Disqus - Latest Comments for Dymero

Re: New Research: Dark Social Falsely Attributes Significant Percentages of Web Traffic as “Direct”

Michael Merritt — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 21:07:15 -0000

Interesting experiment. You're right that crafting URLs to carry-through the information is a good idea to carry through the source information. Query string parameters can be mangled and often have their own bad reputation.

However, there are implications for WordPress ActivityPub-style federations with Mastodon and others. If social attribution won't work correctly, federating will still mean a loss of information since the link back is likely to be the same across networks, rather than a style where you syndicate the marketing and use slightly different URLs or query strings params.

Re: Google AdMob Asks Why Publishers Aren't Using Interstitials

Michael Merritt — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 12:03:56 -0000

They specify not to use interstitials at app load, which I believe matches the guidelines Google has put out regarding them. On this Google's divisions seems to be on the same page for once. However, I'm not sure what "unexpectedly launch" means. What is an interstitial if not a popup/in-between page that activates of its own accord without user interaction, and in doing so unexpectedly launches?

Re: Victory! Secular Celebrants Win Right to Solemnize Marriages in Illinois

Michael Merritt — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 23:06:53 -0000

It's actually pretty common, though some states do have secular Justices of the Peace who can solemnize marriages. However, that too wasn't a perfect situation, as it essentially monopolizes the job to either them or a member of religious body. Some states are starting to remove this exclusivity. Mine did it a little while ago.

Re: How the Bible Views Humanity (and How to Get Over It)

Michael Merritt — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 21:38:20 -0000

I definitely find it best to find people who will encourage you (but also call out any of your crap) and stick with them. I'm glad you've been able to do that!

Re: Why Atheists Like Me Keep Talking About God

Michael Merritt — Sun, 25 Dec 2016 01:18:36 -0000

St. Nicholas was indeed a real person but not the guy who flies reindeer and delivers presents around the world in 24 hours. That's the discussion here, not the historical guy.

Re: After Atheist Puts “Let Reason Prevail” Banner in CT Park, Spiteful Mayor Puts Up His Own Sign

Michael Merritt — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 21:49:26 -0000

But that he said Happy Holidays at all means the the warriors for Christmas should up this ante. Let's keep it going at least one more news cycle.

Re: High-Profile Atheist Explains Why He’s on the Trump Train: An Interview with Robert M. Price

Michael Merritt — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 20:44:48 -0000

I often like to say that atheism doesn't mean you have to adopt the entire liberal platform of positions. But atheism also doesn't mean you have to adopt the entire conservative platform of positions.

Re: Genesis Three and the Dangers of Thinking Too Much

Michael Merritt — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 01:15:39 -0000

Well at least you didn't have to mumble to yourself as you flipped through Numbers to find something worthy of reading.

Re: Genesis Three and the Dangers of Thinking Too Much

Michael Merritt — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 01:14:19 -0000

*face palm* Had they ever read it themselves before that?

Re: A Godless Look at Genesis One

Michael Merritt — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:46:24 -0000

I think your viewpoint is correct. "Let us make" is the first example of vestigial polytheism in the OT but it is not the last. If it was just a "royal we," there would be no others. The way I read it, some of the evidence of polytheism exists up until at least The Covenant, and maybe afterward, too (I'm still only just about to 2 Kings myself, so much more to go).

Re: Atheist Lobbying Group Releases Third Party Presidential Scorecard: Jill Stein: A, Gary Johnson: B

Michael Merritt — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 22:28:59 -0000

I was already against her with her anti-vaccine stance (I'm sorry, "anti-multiple-vaccine" stance) and the wi-fi thing. Then there was this 9/11 thing. If she questions Sandy Hook, I'm gonna blow my top.

Re: Gov. John Kasich Condemns Actor Daniel Radcliffe’s Atheism: “What the Hell Is Wrong With Him?”

Michael Merritt — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 17:29:43 -0000

I just want to be sure. It's very easy to be taken in by satire or shoddy reporting, especially when it confirms already existing political or religious views. For example, a lot of conservatives recently were taken in by a satire story that Obama was "banning" the pledge of allegiance because it includes "under God" and "liberty and justice for all." The story cited here just seemed to be written weirdly is all. But it would sort of fit in with Kasich's "I know more than you" demeanor.

Re: Gov. John Kasich Condemns Actor Daniel Radcliffe’s Atheism: “What the Hell Is Wrong With Him?”

Michael Merritt — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 13:51:19 -0000

Hemant, any secondary confirmation on this statement? It just seems very oddly worded, the entire passage. I was looking for signs that this is a satire piece.

Re: Without Evangelicals, the Republican Party Would Be History

Michael Merritt — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 01:30:14 -0000

The Libertarians are more or less socially liberal (or at least Johnson is), which is what I find usually gets a progressive to support one of them. Sometimes they also like a promise to "audit the Fed."

Re: This Is Worse Than the Worst Scene From Jesus Camp

Michael Merritt — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 00:07:01 -0000

And Yeltsin pushes the trigger.

Re: Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party Candidate for President, Says He Will Protect Atheists’ Rights

Michael Merritt — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 23:35:27 -0000

I like Johnson because I'm not a one-issue voter. Church/state issues are important to me but not the only ones I have.

Re: It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up

Michael Merritt — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 13:26:10 -0000

The issue cited in the quoted post could lead to what often happens with atheists, that they adopt the entire platform of "liberal positions" (whatever that means). I'd say it's true that losing religion (or never gaining it) will inherently also gain you certain other positions on subjects like evolution, if only because there is no other explanation about how life changes over time. It also may inform thinking about other topics, like gay and transgender issues.

However, as non-religion becomes more accepted and more people find that they don't believe in deities, it's necessarily going to lead to a wide array of different ideological positions. But I think some of this may be due to growing up in a different time as well. For instance, some people I know who are super-liberal on just about everything else just don't understand trans people and maybe never will given their age.

That said, I think we can find areas of common interest, like showing that non-religion folks are not inherently bad people. Maybe that's "not enough" in the long-run, but we are nowhere near out of the woods regarding distrust of atheists in this society, so it's a place we can come together for now.

Re: Where Was the Crowd for the Reason Rally?

Michael Merritt — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 17:24:26 -0000

A perfectly legit reason to skip the rally! It's gonna be awesome.

Re: Chinese Authorities Have Been “Decapitating Churches,” Says the New York Times

Michael Merritt — Tue, 24 May 2016 00:03:51 -0000

This comment section is terrifying. A lot of mental gymnastics going on here to defend this.

Re: Chinese Authorities Have Been “Decapitating Churches,” Says the New York Times

Michael Merritt — Tue, 24 May 2016 00:02:07 -0000

Two wrongs don't make a right. The churches and the GSA's should both be able to keep up their signs and symbols.

Re: Years After Her “I’m Actually an Atheist” Moment, a Tragedy Survivor is Helping Others Recover

Michael Merritt — Sat, 21 May 2016 22:58:13 -0000

I don't think he was being malicious or anything, but it did seem like such a Wolf Blitzer thing to ask.

Re: Christian High School Says It Has the Right to Expel You if You Have a Gay Sibling at Home

Michael Merritt — Thu, 19 May 2016 20:06:06 -0000

Only some Pentecostals are non-trinitarian, the Oneness denomination. Mormons and Jehovas Witnesses also believe as such and a few smaller groups.

Re: J.K. Rowling on Her Protesters: I Didn’t Know “I’m Praying for You” Could Be So Intimidating

Michael Merritt — Tue, 17 May 2016 22:45:12 -0000

Peak fantasy reading years? Time to make a new discovery that pushes the peak years back a few decades? :)

Re: Trump’s GOP Victory Has a Yuuuge Silver Lining: It Spells the Eventual Defeat of the Christian Right

Michael Merritt — Sun, 08 May 2016 02:08:26 -0000

This is why we should be wary of thinking that all the world's ills will disappear when religion does. Religion could fall off the face of the Earth tomorrow and there will still be authoritarians waiting to grasp power.

Re: Jehovah’s Witnesses Told Child To Give Up Her Spot At NASA’s Space Camp Because It’s “Too Worldly”

Michael Merritt — Sun, 08 May 2016 02:01:38 -0000

Isn't the end goal of things like Space Camp quite literally the opposite of worldly?