silverfox

Jeremy wrote: "When you say "soul" and "essence", I am interpreting this as our awareness/consciousness, combined with personality. In which case, this exists in the form of neurons and synapses. When we die the neurons stop firing, and then they will rot (or burn). It's a bit like asking where the music goes if you melt down a CD. Or where the words have gone if you burn a book." Not quite as easy as that I'm afraid Jeremy. The neurons, synapses, electrical and chemical processes are necessary for consciousness/personality to arise. Digital encoding is necessary for the CD to play music and words are necessary for the stories and ideas in books. I don't know what happens to a person's consciousness/personality when they die. And even if it dies with them his or her 'personality' can still live on at least indiectly in the form of memories with close relatives, colleagues etc. Also, if every LP, CD and sheet of music of, say, the song 'Let it Be' was destroyed the song and words would still live on and be preserved orally and in song. Similarly with the stories and ideas in books. In short, if ideas, concepts, music can live on independent of their creators and the processes that created them why dismiss the possibility that a person's 'essence/personality ('soul')' may continue independent of the death of the biological machine or body.

Jah Lush said "Or mirth Tony. Spelt mirf in the first post on here" And abhor misspelt. This is not a mind that's been in the diplomatic service/Foreign office/ freelance war correspondent for the British and American press. Definitely a man.

There's something not quite right here LibertyBlush. Are you a man?

Not sure but nico1 is offering one on the New Shop on Melbourne Grove-Fairies and Floozies thread

Damn, I should not have clicked this thread today. Not just for temporarily killing it with my post above but because I can't stop humming that Beatles tune now.

British Legion accepts BNP gift Reminds me of the ethical dilemma in Bernard Shaw's 'Major Barbara' which we had to read at school. I suppose their money is a good as anyone's. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8250086.stm

(urocyon cinereoargenteus = Gray Foxes I had to look that up)

We are told that the world is at a tipping point with many animals threatened with imminent extinction. Polar bears are mentioned in today's papers along with ivory gulls, Pacific walruses, ringed and hooded seals and narwhals, small whales with long, spiral tusks. These can be added to elephants, white rhinos, tigers, panda bears and so on. My question is, objectively, does it really matter? Emotional considerations aside, isn't it the natural order of things that species die out and others emerge? Dinosaurs disappeared as did some 70% of all life on the planet, we're told, after some cataclysmic event 60 million years ago. Humankind may not have emerged on this planet if many species hadn't disappeared. I realise it will be a great loss that some, if not all, of these species disappear and we should do everything we can to prevent their demise by our actions. But it's doubtful that we can really save them, except for a few in well-protected zones or nature parks. Some, like bees, which have a critical role in keeping our food chain going, and hence our very survival, must be protected at all costs. Similarly with types of fish that we, humans, rely on for food. We must do our utmost to preserve these animals and insects and also plants, using seed banks, and trees for fruit and oxygen, that are necessary for the survival of the human race. Other animals and plants, which merely look pretty or cute, are probably dispensible.

Thanks Mockney. Sorry I didn't realise there was variation in the schedules. Hope I haven't given too much away.

Last of this fascinating but disturbing series tonight. Can anyone please tell me how they bumped off Joe, the fat gangsta on the cooperative. Unfortunately I missed that one.

Your opinion is as valid as any on here and yes they do have some advantages. Are you correct in saying Boris' new Routemasters will not be doubledeckers? I haven't taken any notice of the proposals but assumed new routemasters meant new doubledeckers. (Edited for typo)

I'm a bit worried about all these dogs being in the same place as a Japanese speaking cat. Should the Rspca be tipped off?

Thanks Bob found it, silly me, it's right next to the Nunhead Invertebrates section

Shouldn't this thread be in the General ED issues / gossip section as it's about the Peckham Rye Fete?

A three-feet distance would stop them showing their affection in a number of other ways as well (unless exceptionally well-blessed)

I suppose I should go to this and keep and open mind. However a cursory look at the urbangreenfair.org website shows pictures of lots bicycles to illustrate the sustainable transport zone, talks of solar cooking demonstrations amid pictures of lovely bread and talk of a farmer's market, the products of which I doubt will have been cooked by or cookable by such a method and also promotes the solar cinema which will show five or six films presumably not powered by solar energy.

Yea Although I do agree with an observation I read that the Gossip/Lounge doesn't seem to be as active and as much fun. I don't know if this is due to the increased categories, the holiday season or a temporary mood as people have got more serious with the state of the economy.

Mash

Deer (Hunter)

Thanks Sue I'll give Prof McKay a go. There does seem to be a lot of hot air around regarding climate change and carbon emissions. I am still mystified what these companies do that trade carbon emissions on behalf of big industry. Perhaps I'm naive but accepting ?x million from the likes of Mr Murdoch so that so many hectares of land can be planted with trees to offset NewsCorp's carbon footprint seems a waste of time while the Amazon and several African jungles are being decimated.

I heard a rumour that Elvis might be dead - only hearsay mind you

Blakey

morse

Thought the picture might help you with your re-enactment idea above. Suitably admonished I'll vanish now.

Peckham Rye Park, Peckham, Southwark, c.1910 In 1890 the Camberwell Vestry purchased Homestall Farm. They introduced the features expected of late Victorian parks: a lake, bandstand and landscaping, and called it Peckham Rye Park. It was then used to greatly augment the adjacent (already procured) Peckham Rye Common as a public open space for the people of Peckham and Camberwell. (From: ideal homes: suburbia in focus Southwark)