Speaking of Creationism: A Missouri GOP Lawmaker Is Trying to Make Teaching Evolution Optional

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In Missouri, the idea that public schools should teach creationism and treat the theory of evolution as an evil fraud is disturbingly popular, as this video from KCTV shows: Missouri Lawmaker Wants to Make Evolution Teaching Optional.

CASS COUNTY, MO (KCTV) - A lawmaker from Cass County believes the Missouri General Assembly should allow parents to opt out of evolution teaching to their children.

Second-term Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, said his bill is an attempt to address his concern about teaching evolution in a way that is more palatable to lawmakers than his last three unsuccessful efforts. The previous efforts would have mandated *how* schools teach evolution, requiring that it be taught alongside a biblical perspective referred to as intelligent design or creationism. This year’s effort keeps the curriculum as-is and uses the language of “choice.”

“What my bill would do is it would allow parents to opt out of natural selection teaching,” Brattin explained. “It would not prohibit the child from going through biology from learning about cell structure, DNA and the building blocks of life.”

Brattin contends public schools teach Darwinian theory as fact and says kids who question it are ridiculed.

“Our schools basically mandate that we teach one side,” said Brattin. “It is an indoctrination because it is not objective approach.”

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371 comments
1 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:02:44pm

Because, well, reality is optional.

2 Gus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:05:03pm

Because teaching evolution is just like teaching kids about sex!

3 Amory Blaine  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:05:59pm

Optional like Home Ec., until the next budget crunch.

4 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:06:16pm

Who want to play Cards against Humanity, Doctor Who version?

Cards against Gallifrey

5 EPR-radar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:12:06pm

By now I’m starting to think that an important reason to insist on proper standards for science in schools is to make it clear that magical thinking is not the answer to all questions. In particular, its a provably lousy way to do science.

Pathetic, but that is how bad it is the US with a political party that is capable of getting 47% of the vote nationwide in a presidential election in complete denial of reality and addicted to various forms of magical thinking.

If I were a (D) legislator, I would be very tempted to response with a bill that would require a unit on “what is science” as part of the science curriculum, with attention paid to recognizing magical thinking for what it is.

6 Gus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:12:32pm

Same rep is sponsoring a bill to make a firing squad optional for the death penalty.

7 thedopefishlives  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:13:35pm

re: #5 EPR-radar

If you ask me, that should be part of the curriculum anyway. I don’t think our schools put enough emphasis on critical thinking skills.

8 Charles Johnson  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:13:41pm

They just keep coming back.

9 calochortus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:13:44pm

I’d suggest that if the problem is creationist kids being ridiculed as Bratton implies, the school would do better to talk about ridicule and bullying than teach religion in the science classroom.

10 Gus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:15:43pm

11 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:16:10pm

Rick Brattin has a high school diploma.

12 Gus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:16:40pm

13 calochortus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:19:36pm

re: #11 jaunte

Rick Brattin has a high school diploma.

Who knew he was so highly educated?

14 Gus  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:19:54pm

re: #11 jaunte

Rick Brattin has a high school diploma.

“Ken Ham earned a Bachelor of Applied Science, with an emphasis in Environmental Biology, at Queensland Institute of Technology and a diploma in Education from the University of Queensland.”

15 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:20:25pm

re: #13 calochortus

“Mom! Coach made me say ‘evolution’ in biology today!”

16 Amory Blaine  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:21:12pm

re: #14 Gus

Rupert Murdoch Scholarship?
/

17 EPR-radar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:21:14pm

re: #13 calochortus

re: #14 Gus

Formal education is meaningless for someone who wants to be willfully ignorant.

18 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:21:25pm

re: #14 Gus

Environmental Biology: Vegetarian T-Rexes.

19 Charles Johnson  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:21:43pm

Another big fight has broken out between the people who think science and evolution can get along with religion, and the people who think it’s never going to happen.

21 thedopefishlives  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:24:00pm

re: #19 Charles Johnson

Another big fight has broken out between the people who think science and evolution can get along with religion, and the people who think it’s never going to happen.

I think it can be done, if people are willing to compromise and not be so dogmatic. My pastor said this once: “There are things I’d die over, things I’m willing to debate vigorously, and things that I’ll discuss.” Evolutionary theory, to me, is not a hill that I will die on, and it makes me sad that there are people out there who think it is.

22 Amory Blaine  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:26:03pm

Aww. No giant Rasputin balloon?

23 EPR-radar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:29:56pm

re: #21 thedopefishlives

I think it can be done, if people are willing to compromise and not be so dogmatic. My pastor said this once: “There are things I’d die over, things I’m willing to debate vigorously, and things that I’ll discuss.” Evolutionary theory, to me, is not a hill that I will die on, and it makes me sad that there are people out there who think it is.

To first order, I would be content if the creationists stop trying to pass off their nonsense as science in order to get it into public school science classes.

On the larger question of science vs. religion, I’m a pragmatic type that doesn’t want to pick any unnecessary fights on this topic when the odds are so bad. On the other hand, science vs. unreasonable magical thinking does have public policy implications (e.g., global warming), so a broad fight along these lines may end up being necessary against the worst forms of Christian fundamentalism in the US.

24 BongCrodny  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:30:10pm

It’s not an objective approach that they don’t teach kids about the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

25 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:30:32pm

re: #21 thedopefishlives

This has been going on since at least the Scopes trial, and probably earlier. Color me skeptical about your optimism.

This particular form of religious extremism is virulent and shows no signs of slowing.

26 thedopefishlives  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:31:28pm

re: #25 Rev_Arthur_Belling

This has been going on since at least the Scopes trial, and probably earlier. Color me skeptical about your optimism.

This particular form of religious extremism is virulent and shows no signs of slowing.

I’m not exactly optimistic about it, to be honest. I know there will never truly be an absence of the hardcore dogmatism that characterizes the religious zealot.

27 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:36:11pm

re: #20 Charles Johnson

Ars Technica has published two lengthy articles post Nye-Ham.

The shorter one seems ok as far as an overview but it gets a bit facile in parts:

How did we get here? A brief history of the evolution vs. creationism debate

[…]

Compared to 150 years ago, Christianity is no longer a dominant influence in the US. A few generations ago, the answer to the question “which church do you go to?” would most often be something along the lines of “Baptist,” “Methodist,” “Catholic,” or “Lutheran.” Today, it’s far more likely to be “I don’t go to church.”

[…]

The writer under values the impact of Christianity still lingering in our society.

The longer article gives a detailed account of the “debate”:


Ham on Nye: The high cost of “winning” an evolution/creation debate

I was surprised about how tight the security was set up.

Meanwhile, over on io9, a former YEC is struggling to be a syncretist:

I was a Teenage Creationist: Field Notes on the Culture War

[…]

The most convincing thing that happened to me was in a church. During worship, I prayed about Creationism. I was praying for something irrefutable, because it had become clear to me that all my arguments were based on fallacies. But how could I believe in Evolution when I believed so strongly in God? Suddenly, a profound sense of peace came over me, and I realized I could believe in both. I was walking on air for the rest of the week—no more cognitive dissonance, no more need to defend Creationism. I was free.

28 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:36:24pm

Cass County, Missouri (MO) Religion Statistics Profile

city-data.com

Baha’i
6 adherents

Everyone else appears to be a Christian of one flavor or another.

29 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:39:02pm

re: #28 jaunte

They have a decent genealogy and historical society though.

(he wrote, indirectly admitting he probably has lots of relatives there…)

30 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:42:36pm
31 Dave In Austin  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:44:56pm

S.E. Cupp
#WitheredHag

32 Kragar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:46:07pm

re: #31 Dave In Austin

S.E. Cupp
#WitheredHag

She’s attractive in a “Don’t talk or you’ll ruin the whole thing” kind of way.

33 palomino  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:49:01pm

This is the next “logical” step. If evolution offends you, as it does millions of dimwitted Americans, then making it optional or eliminating it altogether is the ultimate goal. It’s even better than getting creationism into the curriculum as a competitor, since smart critical thinkers will realize creationism loses in any legit head-to-head comparison.

Why not just eliminate it entirely from the curriculum? Religious schools across the country already have.

I went to an evangelical Christian school in Houston from K-3. We were taught in 2nd grade that the earth was about 5,000 years old. I knew THEN that we were being fed a load of bullshit. Then again, unlike most of my classmates, I didn’t have such an emotional connection to the Bible that would make me cry if it wasn’t all literally true.

34 Kragar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:52:20pm

The ones that get me “Well, maybe God made a mature Earth, and all the data proving its older was just created by God to fool us.”

In that case, that means everything in history could simply have been faked by God to fool us. Maybe the Universe is only a few minutes old and Jesus never really died for our sins, but God tricked us into believing he did? How would I know my wife of 18 years is really my wife and not conjured from the dust and memories placed in my head to back it up?

35 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:52:55pm

re: #33 palomino

Their needs to be more governmental control over education.

36 Kragar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:53:00pm

Fuck it, I’m going to get my ass to Mars.

37 prairiefire  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:53:05pm

Sigh….40 miles away.

38 palomino  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:53:24pm

re: #10 Gus

[Embedded image]

Truly sad. The only “developed” country more ignorant of basic scientific facts, and apparently more slavish to religion, is Turkey. Turkey, for fucks sake.

One more indicator of quality of life and modernity that unfortunately shows the US behind the rest of the West. And that doesn’t just mean western Europe; in many many ways we’re behind Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and plenty others.

39 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:53:37pm

I do think that Coyne has failed to draw a distinction between 1) “religion”, and 2) mysticism/magical thinking/supernaturalism.

The scientific method is clearly antithetical to number 2 above. This is something that “accomodationists” tend to go soft on.

However, there are religious practices which people perform which are not in category 2. There are non-magical religious practices, cultural rituals that do more to bind a group of people together than to make any grand metaphysical statement.

Coyne also continually under appreciates his own observation that religion is a human made thing. If we invented it (and we did) then we did so for purposes required by us. And if we did so to fill a need (or needs), then it is unreasonable to think religion can be gotten rid of so easily.

It will take years, decades, and centuries (if we have that long) to build societies not on the religious mindsets of old.

40 kirkspencer  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:54:48pm

re: #27 freetoken

I myself like Howard Tayler’s position. A selection:

I believe that eventually our science will be good enough that we can explain to God how we think He did it, and He’ll say “Great job! You get an A! It would have been an A+, but you left ‘Dark Energy’ in place as a fudge factor. Now here’s a nebula full of hydrogen. Show Me what you can build.” Until then, however, I’m not going to use the book of Genesis as a template for a scientific theory. The answers may be in The Book, but we’re expected to show our work.

(digression. If you don’t read Schlock Mercenary I’m going to guess it’s only because you haven’t found it. Here, let me point the way => Schlock the beginning and Schlock today.)

41 nines09  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:55:54pm

So after that gem is passed we can argue over which God Created Us/It/All?

42 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:56:06pm

re: #40 kirkspencer

I myself like Howard Tayler’s position. A selection:

(digression. If you don’t read Schlock Mercenary I’m going to guess it’s only because you haven’t found it. Here, let me point the way => Schlock the beginning and Schlock today.)

Though the theory of God being an AI locked up with itself for an extended period of time might be a decent explanation for parts of the OT.

43 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:57:13pm

re: #39 freetoken

He did sort of carelessly skip by this part:

To get broader acceptance of evolution, we have to change or dissolve those religions that immunize people against evolution

without much acknowledgement of the extremity of that position.

44 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:57:49pm

re: #34 Kragar

The ones that get me “Well, maybe God made a mature Earth, and all the data proving its older was just created by God to fool us.”

In that case, that means everything in history could simply have been faked by God to fool us. Maybe the Universe is only a few minutes old and Jesus never really died for our sins, but God tricked us into believing he did? How would I know my wife of 18 years is really my wife and not conjured from the dust and memories placed in my head to back it up?

How do we know that the entirety of creation isn’t simply a computer simulation and we’re just programs going about our lives, completely oblivious to the reality that everything we think is “real” is bits of code?

45 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 7:59:22pm

re: #44 Targetpractice

How do we know that the entirety of creation isn’t simply a computer simulation and we’re just programs going about our lives, completely oblivious to the reality that everything we think is “real” is bits of code?

Keep making suggestions like that and you’ll be sent to The Grid.

46 BongCrodny  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:01:08pm

I’m thinking this guy Brattin is a shoe-in for Congress:

— Voted to override a veto of prohibiting enforcement of foreign laws. (OHMYGOD IT’S CREEPING SHARIA!!)

— Voted to override a veto prohibiting enforcement of federal firearm regulations.

— Voted to limit punitive awards for lead exposure from certain mines,

— Voted no on establishing a one-cent sales tax to finance local transportation projects.

— Voted yes on “Establishes Requirements for the Administration of Abortion-Inducing Drugs”

— Voted yes on requiring consent for automatic withdrawal of union fees for public employees.

— Voted yes on “Prohibiting Compliance With United Nations Agenda 21.” (the coo coo birds are starting to sing!)

— Voted yes to repeal the motorcycle helmet law.

— Voted yes on allowing state employees to keep firearms in vehicles.

— Voted yes on prohibiting the use of unmanned aircraft. (DRONEZ!! DRONEZ!!)

— Voted yes on requiring a photo ID to vote.

— Voted yes to prohibit employees from suing co-workers for job injuries.

— Voted yes to prohibit implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

— Voted yes on “Provides Exemptions on Participating in Certain Medical Procedures” (Gee…I wonder what THAT could be.)

— Voted yes on drug testing for welfare recipients.

— Voted yes on driver’s license tests being administered in English only,

Project VoteSmart: Rick Brattin

47 EPR-radar  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:01:21pm

re: #43 jaunte

He did sort of carelessly skip by this part:

To get broader acceptance of evolution, we have to change or dissolve those religions that immunize people against evolution

without much acknowledgement of the extremity of that position.

I noticed that as well. Would Coyne like his Unicorn Steak rare or well done?

48 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:06:15pm

re: #40 kirkspencer

I myself like Howard Tayler’s position. A selection:

I guess I’ve never really liked the approach taken in that essay. I can understand why someone might find it of comfort, but it also seems a bit too easy.

Many theologians or philosophers would take issue with Tayler’s elevation of happiness as the measure of one’s own being. I will note here that “happiness” may be mostly just brain chemistry and someday could be had by a pill. Note too that I bolded the part of the quote from the io9 article I linked earlier, where the feeling of “peace” became the measure of truth or reality to the writer.

49 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:06:35pm

It’s what always gets me, the argument that God is so benevolent that he wants none of his creations to be doomed to an eternity of suffering, but also creates a hoax so elaborate that it will lead generations of his lambs astray, to the point that they will question his very existence.

50 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:13:46pm

re: #49 Targetpractice

Or, the alternative theory, which I belong too.

Some of us lambs who follow God are too thick to understand he can work through evolution.

51 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:15:07pm

re: #40 kirkspencer

I myself like Howard Tayler’s position. A selection:

(digression. If you don’t read Schlock Mercenary I’m going to guess it’s only because you haven’t found it. Here, let me point the way => Schlock the beginning and Schlock today.)

I have challenge coin 198. I also have Sgt Schlock’s Moral Compass (Kill it, Eat it, Make friends with it, Bathe in it)

52 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:16:55pm

re: #50 The War TARDIS

Or, the alternative theory, which I belong too.

Some of us lambs who follow God are too thick to understand he can work through evolution.

I’m personally a subscriber that if there is a higher power, he’s more an observer than a hands-on kind of guy. Because any other theory basically invites the suggestion that God is a sadistic bastard who either takes joy in causing his creations suffering or is so callous and insecure that he forces their suffering in order to enforce their faith in him.

53 Ojoe  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:18:17pm

Kids will make up their own minds anyway.

Go for the Truth with a capital T, with all your ability, looking at EVERYTHING, & you will be OK.

Geeze Louise, the way that the minds of children are treated like footballs.

54 Ming  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:24:37pm

re: #38 palomino

Truly sad. The only “developed” country more ignorant of basic scientific facts, and apparently more slavish to religion, is Turkey. Turkey, for fucks sake.

One more indicator of quality of life and modernity that unfortunately shows the US behind the rest of the West. And that doesn’t just mean western Europe; in many many ways we’re behind Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and plenty others.

I’m curious if anyone has any ideas on why the US is so far behind many other countries. Personally, I’m baffled. I also wonder about state-by-state or region-by-region breakdowns, within the US.

This is the country that put people on the Moon, and won the Cold War?

55 blueraven  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:25:36pm

re: #53 Ojoe

Go for the Truth with a capital T, with all your ability, looking at EVERYTHING, & you will be OK.

So teach evolution and creationism in school and let the kids figure it out?
Not sure if I am reading you right.

56 dell*nix  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:26:33pm

re: #51 William Barnett-Lewis

Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys.

57 Lidane  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:26:56pm

re: #53 Ojoe

There’s already a simple truth with a capital T. It’s called evolution.

There’s no controversy over the science. There’s nothing for kids to figure out or debate internally. It’s a done deal already.

58 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:27:41pm

The Texas Board of Education, which has long been an ideological battleground for the teaching of evolution, says it will limit the use of citizen review panels and instead give priority to teachers in determining science and history curricula.

59 Lidane  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:27:55pm

re: #54 Ming

I’m curious if anyone has any ideas on why the US is so far behind many other countries. Personally, I’m baffled. I also wonder about state-by-state or region-by-region breakdowns, within the US.

Because we have a sizeable percentage of the population that still buy into magical thinking.

60 Charles Johnson  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:31:14pm

This Olympics opening ceremony is comically awful.

61 Charles Johnson  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:32:30pm
62 jaunte  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:33:50pm
63 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:36:00pm

re: #59 Lidane

Hey, this is OT, but I read one of your comments downstairs about jobhunting. I have a suggestion. Since you’re expert in customer service, have you considered working in admissions for a college, university or private school? I’m being serious here. Admissions office people are not that far removed from being customer service people. The pay is not always so good, but benefits can be OK.

64 palomino  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:37:05pm

re: #54 Ming

I’m curious if anyone has any ideas on why the US is so far behind many other countries. Personally, I’m baffled. I also wonder about state-by-state or region-by-region breakdowns, within the US.

This is the country that put people on the Moon, and won the Cold War?

Largely because the US South is the most religiously fundamentalist place in the developed world. It holds the rest of the nation back. And to a certain extent never moved past the Civil War. Most of these evolution controversies are in southern or plains states, which are culturally less advanced than the rest of the nation.

Of course that’s only part of the answer. Anybody else out there have theories? If so, please speak up.

65 blueraven  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:39:26pm

re: #64 palomino

Largely because the US South is the most religiously fundamentalist place in the developed world. It holds the rest of the nation back. And to a certain extent never moved past the Civil War. Most of these evolution controversies are in southern or plains states, which are culturally less advanced than the rest of the nation.

Of course that’s only part of the answer. Anybody else out there have theories? If so, please speak up.

Yes. Poor inner city schools, low teacher pay, high turnover…

66 bratwurst  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:39:37pm
67 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:42:08pm
68 palomino  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:42:51pm

re: #65 blueraven

Yes. Poor inner city schools, low teacher pay, high turnover…

Those are definitely all big problems.

But I get the impression that, with evolution (as opposed to other topics where Americans are misinformed), most Americans made up their minds at a young age due to what they were taught by their parents and forced to hear in church.

69 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:43:19pm

Speaking as a former science teacher, I’ve got to say this bill is both stupid and dangerous. Or dangerously stupid. What if I want to teach a unit on the Big Bang, or geological processes, or Mendel’s genetics? As a teacher, I’d be remiss in not pointing out to my classes that all three topics undergird the theory of evolution. At the very least, the first two directly contradict YEC. This bill would make it nearly impossible to teach science, without first getting permission from every single family. It’s not like teachers don’t already have a boatload of paperwork to do.

Not only that, think of the precedent that would be set. History teachers might have to ask permission to teach the Civil War. Math teachers might have to ask permission to teach “New Math.”

This guy is an idiot.

70 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:44:21pm

re: #64 palomino

Largely because the US South is the most religiously fundamentalist place in the developed world. It holds the rest of the nation back. And to a certain extent never moved past the Civil War. Most of these evolution controversies are in southern or plains states, which are culturally less advanced than the rest of the nation.

Of course that’s only part of the answer. Anybody else out there have theories? If so, please speak up.

Another part of the answer is that some of the greatest US scientific achievements of the 20th century came from foreigners. Not that American scientists weren’t making major discoveries, but if you can think of some of the great discoveries made in the past 100 years, they either came from or built upon discoveries that non-Americans made. It’s debatable in the extreme if we could have put men on the Moon without Von Braun and other German scientists made off with after WWII.

71 palomino  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:48:35pm

re: #70 Targetpractice

Another part of the answer is that some of the greatest US scientific achievements of the 20th century came from foreigners. Not that American scientists weren’t making major discoveries, but if you can think of some of the great discoveries made in the past 100 years, they either came from or built upon discoveries that non-Americans made. It’s debatable in the extreme if we could have put men on the Moon without Von Braun and other German scientists made off with after WWII.

How dare you? Great American Thomas Edison invented EVERYTHING.

Actually, you’re really on to something. We tend to be a tad insular and think that great technological achievements don’t occur in other places. Partly an arrogance that results from the fact that we’ve basically run the world since WWII ended.

72 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:56:05pm

re: #71 palomino

How dare you? Great American Thomas Edison invented EVERYTHING.

Actually, you’re really on to something. We tend to be a tad insular and think that great technological achievements don’t occur in other places. Partly an arrogance that results from the fact that we’ve basically run the world since WWII ended.

Thing about it is though that even that doesn’t really do history justice, because science has always been about building on somebody else’s ideas. The cavity magnetron that made small radar sets possible in WWII was based off the research of an American scientist, but was made viable by British scientists, and then mass-produced in America where American R&D helped make it smaller and more powerful.

73 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:56:11pm

re: #71 palomino

We attract people to work here.

See Tesla, who was better than Edison.

74 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:57:00pm

re: #67 NJDhockeyfan

The US uniforms look like an advanced form of camo, trying to hide as black salamanders.

75 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 8:59:48pm

re: #74 freetoken

The US uniforms look like an advanced form of camo, trying to hide as black salamanders.

My wife saw them for the first time tonight and loves them. I have to find one for her now.

76 austin_blue  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:00:23pm

re: #70 Targetpractice

Another part of the answer is that some of the greatest US scientific achievements of the 20th century came from foreigners. Not that American scientists weren’t making major discoveries, but if you can think of some of the great discoveries made in the past 100 years, they either came from or built upon discoveries that non-Americans made. It’s debatable in the extreme if we could have put men on the Moon without Von Braun and other German scientists made off with after WWII.

Call him a Nazi
He won’t even frown,
“Nazi, schmazzie”,
Says Werner Von Braun.

77 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:01:10pm

re: #64 palomino

Largely because the US South is the most religiously fundamentalist place in the developed world. It holds the rest of the nation back. And to a certain extent never moved past the Civil War. Most of these evolution controversies are in southern or plains states, which are culturally less advanced than the rest of the nation.

Of course that’s only part of the answer. Anybody else out there have theories? If so, please speak up.

Missouri was a border state between the North and South, but was ultimately stayed in the Union. But the sympathies of many Missourians was for the Confederacy and many such men fought for the South. Many of these formed guerrilla bands that terrorized Unionists in the state, leading to harsh Federal reprisals.

The society-ripping effects of the US Civil War in Missouri have indeed never really gone away, but that can’t be considered surprising. Ruthless methods were needed to bring the pro-South population to heel, and doing things such as burning farms and interning the families of guerrillas leaves a bitterness behind that often takes centuries to finally end.

78 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:03:59pm

re: #77 Dark_Falcon

Or, we can take a shortcut and just move immigrants in to demographically displace them. There are a lot of Syrians and North Africans who are fed up with the way their home nations are going…..

79 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:05:14pm

Woman who lit the Olympic flame sent a racist tweet about Barack Obama last year

…Two of Russia’s most famous Olympians, three-time gold medalists Irina Rodnina and Vladislav Tretiak, were the country’s final torchbearers. Both have unique ties to U.S. President Barack Obama — one more offensive than the other.

An Olympic figure skating gold medalist in 1972, ‘76 and ‘80, Rodnina came under fire for what many perceived as racism in September, when she posted a photo on Twitter of the commander in chief and first lady Michelle Obama with a digitally manipulated image of a hand holding a banana superimposed over the couple.

80 austin_blue  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:07:27pm

re: #77 Dark_Falcon

Missouri was a border state between the North and South, but was ultimately stayed in the Union. But the sympathies of many Missourians was for the Confederacy and many such men fought for the South. Many of these formed guerrilla bands that terrorized Unionists in the state, leading to harsh Federal reprisals.

The society-ripping effects of the US Civil War in Missouri have indeed never really gone away, but that can’t be considered surprising. Ruthless methods were needed to bring the pro-South population to heel, and doing things such as burning farms and interning the families of guerrillas leaves a bitterness behind that often takes centuries to finally end.

Ah, we are Serbs, now, are we? Then their ethnic cleansing of their Muslim neighbors is perfectly understandable?

This is factionalism in its most stupid form, and presenting it as “understandable” is equally wrongheaded. The US is either a Union for the Common Good or it is chaos.

81 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:12:03pm

re: #78 The War TARDIS

That’s a non-starter. Arabs and Berbers in America tend to concentrate in medium to-large cities which are more welcoming to Muslims and which are more likely to have cultural support systems. Those sorts of immigrants don’t want to live where the bitter white portions of Missouri’s population reside.

And please don’t take this the wrong way, but a good number of Middle Eastern people also have a highly coercive attitude towards religion. You plan would backfire if it only reduced the influence of one group fanatics by empowering another.

82 aagcobb  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:14:52pm

re: #64 palomino

Largely because the US South is the most religiously fundamentalist place in the developed world. It holds the rest of the nation back. And to a certain extent never moved past the Civil War. Most of these evolution controversies are in southern or plains states, which are culturally less advanced than the rest of the nation.

Of course that’s only part of the answer. Anybody else out there have theories? If so, please speak up.

I have a theory. In Europe, religion was basically part of the governing authority, so it was imposed from above, and lots of people of faith were killed or driven away if they didn’t conform. Obedience to authority was more important than theology, which ordinary people weren’t supposed to think about. In America, people could go and find a community of believers they were comfortable with, or even start one of their own, thus lots of different sects with differing beliefs could flourish. Now what would flourish best? A big part of establishing a community is identifying what is “us” v. “them”, and extreme fundamentalist black-and-white views with a shallow, easy to understand theology is an effective means to do that. In Europe, free of the need to prosleytize because the church was an organ of the state and everyone was required to belong, churchmen could develop nuanced views of theology and even dabble in science, while in the US with freedom but no state support, pastors had to focus on getting ordinary people’s butts in the seats and their wallets open. So in the US, fundamentalist sects which had been stamped out by the state in Europe flourished by creating a strong sense of community within their membership while portraying “the world” as an evil to be deeply suspicious of, while in England many churchmen of the same class as Darwin, who at one time was pointed at a career in the clergy, dabbled in science and learned that the earth’s history wasn’t as described in Genesis. Or in France, the church had been so identified with the Acien Regime that with its overthrow society became extremely secularized and reason supplanted faith to a great extent. In America, however, secularism was part of “the world” which fundamentalists learned to be deeply suspicious of, and what was more symbolic of that enemy than the theory that removed God from his role in creating the living things on Earth, especially Man?

83 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:15:42pm

re: #80 austin_blue

Ah, we are Serbs, now, are we? Then their ethnic cleansing of their Muslim neighbors is perfectly understandable?

This is factionalism in its most stupid form, and presenting it as “understandable” is equally wrongheaded. The US is either a Union for the Common Good or it is chaos.

Something can be understandable without being justifiable. Sometimes acts of evil really are quite comprehensible, but that does not mean they should tolerated or their doers allowed to go unpunished.

84 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:16:18pm

re: #73 The War TARDIS

We attract people to work here.

See Tesla, who was better than Edison.

Ah yes, Edison, America’s great con-artist. You can actually see a lot of the modern mentality America takes to scientific research and development in how he worked. Hire somebody with an idea to work on that idea, get it patented in your name, then stiff them on the pay and bury them under litigation if they try to take it somewhere else or accuse you of theft.

85 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:26:08pm

*pokes the thread with a stick*

86 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:27:30pm

re: #85 Targetpractice

*pokes the thread with a stick*

It’s dead, Jim.

87 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:28:36pm

re: #86 Dark_Falcon

It’s dead, Jim.

You grab its tricorder, I’ll get its wallet.

88 austin_blue  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:28:38pm

re: #82 aagcobb

I have a theory. In Europe, religion was basically part of the governing authority, so it was imposed from above, and lots of people of faith were killed or driven away if they didn’t conform. Obedience to authority was more important than theology, which ordinary people weren’t supposed to think about. In America, people could go and find a community of believers they were comfortable with, or even start one of their own, thus lots of different sects with differing beliefs could flourish. Now what would flourish best? A big part of establishing a community is identifying what is “us” v. “them”, and extreme fundamentalist black-and-white views with a shallow, easy to understand theology is an effective means to do that. In Europe, free of the need to prosleytize because the church was an organ of the state and everyone was required to belong, churchmen could develop nuanced views of theology and even dabble in science, while in the US with freedom but no state support, pastors had to focus on getting ordinary people’s butts in the seats and their wallets open. So in the US, fundamentalist sects which had been stamped out by the state in Europe flourished by creating a strong sense of community within their membership while portraying “the world” as an evil to be deeply suspicious of, while in England many churchmen of the same class as Darwin, who at one time was pointed at a career in the clergy, dabbled in science and learned that the earth’s history wasn’t as described in Genesis. Or in France, the church had been so identified with the Acien Regime that with its overthrow society became extremely secularized and reason supplanted faith to a great extent. In America, however, secularism was part of “the world” which fundamentalists learned to be deeply suspicious of, and what was more symbolic of that enemy than the theory that removed God from his role in creating the living things on Earth, especially Man?

But “Fundamentalists”, as we know them today, didn’t exist prior to the American revolution. No Baptist signed the Declaration or the Constitution. No member of the modern Church of Christ. There were Anabaptists in the country, but we refer to them as Amish or Mennonite, today. The signers were Church of England, or its derivatives, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed, and Carroll and Fitzsimons out of the designated Catholic Colony of Maryland.

89 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:35:03pm

re: #88 austin_blue

But “Fundamentalists”, as we know them today, didn’t exist prior to the American revolution. No Baptist signed the Declaration or the Constitution. No member of the modern Church of Christ. There were Anabaptists in the country, but we refer to them as Amish or Mennonite, today. The signers were Church of England, or its derivatives, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed, and Carroll and Fitzsimons out of the designated Catholic Colony of Maryland.

Fundamentalism is a 19th and 20th century movement, growing out of the Great Awakening period. Its growth correlates pretty well with the growth of science and technology, and changing mores of the USA leading up to the 1900s. It’s a reactionary response to rapid change, and half-awareness that one’s basic beliefs are no longer shared by a majority of the population.

90 Eclectic Cyborg  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:40:30pm

re: #44 Targetpractice

How do we know that the entirety of creation isn’t simply a computer simulation and we’re just programs going about our lives, completely oblivious to the reality that everything we think is “real” is bits of code?

Whoa.

91 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:41:45pm

Twitter is having fun with Bob Costas’ eye…

92 Eclectic Cyborg  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:42:56pm

re: #91 NJDhockeyfan

I like that the last one comes from a “Stay puft” account.

93 austin_blue  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:43:07pm

re: #89 wheat-dogghazi

Fundamentalism is a 19th and 20th century movement, growing out of the Great Awakening period. Its growth correlates pretty well with the growth of science and technology, and changing mores of the USA leading up to the 1900s. It’s a reactionary response to rapid change, and half-awareness that one’s basic beliefs are no longer shared by a majority of the population.

Exactly. It was a reaction to the “Godlessness” of the Founders. These mouth breathers claiming that this was a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values couldn’t be more ignorant of the history of this country.

94 prairiefire  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:44:40pm

re: #75 NJDhockeyfan

My wife saw them for the first time tonight and loves them. I have to find one for her now.

A salamander or a uniform?

95 prairiefire  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:46:55pm

re: #79 NJDhockeyfan

Woman who lit the Olympic flame sent a racist tweet about Barack Obama last year

OOOOH, I needed one more reason the hate these games!!! Bitch!

96 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 9:47:05pm

re: #92 Eclectic Cyborg

I like that the last one comes from a “Stay puft” account.


Lego ain’t afraid of no ghosts.

97 aagcobb  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 10:05:43pm

re: #88 austin_blue

But “Fundamentalists”, as we know them today, didn’t exist prior to the American revolution. No Baptist signed the Declaration or the Constitution. No member of the modern Church of Christ. There were Anabaptists in the country, but we refer to them as Amish or Mennonite, today. The signers were Church of England, or its derivatives, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Congregationalists, Dutch Reformed, and Carroll and Fitzsimons out of the designated Catholic Colony of Maryland.

My point was that, ironically, religion could evolve in America, where many new sects flourished, and among the fittest were the fundamentalist sects.

98 freetoken  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 10:24:49pm

This thing about the MO politician and evolution is not unexpected. But what got me most was the TV clip, and how the TV station “reporters” colored the entire issue.

It really is a case of bad journalism.

99 austin_blue  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 10:33:58pm

re: #97 aagcobb

My point was that, ironically, religion could evolve in America, where many new sects flourished, and among the fittest were the fundamentalist sects.

I agree that the lack of a State Religion in the US allowed new sects to flourish. Sadly, that same freedom allowed a bunch of know-nothing, anti-science sects to take hold.

We suffer from them to this day.

If your worldview consists of “The Bible says it, I believe, and that settles it”, you will never be a part of this country as a whole. You have defined yourself as a separate agent.

I would love for someone to intelligently refute this argument, but I’ve got to hit the rack.

Rain check?

Night all. Sweet scaly dreams.

100 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 10:35:58pm

re: #97 aagcobb

My point was that, ironically, religion could evolve in America, where many new sects flourished, and among the fittest were the fundamentalist sects.

Exactly. Many of the sects that came to the colonies, such as the Anabaptists, Quakers, Puritans, Huguenots, and what have you, were persecuted in their home nations. Fundamentalism as we see it in the USA probably could never have gained traction in England or France, or any other nations with a state religion.

Now, the fundies want to be the state religion, and the rest of us would be SOL.

101 Lidane  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 10:37:32pm
102 Lidane  Fri, Feb 7, 2014 11:13:07pm

Jimmy Fallon closed out his show tonight with a cover of “The Weight” with The Muppets:

Youtube Video

103 freetoken  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:41:23am
104 freetoken  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:46:50am

Cox is intentionally cramping down on my bandwidth, it appears. Websites load as quickly as ever, even Youtube. But other media files are being restricted.

105 freetoken  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:49:13am
106 Tigger2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 3:11:58am

re: #79 NJDhockeyfan

Woman who lit the Olympic flame sent a racist tweet about Barack Obama last year

Well no one ever said an asshole couldn’t light a torch.

107 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 3:13:54am

I just listened to the video in the post. The reporter says most local school boards avoid teaching evolution, so I wonder why Brattin feels this bill is even necessary in Missouri.

He says he had heard of some students being ridiculed for their creationist beliefs, so maybe he’s trying to protect these tender young minds from those godless evilutionist bullies.

There’s going to be a shitstorm when the Common Core science standards are released. I have no doubt that the Common Core standards will completely ignore creationism and ID.

108 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 3:52:17am

re: #101 Lidane

WANT.

109 Idle Drifter  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 3:52:27am

The battle strategy of the Creationist movement.
1. Deny the teaching of natural science.
2. Create a competing nonscientific explanation of nature. Creationism.
3. Rename it. Creation Science.
4. Rename and repackage it. Intelligent Design.
5. Make it a wedge issue. Teach the controversy.
6. Op out.
7.???????

110 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 4:25:01am

re: #109 Idle Drifter

The battle strategy of the Creationist movement.
1. Deny the teaching of natural science.
2. Create a competing nonscientific explanation of nature. Creationism.
3. Rename it. Creation Science.
4. Rename and repackage it. Intelligent Design.
5. Make it a wedge issue. Teach the controversy.
6. Op out.
7.???????

You forgot: make the teaching of evolution part of the War on Christians.

111 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 4:27:53am

“Brattin contends public schools teach Darwinian theory as fact and says kids who question it are ridiculed.”

Well, they should be ridiculed if they can’t handle the truth.

Furthermore, the little bastards should get Fs in science.

Now, Mr. Brattin, you can sit down and STFU.

112 Varek Raith  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 4:33:58am

re: #101 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Youtube Video

113 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 4:52:42am

re: #111 Justanotherhuman

“Brattin contends public schools teach Darwinian theory as fact and says kids who question it are ridiculed.”

Well, they should be ridiculed if they can’t handle the truth.

Furthermore, the little bastards should get Fs in science.

Now, Mr. Brattin, you can sit down and STFU.

I find it amusing that the same people who say anti-bullying rules are unnecessary also want to protect the tender egos of creationist children.

114 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:05:40am

If I’m going to wind up just an old curmudgeon, I’m not going to be a simpering wimp about it.

Brattin is the guy who also wants to bring back the firing squad pitch.com and ban bicyles on state roads mobikefed.org

It should be noted that Brattin went no further in his own education than graduating from HS in Lee Co, Mo.

rickbrattin.org

Oddly, nothing about a wife in his bio: “He and his kids are devoted Christians and members of the Strasburg Baptist Church.” Actually, I think he and his wife may be divorced, because he can’t keep it in his pants with other women? So the gossip goes…

115 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:13:13am

Brattin approves of this, too.

In Missouri, murderers can get food stamps, but those with drug convictions can’t.

Proof of Brattin’s thinking processes and that he is a total fucking idiot:

“I just don’t want to see the food stamp program used to subsidize a drug habit,” Brattin said. “I’m not against helping anyone, but to say a murderer can get food stamps, well, a murderer can’t subsidize his crime with food stamps.”

Read more here: midwestdemocracy.com

116 Rocky-in-Connecticut  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:18:20am

Vote Republican. because it’s bestest when anti-government politicians get to tell scientists what is and what is not Science.

117 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:36:36am

Even Olympic athletes can be assholes. This guy is one of them. Read his tweets. He’s the typical “ugly American” from what I can surmise. You know, Texas arrogance, American “exceptionalism”, god is good crap.

I’d almost bet this was just a PR stunt.

118 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:39:38am

re: #117 Justanotherhuman

Even Olympic athletes can be assholes. This guy is one of them. Read his tweets. He’s the typical “ugly American” from what I can surmise. You know, Texas arrogance, American “exceptionalism”, god is good crap.

I’d almost bet this was just a PR stunt.

[Embedded content]

I’m sure its a PR stunt. It looks like that door was made of cardboard. So its a little bit of Hollywood used to dramatize Sochi’s failings, though not really fairly.

119 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:47:45am

re: #118 Dark_Falcon

I’m sure its a PR stunt. It looks like that door was made of cardboard. So its a little bit of Hollywood used to dramatize Sochi’s failings, though not really fairly.

It worked because it made news at Yahoo and Reuters (tweet).

American bobsledder Johnny Quinn smashes hole to break out of his Olympic village bathroom after locking himself in - @Reuters
read more on yahoo.com

120 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:53:45am

Good morning lizards! I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night before going to bed. I’ll watch the whole thing on OnDemand today. Before i turned off the TV I think I heard Bob Costas call Putin a ‘great peacemaker’. Did I hear that right?

121 darthstar  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 5:57:32am
122 kirkspencer  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:18:29am

re: #101 Lidane

[Embedded content]

pretty, but do not want.

Got to drive a countach, once. Did a favor for a friend in college and he let me drive his car. At those speeds flat, straight, smooth kansas roads are not flat, are not straight, are not smooth. I did not wreck it. I did realize I was driving more car than I was able to handle and had started winding down before we came to the ‘jog’ - the road we were on shifted about 10 feet left at an intersection. I made it because I knew it was coming.

Yeah.

I drive “mom-mobiles” and “medicare sleds”. I feel no need for speed. But I can admire it, and the beauty of the machines that provide it.

123 Flounder  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:19:52am

I’m rooting for this guy. Dachhiri Sherpa, from Nepal, predicts he will finish in last place in the cross country skiing portion of the Olympics. I thought he was a sherpa, but they are from Tibet silly!

Good morning, 9 above in upstate NY, summer is around corner!

124 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:21:20am

re: #121 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I’ll have the hobbit “roasted by dragonfire”, please.

125 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:23:02am

re: #123 Flounder

I’m rooting for this guy. Dachhiri Sherpa, from Nepal, predicts he will finish in last place in the cross country skiing portion of the Olympics. I thought he was a sherpa, but they are from Tibet silly!

Good morning, 9 above in upstate NY, summer is around corner!

He might still be a Sherpa, as many of them left Tibet when China took it over. He could be descended from such emigrants.

126 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:24:06am

Morning LGF members. I just got finished digging out a big path from my garage door to the back alley, and a part of the middle rut that is being built in that alley.

I’m gonna take a nice shower, and hopefully not fall back asleep…I’m whipped. I hope to negotiate said alley to see if I can make it out onto Main Street and to the grocery store. Wish me luck. The alley is the only obstacle as it never gets plowed and it appears the only thing that has been down it since Tuesday’s big snow is the garbage truck and maybe a couple of the neighbors SUVs.

So, for my little hatchback v’dub that middle looks to be my only problem. Hopefully it breaks down enough to allow me to not get high-sided on it. I have good snow tires, but they don’t work when the wheels are not contacting anything. Funny about science and physics like that. Maybe a new earth creationists could pray for me or something.

Wish me luck!

Oh, and the snow here appears to be very real, though I admit I haven’t tried to burn it. It now has a nice 1.5” ice crust on top with puffy powder under it. Once you move the ice off the top, it is easy to shovel. I would however love to have a WWII era flamethrower so I could cook that whole 200 or so feet down and make it to the cleared street…no problem. I bet though, that ice would blacken with the flamethrower, so I could do a hell of a YouTube.

Hey Dark, anyone into military stock…know of any army surplus dealers in the Columbus area where they might be able to hook me up? That or a military grade humvee for rent for a few days.

127 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:24:59am

BBL

128 Mattand  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:32:34am

re: #120 NJDhockeyfan

Good morning lizards! I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night before going to bed. I’ll watch the whole thing on OnDemand today. Before i turned off the TV I think I heard Bob Costas call Putin a ‘great peacemaker’. Did I hear that right?

Well, constantly jailing and threatening your perceived rivals does create sort of “peace”.

Maybe Costa’s pink eye is getting the better of him, if he said that. I always thought he had more brains than that.

129 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:41:29am

NBC Edits Out IOC Anti-Discrimination Statement From Opening Ceremony

Russia’s anti-gay laws have been a major focus in the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and during his address at today’s opening ceremony IOC president Thomas Bach made a strong statement against “any form of discrimination” and in favor of tolerance. Viewers worldwide heard the statement; NBC viewers in the U.S. did not, because the network edited it out.

130 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:42:35am
131 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:43:03am

re: #129 NJDhockeyfan

WTF is that all about? Why is NBC kowtowing to Russia?

132 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:53:36am

re: #131 wheat-dogghazi

WTF is that all about? Why is NBC kowtowing to Russia?

They also described Russia’s communism history as a ‘pivotal experiment’. Maybe NBC got access to a working hotel for the kind words and editing of the speech.

133 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 6:59:29am
134 lawhawk  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:05:22am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. So, an American bobsledder locked himself in a bathroom and then broke through the door? Unpossible.

A door lock malfunctioned. Okay. Guess he’ll be billed for the damage (or should be). Global kerfuffle.

Meanwhile, watching team figure skating (where all the figure/ice dancing disciplines compete in the same way as team gymnastics), and I’m seeing lots of empty seats as the cameras pan around. Especially in the upper deck. Can’t say that they’re all competitor seats (as with the opening ceremony).

135 Decatur Deb  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:11:42am

re: #134 lawhawk

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. So, an American bobsledder locked himself in a bathroom and then broke through the door? Unpossible.

A door lock malfunctioned. Okay. Guess he’ll be billed for the damage (or should be). Global kerfuffle.

Meanwhile, watching team figure skating (where all the figure/ice dancing disciplines compete in the same way as team gymnastics), and I’m seeing lots of empty seats as the cameras pan around. Especially in the upper deck. Can’t say that they’re all competitor seats (as with the opening ceremony).

Looking at the doorframe, I hope the escapee tried pulling before pushing.

The games are turning media-ugly, which pretty much obviates their ‘elevated’ purpose. If the IOC were anything but a multinational business, there would be permanent winter and summer venues in some inoffensive country.

136 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:22:33am

All those empty seats at the ice skating competition tells me there aren’t nearly as many people there to watch the games as Russia was expecting. I wonder how much money they are going to lose from these games?

137 lawhawk  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:23:17am

re: #135 Decatur Deb

Summer Olympics in Greece. Winter Olympics in Switzerland. End of story.

It would eliminate the crazy spending on venues that are used once, particularly when they can’t be repurposed.

Some countries use this as an excuse to do massive infrastructure, but many of these countries can’t afford to do so.

Brazil’s doing both the World Cup and Olympics in the next two years. Dozens of new sports venues and infrastructure being done, but can they afford the billions in stadiums and venues built when they can’t take care of the basics? Same with Russia, where just outside the Olympic venues, there’s folks who don’t even have running water.

138 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:23:19am

re: #132 NJDhockeyfan

They also described Russia’s communism history as a ‘pivotal experiment’. Maybe NBC got access to a working hotel for the kind words and editing of the speech.

A pivotal experiment that ultimately failed, but I guess that didn’t come up.

139 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:25:54am

re: #133 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Heh. I just watched the clip of that. Certainly a laughable whitewash of history but they’re not wrong. It was a pivotal experiment in human history which still has a lot of influence in many parts of the world today.

140 GlutenFreeJesus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:26:23am

re: #120 NJDhockeyfan

Good morning lizards! I watched part of the opening ceremonies last night before going to bed. I’ll watch the whole thing on OnDemand today. Before i turned off the TV I think I heard Bob Costas call Putin a ‘great peacemaker’. Did I hear that right?

The commentators were gushing over him so much, I had to turn it off. “Oh, hes cool. He’s a black belt, and rides horses bareback with his shirt off!”

Geez.

141 jaunte  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:27:15am

re: #135 Decatur Deb

The games are turning media-ugly

Gay-bashing is one thing, but heaven help the country that inconveniences the US press.

142 Decatur Deb  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:27:52am

re: #139 Killgore Trout

Heh. I just watched the clip of that. Certainly a laughable whitewash of history but they’re not wrong. It was a pivotal experiment in human history which still has a lot of influence in many parts of the world today.

Tsarist serfdom was about to peacefully disappear, just like slavery in Mississippi.

143 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:35:22am

Heh. Nice try NBC.

144 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:53:30am

re: #135 Decatur Deb

there would be permanent winter and summer venues in some inoffensive country.

Although not a country, I don’t think Antartica would be a good place for the summer Olympics

Also, the greenies would pitch a fit that we’d be despoiling the place

SO,,,,other than there,,,,, I can’t really think of a country that would be “innoffensive” to someone!!

145 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:53:49am
146 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 7:57:07am

re: #145 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Tuskegee,,, just a “Pivotal experiment?”, right NBC??

147 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:03:56am

Yeah, just not into the Olympics-Putin version. Sorry Comrade.

148 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:09:40am

In order to see the Olympics live this morning you have to go to NBCSP. Coverage on NBC isn’t for another 2 1/2 hours. Nice scheduling NBC. I’m sure those people who don’t have NBCSP will understand.

149 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:13:51am

re: #144 sattv4u2

Montenegro, Oceania and Pacifica.

150 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:15:10am

re: #148 NJDhockeyfan

In order to see the Olympics live this morning you have to go to NBCSP. Coverage on NBC isn’t for another 2 1/2 hours. Nice scheduling NBC. I’m sure those people who don’t have NBCSP will understand.

Not unusual
Past Olympics halfway across the globe from New York City have also been timed/ taped delayed

showing it ‘now” on the network makes no sense in that it’s still pre-dawn in LA
At least if they wait till noon Eastern, it’s 8 there

151 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:15:39am

re: #148 NJDhockeyfan

In order to see the Olympics live this morning you have to go to NBCSP. Coverage on NBC isn’t for another 2 1/2 hours. Nice scheduling NBC. I’m sure those people who don’t have NBCSP will understand.

A lot of people are complaining about the scheduling. It seems the network is suck in the antiquated network mentality of trying to delay coverage to peak hours to maximize advertising exposure. It’s stupid, everybody today has internet, cell phones and twitter and get’s their coverage in real time. Networks don’t have the monopoly they once had.

152 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:17:01am

re: #149 Political Atheist

Montenegro, Oceania and Pacifica.

With unrest still in and around the neighboring countries ,,,, nuh uh

153 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:17:37am

re: #151 Killgore Trout

A lot of people are complaining about the scheduling. It seems the network is suck in the antiquated network mentality of trying to delay coverage to peak hours to maximize advertising exposure. It’s stupid, everybody today has internet, cell phones and twitter and get’s their coverage in real time. Networks don’t have the monopoly they once had.

The operative words right there. Tune into NBC’s coverage, where you get a minimum 5:1 ratio of ads to coverage. And if you want to be surprised as to who wins which medal, then operate in a total news blackout until the designated air times.

154 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:17:40am

re: #150 sattv4u2

Not unusual
Past Olympics halfway across the globe from New York City have also been timed/ taped delayed

showing it ‘now” on the network makes no sense in that it’s still pre-dawn in LA
At least if they wait till noon Eastern, it’s 8 there

It’s so easy to get real time coverage elsewhere. With a little motivation I could find a live feed from UK or Australia. Or just get updates from twitter.

155 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:17:53am

re: #151 Killgore Trout

A lot of people are complaining about the scheduling. It seems the network is suck in the antiquated network mentality of trying to delay coverage to peak hours to maximize advertising exposure. It’s stupid, everybody today has internet, cell phones and twitter and get’s their coverage in real time. Networks don’t have the monopoly they once had.

But not everyone today wants to watch ‘live” at zero-dark-thirty

See 150

156 Decatur Deb  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:19:12am

re: #144 sattv4u2

there would be permanent winter and summer venues in some inoffensive country.

Although not a country, I don’t think Antartica would be a good place for the summer Olympics

Also, the greenies would pitch a fit that we’d be despoiling the place

SO,,,,other than there,,,,, I can’t really think of a country that would be “innoffensive” to someone!!

Iceland/Jamaica 2018/16

157 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:19:21am

Still remember the 2012 Olympics, where NBC decides to air an ad congratulating Michael Phelps on his latest gold medal…moments before the race where he won it.

158 Decatur Deb  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:20:24am

re: #146 sattv4u2

Tuskegee,,, just a “Pivotal experiment?”, right NBC??

Airmen or syphilis?

159 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:25:02am

Whew. I made it back from getting down the alley and going to the grocery store. Good thing I decided to throw a garden shovel in the back of the hatch. I had to do some reconstruction of the ice/snow buildup at the mouth of the alley. Snow plow residue frozen into big lumps and ruts. It would have played hell with the bottom of the car. And it sill was a pretty good drop into the street. Also a bit of a climb getting back into the alley. I could use a jackhammer. Or, that flame thrower mentioned earlier.

(Shaking fist at the sky and the city snow plow crews) I’m ready for winter to be over now. I really am. Got a good workout though.

Regarding NBC. A reminder they have new overlords…Comcast. Expect much change and screwing of customers. I had read they were planning on driving as much Olympic coverage as possible to their cable branches. The want as much of it on pay TV as possible.

And as far as kissing Putin butt…again Comcast I bet. They are trying to take over the entire world of cable/broadband/cell/net, etc. Would it surprise anyone if they want to kiss up to Vlad hoping to bring their (*cough*) services to Russia? Why wouldn’t they want to call communism an experiment. They are going to be the big brother of communications.

You will buy their services…or to the no-communications with the world gulag for you. Comrad…Comcast. See the connection!

160 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:26:18am

...

161 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:26:45am

re: #158 Decatur Deb

Airmen or syphilis?

162 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:27:20am

re: #151 Killgore Trout

A lot of people are complaining about the scheduling. It seems the network is suck in the antiquated network mentality of trying to delay coverage to peak hours to maximize advertising exposure. It’s stupid, everybody today has internet, cell phones and twitter and get’s their coverage in real time. Networks don’t have the monopoly they once had.

Networks might not…but the communication deliverers do…especially when they also own the network. Comcast thanks you for your concern.

163 Decatur Deb  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:28:50am

re: #161 sattv4u2

Note your change isn’t apparent in “Spy” for a while.

164 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:28:50am

The notion that a God created evolution or set the wheels in motion for evolution is a cousin of intelligent design.

165 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:28:51am

re: #155 sattv4u2

But not everyone today wants to watch ‘live” at zero-dark-thirty

See 150

Figure skating is live right now in NBCSP. If I didn’t have cable and picked up NBC with rabbit ears I would get to watch Noodle and Doodle right now.

166 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:29:39am

re: #152 sattv4u2

Was kidding anyway.

167 Decatur Deb  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:30:40am

re: #164 Gus

The notion that a God created evolution or set the wheels in motion for evolution is a cousin of intelligent design.

Philosophically, but not politically.

168 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:30:44am

re: #163 Decatur Deb

Note your change isn’t apparent in “Spy” for a while.

So when do we talk to Charles about that Master Spy NSA connection?

Massive ////


Good morning all!

169 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:31:12am

“Creationism is a fable but my mind, my consciousness, is the result of magical powers given to me by a higher power. It has an infinite life which lasts beyond death for infinity.”

170 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:32:57am

re: #163 Decatur Deb

Note your change isn’t apparent in “Spy” for a while.

Looked away as I was highlighting the ‘right” answer,,, hit POST IT before I realized it

171 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:33:38am

re: #159 ObserverArt

I think Comcast directing NBC on how to cover the Olympics is kind of a stretch. They’ve only owned NBC for a year.

172 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:34:09am

re: #167 Decatur Deb

Philosophically, but not politically.

Yes, but that’s still the next step for my world domination. Confronting cognitive creationists. They’re equally as puzzling.

173 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:34:33am

re: #166 Political Atheist

Was kidding anyway.

I know,,,, but to Decaturs original point,, there really isn’t an “inoffensive country”. Everyplace is “offensive” to somebody somewhere for something

174 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:35:06am

Scientists are yet to fully understand how the brain, mind, and consciousness works. Therefore, it’s the result of magic.

175 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:38:24am
176 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:40:33am

Selective human biology is always fun to watch.

177 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:43:09am
178 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:43:59am

re: #174 Gus

Scientists are yet to fully understand how the brain, mind, and consciousness works. Therefore, it’s the result of magic.

Deepak Chopra would say something involving the quantum reality, wave his hands around and use big words to answer that question. People would then nod their heads, say he’s smart, and buy his books.

179 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:46:10am

re: #178 wheat-dogghazi

Deepak Chopra would say something involving the quantum reality, wave his hands around and use big words to answer that question. People would then nod their heads, say he’s smart, and buy his books.

“Quantum” is a current favorite of these charlatans. Just add the word “quantum” to anything and you can make the secular superstitious find a home.

180 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:46:40am

re: #176 Gus

Selective human biology is always fun to watch.

You really have to stop drilling peep holes between yours and the stall next to yours

181 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:47:24am

re: #175 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

wow
That thing is HUGE

as big as the bike tire behind it!!!

182 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:48:17am

re: #181 sattv4u2

wow
That thing is HUGE

as big as the bike tire behind it!!!

That’s what she said!
//

183 Flounder  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:48:45am

uhoh

184 Varek Raith  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:49:34am

re: #182 NJDhockeyfan

That’s what she said!
//

Youtube Video

185 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:53:31am

re: #173 sattv4u2

I know,,,, but to Decaturs original point,, there really isn’t an “inoffensive country”. Everyplace is “offensive” to somebody somewhere for something

You are right. The IOCC would have to build or buy an island. Well, two maybe.
BTW I’m closing in on finishing another companies HD documentary that (I’m told) will be broadcast on cable, Mind if I write to ya about what I might want to look into as compared to web broadcast?

186 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:54:09am

re: #180 sattv4u2

You really have to stop drilling peep holes between yours and the stall next to yours

First time I ever saw one of those was at some NJ Turnpike rest area. Didn’t know what it was until many years later. Primates gotta primate I guess. O.O

187 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:55:00am

Related.

188 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:56:52am

re: #185 Political Atheist

Mind if I write to ya about what I might want to look into as compared to web broadcast?

Fire away. You still have my e-mail addy?

189 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:58:14am

re: #171 NJDhockeyfan

I think Comcast directing NBC on how to cover the Olympics is kind of a stretch. They’ve only owned NBC for a year.

Really? Maybe not fully implemented now…but it is coming. And remember…only owned a year, but in the plans since 2007. They had big SEC monopoly issues to clear. Foreword thinking and planning.

It’s possible influence on making Hulu authenticated: Something else that hasn’t happened yet, but should be looked at very closely. Comcast now owns a portion of Hulu thanks to its purchase of NBC-Universal and rumor has it that it may be pushing to have Hulu become a service available only to pay TV subscribers. Just like NBC’s full, real-time viewing of the Olympics will also be limited to pay TV providers.

So there you have it. Comcast is ready for the fight with over the top providers and it’s playing to win. Sony seems to think it’s not even worth fighting over. Unless regulators get involved, I bet fewer customers will cut the cord, or see real television competition from OTT providers. Of course, I may be wrong. The web does have some good content.

Now I know it is a blog…but the author is follower of SEC dealings with the communications companies.

Link to above: 7 ways Comcast is killing the cable killers

And this…

The Winter Olympics is just days away, with the Sochi Games expected to draw a global TV audience of about 3 billion. NBCUniversal, which paid $4.3 billion for U.S. rights to the Olympics through 2020, is offering comprehensive coverage, with 539 hours of television broadcasts. And as it did with London Olympics, the network will be streaming every single competition live on its website and mobile apps. A sports junkie’s dream. But there’s a big catch for cord-cutters.

Most of those television hours will be on NBCSN, the company’s cable sports channel. Even more disappointing, however, is that NBC, which is owned by Comcast CMCSA +1.13%, is once again restricting all of its live streaming coverage to cable/satellite/telco subscribers, who must log in with the username and password of their pay TV account. No cable bill, no access.

The above was from this at Forbes:How To Watch The Sochi Olympics Without A Cable Bill

I wonder what sattv4u2 can add to this? Anyone else?

190 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 8:58:31am

Magnets. Tides. The moon, how did it get there?

191 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:00:43am

re: #187 Gus

Related.

[Embedded content]

Great comment from the article:

People : Jobs!
GOP : Not the government’s responsibility. Freedom!
People : Health care!
GOP : Not the government’s responsibility. Freedom!
People : Fix infrastructure!
GOP : Not the government’s responsibility. Freedom!
People : Income inequality!
GOP : Not the government’s responsibility. Freedom!
People : OK, fine, I’m going to get laid.
GOP : STOP!! Who you do it with and how you do it is the government’s responsibility!!

192 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:02:26am

re: #190 Gus

Magnets. Tides. The moon, how did it get there?

Ask Ken Ham. I’m sure it’s only been up there after creation. God had to figure out a way to help Noah bring that boat back to land…when the tides went out after the big one…there it was on top of a mountain.

193 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:03:01am

re: #191 Targetpractice

Great comment from the article:

God gave us our sexual drive. Therefore, in order to control your sexual drive, you have to get in touch with God. That’s where I, a minister, come in. Please, join us and I will guide you through the word of God handed down to me. Also available on DVD.

194 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:03:30am

re: #193 Gus

God gave us our sexual drive. Therefore, in order to control your sexual drive, you have to get in touch with God. That’s where I, a minister, come in. Please, join us and I will guide you through the word of God handed down to me. Also available on DVD.

And vote Huck in ‘16, don’t forget that.

195 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:05:07am

“Where do babby come from?” — Mike Huckabee

196 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:07:53am

“The government’s invasion in your life is appalling and totally in contradiction to what the Founders intended, and we aim to undo it. Except the part about who you love, how you love them, and what you do with any offspring that might result, because we totally endorse that invasion into your life.”

197 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:08:02am

re: #189 ObserverArt

Yet more reason to be glad we killed our TV.

I didn’t have my laptop at the hospital Wednesday night. Cartoon Network was highly intellectual compared to the garbage on the networks or, worse, the so-called History channel.

198 Ryan King  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:09:32am

god also gave us herpes, aids, and syphilis.

199 Varek Raith  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:10:22am

re: #198 Ryan King

god also gave us herpes, aids, and syphilis.

And that wonderful ebola!

200 Targetpractice  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:12:24am

re: #199 Varek Raith

And that wonderful ebola!

Such a giving fellow, isn’t he?

201 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:12:34am

re: #198 Ryan King

god also gave us herpes, aids, and syphilis.

Because. Sin baby!

202 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:12:41am

re: #188 sattv4u2

Hmm darn it after a few minutes looking, I think my last flip to T-Bird lost it.
danielgballard at that gmail service. Just want to dial in the look I want without tripping up getting the vectorscope right. Thanks dude!

203 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:14:31am

re: #202 Political Atheist

Min should be in blue now

204 Ryan King  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:17:23am

re: #201 Gus

Because. Sin baby!

Ken Hamm said sin causes death (I guess to explain 900 year old men).

Blue Balls is life!

205 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:17:38am

re: #203 sattv4u2

Ah yes. Tha6 should do it

206 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:19:24am

Yes, I’m going to go there.

We don’t teach astrology alongside astronomy.
We don’t teach alchemy alongside chemistry.
We don’t teach witchcraft alongside physics.
We don’t teach preformationism alongside reproductive biology.

Yet evolution is singled out to be questioned and compared to creationism, in spite of the fact that physics, geology, chemistry, astronomy (astrophysics) and biology all contribute to the ideas of an old Earth, and older universe and common descent.

Edit:
I think this shows a basic misunderstanding of scientific methods and science information or a propensity to cherry pick only science information that supports preconceptions (confirmation bias/motivated reasoning).

208 Political Atheist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:22:21am

BBL

209 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:22:39am

Apparently some people are shocked at powerful winds and monstrous waves in Atlantic coastal areas.

210 Varek Raith  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:23:24am

re: #209 Gus

Apparently some people are shocked at powerful winds and monstrous waves in Atlantic coastal areas.

Last I checked, thar be a nor’easter in them parts.

211 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:23:36am

Breaking news! Tornadoes occur in tornado alley and seismic hazard zones are prone to earthquakes and structural damage.

212 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:23:49am

re: #210 Varek Raith

Last I checked, thar be a nor’easter in them parts.

Yep.

213 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:24:57am

WARNING: this river is known for historical floods.

214 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:27:31am

re: #211 Gus

Breaking news! Tornadoes occur in tornado alley and seismic hazard zones are prone to earthquakes and structural damage.

And melting glaciers will reduce weight on continents causing them to bounce up and trigger earthquakes.

215 Varek Raith  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:28:08am

re: #214 b_sharp

And melting glaciers will reduce weight on continents causing them to bounce up and trigger earthquakes.

Seems legit.

216 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:28:23am

re: #213 Gus

WARNING: this river is known for historical floods.

Where floods of a century will become floods of a decade.

217 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:28:35am

re: #214 b_sharp

And melting glaciers will reduce weight on continents causing them to bounce up and trigger earthquakes.

I read once that if I tip over this canoe that the water I was floating on may cause drowning in some humans. Is this true?

218 Gus  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:29:29am

re: #216 b_sharp

Where floods of a century will become floods of a decade.

And where floods of a decade become no floods of the decade.

219 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:30:16am
220 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:32:24am

I don’t know if this is Ukraine or Bosnia

Cop get pepper sprayed + Stolen hat + Kicked
LOL

Liveleak Video

221 Skip Intro  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:35:45am

re: #131 wheat-dogghazi

WTF is that all about? Why is NBC kowtowing to Russia?

Advertising. Don’t want to do anything that might upset the only people who ever matter, the advertisers.

If you want to watch the real Olympics, you have to find a source outside of the US. Always.

222 sattv4u2  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:36:11am

re: #220 Killgore Trout

I don’t know if this is Ukraine or Bosnia

Cop get pepper sprayed + Stolen hat + Kicked
LOL

[Embedded content]

In the groin, no less!

LESSON,,,,let the cops in the riot gear be on the front line,,, not Barney Fife

223 Skip Intro  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:38:09am

re: #187 Gus

Related.

[Embedded content]

Bunnies, too. In fact, every single living thing has a sex drive.

I think Bill O’Reilly needs to explain why that is, because it’s just as mysterious as the tides.

224 Skip Intro  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:41:13am

re: #192 ObserverArt

God had to figure out a way to help Noah bring that boat back to land…when the tides went out after the big one…there it was on top of a mountain.

One of the seemingly infinite number things I’ve always wondered about in the bible is where did all the water go? I’d like to see Fox News convene one of their all-star panels to explain this.

225 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:41:26am

Hmmm.

Warmer air holds more moisture. That moisture will come from existing bodies of water, vegetation and from the ground. Because of axial tilt seasons will still cause a mixing of cold and warm air. The jet stream will still determine where the mixing occurs but because of a change in relative heights in the tropopause between the arctic and the equator its waveform will be higher and it will move more slowly.

I think that means areas prone to floods will get more water and areas prone to droughts will become drier. I suspect that also means areas like where I live that have dry summers and snowy winters will suffer more extreme extremes.

226 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:43:29am

re: #223 Skip Intro

Bunnies, too. In fact, every single living thing has a sex drive.

I think Bill O’Reilly needs to explain why that is, because it’s just as mysterious as the tides.

He’s still working on the timing of the tides. Don’t distract the poor fellow from his task. Understanding things is hard.

227 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:48:48am

re: #224 Skip Intro

One of the seemingly infinite number things I’ve always wondered about in the bible is where did all the water go? I’d like to see Fox News convene one of their all-star panels to explain this.

It mostly came from an ice canopy overhead and water supporting the continents. Originally the Earth was mostly flat so mountains were not very tall and as the water sprung from the deep the continents fell. That meant little water was actually needed.

After the godly time was up the continents moved, crashed into each other making tall mountains and deep oceans. All that water is still here.

228 jaunte  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:49:55am

re: #224 Skip Intro

One of the seemingly infinite number things I’ve always wondered about in the bible is where did all the water go?

Leonardo da Vinci also pointed out that problem with the Flood story.

229 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:51:27am

re: #228 jaunte

Leonardo da Vinci also pointed out that problem with the Flood story.

He should have spoken to Walt Brown.

230 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:52:58am

Yah, I know. I’m boring.

231 Ryan King  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:53:19am

You weren’t there

Ken Hamm

232 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:54:33am

re: #218 Gus

And where floods of a decade become no floods of the decade.

One of the worst natural disasters to hit the Czech Republic was the Great Flood of 1997.

Then came the Flood of 2002.

Then the Flood of 2009.
The Flood of 2010.
The Flood of 2013.

Don’t know what this year will hold, but here all it takes is a serious downpour that lasts a few days, and there’s a big problem. Flood season here is May through August; that’s when they’re most likely to occur.

233 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:55:44am

Here’s a big tweet about a big story in Turkey. (It’s a much bigger tweet in my twitter feed.)

234 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:55:57am
235 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:56:56am

re: #224 Skip Intro

One of the seemingly infinite number things I’ve always wondered about in the bible is where did all the water go? I’d like to see Fox News convene one of their all-star panels to explain this.

Some things will never be revealed. You just have to have faith and believe.

Those that question Him are of the devil! Obviously you are of the devil and I am in communication with the evil being here with all the non-believers that call themselves Lizards.

Lizards are of the devil. And Charles is the Lizard King!

Youtube Video

236 ObserverArt  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 9:59:50am

re: #234 NJDhockeyfan

#SochiProblems any one else have one of these weird looking shower heads.

Ah…ha! The video camera (circa 1989).

237 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:05:49am
238 Ryan King  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:06:44am

Mumia Abu Jamal will become important again.

239 Ryan King  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:08:45am

re: #237 wrenchwench

Thankfully for us here in Russia, and that includes Mr. Snowden, Russia’s intrepid security service, the FSB, is busy guaranteeing security and not playing media manipulation games, and you can take that to the bank.

Read that aloud mimicking the voice of Dr Evil. It’s gold for sure.

240 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:11:58am

re: #239 Ryan King

Thankfully for us here in Russia, and that includes Mr. Snowden, Russia’s intrepid security service, the FSB, is busy guaranteeing security and not playing media manipulation games, and you can take that to the bank.

Read that aloud mimicking the voice of Dr Evil. It’s gold for sure.

This is the author:

Revocation of US passport

Living in Moscow in March 2007 John Robles applied to have his US passport renewed at the US Embassy. His passport was revoked however and the embassy refused to issue him with a new one. An accusation was made that Robles owed child support in Yolo County California. Robles disputed this as he had full custody of his 2 children and had raised them on his own. He claimed neither he nor his children had been in the US since 1995. He had been issued a new passport previously in 1998 after it had been stolen. It was after his passport was revoked that he was granted political asylum in Russia. Robles had been running a political website critical of the actions of President George W. Bush and hosted in Russia since July 2003.[4]

241 Ryan King  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:14:53am

Not that I’m interested in the Olympics, but the ‘medal counts’ have already started.

242 Flounder  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:15:29am

I need some help, the cat is trying to tell me somethingHey!

243 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:22:55am

Looks like a butterfly with a pin stuck through it for a collection…

244 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:29:11am

re: #243 Backwoods_Sleuth

Looks like a butterfly with a pin stuck through it for a collection…

[Embedded content]

Something is coming out of a black hole? They told us it couldn’t happen!

245 Bear  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:30:09am

re: #242 Flounder

Wrong brand?

246 Flounder  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:31:44am

re: #245 Bear

sshh, they don’t know I fill it with tap water.

247 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:34:00am

heh…

248 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:34:25am

re: #244 wrenchwench

Something is coming out of a black hole? They told us it couldn’t happen!

Nope. Hawking radiation (although how it works has been changed from a matter/antimatter pair to 2 matter/antimatter pairs.)

249 Bear  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:35:57am

re: #247 Backwoods_Sleuth

Clean enough?

250 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:37:39am

re: #248 b_sharp

Nope. Hawking radiation (although how it works has been changed from a matter/antimatter pair to 2 matter/antimatter pairs.)

Thanks!

251 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:37:58am

Istanbul.

252 jaunte  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:44:06am

“…And get this— Thompson is a union stagehand. So when a stagehand steps up where area bluebloods won’t, that says something.”

253 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:44:30am

re: #145 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Thomas Jefferson called America an experiment.

254 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:47:18am

re: #250 wrenchwench

Thanks!

You didn’t really expect an answer, did you.

Surprise!

255 EmmaAnne  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:50:13am

re: #10 Gus

[Embedded image]

My mind just keeps rejecting these numbers. It won’t comprehend that most Americans don’t believe in evolution.

256 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:53:44am

re: #247 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh…

[Embedded content]

That picture has been posted here before. He’s in the middle of a normal cleaning of an AK style rifle. The receiver cover, bolt and a number of other parts are removed rendering it incapable of firing and frankly the MK I eyeball is still an important part of knowing if you’ve cleaned the barrel sufficiently.

257 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 10:57:46am

re: #256 William Barnett-Lewis

That picture has been posted here before. He’s in the middle of a normal cleaning of an AK style rifle. The receiver cover, bolt and a number of other parts are removed rendering it incapable of firing and frankly the MK I eyeball is still an important part of knowing if you’ve cleaned the barrel sufficiently.

Yeah, my husband said the same thing.
I just thought it was funny, out of context.

As an aside, hubs just gave me my Valentine’s Day present early, in case he isn’t here on the day.
Bundling up in a few minutes to step outside to the backwoods target range to try it out…

258 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:00:08am

It must really such when you see your carefully crafter power scheme crumbling away . . .

Imagine 1500 years of work …

259 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:01:43am

re: #257 Backwoods_Sleuth

Yeah, my husband said the same thing.
I just thought it was funny, out of context.

As an aside, hubs just gave me my Valentine’s Day present early, in case he isn’t here on the day.
Bundling up in a few minutes to step outside to the backwoods target range to try it out…

It must be a virus or something. There was gun cleanin’ around my house yesterday.

Bob, I hate the smell of gun oil. Didn’t bother me when I was little, now it gives me a major headache. Glad, tho, the men do take care of their ‘investments’. It’s nice hearing the lore too.

260 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:01:48am

re: #257 Backwoods_Sleuth

Yeah, my husband said the same thing.
I just thought it was funny, out of context.

As an aside, hubs just gave me my Valentine’s Day present early, in case he isn’t here on the day.
Bundling up in a few minutes to step outside to the backwoods target range to try it out…

Long gun or hand?

261 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:02:24am

This is one of the major side benefits of ACA that the wingnut brigade refuse to acknowledge.

262 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:03:14am

re: #259 FemNaziBitch

It must be a virus or something. There was gun cleanin’ around my house yesterday.

Bob, I hate the smell of gun oil. Didn’t bother me when I was little, now it gives me a major headache. Glad, tho, the men do take care of their ‘investments’. It’s nice hearing the lore too.

Get some Frog Lube instead. (Yes, that’s it’s name. Good stuff) Non-toxic formula and mint smell.

263 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:06:53am

re: #260 William Barnett-Lewis

Long gun or hand?

I’m hopeless with handguns, always favor long guns.
This present is an AR, which IMHO is only something to shoot for fun (for me, at least). I actually prefer shotguns (for the rare instances needed for home protection) and .22s (general varmint control).

264 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:09:55am

Whew. I heard the trash truck. I just ran down to my basement to get my trash out so that it will be collected. The collectors must be getting time and a half or double time today.

265 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:10:03am

re: #164 Gus

The notion that a God created evolution or set the wheels in motion for evolution is a cousin of intelligent design.

Disagree, at least not my type of deism/theism.

266 Teukka  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:10:27am

re: #118 Dark_Falcon

I’m sure its a PR stunt. It looks like that door was made of cardboard. So its a little bit of Hollywood used to dramatize Sochi’s failings, though not really fairly.

Actually, that is a common design for doors this side of the pond, basically a MDF frame filled with a cardboard honeycomb, then two thin sheets of MDF glued onto the shebang.

They actually work fine unless the area is prone to moisture damage or mild violence or more (I slammed a moisture damaged door of this design once, ended up with one of the panels on top of me).

Either Vlad P. has a serious corruption problem in his country’s construction industry, or he has decided to insult the rest of the world with the cheapest olympic games on record.

267 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:11:11am

re: #261 Backwoods_Sleuth

This is one of the major side benefits of ACA that the wingnut brigade refuse to acknowledge.

[Embedded content]

Of course not, they’d just rather cut hours or fire employers and VERY LOUDLY blame Obamacare.

Remember the TED talk (wish I could remember the guy’s name). He was a small business man who explained that employees were his biggest expense and that the current “model” was a lie.

268 Charles Johnson  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:11:40am

‘Scuse me while I rant…

269 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:12:43am

re: #247 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh…

[Embedded content]

OMG! My dad did not believe in corporal punishment for children, but I believe if I ever did that I would be currently sitting on a prosthetic backside.

270 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:13:57am

re: #169 Gus

“Creationism is a fable but my mind, my consciousness, is the result of magical powers given to me something really interesting happening to, from, and by my skullmeat. It may be connected to by a higher power. It has an infinite may have some sort of “life which lasts may last beyond death for infinity.”

I agree, to a point, as edited above.

271 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:14:08am

re: #266 Teukka

Actually, that is a common design for doors this side of the pond, basically a MDF frame filled with a cardboard honeycomb, then two thin sheets of MDF glued onto the shebang.

They actually work fine unless the area is prone to moisture damage or mild violence or more (I slammed a moisture damaged door of this design once, ended up with one of the panels on top of me).

Either Vlad P. has a serious corruption problem in his country’s construction industry, or he has decided to insult the rest of the world with the cheapest olympic games on record.

Those kind of doors are extremely common here in the Czech Republic, as well as in Slovakia, Ukraine, and parts east. I have two of them in my apartment; one for the WC and one for the shower room.

In hotels here, they’re ubiquitous, including for the entry doors.

272 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:14:30am

re: #255 EmmaAnne

My mind just keeps rejecting these numbers. It won’t comprehend that most Americans don’t believe in evolution.

They do, they actually understand it. They look at their kids and their kid’s kids and they get it. They look at their dogs and they get it.

With more and more multi-racial kids, they discussion goes on. They get it, they just don’t know the vocabulary and reject anything that sounds like city talk.

273 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:15:02am

re: #172 Gus

Yes, but that’s still the next step for my world domination. Confronting cognitive creationists. They’re equally as puzzling.

Hello, sailor!

(But I’m not a creationist, per se, just a theist.)

274 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:15:13am

re: #254 b_sharp

You didn’t really expect an answer, did you.

Surprise!

You’re full of surprises.

275 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:16:16am

re: #174 Gus

Scientists are yet to fully understand how the brain, mind, and consciousness works. Therefore, it’s the result of magic.

Never said that.

If you said, “Therefore, it produces magic” (in the Clark-ean sense), I’m cool with that.

276 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:17:11am

re: #274 wrenchwench

You’re full of surprises.

Right next to the shit.

277 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:17:26am

re: #275 chadu

Never said that.

If you said, “Therefore, it >produces magic” (in the Clark-ean sense), I’m cool with that.

“Magic is science we do not not yet understand”

-paraphrased from I Can’t Remember

Uncontrolled breeding, you understand, produces lots and lots of uneducated fodder for the snake oil salesman.

So, let’s make sure women can’t have any control of their bodies.

278 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:17:42am

re: #178 wheat-dogghazi

Deepak Chopra would say something involving the quantum reality, wave his hands around and use big words to answer that question. People would then nod their heads, say he’s smart, and buy his books.

That being said, there seem to be some interesting quantum effects happening in carbon nanotubes in the brain.

279 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:18:46am

re: #276 b_sharp

Right next to the shit.

Shit should never be a surprise.

280 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:19:29am

re: #178 wheat-dogghazi

Deepak Chopra would say something involving the quantum reality, wave his hands around and use big words to answer that question. People would then nod their heads, say he’s smart, and buy his books.

Talk about “snake-oil salesmen”

281 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:19:35am

re: #228 jaunte

Leonardo da Vinci also pointed out that problem with the Flood story.

Thor’s drinking horn lowered the level. It is in the book I am reading right now so it must be true.

282 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:19:44am

White House Petition to Stop George Zimmerman DMX Boxing Match
Morons. Do they really expect the White House to start shutting down sporting events for political reasons?

283 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:20:24am

re: #279 FemNaziBitch

Shit should never be a surprise.

That would be a shart.

284 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:20:33am

It’s snowing in my part of the world. .

Big Beautiful Snowball, Snowmen and Fort type flakes.

Wish my knees didn’t hurt.

285 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:21:22am

re: #281 Eventual Carrion

Thor’s drinking horn lowered the level. It is in the book I am reading right now so it must be true.

Ah, what are you reading?

I’ve discovered the Bernard Cornwall series about England after the Romans left.

Life sure sucked then.

286 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:22:11am

re: #284 FemNaziBitch

That stuff is headed my way. forecast.weather.gov

287 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:22:14am

re: #235 ObserverArt

Some things will never be revealed. You just have to have faith and believe.

Those that question Him are of the devil! Obviously you are of the devil and I am in communication with the evil being here with all the non-believers that call themselves Lizards.

Lizards are of the devil. And Charles is the Lizard King!

[Embedded content]

Yeah, I’m a minion of the devil. But my duties are mostly ceremonial.

288 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:22:38am

re: #283 b_sharp

That would be a shart.

ah!

A Shart is a Surprise.

289 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:23:11am

re: #286 PhillyPretzel

That stuff is headed my way. forecast.weather.gov

Well be prepared, it’s perfect for building igloos and such.

Get your brick forms ready.

290 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:23:12am

re: #278 chadu

That being said, there seem to be some interesting quantum effects happening in carbon nanotubes in the brain.

Link?

291 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:23:57am

re: #235 ObserverArt

Some things will never be revealed. You just have to have faith and believe.

Those that question Him are of the devil! Obviously you are of the devil and I am in communication with the evil being here with all the non-believers that call themselves Lizards.

Lizards are of the devil. And Charles is the Lizard King!

[Embedded content]

Wait, I thought we were part of the Greater Zionist Conspiracy of Denver.

no?

292 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:24:10am

re: #289 FemNaziBitch

I bought an extra box of Kosher Salt today. :)

293 Charles Johnson  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:24:20am
294 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:24:22am

re: #290 b_sharp

Link?

Nanos are the future —you need a link for the future?

295 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:25:16am

re: #294 FemNaziBitch

Nanos are the future —you need a link for the future?

As long as I get to bypass the now.

296 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:25:44am

re: #295 b_sharp

As long as I get to bypass the now.

I don’t think it works that way.

297 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:25:45am

re: #285 FemNaziBitch

Ah, what are you reading?

I’ve discovered the Bernard Cornwall series about England after the Romans left.

Life sure sucked then.

I really enjoy Bernard Cornwall’s books.

298 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:26:18am

re: #296 FemNaziBitch

I don’t think it works that way.

Rats.

299 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:26:28am

re: #297 Backwoods_Sleuth

I really enjoy Bernard Cornwall’s books.

I get all the ancient peoples confused —Saxons, Picts, Danes, Britons, Angles.

Where are they now?

300 abolitionist  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:26:42am

re: #253 Eventual Carrion

Thomas Jefferson called America an experiment.

So did Lincoln, sort of, in his address at Gettysburg.

301 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:26:46am

re: #298 b_sharp

Rats.

You need a Terrier for rats.

302 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:26:48am

re: #282 Killgore Trout

White House Petition to Stop George Zimmerman DMX Boxing Match
Morons. Do they really expect the White House to start shutting down sporting events for political reasons?

Same as the people who signed that White House petition to deport the Bieber…

303 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:27:31am

re: #290 b_sharp

Link?

Quantum mind
en.wikipedia.org

and

Quantum brain dynamics
en.wikipedia.org

304 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:28:38am

re: #287 Eventual Carrion

Yeah, I’m a minion of the devil. But my duties are mostly ceremonial.

Minons?

305 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:29:01am

re: #293 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

All I can say is GMTA.

306 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:30:03am

re: #299 FemNaziBitch

I get all the ancient peoples confused —Saxons, Picts, Danes, Britons, Angles.

Where are they now?

they walk among us…to this very day….

307 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:31:36am

re: #302 Backwoods_Sleuth

Same as the people who signed that White House petition to deport the Bieber…

hooray for internet slacktivism!
lol

308 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:33:31am

“Those people are a collection of kids,” he says. They’re not a family. They’re not related by blood. (One wonders why he bothered to adopt four times, if blood was the precondition to family.) To hear Allen tell it, his three children and Mia’s other children are a “collection” of people that happened to include Soon-Yi. Yes, that group happened to live in a house he visited every day for twelve years, but who’s to say—he really said this in that same interview—he might not have met Soon-Yi “at a party or something”? Yes, Mr. Allen, it’s true that in another timeline you might have met your wife as an adult at a party, but you didn’t: you met her when she was nine years old and—this is the important thing— ignored her for a decade.

also Paged: Brainwashing Woody

309 b_sharp  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:37:17am

re: #303 chadu

>Quantum mind
en.wikipedia.org

and

>Quantum brain dynamics
en.wikipedia.org

Until some measurable results come of testing, I find it unconvincing. Consciousness can be explained without quantum effects. Electrical/chemical changes change consciousness. That suggests a higher level interaction.

310 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:40:27am

re: #285 FemNaziBitch

Ah, what are you reading?

I’ve discovered the Bernard Cornwall series about England after the Romans left.

Life sure sucked then.

Gods and Myths of Northern Europe - H.R. Ellis Davidson

311 EmmaAnne  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:42:18am

re: #272 FemNaziBitch

They do, they actually understand it. They look at their kids and their kid’s kids and they get it. They look at their dogs and they get it.

With more and more multi-racial kids, they discussion goes on. They get it, they just don’t know the vocabulary and reject anything that sounds like city talk.

That actually reassures me. Thanks.

312 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:51:32am

re: #311 EmmaAnne

That actually reassures me. Thanks.

:)

313 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:54:25am

Oh Myyyy….

314 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:57:42am

re: #313 Backwoods_Sleuth

Oh Myyyy….

[Embedded content]

What a dick.

315 Kid A  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 11:59:27am

Google review of that asshole’s restaurant in Oklahoma. It’s drop dead hysterical.
Link

316 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:01:02pm

re: #248 b_sharp

Nope. Hawking radiation (although how it works has been changed from a matter/antimatter pair to 2 matter/antimatter pairs.)

Anyway, the jets wouldn’t be coming from inside the black hole itself, but from the accretion disk around it.

317 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:02:11pm
318 A Mom Anon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:06:27pm

re: #317 FemNaziBitch

I never liked Jay Leno, and I didn’t like Jimmy Fallon all that much either. But Jimmy has grown on me, I actually think he’s kinda awesome now. I might actually watch the Tonight Show for the first time since Carson left.

319 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:06:46pm

re: #313 Backwoods_Sleuth

Oh Myyyy….

[Embedded content]

Looks like he could use some Tough Actin’ Tinactin

320 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:08:05pm

re: #309 b_sharp

Until some measurable results come of testing, I find it unconvincing. Consciousness can be explained without quantum effects. Electrical/chemical changes change consciousness. That suggests a higher level interaction.

I just read somewhere that the fact that neurons can protect themselves from random thermal fluctuations suggests that they wouldn’t be affected by the much smaller effects of quantum indeterminacy. I’ll try to find a link.

321 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:08:23pm

re: #315 Kid A

Google review of that asshole’s restaurant in Oklahoma. It’s drop dead hysterical.
Link

Loves it, imagining that jerk’s freakout makes it even better.

322 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:11:11pm

When women speak:
Youtube Video

323 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:14:15pm
324 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:14:54pm

NASCAR just gave gay people the finger:

Upcoming NASCAR race to be called ‘Duck Commander 500’

An upcoming NASCAR race at the Texas Motor Speedway will be called the “Duck Commander 500.”

Last year, TMS was sponsored by the National Rifle Association and titled their Spring race the “NRA 500.” Now, the famed racing organization has teamed up with wildly popular Duck Dynasty crew and is calling their upcoming April 6 event the “Duck Commander 500,” Dallas News reports.

The new Uncle Si’s Tea and Duck Commander barbecue sauce will be sold to the 150,000 fans and showcased to the millions of viewers during the race, and in turn the Robertsons will give TMS exposure via their social media accounts.

TMS general manager Eddie Gossage says the 3-year deal struck with the Robertsons is a good way to connect similar “Americana” family audiences.

325 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:15:10pm

re: #320 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

I just read somewhere that the fact that neurons can protect themselves from random thermal fluctuations suggests that they wouldn’t be affected by the much smaller effects of quantum indeterminacy. I’ll try to find a link.

Link

326 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:15:12pm

I’m gonna scream:

327 thedopefishlives  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:17:23pm

Afternoon Lizardim from the bitterly cold wild north country. Sometimes I don’t like having money - I went out, bought a bunch of replacement parts and tools for my Fishmobile, spent 2 hours working on it, and did everything EXCEPT the job I’d planned to do on it. Oh well, I still have those parts, and I can get them done on a day when it is warmer outside instead. How go things among the lizardfolk?

328 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:17:29pm

GMCLA:
Youtube Video

329 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:19:39pm

re: #326 FemNaziBitch

I’m gonna scream:

[Embedded image]

Yes, please scream. That one is even worse than Todd Akin, because the person saying it is herself a woman.

Image: facepalmg.png

330 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:22:39pm
331 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:23:11pm

re: #329 Dark_Falcon

Yes, please scream. That one is even worse than Todd Akin, because the person saying it is herself a woman.

Image: facepalmg.png

special place indeed

332 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:27:52pm

re: #324 Dark_Falcon

The new Uncle Si’s Tea and Duck Commander barbecue sauce will be sold to the 150,000 fans and showcased to the millions of viewers during the race, and in turn the Robertsons will give TMS exposure via their social media accounts.

Truth be told, Uncle Si is the only “real” person on that show, and the only one I might want to hang out with.

333 BongCrodny  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:28:27pm

re: #313 Backwoods_Sleuth

Oh Myyyy….

[Embedded content]

If fire comes out the end of it, you’ve probably been to some places you shouldn’t have been.

334 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:28:55pm

re: #330 FemNaziBitch

Rick Santorum is Still the Same Creepy Guy He Was in 2012

Bleh, that was just a liberal hurling insults at someone he doesn’t like. Pure preaching to the choir and ugly preaching at that.

335 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:30:08pm
For people who have relapsed after achieving long-term sobriety and struggled to come back, Mr. Hoffman’s death hit especially hard.

“He is me,” said Jim, an addict who said that he relapsed after more than two decades in recovery, and who has been sober again since 2006. “His story is so similar to mine. I had 21 years [clean], I had terrible back pain, I was on Martha’s Vineyard and somebody said, ‘Would you like a Fioricet?’ It’s mostly a migraine medication, and I took that little blue pill and I became perfect in a way I hadn’t been in 21 years. I had that wonderful feeling you don’t get sober. Suddenly, I’m at a party and someone says, ‘You want a hit of rock?’ I didn’t even know what crack was. The next day I was calling that guy’s dealer.”

Also Paged;

336 FemNaziBitch  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:30:59pm

bbl

337 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:33:00pm

re: #334 Dark_Falcon

Bleh, that was just a liberal hurling insults at someone he doesn’t like. Pure preaching to the choir and ugly preaching at that.

Santorum is still the same creepy dude, though.

338 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:35:18pm

re: #268 Charles Johnson

I read that thing by Deace. Does he seriously think that if we didn’t know why airplanes had been built, we’d never have figured it out?

339 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:36:48pm

re: #337 Backwoods_Sleuth

Santorum is still the same creepy dude, though.

I just don’t like flinging insults while going “Hurr, Hurr, Hurr!” as that note clearly was. Right or left, obnoxious is still obnoxious.

340 The War TARDIS  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:44:01pm

Fixed my new article.

341 wrenchwench  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:44:57pm
342 Lidane  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:45:15pm

re: #324 Dark_Falcon

NASCAR just gave gay people the finger:

Upcoming NASCAR race to be called ‘Duck Commander 500’

NASCAR knows its audience. Expect a bunch of rednecks wearing fake beards at the race. A few of them might even be in the audience.

343 thedopefishlives  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:47:12pm

re: #342 Lidane

NASCAR knows its audience. Expect a bunch of rednecks wearing fake beards at the race. A few of them might even be in the audience.

Nailed it on the head. NASCAR and wingnuts go hand in hand.

344 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:47:51pm

re: #337 Backwoods_Sleuth

Santorum is still the same creepy dude, though.

He’s a classic falangist. Pure nationalist catholic authoritarianism - god, family, nation & a firing squad if you dare disagree.

345 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:48:37pm

Iran is feeling froggy

Iran says warships headed close to US borders

The voyage comes amid an ongoing push by Iran to demonstrate its ability to project power across the Middle East and beyond.

IRNA quoted Haddad as saying the fleet is approaching U.S. maritime borders for the first time. The Islamic Republic considers the move as a response to U.S. naval deployments near its own coastlines. The U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet is based in Bahrain, just across the Persian Gulf.

346 Lidane  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:49:52pm

re: #344 William Barnett-Lewis

He’s a classic falangist. Pure nationalist catholic authoritarianism - god, family, nation & a firing squad if you dare disagree.

Exactly. Santorum = Torquemada Jr. He’d bring back the Inquisition if he could.

Screw him. He should be insiulted loudly and often.

347 thedopefishlives  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:50:20pm

re: #345 Killgore Trout

Iran is feeling froggy

Iran says warships headed close to US borders

The real question is if they have any idea how many US submarines are tailing them on their voyage there.

348 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:50:41pm

re: #345 Killgore Trout

Iran is feeling froggy

Iran says warships headed close to US borders

Iranian fleet consisting of a destroyer and a helicopter-carrying supply ship will travel close to U.S. maritime borders for the first time, a senior Iranian naval commander said Saturday.

smh…

349 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:52:16pm

re: #345 Killgore Trout

Iran is feeling froggy

Iran says warships headed close to US borders

It’s a PR stunt, unworthy of great notice. Iran’s done some things worth noting, but all this proves is that Iran can keep one of its frigates at sea for a couple months at a time. That’s relevant, but not something we need to worry about.

350 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:53:16pm

re: #344 William Barnett-Lewis

He’s a classic falangist. Pure nationalist catholic authoritarianism - god, family, nation & a firing squad if you dare disagree.

Where do you get the ‘firing squad’ idea from?

351 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:53:55pm

Konstantin Simonov: Iran will strengthen its armed forces in the Caspian to exercise pressure on Azerbaijan

“Iran has been one of the factors which allowed prolonging the signing of the agreement on the division of Caspian (after which Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on legal basis could have built Trans-Caspian gas pipeline disadvantageous for Russia). It’s one thing to use Iranian factor to disturb the construction of Trans-Caspian pipeline and another thing to face the growing power of Iran in the Caspian,” he said.

Simonov said that neither Turkmenistan nor Kazakhstan and nor Azerbaijan don’t have a real navy and the Russian military superiority is apparent there.

“However when Iran will acquire money the first thing it will do is spending that money on new level of militarization. It is clear that the main threat to Iran comes from the other side of the Strait of Hormuz, from Saudi Arabia, but I’m sure that Iran will strengthen its armed forces in the Caspian as well. As a result there will be new competent military power which will be able to spend on arming far more money than Azerbaijan. Iran will become a major regional power while militarization will be one of the arguments of that process as well as a factor of pressure on neighboring countries, primarily on Azerbaijan,” Simonov stated.

Relief!

352 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:54:33pm

re: #347 thedopefishlives

The real question is if they have any idea how many US submarines are tailing them on their voyage there.

It’s just a symbolic move anyways. They know they’ll be perfectly safe.

353 Kragar  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:55:51pm

re: #350 Dark_Falcon

Where do you get the ‘firing squad’ idea from?

Must have been thinking Huckabee

354 thedopefishlives  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:56:36pm

re: #352 Killgore Trout

It’s just a symbolic move anyways. They know they’ll be perfectly safe.

Oh, yes. I’m just saying, the ability to keep a single light capital ship abroad for a long voyage does not a blue-water navy make. If they have detection capability on our submarines, that’s a horse of a different color, but their ability to cruise across the Atlantic and back does not concern me.

355 JustMark  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:57:07pm

re: #11 jaunte

Rick Brattin has a high school diploma.

So do I. That doesn’t preclude intelligence. He’s a special kind of moron.

356 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:57:22pm

re: #351 Killgore Trout

Konstantin Simonov: Iran will strengthen its armed forces in the Caspian to exercise pressure on Azerbaijan

Relief!

Iran does have a new frigate in the Caspian sea and they’re building a new diesel-electric sub at their Caspian shipyard. The situation bears watching, but is not really a problem for the US.

357 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:58:14pm

re: #354 thedopefishlives

Oh, yes. I’m just saying, the ability to keep a single light capital ship abroad for a long voyage does not a blue-water navy make. If they have detection capability on our submarines, that’s a horse of a different color, but their ability to cruise across the Atlantic and back does not concern me.

Frigates aren’t ‘capital ships’.

358 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:58:20pm

This is interesting, they’re going to play Good Cop (Russia), Bad Cop (Iran)

Russian expert believes that Baku will have to seek for options how to contain Iran and it’s quite possible that under these circumstances negotiations with Russia will take place. He stressed that from the example of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations Azerbaijan knows that in regard to some issues it is difficult to deal with Moscow. “However, what we can offer to Baku is not yet clear for me,” Simonov said.

359 thedopefishlives  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:58:55pm

re: #357 Dark_Falcon

Frigates aren’t ‘capital ships’.

Guess I was thinking a cruiser. Classification of naval vessels always eluded me.

360 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 12:59:57pm

re: #356 Dark_Falcon

Iran does have a new frigate in the Caspian sea and they’re building a new diesel-electric sub at their Caspian shipyard. The situation bears watching, but is not really a problem for the US.

It’s not a problem for the US but the Iranians are Russians getting excited about the prospects of expanding their influence.

361 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:01:16pm

re: #350 Dark_Falcon

Where do you get the ‘firing squad’ idea from?

If he actually got power, it would be like the far right heroes Franco & Pinochet. It’s all part of the same thing. The excuses would vary (there aren’t enough real commies for all the killing) but being a union member or a vocal dissident would be just as fatal.

Now, I don’t believe he has a snowball’s chance at gaining power, but I firmly believe he’s of the same ilk as those who openly wish for a “strong hand” to govern the US.

362 William Barnett-Lewis  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:02:31pm

re: #356 Dark_Falcon

Iran does have a new frigate in the Caspian sea and they’re building a new diesel-electric sub at their Caspian shipyard. The situation bears watching, but is not really a problem for the US.

Now now, your supposed to panic because KT says so. Being rational isn’t allowed.

363 Romantic Heretic  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:05:22pm

re: #326 FemNaziBitch

I’m gonna scream:

[Embedded image]

And they let people this insane own guns?

364 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:06:24pm

re: #361 William Barnett-Lewis

If he actually got power, it would be like the far right heroes Franco & Pinochet. It’s all part of the same thing. The excuses would vary (there aren’t enough real commies for all the killing) but being a union member or a vocal dissident would be just as fatal.

Now, I don’t believe he has a snowball’s chance at gaining power, but I firmly believe he’s of the same ilk as those who openly wish for a “strong hand” to govern the US.

Rick Santorum never had a problem with unions when he was a senator from Pennsylvania. So I don’t see him doing a Francisco Franco. And I’d also point out that Franco & Pinochet both came to power by opposing an in-power left that was far more radical than the US liberal-left today. So I just can’t agree with you where Santorum is concerned.

365 Killgore Trout  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:07:17pm

re: #362 William Barnett-Lewis

Now now, your supposed to panic because KT says so. Being rational isn’t allowed.

Iran is the world’s largest supporter of terrorism and they punish homosexuals and rape victims with the death penalty. Their expansion as a regional power should concern us.

366 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:07:46pm

re: #362 William Barnett-Lewis

Now now, your supposed to panic because KT says so. Being rational isn’t allowed.

To be fair, Killgore was posting that in the context of “Iran stirring shit up”. He wasn’t trying to elicit panic.

367 Romantic Heretic  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:18:38pm

re: #350 Dark_Falcon

Where do you get the ‘firing squad’ idea from?

I don’t know about firing squads but Franco was fond of concentration camps.

In case you don’t think wikipedia is useful in this case here is an article on ‘psychiatric’ research of prisoners in the camps.

368 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:43:24pm

re: #309 b_sharp

Until some measurable results come of testing, I find it unconvincing. Consciousness can be explained without quantum effects. Electrical/chemical changes change consciousness. That suggests a higher level interaction.

Fair enough. All paths (electrical, chemical, quantum, and/or a combo) are worthy of exploration.

369 chadu  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:45:14pm

re: #325 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

Link

Cool, thanks!

370 JustMark  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 1:45:45pm

re: #44 Targetpractice

How do we know that the entirety of creation isn’t simply a computer simulation and we’re just programs going about our lives, completely oblivious to the reality that everything we think is “real” is bits of code?

So… their god is Loki?

371 labman57  Sat, Feb 8, 2014 3:07:33pm

While we’re at it, let’s make discussions of Newtonian physics, chemical equilibria, and earth’s geological record optional topics in their relevant courses as well.


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