Overnight Open Thread (3-9-2016)

My favorite "expression of apocalyptic foreboding" is still Naomi Wolf, after advising Al Gore to don earth toned togs in 2000 to bring out his inner alpha male and before becoming an ISIS truther in 2014, writing a marvelously paranoid screed for the Huffington Post in the fall of 2008 that, as NewsBusters paraphrased, "Sarah 'Evita' Palin to Usher in Rovian Police State." But then, as German intellectual Günter Grass once said, "You American intellectuals - you want so desperately to feel besieged and persecuted!"

-- Ed Driscoll

Quote of the Day II

What business have people who call might right to worship Odin? The whole point about Odin was that he had the right but not the might. The point about Norse religion was that it alone of all mythologies told men to serve gods who were admittedly fighting with their backs to the wall and would certainly be defeated in the end. 'I am off to die with Odin' said the rover in Stevenson's fable, thus proving that Stevenson understood something about the Nordic spirit which (Nazi) Germany has never been able to understand at all. The gods will fall. The wisdom of Odin, the humourous courage of Thor (Thor was something of a Yorkshireman) and the beauty of Balder, will all be smashed eventually by the realpolitik of the stupid giants and misshapen trolls. But that does not in the least alter the allegiance of any free man. Hence, as we should expect, real Germanic poetry is all about heroic stands, and fighting against hopeless odds.

-- C.S. Lewis in First and Second Things

Congratulations Cecil Protesters: Hwange National Park to Slaughter African Lions Due to Lack of Hunters

But the important thing is that you got to feel good about yourself for caring about lions in the abstract even if you did diddly-squat - or worse - to help any actual living lions.

Bubye Valley Conservancy has more than 500 lions, the largest number in Zimbabwe's diminishing wildlife areas. It has warned that its lion population has become unsustainable and that it may even have to cull around 200 as a result of what is being called "the Cecil effect."...

Conservationists estimate about half of Zimbabwe's wildlife has disappeared since President Robert Mugabe's seizure of white-owned land began in 2000, but Bubye has held on by attracting wealthy hunters whose fees support its wildlife work. But last year's shooting of Cecil, in a conservancy bordering Hwange National Park, sparked a huge backlash against big-game hunting, and bolstered a U.S. plan to ban trophy hunting imports.

The Real Victims of Victimhood

Not only does it lead you down a non-productive life path but seeing yourself as a victim actually makes you a worse person.

So who cares if we are becoming a culture of victimhood? We all should. To begin with, victimhood makes it more and more difficult for us to resolve political and social conflicts. The culture feeds a mentality that crowds out a necessary give and take - the very concept of good-faith disagreement - turning every policy difference into a pitched battle between good (us) and evil (them).
Consider a 2014 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which examined why opposing groups, including Democrats and Republicans, found compromise so difficult. The researchers concluded that there was a widespread political "motive attribution asymmetry," in which both sides attributed their own group's aggressive behavior to love, but the opposite side's to hatred. Today, millions of Americans believe that their side is basically benevolent while the other side is evil and out to get them.

Second, victimhood culture makes for worse citizens - people who are less helpful, more entitled, and more selfish. In 2010, four social psychologists from Stanford University published an article titled "Victim Entitlement to Behave Selfishly" in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The researchers randomly assigned 104 human subjects to two groups.

Members of one group were prompted to write a short essay about a time when they felt bored; the other to write about "a time when your life seemed unfair. Perhaps you felt wronged or slighted by someone." After writing the essay, the participants were interviewed and asked if they wanted to help the scholars in a simple, easy task.

The results were stark. Those who wrote the essays about being wronged were 26 percent less likely to help the researchers, and were rated by the researchers as feeling 13 percent more entitled.
In a separate experiment, the researchers found that members of the unfairness group were 11 percent more likely to express selfish attitudes. In a comical and telling aside, the researchers noted that the victims were more likely than the nonvictims to leave trash behind on the desks and to steal the experimenters' pens.

Planning for the GOP's Post-Trump Future

I'm gonna go in early for this guy:

German Report: More Violence, Rape, Theft, Radicalization Likely Due to Migrant Influx

Corrie ten Boom on Forgiveness

It was in a church in Munich that I saw him, a balding heavy-set man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives. ...
And that's when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights, the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor, the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister's frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent. ...

"You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard in there." No, he did not remember me.

"But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, ..." his hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?"

And I stood there - I whose sins had every day to be forgiven - and could not. Betsie had died in that place - could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?
It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

The Case Against Algebra

Dana Goldstein writes at Slate that political scientist Andrew Hacker proposes replacing algebra II and calculus in the high school and college with a practical course in statistics for citizenship. According to Hacker, only mathematicians and some engineers actually use advanced math in their day-to-day work and even the doctors, accountants, and coders of the future shouldn't have to master abstract math that they'll never need. For many math is often an impenetrable barrier to academic success. Algebra II, which includes polynomials and logarithms, and is required by the new Common Core curriculum standards used by 47 states and territories, drives dropouts at both the high school and college levels. Hacker's central argument is that advanced mathematics requirements, like algebra, trigonometry and calculus, are "a harsh and senseless hurdle" keeping far too many Americans from completing their educations and leading productive lives. "We are really destroying a tremendous amount of talent-people who could be talented in sports writing or being an emergency medical technician, but can't even get a community college degree," says Hacker. "I regard this math requirement as highly irrational." According to Hacker many of those who struggled through a traditional math regimen feel that doing so annealed their character while critics says that mathematics is used as a hoop, a badge, a totem to impress outsiders and elevate a profession's status. "It's not hard to understand why Caltech and M.I.T. want everyone to be proficient in mathematics. But it's not easy to see why potential poets and philosophers face a lofty mathematics bar. Demanding algebra across the board actually skews a student body, not necessarily for the better."

Hooboy. Where to start with this one. Well how about how many poets and philosophers do we really need, why are they too dumb to master what most 10th graders can, and why should we rearrange our entire educational system to accommodate these math-challenged, negligible layabouts? Then I could get harsher...

That said, I might be amenable to swapping out some topics for a good, basic course in statistics. Statistics which actually involves....<shudder> algebra.

Handgun Safes vs. Paperclip

Advantage: Paperclip.

Scotland Now Requiring Registration, Confiscation of Air Guns

News You Can Use: Cleaning Your Toilet With Hydrochloric Acid

Scuba Diver Survives Being Sucked Into a Nuclear Power Plant

For me I think the five minutes of underwater darkness while flowing through a narrow pipe with no idea what's coming would be the scariest part.

A man scuba diving in Florida somehow survived being sucked into a nuclear power plant in a terrifying log flume ride.
Christopher Le Cun was boating off the coast of Hutchinson Island when he and his friend went under to check out three large shadows beneath the waves that looked like buildings.

After diving down, he felt a current that quickly pulled him toward one of three intake pipes, got sucked in and was immersed in darkness for five minutes in the water being taken to cool the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant.

Le Cun told WPTV that he thought he was going to be chopped into tiny bits when he hit a turbine at the end of the 16-foot-wide, quarter-mile tube.

However, the turbine never came, and the pipe eventually spat him out into a reservoir at the plant holding water used to cool the nuclear reactor.
After finding a passing worker, Le Cun was able to call wife Brittany, who thought her husband was dead after seeing the shocked face of his diving partner.

The Group knows your sins but doesn't care.

Tonight's post brought to you by evolutions:

Notice: Posted by implicit permission of AceCorp LLC and the CT Overlords. This is not the end. This is ONT.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 11:17 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Hello, Horde.

Posted by: Hanoverfist at March 09, 2016 11:18 PM (bDmeN)

2 Evenin' everyone.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at March 09, 2016 11:18 PM (YJmuy)

3 ONT! ONT!! ONT!!!

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:18 PM (rJUlF)

4 I knew I'd wake Maet up.

Posted by: Blano at March 09, 2016 11:19 PM (heN73)

5 *gaaaaaaaaaasssssssp*

Fresh air!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:19 PM (sl+zA)

6 'Lo, 'rons.....

Posted by: cthulhu at March 09, 2016 11:19 PM (EzgxV)

7 Maet to the rescue!

Posted by: Darth Randall at March 09, 2016 11:19 PM (KlVdw)

8 NINE!!!

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:20 PM (OQ9R7)

9
Oh, thank the Lord!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: 'Who Decides?' at March 09, 2016 11:20 PM (BK3ZS)

10 woot woot ONT BABY

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:20 PM (voOPb)

11 NINE?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:20 PM (OQ9R7)

12 Well... that happened.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:20 PM (OQ9R7)

13 Ivan the Terrible would cut the nuts off of both History channels in Canada and the U.S. were he alive today.

Posted by: andycanuck at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (WOyz5)

14 Amen on The History Channel. Channel went to hell quickly.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (xpkI/)

15 Good evening, all.

AOP, plan to hit the post office in th morning to send out that book. It's already packaged up & addressed.

Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (mW1Fw)

16 Content, you're soaking in it!

Posted by: Madge at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (sl+zA)

17 I don't know that there is such a thing as redemption.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (6FqZa)

18 I love the C.S. Lewis quote. I'm currently re-reading his Space Trilogy. I haven't read it since junior high school.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (rJUlF)

19 Shameful confession:

I like swamp people.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:22 PM (dtll+)

20 And hey, no matter how bad the presidential debate becomes, we can always use spray butter, amitrite?

http://tinyurl.com/jprks7f

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at March 09, 2016 11:22 PM (xpkI/)

21 I don't know that there is such a thing as redemption.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (6FqZa)

Just speaking for myself (as a struggling Christ-follower)...if there's no such thing as redemption, we're all boned.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:22 PM (rJUlF)

22 But hey, YMMV.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:23 PM (rJUlF)

23 Where Cochran been?

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:23 PM (2PI7/)

24 Who else is really pissed that H2 Channel (History 2) has changed its format to societal degeneration as VICELAND???

maggots

Posted by: R Lee Ermey at March 09, 2016 11:24 PM (12kBq)

25 "I don't know that there is such a thing as redemption."
-Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (6FqZa)

"Just speaking for myself (as a struggling Christ-follower)...if there's no such thing as redemption, we're all boned."
-Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:22 PM (rJUlF)

Fall, Find, Follow, Rinse, Repeat.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:24 PM (OQ9R7)

26 Did you use on vacation day on us Morons oh Great Maetenloch?

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:24 PM (voOPb)

27 Oh, Maet, you're killing me.

And I also realize that means nothing.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:25 PM (KFAME)

28 History channel. Heh.

Posted by: Eromero at March 09, 2016 11:25 PM (zLDYs)

29 What happens in Zimbabwe when Mugabe finally croaks?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at March 09, 2016 11:25 PM (FkBIv)

30 "Where Cochran been?"
-Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:23 PM (2PI7/)

His Grandfather fell-ill over the weekend.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:25 PM (OQ9R7)

31
Well how about how many poets and philosophers do we really need, why are they too dumb to master what most 10th graders can, and why should we rearrange our entire educational system to accommodate these math-challenged, negligible layabouts?

Poets and philosophers need one essential math skill and that is how to make change down at the neighborhood coffee bar.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: 'Who Decides?' at March 09, 2016 11:26 PM (BK3ZS)

32 Would you say that I have a plethora of sweaters?

Posted by: El Guapo at March 09, 2016 11:26 PM (sl+zA)

33 Not only does it lead you down a non-productive life path but seeing yourself as a victim actually makes you a worse person.

Adam Carolla just stroked out.

German Report: More Violence, Rape, Theft, Radicalization Likely Due to Migrant Influx

Unexpectedly.

... political scientist Andrew Hacker proposes replacing algebra II and calculus in the high school and college with a practical course in statistics

Oddly enough, 3.5 billion Chinese and Indians agree~!

For me I think the five minutes of underwater darkness would be the scariest part.

I crawled through a 2' sewer pipe at a construction site once. Now I have a thing about tight spaces.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (A/3fN)

34 >>Where Cochran been?
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor

AtC posted that is GFather was having surgery and it was not going well. Yesterday or maybe the day before. Might be busy IRL.

Posted by: Aviator at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (c7vUv)

35 "But the important thing is that you got to feel good about yourself for caring about lions in the abstract even if you did diddly-squat to help any actual real world living lions."

I read that as "doodly-squat" and liked it that way too.

Posted by: Meremortal at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (3myMJ)

36 Is there any learning on The Learning Channel?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (FkBIv)

37 ♪ No, I wouldn't put you on because, it really did happen just this way.
The day my dentist socked it to, the Bubye Valley PETA.
The day my dentist socked it to, the Bubye Valley PETA. ♫

Posted by: jeannie c. riley at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (WOyz5)

38
Who else is really pissed that H2 Channel (History 2) has changed its format to societal degeneration as VICELAND???

maggotsPosted by: R Lee Ermey at March 09, 2016 11:24 PM (12kBq)
---
Harrumpf!

Posted by: Darth Randall at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (KlVdw)

39 Evening horde.

How goes it this fine summer eve.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (hlMPp)

40 That Troy guy is pretty Cajun. Can't understand a fucking thing he says.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (KFAME)

41 "But the important thing is that you got to feel good about yourself for caring about lions in the abstract even if you did diddly-squat - or worse - to help any actual living lions."

I recall a leftist opining that they would support higher taxes on the rich _even if_ it were demonstrably provable that such policies resulted in dramatically worse economic outcomes for every class: rich, middle and poor alike. Because "fairness".

Likewise, I debated a greeniac over the trophy hunting issue and got an admission that they would back a total ban on trophy hunting even if the end result of that ban was the permanent extinction for other reasons of the species being hunted. Because guns and hunters are bad, mmmmmkay?

Posted by: torquewrench at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (noWW6)

42 "Where Cochran been?"
-Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:23 PM (2PI7/)

His Grandfather fell-ill over the weekend.
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:25 PM (OQ9R7)

Oh, I didn't know. Prayers for him and his family.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:27 PM (rJUlF)

43 Good Evening, Fellow Babies.

Everything is blooming in Georgia and Spring is close at hand.

Posted by: ALH at March 09, 2016 11:28 PM (Z56vq)

44 I hope the SS guard from Ravesnbruck was eventually prosecuted.

Posted by: agathapagatha at March 09, 2016 11:28 PM (7g5VR)

45 Where Cochran been?
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor

Family matters.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:28 PM (A/3fN)

46 Math is too hard for education majors.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at March 09, 2016 11:28 PM (1ijHg)

47 To sleep. Perchance to dream of electric sheep.

Posted by: R3BIO at March 09, 2016 11:29 PM (sOhww)

48 Hey Tammy.

Want to know what's weird? Watching a documentary filmed entirely in your hometown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjLeoGQ57JY

Considering that it's been raining since Sunday night and will continue into the weekend, seems almost fitting to watch.

Posted by: SMFH at March 09, 2016 11:29 PM (rlfds)

49 Oh, please let him know he and his family are in my prayers, thank you.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:29 PM (2PI7/)

50 "How goes it this fine summer eve."

You're doing it wrong. "Fuck you bunch of bastards" is more apropos.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (KFAME)

51 Do androids dream of electric sheep?

Posted by: Philip K. Dick at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (1ijHg)

52 Yes, Ma'am.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (OQ9R7)

53 We're here at the ONT where we've secretly replaced the fine content they usually serve with Corrie ten Boom quotes. Let's see if anyone can tell the difference!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (sl+zA)

54 Hey SMFH! That seems like a sad thing to watch.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (2PI7/)

55 How goes it this fine summer eve.
Posted by: RWC

Are you calling us douches?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:31 PM (A/3fN)

56 >>How goes it this fine summer eve.
Posted by: RWC

I'm hoping it will freshen things up.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at March 09, 2016 11:31 PM (c7vUv)

57 Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Posted by: Philip K. Dick

I know I do.
*wink*

Posted by: Robohammed at March 09, 2016 11:31 PM (d9C8q)

58 Stop teaching algebra... shit folks, you shouldn't be letting people graduate from University without taking calculus... Preferably multivariant differential and integral, with perhaps a side of partial differential equations. No man of the world should not be caught dead without a proficiency in higher math reasoning, which insures critical decisions aren't made on a overtly emotional basis

Shit, carpenters need solid knowledge of geometry and algebra... Just because education majors don't have a grasp of the importance, it still should be widely taught for an effective hard-working society

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 09, 2016 11:31 PM (12kBq)

59
I recall a leftist opining that they would support higher taxes on the rich _even if_ it were demonstrably provable that such policies resulted in dramatically worse economic outcomes for every class: rich, middle and poor alike. Because "fairness".

That was Obama.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (FkBIv)

60 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see if his attitude adjusts.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (dtll+)

61 If you are going to clean the rust stains in your tub with HCl make sure the P trap is not metal. HCl siting in a P trap will cause leaks.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (On7rW)

62 "We're here at the ONT where we've secretly replaced the fine content they usually serve with Corrie ten Boom quotes. Let's see if anyone can tell the difference!"
-Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (sl+zA)

*mulls about the periphery*

*smells something foreign*

...did you guys get new dryer sheets?!?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (OQ9R7)

63 ONT greetings, Horde !

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (McRlu)

64 I saw Robohammed open for Kraftwerk in '78.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (rJUlF)

65 Corrie ten Boom's book The Hiding Place was required reading at the little church school I went to. Had a profound effect on me as a young girl.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (2PI7/)

66 Just getting a morning preview early

Posted by: Skip at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (fizMZ)

67
You're doing it wrong. "Fuck you bunch of bastards" is more apropos.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (KFAME

Up your ass dickweed

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (voOPb)

68 60 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see if his attitude adjusts.
Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (dtll+)

There's a co-worker of mine who could use that kind of mental exercise.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:34 PM (rJUlF)

69 I finally "got" algebra when I was taking it in college in my 30's.....as I told my unimpressed children, it's like a puzzle!

Posted by: agathapagatha at March 09, 2016 11:34 PM (7g5VR)

70 Maybe Mugabe will be eaten by a lion. It would be a fitting end.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (TnUKj)

71 60 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see if his attitude adjusts.
Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (dtll+)

1) I didn't kill a sibling
2) I don't live in Minne-f*cking-sota
3) My Mom is an 'ette

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (voOPb)

72 Howdy Horde.

Let me warn you - in advance. I've worked out tonite, taken a supplement that gives you "pre-workout energy", and then topped that off with six tall boys. In addition to all that, as some of you already know ... I'm a belligerent asshole.

So I'm getting ready to go slap the fuck off on this "who needs algebra" shit in an Old Testament way. Honestly - you should probably ignore me.

Dumber shit I have not read in quite some time. That is really fucking stupid.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (qmMG2)

73 "Up your ass dickweed"
-Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (voOPb)

You missed both a comma and a period.

...You may be pregnant.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (OQ9R7)

74 I like swamp people.
Posted by: Lauren

It's fun for a few episodes. After that, it's repetitive. Kind of like the GoldRushIceTrucking TunaCrabbingPawnShoppingStoragefucking AntiqueQueering show.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (A/3fN)

75 "What happens in Zimbabwe when Mugabe finally croaks?"

The Chinese are already more than halfway to converting the place into a wholly owned and operated resource colony. They own pretty much all of the recently built infrastructure, for example. They increasingly have snapped up the good farmland and viable mines. Run by Chinese managers. Maintained by Chinese technicians. Books kept by Chinese accountants. The Chinese use black Africans only for bulk stoop labor.

When Comrade Bob goes to hell, the Chinese already have a pre-approved black African successor figurehead ready to step in. Who will live in great luxury, and rule grandly with sweeping decrees and proclamations, just as did Comrade Bob, while behind the scenes, PRC Incorporated will slowly exsanguinate the country down to the bare rock.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (noWW6)

76 "Up your ass dickweed"

Now, see I appreciate that.

That's the way people should do things.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:36 PM (KFAME)

77 That was Obama.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (FkBIv)
----------------------

I thought it was Biden.

Posted by: iforgot at March 09, 2016 11:36 PM (5o5ek)

78 I would never forgive anyone for anything.

Posted by: iforgot at March 09, 2016 11:36 PM (5o5ek)

79 RWC - I was looking for you just yesterday.
Funny story...
Well, I found it funny, anyway.

Slap - I left a message for you about maps on the dead thread.

Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (mW1Fw)

80 I think a 3 hours of financial and 3 hours of managerial accounting would do more to help people find a job after college than Algebra II and Calculus or Statistics for that matter.

Macro and micro economics would also be more beneficial than those 12 hours of elective basket weaving and the History of RocknRoll bs, easy A, gpa padding.

If they're going to make people take extra courses at least make them worthwhile.

Posted by: CozMark at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (CbGSW)

81 Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (qmMG2)

LOL, I thought that was gonna be DC, for sure.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (2PI7/)

82 "Up your ass dickweed"

Now, see I appreciate that.

That's the way people should do things.
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:36 PM (KFAME)

"Well....double dumb-ass to you, too!"

Posted by: Captain James Tiberius Kirk at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (rJUlF)

83 18 I love the C.S. Lewis quote. I'm currently re-reading his Space Trilogy. I haven't read it since junior high school.
Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (rJUlF)

Beautiful books.

I first read them in high school, around 1975 or so. I thought that That Hideous Strength seemed a bit far-fetched. Now I realize that it was pretty much a prophecy of the times we're living in now. I re-read them every few years.

Posted by: Michael the Hobbit (a real Texan) at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (dPpmC)

84 Are you calling us douches?
No. We're just full of water and vinegar.

Posted by: andycanuck at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (WOyz5)

85 It's fun for a few episodes. After that, it's repetitive. Kind of like the GoldRushIceTrucking TunaCrabbingPawnShoppingStoragefucking AntiqueQueering show.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

You forgot about the ancientalienrivermonsterssearchingforbigfoot

Posted by: Prince Ludwig the #Problematic at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (d9C8q)

86 You're doing it wrong. "Fuck you bunch of bastards" is more apropos.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (KFAME)

I thought that was implied by just saying good evening.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (hlMPp)

87 When Comrade Bob goes to hell, the Chinese already have a pre-approved black African successor figurehead ready to step in. Who will live in great luxury, and rule grandly with sweeping decrees and proclamations, just as did Comrade Bob, while behind the scenes, PRC Incorporated will slowly exsanguinate the country down to the bare rock.
Posted by: torquewrench at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (noWW6)
----------------------------

Count on it, when we end up liberating them in WW III we'll be called racist.

Posted by: iforgot at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (5o5ek)

88 No. We're just full of water and vinegar.>>>

Pickled?

Posted by: Willy J. at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (On7rW)

89 When Comrade Bob goes to hell, the Chinese already have a pre-approved black African successor figurehead ready to step in. Who will live in great luxury, and rule grandly with sweeping decrees and proclamations, just as did Comrade Bob, while behind the scenes, PRC Incorporated will slowly exsanguinate the country down to the bare rock.

---------

There was a time when Western culture had the gonads to pull off this kind of third world ass rape.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (sl+zA)

90 Last year when that whole Cecil thing went down, I told all the animal lovers that this would be the end of the lions in Africa, because the villagers would kill them.
Lions like to eat.
They eat domestic critters and people.
Perfect example of the law of unintended consequences.

Posted by: ALH at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (Z56vq)

91 ...You may be pregnant.
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:35 PM (OQ9R7

pause

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (voOPb)

92 Algebra should be taught in schools, but I'm perfectly fine with getting rid of calc and replacing it with statistics.

A couple years ago I sat down and figured out that you could get all the basics done in four years, with only two years of full time schooling and two years of part time/working in the afternoons.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (fC9RO)

93 I think a 3 hours of financial and 3 hours of managerial accounting would do more to help people find a job after college than Algebra II and Calculus or Statistics for that matter.

Macro and micro economics would also be more beneficial than those 12 hours of elective basket weaving and the History of RocknRoll bs, easy A, gpa padding.

Posted by: CozMark a

Um, Macro and micro require Algebra II. That is, if it's taught by a competent prof. Any 200 series Econ requires Calc.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:39 PM (A/3fN)

94 "Well... double dumb-ass to you, too!"
----
Aaaah. The "Giants".

Posted by: Mister Spock at March 09, 2016 11:39 PM (WOyz5)

95 79 RWC - I was looking for you just yesterday.
Funny story...
Well, I found it funny, anyway.

Slap - I left a message for you about maps on the dead thread.
Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (mW1Fw)

What happened?

And I learned a new term today...pearling. Fuck that thing, fuck this thing, and definitely fuck that in particular.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:39 PM (hlMPp)

96 67

You're doing it wrong. "Fuck you bunch of bastards" is more apropos.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:30 PM (KFAME

Up your ass dickweed

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (voOPb)
No, it's "Up Yours With A Meat Hook"FIFY.

Posted by: ALH at March 09, 2016 11:40 PM (Z56vq)

97 90 Last year when that whole Cecil thing went down, I told all the animal lovers that this would be the end of the lions in Africa, because the villagers would kill them.

----------

But FEEEEEEELZZZZ!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:40 PM (sl+zA)

98 There was a time when Western culture had the gonads to pull off this kind of third world ass rape.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:38 PM (sl+zA)
***
Hell, there was a time when we were DOING it.

'Course WWI and all that sort of ended western hegemony.

But for a brief moment, the west ran the entire world.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 09, 2016 11:41 PM (lutOX)

99 Macro and micro economics would also be more
beneficial than those 12 hours of elective basket weaving and the
History of RocknRoll bs, easy A, gpa padding.

If they're going to make people take extra courses at least make them worthwhile.

Posted by: CozMark at March 09, 2016 11:37 PM (CbGSW)

Micro and Macro economics are less than helpful. Unless you need to justify taking all the money and giving it to your friends in government.

I'm looking at YOU Paul.Fncking-market-inefficiencies-are-useful.Krugman.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 09, 2016 11:41 PM (q2o38)

100
I thought it was Biden.
Posted by: iforgot

Obama: Let's Raise Capital Gains Tax Even if Less Revenue- Fairness

https://youtu.be/gJimLZRC9N8

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at March 09, 2016 11:42 PM (FkBIv)

101 You can't even do basic fucking fractional conversions, that you haven't already seen done in the homework, without Algebra.

Algebra IS THE FUCKING BACKROOM PASS to figuring out, on your own, the answer to any basic conversion of units problem without searching for a chart.

For example ... if three apples cost a buck - how many apples can I buy for six dollars.

You can memorize that form of solution - people used to back in the day - or just write than damn equation down as 3/1 = x/6.

That's algebra. It's the keys to the castle.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:42 PM (qmMG2)

102 Greetings.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 09, 2016 11:42 PM (AroJD)

103 "didn't kill a sibling
2) I don't live in Minne-f*cking-sota
3) My Mom is an 'ette"

Haha #1 is sometimes questionable.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (dtll+)

104 "I thought that was implied by just saying good evening. "

Oh, no, don't ever worry. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (KFAME)

105 "But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, ..." his hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?"

DIAF.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (zc3Db)

106 Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 09, 2016 11:42 PM (AroJD)

Still painting?

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (2PI7/)

107 A practical course in statistics would require knowledge not just of algebra, but calculus as well. Political "scientist" Hacker should at least know that, as I would assume he needed a couple courses in statistics to get his degree. That is the basic requirement for calling it Political "Science" rather than Political Philosophy. At least, that's part of how they explained it when I got my PS degree. And they just required the easy ones for me. I hate to think what kind of sham courses Hacker had to take where he thinks neither are intrinsic to stats.

Posted by: JSchuler at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (qlZ7a)

108 RK and other Morons in S AZ, NM or Texas: I'll be travelling through in late April. There are a number of you I would enjoy having a cup of coffee with.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at March 09, 2016 11:44 PM (TnUKj)

109
Um, Macro and micro require Algebra II. That is, if it's taught by a competent prof. Any 200 series Econ requires Calc.

Posted by: weft cut-loop

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I took Algebra II in high school (3 times, iirc) and I don't recall needing it for macro or micro when I took it in college. But that was almost 30 years ago.

Posted by: CozMark at March 09, 2016 11:44 PM (CbGSW)

110 AOP, plan to hit the post office in th morning to send out that book. It's already packaged up & addressed.

Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:21 PM (mW1Fw)

Woot! I'll post a review.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 09, 2016 11:44 PM (/i7Ua)

111
I saw "Ray" the other day and I have a question for the musically inclined. In the movie, when Ray Charles first sings "I Gotta Woman"to his future wife, Bea, she stops him, saying, "That's gospel and it's sinful to sing that in that way!" or words to that effect.

My question is how was that song gospel?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: 'Who Decides?' at March 09, 2016 11:44 PM (BK3ZS)

112 Old observation:

To be a mathematician you need a pencil, some paper and a wastebasket.

To be a philosopher you need a pencil and some paper.

Posted by: Noam Sayen at March 09, 2016 11:45 PM (bIhmV)

113 Dana Goldstein writes at Slate that political scientist Andrew Hacker proposes replacing algebra II and calculus in the high school and college with a practical course in statistics for citizenship. According to Hacker, only mathematicians and some engineers actually use advanced math in their day-to-day work and even the doctors, accountants, and coders of the future shouldn't have to master abstract math that they'll never need.

It's not about need. It's called "being able to think".

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 09, 2016 11:45 PM (zc3Db)

114 Night.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 09, 2016 11:45 PM (KFAME)

115
Shit, carpenters need solid knowledge of geometry and algebra... Just because education majors don't have a grasp of the importance, it still should be widely taught for an effective hard-working society
Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton
--------------------
I've been working construction for the last decade.

Do you know what kind of looks you get if you say "pythagorean theorum" out loud on a jobsite?
That shit can get you shanked, if not shot.

Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:45 PM (mW1Fw)

116 To repeat my repeat..

Trump just admitted during a speech that he wasn't really going to build the wall - his signature issue.
Babbled on about "Natural Barrier" for half of the 2000 miles of border.So its only going to be 1000 miles wide.
The Rio Grande that flows near my house is about 4 feet deep and 30 feet wide. You can practically piss across it.

Stupid prick can't even lie coherently....

Posted by: TexasJew at March 09, 2016 11:46 PM (N7G17)

117 Calkoolis?

Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:46 PM (qUNWi)

118 A practical course in statistics would require knowledge not just of algebra, but calculus as well. Political "scientist" Hacker should at least know that, as I would assume he needed a couple courses in statistics to get his degree.

Posted by: JSchuler at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (qlZ7a)

The guy isn't talking about any real course in Statistics, only a joke survey course in elementary probability theory with a smidgeon of statistics thrown in. He actually wanted to require a coloring book course but ran into opposition from the color-blind lobby.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 09, 2016 11:47 PM (zc3Db)

119 I excelled at Math and thought Algebra was cool as hell, but it seems like it's a bunch of made up shit. Geometry seems like genuine real math.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (oBghv)

120 Obama: Let's Raise Capital Gains Tax Even if Less Revenue- Fairness

https://youtu.be/gJimLZRC9N8
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at March 09, 2016 11:42 PM (FkBIv)
--------------------

I believe you, but I know Biden said something idiotic about fairness before logic once.

Posted by: iforgot at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (5o5ek)

121 I took Algebra II in high school (3 times, iirc) and I don't recall needing it for macro or micro when I took it in college. But that was almost 30 years ago.
Posted by: CozMark

Demand curve ring a bell?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (A/3fN)

122 I'm pretty sure the insertion of world peace studies and Gaia worship were added to the curriculum to make sure the kiddos don't learn math. It's not that they need less math classes (no matter the type) just real actual time learning any math. Bernie voters are my proof.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (On7rW)

123 Uh oh, somebody has awoken. Have you all felt it?

The Plinkett Awakens.

http://tinyurl.com/gw7f9s2

Posted by: Thrawn at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (s87AC)

124 What exactly would Commie Core Algebra look like? "Comrade Julie casts 8 votes a day for Hillary. How many votes does she cast in a week? A: a bullet in the back of the head for not being sufficiently zealous for the revolution."

Posted by: Prince Ludwig the #Problematic at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (d9C8q)

125 My 9th grade Algebra teacher told us that the day would come when we would pay for everything with a little plastic card and we didn't believe him. He also said that at that time the value of a penny would be so small that you wouldn't bother to pick one up off the ground if you came across one.
Shout Out to Mr. Rivedal, where ever you are!

Posted by: ALH at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (Z56vq)

126 "Do you know what kind of looks you get if you say "Pythagorean Theorum" out loud on a job-site?
That shit can get you shanked, if not shot."
Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:45 PM (mW1Fw)

You can get misconstrued around here for something as simple as the F.O.I.L. method.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:49 PM (OQ9R7)

127 I saw "Ray" the other day and I have a question for the musically inclined.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: 'Who Decides?' at March 09, 2016 11:44 PM (BK3ZS)

That movie was amazingly awful. It was almost genius the way they took some of the greatest music around and made a boring, shitty movie out of it. Just awful.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 09, 2016 11:49 PM (zc3Db)

128 Obama: Let's Raise Capital Gains Tax Even if Less Revenue- Fairness

https://youtu.be/gJimLZRC9N8

I remember this so well. I remember thinking, oh - so this guy is really stupid. I can't believe Hillary didn't crucify him with this. It was just so stupid.

Posted by: Vertov at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (FMr/t)

129 Pythagoras was the L. Ron Hubbard of his day.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (sl+zA)

130 119 I excelled at Math and thought Algebra was cool as hell, but it seems like it's a bunch of made up shit. Geometry seems like genuine real math.
Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (oBgh

Oh, you were one of those kids?!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (voOPb)

131 Dumber shit I have not read in quite some time. That is really fucking stupid.
Posted by: ScoggDog
------------

I mention again, the UNC School of Journalism has removed any requirement for the study of post-1865 history, and ... wait for it... Economics. Because both are irrelevant to journalists, one supposes

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (n22zQ)

132 Do you know what kind of looks you get if you say "pythagorean theorum" out loud on a jobsite?
That shit can get you shanked, if not shot.

But I bet they're proud as fuck about checking their layouts using 3-4-5 or 6-8-10.

And you know where that shit comes from. Geometry. The other science that every fucking living being should know.

Folks - I'm a working Electrical Engineer. And I'm telling you - a real understanding of Algebra, Geometry, and Calc I gets you a long, long way.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (qmMG2)

133 Shooting in Wilkinsburg, PA, suburb of Pittsburgh. Multiple fatalities being reported but, who knows.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (8PbKi)

134 Algebra isn't made up.

It's almost all real.

Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (qUNWi)

135 "Demand curve ring a bell?"
-Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (A/3fN)

Bell-Curve's in demand.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (OQ9R7)

136 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining
streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing
down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see
if his attitude adjusts.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (dtll+)

It is very good to cultivate an attitude of gratitude

Posted by: redbanzai at March 09, 2016 11:51 PM (NPofj)

137 "With computers and smartphones and shit, who really needs to know math anyway?"

~Retards What Can't Do Math But Consider Themselves Intellectuals Because They Have A College Degree And Think Right Thoughts

Posted by: mugiwara at March 09, 2016 11:51 PM (KmC7Z)

138 Yeah, Viceland is a total piece of crap. Instead of Ancient Aliens, we get Our Fabulous Gaycation. Or Weediquette. (the preferred etiquette when consuming mass quantities of weed). No more The Universe. Says you can see your favorite shows on History channel. When? At three in the morning after a 10 hour Pawn Stars episode? Or fifteen hours of American Pickers? What do you want to bet it doesn't last more than three or four months after they start losing most of their viewers.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 09, 2016 11:51 PM (9iR5/)

139 Stupid prick can't even lie coherently....
Posted by: TexasJew at March 09, 2016 11:46 PM (N7G17)
---------------------

That's probably true, but a gigantor wall is ridiculous. BRING LADDERS, duh. Or shovels.

I'd like to know what we could do if we actually used our ICE and border patrol and stopped the tax-free remittances.

Posted by: iforgot at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (5o5ek)

140 >>>> Trump just admitted during a speech that he wasn't really going to build the wall - his signature issue.
Babbled on about "Natural Barrier" for half of the 2000 miles of border.So its only going to be 1000 miles wide.
The Rio Grande that flows near my house is about 4 feet deep and 30 feet wide. You can practically piss across it.
Stupid prick can't even lie coherently....
Posted by: TexasJew at March 09, 2016 11:46 PM (N7G17)
------
Dammit, is it because Vicente Fox said he wouldn't pay for the effing wall?
And what speech did he say this at?

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (oBghv)

141 I've read (and reviewed on the Book Thread) the first two books of the Space Trilogy. They are indeed must-reads.

I think there's room for fanfic around Perelandra, especially. Maybe the reason Venus is the way it is, is exactly because its Adam and Eve *did* settle upon the Ishtar Terra...? There was its Suendenfall, its Deluge; a flood of hot lava and fire!

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (6FqZa)

142 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining
streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see
if his attitude adjusts.

Posted by: Lauren

Take him to a homeless shelter. Ask him if he wants to stay.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (A/3fN)

143 I can't write down three positive things.

Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (qUNWi)

144 105 "But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, ..." his hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?"

DIAF.
Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 09, 2016 11:43 PM (zc3Db)
***
Yep. Forgiveness is not in my job description. My forgiveness - given or withheld - would change nothing.

So, yeah, the Lord might forgive this man, or at the very least cool the fires of Gehenna a bit for him, but I can't and won't.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (lutOX)

145 65
Corrie ten Boom's book The Hiding Place was required reading at the
little church school I went to. Had a profound effect on me as a young
girl.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:33 PM (2PI7/)

When I followed the link, I "heard" "...as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Posted by: cthulhu at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (EzgxV)

146
Shout Out to Mr. Rivedal, where ever you are!
Posted by: ALH

Yay Riverdale!

Posted by: Jughead at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (FkBIv)

147 Folks - I'm a working Electrical Engineer. And I'm telling you - a real understanding of Algebra, Geometry, and Calc I gets you a long, long way.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (qmMG2)

We're way past that. Community Organizing FTW!

SJW comes a close second.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (hlMPp)

148 "My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining
streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day and why they happened.
We'll see if his attitude adjusts."
-Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (dtll+)

Nicely Played!

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (OQ9R7)

149 Jinx..... if you're interested in some time at the shooting range, cigar lounge, good food or drink, just let me know.

Don't know if you'll get on the South side of Houston or not, but if you do, gimme a shout.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (McRlu)

150 I have advanced degrees in sciences and I can attest that Calcuius is generally a major waste of time for most of the softer sciences, such as biology.
Since I took advanced Geophysics, it was critical there, but I still use geometry as much as any differential calculus.

I agree that statistics is not taught as much as it needs to be. It is far more important than calculus for biology et al, yet relatively few people take it.

I have graduate credits in engineering as well, and I had to learn those critical statistics components on my own..

Posted by: TexasJew at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (N7G17)

151 101 You can't even do basic fucking fractional conversions, that you haven't already seen done in the homework, without Algebra.

**********

I can't tell you how many times I have had to patiently explain to someone how to figure out stuff like this:

"If one serving of oatmeal requires 2/3 cups of water, how much water is needed for three servings of oatmeal"?

Posted by: Noam Sayen at March 09, 2016 11:54 PM (bIhmV)

152 Feminist Glaciology, Or Stop Mis-Gendering Glaciers

Glaciers aren't just big hunks of ice, according to feminist and post-colonial academics, but have feelings. This sentiment is considered to be more valid than eeevil masculinist and White science. This sentiment is also embodied in the peer reviewed article "Glaciers, gender, and science: A feminist glaciology framework for global environmental change research".

More: http://politicalhat.com/?p=11312

Posted by: The Political Hat at March 09, 2016 11:54 PM (vBeA5)

153 'Night Ricardo

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:54 PM (hlMPp)

154 Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: 'Who Decides?' at March 09, 2016 11:44 PM (BK3ZS)

I think it was a rewritten Gospel song, plus, black churches were the first to use really fast tempo music in their worship services, and the style was very similar to that.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 09, 2016 11:54 PM (2PI7/)

155 I've been working construction for the last decade.

Do you know what kind of looks you get if you say "pythagorean theorum" out loud on a jobsite?
That shit can get you shanked, if not shot.

I've worked construction. I didn't use the words Pythagorean theorum, but I did measure 3x4x5 to make sure corners were square.

I love these "what I studied in school was useful and what you studied was dumb" threads.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 09, 2016 11:54 PM (1xUj/)

156 >>>> Algebra isn't made up.
It's almost all real.
Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (qUNWi)
------
What about the negative numbers? That doesn't seem suspicious to you? Why would we have negative numbers? That is definitely made up.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 11:55 PM (oBghv)

157 "With computers and smartphones and shit, who really needs to know math anyway?">>>

Engineers that think that we can measure/build shit out to 4 ().0001") places because that's what the calculator on their phone shows.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 09, 2016 11:55 PM (On7rW)

158 Jinx..... if you're interested in some time at the shooting range, cigar lounge, good food or drink, just let me know.

Thank you Sir, are you on Galveston Island? Never visited there, or Houston. Just drove through it.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at March 09, 2016 11:55 PM (TnUKj)

159 Wednesday Night ONT Compliance Pics

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707646042439864320

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707646204012830720

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707646494938161152

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707646669660233728

Posted by: kbdabear at March 09, 2016 11:55 PM (i6i8K)

160 Allow me to further muddy the waters around the math requirements issue.

Here in Commiefornia, the public sector educrats announced that a bunch of high school dropouts, going back years, were all going to be retroactively awarded high school diplomas. Not for having remedially passed the required courses and tests, mind you.

No, they were going to get the degrees despite not having done the work and not having demonstrated performance up to the accepted minimum standard. They would be declared to be graduates after having done nothing. Because something something racism. And because non sequiturs with dismissive handwaving.

Knowing Commiefornia as I do, I guaran-damn-tee you that it won't be long at all before dropouts from public colleges in this state also end up being retroactively declared to have graduated.

So why are we farting around with discussions of what should be in the educational curriculum? When said curriculum will apply in reality to smaller and smaller groups of students, as everyone else dodges, excuses, and slacks their way through?

What we should instead be doing is awarding people at age 14 an automatic doctoral degree in the subject of their choice, with a big impressive diploma and a nice professional photo of them in a gown and mortarboard, and then kicking their asses out into the real world to sink or swim. It would save a whole lot of money over the way things are done now.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (noWW6)

161 The Case Against Algebra

Well, if it's Feelz College we're talking about, why don't we get rid of everything that has a right and wrong answer? Because racist, that's why.

Posted by: t-bird at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (w/iDp)

162
I'm perfectly fine with getting rid of calc and replacing it with statistics.
Posted by: Colorado Alex

Already do, I think, at many schools. There's usually a set of classes that satisfy the lower division math req, and you have the choice of Calc, "Business" Calc or Statistics.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (kdS6q)

163 Over the years I have quizzed sundry friends and co-workers, asking them if they themselves ever actually proved the Pythagorean Theorem. So far, no one has said yes.

That's interesting all by itself, no?

At any rate Euclid's proof (propositions 47 & 4

, which relies only on geometry, is simple.

Here, for the interested:
http://tinyurl.com/q6ynyrq

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (n22zQ)

164 Micro and Macro economics are less than helpful.
Unless you need to justify taking all the money and giving it to your
friends in government.

I'm looking at YOU Paul.Fncking-market-inefficiencies-are-useful.Krugman.

Posted by: Kindltot at March 09, 2016 11:41 PM (q2o3

Krugman is macro... micro is Milton Friedman and is useful.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (NPofj)

165 I don't need no algebra to know how to rock.

Posted by: Carl Brutananadilewski at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (d9C8q)

166 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining
streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see
if his attitude adjusts.

***

Heh. He might be a little young for this technique, but stick it in your back pocket.

http://bit.ly/1P0TuyH

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 09, 2016 11:57 PM (8PbKi)

167 More Wednesday Night ONT Compliance Pics

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707646886526787585

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707647034820575232

https://twitter.com/kbdabear/status/707647181474373632

Posted by: kbdabear at March 09, 2016 11:57 PM (i6i8K)

168 Have not seen the "Ray" movie, but there's no question that a lot of R and B, and soul music had its roots in Gospel music. The "call and response" style is straight out of Gospel, for one.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (/i7Ua)

169 Negative irrational numbers should come with a trigger warning. I'll just be over here in my safe space with my imaginary numbers.

Posted by: mugiwara at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (KmC7Z)

170 Already do, I think, at many schools. There's usually a set of classes that satisfy the lower division math req, and you have the choice of Calc, "Business" Calc or Statistics.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (kdS6q)

Are you talking about high school, or college?

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (fC9RO)

171
143 I can't write down three positive things.

Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (qUNWi)

1. Beautiful day today
2. Absolutely stunning and sweet gal started in Marketing... (Well, started a month ago but just now noticing her hotness.)
3. Daytime savings bullshit is almost over

Now the rest of the horde. There's gotta be something positive going on.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (hlMPp)

172 My 10 year old has developed quite the complaining
streak as of late. So from now on I'm having him end the day by writing
down three positive things from the day and why they happened. We'll see
if his attitude adjusts.

Posted by: Lauren at March 09, 2016 11:32 PM (dtll+)

And this is how you raise kids. Be the adult, show the kid how to succeed in life. Kudos to you, Lauren.

Posted by: tbodie at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (FrMyu)

173 Negative numbers are just positives going the other way.

Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (qUNWi)

174 ..."Here, for the interested:
http://tinyurl.com/q6ynyrq"
-Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (n22zQ)

Cthulhu will not click on that link because he thinks you're passing viruses.

...not You in particular, but the "Royal" 'you'.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (OQ9R7)

175 At any rate Euclid's proof (propositions 47 & 4 , which relies only on geometry, is simple.

Posted by: Mike Hamme

Yeah, smiley faces. Real Science, broheim*.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (A/3fN)

176 Algebra isn't made up.

It's almost all real.

Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:50 PM (qUNWi)

------

What about the negative numbers? That doesn't seem suspicious to
you? Why would we have negative numbers? That is definitely made up.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 11:55 PM (oBghv)

Negative numbers are in the "I owe you" number set.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (NPofj)

177 I can't write down three positive things.
Posted by: eleven
-----------

I am dry, warm, and not hungry.

For those, I am immensely grateful.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (n22zQ)

178 So earlier, I asked for reactions to an item about Cruz that appeared at (gah) Conservative Treehouse.

The reactions were:

1. Gullible dumbass.

2. Stupid question.

3. Concern troll.

I know the proprietor there has a Christian visionary thing going on, and treats Trump like a ploy from heaven. I get that.

But -- he did excellent work on the Travon Martin and Michael Brown cases, and some other things. I don't want to just write him off as just a hopeless mystical or bought and paid for Trump crank and nothing more.

Based on the reactions, I won't bring up that site here again. I was not shit-stirring. I do wish that somebody could have commented/contested/refuted/whatever, since if the factoid I mentioned may surface again.

Done.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (/f6Nd)

179
Are you talking about high school, or college?
Posted by: Colorado Alex

College, although the same sort of thing is going on for a High School diploma.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (kdS6q)

180 Over the years I have quizzed sundry friends and co-workers, asking them if they themselves ever actually proved the Pythagorean Theorem.

Proving the Pythagorean Theorum was part of my fraternity initiation.

There were also other kinds of hazing, but we were big on intellectual hazing.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (1xUj/)

181 Engineers that think that we can measure/build shit out to 4 ().0001") places because that's what the calculator on their phone shows.

I gotta' say - and it was a problem when I turned out of school as well - the complete lack of interest in HOW THINGS ARE BUILT by engineers is a major reason why most tradesmen make fun of engineers.

I don't like engineers for the most part. I tell people I'm a Controls Guy.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (qmMG2)

182 And what about having to graph parabolas? Why did we have to do that? That served no real purpose in any way.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:00 AM (oBghv)

183 Why would we have negative numbers? That is definitely made up.
--

One of the great mathematical concepts was realized by '0', zero. It hasn't always been around.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:00 AM (n22zQ)

184 I was talking about high school.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (fC9RO)

185 Please... no Trump and Cruz on the ONT.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (OQ9R7)

186 What is that religious extresmist Cruise talking about? I am in the military, fuck I'm a Nacvy SeAl and we like to share rifles during combat deployemtns, No need to "rebuild" the military LULZ!

Posted by: Laup NOr's GniniameR NiarB LLeC at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (LYCUN)

187 Losing is like winning, only different

Posted by: RioBravo at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (NUqwG)

188 "And what about having to graph parabolas? Why did we have to do that? That served no real purpose in any way."
-Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:00 AM (oBghv)

Do you even Baseball?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (OQ9R7)

189 And what about having to graph parabolas? Why did we have to do that? That served no real purpose in any way.

Tide charts. You draw out the tides for the next few days and figure out when you can get away to fish and where would be good.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:02 AM (1xUj/)

190 173 Negative numbers are just positives going the other way.
Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (qUNWi)

-----------

I suppose we should thank the fucking muslims for those too.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 10, 2016 12:02 AM (sl+zA)

191
I have advanced degrees in sciences and I can attest that Calcuius is
generally a major waste of time for most of the softer sciences, such as
biology.

Since I took advanced Geophysics, it was critical there, but I still use geometry as much as any differential calculus.

I agree that statistics is not taught as much as it needs to be. It
is far more important than calculus for biology et al, yet relatively
few people take it.

I have graduate credits in engineering as well, and I had to learn those critical statistics components on my own..

Posted by: TexasJew at March 09, 2016 11:53 PM (N7G17)

Calculus is almost like being able to touch the mind of God.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:02 AM (NPofj)

192 And what about having to graph parabolas? Why did we have to do that? That served no real purpose in any way.
Posted by: L, Elle

Path of a projectile.

Life insurance charts.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (A/3fN)

193 I am allergic to all the pollen and currently battling the Snot Monster.

I'm losing.

Posted by: ALH at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (Z56vq)

194 Posted by: torquewrench at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (noWW6)

----------------------

My Mexican-born sister-in-law is always amazed at how stupid California public school grads are. She says in Mexico they're always raving about how great the education system is in America, and that's why they should all stampede the borders for the free, great education. She doesn't get why the reality doesn't measure up. How do you think she votes, by the way?

None of them seem to have any idea that they're the ones who've destroyed it.

Posted by: iforgot at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (5o5ek)

195 119
I excelled at Math and thought Algebra was cool as hell, but it seems
like it's a bunch of made up shit. Geometry seems like genuine real
math.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 09, 2016 11:48 PM (oBghv)

About 50% of the people who do well at math are natural analysts, about 45% natural algebraists, and only about 5% are natural geometricians.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (EzgxV)

196 24 Who else is really pissed that H2 Channel (History 2) has changed its format to societal degeneration as VICELAND???

Posted by: R Lee Ermey at March 09, 2016 11:24 PM (12kBq)

I'm very pissed over it. Bad enough that I can't indulge my junk food for the mind guilty pleasures of Ancient Aliens and Hangar 1, but they replace it with The SJW Channel

I like The Universe too, it's what Neil DeGrasse Tyson's show would be if it was hosted by someone who actually sticks to SCIENCE! that the host is qualified to talk about.

Posted by: kbdabear at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (i6i8K)

197 Jinx, yep, I'm on Galveston Island. Good food, speakeasys, and a decent cigar lounge on the island. But the only shooting range is a private club.

So, I'd drive up to League City (about 20 min South of Houston), and all the right combinations are to be found, there.

Depending on the nature and schedule of your travels, there's lots to see n' do around here, and Houston has more good places to eat than you can visit in a year or more.

Just keep in touch. Click my nic here for email.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (McRlu)

198 I don't like engineers for the most part. I tell people I'm a Controls Guy.>>>

I know many really good engineers. I just get sick of explaining over and over "Just because I can set the computer to read out X places that doesn't make it real". And with the young ones that I don't have to repeat that sentence to I have high hopes.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (On7rW)

199 "Calculus is almost like being able to touch the mind of God."
-Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:02 AM (NPofj)

If I ever see you, I'm going to...

...leave you alone because you're such a nerd.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:04 AM (OQ9R7)

200 Path of a projectile.

Life insurance charts.
Posted by: weft
-----------------

Our satellite dish.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:04 AM (n22zQ)

201 Negative numbers are in the "I owe you" number set.

And then there are the complex numbers, where the answer to "what do I owe" is "purple"

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 10, 2016 12:04 AM (6FqZa)

202 Things I'm thankful for:

1) My latest lab work results are very good. A1C, cholesterol, etc. all within acceptable ranges.

2) I have food, shelter, transportation and employment.

3) My grandkids.

4) My new ladyfriend. (Saying "girlfriend" when I'm on the backside of 40 seems odd.)

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:05 AM (rJUlF)

203
So earlier, I asked for reactions to an item about Cruz that appeared at (gah) Conservative Treehouse.

The reactions were:

1. Gullible dumbass.

2. Stupid question.

3. Concern troll.

I know the proprietor there has a Christian visionary thing going on, and treats Trump like a ploy from heaven. I get that.

But -- he did excellent work on the Travon Martin and Michael Brown
cases, and some other things. I don't want to just write him off as
just a hopeless mystical or bought and paid for Trump crank and nothing
more.

Based on the reactions, I won't bring up that site here again. I
was not shit-stirring. I do wish that somebody could have
commented/contested/refuted/whatever, since if the factoid I mentioned
may surface again.

Done.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (/f6Nd)

They may do great things on other subjects but they are incapable of producing anything but frothful ranting on the subject of Ted Cruz.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:05 AM (NPofj)

204 Please... no Trump and Cruz on the ONT.
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (OQ9R7)
--------------------

But the only other thing they're talking about is MATH.

Posted by: iforgot Barbie at March 10, 2016 12:05 AM (5o5ek)

205 I'm surprised that the Corrie Ten Boom article was on PBS, considering there views on Christianity.

The Hiding Place is a very good book written by her, FYI.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 10, 2016 12:05 AM (Bax01)

206 Calculus is almost like being able to touch the mind of God

Nah. Calc is just understanding the math behind taking a curve, drawing a series of equally wide rectangles whose midpoints intersect the curve, and then making the rectangles skinnier and skinnier and skinnier.

That's all it is. And Calc I is VERY useful.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:06 AM (qmMG2)

207 190 173 Negative numbers are just positives going the other way.
Posted by: eleven at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (qUNWi)

And one day we will have to pay back all the negative numbers we've been using all these years. Hopefully not in my lifetime though.

Posted by: Maetenloch at March 10, 2016 12:06 AM (wqVD1)

208 And what about having to graph parabolas? Why did we have to do that? That served no real purpose in any way.

Posted by: L, Elle

Path of a projectile.

Life insurance charts.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 10, 2016 12:03 AM (A/3fN)

Boobs.

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 10, 2016 12:06 AM (JO9+V)

209 138 Yeah, Viceland is a total piece of crap. Instead of Ancient Aliens, we get Our Fabulous Gaycation. Or Weediquette. (the preferred etiquette when consuming mass quantities of weed). No more The Universe. Says you can see your favorite shows on History channel. When? At three in the morning after a 10 hour Pawn Stars episode? Or fifteen hours of American Pickers? What do you want to bet it doesn't last more than three or four months after they start losing most of their viewers.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 09, 2016 11:51 PM (9iR5/)

As I expected, my favorite shows haven't been listed after two weeks and as I expected the main History channel is basically "Guys Looking Around For Junk" channel

Posted by: kbdabear at March 10, 2016 12:06 AM (i6i8K)

210 Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (/f6

Lately I have been checking out quite a few web sites. It's amazing the Trump or Cruz love/visceral that flows forth.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (voOPb)

211 Okay, Slap and Bander, second look at parabolas maybe.
But I'm right about the negative numbers. That stuff is total nonsense. All the rules about multiplying and dividing the negative numbers was just over the top

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (oBghv)

212
If I ever see you, I'm going to...

...leave you alone because you're such a nerd.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:04 AM (OQ9R7)

Don't care if you do:-P
I stick by my opinion.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (NPofj)

213 I am allergic to all the pollen and currently battling the Snot Monster.

I'm losing.
Posted by: ALH
-----------

I have a *nasty* upper respiratory infection.

If any of you were here, you would be edging away. I'm a regular phlegm factory.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (n22zQ)

214 "Ask him if he wants to stay."

He's my aspie so I'm sure he'd have a perfectly deadpan response to that.

He does need to get outside his world more though. Time to find a volunteer project, for sure.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (dtll+)

215 What happened?

Posted by: RWC
-------------------
Oh - nothing "happened" per se.
But, remember a few weeks back when you helped me with some questions I had about the concealed carry process here?
Well, I mentioned it to my friend/neighbor Shirley. She printed me a state application the next day, & I thought nothing more about the conversation...

Until last night - seems she also took an online class that you recommended that very night, filled out an application, had it notarized, and has already mailed in her paperwork.

BTW, she's almost 70 29 and a bit of a badass, obviously.

Posted by: Chi at March 10, 2016 12:08 AM (mW1Fw)

216 In which I abase myself:

I had to take a pass/fail calculus course in B-school specifically made for liberal arts refugees.

I learned my way through it by brute force. First derivative, apply this equation. Second derivative, put an equation over top of that.

I had no idea what was going on.

I was actually taking the final when it hit me, "oh, this is the tangent and that's the area under the curve".

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:08 AM (1xUj/)

217
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (hlMPp)
***
1) I've got interesting work
2) My angel, the future Empress, continues in her otherwise inexplicable fondness for me
3) I've been blessed to be entrusted by Providence with three perfect children

Bonus gratitude:

4) made a cute twenty-year old girl blush with eye-contact.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:08 AM (lutOX)

218 Nah. Calc is just understanding the math behind
taking a curve, drawing a series of equally wide rectangles whose
midpoints intersect the curve, and then making the rectangles skinnier
and skinnier and skinnier.

That's all it is. And Calc I is VERY useful.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:06 AM (qmMG2)

No, no, no (no)

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (NPofj)

219 Hello, boys and girls! (If you think this greeting does not apply to you, I'm not talking to you.)

Went into the office today and there was a scorpion out in the middle of the floor.

I stomped and stomped and stomped and stomped that little critter, but his tail kept twitching and stinging and twitching and stinging, long after the body was pulp.

I hate scorpions even more than I hate ticks!

So, what have you done to improve the world ecological environment today?

Posted by: mindful webworker - environmental activist at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (wKcYr)

220 "But the only other thing they're talking about is MATH."
-Posted by: iforgot Barbie at March 10, 2016 12:05 AM (5o5ek)

I know. If you understand that stars can be larger than 150 Solar Masses, then we can start to get along with them.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (OQ9R7)

221 29 What happens in Zimbabwe when Mugabe finally croaks?

Rename it to Rhodesia??

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (Bax01)

222 I don't know what to say. Daughter the younger left this morning for Bagram Afghanistan. Do I give a shit about the election? Yes I do. Anyone but that asshole Trump. But till then we still have to deal with the asshole Obama. I want my child home in one piece. So please pray for her

Posted by: GrandMa Bell at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (RLdcX)

223 Teaching Algebra to children is a proxy for teaching them critical thinking. We don't really know how to teach generalized critical thinking, so we teach them algebra. Enough of them get it that we can say it's a successful approach. Inasmuch as critical thinking is THE key to the Kingdom, learning algebra is a good way to get it. Now, the liars who didn't get it, want us to teach lying with numbers instead (statistics).

Posted by: Another Bob at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (qVVhq)

224 I sucked at algebra in HS. Mental block of abstract X=Y solve for X just did not compute for me. Now I use it regularly when X= something I know and Y=something I want to know.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (On7rW)

225 and what about having to graph parabolas?

That's perhaps the MOST useful math skill, after the basic subtraction to understand how many bullets remain in your magazine.

Posted by: Jean at March 10, 2016 12:10 AM (cXiMR)

226 I loved solving quadratic equations! I found them to be quite fun.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:10 AM (9iR5/)

227 I know many really good engineers. I just get sick of explaining over and over "Just because I can set the computer to read out X places that doesn't make it real". And with the young ones that I don't have to repeat that sentence to I have high hopes.

No shit.

Time out in the field would do some of these young pups some good.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:10 AM (qmMG2)

228 Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 09, 2016 11:58 PM (hlMPp)

Daylight savings time is about to BEGIN. We are on regular time now. They start fucking with it this weekend.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:10 AM (2PI7/)

229 "Okay, Slap and Bander, second look at parabolas maybe.
But I'm right about the negative numbers. That stuff is total nonsense. All the rules about multiplying and dividing the negative numbers was just over the top."
-Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (oBghv)

Obey your integers, Woman.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (OQ9R7)

230 Very nice ONT - thank you Maet.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (hipNa)

231 Tangents are very sexy.

Posted by: eleven at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (qUNWi)

232 115
Shit, carpenters need solid knowledge of geometry and algebra... Just because education majors don't have a grasp of the importance, it still should be widely taught for an effective hard-working society
Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton
--------------------
I've been working construction for the last decade.

Do you know what kind of looks you get if you say "pythagorean theorum" out loud on a jobsite?
That shit can get you shanked, if not shot.
Posted by: Chi at March 09, 2016 11:45 PM (mW1Fw)

You need to work with a better class of roughnecks & thugs

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (voOPb)

233 >>>> "Calculus is almost like being able to touch the mind of God."
-Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:02 AM
------
Whatever you say, geek.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (oBghv)

234 209 138 Yeah, Viceland is a total piece of crap. Instead of Ancient Aliens, we get Our Fabulous Gaycation. Or Weediquette. What do you want to bet it doesn't last more than three or four months after they start losing most of their viewers.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 09, 2016 11:51 PM (9iR5/)

They'll give it a few years at least, it's a loss leader for A&E Networks, partly a campaign donation for Democrats and partly their attempt to get the Special Snowflakes off their streaming networks and back to suckling off what cable companies spoon feed them.

Posted by: kbdabear at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (i6i8K)

235 Scots-Irish Math:
You have 12 apples and your neighbor comes an takes 8 of them. What do you have now?

12 apples and one dead neighbor.

Please don't show your work.

Posted by: IsMishe at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (2WiEX)

236 157
"With computers and smartphones and shit, who really needs to know math anyway?">>>

Engineers
that think that we can measure/build shit out to 4 ().0001") places
because that's what the calculator on their phone shows.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 09, 2016 11:55 PM (On7rW)

In machining, it is the norm to discuss dimensions and tolerances to 1/1000 of an inch -- so much so, that it is the assumed measurement when units are omitted. Example: "How much further do we need to go?" "About six."

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:12 AM (EzgxV)

237 I strongly disagree with the statement about Biology and Calculus. Unless you are sticking with "pat the bunny" biology, you need a good understanding of chemistry to understand nerves or brains or drug reactions or pharmacokinetics or muscle action. In this case a good understanding starts with a smattering of physical chemistry, which starts with calculus.

Or maybe you are going the ecology route, i.e., population dynamics. Whoops, calculus again.

I suppose you could memorize the Linnean system without math, but that's not much to go on.

Perhaps it was Social Justice biology...

Posted by: Old Toby at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (iynDC)

238 No, no, no (no)

So ... I see you'd really like to exchange emails and work through basic limit equations.

Dude/Dude-ette - it aint' THAT hard. You could do it.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (qmMG2)

239 Congrats on the new lady, Captain! I'm glad to hear things look good health wise as well.

As for me:

1) Thankful my van repairs were relatively inexpensive.

2) Thankful for my sweet puppy who celebrated his first birthday today. Although we've been giving him new birthday chew toys all week and my oldest daughter says he's had "Birthday Hanukkah".

3) Thankful that my kids are all healthy. That of course is the biggest and eternal one.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (dtll+)

240 Trump seems to be buying a bunch of ads in Florida - really brutal anti-Rubio ads. Haven't seen an anti-Cruz one yet, though that may just be luck of the draw, as I don't watch much TV.

Posted by: Locarno at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (ivaye)

241 "In machining, it is the norm to discuss dimensions and tolerances to 1/1000 of an inch -- so much so, that it is the assumed measurement when units are omitted. Example: "How much further do we need to go?" "About six.""
-Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:12 AM (EzgxV)

We can hold within these tolerances, Willy J.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (OQ9R7)

242 Anybody watch any of the Dem debate on CNN tonight? I only saw about 45 minutes, but I was amazed how much of it was in Spanish. Graphics in Spanish, two hosts doing intros and out-tros in Spanish, with voice-of-god voiceovers in English.

Now - I don't have anything against Spanish, and I really can't think of a better gift a parent can give to a child than to be raised bi-lingual. (Good friend has a Korean wife, who was raised in Germany. She speaks Korean to the two kids in the morning, German in the afternoon, and English when dad gets home at night. How cool is that?)

But - there are 330 million American citizens. Exactly how many of them speak Spanish and no English? I'm really curious, because this seemed like the most cringe-worthy pandering I've ever seen. I mean, are there really millions of legal immigrants who haven't been able to learn English? Are Cruz and Rubio outliers?

Posted by: Vertov at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (FMr/t)

243 Am I the only who is intrigued by the fact that there may be a Scuba diver in the world that can glow in the dark now? Evening horde!

Posted by: Spawn of Mayhem at March 10, 2016 12:14 AM (WPm3x)

244 -Posted by: Locarno at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (ivaye)

Knock It Off on the ONT, Please. Thank You.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:14 AM (OQ9R7)

245 Crap I'mma be up all night wondering if the stupid fucking Raiders got this stupid fucking cornerback because he's being a stupid fucking diva and won't commit.

fuck

Posted by: eleven at March 10, 2016 12:15 AM (qUNWi)

246 4) My new ladyfriend. (Saying "girlfriend" when I'm on the backside of 40 seems odd.)

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:05 AM (rJUlF)

Oh I dunno, I think it still sounds cool. Like being a young 'un again.

My current roommate went on ChristianMingle this past Friday, scheduled a meeting Saturday, and by Sunday night he had a girlfriend. They've been together every night since.

I live in his house, but he's never here now. I'm happy for him, but sheesh, talk about feeling inadequate. Here I sit.

Posted by: Blano at March 10, 2016 12:15 AM (3eoPa)

247 Prayers for your daughter's safety GrandMa Bell.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:15 AM (dtll+)

248 I say drinking coffee is the nectars of the gods not some silly math equation

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 10, 2016 12:15 AM (voOPb)

249 What happens in Zimbabwe when Mugabe finally croaks?

Rename it to Rhodesia??

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (Bax01)

Rename it 津巴布韦

Posted by: The Neo-Colonial Hat at March 10, 2016 12:15 AM (vBeA5)

250 In machining, it is the norm to discuss dimensions and tolerances to 1/1000 of an inch>>>

My example was to 10,000ths of an inch. But yes I get your point of expectations.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 12:16 AM (On7rW)

251 But the only other thing they're talking about is MATH.

**Politics / Math**

Yeah, how about that "Theory of Relativity"?

Posted by: tbodie at March 10, 2016 12:16 AM (FrMyu)

252 But I'm right about the negative numbers. That stuff is total nonsense. All the rules about multiplying and dividing the negative numbers was just over the top

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:07 AM (oBghv)

Negative numbers literally are real numbers. And they do exist, and are a very useful concept. Right now in Europe, some banks are paying negative interest rates on savings accounts. Which means you pay them to keep your money in the bank. That is real.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 12:16 AM (/i7Ua)

253 L'Elle, an awful lot of electronics uses negative numbers. Most circuit boards will have +/- voltage values. IE, +12 volts DC, -12 volts DC, +6 volts DC, -6 volts DC. You have to know how to manipulate the values to arrive at a coherent answer.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:16 AM (9iR5/)

254 241 "In machining, it is the norm to discuss dimensions and tolerances to 1/1000 of an inch -- so much so, that it is the assumed measurement when units are omitted. Example: "How much further do we need to go?" "About six.""
-Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:12 AM (EzgxV)

We can hold within these tolerances, Willy J.
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:13 AM (OQ9R7)
***
Pfft!

I'm in semiconductors now.

Rooms full of people checking tolerances with scanning electron microscopes......

14 nanometers, bitches.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (lutOX)

255 Lauren ... being a grouchy damn dude myself - I think I'll adopt the "Three Things" exercise as well. I'm totally serious.

Tonite's three ...

I know Algebra
I know Geometry
I know Calculus

Seriously though - that's a nice idea.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (qmMG2)

256 Whatever you say, geek.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:11 AM (oBghv)

I OWN my geekness.

One of my favorite books is Fundamentals of Mathematical Economics by Alpha Chang

All really is number

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (NPofj)

257 I routinely build stuff with timing in the ps (I use laser fringes for timing) and optics with +/-5 nm mechanical tolerances? The glowing brink in front of you, that your using to comment here could not have been built at 1/1000 resolution limit.

Posted by: Jean at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (cXiMR)

258 History channel
H2 Channel
Learning Channel

What is this channel stuff y'all are talking about?

Oh, wait, I remember those. Used to have dozens and dozens of them when we had cable TV and satellite. Wow, that was a long, long time ago. Had to catch shows when broadcasters scheduled them and sit through advertisements, or set the VCR up properly.

They still have those, I guess? I think they're where some of those shows on the Internet come from....

Posted by: mindful webworker - living in the future at March 10, 2016 12:18 AM (wKcYr)

259 Oh... that whole "Viceland" Channel was unprepared and wholly fucked upon its launch.

To Hell with the whole thing.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:18 AM (OQ9R7)

260 I know usually about January 15th there are negative numbers such as negative 12 degrees & a windchill of 30 below

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 10, 2016 12:18 AM (voOPb)

261 14 nanometers, bitches.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (lutOX)

This is America. Nanoyards, please.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 12:18 AM (zc3Db)

262 I really can't think of a better gift a parent can give to a child than to be raised bi-lingual. (Good friend has a Korean wife, who was raised in Germany. She speaks Korean to the two kids in the morning, German in the afternoon, and English when dad gets home at night. How cool is that?)

Oh that's very cool and it's best done when the kids' minds are plastic.

I grew up in an area with a lot of German immigrants and it killed me that they didn't raise their kids bilingual when I was busting my ass to learn their stupid gutter language. It was the downside of assimilation, I guess. "We're Americans now".

No. 1 Son was born in Germany and I hoped he'd grow up bilingual, but the wife balked on that kind of early. No. 2 Son became fluent in ASL because he's a little dick.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:18 AM (1xUj/)

263 Nah. Calc is just understanding the math behind taking a curve,
drawing a series of equally wide rectangles whose midpoints intersect
the curve, and then making the rectangles skinnier and skinnier and
skinnier.

That's all it is. And Calc I is VERY useful.
Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:06 AM (qmMG2)

The concept of adding up an infinite series of infinitesimally small rectangles is tough to grasp. I think there are a lot more people who can learn to do calculus than can actually grasp the why of calculus.
I was lucky, best teacher I ever had was for AP Calc, he really explained the concept beautifully, but at the same time terrified the class when nobody could ever score higher than a 50% on his tests. We didn't appreciate it fully until it took less than 30 minutes for the entire class to finish the AP exam.

Posted by: mugiwara at March 10, 2016 12:19 AM (KmC7Z)

264 I'm in semiconductors now.

That's really cool.

My shit is all industrial. Integration more than anything.

But that is very cool.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:19 AM (qmMG2)

265 I'm with L'Elle; they shoulda just made more numbers instead of going backwards with the ones they already had.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:19 AM (2PI7/)

266 Rooms full of people checking tolerances with scanning electron microscopes......

14 nanometers, bitches.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine,>>>

Measuring in pixels.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 12:19 AM (On7rW)

267 Posted by: GrandMa Bell at March 10, 2016 12:09 AM (RLdcX)

She (and you) will be in my prayers.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:20 AM (NPofj)

268 ..."14 nanometers, bitches."
-Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (lutOX)

*HAH!* I read about that shit twenty-five years ago and Just Marveled.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:20 AM (OQ9R7)

269 261 14 nanometers, bitches.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM (lutOX)

This is America. Nanoyards, please.
Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 12:18 AM (zc3Db)
****
Nano-inches.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:20 AM (lutOX)

270 174
..."Here, for the interested:

http://tinyurl.com/q6ynyrq"

-Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 09, 2016 11:56 PM (n22zQ)

Cthulhu will not click on that link because he thinks you're passing viruses.

...not You in particular, but the "Royal" 'you'.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 09, 2016 11:59 PM (OQ9R7)

Actually, I checked the preview first. I haven't always used preview, but I do now.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:21 AM (EzgxV)

271 "255 Lauren ... being a grouchy damn dude myself - I think I'll adopt the "Three Things" exercise as well. I'm totally serious.
"

Glad to hear it! I need to practice it myself. I tend to fixate on the bad too.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:21 AM (dtll+)

272
Most circuit boards will have +/- voltage values. IE, +12 volts DC, -12 volts DC, +6 volts DC, -6 volts DC. You have to know how to manipulate the values to arrive at a coherent answer.
Posted by: Old Blue

It all adds up.

Posted by: Kirchoff at March 10, 2016 12:21 AM (FkBIv)

273 249: Heh! Yea, I saw that the Chinese have made it a colony. I guess colonization is ok if your the PRC.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 10, 2016 12:21 AM (Bax01)

274 185
Please... no Trump and Cruz on the ONT.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:01 AM (OQ9R7)

What about Moose und Squirrel?

Posted by: Boris Badanov at March 10, 2016 12:21 AM (EzgxV)

275 Being a bowling geek, I was the lead lane inspector for the GDUSBC. Tolerances on the lane were measured in 1/1000th of an inch. The max a lane could deviate was +/- 40/1000 of an inch. If it was over that, the lane failed and had to be corrected.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:22 AM (9iR5/)

276 Nano-inches.

I thought we weren't supposed to talk about the debates in this thread.

*ducks*

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:22 AM (1xUj/)

277 Wow, I learned all the math answers tonight. I was always good at it and could work through problems patiently like I had bad OCD, but a lot of it didn't make sense to me. I had great math teachers too which helped. All women too strangely. Except my Calc teacher who told me I was a bad influence on the rest of the class. That wasn't nice.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:22 AM (oBghv)

278 Hey Maet
That Corrie ten Boom on forgiveness link was... powerful, to say the least...

*tips drink. "Fuck you and Cheers!"

And great thread as per usual.

...Totes not sucking up

Posted by: Stb Applauding futility at March 10, 2016 12:22 AM (qby7P)

279 If you want to enjoy seeing a nearly perfect conflux of math, engineering and execution, spend some time with a rep from Cabot Firearms.

They make a series of 1911 pistols, using the very highest end of aerospace and scientific machine tools, measuring instruments and methods, tool set-ups and other aspects of the art.

Tolerance to spec is guaranteed to not exceed +/- one millionth of an inch. I forgot their spec for "parallel-ness" of the rails, frame and slide-width, etc. But it was of a similarly freakish impossibility of a number.

At the 2013 NRA Annual Meeting in Houston, they had a stripped frame and slide you could pick up and examine, as well as clean cotton cloths and a spray can of degreaser.

Even without a spec of lube on the parts, they slid as if on oil. A few molecules of air was the "bearing" they rode on. Not an unnecessarily "tight" fit, mind you.

Just one that was so perfectly matched as to be near magic in it's function.

Base price for one of their 1911s starts at $5,000. They'll average around $11,000, and you can have 'em made any way you want in terms of slide-grooves, frame stippling or checkering, etc.

Lottery gun, to be sure.

Made by math, engineering and machining nerds.

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at March 10, 2016 12:23 AM (McRlu)

280 "What about Moose und Squirrel?"
-Posted by: Boris Badanov at March 10, 2016 12:21 AM (EzgxV)

Decidedly, Yes.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:23 AM (OQ9R7)

281
Negative numbers are just positives going the other way.
Posted by: eleven

Understanding, at an innate level, that -(-) and - * - are + is probably the shibboleth in math that separates those who will tread on grass and those who will tread on stones.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 12:23 AM (kdS6q)

282 ...."Except my Calc teacher who told me I was a bad influence on the rest of the class. That wasn't nice."
-Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:22 AM (oBghv)

*SHHHHHHH!!!*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:24 AM (OQ9R7)

283 >>>>> One of my favorite books is Fundamentals of Mathematical Economics by Alpha Chang
All really is number
Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:17 AM
-----
Whatever you say, super geek.
:-)

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:24 AM (oBghv)

284 The concept of adding up an infinite series of infinitesimally small rectangles is tough to grasp. I think there are a lot more people who can learn to do calculus than can actually grasp the why of calculus.

I can see that.

But man - once you do - and I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir - don't shit get a whole lot easier.

Now Calc II - with all the Trig Identities mixed in - wasn't a big fan. Way too much memorization.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:24 AM (qmMG2)

285 New gig is kinda weird - I used to work at a place that was sorta kinda importing technology and delivering it to a largely Western market.

Nowadays? I work at a place that produces American technology for export.

Our biggest customers are Japanese and Chinese; the company's Korean, however.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:25 AM (lutOX)

286 Maet you Around? Or basking in the glow of a top notch ONT.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 10, 2016 12:25 AM (voOPb)

287 Made by math, engineering and machining nerds.

But still based on a design by a guy 105 years ago.

I still marvel at the 1911. I see it as a series of if/then statements made out of metal.

Is the butt safety engaged, can I use the manual safety, has the last shell ejected? It's freaking software in hard form.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:26 AM (1xUj/)

288 I am grateful for the beautiful day.

I am grateful that someone pays me to do forecasting that I would do for free cause... math zen.

I am grateful for my best friend who listens to me bitch about my boss without telling me to shut up already.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:27 AM (NPofj)

289 I was an average algebra and geometry student. Calculus made my brain want to commit suicide. But I'd never say it should not be taught.

People who say "I'll never use that stuff in real life" are deluding themselves. I use algebra to determine music category rotations at my job, for example.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:27 AM (rJUlF)

290 287 Made by math, engineering and machining nerds.

But still based on a design by a guy 105 years ago.

I still marvel at the 1911. I see it as a series of if/then statements made out of metal.

Is the butt safety engaged, can I use the manual safety, has the last shell ejected? It's freaking software in hard form.
Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:26 AM (1xUj/)
***
It's like the fucking monolith from 2001 - there's no explaining the damned thing. That whacky Greek guy with the hair should shut up about cave paintings and take a good long look at John Moses Browning - dude had alien technology, no doubt.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:28 AM (lutOX)

291 >>>> Is the butt safety engaged, can I use the manual safety, has the last shell ejected? It's freaking software in hard form.
Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:26 AM (1xUj/)
-----
This is a sexual euphuism, right?
Can you leave all the smut off the ONT for once?
Save it for the Memorial Day ONT

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:28 AM (oBghv)

292 But still based on a design by a guy 105 years ago.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Remington 700, Remington 870, Ruger Mini-14, list goes on and on and on ...

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:28 AM (qmMG2)

293 111
I saw "Ray" the other day and I have a question for the musically inclined. In the movie, when Ray Charles first sings "I Gotta Woman"to his future wife, Bea, she stops him, saying, "That's gospel and it's sinful to sing that in that way!" or words to that effect.

My question is how was that song gospel?

*************

Easy. It's the Gospel According to Bill Clinton.

Posted by: Noam Sayen at March 10, 2016 12:29 AM (bIhmV)

294 I really can't comment intelligently on math. So I'll just leave you with this lesson I learned a long time ago:
http://tinyurl.com/pqxpyxk

Posted by: Vertov at March 10, 2016 12:29 AM (FMr/t)

295 Apologies for polluting the Sacred ONT with this.

Cruz's PAC donated big money to Carly Fiorina?

http://tinyurl.com/hzrnoww

also... the Pac is formally run by Robert Mercer, a hedge fund co-CEO and
one of the largest individual donors over the last couple of election
cycles.

/what does it mean?

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (7FH+T)

296 It's 12:30. I have to be up at 6:00. I'm usually in bed by 10:00.

Tomorrow is going to hurt.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (qmMG2)

297 I wish that I'd had better education in teh maths. My teachers were grossly incompetent after about 7th or 8th grade and I developed a severe anxiety about it.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (0mRoj)

298 Have a great night and an even better Thors Day horde. Be blessed and piss off a leftie tomorrow..

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:31 AM (hlMPp)

299
Now Calc II - with all the Trig Identities mixed in - wasn't a big fan. Way too much memorization.
Posted by: ScoggDog

Usually, or at least used to, get trig in Calc I.

Calc I was:

A week of:

Limit theory

for most of the class:

Our friend the Derivative
Our friend the Integral

then a couple weeks of:

Basic Trig transforms
Basic Polar transforms

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 12:31 AM (kdS6q)

300 I saw "Ray" the other day and I have a question for the musically
inclined. In the movie, when Ray Charles first sings "I Gotta Woman"to
his future wife, Bea, she stops him, saying, "That's gospel and it's
sinful to sing that in that way!" or words to that effect.

My question is how was that song gospel?

*************

The tune for I gotta women was built on a gospel song called It must be Jesus.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:31 AM (NPofj)

301 The point of learning math isn't to use it to solve problems, but to master the intellectual tools to approach problems even if they can't be solved explicitly by mathematical techniques. In other words, to think quantitatively, even when the quantities themselves cannot be quantified, if that makes sense. To put it another way, to think about how to approach a problem if you COULD determine the quantities involved.

Unfortunately the best example that comes to mind is Karl Marx's Das Kapital, which doesn't have a single equation, yet attempts to put economic analysis on a quantitative basis.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:31 AM (oKE6c)

302 297
I wish that I'd had better education in teh maths. My teachers were
grossly incompetent after about 7th or 8th grade and I developed a
severe anxiety about it.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (0mRoj)

I had the same problem. A grossly incompetent Algebra I teacher wrecked me and left me with a math anxiety I didn't overcome until I went back to finish my college degree. I ended up getting a 100 in College Algebra, and wondered why I ever had trouble with it.

A good teacher makes all the difference.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 12:32 AM (HalrA)

303 >>>> People who say "I'll never use that stuff in real life" are deluding themselves. I use algebra to determine music category rotations at my job, for example.
Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:27 AM
-----
How do you determine music category rotations at your job using algebra? I don't see real life applications for advanced math. Math was always a technical skill for me that I never could apply in real life beyond the basic math of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. And geometry and angles and proofs.

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:32 AM (oBghv)

304 As most can tell, I am already impaired by a cool, malty beverage Prepared by God.

-or a brewery whose inspiration...

Forget About It.

I'm tired and I should find sleep.

That's a good thing, as far as I'm concerned.

G'Night, Ev'ry-Buddy!

*static*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:32 AM (OQ9R7)

305 Now Calc II - with all the Trig Identities mixed in - wasn't a big fan. Way too much memorization.
Posted by: ScoggDog

Memorization = lousy teacher.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:33 AM (oKE6c)

306
Browning's 1911 is timeless. It simply IS.

Not much for forgiveness. Do me bad,I suppose I might could forgive your corpse, I guess.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 10, 2016 12:33 AM (P/8aq)

307 Forget about these made up and stooped charges against Hillary Cliton!! Bush lied to our Presdent of Color and it is a crime to lye to a Black Presdent people. We must arrest Bush before Presdent Obama leaves office .............

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro VT at March 10, 2016 12:33 AM (Fbj4h)

308 Never made it to calculus. I've been thinking of getting one of those Great Courses, you know the Calculus For Dummies. Only because math is the one science you can't politically correct. It's pure and it's beautiful.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:33 AM (9iR5/)

309 I saw "Ray" the other day and I have a question for the musically

inclined. In the movie, when Ray Charles first sings "I Gotta Woman"to

his future wife, Bea, she stops him, saying, "That's gospel and it's

sinful to sing that in that way!" or words to that effect.

My question is how was that song gospel?

*************

The tune for I gotta women was built on a gospel song called It must be Jesus.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:31 AM (NPofj)

Here is the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvCbVLZW4EY

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:33 AM (NPofj)

310 Recommended read, for the Math curious:
'Unknown Quantity, A Real and Imagined History of Algebra', by John Derbyshire, who is, BTW, a mathematician.

Filled with interesting stuff.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:34 AM (n22zQ)

311 'Night Slap

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:34 AM (hlMPp)

312 "A good teacher makes all the difference."

Amen and amen.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:34 AM (0mRoj)

313 L... you can be my bad influence any time.

Posted by: eleven at March 10, 2016 12:34 AM (qUNWi)

314 If you've ever watched a U.S. president try to navigate a wrought iron garden gate with an open parabola you should understand the need for math.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 12:35 AM (NeFrd)

315 My last job, surrounded by Chinese, I was called "eluosi," because of what a few of them detected in my judaeo-slavic features, which (oddly enough, but rather fortunately for me) they found exotic and yet familiar.

Wonder what the Koreans will call me behind my back.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:35 AM (lutOX)

316 I was told there would be no math.

Posted by: RioBravo at March 10, 2016 12:35 AM (NUqwG)

317 295 Apologies for polluting the Sacred ONT with this.

Cruz's PAC donated big money to Carly Fiorina?

http://tinyurl.com/hzrnoww

also... the Pac is formally run by Robert Mercer, a hedge fund co-CEO and
one of the largest individual donors over the last couple of election
cycles.

/what does it mean?

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (7FH+T)

------

It means you're going to be attacked as a concern troll and Trump secret agent.

I don't know what it means. I brought it up this afternoon and asked what it meant. All I got was ridicule.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (/f6Nd)

318 310 Recommended read, for the Math curious:
'Unknown Quantity, A Real and Imagined History of Algebra', by John Derbyshire, who is, BTW, a mathematician.

Filled with interesting stuff.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:34 AM (n22zQ)

But, but, but he tells his kids to cross the street if they see a group of yoots that look like bangers walking their way! He's a RAAAAACIST!!!!!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (0mRoj)

319 Posted by: Lauren

Take him to a homeless shelter. Ask him if he wants to stay.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at March 09, 2016 11:52 PM (A/3fN)

Lauren, do I remember correctly that you're in the greater Austin area? If so, serious suggestion: volunteer for a weekend, or more if you want, at the Community First! Village run by Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Ask for the Hebbards and tell them I sent you. (Bethany and I went to grad school together.) You might want to avoid political discussions while you're there, but it could be a good attitude adjuster.

Re: "nobody needs algebra": Someone obviously has never taken a decent physics course, never mind studying quantum mechanics. I actually learned multivariable calculus better from my Physics and PChem professors than I did from my Calculus III prof, which says more about the CalIII prof than anything--he didn't teach.

I did take AP Statistics in HS and enjoyed it, but I don't exactly use it on a daily basis except in rolling my eyes at certain polls.
(Here's hoping the hamsters don't eat all my hard returns this time....)

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (vRQPU)

320 Thank You, RWC.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (OQ9R7)

321 Mary, lay off the sherry. It's way past your bedtime and I know that there is a nice hairy face sized spider waiting for you in bed.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (9iR5/)

322 Made the mistake of reading the post... Cleeearly.
I dont even have good math or engineering jokes.
Except... I do recall something about measuring with a ruby tip hmmm....

Posted by: Stb Applauding futility at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (qby7P)

323 If you've ever watched a U.S. president try to
----------------

count to 50.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (eeTCA)

324 I hear you, Insomniac.

I moved to Texas from a school without an honors program so in order to get into AP math I had to take Algebra in summer school before 9th grade.

My teacher was literally insane. She was institutionalized during the course of the class. I learned not one thing.

I muddled through Geometry and Algebra 2, but I basically went from being awesome at math to scraping by with a C.

I still did well on my SATs though so I guess I somehow learned something.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (dtll+)

325
Now Calc II - with all the Trig Identities mixed in - wasn't a big fan. Way too much memorization.
Posted by: ScoggDog

Memorization = lousy teacher.
Posted by: Jay Guevara

That's the nature of Calc II. It's a "technique of the week" class. You have to memorize, but it's short term memorization. Unless you get a teacher who goes the whole year comprehensive final route.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 12:37 AM (kdS6q)

326 If you've ever watched a U.S. president try to navigate a wrought iron garden gate with an open parabola you should understand the need for math.
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 12:35 AM (NeFrd)
--------
I don't think that was a math problem. Nor the weird baseball "pitch".

Posted by: RioBravo at March 10, 2016 12:37 AM (NUqwG)

327 I had the same problem. A grossly incompetent Algebra I teacher wrecked me and left me with a math anxiety I didn't overcome until I went back to finish my college degree. I ended up getting a 100 in College Algebra, and wondered why I ever had trouble with it.

A good teacher makes all the difference.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 12:32 AM (HalrA)

I'm in the same boat. Crappy math teachers early on screwed me when I went to college. Calc was a nightmare. I went back to school in fall of 2014 and have finished Calc III and Linear Algebra online. I think I'm starting to get it, finally.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 12:38 AM (fC9RO)

328 "volunteer for a weekend, or more if you want, at the Community First! Village run by Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Ask for the Hebbards and tell them I sent you. (Bethany and I went to grad school together.) You might want to avoid political discussions while you're there, but it could be a good attitude adjuster."

Thanks! That sounds like a great opportunity.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:38 AM (dtll+)

329
314 If you've ever watched a U.S. president try to navigate a wrought iron garden gate with an open parabola you should understand the need for math.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 12:35 AM (NeFrd

Or a better electorate.

DM posting the headline 'Canada's version of Obama is coming to the States.

Prayers Canada. Prayers.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:38 AM (hlMPp)

330 But, but, but he tells his kids to cross the street if they see a group of yoots that look like bangers walking their way! He's a RAAAAACIST!!!!!
Posted by: Insomniac
--------------

That only because they haven't read his book on the Riemann Hypothesis.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:38 AM (n22zQ)

331 Cervix ...

... that sounds about right. Discs and Shells in Calc I. Integration of basic single plane shit.

Calc II ... at least at my Cut Rate College - was 16 big beautiful weeks of your friend the Sec and ArcTan - how to grind out Sin/Cos - and such other shit that, honestly, I never did use again.

At least in my line of work, Calc III and Diff EQ were more useful.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:39 AM (qmMG2)

332 I, myself -- the son of parents with five STEM degrees between them -- never got "trig" when my dad tried to teach it to me, starting in the third grade....

....until it was presented as analytic geometry in 12th grade. After that, I could derive that stuff in realtime just by remembering that the point on a unit circle with a counterclockwise angle starting from the positive x axis has the coordinates (cos theta, sin theta).

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:39 AM (EzgxV)

333 324 I hear you, Insomniac.

I moved to Texas from a school without an honors program so in order to get into AP math I had to take Algebra in summer school before 9th grade.

My teacher was literally insane. She was institutionalized during the course of the class. I learned not one thing.

I muddled through Geometry and Algebra 2, but I basically went from being awesome at math to scraping by with a C.

I still did well on my SATs though so I guess I somehow learned something.
Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (dtll+)

I was able to scrape a not completely retarded score on the math portion of the SAT despite not knowing a good bit of the material on it. Fortunately I'm pretty good at multiple choice.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:40 AM (0mRoj)

334
It means you're going to be attacked as a concern troll and Trump secret agent.

I don't know what it means. I brought it up this afternoon and asked what it meant. All I got was ridicule.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM
------

LOL.

Back in the day, the "concern trolls" used the term "Concerned Christians."

Never thought I'd be one of those.

Ah well. Best not bring up the fact that Mrs. Cruz works for Goldman Sachs...

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 10, 2016 12:40 AM (7FH+T)

335 How do you determine music category rotations at your job using algebra? I don't see real life applications for advanced math. Math was always a technical skill for me that I never could apply in real life beyond the basic math of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. And geometry and angles and proofs.
Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 12:32 AM (oBghv)

*****

It's arithmetic using letter and number combinations instead of just numbers.

Posted by: Tim in GA at March 10, 2016 12:40 AM (YLidQ)

336 Calc III was actually easier than Calc II. It just seemed to click.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 12:41 AM (fC9RO)

337 Now Calc II - with all the Trig Identities mixed in - wasn't a big fan. Way too much memorization.
Posted by: ScoggDog
Memorization = lousy teacher.
Posted by: Jay Guevara
That's
the nature of Calc II. It's a "technique of the week" class. You have
to memorize, but it's short term memorization. Unless you get a teacher
who goes the whole year comprehensive final route.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 12:37 AM (kdS6q)

Yeah, for test taking, memorizing those trig identities is the way to go. But if you forget one you should be able to perform the proof and find it on your own, if you had a decent teacher.

Posted by: mugiwara at March 10, 2016 12:41 AM (KmC7Z)

338 Recommended read, for the Math curious:

'Unknown Quantity, A Real and Imagined History of Algebra', by John Derbyshire, who is, BTW, a mathematician.

Filled with interesting stuff.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:34 AM (n22zQ)

I just picked up 'The Joy of X: A Guided Tour from One to Infinity' by Steven Strogatz.
It is a pretty good read too.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:41 AM (NPofj)

339 L, elle...

I will have so many times in a given hour that I play a song from, for example, Category A. I don't want to repeat a song in that category for a certain amount of time. I also don't want that song to play in the same hour or time of day the next time it comes up. So I have to figure how many songs I need in Category A to get the turnover ratio I want.

Granted, I don't write it as a formula, but the techniques I learned from algebra help me understand how to get it done.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:42 AM (rJUlF)

340 BHO throwing out the first pitch at a ballgame consists of a Mulligan off the tee, then shanking one across the 3rd base line, overshooting homeplate by 30-40 feet, chopping out of the on-deck circle on the fourth try, then four-putting to get it to the catcher. But he marks his scorecard a "3".

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 12:42 AM (NeFrd)

341 Ok, getting to bed. Night all.

'But the horde is commenting!!*

Fuck it. Free will. Sleepy time.

-*peeks back in

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:42 AM (hlMPp)

342 Has anyone considered that math is the ONE subject where people are called upon to engage in abstract thinking inside a closed system that demands "true" results ---as opposed to philosophy, that demands nothing but plausible arguments easily deformed by faulty subjective starting points?

Didn't Ayn Rand point to the same issue when she admonished us to "check our premises"?

Example: the first time Andrew Wilel claimed that he had solved Fermat's Last Theorem, someone pointed out a flaw.

So Wile spent seven years retracing his steps until he found and corrected his error.

When was the last time you saw a philosopher , especially a political philosopher---do that??

Making people spend a short period of their lives understanding that abstract mathematical thinking exists and leads to solutions seem to be a necessary (but not sufficient) condition to becoming a rational human being.

Statistics? Yeah, sorta.

Meh.

Posted by: Noam Sayen at March 10, 2016 12:43 AM (bIhmV)

343 I am grateful that I am mobile.

I am grateful that I am rational (for the most part).

I am grateful that I am forgiven.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at March 10, 2016 12:43 AM (hipNa)

344 So we can blame the DJs failing Algebra when they play the same dang song every two hours?

Sweet.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:43 AM (dtll+)

345 Ah well. Best not bring up the fact that Mrs. Cruz works for Goldman Sachs...

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 10, 2016 12:40 AM (7FH+T)

Cause God forbid she support herself.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:43 AM (NPofj)

346 Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (/f6Nd)

To me it means Hedge fund guy likes Cruz and Carly. I have no idea what else it could mean.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:44 AM (2PI7/)

347 Also, my new phone autocorrected damn to dang.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:44 AM (dtll+)

348
Calc III was actually easier than Calc II. It just seemed to click.
Posted by: Colorado Alex

Yeah. Don't know if it's a learning effect, by that time you've done a lot of basic calc, or the nature of the subject, but multivariable calc just makes sense.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 12:45 AM (kdS6q)

349 347 Also, my new phone autocorrected damn to dang.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:44 AM (dtll+)

The iPrude?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:45 AM (0mRoj)

350 I have to say this - I don't 'get' Christians.

I have great respect for them, truly, I do, and I can't help admiring their compassion and love (same with buddhists, who amaze me), but I think they set the bar too high for Man.

Really, I do. The Lord does these things, and we, His creation, made in His image and likeness, are to imitate Him, but there are limits. I think our nature precludes our imitating certain of His attributes.

And forgiveness - His mercy - seems to be one of them.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:45 AM (lutOX)

351 ...having him end the day by writing down three positive things from the day...

1. I can come up with three things.

2. Glad my mom only asked for three.

3. I'm done with this list.

Posted by: mindful webworker - can I go out now, Mom? at March 10, 2016 12:46 AM (wKcYr)

352 I'm coming in late, so forgive me if I'm just stating the obvious.

There's a lot about any subject people learn in school that they will not use once they graduate.

If you want have a successful career and have the slightest intellectual interest, it's very difficult to know as a teenager exactly what that useless stuff will be.

Since you won't be able to know it and your opportunities to learn later in life will be a lot more limited, it's best to cover your bases.

Posted by: AD at March 10, 2016 12:46 AM (lRlOT)

353 I want to understand gravity. I don't have the math skills to do it. If I could build an anti-gravity device, I would be rich beyond my wildest dreams.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:46 AM (9iR5/)

354 I'm tapping out. One more tall boy - then off to five hours of sleep before answering the bell.

Y'all be good. Enjoyed hanging with you.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 10, 2016 12:46 AM (qmMG2)

355 I hear you, Insomniac.

I moved to Texas from a school without an honors program so in order
to get into AP math I had to take Algebra in summer school before 9th
grade.

My teacher was literally insane. She was institutionalized during the course of the class. I learned not one thing.

I muddled through Geometry and Algebra 2, but I basically went from being awesome at math to scraping by with a C.

I still did well on my SATs though so I guess I somehow learned something.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:36 AM (dtll+)

I was able to scrape a not completely retarded score on the math
portion of the SAT despite not knowing a good bit of the material on it.
Fortunately I'm pretty good at multiple choice.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:40 AM (0mRoj)

Bad math teachers can turn kids off math for life.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:46 AM (NPofj)

356 When I was studying for my IT/Visual Communications degree, college algebra in my first two years was a snap. Then, came the third year, and Discrete Mathematics. I felt like a three-year old dyslexic. I could not grasp that stuff. I failed twice. Ended up saying "to hell with it" and quit. There's some regret, but I try to console myself with the notion that my student loan debt isn't as big as it could have been...

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:46 AM (rJUlF)

357 Hoo boy, now you've done it.

Most math (and physics and chemistry) courses are incredibly poorly taught. They typically start with abstractions, and deduce consequences. Which is great if you already know the subject, but a ball breaker if you don't, and in any case is totally pretentious.

Where did the original concepts come from? Olympus? No. From guys trying to solve practical problems. Area of a rectangle? Sure, length times width. But what if the square gets squished on one end? Treat it like a bunch of little rectangles, and add 'em up.

In chemistry, where did molecular orbital theory (linear combination of atomic orbitals) come from? Did Mulliken just go into work one day and decide to come up with it?

No. He was trying to figure out why various dyes had various colors. He realized that the longer the extent of conjugation (the number of single bond-double bond units), the longer the wavelength the molecule absorbed. The electrons slosh back and forth in a box, and when light has the right frequency, the electrons slosh more excitedly, rather like plucked guitar strings. How to describe the orbitals holding the electrons? How about viewing them as derived from the orbitals in the constituent atoms? Voila! LCAO-MO (linear combination of atomic orbitals - molecular orbital) theory.

As for math, I love this story: no less a mathematician than Fred Gauss fucked up summing an infinite series because he didn't check whether it converged, and it didn't. (I've forgotten which series it was, but it was obvious it was divergent.) So one of the greatest mathematicians in human history whiffed on a problem that would get flunked on an undergraduate calculus test.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (oKE6c)

358 "iPrude?"

Yep. I think it has the vapors.

Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (dtll+)

359 Doesn't that handgun safe under your pillow hurt your head?

Posted by: Krissie at March 10, 2016 12:48 AM (g7gOM)

360 358 "iPrude?"

Yep. I think it has the vapors.
Posted by: Lauren at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (dtll+)

There's an app for that.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 12:48 AM (0mRoj)

361 286 Maet you Around? Or basking in the glow of a top notch ONT.
Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 10, 2016 12:25 AM (voOPb)

Sigh....math. Why did I have to fucking mention math.

[and I say this as a math guy]

Hey who here likes watches? :-)

Posted by: Maetenloch at March 10, 2016 12:49 AM (wqVD1)

362 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:45 AM (lutOX)

I am hardly any kind of person to be held up as a example for Christianity, but I can tell you that forgiveness is very therapeutic. It's a way to move on. The only way.

Well, it was for me, anyway.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:49 AM (2PI7/)

363 Yep, we get to blame you Maet. You're the one who mentioned math. It is you who have created this monster!

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:50 AM (9iR5/)

364 As for math, I love this story: no less a mathematician than Fred Gauss fucked up summing an infinite series because he didn't check whether it converged, and it didn't. (I've forgotten which series it was, but it was obvious it was divergent.) So one of the greatest mathematicians in human history whiffed on a problem that would get flunked on an undergraduate calculus test.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (oKE6c)

I had a calc prof admit that he hates trying to do arithmetic in front of the class because he's always afraid he'll screw it up.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 12:51 AM (fC9RO)

365 Lawsy, my typos. Le sigh. AN example.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:51 AM (2PI7/)

366 I am in awe of folks who 'get' math.

The BH was a math teacher; for the past 20+ years she's been an IT infrastructure Project Manager (certified). Daughter the eldest is in a physics PhD program and daughter the youngest a chemistry one.

My favorite thing to say (really!!) is that I was told there'd be no math.

Go figure....

Posted by: speedster1 at March 10, 2016 12:51 AM (vUcdz)

367 Watches we don't need no stinking watches!

Posted by: Blazing Saddles at March 10, 2016 12:52 AM (On7rW)

368 I saw Artsy Math Illiterates open for Societal Collapse

Posted by: Ripley at March 10, 2016 12:52 AM (0vsws)

369 Uncle Palpatine,

Thanks for your honesty. Forgiveness, for me, is sometimes the hardest part of following Christ. It took me years to forgive my ex for walking out on me and our kids.

Yes, living up to the standards Christians are called to can be very hard. But it's my understanding that God knows this -- knows we will fail -- but loves us anyway. It's why Christ gave his life...to atone for our shortcomings.

I'm not trying to convert. Just stating my understanding of it.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:52 AM (rJUlF)

370 Bah. Maff. I'll just fondle another drink before bed.

'Night all.

Posted by: Blano at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (3eoPa)

371 I am hardly any kind of person to be held up as a example for Christianity, but I can tell you that forgiveness is very therapeutic. It's a way to move on. The only way.

Well, it was for me, anyway.
Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:49 AM (2PI7/)
***
And that - real Christians (I can usually spot a phony) are so damned humble, when they embody the greatest of virtues. Same with the buddhists I know....

Hmm...

Gonna pour myself a double vodka and bitters and ponder things a bit....

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (lutOX)

372 Most math (and physics and chemistry) courses are
incredibly poorly taught. They typically start with abstractions, and
deduce consequences. Which is great if you already know the subject, but
a ball breaker if you don't, and in any case is totally pretentious.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (oKE6c)

That is why when my Math Econ teacher started a sentence with "without loss of generality". I stopped him and asked him to lose the generality and start with a concrete example. Once I had that in my head, it was easy to move to the general.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (NPofj)

373 Thank you to the members of the horde that posted their thanks.

Yes, I am pushing my idea but I think it should be integrated into Fen's happiness thread.

Post three things that make you happy or content.

Yes, it must be at least three. If you can't think of three email my happy positive ass and I will make you think of three.

(Seriously though, that is why I think there should be a minimum. To make you think..and not even hard. What puts a smirk on your face.)

*sorry, just using tools I use to get out of the SADS/winter funk....but I think recently we could all use it.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (hlMPp)

374 Face it. There is math in almost everything we do. Most do it intuitively. There are some who will never come close to having a clue. Like my sister.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (9iR5/)

375 290
287 Made by math, engineering and machining nerds.

But still based on a design by a guy 105 years ago.

I still marvel at the 1911. I see it as a series of if/then statements made out of metal.

Is the butt safety engaged, can I use the manual safety, has the last shell ejected? It's freaking software in hard form.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 12:26 AM (1xUj/)

***

It's like the fucking monolith from 2001 - there's no explaining the
damned thing. That whacky Greek guy with the hair should shut up about
cave paintings and take a good long look at John Moses Browning - dude
had alien technology, no doubt.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 12:28 AM (lutOX)

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/ 2015/01/30/tfb-field-trip- john-m-browning-firearms-museum/

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/ 2009/07/24/john-moses- brownings-utah-mansion-for-sale/

At one point I had encountered a picture of his shop -- which was only about the size of a two-car garage.

.....But what wonders were created there!

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 12:54 AM (EzgxV)

376 295 Apologies for polluting the Sacred ONT with this.

Cruz's PAC donated big money to Carly Fiorina?

http://tinyurl.com/hzrnoww

also... the Pac is formally run by Robert Mercer, a hedge fund co-CEO and
one of the largest individual donors over the last couple of election
cycles.

/what does it mean?

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (7FH+T)

It means Cruz is the true GOPe candidate!!!!!!11eleventy!!!1

The other 99 Senators hating him is just a charade!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, aka MrCaniac at March 10, 2016 12:54 AM (1JnAL)

377 Hey who here likes watches? :-)

Posted by: Maetenloch

*****

Boom-chicka-wow-wow

Oh, wait, I thought you said "who likes to watch?"

Never mind.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 12:54 AM (NeFrd)

378 The more I tried to follow the math discussions, the more I thought about how I have to get to the dentist for a checkup and cleaning in the morning.

So... night!

Posted by: mindful webworker - teeth are good to have at March 10, 2016 12:55 AM (wKcYr)

379 Yeah, for test taking, memorizing those trig identities is the way to
go. But if you forget one you should be able to perform the proof and
find it on your own, if you had a decent teacher.

Here's what I taught the little Guevaras: learn the Euler relation. From that you can derive everything in a line or two.

e^ix = cos x + i sin x

Therefore

(e^ix e^iy) = e^i(x+y)
= (cos x + i sin x)(cos y + i sin y)
= (cos x cos y - sin x sin y) + i (cos x sin y + sin x cos y)
= cos (x+y) + i sin (x+y)

Take the real or imaginary parts, as needed, as boom! you're there. One stop shop. Need cos (2x)? Let x = y and you've got it.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:55 AM (oKE6c)

380 Yeah, yeah, John Moses Browning, blah blah blah. Did he ever make a gun that could kill demons? Didn't think so.

Posted by: Sam Colt at March 10, 2016 12:55 AM (0mRoj)

381 All this math talk is making me feel stupid.

The depth and breadth of knowledge the Horde possesses is an amazing thing.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:56 AM (rJUlF)

382 As for math, I love this story: no less a mathematician than Fred Gauss fucked up summing an infinite series because he didn't check whether it converged, and it didn't. (I've forgotten which series it was, but it was obvious it was divergent.) So one of the greatest mathematicians in human history whiffed on a problem that would get flunked on an undergraduate calculus test.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (oKE6c)

I am wholly in favor of this. Instead of laying a theory, or even a few fundamental equations on the students, set them a problem that would be difficult or impossible to do with simple algebra, and then show how calculus makes it so friggin' easy. Treat it as a tool, which is what it is. Once they get beyond the newness of it, and can do simply problems reliably, then introduce some of the theory behind it, and explain why it works the way it does.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 12:56 AM (/i7Ua)

383 I just picked up 'The Joy of X: A Guided Tour from One to Infinity' by Steven Strogatz.
It is a pretty good read too.
Posted by: redbanzai
---------------

If you have an interest, the Derbyshire book is a fun read. Copies are available at the ABE Books Free Shipping site for $7.95

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:56 AM (n22zQ)

384 Three things:
I am married to the most marvelous woman in the world.
I'm still physically able to bowl, it's my passion.
I'm a Moron.

That is all. But mostly number one.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 12:56 AM (9iR5/)

385 The depth and breadth of knowledge the Horde possesses is an amazing thing.

****

I think it is mostly due to the AOSHQ discount at Holiday Inn Express.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 12:57 AM (NeFrd)

386 350: I think our nature precludes our imitating certain of His attributes.

Its called the Sinful nature and it doesn't go away when you become a Christian {I'm one of those Bible thumping bitter clingers, so bear with me :-)}. Only by the Grace of God go I as the saying goes.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 10, 2016 12:57 AM (Bax01)

387 The other 99 Senators hating him is just a charade!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, aka MrCaniac at March 10, 2016 12:54 AM (1JnAL)

I don't know about 99... Sessions seems to like him just fine.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (NPofj)

388 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)

389 Good night all - peace be with you.

Posted by: American Kestrel at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (hipNa)

390 Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 12:52 AM (rJUlF)

It isn't just that He loves us anyway. He gives us the ability to do better. That's part of the power of Corrie's story that's quoted above--she admitted to God that she couldn't forgive the guy on her own and needed help, and He gave her the ability to forgive.

Incidentally, the Ten Boom Museum's website (http://www.tenboom.com/en) has an amazing virtual tour of the Beje with narration that summarizes the ten Booms' story. And the movie version of The Hiding Place is outstanding, too, and includes some details that aren't in the book.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 12:59 AM (vRQPU)

391 Time for the old folk. Geese are flooding back North last couple days,Spring is just about here.

Remember again, y'all-- we are Americans,so the head is held HIGH-- most especially now.

Goodnite, good people. Stay safe.

Posted by: irongrampa at March 10, 2016 12:59 AM (P/8aq)

392
It doesn't have to mean that you do it to emulate Christ, maybe it's just really good practical advice from On High.

Don't let the asshole who did such horrible things to you live rent free in your head by clinging to your anger/hurt/trauma. Acknowledge your feelings, but don't wallow in your misery. Forgive and let it go. Don't let them have the power to make you miserable for the rest of your life.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 12:59 AM (2PI7/)

393 If you have an interest, the Derbyshire book is a fun read. Copies are available at the ABE Books Free Shipping site for $7.95

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:56 AM (n22zQ)

Cool... I will check it out

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 01:00 AM (NPofj)

394 I think our nature precludes our imitating certain of His attributes.

I agree. But so do most Christians (the concept of original sin).

Nature gets tossed around too much nowadays as some sort of moral guide. The nature of man is savagery.

Posted by: AD at March 10, 2016 01:00 AM (QWY55)

395 Happiness is in short supply and contentment, well, that's a joke. I am grateful for my kids. Hot water and air conditioning, too.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:00 AM (0mRoj)

396 Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (hlMPp)

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:00 AM (2PI7/)

397 G'night IG. The head is held high.

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (9iR5/)

398 Re: Forgiveness

There's a Buddhist story about it that sorta sums up about as close to it as I'm capable of.

Two monks - a master and a novitiate - on their way to the monastery.

At a river crossing, they see a noble woman and her entourage. The lady can't cross because she'd get wet, and her entourage can't carry her because they'd have to set her things down in the mud.

The master kneels and the lady climbs on his shoulders and he carries her across. When they reach the other side, she pushes him with her foot and leaves him in the mud.

Master and novitiate travel on, in silence, and stop for the night to sleep in a cave.

Master asks the novitiate why he's been so quiet.

"The lady," he said. "You humbled yourself for her, went through hardship for her, and not only did she not thank you, she treated you worse than she would treat a horse."

"My son," said the master, "I left her in the mud of the riverbank - why have you carried her all this way?"

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (lutOX)

399 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)

I don't have one, but I have used one. An excellent reference, for nearly everything.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (/i7Ua)

400 Don't let the asshole who did such horrible things to you live rent free in your head by clinging to your anger/hurt/trauma. Acknowledge your feelings, but don't wallow in your misery. Forgive and let it go. Don't let them have the power to make you miserable for the rest of your life.

Or shoot them. That's highly illegal though and I don't recommend it.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (0mRoj)

401 That is why when my Math Econ teacher started a
sentence with "without loss of generality". I stopped him and asked him
to lose the generality and start with a concrete example. Once I had
that in my head, it was easy to move to the general.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (NPofj)
It pisses me off, frankly. It's so totally pretentious to start with the abstract, general case. It's not how the towering intellects who figured this out did it - they started with concrete cases, and then generalized them.
Chemistry courses now invariably start with the wave equation. Bullshit! Chemistry is about matter, and how it behaves. It's about why some compounds are blue, some stink, some are pulled into magnetic fields, some pushed out, some are gases, some liquids, some solids, some burst into flame, others are unreactive. THAT'S chemistry. The wave equation is just a tool (to be introduced later) to provide an intellectual framework for thinking about WHY these observations obtain. But even if quantum mechanics were to be overthrown tomorrow, any replacement would STILL have to account for all of the observations above, so they are more fundamental.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:02 AM (oKE6c)

402 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)

Ahem. (coughs nervously)

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:02 AM (oKE6c)

403 Crap. The Math War here is having me pine for the Trump Hate troll ONTs.

See you tomorrow because it's late and not (entirely) due to the math flame war.

Posted by: andycanuck at March 10, 2016 01:02 AM (WOyz5)

404 Just remembered
AoP- Just replaced the turn signal flasher on the 98 Buick. Wondering about the failure mode, I cut open the can and found that the thermal plate had fractured. It did not look the way I expected. I'll have to post a photo.

Anyway, the replacement is *electronic*. Sigh.

The case, rather than metal, is smoked plastic, and I could see inside a small printed circuit board, couple of components,and (shudder) an electrolytic.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:02 AM (n22zQ)

405 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (lutOX)

Bitches, man. Bitches.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:03 AM (0mRoj)

406 Later all.

Endeavor to persevere.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 10, 2016 01:04 AM (NeFrd)

407 Tammy,

If you were directing that to me, don't worry. I've made my peace.

Elisabeth,

I agree, He does give us the ability to do better. I don't think I could have forgiven my ex without that. I also know that as Martin Luther stated, I'm both saint and sinner. I've known people that believed they could be perfect on this side of Heaven. I don't see anything in my reading of Scripture that supports that. I can do better and become a better person with Christ's aid, but sometimes the improvements may seem very small.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 01:04 AM (rJUlF)

408 Ahem. (coughs nervously)
Posted by: Jay Guevara
--------------

In The Burning Times, it will be worth its weight in gold.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:04 AM (n22zQ)

409 So who else has used triple integration in their job

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (12kBq)

410 Remember again, y'all-- we are Americans,so the head is held HIGH-- most especially now.

Goodnite, good people. Stay safe.
Posted by: irongrampa at March 10, 2016 12:59 AM (P/8aq)

Head is always held high, but doing a lot of shaking these days.

Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, aka MrCaniac at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (1JnAL)

411 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)
I think mine's at my parents' house somewhere, but I own one.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (vRQPU)

412 Well, this here Bible believing, born again in the spirit, but stuck in this infernally corrupt flesh clinging to God n' guns kind of Christian, is going to do an aberrantly Zen kind of thing.

I am going to be one with my pillow. And no, not in the Biblical sense of the word, either.

Filthy minded Morons! (& bonus for filthy minded 'ettes!) Love ya all!

Hasta la nite nite, Horde!

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (McRlu)

413 I also want to get out before the slide-rule switchblade fight begins.

Posted by: andycanuck at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (WOyz5)

414 OK, someone please school me because I am bereft of knowledge. What is a CRC book?

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (9iR5/)

415 Uncle Palpatine,

Great story.

Well, after discussing math and religion, I think it's time for bed. Y'all be good to each other.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (rJUlF)

416 405 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (lutOX)

Bitches, man. Bitches.
Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:03 AM (0mRoj)
***
eh, let's be honest: Even at their worst, women are wonderful.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (lutOX)

417 Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at March 10, 2016 12:53 AM (hlMPp)

I keep a gratitude journal. Have since I was 10 years old. I am a naturally happy person, and I am grateful for that! But I think it makes me even happier.

You get what you focus your attention on. And I remember my grandma telling one of my cousins that just saying "thank you" out loud every night was a mighty fine prayer.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (2PI7/)

418 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)

OK... I do public safety forecasting so the only thing that pops into my head for CRC is correctional reception center. I am pretty sure that is not what you mean so....?

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (NPofj)

419 416 405 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (lutOX)

Bitches, man. Bitches.
Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:03 AM (0mRoj)
***
eh, let's be honest: Even at their worst, women are wonderful.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (lutOX)

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (0mRoj)

420 HP41CX's at 20 paces

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (12kBq)

421 "/what does it mean?

Posted by: shibumi who is awaiting SMOD at March 10, 2016 12:30 AM (7FH+T)"

Not a whole lot:
1. The transfer was June of last year.
2. Ted Cruz does not run the superPAC. As a matter of fact, right there on the disclaimer "NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE."

Posted by: Tyrconnell at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (jeKFO)

422 Don't let the asshole who did such horrible things to you live rent free in your head by clinging to your anger/hurt/trauma. Acknowledge your feelings, but don't wallow in your misery. Forgive and let it go. Don't let them have the power to make you miserable for the rest of your life.

My sis got engaged last May. Our mom isn't invited to the wedding. Sis and mom had a falling out about 15 years ago, with tentative contact for the past ten. Sis still harbors anger towards mom over things that happened almost 25 years ago between mom and dad.

But it didn't stop her from milking about ten grand from mom over the years, usually with some sob story about how dad and stepmom wouldn't help her.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (fC9RO)

423 No CRC book. How about a Machinery's Handbook?

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (On7rW)

424 409 So who else has used triple integration in their job

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (12kBq)

Ahem.

Posted by: Leibniz at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (QWY55)

425 Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 01:04 AM (rJUlF

No, no, Capt, not at all! I was still "talking" to Uncle P! Just recounting my forgiveness experiences.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:08 AM (2PI7/)

426 So who else has used triple integration in their job

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton
---------------

I've gazed stupidly at blackboards with such. Thermo.

My favorite moment though, was when the prof ran out of standard-issue Greek letters for symbolic representations.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:09 AM (n22zQ)

427 Triple integration...like when you insert a grounded plug into the electrical outlet, right?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:09 AM (0mRoj)

428 Tammy,

Ah, OK. Sometimes it's hard to follow where the conversation is going.

Now, I'm REALLY off to bed. G'night.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 01:09 AM (rJUlF)

429 424 409 So who else has used triple integration in their job

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:05 AM (12kBq)

And, no, I still haven't forgiven you, asshole.

Posted by: Leibniz at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (QWY55)

430 Triple integration...like when you insert a grounded plug into the electrical outlet, right?

Sort of. You can find instructional videos on Xhamster.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (fC9RO)

431 Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 01:04 AM (rJUlF)

I hear you. Or as John Newton said when age had stolen most of his memories, "I know two things: I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior."

Believing one can become perfect this side of Heaven, incidentally, is one of the core components of the Pelagian heresy. So you're right to reject the idea.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (vRQPU)

432 Is eleven still here so I can flirt with him back?

I can't believe I am enjoying the math ONT even if Maetenloch thinks we're all dummies

Posted by: L, Elle at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (oBghv)

433 I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that.
Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (0mRoj)
***
He made women after He made man.

He made Man from mud. Woman, He made from the perfected matter of man.

He made Woman last, of all creation, and we see that He went from ever-lower to ever-more-perfect in His works.

Clearly, Woman is something special.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (lutOX)

434 Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (fC9RO)

Yes, see, she's a whiner. She isn't even really that mad or she wouldn't take the money. Believe me on that. She's mostly a user in this context.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (2PI7/)

435 414 OK, someone please school me because I am bereft of knowledge. What is a CRC book?
Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (9iR5/)

Chemical Rubber Company publishes "The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics," a compendium of all sorts of crap of burning interest ... to nerds.

I've owned one since high school.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:11 AM (oKE6c)

436 CRC is correctional reception center. I am pretty sure that is not what you mean so....?
Posted by: redbanzai
----------------

The Chemical Rubber Company published (publishes?) what is (was?) widely used as THE reference handbook for mathematics.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:11 AM (n22zQ)

437 Here is a book that I would like to pimp to the Horde: "Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" by J.E. Gordon. It is an entertaining and historical look at structural engineering, and structures in the natural world, written with wit and humor, and a bare minimum of mathematics.

I must emphasize that it is a fun read, yet you will learn a lot from it. Makes you look at the world in a whole new way.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:11 AM (/i7Ua)

438 So, against all warnings of the Horde, I googled CRC book. It appears that it is the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. And the cheapest copy I could see on Amazon is about 92 bucks. Holy Cow!

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (9iR5/)

439 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:01 AM (lutOX)

Exactly!!!

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (2PI7/)

440
The Chemical Rubber Company published (publishes?) what is (was?) widely used as THE reference handbook for mathematics.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:11 AM (n22zQ)

I will look for it... sounds like something I need to own.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (NPofj)

441 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)

Ahem. (coughs nervously)

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:02 AM (oKE6c)

A CRC Handbook?

I have nearly a dozen.

Posted by: The CRC Handbook of Hats at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (vBeA5)

442 Yes, see, she's a whiner. She isn't even really that mad or she wouldn't take the money. Believe me on that. She's mostly a user in this context.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (2PI7/)

Oh, I know. I've already decided not to attend the wedding because I won't keep my mouth shut when the lies start getting spewed. She's been telling people that mom isn't invited because mom "won't acknowledge what she did and make amends" which is absolute bullshit. Mom has been willing for years to do what was necessary to repair the relationship. Sis is the one who refuses to go to counseling or even address the issue.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 01:14 AM (fC9RO)

443 I must emphasize that it is a fun read, yet you will learn a lot from it. Makes you look at the world in a whole new way.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
--------------

And *that* is why you should be participating in the Book Thread.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:14 AM (n22zQ)

444 OK, 'rons and 'ettes. I have to get up early to go bowl my Senior Travel League in the morning. Stay thirsty my friends!

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:15 AM (9iR5/)

445 I can do better and become a better person with Christ's aid, but sometimes the improvements may seem very small.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at March 10, 2016 01:04 AM (rJUlF)

Sometimes the improvements are small. But many small improvements over time can make a profound difference.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:16 AM (J+mig)

446 The CRC publication which I referenced is The Standard Mathematical Tables and Formulas. They publish several books.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:16 AM (n22zQ)

447 So, against all warnings of the Horde, I googled CRC book. It appears that it is the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. And the cheapest copy I could see on Amazon is about 92 bucks. Holy Cow!

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (9iR5/)

You can get older ones for far cheaper.

But even at the higher price it is worth it.

Posted by: The CRC Handbook of Hats at March 10, 2016 01:16 AM (vBeA5)

448 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (lutOX)

You said that even at their worst they're wonderful. Based on personal experience I simply don't agree with that. At their worst they can be cruel, vindictive, violent, irrational, vicious, hateful, greedy, spiteful, grudging, dishonest, disloyal, thieving, entitled and narcissistic. None of those traits do I find wonderful.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:17 AM (0mRoj)

449 I am bowing out, too.

Love the philosophy, but the math had me longing for a Primary thread

Love you reprobates and super geeks (super Geeks, they're super geeky)

Good night. Er,morning?

Norning, then.....Good Norning, y'all!

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at March 10, 2016 01:17 AM (2PI7/)

450 382
As for math, I love this story: no less a mathematician than Fred Gauss
fucked up summing an infinite series because he didn't check whether it
converged, and it didn't. (I've forgotten which series it was, but it
was obvious it was divergent.) So one of the greatest mathematicians in
human history whiffed on a problem that would get flunked on an
undergraduate calculus test.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 12:47 AM (oKE6c)

I am wholly in favor of this. Instead of laying a theory, or even a
few fundamental equations on the students, set them a problem that would
be difficult or impossible to do with simple algebra, and then show how
calculus makes it so friggin' easy. Treat it as a tool, which is
what it is. Once they get beyond the newness of it, and can do simply
problems reliably, then introduce some of the theory behind it, and
explain why it works the way it does.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 12:56 AM (/i7Ua)

That's the basis of one of my favorite pieces of advice for someone going off to college. If you're taking a STEM curriculum, there's typically a deal where your first year has you taking Calculus 1A, 1B, 1C; Physics 6A, 6B, 6C; and Chem 3A, 3B, and 3C....just like everyone else. Here's the Big Advice -- first quarter, just take the math and a bunch of electives.....but really learn the math, whatever you do. Start the other STEM stuff in the second quarter.

This has so many positive results. First, your class sizes are smaller so you're not just going to be shouted-at in large groups. Second, Physics and Chemistry are intentionally taught to dance around certain mathematical issues until the parallel-path math class catches up -- if you've already mastered the math, you can look at them in a more straightforward manner. Third, you'll be less susceptible to burnout because you won't be getting a significant introduction to everything in the first quarter.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:17 AM (EzgxV)

451 Anyway, the replacement is *electronic*. Sigh.

The case, rather than metal, is smoked plastic, and I could see inside a small printed circuit board, couple of components,and (shudder) an electrolytic.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:02 AM (n22zQ)

The Tridon electronic flasher, and similar ones have been around for decades now. Seem to last darn near forever. Seem to be more forgiving of mismatched load than the pure thermal ones.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:17 AM (/i7Ua)

452 *does a quick subtraction*

Yeah... I'm down to seven hours to sleep.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (n22zQ)

453
Who has a CRC book on their shelf?
Posted by: Mike Hammer

Ah, but did one buy it in college or in high school? Getting it in high school on the cheap is nerd cred++

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (kdS6q)

454 Night, Miss Tammy!

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (vRQPU)

455 388
Who has a CRC book on their shelf?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM (n22zQ)

Just one? How do you compare editions and see what changed?

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (EzgxV)

456 438 So, against all warnings of the Horde, I googled CRC book. It appears that it is the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. And the cheapest copy I could see on Amazon is about 92 bucks. Holy Cow!
Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (9iR5/)

Cheap at the price, for physical scientists. It includes all sorts of stuff, from the physical properties of all the elements, their nuclides, etc. to the physical properties of a boatload of organic compounds, the nomenclature of various ring systems, compendia of equilibrium constants, electrode potentials, you name it. This list is slanted towards chemistry, but there it includes corresponding compendia on physics-related properties too.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:19 AM (oKE6c)

457 Believing one can become perfect this side of Heaven, incidentally, is one of the core components of the Pelagian heresy. So you're right to reject the idea.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (vRQPU)

The quest for worldly perfection is also one of the underlying drivers of the modern Left. They think they can create a perfect government and mold mankind in their image.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:19 AM (J+mig)

458 Who has a CRC book on their shelf?
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 12:58 AM

Another one since high school here.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at March 10, 2016 01:19 AM (sOhww)

459 457 Believing one can become perfect this side of Heaven, incidentally, is one of the core components of the Pelagian heresy. So you're right to reject the idea.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (vRQPU)

The quest for worldly perfection is also one of the underlying drivers of the modern Left. They think they can create a perfect government and mold mankind in their image.
Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:19 AM (J+mig)

And we could've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those damn meddling kulaks!

Posted by: Joe Stalin at March 10, 2016 01:20 AM (0mRoj)

460 And *that* is why you should be participating in the Book Thread.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 10, 2016 01:14 AM (n22zQ)

I do read it most weeks, and pipe up now and then.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:21 AM (/i7Ua)

461 Ah, but did one buy it in college or in high school? Getting it in high school on the cheap is nerd cred++

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (kdS6q)
(coughs again, nervously). My first one - bought when I was a sophomore in high school - was in the small, fat format (probably 6 x 4 x 4"). Anyone else remember those?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:21 AM (oKE6c)

462 414
OK, someone please school me because I am bereft of knowledge. What is a CRC book?

Posted by: Old Blue at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (9iR5/)

I always referred to mine as "The H of C and P".

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:22 AM (EzgxV)

463 The quest for worldly perfection is also one of the
underlying drivers of the modern Left. They think they can create a
perfect government and mold mankind in their image.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:19 AM (J+mig)
That, too. And it started with the late-19th-c. progs. That's why Chesterton starts Orthodoxy not with the doctrine of original sin, since liberal theologians no longer accepted it, but with insanity, which no one could deny. And I love his setup of the issue: "If it be true (as it certainly is) that a man can feel exquisite
happiness in skinning a cat, then the religious philosopher
can only draw one of two deductions. He must either deny the
existence of God, as all atheists do; or he must deny the present
union between God and man, as all Christians do. The new
theologians seem to think it a highly rationalistic solution to deny
the cat."

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:23 AM (vRQPU)

464 419
eh, let's be honest: Even at their worst, women are wonderful.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:06 AM (lutOX)

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that.
Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:07 AM (0mRoj)

I'm gonna go with "no comment".

Posted by: rickl at March 10, 2016 01:24 AM (sdi6R)

465 461
Ah, but did one buy it in college or in high school? Getting it in high school on the cheap is nerd cred++

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (kdS6q)
(coughs
again, nervously). My first one - bought when I was a sophomore in high
school - was in the small, fat format (probably 6 x 4 x 4"). Anyone
else remember those?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:21 AM (oKE6c)

Oh, yeah....

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:27 AM (EzgxV)

466 Sometimes the improvements are small. But many small improvements over time can make a profound difference.
Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:16 AM (J+mig)
***
Kaizen...

Sorry, my Six-Sigma self tends to babble.....

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:28 AM (lutOX)

467 465 461
Ah, but did one buy it in college or in high school? Getting it in high school on the cheap is nerd cred++

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 01:18 AM (kdS6q)
(coughs
again, nervously). My first one - bought when I was a sophomore in high
school - was in the small, fat format (probably 6 x 4 x 4"). Anyone
else remember those?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:21 AM (oKE6c)

Oh, yeah....
Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:27 AM (EzgxV)

NERDS!!!!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:28 AM (0mRoj)

468 "The new theologians seem to think it a highly rationalistic solution to deny
the cat."

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:23 AM (vRQPU)

I definitely need to read more Chesterton. I've been saying for quite a while that the denial of objective truth is at the heart of their deranged philosophy, and a lot of the later writings I've read have cited or quoted him at one point or another.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:29 AM (J+mig)

469 A CRC Handbook?

I have nearly a dozen.

Posted by: The CRC Handbook of Hats at March 10, 2016 01:13 AM (vBeA5)
I was speaking of the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. There are a whole bunch of them on other, related topics. I bought the one on lab safety to impress on my grad students and postdocs the need for such; it includes gory photos of eyes blown out and/or fried in lab accidents. Showing my group such photo let me forego any number of lectures on the importance of wearing safety glasses.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:30 AM (oKE6c)

470 NERDS!!!!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:28 AM (0mRoj)
Yeah, all right, I'll own it!

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:31 AM (oKE6c)

471 I always referred to mine as "The H of C and P".

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:22 AM (EzgxV)

It's like our Koran.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:33 AM (oKE6c)

472 448 Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:10 AM (lutOX)

You said that even at their worst they're wonderful. Based on personal experience I simply don't agree with that. At their worst they can be cruel, vindictive, violent, irrational, vicious, hateful, greedy, spiteful, grudging, dishonest, disloyal, thieving, entitled and narcissistic. None of those traits do I find wonderful.
Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:17 AM (0mRoj)
***
Ahh... but I've never claimed they can't be all those things, and in ways we mere men can never begin to understand.

But I ask you - of all these traits, are there any that we men do not share? I think not.

And, well, hips.......

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 01:34 AM (lutOX)

473 Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 01:29 AM (J+mig)

Chesterton's definitely worth reading to support that position, yes--he understood the logical conclusions of a lot of the trendy philosophies that were current at the turn of the last century, and now we're finding out just how right he was 100+ years later. I'm only a mild Chesternerd compared to some of my grad school friends, but I'm very glad I read Orthodoxy in Ralph Wood's Oxford Christians class and got hooked, because I've enjoyed everything I've read so far.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 01:35 AM (vRQPU)

474 470 NERDS!!!!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:28 AM (0mRoj)
Yeah, all right, I'll own it!
Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:31 AM (oKE6c)

Heh. I actually kind of wish I had some idea what the hell you guys were talking about.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:35 AM (0mRoj)

475 I always referred to mine as "The H of C and P".

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:22 AM (EzgxV)

It's like our Koran.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:33 AM (oKE6c)

With 72 virgin pieces of analytical equipment...

Posted by: There is no Cp* bu pentamethylcyclopentadiene, and my grad advisor is its prophet at March 10, 2016 01:36 AM (vBeA5)

476
A CRC Handbook? I have nearly a dozen.
Posted by: The CRC Handbook of Hats

Well, one needs extras, for when your totally real girlfriend goes back to Canada and takes your copy with her.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 01:37 AM (kdS6q)

477 "There is no Cp* bu pentamethylcyclopentadiene, and my grad advisor is its prophet"

Welcome, my brother.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:38 AM (oKE6c)

478 Yes, pentamethylcyclopentadiene is Cp*H, and [Cp*]- is cyclopentadineyl and Cp* doesn't exist as a radical...

Posted by: The Pentamethyl Hat at March 10, 2016 01:39 AM (vBeA5)

479 Well, one needs extras, for when your totally real girlfriend goes back to Canada and takes your copy with her.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 10, 2016 01:37 AM (kdS6q)
Wait - don't we have an extradition treaty with Canada?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:40 AM (oKE6c)

480 "There is no Cp* bu pentamethylcyclopentadiene, and my grad advisor is its prophet"

Welcome, my brother.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:38 AM (oKE6c)

Does secret ~~handshake~~ Schlenk manipulation...

P.S. I have transmutated elements...

Posted by: The Alchemical Hat at March 10, 2016 01:40 AM (vBeA5)

481 I have Tables and Formulas, but it's in a box with some of my college textbooks.

I laugh about it, actually. EE degree, math minor, and I do chip design. But at the manufacturing end, that's a bunch of "this structure is too close to that one; we can't photo-etch it" and "this circuit runs too much slower than that one; it won't work." So after 7 semesters of math starting with Calc1, math at my job is 99.9% "greater than" and "less than."

All the calc and differential equations was done by the guys who wrote the software we use...

Posted by: mikeski at March 10, 2016 01:41 AM (LIUK5)

482 I passed through Bagram AFB twice, and I enjoyed it. The food can be very good. It still must be a chore to be there for a year.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 10, 2016 01:41 AM (VdICR)

483 Heh. I actually kind of wish I had some idea what the hell you guys were talking about.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 10, 2016 01:35 AM (0mRoj)
You're not missing much, but to some, this stuff is fascinating, for reasons even we cannot explain. It's like trying to explain sexual attraction, or interest in politics, to those to whom it is foreign.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:42 AM (oKE6c)

484 "There is no Cp* bu pentamethylcyclopentadiene, and my grad advisor is its prophet"

Welcome, my brother.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:38 AM (oKE6c)

So that would be a 5-carbon ring molecule, with two double bonds, and 5 methyl groups substituting for hydrogens?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:42 AM (/i7Ua)

485 Yeah, I will admit you guys have outgeeked me.

Usually I can fake it pretty far, not matter what the subject, but now...not so much.

Carry on, please. It's fun to watch.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at March 10, 2016 01:43 AM (1xUj/)

486 The point of math in school, higher maths that is, is not that we expect all our students to be human calculators. It's about teaching logic, recognizing patterns, figuring out and applying algorithms and systematic thinking, problem solving, and identifying relationships. In other words, developing functional adult human cognitive functions.

Baring a specific impairment like dyscalculia, if you can't do math through algebra by the end of HS, you should consider not voting. Ever. You are a patsy awaiting to be fleeced, or useful idiot to allow others to be fleeced.

IMHO, everyone should be required to take at least one course they have no natural talent at so they can develop grit, humility, empathy, and a work ethic. Tell the jocks to take a literature class. Tell the word-nerds to hit the gym. Tell the geeks to take dancing lessons. Give everyone a chance to be the class rock star, and the class dunce, and make sure they know that learning to deal with adversity and embarrassment is every much a part of a well-rounded development as the content of any particular class they take.

Posted by: Rolf at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (36EBj)

487 I laugh about it, actually. EE degree, math minor,
and I do chip design. But at the manufacturing end, that's a bunch of
"this structure is too close to that one; we can't photo-etch it" and
"this circuit runs too much slower than that one; it won't work." So
after 7 semesters of math starting with Calc1, math at my job is 99.9%
"greater than" and "less than."

All the calc and differential equations was done by the guys who wrote the software we use...

Posted by: mikeski at March 10, 2016 01:41 AM (LIUK5)
But you know what? You understand the underlying issues. How many physics/engineering problems can be solved in closed form? Not many, and those of limited interest. But they're the model for understanding the problems solved by numerical methods, right? If you'd never studied the analytical solutions, it'd be hard to make sense of the numerical ones.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (oKE6c)

488 The thing about owning an "H of C and P" is that it contains all sorts of information that would take you a great deal of time (and risk) to find out if it weren't in a book. Things like, "what is the optimal temperature to run a whisky still?" [Find the vapor points of water, ethanol, and methanol -- develop a fractional distillation strategy to minimize the first and last.] Can I melt aluminium cans in a steel container made from a sawed-off fire extinguisher? [Look up melting points for aluminium and steel.] Can I bake a finish onto my magnesium rims? [On "magnesium" entry, find ignition temp.]

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:46 AM (EzgxV)

489 IMHO, everyone should be required to take at least one course they have no natural talent at so they can develop grit, humility, empathy, and a work ethic. Tell the jocks to take a literature class. Tell the word-nerds to hit the gym. Tell the geeks to take dancing lessons. Give everyone a chance to be the class rock star, and the class dunce, and make sure they know that learning to deal with adversity and embarrassment is every much a part of a well-rounded development as the content of any particular class they take.
Posted by: Rolf at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (36EBj)

This.

I always wanted to teach math, because I'm not naturally very good at it, and therefore could relate to those who struggled with it. The worst people to teach it are those who consider all of it obvious.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:46 AM (oKE6c)

490 So that would be a 5-carbon ring molecule, with two double bonds, and 5 methyl groups substituting for hydrogens?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:42 AM (/i7Ua)

In a neutral Cp*H there is another hydrogen, so C5Me5H. The hydrogen is easy to deprotonate, leaving a negative charge and thus three electron pairs, and thus an aromatic organic anion.

It is a large bulky anion for forming organometallic compounds. Made many an interesting compounds with it that gave spiffy looking thermal ellipsoid plots.

Posted by: The Organometallic Hat at March 10, 2016 01:47 AM (vBeA5)

491 Posted by: The Organometallic Hat at March 10, 2016 01:47 AM (vBeA5)

Ever come across any papers on the electrochemistry of permethylmanganocene?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:49 AM (oKE6c)

492 Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:17 AM (EzgxV)

I did a variation of this in engineering school. Even though I had Calc I & II credits from HS (Uconn honors calc), they were C's and I wasn't too confident, so I retook them. For engineering, they were problem only tests, I got real good, and real fast at doing calculus, when I got in all the engineering classes with calc pre-reqs, I was way ahead of the game during exams

practice makes perfect, or atleast really fast

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:50 AM (12kBq)

493 That reminds me, I need to break out the Calc book and do some problem sets, did it 10 years ago and it really helped re-sharpen the brain-bone

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:52 AM (12kBq)

494 In a neutral Cp*H there is another hydrogen, so C5Me5H. The hydrogen is easy to deprotonate, leaving a negative charge and thus three electron pairs, and thus an aromatic organic anion.

It is a large bulky anion for forming organometallic compounds. Made many an interesting compounds with it that gave spiffy looking thermal ellipsoid plots.

Posted by: The Organometallic Hat at March 10, 2016 01:47 AM (vBeA5)

So my guess at the structure is more or less right? And are cyclopentanes or cyclopentenes officially "aromatics"? I thought an aromatic had to possess a benzene ring?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:52 AM (/i7Ua)

495 493 That reminds me, I need to break out the Calc book and do some problem sets, did it 10 years ago and it really helped re-sharpen the brain-bone
Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 01:52 AM (12kBq)

I used Skype to help the elder of the young Guevaras through multivariable calculus and ... to be honest, I enjoyed it. Not just helping the spawn, although obviously that was foremost, but a chance/ need to do so on my own behalf.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:54 AM (oKE6c)

496 481
I have Tables and Formulas, but it's in a box with some of my college textbooks.

I laugh about it, actually. EE degree, math minor, and I do chip
design. But at the manufacturing end, that's a bunch of "this structure
is too close to that one; we can't photo-etch it" and "this circuit
runs too much slower than that one; it won't work." So after 7
semesters of math starting with Calc1, math at my job is 99.9% "greater
than" and "less than."

All the calc and differential equations was done by the guys who wrote the software we use...

Posted by: mikeski at March 10, 2016 01:41 AM (LIUK5)

In a prior life, the company I was at was running wafers through fabs like UMC and Tower....and we were perpetually tweaking our netlists and chip layouts for Fabs' "Design Rules".....which (not being on the tech end) always seemed like wearing white after Labor Day. "We don't know why it works, it just does -- and just ignore that those other guys have it working some different way."

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:55 AM (EzgxV)

497 Ever come across any papers on the electrochemistry of permethylmanganocene?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:49 AM (oKE6c)

I dealt with Heavier metals. The lightest I've published on (aside from alkali and alkali earth metal complexes) has been with Technicium.

Posted by: The Organometallic Hat at March 10, 2016 01:55 AM (vBeA5)

498 486
The point of math in school, higher maths that is, is not that we expect
all our students to be human calculators. It's about teaching logic,
recognizing patterns, figuring out and applying algorithms and
systematic thinking, problem solving, and identifying relationships. In
other words, developing functional adult human cognitive functions.

Baring
a specific impairment like dyscalculia, if you can't do math through
algebra by the end of HS, you should consider not voting. Ever. You are a
patsy awaiting to be fleeced, or useful idiot to allow others to be
fleeced.

IMHO, everyone should be required to take at least one
course they have no natural talent at so they can develop grit,
humility, empathy, and a work ethic. Tell the jocks to take a literature
class. Tell the word-nerds to hit the gym. Tell the geeks to take
dancing lessons. Give everyone a chance to be the class rock star, and
the class dunce, and make sure they know that learning to deal with
adversity and embarrassment is every much a part of a well-rounded
development as the content of any particular class they take.

Posted by: Rolf at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (36EBj)

Mine was PE, compounded by the fact that I skipped second grade and was correspondingly smaller, younger, less-coordinated, and weaker.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:56 AM (EzgxV)

499 But you know what? You understand the underlying issues.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (oKE6c)

Oh, absolutely. Surviving a 4-year engineering program means you know how to solve problems and think abstractly, even if you never use the college problems in real life.

Posted by: mikeski at March 10, 2016 01:58 AM (LIUK5)

500 So my guess at the structure is more or less
right? And are cyclopentanes or cyclopentenes officially "aromatics"? I
thought an aromatic had to possess a benzene ring?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:52 AM (/i7Ua)
You were right. The concept of aromaticity arose with benzene, but has since been generalized to other structures that evince properties that cannot be understood as simple extrapolations of their constituent features (e.g., in the same way that benzene != cyclohexatriene).
Cyclic molecules with 4N+2 pi electrons fulfill the necessary, but not sufficient, conditions to be considered aromatic. It's like saying playing in MLB is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:59 AM (oKE6c)

501 So my guess at the structure is more or less right? And are cyclopentanes or cyclopentenes officially "aromatics"? I thought an aromatic had to possess a benzene ring?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 01:52 AM (/i7Ua)

It is a five membered ring as an anion, with a methyl group on each ring carbon.

Aromaticity follows Hückel's rule (4n+2, where n = number of electrons).

The Cp*H has two electron pairs, or 4 electrons, by plucking off the proton on the ring, you get another electron pair, or 6 electrons total.

COT is a dianion [C8H8]2-. The potassium salt K2COT will detonate upon exposure to air. Trust me on this...

Posted by: The Detonating Hat at March 10, 2016 02:01 AM (vBeA5)

502 I dealt with Heavier metals. The lightest I've published on (aside from alkali and alkali earth metal complexes) has been with Technicium.
Posted by: The Organometallic Hat at March 10, 2016 01:55 AM (vBeA5)

Ah, the bigger brother of Mn. I ask because, at the instigation of, and with the collaboration with, a friend I published the first such study, which was quite far removed from everything else I worked on.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 02:03 AM (oKE6c)

503 Let's see how much of my curriculum I can remember

Math I-V, P Diffeq, Laplace Transforms
Chem 1101, 1102
Phys I-III
Cpsci 1701 Fortran

Eng & Sci Mechanics: Statics, Def-Bods, Dynamics

Mech E: Numerical Methods, Thermo I-III, Heat Xfer, Fluids, Engineering Dynamics, Thermal systems design, thermal systems analysis, Computer aided design, Cams & Gears, Internal Combustion Engines, Turbomachinery, Materials I&II, Experimental design

Other Eng: Drafting & Plane Geometry, EE for Non-EE I-III, Jet Propulsion, Engineering Economy, Power Plant Engineering

Quarter system was great, though hectic, really wish my alma mater hadn't changed to semesters since then

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 02:03 AM (12kBq)

504 This is America. Nanoyards, please.

There are two kinds of countries. Those that use the metric system. And those that have put a man on the moon.

Stolen from someplace. Serial number filed off, ground down, and over stamped.

Posted by: Fox2! at March 10, 2016 02:04 AM (brIR5)

505 You were right. The concept of aromaticity arose with benzene, but has since been generalized to other structures that evince properties that cannot be understood as simple extrapolations of their constituent features (e.g., in the same way that benzene != cyclohexatriene).
Cyclic molecules with 4N+2 pi electrons fulfill the necessary, but not sufficient, conditions to be considered aromatic. It's like saying playing in MLB is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 01:59 AM (oKE6c)

OK, I think I get that. I had one year of organic chemistry, and that was a long time ago, now. Prof was K.B. Harvey, long deceased, and he was an author of the textbook we used, IIRC.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 02:04 AM (/i7Ua)

506 Mine was PE, compounded by the fact that I skipped second grade and was correspondingly smaller, younger, less-coordinated, and weaker.
Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:56 AM (EzgxV)

The thing to do in the Dallas area (and maybe others) is people now hold their kids back a year before going to Kindergarten, so they'll be the oldest in their classes (summer babies)

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 02:06 AM (12kBq)

507 the other day i got a change.org e-mail touting a petition to stop Rhodesia from killing the 200 lions...

as if their previous petition to stop trophy hunting hadn't caused the problem.

#idiots

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 10, 2016 02:07 AM (QJ4jI)

508 "We don't know why it works, it just does -- and just ignore that those other guys have it working some different way."

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:55 AM (EzgxV)

Yeah, the optics behind it go over my head, too. You photo-etch things on a 5nm grid, with light that's two orders of magnitude higher in wavelength than that?

Looping back to the start of the thread, it's supposedly statistical. The photons are "more likely" to land where the photomask says.

I describe it as giving someone a twelve-inch paint roller and a pan of paint, and telling them to cover a wall with half-inch stripes. And they do it.

Everyone in the design chain looks at the guys downstream from them and goes "my stuff makes sense; that's the Black Arts over there."

Posted by: mikeski at March 10, 2016 02:09 AM (LIUK5)

509 Stolen from someplace. Serial number filed off, ground down, and over stamped.>>>

Remember to use a needle scaler between grinding and stamping.

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 02:12 AM (On7rW)

510 Well, off to bed. Been a busy day, and another one is due tomorrow.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2016 02:14 AM (/i7Ua)

511 I describe it as giving someone a twelve-inch paint roller and a pan of
paint, and telling them to cover a wall with half-inch stripes.

Well, that's doable, and faster than using a half-inch roller. It just takes lots of precise application of masking tape. I'd assume the photomask in your case has the same purpose.

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 02:14 AM (vRQPU)

512 The roller is the photomask in that example...

Posted by: mikeski at March 10, 2016 02:20 AM (LIUK5)

513 I've long been a fan of these posts -- http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/ archives/category /things-i-wont-work-with

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 02:22 AM (EzgxV)

514 Yeah, the optics behind it go over my head, too. You photo-etch things
on a 5nm grid, with light that's two orders of magnitude higher in
wavelength than that?>>>

Keyance says they can make a 5000x regular light magnifying lens. There scopes have many advantages but that advertisement is BS.

Sorry for the rant but the wavelength mention made me think of it.

http://www.keyence.com/ss/products/microscope/vhx5000/related_product/z500.jsp

Posted by: Willy J. at March 10, 2016 02:24 AM (On7rW)

515 The diameter of the roller better be a multiple of pi.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 10, 2016 02:27 AM (VdICR)

516 Yep, skimming over the 500 comments, I'll agree that when God made woman, well, He done good. Of course, it's just the hard wiring of my little brain's low-level circuits, but the female form is the most perfect shape on this planet.

Now, if they just made a CRC handbook for women.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:28 AM (dvuhZ)

517 Well since we have to wait for Mr. Plinkett, let this tide you over, horde.
Auralnauts Jedi Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCm8yAxBr8

I'm sure he'll love the movie.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 10, 2016 02:29 AM (VdICR)

518 IMHO, everyone should be required to take at least one course they have no natural talent at so they can develop grit, humility, empathy, and a work ethic. Tell the jocks to take a literature class. Tell the word-nerds to hit the gym. Tell the geeks to take dancing lessons. Give everyone a chance to be the class rock star, and the class dunce, and make sure they know that learning to deal with adversity and embarrassment is every much a part of a well-rounded development as the content of any particular class they take.
Posted by: Rolf at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (36EBj)

Agreed. In fact, that's part of the reason for a well rounded education.

What you often learn is that most things that look easy... aren't. The quarterback who "only throws a football" spends hours in the gym and on the practice field, and hours more studying game footage.

The artist who draws pretty pictures has drawn thousands of them in order to gain the necessary skill with a pen for the fine detail. And has spent countless hours studying color theory, a variety of styles, composition, perspective, etc.

The science nerd busts his ass working through problem sets to understand AP physics.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 02:29 AM (fC9RO)

519 Right, well, on that note... >.< Night, all!

Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at March 10, 2016 02:30 AM (vRQPU)

520 506
Mine was PE, compounded by the fact that I skipped second grade and
was correspondingly smaller, younger, less-coordinated, and weaker.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:56 AM (EzgxV)

The thing to do in the Dallas area (and maybe others) is people now
hold their kids back a year before going to Kindergarten, so they'll be
the oldest in their classes (summer babies)

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 02:06 AM (12kBq)

Earlier this week, I was telling my shooting buddy, "believe it or not, when I was a kid, California's education system was lauded to the skies as being awesomely great. Now, it's nearly child abuse." It used to be laying the intellectual foundation of how we came to this abundance; now, it's pure indoctrination and participation trophies. Our godkids did Waldorf, and their mom's sister did homeschooling for her kids, which is amusing because neither ever left the Democrat's plantation.

I'd argue the better practice is to hold your kids back for 12 years and never give them over to the state.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 02:33 AM (EzgxV)

521 The science nerd busts his ass working through problem sets to understand AP physics.
Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 10, 2016 02:29 AM (fC9RO)

I was kind of explaining that to the elder of the young Guevaras. It's not necessarily that those who are good at the science and math bust their asses at it - thought they do - it's that they enjoy doing it, and work on it all the time, for fun. Compare guys, say, bench pressing, or doing squats. They like doing it, and so do it all the time, which enhances their natural abilities in that direction. It's crazy to think that there's anybody in either category who is great at something without having applied himself to it, albeit willingly.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at March 10, 2016 02:37 AM (oKE6c)

522 >>>This is America. Nanoyards, please.

There are two kinds of countries. Those that use the metric system. And those that have put a man on the moon.

Posted by: Fox2! at March 10, 2016 02:04 AM (brIR5)

Yeah ... the geniuses of the metric system. They are so ultra-sciency. So they wanted to make all length measurements relative to one standard. Fine. Nothing wrong with that. But why not just start with the existing yard and and go from there? Noooooooo. That would have been too easy and would have made conversions to the existing imperial system too convenient. They had to go out of their way to make a whole new "standard" ... as if the standard 3 foot +/- length made a difference, itself. So .... from the ultra-sciency crowd, we get this:

The origins of the meter go back to at least the 18th century. At that time, there were two competing approaches to the definition of a standard unit of length. Some suggested defining the meter as the length of a pendulum having a half-period of one second; others suggested defining the meter as one ten-millionth of the length of the earth's meridian along a quadrant (one fourth the circumference of the earth). In 1791, soon after the French Revolution, the French Academy of Sciences chose the meridian definition over the pendulum definition because the force of gravity varies slightly over the surface of the earth, affecting the period of the pendulum.

Thus, the meter was intended to equal 10-7 or one ten-millionth of the length of the meridian through Paris from pole to the equator. However, the first prototype was short by 0.2 millimeters because researchers miscalculated the flattening of the earth due to its rotation. Still this length became the standard.

LOL. "Close enough". And the idea of taking 1/10000000th of an ill-defined length, to begin with ... yeah, great way to establish a new, ultra-sciency standard (even aside from their initial fuck-up.

In addition, not all convenient measures for different scales come in at a nice multiple of ten from some far-away standard (which is how different units for different scales came about, to begin with). There are some conveniences having all measures simply in base ten references to a single standard but there are some inconveniences, too. Conversion between units, after all, isn't rocket science and just having something be 1/10000 of a meter doesn't really give one any conceptual advantage over the use of more suitable units.

Thank G-d they only got to the length, volume and weight measurements. The French Revolutionaries wanted to hit time and the calendar, too. Away with the old ... just because ... 1-800-FU1CKYO!!!!!

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 02:46 AM (zc3Db)

523 Incidentally, my cousin Stevie did the High School Equivalency exam in something like 10th grade because he was tired of all the bullshit. (California)

His dad worked for an engineering department in a city in SoCal. During the 70s and 80s, he always wore bright-red socks, just because.

Another hoot about his dad -- he used to have an old, rusty shed made from corrugated metal near his house on his 5-acre property in TN. When I last visited, he had a new-looking corrugated shed a little farther away. When we got to talking, he mentioned that he figured that while he was bothering to move it, he might-as-well turn it inside-out.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 02:48 AM (EzgxV)

524 Good morning yall. Great ONT Maet.
The article about Corrie ten Boom fucked me a bit. In a good way, i reckon. That's true bravery and heroism.

Posted by: fastfreefall at March 10, 2016 02:48 AM (0VbQ/)

525 IMHO, everyone should be required to take at least one course they have no natural talent at so they can develop grit, humility, empathy, and a work ethic.

Posted by: Rolf at March 10, 2016 01:44 AM (36EBj)

Whether I have grit, humility, empathy or a work ethic (none of which are things you can develop in a class, BTW) is none of your friggin business.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 02:49 AM (zc3Db)

526 Just read this, Richard Fisher, retired head of the Dallas Fed, just said that their (the Fed's) response to the Crisis was injecting cocaine and heroin into the financial system, and now maintaining it with Ritalin.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:53 AM (dvuhZ)

527 >>>Just read this, Richard Fisher, retired head of the
Dallas Fed, just said that their (the Fed's) response to the Crisis was
injecting cocaine and heroin into the financial system, and now
maintaining it with Ritalin.
Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:53 AM (dvuhZ)<<<

Cocaine's a helluva drug.

Posted by: zombie Rick James at March 10, 2016 02:54 AM (H9MG5)

528 Just read this, Richard Fisher, retired head of the Dallas Fed, just said that their (the Fed's) response to the Crisis was injecting cocaine and heroin into the financial system, and now maintaining it with Ritalin.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:53 AM (dvuhZ)

And they're going to try to resort to a frontal lobotomy for the unwinding.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 02:55 AM (zc3Db)

529 gotta love Zero Hedge...

even if you can't take them seriously all the time. ;-)

#GuiltyPleasures

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 10, 2016 02:57 AM (QJ4jI)

530 I love ZH. They get in tin-foil hat land a bit, and the commenters are asbolute disgusting lunatics. But other than that, and I mean this seriously, it's pretty good. It's the perfect antidote to the happy talk Skittles and unicorn bullshit of the economic elite.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 03:00 AM (dvuhZ)

531 yup...

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 10, 2016 03:02 AM (QJ4jI)

532 Now, if they just made a CRC handbook for women.
Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:28 AM (dvuhZ)

Maybe you need the Chiltons.

Posted by: tcn in AK at March 10, 2016 03:15 AM (+YMhA)

533 506
Mine was PE, compounded by the fact that I skipped second grade and
was correspondingly smaller, younger, less-coordinated, and weaker.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 01:56 AM (EzgxV)

The thing to do in the Dallas area (and maybe others) is people now
hold their kids back a year before going to Kindergarten, so they'll be
the oldest in their classes (summer babies)

Posted by: Sir Isaac Newton at March 10, 2016 02:06 AM (12kBq)

I don't love ZH....but it's necessary.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 03:20 AM (EzgxV)

534 532
Now, if they just made a CRC handbook for women.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:28 AM (dvuhZ)

Maybe you need the Chiltons.

Posted by: tcn in AK at March 10, 2016 03:15 AM (+YMhA)

I know how they're built....the problem is how they operate.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 03:21 AM (EzgxV)

535 532 Now, if they just made a CRC handbook for women.
Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:28 AM (dvuhZ)

Maybe you need the Chiltons.
Posted by: tcn in AK at March 10, 2016 03:15 AM (+YMhA)

That book gave me nightmares.

Posted by: Dr. Sheldon Cooper at March 10, 2016 03:23 AM (bDmeN)

536 It would be nice to have a set of governing differential equations for the female system .Unfortunately, the female system is acausal and grossly underdetermined. Thus, given the initial conditions, it is impossible to evolve the system and thus predict the behavior and response of the system.

With us myns, however, no problem. Keep the belly full and the balls empty and we evolve nicely determined.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 03:37 AM (dvuhZ)

537 What a short night.
Good morning horde

Posted by: Skip at March 10, 2016 03:42 AM (fizMZ)

538 534
532

Now, if they just made a CRC handbook for women.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 02:28 AM (dvuhZ)

Maybe you need the Chiltons.

Posted by: tcn in AK at March 10, 2016 03:15 AM (+YMhA)

I know how they're built....the problem is how they operate.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 03:21 AM (EzgxV)

I noted that #1 on the sidebar "Most Interesting Man In The World" quotes was "He gave his father 'the talk'." I sort-of did.

When I was about eight, I took my dad aside and said, "look, I know about the intromission, ejaculation, fertilization, implantation and gestation stuff....but why on earth would anyone go through the hassles involved?" He looked poleaxed for a bit before stammering out something about "there are certain pleasures involved."

For quite a while, I thought he was bullshitting me.....and, then, years later, puberty unmasked the hard-coded built-in functions that keep our species going. Stuff like, "for millions of years, since there were mammals.....if tits don't fascinate and attract you, you starve in infancy."

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 03:48 AM (EzgxV)

539 Good Morning everyone. Nice day to be alive even if it is a bit rainy.

Hat you around? Is that Pawn Shop from Pawn Stars out there in your area?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:04 AM (WVsWD)

540 Hat you around? Is that Pawn Shop from Pawn Stars out there in your area?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:04 AM (WVsWD)

It's near downtown and the government building area.

Posted by: The Pawning Hat at March 10, 2016 04:08 AM (vBeA5)

541 I read a story somewhere this morning that Chumley got his rear end and the rest of himself in trouble.

Any truth to it? The story was from some gossip site so truthfulness is questionable.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:12 AM (WVsWD)

542 Zero Hedge is a must read to along with InfoWars for those that enjoy conspiracy theory stuff. The comments are just icing on the cake.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:13 AM (WVsWD)

543 542
Zero Hedge is a must read to along with InfoWars for those that enjoy
conspiracy theory stuff. The comments are just icing on the cake.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:13 AM (WVsWD)

It's hard to be dismissive when they've both broken actual scoops (ZH more than IW). It puts you into Men in Black tabloid territory.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:16 AM (EzgxV)

544 Zero Hedge is a must read to along with InfoWars for those that enjoy conspiracy theory stuff. The comments are just icing on the cake.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:13 AM (WVsWD)

Except for that George Washington dude (who's a nut) ZH is pretty straightforward financial stuff. As to InfoWars, I've only read articles on it that were linked by Drudge and I never found anything wacked out about them. Some was a slight stretch but nothing outrageous.

The commenters at ZH are mostly funny. Paranoid, Jew-obsessed and a bit off but funny.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:23 AM (zc3Db)

545 How to say it right? With info Wars you have to keep yourself grounded in reality, or what you perceive as reality, very well.

If not, you start reading that story that has some basis in truth and then finding yourself reading a story about space aliens and their mind control waves making sense.

Now may I interest anyone in some Silver and Gold for the burning times?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:23 AM (WVsWD)

546

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:23 AM (zc3Db)

Concur.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:24 AM (EzgxV)

547 The hard coded stuff hasn't been activated yet, but sometimes it sort of peeks out and tests itself, well before puberty. That reminded of some incidents where as a little boy, I mortified my mother with some questions. Now, I can only laugh at that must have hit here like a ton of bricks.

I was just a little boy, maybe in kindergarten, or maybe before. Memories are very spotty, just sort of little snaphots jumbled together. I think I was just getting were she trusted me to bathe mostly alone. Well, IIRC, she would always stay in the bathroom and just let me do it myself. That can be dangerous and I've read horror stories about children drowning when left alone too early.

Anyway, I got out and there was in my bedroom and she was helping me dry off and get dressed. How to put this delicately. Little Mr. Happy, who was very little at the time (and not much improvement since, but that's another story) decided to exercise some of the those turgidity procedures.

Completely innocent I was. So I asked my mother what was happening and why was it getting hard like that?

Again, I laugh at what she must have thought at that. Oh MY GOD, what the hell am I supposed to say and do? But she didn't miss a beat, just said oh that's normal, and happens all the time. Then she said, sort of concerned, "it doesn't hurt, does it?" No, I said. She must have had a thought that maybe something might be wrong.

And then I really mortified here. I said that sometimes it happens when I see a big girl, which meant older girl. Why does that happen, mommy?

That causes her to stammer a little bit, IIRC, but she recovered and said oh, no reason, and don't you worry about it, and then changed the subject, trying to divert my attention from any more questions about that.

It's hilarious now to recall it.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 04:26 AM (dvuhZ)

548 Except for that George Washington dude (who's a nut) ZH is pretty straightforward financial stuff. As to InfoWars, I've only read articles on it that were linked by Drudge and I never found anything wacked out about them. Some was a slight stretch but nothing outrageous.

The articles themselves usually are straight forward but they can be used as proof as "See!, I told you so!" By the commenters.

The perceived truth being used as proof against the perceived lie.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:27 AM (WVsWD)

549 545
How to say it right? With info Wars you have to keep yourself grounded in reality, or what you perceive as reality, very well.

If not, you start reading that story that has some basis in truth
and then finding yourself reading a story about space aliens and their
mind control waves making sense.

Now may I interest anyone in some Silver and Gold for the burning times?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:23 AM (WVsWD)

Let's just say that I have some gold, silver, brass, lead, liquor, and cash beyond my immediate needs -- and have a lot more "paper assets" than I feel comfortable with. We're on the edge of something savage.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:27 AM (EzgxV)

550 Now may I interest anyone in some Silver and Gold for the burning times?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:23 AM (WVsWD)

Gold always has been, and always will be, money. It's what it is. Real, natural money. Silver is more useful transactionally but, it too, is money.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:29 AM (zc3Db)

551 Gold and silver may be useful. I'm guessing you would get more in trade with tobacco and booze.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:29 AM (WVsWD)

552 The articles themselves usually are straight forward but they can be used as proof as "See!, I told you so!" By the commenters.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:27 AM (WVsWD)

So what? I can't see why anyone would even care about that. They're just commenters.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:32 AM (zc3Db)

553 So what? I can't see why anyone would even care about that. They're just commenters.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:32 AM (zc3Db)

Do you ever need something to laugh at?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:33 AM (WVsWD)

554 547
The hard coded stuff hasn't been activated yet, but sometimes it sort of
peeks out and tests itself, well before puberty. That reminded of some
incidents where as a little boy, I mortified my mother with some
questions. Now, I can only laugh at that must have hit here like a ton
of bricks.

I was just a little boy, maybe in kindergarten, or
maybe before. Memories are very spotty, just sort of little snaphots
jumbled together. I think I was just getting were she trusted me to
bathe mostly alone. Well, IIRC, she would always stay in the bathroom
and just let me do it myself. That can be dangerous and I've read horror
stories about children drowning when left alone too early.

Anyway, I got out and there was in my bedroom and she was helping me dry
off and get dressed. How to put this delicately. Little Mr. Happy, who
was very little at the time (and not much improvement since, but that's
another story) decided to exercise some of the those turgidity
procedures.

Completely innocent I was. So I asked my mother what was happening and why was it getting hard like that?

Again, I laugh at what she must have thought at that. Oh MY GOD, what
the hell am I supposed to say and do? But she didn't miss a beat, just
said oh that's normal, and happens all the time. Then she said, sort of
concerned, "it doesn't hurt, does it?" No, I said. She must have had a
thought that maybe something might be wrong.

And then I really
mortified here. I said that sometimes it happens when I see a big girl,
which meant older girl. Why does that happen, mommy?

That
causes her to stammer a little bit, IIRC, but she recovered and said oh,
no reason, and don't you worry about it, and then changed the subject,
trying to divert my attention from any more questions about that.

It's hilarious now to recall it.

Posted by: publius (not Breitbart publius) at March 10, 2016 04:26 AM (dvuhZ)

Heh. I grew up in the 60s and 70s, full of Dr. Spock's rules for clueless upbringing and disconnected from prior generations. I know exactly what you're talking about.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:35 AM (EzgxV)

555 Gold and silver may be useful. I'm guessing you would get more in trade with tobacco and booze.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:29 AM (WVsWD)

There's a difference between an individual asset and money. Gold is money. There may not appear to be a difference on a small, individual level but there'e a huge difference on a societal level.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:35 AM (zc3Db)

556 Do you ever need something to laugh at?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:33 AM (WVsWD)

I laugh a lot. That's my point about the commenters at some sites. But even the unfunny ones don't bother me.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:38 AM (zc3Db)

557 551
Gold and silver may be useful. I'm guessing you would get more in trade with tobacco and booze.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:29 AM (WVsWD)

The fiancee's dad was a mid-level executive at Philip-Morris. He died of emphysema/lung-failure. Part of the corporate death benefits to his widow were two cartons of cigarettes per month.

I'm not hoarding tobacco.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:39 AM (EzgxV)

558 I'm not hoarding tobacco.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:39 AM (EzgxV)

I am, but it's strictly for personal use.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:45 AM (zc3Db)

559 There is one little thing that ZeroHedge keeps me believing....and that is there must be consequences. I believe that things are about to fold over in a very unpleasant way....and this could lead to a new stability where virtue prevails or a plunge into nasty corruption.

And, IMHO, it would be a good thing for the nation if everyone who brought us to this place suffered significant consequences.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:51 AM (EzgxV)

560 "I'm not hoarding tobacco. "

Personal Choice.

The same would apply to food items.

You meet someone who is hungry. You have food. You want those 22LR rounds you see peeking out of his pack. He can't eat that silver or gold. What value is he going to put on something he can't put to instant use?

Same goes for the guy that is having a nicotine fit.

I am not going to get into the booze part but we are talking about the burning times here.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:51 AM (WVsWD)

561 Fuck.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 04:54 AM (vbvxt)

562 561
Fuck.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 04:54 AM (vbvxt)

You'll have to be more specific.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:55 AM (EzgxV)

563 Mornin'.

I remember that Naomi Wolf piece linked up top, a classic from the Golden Era of PDS.

Good G-d, that was some weapons-grade cray-cray. Stark-raving tinfoil hat paranoia admixed with a metric shit ton of projection. And what she was projecting was rather squirm-inducing. S & M fantasies much, Naomi?

The whole piece should be required reading for anyone who doesn't think liberalism is a mental disorder.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at March 10, 2016 04:56 AM (HMt16)

564 I laugh a lot. That's my point about the commenters at some sites. But even the unfunny ones don't bother me.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at March 10, 2016 04:38 AM (zc3Db)

Maybe i didn't make my point in the right way. They don't bother me all. They are one of the reasons to read ZH. How can you understand the conspiracy if you don't know what the conspiracy is about?

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 04:57 AM (WVsWD)

565
You'll have to be more specific.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:55 AM (EzgxV)

Taxes. Long story short, combined Mrs Hades and I qualify to be "evil hated rich" with a higher tax rate. So I prepared my taxes as married filing single with an online tax preparation service...only to find out the filing status was wrong. That means I get to file amended returns with a check this year instead of getting some of my money back. Bastards. Of course her return will make up the difference...but still...fuck.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 05:04 AM (vbvxt)

566 565

You'll have to be more specific.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 04:55 AM (EzgxV)

Taxes.
Long story short, combined Mrs Hades and I qualify to be "evil hated
rich" with a higher tax rate. So I prepared my taxes as married filing
single with an online tax preparation service...only to find out the
filing status was wrong. That means I get to file amended returns with a
check this year instead of getting some of my money back. Bastards. Of
course her return will make up the difference...but still...fuck.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 05:04 AM (vbvxt)

As a CPA -- there is a "marriage penalty" with taxes. The more you make the same amount of money, the harder it bites -- if one of you makes much more than the other, it can turn into a benefit. It's one reason I've been with the fiancee for well-over 20 years without a marriage.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 05:10 AM (EzgxV)

567 My dad was a CPA. Partner in his firm. We never saw him at this time of year. He'd get home from the office at 6, scarf down dinner and disappear into his den where he'd continue working till bed time.

I've never seen fingers fly on an adding machine like my dad's. Never once looked at the keys and never made an error. Spreadsheets were the very first practical application for home computers, so given my dad's profession, we were the first in our neighborhood to get one.

When we reached our teens, my sibs and I were expected to help out during tax season. As a result, I became an expert at data entry way ahead of the curve.

He was in many ways the stereotypical accountant: bald, wire-rim glasses, short-sleeved dress shirts, quiet type. But away from work he was all about the outdoors: huntin', fishin, campin', boatin'. Taught me everything I know about those pleasures of life.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at March 10, 2016 05:19 AM (HMt16)

568 As a CPA -- there is a "marriage penalty" with
taxes. The more you make the same amount of money, the harder it bites
-- if one of you makes much more than the other, it can turn into a
benefit. It's one reason I've been with the fiancee for well-over 20
years without a marriage.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 05:10 AM (EzgxV)

Not to get too political, but I'm a fan of whatever politicians have the flat tax/fair tax ideal. Unfortunately having that guy run for President doesn't do much good, you have to have them run for Congress/Senate. There are more judgement criteria, of course, but that is one of them.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (vbvxt)

569 The problem I have with Zero Hedge that made me give it up on a regular basis is how it feeds into my depression. That is something that does perfectly well for itself without taking a big gulp from the fount of doom all the time. (In my worst moments I see many trends pointing to a juncture when a war is fought solely over the issue of population. Not necessarily a war in the traditional sense but a course of action with the sole objective of not controlling a resource of any sort but simply eliminating a substantial portion of the population for which there is no use. This will appeal to a variety of interests, from those resenting swelling welfare roles in a world where unemployment is permanently far into the double digits, to the environmentalists who not about about money but more about resource cost for maintaining each human life.)

It also gets dismaying to be told I'm part of some big conspiracy because I'm Jewish. Apparently my family missed the meetings for a couple of generations and missed out on our piece of the action. There was another site yesterday in which I found that as a third/fourth generation American, I could never really understand and participate in the Founder's intended design because I was raised in the wrong religion that I never really practiced but it wouldn't be a problem if I had the same relationship with some brand of Christianity. It's like finding out a group of friends has an unspoken agreement that you'll be excluded if certain conditions come into being.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (IdCqF)

570 Funny thing, Mrs Hades has an accounting degree but isn't a CPA (she's a teacher). It's easier to show her the numbers than it is to try to explain it to her.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 05:26 AM (vbvxt)

571 It's like finding out a group of friends has an
unspoken agreement that you'll be excluded if certain conditions come
into being.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (IdCqF)

It never made a lot of sense to me to discriminate by religion. As long as you aren't using your religion as an excuse to kill me or take my stuff we're good. Robert Heinlein wrote that all wars are due to population pressure, and when you boil it down to basics that's about right. Even the ones that are reducing a certain population for whatever other reasons, in times of plenty those reasons are pretty shallow and easy to overlook.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at March 10, 2016 05:29 AM (vbvxt)

572 My company tests maintenance candidates math skills to determine if they have the ability to employ logic in problem solving.

Posted by: BignJames at March 10, 2016 05:36 AM (x9c8r)

573 It's like finding out a group of friends has an unspoken agreement that you'll be excluded if certain conditions come into being.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (IdCqF)

I understand what you mean by this. I honestly don't know how to tell you how to deal with it. I have the same problem but from an opposite angle.

People in my own Church who want to make Christianity a club with membership approval based only on what they approve of. Which is subject to change. Often.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 05:45 AM (WVsWD)

574
Florida Times Union

A deputy on patrol in Putnam County noticed a woman in a pickup truck with a horse trailer attached on the side of the road acting frantically Tuesday afternoon.

It requires 4 years of college education to learn how to write like that, if you want to be a journalist. I skipped the four years and the 100 thousand bucks and I can write as good as that.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 05:53 AM (JoVnU)

575 Night all.

Here is the full album Hall of the Mountain Grill by Hawkwind (with Lemmy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAyCZxQUJEY

Posted by: The Political Hat at March 10, 2016 05:58 AM (vBeA5)

576 569
The problem I have with Zero Hedge that made me give it up on a regular
basis is how it feeds into my depression. That is something that does
perfectly well for itself without taking a big gulp from the fount of
doom all the time. (In my worst moments I see many trends pointing to a
juncture when a war is fought solely over the issue of population. Not
necessarily a war in the traditional sense but a course of action with
the sole objective of not controlling a resource of any sort but simply
eliminating a substantial portion of the population for which there is
no use. This will appeal to a variety of interests, from those resenting
swelling welfare roles in a world where unemployment is permanently far
into the double digits, to the environmentalists who not about about
money but more about resource cost for maintaining each human life.)

It
also gets dismaying to be told I'm part of some big conspiracy because
I'm Jewish. Apparently my family missed the meetings for a couple of
generations and missed out on our piece of the action. There was another
site yesterday in which I found that as a third/fourth generation
American, I could never really understand and participate in the
Founder's intended design because I was raised in the wrong religion
that I never really practiced but it wouldn't be a problem if I had the
same relationship with some brand of Christianity. It's like finding out
a group of friends has an unspoken agreement that you'll be excluded if
certain conditions come into being.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (IdCqF)
569
The problem I have with Zero Hedge that made me give it up on a regular
basis is how it feeds into my depression. That is something that does
perfectly well for itself without taking a big gulp from the fount of
doom all the time. (In my worst moments I see many trends pointing to a
juncture when a war is fought solely over the issue of population. Not
necessarily a war in the traditional sense but a course of action with
the sole objective of not controlling a resource of any sort but simply
eliminating a substantial portion of the population for which there is
no use. This will appeal to a variety of interests, from those resenting
swelling welfare roles in a world where unemployment is permanently far
into the double digits, to the environmentalists who not about about
money but more about resource cost for maintaining each human life.)

It
also gets dismaying to be told I'm part of some big conspiracy because
I'm Jewish. Apparently my family missed the meetings for a couple of
generations and missed out on our piece of the action. There was another
site yesterday in which I found that as a third/fourth generation
American, I could never really understand and participate in the
Founder's intended design because I was raised in the wrong religion
that I never really practiced but it wouldn't be a problem if I had the
same relationship with some brand of Christianity. It's like finding out
a group of friends has an unspoken agreement that you'll be excluded if
certain conditions come into being.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (IdCqF)

If it helps you at all, I take all that Jewish Conspiracy bullshit and map it to Utopian Globalism -- "We won't fight wars if we're all brothers without borders."

Can't get too excited at those other guy's ugly demise....would be proud to help defend our Jewish brethren when TSHTF.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 05:58 AM (EzgxV)

577
LATimes :

The 10th floor of a Santa Ana courthouse was the site of a bloody brawl Wednesday between a defense attorney and an investigator from the Orange County district attorney's office, authorities said.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 05:59 AM (JoVnU)

578 People in my own Church who want to make
Christianity a club with membership approval based only on what they
approve of. Which is subject to change. Often.

Posted by: Tim in Illinois. Old, unimproved, and overpriced. at March 10, 2016 05:45 AM (WVsWD)

Those kinda people are why I'm a denomination of one. That, and I can come up with my own theology if I don't like other peoples' thoughts on a particular subject.

Church of RTFM? I dunno. Something like that.

Posted by: Cato the Rebel Without a Party at March 10, 2016 05:59 AM (J+mig)

579
Washington Post :

At least five people were killed and three injured when a backyard barbecue was attacked in a Pittsburgh suburb Wednesday night.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 06:00 AM (JoVnU)

580 Good morning.

Posted by: Hanoverfist at March 10, 2016 06:02 AM (bDmeN)

581 Incidentally, Epobirs, I didn't know you were Jewish until you mentioned it just now, but I've known you were a Moron for years.

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 06:03 AM (EzgxV)

582 That is one badass BBQ. One of those big dual grill propane jobs, I'd bet. The kebab accessories can really do some damage.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 06:04 AM (IdCqF)

583 ...a club with membership approval based only on what they approve of. ...

That's how successful humans have been selected for over 4,000 years. A task is to see how many groups you can join and how many you can keep from joining. Think about it.
Von Braun was a member of the NAZI party and a top manager in NASA.

Posted by: scorecard at March 10, 2016 06:06 AM (CRXed)

584
CNN : Pro Gun rights activist accidently shot by her four year old son.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/jpez7o2

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 06:13 AM (JoVnU)

585 http://www.aei.org/publication/the-real-victims-of-victimhood/

Who ever said ;"We think they're wrong, they think We're Evil." said it best.
How do you deal with special people like that?
Seriously ?

Posted by: Donna; Seriously ? at March 10, 2016 06:15 AM (of67s)

586 Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 05:25 AM (IdCqF)

So you haven't been getting your checks?

Come to the next ZOG meeting and we'll figure it out.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 10, 2016 06:15 AM (Zu3d9)

587 Von Braun also got very serious about his Christianity in his post-war life. This is discussed in Annie Applebaum's 'Operation Paperclip.' Until that book I'd never seen it even hinted at and he was always presumed to be completely unrepentant or claiming to be at a far remove from any offenses.

One of the other Germans brought to the US as part of Operation Paperclip was the then leading authority on high altitude flight and its effect on pilots. A friend of mine who worked at Boeing during the early stages of the space program made his acquaintance. They had to invent the tech to determine if somebody was still alive and transmit that to ground observers, then determine a way to tell if the guy was conscious if he couldn't vocalize. This was before most hospitals had any sort of cardiogram gear at all.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 06:16 AM (IdCqF)

588
FOX News : Health

Seven things ER Doctors refuse to have in their homes.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/hkkskco

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 06:19 AM (JoVnU)

589 What is the maximum poop load for a scuba suit? Because if I were that guy, I'd have been testing the limits.

Posted by: Rbastid at March 10, 2016 06:20 AM (XwTyM)

590 G'morning, all.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 10, 2016 06:24 AM (ptqRm)

591 Who are these people?

Posted by: cthulhu at March 10, 2016 06:27 AM (EzgxV)

592 >>> Seven things ER Doctors refuse to have in their homes.

I was doing housework when I fell on it.

Posted by: fluffy at March 10, 2016 06:29 AM (2hcmo)

593 Seven things ER Doctors refuse to have in their homes.

--

If you are an ER Doctor, you probably have the income that lets you hire people to assume the risk of climbing extension ladders, and operate machinery.

It doesn't isolate you from risk, it simply changes the type of risk to which you will be exposed.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 06:36 AM (JoVnU)

594 That was a good Prager video on forgiveness. I had seen it before

I'm not really sure why the quote from Corrie Ten Boom followed right after the German report on more violence due to migrants-I guess because they both had to do with actions of Germans? She had something to forgive because she was in a camp where her sister died. The migrants have not asked for forgiveness and you can't really forgive people in advance for the terrible things they are going to do later

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2016 06:39 AM (w4NZ8)

595 This is the last time I'll post this (except maybe the EMT), but I want to get it out one more time.

***FLASH***FLASH***FLASH***

Some of you
are aware that my sister-in-law (wife's twin) has been beaten and abused
by her husband for nearly 20 years. Some of you are also aware that he

is armed, unstable and easily provoked. We are all half-expecting the
police to call and notify us that he has killed her, the kids, and
himself.

Today is the end of the beginning.

Shelly left
Scott [names unchanged because fuck that guy] about a year ago. Since
then, she's been fighting a legal battle over custody of her three
children (ages 10, 4, and 9 months). For those of you who math on this
blog, that means even while pregnant, he was beating the shit out of
her. Shelly lived with her mom for a few months and then rented an
apartment with her dad to help defray some of the costs.

Since
she's moved out, Scott has physically threatened several separate

daycare providers, forcing Shelly to find new and more expensive care
for her kids. Currently, one child is in school and the other two are in
separate daycares to minimize the odds that he can find all three of
them at the same time.

At every step in the legal process, Scott
has refused to concede even the slightest fraction of an inch. He has
fought, gambled, lied and abused the system designed to protect the
innocent and punish the guilty. In doing so, he is attempting to win by
out-spending her. He in unemployed, has no education and has not been

able to hold a job for more than a year or so in his entire adult life.
He is being represented by an acquaintance for free, so he has no
financial reason to quit.

Shelly wants full and sole custody of
her children and has documented a long and colorful history of abuse for
the court. The court, though, is slow, and designed with the
presumption of innocence at its base. In this specific case, that means

Scott can get away with nearly everything until the very, very end.

Shelly's
cumulative bills have exceeded $100,000. In an effort to defray these

bills, our family has dipped into retirement accounts, opened lines of
credit and attempted financing. My wife and I have given the money we
can along with many, many weekends, helping Shelly around the apartment
and donating household goods she needs to stay above water.

All of everyone's resources are tapped out.

Scott
has refused to settle, and this custody case is going to trial.
Shelly's lawyer (who is giving her a non-sarcastically great deal) has
quoted her an additional $30,000 to cover the trial itself. That money
simply doesn't exist.

Shelly needs help. She needs it
emotionally, spiritually, physically and financially. If you're the
praying type, please add her to your lists. If you live in the NoVa area
and can donate household goods, please email me (link in sig). If you

can help financially, our family has set up a GoFundMe for her to
alleviate the costs of winning her children from a violent and abusive
man.

If you are inclined and able, please consider giving a few
dollars. We can't offer anything more than gratitude by way of
repayment, but please know that you're helping a desperate woman
fighting to save her children.

Thank you all so very much.

https://www.gofundme.com/michelleneff

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards at March 10, 2016 06:44 AM (cv6Ng)

596 You missed one point: why should sports writing involve getting a community college degree, in the first place? Maybe EMT training should be there, but even then, would it necessarily need a to take a full community college degree?

Posted by: George LeS at March 10, 2016 06:45 AM (iqTN2)

597
New Hampshire : KLTV Channel 7

New Hampshire won't ban women from showing breast and nipples.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/jrapdsj

It said the bill also would place police officers "in the uncomfortable position of having to determine the gender of a potential offender."

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 06:51 AM (JoVnU)

598

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at March 10, 2016 06:58 AM (HSmrB)

599 Come on Blog - Wake UP!

California : Half of adults pre diabetic.

Old news. Half of everyone in the US is fat and might develop diabetes.

Hillary will see to it that all you fat people go on a diet. Obamacare can't handle the expense of treating everyone with diabetes. You will exercise, you will be taught how to eat correctly and you will thank the government for your lessons.

Except for the children who go to bed hungry. They will get school lunch, breakfast, and food sent home for the evening meal because parents are not feeding their kids.

#NeverTrump

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 07:02 AM (JoVnU)

600 "New Hampshire won't ban women from showing breast and nipples"

And for that, we thank them..

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 10, 2016 07:03 AM (ptqRm)

601 Gallup tracking poll over last 3 days has Obama approval at 51%. Un***fing believable. (Shakes head in disbelief)

There are some other stats on the same page. U6 unemployment is 9.7%. Adults with "good" jobs and (the bar is pretty low if you read the definition) is 44.2%

(Throws up hand in despair and yearns for SMOD)

Posted by: Ripley at March 10, 2016 07:04 AM (1BQGO)

602 I think most people failed to read what the person was saying about Algebra. She didn't say no Algebra or Geometry. She said we shouldn't require Algebra II and beyond for graduation from HS. And maybe some fields in college shouldn't require it either. Although I think she goes a little too far there.

I agree with her that it doesn't make sense to have to pass higher math (beyond algebra and geometry) to graduate from HS. Most people are never going to use it again.

Posted by: WOPR at March 10, 2016 07:11 AM (LTDSy)

603 Since I'll be gone for most of the day, pass this link to the Empress please.

http://www.ufunk.net/univers-geek/game-over-shoes/

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:14 AM (d5fLT)

604 602
I think most people failed to read what the person was saying about
Algebra. She didn't say no Algebra or Geometry. She said we shouldn't
require Algebra II and beyond for graduation from HS. And maybe some
fields in college shouldn't require it either. Although I think she
goes a little too far there.

I agree with her that it doesn't make sense to have to pass higher
math (beyond algebra and geometry) to graduate from HS. Most people are
never going to use it again.

Posted by: WOPR at March 10, 2016 07:11 AM (LTDSy)

When I was in HS we had three different levels of study. Only people in college prep took Algebra and Advanced Math (precalculus). The rest could take buisness math or general math.

Posted by: Vic-we have no party at March 10, 2016 07:16 AM (t2KH5)

605 A deputy on patrol in Putnam County noticed a
woman in a pickup truck with a horse trailer attached on the side of the
road acting frantically Tuesday afternoon.

It requires 4 years of college education to learn how to write like
that, if you want to be a journalist. I skipped the four years and the
100 thousand bucks and I can write as good as that.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 05:53 AM (JoVnU)

"acting frantically" brings to cocaine fueled Macbeth... Was she performing Macbeth at double speed?

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 07:17 AM (NPofj)

606 #DitchYourSchlong

Posted by: Lilly Wachowski at March 10, 2016 07:17 AM (4QUnE)

607 I believe no polls on Obama's approval rating.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2016 07:17 AM (w4NZ8)

608 So the horse trailer was acting frantically?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:19 AM (d5fLT)

609
A deputy on patrol in Putnam County noticed a

woman in a pickup truck with a horse trailer attached on the side of the

road acting frantically Tuesday afternoon.

It requires 4 years of college education to learn how to write like

that, if you want to be a journalist. I skipped the four years and the

100 thousand bucks and I can write as good as that.

Posted by: Gerald Wiltercrest at March 10, 2016 05:53 AM (JoVnU)

"acting frantically" brings to mind[/]cocaine fueled Macbeth... Was she performing Macbeth at double speed?

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 07:17 AM (NPofj)
FIFM... I am still not quite awake.

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 07:21 AM (NPofj)

610 I skipped the four years and the 100 thousand bucks and I can write as good as that.

Comrade Bernie will make kollij free, and even more worthless!

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at March 10, 2016 07:21 AM (oVJmc)

611

Posted by: redbanzai at March 10, 2016 07:24 AM (NPofj)

612 I believe no polls on Obama's approval rating.

I believe the polls only in regards to how easily Americans allow themselves to be led into making public gestures of approval based on propaganda pressures.

The degree of their self loathing and how easy it is to prod that weakness to reach "consensus".

Posted by: bananaDream at March 10, 2016 07:25 AM (Ag8Mw)

613 608
So the horse trailer was acting frantically?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:19 AM
~~~
I think the road was acting frantically.

Posted by: Donald Trump's Hair at March 10, 2016 07:25 AM (E6RIJ)

614 On a related note: Animals acting weirdly. Funny misplaced modifiers:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3llyv6u

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2016 07:25 AM (w4NZ8)

615 If Gaylord read that news article, it would be - the trooper was acting stupidly

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:26 AM (d5fLT)

616 Unless she was shot by the horse, the horse trailer is an irrelevant detail.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at March 10, 2016 07:26 AM (oVJmc)

617 New Hampshire! You came for the low taxes and natural beauty, and now you get breasts and nipples too!

What a deal. I am moving.

Posted by: MTF at March 10, 2016 07:26 AM (knNho)

618 Journalism? You want journalism? My local newspaper can barely manage to string two coherent sentences into story, and their headline writers are, well, perhaps in need of some remedial classes.

Here are two recent headlines: the first from an article about the local free-food-for-the-poor organization, the second from a story about the local police chief's drive to provide treatment for drug users instead of busting them....

Big Day For Food Pantry - Open Door Opens Addition, Fills It With Tuna

"There Is Recovery -- You Deserve It," Chief Says After Four ODs

Pulitzer Prizes in 5...4...3...2....

Posted by: MrScribbler at March 10, 2016 07:27 AM (WIZNc)

619 Tuna???

Nyah!!!

Nom nom nom nom

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:28 AM (d5fLT)

620 Here for no other reason than I found it interesting... a preference poll on a hunting website from the MidWest.
Trump- 19
Cruz- 11
Little R. & the Guv- 1 each
undecided - 6
Whatcha bet it's pretty close?

Posted by: MarkY at March 10, 2016 07:28 AM (Yccrl)

621 Look up videos of the Tacoma Narrows to a bridge acting frantically.

Posted by: Epobirs at March 10, 2016 07:28 AM (IdCqF)

622 I believe no polls, period.

G'mornin, Horde !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at March 10, 2016 07:28 AM (Z8DIA)

623 You mean Galloping Gertie, yeah her career was brief but spectacular.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:28 AM (d5fLT)

624 It said the bill also would place police officers "in the uncomfortable position of having to determine the gender of a potential offender."

Mick Dundee front and center!

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:29 AM (kDUUX)

625 More funny grammar errors. I particularly liked the sign-"Students cook and serve grandparents."

http://preview.tinyurl.com/hknz9ly

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2016 07:30 AM (w4NZ8)

626 Nom nom nom nom

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:28 AM

I tend to stay away from the Open Door's vicinity these days, AP. By now, the stench from all that tuna just has to be unbearable.

Posted by: MrScribbler at March 10, 2016 07:30 AM (WIZNc)

627 "It said the bill also would place police officers "in the uncomfortable position of having to determine the gender of a potential offender."

I thought Gender was fluid and changeable

'Damn Sarge, he was a woman when I cuffed him, honest"

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 10, 2016 07:31 AM (ptqRm)

628 Wait a minute, FenelonSpoke commenting on poor grammar... she who killed with but one word??

Okay, game over. Time to head to work.

Don't burn the place down. Or up.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2016 07:31 AM (d5fLT)

629 *tosses Febreeze grenades

Morning horde. Haapy Thors Day.

Posted by: RWC - Team TTBTFW at March 10, 2016 07:32 AM (NaTBO)

630 617 New Hampshire! You came for the low taxes and natural beauty, and now you get breasts and nipples too!

What a deal. I am moving.
Posted by: MTF at March 10, 2016 07:26 AM (knNho)
***
Guess you've never been there....

Eh, yep......full of Mass-holes, making the place long since into the image of the place they fled.

And, well, NH girls....

Ya know the difference between an NH girl and a moose, dontcha?

twenty pounds and a flannel shirt.....

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 07:32 AM (lutOX)

631 Can someone who 'identifies' as a woman get a minority business loan?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at March 10, 2016 07:33 AM (oVJmc)

632 >>>>"Students cook and serve grandparents."<<<<<

The trick is to marinate them, otherwise they are chewy.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at March 10, 2016 07:33 AM (tEDMc)

633 632 >>>>"Students cook and serve grandparents."

The trick is to marinate them, otherwise they are chewy.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at March 10, 2016 07:33 AM (tEDMc)
***
Crockpot - slow-cooking helps.

Or, if you're rushed for time, a pressure-cooker. Lets you make a good broth, too.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 07:39 AM (lutOX)

634 "The trick is to marinate them, otherwise they are chewy."

Finish with a talcum and sage dry rub?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 10, 2016 07:39 AM (ptqRm)

635 Get a pumice stone to clean your toilet

Posted by: tmitsss at March 10, 2016 07:41 AM (lfiL9)

636 Everybody, Including me, thought the polls were flawed in 2012 and people couldn't be that stupid. As usual I was wrong.

Posted by: Ripley at March 10, 2016 07:41 AM (1BQGO)

637 Morning all

I see Cumlee got arrested. I guess he is off the show

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 10, 2016 07:44 AM (mw8Dm)

638 21 shot over 20 hours in Chicago

Damn this city needs some gun laws

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 10, 2016 07:45 AM (45oDG)

639 Anna

I know that you're off to work, but my malignant typo power is so great that I killed with one little letter. :^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2016 07:48 AM (w4NZ8)

640 I see Cumlee got arrested. I guess he is off the show

For what?

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:49 AM (kDUUX)

641

Can someone who 'identifies' as a woman get a minority business loan?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at March 10, 2016 07:33 AM (oVJmc)

I'm a misogynist that self identifies as a dumb broad. Maybe I can help.

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at March 10, 2016 07:49 AM (0IhFx)

642 >>> I see Cumlee got arrested. I guess he is off the show

Mr Whoopie can fix this!

Posted by: Tennessee Tuxedo at March 10, 2016 07:51 AM (2hcmo)

643 I think I found my inner alpha male.

Posted by: Ready For Hillary!!11!! at March 10, 2016 07:53 AM (Dwehj)

644 drug and gun charges.

Posted by: Philip K. Dick at March 10, 2016 07:55 AM (1ijHg)

645 Who has a bbq in march on a Wed nite? Does anyone think that this isnt gang/drug related? I love how the msm never reports facts.

Posted by: Feminist Bruce With a Feminist Wang! at March 10, 2016 07:55 AM (iQIUe)

646 Chumlee - meth, mary jane, illegal guns.
Dayum gangsta!

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:55 AM (kDUUX)

647 I see Cumlee got arrested. I guess he is off the show

For what?
Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:49 AM (kDUUX)I see Cumlee got arrested. I guess he is off the show

For what?
Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:49 AM (kDUUX)

From what I heard. Something to do with a girl and when the police came they found unregistered Guns, Grass, and Meth

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 10, 2016 07:56 AM (mw8Dm)

648 For what?

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:49 AM (kDUUX)

drugs/guns/sexual assault

Posted by: BignJames at March 10, 2016 07:56 AM (j7iSn)

649 "For what?"

Police raided his home in a related sexual assault case and found weed and meth. Also "a gun" was found whatever the Hell that means.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 10, 2016 07:57 AM (KFAME)

650 Ya know the difference between an NH girl and a moose, dontcha?

twenty pounds and a flannel shirt.....

On the moose?

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:57 AM (kDUUX)

651 Chumlee from "Pawn Stars" has been arrested for guns and drugs after police raided his home while investigating an alleged sexual assault ... TMZ has learned.
Las Vegas Metro PD says officers showed up at his home Wednesday afternoon with a search warrant in connection with a sexual assault case. We're told Chumlee is the suspect in that case.
Our law enforcement sources tell us cops found marijuana, meth and at least one weapon during the search.
Chumlee was taken into custody and booked for drug and weapon possession. We're told the sexual assault is still under investigation.

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2016/03/09/chumlee-pawn-stars-arrested-sex-assault-investigation/#ixzz42VLNI2qN

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 10, 2016 07:57 AM (mw8Dm)

652 Never moving to Nevada. Never gonna register my guns.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:58 AM (kDUUX)

653 History Channel used to be Hitler and UFOs.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at March 10, 2016 08:00 AM (oVJmc)

654 History Channel used to be Hitler and UFOs.

Only so much to say about either before you are repeating yourself for the twelfth time.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 08:01 AM (kDUUX)

655 Never moving to Nevada. Never gonna register my guns.
Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:58 AM (kDUUX)

You can move there, just don't be sexually assaulting no vimen

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 10, 2016 08:01 AM (mw8Dm)

656 Does this Cumlee have a newsletter?

Posted by: Sandra Flook at March 10, 2016 08:01 AM (Dwehj)

657 Good open letter in NY Post, from an R lawyer and veteran that stands with Trump. He points out some of his irritation toward RINOs and much of Conservative Inc. going histrionic in their attacks, like the "OMG, Trump flip flopped on H-1Bs" without looking at the whole picture.

Why I support Trump, And Resent the Elites Trying to Destroy Him.

tinyurl.com/h2yeq6b

Posted by: Illiniwek at March 10, 2016 08:01 AM (eUbDe)

658 Morning cute puppy video:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/js8q3h8

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2016 08:02 AM (w4NZ8)

659 No general firearm registration in Nv.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 10, 2016 08:02 AM (KFAME)

660 Looking at this Chumlee schmuck, the weed is a given, but the meth doesn't seem to be working.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at March 10, 2016 08:03 AM (oVJmc)

661 650 Ya know the difference between an NH girl and a moose, dontcha?

twenty pounds and a flannel shirt.....

On the moose?
Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 07:57 AM (kDUUX)
***
The ambiguity only adds to the punchline.....

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at March 10, 2016 08:03 AM (lutOX)

662 On that post about algreba.

I noticed with was about Algebra II and Calculus.

So the author was saying the teach basics of Algebra (I) and statistics. And that sounds about right.

Requiring every student to pass Algebra II ridiculous.

Posted by: Make America Great Again at March 10, 2016 08:04 AM (LXJ1e)

663 g'mornin', 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at March 10, 2016 08:04 AM (ZQfW9)

664 "but the meth doesn't seem to be working."

Right. He was on a diet and did lose a few pounds the last I watched new episodes but not what meth should have produced.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 10, 2016 08:06 AM (KFAME)

665 new post is up

Posted by: Illiniwek at March 10, 2016 08:06 AM (eUbDe)

666 On that post about algreba.

I noticed with was about Algebra II and Calculus.

So the author was saying the teach basics of Algebra (I) and statistics. And that sounds about right.

Meme on Fb? Picture of a skeleton sitting at a table.
Caption: Still waiting to use the algebra that I learned in hs.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 10, 2016 08:06 AM (kDUUX)

667 hello, OOT people:

nood

Posted by: m at March 10, 2016 08:08 AM (S/1cF)

668 What is Algebra II?

I look at Math as a filter. If you cannot understand the abstract, you don't belong in college.

The article/argument is just a rationalization was why dumb people are being prevented from succeeding.

A High School diploma isn't worth anything anymore.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at March 10, 2016 08:09 AM (1ijHg)

669 I only get here in the AM so I'm a little of track . As to poets and philosophers , we need more of each . As to poets , it was Eliot and Pound that as early as 1916 were warning us of what the death of High Culture would look like . And the low culture of their times was pretty amusing , in a good sense ( BTW , Groucho Marx and TSE were fast pen pals , something about making your living with words ) . As to philosophers , give me a man who understands and can argue in abstractions and anything else is child's play . Everything one learns in a Wharton MBA can be learned on the fly in real time , but analytic thinking takes real time and real effort in a long apprenticeship . Just saying .

Posted by: jay hoenemeyer at March 10, 2016 08:11 AM (uvj0z)

670 "why are they too dumb to master what most 10th graders can"

Actually as a high school math teacher, I have some comments to make. This requirement that everyone take Algebra 2 is pretty new. For the longest time the basic grad requirement was Algebra and Geometry. Algebra 2 is advanced, college prep math and I wholeheartedly agree that most people don't need it. What we see now is that students who have never been good at math and who won't be going into careers that require math, being forced to take a class well above their level and struggle mightily. Meanwhile the students who are planning on moving on in the STEM fields are stuck in a class where half the kids don't get it. We have to slow down the teaching, spend time reviewing basic concepts; in other words, keeping the kids who should be there from learning as much as they could. This snowballs, since Precalculus is then delayed as we cover the material we should have had time for in Algebra 2 and so on.

I would go back to the two basics for everyone and make Algebra 2 an elective for those wishing to head in that direction. For the rest, the idea of statistics classes or occupational math classes might be an option, if they wanted it.

(For the record, I still can't see why a kid who wants to go in construction or be an auto mechanic or a dairy farmer has to complete twelve years of school. Why not trade school or somewhere they will learn more about being successful in what they want to do?)

Posted by: Heresolong at March 10, 2016 08:51 AM (ntIeo)

671 Well,ThePrimordialOrderedPair #525, <i>Whether I have grit, humility, empathy or a work
ethic (none of which are things you can develop in a class, BTW) is
none of your friggin business.</i> that's true as far as it goes.

But a culture without those is a culture that gives you stupid rules on microaggressions and triggering, eleventy-six personal pronouns in the name of "sensitivity," and politicians that would rather steal your money and give it to someone else than tell the later to work harder.

Posted by: Rolf at March 10, 2016 09:12 AM (36EBj)

672 What we need is better teaching of reading for comprehension. They guy said he wants to eliminate the requirement for ADVANCED algebra, not all algebra altogether.

Posted by: Dave H at March 10, 2016 11:11 AM (xMMIg)

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