The Chat Thread

[Ken B]

Avatars are currently not edible.

Mine is. I am always thinking ahead to your needs Karlo.    It's a kind of mantis cleaning its antenna.

[Ken B]

Paging Cato.

I am curious to know what you think of Common Core.

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/02/10/gasps-of-disbelief-as-live-with-kelly-and-michael-top-teacher-winner-resigns-over-common-core-testing/

Two teachers in my wife's family hate and despise it. That counts as evidence in its favour I think.  ButI know little about it.

[Szykneij]

Paging Cato.

I am curious to know what you think of Common Core.

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/02/10/gasps-of-disbelief-as-live-with-kelly-and-michael-top-teacher-winner-resigns-over-common-core-testing/

Two teachers in my wife's family hate and despise it. That counts as evidence in its favour I think.  ButI know little about it.

I'm not Cato, but I'm a teacher and I agree with your in-laws.

Check out this link:

http://testingtalk.org/response/watch-child-psychologist-dr-megan-koschnick-take-down-the-common-core-in-this-the-26-minute-video/

[Karl Henning]

Ooh, I'm watching that later . . . .

[Szykneij]

Ooh, I'm watching that later . . . .

I just re-watched it (it's been a while). She doesn't get to the nitty-gritty of things until around minute 8, so hang in there for a bit.

[Ken B]

I just re-watched it (it's been a while). She doesn't get to the nitty-gritty of things until around minute 8, so hang in there for a bit.

Listening now. Very interesting and cogent.

[Todd]

Last November, Oregonians elected John Kitzhaber governor for the fourth time, even amid allegations of corruption involving his fiancée - and by extension, him.  The rumors and accusations have caught up with them.  Both the state and the Feds are now pursuing criminal investigations.  How dumb can voters get?  Wait, don't answer.  (I did not vote for him.  I never voted for him.) 

To be fair, the Republicans are actually partly to blame here: they put up a weak, too far right candidate with no chance of winning, though even so he lost by only 3%.  In a state dominated by the Deep Blue Willamette Valley, Republicans don't fare well in statewide races, so the best possible candidates tend not to run.  Ah, the beauties of a one party state, at least at the executive level.  The last time a Republican won the governor's mansion was 1982.  Thanks goodness Dems are immune to bad governance and corruption . . .

One unusual outcome I've noticed has been reporting on the incoming governor, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown.  All the national and international press outlets are pointing out that she's the first openly bisexual governor in the US.  Local press hasn't even mentioned this.  I admit, I did not know until I read it a couple days ago.  I know who she is, and her stance on some issues - which is why I didn't vote for her (I voted for no one for the role, which is quite common for me in state races) - but I never bothered to fact check her sexuality.  I guess that's what's important now.

[Ken B]

A science lesson. For Florestan and a couple others I won't name.
http://youtu.be/-9Jp_XCvVto

[North Star]

A science lesson. For Florestan and a couple others I won't name.
http://youtube.com/v/-9Jp_XCvVto

And a YouTube lesson for you

[Wanderer]

What ISIS really wants

"The Islamic State is no mere collection of psychopaths. It is a religious group with carefully considered beliefs, among them that it is a key agent of the coming apocalypse. Here's what that means for its strategy—and for how to stop it."

[Todd]

https://www.youtube.com/v/SNPJMk2fgJU



The new FAA regulations on drones make me feel safer already.

[ibanezmonster]

Japanese word of the day:

マクる (makuru)- to eat at McDonald's 

[Florestan]

A science lesson. For Florestan and a couple others I won't name.
http://youtu.be/-9Jp_XCvVto

Quite convincing, I´d say. 

In the same vein

https://www.youtube.com/v/g84g2KJcUV0

I just love it when he says scientists have no idea how the eye works. Then take off those eyeglasses, effendi! Huge as they are, they´re useless. 

[Philo]

Got my PhD acceptance letter.

[EigenUser]

Got my PhD acceptance letter.

Congratulations! I'm a PhD program as well.

What are you studying?

[Philo]

Congratulations! I'm a PhD program as well.

What are you studying?

Thanks, and congrats to you as well.

I'm hoping for rhetoric, with a focus on history and hermeneutics.

[Ken B]

I'm a PhD program as well.

How many people are enrolled in you?

[ibanezmonster]

How many people are enrolled in you?

A lot of guys, so I hear. Not sure how he has that much room- supposedly even more than Mr. Slave from South Park. 

[EigenUser]

How many people are enrolled in you?

Lol at typo.

I'm *in* a PhD program as well.

Thanks, and congrats to you as well.

I'm hoping for rhetoric, with a focus on history and hermeneutics.

I have a minor in history (which I more or less got by accident -- my degree is in mechanical engineering). I had to dictionary that second word, though . Sounds interesting (not to mention, way beyond me!).

[Ken B]

I have a minor in history (which I more or less got by accident -- my degree is in mechanical engineering). I had to dictionary that second word, though

Don't feel bad Nate. Your list on the other thread with Ligeti at #1 had me looking up "beautiful" .

😃