Greenwald Hypes ‘Spectacular Multicolored Fireworks’ for a Finale, Will Reveal Names of NSA ‘Victims’

Also compares GCHQ to a “super-vicious yapping Shih Tzu”
Weird • Views: 36,661

A piece from the Sunday Times by Toby Harnden says The Mighty Glenn Greenwald has revealed his plan to stun the world into submission, once and for all, in an interview at a “boutique hotel” near Harvard: Greenwald’s Finale: Naming Victims of Surveillance.

Greenwald is going to reveal the names of people whose communications have been intercepted by the NSA, and this will prove for all time how monstrous and evil the pernicious Obama regime truly is, not to mention their subservient, drooling media courtiers. OK, I’m paraphrasing that part. But not by much.

Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who received the trove of documents from Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, told The Sunday Times that Snowden’s legacy would be “shaped in large part” by this “finishing piece” still to come.

His plan to publish names will further unnerve an American intelligence establishment already reeling from 11 months of revelations about US government surveillance activities.

Greenwald, who is promoting his book No Place To Hide and is trailed by a documentary crew wherever he goes, was speaking in a boutique hotel near Harvard, where he was to appear with Noam Chomsky, the octogenarian leftist academic.

“One of the big questions when it comes to domestic spying is, ‘Who have been the NSA’s specific targets?’,” he said. “Are they political critics and dissidents and activists? Are they genuinely people we’d regard as terrorists?

What are the metrics and calculations that go into choosing those targets and what is done with the surveillance that is conducted? Those are the kinds of questions that I want to still answer.”

[…]

“As with a fireworks show, you want to save your best for last,” Greenwald told GQ magazine. “The last one is the one where the sky is all covered in spectacular multicoloured hues.”

Greenwald also took aim at another of his favorite targets — the British GCHQ intelligence service, comparing the relationship between the NSA and GCHQ to a “built-up muscular guy” with a tiny, “super-vicious and yapping” Shih Tzu dog. Very picturesque!

“The British are more unrestrained and vicious in their surveillance mindset than even the US.” he said. “When you go to the park in New York, you see these built-up muscular guys and they have these tiny Shih Tzu dogs.

“It will seem like a mismatch but the Shih Tzu is super-vicious and yapping. That’s how I see the relationship between the GCHQ and the NSA.”

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662 comments
1 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 5:35:40pm

2 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 5:39:36pm

And in just breaking news…. Leaked copy of the box for the new Microsoft OS….

Win 9 Leak ///true fact

3 Kragar  May 26, 2014 5:40:06pm

Wait, I thought the government was listening to everyone?

4 PhillyPretzel  May 26, 2014 5:40:13pm

Why should I leave him alone? He has this really cute target painted on his back. ///

5 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 5:40:20pm

Greenwald thinks the Brits should follow the US Constitution, too, I suppose.

He’s still butt hurt over Miranda’s detention at Heathrow. I hope the GCHQ
got a treasure trove, just to spite The Great Godwald.

(And we’re going to have to put up with a documentary about his bullshit book selling tour?)

6 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 5:42:46pm

And let me guess, The Mighty Greenwald will expect us to take his word that the people he names really are victims, we have to trust him on this, and any denials by the NSA are totally lies from the bowels of Hell.

7 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 5:43:03pm

re: #2 RealityBasedSteve

And in just breaking news…. Leaked copy of the box for the new Microsoft OS….

Win 9 Leak ///true fact

It looks hinky.

8 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 5:43:20pm

re: #6 Targetpractice

And let me guess, The Mighty Greenwald will expect us to take his word that the people he names really are victims, we have to trust him on this, and any denials by the NSA are totally lies from the bowels of Hell.

You took the words right out of his mouth. Now he’s going to have to sue you.

9 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 5:44:32pm

re: #7 b_sharp

It looks hinky.

well, it’s a beta box.

RBS

10 Skip Intro  May 26, 2014 5:44:42pm
I gave an interview in Spanish to Tony Martinez, senior producer of Univision, Spanish language TV.I am translating here. I told him that I came from Moldova, which is an area in Europe, where people speak 2 languages: Russian and Romanian. Romanian is a Latin language, as such I am considered a Latina too.

Orly Taitz, explaining why Hispanics should vote for her (back in 2012). It didn’t work then, but maybe she can get some traction with it now.

11 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 5:45:36pm

Speaking of dudebros, just saw an NBC advertisement for an interview with His Holiness Edward Snowden, to be aired on Wednesday. Gag me with a rusty spork.

12 Gus  May 26, 2014 5:46:21pm

13 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 5:46:32pm

re: #11 thedopefishlives

Speaking of dudebros, just saw an NBC advertisement for an interview with His Holiness Edward Snowden, to be aired on Wednesday. Gag me with a rusty spork.

Yeah, guess I’m gonna have to miss that one, as I’ll be too busy not giving a fuck.

14 klys  May 26, 2014 5:48:10pm

I could read more GG or I could work on cross stitch.

Cross stitch wins.

Beading!

15 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 5:48:29pm

re: #9 RealityBasedSteve

well, it’s a beta box.

RBS

Aren’t they all?

16 PhillyPretzel  May 26, 2014 5:48:45pm

re: #14 klys

That looks very nice.

17 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 5:48:48pm

re: #12 Gus

[Embedded image]

Is the brain bleach under the sink?

18 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 5:49:35pm

re: #13 Targetpractice

Yeah, guess I’m gonna have to miss that one, as I’ll be too busy not giving a fuck.

19 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 5:50:05pm

re: #13 Targetpractice

Yeah, guess I’m gonna have to miss that one, as I’ll be too busy not giving a fuck.

All out of fucks to give, I’m afraid.

20 Single-handed sailor  May 26, 2014 5:51:34pm

Glenn is just mad they took his stapler.

If they don’t give it back I’ll set the building on fire.

21 PhillyPretzel  May 26, 2014 5:53:21pm

re: #20 Single-handed sailor

Or he will send the code for it to attack. //kidding

22 PhillyPretzel  May 26, 2014 5:58:04pm

Oh &^%$. I did it again. Oh well it is another entry in Philly Pretzel’s thread killers.

23 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 5:59:21pm

re: #22 PhillyPretzel

Oh &^%$. I did it again. Oh well it is another entry in Philly Pretzel’s thread killers.

The thread is dead! Long live the thread!

24 Decatur Deb  May 26, 2014 5:59:49pm

re: #22 PhillyPretzel

Oh &^%$. I did it again. Oh well it is another entry in Philly Pretzel’s thread killers.

We are all just contemplating the multi-colored dog lover that is Greenwald.

25 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:00:00pm

re: #22 PhillyPretzel

Oh &^%$. I did it again. Oh well it is another entry in Philly Pretzel’s thread killers.

And I thought I was the only one with that gift.

RBS

26 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:00:11pm

It’s Floriduh.

Police: Hyatt Regency in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and neighboring hotel are locked down after reports of shots fired at Hyatt - @TB_Times
Read more on tampabay.com

Broward County, Fla., deputies and Fort Lauderdale police trying to control ‘unruly crowd’ - @CBSMiami
Read more on cbslocal.com

27 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:01:01pm

re: #26 Justanotherhuman

It’s Floriduh.

Police: Hyatt Regency in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and neighboring hotel are locked down after reports of shots fired at Hyatt - @TB_Times
Read more on tampabay.com

Broward County, Fla., deputies and Fort Lauderdale police trying to control ‘unruly crowd’ - @CBSMiami
Read more on cbslocal.com

Somebody “standing their ground” again?

28 Sophist, D.D., DDS, DFH  May 26, 2014 6:01:07pm

And of course he’s going to provide all of the context for how and why these individuals were surveilled, who the actual target of the surveillance was, etc.

Surely he will. Surely.

29 b.d.  May 26, 2014 6:04:50pm

Unless Glenn’s list has 314 million names on it a lot people are going to be dissappointed.

30 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 6:06:33pm

re: #25 RealityBasedSteve

And I thought I was the only one with that gift.

RBS

Latent ability in many lizards.

31 Gus  May 26, 2014 6:06:34pm

re: #29 b.d.

Unless Glenn’s list has 314 million names on it a lot people are going to be dissappointed.

It’ll be a handful but after Greenwald’s done it’s going to be the worst thing that ever happened in the history of civilization equaling the deaths of billions and billions of people.

32 Gus  May 26, 2014 6:08:13pm
33 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:09:29pm
34 Gus  May 26, 2014 6:10:16pm

35 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:10:37pm

When I read this article that was the first question that occurred to me too - how many names exactly is he going to publish?

How can you interview him about this and not follow up with that obvious question?

/smh

36 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 6:10:45pm

re: #34 Gus

MUST DERP HARDER. ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOWALD.

37 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:12:19pm

re: #30 b_sharp

Latent ability in many lizards.

I was always told “Better Blatant than Latent”. /rimshot

RBS

38 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:13:00pm
39 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 6:14:41pm

I used to have this as a kid.

architoys.net

It has nothing to do with Pernicious G.

40 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:16:25pm

re: #39 b_sharp

I used to have this as a kid.

architoys.net

It has nothing to do with Pernicious G.

I had JARTS… The Game of Death…

Youtube Video

RBS

41 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:16:39pm

re: #35 Charles Johnson

When I read this article that was the first question that occurred to me too - how many names exactly is he going to publish?

How can you interview him about this and not follow up with that obvious question?

/smh

Obvious answer? Because no number would begin to justify the lengths the man has gone to destroy America’s intelligence apparatus.

42 Bubblehead II  May 26, 2014 6:16:42pm

You know, I can see why Charles puts these idiots on the front page. It brings to light just how ignorant/hateful they are,

But it also gives them a stage. Page it. Just don’t front front page it. My 2 cent opinion Charles.

Sleep well Lizards.

43 b.d.  May 26, 2014 6:18:20pm

re: #38 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I hope Glenn isn’t going to do that thing that Time Magazine did with their person of the year.

And the person the NSA is spying on is………….YOU!!

44 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 6:18:46pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

I had JARTS… The Game of Death…

[Embedded content]

RBS

neighbors dad LOVED that game. They had a patch of grass out front of the house no bigger than 4 feet by 4 feet and they would play JARTS
EVERY ,,, DAMN ,,, NIGHT ,, FOR ,,, HOURS

45 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:18:52pm

Personally, I’d hate to have my name put out there by Glenn Greenwald as a “victim.” Because as soon as he starts naming names, those poor folks are gonna get bombarded by dudebros looking for them to either confirm The Mighty Greenwald’s assertions or being condemned to endless harassment until they agree to join the lynch mob.

46 Gus  May 26, 2014 6:19:09pm

Emo Hitler currently on the History Channel. Allegedly.

47 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 6:19:43pm

re: #46 Gus

Emo Hitler currently on the History Channel. Allegedly.

Allegedly on the History Channel? How does that work?

48 freetoken  May 26, 2014 6:19:56pm

Hmmm… I wonder if the names will be of people in politics (even local)?

49 Kid A  May 26, 2014 6:20:12pm

The Great Black Nope says VA scandal “gift from God.” Yes, really.

50 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 6:21:00pm

re: #46 Gus

Emo Hitler currently on the History Channel. Allegedly.

Well,,, now I know why he changed his last name!!

Image: 51wiaQXmDSL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

51 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:21:16pm

re: #49 Kid A

The Great Black Nope says VA scandal “gift from God.” Yes, really.

[Embedded content]

Yeah, saw that the other day. It’s nice when they pull off the mask to reveal that all their “outrage” over the treatment of veterans is just to pump up a scandal they figure will succeed where others have failed.

52 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:21:17pm

re: #44 sattv4u2

neighbors dad LOVED that game. They had a patch of grass out front of the house no bigger than 4 feet by 4 feet and they would play JARTS
EVERY ,,, DAMN ,,, NIGHT ,, FOR ,,, HOURS

I wonder if they would let me take them on the golf course. make sort of a ‘hybrid game’? Once you got close to the green, rather than chip or hit a pitch, you could toss the jart, and then putt from where it landed. To keep it fair, it could be based on your handcap… you get one 1 jart for each handicap stroke you get.

As for ‘oh, that would tear up the greens’, you haven’t seen the greens I play on, it might be an improvement.

RBS

53 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 6:21:21pm

re: #49 Kid A

The Great Black Nope says VA scandal “gift from God.” Yes, really.

[Embedded content]

And you thought he couldn’t stoop any lower when he pandered to birthism. Way to go Ben, you’re outassholing Herman Cain.

54 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:23:12pm

The Great Godwald, Esq, Journalist, insults real journalists.

I know you are but what am I?

55 b.d.  May 26, 2014 6:24:18pm

MY NAME IS NOT ON THAT LIST BUT I KNOW THAT THE NSA IS SPYING ON ME

56 jaunte  May 26, 2014 6:24:27pm

A limited number of “victims” is really going to take the air out of his story.

57 freetoken  May 26, 2014 6:25:29pm

re: #56 jaunte

The NSA is already starting to show up as the go-to boogeyman in poorly written TV scripts.

“NSA” is now a meme.

58 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:25:34pm

re: #55 b.d.

MY NAME IS NOT ON THAT LIST BUT I KNOW THAT THE NSA IS SPYING ON ME

Yeah, I can’t begin to imagine the disappointment and anger that’s gonna run its course when The Mighty Greenwald reveals the names and J. Average Dudebro is nowhere on the list.

“You mean I’m not important enough for the NSA to devote resources to spying on me!?”

59 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:25:42pm

re: #56 jaunte

[Embedded content]

A limited number of “victims” is really going to take the air out of his story.

But the names are big; it’s only the list that is small!

60 jaunte  May 26, 2014 6:26:13pm

re: #57 freetoken

Damned NSA got my pizza order screwed up. Again.

61 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:26:46pm

re: #55 b.d.

[dudebro] MY NAME IS NOT ON THAT LIST BUT I KNOW THAT THE NSA IS SPYING ON ME [/dudebro}

exactly. The name they released aren’t the real targets, it’s a classic disinformation scheme that will result in a false flag operation with trained crisis scene actors as the purported ‘victims’.

RBS

62 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:26:56pm

I’ve been taking care of code issues from the to-do list for the past couple of days, and I’m almost ready to test the fix for a problem that’s been around for a while.

If you set a Page’s status to “Draft” when you save it from the posting window, it’s marked as draft in the Pages Dashboard and doesn’t appear publicly. The idea is to let you work on a post before publishing it, and it works for that, however…

The problem is that if you don’t publish it for a while, like several hours or days, there are a lot of more recent Pages published in the interim — and when you finally do publish it, because the creation date was in the past, it may not show up in the Featured or Recent lists of Pages. The more recently posted stuff will replace it, even though it’s never been public.

This will never do. So I’m in the final stages of a revamp of the feature, so that if you save a post as a “Draft,” the first time you publish it, it will be copied to a brand new Page, so it shows up first in the public lists, and your previous version will be removed.

63 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 6:27:35pm

Kim and Kanye. Then the circle will be complete.

64 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:28:16pm
65 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:29:07pm

Now that I used a GPS for 100 miles, surely the NSA has me under surveillance?

Disembodied voice: We know where you live and where you go.

66 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:30:14pm

re: #56 jaunte

[Embedded content]

A limited number of “victims” is really going to take the air out of his story.

My guess is the list of “victims” is gonna be mostly high profile names, prominent people in various occupations (politicians, celebrities, college professors, business) who will be quick to use their clout to demand Congress “do something” about the NSA surveillance that The Mighty Greenwald says is aimed at them.

67 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:30:17pm

I may save the previous version but remove it from view, instead of actually deleting it, for a kind of versioning system like Wikipedia’s.

68 Gus  May 26, 2014 6:30:36pm
69 Gus  May 26, 2014 6:30:59pm

[x] Emo Hitler with McCain talking about Patton.

70 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:31:16pm

re: #65 Justanotherhuman

Now that I used a GPS for 100 miles, surely the NSA has me under surveillance?

Disembodied voice: We know where you live and where you go.

Google knows where I go, when I go to work, what I’m shopping for, what I read and what I’m interested in. And I give them money so that I can give them even MORE info. The NSA ain’t got nothing on Google.

RBS

71 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 6:31:35pm

re: #60 jaunte

Damned NSA got my pizza order screwed up. Again.

I called for flowers to be sent to my wife, but the NSA sent them to my mistress instead.

72 jaunte  May 26, 2014 6:31:44pm

Yemen says security forces kill senior al Qaeda leader

One of 25 people listed by the Interior Ministry’s most wanted list, [Saleh al-Tais] was the operational commander of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Sanaa who had a 5 million riyal ($25,000) bounty for his capture, the statement said.

Tais, who had evaded capture more than once in the past, was involved in a number of major attacks, including an attack on the Yemeni Defense Ministry compound in Sanaa last December and the assault on the Central prison last February, it said.

“Tais was also linked to a number of terrorist operations that targeted national and foreign interests, particularly the cold-blooded assassination campaign targeting security personnel in the Yemeni capital,” it said.

Explosives, car bombs and heavy weapons were found during the raid.

73 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:32:39pm

re: #68 Gus

[Embedded content]

Yeah, surprise surprise. It was the same with “America: The Story of Us,” where they spent less time putting actual historians on the screen and instead grabbing every celebrity whose fee they could afford to give their spin on the subject at hand. Pretty sure McCain was in that one too.

74 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 6:33:10pm

re: #72 jaunte

Yemen says security forces kill senior al Qaeda leader

And another #2 gets a promotion!!

NEXT!!

75 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:33:34pm

re: #72 jaunte

Yemen says security forces kill senior al Qaeda leader

“Operational Commander / #2 man” for al Qaeda affiliates doesn’t seem like a position with long term job security.

RBS

76 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:34:34pm

re: #75 RealityBasedSteve

“Operational Commander / #2 man” for al Qaeda affiliates doesn’t seem like a position with long term job security.

RBS

Yeah, but on the bright side, they can put “rapid career advancement” on the recruitment brochures.

//

77 jaunte  May 26, 2014 6:35:21pm

re: #75 RealityBasedSteve

Fast-moving executives sought for explosive growth sector.

78 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:36:07pm

re: #64 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Title song. Excellent.

Youtube Video

79 Belafon  May 26, 2014 6:36:45pm

Here is Greenwald’s entire release:

You!

80 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:37:46pm

“Achmed, we’ve got good news and bad news.”

“What’s the good news?”

“You’re being promoted!”

“That’s great…wait, what’s the bad news?”

“The boss was blown up by a Hellfire missile.”

81 lawhawk  May 26, 2014 6:37:59pm

So, he’s going to name names of those that the NSA spied on.

I can think of at least a few hundred thousand people that come to mind, and all of them would be justifiable.

Every other nation’s leaders, parliamentarians/legislators, military, intel, and business leaders in key industries. Terror groups. Drug cartels. Etc.

All justifiable for US national security.

Those people might not like being spied upon, but they aren’t US citizens and don’t get US civil rights protections.

If he starts naming US citizens, I’d be skeptical and want to know what he’s leaving out - like justifiable cause, whether warrants/FISA was filed, etc.

But knowing Greenwald, he’s going to bury the key details deep down, and otherwise the records will indicate an interest in tracking these people, but not that it was actually done.

The end result will be still more grief for the NSA, and hampering US nat’l security gathering measures.

82 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 6:38:30pm

Nat Geo has the late Sen. Inoyue on. Much better.

83 Skip Intro  May 26, 2014 6:40:33pm

re: #69 Gus

[x] Emo Hitler with McCain talking about Patton.

Have the Pawn Stars guys shown up to give their expert opinions yet?

84 BongCrodny  May 26, 2014 6:41:11pm

re: #49 Kid A

The Great Black Nope says VA scandal “gift from God.” Yes, really.

[Embedded content]

A lot of the veterans who come to the VA do so because they don’t have health insurance and/or can’t afford other treatment.

Cancer? You’re on your own, buddy. Heart problems? Good luck, pal. I value your service.

Fuck him. Just a pretentious, sanctimonious asshole, and we have far too many of those kinds of people already running the country.

85 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 6:41:15pm

re: #82 Stanley Sea

Nat Geo has the late Sen. Inoyue on. Much better.

A true hero. I did some research on the 442nd Regimental Combat Team for my old job. That those guys did what they did while their own relatives were being treated like enemies of the state at home is incredible.

86 freetoken  May 26, 2014 6:42:10pm
87 Killgore Trout  May 26, 2014 6:42:25pm

KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS
Youtube Video

88 klys  May 26, 2014 6:42:58pm

re: #85 HappyWarrior

A true hero. I did some research on the 442nd Regimental Combat Team for my old job. That those guys did what they did while their own relatives were being treated like enemies of the state at home is incredible.

If you are ever near the Death Valley area, the museum at the Manzanar internment camp is extremely well done and worth a visit.

89 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 6:44:35pm

re: #88 klys

If you are ever near the Death Valley area, the museum at the Manzanar internment camp is extremely well done and worth a visit.

Definitely- thanks.

90 GlutenFreeJesus  May 26, 2014 6:47:26pm

I’ll feel rejected if my name isn’t on GG’s list. Sadface.

91 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 6:48:03pm

re: #87 Killgore Trout

LOL

92 Killgore Trout  May 26, 2014 6:49:30pm

re: #91 sattv4u2

LOL

I like how they all try to touch the screen.

93 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:50:12pm

re: #87 Killgore Trout

KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS
[Embedded content]

And now I feel old.

94 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:50:38pm

CuriousLurker will like this new feature, I know - she’s the one who first reported the problem.

I searched for a way to modify the SQL queries for the Featured and Recent lists, instead of creating a new row, but it was unacceptably slow when the Page was several days old. (The algorithms that generate those lists have gotten surprisingly complex, and little changes can have big results.)

95 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:51:06pm

re: #87 Killgore Trout

KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS
[Embedded content]

Video

OH… That is SO funny. I’m going to have to blast that one out to some of my co-workers. (and I very rarely do that)

Thanks

RBS

96 Killgore Trout  May 26, 2014 6:51:17pm

I would have guessed the Apple II wasn’t a 70’s computer but it did come out in ‘77

97 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 6:51:23pm

re: #92 Killgore Trout

I like how they all try to touch the screen.

And their reaction every time ERROR comes up, because they know that THEY KNOW how to use a computer, so how COULD there be an error!!!

98 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:51:54pm

re: #93 Targetpractice

And now I feel old.

Old? I feel ancient. I know what mag cards were. : )

99 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 6:52:41pm

re: #98 Justanotherhuman

Old? I feel ancient. I know what mag cards were. : )

Hell. I remember having a desk top without having a desktop to put on it!!!

100 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:53:15pm
101 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 6:53:46pm

re: #98 Justanotherhuman

Old? I feel ancient. I know what mag cards were. : )

there are probably some people here who will say that they started when there were just 0’s, 1’s hadn’t been invented yet. (and yes, I know that in western culture, 0 came around late… give me a break)

RBS

102 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 6:54:01pm

I honestly cannot remember how to us DOS anymore. It’s been so long that those skills have atrophied into uselessness.

103 Bubblehead II  May 26, 2014 6:55:08pm

Still not banned. Charles must be slippingre: #87 Killgore Trout

KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS
[Embedded content]

Video

Syntax Error.

104 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 6:55:29pm

I think I would have been a better student if I had grown up with today’s technology. They had Alphasmarts that I sometimes used to take notes on of course but that was nowhere near as practical as a laptpo ended up being in college.

105 Killgore Trout  May 26, 2014 6:56:05pm

re: #98 Justanotherhuman

Old? I feel ancient. I know what mag cards were. : )

I used some punch cards when I was in 5th grade.

106 PhillyPretzel  May 26, 2014 6:56:10pm

re: #87 Killgore Trout

Here is a very old computer. encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

I wonder how those kids would react to a computer that took up a city block.

107 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 6:56:25pm

I once had to deal with a vicious ankle-biting pequeño-chihuahua “dog,” so I know how painful that can be.

108 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 6:57:52pm

re: #99 sattv4u2

Hell. I remember having a desk top without having a desktop to put on it!!!

(Drawing you aside). Tell me son, have you ever used a comptometer?

en.wikipedia.org

I learned to use one in a class in 1957, but never had to use it in the real world. Most offices were using 10 key adding machines by then which I had also learned. Now everything I learned in HS can be found on one machine…

109 Killgore Trout  May 26, 2014 6:58:15pm

re: #106 PhillyPretzel

Here is a very old computer. encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

I wonder how those kids would react to a computer that took up a city block.

I love the smell of vacuum tubes.

110 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 6:58:36pm

I was an early technology adopter; I learned on old Apple IIe’s and IIgs’s. My mom and dad had an early 286 PC that I spent as much time on as they’d allow. And that’s why I wound up as a programmer in the end.

111 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:00:01pm

re: #98 Justanotherhuman

Old? I feel ancient. I know what mag cards were. : )

Drop them at a Teletype Model 33 hooked to a BASIC interpreter over a 300 baud acoustic coupled modem :D Then explain that Apple II a revolution compared to that!

112 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 7:00:31pm

On the bright side, back in the old days, you didn’t have an annoying-as-hell paperclip asking if you needed help writing that important report.

113 sattv4u2  May 26, 2014 7:00:32pm

and on that note, the long quiet drive home beckons

114 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:01:16pm

re: #109 Killgore Trout

I love the smell of vacuum tubes.

Only when the magic smoke gets out… O_o

115 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 7:01:50pm

re: #113 sattv4u2

and on that note, the long quiet drive home beckons

Safe travels.

116 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 7:02:05pm

Nat Geo now onto Vietnam. Not sure I can handle this, but I’m a gonna try.

117 freetoken  May 26, 2014 7:02:12pm

WaPo, off the mark again:

This summer, NASA will begin keeping an eye on your garden

Certainly they mean the NSA, not NASA, right?

No:

When you’re working in the yard this summer, take a look up: Using a satellite, NASA scientists are paying attention to how healthy your lawn and garden are.

Next month, the agency plans to launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2. Its primary aim is to create a global map of carbon sources and carbon sinks. The OCO-2 mission will provide the most detailed map of photosynthetic fluorescence — that is to say, of how plants glow — ever created. Using this data, scientists should be able to estimate how quickly the world’s plants are absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

[…]

Um… no, and no.

Here’s the project website:

oco.jpl.nasa.gov

From the measurement page:

[…] To reduce any uncertainties, the OCO-2 instrument will acquire a large number of densely-spaced samples. Each sample will cover an area of about 3 km2 when the instrument is looking straight down (nadir), along the spacecraft’s ground track. The OCO-2 instrument can gather as many as 72,000 soundings on the sunlit side of any orbit. With measurement footprints of this size and density, the OCO-2 instrument will get an adequate number of high quality soundings, even in those regions where clouds, aerosols and topographic variations are present.

Sigh.

118 Kragar  May 26, 2014 7:02:41pm

re: #107 Charles Johnson

I once had to deal with a vicious ankle-biting pequeño-chihuahua “dog,” so I know how painful that can be.

If I were a mad scientist, I would crossbreed those dogs with piranha and breed them by the thousands before releasing them as a tide of yipping terror

119 Rightwingconspirator  May 26, 2014 7:03:13pm

re: #111 William Barnett-Lewis

You know how an image sometimes surprises you? I was out playing with fast shutter and this 105mm macro lens. That was good but after a little creative post I got this…

120 Belafon  May 26, 2014 7:03:35pm

re: #118 Kragar

You could be a writer for SyFy.

-Misspelled the channel.

121 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 7:03:39pm

The height of gaming back in the day: Oregon Trail.

122 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 7:04:03pm

Most dogs are great. But that pequeño (belonged to a neighbor) was the nastiest dog I’ve ever encountered. Resisted all attempts at friendship and tried to bite you as soon as your attention faded.

123 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 7:04:23pm

re: #121 Targetpractice

The height of gaming back in the day: Oregon Trail.

Played it for HOURS. Also, on the Mac in our 5th grade classroom, we had a Civil War strategy game. That’s where I acquired my love of turn-based (and later, real-time) strategy.

124 jaunte  May 26, 2014 7:04:45pm

re: #118 Kragar

If I were a mad scientist, I would crossbreed those dogs with piranha and breed them by the thousands before releasing them as a tide of yipping terror

CHIHUANANADO!

125 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 7:04:51pm

re: #121 Targetpractice

The height of gaming back in the day: Oregon Trail.

Indeed, my favorite game to play during computer class. I remember liking Oregon Trail II the most of any them.

126 Targetpractice  May 26, 2014 7:05:45pm

re: #123 thedopefishlives

Played it for HOURS. Also, on the Mac in our 5th grade classroom, we had a Civil War strategy game. That’s where I acquired my love of turn-based (and later, real-time) strategy.

North & South?

127 Gus  May 26, 2014 7:06:23pm

re: #117 freetoken

WaPo, off the mark again:

This summer, NASA will begin keeping an eye on your garden

Certainly they mean the NSA, not NASA, right?

No:

Um… no, and no.

Here’s the project website:

oco.jpl.nasa.gov

From the measurement page:

Sigh.

Make page. It’s easy as 1, 2, 3. :D

128 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:06:25pm

re: #119 Rightwingconspirator

You know how an image sometimes surprises you? I was out playing with fast shutter and this 105mm macro lens. That was good but after a little creative post I got this…[Embedded image]

Beautiful. Water or something hotter?

My big project of late is chronicled here: theliberalgunclub.com :D

129 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 7:06:32pm

re: #126 Targetpractice

North & South?

Might have been, but I for sure don’t remember. I’d know it when I see it, but I’m too lazy to go looking right now.

130 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 7:06:40pm

re: #122 Charles Johnson

Most dogs are great. But that pequeño (belonged to a neighbor) was the nastiest dog I’ve ever encountered. Resisted all attempts at friendship and tried to bite you as soon as your attention faded.

Our Shepherds used to eat chihuahuas.

131 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:07:27pm

re: #121 Targetpractice

The height of gaming back in the day: Oregon Trail.

Piffle. Rogue. Then Moria when it came out. These days I’ve “advanced” to Angband :LOL:

132 Rightwingconspirator  May 26, 2014 7:07:56pm

re: #128 William Barnett-Lewis

Beautiful. Water or something hotter?

My big project of late is chronicled here: theliberalgunclub.com :D

Water, at 1/6000th. Then in color neg.

DAO or really scared to catch some shirt on the draw? Both I guess. Olde school.

133 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 7:09:40pm

This dog had been radicalized somehow.

134 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:10:56pm

re: #132 Rightwingconspirator

Water, at 1/6000th. Then in color neg.

The only real limitation I run into on my E-PL1 is that the shutter maxes out at 1/2000. Nice catch.

135 Justanotherhuman  May 26, 2014 7:12:15pm

re: #133 Charles Johnson

This dog had been radicalized somehow.

Are you sure it wasn’t just a malignant narcissist?

136 klys  May 26, 2014 7:14:21pm

re: #102 Targetpractice

I honestly cannot remember how to us DOS anymore. It’s been so long that those skills have atrophied into uselessness.

These days I end up typing in Unix commands and then swearing at the screen a lot.

137 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 7:15:38pm

re: #116 Stanley Sea

Nat Geo now onto Vietnam. Not sure I can handle this, but I’m a gonna try.

Very excellent. I suggest you turn it on if possible.

138 Bubblehead II  May 26, 2014 7:17:50pm

BTW, Thanks WW for the info on the bike. Now “debating” on will she wear a helmet or not. And you women call us men stubborn.

Me.Wear a helmet.
Her.Why?
Me. It could save your life.
Her. It’s uncomfortable/hot.
Me. Better than being dead.
Her, Nothing is going to happen.
Me. *head*Desk*
Her. Maybe you need the helmet.

The last two lines are pure sarc. But that is her attitude. And I am the reckless one?

139 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:18:51pm

re: #132 Rightwingconspirator

Water, at 1/6000th. Then in color neg.

DAO or really scared to catch some shirt on the draw? Both I guess. Olde school.

DAO when I bought it but I subscribe to DAO being best for carry. It’s the only safety a revolver has after all.

140 klys  May 26, 2014 7:19:29pm

Dinner is an experimental Greek-style bean salad with white kidney beans in an olive oil/lemon juice/red wine vinegar sauce with bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta cheese crumbles.

Things are marinating.

I hope it comes out well.

Here’s a better progress shot for this afternoon’s work, which will soon be continued. I have included a quarter in the bottom right for scale, because it occurs to me that that is a really hard thing to judge.

The long side of the frame is up to 23 inches, I think. I think the short side is 14.

141 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 7:23:05pm

re: #136 klys

These days I end up typing in Unix commands and then swearing at the screen a lot.

If I had a nickel for every time I typed “ls” at a DOS prompt, I’d be a rich man.

142 klys  May 26, 2014 7:24:03pm

re: #141 thedopefishlives

If I had a nickel for every time I typed “ls” at a DOS prompt, I’d be a rich man.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT DOESN”T* WORK? WTF IS THE STUPID COMMAND ON THIS FUCKING SYSTEM ANYWAY?

/ahem

* edited to fix this because it wasn’t the negative before. oops.

143 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 7:24:44pm
144 bratwurst  May 26, 2014 7:26:37pm
145 sagehen  May 26, 2014 7:26:59pm

re: #123 thedopefishlives

Played it for HOURS. Also, on the Mac in our 5th grade classroom, we had a Civil War strategy game. That’s where I acquired my love of turn-based (and later, real-time) strategy.

My college roommate had an Apple II with a text-based game of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. You’d tell it to open a door, it would say no. Tell it again, it refused again. And again. The fourth time it would say “your persistance is rewarded, the door was stuck but now it opens and you go through.”

And every so often, for random reasons, it would recite Vogon poetry and ask questions about it that you had to answer before you could proceed further.

Then there was the Flight Simulator game — used real airports, real obstacles, what then passed for state-of-the-art graphics. People would take off from LaGuardia, try to fly between the twin towers, there was a big BOOM!! screen with sound effects.

146 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:27:04pm

re: #141 thedopefishlives

If I had a nickel for every time I typed “ls” at a DOS prompt, I’d be a rich man.

Plus the reverse. It’s especially bad when you had a dos emulator on board and switched from a terminal to a dos prompt back & forth… :bang head:

147 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 7:28:08pm

re: #142 klys

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT DOES WORK? WTF IS THE STUPID COMMAND ON THIS FUCKING SYSTEM ANYWAY?

/ahem

Cod am pizza ship!

148 Rightwingconspirator  May 26, 2014 7:28:17pm

re: #139 William Barnett-Lewis

The action is not modified, right? Just ground off the spur?

149 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 7:28:29pm

re: #144 bratwurst

[Embedded content]

Ha! Missing “If we hadn’t banned prayer in school, this would never happen.”

150 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 7:29:19pm

re: #140 klys

Dinner is an experimental Greek-style bean salad with white kidney beans in an olive oil/lemon juice/red wine vinegar sauce with bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta cheese crumbles.

Things are marinating.

I hope it comes out well.

Here’s a better progress shot for this afternoon’s work, which will soon be continued. I have included a quarter in the bottom right for scale, because it occurs to me that that is a really hard thing to judge.

The long side of the frame is up to 23 inches, I think. I think the short side is 14.

Nice work on the needlepoint. I’ve not got the patience for something like that.

You dinner will be DELISH!!! and if you don’t like it, just fed-ex it to me, I’ll scarf it down.

RBS

151 Gus  May 26, 2014 7:29:55pm

re: #143 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

152 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:30:30pm

re: #148 Rightwingconspirator

The action is not modified, right? Just ground off the spur?

Correct. I can drop in a normal hammer and be back to stock condtition in about 5 minutes of work. This will remain a project revolver though, good for learning S&W smithing on & so forth.

153 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 7:30:32pm

re: #151 Gus

[Embedded content]

Seriously. Downright ghoulish of the NYP to do this.

154 William Barnett-Lewis  May 26, 2014 7:31:25pm

Time to crash. Gotta be behind the grill at 6:00 CDT tomorrow morning. Bleah. Till later folks.

155 Rightwingconspirator  May 26, 2014 7:33:05pm

re: #152 William Barnett-Lewis

That is really cool. I gotta get back to IDPA and start running my .45 Caspian like it was built for. Racing to put holes in paper or ring that steel.

156 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 7:35:01pm

well I’m outta here too. Few things to do, then off to the Land of Nod. I REALLY want some ice cream, but I’m not about to go out for it. I’ll make a note and pick some up tomorrow.

RBS

157 Killgore Trout  May 26, 2014 7:35:37pm

re: #121 Targetpractice

The height of gaming back in the day: Oregon Trail.

Zork!

158 EPR-radar  May 26, 2014 7:37:33pm

re: #131 William Barnett-Lewis

Piffle. Rogue. Then Moria when it came out. These days I’ve “advanced” to Angband :LOL:

I jumped straight from Nethack (favored time waster in grad school) to Final Fantasy VII.

My first time through FF7, I was playing somewhat too conservatively.

Edited to change ‘grade’ to ‘grad’ above. Bloody autocorrect.

159 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 7:38:15pm

re: #121 Targetpractice

The height of gaming back in the day: Oregon Trail.

All I’ll say is “You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike”.

RBS

160 thedopefishlives  May 26, 2014 7:38:49pm

re: #159 RealityBasedSteve

All I’ll say is “>You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike”.

RBS

I never played Zork, but I read lots of UserFriendly. Sounds like an incredibly complex game, for being nothing but text.

161 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 7:40:22pm
162 Decatur Deb  May 26, 2014 7:40:29pm

re: #160 thedopefishlives

I never played Zork, but I read lots of UserFriendly. Sounds like an incredibly complex game, for being nothing but text.

Image: hammurabi_peter_a_loeser_2.gif

163 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 7:44:39pm

re: #153 HappyWarrior

Seriously. Downright ghoulish of the NYP to do this.

Remember the “bag men” after the Boston bombing? They don’t give a shit.

I hope those guys win huge $$$ from their lawsuit. This woman too.

164 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 7:45:46pm

re: #163 Stanley Sea

Remember the “bag men” after the Boston bombing? They don’t give a shit.

I hope those guys win huge $$$ from their lawsuit. This woman too.

I hope so too in both cases. Murdoch really is a special kind of scum. Doesn’t care about ruining lives one bit.

165 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 7:46:21pm

re: #164 HappyWarrior

I hope so too in both cases. Murdoch really is a special kind of scum. Doesn’t care about ruining lives one bit.

$ $ $ $ $

166 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 7:48:55pm

re: #165 Stanley Sea

$ $ $ $ $

For sure.

167 wheat-dogghazi  May 26, 2014 7:48:59pm

re: #133 Charles Johnson

This dog had been radicalized somehow.

Its owner had been reading Saul Alinksy’s book to it? Maybe the dog preferred Che, though.

168 BongCrodny  May 26, 2014 7:49:31pm

re: #159 RealityBasedSteve

All I’ll say is “You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike”.

RBS

No, no no — it’s “You are in a twisty little maze of passages, all alike.”

169 klys  May 26, 2014 7:49:44pm

re: #158 EPR-radar

I jumped straight from Nethack (favored time waster in grad school) to Final Fantasy VII.

My first time through FF7, I was playing somewhat too conservatively.

Edited to change ‘grade’ to ‘grad’ above. Bloody autocorrect.

Nethack was how I passed time in humanities lectures.

WoW was the favored timesink in grad school.

170 RealityBasedSteve  May 26, 2014 7:51:43pm

re: #168 BongCrodny

No, no no — it’s “You are in a twisty little maze of passages, all alike.”

no, now it’s “You are in a twisting little maze of passages, all alike”

171 The War TARDIS  May 26, 2014 7:52:02pm

re: #158 EPR-radar

Same here.

On the first playthrough of a game, usually any kind of game, I have found that everyone plays conservatively.

For example, I am play New Vegas for a 2nd time. This time, trying a Guns only playthrough, with the name of Simo Hayha.

172 Charles Johnson  May 26, 2014 7:52:29pm

re: #42 Bubblehead II

You know, I can see why Charles puts these idiots on the front page. It brings to light just how ignorant/hateful they are,

But it also gives them a stage. Page it. Just don’t front front page it. My 2 cent opinion Charles.

Sleep well Lizards.

Well, the guy won a Pulitzer, sort of, and is all over the front pages of the mainstream media, so I’m not sure how much impact it would have if I decided to ignore it.

173 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 7:53:36pm

re: #169 klys

Nethack was how I passed time in humanities lectures.

WoW was the favored timesink in grad school.

I spent hours on nethack. I miss it.

174 klys  May 26, 2014 7:54:09pm

re: #173 b_sharp

I spent hours on nethack. I miss it.

Why miss it? There’s still versions all over the place.

175 Varek Raith  May 26, 2014 7:57:06pm

Dwarf Fortress FTW!

176 Kragar  May 26, 2014 7:58:08pm

re: #171 The War TARDIS

Same here.

On the first playthrough of a game, usually any kind of game, I have found that everyone plays conservatively.

For example, I am play New Vegas for a 2nd time. This time, trying a Guns only playthrough, with the name of Simo Hayha.

I’ve been playing CIV V, Deity Mode, running a Japanese Autocracy on a huge map.

177 b_sharp  May 26, 2014 7:58:41pm

re: #174 klys

Why miss it? There’s still versions all over the place.

Frankly I couldn’t remember the name until mentioned here.
I played it on my Atari 800 so much it contributed to the breakup up of my marriage.

178 BongCrodny  May 26, 2014 7:58:58pm

For anyone who grew up on a different planet who has no idea what we’re talking about, this was originally from the Colossal Cave Adventure.

You find yourself in a maze, and every time you type in a direction — north, south, east or west — the program responded with one of the following:

YOU ARE IN A MAZE OF TWISTY LITTLE PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A LITTLE MAZE OF TWISTING PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A MAZE OF TWISTING LITTLE PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A LITTLE MAZE OF TWISTY PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A TWISTING MAZE OF LITTLE PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A TWISTING LITTLE MAZE OF PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A TWISTY LITTLE MAZE OF PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A TWISTY MAZE OF LITTLE PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A LITTLE TWISTY MAZE OF PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A MAZE OF LITTLE TWISTING PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.
YOU ARE IN A MAZE OF LITTLE TWISTY PASSAGES, ALL DIFFERENT.

It’s been decades since I played either CCA or Zork, but I believe the Zork lingo was kind of a tribute to CCA.

179 palomino  May 26, 2014 7:59:22pm

re: #151 Gus

[Embedded content]

The exact kind of garbage we’ve come to expect from NYPost. They actually give other tabloids a bad name.

Just because a mass murderer mentioned a girl (age 10 when she knew him) in his hateful manifesto doesn’t mean you have to run with the story. Now the Post is creating an unwitting, reluctant “celebrity” out of the girl, and in the process making her a target, as well as likely causing her some extreme emotional suffering, at least in the short term. All complete with swimsuit photos!

Say what you want about the NYTimes, but they don’t stoop to this level of sensationalistic, reckless garbage. Because they have some of this thing called journalistic integrity. And at least a smidgen of human decency.

180 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 7:59:23pm

I leave for a while and GG is going to publish the names of every man, woman and child on the planet?

sheesh.

181 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:00:32pm

I think prelax should be a word, don’t you?

182 klys  May 26, 2014 8:01:07pm

re: #181 FemNaziBitch

I think prelax should be a word, don’t you?

It makes me think of laxatives.

>.>

183 klys  May 26, 2014 8:02:20pm

Ok, I swear I bought only four packages of this color of bead, because that’s what the pattern called for.

As it goes, I am going to have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many leftover.

184 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:04:20pm

re: #182 klys

It makes me think of laxatives.

>.>

I was thinking more along the lines of resting up in order to enjoy a holiday.

185 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:05:00pm

re: #183 klys

Ok, I swear I bought only four packages of this color of bead, because that’s what the pattern called for.

As it goes, I am going to have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many leftover.

yep, the bead makers are the one’s making the money.

I decided that a long time ago.

186 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:05:25pm

re: #185 FemNaziBitch

yep, the bead makers are the one’s making the money.

I decided that a long time ago.

They remember that beads, themselves, used to be money and feel screwed.

187 klys  May 26, 2014 8:05:36pm

re: #185 FemNaziBitch

yep, the bead makers are the one’s making the money.

I decided that a long time ago.

Looking at the pattern there are maybe more than I thought. But not that many.

Ah well, I’m sure there will be more opportunities in the future.

188 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 8:05:55pm

Evening Lizards!

I went skiing today (I know, big shock) and I am still kind of shocked how much snow is on the ground in the alpine zones of the mountains here.

The big snow melt, though, is definitely underway. It was upper 50s to low 60s up in the alpine zone (9,000 ft. to above treeline) and past the 70s today in the lower reaches of the Yampa, Colorado and Gunnison rivers. This is problematic. The whole of the Front Range and Continental Divide got hammered with moisture this week, and flooding is occurring on all the streams west of the Front Range urban corridor. A young man drowned today while fishing on the Cache la Poudre river. :( And now the temps are going to soar later this week.

We’re already seeing significant geological events with this spring runoff. A 2-mile wide 4-mile long 250 feet deep mudslide occurred sometime last night on the northwest flank of Grand Mesa. 3 local long-time ranchers (who are related to one another) are missing tonight.

And the spring snow melt has really only just begun. If it gets really hot later this week, there will be some significant flood events.

189 klys  May 26, 2014 8:06:30pm

re: #188 teleskiguy

I read about that, but hadn’t seen any images yet. Wow.

190 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 8:07:56pm

Oh, and Glenn Greenwald is a horrible person. I hope he names me!!!

191 Gus  May 26, 2014 8:08:39pm
192 The War TARDIS  May 26, 2014 8:09:26pm

re: #176 Kragar

Also doing a playthrough on Medieval II as Denmark.

Mission: Create a map roughly corresponding to where my origions are from. It is about 50-60% done. Waiting for a) The Holy Roman Empires remains to attack. (Vienna, Nuremburg, Prague were lost to Hungary). That nets me Staufen, Krakow and possibly Frankfurt depending on how I interpret things.

Then, wait for Hungary to attack. That will net me Prague, Vienna, Nuremburg.

Hopefuly, Poland will attack at that time, which will net me the last two, Thorn and Halych.

Already control the the regions of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Antwerp, Normandy, Rennes, London, Caernarvon, Nottingham, York, Edinburgh, Inverness, Dublin, Jerusalem, and Acre. Currently embroiled in a war with the Mongols. The have had 2 armies wrecked. I should be able to grind them by rotating 2-3 armies in and out of fighting.

193 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 8:11:35pm

re: #189 klys

I read about that, but hadn’t seen any images yet. Wow.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Department has released some YouTube videos of observations of the mudslide from a helicopter. Here’s one.

194 darthstar  May 26, 2014 8:22:54pm

Poor GG - keeps promising to shoot his load and when that doesn’t happen promises an even bigger scoop.

195 Gus  May 26, 2014 8:23:24pm
196 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 8:33:26pm

re: #194 darthstar

Hey darth! What’s shakin’?

Skied some A-Basin slop today with a former colleague I haven’t seen in almost 2 years. Gorgeous weather. Skipped A-Basin BrewFest yesterday as I couldn’t procure a designated driver. Don’t matter no how, I heard the joint got pelted with graupel all day!

197 Decatur Deb  May 26, 2014 8:34:46pm

Remember Cliven Bundy? To help you remember, you can buy a commemorative silver coin. One ounce at only 2 1/2 times the bullion value.

Image: Cliven-Bundy-Obv-Coin-1.jpg

198 klys  May 26, 2014 8:36:15pm

Remember that salad?

I am here to report it is a complete success failure, husband dear please hand me your bowl, you don’t need to eat any of this.

199 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:38:42pm

re: #197 Decatur Deb

Remember Cliven Bundy? To help you remember, you can buy a commemorative silver coin. One ounce at only 2 1/2 times the bullion value.

Image: Cliven-Bundy-Obv-Coin-1.jpg

worth less than Confederate money?

200 Stanley Sea  May 26, 2014 8:38:52pm

re: #198 klys

Remember that salad?

I am here to report it is a complete success failure, husband dear please hand me your bowl, you don’t need to eat any of this.

Grilled cheese it is.

201 Decatur Deb  May 26, 2014 8:39:19pm

re: #199 FemNaziBitch

worth less than Confederate money?

Hope they take Bitcoin.

202 BongCrodny  May 26, 2014 8:42:51pm

re: #201 Decatur Deb

Hope they take Bitcoin.

Hope they get a lot of customers who pay for them like Bundy pays for his grazing rights fees.

203 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:44:48pm

re: #202 BongCrodny

Hope they get a lot of customers who pay for them like Bundy pays for his grazing rights fees.

Then storm the foundry/mint with armed cowboy wannabes and demand their product!

204 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:53:06pm

The Tiffany’s catalog came in the mail last week —after Mother’s Day.

I think their Marketing Department needs to be fired.

205 Lancelot Link  May 26, 2014 8:53:48pm

re: #201 Decatur Deb

Hope they take Bitcoin.

Maybe they’ll take ChumpCoin, the innovative new alternative currency that i just made up.

206 Gus  May 26, 2014 8:53:58pm
207 klys  May 26, 2014 8:55:43pm

Because I love you all:

2 15oz cans white kidney beans (also cannellini?)
1 large red bell pepper
1 cucumber
1 red onion
kalamata olives to taste
cherry tomatoes to taste
feta cheese crumbles to taste

1/2 cup olive oil
3/8 cup lemon juice
1/8 cup red wine vinegar

maybe 1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp basil
1/2 tsp parsley
garlic to taste (which for us was like …10 cloves)

salt and pepper

(I don’t use measuring spoons a lot and all herbs are dried except the garlic.)

Mix the dressing ingredients. Rinse the canned beans. Toss the dressing in with the beans, let marinate.

In the meantime, dice the pepper and the cucumber (after seeding it). Dice the red onion too, if your container can fit it. Mine couldn’t.

Mix portion of the beans with portion of the cucumber/pepper/onion mixture. Add olives, tomatoes (quartered), and feta cheese to taste. MIX WELL. Nom. Nom nom nom nom nom.

This is the second thing I have done totally from scratch and oh man it is so good. You could toss in some pepperoni and/or salami if you’d like.

In the meantime I need to not finish it because it should be tomorrow’s lunch.

208 Kragar  May 26, 2014 8:56:37pm
209 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 8:56:43pm

re: #206 Gus

[Embedded content]

Is this not a true vision of our reality?

Feline Overlords begin playing with worlds early in life.

210 klys  May 26, 2014 8:57:50pm

re: #207 klys

It should be noted that this was the first pass on this and I will probably tweak it (there was a lot of dressing - a lot more than there probably needs to be - so I will probably cut it back some but keep the ratio).

But oh god so good.

211 The War TARDIS  May 26, 2014 9:05:05pm

re: #204 FemNaziBitch

Yep.

212 Feline Fearless Leader  May 26, 2014 9:17:34pm

A belated good evening Lizards.

Passed the previous two days helping a friend in the process of moving his business (a game store) from one location to another. Lots of packing of boxes, putting boxes in truck, moving truck, taking boxes out of truck, carrying inside, unloading boxes. Load and move shelving units as they are emptied. Repeat multiple times. Will probably post a picture or two once I download things.

Just tired and applying internally applied alcohol for medicinal reasons. And off to bed shortly as well.

And an oldie dedicated to the Hypnowald.
Youtube Video

213 andres  May 26, 2014 9:26:42pm

I’ve been thinking about the last spat between Pernicious G and WikiLeaks… Would it be too far fetch to think the whole fight was all staged? I mean, an attempt to give a cover to Pernicious G of “thinking of the people”?

214 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 9:30:57pm

Geraldo seriously is doing a show “O.J. at 20”.

because I guess there is nothing else to report on these days.

*pathetic*

215 Amory Blaine  May 26, 2014 9:31:51pm

So what’s the scuttlebutt on Wolfenstein? Good, bad? Is the texture pop-in as bad as people are saying?

216 freetoken  May 26, 2014 9:35:14pm

re: #197 Decatur Deb

Remember Cliven Bundy? To help you remember, you can buy a commemorative silver coin. One ounce at only 2 1/2 times the bullion value.

Image: Cliven-Bundy-Obv-Coin-1.jpg

What!!? No GOLD!!????

217 Kragar  May 26, 2014 9:40:29pm

re: #215 Amory Blaine

So what’s the scuttlebutt on Wolfenstein? Good, bad? Is the texture pop-in as bad as people are saying?

Too short, some of the control combinations are awkward, and there are issues with frame-rate and video sync you have to fine tune and then still don’t work right all the time

218 Gus  May 26, 2014 9:44:10pm
219 Shiplord Kirel  May 26, 2014 9:50:01pm

Derp:

Whatdya’ know. I, too have a picture of myself with an M-1911. Nuge will never be able to match it no matter how many gun porn poses he might strike: Mine was taken in Vietnam.

220 Lidane  May 26, 2014 9:53:16pm

re: #219 Shiplord Kirel

The people who share a meme like that are the same ones derping at Brad Paisley:

221 Amory Blaine  May 26, 2014 9:54:27pm

re: #217 Kragar

Ah ok thanks. I’ll stick with my backlog then.

222 Kragar  May 26, 2014 9:55:35pm

re: #221 Amory Blaine

Ah ok thanks. I’ll stick with my backlog then.

Yeah, wait for it to go on sale

223 Gus  May 26, 2014 9:56:36pm

re: #220 Lidane

The people who share a meme like that are the same ones derping at Brad Paisley:

[Embedded content]

Oh great. Another Moron Lame asshole too.

224 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 9:58:41pm

re: #216 freetoken

What!!? No GOLD!!????

gold-plated tin-foil hats

225 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 9:58:52pm

re: #220 Lidane

The people who share a meme like that are the same ones derping at Brad Paisley:

[Embedded content]

Nice people……

226 FemNaziBitch  May 26, 2014 9:59:20pm

bbl

227 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 9:59:43pm

re: #219 Shiplord Kirel

Derp:
[Embedded image]

Whatdya’ know. I, too have a picture of myself with an M-1911. Nuge will never be able to match it no matter how many gun porn poses he might strike: Mine was taken in Vietnam.

I’m more annoyed that they think this will annoy me than actually annoyed by the image. Really gun nuts, aging has been losers like Nugent posing with guns don’t annoy us. People who value guns more than their fellow man OTOH like Nuge…….

228 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 10:03:56pm

So, I read Elliott Rodger’s manifesto. That was tough to read. Tons of entitlement bullshit combined with a lot of good old fashioned bigotry where he thinks he should have had first dibs on the beautiful blondes over minority because he’s a white guy with British aristocratic ancestors. He really thought he was owed a relationship and it seems to me that he just didn’t want to put himself out there. I can relate a little bit to how kids can be cruel but anyone justifying his actions is an asshole.

229 Gus  May 26, 2014 10:13:37pm

re: #228 HappyWarrior

So, I read Elliott Rodger’s manifesto. That was tough to read. Tons of entitlement bullshit combined with a lot of good old fashioned bigotry where he thinks he should have had first dibs on the beautiful blondes over minority because he’s a white guy with British aristocratic ancestors. He really thought he was owed a relationship and it seems to me that he just didn’t want to put himself out there. I can relate a little bit to how kids can be cruel but anyone justifying his actions is an asshole.

Watch any of his videos yet?

230 prairiefire  May 26, 2014 10:16:11pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

I had JARTS… The Game of Death…

[Embedded content]

Video

RBS

Better than Lawn Darts?

231 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 10:16:11pm

re: #229 Gus

Watch any of his videos yet?

Yeah, the one right before he goes on the rampage. To me, that was really tough to watch knowing what he was about to do. or had already done (providing this was made after the roommates were killed).

232 wheat-dogghazi  May 26, 2014 10:16:15pm

re: #219 Shiplord Kirel

Derp:
[Embedded image]

Whatdya’ know. I, too have a picture of myself with an M-1911. Nuge will never be able to match it no matter how many gun porn poses he might strike: Mine was taken in Vietnam.

I’m a liberal. I’m not annoyed, just vaguely amused by a photo of Ted Nugent (redneck) offering me his sidearm.

233 prairiefire  May 26, 2014 10:17:26pm

re: #232 wheat-dogghazi

I don’t think he really wants to do that./

234 wheat-dogghazi  May 26, 2014 10:17:29pm

re: #220 Lidane

The people who share a meme like that are the same ones derping at Brad Paisley:

Brad Paisley — the new Dixie Chicks.

235 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 10:18:15pm

re: #232 wheat-dogghazi

I’m a liberal. I’m not annoyed, just vaguely amused by a photo of Ted Nugent (redneck) offering me his sidearm.

I for one am most amused by the fact that a draft dodger who by his own admission shat himself to get out of military service has become a conservative hero. I mean it’s not even like Ted thought the cause was unjust. He just didn’t want to go and these are the people who hated Clinton for not serving but I digress.

236 wheat-dogghazi  May 26, 2014 10:19:03pm

re: #233 prairiefire

I don’t think he really wants to do that./

No, indeed. Especially if he’s carrying some cash on him.

//

237 darthstar  May 26, 2014 10:19:16pm

re: #219 Shiplord Kirel

If you really want to annoy me, show me a picture of Nugent with a ballot.

238 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 10:21:18pm

To me someone like George H.W Bush is a legitimate hero. Navy’s youngest pilot. Served his country in various capacities. Don’t agree with much of what the man stands for but he has my respect. Ted Nugent? TI just laugh at the idea that conservatives look at him as a hero for their ideology and that Republican candidates see it as a badge of honor to have him campaign for them.

239 Mentis Fugit  May 26, 2014 10:27:36pm

re: #223 Gus

Oh great. Another Moron Lame asshole too.

If you set up a Cafepress shop and printed
Μορον Λαμε
on T-shirts, how many do you think you could sell?

240 gwangung  May 26, 2014 10:28:00pm

re: #228 HappyWarrior

So, I read Elliott Rodger’s manifesto. That was tough to read. Tons of entitlement bullshit combined with a lot of good old fashioned bigotry where he thinks he should have had first dibs on the beautiful blondes over minority because he’s a white guy with British aristocratic ancestors. He really thought he was owed a relationship and it seems to me that he just didn’t want to put himself out there. I can relate a little bit to how kids can be cruel but anyone justifying his actions is an asshole.

Given that his mom was Asian, a LOT of self-hate there, too.

241 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 10:29:01pm

re: #240 gwangung

Given that his mom was Asian, a LOT of self-hate there, too.

Yeah definitely so.

242 Gus  May 26, 2014 10:29:08pm

re: #239 Mentis Fugit

If you set up a Cafepress shop and printed
Μορον Λαμε
on T-shirts, how many do you think you could sell?

I dunno. Two maybe?

243 Kragar  May 26, 2014 10:30:27pm
244 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 10:33:13pm

re: #243 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Lotta scary fuckers there for sure. And surprise surprise all of them have the same pathetic attitude towards women that Rodger had.

245 wheat-dogghazi  May 26, 2014 10:37:14pm

re: #242 Gus

I dunno. Two maybe?

More than that, if you added a Gadsden flag and a silhouette of a gun.

246 Gus  May 26, 2014 10:40:41pm
247 Gus  May 26, 2014 10:42:18pm
248 Gus  May 26, 2014 10:43:58pm
249 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 10:44:18pm

re: #188 teleskiguy

re: #193 teleskiguy

Found a good aerial photo of the Collbran, CO landslide that took place last night. Fast fast fast geology.

250 Gus  May 26, 2014 10:44:40pm

re: #249 teleskiguy

Found a good aerial photo of the Collbran, CO landslide that took place last night. Fast fast fast geology.

[Embedded content]

Crazy!

251 freetoken  May 26, 2014 10:55:36pm

Is Bryan Fischer tweeting under an alias now?

252 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:01:22pm
253 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 11:06:23pm

re: #251 freetoken

Is Bryan Fischer tweeting under an alias now?

On an extremely cursory scroll through his timeline I encountered “Don’t let them lie to you” like 4 times. *emphasis on the word “extremely”*

254 Kragar  May 26, 2014 11:09:42pm
255 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:12:01pm

Tear jerker.

256 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:13:39pm
257 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:16:12pm
258 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:20:08pm
259 HappyWarrior  May 26, 2014 11:21:28pm

re: #254 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Bible doesn’t say anything about voting since it was written during a time of absolute rule by kings but don’t let facts get in the way as usual Bry.

260 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:22:01pm
261 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 11:31:07pm

re: #249 teleskiguy

Found a good aerial photo of the Collbran, CO landslide that took place last night. Fast fast fast geology.

[Embedded content]

Admittedly, this geology is nowhere near as fast as the geology very near Charles and a lot of other LGF readers. Something happens on those tectonic plates, the geology moves quicker than the speed of sound.

262 teleskiguy  May 26, 2014 11:37:52pm

re: #260 Gus

[Embedded content]

I loathe about 96% of the country music crap out there, including Brad Paisley.

After seeing this, though, I see Brad Paisley differently, in a more positive light. He’s being pilloried as we speak by Real Murkans™ but I think the man saw a truly patriotic opportunity and he took advantage.

Very cool Brad Paisley. Very cool.

263 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:42:21pm
264 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:47:36pm
265 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:49:19pm

re: #243 Kragar

[Embedded content]

So true and so scary. Who are these people?

Late response I know.

266 Gus  May 26, 2014 11:55:30pm
267 freetoken  May 27, 2014 12:01:33am

AP runs a story that tells us that Texastan is going even more into atavism:

Tea Party Poised For Big Wins In Texas Runoffs

[…]

Though the tea party has sputtered this year in elections around the country, Texas’ conservative insurgents are the front-runners in Republican primary runoffs for major statewide offices and positioned to bolster their ranks in the Legislature. Victories now and again in November would signal an aggressive new slate of Republican priorities — from tightened spending to expanded gun rights — after Gov. Rick Perry leaves office in January.

[…]

“Expanded” gun “rights”?? What more can they do, drop any requirements for registration?

268 freetoken  May 27, 2014 12:03:58am

Long and winding Salon piece about NdT and the American atavists:

Neil deGrasse Tyson vs. the right: “Cosmos,” Christians, and the battle for American science

It could have been shortened to this:

The atavists don’t want to live in the 21st century. They weren’t so hot about the 20th century either.

269 Gus  May 27, 2014 12:04:34am
270 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 12:15:19am

re: #268 freetoken

Long and winding Salon piece about NdT and the American atavists:

Neil deGrasse Tyson vs. the right: “Cosmos,” Christians, and the battle for American science

It could have been shortened to this:

The atavists don’t want to live in the 21st century. They weren’t so hot about the 20th century either.

Tyson and/or the scriptwriters have taken pains to meet the common objections to modern science head-on: evolution, the Big Bang theory, AGW, primarily. Plus, they even noted that the Noah’s Ark story echoes an earlier tale in the Epic of Gilgamesh. They have taken pains to note when religious dogma impeded scientific progress, however. For the most part, the writing has been matter-of-fact. Science says this happened, and science says this will happen, no matter what some people believed then or believe now.

The atavists don’t appreciate criticism of any kind, because oppression!

271 freetoken  May 27, 2014 12:16:10am

The Dallas Morning News answers my question:

Texas’ Republican primaries are steeped in tea party agenda

[…]

“For movement conservatives, capitulation and compromise are seen as the same thing,” Jones said. “Being a pragmatic problem-solver who gets results and moves Texas forward is not an effective campaign message in today’s Texas Republican primary.”

Instead the message is to shut down the border, to stop or even impeach President Barack Obama and to fight for gun owners to be able to carry their weapons openly and anywhere.

[…]

“Openly and anywhere” - in other words, sort of like Somalia.

272 Kragar  May 27, 2014 12:24:00am

re: #271 freetoken

The Dallas Morning News answers my question:

Texas’ Republican primaries are steeped in tea party agenda

“Openly and anywhere” - in other words, sort of like Somalia.

“I saw some guys coming into McDonalds with AR-15s so I stood my ground”

273 Gus  May 27, 2014 12:24:05am
274 teleskiguy  May 27, 2014 12:26:50am

re: #271 freetoken

The Dallas Morning News answers my question:

Texas’ Republican primaries are steeped in tea party agenda

“Openly and anywhere” - in other words, sort of like Somalia.

I’m a Colorado rural bumpkin. After seeing this, I have to ask “Why do you people need to carry guns everywhere?”

Every house, apartment, domicile I have ever lived in in my entire life, there’s been guns in the house (minus college dormitories). All those individuals that I lived with over the years, none of us are dead at the moment. We know how to use our guns.

Too many people DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE THEIR GUNS. They don’t know how to maintain their guns, they don’t know how to shoot their guns, they don’t even know what their guns are called.

Guns in America. One of the most horrific jokes of humanity.

275 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 12:30:16am

re: #252 Gus

I’m a bit of a railfan, and your link led me to Wikipedia to find out more about the Norfolk & Western 611. It was one of the last steam locomotives built in the USA, and saw pretty active service until diesel-electrics replaced it. Nice to see that Norfolk Southern will finally get 611 back in operation, if only for excursions.

Following some other links led to this modern steam locomotive, built in 2008 in the UK. It is in regular service. en.wikipedia.org

Here it is under steam, passing through Dorcester station. (video)
upload.wikimedia.org

276 Gus  May 27, 2014 12:33:39am
277 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 12:36:25am

re: #274 teleskiguy

I’m a Colorado rural bumpkin. After seeing this, I have to ask “Why do you people need to carry guns everywhere?”

Every house, apartment, domicile I have ever lived in in my entire life, there’s been guns in the house (minus college dormitories). All those individuals that I lived with over the years, none of us are dead at the moment. We know how to use our guns.

Too many people DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE THEIR GUNS. They don’t know how to maintain their guns, they don’t know how to shoot their guns, they don’t even know what their guns are called.

Guns in America. One of the most horrific jokes of humanity.

I asked a similar question a couple of days ago here. When did guns stop being tools and start being objects of near-religious adoration? When did it become acceptable to even think about bringing a semiautomatic long gun into a restaurant, or walk around town with one? That’s the kind of stuff you would have only seen in the movies, or in news broadcasts from some Third World country, not in Anytown, USA.

278 Gus  May 27, 2014 12:42:49am
279 Gus  May 27, 2014 12:50:28am
280 freetoken  May 27, 2014 1:07:58am

re: #279 Gus

Yeah, I saw that earlier.

Thing is, time has run “out” for a while now, so that declaration applies to any day.

Put simply, our world society has no intention to forgo the fossil fuel deposits.

281 freetoken  May 27, 2014 1:39:05am
282 CuriousLurker  May 27, 2014 1:55:22am

re: #62 Charles Johnson

…. So I’m in the final stages of a revamp of the feature, so that if you save a post as a “Draft,” the first time you publish it, it will be copied to a brand new Page, so it shows up first in the public lists, and your previous version will be removed.

re: #94 Charles Johnson

CuriousLurker will like this new feature, I know - she’s the one who first reported the problem. […]

Excellent, you rock! My “workaround” when I wanted to publish a Page later was to keep saving it as a draft till I was completely done, then copy & paste everything into a new Page, leaving the old one to sit there as an empty draft with the title “Cancelled”. I think I only did that once though.

Thanks for going to so much trouble for us.

283 freetoken  May 27, 2014 2:36:10am

re: #282 CuriousLurker

The workaround was always awkward.

And yes, Charles has done an amazing job at making an easy-to-use blogging system.

I’ve not done a Page in some time. I think my interests have slightly diverged from many LGF readers these days, so I’m not sure what I would Page. Plus, what little expertise I have in anything is now aging and I feel a bit out of date.

This gets back to a subject I’ve kicked around the past year or two - the change in the blogosphere - namely that the change is that Twitter and Facebook have drawn a great deal of the heat away from “blogging”.

I don’t know what is next. Well, I do know that the non-English speaking internet is growing more quickly that the American-centered online content. But, I don’t know Mandarin, don’t know Russian, don’t know Spanish (my 8th grade Spanish class was a long time ago.)

Thus, I’ll just vegetate to some easy-listening:

MP3 Audio

284 freetoken  May 27, 2014 2:45:04am

Here’s the thing - I always like to be first.

Back when I started writing long entries at LGF I tackled topics that I thought were going to be timely, and tried to stay a bit ahead of the crowd.

Perhaps it’s my inner artist, but no matter how carefully constructed and logical many of my posts are, I am more an intuitive.

Unfortunately my intuition lately has led me to strange places.

I feel our society is become less focused. Ok, that probably doesn’t make sense. But, think of it as a societal wide ennui. That’s why the masses can be so easily distracted by the shiny baubles the television conglomerates put out daily. Attention spans are too short to be constructive to our long term well being, I think.

Maybe that is me being old, but I do not believe insight can be had (with rare exceptions) by a tweet.

Deep down, communication is about two brains syncing, a form of union. That’s why they used to call it “intercourse”. The highly abstract ideas and thoughts acquired by lengthy study and practice are not so easily bottled into the containers used by so many of our society today.

So, now I am sounding ever more like a curmudgeon, which may be quite appropriate.

285 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 2:48:42am

Well, I finally got Linux working on my laptop. Precise Puppy lets me disable the dodgy touchpad that was fouling up the mouse and trackpoint interfaces. Ubuntu 12.04, for some reason, omits that little feature.

It’s been 4-5 years since I’ve used Linux, but it’s coming back to me. For now, I’m running Puppy off a flash drive. My HD is too full now to partition.

286 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 3:06:14am

re: #284 freetoken

Less focused, or simply more shallow.

America especially has always had a bit of an intellectual inferiority complex regarding Europe, with its traditions of culture and learning.

And I was always proud of our rough-hewn approach and our general suspicion of established authorities.

But this has lately turned into a mass celebration of stupidity, superficiality and backwardness, accompanied by a no-fear approach to dumbing everything down to the point that is comprehensible to the semi-literate, but no longer recognizable as what it was to begin with.

287 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 3:09:07am

re: #284 freetoken

Tweeting is an example of our current society’s inability or indifference to deal with complex ideas. We (not people here at LGF, but the more general “we”) want quick answers — soundbites. We don’t want longwinded tl;dr answers. News reports have to be short, even at the expense of accuracy. Dramas have to have a satisfactory ending within an hour, unless they are part of some episodic series. Movies have to be action packed, relatively short on dialogue. Televised sports events have to be continuously commented on, with frequent cutaways to specific parts of the playing field.

When one of the missions of USA Today was to boil the day’s news into six column-inches or less, I knew we were on the road to the condensed version of everything needed to be an informed public.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest … they’re just the latest in a series of examples of our American impatience with complexity.

288 William Barnett-Lewis  May 27, 2014 3:15:14am

re: #219 Shiplord Kirel

Derp:
[Embedded image]

Whatdya’ know. I, too have a picture of myself with an M-1911. Nuge will never be able to match it no matter how many gun porn poses he might strike: Mine was taken in Vietnam.

Little wannabe & poacher. Fucking up decent people’s rights every time he opens his ignorant mouth.

289 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 3:16:53am

re: #287 wheat-dogghazi

A problem with complexity, but look at CNN coverage of a missing airliner total 24/7 fixation on a banal point that could have been covered in three sentences.

290 CuriousLurker  May 27, 2014 3:23:00am

re: #119 Rightwingconspirator

You know how an image sometimes surprises you? I was out playing with fast shutter and this 105mm macro lens. That was good but after a little creative post I got this…[Embedded image]

Whoa, very cool! How’d you do that? And what is it? It looks like drops of some kind of liquid…

291 William Barnett-Lewis  May 27, 2014 3:23:19am

re: #275 wheat-dogghazi

I’m a bit of a railfan, and your link led me to Wikipedia to find out more about the Norfolk & Western 611. It was one of the last steam locomotives built in the USA, and saw pretty active service until diesel-electrics replaced it. Nice to see that Norfolk Southern will finally get 611 back in operation, if only for excursions.

Following some other links led to this modern steam locomotive, built in 2008 in the UK. It is in regular service. en.wikipedia.org

Here it is under steam, passing through Dorcester station. (video)
upload.wikimedia.org

My favorites are UP 844 & Soo 2719. I grew up seeing 2719 on static display in a park in my home town. It was beautiful to see her under steam again even if she’s back on static display. Milwaukee Road 261 is another favorite.

292 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 3:31:18am

re: #291 William Barnett-Lewis

My favorites are UP 844 & Soo 2719. I grew up seeing 2719 on static display in a park in my home town. It was beautiful to see her under steam again even if she’s back on static display. Milwaukee Road 261 is another favorite.

My childhood memory may be hazy, but I recall seeing steam locomotives operating on Long Island in the late 1950s. My dad’s store was right across the street from a LIRR station, so we saw trains a lot.

Whatever the case, I’m fascinated with steam locomotives and have taken a few excursions just for the experience. So, I was impressed that there is a new steam locomotive in service in the UK.

293 William Barnett-Lewis  May 27, 2014 3:32:09am

Well, gotta go to work. 8 hours at the grill. Thank god for my shoe pads & back brace.

I get off at 2:00 but then I get to spend the rest of the day & my day off tomorrow moving.

The fun never ends …

294 William Barnett-Lewis  May 27, 2014 3:33:32am

re: #292 wheat-dogghazi

My childhood memory may be hazy, but I recall seeing steam locomotives operating on Long Island in the late 1950s. My dad’s store was right across the street from a LIRR station, so we saw trains a lot.

Whatever the case, I’m fascinated with steam locomotives and have taken a few excursions just for the experience. So, I was impressed that there is a new steam locomotive in service in the UK.

I think that the cost of oil is going to bring steam back on the rails eventually. Especially with various alternative fuels.

Now, later, for reals :D

295 William Barnett-Lewis  May 27, 2014 3:34:24am

Sheesh, one more thing. Be sure to check today’s google doodle ;)

296 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 3:34:54am

re: #284 freetoken

I feel our society is become less focused. Ok, that probably doesn’t make sense. But, think of it as a societal wide ennui. That’s why the masses can be so easily distracted by the shiny baubles the television conglomerates put out daily. Attention spans are too short to be constructive to our long term well being, I think.

If there’s one thing that’s happened while I’ve studied sociology, it’s that I’ve become even more dubious of the idea that society has really changed in abstract ways like having become less focused, or having more ‘ennui’.

You seem to be saying that changing from face-to-face communication to non-online stuff has caused this lack of focus. What do you mean by ‘focus’ or ‘ennui’ and how has the centuries long-change from personal conversations to mass media changed those?

297 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 3:53:15am

re: #287 wheat-dogghazi

Tweeting is an example of our current society’s inability or indifference to deal with complex ideas. We (not people here at LGF, but the more general “we”) want quick answers — soundbites. We don’t want longwinded tl;dr answers. News reports have to be short, even at the expense of accuracy. Dramas have to have a satisfactory ending within an hour, unless they are part of some episodic series. Movies have to be action packed, relatively short on dialogue. Televised sports events have to be continuously commented on, with frequent cutaways to specific parts of the playing field.

When one of the missions of USA Today was to boil the day’s news into six column-inches or less, I knew we were on the road to the condensed version of everything needed to be an informed public.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest … they’re just the latest in a series of examples of our American impatience with complexity.

Mrs. Tannenbaum would have given you an A+ for that answer. She was my 11th grade English teacher who saw this coming when she condemned Readers Digest. Remember those “condensed” books? She told us they were an abomination and if we wanted to be truly literate, we had to read the entirety of “War and Peace” and other lengthy books, no matter how long it took, no cheating. I loved that woman because I was one of those kids who thought a good book was a better companion than people often were.

298 otoc  May 27, 2014 3:55:09am

re: #296 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I blame Sesame Street and the 30 second lesson plan. Generations grew up expecting learning to be in short sound bites as opposed to detailed lessons. Why do you suppose Twitter is so successful? There’s more, but my time is up.

299 otoc  May 27, 2014 4:03:54am

On topic. So Greedwald has timed the topping to coincide with his publicity tour? Seems like this kind of news would have served the purpose of changing laws with the first release of news, not the last. Pretty calculating to me. Greedwald, the ex-pat out for …
Image: greed.jpg

300 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 4:04:32am

re: #298 otoc

I blame Sesame Street and the 30 second lesson plan. Generations grew up expecting learning to be in short sound bites as opposed to detailed lessons. Why do you suppose Twitter is so successful? There’s more, but my time is up.

But previous generations grew up expecting not to learn almost any lessons at all. Literacy is an incredibly recent phenomenon, societally.

301 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 4:07:05am

re: #298 otoc

I blame Sesame Street and the 30 second lesson plan.

Sesame street was about learning and creativity, as opposed to 30-second commercials, which were banal, repetitive and put out there to get us to buy things we did not need.

302 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 4:15:32am

re: #292 wheat-dogghazi

My childhood memory may be hazy, but I recall seeing steam locomotives operating on Long Island in the late 1950s. My dad’s store was right across the street from a LIRR station, so we saw trains a lot.

Whatever the case, I’m fascinated with steam locomotives and have taken a few excursions just for the experience. So, I was impressed that there is a new steam locomotive in service in the UK.

Definitely hazy memory. After checking Wikipedia, I found that the last steam service on the LIRR was in 1955, the year before I was born. Maybe I heard those steam whistles while still in utero.

303 freetoken  May 27, 2014 4:21:59am

re: #296 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You seem to be saying that changing from face-to-face communication to non-online stuff has caused this lack of focus. What do you mean by ‘focus’ or ‘ennui’ and how has the centuries long-change from personal conversations to mass media changed those?

What I feel may well be part of the larger changes that have entered our society since the telegraph, radio, TV, etc.

When I read letters from my ancestors, some of whom were born in the early 19th century, I am struck by how limited and humble they seem to be. As with reading wills from the 18th century, where even a simple spoon had to be accounted for.

Part of the change may be due to accumulated wealth, but I do believe that we have lost something by reducing our interpersonal interaction to electrons. Having to physically move, to transport oneself over a distance, to interact with someone may have made the whole experience more valuable.

304 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 4:31:22am

re: #303 freetoken

“As with reading wills from the 18th century, where even a simple spoon had to be accounted for.”

My mother-in-law was raised in Britain in the postwar Age of Austerity and still cannot get over the fact that our time has become more valuable than objects, she refuses to throw anything away that might have some potential use, no matter how much time and effort it takes to deal with them.

305 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 4:33:27am

re: #296 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

If there’s one thing that’s happened while I’ve studied sociology, it’s that I’ve become even more dubious of the idea that society has really changed in abstract ways like having become less focused, or having more ‘ennui’.

You seem to be saying that changing from face-to-face communication to non-online stuff has caused this lack of focus. What do you mean by ‘focus’ or ‘ennui’ and how has the centuries long-change from personal conversations to mass media changed those?

If we’re not less focused as a society, then why are so many kids being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and autism (yes, there are links between the two)? Why do “stress” (in its various forms) and depression seem to be the #1 complaints? How does the “rise of the machines” affect how our brains function? The constantly flickering images of video and early training to prefer visual stimulation of that type does, I think, have a great effect on how our brains develop from childhood.

I look at the kiddie books that are being written today, and they are entirely different from those of my childhood (I don’t remember any “picture” books, for instance). For one thing, I never had “books”, per se, before I went to school, but I did have newspapers and magazines and could read before I entered first grade (there was no kindergarten back then). Also, we had no TV at the time, just listened to radio and we had to concentrate on what was being said.

One of the radio programs I listened to was “Let’s Pretend”, fairy tales and stories re-enacted. en.wikipedia.org Do you think a child would sit still for that now without being in a structured classroom situation and being “forced” to participate?

Look, I’m not just an old person talking about the “good old days”, which weren’t in so many ways. But we already know that “listening” is a trait that is being lost as we wander through the constant bombardment of ideas and thought. I even notice it in myself, too often than I’d like.

306 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 4:35:55am

re: #303 freetoken

What I feel may well be part of the larger changes that have entered our society since the telegraph, radio, TV, etc.

Why not ‘since widespread literacy’?

When I read letters from my ancestors, some of whom were born in the early 19th century, I am struck by how limited and humble they seem to be. As with reading wills from the 18th century, where even a simple spoon had to be accounted for.

What do you mean by ‘limited’ and/or ‘humble’, and what are you comparing it to?

Part of the change may be due to accumulated wealth, but I do believe that we have lost something by reducing our interpersonal interaction to electrons. Having to physically move, to transport oneself over a distance, to interact with someone may have made the whole experience more valuable.

There is an absolute truth that we gain something through socializing in person that we don’t from socializing not in person. However, what is the connection between that to a societal ‘lack of focus’ or ‘ennui’, and why would it start with electronic communication and not with letters, which also allow you to not physically move to interact with someone?

You’re purporting to talk about a difference that results from lack of face-to-face communication, but you’re citing letters from the 18th century, which themselves are an example of non face-to-face communication.

307 otoc  May 27, 2014 4:39:23am

re: #300 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

But previous generations grew up expecting not to learn almost any lessons at all. Literacy is an incredibly recent phenomenon, societally.

Sorry, I don’t see that. Literacy has always been held as a goal. The printing press is what made it available to the masses. With each new offering from technology, I’d argue we lose it. Movies replaced the popularity of books, twitter and social feeds replace those. There’s only so much time in a day.

re: #301 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Sesame street was about learning and creativity, as opposed to 30-second commercials, which were banal, repetitive and put out there to get us to buy things we did not need.

Actually, for the first 20 seasons research said it was those 30 second ad formats that children needed.

Sesame Street was conceived in 1966 during discussions between television producer Joan Ganz Cooney and Carnegie Foundation vice president Lloyd Morrisett. Their goal was to create a children’s television show that would “master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them”,[1] such as helping young children prepare for school.

When Sesame Street premiered, most researchers believed that young children did not have long attention spans, therefore the new show’s producers were concerned that an hour-long show would not hold their audience’s attention. At first, the show’s “street scenes”—the action taking place on its set—consisted of character-driven interactions and were not written as ongoing stories. Instead, they consisted of individual, curriculum-based segments which were interrupted by “inserts” consisting of puppet sketches, short films, and animations. This structure allowed the producers to use a mixture of styles and characters, and to vary the show’s pace. By season 20, research had shown that children were able to follow a story, and the street scenes, while still interspersed with other segments, became evolving storylines.

@ both, I was half kidding with my first remark, which was why I wrote the twitter poke. There’s no denying that Sesame Street has brought good. But let’s face it, society on the whole is now geared to short sound bites of black and white, and not lengthy discussions of why the world is gray. Sesame Street started that ball rolling. I’d argue without Sesame Street, Twitter wouldn’t be as popular. #hashtagssuck

308 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 4:40:51am

re: #305 Justanotherhuman

If we’re not less focused as a society, then why are so many kids being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and autism (yes, there are links between the two)?

Because we have better diagnostic abilities, would be the easy counter-claim, and/or because there is some physical or genetic cause to autism or ADD that’s increased. For example, there is a weakly-supported theory that age of the father is one of the main contributing factors to autism.

Why do “stress” (in its various forms) and depression seem to be the #1 complaints?

#1 complaints from whom? Where are you getting this? And do you think there’s more stress now than there was back when people subsistence farmed and a bad harvest might mean mass starvation?

How does the “rise of the machines” affect how our brains function? The constantly flickering images of video and early training to prefer visual stimulation of that type does, I think, have a great effect on how our brains develop from childhood.

In what way does it have a great effect?

I look at the kiddie books that are being written today, and they are entirely different from those of my childhood (I don’t remember any “picture” books, for instance). For one thing, I never had “books”, per se, before I went to school, but I did have newspapers and magazines and could read before I entered first grade (there was no kindergarten back then). Also, we had no TV at the time, just listened to radio and we had to concentrate on what was being said.

Picture books are definitely not a new thing. I’m not sure what you’re actually saying has changed here. People are starting to read earlier, not later.

One of the radio programs I listened to was “Let’s Pretend”, fairy tales and stories re-enacted. en.wikipedia.org Do you think a child would sit still for that now without being in a structured classroom situation and being “forced” to participate?

Yes. Kids still love being read to, for example.

Look, I’m not just an old person talking about the “good old days”, which weren’t in so many ways. But we already know that “listening” is a trait that is being lost as we wander through the constant bombardment of ideas and thought. I even notice it in myself, too often than I’d like.

We don’t know this. You’re asserting it. In order to actually test this hypothesis you’d have to come up with some way to operationalize ‘listening’ and show that it really has declined; you could compare its presence in US children vs. children in some country that doesn’t have widespread TV.

309 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 4:43:42am

re: #307 otoc

Sorry, I don’t see that. Literacy has always been held as a goal. The printing press is what made it available to the masses. With each new offering from technology, I’d argue we lose it. Movies replaced the popularity of books, twitter and social feeds replace those. There’s only so much time in a day.

.

We lose what? Literacy? Sales of books are increasing with the prevalance of the internet, as is literacy.

@ both, I was half kidding with my first remark, which was why I wrote the twitter poke. There’s no denying that Sesame Street has brought good. But let’s face it, society on the whole is now geared to short sound bites of black and white, and not lengthy discussions of why the world is gray.

But was society ever geared towards lengthy discussions of why the world is gray? That’s the part I’m arguing.

Sesame Street started that ball rolling. I’d argue without Sesame Street, Twitter wouldn’t be as popular. #hashtagssuck

What’s the basis for this argument? It seems like a huge stretch to me.

310 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 4:44:33am

re: #306 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Why not ‘since widespread literacy’?

What do you mean by ‘limited’ and/or ‘humble’, and what are you comparing it to?

There is an absolute truth that we gain something through socializing in person that we don’t from socializing not in person. However, what is the connection between that to a societal ‘lack of focus’ or ‘ennui’, and why would it start with electronic communication and not with letters, which also allow you to not physically move to interact with someone?

You’re purporting to talk about a difference that results from lack of face-to-face communication, but you’re citing letters from the 18th century, which themselves are an example of non face-to-face communication.

Letters were often the only form of communication. I’m from the time when letters were a common phenomenon and a personal letter in the mail box was celebrated. By the time I was a teen, though, the telephone was replacing the letter as a primary form of communication, although it took a while for long distance calling to be affordable for most.

I still prefer the telephone for intimate conversations if I can’t have them in person.

311 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 4:48:54am

re: #310 Justanotherhuman

Letters were often the only form of communication. I’m from the time when letters were a common phenomenon and a personal letter in the mail box was celebrated. By the time I was a teen, though, the telephone was replacing the letter as a primary form of communication, although it took a while for long distance calling to be affordable for most.

I still prefer the telephone for intimate conversations if I can’t have them in person.

This didn’t really address anything I asked you.

It does show, however, that the change has not been just a linear one: in this case, you’re saying we went from text communication (letters) to verbal (phone) and back to text (emails and texting).

Still, i’m interested in the idea that ‘stress’ has increased over time. There definitely are a ton of stressors in modern-life, but there really aren’t any classes of stress that weren’t present in past societies too, and there are a lot of stresses we’re much less exposed to, like pandemic and famine.

312 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 4:49:00am

Jesus Christ Bryan do you even bother to read shit before you Tweet it?
Bryan links to a hideously racist 19th-century source:

313 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 4:50:04am

I’m not copying any of it here, but just read the page that Bryan links to at Google books.

314 otoc  May 27, 2014 4:51:49am

re: #309 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

But was society ever geared towards lengthy discussions of why the world is gray? That’s the part I’m arguing.

I’d say yes. Which is why science, philosophy, and the arts came into being.

What’s the basis for this argument? It seems like a huge stretch to me.

I’d argue nothing lives in a vacuum, and success is mimicked. Sesame Street was successful and for the first 20 years it was about short attention spans. I’d argue the effect of that is hardly a huge stretch, no matter how hard to actually quantify.

315 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 4:53:08am

re: #308 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Oh, come on. I’m not the first person who has questioned the ability to listen. It’s even been discussed at Harvard.

hbswk.hbs.edu

316 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 4:57:22am
317 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 4:59:09am

re: #315 Justanotherhuman

Oh, come on. I’m not the first person who has questioned the ability to listen. It’s even been discussed at Harvard.

hbswk.hbs.edu

I’m not saying that you’re the first person who’s questioned the ability to listen. I’m asking you how you’re measuring this. That article that you’ve quoted has people arguing against the idea, as well as for it.

You’ve asserted that this is a fact, that listening is a trait that’s being lost. It would be easy to counter-assert that listening is now more important, as we travel through a world with more important information, because there’s so much more to keep track of.

318 Dark_Falcon  May 27, 2014 5:08:54am

re: #313 Pie-onist Overlord

I’m not copying any of it here, but just read the page that Bryan links to at Google books.

Written in Virginia in 1907, during the Nadir of American Race Relations. That’s a very telling source Fischer is using, and almost certainly a Lost Cause-type.

Verdict: Obvious racist revisionist is obvious.

BBT

319 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:11:11am

MOAR GUNZ FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!

320 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 5:12:13am

re: #318 Dark_Falcon

Written in Virginia in 1907, during the Nadir of American Race Relations. That’s a very telling source Fischer is using, and almost certainly a Lost Cause-type.

Verdict: Obvious racist revisionist is obvious.

BBT

I also don’t get why he thinks it’s important what percentage of the Southern white population owned slaves.

321 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 5:13:13am

My favorite random clickbait headline of the day is “Be careful: There are no warnings”.

Paradox!

322 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:14:47am

re: #320 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I also don’t get why he thinks it’s important what percentage of the Southern white population owned slaves.

That “estimate” does not include the wives, children & extended family of the head-of-household slaveowner who also enjoyed the benefits of owning other human beings, or the hundreds of thousands of white Southerners who fought and died for the “right” to own other human beings as property.

323 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:15:41am
Station: Chicago Area (Melrose Park), IL
Joseph G. Leija, MD FAAAAI
Station Head(s): Joseph G. Leija, MD FAAAAI
Date of Pollen and Mold Count: 05/27/2014

*********************************
Pollen & Mold Summary
*********************************
Trees: Moderate Concentration
Weeds: High Concentration
Grass: High Concentration
Mold: Moderate Concentration

Ah! but storms are coming to beat the allergens into the ground! Well, except the mold, which will flourish.

you?

324 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:16:15am

I watched “Gravity” last night. That movie would have been awesome in IMAX 3D. However there is no way Sandra Bullock would have made it to earth alive.

325 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:16:30am

re: #321 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

My favorite random clickbait headline of the day is “Be careful: There are no warnings”.

Paradox!

“except this one”

absolute statements suck that way

326 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:18:16am
327 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:19:04am

re: #311 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

This didn’t really address anything I asked you.

It does show, however, that the change has not been just a linear one: in this case, you’re saying we went from text communication (letters) to verbal (phone) and back to text (emails and texting).

Still, i’m interested in the idea that ‘stress’ has increased over time. There definitely are a ton of stressors in modern-life, but there really aren’t any classes of stress that weren’t present in past societies too, and there are a lot of stresses we’re much less exposed to, like pandemic and famine.

The idea of having to work a minimum of 6 hours each day to make the daily bread is enough to stress me completely.

328 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:19:05am
329 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 5:20:06am

re: #317 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Yes, I try to look at both sides. As I’ve often stated, I’m here to learn.

I may not be a scholar, but that doesn’t mean I don’t read, question, observe, learn, and have ideas of my own. If I’m questioned, I don’t mind that. Anyone can be full of shit.

I was talking about a personal observation on the subject of listening. I said I even noticed it in myself as well as in others. You’re saying that because I haven’t done a “study” that I don’t have the right to an observation that is shared by others, even those “scholarly” types?

Pedantry will never deter me from continuing to learn.

330 Aqua Obama  May 27, 2014 5:20:25am

Reports are coming out of eastern Ukraine regarding radical Chechen mercenaries and a beheading, WTF

331 A Mom Anon  May 27, 2014 5:21:54am

re: #305 Justanotherhuman

I think computers and their spin offs (tablets, phones, etc, even TV, how and what we watch has changed too) have changed our brains. Literally. Not sure if it’s a permanent thing, because we can unplug and regroup and regain our inborn patience, focus and curiosity. It’s almost like those things do our thinking for us to some degree and so our brains change and become lazy, like muscles do if we’re idle for long periods of time. I notice it in myself, if I am not physically active or outdoors away from “stuff”, I get cranky, sad, listless, anxious. Put me in the garden or on a walk, it goes away.

I’ve talked to some women my age and a bit older (mid 50s-mis 60s) that I’ve fallen out of contact with over the last couple months (summers are busy times) and all of them told me in separate conversations that they are having trouble falling and staying asleep, feeling anxious for no major reasons, feeling scared about their lives (and with the exception of me, these women all have money, plenty and then some for retirement, pensions etc- so they have financial security-one woman and her husband literally have half a million dollars in the bank, not including investments and the like ), and have a sense that “something is wrong” but can’t quite put their finger on what that something is. Me too. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. It’s not, in my case at least, a fear of the world changing, that is what life is, but more of a HOW it’s changing. There’s a sense of underlying anxiety, I just think most people busy themselves so much they can’t feel it.

Or maybe it’s just me and my friends, lol. I wish we could figure out more ways to come together in our communities that didn’t involve religion and politics, but more commonalities, maybe it would help some. I don’t know.

332 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:21:56am

Syria UN chemical weapons inspectors ‘attacked’

Wasn’t the weapons inspections one of the conditions for “peace”’?

333 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:26:57am

Veterans Groups Rip Into Sen. Richard Burr For Questioning Their Priorities

Fox News has been all over Obama for the VA situation, yet no mention of the reason nothing has gotten thru Congress regarding the VA. GOP blockade.

I have to wonder—all this for November? Do they really think every voter is a Fox News Drone?

334 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:27:39am

Well shit.

I got my heating bill for this month and I’m like NO FREAKING WAY it went up by 600%!

I called the gas company and they explained it was a one-time “seasonal adjustment” for all the “extra heat” that I used up during the winter.

Good to know, next year I can chop up the piano for firewood.

335 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 5:29:20am

re: #329 Justanotherhuman

Yes, I try to look at both sides. As I’ve often stated, I’m here to learn.

I may not be a scholar, but that doesn’t mean I don’t read, question, observe, learn, and have ideas of my own. If I’m questioned, I don’t mind that. Anyone can be full of shit.

Okay. You do seem to mind it when I question you, though.

I was talking about a personal observation on the subject of listening. I said I even noticed it in myself as well as in others. You’re saying that because I haven’t done a “study” that I don’t have the right to an observation that is shared by others, even those “scholarly” types?

I’m saying that without actually defining what you mean, and measuring it, it’s just a “I think this might be true”. So sure, it might be true. In order to learn more on the subject, you’d have to either do—or, more practically, find—studies on the subject, people who have done the work of operationalizing attention and listening and measured it. Otherwise, it’s just speculation and rumination, which is a perfectly good starting point.

Pedantry will never deter me from continuing to learn.

I’m not trying to deter you, though, I’m encouraging you to learn.

If you’re interested in the subject of how the internet is affecting society, this is a really great paper. It mostly concludes more research is needed, but it does find that internet usage tends to complement, rather than displace, old socializations.

jstor.org

If you sign up for a myjstor account, you can read it online for free.

336 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 5:29:42am

re: #319 Pie-onist Overlord

MOAR GUNZ FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!

[Embedded content]

Petty bullshit at the end of Black Bike Week (Atlantic Beach BikeFest), from what I’m reading here.

facebook.com

337 A Mom Anon  May 27, 2014 5:32:36am

OK, BBL. Dog needs walked and I have a 4 hour round trip to take The Son back to school. Be excellent to one another.

338 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 5:33:50am

Stay classy wingnuts.

339 MomSense  May 27, 2014 5:34:48am

So during the C+ Augustus administration I was part of a group of peace and justice “activists” who mostly just shared information online and also did some protests and meetings. We found out that our groups had been tracked by the NSA. Do we know how big Greenwald’s list of names is and how far back it goes? I really do not want my name released. Honestly, I am just so sick of Greenwald/Assange/Snowden. I didn’t vote for them. I don’t trust them with information and I certainly do not want my name released now.

340 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:36:28am

There was a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in my part of the woods this weekend. Over a 100 guys walked in high heels thru the streets to raise awareness!

341 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 5:41:21am

re: #314 otoc

I’d say yes. Which is why science, philosophy, and the arts came into being.

I’d argue nothing lives in a vacuum, and success is mimicked. Sesame Street was successful and for the first 20 years it was about short attention spans. I’d argue the effect of that is hardly a huge stretch, no matter how hard to actually quantify.

Regarding Sesame Street, it is intended for PreK-Grade 1 students. Children that age do have relatively short attention spans for lessons (not for stories), so the program was designed with that in mind. Primary teachers know this, too, and try to keep their lessons short and to the point. Unless an activity is especially interesting, little kids get antsy and their attention wanders. So, it’s better to give them short, targeted lessons that may need to be repeated.

Suggesting that Sesame Street has somehow caused short attention spans is just plain wrong. Rather, it addressed short attention spans. Educational programs for older schoolchildren devote longer times on each segment, as do lessons in school. And, everyone can sit still for a really good story or movie.

342 NJDhockeyfan  May 27, 2014 5:45:55am

Good morning lizards!

343 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 5:49:29am

I’m a letter writer. Handwritten letters. I’ve had penpals since I was a kid.
It’s always exciting for me to see a letter in my mailbox.
I will never get over the very real pleasure of putting pen to paper.

344 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 5:50:59am

Writing more than a check hurts me tremendously. Hands don’t work anymore.

I, for one, love technology in this regard. Plus, the impatient me loves TXTing.

345 darthstar  May 27, 2014 5:53:39am

re: #343 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m a letter writer. Handwritten letters. I’ve had penpals since I was a kid.
It’s always exciting for me to see a letter in my mailbox.
I will never get over the very real pleasure of putting pen to paper.

Seems like a lot of effort to write “TL/DR” on a piece of paper and mail it back to a pen pal.

Seriously, though, my penmanship is so bad (always has been, no matter how hard I tried…my English words look like Arabic scribbles…I’d only frustrate a pen pal if I had one.

346 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 5:55:56am

re: #345 darthstar

Seems like a lot of effort to write “TL/DR” on a piece of paper and mail it back to a pen pal.

Seriously, though, my penmanship is so bad (always has been, no matter how hard I tried…my English words look like Arabic scribbles…I’d only frustrate a pen pal if I had one.

Not to brag, but I have gorgeous handwriting, thanks to Catholic grade school penmanship classes. This is probably the reason that calligraphy is one of my hobbies.

347 darthstar  May 27, 2014 5:59:06am

re: #346 Backwoods_Sleuth

Not to brag, but I have gorgeous handwriting, thanks to Catholic grade school penmanship classes. This is probably the reason that calligraphy is one of my hobbies.

I went through Catholic grade school penmanship too. I just wanted to write faster and smaller and trained myself into bad habits in high school. Couldn’t unlearn them in college. Hell, I spent five minutes the other day figuring out the word ‘celeriac’ I’d written on a shopping list.

348 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 6:01:01am

re: #347 darthstar

I went through Catholic grade school penmanship too. I just wanted to write faster and smaller and trained myself into bad habits in high school. Couldn’t unlearn them in college. Hell, I spent five minutes the other day figuring out the word ‘celeriac’ I’d written on a shopping list.

heh…sounds like MrBWS’ handwriting. He’s constantly asking me to decipher something he’s written.

349 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 6:01:35am

re: #343 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m a letter writer. Handwritten letters. I’ve had penpals since I was a kid.
It’s always exciting for me to see a letter in my mailbox.
I will never get over the very real pleasure of putting pen to paper.

I admit, I allowed typing to take over once I learned it.

OTOH, cursive writing can be an artform and mine was much nicer before I learned to type at age 15). My mother and her sisters had beautiful handwriting, as did my grandmother.

How do you write thank you notes and such without using cursive?

It’s not even taught in schools here any longer. My grandson can barely sign his name.

350 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:02:05am
Between 2009 and 2012, 40 percent of mass shootings started with a shooter targeting his girlfriend, wife, or ex-wife. In nearly 60 percent of mass shootings during the same time period, the gunman killed a current or former spouse, partner, or other family member. In at least 17 incidents, the shooter had a prior domestic violence charge.

Paged

351 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 6:04:52am

Yesterday was the first time ever that I visited the Duty Free store at the border and did not buy anything.

It’s cheaper to buy fragrance online.

352 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:05:25am
353 sagehen  May 27, 2014 6:05:52am

re: #331 A Mom Anon

I’ve talked to some women my age and a bit older (mid 50s-mis 60s) that I’ve fallen out of contact with over the last couple months (summers are busy times) and all of them told me in separate conversations that…

Each of them have told you separately the things that are common for this age group?

I don’t want to call it a mid-life crisis, because mid-50’s is definitely past the halfway mark, and it’s not always or only empty-nest syndrome, but… what was it all for, how much is left and what am I going to do with it, I don’t have the energy I used to but I’m not ready to take permanently to my rocking chair either. These are the anxieties we face as we watch middle-age falling away in the rear-view mirror.

354 darthstar  May 27, 2014 6:07:02am
355 darthstar  May 27, 2014 6:10:27am

re: #351 Pie-onist Overlord

Yesterday was the first time ever that I visited the Duty Free store at the border and did not buy anything.

It’s cheaper to buy fragrance online.

Duty Free shopping is like Factory Outlet shopping. “Yay, I don’t have to pay the tax so I’ll buy this expensive whatever! ” Factory outlets are merely large malls of full retail shops with a permanent sale rack to draw in people.

356 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:11:42am
357 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 6:12:31am

re: #332 FemNaziBitch

Syria UN chemical weapons inspectors ‘attacked’

Wasn’t the weapons inspections one of the conditions for “peace”’?

Lets just say it’s not going well there, with all three factions pointing the blame at each other, and the UN, caught in the middle, will (imho) have to pull out

358 Bulworth  May 27, 2014 6:12:41am

Pie-onist Overlord

I got my heating bill for this month and I’m like NO FREAKING WAY it went up by 600%!

WTFITS?

I hate most surprises, especially ones with big $$$ attached to them.

You’d think they could give you a heads-up at some point.

My electric bills (including heat) were astronomical this Winter. Good riddance, cold weather.

359 otoc  May 27, 2014 6:14:24am

re: #341 wheat-dogghazi

Regarding Sesame Street, it is intended for PreK-Grade 1 students. Children that age do have relatively short attention spans for lessons (not for stories), so the program was designed with that in mind. Primary teachers know this, too, and try to keep their lessons short and to the point. Unless an activity is especially interesting, little kids get antsy and their attention wanders. So, it’s better to give them short, targeted lessons that may need to be repeated.

Suggesting that Sesame Street has somehow caused short attention spans is just plain wrong. Rather, it addressed short attention spans. Educational programs for older schoolchildren devote longer times on each segment, as do lessons in school. And, everyone can sit still for a really good story or movie.

Considering my point was about discussing grays and not short black&whites I welcome this. So is Sesame Street the reason for short attention spans? Of course not, it’s isn’t that simple. But it didn’t help.

I understand what children desire and your general description of how lesson plans have developed. My point was Sesame street changed after a generation. Just because a child at that age has a short attention span for lessons but not stories, I’d say teaching needs to be more entertaining in those lessons. The mind is like a muscle. And we are all inherently lazy.

I tried to be an adjunct to schooling for my son. That meant museums and various hobby shows to teach him at an early age that learning wasn’t quick and that there were good teachers and bad teachers-all requiring respect and different ways to learn the subject.

I wonder what differences you see between Kentucky and China in how lesson plans are designed for different ages.

360 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 6:15:20am

re: #349 Justanotherhuman

I admit, I allowed typing to take over once I learned it.

OTOH, cursive writing can be an artform and mine was much nicer before I learned to type at age 15). My mother and her sisters had beautiful handwriting, as did my grandmother.

How do you write thank you notes and such without using cursive?

It’s not even taught in schools here any longer. My grandson can barely sign his name.

When I was in third grade in the 1960s, we learned the Palmer script. By the time my kids took handwriting, D’Nealian was the preferred style. Now it seems they learn a kind of italic without all the loops and connections.

My handwriting style over time changed from Palmer to a kind of italic. An art teacher friend of mine said my style looked like a ballpoint version of calligraphy italic, and said the Palmer/D’Nealian styles were not as easy to write as italics.

361 NJDhockeyfan  May 27, 2014 6:15:35am
362 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 6:16:35am

re: #331 A Mom Anon

I notice it in myself, if I am not physically active or outdoors away from “stuff”, I get cranky, sad, listless, anxious. Put me in the garden or on a walk, it goes away.

I’ve talked to some women my age and a bit older

Online,, or did you walk over and talk to them!?!?!

///(kinda)

363 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:17:16am

re: #358 Bulworth

Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS?

I hate most surprises, especially ones with big $$$ attached to them.

You’d think they could give you a heads-up at some point.

My electric bills (including heat) were astronomical this Winter. Good riddance, cold weather.

I looked at my electric bill last week. I really don’t normally look past how much I owe. I then proceed to go online and pay it. Well, the last couple of months it said I had a credit balance. I figured it was because I always pay extra.

Well, it seems I’ve been paying extra for 6 months!!! —because my meter has been stuck that long and I’ve been getting an invoice showing a credit balance for that long.

Yea, times goes that fast when you are old.

So, after they fix the meter, we shall see how much I really owe. HA!

364 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 6:17:51am

re: #352 FemNaziBitch

Women kill more male family members than Men kill female family members.

and how many of those are in self-defense?

365 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:19:13am

re: #364 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

and how many of those are in self-defense?

The statement is not valid .

besides, slaves cannot kill their masters in self-defense.

366 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 6:19:45am

re: #353 sagehen

Each of them have told you separately the things that are common for this age group?

I don’t want to call it a mid-life crisis, because mid-50’s is definitely past the halfway mark, and it’s not always or only empty-nest syndrome, but… what was it all for, how much is left and what am I going to do with it, I don’t have the energy I used to but I’m not ready to take permanently to my rocking chair either. These are the anxieties we face as we watch middle-age falling away in the rear-view mirror.

I had a total breakdown in my 50s brought on first by loss of a job I’d had for 5 yrs and in which I was making very good money, family problems, etc. I seemed paralyzed (the prescribed drugs did not help), I couldn’t make decisions, and everything just seemed to pile on, culminating in the loss of my house and having to move in with my son in ‘99. My friends totally deserted me and that really hurt.

Once I got out of the city, though, things improved considerably and my mind calmed tremendously. Took a much lesser job in a deli and quit the psychotropic drugs after a couple of months. I didn’t realize just how much responsibility I had piled upon my own back until I moved here. I think the fresh air and physical work helped, too. : )

367 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 6:21:02am

re: #366 Justanotherhuman

I think the fresh air and physical work helped, too. : )

Can’t be repeated enough

368 NJDhockeyfan  May 27, 2014 6:21:52am
369 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 6:23:52am

re: #368 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Tires are too small for Texas…

370 Lidane  May 27, 2014 6:24:47am
371 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 6:24:59am

re: #369 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Tires are too small for Texas…

So are the guns

372 Rightwingconspirator  May 27, 2014 6:25:12am

re: #368 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

“”I said Hold The Pickles dammit!”

373 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 6:25:57am

re: #359 otoc

Considering my point was about discussing grays and not short black&whites I welcome this. So is Sesame Street the reason for short attention spans? Of course not, it’s isn’t that simple. But it didn’t help.

I understand what children desire and your general description of how lesson plans have developed. My point was Sesame street changed after a generation. Just because a child at that age has a short attention span for lessons but not stories, I’d say teaching needs to be more entertaining in those lessons. The mind is like a muscle. And we are all inherently lazy.

I tried to be an adjunct to schooling for my son. That meant museums and various hobby shows to teach him at an early age that learning wasn’t quick and that there were good teachers and bad teachers-all requiring respect and different ways to learn the subject.

I wonder what differences you see between Kentucky and China in how lesson plans are designed for different ages.

Oh, jeez. Don’t get me started. Except for kindergarteners, Chinese students are typically expected to sit still and quiet in class, and listen to the teacher, and repeat what he/she says. Class sizes, especially in the rural schools, are 60-70 students for each teacher, so you can imagine the challenges of applying any other kind of classroom structure, like group work or class discussions. This very old-fashioned style of teaching, which I suppose was common in the USA before, say 1930, is ingrained here. Some teachers, especially English teachers, can loosen things up a little, but experimentation in pedagogy requires tolerant head teachers and parents, all of whom have suffered through the traditional teaching methods and expect the same for their kids.

Educators in China know the weaknesses of this system, but can do little to change it. It suppresses creativity and inquisitiveness and rewards memorization/regurgitation and obedience. One could argue that this kind of educational system is exactly what suits the political leaders of China.

374 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 6:26:40am

So wrong, so wrong, so wrong.

Woman stoned to death by her family in front of a Pakistan high court for marrying the man she loves, police and defense lawyer say - @AP
Read more on bigstory.ap.org

375 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:28:00am
376 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 6:28:43am

re: #374 Justanotherhuman

So wrong, so wrong, so wrong.

Woman stoned to death by her family in front of a Pakistan high court for marrying the man she loves, police and defense lawyer say - @AP
Read more on bigstory.ap.org

HURR HURR LIBRULZ THIS IS TEH REAL WAR ON WOMEN!!!!! DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT NO FREE BIRTH CONTROLS!!!!!!

377 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:29:09am

re: #374 Justanotherhuman

So wrong, so wrong, so wrong.

Woman stoned to death by her family in front of a Pakistan high court for marrying the man she loves, police and defense lawyer say - @AP
Read more on bigstory.ap.org

Yes it is.

and there are many wrong things that happen in this country too. The Muslim world does not have a monopoly on violence against women. They are just more open and honest about it.

378 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:30:41am

Time for men to check the predators among them.

379 Bulworth  May 27, 2014 6:33:00am

Backwoods_Sleuth

Not to brag, but I have gorgeous handwriting, thanks to Catholic grade school penmanship classes.

UR spiking the football!!!11! Taking victory laps!!!

380 NJDhockeyfan  May 27, 2014 6:33:47am
381 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:36:08am

Van Zant of Lynnard Skynnard Fame?

382 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:39:48am
383 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 6:40:18am

re: #381 FemNaziBitch

Van Zant of Lynnard Skynnard Fame?

[Embedded content]

Speaking of old rockers ,,,

Journey’s Steve Perry takes the stage for the first time in 19 years

entertainthis.usatoday.com

384 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 6:43:51am

re: #381 FemNaziBitch

Van Zant of Lynnard Skynnard Fame?

[Embedded content]

Nope, that’s Ronnie and Johnnie. He’s Charles.

385 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 6:44:16am

re: #383 sattv4u2

Speaking of old rockers ,,,

Journey’s Steve Perry takes the stage for the first time in 19 years

entertainthis.usatoday.com

He was just resting his voice.

386 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 6:45:30am

re: #380 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Now the vegans will get upset…

387 otoc  May 27, 2014 6:47:42am

re: #373 wheat-dogghazi

I hear you, for there was a reason why I asked that question. Yet China seems to do well in standardized testing. And kids in the US with Chinese parents do better overall in school, including creative things. Though I do wonder how creative, or more specifically, original, this dedication actually is.

My point is, and has been, just because children have a propensity for short term lessons, it doesn’t mean we need to always give them what they want. And it takes a good teacher, not a TV show, to challenge them towards better things. Sometimes that means making letters of the alphabet out of clay instead of pencil and paper: bringing in other senses to reinforce the mind. Like any field, there are good teachers and bad teachers, with accepted teaching concepts designed so students with the worst teachers still get a decent education.

I still don’t think it’s far off to thank years of Sesame Street for Twitter. But that’s me.

388 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:48:12am
389 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 6:49:16am

re: #388 FemNaziBitch

Mercator was a White Supremacist!!!

390 palomino  May 27, 2014 6:49:43am

re: #386 Justanotherhuman

Now the vegans will get upset…

Vegans don’t eat chocolate bars. They all contain dairy.

Which is just one more reason I could never be a vegan.

391 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 6:50:42am

Pork gelatin is used in all sorts of jelly beans and gummibaer treats…little wonder.

392 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 6:51:17am

re: #387 otoc

I hear you, for there was a reason why I asked that question. Yet China seems to do well in standardized testing.

Mostly, what you get when comparing Chinese stats to US stats is the Chinese statistics from the most urban centers to the entirety of the US. It’s not a good comparison.

My point is, and has been, just because children have a propensity for short term lessons, it doesn’t mean we need to always give them what they want. And it takes a good teacher, not a TV show, to challenge them towards better things. Sometimes that means making letters of the alphabet out of clay instead of pencil and paper: bringing in other senses to reinforce the mind. Like any field, there are good teachers and bad teachers, with accepted teaching concepts designed so students with the worst teachers still get a decent education.

This is totally true, but it’s why Chinese education isn’t a good role model: it depends heavily on uncreative, rote learning.

I still don’t think it’s far off to thank years of Sesame Street for Twitter. But that’s me.

I still haven’t understood at all what the connection you think between the two is. Can you explain?

393 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 6:51:45am

a hopeful sign
Pope Francis Says ‘Door Is Always Open’ to Rethink Priestly Celibacy

Pope Francis says priestly celibacy is up for discussion.

For the first time since his election, the pope said that it is “not a dogma” that members of the clergy must abstain from sex. He made the remark in a chat with reporters on his way back to the Vatican from a historic trip to the Middle East.

394 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 6:53:15am

re: #390 palomino

Vegans don’t eat chocolate bars. They all contain dairy.

Which is just one more reason I could never be a vegan.

Dark chocolate is non-dairy.

395 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 6:57:14am

New Libya PM’s home attacked

Armed men attacked the home of new Libyan Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq in the capital Tripoli early on Tuesday, an aide said.

“There was an attack with rockets and small arms on the prime minister’s house,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Maiteeq and his family were in the house at the time of the 3.00am (01.00 GMT) attack, but escaped unharmed.

396 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 6:57:35am

bbl

397 palomino  May 27, 2014 6:58:37am

re: #394 Pie-onist Overlord

Dark chocolate is non-dairy.

Some dark chocolate is non-dairy, but not all.

Either way, all the porky candy bars in question were labeled Cadbury Dairy Milk. And virturally all of that company’s candy has dairy.

398 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 6:59:07am

Canadian Hezbollah Commander, One Of FBI’s ‘Most Wanted,’ Killed In Syria

A senior Lebanese-Canadian commander in the Shi’ite Muslim militant group Hezbollah has been killed in Syria where he was fighting alongside Syrian government troops against rebels, security sources and a monitoring group said on Tuesday.

Fawzi Ayoub, who is on the FBI’s “most wanted” list for attempting to bomb Israel, was killed on Monday by the predominantly Sunni Muslim rebel forces who have been waging war on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for more than three years.

399 iossarian  May 27, 2014 7:00:22am

re: #352 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

I just went and read that article and it does not say what the tweeter claims it does. Quelle surprise.

What it does say is that the DoJ report which it takes as its source material suggests that women kill men in their families “almost as often” as men kill women in their families.

400 lawhawk  May 27, 2014 7:08:47am
401 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 7:09:57am

re: #398 Killgore Trout

Fawzi Ayoub, who is on the FBI’s “most wanted” list for attempting to bomb Israel,

His Canadian neighbors described him as a “nice boy” who would ofetn sit on his front porch quietly reading ,,,,,, Mein Kampf, They say he had a curious mind, often in the yard with a magnifying glass looking at bugs ,,,, with the sun just over his right shoulder

402 Lidane  May 27, 2014 7:11:00am

So a recruiter I spoke to last week scheduled a call with me at 9am today.

He seriously thought he was going to be in the office at 9am on the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend? Heh. I suspect I’ll get an apologetic call later.

403 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 7:11:21am

re: #390 palomino

Vegans don’t eat chocolate bars. They all contain dairy.

Which is just one more reason I could never be a vegan.

Some people are just born martyrs, I suppose.

But I don’t understand why intuitive thinkers are so discounted; many are using experience as a teacher and that shouldn’t be discounted so easily by analytical thinkers. Is it because most are women are not as valued because they’re seen as not being rational? I think we have a long way to go before we understand how the brain functions, how societal expectations of gender shape the brain and set low values on skills like child care, cleaning, and other human-centered activities which are not considered as furthering human progress, like saying discovering the atom or the microchip.

But I think the best thinkers are those who use both intuitive and analytical thinking.

404 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 7:12:01am

re: #398 Killgore Trout

Speaking of Syria, I see it’s friend and neighbor Iran sent the USA a nice Memorial Day greeting!!
Iran’s Supreme Leader: Jihad Will Continue Until America is No More

Read more: dailycaller.com

405 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 7:15:09am

IT’S RAINING MEN DEER

Youtube Video

Family OK After Deer Falls From Overpass, Crashes Through Windshield

chicago.cbslocal.com

406 Lidane  May 27, 2014 7:15:42am

re: #390 palomino

Vegans don’t eat chocolate bars. They all contain dairy.

Which is just one more reason I could never be a vegan.

The main reason I could never be vegan is the fact that I will never walk into a BBQ joint and get a plate of side orders.

Well, that and I like cheese too much to get the veggie alternatives.

408 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 7:18:02am

re: #403 Justanotherhuman

Who discounts intuitive thinkers?

One of the cool things on Cosmos is how much emphasis they put on the creative, wondering, intuitive aspect of science.

409 RealityBasedSteve  May 27, 2014 7:18:38am

re: #405 sattv4u2

IT’S RAINING MEN DEER

[Embedded content]

Video

Family OK After Deer Falls From Overpass, Crashes Through Windshield

chicago.cbslocal.com

I can just see explaining THAT one to the insurance agent. “I swear, I was just driving along and a deer fell from the sky and hit my car… no I wasn’t drinking, really.”

RBS

410 RealityBasedSteve  May 27, 2014 7:19:42am

re: #407 Varek Raith

Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade: ‘Respect’ your wife when she is wrong by calling her ‘baby doll’
The dumbest man on tv.

Even I know that’s a bad idea, and I’m one who once said, “You don’t sweat much for a big girl”. (ok, perhaps just a slight exaggeration)

RBS

411 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 7:19:42am

re: #409 RealityBasedSteve

I can just see explaining THAT one to the insurance agent. “I swear, I was just driving along and a deer fell from the sky and hit my car… no I wasn’t drinking, really.”

RBS

INSURANCE AGENT,,,,

Hell,,, explain it to your SPOUSE !!!

412 RealityBasedSteve  May 27, 2014 7:20:31am

re: #411 sattv4u2

Don’t you have work to do before the long quiet drive home?

RBS

413 Eigth Immortal  May 27, 2014 7:21:50am

re: #387 otoc

Rote memorization and standardized tests tend to suit each other quite well.

414 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 7:22:33am

re: #412 RealityBasedSteve

Don’t you have work to do before the long quiet drive home?

RBS

That drive was last night at 10 p.m.,,, (after a 12 hour holiday work day)

REWARD ,,, I have taken the next few days off. A friend of mine that I have not seen in OVER 35 years (but we’ve kept in touch the whole time) should be at my house in about 4 hours for a few days visit. Can’t wait

415 lawhawk  May 27, 2014 7:26:07am

The Post continues retweeting its “exclusive” about the “woman” who inspired the California shooter. Except that she was a 10 year old girl at the time the event occurred, and the blame should belong on the gunman, not some girl who didn’t want to give him a date.

Most kids have crushes and get turned down for dates without turning that into a seminal moment where one decides to go on a killing spree at some point in the future because they don’t have success with dating.

416 NJDhockeyfan  May 27, 2014 7:29:34am
417 Lidane  May 27, 2014 7:29:35am

re: #415 lawhawk

Most kids have crushes and get turned down for dates without turning that into a seminal moment where one decides to go on a killing spree at some point in the future because they don’t have success with dating.

Seriously. Everyone has been rejected at some point in their lives. Everyone gets their heart broken, or they have their crush publicly shoot them down or whatever. If they weren’t normal experiences we wouldn’t see them turn up so much as plot devices on TV and in film.

There is no way in hell that a woman should be held responsible for wanting to avoid a creepy boy when she was 10 years old. Isn’t that what we WANT kids that age to do? What was she supposed to do, go on a date with him in elementary school so he wouldn’t kill people later? WTF.

418 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 7:34:37am

re: #413 Eigth Immortal

Rote memorization and standardized tests tend to suit each other quite well.

Don’t discount “rote memorization”, BTW. I know how much change I’m supposed to get back before the computer tells the cashier. And I can also pretty well calculate the amount of money I’m going to be spending as I shop just by adding them up in my head.

That’s one of the things that dogged me during my working life—having to learn new machines every few years and waiting for the machine to do what I could easily do faster, for instance, typing a short letter on a typewriter and having the finished product in my hand within a minute or two. In time (and it took time), I could manipulate and appreciate the technology, but it was another learning process that kept changing.

Young people should wait 50 years and they’ll appreciate what I’m saying. It’s like this in every generation.

419 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 7:36:06am

re: #397 palomino

Some dark chocolate is non-dairy, but not all.

Either way, all the porky candy bars in question were labeled Cadbury Dairy Milk. And virturally all of that company’s candy has dairy.

Well now I know it’s for sure not kosher.

420 makeitstop  May 27, 2014 7:37:08am

re: #384 Justanotherhuman

Nope, that’s Ronnie and Johnnie. He’s Charles.

Also, Donny.

421 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 7:38:59am

re: #387 otoc

I hear you, for there was a reason why I asked that question. Yet China seems to do well in standardized testing. And kids in the US with Chinese parents do better overall in school, including creative things. Though I do wonder how creative, or more specifically, original, this dedication actually is.

My point is, and has been, just because children have a propensity for short term lessons, it doesn’t mean we need to always give them what they want. And it takes a good teacher, not a TV show, to challenge them towards better things. Sometimes that means making letters of the alphabet out of clay instead of pencil and paper: bringing in other senses to reinforce the mind. Like any field, there are good teachers and bad teachers, with accepted teaching concepts designed so students with the worst teachers still get a decent education.

I still don’t think it’s far off to thank years of Sesame Street for Twitter. But that’s me.

The Chinese have tests for everything, from entry into middle school for getting a job. So, yeah, Chinese kids are really good at multiple choice tests, because they get lots of practice. And lots of drill. One thing that Asian schools do better than American schools is memorization, and the expectation that math and science are necessary skills. Well-to-do parents also schedule all kinds of extraa classes for their kids: calligraphy, drawing, dance, piano, English, and remediation if needed. That gives the urban kids a big advantage over rural children, and I can see those differences among my college freshmen.

But these are generalizations. Not all Chinese kids are good at math, and not all American kids are creative geniuses. Being able to play the violin does not mean you’re destined for Carnegie Hall, either.

Regarding the part I bolded above, you need to be careful in suggesting students “want” short lessons. It’s not a question of desire, it’s a question of ability. Small kids are not ready developmentally for long lessons. Short, repetitive lessons are more effective. Likewise, you won’t get very far trying to teach third graders algebra using a high school pedagogy. Third graders developmentally are not ready for abstract thinking, but basic algebra concepts can be taught concretely. As you say, a skillful teacher adapts the material to the child, not the other way around. Kids are like sponges. Given the right environment and encouragement, they can learn a lot, even on their own.

Finally, let’s not forget why Twitter defers to short messages. It was originally designed around the 140-character limit of SMS, so people could send texts from their cellphone. For whatever reason, the Twitter honchos, despite their allowing embedded images and whatnot, still impose a character limit that is now as obsolete as the MS-DOS 8+3 file naming convention. Maybe a few people still tweet using SMS, but the time has come for Twitter to join the 21st century. China’s version of Twitter, Sina Weibo, allows much longer “tweets,” for example.

422 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 7:39:38am

good freaking grief…

Madison County judge accused of racial abuse

CANTON - In an echo of Mississippi’s past, a Justice Court judge here is accused of striking a mentally challenged young man and yelling, “Run, n——-, run.”

And it just goes downhill from there.
(warning: autoplay video at link)

423 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 7:39:51am

re: #420 makeitstop

Also, Donny.

and Townes

424 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 7:44:42am

re: #403 Justanotherhuman

But I think the best thinkers are those who use both intuitive and analytical thinking.

In fact, some of the world’s great scientific discoveries (the ring structure of benzene, for one) have come through intuition, or serendipity.

425 makeitstop  May 27, 2014 7:45:09am

re: #423 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

and Townes

I don’t think he’s related to the Skynyrd/.38 Special boys - he had the ‘D’ in his surname that the other guys didn’t.

Quite a story there, though.

426 Lidane  May 27, 2014 7:45:54am

And there it is. Apologetic email from the recruiter, right on cue. We’ve rescheduled for Thursday.

427 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 7:48:33am

re: #422 Backwoods_Sleuth

good freaking grief…

Madison County judge accused of racial abuse

And it just goes downhill from there.
(warning: autoplay video at link)

The locals may not do anything about that racist, but I hope the DoJ steps in.

428 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 7:50:40am

re: #404 sattv4u2

Looks like the Iranians are still stonewalling
Despite nuclear probe progress, IAEA access to key Iran site elusive

The U.N. nuclear watchdog appears no closer to finding out what happened at a military site at the centre of its investigation into suspected atom bomb research by Iran, despite signs Tehran is becoming more cooperative.

A confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran for the first time in years had begun engaging with a long-stymied IAEA inquiry into allegations that it may have worked on designing a nuclear weapon.

But any hope that Iran may be ready to fully address concerns about its nuclear activities will be tempered as long as it refuses to give the U.N. agency access to a location at the Parchin base southeast of Tehran, and information about it.

429 Bulworth  May 27, 2014 7:52:48am

Today’s already dragginzzzzzzz

430 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 7:52:49am

re: #418 Justanotherhuman

I had a student years ago who could calculate square roots in his head faster than I could punch the keys on my calculator. Likewise, a slide rule pro could probably find the log of a number faster than a guy operating a calculator. The calculator gives a more precise value, but for back-of-the-envelope estimates, who needs 10 decimal places?

After years of teaching math and physics, I got to the point of memorizing the square roots of 2, 3, and 10, and the physical constants, because I used them so often. I’m not sure that there is any particular value in requiring students to memorize them, though, especially when their calculators (or calculator apps) can provide them as needed.

431 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 7:53:02am

TCOT is blaming the Santa Barbara shootings on “violent video games.” I just can’t even.

432 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 7:53:42am

re: #431 Pie-onist Overlord

TCOT is blaming the Santa Barbara shootings on “violent video games.” I just can’t even.

Oh, have they mentioned comic books or violent TV shows yet?

433 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 7:54:53am

re: #432 wheat-dogghazi

Oh, have they mentioned comic books or violent TV shows yet?

HURR HURR PAMPERED HOLLYWOOD LIBRUL!!!!!!!
Here are all the wingnut talking points.

434 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 7:55:11am

re: #431 Pie-onist Overlord

TCOT is blaming the Santa Barbara shootings on “violent video games.” I just can’t even.

All these years of playing violent video games and I’ve yet to kill one person. Man, am I lazy.

435 Bulworth  May 27, 2014 7:55:26am

Pie-onist Overlord

TCOT is blaming the Santa Barbara shootings on “violent video games.” I just can’t even.

Of course they are.

436 GunstarGreen  May 27, 2014 7:55:30am

re: #431 Pie-onist Overlord

TCOT is blaming the Santa Barbara shootings on “violent video games.” I just can’t even.

The 2nd is superior to the 1st, in their minds. Guns don’t kill people, red pixels kill people!

437 Lidane  May 27, 2014 7:56:03am

re: #419 Pie-onist Overlord

Cadbury isn’t kosher.

Google tells me that Ghirardelli and Lindt are kosher. And I know that Dagoba definitely is because I’m looking at one of their bars now.

438 Decatur Deb  May 27, 2014 7:56:46am

re: #373 wheat-dogghazi

Oh, jeez. Don’t get me started. Except for kindergarteners, Chinese students are typically expected to sit still and quiet in class, and listen to the teacher, and repeat what he/she says. Class sizes, especially in the rural schools, are 60-70 students for each teacher, so you can imagine the challenges of applying any other kind of classroom structure, like group work or class discussions. This very old-fashioned style of teaching, which I suppose was common in the USA before, say 1930, is ingrained here. Some teachers, especially English teachers, can loosen things up a little, but experimentation in pedagogy requires tolerant head teachers and parents, all of whom have suffered through the traditional teaching methods and expect the same for their kids.

Educators in China know the weaknesses of this system, but can do little to change it. It suppresses creativity and inquisitiveness and rewards memorization/regurgitation and obedience. One could argue that this kind of educational system is exactly what suits the political leaders of China.

Korea mimics much of their rigid classroom discipline. Doesn’t always work:

Youtube Video

439 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 7:57:07am

re: #428 Killgore Trout

Yeah. This latest Death To America screed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a prelude to “we’ve shown you everything,,,we have the right for nuclear energy research ,, get out”

440 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 7:57:29am

re: #437 Lidane

Cadbury isn’t kosher.

Google telle me that Ghirardelli and Lindt are kosher. And I know that Dagoba definitely is because I’m looking at one of their bars now.

Can you levitate that Dagoba bar in the air like Yoda levitated Luke’s ship?

441 RealityBasedSteve  May 27, 2014 7:58:32am

re: #419 Pie-onist Overlord

Well now I know it’s for sure not kosher.

How do you milk a pig? Isn’t it really low to the ground?

RBS

442 Lidane  May 27, 2014 7:58:40am

re: #440 wheat-dogghazi

Can you levitate that Dagoba bar in the air like Yoda levitated Luke’s ship?

I wish. I’d levitate most of their chocolate bars in my direction if I could. Haha.

443 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 8:01:11am

re: #441 RealityBasedSteve

How do you milk a pig? Isn’t it really low to the ground?

RBS

Hire very Very VERY short pig-ranchers!

444 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:01:50am

Nate Silver: Be Skeptical of Both Piketty And His Skeptics

Science is messy, and the social sciences are messier than the hard sciences. Research findings based on relatively new and novel data sets (like Piketty’s) are subject to one set of problems — the data itself will have been less well scrutinized and is more likely to contain errors, small and large. Research on well-worn datasets are subject to another. Such data is probably in better shape, but if researchers are coming to some new and novel conclusions from it, that may reflect some flaw in their interpretation or analysis.

The closest thing to a solution is to remain appropriately skeptical, perhaps especially when the research finding is agreeable to you. A lot of apparently damning critiques prove to be less so when you assume from the start that data analysis and empirical research, like other forms of intellectual endeavor, are not free from human error. Nonetheless, once the dust settles, it seems likely that both Piketty and Giles will have moved us toward an improved understanding of wealth inequality and its implications.

445 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:02:26am

re: #431 Pie-onist Overlord

TCOT is blaming the Santa Barbara shootings on “violent video games.” I just can’t even.

Some idiot at WaPo is blaming it on movies. So it goes.

446 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 8:03:26am

ETA: A reply to Lidane, #417

Shows how much things have changed for some in 60 yrs. I didn’t have a “crush” until I was 13 and had had menarche (a common age back then). My sister didn’t have a regular period until she was 16 and put on birth control pills. Some of us tended to mature more slowly, our nutrition was poor and food scarce, and my mother and her sisters’ experience were even worse than ours (they were teens during the Depression and married in their early 20s). I remember in 6th grade that we all teased Janice Schultz because she had rather large breasts and most of us had no need for a bra at all.

Disclaimer: I’m not presenting this as a sociological or scientific fact. It is my own experience.

That doesn’t mean that there weren’t 14 yr old girls getting pregnant. But it was pretty rare and they were often sent off to a relative. And it wasn’t unusual for young women like me to get married at 17 or 18, as soon as we got out of HS.

447 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:05:57am

re: #433 Pie-onist Overlord

HURR HURR PAMPERED HOLLYWOOD LIBRUL!!!!!!!
Here are all the wingnut talking points.

[Embedded content]

Not to mention the “liberal” that blamed the NRA was one of the Isla Vista victim’s parents. And yes the NRA definitely does deserve some blame when they extort every politician who dares to vote on sensible gun legislation.

448 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 8:06:38am

re: #446 Justanotherhuman

I didn’t have a “crush” until I was 13

hell, I had hundreds of “crushes” well before and well after 13!

My problem was, I was so awkward around girls, so tongue tied and intimidated, I don’t think I asked a girl out on an actual “date” until I was in my early 20’s.

But then,, once the genie was out of the bottle,,,,,,,,I figured out that a “no thank you” answer was just one step closer to the “next” girl saying “yes, that sounds nice”

449 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:08:05am
450 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:08:33am

re: #445 Killgore Trout

Some idiot at WaPo is blaming it on movies. So it goes.

Judd Apatow movies. Yes, I saw that. That may be even more moronic than blaming it on the games.

451 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 8:08:51am

re: #445 Killgore Trout

Some idiot at WaPo is blaming it on movies. So it goes.

He had a BMW , no,, Can we blame the Germans?? Or the internal combustion engine???

(makes as much sense as blaming video games and movies)

452 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 8:09:12am
453 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 8:11:23am

re: #449 Killgore Trout

Ed Schultz on the Truth-O-Meter

Well. Out of 6 things, at least he got two Half True!!!

Adding all six together, if he were a baseball player, he’d be hitting, oh,, about .225 average. There are players making 10 million a year hitting with a .225 average, so there is that!!!

454 Varek Raith  May 27, 2014 8:11:51am

re: #444 Killgore Trout

He blew it with that AGW article when his site started.
I’m skeptical of him.

455 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 8:11:57am

K Kiddies

Dew has dried on the front lawn

Time to mow

456 sattv4u2  May 27, 2014 8:12:14am

BBL (if my buddy hasn’t shown up yet)

457 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 8:12:34am

re: #452 Pie-onist Overlord

speechless

458 Decatur Deb  May 27, 2014 8:13:44am

re: #424 wheat-dogghazi

In fact, some of the world’s great scientific discoveries (the ring structure of benzene, for one) have come through intuition, or serendipity.

Benzene Ring

Image: Benzene_ring-775678.jpg

And a

encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com

459 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:14:00am

re: #451 sattv4u2

He had a BMW , no,, Can we blame the Germans?? Or the internal combustion engine???

(makes as much sense as blaming video games and movies)

If the guy had a favorite band someone will blame it on music. Let’s just hope we don’t return to the 80’s when congress gets interested in “protecting” the youth from damaging cultural influences.

460 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 8:15:25am

re: #444 Killgore Trout

Sound, and very safe advice, especially when dealing with so many variables in so many places. So, why is Silver so deadset against the evidence for anthropic global warming?

461 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 8:15:43am

WTFITS

462 Varek Raith  May 27, 2014 8:16:50am

re: #461 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

I THOUGHT IT WAS GAMES?!
e_e

463 Lidane  May 27, 2014 8:17:11am

re: #450 HappyWarrior

Judd Apatow movies. Yes, I saw that. That may be even more moronic than blaming it on the games.

Judd Apatow is pissed about that too:

talkingpointsmemo.com

464 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:18:08am

re: #461 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

I don’t blame Apatow and Rogen for being pissed.

465 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:18:30am

re: #463 Lidane

Judd Apatow is pissed about that too:

talkingpointsmemo.com

Him and Seth Rogen both, and they should be.

466 Eventual Carrion  May 27, 2014 8:18:49am

re: #409 RealityBasedSteve

I can just see explaining THAT one to the insurance agent. “I swear, I was just driving along and a deer fell from the sky and hit my car… no I wasn’t drinking, really.”

RBS

I had one come vaulting out of a corn field along the side of the road. I caught it out of the corner of my eye, higher than my windshield. It hit my driver side on the way down and never hit the ground alive. The body shop guy thought it was pretty cool. The whole passenger roof/side of my station wagon was wreaked from 3 feet up the side to the roof, everything lower was just fine. I thought it was going to just come right in my passenger side window, which did shatter and threw little, sharp shards of glass all over me.

467 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:19:11am

re: #462 Varek Raith

I THOUGHT IT WAS GAMES?!
e_e

Well it is video games, it is World of Warcraft, it is homosexuality, it is everything but the fact that an obviously troubled young man was able to legally purchase a killing machine with ease.

468 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 8:19:47am

re: #448 sattv4u2

I didn’t have a “crush” until I was 13

hell, I had hundreds of “crushes” well before and well after 13!

My problem was, I was so awkward around girls, so tongue tied and intimidated, I don’t think I asked a girl out on an actual “date” until I was in my early 20’s.

But then,, once the genie was out of the bottle,,,,,,,,I figured out that a “no thank you” answer was just one step closer to the “next” girl saying “yes, that sounds nice”

Just goes to show you that there are a lot of kids in the world who are more concerned about where their next meal is coming from and what the next place to live is going to be like. I basically married to get away from my father and stepmother where I got nothing but negative attention and didn’t have what I saw as a “normal” teen experience. At least I was getting something “positive” (I thought) from my ex-husband but even that didn’t last long. But I learn quickly.

This is exactly why I encourage young women to make their own way and take care of themselves and not to depend on others. I think only in an equal relationship can you really “love” someone for who they are. Dependency is for children.

469 The Awkward Guy  May 27, 2014 8:20:51am

re: #467 HappyWarrior

I wouldn’t be surprised if the background check amounted to this:

“You gonna kill someone with this?”
“No.”
“Okay, here ya go.”

470 Lidane  May 27, 2014 8:20:55am

re: #467 HappyWarrior

Well it is video games, it is World of Warcraft, it is homosexuality, it is everything but the fact that an obviously troubled young man was able to legally purchase a killing machine with ease.

Three guns. Each one carefully researched, properly stored, and legally purchased.

If he hadn’t gone on a rampage he’d be a law-abiding gun owner.

471 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:22:08am

re: #470 Lidane

Three guns. Each one carefully researched, properly stored, and legally purchased.

If he hadn’t gone on a rampage he’d be a law-abiding gun owner.

Right, and that to me shows the flaw in the way the NRA/GOA present the argument that it’s “law abiding citizens with guns” versus “criminals with guns.” Well Elliott Rodger was a law abiding citizen as you say right until he shot a bunch of people.

472 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 8:22:36am

re: #458 Decatur Deb

Benzene Ring

Image: Benzene_ring-775678.jpg

And a

encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com

Friedrich August Kekulé said the ring structure of benzene came to him after he had a dream with the image of the ourobouros (snake swallowing its tail) in it. Until then, chemists had thought the molecule was a straight chain, but could not figure out why a straight molecule would lack so many hydrogen atoms. en.wikipedia.org

Kathleen Lonsdale, the crystallographer, confirmed the ring structure in 1929, almost 65 years after Kekulé had his vision.

473 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:23:17am

re: #422 Backwoods_Sleuth

good freaking grief…

Madison County judge accused of racial abuse

And it just goes downhill from there.
(warning: autoplay video at link)

Under Mississippi law, the only requirement to be elected a Justice Court judge is a high school diploma. After taking office, the judges are required to take up to six hours of training a year.

I wouldn’t want to be in a plane flying over this hellhole of a state, let alone be on the ground there.

474 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:23:43am

re: #469 The Awkward Guy

I wouldn’t be surprised if the background check amounted to this:

“You gonna kill someone with this?”
“No.”
“Okay, here ya go.”

It really does bother me how absurdly easy it is to get a gun but even more absurd how immediately after something like this happens, we refuse to talk about that. If it’s anything is increasing my support for gun control, it’s that refusal and the tendency o media outlets to blame anything but that following the tragedy. Did you hear about the whacko on FNC claiming Rodgers was gay and that was why he did it?

475 The Awkward Guy  May 27, 2014 8:24:35am

re: #474 HappyWarrior

Yeah. Disgusting.

476 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:24:54am

re: #471 HappyWarrior

Right, and that to me shows the flaw in the way the NRA/GOA present the argument that it’s “law abiding citizens with guns” versus “criminals with guns.” Well Elliott Rodger was a law abiding citizen as you say right until he shot a bunch of people.

Lucky for the NRA, its members are incapable of thought beyond “Oohh, gun. Want it.”

477 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:25:17am

re: #475 The Awkward Guy

Yeah. Disgusting.

The classic, “Let’s blame everything but the precious wittle guns” tactic that they’ve been doing since Columbine.

478 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:26:38am

re: #415 lawhawk

The Post continues retweeting its “exclusive” about the “woman” who inspired the California shooter. Except that she was a 10 year old girl at the time the event occurred, and the blame should belong on the gunman, not some girl who didn’t want to give him a date.

[Embedded content]

Most kids have crushes and get turned down for dates without turning that into a seminal moment where one decides to go on a killing spree at some point in the future because they don’t have success with dating.

Have the usual suspects posted her name, picture, address, phone number, etc. yet?

If not, they will.

479 The Awkward Guy  May 27, 2014 8:26:55am

re: #477 HappyWarrior

The classic, “Let’s blame everything but the precious wittle guns” tactic that they’ve been doing since Columbine.

The gunsplaining is real tiresome.

480 Lidane  May 27, 2014 8:27:22am
481 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:27:29am

I don’t know. re: #478 Skip Intro

Have the usual suspects posted her name, picture, address, phone number, etc. yet?

If not, they will.

Not sure if you were here last night but I think this is the girl who NYP posted her photo in a bikini and all and name.

482 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:28:01am

re: #469 The Awkward Guy

I wouldn’t be surprised if the background check amounted to this:

“You gonna kill someone with this?”
“No.”
“Okay, here ya go.”

Now that can’t be true. I’ve been reassured again and again by “responsible gun owners” that if a gun dealer thinks a customer might not be on the level, he won’t sell to him. Which obviously is why Rodger, despite supposedly being so crazy that it was evident from just looking at him, was able to legally purchase 3 guns without incident.

///

483 The Awkward Guy  May 27, 2014 8:28:22am

re: #480 Lidane

And there we have it. Guns are more important than people.

484 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:28:29am

re: #480 Lidane

[Embedded content]

The Cargo Cult of the Gun on the march.

485 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:29:04am

re: #481 HappyWarrior

I don’t know.

Not sure if you were here last night but I think this is the girl who NYP posted her photo in a bikini and all and name.

No, I missed that.

486 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:29:41am

re: #483 The Awkward Guy

And there we have it. Guns are more important than people.

And there in lies the problem. They care more about their guns than they do humanity. And that’s what has been troubling me for a long time.

487 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:29:59am

re: #485 Skip Intro

No, I missed that.

Ah okay. They did in any case, the ghoulish bastards.

488 wheat-dogghazi  May 27, 2014 8:30:26am

re: #480 Lidane

Because owning a gun is more important than whether someone’s kid’s life. Nothing like getting your priorities straight, Joe.

489 Varek Raith  May 27, 2014 8:31:23am

re: #477 HappyWarrior

The classic, “Let’s blame everything but the precious wittle guns” tactic that they’ve been doing since Columbine.

INSANE CLOWN POSSE!111!ty

490 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 8:31:39am

re: #473 Skip Intro

I wouldn’t want to be in a plane flying over this hellhole of a state, let alone be on the ground there.

In NC, you can have as little as 2 yrs associate degree and “related” experience of 4 yrs and that was only changed in 1994. Before that, I often ran into magistrates who had gotten jobs through the patronage system in effect at the time with no legal experience whatsoever (in other words, if you knew someone…) and most of them were awful. The pay is pretty awful, too, though. The old justice of the peace system was even worse.

491 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 8:31:55am
492 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:31:56am

re: #480 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Crap. That means Palin’s ghost writer is working on something really crass for Her Meanness.

493 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:32:33am

re: #489 Varek Raith

INSANE CLOWN POSSE!111!ty

I remember the NRA almost as if they had their 1999 response to Columbine blaming Natural Born Killers and American Psycho for Sandy Hook. I’m surprised our pal Pat Robertson hasn’t blamed “Satanic rock music” yet.

494 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:33:44am

re: #492 Skip Intro

Crap. That means Palin’s ghost writer is working on something really crass for Her Meanness.

I expect Palin will have some snide remark about his upbringing in Hollywood combined with some faux superiority crap about the virtues of small town red state America versus larger town/city blue state America.

495 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:34:14am

Also totally expecting someone to blame his mother for divorcing his father too.

496 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 8:34:32am

re: #494 HappyWarrior

I expect Palin will have some snide remark about his upbringing in Hollywood combined with some faux superiority crap about the virtues of small town red state America versus larger town/city blue state America.

And yet Palin and her talentless kids did the Hollywood routine.

497 Varek Raith  May 27, 2014 8:34:42am

DOOM!

Shit, I’ve played every type of violent game there is. Insane graphic violence.
Turn on tv with a real medical show on?
BLEH. I can’t watch that.

498 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:35:39am

Hell, already heard plenty of people around me wonder why, if the cops were called to Rodger’s apartment, why he was not taken into custody or his place searched, since obviously he was so crazy that you could smell it on him. But I’ll bet not a one will question why, if it was so obvious that the cops had reason to haul him off, that it wasn’t obvious enough for a gun dealer to think twice about selling him three guns.

499 Lidane  May 27, 2014 8:35:52am

re: #495 HappyWarrior

Also totally expecting someone to blame his mother for divorcing his father too.

I’m already seeing people I know pulling the “Don’t blame the guns, blame the authorities for not stopping him!” canard.

You know, because it’s easy to place an involuntary psych hold on someone.

500 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:35:53am

Obama Wants To Keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan Beyond 2014

President Barack Obama will announce Tuesday that he wants to keep 9,800 military personnel in Afghanistan after the American combat mission ends there this year, a senior administration official told NBC News.

That figure would be cut in half by the end of 2015, and the American contingent would be reduced to “a normal Embassy presence” by the end of 2016, as Obama is close to leaving office, the administration official said.

The plan assumes that Afghan leaders will sign a security agreement with the United States. Both Afghan presidential candidates have committed to signing it if they are elected, the official noted.

501 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 8:36:32am

re: #498 Targetpractice

Hell, already heard plenty of people around me wonder why, if the cops were called to Rodger’s apartment, why he was not taken into custody or his place searched, since obviously he was so crazy that you could smell it on him. But I’ll bet not a one will question why, if it was so obvious that the cops had reason to haul him off, that it wasn’t obvious enough for a gun dealer to think twice about selling him three guns.

Your answer is in the question: “selling him three guns.”

502 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:36:59am

re: #496 Justanotherhuman

And yet Palin and her talentless kids did the Hollywood routine.

Well being hypocritical has never stopped her before.

503 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:37:57am

re: #501 Justanotherhuman

Your answer is in the question: “selling him three guns.”

Ayep, we invest in the idea that gun dealers are faithful stewards of the law, who will go to great pains, including losing a lot of money in a sale, to avoid selling to a mentally ill customer. But it seems, time and time again, that the reality is the dealer feels his obligation to the law ends with a background check. You pass, then he’s off the hook.

504 lawhawk  May 27, 2014 8:39:05am

Miller , Heller , and McDonald all indicate that the government has the right to regulate firearms. For most people the question is the type of regulation and the extent of regulations (as applied to certain kinds, ammo, etc.). The type and scope of those regulations are at issue, and were at the heart of the opinions in Heller and McDonald.

But for the NRA, it appears that they oppose all regulation under any circumstances, thinking that the 2d Amendment gives them unfettered access to firearms, even though we know that those firearms in the wrong hands (or even the right hands) can result in deadly outcomes.

But my ire at the NRA lies in the fact that the NRA used to call for and supported reasonable regulations that would reduce the likelihood that firearms would end up in the wrong hands. Now, they oppose even the most common sense regulations and push an extremist agenda and rhetoric that does one thing - drive sales of even more firearms (frequently based on the reductio ad absurdum that the government will take away all your guns).

505 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:39:57am

re: #499 Lidane

I’m already seeing people I know pulling the “Don’t blame the guns, blame the authorities for not stopping him!” canard.

You know, because it’s easy to place an involuntary psych hold on someone.

Oh, but of course. Had a wingnut point me to an NRO story from shortly after Newtown, declaring in its unquestionable wisdom that the key to ending mass shootings was bring back broad involuntary commitment laws. But when I pressed him as to who was supposed to pick up the slack if families won’t seek to get their loved ones help? “The system’s not perfect. That’s the price of freedom.”

506 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:40:07am

re: #498 Targetpractice

Hell, already heard plenty of people around me wonder why, if the cops were called to Rodger’s apartment, why he was not taken into custody or his place searched, since obviously he was so crazy that you could smell it on him. But I’ll bet not a one will question why, if it was so obvious that the cops had reason to haul him off, that it wasn’t obvious enough for a gun dealer to think twice about selling him three guns.

Contrary to popular opinion, the cops can’t just “haul you off” at will.

It’s a Real Big Deal to do legally, so in nearly all cases it isn’t done at all.

If the murderous asshole had pointed a gun at his head, that would have gotten him 72 hours in observation, but with money and a good lawyer he’d have been free again. His only fear was that they’d find his weapons cache, although since he was a Responsible Gun Owner I don’t know why that worried him. It’s not as though they would have confiscated his weapons.

507 Bulworth  May 27, 2014 8:40:50am

Targetpractice

Hell, already heard plenty of people around me wonder why, if the cops were called to Rodger’s apartment, why he was not taken into custody or his place searched,

Obamathugs illegally searching apartment guy did nothing wrong whatabout are Freedoms???!?!

508 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:42:33am

re: #504 lawhawk

Miller , Heller , and McDonald all indicate that the government has the right to regulate firearms. For most people the question is the type of regulation and the extent of regulations (as applied to certain kinds, ammo, etc.). The type and scope of those regulations are at issue, and were at the heart of the opinions in Heller and McDonald.

But for the NRA, it appears that they oppose all regulation under any circumstances, thinking that the 2d Amendment gives them unfettered access to firearms, even though we know that those firearms in the wrong hands (or even the right hands) can result in deadly outcomes.

But my ire at the NRA lies in the fact that the NRA used to call for and supported reasonable regulations that would reduce the likelihood that firearms would end up in the wrong hands. Now, they oppose even the most common sense regulations and push an extremist agenda and rhetoric that does one thing - drive sales of even more firearms (frequently based on the reductio ad absurdum that the government will take away all your guns).

Bolded is why I find them to be such a downright nasty organization. You’re absolutely right. Legal precedent doesn’t forbid the regulation of guns and the NRA in the past did support responsible legislation but it seems to me that since the 90’s that they’ve been at the center point of opposition to every policy that would be a sane conversation on guns. And it also doesn’t help that they push the coming to get your guns bs. I remember it in the 90’s with President Clinton and history has repeated itself in the 2010’s with President Obama. LaPierre wants to forge a culture where people feel the need to carry and or own tons of guns to “protect themselves” and frankly that’s not a culture I want to live in.

509 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:43:06am

re: #506 Skip Intro

Contrary to popular opinion, the cops can’t just “haul you off” at will.

It’s a Real Big Deal to do legally, so in nearly all cases it isn’t done at all.

If the murderous asshole had pointed a gun at his head, that would have gotten him 72 hours in observation, but with money and a good lawyer he’d have been free again. His only fear was that they’d find his weapons cache, although since he was a Responsible Gun Owner I don’t know why that worried him. It’s not as though they would have confiscated his weapons.

According to details which have since come out, he was actually afraid of letting the cops into his apartment because he had the paperwork and plans for his little shooting spree out in the open and feared if cops searched the place, he’d be found out. But even then, what’s the worst he would have gotten? “Conspiracy to commit?”

510 Bulworth  May 27, 2014 8:45:17am

Cops let killer go before he killed so inept but NSA READing OUR Emails!!!

511 gwangung  May 27, 2014 8:45:57am

re: #505 Targetpractice

Oh, but of course. Had a wingnut point me to an NRO story from shortly after Newtown, declaring in its unquestionable wisdom that the key to ending mass shootings was bring back broad involuntary commitment laws. But when I pressed him as to who was supposed to pick up the slack if families won’t seek to get their loved ones help? “The system’s not perfect. That’s the price of freedom.”

That’s a price that HE is not paying; it’s a price he’s making OTHERS pay.

512 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 8:46:10am

TBogg has a pretty good post over at Raw Story.

I was the NRA

513 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:46:10am

I am glad to say though so far anyhow at least I haven’t seen anyone blame Asperger’s for first making him think he was entitled to women and sex and secondly for his violence.

514 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 8:47:18am

re: #509 Targetpractice

According to details which have since come out, he was actually afraid of letting the cops into his apartment because he had the paperwork and plans for his little shooting spree out in the open and feared if cops searched the place, he’d be found out. But even then, what’s the worst he would have gotten? “Conspiracy to commit?”

With a good lawyer, which his father would have provided, the only thing he would have gotten was an apology from the police chief.

515 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 8:48:47am
516 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 8:50:21am

re: #514 Skip Intro

With a good lawyer, which his father would have provided, the only thing he would have gotten was an apology from the police chief.

Ayep. And anything found in the apartment would have been labeled “fruit of the poisonous tree” and legally inadmissible because the cops had conducted a search without any reason to suspect he was engaged in illegal activities.

517 Stanley Sea  May 27, 2014 8:52:05am

re: #512 Backwoods_Sleuth

TBogg has a pretty good post over at Raw Story.

I was the NRA

When I was eight, I attended gun safety courses put on by the NRA at the local community center where thick-necked men with serious faces and butch haircuts promised us hell and worse if we mishandled a rifle or a shotgun. There was no Eddie Eagle cartoon character who spent his time talking about the 2nd amendment because the important thing was to learn not to shoot yourself or someone else. It was serious people teaching the next generation how to safely hunt and not just how to shoot.

518 otoc  May 27, 2014 8:52:54am

re: #392 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Mostly, what you get when comparing Chinese stats to US stats is the Chinese statistics from the most urban centers to the entirety of the US. It’s not a good comparison.

This is totally true, but it’s why Chinese education isn’t a good role model: it depends heavily on uncreative, rote learning.

Which is why I brought up children in the US influenced by their Chinese parents. Their stats are in the in US, not China. Parents and discipline have an effect. Rote learning is needed for some things and that practice brings the ability to focus for longer time periods.

I still haven’t understood at all what the connection you think between the two is. Can you explain?

Between Sesame Street and Twitter?

First, the parameters again. It’s not quantified, nor do I care to convince anyone. It’s simply a thought on my part. And again, it was first offered half in jest.

Second, why would we expect you to understand a complicated concept if all I’m doing is putting forth short soundbites? That’s the point.

For close to 45 years, Sesame Street has been an icon of early childhood development and teaching. For the first 20 years it was based on research that that changed. During that time the developers committed their own studies, one in the 80s coming to the conclusion that there was both good and bad to be learned from how Sesame Street taught kid.

After 30 years, the developers made another change in how they presented learning, mostly because they found that the target audience changed from preK-1, to 2-4 year olds. That change was from the short magazine style segments towards an hour program.

My point here is not to diminish the good of Sesame Street, but to point out it has changed over the years based on the changing research it conducted ( I truly don’t believe the way kids brains are wired has changed during that time). During the 45 years it has been on, it has been copied. Not only by shows designed for small kids, but by shows targeting those older and older. After all, kids grow up. TV News has become distilled into short segments pretty much devoid of background content. Look at the success of Fox and how CNN has changed accordingly. It’s all about giving people what they will easily take and digest. To me, Twitter and the short character limit was the next logical step.

After reading about how Sesame Street came into being after watching kids mesmerized by a TV test pattern, I think there’s a difference between what we are naturally wired for and what we are capable of. That’s what it first focused on. Using TV as medium for good. And good it did. I just wonder about the cost.

I’m naturally wired to be happy sitting on a couch watching TV, or sitting in my chair typing on the internet. I’m happy and do well at it.

But that don’t mean that’s what I’m capable of, or what is best for me. On that note…

519 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:52:56am

Syrian rebels with another one of those massive tunnel bombs
Syrian rebels blow up a military base

Amateur video posted on a social media website apparently shows Syrian rebels blowing up a military base in Idlib province

520 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 8:54:31am

re: #519 Killgore Trout

Syrian rebels with another one of those massive tunnel bombs
Syrian rebels blow up a military base

Oops, sorry. That’s a truck bomb. My mistake

521 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 8:55:49am
522 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 8:56:28am
523 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 8:59:05am

re: #521 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

He’s an asshole who should have never been relevant in the first place.

524 Killgore Trout  May 27, 2014 9:00:35am

Maybe possibly training Syrian rebels again this week
Report: White House May OK Training Syrian Rebels

525 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:01:55am

re: #521 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

“FUCK THE VICTIMS! WHAT ABOUT ME?!”

526 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 9:03:49am
527 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:04:10am

Notice though how Not Joe the Non Plumber only cries about the guns being criticized. Not a word for his pals at Fox who blame homosexuality, not a word for the fanatics who blame video games or movies. But his words are only directed at a father who who expressed anger at the lack of action following Sandy Hook on guns.

528 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:05:08am

I really do increasingly feel the problem is that we’ve got too many damn people in this country like Plumber fucker who care more about guns than other people.

529 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 9:08:21am

Danish government minister says 4 missing monitors from European security watchdog the OSCE, including a Dane, are believed detained by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine - @Reuters
End of alert

530 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 9:10:06am

You might only have 140 characters, but you’re going to be inundated with ads.

Omnicom Media Group announces mobile-focused advertising deal with Twitter worth $230 million over next 2 years - @WSJ
Read more on blogs.wsj.com

531 Rightwingconspirator  May 27, 2014 9:11:26am

re: #452 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Oh no. Death by deliberate neglect of the State. Unconscionable.

532 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 9:15:02am

Ayn Rand was a horrible racist. Who knew?

533 allegro  May 27, 2014 9:15:48am

There’s a guy who’s lived here at the RV park for some time who had a sign in front of his rig saying “This house protected by the second amendment,” the requisite Gadsden flag and this other flag with a forearm wielding a bloody saber (maybe that’s a thing - I didn’t recognize it but it was violently disturbing). He had a bunch of rather violent anti-liberal stickers on his car as well. I didn’t even want to pass his place when walking my dogs because this guy looked like a spring ready to snap.

So a couple of weeks ago there was a middle of the night shooting incident. No one was hurt fortunately, but a bullet did whiz through another rig past a woman’s head as she slept in her bed. When I heard about it, my first thought was that guy but then thought, no, that’s too obvious. Turns out my instincts (and those of others) were right on - it was that guy.

Object lesson: when assholes advertise their violent intentions like this guy and the kid who killed those people, when are we going to start to believe them and act proactively? I’m so sick of these fucknoodles who claim their rights to their deadly toys are greater than everyone else’s rights to not get shot.

534 Eventual Carrion  May 27, 2014 9:18:28am

re: #461 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

Why didn’t Seth encourage the killer to make a porno? Or to smoke weed? Or to fight a panda?

Because the fucking killer did what he wanted to do, not what some outside force wanted him to do. It was his decision and his alone.

What video games, movies, books did Hitler read/watch/play that made him do what he did/commanded to be done? None, he fucking wanted to do/command those things. Evil deranged people are evil deranged people. Get their dressing wrong on their salad can set them on a spree.

535 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 9:21:12am

re: #452 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Horrific.

536 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 9:21:32am
537 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 9:22:31am

re: #533 allegro

There’s a guy who’s lived here at the RV park for some time who had a sign in front of his rig saying “This house protected by the second amendment,” the requisite Gadsden flag and this other flag with a forearm wielding a bloody saber (maybe that’s a thing - I didn’t recognize it but it was violently disturbing). He had a bunch of rather violent anti-liberal stickers on his car as well. I didn’t even want to pass his place when walking my dogs because this guy looked like a spring ready to snap.

So a couple of weeks ago there was a middle of the night shooting incident. No one was hurt fortunately, but a bullet did whiz through another rig past a woman’s head as she slept in her bed. When I heard about it, my first thought was that guy but then thought, no, that’s too obvious. Turns out my instincts (and those of others) were right on - it was that guy.

Object lesson: when assholes advertise their violent intentions like this guy and the kid who killed those people, when are we going to start to believe them and act proactively? I’m so sick of these fucknoodles who claim their rights to their deadly toys are greater than everyone else’s rights to not get shot.

It’s like the ones around here who fly the confederate flag. Don’t believe what they say about “southern heritage”—that’s bullshit to excuse their racism.

I keep my distance from those fuckers.

538 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:23:36am

re: #536 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Not sure what’s more diabolical- his hands or his eyes.

539 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 9:23:44am

re: #518 otoc

Which is why I brought up children in the US influenced by their Chinese parents. Their stats are in the in US, not China. Parents and discipline have an effect. Rote learning is needed for some things and that practice brings the ability to focus for longer time periods.

Can you link to anything showing that rote learning leads to the ability to focus for longer time periods?

Between Sesame Street and Twitter?

First, the parameters again. It’s not quantified, nor do I care to convince anyone. It’s simply a thought on my part. And again, it was first offered half in jest.

Oh, okay. Yeah, what you’re saying is completely unconvincing.

540 Mattand  May 27, 2014 9:25:09am
541 Rightwingconspirator  May 27, 2014 9:25:30am

re: #512 Backwoods_Sleuth

TBogg has a pretty good post over at Raw Story.

I was the NRA

That’s exactly what I was getting at when I said “repeal” the NRA. Remove, reduce, marginalize, de fund. They are now the problem. Not the only problem of course but a big enough chunk to use the word.

542 Lidane  May 27, 2014 9:26:30am

re: #536 Pie-onist Overlord

New LGF mascot. Haha.

543 jaunte  May 27, 2014 9:27:06am

re: #540 Mattand

Samuel Wurzelbacher gave his condolences this week to the families of the victims of the mass shooting near the University of California, Santa Barbara. But no tragedy is going to stop “Joe The Plumber” from defending the Second Amendment.

In an open letter published Tuesday on the website Barbwire, Wurzelbacher went out of his way to explain to the victims’ parents that the deaths won’t undermine his “Constitutional rights.”

I missed the groundswell of public demand for Wurzelbacher’s comment on this.

544 Rightwingconspirator  May 27, 2014 9:27:53am

re: #542 Lidane

New LGF mascot. Haha.

I could mask him out and make the png file available…

545 Mattand  May 27, 2014 9:28:53am

So some here are still blaming Sesame Street for giving Those Darn Kids on Their Lawn™ the stupidz, huh?

546 Mattand  May 27, 2014 9:29:14am

re: #543 jaunte

I missed the groundswell of public demand for Wurzelbacher’s comment on this.

So did he.

547 Rightwingconspirator  May 27, 2014 9:29:22am

re: #539 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You might find this proposal worth a read… Paged HT LA Times OpEd

548 otoc  May 27, 2014 9:30:08am

re: #539 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

With all due respect, in spite of me saying what I offered was not quantified and that I wasn’t looking to convince anyone, all you’ve done is offer nothing other to state you’re not convinced and ask for proof without offering any in rebuttal. Fine. We differ in both opinion and style.

549 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 9:30:12am

President Obama called Ukraine’s President-elect Petro Poroshenko to congratulate him on election victory and offer US support, White House says - @Reuters
End of alert

550 lawhawk  May 27, 2014 9:31:19am
551 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:31:28am

re: #549 Justanotherhuman

President Obama called Ukraine’s President-elect Petro Poroshenko to congratulate him on election victory and offer US support, White House says - @Reuters
End of alert

Congratulate him for what? The CIA rigged the election! The people in the East knew it wasn’t going to be fair, that’s why they turned the ballot boxes into trash cans!

552 Lidane  May 27, 2014 9:33:13am
553 RealityBasedSteve  May 27, 2014 9:33:41am

re: #532 Pie-onist Overlord

Ayn Rand was a horrible racist. Who knew?

[Embedded content]

Conservatives love her, except when you remind them of her beliefs

1. Racism
2. Atheism
3. Adultery / Sexual Freedom
4. Lack of Charity

In other words, the Ayn Rand Conservative Icon is simply a figment of their imagination.

RBS

554 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:34:29am

re: #552 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Because you need a gun when you’re eating your baby back ribs…………..

555 Gus  May 27, 2014 9:34:37am

re: #544 Rightwingconspirator

I could mask him out and make the png file available…

With D-Day stripes? //

556 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:35:03am

re: #553 RealityBasedSteve

Conservatives love her, except when you remind them of her beliefs

1. Racism
2. Atheism
3. Adultery / Sexual Freedom
4. Lack of Charity

In other words, the Ayn Rand Conservative Icon is simply a figment of their imagination.

RBS

The Atheism is a deal breaker for them but not the lack of empathy and compassion for other human beings.

557 Lidane  May 27, 2014 9:35:43am

re: #554 HappyWarrior

Because you need a gun when you’re eating your baby back ribs…………..

i love how one of them whines that he feels like a kid and his mom isn’t letting him do anything.

Sums up their entitled douchecanoe mindset perfectly.

558 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:36:34am

re: #557 Lidane

i love how one of them whines that he feels like a kid and his mom isn’t letting him do anything.

Sums up their entitled douchecanoe mindset perfectly.

It really does and I have to say if I ever owned a restaurant, I’d have a very strict no guns rule too. My restaurant, my rules.

559 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 9:37:10am

re: #556 HappyWarrior

The Atheism is a deal breaker for them but not the lack of empathy and compassion for other human beings.

I once had a conversation with a wingnut who used a form of the name “John Galt” and was Tweeting a bunch of anti-choice & Jesus memes. I asked if he realized that Ayn Rand was a pro-choice atheist. His response: UR SO BLOCKED U COMMIE

560 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:37:27am

Surprised that none of these fuckwits have showed up to the Waterparks yet demanding their right to bring their GUNS! on the waterslides.

561 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:38:26am

re: #559 Pie-onist Overlord

I once had a conversation with a wingnut who used a form of the name “John Galt” and was Tweeting a bunch of anti-choice & Jesus memes. I asked if he realized that Ayn Rand was a pro-choice atheist. His response: UR SO BLOCKED U COMMIE

I too have always been amused how they ignore that Rand was very anti-religion and pro-choice and only focus on her praising of greed. Calling yourself a devout Christian and follower of Ayn Rand makes no sense.

562 Lidane  May 27, 2014 9:38:39am

re: #558 HappyWarrior

It really does and I have to say if I ever owned a restaurant, I’d have a very strict no guns rule too. My restaurant, my rules.

It’s funny how these RWNJs will bleat about how private businesses have the right to serve whoever they want and discriminate against those they don’t want inside when it comes to LGBT people, but keep a douchecanoe with a long gun out of your restaurant for public safety and all of a sudden you’re a tyrant.

563 ObserverArt  May 27, 2014 9:38:50am

Just wanted to drop in and say hey to everyone. I don’t have much to comment on. I think I am going trough another bout of media fatigue. Anymore a major story like the UCSB shooter just brings out the crazy people to spout the same crazy stuff they say about everything. It can be very depressing and in the long range serves no purpose.

Unless they are all out to make me (and I suspect a whole bunch of others) sick of them. Hey…it is working. I am sick of you.

You too Greenwald. Piss off.

Take Joe the Idiot (former non-plumber) spouting off. Do we need to hear anything from that putz? I think not. Joe is nothing but a real bad male version of Sarah Palin. And we really didn’t need Palin.

I wish we could have a national day called The American Media Shuts the Fuck Up. But it will never happen because they really can’t.

Later!

564 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 9:39:09am

It ain’t rocket science. Everybody cheers when someone “sticks it” to an insufferable douche.

565 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:39:21am

re: #561 HappyWarrior

I too have always been amused how they ignore that Rand was very anti-religion and pro-choice and only focus on her praising of greed. Calling yourself a devout Christian and follower of Ayn Rand makes no sense.

My favorite is the final hypocrisy of moving heaven and earth to get herself on the public dole the moment she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

566 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:41:04am

re: #565 Targetpractice

My favorite is the final hypocrisy of moving heaven and earth to get herself on the public dole the moment she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Yep she was the ultimate hypocrite.

567 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:41:08am

re: #562 Lidane

It’s funny how these RWNJs will bleat about how private businesses have the right to serve whoever they want and discriminate against those they don’t want inside when it comes to LGBT people, but keep a douchecanoe with a long gun out of your restaurant for public safety and all of a sudden you’re a tyrant.

“There oughta be a law!” when a gay couple wants to buy a cake, but “WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHTS?!” when they want to bring their penis extension into Chipolte’s and are asked to leave it outside.

568 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:42:57am

re: #562 Lidane

It’s funny how these RWNJs will bleat about how private businesses have the right to serve whoever they want and discriminate against those they don’t want inside when it comes to LGBT people, but keep a douchecanoe with a long gun out of your restaurant for public safety and all of a sudden you’re a tyrant.

Yep. It’s okay to discriminate against gay people but I’m not allowed to tell some fucknut with a gun that I don’t want his gun in my place of business. Of course, they probably think it’s the same thing though the difference is with the gun fuckwit, he’s free to come back inside if he leaves his gun elsewhere while these anti-LGBT establishments won’t let anyone gay in.

569 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 9:45:34am

The Tea Party is the best thing to happen to Texas Democrats in a long time.

Ordering a giant bag of popcorn.

570 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:46:12am

re: #569 Ryan King

The Tea Party is the best thing to happen to Texas Democrats in a long time.

Ordering a giant bag of popcorn.

[Embedded content]

571 jaunte  May 27, 2014 9:47:35am
572 Gus  May 27, 2014 9:49:10am

How dare anyone not treat Greenwald with the respect of someone greater than this president!

//

573 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:49:13am

re: #571 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Why does the Washington Post keep wasting ink on that woman? I can’t remember the last time I read something from Rubin that was in any way informative or intelligent.

574 jaunte  May 27, 2014 9:50:09am

re: #573 Targetpractice

Maybe a belief in Magical Balance Publishing?

575 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:50:24am

re: #573 Targetpractice

Why does the Washington Post keep wasting ink on that woman? I can’t remember the last time I read something from Rubin that was in any way informative or intelligent.

They’ve given Krauthammer a column as long as I can remember too.

576 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:51:10am

re: #574 jaunte

Maybe a belief in Magical Balance Publishing?

That’s the problem with the media. Everything has to be MBFed because it’s too inconvenient to just call out the right for being shallow assholes.

577 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 9:51:39am

re: #564 Pie-onist Overlord

Eisler = if you criticize Greenwald for being a douche you’re a tool of the state, because big media doesn’t like Greenwald.

With bonus irony:

One notable (and potentially risky) feature of Twitter is how instantly people use it to express themselves. Often there’s little thought, little filtering, between the impulse behind a tweet and the expression in the tweet itself. So it’s fascinating to see how reflexively focused these people are on Greenwald’s personality, and how (at best) unconcerned they are about a fellow “journalist” calling for a blatantly unconstitutional system of prior restraint of the press and imprisonment of journalists. Their diction is remarkably telling: the most important thing to Alter is that he thinks Greenwald is a “jerk.” What Chait finds most relevant is that he thinks Kinsley “fillets Greenwald.” Lane is concerned only with who has the bigger intellect — Greenwald or Kinsley. The piece matters to Nazaryan because it’s a “takedown of the self-righteous Greenwald.”

So it’s our fault to note Greenwald’s obvious character flaws and thin skinned ego because of (horrible bad governments stuffs).

I’m incredulous reading this stuff, it’s so f’ing stupid.

578 Lidane  May 27, 2014 9:52:32am

re: #568 HappyWarrior

Of course, they probably think it’s the same thing though the difference is with the gun fuckwit, he’s free to come back inside if he leaves his gun elsewhere while these anti-LGBT establishments won’t let anyone gay in.

An LGBT person can’t just take off their orientation and leave it in the car. A gun owner can leave their gun under the seat before walking in the door.

579 Lidane  May 27, 2014 9:53:48am

re: #573 Targetpractice

Why does the Washington Post keep wasting ink on that woman? I can’t remember the last time I read something from Rubin that was in any way informative or intelligent.

Her salary is wasted money that would be better spent on interns. Or office supplies.

580 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 9:54:02am

re: #577 Ryan King

Eisler = if you criticize Greenwald for being a douche you’re a tool of the state, because big media doesn’t like Greenwald.

With bonus irony:

So it’s our fault to note Greenwald’s obvious character flaws and thin skinned ego because of (horrible bad governments stuffs).

I’m incredulous reading this stuff, it’s so f’ing stupid.

The pros calling the amateur to heel, but it’s the same kind of weird loyalty cult members have to the guy who will order their suicide.

581 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 9:54:07am

I do not get this Greenwald worship. What is it about this giant asshole that appeals to people? It’s not like he can sing or dance or play the guitar or act in hit movies.

582 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:55:41am

re: #581 Pie-onist Overlord

I do not get this Greenwald worship. What is it about this giant asshole that appeals to people? It’s not like he can sing or dance or play the guitar or act in hit movies.

That’s like asking why do nitwits walk around with Che t-shirts long after history showed he was anything but the heroic revolutionary that he painted himself as.

583 darthstar  May 27, 2014 9:55:47am
584 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:55:49am

re: #578 Lidane

An LGBT person can’t just take off their orientation and leave it in the car. A gun owner can leave their gun under the seat before walking in the door.

Precisely.

585 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 9:56:44am
586 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 9:57:05am

re: #582 Targetpractice

That’s like asking why do nitwits walk around with Che t-shirts long after history showed he was anything but the heroic revolutionary that he painted himself as.

I only wear this Che shirt.
Image: che-wearing-che.jpg

587 Gus  May 27, 2014 9:57:23am
588 Gus  May 27, 2014 9:57:52am

re: #577 Ryan King

Eisler = if you criticize Greenwald for being a douche you’re a tool of the state, because big media doesn’t like Greenwald.

With bonus irony:

So it’s our fault to note Greenwald’s obvious character flaws and thin skinned ego because of (horrible bad governments stuffs).

I’m incredulous reading this stuff, it’s so f’ing stupid.

Looks like a mighty big straw man from here.

589 lawhawk  May 27, 2014 9:58:13am

re: #569 Ryan King

That’s really assuming that the mainstream/establishment GOP is more moderate or less extreme than the Tea Party. I’d argue that the difference is that the Tea Party is even more extreme and even less willing to negotiate or otherwise participate in governing. But on most issues, the GOP and Tea Party are in agreement.

While this wasn’t a Texas Rep, Sen. McConnell espoused extremist positions that are indistinguishable from his TP opponent in the GOP primary, including on Obamacare, but we’re somehow supposed to think that he’s more moderate than the TP.

The differences are more style than substance.

590 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 9:59:11am
social biases which run so deeply that they are invisible to those who hold them.

Is that not an excellent phrase?

I really like this guy’s writing style.

Yes, this is Paged.

591 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 9:59:54am

re: #585 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

I really don’t know which is sadder: The Republicans who never served criticizing the President for wanting to get us out of Afghanistan on a time-table, or the ones who have served (I’m looking at you, McCain) who think the answer to all of America’s problems is invading anybody who looks at us funny.

592 Lidane  May 27, 2014 10:00:25am

re: #585 Backwoods_Sleuth

Is he the same tool that’s getting ripped apart by veterans groups over the VA scandal because he never served in the military?

593 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:00:30am

re: #589 lawhawk

That’s really assuming that the mainstream/establishment GOP is more moderate or less extreme than the Tea Party. I’d argue that the difference is that the Tea Party is even more extreme and even less willing to negotiate or otherwise participate in governing. But on most issues, the GOP and Tea Party are in agreement.

While this wasn’t a Texas Rep, Sen. McConnell espoused extremist positions that are indistinguishable from his TP opponent in the GOP primary, including on Obamacare, but we’re somehow supposed to think that he’s more moderate than the TP.

The differences are more style than substance.

I believe McConnell or one of the high ups conceded there really was no ideological difference between them and the TP. The only real difference between the establishment GOP and the TP is the former is filled with careerists who know better and the other is filled with people who think Obama is the only president ever to expand the size of government.

594 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 10:00:46am

re: #587 Gus

[Embedded content]

Are these the people Godwald is going to “out”?

What a scumbag he is. And his little dog, Eddie, too.

595 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 27, 2014 10:01:24am

re: #562 Lidane

It’s funny how these RWNJs will bleat about how private businesses have the right to serve whoever they want and discriminate against those they don’t want inside when it comes to LGBT people, but keep a douchecanoe with a long gun out of your restaurant for public safety and all of a sudden you’re a tyrant.

Because they insist that you have no God-given right to be gay but that God has given us the right to bear arms all over his creation.

596 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 10:01:33am

re: #548 otoc

With all due respect, in spite of me saying what I offered was not quantified and that I wasn’t looking to convince anyone, all you’ve done is offer nothing other to state you’re not convinced and ask for proof without offering any in rebuttal. Fine. We differ in both opinion and style.

My rebuttal is that rote learning tends to measurably diminish performance in other areas, and that ‘network’ learning actually expands attention far better than the frustrating and boring nature of rote learning.

Here’s a citation for that:

jstor.org

And here’s a citation that suggests rote learning is inferior to other forms of learning when it comes to ‘transfer’—that is, applying the learning to novel situations.

jstor.org

Do you have anything showing that rote learning, as you claimed, increases ability to focus for longer periods?

I still have no clue what you’re talking about with Sesame Street > Twitter. It makes as little sense to me as saying that the broadsheet style of newspaper led to twitter.

597 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:01:34am

re: #591 Targetpractice

I really don’t know which is sadder: The Republicans who never served criticizing the President for wanting to get us out of Afghanistan on a time-table, or the ones who have served (I’m looking at you, McCain) who think the answer to all of America’s problems is invading anybody who looks at us funny.

Both are sad in their own way but I find McCain more sadder since he’s shown in the past the capacity to be thoughtful but ever since Obama beat him in the 2008 election, he’s been nothing but a warmongreling asshole.

598 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:01:55am

re: #595 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Because they insist that you have no God-given right to be gay but that God has given us the right to bear arms all over his creation.

That sadly is exactly right.

599 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 10:02:20am

Hacker who helped feds gets no more time in prison

bigstory.ap.org

NEW YORK (AP) — An admitted computer hacker who helped the FBI thwart hundreds of cyberattacks on government and corporate computer systems will get no more prison time.

(snip)

“Prosecutors also have credited Monsegur with helping cripple the group of so-called hacktivists known as Anonymous.

“Monsegur once led an Anonymous splinter group that stole information from Fox television, Nintendo and other businesses.” More

600 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 10:02:21am

re: #592 Lidane

Is he the same tool that’s getting ripped apart by veterans groups over the VA scandal because he never served in the military?

yep
oops, targetpractice’s response is correct.

601 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 10:02:30am

re: #592 Lidane

Is he the same tool that’s getting ripped apart by veterans groups over the VA scandal because he never served in the military?

No, that’s Richard Burr, who’s getting the shit kicked out of him by VA groups for suggesting that they’re covering for the White House by not joining in the GOP’s “outrage.” He doubled-down today by sneering that his letter got more response than this “scandal” has.

602 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:03:29am

more

He came to believe that the best way to serve the nation was to serve the financial institutions that sit astride it like … well, like the courts of medieval emperors.

re: #590 FemNaziBitch

Is that not an excellent phrase?

I really like this guy’s writing style.

Yes, this is Paged.

603 ObserverArt  May 27, 2014 10:04:16am

re: #581 Pie-onist Overlord

I do not get this Greenwald worship. What is it about this giant asshole that appeals to people? It’s not like he can sing or dance or play the guitar or act in hit movies.

I think it all comes down to a simple fact, he feeds their fears. And for some odd reason, everyone is fearful 24/7. Not sure why. Maybe our society has shifted from seeing the good in everyone to expecting the worst.

I saw upthread some folks talking about the short attention span that is fed by twitter and so many other types of media. Glenn knows that too. That is why he puts all the fear up front in the first two paragraphs. He knows no one is going to read it all down to the last paragraphs where he hides the facts. And even then he mushes the facts.

The scary part is where so many fall for it, and many of those are in our media. It all becomes fact based on supposition. How does that work anyway?

604 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:04:34am

re: #589 lawhawk

The differences are more style than substance.

yes, I totally agree. However, the unrefined TP rhetoric is more polarizing and less mealy mouth and ‘country sophisticate.’

The TP is worse at messaging than their country club cohorts… which is exactly something I expect Democrats to exploit.

605 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:06:14am

re: #601 Targetpractice

No, that’s Richard Burr, who’s getting the shit kicked out of him by VA groups for suggesting that they’re covering for the White House by not joining in the GOP’s “outrage.” He doubled-down today by sneering that his letter got more response than this “scandal” has.

So Burr is basically doing the same thing Ryan did when the Pentagon said they wanted budget cuts. In otherwords, he’s being a typical Republican douchenozzle.

606 Justanotherhuman  May 27, 2014 10:07:16am

re: #602 FemNaziBitch

Error in Geithner’s name in headline.

607 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:09:17am

re: #606 Justanotherhuman

Error in Geithner’s name in headline.

fixed —thanks

608 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:10:10am

re: #605 HappyWarrior

So Burr is basically doing the same thing Ryan did when the Pentagon said they wanted budget cuts. In otherwords, he’s being a typical Republican douchenozzle.

Yeah, I saw something about that very recently. Maybe we discussed on the downstairs thread.

Fox News Drones have no clue.

609 Gus  May 27, 2014 10:13:27am
610 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:13:56am
611 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:15:08am

re: #532 Pie-onist Overlord

Ayn Rand was a horrible racist. Who knew?

[Embedded content]

IMHO, this is one of the reasons society has to have it’s “G-d”.

Who granted the Native American’s rights?

Those who think they are more intelligent or somehow more deserving will decide and arrange things so that they are the one’s granting rights.

I don’t get it, but it seems to be the case.

612 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 10:16:34am

And here’s your wingnut gun-fucking meme of the day.

613 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:16:45am

re: #609 Gus

[Embedded content]

Well good for you, Eddie! I hope watching my hubby snore and the dog lick his balls really turned you on.

614 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:17:45am

re: #612 Pie-onist Overlord

And here’s your wingnut gun-fucking meme of the day.

[Embedded content]

Wouldn’t be a Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday?Thursday/Friday/Saturday without a scantily clad woman posing with a gun to make the little wingnuts feel hard.

615 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 10:18:01am

re: #612 Pie-onist Overlord

And here’s your wingnut gun-fucking meme of the day.

[Embedded content]

Which is why women are more likely to be killed by their husbands with a gun than vice versa.

Elliot Rodger saw guns as a way of getting even with the world for not getting sex. These nutters see guns as a way of getting sex. Yegods.

616 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:18:14am

re: #609 Gus

[Embedded content]

So I better be good for goodness sake?

617 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:20:07am

re: #615 Targetpractice

Which is why women are more likely to be killed by their husbands with a gun than vice versa.

Elliot Rodger saw guns as a way of getting even with the world for not getting sex. These nutters see guns as a way of getting sex. Yegods.

For those that don’t have steel balls?

618 jaunte  May 27, 2014 10:20:48am

re: #609 Gus

From Russia?

619 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 10:22:05am

re: #618 jaunte

[Embedded content]

From Russia?

With Love?

620 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:22:33am

re: #618 jaunte

[Embedded content]

From Russia?

Yeah, it’s meme. Kissinger or Nixon said something similar about Brezhnev’s (?) dog pissing in Moscow.

The awesomeness of satellite optics, or something.

621 jaunte  May 27, 2014 10:23:10am

Snowden can’t see anything but his handlers conducting him to the next interview.

622 FemNaziBitch  May 27, 2014 10:24:24am

bbl

623 GunstarGreen  May 27, 2014 10:27:41am

re: #615 Targetpractice

Which is why women are more likely to be killed by their husbands with a gun than vice versa.

Elliot Rodger saw guns as a way of getting even with the world for not getting sex. These nutters see guns as a way of getting sex. Yegods.

I will never understand the sexual fetishization of guns. It just doesn’t make any sense to me, at all.

624 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:29:34am

re: #623 GunstarGreen

I will never understand the sexual fetishization of guns. It just doesn’t make any sense to me, at all.

COMMUNIST!

625 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:29:34am

re: #623 GunstarGreen

I will never understand the sexual fetishization of guns. It just doesn’t make any sense to me, at all.

I don’t either. I think it’s really silly and childish.

626 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 10:29:58am

re: #623 GunstarGreen

I will never understand the sexual fetishization of guns. It just doesn’t make any sense to me, at all.

It’s the sexual objectification of women, making them nothing more than a background for GUNS.

627 lawhawk  May 27, 2014 10:30:20am

re: #623 GunstarGreen

Youtube Video

628 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 10:31:17am

re: #623 GunstarGreen

I will never understand the sexual fetishization of guns. It just doesn’t make any sense to me, at all.

It’s the same as draping beer commercials with hot women or putting flashy cars in the latest big-budget action film, the commercialization of sex as a way to sell things. “Buy the beer, get the girl.” For these testosterone-poisoned minds, the idea that a “real man” has an arsenal of guns is practically religious doctrine.

629 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 10:32:19am
630 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 10:32:44am

re: #629 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Joe who?

631 ObserverArt  May 27, 2014 10:33:11am

Is that Stern article available in English? I’d like to see who exactly Edward is speaking about. Once again the article makes it seems like everyone can be watched by Edward.

Sort of makes me wonder how the NSA couldn’t have been watching Edward watching everyone else and prevented the jerk from running off with all that data.

Something is not right in this one. Anyone willing to bet Edward is generalizing about the ability to do this watching, but only after meeting tons of other regulations and getting court orders. And again…is he watching someone in America, or was he capable of watching Glenn in Brazil?

632 Kragar  May 27, 2014 10:34:27am
633 Gus  May 27, 2014 10:34:50am

re: #630 Targetpractice

Joe who?

Joe Shmo.

634 ObserverArt  May 27, 2014 10:36:12am

re: #626 Pie-onist Overlord

It’s the sexual objectification of women, making them nothing more than a background for GUNS.

Hmmm. What happens then if a good guy with guns is so turned on by a hot woman with guns he thinks he wants a sexual relationship based on not only the objectification of woman…but doubled up because she is a hottie with guns. And a minor detail…she bought the guns to keep away that very guy.

Now that is a situation.

635 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:37:23am

The whole point of those is to go “Oh man, she’s smoking and she has a gun too!” It’s basically pornography for people who are too repressed to appreciate normal pornography that doesn’t involve weapons.

636 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 10:37:40am

re: #634 ObserverArt

Hmmm. What happens then if a good guy with guns is so turned on by a hot woman with guns he thinks he wants a sexual relationship based on not only the objectification of woman…but doubled up because she is a hottie with guns. And a minor detail…she bought the guns to keep away that very guy.

Now that is a situation.

Chances are that he is going to get the jump on her and rape her at gunpoint with her own weapons which the gun-fuckers urged her to buy BECAUSE A GUN IS TEH ONLY THING THAT CAN STOP A RAPIST!!!!!!!

637 Flying Squirrel Girl  May 27, 2014 10:37:49am

re: #625 HappyWarrior

When I was right out of college I worked on one of those “alternative incarceration” programs where the kids live outdoors instead of in jail cells. Program was a huge failure (IMO) but some of the things the kids told me have stuck with me for 2 decades.

All of the kids were from Philly or Pittsburg, and most were in gangs. They spent every spare minute drawing pictures of guns or writing raps about guns. I asked one kid about the allure of having guns and he replied, “Guns are respect. If I point a gun at you and ask you to do something, you will because you respect the gun.” I tried to explain that he had respect and fear mixed up. He said it was power.

638 Gus  May 27, 2014 10:38:22am

Scahill. Ever the “pacifist.”

639 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:39:59am

re: #638 Gus

It’s basically ‘Ha ha LOL you Obama Lovers, he’s just a warmonger president, see?’

TrollJournos.

640 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 10:40:02am

This Twitter account @kbdabear does nothing but post gun-fucking memes.

641 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 10:40:39am
642 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 27, 2014 10:43:47am

re: #637 Flying Squirrel Girl

When I was right out of college I worked on one of those “alternative incarceration” programs where the kids live outdoors instead of in jail cells. Program was a huge failure (IMO) but some of the things the kids told me have stuck with me for 2 decades.

All of the kids were from Philly or Pittsburg, and most were in gangs. They spent every spare minute drawing pictures of guns or writing raps about guns. I asked one kid about the allure of having guns and he replied, “Guns are respect. If I point a gun at you and ask you to do something, you will because you respect the gun.” I tried to explain that he had respect and fear mixed up. He said it was power.

There’s the flaw. Respect for the gun is not the same as respect for the person pointing the gun.

643 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:43:59am
644 Dr. Matt  May 27, 2014 10:47:39am

It appears that the major life “accomplishment” for many these gun-nut festishists is purchasing an expensive weapon and outfitting them with even more expensive accessories. hashtag: Bravo

645 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:49:07am

Apple to Launch New ‘Smart Home’ Platform at WWDC

2nd comment:

556fmjoe
1 day ago at 09:45 am
A Google shower would make you sign in to Google+, track how many times per day you shower, then sell it to advertisers.

A Facebook shower would have a camera watch you so you can share it with your friends

An Apple shower would only work with an obscure showerhead that uses a non-standard connection, would be no longer supported after 5 years, and would force you to buy a new home to upgrade.

A Linux shower would require that you first spend 40 years becoming a master plumber, carpenter, engineer, and electrician, renovate your entire house from the ground up to install it, and would not be compatible with your utility company’s water.
Rating: 28 Positives

646 Skip Intro  May 27, 2014 10:49:52am
Fox News Guest Offers Lame Apology After Suggesting Elliot Rodger Was Fighting ‘Homosexual Impulses’

Reality TV psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig wondered over the weekend if the young man’s rage had stemmed from “trying to fight against his homosexual impulses.”

A reader responds: You don’t go on a rampage if you are fighting homosexual impulses that make you uncomfortable. You become a Republican.

huffingtonpost.com

647 Pie-onist Overlord  May 27, 2014 10:55:12am

This is some sick shit:

648 Ryan King  May 27, 2014 10:57:16am

re: #646 Skip Intro

Total WIN. LOL.

649 Kragar  May 27, 2014 10:57:57am

re: #647 Pie-onist Overlord

This is some sick shit:

[Embedded content]

Pro-lifers are some profoundly warped human beings

650 Targetpractice  May 27, 2014 10:58:05am

re: #643 Ryan King

[Embedded content]

Sadly, nobody could think to make such suggestions before Bush skipped out of the White House with a letter saying “Oh yeah, by the way, totally screwed the pooch on the VA. CATCH THE HOT POTATO!”

651 b_sharp  May 27, 2014 10:58:18am

re: #1 Charles Johnson

[Embedded image]

That pup is an old dog with cataracts. It probably can’t see well so it assumes everything is a danger to it and reacts appropriately.

Maybe that’s Pernicious G’s problem?

652 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 10:59:32am

re: #641 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

or allow people to shout obscenities at you when you’re entering the gunshop.//

653 Gus  May 27, 2014 11:00:16am

Joe the Plumber is still not a plumber.

654 HappyWarrior  May 27, 2014 11:01:00am

re: #653 Gus

Joe the Plumber is still not a plumber.

He’s not even a Joe.

655 Dr. Matt  May 27, 2014 11:01:12am

re: #653 Gus

Joe the Plumber is still not a plumber.

But he’s still an asshole.

656 Dr Lizardo  May 27, 2014 11:08:29am

re: #561 HappyWarrior

I too have always been amused how they ignore that Rand was very anti-religion and pro-choice and only focus on her praising of greed. Calling yourself a devout Christian and follower of Ayn Rand makes no sense.

The two are mutually exclusive.

Now calling yourself a Satanist and a follower of Ayn Rand - that makes sense, because Anton LaVey was heavily influenced by Objectivism.

657 otoc  May 27, 2014 1:07:03pm

re: #596 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

My rebuttal is that rote learning tends to measurably diminish performance in other areas, and that ‘network’ learning actually expands attention far better than the frustrating and boring nature of rote learning.

Here’s a citation for that:

jstor.org

And here’s a citation that suggests rote learning is inferior to other forms of learning when it comes to ‘transfer’—that is, applying the learning to novel situations.

jstor.org

Do you have anything showing that rote learning, as you claimed, increases ability to focus for longer periods?

Sorry, all I could do was glean a couple of pages, but it seems you are rebutting something I never said. Unless you can provide additional quotes from these papers that require payment to read, I’m not saying that one form of learning is better than another. To be clear to you, I’m not saying that rote is the way to learn, I feel just the opposite having transitioned from the arts to the sciences many times. To take one of the published articles you gave, the one about students learning Ohms law, let’s face it, the first step is to learn the formulas. The next step is how to apply them into new environments.

A typical exercise with younger children is the use of flash cards and note taking. This to me is a form of rote learning. One is not exclusive of the other, and while rote plays a minimal role to me, it’s as if you are arguing against it entirely. Hard to say though. But obviously you are arguing against something I’m not saying.

If you wish to argue discipline can’t increase attention spans and rote learning doesn’t increase discipline, well, fine. All I can do is think about various exercises designed to increase attention. None of your links (as I can see) discounts what I stated. I said it in a qualified way, and never in a quantified way. Which to me is building relationships from what I’ve learned in the past to come to new conclusions in the present.

So how do you explain children growing up in the US who are part of a different culture having, for example, Chinese parents. They seem to do better in our schools, using our set of benchmarks. We both agreed comparing two countries wasn’t valid, but stats don’t lie. Is it they have a better propensity for drawing relationships or simply work harder to overcome the natural desire to not pay attention for more than short time periods?

Or how do you explain the fact that Sesame Street has changed their strategy over the years, away from the magazine soundbite approach and more towards the full hour show concept?

Again, please pay attention to this one, I’m not knocking what Sesame Street has done. But even they have learned and changed over the years. That was the basis on my half joke blaming them for the ills of the world. Come on now, If anyone should be blamed, it’s parents.

I still have no clue what you’re talking about with Sesame Street > Twitter. It makes as little sense to me as saying that the broadsheet style of newspaper led to twitter.

Really? Let’s look at this in a transfer way.

Your example, from broadsheet to Twitter. If we use the original meaning of a single sheet brought on by taxing the number of pages, it creates a transition of a reduced form of news to a further reduced form of news. While Twitter can be useful in passing links to further new or information, it also passes non-information of what someone ate that day or what someone put on for clothes. Who cares, I’d rather read the full news or article, the more pages the better, so I can get an understanding and make decisions on my own.

So no, what I’m saying is not what your analogy describes.

What I’m saying, is what I repeated several times. Sesame Street was designed to take advantage of short attention spans. For 20 years it really took advantage of them. We indulged our children with what they would take in easily. And it worked. Kids learned. And they did better in school than some kids without the experience. But what do we have now? So many other venues have copied the concept and it’s not directed towards kids. But the kids that have grown with the concept that watching a rest pattern could be used for education. I believe I noticed you made a statement that there is no indication that attention spans have gotten shorter over the years. I don’t agree. What I grew up with required a bit more thought and attention to understand and appreciate. Movies, publications, news, the arts.

Now, don’t blow this into a black or white extreme for I won’t respond. There’s good, with the bad. We aren’t living in a destitute world where people just grunt to each other moving on from one area of attention to another like extreme cases of ADD. Well, unless I read the average Twitter feed, lol.

658 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 1:33:24pm

re: #657 otoc

Sorry, all I could do was glean a couple of pages, but it seems you are rebutting something I never said. Unless you can provide additional quotes from these papers that require payment to read, I’m not saying that one form of learning is better than another. To be clear to you, I’m not saying that rote is the way to learn, I feel just the opposite having transitioned from the arts to the sciences many times. To take one of the published articles you gave, the one about students learning Ohms law, let’s face it, the first step is to learn the formulas. The next step is how to apply them into new environments.

A typical exercise with younger children is the use of flash cards and note taking. This to me is a form of rote learning. One is not exclusive of the other, and while rote plays a minimal role to me, it’s as if you are arguing against it entirely. Hard to say though. But obviously you are arguing against something I’m not saying.

You argued that rote lessons increase the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. This is an unsupported and very dubious assertion.

What I’m saying, is what I repeated several times. Sesame Street was designed to take advantage of short attention spans.

Akward phrasing: It was designed to teach taking into account the short attention spans of the ages it was addressing.

But what do we have now? So many other venues have copied the concept and it’s not directed towards kids.

Copied the concept that you ought to teach age-appropriately?

But the kids that have grown with the concept that watching a rest pattern could be used for education.

This is not true.

I believe I noticed you made a statement that there is no indication that attention spans have gotten shorter over the years. I don’t agree.

Those statistics aren’t talking about attention spans, it’s talking about internet usage.

What I grew up with required a bit more thought and attention to understand and appreciate. Movies, publications, news, the arts.

You’re just begging the question here; this is just raw assertion. This is what you should be trying to prove. It’s a little odd that you think that people don’t watch movies these days, too.

What’s your basis for claiming that reading newspaper articles of old required more thought and attention than reading stuff online does these days? It’s just text. Do you have the data for how much time people spent on newspaper articles back in the day?

Now, don’t blow this into a black or white extreme for I won’t respond. There’s good, with the bad. We aren’t living in a destitute world where people just grunt to each other moving on from one area of attention to another like extreme cases of ADD. Well, unless I read the average Twitter feed, lol.

You haven’t done anything to substantiate your claims.

659 otoc  May 27, 2014 2:44:15pm

re: #658 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You argued that rote lessons increase the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. This is an unsupported and very dubious assertion.

I believe I stated rote lessons were things we don’t like, but need in certain cases and and the discipline it took allowed for longer periods of concentration. Your rebuttal didn’t disprove that. It argued a different topic entirely. That rote teaching was not the best method alone when compared to others.

Akward phrasing: It was designed to teach taking into account the short attention spans of the ages it was addressing.

Really? This is different than what I wrote?

Copied the concept that you ought to teach age-appropriately?

Come on now, unless you are trying to prove how short our attention spans have become, dissecting sentences out of complete paragraphs in order to simply dismiss is not going to get this discussion anywhere. Many venues copied the short attention model.

This is not true.

That Sesame Street wasn’t originally modeled after observing kids watching television test patterns? It is true. Linked in one of my first responses.

Those statistics aren’t talking about attention spans, it’s talking about internet usage.

And there’s no correlation to be derived from how much time is spent reading pages? The authors called it attention span, So you dismiss that too. Fine. Offer something.

You’re just begging the question here; this is just raw assertion. This is what you should be trying to prove. It’s a little odd that you think that people don’t watch movies these days, too.

Why prove it to you? More importantly, from where do you get “It’s a little odd that you think that people don’t watch movies these days, too”? Certainly not from anything I wrote.

What’s your basis for claiming that reading newspaper articles of old required more thought and attention than reading stuff online does these days? It’s just text. Do you have the data for how much time people spent on newspaper articles back in the day?

You haven’t done anything to substantiate your claims.

Raw assertions? Substantiate my claims? Aside from the fact it is easy for you to throw barbs without discounting anything I’ve said apparently, the real question begs to be asked.

Why do you ignore my honesty regarding the fact that my opinion was not quantified? There’s a difference between qualified and quantified when it comes to theory.

I give you stats on people reading web pages and how their attention span has dropped in recent years, and you dismiss that and ask for stats about newspapers. You ignore pertinent questions directed towards you.

If you have have the need to pull sentences out of order from my paragraphs in order to dismiss, while ignoring other sections, have your fun, for that isn’t a discussion to me, nor is this a rebuttal as in a debate. Nor have you done anything beyond what I have done.

In essence, you offer a qualified theory without quantifying. Nothing more or less than I have done with the difference being how we address each other.

I respect your difference of opinion, have a nice day.

660 Ding-an-sich Wannabe  May 27, 2014 2:56:46pm

re: #656 Dr Lizardo

The two are mutually exclusive.

Now calling yourself a Satanist and a follower of Ayn Rand - that makes sense, because Anton LaVey was heavily influenced by Objectivism.

The “Father” of the Russian Internet-Satanism of the LaVeyan variety used to express at least some libertarian notions in the 1990s, then slowly turned to a hybrid totalitarian ideology somehow, a heavy mix of Stalinism and Nazism, without abandoning LaVey. It’s funny to see him getting poked with LaVey’s quote about him being influenced by Objectivism and deny that it’s authentic, since he positively hates libertarians.

661 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 27, 2014 2:59:45pm

re: #659 otoc

I believe I stated rote lessons were things we don’t like, but need in certain cases and and the discipline it took allowed for longer periods of concentration.

Yes. And you haven’t done anything to support that contention. There’s no reason why it would increase periods of concentration; that’s just an unsupported assertion that isn’t in any way self-evident.

And there’s no correlation to be derived from how much time is spent reading pages? The authors called it attention span, So you dismiss that too. Fine. Offer something.

I’m not the one claiming that people have changed: you are. It falls to you to substantiate the claims you’re making. And no, i don’t think how much time is spent reading pages is an important metric; there’s no reason it would be.

Really? This is different than what I wrote?

Yes. They did the best job they could teaching kids, based on their attention span. That’s the concept: Use the actual attention span of the age range to teach.

Why prove it to you? More importantly, from where do you get “It’s a little odd that you think that people don’t watch movies these days, too”? Certainly not from anything I wrote.

Because among the things that you said required more thought back in ye olde days, you listed movies.

Raw assertions? Substantiate my claims? Aside from the fact it is easy for you to throw barbs without discounting anything I’ve said apparently, the real question begs to be asked.

Why do you ignore my honesty regarding the fact that my opinion was not quantified? There’s a difference between qualified and quantified when it comes to theory.

You don’t either have qualitative or quantitative support.

I give you stats on people reading web pages and how their attention span has dropped in recent years, and you dismiss that and ask for stats about newspapers. You ignore pertinent questions directed towards you

This seems you like didn’t understand why I asked for stats regarding newspapers.

You are contending that our attention spans have dropped, and that people used to use more thought and attention to appreciate things. If you want to responsibly compare internet usage today with newspaper reading of old, you’d have to know the same data for newspaper reading that you do for the internet stuff; how much time people spent reading articles, what percentage of them they tended to read. There’s an old newspaper mantra that you need to put everything important in the first paragraph, because most people don’t read beyond it; there is no reason to assume that people read online stuff significantly differently than offline stuff.

If you have have the need to pull sentences out of order from my paragraphs in order to dismiss, while ignoring other sections, have your fun, for that isn’t a discussion to me, nor is this a rebuttal as in a debate. Nor have you done anything beyond what I have done.

Do you understand that you are making claims, and that therefore you should support them?

In essence, you offer a qualified theory without quantifying. Nothing more or less than I have done with the difference being how we address each other.

I’m not offering a theory. You are.

662 Swift2991  May 27, 2014 7:06:07pm

re: #85 HappyWarrior

The 442nd got that apology, and those reparations. Should have been the same around 1880 for the US Colored Troops, but those reparations got lost in the mail.


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