The unimportant news thread

[Todd]

Are Google driverless cars really a good idea?

[Karl Henning]

You posted this in the wrong thread, Karl! This is actually a very interesting article (and important in biology).   

:-)

[Karl Henning]

Born in Ulan-Ude. Graduated from the Moscow Conservatory studying under Prof. Mikhail Petukhov (2011)

Parenthetically (and meaning the professor no disrespect), a name which a Russian speaker is apt to find a little funny and barnyardly, as петух means cock.

[Karl Henning]

Splendid!

[Ken B]

I oppose any bailout for Greece. That's the wise policy IMO, but it does carry risks. Sometimes you read a story that makes the risks a little easier to accept. This, on Greek attitudes, is one such.
http://freebeacon.com/issues/poll-85-of-greeks-believe-the-jews-have-too-much-power-over-global-finance/

[Jo498]

I would be willing to bet that if in the next 5 years the economy in Germany, France or Belgium shrinked by 30%, unemployment would double or triple and this apparently because a consortium of American bankers enforced a regime of austerity, one would get skyrocketing rates of antisemitism and general xenophobia in those countries.
People simply want to find a scapegoat under such circumstances (and there are of course some standard scapegoats available, if related to banks it's the Jews, if rise in crime it's illegal immigrants from Balkan states or whatever etc.)
This is not to excuse such attitudes or behavior, just a note that it is quite unlikely that the Greeks are all that different from e.g. French or Germans in that respect. As has been noted many times, the veneer of civilization is thin and I think that if "civilization" means mainly keeping people happy as rabid consumers it is especially thin.

[Ken B]

I would be willing to bet that if in the next 5 years the economy in Germany, France or Belgium shrinked by 30%, unemployment would double or triple and this apparently because a consortium of American bankers enforced a regime of austerity, one would get skyrocketing rates of antisemitism and general xenophobia in those countries.
People simply want to find a scapegoat under such circumstances (and there are of course some standard scapegoats available, if related to banks it's the Jews, if rise in crime it's illegal immigrants from Balkan states or whatever etc.)
This is not to excuse such attitudes or behavior, just a note that it is quite unlikely that the Greeks are all that different from e.g. French or Germans in that respect. As has been noted many times, the veneer of civilization is thin and I think that if "civilization" means mainly keeping people happy as rabid consumers it is especially thin.

Those poor Greeks! People demanding money from them just like they borrowed it or something!

[Florestan]

The ADL poll surveyed 10,000 adults,

Then the most accurate statement the ADL can make is that 85% of the 10,000 people surveyed believe this or that about the Jews.

And yes, of course, when it comes to the topic at hand ADL is the most impartial and uncontroversial source one can rely on... 

[Ken B]

Robert Conquest:

The simplest way to explain the behavior of any bureaucratic organization is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.

Or Ellen Pao

http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2015/07/02/reddit-revolt-flares-again-as-ama-moderator-sacked-the-day-after-a-disastrous-jesse-jackson-qa/

[Todd]

Q: When does end-of-life not mean end-of-life?

A: When a government contract is involved!

[Jo498]

Those poor Greeks! People demanding money from them just like they borrowed it or something!

It's not like the "man on the street" borrowed that money. In any case, that's hardly the point. Economic near-collapse or severe downturn (whatever the reason) very frequently leads to a rise xenophobia, racial tensions etc. (The most famous example is probably Weimar Germany.) It's not an excuse, but an explanation.
But feel free to have another reason to feel smug because the Greeks are not only lazy spendthrifts, but antisemites to boot. They also hate the Turks.
That's why they, although broke, cannot cut defense spending, furthermore, the NATO has forbidden it.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/30/eurozone-greece-nato-idUSL8N0ZG4VL20150630

[Todd]

That's why they, although broke, cannot cut defense spending, furthermore, the NATO has forbidden it.

That's aspirational more than anything.  I suspect Greece will end up like the other deadbeats of Europe when it comes to meeting treaty obligations.

[Todd]

Criminality knows no bounds.

[Ken B]

I got one "anti-Israel" writer to admit he really meant Jew when said Israeli. Now the BBC admits it.
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/139132/why-jews-were-lost-translation-bbc-children-gaza-war-documentary

[ibanezmonster]

This is why it's hard to take the internet offense of the day seriously.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/29524615/petition-calls-on-cracker-barrel-to-change-its-name

[Karl Henning]

Hard to take the internet seriously?  Whatever can you mean? . . .

[Karl Henning]

The Weed That Made Flatbush Famous

[Karl Henning]

Texas embraces handgun 'open-carry': What took 'em so long?

[mc ukrneal]

Do you like art? Mysteries? A sliver of politics? Then you might find this article interesting (though not short)...
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/the-lost-gerald-ford-portrait-an-art-mystery-124002581731.html

[ibanezmonster]

Parents Dedicate New College Safe Space In Honor Of Daughter Who Felt Weird In Class Once


http://www.theonion.com/article/parents-dedicate-new-college-safe-space-honor-daug-50851