Of course the bride in the first picture is drunk.  She just married Freddy Mercury.

Interesting that in retrospect, no matter what the choice in 2008, we were going to get a dose of "1984".  It was just a matter of which flavor that was to be served.

Obama: "I am not a socialist, I just want to spread the wealth around."

Clinton: "I am not a boring lesbian!"

McCain: "I am not a maverick, and I did not kill McAble!"

James T. Kirk versus Godzilla: Who wins?

Evenin' brothers and sisters.  Speaking of Capt. Kirk, would you believe that I've never seen a complete episode of Star Trek in my 44+ yeas?

alexthechick, my tips always involve town car service, a valet, and a short walk to an excellent table for dinner.

Of course one can always hope the conclusion to that evening is the chance to lounge on a bed in my Louboutins and not much else.

I don't like how they killed the original Godzilla with those fizzy Alka-Seltzer tablets.

That was wrong.

"Godzilla vs. Megalon" is one of the best ones.

I think that's the one my son was going on and on about. I confess I haven't watched Godzilla movies since I was young.

Fuckin' powerlines.

I hate powerlines.

Ok Rum, that's one. 

He beat Khaaaan! with that doo-dad plastic thing in engineering, and he outwitted a computer with logic (Nomad).

But no phaser, no luckee against Gozirra!

Aww, yes sickinmass, IÂ’m very aware of the fact you can design your own Lego models. We havenÂ’t done that yet, but believe me, the arrival of every new Lego catalog is a damn near religious experience in this house.

They have a department store now (they call it an “emporium”) My son and I are both drooling over it.

Posted by: sickinmass at April 16, 2010 10:26 PM (PQPBt)

Wow - that is awesome.  If that had been available when I was a kid my parents would have got no rest from my constant nagging for more LEGO goodness.

Look, IÂ’m flexible, if the guy likes the heels they are there, if he doesnÂ’t they arenÂ’t. Your fantasy is my fantasy as long as my fantasy is sometimes yours too.

Look, IÂ’m flexible, if the guy likes the heels they are there, if he doesnÂ’t they arenÂ’t. Your fantasy is my fantasy as long as my fantasy is sometimes yours too.

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 16, 2010 10:29 PM (RZ8pf)

That is a damn good attitude.  If women like you and Rum were in charge of young ladies' education, this nation would be a far better place.

Yes, that is truly the downside to Lego sets, they cost a KingÂ’s ransom.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 10:32 PM (gofDd)

I missed her birthday and her first interview.

Yes, but sometimes I sit improperly when wearing a dress.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 10:30 PM (gofDd)

Modern "education" has spawned people who are degraded.  When I was young I read Brave New World.  It horrified me, as it should any normal person, to imagine such a society as was depicted in that book.  A friend of mine a grade behind me was discussing the subject when it came time for his class to read it.  The bulk of his classmates thought that the Soma, the infantilist approach to instant sexual gratification, and all the rest of the communist horror depicted in that book would be quite nice.  Sickening.  The young people of the nation need a good, hard culling.

"She has been convicted of a series of public order offences, and had flouted bans from pubs and clubs through local Pub-Watch schemes in her home town of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Kidderminster Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Hall faces a £2,500 fine if she breaks the conditions of the order.

Sergeant David Roberts, of West Mercia Police, said: 'There have been some Drinking Banning Orders issued already but this is the first to be issued on a nationwide basis.

'It bans Laura Hall from drinking or buying alcohol in any licensed premises across England and Wales. The conditions will also help to protect the public from the anti-social effects of Laura's behaviour.' "

I so want to date this woman!

My hunt for the elusive Dr. Pepper Jelly Belly was thwarted when I ate a cappuccino one by mistake. Totally wrong taste after tutti-frutti. Oh crap, and I just got a damn popcorn one. Grrrr.

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 16, 2010 10:29 PM (RZ8pf)

I think my fantasy will involve these

Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight:

Tell your friend that a symptom of socialism is crushing debt.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 10:34 PM (gofDd)

Indeed, I am sure that is wise.  I, of course, have simple thoughts and simple ambitions.  I would be content with a class that somehow manage to inculcate the following ideas:

1.  Sometimes it's good to keep your legs closed, especially if you are unmarried and poor.  In fact, it's usually best.

2.  You are not the center of the universe.  Other people do not exist simply to serve your whims.  Men, for example, are also human beings - their utility extends beyond being an ATM and a sperm donor.

3.  Regular bathing is important, and soap is cheap.

4.  No, really, you are NOT the center of the universe.   Others really do not exist simply to serve your whims. 

5.  You're liberated now.  Get a job.

1 : a ballroom dance for couples that resembles the quadrille
2 : an elaborate dance with frequent changing of partners carried out under the leadership of one couple at formal balls
3 : a formal ball

Jones, I love you. I have a pair of 5 inch ones, black patent, but the pair you posted is very sexy. I want them.

You remember that U.S. / Israel relationship?

Well it  is soooo over!

http://tinyurl.com/yyo6qdo

Fresno Zionism

Posted by: alexthechick at April 16, 2010 10:15 PM (6Cojl)

No kidding.  It doesn't matter how they look as you walk, it matters how they look behind your ears.

Posted by: Bruce Dickinson at April 16, 2010 10:50 PM (Vo2Ef)

I wouldn't know.  Air raid siren-like vocals?

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 10:42 PM (gofDd)

Yes - exactly!  I was discussing that exact matter today with a co-worker while driving back from a machine validation.  Here in MI we have a "schools of choice" provision that lets you send your kids outside your own district.  My co-worker sent her kids to the school in the next town, just as every other parent of the better kids in her small city did, to get them away from the gutter trash who infest the schools where she lives.  The underclass vermin were utterly without discipline, and disrupted the process for everyone else.  The teachers/administrators had to waste all their time on those bad apples.

I think one key failure in the US is our insistence on enforcing truancy laws.  This is absurd.  If a kid does not want to go to school, it is better that they not go.  Sending one of those brats to school is like trying to teach a pig to sing.  It wastes your time and annoys the pig.

127 Blue Oyster Cult?  Yeah, I know what they need.

Some sort of rustic percussion instrument?

Some sort of rustic percussion instrument?

Posted by: Countrysquire at April 16, 2010 10:52 PM (4YN/C)

Oh, yes indeedy.

If you're smart and disciplined, you get ignored by teacher in favor of the dipshit in class who doesn't care and doesn't want to be there. So instead of kicking out the dipshit and focusing on the kid(s) who is (are) actually going to make it academically, they focus on making sure everything is "fair."

Yup. And guess who gets all the funding.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 10:47 PM (gofDd)

Ha!  Awesome.  I would, too, but nobody even tries that line of crap on me.  I guess as a shaven-headed white male they assume it's prolly not going to win any sympathy from me.

Posted by: Racefan at April 16, 2010 10:53 PM (znb8n)

When I was young we had stone legos.

Larry..........  ok i'm not that old.

Posted by: Jones at April 16, 2010 10:53 PM (JL3qV)

Pfft.  Just the bitter rantings of an aging, dried up husk of a woman who can no longer attract a man's attention. 

Posted by: Jones at April 16, 2010 10:53 PM (JL3qV)

Gee, does affirmative action suck now that your hero didn't get an Oscar, Siggy?

Posted by: Hugh Hefner at April 16, 2010 10:51 PM (Vo2Ef)

Hef, I believe you are thinking of erection sets, whatever that is in your perved out, octagenerian mind.  ErectorSets were given to little boys who had Dads and GrandDads that were Engineers and wanted their little man to follow in their footsteps.  Along with HeathKit radio sets, chemistry sets, mechanical puzzles, and so on.

Pfft.  Just the bitter rantings of an aging, dried up husk of a woman who can no longer attract a man's attention. 

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 10:57 PM (4nbyM)

Oh, I'd hit it.

But I'd make her thank me afterwards.

Behold! The power of boobs! They can sometimes get you the nicest things.

Posted by: sickinmass at April 16, 2010 11:00 PM (PQPBt)

So that's what you told them in the ER? Good thinking. But how did that Lego get into that Coke bottle, anyway?

Look, IÂ’m flexible

Nuff said!

Posted by: Offended Swine at April 16, 2010 10:55 PM (j6Y9Y)

Heh heh - thanks for posting that!  If you don't like the Muppet Show, you're a sick, jaded puke.  A personal favorite since boyhood:

http://tinyurl.com/yk5cqtt

Posted by: Gilded Sasquatch at April 16, 2010 11:04 PM (j6Y9Y)

Han Solo called. He wants his Wookie back.

That wedding album looks like just about every nuptial I've ever attended.

A buddy of mine got hitched to a Cleveland chick whose very large and wealthy family was Ukrainian Orthodox. The wedding started at 11:00am and we had to be at the church by 10 just to make sure we knew the drill. The Monsignor was gassed on something and after a two hour ceremony followed by five hours of pictures, we were fucking tanked before we even made it to the reception hall.

It got uncomfortable when it came time for the best man's speech. As soon as he stood up, the non-English speaking contingent stood up and started singing something in Russian. We didn't know what to do so we just shut up and ordered more booze.

It was pretty fun but really bizarre. Russians are fucking wierd.

Matchbox and HotWheels cars rank right up there with Legos and Green Army Men for barefoot pain in the dark.

I think actual, real punishment and discipline are two of the key principles missing from schools these days.

You got that right sister.  When I was in school, an ass whippin' was not an unusual thing.  And you know what?  We always had it coming.

it's lunchtime, you're at the National Gallery of Art, and she's meeting you there, and you can hear her crossing the floor in that big sunlit marble atrium where the fountain is

Go onÂ….

Does anyone else think it is getting hot in here?

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:05 PM (gofDd)

Amen.  Spare the rod and spoil the child.  A few blistered back sides would be an excellent remedy to many modern problems.  They should share the fate of Admiral Byng, and for the same purpose, pour encourager les autres. 

Good old fashioned humiliation would help, too. 

I, for one, think another good measure to encourage better performance would be to make it mandatory that all grades be publicly posted by student name.  Rankings should be kept current.

Rock On

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 11:11 PM (4nbyM)

Does anyone else think it is getting hot in here?

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 16, 2010 11:11 PM (RZ8pf)

Just play Moon River and fade to black...

Does anyone else think it is getting hot in here?

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 16, 2010 11:11 PM (RZ8pf)

Time to strip to bra and panties and have that tickle fight.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:05 PM (gofDd)

Agreed. Kids are able to get away with so much because they know they teachers are only allowed to threaten or give the occasional visit to the principal's office.

/stuck on italics

Posted by: SantaRosaStan at April 16, 2010 11:14 PM (JrRME)

I realize this, and part of the solution is to repeal that law, or amend it such that posting grades is again legal.

There's plenty of shit in this life that the law forbids, yet should not be forbidden.  We need about 5 years where the legislature is permitted only to repeal old laws - not to pass any new ones.

The long accretion of BS laws over the years is a good arguement for hitting the reset button.  We need fewer laws, in simpler language.  You shouldn't need a degree in order to understand the law of the land.

damn it!!!!

stupid laptop, i have to update the firmware on my ssd's and of course it'll erase EVERYTHING!!

also i had to unistall my stupid gpu driver and re-instal the new one

I HATE EVERYONE AND THING!!!  FFFUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKYYYYOOOOOUUUUUUU!!!

oh, and yo

Mallamutt ....  My 2 brothers and myself knew what was about to happen when our mother picked up a orange pice of hot wheels track....... we knew she was mad then. it was worse than a belt any day.

/stuck on italics

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 16, 2010 11:18 PM (yfJ6g)

It's so damned annoying.

Have you ever thought about a breast reduction?  If you have, perish the thought!  But seriously, I've seen some post-reduction breasts.  Let's just say there's extensive scarring.

By the way, Kick-Ass earns its name. It's everything I hoped it would be and more. Best movie I've seen in years.

Might go see it every night this week.

Is it just me or are most of those Rusky wedding pix skanky? 

Like one of  Fat Albert's friends used to say:  You're like school in the summer: no class. 

Oh, and hi all.

BOC

History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man.

Godzilla

216  breast reductions should be illegal

god gave therefore they shall have

just saying

Sorry, already dispensed with the bra.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:15 PM (gofDd)

The long accretion of BS laws over the years is a good arguement for hitting the reset button.  We need fewer laws, in simpler language.  You shouldn't need a degree in order to understand the law of the land.

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 11:19 PM (4nbyM)

There is an argument to be made that the current state of affairs, where citizens constantly break laws because they are too complex or that the laws are ridiculous, is intentional. 

To take the simpliest example, how on earth can we have a state of affairs where 90% of highway drivers disagree with posted speed limits, and yet those limits won't be changed?

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at April 16, 2010 11:20 PM (c0A3e)

You've been missing lots of ONTs lately.  PGiS and rum practically declared their hot, hot love for each other last night.  Have you been sneaking off and having a life?

This is why I keep the Blade of Olympus charged up at all times.  Never know when decadence shows up.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:20 PM (gofDd)

I don't have any pillows, but I have this stupid old Constitution...can I play too?

Sorry, already dispensed with the bra.

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 16, 2010 11:24 PM (RZ8pf)

You had me at "dispensed".

There's plenty of shit in this life that the law forbids, yet should not be forbidden.  We need about 5 years where the legislature is permitted only to repeal old laws - not to pass any new ones.

The long accretion of BS laws over the years is a good arguement for hitting the reset button.  We need fewer laws, in simpler language.  You shouldn't need a degree in order to understand the law of the land.

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 11:19 PM (4nbyM)

Amen.  Earlier today I posted the linky about having a  "Velvet Revolution" to get our "reset" and got no comment.  Either everyone thought it was weird or old news. 

Posted by: chemjeff at April 16, 2010 11:22 PM (Gk/wA)

It's not about who has some vested interest in seeing the grades.  It's about using peer pressure and the fear of humilation, the fear of others thinking you're a dumb fuck, to motivate the student.  When I was a kid I compared grades with my friends.  Those who did poorly were mocked by those who did well, and life went on.  It was amazing how the grades leveled up to the higher level, now that I think back on it. 

Time to strip to bra and panties and have that tickle fight.

Gave Ripley that extra edge to take on the Alien.

Posted by: Andi Sullivan at April 16, 2010 11:25 PM (Gk/wA)

You don't know the power of the dark side!

226   nah, just my quest for speed, i need to hit 15000 in pcmark

227  my wife says the key to heels is imagine you are walking on a line

and yes, i have worn 3in heeled knee high boots before (don't ask)

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 11:19 PM (4nbyM)

Crystal ball.  You can't see the penumbras of the emanation surrounding the Bill of Rights without one.

So that's what you told them in the ER? Good thinking. But how did that Lego get into that Coke bottle, anyway?

You wouldn't believe the crap they pull out of people's poopshoots in the operating room.  Scrubs did an episode on the "Ass Box"--it was pretty darn spot on.

"Look, IÂ’m flexible, if the guy likes the heels they are there, if he doesnÂ’t they arenÂ’t. Your fantasy is my fantasy as long as my fantasy is sometimes yours too.

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 16, 2010 11:24 PM (RZ8pf)

you are a wonderful wonderful person

Posted by: Nighthawk- engineer with minors in physics and math

Is there a punchline?

If any of you out there are considering teaching, try fifth and sixth grade:  They're still kids but they know enough by then that you can learn from teaching them.  At that age, they're still mostly nice kids, B.H.  ( before hormones ) 

My sister-in-law, a fifth grade teacher, had an eleven year old boy pull a knife on her.  We live in a town of about 40,000 people. 

I'm bookmarking that high heel tutorial. I wear them nearly every day--you think I'd be used to them by now. Nope. Glad it's flip flop season though!  

Hi all!

Going to catch up!

Posted by: Barack Obama at April 16, 2010 11:27 PM (Vo2Ef)

And that you have a lot of gravitons.

navycopjoe........

try clicking the start button.

then all programs.

then accesssories

then system tools

then system restore

then pick a date a couple weeks ago when it was working good.

and go from there.

good luck

Posted by: Nighthawk- engineer with minors in physics and math at April 16, 2010 11:28 PM (wQZEw)

What's cool about being a mathematician is you know everything, you just don't know what other people call it.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 16, 2010 11:27 PM (yfJ6g)

I was continuing the conversation from last night.  I worried about you all day today.  And this is the thanks I get.  You wimmins are coold. 

P.S.  I'm a Moron.  You talk about antidisestablishmentarianism, I read "boobies."  Much less a woord with two Os.

Ever notice that men remember almost fondly getting a disciplinary swat in school.  Rather than a debilitating violent act that left them scarred, it seems to more closely resemble a right of passage. 

I am for discipline in school from early on.  Not crazy whip your ass teachers.  A controlled single but painful swat can remind them they are kids.  That they are out of line and it can happen again.  Their choice.  Kids learned more.  They didn't have to worry about a nutcase coming to school with a gun.  Bullies knew the teacher was the real sherrif in town. 

243  Posted by: Nighthawk- engineer with minors in physics and math at April 16, 2010 11:28 PM (wQZEw)

Pretty funneh!

You wouldn't believe the crap they pull out of people's poopshoots in the operating room.  Scrubs did an episode on the "Ass Box"--it was pretty darn spot on.

My co-worker's ex-husband was caught with four packs of cigarettes up his ass when he had to go to jail on a parole violation.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:24 PM (gofDd)

Maybe what grades you got in high school are not a reflection of what you are ten or more years later.  So keeping your grades private is probably a good thing

You can always choose to make them public--but others can keep them out of public view

Perfect score on the Sarahcuda quiz, although the "Bridge to Nowhere" thing is one of the many unfair distortions of her record.

I've also memorized all of her stats from HS hoops, as well as the minutes from every PTA meeting she attended. I have lots of political advice for her, but due to an unfortunate misunderstanding I'm not allowed to get within 500 feet.

263  halloween, a model, three strippers, dressed me as a stripper, i looked really hot.....the end

266  actually it works fine, i just need trim support for the ssd's in windows7, it will almost double the speed of my hard drives

i am at 14008 in pcmark, i am almost a geek GOD!!!

Posted by: The War Between the Undead States at April 16, 2010 11:28 PM (w8YB6)

Hey, why'd you stop?

Speaking of kids, I think I’ve told you that the 2^nd grade is doing a big social studies project where each class is a community. Well, today they had an “earthquake” and some kids got their houses damaged and had to pay to repair them. This led to the kids being able to buy insurance in case another disaster happened.

The kids also found out that they will be paying taxes next week, some for community things (streets etc.) and some to the hospital for health care—ironic, huh?

It is an awesome project and it really renewed my faith that sometimes good things can happen in public schools. The students are all engaged and learning and there isnÂ’t any political slant to any of it.

270  i disagree, i went to catholic schools and know the horror of pissed of nuns

i am still scared of them to this day

I really think people should be graded on common sense more than intellectualism, considering what "intellectuals" believe these days.

Agreed. Common sense is what pays the bills, intellectualism is what people talk about while they draw checks from the gubmint.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:33 PM (gofDd)

Don't weaken in the face of the feelings-sparers.  Competition makes everything better.  It's a law of nature.  I suck at sports due to inadequate hand-eye coordination - does that mean I should hide my lesser ability by never picking up a ball?  Because failure in athletics is very public.  Yet we expect everyone to play hard and suck it up if they lose, and carry on.  And we expect those who win to be good sports.  The same should apply to mental endeavors. 

Further, there are plenty of kids who ONLY do well when using their brains.  They get no recognition with this secret grade nonsense.  We need to go back to valuing high intelligence a little bit more than being born 8 feet tall and able to handle a basket ball or with a neck thicker than the diameter of your skull that enables you to be a good lineman in football.  Modern society doesn't need much in the way of athleticism.  We need people with brains.  For fuck's sake - the nerdy/brainy kids don't even get laid.  They have nothing other than the hope of one day leveraging their smarts for a higher paying job.  Whoopdee freakin' doo.  What a motivator for a young man.  NOT.

My wife and I both loved Free To Choose.  It was sad the passing of Milton Friedman got so little attention from the press.

Nuns were crazy frustrated biddies when I was a kid.

Wait?  So they were playing a live-action version of SimCity?

Yes, no computers involved. They started out by building their houses, then they filled out resumes and applied for jobs. Next they decided on laws for their communities.  This week they got paid and then had the chance to buy insurance and also buy a driverÂ’s license.  Also the disaster. Which isnÂ’t as bad as one of the other communities, theyÂ’ve already had a fire, and their banker arrested for bank fraud, and in the earthquake everyoneÂ’s barns were destroyed. The urban community lost an apartment building in the earthquake. Next week taxes.

I predict that by the end of this project the kids will know way more about being productive members of a community then if theyÂ’d just read their social studies books and done the worksheets in them.  Nobody gets welfare by the way.

I take it you're a mathematician :-)

Nighthawk- engineer with minors in physics and math at April 16, 2010 11:39 PM (wQZEw)

No, I'm a professional greenskeeper and I thought your joke was shitty.

Boy, that was uncomfortable.

270  i disagree, i went to catholic schools and know the horror of pissed of nuns

i am still scared of them to this day

Posted by: navycopjoe at April 16, 2010 11:38 PM (gg4j2)

Roger that:  My second grade nun would whack you for dropping your pencil--and she kept the pencil.  7 years old, and you fear gravity--but not as much as you fear penguins.

They would swoop into the boys room to make sure you weren't combing your hair with water--apparently nuns believed that putting water in your hair would give a guy pneumonia

Actually Undead, proportionally theyÂ’ve done a good job. The kids make $10 a week if they turn in their homework and there are a few extra jobs here and there that allow them to earn money. But, taxes are $7--$4 for the community and $3 for health care. Pretty big hit when you only have $10.

Editor, hope you guys are having a great time!

Did you get pictures of the Arizona? If so, post them up on yahoo when you get back, pls!

Posted by: Fusilli Jerry at April 16, 2010 11:35 PM (j6Y9Y)

Heh!  When I used to do general surgery, we had a colo-rectal surgeon who had a Porsche with a "DRBUTT" vanity plate.  True to form, he was a total ass.

You people won't recognize our relationships with our imaginary other personalities, you bigots!

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at April 16, 2010 11:46 PM (AH6uQ)

Actually one of the simplest changes we could make to stop generating hordes of lit majors we don't need is allow companies to test general knowledge again. Or make an HS diploma indicate that the person with it has a 12th grade education. But I presume the former will be easier thanks to the public schools.

Our school had an anti-slavery lesson when I was a kid.  Half the kids in my class were randomly selected to be slaves, and the other half were owners.  (We are all white, so there were no major issues)  We had a slave auction, and the slave kids had to do whatever their owners demanded (within reason).  It only half worked, though.  Half the class learned that slavery sucked.  The other half saw that maybe it had some advantages...  Ahhh, that was a fun week. 

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 11:50 PM (4nbyM)

Hey, slavery is terrible!!!

Now serfdom, that's a different matter...

Sorry, I wasn't aware that there were humor standards on this board. Thanks for putting me straight.

There aren't dude, I was just funnin' with you.

Relax, bro.

Never know when decadence shows up.

Dude?  decadence?

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 16, 2010 11:48 PM (yfJ6g)

Well, yes, but again - I'm looking for something that motivates a young person.  Marriage and kids is not high on the list of motivators.  Indeed, for many it is a disincentive.  As well it should be.

305 and the beach house

it is AWESOME

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:53 PM (gofDd)

Yeah, it can really challenge the old noggin to find a trick to make the results disappear.

@315: "Hey, slavery is terrible!!!"

Terrible to the slavor, not to the slavee.

That's the problem with Liberal ideas.  They always have unintended negative consequences as well as the intended ones.

We did a similar experiment, the kids with blue eyes were the slaves, making me a slave. I rebelled and fought the system and ended up punished. But it was worth it. Everybody else was just a damn sheeple (didnÂ’t know that word then though) going along with it, not seeing how if everyone fought against it we could change the system.

It was my first experience with sociology and the study of group dynamics. I went on to minor in sociology in college and IÂ’m still fascinated by how people act.

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at April 16, 2010 11:55 PM (AH6uQ)

It depends on the student and the degree, but indeed most modern American HS graduates know less then their grandparents did about both the high level stuff - history, civics, physics and the low level stuff - grammar, writing structure, top of the head math.

Its really the civics that worries me though. A population that will elect an Obama is a population that can't fix any of its other problems.

Terrible to the slavor, not to the slavee.

Posted by: Pizza the Hutt at April 16, 2010 11:56 PM (8MuSQ)

You'd think that African-Americans would be the vanguard of freedom and would be radical libertarians.  What with being against slavery and all.

Posted by: chemjeff at April 16, 2010 11:54 PM (4qNKZ)

Right?  What right do I have to be able to google you (if I knew your name) and find your home address and heaven knows what else about you that is captured on line somewhere?  What right do I have to find out your criminal record with a background check?  Those seem like more serious issues to me, as far as privacy is concerned. 

I am unconcerned with the petty privacy issues involved with this matter.  I see no great risk to anyone's well being if their grades are exposed to the world's view, especially since many employers require them to be submitted when you apply for a job.  Grades descrimination is already legal.

This approach - using social pressure to motivate students to better performance - has potential benefits that I believe outweigh little Timmy's hurt feelings from people finding out he's the dumbest kid in class.     

@331: "I've got a better idea:
Kill
The
Humanities"

Why stop there? Kill all academia.  Motherfuckers have no reason to exist beyond suckling the public teat.

Actually I donÂ’t think the problem is with a degree like sociology per se (speaking from some experience) but in what has constituted the teaching of it in the last 15 years.

With some knowledge of sociology you can control people—as was evidenced with the Obama campaign in 2008.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 16, 2010 11:58 PM (gofDd)

To borrow an idea from Heinlein, how about an amendment to the GI bill to produce civics/history teachers from combat veterans as they leave the services? 

It seems to me a man that has bled for this country might make a better teacher then one who ended up in his position because law school was too hard...

Well, yes, but again - I'm looking for something that motivates a young person.  Marriage and kids is not high on the list of motivators.  Indeed, for many it is a disincentive.  As well it should be.

That wasn't the point. Many of the intellectuals I've encountered in life are doing quite practical things, like designing weaponry, fighting disease, teaching, clerking in the courts, managing businesses, etc.

As for the comments about marriage, there is a reason so many young girls play house when they are young. Women are not to be confined to being house wives, but being a wife & mother is something wanted by many of them. The way that our society has been removing that desire is by telling little girls that it's wrong to want that, that you can only have a career. Why not both? Learn a skill & trade before you get married, get married & have kids if you so choose, then work more as they grow older. Best of both worlds, & it's something to fall back on if your husband dies or if you get divorced.

I, for one, think another good measure to encourage better performance would be to make it mandatory that all grades be publicly posted by student name.  Rankings should be kept current.

Posted by: Reactionary at April 16, 2010 11:11 PM (4nbyM)

The DQ Blizzard is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and I remember when they were first introduced.

Yep, I was 10 when the corner Dairy Queen started dropping candy in milkshakes.

My fave was the Snickers Blizzard. They could crack molars when frozen solid.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 17, 2010 12:02 AM (gofDd)

Serfdom. The word is serfdom. We hate slavery.

Why stop there? Kill all academia.  Motherfuckers have no reason to exist beyond suckling the public teat.

Well, there's math.  It's really all you need to know.  Everything else follows trivially.

With some knowledge of sociology you can control people—as was evidenced with the Obama campaign in 2008.

All they do is vote D and they get free stuff!

and this is bad why?  oh wait,i didn't get my free shit yet, i'll ask agin later

My fave was the Snickers Blizzard. They could crack molars when frozen solid.

Posted by: ErikW at April 17, 2010 12:03 AM (eNQpA)

Snickers and Heath bar.  What other kind of Blizzard do you need?

You'd think that African-Americans would be the vanguard of freedom and would be radical libertarians.  What with being against slavery and all.

Posted by: AmishDude at April 17, 2010 12:00 AM (Vo2Ef)

Human beings generally don't work like that. In fact, the abolition movement should be considered as a much greater human achievement then it is. Wanting you group to take from other groups is pretty much the norm. If you can get people to think as individuals this is less of a concern, but the left is all about thinking as a group, not as an individual...

Mmmmm, Blizzards!

I've been thinking about the Thin Mint one ever since that night PGiS went for one. When was that?? At least a month ago.

The nearest DQ is 20 mins away. There's usually a cost/benefit analysis that accompanies any thought of a trip to DQ.

But you know what sounds really good? A butterscotch dilly bar!

My dog just farted and ran out of the room.  He scared himself.  Damn that stinks.

Heh. I have a cat who is 15 years old. He's taken to having some really bad dumps the last few years. Sometimes he'll run out of the basement so fast it's like he's young again. It's because he's taken a toxic dump.

Of course, he's the smart one. Running away from something that smells that bad is the intelligent thing to do. I, on the other hand, am the idiot that must walk towards the disaster to clean it up.

Posted by: The War Between the Undead States at April 17, 2010 12:03 AM (w8YB6)

Well, as I've said, the young people today need a good culling.

Anyway, posting grades is not an imposition of humiliation - it's not wearing a dunce cap and sitting in the corner.  I think that some are exaggerating the likely negative effects, while ignoring the obvious incentive that most normal people have to NOT look like a dummy.

@351: "They like the new slavery. All they do is vote D and they get free stuff!"

And all those dumb crackers have to pay for it. 

Wow, I'm glad all the academics experts reside here at AoSHQ.

You know, some of those hated academics who do nothing but suckle at the public teat do some good for this world.  You know, like those evil hated academics that Purple Avenger posted about the other day who had the major breakthrough on stopping the spread of cancer cells.  These are the reviled leftist academics you can't stand and wish would just die.

I like it here most days, but when you all go off in professor-bashing mode, then I just get annoyed.

My money's on Captain Kirk.  Godzilla is smote by the Captain's overemoting and bloviating.  A Phazer couldn't stun Godzilla like Shatner's bad acting.

Posted by: Gasoline Gus at April 17, 2010 12:04 AM (ZnIuc)

When and where are they 'done right'?

Why the need for separate disciplines?  What can't be included in history classes?

But you know what sounds really good? A butterscotch dilly bar!

IÂ’m just going to warn you right now, I am not sure what they did to them but they do not taste like they used to at all.

I like it here most days, but when you all go off in professor-bashing mode, then I just get annoyed.

We should save our best bashing for libtards and venal politicians.  Oh and those tonsil stealing, feet chopping, fee schedule perusing greedy doctors. 

Public humiliation?

How about punishing the whole class when one idiot acts up? You know, like the military does in all the movies. That way all the classmates suffer for one person's stupidity and they take out there frustrations on the one causing the problems.

Would it work? I think it could.

@359: "Well, there's math.  It's really all you need to know.  Everything else follows trivially."

On a survival level, math is of no greater use than skill at tiddlywinks.

Why the need for separate disciplines?  What can't be included in history classes?

Sure, you can make arguments, but the bottom line is killing the humanities is better than what we have now and you can throw the baby out with the bathwater because the baby has already drowned.

I am unconcerned with the petty privacy issues involved with this matter.  I see no great risk to anyone's well being if their grades are exposed to the world's view, especially since many employers require them to be submitted when you apply for a job.  Grades descrimination is already legal.

I was the kind of kid who competed on MY OWN fucking terms and wanted PISS-ALL to do with anyone else. You post my private records without my consent and I jam a fork in your fucking eye.

This approach - using social pressure to motivate students to better performance - has potential benefits that I believe outweigh little Timmy's hurt feelings from people finding out he's the dumbest kid in class.

So you're a proponent of screwing up children for the rest of their lives in the interests of fostering your bullshit theories on "competition". You want to breed chaos, this would be no better way to do it.

You are a serious fucking asshole.

@366: "What other kind of Blizzard do you need?"

The m&ms one was good, too.

379  Heh. No. But it sure feels like that.

I sweart the UDF (United Dairy Farmers--alll over SW Ohio) around here give the Heisman to any other competitive ice cream distributorship.

We should save our best bashing for libtards and venal politicians.  Oh and those tonsil stealing, feet chopping, fee schedule perusing greedy doctors. 

IÂ’ve heard nurses are pretty naughty too!

The nearest DQ is 20 mins away. There's usually a cost/benefit analysis that accompanies any thought of a trip to DQ.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at April 17, 2010 12:08 AM (Ju/Zc)

That's a shame. Reese's Blizzards are the shizzy. Really!

Of course, he's the smart one. Running away from something that smells that bad is the intelligent thing to do. I, on the other hand, am the idiot that must walk towards the disaster to clean it up."

The cat has you.

If it's no big deal, Reactionary, then please list every grade you've ever received, so that we may peruse them for our own interest.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 17, 2010 12:04 AM (yfJ6g)

Alas - I didn't keep the transcripts.  I don't suppose my word will be taken, but the range was about 40% A's, 58% B's, and about 2% C's.  Also, got a D once.  The ratio was fairly constant over the years. 

So, did that advance or detract from my argument in any way?

I like it here most days, but when you all go off in professor-bashing mode, then I just get annoyed.

IÂ’ve heard nurses are pretty naughty too!

Well, we are one of the few professions that eat their young.  I think that has to do with being a female dominated venue. 

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at April 17, 2010 12:13 AM (AH6uQ)

Yeah, that's  what I thought I was doing

Sheesh. Too much testosterone in here this evening

Lighten up, fellas!

BOOBIES.

_{(it had to be said)}

Many things used to teach a child their behavior is out of line has been outlawed or shunned to the point that teachers have little or no power left to control the room.  Teachers keep saying we need smaller classes.  Public schools keep adding more administrative personnel.  My 6th grade class at St. Gabriel had 64 kids in it and we were ahead of the public school kids.  We had one principal in the school and one secretary.  They, however, didn't have to report everytime a kid farted to 15 state and federal agencies. 

Teachers had games that promoted competition, like being the first with your hand up with the capital of a state.  The kids with "A's" were lauded by the teacher. And even though you might be a little jealous of that kid you worked harder so you could get that recognition.  We didn't have 15 names for the particular mental impairment that prevented you from getting good grades.  You were either stupid or smart.  For most of us that was a choice.  We could continue being stupid or we could work harder and be smart. 

Hyperactivity wasn't a problem because rain or shine, cold or hot, dry or snow you went outside for recess.  That is unless you were a dumbass like me and misbehaved.  Then you could spend recess copying pages from the dictionary or writing multiplication tables.  Take as long as you want to do it Mr. Keith but no recess till you are finished to my satisfaction.  Worked for me.  We are creating most of our problems today

You'll have to change his diet a bit to soften the stool, otherwise after the kitteh tries to push out the poop and fails, they get nauseous and barf

KBDABEAR!

That's exactly what he does! He vomits either before or after he takes a dump. Not always, but enough that it's a problem.

Do you have any recommendations for food? I have him on Iams and it's been better than the other two brands I had him on, but he still sometimes vomits after taking a huge dump.

IÂ’ve heard nurses are pretty naughty too!

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 17, 2010 12:15 AM (RZ8pf)

Wow, a quick googling says you are right!

Great, somebody brought out the b-word again.

Breakfast buffet?

Alas - I didn't keep the transcripts.  I don't suppose my word will be taken, but the range was about 40% A's, 58% B's, and about 2% C's.  Also, got a D once.  The ratio was fairly constant over the years. 

Ah, a solid B+ just like me!

I was getting ready to say it if laceyunderalls didnÂ’t. Wow, we get fractious on Friday nights around here.

So you're a proponent of screwing up children for the rest of their lives in the interests of fostering your bullshit theories on "competition". You want to breed chaos, this would be no better way to do it.

You are a serious fucking asshole.

Posted by: The War Between the Undead States at April 17, 2010 12:13 AM (w8YB6)

Wahhhhhh.....   Little Timmy will be MESSED UP FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!   Please.  By this logic we should all endorse "social promotion" and eliminate the special ed classes.  After all, we're horribly messing up all those kids by publicly exposing the fact that they have less mental capacity (or mental discipline) than the normals. 

When I was a lad plenty of us kids compared grades.  None of the dumb kids wound up with any serious signs of damage, other than those that naturally spring from being an idiot - bad life choices.  This pathetic coddling they all get these days is part of what makes them weak and self satisfied.  What generation of man can equal the smug arrogance of those being produced by the education system in these days? 

Posted by: AmishDude at April 17, 2010 12:16 AM (Vo2Ef)

I'm going to have to disagree with that one*. History let's you learn from other people's mistakes. It has a pretty definite use for any level of society - though of course your society's usage is going to depend on how much literacy you can afford. 

*Not a historian/history grad.

@400: "And if you're going to go all loin cloth primitive, history ain't much use either."

History is memory.  Trying doing math without memory of anything that came before.  Each day, you'll have to rediscovery numbers, formulae, etc.  Best of luck. 

That's exactly what he does! He vomits either before or after he takes a dump. Not always, but enough that it's a problem.

Do you have any recommendations for food? I have him on Iams and it's been better than the other two brands I had him on, but he still sometimes vomits after taking a huge dump.

I was getting ready to say it if laceyunderalls didnÂ’t. Wow, we get fractious on Friday nights around here.

Could it be the stress of surviving another week watching Obama dismantle some other facet of the American dream couple with unbridled alcohol consumption?  (Being as people moderate their drinking more on a school night.)

Oops, sorry, sock!

So you are saying the classic boob gambit wonÂ’t work this time, Kratos?

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 17, 2010 12:25 AM (yfJ6g)

Well, there's a definitive lack of shame these days. See all the sexting going on or TMI posts on FB. Or the lack of stigma that being on welfare has, or having children out of wedlock. Like I said, moderation is key here. Decorum should be the balance of it all. Seems we're (society) is severely lacking in decorum these days.

As to stocks and pillories, seems like an apt punishment for petty crime. I'm talking today's rules not previous centuries or societies.

Hey PGiS, how's that "thing" going?

Still devising a plan?

I was thinking about you yesterday. I heard this song when it came up on my iTunes playlist but I'd never admit to being a Fanilow on "the radio". I found it fitting given our conversatino the other night!

History is memory.  Trying doing math without memory of anything that came before.  Each day, you'll have to rediscovery numbers, formulae, etc.  Best of luck. 

Actually, I would prefer it if my students didn't attempt to memorize a bunch of formulas.  Maybe then they'd actually learn some scientific concepts.

Amishdude, you're killing me!  As an Asian who's bad at math and who wanted to be an English or an History major (but my dad said "you have to be able to get a job" so I majored in nursing), you are absolutely harshing my mellow!  Come on, it's Friday night!  Have a beer, relax!

I would say at this point you'll probably have to have a vet prescribe some stool softening medicine for him

Try some milk, that might soften it a bit but I would say he'll probably need the medicine. It's a glucose solution that you give them through a dropper once a day.

Thanks. I'll check into it.

He is an amazing cat. Healthier than hell. I've only taken him to the vet a couple of times and that was for declawing and cutting his nuts off.

So you are saying the classic boob gambit wonÂ’t work this time, Kratos?

@443: "The biggest thing math teaches you is mental discipline: i.e. how to think in a rational, organized, analytical fashion."

So does just about everything else under the sun.  Hell, the proper application of a whip to flesh will teach mental discipline much, much faster.

So you are saying the classic boob gambit won?t work this time, Kratos?

don't ask him, he named his wang after a sword from antiquity

He is an amazing cat. Healthier than hell. I've only taken him to the vet a couple of times and that was for declawing and cutting his nuts off.

@445: "But any idiot can do history."

In counter-example, I offer pretty much every leftist politician, thinker, and activist.  They're idiots, but they don't do history.

It's not known exactly how and when the former First Daughter hurt herself, but New Yorkers first spotted her using crutches on April 3, posting comments about it on Facebook and Twitter.

Hmm, do you think alcohol was involved?  And some of you morons were doubting Bill was her father.  It looks like she's a chip off the old block (remember the "falling down the stairs at Greg Normon's house incident?)  Boy, as she ages, she looks more and more like her mom.

465 Phew!

*wipes brow*

Actually I like him as it reminds me of childhood. My Mom *loved* him but my Dad refused to let her listen to the 8-tracks in his proximity. So when her and I would be alone in the car she'd get her Manilow listening time in with me.

laceyunderalls, I confess I tried and I failed. But it was polite and vaguely like high school all over again.

Could Godzilla defeat Megacolon?

No. If what I'm dealing with is Megacolon, nothing can defeat it. Nothing can survive it.

If you have a nose, you're fucked.

don't ask him, he named his wang after a sword from antiquity

PGIS, I wonder if that's the thing he alluded to earlier in this post.  Something that he's missing that's now in L.A. and that he will soon get back.  Hmm....

Posted by: The War Between the Undead States at April 17, 2010 12:31 AM (w8YB6)

Wow... somebody's getting worked up...    Actually, I only advocate the extermination of one specific population - the group that would happily see you and everyone else not sharing their love of sharia stoned to death or enslaved.  The vermin who would eagerly drag us all back to the 7th Century.  I am by no means ashamed of that view, as it is easily defensible as the only effective long term solution to the threat they pose.  Anything else is really just a form of waiting around for them to figure out how to kill us.

Well, laceyunderalls, I"ve been told that I need to relax and be more spontaneous around women.

So, how about if I drive to your place and relax?

"Snickers and Heath bar.  What other kind of Blizzard do you need?

He is an amazing cat. If you'd had my nuts cut off, I'd make it my mission in life to kill you in your sleep

Lol. He got the slice so long ago he doesn't even miss them.

Couldn't risk the chance of him spraying.

In counter-example, I offer pretty much every leftist politician, thinker, and activist.  They're idiots, but they don't do history.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at April 17, 2010 12:36 AM (8MuSQ)

True.  Usually political "science".

Oh, that reminds me of the academic hierarchy:

-ics

-engineering

-ology

-science

-studies

Exceptions: computer science is an -ics.  economics is a -science.

runningrn, I think he wants his soul back.

Did you see the ONT when mpfs said she was going to look for the Blade of Olympus in a sex shop while sheÂ’s in Vegas??

Posted by: wherestherum at April 17, 2010 12:32 AM (gofDd)

Exactly. Consider, for example, if Liberal Fascism, or even just an honest dry history of the origins of fascism, was a part of the core curriculum of America's schools. Oh, and that the schools actually imparted knowledge efficiently of course. Do you think Obama's national socialist program would get even the 45% level of support it gets now?

What you need is a hot math injection.

I prescribe 10 cc's of concave tensor algebra.  With a 3D integral chaser.

Sorry to bring it up in a public forum. I prob. should have just e-mailed you that question.

You know what though, good on you for making the effort! That took some serious courage.

*virtual POTUS and FLOTUS fistbump pat on the back*

Is it wrong that I find being hosed down with a firehose by a group of Marines slightly erotic?

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 17, 2010 12:28 AM

James T Kirk can gun down a lizardman, call bullshit on god, and maybe even bitchslap Superman

But boobs are his kryptonite.

I guess that reduces him to being just a normal, straight guy.  So if Godzilla got some huge implants, would it be able to take down Kirk? 

Did you see the ONT when mpfs said she was going to look for the Blade of Olympus in a sex shop while sheÂ’s in Vegas??

I'll be getting that soon enough...just a few more days.

She ain't going to find one of those.  Of that I'm certain, .

@460: "As an Asian who's bad at math and who wanted to be an English or an History major"

Fuckin' race-traitor.   (Says the German who's not terribly organized)

Posted by: FORGER - Racist Czar at April 17, 2010 12:39 AM (P/MsD)

You don't really understand the understated quality required for shoving candy into a milkshake.

Reese's is just too complicated.  Chocolate AND peanut butter?  Madness.  Sheer madness.

Is it wrong that I find being hosed down with a firehose by a group of Marines slightly erotic?

I think a firehose would hurt!  Leave some bruises!

Posted by: wherestherum at April 17, 2010 12:36 AM (gofDd)

speak Truth to Power, sistah !! 

In counter-example, I offer pretty much every leftist politician, thinker, and activist.  They're idiots, but they don't do history.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at April 17, 2010 12:36 AM (8MuSQ)

Hey, FDR used to give us all a history lesson every night on TV in the 20s. And that man was a proud liberal.

Chuck Norris nose

No worries laceyunderalls, everyoneÂ’s advice on the ONT was good; I think I just mis-read the signs.

Sometimes, no matter how much you think something would be perfect and awesome, the other person doesnÂ’t.

Is it wrong that I find being hosed down with a firehose by a group of Marines slightly erotic?

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 17, 2010 12:42 AM (RZ8pf)

speaking in code again, are we?   "Fire hose", eh?  Freudian...........

485 Sure! See you in 2 1/2 days give or take a few hours I suppose!

Of course then I'll be back at work. Help yourself to whatever is in the fridge and don't order any pay-per-view pron

Posted by: wherestherum at April 17, 2010 12:44 AM (gofDd)

Yeah, and I cut your taxes.

Oh, it wasnÂ’t this thread where we were talking about that race at Camp Pendleton?

Sorry.

Fuckin' race-traitor.   (Says the German who's not terribly organized)

It really is shameful.  Especially since everyone in my family was so good at math and all had math related majors.  I was the scourge of the family, the black sheep.  It's hard for me to admit this, but I never took calculus (hangs head in shame).  The last math class I took in high school was Algebra 2 and Trig (10th grade), and the only math class I took in college was Prob/Stat (barely got out of there with a C-.  We had to take it so we could write our senior research paper.  I could do math fine in chemistry, and geometry was fine, but not when it was math for math's sake.  (I think I really do have math anxiety!)

Sorry, I confess IÂ’m partial to the Navy men. They can hose me down anytime.

Posted by: AmishDude at April 17, 2010 12:45 AM (Vo2Ef)

Rightly so.

One has to love the irony of Obama being his second coming.

Folks, remember the words of Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us."   I am not a  collectivist but, though most here certainly weren't part of the 52%, we as a nation allowed him to be elected.  We as a nation have allowed our educational system to degrade.  We broke up the nuclear family through divorce and out of wedlock births.  We chase the almighty buck.  We make the choice that it is better for Johnny to wear $100 sneakers and have the latest video games than have a parent home when he comes home from school.  We hire lawyers to sue our neighbors and when we have a dispute. 

We here at Ace and a thousand other places have to stand firm against this lunacy.  That's why I hang out wit yous guys.

@490: "Oh, that reminds me of the academic hierarchy:"

You left out the gods of academia - the administrators.

510  Ugh. That's the worst.

I've been there too many times in life to even count. In those situations I just tell myself that in time they will realize it , regret it , and that by then I would be with someone even more fabulous. Whether that happens, who knows, but it's a good way to get through the day and I'm usually onto the next guy!

Sorry, I confess IÂ’m partial to the Navy men. They can hose me down anytime.

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 17, 2010 12:47 AM (RZ8pf)

You know there is a Seamen joke here somewhere.

WTR, isn't that the same thing for a guy?  Shoot, it's his own fault if he left it laying around and you mistook it for, oh I don't know, some kind of something or another.

I'm a fireman in Burien, WA

Are you serious?

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at April 17, 2010 12:50 AM (Yq+qN)

Thank you so much!  I was wondering how all you savy people were doing that!  I have no computer skilz!  (It was a big day for me when I learned how to tinyurl.)

"Public humiliation?

How about punishing the whole class when one idiot acts up? You know, like the military does in all the movies. That way all the classmates suffer for one person's stupidity and they take out there frustrations on the one causing the problems.

Would it work? I think it could.

So the Marines donÂ’t hose the runners down with a fire hose? Now IÂ’m totally confused about our earlier discussion. And yes, I am well aware that a fire hose shoots out a very high powered stream of water.

I love firefighters too. Judged 2 firefighter calendars actually. Mmmmm, mmmmm good.

Fuckin' race-traitor.   (Says the German who's not terribly organized)

I won't say "fuck math".

But I will say 90% of the math I learned past eight grade was utterly useless and no longer in my brain.  

Being in the legal field (God luv ya AmishDude, don't start ), why the eff do I need to know how to graph a parabola (sp)?

Teach kids how to balance a checkbook. That would be a godo start, no?

laceyunderalls, the hardest part is resisting the urge to ask, “why not me?” you know what I mean? I don’t think I’d really like hearing the enumeration of the reasons why, but on the other hand doesn’t sometimes make you wonder what it is that you are lacking.

Even if I just left it laying around, she's about 3000 miles from me, how in the hell did she get it!

Don't you have them fancy 7 league stompy boots?  I swear I saw you wearing them when you were scaling Mt. Olympus.  And you know how forgetful you are.  You're always leaving stuff every where!

When and where are they 'done right'?

Nothing in the question specifically  re. teaching, so I didn't dodge it by discussing research.  As far as teaching it goes, I haven't been in classes in these subjects since undergrad days thirty years ago, when there weren't so many people chasing so few jobs, hence less need for the candidates to distinguish themselves, usually by producing some sort of spectacular crackpot "research".  I do run into literary types at conferences, doing Chaucer or some such, some of whom are actually good at their jobs, as anyone can tell by listening to their presentations.

Well then SantaRosaStan, what are you offering to spray me with???

@528: "Don't think that is practical in today's classrooms though..."

Maybe not in the decadent West....  Given our youth's math scores, teaching math isn't really practical, either.

Burien is one of those towns that confuses me. I can never remember if it is north or south. ItÂ’s south of Seattle, right?

563  Bingo.

not a sailor--are they the ones with the boats?  Why paint them all gray?

Heh!   That reminds me of an extra credit problem my physics teacher gave us in high school.  He put a piece of steel in an aquarium and it sank.  He put a piece of wood in, and it floated.  He posited that all boats were wooden boats painted to look like steel since boats float.  We had to prove why this was not a correct hypothesis.

yeah, but most history classes are not intro or survey.  And I should add 'philosophy' to history, because all these other disciplines grew out of those two. History used to be broad enough to encompass all of these 20th Century inventions like socio, etc

Whatever methods you use in those splinter disciplines, you can use in history--or I can.  My point was that a lot of what is featured in those classes is idiosyncratic and not well-suited to academic study

Posted by: kbdabear at April 17, 2010 12:57 AM (sYxEE)

I'd take a used Citroen with slight fire damage.

Heh!  We have parallel universes!

For me math and algebra was almost a license to cheat.  Just keep your work neat, as well as your thinking, learn and apply the rules.  As a former Marine going to UC on the GI bill I was shuttled to business school only to find out after I graduated I had more aptitude for engineering.

I did stink up the place when it came to calculus.  My initial prof was a lousy teacher who absoulutely could not stay on one concept long enough to teach it. Silly me, I thought that was his freakin job.  He was a brilliant man just goofier than batshit.  I changed classes but it was too late. I never got it.  That was the only "D" I got in college.

Well then SantaRosaStan, what are you offering to spray me with???

Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at April 17, 2010 12:57 AM (RZ8pf)

Hmmm.    It that a trick question?

I aced every science class I took. It was math that killed me. It was almost a night and day difference. Weird, huh? Both left brain features. Perhaps Barbie just got to me at an early age: math is hard!

Posted by: Kratos (missing from the side of Mt Olympus) at April 17, 2010 01:00 AM (c0A3e)

I know how that is baby.

Posted by: Bomber at April 17, 2010 01:04 AM (d88g9)

She did say "some" not all.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 17, 2010 12:54 AM (gofDd)

Bwhahaha!  "Or I could rinse it out when I don't need it"--when does that ever happen?

@537: "You know there is a Seamen joke here somewhere."

Hi, I'm PGiS boyfriend!

Posted by: Gasoline Gus at April 17, 2010 12:56 AM (ZnIuc)

Two words:  'Independent study'.

I monitored a lot of those back in the Day.  Let individuals study specialized areas; don't try to sit dozens of people down to listen to a self-indulgent prof ramble on and on about his pet projects

I aced every science class I took. It was math that killed me. It was almost a night and day difference. Weird, huh? Both left brain features. Perhaps Barbie just got to me at an early age: math is hard!

Ha!  That's just like me (only I wouldn't say "aced" but I did just fine in sciences--good thing cause we had to take a bunch for nursing), but the math, oh the math...

It just wasn't strange enough for me so I moved south and found a job

And Burien is stranger then Capitol Hill?

Totally cool that you are a firefighter though. IÂ’ve always had a soft spot for firefighters ever since I was 3 and fell off the back of a fire truck at the fire station by our house while my teenage sisters were busy flirting with the firefighters.

Being in the legal field (God luv ya AmishDude, don't start ), why the eff do I need to know how to graph a parabola (sp)?

Here is why.

Think of a pendulum, swaying back and forth.  Think of the foce acting on the pendulum.  The force as a function of distance is a parabola.

Think of a spring, vibrating back and forth.  The force between the two ends of a spring is parabolic.

Think of a lens, focusing rays of light onto a point.  This lens is parabolic.

Think of a molecule, with atoms vibrating back and forth.  The vibration is parabolic.

Parabolas are everywhere, if you look close enough.

Posted by: wherestherum at April 17, 2010 01:07 AM (gofDd)

Look, do I have to say it?

Posted by: AmishDude at April 17, 2010 01:04 AM (Vo2Ef)

Probably because you didn't learn much or well stuck in a room with 20-30 people in courses focused on dates, battles, leaders / generals, etc

As I get older I become more aware and fascinated by history.  Man's history seems so much shorter.  When you are a kid the revolutionary war was forever ago.  Now, it was just a little more than three of my lifetimes ago.  Ten of my lifetimes ago we were in the middle ages.  Thirty Rome still ruled the world.

Without history being taught we seem so isolated.  Unfortunately, the teaching of history is subject to the vagaries of the time and place in which it is being taught.

Story of my life! *high five* My dad is an MIT math major to boot!

I did get an A in Stats, though I'm not sure how as it took me the entire 6 week summer class to realize that the answers for the tests were in front of my face and I didn't need to solve anything.

WTR, that's soo funny.  My dad got accepted to MIT, but he couldn't afford it (he put himself through school).  He ended up staying in Seattle and going to UW undergrad and grad school.  He joined ROTC to pay for school.  He was an engineer.  I bow down to you, I barely got out of stats with a passing grade.

Matt Helm is on.  The Silencers.  On TCM.

Parabolas are everywhere, if you look close enough.

  Posted by: chemjeff at April 17, 2010 01:09 AM (tJ4Ym)

Oh yeah, I know all about parabolas.

Like if you go back in time and kill your own grandson.

Thankfully, I received a top notch public school education. Good bless you unionized teachers.

@581: "So because we've failed at something before we're justified in abandoning any effort at accomplishing it?"

It's the American way with many, many things.

Think of a pendulum, swaying back and forth.  Think of the foce acting on the pendulum.  The force as a function of distance is a parabola...

Chemjeff, you're making me very, very sleepy...

@607: "You make her sleep in the wet spot dont you?"

He doesn't, but I do.

You know there is a Seamen joke here somewhere."

There is a Seaman, Ohio.  My friend's son lived there a time.  I always said things like, "You can take the boy out of seaman but you can never take the seaman out of the boy."

You probably passed chem! I barely got out with a C and I think it was a gentleman's C. I was soooooo lost.

I did pass chem.  I much preferred organic to inorganic, but biochem was hard!

@611: "Parabolas are everywhere, if you look close enough."

Yeah - our "economic recovery" is gonna look like one.....

Parabolas are everywhere, if you look close enough.

With all due respect, seriously, who cares?!

Look I like to be as well-rounded as the next person but I draw the line  at math I can't do in my head.

 So we've got the Enumclaw to the South and the Bellingham to the North.  It all makes me so proud to be a Washingtonian. 

I've got a close friend that lives in Enumclaw. I posted on my FB page that I got a job starting Monday and he posted congrats and Tea Party forever. I asked him if there were any Tea Partiers there in such a deep blue state. Then he told me he had my favorite rum.I asked him if he knew about the town's reputation awhile back. He reluctantly told me he did. Oh, and the Red Wings ROCK!

I aced every science class I took. It was math that killed me. It was almost a night and day difference. Weird, huh? Both left brain features. Perhaps Barbie just got to me at an early age: math is hard!

Posted by: laceyunderalls at April 17, 2010 01:03 AM (Ju/Zc)

Look I like to be as well-rounded as the next person but I draw the line  at math I can't do in my head.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at April 17, 2010 01:21 AM (Ju/Zc)

Repeat after me: "Math?  Why that's so interesting.  And manly.  Explain more."

Posted by: Bill R. at April 17, 2010 01:21 AM (EhlQq)

I live in Kirkland, WA, across the lake from Seattle.  We had a Tea Party yesterday in Bellevue.  It was pretty well attended (during lunch time so a lot of people coming and going because a lot of people came from work on their lunch break).  I think there was maybe 4-500 people there, hard to tell with people filtering in and out.  They had about 3000 people show up at the state capitol in Olympia, and there was another fairly large one (I think I read 1000 people) in Seattle.  There were also some other ones in Renton and Kent, I think.  This is a pretty darn blue state.  If it wasn't for Eastern WA, we'd be deep, dark indigo.

655 Well...I think it depended on the course.

Chemistry was memorization. And it was interesting so I liked it.

Physics also intrigued me and while it involved math I found it practical so maybe I tried harder.

Biology, genetics-- more of the same. It piqued my interest. Maybe that's the common demoninator.

Posted by: SantaRosaStan at April 17, 2010 01:20 AM (JrRME)

(lousy italics bug ...)

The obvious question: what original research - not student papers - have you done in any of these fields?  Not trying to be rude or impertinent; but as I have some experience in some of these I'm trying to see where you are coming from.

Good Night Amish!  (And for the record, I've never acted cool my entire life.  I'm a total goober.)

"We really need to get with the LA meetups. There is an LA moron group at Google if anyone's interested. I gotta figure out how to make it accessible."

Hey, I'll meet up with you anytime you want.

I wasnÂ’t the organizer runningrn, that was Editor and GiS. I just organized you along!

Anyway, I believe GiS wants to have another everybody meet-up soon.

Posted by: Z Ryan at April 17, 2010 01:33 AM (cMo6P)

Night Z!

Posted by: runningrn at April 17, 2010 01:25 AM (CfmlF)

I flew out to my friend's wedding a few years ago in Enumclaw. I only learned about the town's reputation later here on AOS. I wish I had known then. He and I met while we were both stationed in Korea. He's very conservative politically  and at his wedding, most of his friends there were libs. I got to make fun of them all night. Then I flew back to Detroit and he dealt with the fallout. He would have done the same for me!!  

I wasnÂ’t the organizer runningrn, that was Editor and GiS. I just organized you along!

Ha!  I just assumed it was you!  (I know I wouldn't have  been there without you!)

@698: "/white smoke"

We getting a new pope?

707 You're in my  head! I was just thinking about him.

Hopefully he's getting a little some'in-some'in!!

Posted by: Bill R. at April 17, 2010 01:35 AM (EhlQq)

I believe the dude in Enumclaw moved to either TN or KY, and was recently arrested for another similar incident.  I can already see the telemovie, "Equine Encounters of The Third Kind" or something like that!

Rum: "Kinda last minute, but would you be able to play hooky next Friday? (the 23rd)"

I might be able to.  I don't think next week is too busy.

Chemjeff, 

Earlier, I started to write a comment on your being upset with the wide brush that was painting academia this evening but I hadn't coalesced to what was bothering me.

The frustration that was shown obviously was not with you but any teacher who brings his politics to the classroom. When one is being paid to teach a subject then teach the subject. Whether  I like your politics or not I don't want you to pass them on to the students in any other way than by the example of your hard work and your expectation of the same from your students.  It is the same as an audience shouting to Linda Ronstadt, "Shut up and sing." 

I would think you are more aware than most that our universities have become bastians of the worst of liberal thought and policy.  I would never want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  Some research is good and some worthless.  Some teachers are good and some not.  Let's keep the babies and  occasionally  change the bathwater.

Posted by: runningrn at April 17, 2010 01:37 AM (CfmlF)

With so many beautiful women in the world that even an ugly guy like me can find more than his share, I wonder what on earth would possess someone to have that kind of an urge, and then act on it?

Or was there another one?

Yes, the um, eqine pimp/videographer.

With so many beautiful women in the world that even an ugly guy like me can find more than his share, I wonder what on earth would possess someone to have that kind of an urge, and then act on it?

It's a good thing you can't fathom such a thing!

With so many beautiful women in the world that even an ugly guy like me can find more than his share, I wonder what on earth would possess someone to have that kind of an urge, and then act on it?

Posted by: Bill R. at April 17, 2010 01:42 AM (EhlQq)

Really?  For one thing, you don't have to have a conversation about their feelings and emotions afterward.  And they don't have good memories, so they aren't all bitter and suspicious because of all their asshole past boyfriends.

I guess.

I loved Organic too!  Nothing more gratifying than being able to look at the side of a box of cereal or cleanser and being able to draw the molecules.  My all time fav, the benzene ring!

The guy had a farm and he entertained groups of men there. They made a movie about it. Anyway, there were lots of guys on the farm, not just the camera guy and the dead guy.

And I hate that I even know one thing about this, but I knew someone who worked on the movie so I watched it when it came on cable. It was actually kind of boring and stupid.

I loved Organic too!  Nothing more gratifying than being able to look at the side of a box of cereal or cleanser and being able to draw the molecules.  My all time fav, the benzene ring!

I don't want to eat your cereal.

You're in my  head! I was just thinking about him.

Ha! Ha!  We do that from time to time, you and me.  Yeah, I hope he's out there in TX with a big old smile on his face!

OK, this is going to be a seriously dumb question, but can guys catch diseases or transfer diseases through goat sex? Why is it important for them to wear a condom in that case?

And I hate that I even know one thing about this, but I knew someone who worked on the movie so I watched it when it came on cable. It was actually kind of boring and stupid.

PGIS, you know everybody!  Seriously!  I remember when that movie came out.  (shudder!)

Posted by: runningrn at April 17, 2010 01:43 AM (CfmlF)

LOL, not in this lifetime!!

Posted by: Bomber at April 17, 2010 01:43 AM (d88g9)

I wonder, which sura covers that?

OK, this is going to be a seriously dumb question, but can guys catch diseases or transfer diseases through goat sex? Why is it important for them to wear a condom in that case?

I would say definitely yes.  HIV started with the African Green Monkey.

I don't want to eat your cereal.

Believe it or not, it was in Cheerios.

OK, this is going to be a seriously dumb question, but can guys catch diseases or transfer diseases through goat sex? Why is it important for them to wear a condom in that case?

I think an emam wrote something about that being the proper way to do it.  Also didn't we first get syphillis from sheep.  Who knows what you could get from a goat,  especially if its a popular good looking goat.

I go to brush my teeth, come back and we're takling bestiality?

Wait, wut??

Really?  For one thing, you don't have to have a conversation about their feelings and emotions afterward.  And they don't have good memories, so they aren't all bitter and suspicious because of all their asshole past boyfriends.

I guess.

Posted by: FUBAR at April 17, 2010 01:45 AM (1fanL)

Good pointer but I think I'll stay with what I know, that is if I ever get back into that game.

I would say definitely yes.  HIV started with the African Green Monkey.

Posted by: runningrn at April 17, 2010 01:48 AM (CfmlF)

Huh.  And here I thought that was a filthy, ignorant anti-gay slur.

Know what I like?  I like when the web page is waiting on the fucking adserver to load the fucking ad, and in the meantime it won't let you post your brilliant and witty comment.

OK, I guess that makes sense.

Bomber, I think there are explicit prohibitions in the Koran about eating the animals that youÂ’ve been intimate with. Was that from a post here?