Now dft, you're being unfair towards BSG, up to the point of being hypocritical. If one values the show for its merits in terms of allegory, the ethical and moral conflicts and noir like you say you do (extrapolating from your examples), one could be expecting a fitting finale in terms of closure and retained style, not in terms of traditional (and utterly unoriginal) "awesome-go-out-with-a-bang" type of storytelling (which will, of course be served, come on, this is television, the industry of entertainment we're talking about).

I haven't seen the 19th episode yet, but the very idea of Galactica 'dying' - doesn't it have enough finality and noir to it for you? And what are the loose ends that are left? I for one feel like they're addressing these too excessively. They're obviously tying the Hera/Shape of things to come/Opera motif up, as well as the Roslin/Dying leader prophecy by entwining her fate with that of the old girl. No, leaving storylines up in the air isn't something they'll do.

And I'm quite sure they won't do a Sopranos ending, that's just cheating when one can't write themselves out of a corner, which the Galactica writers have already shown they're capable of doing just fine.

As for Daniel - I agree with timtoner that him being Kara's father makes more sense in the universe's mythology, but I'm also assuming they wouldn't introduce such a major character on-screen this late in the series when they're perfectly capable of finding other, if less-rational explanations for Kara's destiny. Again, I might be wrong, not having seen the 19th episode yet.

"Muslim"? Why not say Arab, Persian or whatnot?

I don't think sorting discoveries by religion is something the Islamic world wants to tread into...

There's a strong feeling of nostalgia among Muslims for their once-great empire. Yes indeed, they ruled a fair share of the Old Continent for some time and had very structured societies back in the day, but their advancement has stagnated somewhat. Arabs were renowned for their knowledge of "fringe" sciences such as astrology (not astronomy!), alchemy (not chemistry!) and even some hard sciences such as mathematics and physics. It is undeniable that these forays were vastly precipitated and aided by knowledge inherited from Greek thinkers.

Islamic shortcomings are however ironically linked to the "Muslim" aspect of the whole thing. They adopted an empirical view of things, the exact opposite of the rational impetus the Greeks were leaning towards. Another impediment was that the Muslim world was constantly entwined with the Koran, which is to say that theology played an authoritarian role in legislative, economic, social and pedantic spheres. This prohibited many possible advances.

One reason Europe thrived so much during the Renaissance is that these spheres (although the Church did dominate social life) were not so interwoven as to proscribe scientific endeavours with much aplomb.

Have you watched Sicko (Michael Moore, who I'm going to guess you don't like), if not, do so, it demonstrates the differences between the US and countries like ours.

I see that you have the usual right wing view of "How does it work besides you having to pay for somebody else's elective surgery?" You're coming from the viewpoint of me, me, me, rather than us, us, us.

Which, considering your strong religious views is odd, as the Christian ethos is 'do unto others as you would have done unto you'... which to me I would read 'If I were sick and couldn't afford to pay for a heart operation, I would hope that others might help me.'

Really, do you think we notice the money that goes towards public health? Nope.

Do we notice the huge difference in the cost of medicine and health care day to day for all of us here compared to places like the states? You betcha.

Really, even though you have private health cover, you should check out Sicko, it shows that just having cover doesn't mean things are going to be covered. And do you think it's right that before a doctor will perform LIFE saving procedures on you they ask about your cover, whether they'll get paid for it?

It's disgusting.

And breeding excellence is a load of absolute toss.

As I mentioned, one of my sons has a host of heart conditions, what we discovered is that we, right here in Melbourne Australia, with its public health system, not having to pay for it... we have one of the absolute BEST heart care centres in the world. The care we get for our son is second to none... really, they are superb, and we've read a lot on it, and talked to many, many people in the same boat around the world, and the quality of care in the states is no better, and the cost is far, far more.

I know which health care system I'd want.

And, by the way, I DO have private health care also, because we can afford it, and because you benefit for doing so and helping out further. And if you think that the rest of the country is paying for people to have boob jobs and the like you're very mistaken. By elective surgery, I mean things like vasectomies (very handy in keeping the ol' population down in this overcrowded world), and other things that are not life threatening, but impede the quality of life. (Um... warts being removed, wisdom teeth extracted, things like that)

In reply to this comment by thepinky:
In reply to this comment by spoco2:
In reply to this comment by thepinky:
Ah, capitalism. I could really get into that. I donno, Spoco. I'm terribly wary of a public health care system. The US doesn't always handle its public programs in the best way. Prime example: Education. Also: Welfare. I'm afraid that the quality of our health care will go down. We do have social programs for free healthcare. The government will pay and it really isn't that hard to obtain. Just ask my brother.

So if you were to break you leg tomorrow and went to an emergency room and didn't have private health cover, would you have to pay for treatment?

That's my question really... In Australia we just don't have to think about the cost of health issues really, unless it's an elective surgery, and even then most of that is covered as well, it just takes longer on public than private. Having health care so very closely entwined with private enterprise is a scary, scary thing.

Providing health care to people shouldn't be a for profit game.

No, because I wouldn't be stupid enough not to have health insurance.

No, no, no, no, no. You DO have to worry about the cost of health issues. It comes out of your paycheck every single month of your life. I'm just spewing opinions here because I've never witnessed what socialized healthcare looks like, but I believe that competition breeds excellence and innovation most of the time.

Tell me about your healthcare. How does it work besides you having to pay for somebody else's elective surgery?

In reply to this comment by spoco2:
In reply to this comment by thepinky:
Ah, capitalism. I could really get into that. I donno, Spoco. I'm terribly wary of a public health care system. The US doesn't always handle its public programs in the best way. Prime example: Education. Also: Welfare. I'm afraid that the quality of our health care will go down. We do have social programs for free healthcare. The government will pay and it really isn't that hard to obtain. Just ask my brother.

So if you were to break you leg tomorrow and went to an emergency room and didn't have private health cover, would you have to pay for treatment?

That's my question really... In Australia we just don't have to think about the cost of health issues really, unless it's an elective surgery, and even then most of that is covered as well, it just takes longer on public than private. Having health care so very closely entwined with private enterprise is a scary, scary thing.

Providing health care to people shouldn't be a for profit game.

No, because I wouldn't be stupid enough not to have health insurance.

No, no, no, no, no. You DO have to worry about the cost of health issues. It comes out of your paycheck every single month of your life. I'm just spewing opinions here because I've never witnessed what socialized healthcare looks like, but I believe that competition breeds excellence and innovation most of the time.

Tell me about your healthcare. How does it work besides you having to pay for somebody else's elective surgery?

In reply to this comment by thepinky:
Ah, capitalism. I could really get into that. I donno, Spoco. I'm terribly wary of a public health care system. The US doesn't always handle its public programs in the best way. Prime example: Education. Also: Welfare. I'm afraid that the quality of our health care will go down. We do have social programs for free healthcare. The government will pay and it really isn't that hard to obtain. Just ask my brother.

So if you were to break you leg tomorrow and went to an emergency room and didn't have private health cover, would you have to pay for treatment?

That's my question really... In Australia we just don't have to think about the cost of health issues really, unless it's an elective surgery, and even then most of that is covered as well, it just takes longer on public than private. Having health care so very closely entwined with private enterprise is a scary, scary thing.

Providing health care to people shouldn't be a for profit game.

sorry I meant to say, "Succubus!"

and knew you'd be the first to find a linear example of the apparent dichotomy....
besides, bitch can also be an endearing expression, when parties involved, their intimacy having reached that level of understanding......and a good-natured slap on that sweet ass does wonders for those so singularly entwined as well....

and to remind, that Obama tripe deserves much more than a gentle, "FYB"....nothing short was that, of pandering to emotionally-driven newsspeak dogma, which bringeth up the bile from the duct, and maketh the swallow acidic and difficult.......Fuck feel good political adds whose appeal is to the vapid and weak-willed!!!!

Better??

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now


In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?


Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now


I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now


In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?


What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed


"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I (naturally) fled


In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye ?


I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now


"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I (naturally) fled


In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die ?

Love This Song Are any of us truely Happy!!!

Science and Religion are closely entwined. I find it funny when people take one extreme or the other. I like what Einstein once said: "The more I learn about science the more I realize there must be a God."

"There many things that neither science or faith can fully explain. And this why spirituality exists. "

Exactly. Spirituality and the religions that extend from it serve to explain that which cannot be explained. In other words it's shit people made up in order to provide explanations, build up their own authority, and control the minds of the masses. Wishful thinking in a pretty package, backed up by closed-loop reasoning.

"I don't believe that religion should exist without science, nor science without religion."

Science vs Religion is an example of the logical fallacy of the false dilemma. They are not mutually exclusive, nor does one require the other.

Religion is completely irrelevant to science. It's about as relevant to science as astrology is to astronomy, or alchemy is to chemistry. Meaning, the only way they are related is that knowledge of science tends to eradicate belief in religion for most people, as science supercedes religion on the hierarchy of rationality. So there is a negative causal relation but no entwinement. Religion can go away completely and science will not suffer one bit.