This Is What Happens When Legislators Don’t Learn Science in School

Kentucky still has “concerns” about climate change…
Environment • Views: 49,935

As a native Kentuckian who has also lived in several states in this wonderful country and now happily resides in the backwoods of eastern Kentucky, I want to say right off the bat that I love Kentucky. However, I do despair over the intellectual capacity of our elected officials.

While Kentucky is trumpeted as the state that made ACA work beyond expectations, we are also the state that refuses to recognize SSM, awards millions of tax dollars to Ken Ham’s Creation “Museum” (and now his potential Ark), and just LOVES the coal industry (even though it hasn’t been a major employer here in decades). Oh, and we are the state that gave the country Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.

Just when I thought there couldn’t be another way to embarrass us, this morning I was proved wrong.

Desperately, desperately wrong.

I’ll let my favorite reporter, Louisville blogger Joe “Mitch McConnell Hides From Me” Sonka, take it from here:

Kentucky’s Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Environment met today to discuss the new EPA rules to fight climate change by limiting greenhouse gases from power plants. The committee is chaired by Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence, a proud climate change denier who has suggested in the past that Kentucky secede from the union in order to avoid federal environmental regulations. Yes, he chairs the committee, because Kentucky.
I don’t even know where to start on sharing some of the wisdom that was expressed by our state legislators during this hearing. No, actually I do. I give you the honorable Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard:

“As you (Energy & Environment Cabinet official) sit there in your chair with your data, we sit up here in ours with our data and our constituents and stuff behind us. I don’t want to get into the debate about climate change, but I will simply point out that I think in academia we all agree that the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here. Nobody will dispute that. Yet there are no coal mines on Mars. There are no factories on Mars that I’m aware of.”

“Stuff”…how can you argue with that as an intellectual, nay scientific, statement of fact?

There’s more. Much, much more hilarity (and it’s all factual) ensues at the link, including video: Sen. Brandon Smith Has Important Things to Say About Climate Change, Mars - FatLip

I’ll also encourage readers to check out Joe’s live tweeting during the committee meeting. Be warned, Sen. Smith may have been the worst representative there, but he was not alone in spouting lunacy.

UPDATE at 7/3/14 6:37:15 pm by Backwoods_Sleuth

KET (Kentucky Educational Television) has a video of the committee meeting here.

UPDATE at 7/7/14 10:34:26 am by Backwoods_Sleuth

Sen. Smith tries to use the “taken out of context” card:

Hilarity ensues in the tweet responses to Sen. Smith.

Also, h/t to Joe Sonka for this relevant clip:
Youtube Video

Jump to bottom

419 comments
1 Rocky-in-Connecticut  Jul 3, 2014 3:03:22pm

This would cause embarrassment in a normal world to those electing these anti-Science cretins. But the constituents themselves are sadly also anti-Science cretins.

In their minds, they are winning argument after argument against “libtards and scientist geeks”. But in reality, all they do is busy themselves constructing their own reality, their own history revisionism, and own cultural wall against the incoming hordes from around the world and over our borders. It is no wonder that the US middle class continues a slide downward, clapping and cheering themselves all along the way.

2 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 3:05:16pm

re: #1 Rocky-in-Connecticut

They learn their “science factoids” at church and in emails.

sigh…

3 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 3:16:38pm
4 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 3:17:54pm

re: #3 Gus

thank you!
{{smooches}}

5 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 3:26:43pm
“As you (Energy & Environment Cabinet official) sit there in your chair with your data, we sit up here in ours with our data and our constituents and stuff behind us.

Checkmate environmentalists!
We have stuff!
CHECKMATE!!!

6 lostlakehiker  Jul 3, 2014 3:33:59pm

In defense of Sen. Brandon Smith, he probably meant to say that Venus has the exact same temperature as Earth, despite having an atmosphere that’s mainly carbon dioxide. Surely no one will suggest that he actually believed that Mars was as warm as the Earth. *

What he must have meant to say would have been a more telling point, actually, because if true, it would have utterly demolished the theory that carbon dioxide can affect the temperature on a planet.

Then again, Senator Smith has probably seen replicas of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and who could argue that she is not hot?

So maybe I just can’t tell what Sen. Smith was thinking.

New theory: he was thinking dang, that’s good weed.

*I rather doubt he gave it any thought one way or another. Hey, it’s a talking point. You don’t believe those. You just say them.

7 klys  Jul 3, 2014 3:38:19pm

re: #6 lostlakehiker

In defense of Sen. Brandon Smith, he probably meant to say that Venus has the exact same temperature as Earth, despite having an atmosphere that’s mainly carbon dioxide. Surely no one will suggest that he actually believed that Mars was as warm as the Earth. *

What he must have meant to say would have been a more telling point, actually, because if true, it would have utterly demolished the theory that carbon dioxide can affect the temperature on a planet.

Then again, Senator Smith has probably seen replicas of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and who could argue that she is not hot?

So maybe I just can’t tell what Sen. Smith was thinking.

New theory: he was thinking dang, that’s good weed.

*I rather doubt he gave it any thought one way or another. Hey, it’s a talking point. You don’t believe those. You just say them.

Except for the part where the temperature on Venus is, on average, 864 deg F.

If someone can’t be bothered with basic science, why should I trust that they can write laws which take reality into account?

8 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 3:38:51pm

re: #6 lostlakehiker

hahahaaa! It’s a good an explanation as any, I suppose!

ETA: Maybe that’s what he really meant by “stuff”…

9 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 3:39:33pm

re: #6 lostlakehiker

Saying that Venus has the same temperature as Earth would be even MOAR STOOPIT than saying that Mars does.

10 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 3:58:11pm

Promoted!

11 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 3:58:13pm

accck!!!! I’m all verklempt!
Thank you, Charles!

12 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 3:59:23pm

re: #7 klys

Except for the part where the temperature on Venus is, on average, 864 deg F.

If someone can’t be bothered with basic science, why should I trust that they can write laws which take reality into account?

You shouldn’t. The fact that there are people who clearly do honestly scares the living daylights out of me.

13 darthstar  Jul 3, 2014 4:00:21pm
14 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 4:01:27pm

Venus is actually a great example of a runaway greenhouse effect.

15 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:01:38pm

re: #12 thedopefishlives

You shouldn’t. The fact that there are people who clearly do honestly scares the living daylights out of me.

The US right is working diligently to provide examples to fit the old saying:

“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” —- Voltaire

16 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 4:01:57pm
17 darthstar  Jul 3, 2014 4:02:44pm

Take the quiz! Find out which founding father you are most like!

clickhole.com

18 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:03:30pm

re: #17 darthstar

Take the quiz! Find out which founding father you are most like!

clickhole.com

I don’t need no stinkin’ quiz.
If I’m not Ben Franklin, I don’t want to know…

19 darthstar  Jul 3, 2014 4:05:44pm

re: #18 Backwoods_Sleuth

I don’t need no stinkin’ quiz.
If I’m not Ben Franklin, I don’t want to know…

Oh, just go take it. It’s only one question.

20 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 4:06:25pm

re: #19 darthstar

Oh, just go take it. It’s only one question.

Bahahaha. That’s a great one.

21 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:06:45pm

re: #19 darthstar

Oh, just go take it. It’s only one question.

heh…
“none of them”.
I’m safe…

22 bubba zanetti  Jul 3, 2014 4:09:00pm

The “Global Warming on Mars” talking point comes from some wingnut noticing that Mars also warmed slightly, and then stupidly jumping to the conclusion that it must be due to the sun increasing output, despite there being no evidence of such, and actual evidence that the orbit of Mars is wobbly and is currently moving it closer to the sun.

23 darthstar  Jul 3, 2014 4:09:39pm

re: #21 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh…
“none of them”.
I’m safe…

You can go back and change your answer

Wow! You’re all of the founding fathers. You have the foresight of Jefferson, the leadership of Washington, and the vision of Benjamin Franklin. You also think women should never, ever have the ability to vote and, more than likely, owned slaves.

24 S'latch  Jul 3, 2014 4:10:43pm

Will we be dragged into the deep by uneducated ignoramuses? Maybe.

25 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:10:54pm

re: #22 bubba zanetti

The “Global Warming on Mars” talking point comes from some wingnut noticing that Mars also warmed slightly, and then stupidly jumping to the conclusion that it must be due to the sun increasing output, despite there being no evidence of such, and actual evidence that the orbit of Mars is wobbly and is currently moving it closer to the sun.

Facts! They’re melting us! All my beautiful evil is melting!!

26 CriticalDragon1177  Jul 3, 2014 4:11:51pm

re: #14 Charles Johnson

Venus is actually a great example of a runaway greenhouse effect.

Its probably the best we have actually.

27 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 4:11:52pm
28 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 4:12:57pm

“As you (Energy & Environment Cabinet official) sit there in your chair with your data, we sit up here in ours with our data and our constituents and stuff behind us. I don’t want to get into the debate about climate change, but I will simply point out that I think in academia we all agree that the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here. Nobody will dispute that. Yet there are no coal mines on Mars. There are no factories on Mars that I’m aware of.”
— Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard

First of all, I did not make up that quote, it’s quite real.

Secondly, while the average temperature on Earth is roughly 58 degrees Fahrenheit, the average temperature on Mars is approximately -80 degrees Fahrenheit. In Sen. Smith’s defense, he’s only off by about 138 degrees or so, which happens sometimes. Let’s go ahead and round up (up up up up up up up, etc…)…

fatlip.leoweekly.com

29 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:14:19pm

re: #28 Gus

This is what happens when people who are deliberately and willfully stupid are organized by sociopaths to seek political power.

30 Amory Blaine  Jul 3, 2014 4:14:48pm

31 CriticalDragon1177  Jul 3, 2014 4:15:25pm

re: #27 Gus

32 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 4:18:12pm

re: #31 CriticalDragon1177

[Embedded content]

You can’t explain that! //

33 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 4:18:18pm

“…in academia…? Brandon Smith works in “academia”?

You are really fucked.

34 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:19:47pm

re: #33 Justanotherhuman

“…in academia…? Brandon Smith works in “academia”?

You are really fucked.

At least we’re not Louisiana or Mississippi.
Yet.

35 OhNoZombies!  Jul 3, 2014 4:19:57pm

I kinda wish had said Venus. I imagine all the climate scientists would have thanked him for proving their point.
Damn…smh

36 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:20:48pm

re: #33 Justanotherhuman

“…in academia…? Brandon Smith works in “academia”?

You are really fucked.

Brandon Smith probably thinks that “academia” includes the ‘results’ he self-extracts from his impacted colon.

37 Aqua Obama  Jul 3, 2014 4:21:54pm

What fresh hell

Obama’s greatest failure: The rapidly falling deficit

For fucks sake, Congress controls the expenditures. Fucking Congress!

38 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:23:01pm

re: #37 Aqua Obama

What fresh hell

Obama’s greatest failure: The rapidly falling deficit

For fucks sake, Congress controls the expenditures. Fucking Congress!

bwahahaaaa!

39 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 4:24:05pm
40 OhNoZombies!  Jul 3, 2014 4:24:39pm

I just told Mr. Zombie about the dear Senator’s Mars statement, and my 8 and 10 y.o. looked at me like I was crazy.

41 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 4:27:00pm

re: #17 darthstar

Take the quiz! Find out which founding father you are most like!

clickhole.com

Haha, I’m none of them. Question #1.

And BTW, Legion of Christ? WTF didn’t he just shut down that cesspool?

Vatican taps Jesuit to be pope’s advisor to Legion

bigstory.ap.org

42 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:28:51pm

re: #35 OhNoZombies!

I kinda wish had said Venus. I imagine all the climate scientists would have thanked him for proving their point.
Damn…smh

On Mercury, the surface temperature ranges from -280 F at night to 800 F during the day. Mercury has no atmosphere.

On Venus, the average surface temperature is 863 F. Venus has a dense atmosphere (surface pressure 92 atmospheres) full of greenhouse gases.

Since Mercury is closer to the sun than Venus, it gets more solar energy than Venus does. The fact that Venus is hotter than Mercury anyway is entirely due to the greenhouse effect.

Science 101.

43 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:30:31pm

It’s really easy to remember the order of the planets in relation to the sun.

I learned this in IIRC) 3rd grade:

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine (Pizzas).

(with respect to Pluto)

44 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:31:37pm

Now, on to more difficult (because I have a difficult time remembering) issues of astrophysics.

Does time speed up the closer you get to the sun. The Question being if you were actually able to survive a trip to Mercury and return could you come back before you left?

45 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:31:55pm

re: #24 S’latch

Will we be dragged into the deep by uneducated ignoramuses? Maybe.

It’s what I call ‘The Turd in The Punchbowl Effect.’

A small one makes the whole thing undrinkable.

46 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:32:19pm

re: #45 Romantic Heretic

It’s what I call ‘The Turd in The Punchbowl Effect.’

A small one makes the whole thing undrinkable.

thanks for that

47 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:33:02pm

re: #39 Gus

[Embedded content]

So, I guess no diamonds either?

pity

48 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:33:40pm

re: #37 Aqua Obama

What fresh hell

Obama’s greatest failure: The rapidly falling deficit

For fucks sake, Congress controls the expenditures. Fucking Congress!

wait …

deficits are bad —right?

49 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:34:39pm

re: #37 Aqua Obama

What fresh hell

Obama’s greatest failure: The rapidly falling deficit

For fucks sake, Congress controls the expenditures. Fucking Congress!

I wish they’d make up their minds! Last week the deficit was evil. We had to stop entitlements to all the poors and seniors to pay it down!

Now it’s shrinking and this is a bad thing?

I will never understand wingnuts, and I’m mentally ill myself.

50 William Barnett-Lewis  Jul 3, 2014 4:35:11pm

re: #44 FemNaziBitch

Now, on to more difficult (because I have a difficult time remembering) issues of astrophysics.

Does time speed up the closer you get to the sun. The Question being if you were actually able to survive a trip to Mercury and return could you come back before you left?

That’s a yes and no. In theory, you might be able to mess with time but it’s a star trek thing because you need ftl & to be so close to the sun (iow, deep in the gravity well) as to make Mercury seem like Pluto. It’s pretty much stuff some physicists have messed with for the fun of it but no one takes it seriously.

Mercury itself would be not that much more difficult to visit than the moon.

51 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:35:40pm

re: #17 darthstar

Take the quiz! Find out which founding father you are most like!

clickhole.com

HAHAHAHAHAHa!

I clicked

52 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:35:56pm

re: #44 FemNaziBitch

Now, on to more difficult (because I have a difficult time remembering) issues of astrophysics.

Does time speed up the closer you get to the sun. The Question being if you were actually able to survive a trip to Mercury and return could you come back before you left?

Time slows as gravity gets more intense (i.e., closer to the sun).

However, such effects are almost completely negligible in the solar system (precession of Mercury’s orbit being the only solar system observation that needs General Relativity to explain).

53 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:36:23pm

re: #50 William Barnett-Lewis

That’s a yes and no. In theory, you might be able to mess with time but it’s a star trek thing because you need ftl & to be so close to the sun (iow, deep in the gravity well) as to make Mercury seem like Pluto. It’s pretty much stuff some physicists have messed with for the fun of it but no one takes it seriously.

Mercury itself would be not that much more difficult to visit than the moon.

even figuring in the temperature?

54 PhillyPretzel  Jul 3, 2014 4:36:49pm

Wow. The trees were blowing all over the place and some of my neighbors have lost roof flashing.

55 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:36:50pm

re: #46 FemNaziBitch

thanks for that

You’re welcome. ;)

56 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 4:37:10pm

Brandon Smith

votesmart.org

Education
BA, Political Science, University of Kentucky, 1991
(One has to ask: Did he actually learn anything?)

“Professional” Experience
Owner, Daniel Boone Investments
Vice-President, Hazard Food Mart Incorporated
Owner, Mohawk Energy
Retail Operations Director, Perry Oil Company

57 William Barnett-Lewis  Jul 3, 2014 4:37:16pm

re: #53 FemNaziBitch

even figuring in the temperature?

Yes. Just need good radiators.

Read Brin’s “Sundiver” for a great SF discussion of the issues.

58 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:37:17pm

re: #52 EPR-radar

Time slows as gravity gets more intense (i.e., closer to the sun).

However, such effects are almost completely negligible in the solar system (precession of Mercury’s orbit being the only solar system observation that needs General Relativity to explain).

I will never get a handle on the time thing.

59 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:38:29pm

re: #57 William Barnett-Lewis

Yes. Just need good radiators.

Read Brin’s “Sundiver” for a great SF discussion of the issues.

I did read that. Didn’t help.

60 SteveMcGazi  Jul 3, 2014 4:38:54pm

re: #58 FemNaziBitch

I will never get a handle on the time thing.

Try this:

Youtube Video

61 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 4:38:59pm

Now the wingnuts are complaining that Obama won’t visit the US-Mexico border while in Texas.

62 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:39:04pm

re: #58 FemNaziBitch

I experience relativity every time relatives visit. It seems they’re here forever.

63 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:39:20pm

re: #56 Justanotherhuman

Brandon Smith

votesmart.org

Education
BA, Political Science, University of Kentucky, 1991
(One has to ask: Did he actually learn anything?)

“Professional” Experience
Owner, Daniel Boone Investments
Vice-President, Hazard Food Mart Incorporated
Owner, Mohawk Energy
Retail Operations Director, Perry Oil Company

Because we need politicians with business experience to run the government.

64 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:39:32pm

re: #58 FemNaziBitch

I will never get a handle on the time thing.

The effect of gravity on time has actually been measured directly on Earth.

Sufficiently sensitive instruments (i.e., atomic clocks) really do run at different rates at the top of a tower than at the bottom of the tower because of Earth’s gravity.

65 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:40:42pm

re: #49 Romantic Heretic

hey you!
Wanted to tell you that I read a vampyre novel this week: Artful by Peter David. It was written as a sequel to Dickens’ Oliver Twist and I thought it did very well capturing the Dickens “voice/style”. As a Dickens fan, I thought it was well done.

66 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:40:49pm

Ah! It’s firework time again. Just heard one.

Brat Puppy will be inconsolable.

67 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:41:33pm

re: #64 EPR-radar

The effect of gravity on time has actually been measured directly on Earth.

Sufficiently sensitive instruments (i.e., atomic clocks) really do run at different rates at the top of a tower than at the bottom of the tower because of Earth’s gravity.

This kind of stuff really messes with my sense of reality. Which is pretty much FUBAR after Monday.

Perhaps, it’s just best I leave it alone.

68 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 4:41:39pm

re: #6 lostlakehiker

In defense of Sen. Brandon Smith, he probably meant to say that Venus has the exact same temperature as Earth, despite having an atmosphere that’s mainly carbon dioxide. Surely no one will suggest that he actually believed that Mars was as warm as the Earth. *

What he must have meant to say would have been a more telling point, actually, because if true, it would have utterly demolished the theory that carbon dioxide can affect the temperature on a planet.

Then again, Senator Smith has probably seen replicas of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and who could argue that she is not hot?

So maybe I just can’t tell what Sen. Smith was thinking.

New theory: he was thinking dang, that’s good weed.

*I rather doubt he gave it any thought one way or another. Hey, it’s a talking point. You don’t believe those. You just say them.

Er, Venus is much, much hotter than earth. Because of the CO2. Mars is much colder. Because of the lack of atmosphere.

69 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:41:59pm

re: #56 Justanotherhuman

He’s very much the fan of coal…

70 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:42:20pm

re: #62 Romantic Heretic

I experience relativity every time relatives visit. It seems they’re here forever.

THIS I understand.

71 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:42:44pm

re: #57 William Barnett-Lewis

Yes. Just need good radiators.

Read Brin’s “Sundiver” for a great SF discussion of the issues.

Brin is great and Sundiver is a great novel. I must dig that one out and read it again.

72 SteveMcGazi  Jul 3, 2014 4:42:50pm

re: #64 EPR-radar

The effect of gravity on time has actually been measured directly on Earth.

Sufficiently sensitive instruments (i.e., atomic clocks) really do run at different rates at the top of a tower than at the bottom of the tower because of Earth’s gravity.

One of these days I’m going to go to the physics dept at LaSalle to get them to convince me that atomic clocks are legit. For Goodness’ sake, how in the world do you count 9.3 million oscillations of a Cesium atom in one second? I hope they do a better job then the math department chair did in explaining pi to me.

73 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:43:42pm

re: #72 SteveMcGazi

One of these days I’m going to go to the physics dept at LaSalle to get them to convince me that atomic clocks are legit. For Goodness’ sake, how in the world do you count 9.3 million oscillations of a Cesium atom in one second? I hope they do a better job then the math department chair did in explaining pi to me.

to me -pi is just number to memorize.

Have never used it, will never use it.

74 lawhawk  Jul 3, 2014 4:44:17pm

re: #61 Gus

They’re complaining HRC is in Europe, and not stateside for the 4th. Irrational people are irrational.

And if they weren’t complaining about Obama not visiting the border in Texas, they’d complain he wasn’t in AZ or CA doing the same.

75 BeachDem  Jul 3, 2014 4:44:52pm

re: #33 Justanotherhuman

Funny, I was just looking that up. His experience is listed as:

Owner, Daniel Boone Investments
Vice-President, Hazard Food Mart Incorporated
Owner, Mohawk Energy
Retail Operations Director, Perry Oil Company

Doesn’t sound too academic to me.

76 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:45:16pm

re: #73 FemNaziBitch

to me -pi is just number to memorize.

Have never used it, will never use it.

We’re building a round underground house.
I’m using pi all the freakin time because I’m apparently the only one hereabouts who knows math…

77 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:45:25pm

So, between Earth’s gravity and the Sun’s gravity is time for an object travelling between the two seriously a fucked issue?

78 wrenchwench  Jul 3, 2014 4:45:36pm

A Fourth of July Eve offering. I prescribe two watchings daily for residents of Murrieta.

Youtube Video

79 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:46:03pm

re: #76 Backwoods_Sleuth

We’re building a round underground house.
I’m using pi all the freakin time because I’m apparently the only one hereabouts who knows math…

Wouldn’t be easier to just buy a pie or two for the contractors and architect?

80 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:47:06pm

re: #68 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Er, Venus is much, much hotter than earth. Because of the CO2. Mars is much colder. Because of the lack of atmosphere.

I thought it had to with distance from Sol.

81 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 4:47:25pm

re: #6 lostlakehiker

In defense of Sen. Brandon Smith, he probably meant to say that Venus has the exact same temperature as Earth, despite having an atmosphere that’s mainly carbon dioxide. Surely no one will suggest that he actually believed that Mars was as warm as the Earth. *

What he must have meant to say would have been a more telling point, actually, because if true, it would have utterly demolished the theory that carbon dioxide can affect the temperature on a planet.

Except it’s not true, it’s fucking retarded. How does someone even give the benefit of the doubt to such idiocy?

82 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:47:35pm

re: #65 Backwoods_Sleuth

hey you!
Wanted to tell you that I read a vampyre novel this week: Artful by Peter David. It was written as a sequel to Dickens’ Oliver Twist and I thought it did very well capturing the Dickens “voice/style”. As a Dickens fan, I thought it was well done.

Oh, that sounds cool. I’ll have to find a copy.

I’ve been working off and on with a story with my vampire and Sherlock Holmes. It’s called The Case of The Blood Bound.

83 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:47:36pm

re: #74 lawhawk

They’re complaining HRC is in Europe, and not stateside for the 4th. Irrational people are irrational.

And if they weren’t complaining about Obama not visiting the border in Texas, they’d complain he wasn’t in AZ or CA doing the same.

Stephen Fry was a bit put out about HRC (actually, her security people) today:

84 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:47:54pm

re: #69 Backwoods_Sleuth

He’s very much the fan of coal…

oooh! mee too!

85 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:48:14pm

re: #77 FemNaziBitch

So, between Earth’s gravity and the Sun’s gravity is time for an object travelling between the two seriously a fucked issue?

No, because the solar system is such that Newtonian gravity (i.e., no time dilation etc.) is a very accurate model. Nor can we reach speeds close to light speed with any spacecraft.

86 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:48:24pm

re: #79 FemNaziBitch

Wouldn’t be easier to just buy a pie or two for the contractors and architect?

I’m the architect…

87 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:48:44pm

re: #86 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m the architect…

I’m sorry.

88 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:48:59pm

re: #85 EPR-radar

No, because the solar system is such that Newtonian gravity (i.e., no time dilation etc.) is a very accurate model. Nor can we reach speeds close to light speed with any spacecraft.

uh-huh

:)

89 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:49:37pm

re: #82 Romantic Heretic

Oh, that sounds cool. I’ll have to find a copy.

I’ve been working off and on with a story with my vampire and Sherlock Holmes. It’s called The Case of The Blood Bound.

It was one of the choices for the free Kindle book for June. MrBWS said, how can we go wrong with a vampyre book?

90 wrenchwench  Jul 3, 2014 4:49:47pm

re: #86 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m the architect…

MOAR PIE STAT!

91 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:49:56pm

re: #71 Backwoods_Sleuth

Brin is great and Sundiver is a great novel. I must dig that one out and read it again.

My favourite in that series is Startide Rising. So much good and interesting stuff in that one.

92 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:50:06pm

re: #85 EPR-radar

No, because the solar system is such that Newtonian gravity (i.e., no time dilation etc.) is a very accurate model. Nor can we reach speeds close to light speed with any spacecraft.

wait . .

So at what distance does Newtonian Gravity stop applying?

93 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:50:08pm

re: #87 FemNaziBitch

I’m sorry.

me too…

94 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 4:50:11pm

re: #80 FemNaziBitch

I thought it had to with distance from Sol.

Oh, that’s definitely part of it too, but without atmosphere it wouldn’t be nearly as hot. Venus’s atmosphere is what makes it hotter than Mercury, even though Mercury is closer to the sun.

95 danarchy  Jul 3, 2014 4:50:42pm

re: #77 FemNaziBitch

So, between Earth’s gravity and the Sun’s gravity is time for an object travelling between the two seriously a fucked issue?

You would be talking about fractions of a fraction of a second difference. That said NASA has to take relativistic changes into account in navigation because over long distances that stuff adds up. GPS satellites need to correct for relativistic changes on a regular basis or you would end up driving through houses.

96 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:50:46pm

re: #91 Romantic Heretic

My favourite in that series is Startide Rising. So much good and interesting stuff in that one.

oh, yes, I loved that one!
I love just about any of Brin’s novels.

97 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:51:26pm

re: #94 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Oh, that’s definitely part of it too, but without atmosphere it wouldn’t be nearly as hot. Venus’s atmosphere is what makes it hotter than Mercury, even though Mercury is closer to the sun.

Just too many variables for me… .

98 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:51:46pm

re: #95 danarchy

You would be talking about fractions of a fraction of a second difference. That said NASA has to take relativistic changes into account in navigation because over long distances that stuff adds up. GPS satellites need to correct for relativistic changes on a regular basis or you would end up driving through houses.

This must be why I hate GPS.

99 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:51:56pm

re: #72 SteveMcGazi

One of these days I’m going to go to the physics dept at LaSalle to get them to convince me that atomic clocks are legit. For Goodness’ sake, how in the world do you count 9.3 million oscillations of a Cesium atom in one second? I hope they do a better job then the math department chair did in explaining pi to me.

I’m a little curious about this. Atomic clocks are things which can be explained (e.g., how do they count what they need to count to make them work?).

But what is there to explain about pi? It just is.

100 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:52:04pm

re: #75 BeachDem

Funny, I was just looking that up. His experience is listed as:

Owner, Daniel Boone Investments
Vice-President, Hazard Food Mart Incorporated
Owner, Mohawk Energy
Retail Operations Director, Perry Oil Company

Doesn’t sound too academic to me.

Sounds like he’s been in management for most of his life. So it seem to me that like most management he’s used to reality being what he claims it is.

101 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:53:20pm

re: #99 EPR-radar

I’m a little curious about this. Atomic clocks are things which can be explained (e.g., how do they count what they need to count to make them work?).

But what is there to explain about pi? It just is.

Pi! I think it has something to do with weed.

102 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:53:20pm

Can I say how much I love that this post has generated so much great science discussion in the comments?
oh wait, I just did!
Really, I am loving the discussions!

103 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:53:47pm

re: #102 Backwoods_Sleuth

Can I say how much I love that this post has generated so much great science discussion in the comments?
oh wait, I just did!
Really, I am loving the discussions!

I am trying to ask somewhat intelligent lay person questions.

104 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:54:28pm

re: #103 FemNaziBitch

I am trying to ask somewhat intelligent lay person questions.

You’re going great!
Even when the ultimate explanation might be “weed”…

105 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:55:00pm

re: #89 Backwoods_Sleuth

It was one of the choices for the free Kindle book for June. MrBWS said, how can we go wrong with a vampyre book?

And I missed it. :(

You can’t go wrong with a good vampire book. I’ve read a lot of bad ones unfortunately. The vampires are just human beings with superpowers and odd dietary requirements.

106 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 4:55:45pm

re: #9 EPR-radar

Saying that Venus has the same temperature as Earth would be even MOAR STOOPIT than saying that Mars does.

I’m sure he meant to say Mercury has the same temperature as Earth. Or maybe the Moon. Perhaps the Sun.

To people this ignorant, they’re all the same.

107 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:55:49pm

re: #104 Backwoods_Sleuth

You’re going great!
Even when the ultimate explanation might be “weed”…

No, the ultimate explanation is 42.

108 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 4:56:21pm

re: #92 FemNaziBitch

wait . .

So at what distance does Newtonian Gravity stop applying?

Newtonian gravity can hold over very long distances (e.g., extra-galactic distance).

Newtonian physics breaks down when things move very fast (special relativity), when gravity is intense (general relativity), and for atomic/subatomic physics (quantum mechanics etc.).

The beauty of something like Newtonian physics is that even when it is superseded by a better theory, it remains as useful as it always was in its domain of validity.

109 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 4:57:03pm

re: #105 Romantic Heretic

And I missed it. :(

You can’t go wrong with a good vampire book. I’ve read a lot of bad ones unfortunately. The vampires are just human beings with superpowers and odd dietary requirements.

Someone who is not a fan of, or familiar with, Dickens may not like Artful as much as I did. I really wanted to smack the princess several times.

110 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 4:57:46pm

re: #107 FemNaziBitch

No, the ultimate explanation is 42.

Too bad the question is “What do you get when you multiply 6 time 9?”

111 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 4:58:18pm

re: #80 FemNaziBitch

I thought it had to with distance from Sol.

Nope, it’s the greenhouse effect.

Distance from Sun (A.U.) Venus 0.72 Earth1 Mars1.52
Flux, W/m2 Venus 2643 Earth 1370 Mars593
Albedo Venus 0.8 Earth 0.3 Mars 0.22
Effective Temperature, K Venus 220 Earth 255 Mars 212
Actual observed Temperature, K Venus 730 Earth 288 Mars218
Greenhouse Effect, K Venus 510 Earth 33 Mars5

Venus is hit with approximately twice the solar irradiance, but it reflects 80% of what hits it, vs. the Earth which only reflects 30%. That’s why everything else being equal Venus should actually be colder than Earth. However the greenhouse effect is much greater, because of the massively greater concentration of CO2 and because of the much greater atmospheric pressure (90 ATM at the surface) which magnifies this further through the ideal gas law (PV=nRT).

112 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:58:41pm

re: #105 Romantic Heretic

And I missed it. :(

You can’t go wrong with a good vampire book. I’ve read a lot of bad ones unfortunately. The vampires are just human beings with superpowers and odd dietary requirements.

I don’t like vampyres or zombies.

I much prefer sci-fi and wierd (speculative) fiction.

One of the ultimate brain benders (for me) is Umberto Ecco’s The Island of the Day Before (which has to do with time)

and

China Meiville’s The City and The City, which has to do with space.

113 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 4:59:39pm

re: #108 EPR-radar

Newtonian gravity can hold over very long distances (e.g., extra-galactic distance).

Newtonian physics breaks down when things move very fast (special relativity), when gravity is intense (general relativity), and for atomic/subatomic physics (quantum mechanics etc.).

The beauty of something like Newtonian physics is that even when it is superseded by a better theory, it remains as useful as it always was in its domain of validity.

I’ll try to remember that.

Now, so, time is different for quarks?

114 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 5:00:04pm

re: #28 Gus

“As you (Energy & Environment Cabinet official) sit there in your chair with your data, we sit up here in ours with our data and our constituents and stuff behind us. I don’t want to get into the debate about climate change, but I will simply point out that I think in academia we all agree that the temperature on Mars is exactly as it is here. Nobody will dispute that. Yet there are no coal mines on Mars. There are no factories on Mars that I’m aware of.”
— Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard

fatlip.leoweekly.com

Does he go on to point out that “we in academia” all agree that there is no difference between the Martian atmosphere and our own as well?

115 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 5:00:25pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

Someone who is not a fan of, or familiar with, Dickens may not like Artful as much as I did. I really wanted to smack the princess several times.

Dickens is just so freaking wordy.

Serially published novels tended to be like that. When one is paid by the word …

116 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 5:00:46pm

re: #110 Romantic Heretic

Too bad the question is “What do you get when you multiply 6 time 9?”

No, no no no no no!!!

117 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 5:01:07pm

re: #111 goddamnedfrank

Nope, it’s the greenhouse effect.

Venus is hit with approximately twice the solar irradiance, but it reflects 80% of what hits it, vs. the Earth which only reflects 30%. That’s why everything else being equal Venus should actually be colder than Earth. However the greenhouse effect is much greater, because of the massively greater concentration of CO2 and because of the much greater atmospheric pressure (90 ATM at the surface) which magnifies this further through the ideal gas law (PV=nRT).

I quit.

118 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 5:01:34pm

re: #110 Romantic Heretic

Too bad the question is “What do you get when you multiply 6 time 9?”

You can only get the proper answer if you have your towel.

119 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:01:52pm

re: #44 FemNaziBitch

Now, on to more difficult (because I have a difficult time remembering) issues of astrophysics.

Does time speed up the closer you get to the sun. The Question being if you were actually able to survive a trip to Mercury and return could you come back before you left?

It is confusing to think about returning to a time before you left, and the physics for time dilation does not work that way.

The twin paradox remains the best example. From special relativity, time goes slower for a rapidly moving object.

Thus if we start with two twins A and B, and A stays put and B does “there and back again” at great speed, when A and B have their reunion, B will be younger than A.

120 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 5:02:39pm

re: #106 Skip Intro

I’m sure he meant to say Mercury has the same temperature as Earth. Or maybe the Moon. Perhaps the Sun.

To people this ignorant, they’re all the same.

mercury has the same temperature as uranus when you use an old fashioned glass thermometer

121 jamesfirecat  Jul 3, 2014 5:03:32pm

re: #96 Backwoods_Sleuth

oh, yes, I loved that one!
I love just about any of Brin’s novels.

Sorry, I much prefer The Uplift War, I feel it gives a more complete view of the glaxay (well five galaxies) involved and it’s ending is a bit more punchy since it does not end up playing into being part of a sequel three books later.

122 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 5:03:41pm

re: #119 EPR-radar

It is confusing to think about returning to a time before you left, and the physics for time dilation does not work that way.

The twin paradox remains the best example. From special relativity, time goes slower for a rapidly moving object.

Thus if we start with two twins A and B, and A stays put and B does “there and back again” at great speed, when A and B have their reunion, B will be younger than A.

So, it’s speed (time) more than distance …

123 SteveMcGazi  Jul 3, 2014 5:03:46pm

re: #99 EPR-radar

I’m a little curious about this. Atomic clocks are things which can be explained (e.g., how do they count what they need to count to make them work?).

But what is there to explain about pi? It just is.

Pi is computed to thousands (maybe nearly 100,000) digits. Some people pride themselves on memorizing pi to hundreds of digits. But the chairman told me that pi is the ratio between the diameter and the circumference of a circle. But I know this can’t be true because pi is a non repeating, non-terminating decimal. It is a irrational number (It can’t be reasoned with…). To measure pi to thousands of digits in that case would mean that you measured the diameter AND the circumeference of a circle to thousand upon thousands of digits, and nothing is that precise. Therefore, pi must be something else. There has to be some basis to calculate it to all those decimal places, but the professor was to lazy to explain.

124 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:04:14pm

re: #117 FemNaziBitch

I quit.

There’s a reason I did my comparison upthread between Venus and Mercury instead of between Earth and Venus.

125 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 5:04:39pm

re: #121 jamesfirecat

Sorry, I much prefer The Uplift War, I feel it gives a more complete view of the glaxay (well five galaxies) involved and it’s ending is a bit more punchy since it does not end up playing into being part of a sequel three books later.

Uplift War is also very good. I need to dig that out to read again as well.

126 FemNaziBitch  Jul 3, 2014 5:04:45pm

Ok, I’m going to calm my mind with old, very old, gumshoe movies.

bbl

127 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 5:07:29pm

re: #112 FemNaziBitch

I don’t like vampyres or zombies.

I much prefer sci-fi and wierd (speculative) fiction.

One of the ultimate brain benders (for me) is Umberto Ecco’s The Island of the Day Before (which has to do with time)

and

China Meiville’s The City and The City, which has to do with space.

Thanks for the recs.

128 klys  Jul 3, 2014 5:07:35pm

re: #122 FemNaziBitch

So, it’s speed (time) more than distance …

I like the frame of reference argument put this way. Think of your frame of reference as a giant picture frame surrounding you and everything you see. In your frame, to you, time appears to be flowing normally. There’s one just like yours, with your twin, sitting next to you for comparison. Now, if we take your whole frame and make it go really, really fast and compare that to your twin’s frame, which is sitting still, relative to your twin’s frame, the time in your frame is moving more slowly.

We could also take your frame and put it next to a black hole (but magically keep it from getting sucked in) and time would move more slowly in your frame relative to your twin’s frame.

129 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 5:08:18pm

re: #113 FemNaziBitch

I’ll try to remember that.

Now, so, time is different for quarks?

You want something that will really make your head hurt?

Photons from the Sun travel at the speed of light. From our reference point, they take tens of thousands of years to make their way through the layers of the sun before they end their journey by hitting me on the butt at the beach.

However, from the photon’s point of view, time doesn’t exist, and they arrive at their destination immediately after they’re created.

130 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:09:24pm

re: #123 SteveMcGazi

Pi is computed to thousands (maybe nearly 100,000) digits. Some people pride themselves on memorizing pi to hundreds of digits. But the chairman told me that pi is the ratio between the diameter and the circumference of a circle. But I know this can’t be true because pi is a non repeating, non-terminating decimal. It is a irrational number (It can’t be reasoned with…). To measure pi to thousands of digits in that case would mean that you measured the diameter AND the circumeference of a circle to thousand upon thousands of digits, and nothing is that precise. Therefore, pi must be something else. There has to be some basis to calculate it to all those decimal places, but the professor was to lazy to explain.

I see. Pi is indeed defined as the ratio of diameter to circumference of a circle. However, this same exact same number crops up all over mathematics, often in forms much more amenable to computing massive numbers of digits than direct measurements on circles.

The reasoning of mathematics is sufficiently rigorous that it is fair to say that the 100 million digits of a ‘pi’ that is the limit of some infinite sum or series is the very same ‘pi’ that relates to circles, even though nobody can measure circles to anywhere near that precision.

131 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 5:09:30pm

re: #123 SteveMcGazi

Pi is computed to thousands (maybe nearly 100,000) digits. Some people pride themselves on memorizing pi to hundreds of digits. But the chairman told me that pi is the ratio between the diameter and the circumference of a circle. But I know this can’t be true because pi is a non repeating, non-terminating decimal. It is a irrational number (It can’t be reasoned with…). To measure pi to thousands of digits in that case would mean that you measured the diameter AND the circumeference of a circle to thousand upon thousands of digits, and nothing is that precise. Therefore, pi must be something else. There has to be some basis to calculate it to all those decimal places, but the professor was to lazy to explain.

Pi is calculated using a Leibniz series.

132 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 5:10:12pm

re: #129 Skip Intro

You want something that will really make your head hurt?

Photons from the Sun travel at the speed of light. From our reference point, they take tens of thousands of years to make their way through the layers of the sun before they end their journey by hitting me on the butt at the beach.

However, from the photon’s point of view, time doesn’t exist, and they arrive at their destination immediately after they’re created.

Ow!

133 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 5:11:14pm

re: #121 jamesfirecat

Have you read Ian M. Banks?

134 GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 3, 2014 5:11:27pm

re: #17 darthstar

Take the quiz! Find out which founding father you are most like!

clickhole.com

Rand Paul.

135 lawhawk  Jul 3, 2014 5:12:54pm

So, for the folks who may have their fireworks washed out by the storms rolling through tonight, or Arthur tonight into tomorrow, our town did their fireworks the other night and I took a bunch of photos with the new wide angle lens.

Gotta say that I’m liking the lens. Opens up a bunch of possibilities for a bunch of shots I’d been looking to get.

lawhawk.blogspot.com

136 klys  Jul 3, 2014 5:13:56pm

re: #135 lawhawk

So, for the folks who may have their fireworks washed out by the storms rolling through tonight, or Arthur tonight into tomorrow, our town did their fireworks the other night and I took a bunch of photos with the new wide angle lens.

Gotta say that I’m liking the lens. Opens up a bunch of possibilities for a bunch of shots I’d been looking to get.

lawhawk.blogspot.com

Nice. :) I continue to drool over the Pentax 12-24mm but the 8-16mm is also a contender.

137 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 5:14:30pm

This guy has an unusual take on his winnings.

Tennessee man wins $153.5 million in state’s largest lottery jackpot

reuters.com

“Roy Cockrum of Knoxville matched all six numbers in the Tennessee Powerball on June 11 to win the $259.8 million grand prize. The 58-year-old chose the $153.5 lump sum rather than a series of payments, the Tennessee Lottery said in a statement.

“Cockrum worked 20 years as an actor and stage manager for theater and television. He then entered an Episcopal religious order in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before he moved back to Knoxville in 2009 to care for his parents, the lottery said.

“I really believe the best way to prepare for this tsunami of cash has been to live under a vow of poverty for a number of years,” Cockrum said. “It gives great perspective.” More

Nice retirement, to say the least.

138 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 5:15:02pm

re: #94 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Oh, that’s definitely part of it too, but without atmosphere it wouldn’t be nearly as hot. Venus’s atmosphere is what makes it hotter than Mercury, even though Mercury is closer to the sun.

If I’m not mistaken, Venus’ atmosphere has a higher albedo than Earth’s, meaning that more light is reflected from Venus, bouncing into space rather than heating the planet.

Yet, even with that, the CO2 level ensures that the temperature is very high.

139 lawhawk  Jul 3, 2014 5:18:16pm

re: #123 SteveMcGazi

Need to catch up. It’s up to 10 to the 14th power.

140 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:19:03pm

More than you ever wanted to know about the greenhouse effect on Venus:

skepticalscience.com

Venus likely underwent a runaway or “moist greenhouse” phase associated with rapid water loss and very high temperatures. Once water is gone, silicate weathering reactions that draw down CO2 from the atmosphere are insignificant, and CO2 can then build up to very high values. Today, a dense CO2 atmosphere keeps Venus extremely hot.

141 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:19:53pm
142 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 5:21:12pm

re: #105 Romantic Heretic

There’s a brand new Charlie Stross “Laundry Files” book that involves vampires. It’s called The Rhesus Chart.

(The Laundry: a super-secret British intelligence agency that deals with occult threats. In the Laundryverse, magic, mathematics, and computation are intimately connected, although most people don’t know that. So occasionally the Laundry has to deal with a problem that crops up when a Computer Science grad student accidentally opens a portal to another dimension and a brain-eating cosmic threat tries to come through.)

143 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:21:23pm
144 Swift2991  Jul 3, 2014 5:22:05pm

re: #19 darthstar

Several Founding Fathers, like Hamilton, were for emancipation of slaves and women. Women could vote, briefly, in the cradle of the revolution — the Northeast. Sadly, they had to pass that monstrosity with slavery accepted or not have our republic at all.

145 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:23:26pm

re: #113 FemNaziBitch

I’ll try to remember that.

Now, so, time is different for quarks?

Now you’re starting to touch on things that aren’t really known. The standard model of physics basically does a reasonable job of integrating special relativity and quantum mechanics. So as long as the quarks aren’t too near a black hole, it’s fair to say their “time” is as described in the standard model.

If nontrivial gravitational effects are important for the quarks, then physics does not (yet) have a compelling model for this. Providing a coherent unification of general relativity and quantum mechanics remains the Great White Whale of physics, as it has been for decades.

146 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:25:33pm

“Nobody will dispute that.”

Except, you know, scientists, but the Supreme Court said we could ignore them if we believe otherwise.

147 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 5:27:52pm

i lost interest in a brief history of time about halfway through when there got to be too many cast members for me to keep track of

all these quarks to explain things - if it is so inelegant, perhaps there is something wrong with the model

148 wrenchwench  Jul 3, 2014 5:29:04pm

I was checking the schedule for the local festivities tomorrow.

And after all that, the town will host fireworks starting around 9 or 9:30, depending on when the sun sets.

These things are so unpredictable!!!

/

149 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 5:29:10pm

re: #147 dog philosopher

i lost interest in a brief history of time about halfway through when there got to be too many cast members for me to keep track of

all these quarks to explain things - if it is so inelegant, perhaps there is something wrong with the model

Thus, the creation of String Theory. Good luck trying to wrap your mind around that one.

150 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:29:29pm

re: #53 FemNaziBitch

even figuring in the temperature?

Cold on the backside.

151 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:29:59pm

re: #147 dog philosopher

i lost interest in a brief history of time about halfway through when there got to be too many cast members for me to keep track of

all these quarks to explain things - if it is so inelegant, perhaps there is something wrong with the model

The standard model is a mess than can provide some amazingly accurate prediction of measured quantities. However, it remains a mess.

It should be noted that a handful of quarks is much better than the particle zoo of the 60s and 70s (cast of hundreds).

152 wrenchwench  Jul 3, 2014 5:30:02pm

re: #148 wrenchwench

I was checking the schedule for the local festivities tomorrow.

These things are so unpredictable!!!

/

Some less than others.

“At 5 p.m., it’ll rain a little bit, but it’s going to clear, the stars are going to come out and we’re going to pop the heck out of some fireworks,”

153 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:30:10pm

So we took my ten year (eleven on Saturday) old daughter to the store to let her pick out one of her birthday presents. My wife starts looking at the Hello Kitty and Barbie dolls asking her which one she liked best when my daughter’s eyes lit up and she saw the present she could absolutely not live without.

She’s currently shooting water bottle with her new “Zombie Strike” Nerf Crossbow.

154 jamesfirecat  Jul 3, 2014 5:32:16pm

re: #133 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Have you read Ian M. Banks?

Not yet saddly, maybe if I find some books in a library at some point…

155 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 5:32:40pm
The folks at Pixar are widely known as some of the world’s best storytellers and animators. They are perhaps less recognized as some of the most innovative math whizzes around. Pixar Research Lead Tony DeRose delves into the math behind the animations, explaining how arithmetic, trigonometry and geometry help bring Woody and the rest of your favorite characters to life.

Video

156 klys  Jul 3, 2014 5:33:27pm

re: #153 Kragar

So we took my ten year (eleven on Saturday) old daughter to the store to let her pick out one of her birthday presents. My wife starts looking at the Hello Kitty and Barbie dolls asking her which one she liked best when my daughter’s eyes lit up and she saw the present she could absolutely not live without.

She’s currently shooting water bottle with her new “Zombie Strike” Nerf Crossbow.

Proud papa, eh?

157 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 5:34:23pm

He’s still going on and on. The Infinity of Derp.
Dear Erick: women DO pay for it themselves, with the premiums that are deducted from their paychecks. So you’re saying they have to pay for it TWICE?

158 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:34:28pm

re: #125 Backwoods_Sleuth

Uplift War is also very good. I need to dig that out to read again as well.

It is not!

I hate it!

Brin didn’t finish the series and I’m really pissed.

He left it hanging. Painfully hanging.

159 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:34:35pm

re: #149 Skip Intro

Thus, the creation of String Theory. Good luck trying to wrap your mind around that one.

String Theory has mixed reviews so far. The greatest difficulty is that we really need to experimentally see some physics that is not explicable by the standard model to use as constraints on model-making. Without that, theoretical physics can turn into navel-gazing.

160 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:35:32pm

re: #158 b_sharp

It is not!

I hate it!

Brin didn’t finish the series and I’m really pissed.

He left it hanging. Painfully hanging.

You never read the books where they got back home?

161 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 5:35:47pm

re: #155 jonhendry

[Embedded content]

game programmers also have to know some very serious math

162 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 5:37:36pm

re: #157 Pie-onist Overlord

He’s still going on and on. The Infinity of Derp.

[Embedded content]

I assume he also applies that to our volunteer military when they get injured or maimed in battle.

“Your body, your choice, pay for it yourself”.

And on the 4th of July, too.

163 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:37:47pm
164 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:38:22pm

re: #162 Skip Intro

I assume he also applies that to our volunteer military when they get injured or maimed in battle.

“Your body, your choice, pay for it yourself”.

And on the 4th of July, too.

It would explain why they keep cutting Veteran benefits

165 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:39:09pm

re: #160 Kragar

You never read the books where they got back home?

Of course I did.

Was the body they found one of the progenitors?

How did the war between Humans and the rest of the galaxy play out?

How does the field of ancient ships affect the war?

166 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 5:40:05pm

re: #165 b_sharp

Of course I did.

Was the body they found one of the progenitors?

How did the war between Humans and the rest of the galaxy play out?

How does the field of ancient ships affect the war?

will danaerys ever get back to westeros?

167 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:40:20pm

And she just ambushed her sister for the first time. No Nerf darts, she just let it dry fire and scare the crap out of her when she got out of the shower.

168 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:41:09pm

re: #165 b_sharp

Of course I did.

Was the body they found one of the progenitors?

How did the war between Humans and the rest of the galaxy play out?

How does the field of ancient ships affect the war?

Yes.

169 jamesfirecat  Jul 3, 2014 5:41:11pm

re: #165 b_sharp

Of course I did.

Was the body they found one of the progenitors?

How did the war between Humans and the rest of the galaxy play out?

How does the field of ancient ships affect the war?

Those are issues that can rightfully be laid at the feet of Heaven’s Reach (believe me I want to see a seventh uplift book also) but not Uplift War in my opinion, you can not really blame a bad ending on all the books that came before said ending unless things found in them in some way directly contributed to them.

170 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 5:41:40pm

re: #159 EPR-radar

String Theory has mixed reviews so far. The greatest difficulty is that we really need to experimentally see some physics that is not explicable by the standard model to use as constraints on model-making. Without that, theoretical physics can turn into navel-gazing.

There’s not a shred of evidence that supports String Theory. Still, devising experiments that prove the existence of greater than four dimensional space has to be the most difficult task in theoretical physics.

171 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:41:53pm
172 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 5:42:13pm

re: #138 jonhendry

If I’m not mistaken, Venus’ atmosphere has a higher albedo than Earth’s, meaning that more light is reflected from Venus, bouncing into space rather than heating the planet.

Yet, even with that, the CO2 level ensures that the temperature is very high.

Yep, exactly. The CO2 atmosphere causes a runaway greenhouse effect on Venus.

The deniers who even deny that CO2 is a warming forcer are incredibly ignorant.

173 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:42:26pm

re: #166 dog philosopher

will danaerys ever get back to westeros?

xactly.

174 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:42:50pm

re: #168 Kragar

Yes.

aaarrrggghh.

175 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 5:43:27pm

re: #154 jamesfirecat

Not yet saddly, maybe if I find some books in a library at some point…

Do it. Start with either Consider Phlebas (The actual ‘first’ in the Culture series) or The Player of Games (often considered the best entry book to the Culture universe.)

176 Skip Intro  Jul 3, 2014 5:44:33pm

re: #172 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Yep, exactly. The CO2 atmosphere causes a runaway greenhouse effect on Venus.

The deniers who even deny that CO2 is a warming forcer are incredibly ignorant.

Possibly fatally ignorant for life on Earth if these dickheads continue to get their way.

177 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:44:35pm

re: #169 jamesfirecat

Those are issues that can rightfully be laid at the feet of Heaven’s Reach (believe me I want to see a seventh uplift book also) but not Uplift War in my opinion, you can not really blame a bad ending on all the books that came before said ending unless things found in them in some way directly contributed to them.

I was being ironic. I loved the series but was acting petulant because the series was left unfinished.

178 abolitionist  Jul 3, 2014 5:45:01pm

re: #85 EPR-radar

No, because the solar system is such that Newtonian gravity (i.e., no time dilation etc.) is a very accurate model. Nor can we reach speeds close to light speed with any spacecraft.

When a spacecraft is moving directly toward a black hole, it gets easier. But repeating the experiment gets harder.

179 wrenchwench  Jul 3, 2014 5:45:34pm

Later, lizards.

180 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:45:54pm

re: #172 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Yep, exactly. The CO2 atmosphere causes a runaway greenhouse effect on Venus.

The deniers who even deny that CO2 is a warming forcer are incredibly ignorant.

Hansen did his initial work on Venus then turned to the rising CO2 on Earth.

181 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:46:01pm

re: #178 abolitionist

When a spacecraft is moving directly toward a black hole, it gets easier. But repeating the experiment gets harder.

Getting a spacecraft to the vicinity of a black hole is also non-trivial.

182 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 5:46:19pm
183 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:47:57pm

re: #182 Gus

Oh my. This person clearly is qualified to be the judge of who’s stupid.

184 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:48:34pm

re: #180 b_sharp

Hansen did his initial work on Venus then turned to the rising CO2 on Earth.

Apparently the full-up “oceans boil away” runaway greenhouse effect on Earth is considered most unlikely to result from AGW.

In due course (i.e., billions of years) this runaway greenhouse effect is expected to play out on Earth as the sun gets larger and hotter toward the end of its life.

185 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:48:48pm

I’m not sure if anyone answered the question about the heat on Mercury.

The side facing the sun is hot enough to melt lead but the back side is as cold as the dark side of the moon because there is no atmosphere or ocean to transport the heat and Mercury always keeps the same side facing the sun.

It’s tidally locked.

186 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:50:26pm

re: #182 Gus

[Embedded content]

Well, I feel dumber for reading that moronic nonsense.

187 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:50:43pm
188 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 5:51:12pm

re: #185 b_sharp

I’m not sure if anyone answered the question about the heat on Mercury.

The side facing the sun is hot enough to melt lead but the back side is as cold as the dark side of the moon because there is no atmosphere or ocean to transport the heat and Mercury always keeps the same side facing the sun.

It’s tidally locked.

Mercury is gravitationally locked to the sun, but not such that the same side always faces the sun. Per wikipedia:

Mercury is gravitationally locked and rotates in a way that is unique in the Solar System. As seen relative to the fixed stars, it rotates exactly three times for every two revolutions it makes around its orbit. As seen from the Sun, in a frame of reference that rotates with the orbital motion, it appears to rotate only once every two Mercurian years. An observer on Mercury would therefore see only one day every two years.

189 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:51:29pm

re: #182 Gus

I see Tom Nichols is proving again how non-partisan he is by tweeting some of the most rabidly partisan right wing bullshit on the web.

190 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:52:37pm
191 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 5:53:16pm

re: #185 b_sharp

I’m not sure if anyone answered the question about the heat on Mercury.

The side facing the sun is hot enough to melt lead but the back side is as cold as the dark side of the moon because there is no atmosphere or ocean to transport the heat and Mercury always keeps the same side facing the sun.

That was the old belief but it’s not true. Mercury has a 3:2 orbital resonance, rotating three times for every two of its “years.”

192 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:53:29pm

re: #189 Charles Johnson

I see Tom Nichols is proving again how non-partisan he is by tweeting some of the most rabidly partisan right wing bullshit on the web.

I’m on the verge of unfollowing him. His nonsense is outweighing the few times he’s made a valid point

193 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 5:53:31pm

Evening again, Lizardim. Some good news from fish country: sneaky, tricksy wind farm operators withdraw their proposal to backdoor a wind farm onto wealthy farmers’ lands. Now while I’m not against wind power in principle, the way this group went about it is all wrong - they made secret deals with the major (read: rich) landowners in the county, then tried to rail it through the county commission before opposition could be mounted. In the end, and to everyone’s incredulity, the county stuck up for the smaller landowners, sending the company packing. Sometimes the poor people really can win against the rich.

194 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 5:54:25pm

re: #188 EPR-radar

Mercury is gravitationally locked to the sun, but not such that the same side always faces the sun. Per wikipedia:

Thanks.

My point still stands. :P

195 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 5:55:18pm

not sure why christian science run businesses haven’t objected to providing medical insurance subsidies yet

196 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:55:44pm

re: #192 Kragar

Yup.

197 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 5:56:59pm

re: #189 Charles Johnson

I see Tom Nichols is proving again how non-partisan he is by tweeting some of the most rabidly partisan right wing bullshit on the web.

Smartest man on the internet.

198 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 5:57:12pm

199 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 5:58:23pm
200 klys  Jul 3, 2014 5:58:53pm

re: #197 Gus

I, umm, what?

Republican men, I know the whole concept of “your opinion isn’t the only thing that matters” is a very hard one to comprehend, but there are times you really need to fucking sit down, shut up, and listen to what other people are saying.

201 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:01:36pm
202 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:02:35pm

It is 100% scientifically accurate that water can kill humans.

203 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:02:52pm

re: #200 klys

I, umm, what?

Republican men, I know the whole concept of “your opinion isn’t the only thing that matters” is a very hard one to comprehend, but there are times you really need to fucking sit down, shut up, and listen to what other people are saying.

I think this guy’s insights are fascinating. I can’t wait to hear an explanation of how human eggs and sperm cells start out dead and magically become alive during conception.

////

204 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:03:27pm
205 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:03:47pm

re: #201 Charles Johnson

Meanwhile, in reality land, the rest of us are fucking pissed at the Court’s completely transparent moving of the goalposts three days later.

206 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:03:51pm
207 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:04:06pm

re: #204 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

*TWITCH*

I see what you mean about the fonts, Charles.

208 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:04:36pm

re: #206 Kragar

[Embedded content]

The secret family recipe is — +++NO CARRIER

209 Teukka  Jul 3, 2014 6:04:48pm

A question:

Is there a public record or recording of what Sen. Brandon Smith said?

It seems some RNWJ’s are circling the wagons and claiming “It was taken outta context”

210 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:06:41pm

re: #205 klys

Meanwhile, in reality land, the rest of us are fucking pissed at the Court’s completely transparent moving of the goalposts three days later.

One might even say it is 100% scientifically accurate to note that the SCOTUS conservative majority are partisan hacks*.

(*) Kennedy is less comprehensive a hack than the others. He is good on gay rights issues, and apparently will not serve as the 5th vote to overturn Roe, but there is nothing else favorable to note.

211 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:07:11pm
212 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 6:08:12pm

re: #198 Charles Johnson

[Embedded image]

MAKES A CANDIDATE “UV HISSELF.” To THE DlMOKRASY UV THE COUNTY:—I an

ounse myself ez a kandidate for ary 1 uv the offices to be fild this ortum, subgik, uv coarse, to the decishun uv the Con ven shun.

In makin this anounsement, I feel it due my Dimekratik brethrin that I stait the resens for takin this step. They run ez follows:

1st. I want an offis.

“2d. I need a offis.

3d. A offis wood suit me; ther4,

4th. I shood like to hev a offis.

I maik no boasts uv what my speshel clames air, but I hev dun the party sum servis. My fust vote I cast for that he old Dimekrat, Androo Jaxn. For him I voted twict, and I hev also voted for every Dimekratik candidate sence. I heV fought and bled for the coz, hev voted ez offen ez 3 times at 1 elekshin, and hev alluz wore mournin around my ize for 3 weeks after eech eleckshin. I hev alluz rallid 2 the poles erly in the mornin, and hev spent the entire day a bringin in the ajid and infirm, and in the patryotik biznis uv knockin down the opposition voters. No man hez drunk more whisky than I hev for the party—none hez dun it moar willingly. Twict, in goin thro campanes, hev I brot myself 2 the very verge uv delirium tremins, a drinkin the terrific elekshun whisky pervided by our candidates, but the coz demandid the sacrifis, and I made it ez cherefully ez tho my stumic hed been copper-lined, wich, unfortunitly, it is not. Ez for my servises in this line, let my nose, which has trooly blossumed like the lobster, speek for itself.

from the writings of petroleum vesuvius nasby

213 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:08:31pm
214 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:09:31pm

re: #210 EPR-radar

One might even say it is 100% scientifically accurate to note that the SCOTUS conservative majority are partisan hacks*.

(*) Kennedy is less comprehensive a hack than the others. He is good on gay rights issues, and apparently will not serve as the 5th vote to overturn Roe, but there is nothing else favorable to note.

Forgive me if after his shitty decision this week (which apparently was partially due to his personal opposition to abortion, regardless of how he might or might not rule on Roe), I am less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

For the moment.

Really, today, the only people on the Court I would be willing to have over for dinner would be the ladies.

215 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:09:45pm
216 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:10:08pm

That one is not kidding, by the way.

217 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:10:09pm

re: #213 Gus

New frontiers in TEH STOOPIT. Not to be confused with ordinary idiocy.

This Sean Davis is a trained professional. Do not try this at home, kids.

218 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:10:18pm

re: #214 klys

Forgive me if after his shitty decision this week (which apparently was partially due to his personal opposition to abortion, regardless of how he might or might not rule on Roe), I am less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

For the moment.

Really, today, the only people on the Court I would be willing to have over for dinner would be the ladies.

I’d have the others over for dinner. Dog food is pretty cheap.

219 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:10:54pm

re: #213 Gus

His gotcha questions are really lame and easy to answer.

Do you receive benefits from same-sex marriage? No. Do you gain benefits from union negotiations regarding things like worker treatment and dispute resolution? Yes.

220 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:11:49pm

re: #218 thedopefishlives

I’d have the others over for dinner. Dog food is pretty cheap.

I sort of imagine that the miasma of asshole-ishness that follows Scalia around would take a while to get out of the house. I’d rather not deal with it.

221 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 6:11:56pm
222 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:12:14pm

re: #213 Gus

[Embedded content]

223 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:12:39pm

re: #220 klys

I sort of imagine that the miasma of asshole-ishness that follows Scalia around would take a while to get out of the house. I’d rather not deal with it.

That business of leaving a trail of slime wherever he goes would also be bothersome.

224 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:12:43pm

re: #222 Kragar

There are a lot of things that are magic to him.

Like science.

225 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 6:13:03pm

re: #209 Teukka

A question:

Is there a public record or recording of what Sen. Brandon Smith said?

It seems some RNWJ’s are circling the wagons and claiming “It was taken outta context”

He likely meant that Mars has had a temperature trend increase like Earth, not that the average temp is the same as Earth’s.

It’s more fun to take him literally and laugh because he probably didn’t realize what he said wasn’t what he was told.

226 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:13:16pm
227 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 6:13:26pm

Oh, great. I suppose this is what happens when you sort of have a monopoly going.

US military grounds entire fleet of Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets pending engine inspections - @Reuters
Read more on yahoo.com

228 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 6:13:29pm

You don’t give a “flip” about people in other countries either.

229 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 6:13:41pm

re: #221 Pie-onist Overlord

The sheer ignorance

nuff said

230 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:14:03pm
231 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 6:14:28pm

re: #185 b_sharp

I’m not sure if anyone answered the question about the heat on Mercury.

The side facing the sun is hot enough to melt lead but the back side is as cold as the dark side of the moon because there is no atmosphere or ocean to transport the heat and Mercury always keeps the same side facing the sun.

It’s tidally locked.

I thought they discovered that Mercury was not tidally locked and actually had a full (but slow) rotation period.

232 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:14:46pm

re: #220 klys

I sort of imagine that the miasma of asshole-ishness that follows Scalia around would take a while to get out of the house. I’d rather not deal with it.

He can stay in the basement with Basement Cat and Moral Grey Area Cat. They’ll take care of him.

233 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:15:27pm
234 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 6:15:35pm

Well, let’s say that your employer deducts “lunch insurance” from your paycheck and provides you with a “lunch card” but you still have to pay cash in the cafeteria.

235 Self Respecting Woman Voter Against the GOP  Jul 3, 2014 6:15:46pm

re: #17 darthstar

Take the quiz! Find out which founding father you are most like!

clickhole.com

LOL!

236 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:15:54pm
237 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 6:16:39pm

re: #230 Charles Johnson

I know you are but what am I?

238 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:19:55pm
239 gwangung  Jul 3, 2014 6:20:39pm

re: #228 Pie-onist Overlord

You don’t give a “flip” about people in other countries either.

[Embedded content]

Why does this numbskull think that US feminists AREN’T fighting for Third World women?

(Aside from the obvious fact that she doesn’t talk to either group).

240 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 6:21:49pm

re: #219 klys

His gotcha questions are really lame and easy to answer.

Do you receive benefits from same-sex marriage? No. Do you gain benefits from union negotiations regarding things like worker treatment and dispute resolution? Yes.

Each marriage is independent of every other marriage. Each union member is affected by the size of the union and the influence those numbers give it.

241 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:22:13pm

re: #232 thedopefishlives

He can stay in the basement with Basement Cat and Moral Grey Area Cat. They’ll take care of him.

Wouldn’t that be cruel to the cats?

242 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:22:20pm

A letter to Sean Davis of the Federalist

I’m writing to inquire whether you are statistically illiterate or dishonest. In asking this question, I’m assuming that you’re not both. If you are, then allow me to apologize in advance.

I write specifically regarding your article here:

thefederalist.com

In looking through your 11 points, I found a bare minimum of 11 errors or problems with the truth

243 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 6:22:51pm

re: #238 Kragar

“We’ll pay for your food, but we won’t cover the dietary needs your doctor says you need because we don’t believe in them.”

um, subsidized lunch at work was part of your compensation deal, but after you were hired your employer says they are vegans so the deal is changed and you have to pay for any meat or milk products you want to eat from your regular wages

244 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:23:19pm

re: #241 EPR-radar

Wouldn’t that be cruel to the cats?

Ah, good point. Well, in that event, I can roll them down the hill into the creek.

245 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 6:24:20pm

re: #244 thedopefishlives

Ah, good point. Well, in that event, I can roll them down the hill into the creek.

Nerd Cat wishes to not have roommates in the basement

246 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:24:57pm
247 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:25:16pm

re: #243 dog philosopher

um, subsidized lunch at work was part of your compensation deal, but after you were hired your employer says they are vegans so the deal is changed and you have to pay for any meat or milk products you want to eat from your regular wages

got it?

I am altering the deal. Pray I do not alter it any further.

248 Bubblehead II  Jul 3, 2014 6:25:20pm

re: #213 Gus

[Embedded content]

Sean Davis @seanmdav
Follow

If, as the Left asserts, gay marriage doesn’t affect my marriage, how does my opting out of a union affect your membership?
11:49 AM - 11 Dec 2012

Well lets see. If said union negotiates for wages and benefits on your behalf (as a non union employee) since unions tend to negotiate for all workers and you pay them nothing for their services that directly benefit you, what does that make you?

How about a fucking MOOCHER

249 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 6:25:34pm

re: #209 Teukka

A question:

Is there a public record or recording of what Sen. Brandon Smith said?

It seems some RNWJ’s are circling the wagons and claiming “It was taken outta context”

ket.org

250 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:25:49pm

re: #246 Gus

[Embedded content]

Well, because good conservative women are all quiverfull followers.

251 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 6:27:28pm

re: #232 thedopefishlives

Moral Grey Area Cat

as in the writings of dante alleygati?

252 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:28:22pm
253 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:29:18pm

re: #246 Gus

Why does she put women in scare quotes?

Are females who believe they should have access to birth control through the insurance they pay for not women in her eyes?

254 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:29:48pm

re: #252 Gus

[Embedded content]

He’s an “every sperm is sacred” guy!

Good choice, Tom.

255 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:30:12pm

re: #253 klys

Why does she put women in scare quotes?

Are females who believe they should have access to birth control through the insurance they pay for not women in her eyes?

Just a dumb insult I suppose. Liberal women are probably not really women or something in her own deranged mind.

256 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:30:27pm

re: #252 Gus

[Embedded content]

God’s an abortifacient. Ban religion.

Oh wait, you mean he didn’t know that this happens quite a bit in women’s bodies?

257 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:31:34pm

re: #254 Charles Johnson

He’s an “every sperm is sacred” guy!

Good choice, Tom.

That explains a lot, truthfully. Going that long without getting any would drive anyone a little cray-cray.

258 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:31:52pm
259 The War TARDIS  Jul 3, 2014 6:32:49pm

I know some of you were worried about a post earlier.

I wanted to say that I trust my Imam and another member of the community, along with a friend’s family, to guide me in how to go forward. :)

260 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:33:16pm

re: #258 Gus

[Embedded content]

I would like to know what scientific definition he is using for life.

Except not really, because I don’t need to deal with another fucking idiot who thinks he should have some fucking say over my uterus.

261 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:33:20pm
262 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 6:33:39pm

May I remind folks that William Binney is a former NSA employee turned whistle blower (actual one) who resigned 13 yrs ago? He has thrown in his lot with the EFF and others, turning on the agency for which he worked as a crypto-mathematician for over 30 yrs, even though he’s a staunch conservative and registered Republican.

Obviously, he has bitter regrets about the agency, even though some of his criticism now has a “second guessing” quality about it after 13 yrs absent from the NSA.

263 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:34:33pm

re: #257 thedopefishlives

That explains a lot, truthfully. Going that long without getting any would drive anyone a little cray-cray.

Not really. RWNJ bad craziness and evil cannot be blamed on “not getting any”.

264 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:34:39pm
265 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:34:51pm

re: #260 klys

I would like to know what scientific definition he is using for life.

Except not really, because I don’t need to deal with another fucking idiot who thinks he should have some fucking say over my uterus.

Anything that has DNA not identical to yours. Which means he’s clearly not in favor of taking antibiotics or treating diseases.

266 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:35:21pm
267 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:35:39pm

Pro-life polices lead to a rise in the number of women seeking abortions.

Therefore, pro-lifers are abortifacients.

268 Amory Blaine  Jul 3, 2014 6:36:42pm

re: #240 b_sharp

Each marriage is independent of every other marriage. Each union member is affected by the size of the union and the influence those numbers give it.

What about Romneys great-grandpappy?

269 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:37:23pm

re: #267 Kragar

Pro-life polices lead to a rise in the number of women seeking abortions.

Therefore, pro-lifers are abortifacients.

Pro-life policies lead to more dead women.

On the evidence available, that would appear to be the whole point for the RWNJs, especially as applied to women they regard as being uppity.

270 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 6:37:40pm

re: #266 Charles Johnson

And I’m quite sure it’s a small step for them to being in favor of allowing the poor to sell their children for medical experiments.
//

271 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:37:58pm

re: #269 EPR-radar

Pro-life policies lead to more dead women.

On the evidence available, that would appear to be the whole point for the RWNJs, especially as applied to women they regard as being uppity.

Like those pesky educated liberal “women.”

272 Self Respecting Woman Voter Against the GOP  Jul 3, 2014 6:38:09pm

re: #256 klys

God’s an abortificient. Ban religion.

Oh wait, you mean he didn’t know that this happens quite a bit in women’s bodies?

Yep. If that’s the case, God killed two of my babies.

273 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 6:38:14pm

I’ve added an update to the post to include a link to a video from Kentucky Education Television of the committee meeting.

274 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 6:39:46pm

re: #268 Amory Blaine

What about Romneys great-grandpappy?

He’s dead.

275 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:42:09pm
276 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 6:43:12pm

re: #275 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

It does appear that a lot of them have been to see the Gumby brain surgeon.
//

277 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 6:43:41pm

re: #275 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I doubt many of them have watched Python.

278 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:44:20pm

re: #277 b_sharp

I doubt many of them have watch Python.

It’s British humour, of course they haven’t watched it. Silly pinko commie.

279 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 6:45:10pm

re: #275 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Q: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
M: Well, I was told outside that…
Q: Don’t give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!
M: What?
Q: Shut your festering gob, you tit! Your type really makes me puke, you vacuous, coffee-nosed, maloderous, pervert!!!
M: Look, I CAME HERE FOR AN ARGUMENT, I’m not going to just stand…!!
Q: OH, oh I’m sorry, but this is abuse.
M: Oh, I see, well, that explains it.

280 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 6:46:28pm

re: #275 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

They are all just pining for the fjords.

281 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 6:46:30pm

re: #278 thedopefishlives

It’s British humour, of course they haven’t watched it. Silly pinko commie.

Monty Python might be too high-brow.

Benny Hill with a bit of Archie Bunker thrown in for flavor seems to fit the GOP/Teabagger crowd reasonably well.

282 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 6:47:12pm

winds are now 100 mph

283 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 6:47:33pm

re: #281 EPR-radar

Monty Python might be too high-brow.

Benny Hill with a bit of Archie Bunker thrown in for flavor seems to fit the GOP/Teabagger crowd reasonably well.

I’m sure the 2nd Amendment crowd would appreciate the self-defense course.

284 prairiefire  Jul 3, 2014 6:48:20pm

My family is off to the fireworks tents in Riverside. Gun powder plugged into cheap paper tanks, houses, etc.
Our first 4th I had to shield my daughter with my body against the Delft Dutch house that went nuts and was coming at us!
It turns into some kind of pagan asian festival by the time I hollar for them to come in on the 4th, around 11:30pm.
Smoke, lit punks everywhere, the sound still reverberating from all the noise. The kids stumbling around.

285 Belafon  Jul 3, 2014 6:51:31pm

re: #233 Gus

I’m still hoping Obama comes out against it as well.

286 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:51:55pm

re: #284 prairiefire

My family is off to the fireworks tents in Riverside. Gun powder plugged into cheap paper tanks, houses, etc. Our first 4th I had to shield my daughter with my body against the Delft Dutch house that went nuts and was coming at us!
It turns into some kind of pagan asian festival by the time I hollar for them to come in on the 4th, around 11:30pm. Smoke, lit punks everywhere, the sound still reverberating from all the noise. The kids stumbling around.

The first time we did a fireworks show, it was with the cheap cardboard mortars that you can buy at fireworks stores of questionable legality. One of the tubes blew out and launched its projectile directly at our audience.

The very next year, we were professionally trained by the Pyrotechnics Guild and purchased a set of HDPE mortar tubes. No more blowouts or near-misses.

287 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 6:51:58pm

I don’t know about you, but head banging never appealed to me. The doctor must be a fan, though.

Headbanging caused brain bleed in Motorhead fan

bigstory.ap.org

288 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:53:17pm

re: #282 Backwoods_Sleuth

Another hour to my 11pm EDT discussion bulletin. Sadface.

289 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 6:55:05pm
290 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:55:31pm

I haven’t shot a show in years, but I remember the thrill of firing the 8” cannons by hand with road flares. When we upgraded to 10” shells for our final show, those are required to be fired electronically, which made me feel like some kind of mad bomber.

291 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 6:55:56pm

Moving a comment from the last thread:

thedopefishlives, regarding the Supreme Court action on Wheaton College, I assume it’s Wheaton College of Illinois, which is an Evangelical school, not Wheaton College of Massachusetts.

292 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 6:56:09pm

re: #286 thedopefishlives

The first time we did a fireworks show, it was with the cheap cardboard mortars that you can buy at fireworks stores of questionable legality. One of the tubes blew out and launched its projectile directly at our audience.

The very next year, we were professionally trained by the Pyrotechnics Guild and purchased a set of HDPE mortar tubes. No more blowouts or near-misses.

Speaking of which…

1 killed, 3 injured in Texas fireworks explosion

bigstory.ap.org

293 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:56:18pm

re: #291 jonhendry

Moving a comment from the last thread:

thedopefishlives, regarding the Supreme Court action on Wheaton College, I assume it’s Wheaton College of Illinois, which is an Evangelical school, not Wheaton College of Massachusetts.

You’d probably be correct. I didn’t realize there were two. My mistake.

294 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:56:19pm

re: #291 jonhendry

Moving a comment from the last thread:

thedopefishlives, regarding the Supreme Court action on Wheaton College, I assume it’s Wheaton College of Illinois, which is an Evangelical school, not Wheaton College of Massachusetts.

Not thedopefish, but yes.

295 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 6:56:53pm

Great, now I’ve given the Hobby Lobby dumbshits a reason not to cover hysterectomies.

296 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 6:57:41pm

re: #295 goddamnedfrank

Great, now I’ve given the Hobby Lobby dumbshits a reason not to cover hysterectomies.

And you’d damned well not be infertile.

297 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 6:57:47pm

re: #285 Belafon

Continuing the series: “I’m pro-choice” “So you think people should be able to choose any light bulb for their home?” “Don’t be ridiculous”

Seems like there’s a contest on to make the dopiest analogy.

298 klys  Jul 3, 2014 6:57:48pm

re: #295 goddamnedfrank

Great, now I’ve given the Hobby Lobby dumbshits a reason not to cover hysterectomies.

There are days I definitely despair about the future of this country.

299 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 6:58:01pm

re: #11 Backwoods_Sleuth

accck!!!! I’m all verklempt!
Thank you, Charles!

I hope you’ll do more posts like this - you write very well. I barely had to edit at all! :)

300 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 6:59:27pm

re: #289 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

I guess hysterectomies are abortifacients then. //

301 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 6:59:43pm

re: #292 Justanotherhuman

Speaking of which…

1 killed, 3 injured in Texas fireworks explosion

bigstory.ap.org

I think I give this anecdote every year. When we were in training, our instructor told us about an Oklahoma redneck who came into their store and wanted the biggest shells he could buy. The vendor asked him where he was going to shoot them (presumably to judge the safety factor or lack thereof), and the man just laughed. “Shoot them? Oh, heck no. We line ‘em up on the edge of the bluff, light ‘em and kick ‘em off.”

302 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:00:25pm
303 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 7:00:37pm

re: #299 Charles Johnson

I hope you’ll do more posts like this - you write very well. I barely had to edit at all! :)

I blush!
Gus caught a bad link right away, and I found a few typos. But it all got fixed quickly.
As for the post, it pretty much wrote itself. Such an abundance of derp from which to choose!

304 prairiefire  Jul 3, 2014 7:01:36pm

re: #290 thedopefishlives

I haven’t shot a show in years, but I remember the thrill of firing the 8” cannons by hand with road flares. When we upgraded to 10” shells for our final show, those are required to be fired electronically, which made me feel like some kind of mad bomber.

It’s a high wire act!

305 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 7:01:41pm
306 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:01:44pm
307 prairiefire  Jul 3, 2014 7:02:53pm

re: #291 jonhendry

Moving a comment from the last thread:

thedopefishlives, regarding the Supreme Court action on Wheaton College, I assume it’s Wheaton College of Illinois, which is an Evangelical school, not Wheaton College of Massachusetts.

Wheaton, IL, has a beautiful campus.

308 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 7:03:04pm

re: #304 prairiefire

It’s a high wire act!

Hand-firing, you don’t have time to duck and cover; the fuses are just long enough for you to turn away from the mortar and cover your neck/head with one hand. You feel the concussion of the launch pretty good as it whizzes by your face about 3 feet away.

309 Belafon  Jul 3, 2014 7:04:07pm

re: #302 jaunte

310 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:05:03pm

What the everfucking fuck…

311 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:05:06pm

That about covers it.

312 prairiefire  Jul 3, 2014 7:05:42pm

re: #308 thedopefishlives

Hand-firing, you don’t have time to duck and cover; the fuses are just long enough for you to turn away from the mortar and cover your neck/head with one hand. You feel the concussion of the launch pretty good as it whizzes by your face about 3 feet away.

The jack my little brother made in the 80-90’s at the tents? Oh my dog. When you can buy a container or two as a wholesaler, profit is about 80%. Or it was then. Black Cat has a legit distribution spot about 40 miles from us. Ah…gunpowder.

313 Recreational Birth Control User  Jul 3, 2014 7:06:54pm

re: #242 Kragar

A letter to Sean Davis of the Federalist

Who is that awesome guy?

314 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 7:09:27pm

So, does Hobby Lobby dictate what employees can do with their paid vacation time?

I’m guessing only white collar employees get paid time off, but still. No Vegas for them? Only mission trips or trips to Israel allowed?

315 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:10:47pm

re: #289 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

This is why conservatives all fly on planes made in the 30’s, drive cars made in the 20’s, and use the same medicine our founders used. Any improvements in society must be shunned as a commie plot.

316 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 7:11:20pm

With a title like “The case for Mitt Romney in 2016”, you know it has to be good. //

politico.com

I kid. What a crapfest.

317 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:11:24pm

re: #313 Recreational Birth Control User

Who is that awesome guy?

That is the first bitch-slap beat-down by The Math that I have ever seen. Bravo!

318 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:12:16pm
319 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 7:13:00pm

re: #312 prairiefire

The jack my little brother made in the 80-90’s at the tents? Oh my dog. When you can by a container or two as a wholesaler, profit is about 80%. Or it was then. Black Cat has a legit distribution spot about 40 miles from us. Ah…gunpowder.

I spent an afternoon one year chaining fuses together for a spectacular finale we had lined up. We chained together two separate banks of 10-shot 3” mortars and we planned to fill with some boxes while a crew carefully loaded the chain.

Then the rain came.

We shot everything in the field (we’d pre-loaded the guns that evening) and started firing as fast as our loaders could pop shells into the tubes. When it came time for the finale, we had no filler time; the loaders raced down the line and loaded the chain. Two of them got cross-loaded and one shell, instead of flying, flopped out on the ground. Right at my dad’s feet (who was firing that bank). I’m in the back of the field with the eights, and for all I know, I’m about to watch my dad get his feet blown off. I’ve never seen my old man run that fast. He was safe in the end, thankfully.

320 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 7:13:12pm

re: #300 Gus

I guess hysterectomies are abortifacients then. //

Hell, then women are walking abortion factories, considering how often fertilized eggs either fail to implant or are miscarried early enough that it just seems like a regular period.

321 Justanotherhuman  Jul 3, 2014 7:13:21pm

Later, Lizards! The rack beckons. Have a great rest of the night. : )

322 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:14:39pm

re: #315 Zamb

This is why conservatives all fly on planes made in the 30’s, drive cars made in the 20’s, and use the same medicine our founders used. Any improvements in society must be shunned as a commie plot.

They love this meme:

323 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:16:56pm
324 prairiefire  Jul 3, 2014 7:17:40pm

re: #319 thedopefishlives

OMG, he had to run! You never want to have to run!

325 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 7:17:59pm

Financial stress, poor diet and healthcare are probably responsible for more stillbirths / spontaneous abortions than all of the contraceptive methods combined. If conservatives actually cared about fertilized eggs they’d implement a huge socialist safety net immediately so that many women aren’t constantly living on the edge.

326 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:18:45pm

re: #314 jonhendry

So, does Hobby Lobby dictate what employees can do with their paid vacation time?

I’m guessing only white collar employees get paid time off, but still. No Vegas for them? Only mission trips or trips to Israel allowed?

Probably. I’m certain they drug test and have a variety of rules for facebook pictures.

327 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:18:50pm

re: #325 goddamnedfrank

They care about power.

328 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 7:19:07pm

re: #324 prairiefire

OMG, he had to run! You never want to have to run!

Scariest moment I’ve ever had firing. And we had some pretty crazy moments over our 4-year career.

329 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:19:11pm

That’s about it.

330 prairiefire  Jul 3, 2014 7:19:34pm

re: #325 goddamnedfrank

How about all right wingers stop drinking Red Bull and Mountain Dew.

331 goddamnedfrank  Jul 3, 2014 7:21:40pm

re: #319 thedopefishlives

I spent an afternoon one year chaining fuses together for a spectacular finale we had lined up. We chained together two separate banks of 10-shot 3” mortars and we planned to fill with some boxes while a crew carefully loaded the chain.

Then the rain came.

We shot everything in the field (we’d pre-loaded the guns that evening) and started firing as fast as our loaders could pop shells into the tubes. When it came time for the finale, we had no filler time; the loaders raced down the line and loaded the chain. Two of them got cross-loaded and one shell, instead of flying, flopped out on the ground. Right at my dad’s feet (who was firing that bank). I’m in the back of the field with the eights, and for all I know, I’m about to watch my dad get his feet blown off. I’ve never seen my old man run that fast. He was safe in the end, thankfully.

This was the scene last year in Simi Valley when the display suffered a catastrophic failure and fired into the crowd. 28 people were injured.

Youtube Video

332 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:22:08pm

re: #322 Pie-onist Overlord

Slaves and genocide were a big part of that. That and tariffs. Also they understand that only rich people got full educations right? I saw some nut claiming Socrates was the ideal educator and he was basically free because of reasons. Completely disregarding the fact that he was the private tutor for an incredibly wealthy family. History just doesn’t want to stick to these guys.

333 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 7:22:57pm

Once in the mid 70s, my Dad dumped $100 worth of fireworks into a Weber kettle, added some lighter fluid, dropped a match and ran.

Mom was not amused.

334 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 7:23:58pm

re: #331 goddamnedfrank

This was the scene last year in Simi Valley when the display suffered a catastrophic failure and fired into the crowd. 28 people were injured.

[Embedded content]

Larger

Ugh. I hate seeing fireworks accidents.

335 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:24:24pm

At what point do you call these people just plain evil?

336 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 7:24:43pm

re: #322 Pie-onist Overlord

They love this meme:
[Embedded image]

I think that poster is missing a few things - like accuracy.

337 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 7:26:06pm

re: #335 Pie-onist Overlord

At what point do you call these people just plain evil?

[Embedded content]

338 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:26:23pm

re: #332 Zamb

Slaves and genocide were a big part of that. That and tariffs. Also they understand that only rich people got full educations right? I saw some nut claiming Socrates was the ideal educator and he was basically free because of reasons. Completely disregarding the fact that he was the private tutor for an incredibly wealthy family. History just doesn’t want to stick to these guys.

That “1913” meme is a favorite of the “Fair Taxers” who think it’s not “fair” that the Poors don’t pay as much tax as the Rich.

339 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:27:28pm
340 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:27:42pm

re: #333 Kragar

I spent most of my summers on a reservation, where the laws on fireworks don’t really exist. Best way to grow up.

341 wheat-dogghazi  Jul 3, 2014 7:27:44pm

re: #77 FemNaziBitch

So, between Earth’s gravity and the Sun’s gravity is time for an object travelling between the two seriously a fucked issue?

Probably already explained above, but I can’t resist answering right away.

No.

The gravitational influence on time near the Sun or any other object in our solar system would be so small you wouldn’t even notice. Ground control might notice your ship’s clocks are off by a few billionths of a second, though.

To be seriously time-fucked, you’d need to visit a black hole. I don’t recommend it, because time distortion would be the least of your worries. Read the Larry Niven story, There Is a Tide, to get the gist of the other problems.

342 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:28:12pm

Another Horrible Human Being:

343 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 7:28:53pm
344 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:29:05pm

re: #338 Pie-onist Overlord

Obviously if we just taxed their 10k a year at 30% they totally wouldn’t need food stamps.

345 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 7:30:12pm

re: #322 Pie-onist Overlord

They love this meme:
[Embedded image]

fine, bring back tariffs and the likker tax, ok by me

346 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:30:12pm

re: #344 Zamb

Obviously if we just taxed their 10k a year at 30% they totally wouldn’t need food stamps.

I have learned to just block and mute anyone who Tweets that “1913” meme. They are fucked up.

347 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 7:30:21pm
348 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:30:27pm
349 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 7:30:35pm

re: #336 b_sharp

I think that poster is missing a few things - like accuracy.

Not to mention the “We did eight wars without an income tax”* stuff is also generally the same folk who want global adventurism with our current military without paying for it.

* - I’d love to see the list of these eight wars they come up with. And I know they won’t have any accurate knowledge of how lame the US effort was in them, how weak the opponent was, or that the enemy had important things to do besides waste a lot of resources on us. And if they include the American Civil War then they forgot that the US enacted an income tax to help pay for that one.

350 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:31:06pm

TCOT is going crazy with hate for the POTUS. Because they’re so patriotic.

351 thedopefishlives  Jul 3, 2014 7:31:12pm

Night lizards. Enjoy tomorrow, and don’t give those Supreme Court windbags the satisfaction of letting them rain on your parade. I might have to punch a teabagger in the face (they always march in the parade every year).

352 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 7:31:36pm

re: #338 Pie-onist Overlord

That “1913” meme is a favorite of the “Fair Taxers” who think it’s not “fair” that the Poors don’t pay as much tax as the Rich.

Income taxes started in 1861 to fund wars according to Wiki. Other taxes like tariffs before that.

353 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:32:14pm

re: #346 Pie-onist Overlord

Well anyone who starts from the premise that the working poor aren’t pulling their weight, isn’t right in the head. Couple that with the idea that the working poor are also making too much, as many of these people believe, and its a recipe for complete insanity.

354 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 7:32:54pm
355 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:33:39pm

re: #354 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Shit. I want a direwolf.

356 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 7:34:02pm

in the burns prohibition documentary, he mentions how the prohibitionists wanted the income tax becuz then the gummint could afford to do without the likker tax

i sez gimme a good ole smoot hawley ennytime

357 gwangung  Jul 3, 2014 7:34:05pm

re: #353 Zamb

Well anyone who starts from the premise that the working poor aren’t pulling their weight, isn’t right in the head. Couple that with the idea that the working poor are also making too much, as many of these people believe, and its a recipe for complete insanity.

That’s innumeracy again.

358 Bubblehead II  Jul 3, 2014 7:34:22pm

Night Lizards. I am going to slip a way and just enjoy the music.

As always, May the Deity of your choice smile down upon you and yours.

359 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 7:34:29pm

re: #355 Zamb

Shit. I want a direwolf.

Winter is coming.

360 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 7:34:35pm

re: #335 Pie-onist Overlord

At what point do you call these people just plain evil?

[Embedded content]

Written by this guy.

361 Kragar  Jul 3, 2014 7:35:28pm

re: #359 Feline Fearless Leader

Winter is coming.

Thats a porn title waiting to happen.

362 dog philosopher  Jul 3, 2014 7:35:43pm

re: #352 b_sharp

Income taxes started in 1861 to fund wars according to Wiki. Other taxes like tariffs before that.

civil war income tax was a temporary measure. in fact, the constitution specifically forbade income tax and an amendment had to be passed to allow it

363 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:36:58pm

re: #359 Feline Fearless Leader

Winter came and went up here. Martin really should have finished the Winds of Winter for this past winter, I’ve never had to stay home from work so much in my life.

364 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 7:39:38pm

re: #363 Zamb

Winter came and went up here. Martin really should have finished the Winds of Winter for this past winter, I’ve never had to stay home from work so much in my life.

I remember when that bloat factory was just supposed to be a trilogy.

365 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 7:43:21pm

re: #364 Feline Fearless Leader

I came in in between Storm of Swords and Feast for Crows. The time between feast and dance was just ridiculous considering they were supposed to be the same book originally.

366 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:43:51pm

re: #354 Pie-onist Overlord

367 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:44:32pm

That’s no exaggeration. I don’t believe what I just read.

368 Amory Blaine  Jul 3, 2014 7:44:50pm

What is it with conservative men and their parted-on-the-left 10 year old boy haircuts?

369 b_sharp  Jul 3, 2014 7:46:00pm

re: #362 dog philosopher

civil war income tax was a temporary measure. in fact, the constitution specifically forbade income tax and an amendment had to be passed to allow it

Yes, but it means those wars were not paid for without taxes.

370 Lidane  Jul 3, 2014 7:47:37pm

re: #318 jaunte

That separation is what legal and business scholars call the “corporate veil,” and it’s fundamental to the entire operation. Now, thanks to the Hobby Lobby case, it’s in question. By letting Hobby Lobby’s owners assert their personal religious rights over an entire corporation, the Supreme Court has poked a major hole in the veil. In other words, if a company is not truly separate from its owners, the owners could be made responsible for its debts and other burdens.

I’ve been wondering about that. You’d think that the Hobby Lobby decision pretty much obliterates the corporate veil since it not only makes the corporation a person with religious rights, but makes that person a direct stand-in for the owners rather than a separate entity. It blurs the line between the corporate stakeholder and the corporation.

I can’t understand how this doesn’t completely fuck businesses over. It’s staggering that more people aren’t talking about this. Of course, I’m not a lawyer, but in my limited understanding of business law this was a shitty decision for a whole lot of reasons that go beyond its blatant sexism.

371 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:49:09pm

re: #370 Lidane

It’s going to be an absurd scene when the SCOTUS conservatives try to argue their way out of the inconsistencies they’ve set up.

372 gwangung  Jul 3, 2014 7:50:33pm

re: #371 jaunte

It’s going to be an absurd scene when the SCOTUS conservatives try to argue their way out of the inconsistencies they’ve set up.

You speak like that’s a problem for conservatives.

373 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 7:51:07pm

re: #142 jonhendry

There’s a brand new Charlie Stross “Laundry Files” book that involves vampires. It’s called The Rhesus Chart.

(The Laundry: a super-secret British intelligence agency that deals with occult threats. In the Laundryverse, magic, mathematics, and computation are intimately connected, although most people don’t know that. So occasionally the Laundry has to deal with a problem that crops up when a Computer Science grad student accidentally opens a portal to another dimension and a brain-eating cosmic threat tries to come through.)

Ooooo! I have got to find those.

In my vampire stories background it’s taken as a given that humans cannot know vampires exist. That little thing with The Inquisition, and to most vampires The Holocaust and Trail of Tears are something they experienced. They know they’d receive far less mercy than that.

In my latest novel it turns out that some humans do know, but they agree with the vampires and other supernaturals (like werewolves and sorcerers) that humans should’t know and work to keep the secret.

They’re called Le Archives Speciale, because most people don’t go looking for archives. They used to be called Duxieme X but an American TV show that came out a couple of decades ago forced them to change their name. (There’s a geek’s in joke in there.)

374 Feline Fearless Leader  Jul 3, 2014 7:52:32pm

re: #373 Romantic Heretic

Ooooo! I have got to find those.

In my vampire stories background it’s taken as a given that humans cannot know vampires exist. That little thing with The Inquisition, and to most vampires The Holocaust and Trail of Tears are something they experienced. They know they’d receive far less mercy than that.

In my latest novel it turns out that some humans do know, but they agree with the vampires and other supernaturals (like werewolves and sorcerers) that humans should’t know and work to keep the secret.

They’re called Le Archives Speciale, because most people don’t go looking for archives. They used to be called Duxieme X but an American TV show that came out a couple of decades ago forced them to change their name. (There’s a geek’s in joke in there.)

I believe the first one is called “The Atrocity Archive” and it’s essentially a mash-up of a novella and a few short stories.

375 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 7:53:13pm
376 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 7:55:15pm
377 wheat-dogghazi  Jul 3, 2014 7:57:09pm

re: #376 Gus

Skeptical of evolution … is Sean really Ed Dantes?

378 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 7:57:56pm
379 Charles Johnson  Jul 3, 2014 7:58:18pm

re: #376 Gus

[Embedded content]

Creationism is an essential part of today’s Republican Party. It’s sad, and pathetic, but there it is.

380 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 8:00:14pm

Charles M. Blow has a new book out and he has nothing better to do but debate random creationists?

381 Pie-onist Overlord  Jul 3, 2014 8:00:37pm

re: #248 Bubblehead II

Sean Davis @seanmdav
Follow

If, as the Left asserts, gay marriage doesn’t affect my marriage, how does my opting out of a union affect your membership?
11:49 AM - 11 Dec 2012

Well lets see. If said union negotiates for wages and benefits on your behalf (as a non union employee) since unions tend to negotiate for all workers and you pay them nothing for their services that directly benefit you, what does that make you?

How about a fucking MOOCHER

I am so totally stealing that.

382 Belafon  Jul 3, 2014 8:01:24pm

re: #376 Gus

Only if his evidence is peer reviewed first.

383 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 8:01:52pm

re: #381 Pie-onist Overlord

If, as the Left asserts, gay marriage doesn’t affect my marriage, how does my opting out of a union affect your membership?

They just don’t understand how analogies work.

384 William Barnett-Lewis  Jul 3, 2014 8:01:59pm

re: #371 jaunte

It’s going to be an absurd scene when the SCOTUS conservatives try to argue their way out of the inconsistencies they’ve set up.

As if they care? Alito, Roberts, Scalia, & Thomas will do as always - what they’re told to do by the moneyed interests for whom the Constitution either says what they want it to say or is just so much toilet paper. All they have to do to is flatter Kennedy into thinking he’s important and they can do whatever damage to the nation that their bosses tell them to.

385 Gus  Jul 3, 2014 8:02:11pm

re: #380 jaunte

Charles M. Blow has a new book out and he has nothing better to do but debate random creationists?

Check the date.

386 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 8:02:34pm

re: #379 Charles Johnson

Creationism is an essential part of today’s Republican Party. It’s sad, and pathetic, but there it is.

The modern GOP is the far-right Christian party. That’s their identity now. Every chance they have to prove it, they do.

387 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 8:02:53pm

re: #385 Gus

Edit:
Charles M. Blow has a new book out productive life, and he has nothing better to do but debate random creationists?

388 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 8:03:36pm

re: #230 Charles Johnson

Lady? You are far worse than stupid. You are quite deliberately arrogant and cruel.

389 William Barnett-Lewis  Jul 3, 2014 8:03:45pm

re: #376 Gus

[Embedded content]

No buddy, you’re just a brain washed idiot. Go get some education and then we can talk about the specifics of the reality of evolution in God’s universe.

390 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 3, 2014 8:04:11pm
391 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 8:07:23pm

re: #246 Gus

[Embedded content]

She doesn’t need birth control because no self respecting man would touch her.

392 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Jul 3, 2014 8:08:38pm

re: #391 Romantic Heretic

She doesn’t need birth control because no self respecting man would touch her.

The worth of women really doesn’t rest on their fuckability.

393 Lidane  Jul 3, 2014 8:11:42pm

re: #392 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

The worth of women really doesn’t rest on their fuckability.

Not in RWNJ America. For them, a woman’s worth is determined by her fuckability when she’s young, and her ability breed and stay home with the kids.

If she’s got any thoughts of a career, or of taking control of her body, her fertility, and her life, well, then she’s just a feminazi and a filthy slut who needs to be shamed as often as possible.

394 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 8:11:54pm

This is almost short enough for a complementary response meme:

• America was the first country to invest in mass elementary education for boys and girls, then in high schools, and then in widespread college education. As Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz of Harvard have argued, this may be the best explanation for America’s rise to global pre-eminence.

• The United States invested in the electrical grid, with public projects like the Tennessee Valley Authority and rural electrification. These hugely raised living standards and economic output.

• President Dwight Eisenhower, who had been part of an army convoy that took 62 days to cross the United States on wretched roads, invested in the 1950s in the interstate highway system. The interstates knitted together the country and created huge economic efficiencies.
nytimes.com

395 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 8:14:23pm

re: #348 Charles Johnson

And Mike Allen’s pay-for-play newsletter grift.

396 Mich-again  Jul 3, 2014 8:15:06pm

Preventing a child from receiving an actual science education is a form of child abuse.

397 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 8:16:21pm

re: #360 Gus

Written by this guy.

[Embedded image]

Dahmer?

398 EPR-radar  Jul 3, 2014 8:19:15pm

Happy days. Updates at Things I Won’t Work With pipeline.corante.com

A sample:

You may not have felt the need for a better synthesis of metal azides. Personally, my metal azide requirements are minimal, and very easily satisfied. I can get all I need by looking at a structure drawn on a whiteboard from about twenty feet away, thanks, and have no desire to actually prepare any of these things. I do not see this as an irrational reluctance. For example, last year I wrote about mercury azides, a most alarming class of compounds whose synthesis would be much easier if the two solvent layers didn’t keep getting disturbed by explosions. I’ve also covered selenium tetraazide, a cheerful lemon-yellow solid with the annoying habit of blowing up when it gets warmer than about -64C, which would explain why you don’t run into it very often.

Ah, but perhaps that’s about the change. Thanks to this paper, a collaboration between two groups in Munich (at the TU-München and the Ludwigs-Maximilien-Universität), we now have far easier entry to a wide range of metallic polyazides, oh joy. It turns out that silver azide in liquid ammonia slowly does redox reactions with a variety of other elements, giving a wide variety of otherwise hard-to-obtain compounds. The careful reader will have noted a defect in this scheme: you first have to make a supply of silver azide, which is enough of a show-stopper for me. That Wikipedia article drolly notes that “In its most characteristic reaction, the solid decomposes explosively”, and because it’s a silver salt, that decomposition can be set off by foolhardy behavior like shining a strong light on it.

399 wheat-dogghazi  Jul 3, 2014 8:22:36pm

re: #394 jaunte

[Embedded image]

This is almost short enough for a complementary response meme:

These are lessons that China has learned from. Their investment in education is not as intensive as the USA’s, because their population is so much greater*, but the government is spending billions on high speed rail and highways to knit the country together (and make it easier to mobilize troops). Electrification is nearly completely done.

* More than 9 million high school seniors took the college entrance exam last month.

400 klys  Jul 3, 2014 8:24:04pm

I don’t always ride out hurricanes, but when I do, I do them on a bed and breakfast 30 miles out in the Atlantic.

Youtube Video

401 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 8:24:20pm

re: #309 Belafon

Good man.

402 William Barnett-Lewis  Jul 3, 2014 8:25:37pm

re: #399 wheat-dogghazi

The 50’s into the earliest 60’s, when all of these things came to fruition and we still taxed the top enough to pay for it all was the era of greatest economic growth ever seen.

This is not a co-incidence.

403 William Barnett-Lewis  Jul 3, 2014 8:26:00pm

And off to work. Have a good evening folks.

404 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 8:27:28pm

re: #361 Kragar

Thats a porn title waiting to happen.

There’s already a porn parody, Game of Bones

405 klys  Jul 3, 2014 8:29:05pm

re: #398 EPR-radar

Oh, this site never gets old. Oh man.

I’m pretty sure my husband isn’t getting nearly the entertainment out of my readings as I am, but oh man.

406 jaunte  Jul 3, 2014 8:34:42pm

re: #398 EPR-radar

“…So you’re looking at eight months of this, handling the damn stuff every Monday morning. The authors describe this procedure as “slightly less hazardous” than the other one, and I guess you have to take what you can get in this area. But the procedure goes on to say, rather unexpectedly, that “longer reaction times lead to partial decomposition”, so don’t go thinking that you’re going to get a higher yield on the one-year anniversary or anything. What way to spend the seasons! What might occur to a person, after months of azidomercurial grunt work …surely some alternate career would have been better? Farm hand at the wild animal ranch, maybe? Get up when the chickens would be getting up, if they’d made it…head out to the barn and slop the wolverines…hmm, forsythia’s starting to bloom, time to neuter the hyenas soon…

No, no such luck. The hyenas will have to remain unspayed, because it’s time to add fresh azide to the horrible mercury prep. Only three more months to go! Sheesh.”
pipeline.corante.com

This site is hilarious.

407 Romantic Heretic  Jul 3, 2014 8:35:07pm

re: #383 jaunte

They just don’t understand how analogies work.

They don’t understand anything!

408 wheat-dogghazi  Jul 3, 2014 8:37:42pm

re: #398 EPR-radar

Chemistry is fun, but I can see why that chem set I had as a kid had carefully chosen compounds to prevent the younger me from blowing up his house or killing the entire household with poisonous gas.

Glad I stuck with physics.

409 Zamb  Jul 3, 2014 8:38:51pm

re: #376 Gus

It frightens me how much this ass reminds me of a friend from high school, with all the declarations of superior intellect compared to people who actually spend much of their lives studying the field and not on the internet trying to find logically unsound arguments to prove magic.

410 jonhendry  Jul 3, 2014 8:39:37pm

I wish Obama would challenge the right-wing members of the Supreme Court to frequent, highly strenuous basketball matches.

411 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 3, 2014 10:45:01pm

re: #123 SteveMcGazi

Pi is computed to thousands (maybe nearly 100,000) digits. Some people pride themselves on memorizing pi to hundreds of digits. But the chairman told me that pi is the ratio between the diameter and the circumference of a circle. But I know this can’t be true because pi is a non repeating, non-terminating decimal. It is a irrational number (It can’t be reasoned with…). To measure pi to thousands of digits in that case would mean that you measured the diameter AND the circumeference of a circle to thousand upon thousands of digits, and nothing is that precise. Therefore, pi must be something else. There has to be some basis to calculate it to all those decimal places, but the professor was to lazy to explain.

O_O

412 wheat-dogghazi  Jul 3, 2014 11:28:06pm

re: #123 SteveMcGazi

Pi is computed to thousands (maybe nearly 100,000) digits. Some people pride themselves on memorizing pi to hundreds of digits. But the chairman told me that pi is the ratio between the diameter and the circumference of a circle. But I know this can’t be true because pi is a non repeating, non-terminating decimal. It is a irrational number (It can’t be reasoned with…). To measure pi to thousands of digits in that case would mean that you measured the diameter AND the circumeference of a circle to thousand upon thousands of digits, and nothing is that precise. Therefore, pi must be something else. There has to be some basis to calculate it to all those decimal places, but the professor was to lazy to explain.

You’re right about the precision of directly measuring the diameter and circumference of a circle. The ancient Greeks understood the problem, as well. Being clever at geometry, they decided to approximate a circle with polygons of ever increasing sides — 6, 8, 10, etc. — to calculate a more precise value of π. As you increase the number of sides, the perimeter of polygon approaches the circumference of a circle. Of course, you can just keep adding sides to get closer and closer to the circumference, and thereby, to a more precise value of π.

In more modern terms, this process is an infinite series that converges on the value of π. There are other ways to calculate the value, as well, but this one is based on the geometry of the circle.

The irrational nature of π has been understood for 3,000 years at least. Maybe it’s time you caught up.

413 FemNaziBitch  Jul 4, 2014 4:07:21am

re: #129 Skip Intro

You want something that will really make your head hurt?

Photons from the Sun travel at the speed of light. From our reference point, they take tens of thousands of years to make their way through the layers of the sun before they end their journey by hitting me on the butt at the beach.

However, from the photon’s point of view, time doesn’t exist, and they arrive at their destination immediately after they’re created.

That I understand.

414 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 4, 2014 4:22:06am

re: #129 Skip Intro

You want something that will really make your head hurt?

Photons from the Sun travel at the speed of light. From our reference point, they take tens of thousands of years to make their way through the layers of the sun before they end their journey by hitting me on the butt at the beach.

However, from the photon’s point of view, time doesn’t exist, and they arrive at their destination immediately after they’re created.

The words “photon’s pov” imply an observer, but no observer can travel with the speed of light, even theoretically, so the issue is basically not meaningful - there is no photon rest frame and there is no photon pov…

415 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jul 4, 2014 4:40:07am
416 wheat-dogghazi  Jul 4, 2014 6:33:21am

re: #414 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator

The words “photon’s pov” imply an observer, but no observer can travel with the speed of light, even theoretically, so the issue is basically not meaningful - there is no photon rest frame and there is no photon pov…

Strictly speaking, you’re correct. But as an observer approaches the speed of light, time for him or her slows down relative to an observer in a different frame of reference. The faster the speed, the slower the time. Physical objects cannot travel at the speed of light, so time doesn’t stop entirely. But for a photon traveling at the speed of light, time doesn’t pass at all — the next tick of the clock takes an eternity compared to an outside frame of reference.

Of course, if you plug the values into the time dilation formula, you end up dividing by zero, the result of which the math guys say is “undefined” and physicists say is “infinity.”

417 Islamo-Masonic Conspirator  Jul 4, 2014 7:04:56am

re: #416 wheat-dogghazi

Well, here is the thing - I’m not sure it makes sense to discuss whether time passes “for” a photon or not. Yes, the faster you go, the slower the time, but the proper answer to “so what happens when you get there?” is “you don’t”. It’s not that the time does or does not pass, it’s that the answer is “N/A”.

418 Khal Wimpo  Jul 4, 2014 12:51:33pm

re: #275 Charles Johnson

I await the eventual premiere of the “Live Organ Transplants Show,” where the 1% harvest the organs of the lazy, good-for-nothing moochers to extend their lifespans. Helped along by Alito’s 5-4 opinion that since corporations are people, ipso facto, people are corporations, and thus if they become insolvent, they can be broken up into constituent parts and sold for profit.

419 Teukka  Jul 7, 2014 11:08:38am

[Reposted from other thread by request]

Yeah, I’ve seen one of those “out of context” defenses being raised by a RWNJ on a chat network. Basically, that guy claimed it was taken out of context, and that the honorable gentleman from Kentucky meant the rate of temp change.

Only that don’t work so well either. I won’t make your eyes glaze over by going through the details, but basically, the argument fails on three points.

(1) The Inverse Square Law dictates that the energy of any given source decrease the further from the source you go.

(2) If you are trying to establish a correlation between the temperature changes of two planets, you need longitudinal data, preferably over both the well-known 11-year or so solar cycle, but also the less known one which spans centuries.

(3) Because of (1), the changes in temperature on Mars will be minute, which means that you need a precision temperature sensor for your longitudinal data (see (2)). Such sensors have not been on the surface of Mars long enough. This guy was claiming that one could measure temperatures of remote stellar bodies, but failed to take into account the margin of error of such measurements, especially when it comes to planetary bodies (basically, the margin of error is greater than the minute variations).

And then the guy began claiming that I was using a strawman…. Am I retarded, or isn’t the “out of context” argument, at least in this form (rate of change) not only DoA, but still born?

Bonus Derp:

Probing what knowledge this guy has generally, I decided to do a pop quiz on him about protective signs, with the result that he would not hesitate to attack targets with a red square standing on its corner or three orange dots in a row.

When I point out to him that these are international protective signs and that the United States is party to the treaty which defines them and AFAICT, has them written into law, he begins a tirade about how the US does not need to respect no stinking UN commie signage.

And this guy often implies he has US military training and that he is prepared for when the revolution comes. Yet he doesn’t seem to know how to keep himself out of the very deep shit (sorry, there’s no other way of putting it) he will be in if he attacks protected targets.

*SMH*


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal
Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Why Did More Than 1,000 People Die After Police Subdued Them With Force That Isn’t Meant to Kill? An investigation led by The Associated Press has found that, over a decade, more than 1,000 people died after police subdued them through physical holds, stun guns, body blows and other force not intended to be lethal. More: Why ...
Cheechako
4 hours ago
Views: 30 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 0
A Closer Look at the Eastman State Bar DecisionTaking a few minutes away from work things to read through the Eastman decision. As I'm sure many of you know, Eastman was my law school con law professor. I knew him pretty well because I was also running in ...
KGxvi
7 hours ago
Views: 85 • Comments: 1 • Rating: 1