February 19, 2013
— Ace I say bizarre but not "wrong" -- Obama did, after all, win reelection, in about the same range the economocentric models predicted.
The idea is that people don't vote on absolute numbers (8% unemployment) but rather on change/directionality of numbers (10% to 8%).
Apparently they are not sophisticated enough to take that to the next level -- figuring out the average (natural) rate of growth and judging a president harshly if his figures nominally change in the right direction but to a lesser extent than they would have under virtually any other hypothetical president.
But then, people are dumb and getting dumber. It's Science (TM).
Ever canÂ’t help but think youÂ’re surrounded by idiots? A leading scientist at Stanford University thinks he has the answer, and the bad news is things arenÂ’t likely to get any better.Dr. Gerald Crabtree, a geneticist at Stanford, has published a study that he conducted to try and identify the progression of modern manÂ’s intelligence. As it turns out, however, Dr. CrabtreeÂ’s research led him to believe that the collective mind of mankind has been on more or a less a downhill trajectory for quite some time.
...
“I would wager that if an average citizen from Athens of 1000 BC were to appear suddenly among us, he or she would be among the brightest and most intellectually alive of our colleagues and companions, with a good memory, a broad range of ideas, and a clear-sighted view of important issues. Furthermore, I would guess that he or she would be among the most emotionally stable of our friends and colleagues. I would also make this wager for the ancient inhabitants of Africa, Asia, India or the Americas, of perhaps 2000–6000 years ago. The basis for my wager comes from new developments in genetics, anthropology, and neurobiology that make a clear prediction that our intellectual and emotional abilities are genetically surprisingly fragile, and that a situation in which intelligence is not constantly being favored over stupidity results, within a span of a century, in David Frum.”
I added that last part, after "fragile."
His basic idea -- if I understand it right -- is that man formerly faced life-or-death situations an awful lot, and intelligence played a role in whether he survived. Thus, intelligence tended to become more prevalent in a population, and stupidity less prevalent.
And now that our world is idiot proof (well, nothing's idiot proof, but more idiot proof at least) populations' collective average IQ is on the fall.
Thanks for the Stupid Link to @tkarpis
Posted by: Ace at
08:04 AM
| Comments (318)
Post contains 436 words, total size 3 kb.
Posted by: graywolf at February 19, 2013 08:06 AM (PjoeY)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 19, 2013 08:07 AM (9Bj8R)
Apparently they are not sophisticated enough to take that to the next level -- figuring out the average (natural) rate of growth and judging a president harshly if his figures nominally change in the right direction but to a lesser extent than they would have under virtually any other hypothetical president.
"Durrrr, you use big words and long sentences. Un-follow!"
-Idiot with the right to vote
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:08 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: soothsayer at February 19, 2013 08:08 AM (NLH1M)
Posted by: Matt at February 19, 2013 08:08 AM (90w0O)
Posted by: fluffy at February 19, 2013 08:08 AM (z9HTb)
Posted by: Blacksheep at February 19, 2013 08:09 AM (8/DeP)
Posted by: David Furm at February 19, 2013 08:09 AM (nTgAI)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:10 AM (4df7R)
Supposedly "primitive" artifacts tend to show a high degree of sophistication when studied in depth, for sure. I am not sure that I buy the idea that people were more intelligent in earlier centuries, though - I imagine that they were about the same - but I could buy the idea that having to put more thought and effort into doing everyday tasks encourages people to hone pre-existing problem-solving skills more than we do today. A lot of premodern labor was simple drudgery, however.
Posted by: Grey Fox at February 19, 2013 08:10 AM (BMldJ)
Posted by: mallfly at February 19, 2013 08:11 AM (bJm7W)
Posted by: The Jackhole at February 19, 2013 12:11 PM (nTgAI)
Heh. I was going to say, "Pot, meet kettle." Hee!
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:11 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Jeff B. at February 19, 2013 08:12 AM (IykOf)
Posted by: soothsayer at February 19, 2013 08:12 AM (uaJ2E)
Ace - not only are people dumb, but they are sand-thumpingly, mind-bogglingly, brain-bendingly, will-drink-out-of-the-toilet-if-you-left-the-lid-up stupid.
Face it, 515 of this country has one too many chromosomes.
Posted by: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus at February 19, 2013 08:13 AM (YYJjz)
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 08:13 AM (evdj2)
Posted by: mallfly at February 19, 2013 12:11 PM (bJm7W)
*seething*
Don't get me started on the way the left has fucked up our language. Seriously, that rant is a long, vicious one that would probably get me arrested in certain mid-East countries, and certainly banned from some of the more genteel conservative blogs.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:13 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Timin203 at February 19, 2013 08:14 AM (azmhu)
Posted by: soothsayer at February 19, 2013 08:14 AM (vyPsz)
That's not to say large populations of humans aren't embracing Idiocracy, but I don't believe it's due to any genetic drift. Environment can impact human behavior without it necessarily contaminated the genome.
Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 19, 2013 08:14 AM (eHIJJ)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at February 19, 2013 08:14 AM (e0xKF)
Posted by: Jerry at February 19, 2013 08:15 AM (yPcNj)
The idea is that people don't vote on absolute numbers (8% unemployment) but rather on change/directionality of numbers (10% to 8%).
Cough-FDR-cough
Posted by: Obamao at February 19, 2013 08:16 AM (JtyGg)
Posted by: DC in Towson, assault human at February 19, 2013 08:16 AM (iRTO8)
Don't get me started on the way the left has fucked up our language.
Postmodernism theory at work: Perception is reality, and language controls perception. Reality can therefore be manipulated by manipulating language.
Posted by: Grey Fox at February 19, 2013 08:16 AM (BMldJ)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at February 19, 2013 08:17 AM (e0xKF)
Posted by: Jerry at February 19, 2013 08:17 AM (yPcNj)
Agreed. I'm fully convinced our 2024 nominee will be decided by their performance on a special episode of The Apprentice.
Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 19, 2013 08:17 AM (SY2Kh)
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:17 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: RayJ at February 19, 2013 08:17 AM (pI/IV)
And Stupid People elect and then re-elect a POS like Obama. Because they just don't have the brain power to Think Things Through.
Posted by: Jones in CO at February 19, 2013 08:18 AM (8sCoq)
Posted by: backhoe at February 19, 2013 08:18 AM (ULH4o)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:18 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 08:18 AM (evdj2)
In primitive times the highest genetic trait would be the best immune system. After that strength and speed could easily come before intelligence in hierarchy.
Posted by: typo dynamofo at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (WVMUQ)
Posted by: Joe Blow at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (q006X)
Wait, wait, I just read about this in Moonwalking with Einstein. Back in the time of the Greeks people had to memorize a lot more in order to pass information on, they developed ways of memorizing information, "memory palaces" So, yes someone from Athens of that time period would probably best a lot of people of this time period in terms of recalling facts because they had developed the skills to do it.
On the other hand, we have the Internet now which is causing people to not remember things because they can just look it up. This may be changing the way our brains process other information, and not for the better.
Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (RZ8pf)
DO NOT COPY FROM MSWORD
Posted by: Obamao at February 19, 2013 12:18 PM (JtyGg)
Dumbass!
Oh yeah....
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (e8kgV)
That's it. "Cool" guy vs. stuffy guy + insanely favorable media coverage. Everything else is just window dressing.
Posted by: Jerry at February 19, 2013 12:15 PM (yPcNj)
And Romney kept calling him a nice guy, so why not give him a second chance to clean up after evil bush.
Posted by: Temper Tantrum at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (AWmfW)
And that's a stupid way to choose a President. QED
Posted by: Jones in CO at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (8sCoq)
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (evdj2)
Posted by: Grey Fox at February 19, 2013 12:10 PM (BMldJ)
I wouldn't say that earlier people were more intelligent than modern man, but if you look at primitive man versus modern man and compare their relative intelligence, then that's where the argument comes into play. Primitive man HAD to be able to create tools, hunt game, build shelter, gather and eventually farm grain and other basic food stuffs. It was a matter of pure survival, and it sharpened their brains. If you couldn't learn how to cure the deer hide to make clothes for the winter you'd freeze to death. It was really that basic.
Today isn't like that, at least not in America. I'm pretty sure that if you dropped an African Bushman into the middle of New York City he wouldn't do much good in terms of aligning to the norms of modern society, but I bet he'd be able to get food (pigeons and rats aren't very tasty or healthy, but there's plenty of them), find shelter and keep himself alive far better than a New Yorker dropped in the Kalahari and left to his own devices.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: DC in Towson, assault human at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (iRTO8)
Posted by: Jypsea Rose is @AmericanGypsea at February 19, 2013 08:19 AM (dDQqO)
Posted by: JoeScarborough at February 19, 2013 08:20 AM (7ObY1)
Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 19, 2013 08:20 AM (eHIJJ)
"You know what you must do.
"In response to your comment about getting her in the tiny shorts.
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:20 AM (GQ8sn)
Well, the decrease in intelligence explains why I get the impression most people are fucking stupid. Now we have proof that they actually ARE getting more fucking stupid. Stupid motherfuckers are producing stupid kids, and stupid is self sustaining. Like a cascade of stupid. We are ass deep in stupid. Drowning in stupid. Swimming in stupid. Somebody could write one hell of a sarcastic novel on the ascendency of stupid. The Empire of Fucking Stupid. Monty Python! Job opportunity! Mebbe not, the English seem even farther down the stupid tube than we are. Perhaps we can clone up a Neanderthal to lead us.
Posted by: maddogg at February 19, 2013 08:20 AM (OlN4e)
DO NOT COPY FROM MSWORD
The barrels over there. Here's some lip balm.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 08:21 AM (0q2P7)
Speaking of economic relativity, does anyone else find it curious that none of TFG's economic "achievements" have been compared to his predecessor? Take UE for example: W's numbers were around 5-6%, TFG's have been consistently around 8%, the real numbers are much higher.
And GDP growth? Again, W's around 3%, TFG's scraping bottom at around <2%. Yet, the typical LIV/Idocracy Citizen never relates to them?
WTF?
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at February 19, 2013 08:21 AM (+z4pE)
Posted by: Jean at February 19, 2013 08:21 AM (VHfsw)
Posted by: RayJ at February 19, 2013 12:17 PM (pI/IV)
Yeah me too actually.
I've wondered that if in times of incredible instability and uncertainty if the man promising to make the safety net even more comfortable wins votes.
Especially if the numbers are at least trending (mildly) downward. People think "well eventually we'll get back to normal and as long as we have 999 weeks of unemployment I'll be OK."
My wife is finally starting to see the corruptive influence of unemployment. She had the idea that it should be decreased the longer you go without a job to ratchet up the urgency of getting off it. (Keeping in mind that I think we're stuck with it as a whole, we might as well find a way to make it less like extended vacation.)
Posted by: tsrblke (work) at February 19, 2013 08:21 AM (kLNMp)
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:21 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: MSDNCBSABCNN at February 19, 2013 08:21 AM (cGlgB)
Sturgeon's Law
90% of everything is crap.
Posted by: Obamao at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (JtyGg)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: DC in Towson, assault human at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (iRTO8)
Integrals are racist.
Posted by: wooga, calculus humongous at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (7SwK/)
Posted by: Eaton Cox at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (+wxCD)
Posted by: Hedley Lamarr at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (emy3J)
We'll take a pic of the shorts!
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: Vic at February 19, 2013 08:22 AM (53z96)
Posted by: The University of Phoenix at February 19, 2013 08:23 AM (8/DeP)
Posted by: Grey Fox at February 19, 2013 12:16 PM (BMldJ)
Which is why I hate postmodernists with the hate of a thousand suns.
I've told the story before about my college professor who gave a lecture about postmodernism. "If we knock down a wall, is it still a wall? If we sit on a piece of the wall, couldn't we call it a chair? Is a wall still a wall when it's not fulfilling its function as a wall?"
My response was. "A wall that's knocked down is still a wall. It's just a knocked down wall. And its pieces aren't chairs. They're bits of rubble. These words already exist. Now fuck off."
I left that last bit off, but it was implied.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:23 AM (4df7R)
The scary thing is where that average is, then coupled with the idea that half the folks can even get over that bar. It makes someone very pessimistic about the prospect of avoiding collapse.
>>>Well yeah. Watch Idiocracy.
Once just a clever little parody, now a harbinger of things to come.
I think average intelligence will rise sharply when the collapse hits.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 08:23 AM (0q2P7)
My wfe's graduate and postdoctoral advisors both had collaborations with Crabtree in the 80's and 90's. He's a smart guy who knows his stuff.
Posted by: Pervy Grin at February 19, 2013 08:24 AM (OxKj2)
Posted by: Jean at February 19, 2013 08:24 AM (VHfsw)
Posted by: Jones in CO at February 19, 2013 08:24 AM (8sCoq)
In the past, those who were too stupid, too slow or too unaware were weeded out by environmental factors and hostile action.
Now we take pride in the saving of vast numbers of the willfully ignorant, the congenital stupid and the monumental clueless.
It is interesting that the group who most embraces the Theory of Evolution does it's most to prevent the basis of evolution from having any affect. Even to actually assisting in the perpetuation of those who in previous centuries would've been deemed by nature to be unfit to reproduce.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:24 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: BumperStickerist at February 19, 2013 08:24 AM (J8DGo)
Posted by: MSDNCBSABCNN at February 19, 2013 12:21 PM (cGlgB)
I hear his drinking problems getting worse.
Posted by: Temper Tantrum at February 19, 2013 08:25 AM (AWmfW)
Posted by: jd at February 19, 2013 08:25 AM (ROXo4)
========
That, and free cell phones...
Posted by: Nighthawk at February 19, 2013 08:25 AM (RSqz2)
Posted by: BumperStickerist at February 19, 2013 08:25 AM (J8DGo)
Posted by: Temper Tantrum at February 19, 2013 12:25 PM (AWmfW)
He drinks every day, starting right in the early morning. He practically bathes in it!
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:26 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: Blacksheep at February 19, 2013 08:26 AM (8/DeP)
“I would wager that if an average citizen from Athens of 1000 BC were to appear suddenly among us, he or she would be among the brightest and most intellectually alive of our colleagues and companions, with a good memory, a broad range of ideas, and a clear-sighted view of important issues.
They'd take a look at Athens today and their heads would explode.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2013 08:26 AM (UOM48)
My term for it was "The Easy Bake Oven" recession.
It hasn't exactly caught on. Same basic premise though. People aren't suffering. Not REAL suffering. So they pretend.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 19, 2013 08:26 AM (TOk1P)
1. The FSA doesn't give a shit about anything but free shit. They don't pay taxes and they do not want a job.
2. The Republicans keep pushing lackluster moderates out there. The only time one of them wins is when the Dems run somebody even more lackluster and stupid.
Posted by: Vic at February 19, 2013 08:27 AM (53z96)
Posted by: Bosk at February 19, 2013 08:27 AM (n2K+4)
Let's be honest here...
...I blame internet pr0n.
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:27 AM (GQ8sn)
Back in the day, plump was the sign of hawt. Now look. Hawt, skinny chicks overflowing... Oh, wait.
Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 19, 2013 08:27 AM (eHIJJ)
I mean, the mentally and physically disabled weren't exactly a priority when you have to chase bears out of your new home.
And think of all the illnesses that used to thin the herd of the weaker immune systems.
But, it all goes to the question: Are humans still evolving or not? Have we become the mammal version of sharks? Just too damned awesome for further refinement?
Posted by: RoyalOil at February 19, 2013 08:28 AM (VjL9S)
Posted by: BumperStickerist at February 19, 2013 08:28 AM (J8DGo)
On the other hand, we have the Internet now which is causing people to not remember things because they can just look it up. This may be changing the way our brains process other information, and not for the better.
Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at February 19, 2013 12:19 PM
There's a lot to that theory. When I was in school I learned things. My kid today, on the other hand, is learning how to *look things up.*
Posted by: @JohnTant at February 19, 2013 08:28 AM (PFy0L)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 19, 2013 08:28 AM (9Bj8R)
Same idea.
Posted by: WalrusRex at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (Hx5uv)
"To be specific, CBO expects the deficit to shrink from 8.7% of GDP in fiscal 2011 to 5.3% in fiscal 2013 if the sequester takes effect and to 5.5% if it doesn't. Either way, the two-year deficit reduction — equal to 3.4% of the economy if automatic budget cuts are triggered and 3.2% if not — would stand far above any other fiscal tightening since World War II."
Posted by: Herbert Hymenhopper at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (rhu8R)
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (evdj2)
stupid is pretending trillions of dollars in public debt is really a sign of economic recovery
stupid is wondering why the gun doesn't tell you how many 'bullets' are in it
Posted by: Jones in CO at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (8sCoq)
***
"Undocumented citizens?"
Posted by: WalrusRex at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (Hx5uv)
Posted by: No Feet Johnson at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (KHo8t)
It's cultural.
In regions where food is scarce, fat is considered hawt because it's apparent they are getting enough food and nutrition. In areas where food is plentiful, skinny is hawt because it shows restraint against over-eating.
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: beach at February 19, 2013 08:29 AM (LpQbZ)
Posted by: nerdygirl at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (tAOpG)
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (evdj2)
That show "Are You Smarter than a 5th grader" was interesting in its own way, and led to some blogs digging up old (oh like early part of the 20th century, and mid to end of the 19th century) examinations taken by 8th grade students in order to graduate.
8th grade at one time was a common place to end your formal education. The exams taken by those students were incomprehensible to college grads of today.
I'll see if I can find those links, it was a couple years ago.
Posted by: Boots at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (oG66P)
Posted by: BumperStickerist at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (J8DGo)
Posted by: jd at February 19, 2013 12:25 PM (ROXo4)
I've mentioned before, when you have to warn people about the presence of wheat in a box of Wheat Thins you've reached terminal stupidity. It's like warning me that there're peanuts in a jar of peanut butter. Warn me about them in pretzels, fruit snacks, ANYTHING that doesn't actually have the allergen in the damn name. If I can't figure out not to eat that thing just by reading the name then maybe I'm too stupid to live.
*headdesk*
It all began when we started warning people not to use their hair dryers in the shower. This is the natural conclusion.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (FPM1s)
Posted by: Hello, it's me Donna let it burn really.really bummed at February 19, 2013 08:30 AM (9+ccr)
I mean, my last names is Jones. I have been asked to spell it more than once.
Posted by: Jones in CO at February 19, 2013 08:32 AM (8sCoq)
We're even letting them change the English Language. No more illegal aliens, but "future majority"?
The meaning of words and concepts is disappearing, too. And along with that, logic.
Spock wept.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at February 19, 2013 08:32 AM (+z4pE)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:32 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: ParanoidGirlInSeattle at February 19, 2013 12:19 PM
Right. Just one small example: I used to have 20 or so telephone numbers memorized. Now I can't even remember my work number, and I've been there for three years.
Posted by: Gem at February 19, 2013 08:32 AM (zw+pb)
***
"Undocumented citizens?"
Unregistered Demonrats
Posted by: much more betterer at February 19, 2013 08:32 AM (Ks9M3)
Posted by: DC in Towson, assault human at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (iRTO8)
Posted by: Sticky Wicket at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (KESFj)
For most of human history, life has been rally hard and dying really easy. Whatever effect there might be on intelligence hasn't had much chance to work in most of the world.
Even in Europe/America only for a few centuries if that.
In the USA, arrivals were likely among the smarter/more determined from the populations they came from. Mixed in with a bunch o indians who had thing harder than the greeks, since they were mostly hunter/gatherers.
It's only been in maybe the last century (welfare state) that degradation might occur. Idiocy isn't rising nearly so fast as ignorance however. That can go up by leaps and bounds in a generation.
Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (SO2Q8)
Posted by: nerdygirl at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (tAOpG)
Posted by: WalrusRex at February 19, 2013 12:29 PM (Hx5uv)
========
My firearms aren't "illegal" they're just "undocumented".
Might be something to it after all...
Posted by: Nighthawk at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (RSqz2)
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (evdj2)
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (Cnqmv)
Posted by: Hello, it's me Donna let it burn really.really bummed at February 19, 2013 08:33 AM (9+ccr)
Posted by: maddogg at February 19, 2013 08:34 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Truman North at February 19, 2013 08:34 AM (z4ySt)
On ANY topic of ANY grade. (well maybe not k-2)
Stuff many of us actually were taught. (I don't say learned because that would be presumptuous.)
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:34 AM (qyv02)
Humans are adapting to their environment. With a machine to remember details for them, they adjust their heuristics to become an intelligent manager of a much larger data-set, rather than a storehouse and manager of a much smaller data-set. Their efforts are spent honing their data-management skills and interfacing with their fact knowing machines making the most efficient use of the available resources. Take away their machines and they will revert to their older heuristic of picking out important things to remember.
What your paranoia seems to overlook is the human brain adjusts very quickly to changes in its environment, and whatever ill effects you think are being caused by being able to look things up are not some evolutionary path that cannot be undone. It's just a realignment of a neural network for best efficiency, as easy to undo as to do.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 08:35 AM (0q2P7)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 19, 2013 08:35 AM (9Bj8R)
Posted by: Jean at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (xBps2)
Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 19, 2013 12:27 PM (eHIJJ)
The elites fashion is based on food availability. When food is plentiful, they show their superiority by being lean. When food is scarce, buy being fat. And many of the proles get their bragging rights by aping the elites.
Posted by: Invictus at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (OQpzc)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: Brother Cavil, Keeper of Ampersands and Breitbart Login Spaces at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (GBXon)
Guess, Professor? Guess?
The strain of nihilism in the academy is disgusting. I hope Prof. Crabtree thinks his way into an early grave.
Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (Ipj15)
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (Cnqmv)
"The exams taken by those students were incomprehensible to college grads of today."
I once posted copies of the test I took to get into Stuyvesant HS (specialized NYC HS) "back in the day" - I was accused of "making them up"...
Posted by: Jess1 at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (lbiWb)
Posted by: nerdygirl at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (tAOpG)
---
David Thompson had a good post on this recently, linked to Fabian Tassano. The problem is that people are being taught to emote rather than to think. It's like we now have "I feel bad" = "I disagree". This is part and parcel of Leftism's victory in the sexual revolution as well: If it feels good, it must be right. If you begin to apply that beyond the bounds of sexual pleasure, to things like personal income and economic benefits, you get the Free Shit Army. "Hey, I feel like I'll get more money from this guy, so I'm right in voting for him. If you disagree with me, it's because you hate me."
Posted by: JeremiadBullFrog at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (wDG5U)
Athens in 1000 BC was ruled by kings and citizenship fell along bloodlines.
Also, 1000 BC marked THE BEGINNING of the Greek Dark Ages.
***
I read an interesting theory one time about why the Illiad was written. It seems that after the Greeks defeated the Trojans (around 1200 B.C.), they began a period of decline in which literacy itself suffered greatly. When the Greeks began to recover, Homer was taken with the irony of their greatest most celebrated victory ushering an era of decline and wrote the Illiad as a depiction of the hollowness of their victory. (Homer wrote around 700B.C.) The writer drew parallels to Rome's victory in the Punic Wars which led to the end of the Republic as they squabbled about who would get the fruits of their victory and the Mexican American War in which we won a massive amount of land but then squabbled about whether it would be slave or free.
Posted by: WalrusRex at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (Hx5uv)
Posted by: SH at February 19, 2013 08:36 AM (gmeXX)
I fully intend to have my fingers in this process somewhere.
Posted by: Donald Trump at February 19, 2013 08:37 AM (8ZskC)
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at February 19, 2013 08:37 AM (Q9qpj)
Reminded me of a comment to me by a salesmen (I was a repair tech at the time).
"Don't tell me how it works. It makes it harder to sell."
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:38 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at February 19, 2013 12:34 PM (FPM1s)
Heh. NH is the only state that doesn't require you to wear a seatbelt over the age of 18. This makes sense to me. Require the seatbelt up to age 18 so that you get into the habit of wearing it every time you get in the car, but after 18 you get to make up your own mind. It's not like your decision to wear your seatbelt is going to have any effect on whether or not you hit a car in the oncoming lane at five in the morning. It might hint at a somewhat wreckless lifestyle, but it's not in and of itself dangerous to anyone else.
I had this conversation with my lefty friend in Washington a few years ago. "NH doesn't require anyone over 18 to wear a seatbelt."
"That's stupid! Why not?"
"The better question is why should they?"
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:38 AM (4df7R)
Say what?
Posted by: Sulla, Caesar and Pompey at February 19, 2013 08:39 AM (8ZskC)
Posted by: beach at February 19, 2013 08:39 AM (LpQbZ)
Speaking of busting kneecaps, anyone who promotes PoMo "thought" should be first on the list. How to spot them? They're fond of the word, "construct."
As I've mentioned here before, it's merely codified insanity.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at February 19, 2013 08:39 AM (+z4pE)
_
Posted by: BumperStickerist at February 19, 2013 12:30 PM (J8DGo)
THREAD. WINNER.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: cajun carrot at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (UZQM8)
Posted by: Jean at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (xBps2)
Posted by: BlueStateRebel at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (7ObY1)
Anemic lilly white is a long lasting trend - only the wealthy upper crust can hang out in the shade all day - the commoners work out in the hot sun.
Posted by: Obamao at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (JtyGg)
Posted by: tasker at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (r2PLg)
Well, it's happened again. In August, Obama visited Star Brewery in Dubuque. And now a local publication reports that the business is closing its doors.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (UOM48)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 19, 2013 12:07 PM (9Bj8R)
Right on point, as usual.
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:40 AM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Joe Salivatzar at February 19, 2013 08:41 AM (hHgxI)
And many of the proles get their bragging rights by aping the elites.
---
Thought that said '(r)aping the elites.
That would've been better
Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at February 19, 2013 08:41 AM (SO2Q8)
Posted by: Jones in CO at February 19, 2013 12:32 PM (8sCoq)
You should change it to Smith.
Better yet: Djobilskonivich. They're remember THAT.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:41 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at February 19, 2013 12:37 PM (Q9qpj)
Not a valid assumtion for cockroaches. Roaches aren't intelligent, but breed at such a rate that survival is assured by the law of averges.
Posted by: maddogg at February 19, 2013 08:41 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Tilikum the Killer Assault Whale at February 19, 2013 08:41 AM (uhftQ)
yep, the sad thing is the formulas were changed to get from 10% to 8% in the first place.
I used to wonder how a whole people (Germany) could get mind-screwed into believing a mad man. I no longer wonder that.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at February 19, 2013 08:42 AM (p/cQy)
Posted by: tasker at February 19, 2013 08:42 AM (r2PLg)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 08:42 AM (l86i3)
Not a day goes by when I don't.
People largely can't spell, properly use grammar, have an intellectual conversation on diverse subjects, perform math or lucidly discern facts.
Even worse, talk to today's teachers. Most kids are cheats, perennial underachievers, pushed along in today's "everyone should feel special" environment and have grandiose expectations that are destined to fail because they are built on years of fallacious teachings and manufactured outcomes.
Present company mostly excluded of course:-)
Posted by: Marcus at February 19, 2013 08:42 AM (GGCsk)
LiFB.
Posted by: toby928© for TB at February 19, 2013 12:13 PM (evdj2)
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:42 AM (bb5+k)
Posted by: beach at February 19, 2013 08:43 AM (LpQbZ)
Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 19, 2013 08:43 AM (yCvxi)
Posted by: BumperStickerist at February 19, 2013 08:43 AM (J8DGo)
Posted by: tasker at February 19, 2013 08:44 AM (r2PLg)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 12:42 PM (l86i3)
Ain't that the friggin' truth.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:44 AM (4df7R)
Odds are, it will be filled with run-on sentences, spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and devoid of any meaningful content relating to the purpose of the review.
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 08:44 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2013 08:44 AM (GFM2b)
Take Idol and its ilk off the air, rip the warning labels off everything, disable redundant safety features, and let nature take its course.
Posted by: Brother Cavil, Keeper of Ampersands and Breitbart Login Spaces at February 19, 2013 12:36 PM (GBXon)
THIS.
We need to let the congenitally disenfranchised pluck themselves out of the gene pool. My favorite safety warning: the one on windshield sunshades, advising users to remove the sunshade before driving.
I'd replace it with one that said, "If you like driving with the sunshade in place, here's the perfect winding mountain road to hone your skills."
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (IDSI7)
Yeah, I was just kidding. We aren't intentionally selecting out certain phenotypes, so a few thousand years isn't enough to alter the genome in humans. Now, were the time frame a lot longer (not geologic time but much longer than what has been suggested), then we might unintentionally select out certain phenotypes due to fitness which would alter the genome.
Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (eHIJJ)
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at February 19, 2013 12:37 PM (Q9qpj)
==============
Don't confuse intelligence with cunning.
Posted by: Nighthawk at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (RSqz2)
I mean, my last names is Jones. I have been asked to spell it more than once.
---
The 'D' might be silent
Posted by: DJango at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (SO2Q8)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Jerry at February 19, 2013 12:17 PM (yPcNj)
Issues Smissues! I have long said that Presidential elections are primarily popularity contests. Democracy doesn't work. Voting should only be permitted for contributors.
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:45 AM (piMMO)
Odds are, it will be filled with run-on sentences, spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and devoid of any meaningful content relating to the purpose of the review.
---
In other words, just like the AOSHQ comment section.
Posted by: SH at February 19, 2013 08:46 AM (gmeXX)
Ask a highschool kid to write a one page movie review (whoa there, ace!).
Odds are, it will be filled with run-on sentences, spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and devoid of any meaningful content relating to the purpose of the review.
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 12:44 PM (GQ8sn)
Wat are u talkin 'bout? H8ter. LOL.
- 21st century's answer to Shakespeare.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 08:46 AM (IDSI7)
Posted by: tasker at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (r2PLg)
Posted by: beach at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (LpQbZ)
Not a fan of "measuring" intelligence.
IQ funnels particular people into categories.
Then, there's that "emotional IQ."
And, the artist.
There really are different forms/types of genius; not just for knowledge of specific sciences<
Indeed.
But then there is actual, measurable achievement in those fields and to society.
And there is less of that today, then in the past.
Because kids are mostly lazy and teachers/parents are apathetic.
Thus most of those kids are not prepared for the real world- no matter what field they choose.
Posted by: Marcus at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (GGCsk)
If constant exposure to life-or-death situations develops and promotes intelligence, than 3rd generation Chicago gangbangers ought to be the brightest people on the fucking planet.
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at February 19, 2013 12:37 PM (Q9qpj)
That's a false correlation, though. In primitive peoples, it was the ones who survived who could pass along their intelligence. Chicago gangbangers kill each other off by the dozens. The ones who survive are the ones who get out.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (4df7R)
---
I dunno. History and Archaeology are heavily dependent upon written sources, so in the absence of writing we can't very easily tell what was going on in a civilization. The Early Dark Ages in Europe are a good example of this; the scholarship of the past 50-60 years has gone light-years is dispelling assumptions based on Renaissance/Reformation propaganda.
Also, we rely so heavily upon written sources ourselves that it's hard to imagine the power and vivacity of oral culture. For example, we know almost certainly that Homer's poetry was the produce of a lengthy oral tradition, which means that people must have been actively creative in the arts prior to him during the "dark ages".
Posted by: JeremiadBullFrog at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (wDG5U)
Says here your shits all retarded and you talk like a fag.
Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 45% more DOOM! at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (xAtAj)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:47 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: Joe Salivatzar
***
Some of us didn't survive. The ones needing braces and glasses? Sabre tooth tiger turd was their fate.
Posted by: Tilikum the Killer Assault Whale at February 19, 2013 08:48 AM (uhftQ)
Posted by: SH at February 19, 2013 12:46 PM (gmeXX)
Heh. The difference being that we don't get graded on our comments, whereas the high school (or college!) kids do, and crap like that is just as likely to get an "A for effort" as it is to get an F for being completely worthless.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:48 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Lauren at February 19, 2013 08:49 AM (wsGWu)
Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2013 08:49 AM (GFM2b)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:50 AM (piMMO)
"Ask a highschool kid to write a one page movie review (whoa there, ace!).
Odds are, it will be filled with run-on sentences, spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and devoid of any meaningful content relating to the purpose of the review."
Spent some family time w/extended family over the 3 day weekend - youngest (nephew) was in trouble for an "F" in "English"* as the big assignment was "list your best friends and write a paper why they are your best friends". Same kid had written a stellar, "A" grade 3 page paper on the electromagnetic spectrum...
(*lanier MS, Fairfax, Va)
Posted by: Jess1 at February 19, 2013 08:50 AM (lbiWb)
If there are more of them, they are better than you.
Posted by: oblig. at February 19, 2013 08:50 AM (cePv8)
Posted by: Northernlurker at February 19, 2013 08:50 AM (sCK+c)
Plus abortion + gay marriage. A festering sore oozing pus from the Republican brand. Gotta keep those rape babies from being aborted.
Posted by: Eaton Cox at February 19, 2013 12:22 PM (+wxCD)
FUCK YOU! SHITHEAD!
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:51 AM (bb5+k)
The insane upfront cost is way more than you'll ever get back in fuel savings.
Yep. How do slopes and intercepts work, anyway?
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 08:51 AM (IDSI7)
Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2013 08:51 AM (GFM2b)
It's a perverse version of "do unto others". If you're a lazy shit, then of course you want to be forgiven for being a lazy shit. So you'll forgive others for being one, too.
Corollary: You'll get super-pissed at anyone who complains about those other people, because you'll see it as an indirect insult to your own behavior.
Posted by: JeremiadBullFrog at February 19, 2013 08:51 AM (wDG5U)
There was a good article in the WSJ a few weeks ago which covered this phenomena.
Most kids don't live in the real world. They manufacturer a life on Facebook. They connect to "stars" or "famous" people. Then are ultimately disappointed when their real lives, into which they've put no actual, tangible effort, flame out and they can't pay the rent.
Then, these denizens of Fakeland look for a crutch, leech off everyone else, take what they can, complain, become permanent members of the malcontent class and mostly make no real contribution to our society.
Posted by: Marcus at February 19, 2013 08:52 AM (GGCsk)
Odds are, it will be filled with run-on sentences, spelling mistakes, grammar errors, and devoid of any meaningful content relating to the purpose of the review.
Posted by: EC at February 19, 2013 12:44 PM (GQ8sn)
================
If it isn't it'll be cut-n-pasted from IMDB.
Posted by: Nighthawk at February 19, 2013 08:52 AM (RSqz2)
Yet people buy hybrids because they *seem* like a good deal. They never go one step further and actually do the math to find out if perception is reality.
But it makes them FEEL good. All that matters is how things FEEL.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:52 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 08:52 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: Vic at February 19, 2013 12:22 PM (53z96)
I saw it as it was happening and I thought to myself:
"Youse guys gonna let him get away wit dis? "
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:52 AM (bb5+k)
The lame, stupid or nasty get ignored or stomped.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:52 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: Nighthawk at February 19, 2013 12:52 PM (RSqz2)
Or Wikipedia.
The brighter kids actually strip out the formatting. The stupider ones don't bother.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:53 AM (4df7R)
I think average intelligence will rise sharply when the collapse hits.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 12:23 PM (0q2P7)
Dumb one's dying off will have that effect.
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:53 AM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:53 AM (piMMO)
If I wanted to write flowery prose in response to something on here I guess I could. But by the time I was finished you all would be gone to the next thread. That fancy writin is hard.
Sure, but there's a difference between writing a composition and writing a grocery list. Commenting here is more in the nature of scribbling out a electronic Post-It note.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 08:54 AM (IDSI7)
Yet people buy hybrids because they *seem* like a good deal. They never go one step further and actually do the math to find out if perception is reality.
Simply put, most people are incapable of making informed decisions. Obama *seems* like he's trying to Make Things Better so who cares about results?
Lauren, change the word "seems" to "feel" and you'll be spot-on.
Many things that we see wrong in our society have been forced upon us. Radical Feminism, which has at its core Socialism, is the main driver. With our enemies in control of the media, we are subjected to illogic daily.
Our enemies told us exactly what they were going to do to us, and proceeded to do it. We allowed this to happen through our inaction.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at February 19, 2013 08:54 AM (+z4pE)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 08:54 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: Lauren at February 19, 2013 08:55 AM (wsGWu)
Life-or-death is life-or-death. Constant exposure is constant and it is exposure. I stand by my assertion-that the professor is full of shit.
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at February 19, 2013 08:55 AM (Q9qpj)
Biden: That's why I've got a chance in 2017.....I mean 2016
Posted by: TheQuietMan at February 19, 2013 08:55 AM (1Jaio)
I should post some of the job applications I've seen which were hand-written. You honestly would never know these kids were college graduates.
Actually, I am going to save it for a book. Like Mad-Libs for idiots or something where you can fill in some of the blanks.
Posted by: Marcus at February 19, 2013 08:55 AM (GGCsk)
If we're going to pretend this is about natural selection, let's know what that really means and pretend right, stripped of all confusion and self-flattery:
If there are more of them, they are better than you.
Posted by: oblig. at February 19, 2013 12:50 PM (cePv
Not sure about this. Some species have greater numbers because they have greater mortality. Rabbits and the Kennedys fall into this class.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (IDSI7)
Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (GFM2b)
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: Truman North at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (Atp0w)
148 Homer was taken with the irony of their greatest most celebrated victory ushering an era of decline and wrote the Illiad as a depiction of the hollowness of their victory.
------------------------------------------
So the victory of the US, and its Allies in WWII, could be seen as the precursor to today's decline?
For awhile now, I have had the suspicion that the deprivation of the Great Depression, and the suffering endured during WWII, will echo throughout history for generations to come.
Once the war was over, the soldiers came home and the world plunged headlong into amazing technological and financial boom times. The Baby Boom was born, and was spoiled rotten by adults who wanted to relive their own deprived childhoods/young adulthoods. And Dr. Spock said it was a good thing.
Except for the very oldest among us now, nobody remembers just how hard life can be. But history shows the good times never last forever.
Happy Tuesday!
Posted by: Boots at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (oG66P)
Posted by: DC in Towson, assault human at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (iRTO8)
1. The FSA doesn't give a shit about anything but free shit. They don't pay taxes and they do not want a job.
2. The Republicans keep pushing lackluster moderates out there. The only time one of them wins is when the Dems run somebody even more lackluster and stupid.
Posted by: Vic at February 19, 2013 12:27 PM (53z96)
These are important factors, but they are both dwarfed in significance by the fact that the means of communicating with the voters is completely in the hands of our political enemies.
Our message is never permitted to reach the people who need to hear it.
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 08:56 AM (bb5+k)
Posted by: Lauren at February 19, 2013 12:55 PM (wsGWu)
You're feelings don't matter because you're an evil RethugliKKKan conservative "woman," and by "woman" they of course mean "piece of shit."
I like to point and laugh at them. It makes them feel offended and gives me hours of pleasure.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 08:57 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 08:57 AM (IDSI7)
"Yet people buy hybrids because they *seem* like a good deal. They never go one step further and actually do the math to find out if perception is reality."
^^This. Wife wanted a smaller "sedanish" sort of car, and she liked the VW Jetta, so she bought one. Coworker bought the hybrid, and crowed @ the "savings"... wife's car @ $24.9K, other @ $31K.... She (wife) was a bit concerned 'till she did the math (both drive @ 15 mpd).
Posted by: Jess1 at February 19, 2013 08:57 AM (lbiWb)
If there are more of them, they are better than you.Posted by: oblig. at February 19, 2013 12:50 PM (cePv
Natural processes cannot be inherently moral or immoral. Morality inheres in free choice.
Posted by: JeremiadBullFrog at February 19, 2013 08:58 AM (wDG5U)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 08:58 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 08:59 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: Baldy at February 19, 2013 08:59 AM (opS9C)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:00 AM (l86i3)
No, just tell people who deserve it they suck.
It works for me.
Posted by: Marcus at February 19, 2013 09:00 AM (GGCsk)
Is not the Republican platform so what? You know tameshigiri doesn't require an opponent. Why don't you leave those of use having a serious discussion alone.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 09:00 AM (0q2P7)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 01:00 PM (l86i3)
They did. 100% casualty.
They don't have a rating that goes that low.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 09:01 AM (qyv02)
Electric cars are a different story, due to the HUGE batteries required that cost $15k+ by themselves.
Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 45% more DOOM! at February 19, 2013 09:01 AM (xAtAj)
Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2013 09:01 AM (GFM2b)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:01 AM (l86i3)
The Republicans keep pushing lackluster moderates out there.
At the risk of starting a flame war, I've come to the conclusion that Romney was by far the best man for America.
Yeah, I know, he's a RINO and such, and ran a less than optimal campaign. But think about it: who better to sort out this country's lousy finances than an experienced and accomplished turn-around artist?
Our problem isn't so much with the candidates, as it is with the culture of celebrity worship. I don't want a guru, an imam, a life coach, or a mentor. I want an efficient and sensible CEO. But that's not cool, and someone like that probably lacks charisma. So we get retarded prom kings every time.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 09:02 AM (IDSI7)
Present company mostly excluded of course:-)
Posted by: Marcus at February 19, 2013 12:42 PM (GGCsk)
---
My eldest daughter is a teacher. This past year she went back to teaching "regular" students instead of A.B.U students. ABU students are the thugs and the retards- and it is her opinion that those students actually made more of an effort the the "normal" students. She is so disgusted by academia, most notably the administrators, that she is going to homeschool when she has children.
Posted by: Darth Randall at February 19, 2013 09:03 AM (mV8sg)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:03 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: rickb223 at February 19, 2013 09:03 AM (GFM2b)
Posted by: tasker at February 19, 2013 09:03 AM (r2PLg)
Life-or-death is life-or-death. Constant exposure is constant and it is exposure. I stand by my assertion-that the professor is full of shit.
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at February 19, 2013 12:55 PM (Q9qpj)
Well lessee, 7 babies by 5 different fathers, none of whom are alive or stayed around to help raise their little bastards, most end up killed or warehoused before they are old enough to vote. Seems like a valid comparison to me.
Posted by: maddogg at February 19, 2013 09:03 AM (OlN4e)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 09:04 AM (piMMO)
They short circuited their own message.
And Obama's MSM spirit squad was not going to disabuse anyone of it.
Posted by: General Woundwort at February 19, 2013 09:05 AM (RrD4h)
In other crashes that were milder; 2k+ damages and/or totalled out vehicle.
The metal is thinner and the alloy is less resistant. Ergo the car crash pictures where they look like they went into a blender.
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 09:05 AM (qyv02)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:05 AM (l86i3)
I doubt people are any dumber/smarter intrinsically--you can point directly to the education system in this country as the culprit.
Just enough are educated properly yet. When that ceases, we be for sure gone.
Posted by: irongrampa at February 19, 2013 09:05 AM (SAMxH)
We talked about this.
All Obama needed to do was get "unemployment" below "8%".
"Unemployment" continued to "Drop" until the required "level".
GG
Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 45% more DOOM! at February 19, 2013 09:05 AM (xAtAj)
Posted by: tasker at February 19, 2013 09:05 AM (r2PLg)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:06 AM (l86i3)
People buy hybrids because they want their neighbors to know that they "care", unlike you, gaia-raper.
Posted by: DC in Towson, assault human at February 19, 2013 12:56 PM (iRTO
But here's the part I just don't get: why do they care what their neighbors think?
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 09:06 AM (IDSI7)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 09:06 AM (piMMO)
That's racist, dontchknow.
Posted by: Jess1 at February 19, 2013 01:05 PM (lbiWb)
I thought it was a reality show?
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 01:06 PM (l86i3)
Reality is racist. Only lies aren't racist
Posted by: TheQuietMan at February 19, 2013 09:07 AM (1Jaio)
If there are more of them, they are better than you.
I don't necessarily agree with this, though I understand what you mean. The ability to breed in higher numbers doesn't really equate to evolutionary dominance, though. There are several million ants in the world for every one person, but a person can walk on a dozen ants on any given day without even noticing what he or she is doing.
But it's a good point. The FSA contributes very little to society while TAKING a great deal. That's where the problem lies. The mechanism by which the FSA is supported is what allows them to continue their leech-like existence without any repercussions. We reward bad behavior. Any species that rewards the worst of its members is going to see a reckoning at some point, either by dying off under its own weight (a lot of lame birds eating the seeds delivered to them by the healthy birds who can still fly, thus depriving the healthy birds of that food) or will turn into a shadow of its former self (when all the healthy birds die off, the lame birds will have to subsist on whatever they can scavenge, or be dependent on other species to feed them.)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 09:07 AM (4df7R)
We could have run a bunch of people and lost. This is a democratic process for selecting leaders, you cannot separate the inability to get enough votes to win from suitability as a candidate in other matters. Losing is QED for Romney being the wrong choice, not that anyone who ran was much better (T-Paw, McCotter, Perry *might* have been but that's all a matter of supposition at this point) but Romney losing proved that he was the wrong choice. Unless you can say we accomplished something more valuable by losing with Romney, that is better than we could have accomplished with any winning candidate, and better than what we could have accomplished losing with someone else.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 09:07 AM (0q2P7)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 09:08 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 09:08 AM (piMMO)
Posted by: G Joubert at February 19, 2013 09:08 AM (9XRRl)
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 01:06 PM (IDSI7)
They don't care care.
They just want to drive around feeling smug.
That episode of South Park said it all.
Excuse me, I have to sniff my farts now. (today's scent is sandalwood)
Posted by: Bitter Clinger (aka Ol' 3 tooth) at February 19, 2013 09:08 AM (qyv02)
"7 babies by 5 different fathers,"
That's the tight-assed ones. Seven babies by seven different fathers, insofar as those fathers are known, now those are the promiscuous ones.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 09:08 AM (IDSI7)
"But here's the part I just don't get: why do they care what their neighbors think?"
Herein lies the crux of the matter. BITD few cared, but today, what one "feels" has become the touchstone for all relationships. Be on the wrong side, and you will be cut out of family conntections, friends, and casual acquaintances, which, of course, makes life a good bit tougher.
Posted by: Jess1 at February 19, 2013 09:09 AM (lbiWb)
Posted by: BlueStateRebel at February 19, 2013 09:11 AM (7ObY1)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:11 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 01:06 PM (IDSI7)
Because no one on the left has any sense of internal integrity. Their opinions of themselves are based entirely on what other people think of them. When they were kids and they sucked at spelling, and they KNEW they sucked at spelling, but their teachers and parents kept praising them for trying really hard, they learned to divorce their own image of themselves from their sense of self worth. It's better to feel good than to feel rotten, and these other people were all making them feel good. So you ignore your internal voice that says, "I wish I could spell Mississippi right," and listen to the external voice taht says, "Mississippi is a hard word to spell, and it's okay that you keep adding too many S's or too few P's."
Grow that up to adulthood and you have people spending stupid amounts of money on "hybrids" even though they KNOW it isn't cost effective, but darn it, people will say they're doing the right thing and that's all that matters.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 09:11 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 09:11 AM (piMMO)
Be on the wrong side, and you will be cut out of family conntections, friends, and casual acquaintances, which, of course, makes life a good bit tougher.
Posted by: Jess1 at February 19, 2013 01:09 PM (lbiWb)
Big loss. I go out of my way to cut out people like that. They're free to have their opinions, but I'm free to have mine as well, and if they really don't like mine, adios.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 09:12 AM (IDSI7)
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Offering Moobats Gasoline and Matches at February 19, 2013 01:07 PM (0q2P7)
It is my opinion that no one would have been able to withstand the Media bias arrayed against them. There may have been several that would have made good or decent Presidents, but not a one of them could force the media to report the truth about Obama.
We are done until the burning.
Posted by: DiogenesLamp at February 19, 2013 09:12 AM (bb5+k)
I worked with a girl who was in her early 30's and had 7 or 8 kids, most by different, married fathers. In all the time I worked with her I was never able to figure out her method of selection for when she aborted and when she chose to give birth.
She had absolutely no shame.
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 19, 2013 01:11 PM (piMMO)
In grad school I dated a very liberal social worker (somehow our differing politics wasn't a problem) who used to lament the difficulty of explaining to FSA recruits that yes, having more babies got you more money, but not enough more to cover the cost of the new mouth to feed. "Mo' money" trumped every other consideration. Have another baby (illegitimate, of course), get an extra dollar, woot!
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 09:15 AM (IDSI7)
.
.
.
Do the math right, it's not just the difference in first cost -
say $5,000, gas $5 / gallon, so 1000 gallons of gas, say 30 mpg, gets you 30,000 miles on day one head start in front of the hybrid. If you're commuting 10,000 a year you might be looking at a three year head start.
But that math is wrong because the hybrid is still burning gas - better to tell smug green-weenie that they just torched a 1000 gallons of gas the day the drove off the lot in the hopes that they will someday break even. But when? (that'll take a little HS algebra)
When I was looking into it ten years ago the payback period for my commute, depending on car models I compared, was 20 to a hundred years. I bought the base model chevy cobalt.
Posted by: Obamao at February 19, 2013 09:16 AM (JtyGg)
I don't think Hilary has IT, but Bill has IT to spare, which is why she stays married to a serial philanderer, accused-rapist. Without Bill, Hilary's IT goes POOF.
If Hilary had IT, she would be starting her second term as POTUS. Instead she was going to prove I AM WOMAN back in 2008, and campaigned without the man with the IT. And look what happened.............
Posted by: Boots at February 19, 2013 09:16 AM (oG66P)
When I was looking into it ten years ago the payback period for my commute, depending on car models I compared, was 20 to a hundred years. I bought the base model chevy cobalt.
I did the same thing for solar panels, because I liked the idea of independence.
Turns out the payback period is about a day longer than the lifetime of the damned things. Meanwhile, you have a boatload of cash tied up in them. No thanks.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 19, 2013 09:18 AM (IDSI7)
Posted by: MSDNCBSABCNN at February 19, 2013 12:21 PM (cGlgB)
Water? Like out of the toilet?
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 19, 2013 09:21 AM (TIIx5)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:24 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2013 09:26 AM (PxYrx)
Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at February 19, 2013 09:26 AM (SO2Q8)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2013 01:26 PM (PxYrx)
They thought that because he's a Republican and they needed to find something to pick on, so they picked the water sipping. That's it. Seriously. The way he reached for it was a bit awkward, so BOOM. Instant meme.
It's ridiculous, as you say. The MFM beclowns themselves with it. Even LIV think it's stupid, and they're a bunch of mouthbreathing cretins.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/i][/u][/b] at February 19, 2013 09:28 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: The Political Hat at February 19, 2013 09:30 AM (XvHmy)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at February 19, 2013 01:28 PM (4df7R)
Doing it just to make sure you don't pay attention to what he actually said...KILL THE MESSENGER!
Posted by: Red Shirt at February 19, 2013 09:32 AM (FIDMq)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2013 09:32 AM (PxYrx)
The experience of the Greeks (and, by extension, the Romans) is valued mostly because they wrote some of it down, and we happen to have some of that. Most of their accounts are of what damned fools they'd been. There's a lot to be learned there, but it's no reason to worship the sons of bitches. They built stone temples because they didn't have any lumber. Gay slaveholders, the lot of them, and they used the power of steam to make amusing toys.
Posted by: comatus at February 19, 2013 09:34 AM (qaVK+)
Posted by: blaster at February 19, 2013 09:36 AM (pZDxu)
BURN THE MATH WITCH!
If there are more of them, they are better than you.
This.
Not unusual in my hometown to become a grandmother around age 36, when the first of your babies the state paid for has hir first baby. I was laughed out of the five-year reunion as a complete fucking failure because I had a degree and a job instead of a baby.
Not that "conservatives" are any kinder to women who don't have babies because they thought it was wrong to make fatherless babies, but no one ever wanted to marry them than the FSA is, mind you.
Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at February 19, 2013 09:36 AM (/kI1Q)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at February 19, 2013 09:38 AM (l86i3)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2013 01:32 PM (PxYrx)
They watch "comedy" shows and get their information from them. They have no clue or interest in the actual facts just give them a 2 minute clip to watch that is really easy to understand
Posted by: TheQuietMan at February 19, 2013 09:43 AM (1Jaio)
Posted by: akula51 at February 19, 2013 09:45 AM (EzOzr)
Posted by: deepred at February 19, 2013 09:53 AM (rUiSC)
They respond by trying to ban your technology (notice how you can't call their cars "coal-powered" anymore?), but they know they're wrong while they're doing it. The shame is just dripping off. But being who they are, drip off it does.
Posted by: comatus at February 19, 2013 09:55 AM (qaVK+)
Posted by: joeindc44 is now more concerned about Dark Ages 2.0 than Great Depression 2.0 at February 19, 2013 09:57 AM (QxSug)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2013 09:59 AM (PxYrx)
Posted by: Bill C at February 19, 2013 10:08 AM (frsLe)
The only ancients that we know about are the ones who were literate enough to write books, and then actually did, and whose books survived a couple millenia. Wonder what proportion of society they were...?
Posted by: Lessons from the Porcelain Throne at February 19, 2013 10:27 AM (ze9yk)
The actual utility of intelligence is that it keeps people as far away from constant life and death situations as is humanly possible. Avoidance is a greatly underrated strategy.
Posted by: An Observation at February 19, 2013 11:00 AM (ylhEn)
Posted by: Keith Eppich at February 19, 2013 11:17 AM (vOiy8)
Personally, I also think that we are dumbed down when we do fewer things manually. People always used to be busy, either growing food, making clothes and a hundred other things they had to do on a daily basis. We don't do those things any more and the main thing we do with our hands is type. I've noticed that young guys that have mechanical skills never have a problem finding work.
And lastly, I've done a lot of physical labor, mostly farm work and factory work. Those jobs give you time to think. Farmers tend to be interesting to talk to as a result. Most jobs these days don't really give you time to think about what you want.
Posted by: notsothoreau at February 19, 2013 11:21 AM (5HBd1)
Posted by: dscott at February 19, 2013 11:30 AM (EYzt8)
No, it was clearly intelligence that was favored. And that is a force multiplier, too, even against those of greater physical strength.
Posted by: mycherrysmores at February 19, 2013 03:20 PM (qLxQ4)
I had this conversation with my lefty friend in Washington a few years ago. "NH doesn't require anyone over 18 to wear a seatbelt." "That's stupid! Why not?" "The better question is why should they?" Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at February 19, 2013 12:38 PM (4df7R)
You reminded me of something an Italian writer, Luigi Barzini, once wrote about the difference between Italians and Germans. Barzini noted signs in the trains in Germany which screamed at you "IT IS FORBIDDEN TO LEAN OUT THE WINDOWS!" In Italy, the signs in the trains merely said "It is inadvisable to lean out of the windows."
In other words, Barzini said, the Italian attitude was "You've been warned. Die if you want to."
Posted by: Donna V. at February 19, 2013 03:46 PM (7FqJH)
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Posted by: @JohnTant at February 19, 2013 08:06 AM (PFy0L)