quot;natural&quot;? We can find homosexuality in nature, so that&#039;s natural. Then again, we can find eating your mate after copulation in nature as well. So why do we humans concern ourselves with how animals have sex? Howzabout consenting adults do whatever they want?... Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:23:18 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7635442 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7626731 Are there any atheists out there at AB who are now serving or have served in the military? What is/was your experience?<br /><br />I qualify under those conditions. I didn&#039;t understand why any non-religious person would want to see a chaplain. Their role is essentially preacher/counselor, but I could never understand 1) why anyone with problems would rather see a chaplain instead of a mental health professional; and... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:23:51 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7626731 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7624795 I want to be adept at guitar playing (specially in terms of soloing, riff, scales, tapping etc.) what should I do?<br /><br />Practice slowly. After you can perfectly play the song/riff/scale at a slow pace, then and only then should you gradually increase the tempo. Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:21:35 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7624795 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7624053 How much harder is Algebra 2 than Algebra 1? All my friends in 2 complain all the time about it, but I find Algebra 1 almost quite easy.<br /><br />This is simply a matter of substituting words for math operations: How much = x is = equals So Algebra 2 is x harder than Algebra 1 means (Algebra 2) = (x)(Algebra 1) Divide by Algebra 1: (Algebra 2)/(Algebra 1) = x Cancel algebras: 2/1 = 2 = x So Algebra 2 is twice as... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:55:40 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7624053 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7623842 I need help with a conversion problem or dimensional analysis problem. Here is the problem. A cyclist is traveling downhill at 55km/hr. How fast is she moving in feet per second. Please show the steps and units( they should cancel except feet per second)<br /><br />Remember, when converting measurements all you&#039;re doing is changing the measurement unit, not the value. How does one avoid changing the value? By multiplying times 1, or more specifically, other forms of 1, always ensuring that the unit you want to change is on the opposite side of the... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:08:38 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7623842 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7609964 In how many different ways can the opening pair of moves be made in a game of chess-one white move followed by one black move?<br /><br />Each knight can move to two spots, and each pawn can move one or two squares forward. 2 knights, 4 moves. 8 pawns, 16 moves. 4+16=20 for each side. 20(20) = 400 possible positions for the first moves. Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:36:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7609964 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7607726 Whats the funniest verse/sentence or part of the bible?<br /><br />Ricky Gervais points out some funny parts: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:36:37 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7607726 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7598153 What are the secret weapons, and how do I unlock them?<br /><br />I&#039;ll use dialogue from the great movie &quot;I (Heart) Huckabees&quot; to answer: Q: Have you ever transcended space and time? A: Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don&#039;t know what you&#039;re talking about. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:30:17 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7598153 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7588594 If I start killing the pieces of shit who have made me feel wronged... would the world be a better place??? or should I expect the outside sources to help get rid of them?<br /><br />You could also smash their car windows with a crowbar and run away. I&#039;m certainly not advocating vandalism, but at least in this situation there is no killing, dying, mourning, arresting, etc. and you&#039;d still feel satisfied with your revenge. Or even better, you could take... Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:00:40 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7588594 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7581609 Maybe there are no atheists in foxholes because they're too busy fighting?<br /><br />1) You *do* fight from a foxhole. It&#039;s not shelter; it&#039;s using the ground as a shield to fire from. 2) The phrase &quot;there are no atheists in foxholes&quot; is flawed. On that: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/360992 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:17:02 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7581609 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7543168 Is there an atheist movement on youtube?<br /><br />I don&#039;t know if you could really call it a movement if it amounts to little more than speaking their minds in the privacy of their own home to people that can freely come and go of their own accord. Yes, they are many atheists on Youtube that make videos relevant to their non-belief, but... Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:27:05 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7543168 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7497953 What do you think about people getting upset that Michelle Obama wore shorts while on vacation?<br /><br />Virtually no one is upset over this; this &quot;controversy&quot; is 100% fabricated by the media to boost ratings for a day. In the link provided, and in that link&#039;s own link, and in the same report told by NBC&#039;s &quot;Today&quot; show this morning (which I happened to catch), there is... Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:15:08 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7497953 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7421934 The expression 'the exception that proves the rule' is a contradiction in terms. Do you agree?<br /><br />That phrase is complete nonsense. Its premise: 1) X is true. 2) Because rules always have exceptions, X is sometimes not true. 3) Therefore, X is true. My brain just melted a little bit. Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:17:41 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7421934 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7382472 When playing guitar, and I play a note on, say, the 5th fret, should I leave my finger on that fifth fret if I know I will have to play that note again soon? Or should I move my finger so it's easier to play other notes?<br /><br />Generally your finger should stay put. Let your index finger do its job and let the others do their job. Take this line for example: (any string) --5--7--8--7--5-- In this five note line, the index finger should stay on the fifth fret the whole time. The ring finger stays on the seventh... Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:39:28 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7382472 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7381513 What has Obama done that you believe is bad for our country, and why is it bad?<br /><br />I can&#039;t comment on our economic problems because absolutely none of it makes sense to me. Because both sides are speaking gibberish, I have no idea who&#039;s right on what will fix the bubble or trading or market or any of that. However, it doesn&#039;t help the Republicans&#039; side when... Sat, 08 Aug 2009 04:56:12 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7381513 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7374749 Who's philosophy do aetheists use to learn morality?<br /><br />There are countless factors that have a hand in creating our morality: our upbringing, our rationality, our genes, experiences we&#039;ve had, fears we hold, stories we&#039;ve heard, social norms, our individual understandings and interpretations of what have you, the list goes on and on. It... Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:35:59 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7374749 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7319487 Mississippi spent $16 million in abstinence-only programs, yet the state ranked No. 1 in teen births in 2009 & gonorrhea & in the top five in STD infection numbers. Does abstinence education work?<br /><br />All the facts say no. So, moving on, let&#039;s look at some things that conservatives say: &quot;Communism doesn&#039;t work because you can&#039;t trust the powerful to distribute things evenly. Gun control isn&#039;t a good idea because you can&#039;t trust a handful of people (the... Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:05:24 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7319487 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7282978 In blackjack, when do I split or double down?<br /><br />A chart for basic strategy (just an image, not spam): http://www.gambling-systems.com/gambling-a/Blackjack_Strategy_Chart.gif Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:29:57 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7282978 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7121195 What role does senses play in Knowledge?<br /><br />With absolute certainty, the senses help in no way. French philosopher Rene Descrates (&quot;day CART&quot;) asked this same question, thinking of how a candle can deceive the senses: once it&#039;s burning for a while, it becomes warm, it changes shape and color, its smell becomes somewhat... Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:16:36 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7121195 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7048461 I have just recently started doubting God (i was raised Catholic) & see myself more as an Atheist. My (&hubby's) family are disgusted by the way I have turned my back. Any suggestions of dealing w/ them?<br /><br />Lead by example. Now that you understand that you are finite, it would do you well to live accordingly. In other words, live a good life because the good is higher than the gods. Maybe we won&#039;t all agree that Jesus was divine or that he even existed at all, but surely we can agree that he... Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:55:27 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7048461 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7038929 [Please delete this q]<br /><br />The question was: &quot;Does God believe in atheists?&quot; According to the Old Testament, all he thinks about are unbelievers and heathens. &quot;I am a jealous God. Who am I, you ask? I&#039;ll tell ya who I am! I AM WHO I AM! What now? How&#039;s that answer for ya? And here&#039;s some... Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:07:36 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7038929 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7000660 Do You Agree That It's An Unrealistic Ideal To Be Perfect All The Time?*<br /><br />No, You Can Be Perfect All The Time. All You Have To Do Is Never Try To Do Anything And You&#039;ll Never Fail. And Then You&#039;ll Feel Great Because You Can Tell Everyone (Or Just Yourself) That You Are Perfect. Pretty Simple, Really. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:52:49 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7000660 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6998331 Atheist, why do you think people believe in the bible more than any other book in the world?<br /><br />Let&#039;s narrow down this number of books in question. How many books of the millions of books out there are claiming to be true? Only those not claiming to be fiction. So of those that are not claiming to be fiction, how many are backed by verifiable facts, thus earning the title... Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:03:44 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6998331 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6998048 Does everyone who joins the army have abnormal violent tendencies?<br /><br />Not even close. From my observations, the percentage of people that join the Army that are &quot;out for blood&quot; or just want to get into combat is very small. (Maybe it&#039;s different for the Marines. I don&#039;t know.) Most people are tempted by the free health care, food, and shelter,... Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:16 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6998048 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6977160 What are the main arguments for the existence of god? and what are the main arguments against the existence of god? (don't feel obliged to explain the arguments, the arguments names will suffice) :) X<br /><br />The First Cause argument&#039;s refutation is that it doesn&#039;t explain how the first cause is its own cause. The Argument from Design&#039;s refutation is that, if we accept the (erroneous) assumption that complex systems need designers, then the Big Designer, necessarily being more... Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:31 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6977160 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6967505 Anybody have guitar tips for someone who just started?<br /><br />Learn the chromatic scale (http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/861567), wash your hands before you play, practice slowly, use a tuning fork instead of an electronic tuner (they needn&#039;t batteries and they don&#039;t break), try to learn a few whole songs instead of just parts of a thousand songs,... Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:28:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6967505 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6939730 Whats your favourite chess opening and do you vary it a lot?<br /><br />As White I like 1.c4, 1.e4, and 1.d4, in that order. I most prefer openings that are not incredibly familiar so as to throw off my opponent. I absolutely hate symmetrical games. In those games I trade pieces as much as possible. Clean the board, clean my thinking. As Black as a response to... Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:07:30 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6939730 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6938448 What if every one on this earth convert to atheist?<br /><br />I&#039;d love it. Rationality has never steered us wrong, and religion has been an enormous blockade to reason for centuries. We could concentrate on actual problems and look for actual solutions instead of trying to tirelessly justify religion&#039;s place in society. Of the negative... Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:19:29 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6938448 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6938272 Why does the heading under the Atheism category say "Believe in Not Believing" - isn't that insulting? Like we disbelieve not because of logic, but just to be antagonistic?<br /><br />I&#039;m not that offended by it because those subtitles/taglines are expected to be unfunny jokes (they&#039;re common in all media), but I can see how someone would be. Under the category &quot;Theism&quot; it merely says &quot;Questions and answers about Theism,&quot; but with the Atheism... Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:52:59 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6938272 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6931011 Where can you find the information to reduce making mistakes, by improving your consciousness?<br /><br />Read psychology, sociology, and history textbooks. Read Bertrand Russell. Listen to George Carlin. Recognize logical fallacies. Disagree. Agree. Ask, answer, think, learn, read, speak, listen. Observe ads, observe people, observe media, observe the news. Take note of actions and words, and... Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:09:38 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6931011 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6930387 When in your life do you think mistakes happen less?<br /><br />There are only two things that I can presently think of that will slow your rate of mistakes: doing less in general, or becoming wiser. From my observations, the vast majority of people conform to the former as they age. A random older person is no more wise than a random younger person. We... Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:58:29 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6930387 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6909488 If you save your coins each day, do you put them in a dish, bowl, bank, box, what? How do you count them up or turn them in for paper money?<br /><br />I put pennies in a big jar and non-pennies in a smaller jar. I spend quarters often; therefore the smaller jar doesn&#039;t fill up that fast. Whenever I know I&#039;ll be near a soda machine, I take a whole bunch of nickels with me. Pennies can accumulate quickly, however, so often before I... Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:45:06 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6909488 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6908825 Does your unbelief disprove what you do not believe?<br /><br />No, absence of proof is not proof of absence, although absence of proof is a perfectly fine reason to not believe a claim. We don&#039;t believe claims because they are absolutely certain to be true, and we don&#039;t disbelieve claims because they are absolutely certain to be false. Instead, we... Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:29:53 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6908825 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6898463 Albert Einstein said, "The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe." Do you agree or disagree, and why?<br /><br />I completely agree. I assume he was referring to nukes. With science, we progress onward always. In physical and mechanical sciences, we can create powerful weapons. On the other hand, the sciences of psychology and sociology, for instance, also progress further and further, giving us... Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:22:05 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6898463 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6890966 How long does it take to become a sergeant major in the army if you start out as an E3<br /><br />Off the top of my head, I&#039;d say about 18 years. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:23:54 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6890966 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6890186 Who has watched the youtube video of Neda, the Iranian bystander? it was heartbreaking...<br /><br />I saw it. Yes, it was incredible. I even saw it on a news channel a few hours ago but they cut away before the blood started flowing from her nose. Absolutely brutal. And all because a religious leader (the Ayatollah) wants his President to stay in place despite what the people want. Well... Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:34:49 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6890186 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6880438 Do You think Dawkins answer to this question was childish or intelligent?<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg 100% on spot. Perfect answer to the question. For the readers out there, the Q to Dawkins was &quot;This is probably going to be the most simplest one for you to answer, but... what if you&#039;re wrong [about being an atheist]?&quot; This is... Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:33:40 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6880438 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6880320 What is the first rule of politics?<br /><br />Get married and mention it as much as possible. Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:20:01 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6880320 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6880263 Are your parents Atheist & how did they religiously school you: to believe / not to believe?<br /><br />My parents went in phases of strict and passive religiosity. They used common sense or scripture to justify their teachings to me, whichever was convenient for them for the situation. My questions were normally answered by &quot;God works in mysterious ways&quot; or &quot;that&#039;s not for us... Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:12:52 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6880263 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6840775 Check mate with King and knight<br /><br />If a king has only one knight or only one bishop left to fight a lone king, the game is drawn by insufficient material (ie, checkmate is impossible). However, a king with two knights, two bishops, or one of each can find a win. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:37:26 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6840775 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6824074 What is the most difficult contradiction to explain if you interpret the Christian Bible literally?<br /><br />It&#039;s difficult to rationalize contradictions regarding the mind and personality of God, which is quite significant as it directly influences how Christians will act in their own lives. Some like the fire and brimstone version, some like the all-loving version. They each have their verses to... Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:53:25 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6824074 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6807916 Why do athiests seem to be so militant and determined to ridicule people of most faiths? I write most faiths, because I don't seem to see much ridiculing of muslims.<br /><br />I think it very likely that what you mean by &quot;atheists&quot; is &quot;atheists on the Internet,&quot; but that&#039;s fine. The clarification is significant, however. In my experience, atheists in real life rarely make their position known unnecessarily; discussing religion makes people... Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:04:06 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6807916 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6807376 How did siciology begin as a true science?<br /><br />This answer may be incorrect, but it&#039;s what&#039;s in my memory. Emilie Durkheim was a French guy from a long time ago who wondered why Catholics committed suicide less often than Protestants. He studied these groups and found that because Catholics were more social than Protestants,... Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:13:07 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6807376 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6804168 How do you tap on a guitar? I need to know if I'm doing it wrong.<br /><br />With a finger tap your pick-hand is executing a hammer-on to sound the first note and then pulling-off to ring the highest-pitch fretted note. Let&#039;s say you want to create a repeating, descending note sequence F-C-B-E on the high E string (respectively, frets 13-8-7-0). In preparation you... Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:44:26 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6804168 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6790972 It's my opinion that atheism is a type of religion? It's a belief in nothing. Probably a stronger than the Christian or Jewish religion, since they are steadfast in their non-belief.<br /><br />All religions are organized, have a belief structure, concern themselves with the supernatural, include rituals of some sort, make distinctions between special/serious ideas/things and non-special ones (ie, sacred and not sacred), and attempt to answer questions of &quot;ultimate meaning.&quot;... Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:53:06 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6790972 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6787220 Atheists, how does the belief in science make you less of a follower and less gullible, then a person who believes in a religion and/or god?<br /><br />Do theists not believe in science? How did we discover the laws of motion, Neptune, molecules, or tectonic plates? Where did we come up with ideas that created cell phones, sonar, or vaccines? Surely these weren&#039;t accidents or revelations from gods? We all believe scientists&#039; claims... Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:07:42 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/6787220