GammaGlobulin

Maybe, then, you should ask your granddaughter...?

Several detailed discussions of The Flynn Effect can be found: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/flynn-effect For example, just one short excerpt of just one discussion: "An Empirical Curiosity: The Flynn Effect We know that the environment has powerful effects on cognitive abilities. Perhaps the simplest and most potent demonstration of this effect is the Flynn effect, named after its discoverer, James Flynn. The basic phenomenon is that IQ has increased over successive generations throughout the world during most of the past century—at least since 1930. The effect must be environmental because, obviously, a successive stream of genetic mutations could not have taken hold and exerted such an effect over such a short period of time. The effect is powerful—about 15 points of IQ per generation for tests of fluid intelligence. Also, it occurs throughout the world. The effect has been greater for tests of fluid intelligence than for tests of crystallized intelligence. The difference, if linearly extrapolated (a hazardous procedure, obviously), suggests that a person who in 1892 was at the 90th percentile on the Raven Progressive Matrices, a test of fluid intelligence, would in 1992 score at the 5th percentile."

My Dearest Grandpapas, Has your granddaughter ever told you she is smarter than you? And, did you secretly admit to yourself that she was probably correct? And then, did you ask yourself WHY? Why is my granddaughter, just six years old, smarter than I ever was? The reasons are varied, but the name for this overall phenomenon is simply called: THE FLYNN EFFECT. I guess, by now, one would have had to have been hiding under a rock someplace not to have heard of the Flynn Effect. But don’t feel bad if you don’t know much about the Flynn Effect, an effect that is most interesting for those of us who care about such things. And, you are in luck, because here are two videos that do an excellent job explaining the Flynn Effect. This first UTUBE video, a TED Talk, is presented Straight from The Horse’s Mouth, none other than James Flynn, himself! He will tell you exactly why your granddaughter is, indeed, likely to be quite a bit smarter than you…maybe by as much as 15 IQ points if both you and your granddaughter could take the same IQ test (of course, your granddaughter would not be taking the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), but rather she would be taking the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)). So then, if you have an interest in this Topic, please enjoy this TED Talk: This next video, an interview done by Lex Fridman, and I am not a fan of his, provides a discussion between him and Richard Haier. Haier seems to believe that the Flynn Effect may be slowing down, and possibly reversing. And, he also repeats our general understanding concerning the fact that the Flynn Effect, which is an observation based on IQ data, is probably due to improved healthcare and nutrition (an intergenerational improvement). Obviously, the Flynn Effect is a fascinating topic to most all of us. Fortunately, both of these attached videos are for the lay audience, so rest easy grandpapas! Therefore, next time you interact with your granddaughter, and next time you admit to yourself that she is smarter than you ever were, now you know why. Helpfully yours, As always, Gamma G. Please Note: I have no granddaughters. But this has not stopped me from realizing that children are smarter these days. I have taught a few super-smart Chinese kids via the internet….For FUN. And, they always try to show me up, being as academically precocious as they often are. They love to point out my typos and spelling errors on WeChat, for example, and this makes their day! Note2: Still, I can honestly say, I have yet to meet a 12-year-old student smarter than me, even a Chinese one. But yet I know, one day soon, I surely shall.

I am smarter than my Dad. Why? It must be the Flynn Effect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flynn_effect

How did LIFE begin in our Godless Universe? And, further thoughts concerning Why Super-Smart people are UNABLE to believe in God/gods: In several of my previous comments, I have linked to a few precious tidbits given off by that Super-Nova of a Scientist, and My Main Man, Sean Carroll. (Educated at Villanova University and Harvard University; Research and Teaching at CalTech, Santa Fe Institute, Johns Hopkins University; Influences: Einstein, Boltzmann, Richard FEYNMAN!, David Hume, etc.) Definitely, here is another Royal Institution gem from Sean which will answer ALL/MOST of your questions about our Godless Universe. I know you guys are going to love it. (Please watch the entire video IF you want to know more about what's up with our Reality and our Universe.) And, nothing that I can think of could be more...ON TOPIC! This will answer your question about where LIFE came from, as well as the origin of the Universe, AND...what will happen to the Universe in the far, Far, FAR distant future. Please watch the other Sean Carroll video I linked in a previous comment. Both are exactly ON TOPIC, elucidating and full of optimism for all men of Free Will and Good Cheer. Bless you guys!

Twain is GREAT: You see? Twain uses the word "cut" and "straight". Which, of course, leads the reader to immediately think of a straight razor.

'I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today '

Those are BLOODSUCKERS which feed on the blood of cattle. I know those birds. Worse than the Maasai in Kenya, by the way. Where is Karen Blixen, when one most needs her? (Please Note: The linked UTUBE video above is NOT OFFENSIVE in ANY way! This video should really NOT be age-restricted!!!)* *I am SO THANKFUL I was not born in this New Age. I was born in the days when the world was still LOGICAL and THOUGHTFUL.

OK. But, Track and Field is really not my game.

Unfortunately, I am actually not that confrontational of an individual. Besides, as I stated in the OP.... I do LOVE cats.

Very GOOD point!!!

Well, for one thing, I like privacy during the race, and especially just after crossing the finish line after doing the last grueling 500 meters. I don't need a lot of stupid gawkers looking at me; the crowd that might die halfway through the first 500 meters of a 2000-meter rowing race.

I should also like to add something that I forgot to mention in the OP: This morning, sitting outside, I had been SHOCKED to see one of the adult birds making a beeline directly at me. At first, I had thought the adult was about to attack me! Fortunately, the heron approached to within one or two feet of me, after climbing up on the tiled stoop outside my garden door, and after just about stepping on my toes, he just nonchalantly walked on by. Is this bird BLIND, I wondered? And, do I look or smell like a worm to him, I considered? Nature is really a wonder to behold, if we are both patient and observant enough to appreciate all creatures, big and small.

How would you separate out the "bigots" you refer to? Far better to do the ENTIRE WORLD a huge service by just BANNING ALL SPORTING CROWDS! As a rower, I used to HATE the crowds which would congregate in the bleachers located at the finish line, just as we had given our all to get through the last quarter mile. There we would be, spent and exhausted, lying on our oars, while the crown gloated. I do hate the sporting crowds.

First, before completely changing my name, I must polish off this list of anagrams of my existing name: Ablooming Gull Iboga Mungal Imbuing Gongal Lugubrious Manga Mongol Buglia Nobiliary Gull Nubile Gogmal Globular Milieu Globulin Gaming Might take me about a year.... Best Regards....

I was so very touched by these three black balls, this morning, that I almost began to weep with joy....My First TRUE foreign friends in Thailand! Yes, I will be on the lookout for that darned black cat.

In addition, although I LOVE cats, I now worry that the neighborhood cat, which is also black, might pose a threat to my striated-heron family. House cats, as I know, are responsible for the "decimation" of local bird populations. Next time I see the black cat aprowling, I will do my best to chase him away. Bad Kitty!

Feeding them anything was just my poor attempt at sick humor. And, I would never feed local animals any of cheap cake-like bread coming out of my bread machine, anyway!

It's really so very TOUCHING for me to be able to see these tiny black, furry, ping-pong balls up so close, walking on their short toothpick-legs. You cannot even see that they have heads, in fact; they are THAT full of fluff.

My Dear Bird Friends, Recently, I have been blessed with the presence of a newly-moved-in Striated Heron which occasionally wanders around in my garden carrying worms dangling from beaks. Sometimes, they will approach to within about a foot of me. How is it that they know I will not eat them? Normally, I cannot approach birds without them taking wing whenever they see me. What is so different about this bird family? Should I try to feed them with the sweet tasting cake from my bread machine? Is it my smell they like? Can they detect that my demeanor is not threatening? Do they look into my eyes and just know that I mean them no harm? Also, the tiny children of the adult pair are just so cute. They look like nothing more than black super-furry ping pong balls with legs. I bet each little one would be nothing more than a bite-sized morsel if I were hungry. Therefore, I do not plan to eat them. Also, each little one is probably just full of worms. So then, why do they approach me without fear when other birds fear to tread so close? Curiously yours, Gamma

Not really. It is those scientists who base their work on "belief" and that are guided by "faith" who obviously are not relying on any evidence to support their claims who are pseudo-scientists. Pseudoscientists are NOT scientists, obviously. This is by definition.

He did a surprisingly good job when he interviewed my fellow-alumnus Elon. Really he did great. Such a change from his normal self. You can watch the interview by looking on YT for Musk's interview with Piers. Really nice job, and better than most.

This link is actually rather good. So, the BBC is obviously still good for many things. (I wonder if the guy in the photos doing planks might be the BBC's wine editor.)

Here is a clear and concise answer to the main question posed in the OP: "‘Asahna Bucha’ Day, also known as ‘Asalha Puja,’ or ‘Dhamma’ Day, depending on which region you’re observing it in, is a Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon of the eighth lunar month. Usually, this falls in July of every year. This religious festival honors the Buddha and commemorates his first-ever sermon and the establishment of the Buddha’s ‘sangha’ — known as the ‘Four Noble Truths.’ ‘Dukkha’ (suffering), ‘tanhā’ (craving), ‘nibbāna’ (the state beyond the challenges mentioned), and the eight-fold path, which is the route to ‘nirvana,’ make up the noble truths. Buddha’s sermon in which he outlined these teachings became known to his followers as the setting in motion of the “Dhamma,” which is a crucial concept with multiple meanings in the Theravada Buddhist faith. This first sermon, which outlines Buddha’s first structured discourse following his enlightenment, contains the essence of all his subsequent teachings. After he delivered his sermon leaving his followers speechless and contemplating, one of the participants requested to be a disciple. Buddha granted him that honor and, in doing so, established the first order of monks." https://nationaltoday.com/asahna-bucha-day/#:~:text='Asahna Bucha' Day%2C also,in July of every year.

I like Scotsmen but No True Scotsman does NOT apply in this case: A scientist is one who follows the principles of Science, and the process of science which definitely does include the Scientific Method. A pseudo-scientists who calls himself a scientist is free to do what he chooses; however he is NOT a scientist unless he follows the principles and processes of Science....which DOES include the Scientific Method. This is fundamental. And, here, we are NOT speaking of "PURITY", or degrees of the Scientific Method. THIS is why your argument has NO relevance to my statement which you quoted, which is "It is my opinion that any scientist who truly believes there is a god is ipso facto NOT a scientist, but something else. And that, furthermore, that "something else" is a stain upon the very name of Science!" So, "how is science different from other ways of describing and explaining nature, such as philosophy or religion? Those endeavors also seek to make sense of the world around us, and they often play an important role in society. But the scientific view of the world is based on hypothesis testing and verifiable evidence. Indeed, one of the distinguishing characteristics of science is the willingness to follow the evidence—and to correct itself when new evidence is found." (Campbell Biology)