ASK ME ANYTHING

[ER]

That's what I'd say, that mind is the product of brain.

[Rev. Powell]

You could say the brain is like a harp, and mind is like the music that comes out of it. More a poetic description than a philosophical one, though.

[ER]

Ever worked on a death penalty case, Rev?

[Rev. Powell]

Ever worked on a death penalty case, Rev?

Close, a traffic ticket case.

[RCMerchant]

Anyone, ever kiss a corpse?
I kissed my Ma on the forehead in her coffin at her wake.

[ER]

Naw, man, kissing a dead person would make me go Seven Faces of Eve

[indianasmith]

I kissed my grandmother's hand right after she passed.

[Alex]

My grandmother and my daughter, both on the forehead.

[ER]

What do you guys think the odds are that a nuclear device will be detonated on US soil in the 2020s?

[pacman000]

I hope it's zero! 

[Alex]

You have several options here (and assuming you are not talking about a nuclear power plant either operating normally or having a meltdown). The US resumes testing nuclear weapons on its own soil, a terrorist dirty bomb or a nuclear attack (which would most likely be arial detonation and not technically on US soil, but since it would be over it, it'd have the same result.

I'd rate the first one and the last one is highly unlikely before the end of the decade. The other one, well I'd rate that as the most likely (just still unlikely). I have no special knowledge on this though, that's just my pure guesswork. I did watch a TV program a few years back (I think around 2005ish), where some expert rated a dirty bomb attack as being almost certain on US soil. I can't remember what (if any) time frame he put on that.

[RCMerchant]

Hopefully very soon on every f**king place on planet earth.
It would very much make this place a better place than the place we are now!
Otherwise I might start crossing pot and booze and start my own political party of brain dead idiots.

[pacman000]

How would we know if an alien species was sentient? Thinking? Self-Aware?

[ER]

How would we know if an alien species was sentient? Thinking? Self-Aware?

If the species demonstrated mathematical knowledge or musical skills, that would cinch it. Otherwise we might evaluate its architectural achievements. Barring the presence of obvious achievements that would reveal sentience, then by the species' actions, in the case of primitive or basic life forms. Even reactants which move in response to stimulus show some degree of nervous function that would presumably show us what we were dealing with. Despite differences I suspect all life shares recognizable features in reaction to outer stimuli, if nottelse.

[RCMerchant]

How would we know if an alien species was sentient? Thinking? Self-Aware?

Attacks us with space ships and wipe us all out would be a big clue!