Author: ideonexus
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The Movie “300” Sucked on Multiple Levels
Historical Inaccuracies “See, look, I . . . I know I’m homophobic, but not about gay guys. They don’t bother me at all. It’s straight guys who don’t know they’re gay. They %&*# my $#!@ right up.” – King Missile, Gay or Not Gay The Battle at Thermopylae, when 300 Spartans led 5,000 Greeks against…
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Are We Von Neumann Machines?
“Extraterrestrial Intelligent Beings Do Not Exist.” – Frank Tipler Von Neumann Machines… Clanking Replicators… Universal Constructors… They are one of the many fascinating dimensions of speculation concerning Fermi’s Paradox, which posits the question: If there is life in the Universe, then why don’t we see it? The Nobili-Pesavento 29-stateapproximation ofvon Neumann’suniversal constructor, with a tape…
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Review of Richard Dawkin’s “The God Delusion”
Imagine No Religion “Religion has actually convinced people that there’s an invisible mand–living in the sky–who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a…
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Review of the Film “Children of Men”
Children of Men The year’s best film won a scant three Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Film Editing, and Adapted Screenplay. It did not win any of these, and that is a shame. Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, the film was completely ignored at the box office, only bringing in a scant $34…
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Science in Second Life
The Second Life Science Center Second Life Science Center I’m a Second Life tourist. I don’t own property or buy things or invest anymore interest in Linden’s virtual world beyond wandering around taking in all the amazing things the world’s user-base comes up with, snapping pictures, and talking to people all over the world. One…
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SWOT Analysis for Discovery Holdings Corp
Paper I wrote for one of my Strayer Economics classes. (Download this document as a PDF) Introduction Discovery Holdings Corporation has built a successful corporate venture based on providing educational content through cable, Internet, retail stores, and public schools. Founded in 1985 by John Hendricks. Discovery offers quality documentaries and has found a niche audience…
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Creative Commons Screenplay: “Shah Mat”
Download a free PDF of this screenplay. Logline: Ian returns from college to reluctantly hang out and play a game of chess with is old friend Duf, who runs a comic book shop. Their competitive conversation mimics the competitive nature of their game. Estimated Running Time: 73 Minutes Shah Mat by Ryan Somma is licensed…
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Letter to the Editor: More Than Prayer Needed to Heal EC’s Drug and Crime Problems
This is a letter to the editor I published at the Daily Advance. Posted here for posterity, since they have no online archive: Prayer vigils and marches through Sawyertown are all well and good for combating Elizabeth City’s plague of drug abuse, but without providing real alternatives to this self-destructive lifestyle they are no more…
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Science VS Religion: Ryan VS Darin Round One
The following is an exchange between my brother and I concerning Intelligent Design VS Evolution, which spread into the areas of Religion VS Science. I think it’s an important exchange because it illustrates: 1. There is more than one version of Intelligent Design, and allowing one requires allowing them all. ID proponents need to consider…
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Letter to the Editor: Creationists deny dynamism of life
This is a letter to the editor I published at the Daily Advance. Posted here for posterity, since they have no online archive: I am appreciating the irony of creationism expert Steve Grohman’s claim that science is “flawed” while enjoying the benefits of agricultural, medical and technological sciences that feed him, keep him in good…
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Review of Stephen J. Gould’s “The Hedgehog, the Fox, and the Magister’s Pox: Mending the Gap Between Science and the Humanities”
There are two kinds of inquisitive minds, Hedgehogs and Foxes. In nature, Foxes rely on a wide range of crafty strategies to avoid prey. Hedgehogs rely on one tried and true defense, rolling up into a ball and baring their quills. Intellectually, Foxes dart from topic to topic, surveying a wide range of ideas across…