The unimportant news thread

[Karl Henning]

But would you consider high voter turnout plus better-educated electorate the preferred thing?

(I realize that the question is purely hypothetical . . . .)

[Moonfish]

I think this is thread we discussed this topic on ...

One of the things where I disagree with all decent right-thinking people is voter turnout. High voter turnout is not something we should aim for. Here is one reason why. http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/texas-tech-students-parade-their-knowledge/

Amazing!!!   
It seems like questions 1 and 3 are core ones which are covered over and over in K-12. How is it possible to not retain those facts!

[Florestan]

But would you consider high voter turnout plus better-educated electorate the preferred thing?

(I realize that the question is purely hypothetical . . . .)

Hypotheses non fingo. 

[Florestan]

Amazing!!!   
It seems like questions 1 and 3 are core ones which are covered over and over in K-12. How is it possible to not retain those facts!

Who won the Civil War? You mean the 1965 one?

Who is Vicepresident? Is that a tricky question?

ROTFLMAOL

At least the Romanians I refered to are mostly rural area inhabitants, with little or no formal education at all (but alas!, they make up for almost 40% of the whole population), and even in their case not knowing the name of the country or its neighbors is inexcusable. But to think that those American students are supposed to represent the best educated part of the nation... Mind boggling.

[Ken B]

But would you consider high voter turnout plus better-educated electorate the preferred thing?

(I realize that the question is purely hypothetical . . . .)

Not if the high turnout is the result of a desire for high turnout. If people vote because they care and think etc then that is good. If it's just "we ought to vote just because high turnout is a good thing so I better do my duty" then no.
It's OK not to know, not have an opinion, or to have the opinion none of the above.

[Florestan]

Not if the high turnout is the result of a desire for high turnout. If people vote because they care and think etc then that is good. If it's just "we ought to vote just because high turnout is a good thing so I better do my duty" then no.

Word.

[North Star]

Not if the high turnout is the result of a desire for high turnout. If people vote because they care and think etc then that is good. If it's just "we ought to vote just because high turnout is a good thing so I better do my duty" then no.
It's OK not to know, not have an opinion, or to have the opinion none of the above.

Did you read Karl's question, the whole thing?

But would you consider high voter turnout plus better-educated electorate the preferred thing?

Clearly the high turnout would not be caused by people voting just for the sake of higher turnout in this case.

[Brian]

Turkish cosmetic company apologises after unwittingly using photograph of Al Qaeda's 9/11 mastermind to promote hair removal product



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2821783/Smooth-criminal-Turkish-cosmetic-company-apologises-unwittingly-using-photograph-Al-Qaeda-s-9-11-mastermind-promote-hair-removal-product.html

[Todd]

Turkish cosmetic company apologises after unwittingly using photograph of Al Qaeda's 9/11 mastermind to promote hair removal product



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2821783/Smooth-criminal-Turkish-cosmetic-company-apologises-unwittingly-using-photograph-Al-Qaeda-s-9-11-mastermind-promote-hair-removal-product.html

I very seriously doubt the picture was used unwittingly.

[Ken B]

An interesting discussion of research methods, racial assumptions, and the Catcalling video https://medium.com/message/that-catcalling-video-and-why-research-methods-is-such-an-exciting-topic-really-32223ac9c9e8

and Auckland ... http://youtu.be/kXdMAXaMicc

[Todd]

Obama on fighting IS in September: "No boots on the ground."

Obama on fighting IS in November: "LOL, JK, get your boots."

[Ken B]

Welcome to the 7th Century

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/christian-couple-parents-of-four-burned-alive-for-accusations-that-they-torched-a-quran/

Welcome to Ferguson
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/11/ferguson-mob-turns-on-umsl-student-beat-him-chase-him-down-chambers-street-screaming/

Welcome to Canada
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/11/06/marni-soupcoff-a-law-that-bans-mixed-race-couples-yes-in-2014-in-canada/#__federated=1

[ibanezmonster]

Brought to you by the same movement that made the street harassment video: 

http://elitedaily.com/dating/men-pssies-women-need-start-asking-men-dates/746965/

[Ken B]

The Mormon church as acknowledged Joseph Smith's great sacrifice. The things that poor man did for faith.

And the Lord commanded unto Joseph, "Go, and find attractive nubile women and enter into them as a plow into fields, a sword into a scabard, a brush into a bottle, a train into a tunnel, tab A into slot B."
And Joseph beseeched the Lord, "Oh please no, spare me the flesh of lithe women, shield me from their caresses, the knowledge of their most secret places, the sound of their wimpers and gasps. Not me Lord, not me!"
And the Lord said unto Joseph, "Probe them by the dozen, even the young ones, and the married ones, and those betrothed, but none old or ugly, and often or verily will I smite thee."
And Joseph bowed his head and and whispered "Thy will be done."

https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng

[ibanezmonster]

But Satan says the correct answer is Mormonism...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Free stud service (just don't let the wife and kids find out).

[jochanaan]

Free stud service (just don't let the wife and kids find out).

Surprising?  Unconventional?  It's been happening since Bible times.

[North Star]

Surprising?  Unconventional?  It's been happening since Bible times.

I remember when I saw that Ptolemaic newspaper ad...

[jochanaan]

I remember when I saw that Ptolemaic newspaper ad...

"Queen Needs Heir"?   

[ibanezmonster]

Two bits of news about one of the leading scientists of the Rosetta mission.

First, he is a Cannibal Corpse fan. Well... can't say I'm a fan of them, but it is death metal. 
http://www.metalsucks.net/2014/11/13/dr-matt-taylor-dude-put-probe-comet-cannibal-corpse-fan/


And apparently the guy was criticized and reduced to tears and an apology for wearing a shirt that is "sexist." Of course, it's a terrible shirt and inappropriate. But this has gotten ridiculously out of hand. Seriously, if a woman wore a shirt with pictures of bodybuilders on it, how much you wanna bet she won't be publicly shamed and forced to tearfully apologize for "degrading" or "objectifying" men?
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/13/living/matt-taylor-shirt-philae-rosetta-project/?cid=ob_articlesidebarall&iref=obnetwork