- Discussions for humanists, atheists, agnostics, secular, skeptics, heretics...Link visible for attendees
This Sunday:
1) What Effect Does Music Have on You? Strong, Weak, None?
Music seems to be all-pervasive, but are there some for whom music is a bore? How important to the enjoyment of music is an innate ability to comprehend the actual intricacies. Other words, is having a good ‘musical ear’ integral to really enjoying it? Do those with little or no ‘musical ear’ understand/appreciate music the same way others do? Is a lack of a musical ear responsible for some of the more clang, bang styles of music, like Heavy Metal, Death Metal, and Heavy Death… (forget it.) And, if you are someone who absolutely hates music, please describe why. Was Tiny Tim the tipping point?
Why some people don't like music - Far Out Magazine, 2023 Aug
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/why-some-people-dont-like-music/
Anhedonics: Why some people don't like music (3:35)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix5Gxun7VCk
How Music Affects Your Brain - Andrew Huberman (6:27)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pcb9F4zSWk
The Neuroscience of Tone Deafness
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-neuroscience-of-tone/2) Is Google a Neutral Search Engine? Are the links below biased?
What does a Google search have to say on this subject? There are people who insist that Google is severely biased. Is this correct, or is it just a conspiracy theory? Do people who don’t get the answers they want to hear, decide that they need to find a more ‘friendly’ search engine? Who has found a search engine that can objectively be shown to be less biased, and why does Google want to distort its searches instead of being objective? Is it a left-wing conspiracy? Is it a right-wing conspiracy?
Safiya Noble, Internet Studies: Internet architectures & hidden discriminatory algorithms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFzuMCUIah8
Google search algorithms are not impartial
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/google-search-algorithms-are-not-impartial-they-are-biased-just-ncna849886
Four privacy-first Google search alternatives you need to try
https://www.wired.com/story/best-google-search-engine-alternative-privacy/Vote For May 26
A) Do We Need Sharia-Compliant Mortgages?
The Canadian government wants to incorporate Halal mortgages into the tax system. The Bloc Québécois opposes it because “Canada is a secular country". Should the tax system be modified to accommodate religious beliefs?
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/trudeau-halal-mortgagesB) Should Governments in Canada Pay for Penis-Sparing Vaginoplasties?
A court ruled Ontario must pay for a penis-sparing vaginoplasty for a person who identifies as neither fully female nor fully male.
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ontario-resident-ohip-surgeryC) Should Parents Have the Option to Excuse Children from School Subjects?
Some parents object to sex education, others may object to evolution education**.**
https://globalnews.ca/news/10269039/alberta-smith-opt-in-sex-ed-youth-parental-rights-schools/D) Do You Support Legislation to Sue Businesses for Health Care Costs?
BC Bill 12 – 2024: Public Health Accountability and Cost Recovery Act, allows government to sue businesses like social media companies, manufacturers, grocers, and anybody that markets a product that carries any health risk whatsoever. The legislation would be retroactive and apply when the marketer knows the harms but there is no regulation to prevent them (eg, tobacco before regulation). Is this an effective way of preventing harms? Could this better business investment, innovation, and small business creation, while enhancing monopolies due to high potential costs?
https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-businesses-that-toe-the-line-have-nothing-to-worry-aboutE) Do you support the boycott/sanctions against Cuba? North Korea? Afghanistan? Russia? Iran?
Are these boycotts justified? Is the suffering of their populations worth it? Does it give their leaders an excuse to blame for their economic situation?F) What is the possibly unseen benefit from the Trump gag order?
This one benefit may prove disastrous for Trump in the long run.