Episode L: Your weapon of choice


The latest instantiation of the endless thread seems to be all about histories of use of interesting substances. Me, I like to get high on Christopher Walken.

Continue as you were. Flying is optional.

(Current total: 10,058 entries with 969,742 comments.)

Comments

  1. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Janine, there are trolls here that a lot of us would like to see gone. PZ brought up possibly doing another round of Survivor, so…

    I didn’t keep a list this time, and my meds have kicked in, so my memory isn’t doing all that well, especially when I have to concentrate so hard on typing.

  2. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Janine:

    Yeah, he is a bloody stupid git.

    Robocop was Ichthyic’s suggestion for Survivor in the Sunday thread, I’m just making a note of it here.

  3. boygenius says

    What Janine said. Most of the really odious trolls of late don’t last for more than one or two threads. Even Cimourdain and Hyperon only show up occasionally. Fuckosaurus is nowhere to be found.

    Makes me wish mythusmage would show up again.

  4. Ichthyic says

    science can’t tell you who to love”

    nope, no problem there, really.

    all you have to do is ask how any other methodology actually DOES provide regular, verifiable knowledge of how we figure out who we will fall in love with.

    ..and then it falls apart, since there aren’t any.

    besides which, of course, epistemologically speaking, this is NOT outside of the realm of science to be able to answer, as anyone who has studied human physiology and behavior could likely tell ya.

    You’re setting yourself up for the scientism straw-man

    you nailed it before even needing to continue.

    scientism is indeed an easily knocked down strawman.

  5. Janine, Mistress Of Foul Mouth Abuse, OM says

    So, Caine. I can get away with saying this; That is not writing, that is typing.

    I am sorry, I had to say it. Good luck getting through what is ailing you.

    I know PZ brought up playing Survivor again. But as I said earlier, we hardly have the same troll problem as we had in late 2008, early 2009. (Could that have been Pharyngula’s Golden Age of Trolls?) I cannot see the point.

  6. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    Sorry, Caine, I get befuzzled nowadays when I try to multitask. That discussion actually was about me trying to explain why the NDoP is a very bad idea; but separation of church and state always manages to elicit the “you’re oppressing me!” meme from Baptists. Bleah.

    Ambook, Boy Twin has some interesting discussions with his Scout friends too, given that he’s an atheist. My attitude is, well, it’s good for the others to be exposed to someone who’s thinking for himself.

  7. Haley says

    Can I mention drugs even though I’m about 400 posts late? I’ve never had more than a sip of alcohol, don’t ever take caffeine except for chocolate, never used any illegal substances. Alcohol would probably kill me, caffeine makes me pass out almost instantly, and I don’t really want to experiment further.

    I do take several psychiatric medications, and sometimes I think they’re more trouble than they’re worth. I have a precarious balance of ADD drugs that wake me up and anxiety medicines that let me sleep and eat, and antidepressants too.

    I’m completely and painfully addicted to the internet, and that’s quite enough of a drug for me. I’ve been stumbleupon clean this whole semester.

    In other news, I’ve never eaten anything more exotic than lamb, and I strongly favor a new Survivor! round, (or better yet a showcase of the year’s best trollish posts, a la feministe’s next top troll)

  8. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Janine:

    So, Caine. I can get away with saying this; That is not writing, that is typing.

    Yep, it was. I don’t have a vested interest in another round of Survivor, if we have one, good, if we don’t, fine. (There are people I’d dearly like to see go though.) People asked about current trolls, etc., myself and others have answered.

  9. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Leigh:

    That discussion actually was about me trying to explain why the NDoP is a very bad idea; but separation of church and state always manages to elicit the “you’re oppressing me!” meme from Baptists. Bleah.

    It’s not just Baptists who get all upsetty and use the persecution card when it comes to separation of church and state. I’ve been quite surprised by some people, who I’d normally consider to be moderate xtians go all frothy over the issue. Then it’s all “this is a Xtian nation, it was founded blah blah blah”. That’s a very entrenched belief.

  10. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    I’m not too fond of a.human.ape, or whatever the hell his name is. He pissed me off in a major way a few weeks ago.

  11. MrFire says

    MrFire, Hyperon still shows up now and then, he was in a thread this February.

    Oh hey Caine, yeah, the Amy Bishop thread, right? That’s what I was referring to, but I had no idea it was so recent.

    Anyway, I despise that fucker with the heat of a thousand white-hot burning suns, each comprised themselves of a thousand even hotter white-hot burning suns.

  12. JeffreyD says

    Update for all of you who put up with my mood swings, spousal unit is in the air on the way to London. Heading down to London on the train and will meet her around noon. Yipee!

  13. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    It’s an entrenched belief because 1) it’s a primary selling point with hucksters like David Barton, 2) people are so poorly educated that they’re easy to sell that bullshit to, and 3) people like James Dobson make a whole shit-ton of money off the culture wars, so they’re stirring the pot all the damn time.

    And here a prayer for you your ownself, Caine:

    Sweet FSM, please enhance Caine’s meds in a powerful way. Bring her blessed relief and blissful sleep. Touch her with your noodly appendage and bring her dreams of beer volcanoes and (insert age and sex of choice here) strippers. Ramen.

  14. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Leigh:

    I’m not too fond of a.human.ape, or whatever the hell his name is.

    Now there’s an understatement. Yes, that particular creature is top of the list in needs to be dungeoned. Forever. The things it said were unforgivable. What has particularly galled me though, was his/her continuing to comment in different threads after that, acting like everything was a-okay.

    MrFire:

    Oh hey Caine, yeah, the Amy Bishop thread, right? That’s what I was referring to, but I had no idea it was so recent.

    Yes and in http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/02/religion_adaptation_or_by-prod.php

    I don’t think anyone likes Hyperon. A loathsome creature, that one.

  15. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    Very glad to hear that good news, JeffreyD! I guess we’ll miss your good self for a few days, and then get you back all renewed and springy, huh?

  16. Ichthyic says

    @ Kel:

    as to the scientism strawman, read Dennet:

    There are no factual assertions that religion can reasonably claim as its own, off limits to science. Many who readily grant this have not considered its implications. It means, for instance, that there are no factual assertions about the origin of the universe or its future trajectory, or about historical events (floods, the parting of seas, burning bushes, etc.), about the goal or purpose of life, or about the existence of an afterlife and so on, that are off limits to science. After all, assertions about the purpose or function of organs, the lack of purpose or function of, say, pebbles or galaxies, and assertions about the physical impossibility of psychokinesis, clairvoyance, poltergeists, trance channeling, etc. are all within the purview of science; so are the parallel assertions that strike closer to the traditionally exempt dogmas of long-established religions. You can’t consistently accept that expert scientific testimony can convict a charlatan of faking miracle cures and then deny that the same testimony counts just as conclusively—”beyond a reasonable doubt”—against any factual claims of violations of physical law to be found in the Bible or other religious texts or traditions.

    that people read this and then say Dennet is establishing science as religion (scientism) is absurd, don’t you agree?

  17. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    JeffreyD:

    Update for all of you who put up with my mood swings, spousal unit is in the air on the way to London. Heading down to London on the train and will meet her around noon. Yipee!

    WOOHOO! That is the best news, Jeffrey. I’m so happy for you both.

  18. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Leigh:

    Sweet FSM, please enhance Caine’s meds in a powerful way. Bring her blessed relief and blissful sleep. Touch her with your noodly appendage and bring her dreams of beer volcanoes and (insert age and sex of choice here) strippers. Ramen.

    Aaaw, may all your spaghetti be blessed. I’ll bet ya a joint would work better. ;p

  19. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    I think the ape thing has a personality disorder. I’ve been offline for a while, so I haven’t seen that he’s been back; but he’s on the Straight Auxiliary’s list for a sound thrashing.

  20. Ichthyic says

    I have to say that probably the two main reasons I stopped using recreational drugs (at least on any regular basis) were:

    -had to study to get into college

    -drugs are expensive, food is a necessity.

    got into the habit of both studying hard and not being able to spend any money (being a student, there wasn’t any) on drugs, so got used to not having them around.

    seriously, that’s about it. I still get high, just very rarely any more.

    of course, I think the appeal itself wears thinner with age too, but I still like to go tidepooling on a sunny day with friends and a fattie for company on occasion, even though I’m now 45.

  21. MrFire says

    I don’t think anyone likes Hyperon. A loathsome creature, that one.

    Walton tried to be nice to him at the beginning, but quickly gave up.

    And Hyperon returned the favor in the worst possible way.

  22. Ichthyic says

    And Hyperon returned the favor in the worst possible way.

    interestingly, i recall TM saying essentially the exact same thing, almost word for word, as Hyperon did there.

    I still go on record as disagreeing (no, Walton, you will not find everyone likes you in life), but I find myself in the minority these days so I rarely bother any more.

  23. MrFire says

    interestingly, i recall TM saying essentially the exact same thing, almost word for word, as Hyperon did there.

    For Walton? Huh. I had thought that TM was even less fond of him than he was of everyone else.

  24. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Ichthyic:

    I still go on record as disagreeing (no, Walton, you will not find everyone likes you in life), but I find myself in the minority these days so I rarely bother any more.

    I don’t know that you’re in the minority. I did note your post on the Sunday Embryo Edition that people tended to give Walton a break due to his “tender” age. Well, I’m not one of them. Just ask Walton. I had problems with him, and said so. To be fair, he responded to what I said and has been much better lately, in my opinion.

    However, I have noticed a distinct desire on the part of some people to mother parent Walton, and that does get on my nerves. Yes, 20 is young, but it ain’t all that young.

  25. Kel, OM says

    that people read this and then say Dennet is establishing science as religion (scientism) is absurd, don’t you agree?

    I do, it’s sad that so often one is put under that scientism straw-man simply for speaking out. It’s not about making a point, it’s about nullifying criticism by pretending that the opponent is oblivious to philosophical boundaries. It’s never true, but it sounds so impressive…

  26. Ichthyic says

    For Walton? Huh. I had thought that TM was even less fond of him than he was of everyone else.

    that’s why i recall it. it seemed a bit odd.

    nevertheless, he did indeed say at the time (many months ago now, IIRC), that he thought Walton was a great example of an “honest libertarian”, and one of the few people he felt actually presented honest arguments.

    this, again IIRC, was in response to my claiming that there simply weren’t any honest libertarians in existence.

  27. Janine, Mistress Of Foul Mouth Abuse, OM says

    Just to pile on Walton, I do get really tired of the threads that turn into Walton-centric monstrosities. Funny thing, I really do not blame Walton as much as I do all of the people who encourage him. Because he no longer annoys the living shit out of me, I do not want to seem overly mean (No! Seriously!) and ask people to stop. But, damn, I wish people would resist going AAAAHHH when he goes on a self loathing binge. I just refuse to get involved.

    For an extreme liberal, I am afraid I am not very touchy-feely.

  28. Ichthyic says

    For an extreme liberal, I am afraid I am not very touchy-feely.

    heh.

    me neither, but then I think that goes without saying, especially if I haven’t had my morning coffee yet.

  29. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    For Walton? Huh. I had thought that TM was even less fond of him than he was of everyone else.

    Well, Walton did call for TM’s banning and writing (funny enough, given we were dicussing Survivor):

    Rather, I was simply observing that you are consistently rude and obnoxious, as well as arrogant and egotistical…. and if there is ever another round of Survivor: Pharyngula!, I believe you ought to be one of the candidates.

    TM did go pretty easy on him, considering what Walton wrote and that he’s, well, TM.

  30. DominEditrix says

    ambook@491:

    And why is it that fat guys, at least up to a certain point, get a total break, and only fat women merit total contempt?

    I remember being in a local custom lingerie/dress shop with a friend. The owner easily weighed 500 lbs. [Ever see Dale the Whale on Monk?] He was lounging on a sofa; when my friend asked the price of a nightgown, the sales assistant began to state a price; he interrupted her and said ‘For you [double the price]’. With a sneer. My friend is 5’9″ and wears a size 12. Evidently, if one isn’t a size 0, one isn’t welcome in the shop.

    The owner, in addition to being an asshole, was stupid: My friend does wardrobe on a TV show. She kinda spread her treatment around other folk in her profession…

  31. Janine, Mistress Of Foul Mouth Abuse, OM says

    I am trying to recall but frankly, I do not care enough to dig through the rubble but did not the Rookie call for Nerd, Patricia and me to be banned?

  32. Kel, OM says

    Honestly speaking, I think TM would be far more devastating if he dropped the insults and focused purely on argument. He can argue so well that “you dishonest fuckwit” (not sure if he’s ever said those words) is just unnecessary and a distraction.

    Though if TM stopped doing that, it just wouldn’t be TM.

  33. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    Janine,

    Well, I don’t remember if he ever asked for you to be banned, but he did call you guys the “gruesome trio”. I was almost sad to see him go. That kid needed A LOT of help.

  34. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    Hell’s jingle bells, Caine — twenty’s not young, it’s friggin’ larval!

    Walton’s just about managed to get adopted as the Horde Mascot. Yes, he does jump up on us a little, and occasionally he leaves a turd on the floor. On the plus side, he’s just about stopped humping our legs with the glibertarian nonsense.

    Those of us who routinely deal with our own larval spawn are happy to see signs of intellectual growth, so perhaps we overdo the ooh’ing and cooing. We are programmed at this point in our lives to offer positive reinforcement at any sign the ol’ prefrontal cortex has begun to function. He is a little demanding of attention sometimes, but that’s pretty normal for young’uns.

    The main thing is, he’s a pretty good kid, and he’s kind of our kid. This might seem an odd place to be fostering a child, but you can’t deny we seem to be doing him some good.

  35. Janine, Mistress Of Foul Mouth Abuse, OM says

    Feynmaniac, that was one of my favorite moments on this blog. Sometimes I still get a random chuckle out of it.

  36. Janine, Mistress Of Foul Mouth Abuse, OM says

    Feynmaniac, the Rookie was begging to get hit with the banhammer. PZ was in a HULK SMASH mood after a rather messy Mabus shit finger painting spree, many dozens of droppings. The Rookie protested and wanted to communicate with the madman.

    I did not want to see the fool booted, he was great low comedy. But anyone who argues in defense of Mabus is truly too stupid to tolerate.

  37. Walton says

    Regarding the above, I don’t want to comment on most of it, but I do want to apologise to truth machine (if he’s reading this) for the comment that Feynmaniac linked at #530. It was unfair, and I retract it.

  38. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    This might seem an odd place to be fostering a child, but you can’t deny we seem to be doing him some good.

    I wish my parents brought me up through a blog.

    Well, I there’s also my children. It might be a useful record for their future psychiatrists.

  39. WowbaggerOM says

    Honestly speaking, I think TM would be far more devastating if he dropped the insults and focused purely on argument.

    TM could be more devastating? I think not. Besides, I think it’s his style and can do what he damn well pleases unless PZ sees fit to ban him.

    And it’s also important to note that at least some of the time he’s arguing with irredeemable idiots who aren’t going to be any more swayed by polite arguments than they are by vitriolic ones.

    Sure, I’d prefer it if he cut the regulars who are only a bit wrong some of the time (i.e. me!) some slack. But the fact that reading his comments makes me laugh – a lot – makes up for having been on the receiving end a few times.

  40. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    Ah, Caine, I see that as soon as the ape thing showed up, you commenced the thrashing (backed up by TM, Jadehawk, Walton, KOPD, and Aratina Cage). The concern troll who threw herself in the line of fire got run off by this able crew, also.

    Good work, all!

  41. JeffreyD says

    Ah, thanks for the good wishes Leigh and Caine. On the train right now heading for London. Then a quick run to Paddington for the Express to Heathrow. I feel like a giddy teenager. (laughing at myself) Passion does not have to die when you get older, the fires may not be as hot, but the heat is warm enough and the coals burn for much longer.

    Will update from the airport or when I return.

  42. Walton says

    Now there’s an understatement. Yes, that particular creature is top of the list in needs to be dungeoned. Forever. The things it said were unforgivable. What has particularly galled me though, was his/her continuing to comment in different threads after that, acting like everything was a-okay.

    QFT. a.human.ape is a sociopathic nut who seems to enjoy posting sadistic fantasies about the torture and murder of religious people. When he was called out on it, he also revealed himself to be a homophobe in comments he made towards Josh.

  43. Gyeong Hwa Pak, Scholar of Shen Zhou says

    Hell’s jingle bells, Caine — twenty’s not young, it’s friggin’ larval!

    Hey now, 20 year olds get a lot of expirience too.

  44. Rutee, Shrieking Harpy of Dooooom says

    It seems gamers are a serious and talkative lot.

    It’s Serious Business (I understand it’s common courtesy to not waste 400 manhours by linking to TVTropes on a thread where people browse during work hours, so I will not).

    Uh, here’s a weird question: Am I the only person who doesn’t think any particular troll is really active enough on a regular enough basis to be worth banning just for living under a bridge?

  45. Gyeong Hwa Pak, Scholar of Shen Zhou says

    Uh, here’s a weird question: Am I the only person who doesn’t think any particular troll is really active enough on a regular enough basis to be worth banning just for living under a bridge?

    You are right, at least in the present context. We did have Dendy, who frequented us as often as he could and had a vendeta against Pygmy Loris.

  46. Kel, OM says

    Sure, I’d prefer it if he cut the regulars who are only a bit wrong some of the time (i.e. me!) some slack.

    Fuck that shit, the great thing about Truth Machine is that he’ll go after anyone who is even the slightest bit wrong. Otherwise how are you going to know that you’re wrong unless someone points it out?

  47. WowbaggerOM says

    Rutee, Shrieking Harpy of Dooooom wrote:

    Am I the only person who doesn’t think any particular troll is really active enough on a regular enough basis to be worth banning just for living under a bridge?

    No, I think much along the same lines. There are idiots I could live without – those that’ve been mentioned – but I think we can deal with them ourselves (using the options of constantly abusing them, or killfiling – or ignoring if killfile isn’t an option) rather than needing to specifically ban anyone.

    Most of the trolls serve the purpose of reminding us what we’re up against, and allowing people to get what can be much-needed experience in dealing with them – in a way we need more rather than fewer; I know I learned a lot from arguing with people (and had immense fun abusing particularly odious morons) on the various crackergate threads.

    The only thing that really annoys me is a lack of engagement. As long as they present something and react to responses I don’t care how stupid they are.

  48. John Scanlon FCD says

    ambulocetacean:

    The bad thing with kangaroos is that they’re riddled with all sorts of parasites that can kill you/send you blind or whatever.

    That’s a lie promoted by various animal-rightist web-pages. Some info here.

  49. WowbaggerOM says

    Kel wrote:

    Fuck that shit, the great thing about Truth Machine is that he’ll go after anyone who is even the slightest bit wrong. Otherwise how are you going to know that you’re wrong unless someone points it out?

    I meant in terms of abuse, not correction. I’m happy to be corrected; there are times, however, when I’m less than enthusiastic about being called a moron for some slight misunderstanding…

  50. Kel, OM says

    It seems gamers are a serious and talkative lot.

    Gaming is a way of life… seriously. It’s even more of a way of life than metal. Being on the fringes of both communities, it’s weird looking at how seriously some take it. Which is why when someone says “X is a religion” just because someone takes something seriously I roll my eyes.

  51. WowbaggerOM says

    Kel wrote:

    Gaming is a way of life… seriously.

    I likened it to crack upthread, and that’s not an exaggeration: I cannot have games on my computer at home or that is all I will spend my time doing, to the point of forgoing food and sleep and enduring a level of physical discomfort that leads to permanent injury.

    The latter isn’t hyperbole either. My right shoulder flares up from time to time, entirely due to game-playing with a mouse.

    That probably comes across as pathetic, but that’s the sad reality of it. I can exercise self-control on pretty much every other aspect of my life (other than maybe SIWOTI) but I just can’t keep myself from playing, playing, playing if there’s a game in front of me.

    It’s a shame, because contemporary games look so fucking awesome. But I know I can’t go there or I’ll end up a complete wreck.

  52. ambulocetacean says

    John Scanlon,

    Wow, thanks for that link. So you can only get toxoplasmosis from kangaroo meat if a cat craps on it first? And roo worms are harmless to humans? Excellent.

    I shall quintuple my consumption of kangaroo immediately. My girlfriend’s car has a great big bull-bar on the front so I shall be up at dawn to start running the bastards over.

    I’ll clean them at home, put the guts in a wheelbarrow and tip them over the fence into the next-door neighbour’s yard. Since I live in a block of nine flats he won’t be able to pin it on me.

    It feels quite refreshing to suddenly be labouring under one fewer mispprehension. Thanks again. :)

  53. Kel, OM says

    The latter isn’t hyperbole either.

    I can empathise. Many an hour I spent playing Diablo 2 which I think helped contribute towards my RSI, not to mention Championship Manager used to keep me up at night when I was in school. These days it’s not as bad since I can’t play for long periods without experiencing some discomfort so I’ve learnt to avoid it.

  54. plien says

    Ding dong….
    Paging Rutee to the Southparkthread.
    Repeat; paging Rutee to the Southparkthread.
    This message is for Rutee, thank you.
    Dong ding….

  55. David Marjanović says

    SIWOTI. PZ insists video games are not art, but fails to give a definition of art that includes things he considers art but excludes video games. It was a sloppy post that was factually incorrect in several ways that he won’t cop to.

    Oh! That makes sense. :-)

    (Besides, I only wanted to explain why I personally “don’t care for the topic at all”. I didn’t say nobody should – that would be caring!)

    Besides, you’re being a bit unfair, considering I’m sure you’ve seen long bitter arguments on how to properly sort long-dead species without being dismissive regarding the consequences (does it matter if the damn things are properly sorted?).

    Absolutely. “Nothing makes sense in biology except in the light of evolution” (Dobzhansky), “nothing in evolution makes sense without a good phylogeny” (G. C. Gould & B. MacFadden), “the present is not the key to the past, the past is the key to the present, and to the future” (forgotten, and I’m probably slightly paraphrasing). Any more questions? :-)

    David, I’m using IE 8.

    <taken aback>

    Strange. Me too, and I’ve never had that problem!

    Perhaps you’re in compatibility mode? You should not be, because it simulates IE7, which took forever to load ScienceBorg for the last few weeks before IE8 came out.

    but then, 99% of what we discuss here has no relevant consequence, yes?

    Ha! Me learning about the world at large and ending up going to Copenhagen are not relevant consequences? And that’s just me!

    When I finally got tired enough, I mentioned my uncle, who was one of their fellow cops, and I was out of there in about 3 seconds.

    <facepalm>

    before I got involved in David Marjanović’s time waster

    <giggle> Another consequence! :-)

    However, here’s the theme music for Civilization IV. It’s the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili and definitely is art:

    And what’s more, the first related video is the trailer of Civilization FIVE. I want to play IV-Beyond-the-Sword at last… :.-(

    I’ll write the videogames conversation off to the same category as “photography wasn’t considered art at first, either” and “if it’s on the internet, it isn’t real”.

    Yeah.

    Cimourdain is a fucking weirdo… as far as I can tell, he’s an African who thinks the environmentalists are out to kill him and all of Africa. :-/

    WTF. I completely missed that; I’ve only noticed his rather extreme, paranoid islamophobia (about which he’s very open; he once said he only comes here to find allies for the Good Fight For Civilization or so). Links, please!

    It’s true that mammals lost their colour vision early in our evolutionary history.

    No. The monotremes have AFAIK lost it, the placentals have reduced the 4 receptors to 2 (making placentals red-green blind by default), and the marsupials… apparently have 3 receptors like us.

    At least one bat species is completely colorblind.

    Fruit and leaves can be distinguished in the blue and yellow, so being red-green blind isn’t a problem for a frugivore; old and young leaves, however, differ by the young leaves being red (this is extremely well visible in the poplars in front of my window right now) and not yet having accumulated all the toxins that protect long-lived leaves in a rainforest. This is what made a duplication of the receptor for green, with a few mutations, an advantage for our ancestors.

    And why is it that fat guys, at least up to a certain point, get a total break, and only fat women merit total contempt?

    Perhaps because fat women are a disappointment to a straight guy who thinks all women have a moral obligation to stay within his desirability bracket? Men aren’t in that bracket to begin with, so nothing changes when they fatten up.

    Pulling a Godwin wasn’t enough for Cimourdain, so in addition to Hitler he invoked Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot.

    Ah. I need to finish reading that thread.

    Most of the really odious trolls of late don’t last for more than one or two threads. Even Cimourdain and Hyperon only show up occasionally. Fuckosaurus is nowhere to be found.

    And Al B. Quirky, who does show up regularly (though seldom), is simply too stupid to count as a troll.

    a.human.ape, the one pathologically devoid of empathy, seems to become rare…

    caffeine makes me pass out almost instantly

    :-o

    spousal unit is in the air on the way to London. Heading down to London on the train and will meet her around noon. Yipee!

    :-)

    Honestly speaking, I think TM would be far more devastating if he dropped the insults and focused purely on argument. He can argue so well that “you dishonest fuckwit” (not sure if he’s ever said those words) is just unnecessary and a distraction.

    On the one hand, that’s true; I’ve complained several times.

    On the other hand, he most impressively drives the point home that tone is irrelevant!

    Reminds me… I still owe him a couple of answers on the soul thread (about whether science can prove and what all those words mean). Haven’t even read beyond my last comment yet.

    I was almost sad to see him go. That kid needed A LOT of help.

    Oh yes. A day or two before he was banned, he commented late at night. The mask had fallen. He said that late at night like that he was scared shitless of his mortality and stuff… he was a completely different person. He absolutely needs professional help, if he’s still alive.

    Hey now, 20 year olds get a lot of expirience too.

    Speak for yourself! :-)

    For the record, rather than treating Walton as a baby, I’ve projected myself into him. A bit too much, as it turns out (most conspicuously, I can’t see any way I could ever have ended up with his taste in music).

    We did have Dendy, who frequented us as often as he could and had a vende[t]ta against Pygmy Loris.

    And he was banned.

  56. monado says

    JeffreyD, in the last incarnation of the thread, you were asking for good nonfiction. I recommend Much Depends on Dinner by Margaret Visser. She takes a representative North American dinner–rice, corn, chicken, salt, etc.–and discusses the history of the foods going right back to domestication or discovery.

  57. Janine, Mistress Of Foul Mouth Abuse, OM says

    Posted by: Gyeong Hwa Pak, Scholar of Shen Zhou| April 23, 2010 4:04 AM

    You are right, at least in the present context. We did have Dendy, who frequented us as often as he could and had a vendeta against Pygmy Loris.

    Not just Pygmy Loris. He also had one against Chimpy and an other against me. Just before the banhammer came down on him, Dendy was taunting me to visit his site. Apparently, he had a post that ‘addressed’ my being a lesbian. I would not do so after his dog shit post he had for Chimpy and me. Also, it became very clear that he posted here just to drive up his site hits.

  58. Cath the Canberra Cook says

    I very much doubt ambulocetan’s story of cat meat sausages in Australia. If it’s not totally fabricated, then it was probably some student prank. Cat meat is illegal to sell for human consumption in most states. Though I have occasionally heard of Aboriginal people eating feral cats.

  59. Kevin says

    Morning Pharyngulites.

    I looked for you guys in WoW – but I didn’t see anyone. I made a Troll Mage, so, I’ll look tonight when I get back from work.

  60. Antiochus Epiphanes says

    I wouldn’t mind seeing that PZ guy banned. He just totally agrees with every post that is made on this blog. Could he be more of a sycophant? And also, he knows nothing about the joys of gaming.

  61. Ol'Greg says

    Just checking for a moment. First I’ll apologize a bit to Janine et all for getting too chatty with Walton.

    I am a touchy feely person FWIW so much so I have trouble budgeting my time between people with needs. Some one said co-dependent upthread I think? Uh… yeah.

    I just kinda like him to the extent he talks back. He’s not so much a kid kid to me because I feel like it wasn’t all that long ago that I was his age, and I know how much I’ve changed. He’s certainly become more considerate.

    Anyway sorry for jumping onto that train some times, I’m sure it can be annoying for all.

    Secondly,am I the only one who doesn’t like the survivor game? I’m not concern trolling here, you guys do what you like… but it made me feel kind of dirty.

    I don’t think I’d be up for it. The only one of those people I ever got into it with was hyperon and I didn’t even mind that much really.

  62. Nerd of Redhead, OM says

    Ol’Greg, Rev. BDC is not a fan of the game either, so you aren’t alone.

  63. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    I don’t think we’ve got a big enough roster of trolls just at this moment to have a rousing round of Survivor. The last time, the trolls were pretty toothsome. Since then we’ve had that weird experience over at Greg Laden’s blog and a whole bunch of tone trolling and pearl-clutching over at Mooney’s blog, but not so much here — and precious little from a reliable cast of characters. Sad, that. I fear for our pelts and fangs if this continues.

  64. David Marjanović says

    Ah. I need to finish reading that thread.

    Done. “Liveblogging his descent into madness” seems to describe it well.

    Cat meat is illegal to sell for human consumption in most states.

    And in most European countries, Switzerland being a notable exception. The meat is said to be very tender but not to everyone’s taste.

    Secondly,am I the only one who doesn’t like the survivor game? I’m not concern trolling here, you guys do what you like… but it made me feel kind of dirty.

    Those morons really did deserve it, but I fully agree it shouldn’t be done lightly.

  65. Leigh Williams, WeWhoStormTheGatesOfOmelas, OM says

    JeffreyD, I second the recommendation of William Least Heat Moon. Blue Highways is one of my favorites.

    I also really liked The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade by Pietra Rivoli.

    I can wholeheartedly recommend Jim Hightower’s Thieves in High Places. Populism at its finest.

    And speaking of populism, Thomas Frank’s What’s the Matter with Kansas is thought-provoking. It filled in some blanks in my understanding of U.S. political history.

  66. ambook says

    @Leigh –

    We’ll have to read Blue Highways – our trips are going to be planned to avoid interstates as much as possible. I feel sort of like I’m redoing high school myself, except without the angst of attending a Catholic girls boarding school.

    How does your son manage not to get tossed out of scouts? We’re barely squeaking by with the pantheist thing. Of course, my son did threaten to tell a Board of Review for his Star Scout rank that he believed in the Lords of Kobol (from Battlestar Galactica) and did announce that the Daily Show was his main source of news. The good news is that I have plenty of comparative religion background and have no doubt that I could argue circles around their very silly idea that reverence requires a personal god. It’s a ridiculous idea that you need to have the right kind of sex and believe in a sky spirit in order to be a good citizen, tie knots, and learn to avoid poison ivy.

    One of the biggest problems I have with Christians is their silly idea that their way of being reverent is the only way to do it. I think Richard Dawkins and EO Wilson (not to mention PZ’s Sunday Sacrilege about ensoulment)are plenty reverent without a sky spirit personally interested in them to focus on.

  67. Rorschach says

    I very much doubt ambulocetan’s story of cat meat sausages in Australia

    I’d have to concur with that.

    Those morons really did deserve it, but I fully agree it shouldn’t be done lightly.

    The current ones are just not consistently annoying enough.

    As to computer games : I’ve played 1 Star Trek game to the end, and Doom for one level, and that’s it.I don’t get the whole thing, it’s not for me, waste of time.

  68. KOPD says

    Could somebody help me find a link to that inflatable globe creationist idiot? My google-fu sucks today.

  69. ambulocetacean says

    Oh, FFS. I didn’t make up the cat meat thing.

    It was in the early-mid ’90s and they were having trouble giving the stuff away so they gave me a bag of little sausage bits, which I took back to work to gross people out.

    I’ll see if I can find some sort of reference for it.

  70. ambulocetacean says

    Well, I haven’t been able to find anything on it, but it absolutely happened.

    I had never considered the possibility of it being a prank. I suppose it could have been, but neither of them were laughing.

  71. Dust says

    Boobquake!
    I’ve just been invited to the boobquake to happen on Monday, April 26.

    Whats a Boobquake? Blag Hag sez:

    Sedighi claims that not dressing modestly causes earthquakes. If so, we should be able to test this claim scientifically. You all remember the homeopathy overdose? Time for a Boobquake. On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. Yes, the one usually reserved for a night on the town. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of their breasts. Or short shorts, if that’s your preferred form of immodesty. With the power of our scandalous bodies combined, we should surely produce an earthquake.

    This is a grand oppurtunity to participate in the making of some very important science! So come on Women of Pharygula, who is with me? Just think of all the creative ways to dress ‘immodestly’ for science…low cut blouses, fancy red brassiers, too short shorts, tattoos exposed, showing a bit of ankle, too much makeup, or my fave of slutty red nail polish….the possibilities are endless! So who’s with me? Boobquake for Science!

    Some Historical Perspective

  72. Ol'Greg says

    Oooh I’m down for the boobquake experiment.

    They’ll love it at the office :/ Maybe I’ll just post a pic to the blog.

    But that’s cool.

  73. Ol'Greg says

    And to avoid any sexism claims, I’d be all for male bloggers and scientists posing and blogging in gstrings and with deep insights into manboob cleavage too…:P

    Hell yeah, let the boys be sexy too if they wanna. I’m no fan of enforced modesty.

  74. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    It happened that payday fell on the same day so I pulled up to the drive up window to do the weekly transaction.

    I seriously don’t get why you put up with such a primitive banking and payment system. I don’t recall the last time I set foot in a physical bank.

    Of course, an acquaintance of mine mentioned how while he studied in the US his bank only had drive-thrus in his area, but he didn’t have a car, so he had to get between vehicles and walk up to the window.

    ::incredulous::

  75. Ol'Greg says

    Actually, about the boobs thing, I wish it weren’t just about being sexy. Think about it: most of the women who are affected aren’t even considered sexy. I’m not trying to be mean, I just think that the immodesty of women who “make men lustful” is a freaking joke.

    Because people turn around and shame women into modesty for not making men lustful with their bodies too.

    Virtue be damned.

  76. Rorschach says

    You know you’re in trouble when your delusions are based on delusions :

    Had a patient the other day(not the one that arrested on me 10 minutes before handover, that was just totally rude and unacceptable behaviour) who was hearing voices telling him that jesus is in fact satan.He was very distressed about it.
    I guess that would upset you, if you are into these things.

    2 days off yay !! What might I do? Clean the house, read, shop, be productive, exercise?
    I have the sinking feeling my mounting cravings for Pharyngula might get in the way of doing anything productive in the end…:-)

  77. KOPD says

    I hear you, Ol’Greg. The message should just be “fuck modesty.” Sexiness does not need a place there. Though, actually, flagrant disregard for societal views on modesty has a sexiness of its own. As do confidence and self-empowerment. How I would love to live in a world where men aren’t the pig-ignorant, sexist, manipulative animals that we are. All I can do is keep trying to improve my corner of it.

  78. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    Sure, I’d prefer it if he cut the regulars who are only a bit wrong some of the time (i.e. me!) some slack.

    Nah. I think if he did that he would be a hypocrite. The reason he can get away with his style is that he applies it without prejudice to everyone.

  79. iambilly says

    Ol’Greg: As long as we’re going down the ‘not sexy’ road (and it is a wonderfully subjective road), should those of us (overweight males (and yes, I include meself in that ‘un) also reveal our cleavage? Or would that upset the parameters of said experiment?

  80. Kevin says

    Now – I would not be sexy in a G-String. I am a twiggish guy – 6’1, 135 pounds. I am white as a sheet, only hairy on my legs, and you can literally count my ribs.

    Now – I’ve been told I look sexy in a suit. I could try to get a picture of myself in one, but I don’t think I could unleash that much good-looking man on ya’ll.

  81. iambilly says

    Damn, Kevin, I’m twice the man you are. Literally.

    [stares at empty bottle of cherry coke on my desk]

    How’d that happen?

  82. Kevin says

    @iambilly:

    Ridiculously high metabolism is the culprit. I literally weigh the same as an anorexic person my height would weigh. But I eat a lot, and all the time, and good food, too – mostly. So it’s quite weird.

  83. Ol'Greg says

    Ol’Greg: As long as we’re going down the ‘not sexy’ road (and it is a wonderfully subjective road), should those of us (overweight males (and yes, I include meself in that ‘un) also reveal our cleavage? Or would that upset the parameters of said experiment?

    You know, I’m all for shameless cleavage. If you’ve got it flaunt it, sir. And if you don’t have it, try a pair of cut offs and shake that skinny butt.

  84. Dust says

    What is ‘modest’ dress anyway? A burka? That’s a travesty! I remember several years ago when thong underwear became popular for women in the USA. The uproar! What a joke-thongs were seen as instruments of the devil and the women who wore them as shameless hussies. This moronic idea went so far as Principal Accused of Pre-Dance Thong Check.

    Teaching respect for girls and women coupled with humane sex education would of course, be much more effective than a ‘Boobquake’. I get it.

    But, a Bookquake is just one tiny little protest against these stupid ideas and religious repression and misogeny.

  85. Ol'Greg says

    Very true Dust. I think it really just comes down to a completely ingrained belief, which is no less prevalent in Western society, that women

    a.) are not smart enough to make decisions about what they want to wear

    b.) are some how in control of how random strangers feel about them sexually

    c.) have no bodily integrity so that their physsical persons may be groped, searched, raped, covered, or stripped at societies will to conform to whatever *idea* about women gets projected onto them

    In my HS, the teachers were allowed to grope you so long as they had concern that you were not wearing a bra.

    Why, really why, should I be forced to wear a bra anyway? Because nipples give you an erection? Motherfucka that’s YOUR problem. No one ever asked me if nipples turned me on, ya’ know.

  86. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    The Indie may not be all that independent anymore, but I still like their reporting.

    And I seem to be fast becoming a Clegg-omaniac. Which is rather embarrassing considering how little care I have for Danish politics – as I had confirmed yesterday when I was being (push?)polled for the Social Democrats.

    Claim: Clegg made a “Nazi slur on Britain” and said the British have a “more insidious cross to bear” than Germans over the Second World War (Daily Mail, yesterday).

    Truth: The comments were made in a newspaper article by Mr Clegg in 2002 when he was a Euro MP. Written after two Germans working in a call centre in Swindon went to an industrial tribunal to protest about the abuse they suffered, it argued the British still laboured from “anti-German mania”. He concluded: “All nations have a cross to bear, and none more so than Germany with its memories of Nazism. But the British cross is more insidious still. A misplaced sense of superiority, sustained by delusions of grandeur and a tenacious obsession with the last war, is much harder to shake off.”

    Ossum!

  87. Lynna, OM says

    I see the South Park thread is off the front page, so I’ll put this here:

    “In the 14 years we’ve been doing South Park we have never done a show that we couldn’t stand behind. We delivered our version of the show to Comedy Central and they made a determination to alter the episode. It wasn’t some meta-joke on our part. Comedy Central added the bleeps. In fact, Kyle’s customary final speech was about intimidation and fear. It didn’t mention Muhammad at all but it got bleeped too. We’ll be back next week with a whole new show about something completely different and we’ll see what happens to it.”

  88. Dust says

    Holie Cow! Ol’Greg, your teachers were allowed to grope you claiming a ‘bra check’!?

    That is sick. In my high school days (way, way back :) the only bra checks I remember were from the HS boys running a quick hand up the back to feel for a bra strap. Hee hee, HS boys, so silly.

    Yeah, teenage girls and their breasts, dangerous they is, dangerous.

  89. Gyeong Hwa Pak, Scholar of Shen Zhou says

    You know, I’m all for shameless cleavage. If you’ve got it flaunt it, sir. And if you don’t have it, try a pair of cut offs and shake that skinny butt.

    Horray for shameless cleavage. I’m working my pecs out just so I can flaunt them with my tight fitting t-shirts.

  90. ambook says

    In my Catholic boarding school, we had an official rule about having to wear underpants. You can just guess the shenanigans that went on to dare a nun to call you out in class for not wearing them. Taught me a valuable lesson about caution in giving orders or making rules (I believe the Duke Leto Atreides said something similar).

  91. Walton says

    In my HS, the teachers were allowed to grope you so long as they had concern that you were not wearing a bra.

    WHAT?!

    That is patently unconstitutional. You should have sued the bastards.

  92. iambilly says

    Kevin: Beware. Metabolism changes. I used to be 6’1″ and 140 pounds. Now I’m 5’11.5″ and, well, two of you.

    Ol’Greg: I don’t think I’ve had a pair of cutoffs since, like, 1978.

    I never heard of any of our teachers doing ‘bra checks’, but I do remember one announcement that came over the PA one spring:

    Skirts should be like term papers. Long enough to cover the subject adequately, but short enough to be interesting.

    Somehow, I don’t think that would go over too well these days. Not as bad as a ‘bra check’, but it would still raise Caine.

  93. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    I’m working my pecs out just so I can flaunt them with my tight fitting t-shirts.

    Pics or it won’t have happened.

  94. Walton says

    Kevin: Wow, you’re even skinnier than me (I weigh slightly less but am a few inches shorter). Though I haven’t weighed myself in a couple of months, and I think I’ve lost weight in that time.

    I’ve certainly lost a bit of muscle mass. I miss the days when I had the time and energy for regular weight-training, and actually had decent-sized pecs and biceps. Now I seem to have reverted to being stick-thin again. :-(

  95. Gyeong Hwa Pak, Scholar of Shen Zhou says

    Pics or it won’t have happened.

    Not ready yet. Give me three more pounds to gain first.

  96. David Marjanović says

    Principal Accused of Pre-Dance Thong Check

    <headshake> X-)

    Obvious who was shameless there.

    the teachers were allowed to grope you so long as they had concern that you were not wearing a bra

    <facepalm>

    Why, really why, should I be forced to wear a bra anyway?

    Because burning your bra is (for, presumably, some reason) a 1968 hippie act of rebellion, which in turn makes you horribly scary and dangerous or something?

  97. Rorschach says

    Somewhat unrelated, before I go to bed…

    Nick G, are you planning on attending the Copenhagen convention?? Would be awesome…

    And, are any of those danish folks working on a Pharyngufest yet? Compared to this danish business, the aussies and their efforts at setting up a Pharyngula meet and convention social events in Melbourne come across as gifted with almost german efficiency !

  98. Kevin says

    @iambilly:

    I’m aware – hence why I’m trying to eat healthy. I still do eat a bit too much sugars, but aside from that I eat relatively healthy meals, whole grains, vegetables, low fat.

    I figure, might as well start now when I don’t have to worry about it, so that when I do have a change in metabolism, I’m already enjoying the kinds of meals I’ll have to eat to remain in good shape.

  99. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    the teachers were allowed to grope you so long as they had concern that you were not wearing a bra

    WTF?!

  100. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Leigh:

    Hell’s jingle bells, Caine — twenty’s not young, it’s friggin’ larval!

    Not to me. Sorry, but I consider that an adult, expect to be treated like one. JustALurker is 19, and you wouldn’t know it by her posts. Being considered “oh-so-young-and-tender” is generally only a consideration if someone wants it to be.

    The main thing is, he’s a pretty good kid, and he’s kind of our kid. This might seem an odd place to be fostering a child, but you can’t deny we seem to be doing him some good.

    Well, he’s not my kid, I don’t consider him a kid, and I don’t consider him to be “pretty good”. Parents already have kids to parent, I think that’s enough.

    ambook:

    In my Catholic boarding school, we had an official rule about having to wear underpants.

    Hmmm, same rule in my catholic school. That may be why I’ve been commando ever since. ;p

  101. Rev. BigDumbChimp says

    Now – I would not be sexy in a G-String. I am a twiggish guy – 6’1, 135 pounds. I am white as a sheet, only hairy on my legs, and you can literally count my ribs.

    I to would not be sexy in a G-string, but for different reasons.

    6′, 215, fairly tanned, though elements of a farmer tan working hard right now.

    and hairy.

    And I’ll just leave it at that.

  102. Walton says

    Fron Sili’s link:

    Claim: Liberal Democrats’ “crazy” immigration policy would give jobs to asylum seekers (Daily Express, yesterday).

    Truth: The Liberal Democrats propose an amnesty for failed asylum seekers and illegal immigrants who have been here for 10 years and not committed any crimes. This is controversial because of fears it could encourage illegal immigrants to try their luck in Britain in the hope of triggering a further amnesty in the future. The Liberal Democrats would also introduce a regional points-based system to allow migrants to work only where they are needed. It would be backed up by “rigorous checks on businesses and a crackdown on rogue employers who profit from illegal labour”.

    Claim: The Liberal Democrats would free 60,000 convicts (Daily Mail, Wednesday).

    Truth: The Liberal Democrat manifesto does promise to “introduce a presumption against short-term sentences of less than six months – replaced by rigorously enforced community sentences which evidence shows are better at cutting reoffending”. The Daily Mail claimed that in 2008 “no fewer than 58,076 people were sentenced to a prison term of six months or less”. The Ministry of Justice said the real figure was 55,333. The Liberal Democrat policy would spare offenders from going into prison; it would not “free” prisoners.

    This is making me want to vote Lib Dem. I actually strongly agree with both of those policies.

    But if I vote Lib Dem, there is a danger of Labour getting back in (in coalition form or otherwise).

  103. Rev. BigDumbChimp says

    Does your name accurately describe your hairiness?

    Other than the top of my head, essentially yes.

  104. Celtic_Evolution says

    Now – I would not be sexy in a G-String. I am a twiggish guy – 6’1, 135 pounds. I am white as a sheet, only hairy on my legs, and you can literally count my ribs.

    Meh… the g-string is in the wrong area for where I normally look to find “sexy”.

    For me, it’s the eyes. Sexy eyes get me every time. Probably why I find Olivia Wilde so… well… just damn

    And I sure as hell wouldn’t show well in skimpy beach-ware. Back when I was a competitive swimmer I was really well cut. That was almost 20 years ago now though. I’m not particularly tall… only 5’10”. And while I’m still quite athletically active, I’ve always been “stout” and now I’m getting quite pillowy (hmmm… let’s see how many euphemisms I can squeeze into this post) . Have been intending to do something about it for some time… and been finding absolutely wonderful excuses not to.

  105. cicely says

    Mr. “Boobies Cause Earthquakes” has got it all wrong. Earthquakes are obviously caused by the presence of weak-willed men who neither know how to exercise self-control, nor wish to learn how.

  106. KOPD says

    Rev,
    other than being a bit too tall, it sounds like you could be my stunt double. ;-)

  107. Rev. BigDumbChimp says

    other than being a bit too tall, it sounds like you could be my stunt double. ;-)

    I’d say awesome, but then I’m not sure I’d be giving you a compliment

  108. Ol'Greg says

    Don’t get me started on how much highschool sucked. Beginning of the zero tolerance era of rampant paranoia and treating people like convicts with no human rights for their own good.

    But whatever… read about the perfectly constitutional strip search of a girl under suspicion of having asprin:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/22search.html

    Or the lower merion school district’s webcam pics taken of kids in their room (for their safety) of course.

    When you try too hard to protect something, you WILL infringe on that something’s rights. I’m not saying that minors don’t need to be protected, but there need to be stringent rules on what constitutes protection.

  109. Lynna, OM says

    This video is the latest piece of maudlin propaganda for “American exceptionalism” and mindless patriotism that is being touted by the mormons in my area. I’ve received the recommendation to watch the video more than fifty times, with an about 60-70 other recipients in every email. If you decide to watch it, give it a thumbs down vote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAhr4hZDJE

    The video is titled “We the People” and is mostly a long list of clichés about freedom, followed by a long list of Obama’s supposed sins. Nospopulus created the video, and I suspect them of trying to look like a grass roots movement, when they are actually hired professionals. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/Nospopulus

  110. Ewan R says

    But if I vote Lib Dem, there is a danger of Labour getting back in (in coalition form or otherwise).

    Meh, having spent the first 18 years of my life (it was about that long right?)essentially under a conservative government I don’t really see why that would be a bad thing. Certainly couldn’t be worse than spending any time under conservative rule.

    (always voted Lib Dem personally, not that it mattered living in North East England – I figure you might as well use democracy as it should be used, and hope everyone else does too, rather than voting for the lesser of two evils (would spoil the ballot if I didn’t agree with any of the candidates, probably makes zero difference but I always thought it was morally superior to just not turning up)

  111. Celtic_Evolution says

    I’m not saying that minors don’t need to be protected, but there need to be stringent rules on what constitutes protection.

    Especially when for many, “protection” is actually code for “preventing them from doing shit I don’t approve of”.

  112. Celtic_Evolution says

    I just tried catching up in the “Ebert / video games / art” thread, and I just give up… seems like the argument is on about a 200 post circular cycle… think I’m gonna avoid it for now.

  113. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    I know it’s not exactly an argument for the LD, but considering the slanders they get, they can’t be all wrong.

    Off course, I already knew (through the Goldacre brainwashing) that Evan Harris is a god among men, and I really really really wish I could vote for him.

  114. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    From the comments:

    Thank you for all the excellent points you make that prompt me to vote Lib Dem. I was considering voting Conservative this time round but your description of the Lib Dems as the most secular party has swung me round to them.
    Honestly, this is nothing more than a third-rate smear piece written by someone who either does not understand their subject or has deliberately gone out of their way to misrepresent it.
    How you have the gall to call yourself a journalist is beyond my comprehension.

    would spoil the ballot if I didn’t agree with any of the candidates, probably makes zero difference but I always thought it was morally superior to just not turning up

    Yah. My mother impressed on me that she didn’t care what I voted, but I damn well had to vote. Admittedly, part of that may have been a case of “what will the neighbours think?”.

  115. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    Honestly, sometimes high schools resemble prisons more than anything else. Many schools seem to be more interested in making sure kids follow rules and authorities blindly than equipping the students with knowledge and critical thinking skills.

  116. iambilly says

    Beginning of the zero tolerance era of rampant paranoia and treating people like convicts with no human rights for their own good.

    I was in high school at the beginning of that. My second sophomore year they banned pocket knives. I continued to carry a Swiss Army Knife. Everyone, teachers included, had an SAK or a Buck folder or an Uncle Henry or . . .

    My senior year, I took advanced physics. Most of the class was creating the tools to make the measurements — sometimes mechanical, sometimes electrical, sometimes using a computer. An SAK was the best tool possible when dealing with wires and screws.

    One day, our vice principal walked into the classroom and told the kid next to me (not my lab partner, he just happened to be next to me) to empty his pockets. Sure enough, a big scary knife with a 2.5 inch blade. The VP ignored the open knife I had sitting on the lab counter. The kid was marched off to the office, kicked out of school for a week and told he could not participate in graduation — they would mail the diploma.

    The kid was a dick, but we all thought that what had been done, selective enforcement, was unfair. The next Monday, I came to school with a pocket knife hanging from every belt loop and another kife in a leather sheath. I was not the only one. Three quarters of the upper classes participated in the protest.

    The administration tried to stop it but, short of cancelling graduation, there wasn’t much they could do. So they relented and let the dick participate in baccalaureate (which included a 1-hour hell-fire and damnation sermon) and graduation (which included a 1-hour sermon).

    In retrospect, not participating in that graduation would have been a good thing.

    Sorry the the long ramble. It really is an occupational hazzard.

  117. David Marjanović says

    For me, it’s the eyes. Sexy eyes get me every time.

    As always, it’s fascinating how people differ in such things. Eyes are part of the face, and, for me, a face can be beautiful (all the way, at least in theory, to love-at-first-sight), but not sexy. It just can’t. Category error. Does not compute. <throwing up hands> :-)

    That said, from what I’ve read, I don’t know how I’d react if one with dilated pupils looked at me.

  118. Kevin says

    @Celtic Evolution:

    I’m told I have very pretty eyes. They’re hazel, so they’re most of the time a light brown with little specks of green. However, wearing certain colors and in certain lights, my eyes have been known to change colors from very green to almost gold.

    Personally I’m most interested in intelligence, a smart girl is extremely sexy to me. Someone who can challenge me mentally makes me melt.

    Physically – as I’ve said before on this blog – I am fond of ample posteriors and I am unable to mislead.

  119. Jadehawk, OM says

    WTF. I completely missed that; I’ve only noticed his rather extreme, paranoid islamophobia (about which he’s very open; he once said he only comes here to find allies for the Good Fight For Civilization or so). Links, please!

    in a nutshell

  120. Walton says

    Off course, I already knew (through the Goldacre brainwashing) that Evan Harris is a god among men, and I really really really wish I could vote for him.

    I would be able to, if my college was about a mile further west (he’s MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, whereas I’m in the Oxford East constituency).

    If I were voting in Oxford, I would have to vote Lib Dem – the incumbent Labour MP has a very slim majority, and voting Lib Dem would be the surest way to unseat him, as Conservatives in Oxford are fairly weak. But I’m planning to vote Conservative in my home constituency, which is marginal Labour-Conservative with a sitting Labour MP.

    My main priority is to remove the current authoritarian, discredited, incompetent bunch of fuckwits we call a (Labour) government. They have presided over an unprecedented erosion of civil liberties (look up the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003, for instance), more “tough on crime” bullshit and a relentless policy of increasing the prison population, the introduction of illiberal “hate speech” laws, mass detention of refugees and asylum-seekers, and the creation of a national ID database. And they are desperate to make everyone carry ID cards, too. There would be few things more disastrous than a second Labour term.

  121. Walton says

    There would be few things more disastrous than a second Labour term. – should, of course, read fourth term. :-(

  122. Celtic_Evolution says

    Personally I’m most interested in intelligence, a smart girl is extremely sexy to me. Someone who can challenge me mentally makes me melt.

    Something I’ve discovered recently is that that kind of woman I always find myself immediately attracted to is almost always someone I’m not compatible with over the long term…

    I tend to find myself attracted to the very outgoing, highly flirtatious, energetic type… center of attention types.

    But man do I always regret getting involved with those types. They almost always wind up being needy, attention starved and lacking self-confidence. And I’m simply not the type of person who’s good at showering a person with attention, I enjoy my “alone” time, and am far more socially reserved. I can be romantic as hell, but I just don’t do the “flowery displays”, and I’m not the type who can handle needy people.

    Looking back, the best relationships I’ve had have been with the more reserved, quiet, intelligent, and relaxed women I’ve known.

    So that’s sort of what I’ve been looking for these days…

    The tough part about that is that in my current age group (late 30’s) it seems that all the really great women who fit that mold that I know are snatched up, and the “fiery hellcats” are all that seem to be out there. And I just don’t think I can handle another one of those.

    God I hate dating.

  123. Kevin says

    @Celtic Evolution:

    Yeah. I’m mid-twenties, but I’m still finding it hard because I’m not your typical guy (much more sensitive and nurturing than the average.) Dating does suck.

    I know if I ever really get a girlfriend, I’ll be fine, but it’s the acquisition that I’m having problems achieving since I really don’t feel comfortable asking people I work with, and I don’t actually get out that much with work being as long and starting as early as it does.

  124. Jadehawk, OM says

    In my high school days (way, way back :) the only bra checks I remember were from the HS boys running a quick hand up the back to feel for a bra strap.

    that’s mild. in my class was a guy who could unsnap a bra through clothing, with a single snap. For several weeks he terrorized all the girls that way, to the point where we all got paranoid about not having him within our field of vision. There was also a lot of standing with the back against the wall.

    This is making me want to vote Lib Dem. I actually strongly agree with both of those policies.
    But if I vote Lib Dem, there is a danger of Labour getting back in (in coalition form or otherwise).

    and this is precisely why you need proportional representation.

    Don’t get me started on how much highschool sucked. Beginning of the zero tolerance era of rampant paranoia and treating people like convicts with no human rights for their own good.

    and this is why the German’s paranoia with looking even slightly too “Nazi” comes in handy: our schools weren’t in the slightest authoritarian. (though I hear the moral panic is beginning to spread into Germany now, too)

    I’m not saying that minors don’t need to be protected, but there need to be stringent rules on what constitutes protection.

    indeed, it annoys the fuck out of me that Americans treat teenagers like little kids, and then the moment they stop being minors everybody expects them to be responsible adults. How, if you never let them develop into responsible adults?!

  125. Ewan R says

    Walton – meh sounds not unlike a watered down version of what the Conservative party would have done, my take is if you don’t dig what labour did, you sure as hell don’t want to spend any time under a Conservative govt.

    I honestly don’t see that the conservatives would have gone any differently on erosion of civil liberties (these are the same people who essentially broke the back of the unions in the early 80’s, de-liberalized the whole country into a mirror of capitalist America (as Thatcher climbed further and further unto Reagan’s pants), turned the NHS pretty much ass backwards and made every attempt to drive the whole private/public partnership, destroyed the rail system (again private/public partnership nonsense) etc etc (it’s hard to think what they didn’t privatize – and when it was ever actually a good thing).

    From memory it was always conservatives who were hardline on immigration, and labour less so – perhaps this has changed in the 5 years I’ve been out of the country, but it was always at least my impression that if you were anti-immigrant then voting conservative would be the way to go.

    Never really understood what was particularly wrong with ID cards, seems a good idea to me, guess it depends on how it is used etc etc, but having essentially had to have an ID card for the past 5 years, and having every aspect of my life for the past 30 scrutinized by a foreign government in order to get said Id card, I guess I may be somewhat numbed to the whole process.

    I guess perhaps the whole nothing more disasterous than a fourth term speaks volumes – given how bad I remember the 4 terms (it was 4 wasn’t it?) of conservative rule being then perhaps this is jsut an inevitability of a party being in power for so long. As such however I wouldn’t necessarily hold your breath – the conservative’s final win came as such a complete and utter shock to the whole country (I still don’t completely believe it happened – I have a suspicion I was drugged) – I had hoped that by now the lib-dems would have taken over as the opposition party most likely to take power rather than the conservatives – shocked infact that this didn’t happen.

  126. Walton says

    and this is precisely why you need proportional representation.

    Wouldn’t help. In fact, it would make it worse, since hung Parliaments would be even more common. And since Labour-Lib Dems tend to be the most natural coalition, a vote for the Lib Dems would still strengthen the position of Labour.

    This is illustrated by the situation in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, which both use a form of mixed semi-proportional system (the Additional Member system). The Welsh Assembly is currently controlled by a Labour-Lib Dem coalition, and this was also true of the Scottish Parliament until the SNP won a majority in the most recent elections.

    Ultimately, I’d rather take my chances with a Conservative government – which might at least be mildly better on civil liberties – than risk five more years of Labour authoritarianism and incompetence.

  127. Lynna, OM says

    This is a podcast that is a recording of a mormon mission president verbally abusing young missionaries. The sound quality is not professional, but the talk can be understood … and it’s horrifying. http://samuelutahnite.hipcast.com/download/6a6e7443-3c07-9caa-9062-936c0f91e536.mp3

    The Mission President speaking is Allan T. Pratt, and he’s in France, giving the talk on November 4, 2003.

    The worst part is Pratt getting into the masturbation theme at about the 20 minute mark. He goes on and on. Apart from the masturbation discussion, Pratt uses other threats. He promises to report missionaries to their Stake Presidents, to send them home, to interfere with their temple recommends, to keep them out of the Celestial Kingdom if they drink a cup of coffee, and to personally come after them if they don’t come up with more baptisms per month, or if they go inactive after they go home: “I will haunt you… and I love you, but I will haunt you.”

    For this psychological abuse, mormon parents and many of the missionaries themselves pay the LDS Church.

    Other subjects covered in the talk abuse are the use of private email accounts that are not under the watchful eye of the church, and the sin of working only 40+ hours per week, when they should be working 60 hours a week.

  128. Jadehawk, OM says

    Ultimately, I’d rather take my chances with a Conservative government – which might at least be mildly better on civil liberties –

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

    no.

  129. KOPD says

    in my class was a guy who could unsnap a bra through clothing

    I’m surprised more guys don’t know how to do this. It is nearly exactly the same motion as snapping your fingers with your left hand.

    *looks around*

    Hey, I only ever did that to women I was involved with. And not in public.

  130. Walton says

    Ewan @#637: Some of that is true, but, as regards your comments about the economy: bear in mind that I’m a classical liberal, not a socialist. I tend to agree with the Lib Dems when it comes to civil liberties and criminal justice policy (though I would go much further than them – I’d completely legalise recreational drugs, for instance). I hate punitivism and “tough on crime” rhetoric; the evidence shows that the approach of locking more and more people up is simply not working, and I’m worried by the systematic erosion of civil liberties as regards things like longer pre-trial detention (under Labour, it’s now 36 hours for most crimes and up to 28 days for “terrorist” offences), as well as by the increasing prison population.

    But I’m centre-right when it comes to economics: I believe in a capitalist economy, and think many things are done more efficiently by the private than the public sector. (Though I agree with you that the rail privatisation was a total clusterfuck.)

    Conservatives today are at least committed to not introducing ID cards, and actively opposed the passage of the Terrorism Bill which (until it was defeated in the Commons) would have increased pre-trial detention for “terror suspects” to 90 days.

    That said, there are still lots of areas where I’m unhappy with Tory policy on justice and civil liberties. Conservatives keep talking about “reducing police paperwork”, for instance: they don’t seem to realise that things like stop-and-search reports and custody reports are required in order to monitor the use of police powers, protect civil liberties and determine whether police are discriminating on the basis of race and class (which still regularly happens, according to several studies). Dismissing it all as “paperwork” is simply ignorant and authoritarian. They’re also committed to building new prisons and continuing the “tough on crime” sentencing mentality, and seem committed to continuing the brutal, authoritarian policy of imprisoning refugees and asylum-seekers in “detention centres” while their appeals are processed. But for all that, they could hardly be worse than Labour.

    Sorry for the rant. I had to write about many of these issues in my criminology exam today.

  131. iambilly says

    Unhook a bra through clothing? I’ve been married nigh onto 21 years and I still can’t unhook a bra. (((Wife))), however, can take a bra off without removing her blouse. While driving. In a car with a manual transmission. In rush hour traffic. On I-95. In New York City. So can (((Girl))).

    I don’t understand.

  132. Paul says

    I’m surprised more guys don’t know how to do this. It is nearly exactly the same motion as snapping your fingers with your left hand.

    I was thinking the same thing.

    Hey, I only ever did that to women I was involved with. And not in public.

    Prude.

  133. PZ Myers says

    Hmm. This was a kid doing it in school, terrorizing the girls? Why wasn’t he slapped down hard?

  134. KOPD says

    Hey, I only ever did that to women I was involved with. And not in public.

    Prude.

    They were prudes. I was just making sure I didn’t piss them off. The wife would eviscerate me if I did that to her.

  135. Jadehawk, OM says

    Hmm. This was a kid doing it in school, terrorizing the girls? Why wasn’t he slapped down hard?

    by whom? the teachers? they were never told, since it was none of their business.

    we took care of him ourselves, which is why it only lasted a few weeks.

  136. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    I just reälised something (yes, I’m slow).

    The last UK election was in 1995, so Walton was ineligible to vote.

    The last Troy govnmnt was 1997, 13 years ago, so Walton will have been bloody seven. Thatcher stepped down in 1990, the year out Walton was born.

    He has never lived under a Tory government. It all makes sense now.

    It pretty much fits my own political ‘views’ when I was a teenager – a sorta ‘rebellion’ against the establishment.

    Durrrrrr – I really am as thick as two short planks.

  137. iambilly says

    Hmm. This was a kid doing it in school, terrorizing the girls? Why wasn’t he slapped down hard?

    I gaurantee if a boy had tried that in my high school he would have been singing first tenor. Or higher.

  138. Ol'Greg says

    Hey, I only ever did that to women I was involved with. And not in public.

    And you’ve never once ran into a frontloader?

    Lucky :P

  139. Celtic_Evolution says

    And you’ve never once ran into a frontloader?

    Sure… just requires slightly more dexterity… but the payoff is worth it. ;)~

  140. strange gods before me ॐ says

    Of course New Labour should be utterly destroyed, their offices razed by bulldozers, their leaders publicly beheaded, their ugly paperweights ground into dust. That’s with the exception of Tony Blair, who should be burned at the stake on the National Mall in DC as a warning to the goddamn Democrats.

    The only thing worse than another New Labour term would be a Conservative government.

    Our only consolation is that Walton will no longer be a Conservative by 2015, as he’s promised us that he’ll leave the party when they inevitably reduce abortion rights to 22 weeks.

  141. Ol'Greg says

    That said, from what I’ve read, I don’t know how I’d react if one with dilated pupils looked at me.

    You’ve never noticed some one’s pupils dilate when you look them in the eye?

    It happens to me all the time… but then maybe I’m intimidating.

    I’m told I am.

    I’ve always considered my eyes my only actual attractive feature.

  142. KOPD says

    And you’ve never once ran into a frontloader?

    I knew when to try and when to get help.

  143. Walton says

    I just reälised something (yes, I’m slow).

    The last UK election was in 1995, so Walton was ineligible to vote.

    The last Troy govnmnt was 1997, 13 years ago, so Walton will have been bloody seven. Thatcher stepped down in 1990, the year out Walton was born.

    He has never lived under a Tory government. It all makes sense now.

    I think you mean 2005, not 1995. But yes, I was ineligible to vote.

    But a correction: I was born in 1989, not 1990. (My 21st birthday is coming up in a month-and-a-bit – in fact, I have a finals exam on my birthday this year.)

    Technically I have lived under a Conservative government, but I don’t really remember it. I vaguely remember the ’97 election (it was a very big thing at the time). You’re right that I was very young.

    On a related note: I may get to meet Sir John Major (former Conservative Prime Minister) on Tuesday, as he is coming to Oxford.

  144. David Marjanović says

    in a nutshell

    Wow. 0.7 Tc for that one comment alone.

    and this is why the German’s paranoia with looking even slightly too “Nazi” comes in handy: our schools weren’t in the slightest authoritarian.

    I think it’s less so in Austria (…pretty much everything is “less so” in Austria…), but the whole dress code thing is unthinkable, for instance. At my school one old teacher tried to order the girls to cover up their navels a few years before her retirement… she was summarily ignored, even by the conservative principal, who may not have been told about it. Banning pocket knives would have been seen as over the top, though I don’t know if anyone ever actually carried one to school.

    meh sounds not unlike a watered down version of what the Conservative party would have done, my take is if you don’t dig what labour did, you sure as hell don’t want to spend any time under a Conservative govt.

    That is the tragedy!

    Wouldn’t help. In fact, it would make it worse, since hung Parliaments would be even more common. And since Labour-Lib Dems tend to be the most natural coalition, a vote for the Lib Dems would still strengthen the position of Labour.

    Then you could simply vote Green.

    I’m not sure why, but a coalition of Greens and conservatives isn’t considered unthinkable in Austria; the option has been floated several times now. Yes, Austria’s Greens are left, not right like Latvia’s. There’s nothing remotely similar to the Lib Dems in Austria…

    by whom? the teachers? they were never told, since it was none of their business.

    More precisely…

    1) Teachers never notice on their own what goes on before, between, or after lessons. Never.
    2) The teachers are the enemy.

    Point 2 goes far. I remember when the guy who bullied me most often had a remote control on his watch. The geography teacher tried to show us a film, and the bully interfered. The teacher knew what was going on, but not who was doing it, sent the bully out to… I forgot what actually, but something useful, not anything punitive, and then told the class he might not show films at all anymore if that kept happening. I got afraid and said it was useless to say that when the ones it concerned (or some such vague language) weren’t here. Result? After the bully had been scolded, the film watched, and the lesson ended, easily half of the rest of the class – including a proportionate amount of girls, who, at that age, treated me as a moving inanimate obstacle; in other words, many hadn’t talked to me in weeks or months – passed by me one by one and told me I shouldn’t have told on the bully. Telling on people is just not done. Turns out it was the biggest fauxpas involving other people I’ve ever made. The teachers are the enemy, and the enemy’s enemy is a friend.

    (Also, the bully had been sent to the principal, who overreacted in some way I forgot. When the bully told me, I actually told him I wouldn’t have told on him if I had known that in advance. In other words, I almost apologized.)

    we took care of him ourselves

    How? :-)

  145. Ol'Greg says

    I am amazed sirs.

    I have worn bras most of my life and honestly *I* have trouble unhooking them some times.

  146. Celtic_Evolution says

    I’ve always considered my eyes my only actual attractive feature.

    Having seen some pictures of you that you were gracious enough to share with us a few iterations of teh Thread ago, please excuse me while I profusely disagree.

  147. KOPD says

    I’ve always considered my eyes my only actual attractive feature.

    I don’t mean to sound patronizing, but I think you are probably overlooking a lot.

  148. David Marjanović says

    Of course New Labour should be utterly destroyed, their offices razed by bulldozers, their leaders publicly beheaded, their ugly paperweights ground into dust. That’s with the exception of Tony Blair, who should be burned at the stake on the National Mall in DC as a warning to the goddamn Democrats.

    ROTFLMAO! Day saved.

    You’ve never noticed some one’s pupils dilate when you look them in the eye?

    Well… no.

  149. Jadehawk, OM says

    How? :-)

    to be honest, I don’t even precisely remember. But it wasn’t anything particularly violent. You got to remember that I went to a school that consisted (almost) entirely of geeks and nerds.

  150. KOPD says

    I have worn bras most of my life and honestly *I* have trouble unhooking them some times.

    That’s the thing, they’re easier to remove if you’re not the one wearing it. One could say they are like straightjackets in that fashion.

  151. Katrina says

    I’m surprised more guys don’t know how to do this. It is nearly exactly the same motion as snapping your fingers with your left hand.

    Plenty of guys in my school knew how. But they didn’t know that some bras didn’t work that way. That was why I wore a front-fastening bra for many years.

  152. KOPD says

    That was why I wore a front-fastening bra for many years.

    That and bras with four hooks. I could only ever seem to get up to three at once.

  153. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    That said, from what I’ve read, I don’t know how I’d react if one with dilated pupils looked at me.

    I once has hanging out a pretty girl once with really dilated pupils. I don’t know if that’s how she naturally was or was on drugs (doubt it) or what. Anyway, it was having an effect on me. I later researched it and studies show that large pupils tend to be considered attractive. Also, eye shadow really does it for me too. Eyes really have an affect on me for some reason.

    As for non-physical features I have to agree with Kevin: smart girls with sense of humour are really hot!

  154. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    I’m surprised more guys don’t know how to do this. It is nearly exactly the same motion as snapping your fingers with your left hand.

    Word. I knew a lot of guys who knew how to do that. Hell, I’m not a guy, and I know how to do it (back and front).

    That’s the thing, they’re easier to remove if you’re not the one wearing it.

    Not at all. I can easily remove one without disturbing my clothing at all. Any way, I rarely wear one. I went full commando at 14. I wear clothes, that’s enough.

  155. KOPD says

    I can easily remove one without disturbing my clothing at all.

    That, to me, is much more impressive.

  156. Jadehawk, OM says

    Any way, I rarely wear one.

    I wish I could, but bralessness kinda hurts, unless I’m standing still.

  157. Ewan R says

    Sili – I wonder if perhaps the UK is now going to end up cyclical like that – it took what, 18 years of Tory rule until that was finally broken – and essentially if I recall for similar points Walton is bringing up – authoritarian, civil liberty smashing, with probably an extra dose of rich get richer poor get poorer.

    If I remember right (and I may not) the whole getting tough on crime thing was essentially part and parcel of what conservative politics was, it’s weird to think that it wouldnt be any more. Is it not the case that the conservatives kinda ended up not unlike the Republican’s are now in the US – the party that just says no to whatever the party in power wants because they are essentially childish? (I seem to recall that was how they acted from the getgo, other than over Iraq where everyone in Parliament other than maybe one or two MPs were perfectly willing to have the wool pulled over their eyes)

    It is also practically inconceivable to me that the Tory’s would have been any better on civil liberties.

    Perhaps Walton’s generation need a term of conservative rule, if only to beat into them how much it sucks to live under any period of conservative rule at all (although I guess that depends somewhat on Walton’s socioeconomic status, perhaps it’ll be peachy – I know conservative rule made life progressively more difficult for my family)

  158. David Marjanović says

    to be honest, I don’t even precisely remember. But it wasn’t anything particularly violent.

    I wasn’t hoping for violence. :-) I’m just curious! I never found out how to deal with bullies – ignoring them does not work; violence tended not to be an option (I remember when I had 45 kg and the bully mentioned above had 90); I had to wait till all except one had left the school and the remaining one grew up.

    I later researched it and studies show that large pupils tend to be considered attractive.

    The source I remember explained why. It used the word “readiness”.

    Also, eye shadow really does it for me too.

    I hate eye shadow and eyelash ink. OK, maybe I’m biased because my little sister grossly overdoes eyelash ink, but…

  159. Jadehawk, OM says

    I never found out how to deal with bullies – ignoring them does not work; violence tended not to be an option

    normal ways of dealing with bullies don’t apply to my school. The guy who did that wasn’t much of a bully; more like a class clown whose joke went too far. So he got cut back down to size by the alpha-females.

  160. David Marjanović says

    The guy who did that wasn’t much of a bully; more like a class clown whose joke went too far.

    I see.

    So he got cut back down to size by the alpha-females.

    Ah. There never seem to have been such people in my class.

  161. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    Perhaps Walton’s generation need a term of conservative rule, if only to beat into them how much it sucks to live under any period of conservative rule at all

    I was 16 when Bush (the lesser) was first elected. I remember thinking “the next 4, or possibly 8, years are gonna be bad”. However, I greatly underestimated how bad.

  162. Ol'Greg says

    I was 16 when Bush (the lesser) was first elected. I remember thinking “the next 4, or possibly 8, years are gonna be bad”. However, I greatly underestimated how bad.

    Yep. I was young too and had no idea what we would be in for. I thought… meh it doesn’t really matter who’s in charge. They’re all the same.

    Oh… I… was…wrong.

  163. Kevin says

    Back from work. Though I forgot to take a picture of myself in a suit – sorry ladies. *attempt at suaveness*

    I’m currently wearing a shirt that proudly demonstrates my geekiness – while listening to a ridiculously geeky song (a medley of anime and video game themes.)

  164. Feynmaniac, Chimerical Toad says

    I was 16 when Bush (the lesser) was first elected appointed.

    Fixed.

  165. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    On a related note: I may get to meet Sir John Major (former Conservative Prime Minister) on Tuesday, as he is coming to Oxford.

    Ah, good. Then we can be sure you’ll vote LibDem.

    Remember to ask him how Edwina is doing. (And bring some mushy peas.)

  166. Ol'Greg says

    I hate eye shadow and eyelash ink. OK, maybe I’m biased because my little sister grossly overdoes eyelash ink, but…

    Most days I can’t be bothered with eye makeup. It takes too long, and I don’t see the point of wearing it to work.

  167. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    I remember when I had 45 kg and the bully mentioned above had 90

    You do your best passing as a native, but just occasionally you do slip up.

    In my case the bullying petered out when I stopped bawling my eyes out and started bottling everything up.

    Seemed like a good idea at the time …

  168. Walton says

    Ewan: Yes, conservatism is often associated with “tough on crime” rhetoric and punitive policies (though these policies are not exclusively the domain of conservatives).

    But I’m not really a “conservative”; I’m a classical liberal who happens to support the Conservative Party. I’m broadly centre-right on economic matters (though not in very specific terms, since I really don’t know much about economics), and radically liberal on social issues and civil liberties. This means I don’t have a natural political home, either in the UK or in virtually any country.

  169. strange gods before me ॐ says

    Remember that the Onion published this in January 2001:

    WASHINGTON, DC–Mere days from assuming the presidency and closing the door on eight years of Bill Clinton, president-elect George W. Bush assured the nation in a televised address Tuesday that “our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over.” …

    Bush swore to do “everything in [his] power” to undo the damage wrought by Clinton’s two terms in office, including selling off the national parks to developers, going into massive debt to develop expensive and impractical weapons technologies, and passing sweeping budget cuts that drive the mentally ill out of hospitals and onto the street.

    During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years. …

    Turning to the subject of the environment, Bush said he will do whatever it takes to undo the tremendous damage not done by the Clinton Administration to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He assured citizens that he will follow through on his campaign promise to open the 1.5 million acre refuge’s coastal plain to oil drilling. As a sign of his commitment to bringing about a change in the environment, he pointed to his choice of Gale Norton for Secretary of the Interior. Norton, Bush noted, has “extensive experience” fighting environmental causes, working as a lobbyist for lead-paint manufacturers and as an attorney for loggers and miners, in addition to suing the EPA to overturn clean-air standards.

    Bush had equally high praise for Attorney General nominee John Ashcroft, whom he praised as “a tireless champion in the battle to protect a woman’s right to give birth.”

    “Soon, with John Ashcroft’s help, we will move out of the Dark Ages and into a more enlightened time when a woman will be free to think long and hard before trying to fight her way past throngs of protesters blocking her entrance to an abortion clinic,” Bush said. “We as a nation can look forward to lots and lots of babies.”

    Continued Bush: “John Ashcroft will be invaluable in healing the terrible wedge President Clinton drove between church and state.” …

    An overwhelming 49.9 percent of Americans responded enthusiastically to the Bush speech. …

    Bush concluded his speech on a note of healing and redemption.

    “We as a people must stand united, banding together to tear this nation in two,” Bush said. “Much work lies ahead of us: The gap between the rich and the poor may be wide, but there’s much more widening left to do. We must squander our nation’s hard-won budget surplus on tax breaks for the wealthiest 15 percent. And, on the foreign front, we must find an enemy and defeat it.”

    The catastrophes of the Bush presidency were foreseeable. I remember watching the electoral map into the early morning on November 8, watching the other networks follow Fox’s lead by changing their call of Florida from Gore to Bush. At that moment I didn’t realize it was fraudulent, but I do remember using the word “disaster.”

  170. Becca says

    I never wear makeup – with my thick glasses, it doesn’t show on my eyes, and my skin type is such that it just absorbs any makeup I try to put on.

    My daughter, however, as a dramatic goth girl, and wears the most wonderfully creative makeup. It takes her a good half hour to 45 minutes to apply it, but boy! does it look good on her.

  171. ambook says

    @Lynna #639 –

    What a hoot that talk was. Especially hearing the glee in the guy’s voice when he was talking about internet pop-ups being “filthy, just filthy,” and how self-abuse by mormon missionaries was the reason that they weren’t attracting more converts.

    Yeah, I would NEVER convert to mormonism if I knew that a 19 year old boy might be wanking. That must be why I’m in the state of belief I’m in. Yeah.

  172. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    I don’t bother with makeup. I did when I was younger, but even then, most people thought I didn’t use it.

    Now, I just want to say that spouses who don’t answer emails are annoying.

  173. Dianne says

    Just did an asylum physical on a woman who was forced to have an abortion. I am DEFINITELY pro-choice and NOT pro-abortion. That was awful. Nearly as bad as the woman who was raped until she became pregnant and forced to carry it to term. (Another asylum seeker…she got it but on different grounds.) People are monsters when they use reproduction to control each other.

  174. David Marjanović says

    I thought… meh it doesn’t really matter who’s in charge. They’re all the same.

    Oh… I… was…wrong.

    I have a great quote on this that I’ll post tomorrow.

    Fixed.

    Oh, he was elected. It’s just that only nine people had the right to vote and denied it to everyone else.

    You do your best passing as a native, but just occasionally you do slip up.

    You mean because I failed to give the weights in stone? :-þ

  175. Jadehawk, OM says

    the only make-up I ever bother with at all is eyebrows and eyeliner, because without it I don’t actually have visible eyebrows or eyelashes.

  176. Walton says

    Yeah, I would NEVER convert to mormonism if I knew that a 19 year old boy might be wanking. That must be why I’m in the state of belief I’m in. Yeah.

    :-D :-D :-D

  177. ambook says

    Dianne – you are my hero for doing asylum work. I did some as a lawyer 20 years ago and even today I think several times a month of stories told by a Liberian client. Horrific.

  178. strange gods before me ॐ says

    2) The teachers are the enemy.

    Yes, and here’s why:

    the bully had been sent to the principal, who overreacted

    Kids learn very quickly that teachers and administrators are incompetent at preventing problems, and habitually unfair in dealing out punishment afterward.

    The chances of an equitable outcome are so small, the rational calculation is usually to deal with minor problems extracurricularly, or simply bypass the school and call the police if there is a major problem.

  179. Ol'Greg says

    Dianne – you are my hero for doing asylum work. I did some as a lawyer 20 years ago and even today I think several times a month of stories told by a Liberian client. Horrific.

    very much so. IANAL, but I’ve met some people who have been granted asylum and heard some very horrible stories. It’s wonderful that you are in a position to try and help, but also that you are able to deal.

  180. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    You mean because I failed to give the weights in stone? :-þ

    No, because you talk amount ‘having mass’ instead of ‘weighing’. Of course, I’m not a native, but it sounds unidiomatic to me, just as if you said “I have twenty-six years” («j’ai vingtdix ans»).

  181. Lynna, OM says

    A convicted murderer in the US state of Utah has chosen to be executed by firing squad.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8641280.stm

    As an ex-mormon pointed out on another site:

    The BBC article states that Utah is the only state with the option of death by firing squad and attributes it as a relic of the “Wild West”. Someone should inform the BBC that the existence of the death penalty by firing squad in Utah is a direct consequence of the Mormon doctrine of “blood atonement”.

    The blood atonement sermon was given by Brigham Young in Salt Lake City in 1857. Here’s an excerpt:

    This is the desire of every person who believes in God. Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom of our God and our Father, and being exalted, one who knows and understands the principles of eternal life, and sees the beauty and excellency of the eternities before him compared with the vain and foolish things of the world, and suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires, and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood, and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin, and be saved and exalted with the Gods, is there a man or woman in this house but what would say, “shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the Gods?”
         All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed. That would be loving themselves, even unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the sheding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? That is what Jesus Christ meant. He never told a man or woman to love their enemies in their wickedness, never. He never intended any such thing; his language is left as it is for those to read who have the Spirit to discern between truth and error; it was so left for those who can discern the things of God. Jesus Christ never meant that we should love a wicked man in his wickedness.

    Some say the blood atonement doctrine was, in part, put into action in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. So, go to Utah, commit a grave sin, and then have yourself shot by a firing squad so that you can still proceed straight to the Celestial Kingdom. No other methods of administering the death penalty will do.

  182. JustALurker says

    @609

    JustALurker is 19,

    Ahem, actually today I am 20. Yeah, I know a day doesn’t make a difference and the only good thing is that in a year from now I can legally drink. But still fact checking is important ;)
    And thank you for the compliment! I like the fact that my age doesn’t show, I don’t get along quite well with my age range. But that may also be influenced by the fact I live in Arizona (shudder)

    And I just have to chime in and say I completely, vehemently, totally, without a doubt, with every fiber of my being agree that fucking dating sucks.

  183. Ichthyic says

    So, go to Utah, commit a grave sin, and then have yourself shot by a firing squad so that you can still proceed straight to the Celestial Kingdom.

    wouldn’t there be more blood with a beheading?

    I propose the Utah legislature consider a bill for the next legislative caucus:

    “Decollation as an addition to standard execution methods.”

    ah, for the good old days of executioners with big, sharp, axes.

    or maybe they could save salary money by using the guillotine? I mean, there’s a classic for ya.

    frankly, having my head cut off and then whipped around so i could quickly see my headless body before blacking out does sound intriguing.

    too morbid?

    ;)

  184. Ichthyic says

    Ahem, actually today I am 20.

    *looks up drinking age in Arizona*

    ah, they changed it.

    one more year to go for you…

    still, grats and enjoy the day!

  185. Nerd of Redhead, OM says

    Ahem, actually today I am 20.

    Well happy birthday. Not a significant get drunk or retire birthday, but still something to celebrate. Now if I could only get the Redhead to celebrate my birthday my way (non-event except for cards). *Sigh*

  186. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    Happy Birthday, JustALurker! Allow me to be an evil influence: have a drink anyway. ;D

  187. Ichthyic says

    without a doubt, with every fiber of my being agree that fucking dating sucks.

    strangely, I found dating sucked until after I turned 30, then, all of a sudden, it got a lot easier.

    I chalk it up to confidence in just having survived and gained a bunch of good experiences by that time.

  188. Becca says

    I shouldn’t have said anything on the Sunday Sacrilege thread. TM seems to be on a warpath, and I know I’m not up to his weight. *sigh*

    (stuffs foot further into her mouth)

  189. Sili, The Unknown Virgin says

    My French is terrible, but I think you meant vingtsix, not vingtdix. ;-)

    No, I just accidentally left off a quatre-.

    What? Noöne said the constructions had to be identical!

  190. Ichthyic says

    I shouldn’t have said anything on the Sunday Sacrilege thread

    the odd thing on that thread isn’t TM, it’s become PZ.

    that’s why I bailed out.

    can’t handle arguing with defensive parents.

  191. Nerd of Redhead, OM says

    TM seems to be on a warpath, and I know I’m not up to his weight.

    I don’t argue with him, I just assume the lying on the back with the paws in the air position. Not that I haven’t my “epic” arguments, but not with him…

    Hold you ground with other folks when you feel comfortable.

  192. Lynna, OM says

    Ichthyic @701: If you have to die, might as well go out with some drama, and with one last impressive experience. You are, however, the only person I’ve ever encountered who thought about having his severed head view his decapitated body. I’m not sure what this says about you, but to my dismay, I kinda like it.

    In other news:

    NASA Boeing 747 carrying a huge German-made infrared telescope is on the verge of scanning the skies after years of development. Project officials showed off the world’s largest airborne observatory on April 20, 2010, in a NASA hangar in Southern California’s high desert, where it has been undergoing flight testing. The 40,000-pound telescope assembly is mounted in the rear of the former Pan Am jetliner. In flight, a huge hatch opens to allow the 98-inch-diameter telescope to see its celestial targets.
         The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy — SOFIA for short — is expected to capture its first infrared images in flight in six to eight weeks. Initial targets will be planets, for calibration purposes. Project officials describe it as a “near-Hubble-class” observatory, referring to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope, which has returned astonishing images of the universe since its launch 20 years ago.
         SOFIA also is expected to last for at least 20 years, drawing scientists to Palmdale for long-duration, high-altitude flights.
         “They’ll be working on unlocking the secrets about the universe and our own solar system,” said Bob Meyer, SOFIA program director for NASA’s Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility and Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, CA. …

  193. JustALurker says

    Thank you all for the happy birthday wishes. However, today has been a very shitty day. Therefore I fully plan on getting buzzzzzzzed tonight or tomorrow,depending on when I can get a babysitter for the little one. It may not help the situation but it sure will help me relax and enjoy myself for a little bit =)

  194. Ichthyic says

    Ahem, actually today I am 20.

    look at it this way:

    you just started your 3rd decade of life!

    doesn’t that sound impressive?

  195. Ichthyic says

    I’m not sure what this says about you

    I’m adventurous, brave, and desirous of new experience?

    :)

  196. Nerd of Redhead, OM says

    can’t handle arguing with defensive parents.

    Yeah, I hear you. I really haven’t argued with either of the Myers’, but enough other trolls have shown up to warrant a snark or two in their direction.

  197. Becca says

    JustALurker, I always considered each birthday (and particularly 10-year marks, for some reason) to be a personal triumph – to quote Granny Westherwax, “I aint’t ded.” So find yourself a babysitter, and get at least mildly blitzed with your vice-of-choice. Happy birthday!

  198. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    My spouse is headed homeward, with serious amounts of cider. Yay! (I seriously need that cider. And my spousal unit.)

  199. Becca says

    I don’t know that there’s all that much to argue with PZ about. He’s admitted that she didn’t show much empathy to women in his comment at 1100, and stated as clearly as one can that he totally disagrees with Skatje in her position. All he did was try to explain that she’s under a fair bit of stress from school, which may have contributed to her crankiness. To me, that seemed a perfectly reasonable statement. I’m not quite sure what TM and Paul want more out of PZ. I agree with Josh that the tone over there makes me uncomfortable.

    Skatje was given some hard truths about the way her arguments were coming off. Let’s hope she has the insight and fortitude to at least think about what she was told, rather than get all defensive and dismiss it totally out of hand.

  200. Lynna, OM says

    I stayed out of the discussion on the Sunday Sacrilege thread. Like Josh, Official SpokesGay, I found it a bit uncomfortable. But the whole discussion was less obnoxious to me than some people found it. I enjoyed reading the comments from both daughter and father, and thought both did a creditable job of stating their positions (granting leeway for youth and inexperience to Skatje).

    Maybe I’m missing something here, but with a few exceptions, the conversation on that thread aired some important points, and even managed to get into the difficulties one faces when trying to reconcile opposing views.

    Maybe I just don’t view a lot of the comments as be-all-end-all statements, but more like way stations on the road.

  201. PZ Myers says

    And yes, we will be having some conversations about this some time. We can’t now. I’m neck deep in writing, she’s got her last week of classes and finals week to face.

    It’s not a matter of being a defensive parent. When people are arguing with what she said, fine, I‘ll be arguing with it. When a brief comment by me turns into accusations that I’m being protective and ignoring the terrible consequences of anti-abortion laws, though, then I’m being mischaracterized by people trying to hide behind the excuse that I’m merely defending my daughter, and that pisses me off.

  202. Paul says

    I’m not quite sure what TM and Paul want more out of PZ.

    We were just trying to get him to not dishonestly represent commenters (or at least I was, but my impression is that was what TM was going for as well). It’s not that difficult or complicated, which is what makes it so irritating.

  203. Paul says

    When a brief comment by me turns into accusations that I’m being protective and ignoring the terrible consequences of anti-abortion laws, though, then I’m being mischaracterized by people trying to hide behind the excuse that I’m merely defending my daughter, and that pisses me off.< ?blockquote>

    Uh, the first sentence is a mischaracterization. Nobody complained that you were ignoring the horrible ends of abortion laws. The complaint was that you were ignoring the argument that her ignoring and refusal to deal with such showed a lack of empathy (which is what your point was that was being responded to, “contrary to what you think she really has too much empathy”).

  204. Becca says

    @723 – one of the problems here – probably true for any place on the web where feelings run high – is that a misunderstanding, sometimes simply caused by time-lag in responding, sometimes due to mis-reading, can turn into a major pile-on. My mommy-instincts make me want to take some people and give them a time-out, and then, when they’ve calmed down and can be reasonable, ask them to read people’s comments before they react.

    it didn’t work with my kids, either.

    but you can’t argue with mommy-instincts… just ask Jenny McCarthy.

  205. Paul says

    Nevermind. Suffice it to say that 723 is a mischaracterization. I did not say he ignores the bad ends of abortion laws, I said that Skatje ignoring such showed a lack of empathy (in response to his “you guys don’t get it, she has too much empathy”). This is the whole argument, he’s dishonestly framing things. I’m done with it. It’s kind of sad that when everyone agrees to stop posting, he continues the characterization of the other commenters on a new thread. I: wash my hands of this bullshit, it’s getting ridiculous.

  206. PZ Myers says

    Would you like to be banned, Paul? It would help with your compulsions.

    You are the one completely misrepresenting the argument. Again, and jebus but I’m getting tired of saying this, I DON’T AGREE WITH SKATJE. I pointed out that I think she had too much empathy for the embryos, I did not say that she was being kind and loving towards the women who bear them: once again, I think she was lacking in empathy to other women. You turned that around into your comment that I “fail to recognize this as not giving enough ‘benefit of the doubt’ to the woman herself” which is completely wrong, as I repeatedly explained, and as I never once tried to argue against.

    Now once more, FUCK OFF. You’re done.

  207. Paul says

    I DON’T AGREE WITH SKATJE

    Never said you did.

    Anyway, if anyone is taking PZ’s words at face value, please skim the thread. It’s offensive the way he’s been twisting everyone else’s words and trying to make them out to be saying something they are not. I agree the whole conversation is distasteful.

    Feel free to ban me, PZ. It will free up some time for me. Just don’t pretend like I’m the one that’s being dishonest here.

  208. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    PZ:

    When a brief comment by me turns into accusations that I’m being protective and ignoring the terrible consequences of anti-abortion laws, though, then I’m being mischaracterized by people trying to hide behind the excuse that I’m merely defending my daughter, and that pisses me off.

    And rightly so, in my view. I’ve considered Paul to be a massive asshole for quite a long time; I have no idea why I let him out of my killfile before, but he’s right back in. Just my .02 of course.

  209. Ol'Greg says

    Oh man, you guys. :(

    I bailed out of that thread early because it was giving me a fucking stomach ache.

    And here it is still… I looked back. I don’t see where PZ is being too defensive but I don’t speak for him either so whatever.

    I think maybe though it does matter, he sees where she’s coming from logically and I get it. There are so many things where there really is no *good* solution and that’s hard for an idealistic person, or any person who truly cares about doing the *right* thing.

    True, it’s like the fucking Joker in Batman invented the world some times.

    But I digress.

    Ugh… butting out now. I hate this topic. If it were up to me I’d have the whole damned little uterus taken out of me and pinned to a wall with a placecard that says “This was my whole being, but without it what am I now but a person?”

  210. Jadehawk, OM says

    oh, FFs. can we please NOT drag this shit into The Thread?

    The people whose lives Skatje blithely and arrogantly dismissed as “sob stories” aren’t going to accept an “oh, she’s just cranky” excuse for that dismissal, and PZ isn’t going to accept lack of empathy or arrogance as an explanation for it.

    That conversation is going precisely nowhere, and it has neve been about agreeing (or not) with Skatje to begin with.

  211. ambook says

    I’ll say here what I said on the Sacrilege thread – it’s time for the squidly overlord to close the abortion thread. Everything has been said, it’s just that not everyone has said it. (And the tone! is enough to make me reach for smelling salts.)

    Happy birthday, JustaLurker.

    Now I’m going to shut down the computer, listen to some audiobook on the ipod, and knit my husband’s 19th anniversary socks. He’s simplified my gift giving by announcing that he agrees with Albus Dumbledore and would be grateful if handmade wool socks were to appear for every gift-giving occasion for the rest of his life.

  212. Ol'Greg says

    The people whose lives Skatje blithely and arrogantly dismissed as “sob stories” aren’t going to accept an “oh, she’s just cranky” excuse for that dismissal

    I don’t need an excuse actually. I don’t know her and I doubt she would like me anyway. If for some reason I got to know her better and was wrong about that, then great. Otherwise I don’t give a fuck, and she shouldn’t give a fuck what I think either.

    Ain’t life grand?

  213. Katrina says

    Many happy returns of the day, JustALurker! I raise a toast in your honor. Cin cin!

  214. strange gods before me ॐ says

    On the earlier topic of who should be banned:

    Cimourdain and a.human.ape are both revolting, hateful trolls who dearly need to be banned.

    I agree that Francosaurus deserves to be banned, but I worry that the discussion would bring him back when he hasn’t been here for a while. On the other hand, there’s a case to be made for being proactive.

    I will refrain from commenting on Hyperon-Therion, since he was so kind to compliment me on my sharp beard and remarkable embalming.

  215. ambulocetacean says

    Er, Rorschach, do you think I’m lying about the cat meat thing? I have to ask because (like Cath) you didn’t address your doubts to me and then after I responded you kept merrily posting without replying.

  216. JustALurker says

    Oh man, two threads now? I need to get lit.

    I raise my first disgusting cheap vodka shot in agreement to this! Followed by orange juice for a chaser since it’s the cheap 10 dollars stuff you get at Fry’s. Seriously, though that Sunday thread was sad and depressing already and now it’s gotten worse when I didn’t think it could. I’m staying out of it completely now.

    Don’t worry I won’t get too drunk yet I have a couple of people coming over in enjoy my drunken state with =)

    Yes, little one is already at babysitter’s. Said babysitter is a good friend with a boy my daughter’s age so they’ll be having a sleepover until Sunday. WOOT!

  217. strange gods before me ॐ says

    I raise my first disgusting cheap vodka shot in agreement to this! Followed by orange juice for a chaser since it’s the cheap 10 dollars stuff you get at Fry’s.

    Gack. Good luck. ;) I’ll join you with a bourbon.

    Yes, little one is already at babysitter’s. Said babysitter is a good friend with a boy my daughter’s age so they’ll be having a sleepover until Sunday. WOOT!

    Now that is a very good friend. Happy birthday, JustALurker!

  218. JustALurker says

    @741

    GAH! I hate living in Arizona. Not to mention the stupid bill about Obama’s birth certificate. See link below. I’m so glad I wasn’t born here. I didn’t even want to move here. I started 8th grade here, and everything they were teaching I had already learned in earlier grades. Their high school science classes were a joke too, not to mention the other classes,which is another reason why I am glad I went into honor classes and then college early. Although, I had one teacher that out right told a student (who had asked) that creationism was a wrong and went on into detail why. My one good story about it though. As far as I know the teacher is still teaching there.

    http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/04/birthers_and_ballots_arizona_h.html

  219. SC OM says

    When a brief comment by me turns into accusations that I’m being protective

    That is what you’re being. Your comment @ #1005 didn’t even make sense – I have no idea what giving a fetus the “benefit of the doubt” is supposed to mean, and I don’t see how it’s supposed to be possible to empathize with an embryo. She showed no empathy for real girls and women (including people on that thread), so the suggestion that people had her “all wrong” and that it was really an excess of empathy isn’t convincing and for me, frankly, fairly upsetting. (I had earlier linked to a report on girls and women in Kenya and how they’re suffering and dying because of the country’s abortion ban.) Your subsequent clarification really cancelled out your earlier statement, making it agree with tm’s earlier clarification, so I don’t see that you had a point to begin with or why you’re arguing with him.*

    And I wasn’t accusing you of being protective. I expect it from a caring parent, especially when harsh things are being said about your child in her absence. Tell me to fuck off and ban me, too. Whatever.

    *Yes, that’s me being protective of tm. So be it.

  220. Katrina says

    @JustALurker:

    I went to UofA back in the late ’80s. I was there when the whole MLK holiday thing went down. I loved Tucson, but now am glad I’m not there anymore.

    I confess though, Flagstaff is still on my list of “most desirable places to live.” Mostly because it’s so close to, but not actually in, the Sonoran desert.

  221. JustALurker says

    Thank you strange gods. Yes she is a great friend and she doesn’t even want money for it! She’s really great at taking care of both of them so she’s the first I ask. However, I don’t ask often because I don’t want to take advantage of her. I alway offer to repay the favor too but she has a bigger support circle so she doesn’t accept often.

    The bad vodka has become a bit of a tradition and a joke among our small circle of friends. It is hilarious when people take more than they can swallow, so to speak. My ex is the champ though, he took a shot though these plastic glasses. They are a straw that wraps around your eyes and hangs off your ears and there’s one end to suck the shot though. A regular shot is quick at least, but with the glasses it’s a bitch to get though. He’s the only one to get though it without throwing up. Of course, he’s a show off so he did it twice =)

  222. cicely says

    Walton:

    I have a finals exam on my birthday this year.)

    Happy Birthday; have some stress! :P

    David M.:

    I had to wait till all except one had left the school and the remaining one grew up.

    You mean they didn’t constantly replenish their stock? Where I went to school, we had hot and cold running bullies, all the time.

    Dianne – you are my hero for doing asylum work.

    Seconded.

    Thirded. At least.

    JustALurker, Happy Birthday. Hopefully the rest of the day will start looking up. :)

    Katrina, my husband and I were ‘cussing the AZ bill this evening, and had simultaneous “Born in East L.A.” flashbacks. :)

  223. KOPD says

    JustALurker,
    Congrats on surviving another orbit.

    Thinking about what Becca said about 10-year marks. I just hit one of those earlier this month and was amazed when I looked at the calendar today to realize how long ago that was. Here I had been fretting it for months, now it’s past and I’ve all but forgotten.

  224. strange gods before me ॐ says

    The bad vodka has become a bit of a tradition and a joke among our small circle of friends.

    It was always Popov for us. :þ Ew, you’re bringing back queasy memories.

    My ex is the champ though, he took a shot though these plastic glasses.

    omfg.

    Well, I’m out for the night. Nothing to do with this mental imagery, though, I swear!

  225. Katrina says

    @cicely:

    I was foiled by Netflix. “Born in East L.A.” isn’t in their instant queue, so I’m going to catch up on Doctor Who instead.

    @JustALurker:

    On my 20th birthday, I was just beginning my transition from fundie to atheist. It was a long, drawn out transition. But I trace its beginnings back to that summer. Enjoy your child-free weekend. Sometimes, that’s the best gift there is. ;-)

  226. Becca says

    ambook@735

    Now I’m going to shut down the computer, listen to some audiobook on the ipod

    Hey, ambook – I’m an audiobook fan too! What are you currently listening to?

    I’ve just discovered the Modern Scholar series of lectures at audible.com, and am having great fun with medieval history.

    If you like mysteries, I also highly recommend The Oxford Murders – murder with a mathematical connection.

  227. ambook says

    Well, actually I’ve been watching Stargate Universe with my lovely son. I’ll have to check out the audible.com Modern Scholar stuff – audible.com and yarn are my biggest indulgences. I’ve enjoyed listening to and watching a variety of Teaching Company programs over the last couple years, and the lecture notes that come with the programs have great bibliographies for further reading.

    I’ve enjoyed Lian Hearn’s Otori books, John LeCarre’s Smiley books, and Bryson’s Short History of Nearly Everything. I’ve also listened to Paradise Lost read aloud – really astonishingly beautiful.

    I REALLY wish that Ancestor’s Tale was available in an unabridged audiobook.

  228. Becca says

    so far, my favorites of the Modern Scholar lectures is the Anglo-Saxon World (500 CE – 1000 CE). It was by far the best of the three I’ve listened to. The one on Medieval Literature was interesting – makes me wonder what happened around 1100 CE in S. France that the eroticization of love first entered into stories – before that, the sagas were all about bravery and honor and (maybe) friendship, and women were barely mentioned, if at all – certainly not as love interests. I’m going to have to do some more research, see if I can’t find out what changed and why.

    If you’re into cosmology, The First Three Minutes is also good. I’ve listened to it twice, and will probably do so again.

    Yeah, audible.com is probably my biggest major expense, after the satellite connection for my internet.

    but, of course, my biggest weakness is trashy romances – not so much in audio, though.

  229. Dianne says

    ambook @692: (Blush) Thanks. I feel the same about you: I tend to think that the lawyers have the harder job on this one. I only have to answer the question “could these [sometimes gross] injuries have been caused in the way the client says they were?” The lawyers have to take it from there, deal with the head games the INS plays, cope with clients who are severely traumatized and probably overwhelmed by their new circumstances, and live with it if they fail and the client is sent back to a country that’s likely to kill them. That’s serious heroism.

  230. Jadehawk, OM says

    Yes, little one is already at babysitter’s. Said babysitter is a good friend with a boy my daughter’s age so they’ll be having a sleepover until Sunday. WOOT!

    enjoy a thoroughly fun and carefree birthday weekend :-)

    ——-

    also, belated kudos to all the people who are currently, have formerly (and will in the future, *hinthint*) work to help refugees/Asylum applicants.

  231. Katrina says

    @Dianne and ambook: I just found out today that our local library offers audio books for download via iTunes. Might be worth investigating in your area.

  232. Rorschach says

    do you think I’m lying about the cat meat thing?

    Nah, it just sounded rather like a prank…

    Skatje discussion on the Myers’ dinner table please, and not in here !

    strangely, I found dating sucked until after I turned 30, then, all of a sudden, it got a lot easier.

    Dating in the 30s was easier than 20s, but since I turned 40 I’ve lost all interest, can’t muster the energy.Maybe I go and buy a cat someday.

  233. chgo_liz says

    Apparently the Westboro Baptist Church has added a new event to their calendar:

    Haters To-Do List

    5/22/2010 3:00-4:00pm Fulton, MS

    Itawamba Community College 11900 Highway 25 South WBC will picket the graduation of Itawamba Agricultural High School to remind the parents, teachers and students of this nation that God said “Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is abomination.” Leviticus 18:22. This generation has been raised to believe that they can live for the devil and still go to heaven, that God has no standards and the biggest lie of all – that God loves everyone. The parents of Fulton, MS feign outrage that a filthy dyke wants to parade her “girlfriend” around at their night of fornication called a prom. They had a duty to teach their children what the Lord requires of them. They shirked this duty. The Lord repays them to their face by sending dykes, burning in their lusts, to tyrannize them. “For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change their natural use which is is against nature.” Romans 1:26

    This would be Constance McMillen’s graduation, shortly after her non-prom.

    This may be the first time Fred Phelps will have a receptive audience for his hate. They’ll probably join in every chorus.

  234. ambulocetacean says

    Rorschach, Ah, OK, I wasn’t sure what you meant.

    If the production and sale of cat meat was illegal in Victoria at the time (say ’94 to early ’96 at the latest) I suppose it must have been a prank. But WTF? They had straight faces and I didn’t see anyone filming it.

    But I suspect I might have lost one of my favourite stories now. I can’t really keep telling it and then tacking on “but it was probably just a prank”. Goddammit.

  235. ambulocetacean says

    Re Westboro/Constance: Un-fucking-believable. Or all too believeable.

    It must take so much energy to hate. Do you think hate as a way of life makes for a miserable existence, or do you think they actually enjoy it?

  236. Caine, Fleur du mal says

    ambulocetacean:

    It must take so much energy to hate. Do you think hate as a way of life makes for a miserable existence, or do you think they actually enjoy it?

    I think, for some people, like Fred Phelps and others who are moderate in comparison, hate becomes a Raison d’être. Without it, they have nothing. It’s a passion, like any other.