Support
Contact
Ace:
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
CBD:
cbd.aoshq at gee mail.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
joe mannix:
mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton:
sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
CBD:
cbd.aoshq at gee mail.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
joe mannix:
mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton:
sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
Fundamental Concepts - The Aberration [Weirddave]
When I see, from the entire left side of the political spectrum, more and more strident demands to end Western culture as we know it, I wonder if these people have any clue exactly what it is that they are asking for. King Midas got exactly what he wanted, to his everlasting horror. There's a lesson in that, an important one, but one that I suspect is lost on someone who navigates through life by the seat of their righteousness, guided by the certainty of their conceit.
We have an entire segment of the population.....the race baiters, the SJWs, the various flavors of communists, anarchists, socialists and anarco-whatevers, feminists, gay rights crusaders, activists of every stripe.....all of who remind me of nothing so much as the proverbial fish who is ignorant of the water in which he is swimming. Like that same fish attempting to drill a hole in the bottom of his tank to "escape", I don't think that getting the results they claim to desire would be to their benefit at all.
Modern Western civilization is an aberration. The environment of freedom, productivity, wealth, tolerance and leisure that all of us enjoy has been around for a few hundred years at most, and on only a small portion of the planet at that. All of the rest of human history, heck the rest of the world today, tells a far different story, one where none of these leftists would even be allowed to exist. Oh, I suppose a vanishingly small percentage of them would be able to worm their way into the ruling class, but the majority would be utterly crushed. Can you imagine a thriving feminist movement in Saudi Arabia? Gay rights parades in Iran? Race baiters living off of the guilt of society in Middle Ages Europe? Hell, they were all the same race and they killed each other by the millions. When we see women getting their heads chopped of in Riyadh, or gays hung from gantry cranes in Teheran, or Boko Haram slaughtering entire villages, it isn't a "tragedy", it isn't a "shame", it isn't "barbarism" (actually, it is all of those things), what it is is the NORM. This is how human beings have behaved since the dawn of time. It's the norm everywhere but here, that is. Now, there's noting different about us compared to anybody else in the world. People are people after all. But what is different is Western culture, and that's due the intersection of three great concepts over thousands of years. Think of it as a real life example of Sid Meier's Civilization. In that game, as civilizations discover new ideas and technologies, they are able to do new things. A civilization that has domesticated horses and learned to work bronze can produce chariots, for example. Without both advances, chariots are impossible. Let's follow this in real life. The first leg of the three legged stool that supports Western civilization came from the Jews, and it's monotheism. The idea of one God as opposed to many different gods begats the concept of absolute right and wrong, which is necessary in order to have the concept of morality. Morality is what takes humans away from a world where might makes right. The second leg came from the Greeks and Romans, and that's the idea that the world has certain natural laws, that these laws are universal, and that they can be studied and understood and even manipulated. From this comes science, of course, but a better term for this would be reason. Finally, from the Anglo-Saxons we got the concept of rule of law. Just as there are universal natural laws that govern nature, so too must man's laws for governing man must be universal. Nobody is above the law, thus everyone is treated equally. Equality is the third leg. Morality, Reason, Equality. I wish I spoke Latin, because I'd incorporate the three words into a personal coat of arms. The melding of these three concepts is what produced the West as we know it today. Islam certainly has it's own morality, but reason is subordinate to it and the concept of equality is foreign. Communism, Fascism, Marxism, Socialism and all of the other left wing totalitarian systems claim to be based upon reason, but what morality there is is subjected to an ever changing "greater good" as determined by a small elite which shoots rule of law right in the head. In fact, rule of law doesn't exist in any totalitarian system or oligarchy. No, Western culture is the only place that all three have gained equal ascendancy, and that brings us back to where we started, because leftist political ideology is dedicated to destroying all three of the legs upon which our society rests. Morality? To a leftist, there is no such thing, there is only expediency. Reason? If it advances the cause, great, if not, ignore it (Question the science behind global warming and you're a "denier", point out the correlation between concealed carry and low crime rates and you're a "nut"). Rule of Law? In Obama's America? Don't make me laugh (just think of the difference between how the government treats Cliven Bundy, who owes millions in grazing fees, and Al Sharpton, who owes millions in taxes), and the entire point of the social justice movement is to make sure people are not treated equally. So what happens if these leftists get their way? I posit that Western society will revert to the norm, and that, except for the fraction of a percentage that will make it into the new ruling class, all of these leftists will be swept away with it. None of them would be allowed to survive in any other civilization in history. There's an old, old proverb that I suspect they will become intimately familiar with, albeit briefly. "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it".To the barricades comrades, the basement of the Lubyanka awaits us all!
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Nice post Dave. Makes a person think.... IF you have the ability to reason. I fear that ability has deserted the left for quite some time now....
Nice post Dave. Makes a person think.... IF you have the ability to reason. I fear that ability has deserted the left for quite some time now....
Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at January 24, 2015 11:50 AM (7GRVs)
2
Word, preach it Weirddave.
Posted by: zeera at January 24, 2015 11:51 AM (/nRA7)
Posted by: Thin veneer of civility at January 24, 2015 11:51 AM (XzRw1)
Posted by: wooga at January 24, 2015 11:55 AM (cEocI)
5
Queers for Palestine!! Woot!! Woot!! 0_o
Queers for Palestine!! Woot!! Woot!! 0_o
Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at January 24, 2015 11:55 AM (7GRVs)
Posted by: YIKES! at January 24, 2015 11:57 AM (F1dC8)
7
STONE THIS MAN! Heretic!
Posted by: dc at January 24, 2015 11:58 AM (b8fB0)
8
Queers for Palestine!! Woot!! Woot!! 0_o
Yea, I've seen that and it boggles my mind. Marching along, here in the West, right next to Muslims allied with various terrorist groups. Dude, don't you even realize that given the chance THOSE PEOPLE YOU ARE MARCHING WITH WOULD KILL YOU AND CALL IT GOOD?????!!
Yea, I've seen that and it boggles my mind. Marching along, here in the West, right next to Muslims allied with various terrorist groups. Dude, don't you even realize that given the chance THOSE PEOPLE YOU ARE MARCHING WITH WOULD KILL YOU AND CALL IT GOOD?????!!
Posted by: Weirddave at January 24, 2015 11:59 AM (WvS3w)
9
Moralitas, Ratio, Aequalitas
According to Google translate, anyway.
I think it would look good as the wrap-around on a service patch.
According to Google translate, anyway.
I think it would look good as the wrap-around on a service patch.
Posted by: Captain Comic at January 24, 2015 12:00 PM (cDBRo)
10
OT but There's a great live stream of the Freedom Summit in Iowa posted on The Right Scoop
Posted by: Regular Guy at January 24, 2015 12:01 PM (XYKz+)
11
Monotheism by itself, isn't enough. Islam is monotheistic.
Rule of Law is by itself not 'equality', and the concept of 'equality' has been redefined by the political left to mean something other than 'equal before the law'.
I would add free market economics to the equation, and the idea that we govern ourselves, that government retains only the authority that 'we the people' allow it to retain; the 'mandate of heaven', so to speak. Democracy, by itself, is rule of the mob. Unchecked by morality which itself must be balanced by 'reason'.
The United States represents the finely tuned balance of all three, self rule, freedom, morality. If we lose any one of those, we lose everything.
Rule of Law is by itself not 'equality', and the concept of 'equality' has been redefined by the political left to mean something other than 'equal before the law'.
I would add free market economics to the equation, and the idea that we govern ourselves, that government retains only the authority that 'we the people' allow it to retain; the 'mandate of heaven', so to speak. Democracy, by itself, is rule of the mob. Unchecked by morality which itself must be balanced by 'reason'.
The United States represents the finely tuned balance of all three, self rule, freedom, morality. If we lose any one of those, we lose everything.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 24, 2015 12:01 PM (pXcf8)
12
Reader here, not a commenter, but this is just awesome...
Posted by: ama at January 24, 2015 12:02 PM (gekTY)
13
Good observation WD. I notice that those who want to destroy western civilization always seem to focus their efforts on undermining the ability to reason logically, and on undermining morality.
I suspect that it's because without either of those abilities, science can be manipulated to support your goals. And of those two, reasoning logically without morality can only carry you so far.
I suspect that it's because without either of those abilities, science can be manipulated to support your goals. And of those two, reasoning logically without morality can only carry you so far.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 24, 2015 12:02 PM (60Vyp)
14
Great post. Thank you.
Posted by: Eisenhorn at January 24, 2015 12:03 PM (1li1B)
15
Hell, they were all the same race and they killed each other by the
millions. When we see women getting their heads chopped of in Riyadh, or
gays hung from gantry cranes in Teheran, or Boko Haram slaughtering
entire villages, it isn't a "tragedy", it isn't a "shame", it isn't
"barbarism" (actually, it is all of those things), what it is is the
NORM. This is how human beings have behaved since the dawn of time.
But ... but ... human nature will change, once we build New Socialist Man! /leftist drivel
Meanwhile, have they ever tried to get a dog to go vegan (voluntarily)? Some aspects of behavior are inherited, and therefore inherent.
millions. When we see women getting their heads chopped of in Riyadh, or
gays hung from gantry cranes in Teheran, or Boko Haram slaughtering
entire villages, it isn't a "tragedy", it isn't a "shame", it isn't
"barbarism" (actually, it is all of those things), what it is is the
NORM. This is how human beings have behaved since the dawn of time.
But ... but ... human nature will change, once we build New Socialist Man! /leftist drivel
Meanwhile, have they ever tried to get a dog to go vegan (voluntarily)? Some aspects of behavior are inherited, and therefore inherent.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 12:04 PM (oKE6c)
16
The first leg of the three legged stool that supports Western civilization came from the Jews, and it's monotheism. The idea of one God as opposed to many different gods begats the concept of absolute right and wrong, which is necessary in order to have the concept of morality. Morality is what takes humans away from a world where might makes right.
..... From which grew the idea of personal responsibility.
..... From which grew the idea of personal responsibility.
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 12:04 PM (dFi94)
17
The animals show us the NORM. Survival of the strongest, fastest, most clever and healthiest. Can't outrun a machete wearning pajamas and sipping a mocha-latte.
The clever ones understand the lever effect of firearms to equalize the strength and speed factors.
All the world came from Africa, and that's how it may just end up.
The clever ones understand the lever effect of firearms to equalize the strength and speed factors.
All the world came from Africa, and that's how it may just end up.
Posted by: Roy at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (fWLrt)
18
Speaking of Saudi Arabia, I see that Barak Oblahblah stopped in to pay his respects to his late imam.
Speaking of Saudi Arabia, I see that Barak Oblahblah stopped in to pay his respects to his late imam.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (Qs8ZN)
19
Required reading. Should be emailed to every known addy in the world.
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (CNua6)
20
Morality is what takes humans away from a world where might makes right.
One of many reasons I am a SoCon.
One of many reasons I am a SoCon.
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (dFi94)
21
The Leftist "-isms" are just semi-organized expressions of self-hate and self-loathing.
Who among us has not at some time, looked at their own life and surroundings, and wanted to blow it all up?
The difference is that normal well adjusted people realize that this is stupid and pointless, and return to normal, regardless of how unhappy that "normal" life may be. There are plenty 'morons' that comment here that have real heartbreaking problems in their lives, but do not wallow in self-hate and debasement.
The rise of the Leftist "-isms" turn self loathing and self hate into a cult that you can join and find reinforcement. It's not enough that they are all miserable. YOU MUST SUFFER TOO!
Too white, too much money, voting wrong, wrong house, wrong car, wrong diet,.....wrong! wrong! wrong!!!
There is nothing new under the sun, and all the Leftist tropes are just another excuse to band together and hate the Other. They band together out of their own self-loathing and stay together to hate you, the Other.
Who among us has not at some time, looked at their own life and surroundings, and wanted to blow it all up?
The difference is that normal well adjusted people realize that this is stupid and pointless, and return to normal, regardless of how unhappy that "normal" life may be. There are plenty 'morons' that comment here that have real heartbreaking problems in their lives, but do not wallow in self-hate and debasement.
The rise of the Leftist "-isms" turn self loathing and self hate into a cult that you can join and find reinforcement. It's not enough that they are all miserable. YOU MUST SUFFER TOO!
Too white, too much money, voting wrong, wrong house, wrong car, wrong diet,.....wrong! wrong! wrong!!!
There is nothing new under the sun, and all the Leftist tropes are just another excuse to band together and hate the Other. They band together out of their own self-loathing and stay together to hate you, the Other.
Posted by: Bossy Conservative....in the bleak midwinter at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (+1T7c)
22
The Leftist "-isms" are just semi-organized expressions of self-hate and self-loathing.
Who among us has not at some time, looked at their own life and surroundings, and wanted to blow it all up?
The difference is that normal well adjusted people realize that this is stupid and pointless, and return to normal, regardless of how unhappy that "normal" life may be. There are plenty 'morons' that comment here that have real heartbreaking problems in their lives, but do not wallow in self-hate and debasement.
The rise of the Leftist "-isms" turn self loathing and self hate into a cult that you can join and find reinforcement. It's not enough that they are all miserable. YOU MUST SUFFER TOO!
Too white, too much money, voting wrong, wrong house, wrong car, wrong diet,.....wrong! wrong! wrong!!!
There is nothing new under the sun, and all the Leftist tropes are just another excuse to band together and hate the Other. They band together out of their own self-loathing and stay together to hate you, the Other.
Who among us has not at some time, looked at their own life and surroundings, and wanted to blow it all up?
The difference is that normal well adjusted people realize that this is stupid and pointless, and return to normal, regardless of how unhappy that "normal" life may be. There are plenty 'morons' that comment here that have real heartbreaking problems in their lives, but do not wallow in self-hate and debasement.
The rise of the Leftist "-isms" turn self loathing and self hate into a cult that you can join and find reinforcement. It's not enough that they are all miserable. YOU MUST SUFFER TOO!
Too white, too much money, voting wrong, wrong house, wrong car, wrong diet,.....wrong! wrong! wrong!!!
There is nothing new under the sun, and all the Leftist tropes are just another excuse to band together and hate the Other. They band together out of their own self-loathing and stay together to hate you, the Other.
Posted by: Bossy Conservative....in the bleak midwinter at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (+1T7c)
23
Dave--
Well said, now watch as it is picked apart. LOL
Well said, now watch as it is picked apart. LOL
Posted by: Bob from table9 at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (WNERA)
24
A very nicely argued essay. Unfortunately, until enough people understand that the fall of Western Civilization will be an existential threat to their very lives, this trend will not be reversed.
The Leftists will be stopped; either by their success or failure.
The Leftists will be stopped; either by their success or failure.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (wQYNW)
25
Posted by: Bossy Conservative....in the bleak midwinter at January 24, 2015 12:09 PM (+1T7c)
I wouldn't care so much about the stupidity of leftism if they'd leave me alone to do what I want, but they seem incapable of that. What a bunch of busybodies.
I wouldn't care so much about the stupidity of leftism if they'd leave me alone to do what I want, but they seem incapable of that. What a bunch of busybodies.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (ThxKk)
26
excellent essay
we already know. SJW when given power they are despots, tyrants. See Shanley Kane and all her ilk.
The cap and tax scheme for global warming is no different than purchasing indulgences from the church in the middle ages for sin.
White privilege is the secular racist version of original sin. It doesn't matter if you personally are without blame. You must accept your portion of collective guilt.
Are the campus rape tribunals very much different than Salem witch trials? Not really. The accusation is enough and no proof of innocence is ever enough.
the demand to stifle free speech on campus and on the internet is never ending. The evidence is all round us
A new dark ages comes
we already know. SJW when given power they are despots, tyrants. See Shanley Kane and all her ilk.
The cap and tax scheme for global warming is no different than purchasing indulgences from the church in the middle ages for sin.
White privilege is the secular racist version of original sin. It doesn't matter if you personally are without blame. You must accept your portion of collective guilt.
Are the campus rape tribunals very much different than Salem witch trials? Not really. The accusation is enough and no proof of innocence is ever enough.
the demand to stifle free speech on campus and on the internet is never ending. The evidence is all round us
A new dark ages comes
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:13 PM (zOTsN)
27
"The first leg of the three legged stool that supports Western civilization came from the Jews, and it's monotheism."
While that is true, it takes nothing away from the Jews to note that Christianity universalized the notion and make monotheism more than the the tribal God of one specific group of people.
And, as Skandia Recluse points out, Islam is monotheistic. It's also an expansionist religion, but one spread by the sword rather than by missionaries. What Christianity did was posit the notion that every soul, even the poorest and most miserable, was loved by God, which was a notion the Greeks and Romans would have found laughable. It is that idea that eventually gave birth to the notion of God given rights and the value of the individual. That Christians and their leaders have failed many times over the past 2000 years to live up to Christian ideals does not negate the ideals.
While that is true, it takes nothing away from the Jews to note that Christianity universalized the notion and make monotheism more than the the tribal God of one specific group of people.
And, as Skandia Recluse points out, Islam is monotheistic. It's also an expansionist religion, but one spread by the sword rather than by missionaries. What Christianity did was posit the notion that every soul, even the poorest and most miserable, was loved by God, which was a notion the Greeks and Romans would have found laughable. It is that idea that eventually gave birth to the notion of God given rights and the value of the individual. That Christians and their leaders have failed many times over the past 2000 years to live up to Christian ideals does not negate the ideals.
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (+XMAD)
28
Awesome post, WD, thank you. I was especially struck by the contasting examples of Cliven Bundy and Al Sharpton. Yeah, that's some white privilege in action there. /sarc
Posted by: fly gal at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (pq76f)
29
human nature has not changed
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (zOTsN)
30
Great post.
Posted by: AmeriDan at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (zZLvY)
31
The Leftists will be stopped; either by their success or failure.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (wQYNW)
Sadly, I'm not so sure about that. Did you ever see that bumper sticker that said: 'Liberals: One revolution away from happiness. Always.' I fear that sentiment is more likely.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (wQYNW)
Sadly, I'm not so sure about that. Did you ever see that bumper sticker that said: 'Liberals: One revolution away from happiness. Always.' I fear that sentiment is more likely.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (ThxKk)
32
Another thought-provoking post, WeirdDave. Thank you.
One old-fashioned fusty habit I like about an uptight Anglo-based civitas is fair play, orderliness, and waiting your turn, and the underlying mindset speaks volumes. It assumes that not only is there enough [X] for all, but there will always be enough [X], because you have the opportunity to make your own [X].
And yes, we're a vulgar offshoot, but in general the wheels of American society grind pretty smoothly and people are for the most part polite and decent. You tend to see the grasping mob mentality in that subset who get their bennies doled out by the government.
One old-fashioned fusty habit I like about an uptight Anglo-based civitas is fair play, orderliness, and waiting your turn, and the underlying mindset speaks volumes. It assumes that not only is there enough [X] for all, but there will always be enough [X], because you have the opportunity to make your own [X].
And yes, we're a vulgar offshoot, but in general the wheels of American society grind pretty smoothly and people are for the most part polite and decent. You tend to see the grasping mob mentality in that subset who get their bennies doled out by the government.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at January 24, 2015 12:16 PM (KH1sk)
33
I like the cut of your jib......
Posted by: fu52 at January 24, 2015 12:19 PM (Bx8LL)
34
I would also add that the ability to keep the fruits of his own labor is an unmitigated force for good. A man who can keep what he earns saves, takes care of his own, invents, creates, strives and generally advances civilization. It is the seed from which all innovation grows.
without mans ability to keep the fruits of his own labor culture an civilization stagnant and eventually decline
without mans ability to keep the fruits of his own labor culture an civilization stagnant and eventually decline
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:19 PM (zOTsN)
35
Great piece. Passing it on.
Posted by: KT at January 24, 2015 12:20 PM (qahv/)
36
Morality to a leftist? How can it exist in a 'collective' mindset?
Isn't morality the measure of INDIVIDUAL virtue?
Is collective virtue the average rating for the identity group you happen to belong to? Does one leftist murderer go to socialist heaven (Utopia) for every nine leftists who behave themselves?
Oh, but then being a murderer isn't really his fault though. It was the state that failed to prevent him from being a murderer.
But then ..... why does socialism allow all the pain and suffering in the world?
Isn't morality the measure of INDIVIDUAL virtue?
Is collective virtue the average rating for the identity group you happen to belong to? Does one leftist murderer go to socialist heaven (Utopia) for every nine leftists who behave themselves?
Oh, but then being a murderer isn't really his fault though. It was the state that failed to prevent him from being a murderer.
But then ..... why does socialism allow all the pain and suffering in the world?
Posted by: gastorgrab at January 24, 2015 12:20 PM (FX38i)
37
Well, I had to look up Lubyanka. What a beautiful building! Wouldn't want to live there, though.
Thanks for giving a shout-out to the Jewish people. And thank you, LORD, for their shout-out to the rest of us!
Thanks for giving a shout-out to the Jewish people. And thank you, LORD, for their shout-out to the rest of us!
Posted by: JohnnyBoy at January 24, 2015 12:21 PM (KG0mU)
38
One must realize that what drives the left isn't at all a rational belief that other systems are better; more than the more radically they oppose 'Western Civilization' the more adulation they receive from their fellow radical leftists.
Oikophobia. Google it.
Oikophobia. Google it.
Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at January 24, 2015 12:22 PM (4YKBD)
39
human nature has not changed
Posted by: ThunderB
----------------
In the (more or less) 10,000 years of recorded human history, it has been the one constant.
Posted by: ThunderB
----------------
In the (more or less) 10,000 years of recorded human history, it has been the one constant.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:24 PM (028dR)
40
Did you ever see that bumper sticker that said:
'Liberals: One revolution away from happiness. Always.' I fear that
sentiment is more likely.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (ThxKk)
Great comment, and bumper sticker. As I'm sure zombie will agree, Berkeley leftists are the most miserable people on the planet, but think that when the revolution comes, they'll be happy.
They never realize that they're scratching where it doesn't itch, and they'll be just as miserable under any other system as they are under this one. The demons that torment them are internal, not external.
'Liberals: One revolution away from happiness. Always.' I fear that
sentiment is more likely.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (ThxKk)
Great comment, and bumper sticker. As I'm sure zombie will agree, Berkeley leftists are the most miserable people on the planet, but think that when the revolution comes, they'll be happy.
They never realize that they're scratching where it doesn't itch, and they'll be just as miserable under any other system as they are under this one. The demons that torment them are internal, not external.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 12:24 PM (oKE6c)
41
In the (more or less) 10,000 years of recorded human history, it has been the one constant.
Posted by: Mike Hammer
-----------------
Wait..., Climate change, climate change is another.
Posted by: Mike Hammer
-----------------
Wait..., Climate change, climate change is another.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:25 PM (028dR)
Posted by: fluffy at January 24, 2015 12:25 PM (Ua6T/)
43
“One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.” ― George Orwell
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:26 PM (028dR)
44
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 12:24 PM (oKE6c)
Reading zombie's stories of the insanity that is Berkeley and the surrounding area makes me glad to live at the opposite end of the country. Of course, I have to deal with Northeast crazies, but the cold keeps out the worst ones.
Reading zombie's stories of the insanity that is Berkeley and the surrounding area makes me glad to live at the opposite end of the country. Of course, I have to deal with Northeast crazies, but the cold keeps out the worst ones.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (ThxKk)
45
Hey, Patton is on TCM at 12:30 Mountain time...
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (jOumW)
46
"The second leg came from the Greeks and Romans, and that's the idea that
the world has certain natural laws, that these laws are universal, and
that they can be studied and understood and even manipulated. From this
comes science, of course, but a better term for this would be reason."
Actually, without monotheism, you don't get science, because there are gods and spirits overseeing pretty much everything, right down to the hearth. Monotheism, by combining all the gods into one God, and withdrawing Him from everyday events, gave room for those rules to explain the natural world, and encouraged people to rely on those rules rather than supernatural interference in everyday life.
This is a major weakness of Islam, because one of it's basic beliefs is that Allah is directly making the universe real every instant. That saying "Ins'allah", it shall be as Allah wills, captures that, and therefore, if his followers are zealous enough in pleasing him, he shall will the present world to be pleasing to them. Not "pie in the sky, by and by", but now. And also that the misfortunes of everyday life are not from the things they do, but because Allah hasn't been sufficiently propitiated.
the world has certain natural laws, that these laws are universal, and
that they can be studied and understood and even manipulated. From this
comes science, of course, but a better term for this would be reason."
Actually, without monotheism, you don't get science, because there are gods and spirits overseeing pretty much everything, right down to the hearth. Monotheism, by combining all the gods into one God, and withdrawing Him from everyday events, gave room for those rules to explain the natural world, and encouraged people to rely on those rules rather than supernatural interference in everyday life.
This is a major weakness of Islam, because one of it's basic beliefs is that Allah is directly making the universe real every instant. That saying "Ins'allah", it shall be as Allah wills, captures that, and therefore, if his followers are zealous enough in pleasing him, he shall will the present world to be pleasing to them. Not "pie in the sky, by and by", but now. And also that the misfortunes of everyday life are not from the things they do, but because Allah hasn't been sufficiently propitiated.
Posted by: SDN at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (Ao5fh)
47
Morality to a leftist? How can it exist in a 'collective' mindset?
--------------------
Easy. We make laws.
--------------------
Easy. We make laws.
Posted by: Liberal Mindset at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (028dR)
48
I wouldn't care so much about the stupidity of leftism if they'd leave me alone to do what I want, but they seem incapable of that. What a bunch of busybodies.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper
They hate themselves and hate what has been offered to them as a cultural inheritance. And thus will hate and loathe and bother anyone who accepts the cultural inheritance of 'The West'.
Which is why they can't leave you, me, the Boy Scouts and Folger's Coffee Crystals alone.
"That Christians and their leaders have failed many times over the past 2000 years to live up to Christian ideals does not negate the ideals."
Posted by: Donna
Hatred of the good for trying to be good. Flawed virtues are hypocrisy. Not good enough for the Left.
Tear it down. What follows is irrelevant.
Nihilism.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper
They hate themselves and hate what has been offered to them as a cultural inheritance. And thus will hate and loathe and bother anyone who accepts the cultural inheritance of 'The West'.
Which is why they can't leave you, me, the Boy Scouts and Folger's Coffee Crystals alone.
"That Christians and their leaders have failed many times over the past 2000 years to live up to Christian ideals does not negate the ideals."
Posted by: Donna
Hatred of the good for trying to be good. Flawed virtues are hypocrisy. Not good enough for the Left.
Tear it down. What follows is irrelevant.
Nihilism.
Posted by: Bossy Conservative....in the bleak midwinter at January 24, 2015 12:29 PM (+1T7c)
49
Good post Dave. I would substitute decentralization in for equality before the law, though. The most effective civilizations, even back to Roman imperial administration, have allowed a lot of power to remain based locally. They're more adaptable to governing different people with different values and allow for trial and error on a small scale. One of the left's worst flaws is its universalism. The idea that hundreds of millions of people, geographically and culturally dispersed, should all have exactly the same sort of way of life leads to disaster.
Posted by: kartoffel at January 24, 2015 12:29 PM (H5/XT)
50
Oikophobia. Google it.
That'll do, Pig. That'll do.
Posted by: fluffy at January 24, 2015 12:25 PM (Ua6T/)
But if you dare to point out the correlation between this philosophy and the increasing numbers of children growing up in broken homes, you are shunned by the 52% and called a hater.
That'll do, Pig. That'll do.
Posted by: fluffy at January 24, 2015 12:25 PM (Ua6T/)
But if you dare to point out the correlation between this philosophy and the increasing numbers of children growing up in broken homes, you are shunned by the 52% and called a hater.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:30 PM (ThxKk)
51
You all are some smart morons! I'm not kidding.
Posted by: ntac at January 24, 2015 12:30 PM (zAD0E)
52
Reading zombie's stories of the insanity that is
Berkeley and the surrounding area makes me glad to live at the opposite
end of the country. Of course, I have to deal with Northeast crazies,
but the cold keeps out the worst ones.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (ThxKk)
Where do you think the Berkeley crazies came from? They fled the cold of the Northeast to come to California. Until recently, it was rare to find one who'd been born here.
Berkeley and the surrounding area makes me glad to live at the opposite
end of the country. Of course, I have to deal with Northeast crazies,
but the cold keeps out the worst ones.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (ThxKk)
Where do you think the Berkeley crazies came from? They fled the cold of the Northeast to come to California. Until recently, it was rare to find one who'd been born here.
Posted by: Salvador Allende at January 24, 2015 12:31 PM (oKE6c)
53
Oops. That was me. (Sock from the other thread.)
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 12:31 PM (oKE6c)
54
Weirddave,
your point about reason is a good one, and it leaves me unsatisfied with my off the cuff reply.
Freedom, by itself, implies the freedom to believe unreasonable things. Yet believing the earth is the center of the universe was once the reasonable thing to think. The science was settled.
The amalgam that makes the United States work is more complex than it appears at first glance.
Weirddave,
your point about reason is a good one, and it leaves me unsatisfied with my off the cuff reply.
Freedom, by itself, implies the freedom to believe unreasonable things. Yet believing the earth is the center of the universe was once the reasonable thing to think. The science was settled.
The amalgam that makes the United States work is more complex than it appears at first glance.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 24, 2015 12:31 PM (pXcf8)
55
Posted by: Bossy Conservative....in the bleak midwinter at January 24, 2015 12:29 PM (+1T7c)
Everything in this post is why I have to fight, daily, against my dream of becoming a professional hermit. If I try to go Galt, they'll just come after me, so I stay and fight it as best I can.
Everything in this post is why I have to fight, daily, against my dream of becoming a professional hermit. If I try to go Galt, they'll just come after me, so I stay and fight it as best I can.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:34 PM (ThxKk)
56
The Leftists will be stopped; either by their success or failure.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (wQYNW)
---------------------------------------------------------
Sadly, I'm not so sure about that. Did you ever see that bumper sticker that said: 'Liberals: One revolution away from happiness. Always.' I fear that sentiment is more likely.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (ThxKk)
Frankly, I think that Leftists think they can control the Mohammadans; the Leftists are wrong and will be missing the protections they had been afforded by the "evil" Western Civilization.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 24, 2015 12:12 PM (wQYNW)
---------------------------------------------------------
Sadly, I'm not so sure about that. Did you ever see that bumper sticker that said: 'Liberals: One revolution away from happiness. Always.' I fear that sentiment is more likely.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:15 PM (ThxKk)
Frankly, I think that Leftists think they can control the Mohammadans; the Leftists are wrong and will be missing the protections they had been afforded by the "evil" Western Civilization.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 24, 2015 12:34 PM (wQYNW)
57
Good post Weird Dave. Now excuse me as I return to the reloading bench.
Posted by: fairweatherbill gatekeeper of pestilence at January 24, 2015 12:37 PM (hcW+E)
58
pew research poll has just said that illegal immigration has fallen to net zero
zero
my daughter's school just came back from a week long camping trip at Big Bend in west Texas
they were all briefed, as were the parents, on what to do if they encountered groups of illegals crossing into Texas
zero
my daughter's school just came back from a week long camping trip at Big Bend in west Texas
they were all briefed, as were the parents, on what to do if they encountered groups of illegals crossing into Texas
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:38 PM (zOTsN)
59
they were all briefed, as were the parents, on what to do if they encountered groups of illegals crossing into Texas
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:38 PM (zOTsN)
Give them voter registration cards? EBT cards? Free pho's? Free tuition? Free health care?
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:38 PM (zOTsN)
Give them voter registration cards? EBT cards? Free pho's? Free tuition? Free health care?
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 12:40 PM (oKE6c)
60
Actually, without monotheism, you don't get science, because there are gods and spirits overseeing pretty much everything, right down to the hearth. Monotheism, by combining all the gods into one God, and withdrawing Him from everyday events, gave room for those rules to explain the natural world, and encouraged people to rely on those rules rather than supernatural interference in everyday life.
This is a major weakness of Islam, because one of it's basic beliefs is that Allah is directly making the universe real every instant. That saying "Ins'allah", it shall be as Allah wills, captures that, and therefore, if his followers are zealous enough in pleasing him, he shall will the present world to be pleasing to them. Not "pie in the sky, by and by", but now. And also that the misfortunes of everyday life are not from the things they do, but because Allah hasn't been sufficiently propitiated.
I wouldn't say that either Judaism or Christianity deny God's role in keeping the universe going. The idea that God created things and now just lets them run is more of a Deistic idea. What makes them different from Islam is the belief that God is unchanging and can be relied upon to keep his covenants, whereas Allah is a rather capricious creature who changes his mind from time to time. A third of the Koran was obsolete by the time of Muhammad's death because Allah changed his mind, you may recall.
This is a major weakness of Islam, because one of it's basic beliefs is that Allah is directly making the universe real every instant. That saying "Ins'allah", it shall be as Allah wills, captures that, and therefore, if his followers are zealous enough in pleasing him, he shall will the present world to be pleasing to them. Not "pie in the sky, by and by", but now. And also that the misfortunes of everyday life are not from the things they do, but because Allah hasn't been sufficiently propitiated.
I wouldn't say that either Judaism or Christianity deny God's role in keeping the universe going. The idea that God created things and now just lets them run is more of a Deistic idea. What makes them different from Islam is the belief that God is unchanging and can be relied upon to keep his covenants, whereas Allah is a rather capricious creature who changes his mind from time to time. A third of the Koran was obsolete by the time of Muhammad's death because Allah changed his mind, you may recall.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 12:40 PM (TwDq4)
61
'pew research poll has just said that illegal immigration has fallen to net zero'
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:38 PM (zOTsN)
Wait, so they're saying that people are illegally crossing over into Canada and Mexico, to offset the people illegally crossing over in the US?
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:38 PM (zOTsN)
Wait, so they're saying that people are illegally crossing over into Canada and Mexico, to offset the people illegally crossing over in the US?
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:40 PM (ThxKk)
62
The Leftists will be stopped; either by their success or failure.
--------------
Probably true.
"Truth is powerful, and will prevail, when none care whether it prevail or not" - Coventry Patmore
The problem is that the Left, while tearing down established society, will visit upon the rest of humanity a terrible tyranny not soon to be recovered from.
--------------
Probably true.
"Truth is powerful, and will prevail, when none care whether it prevail or not" - Coventry Patmore
The problem is that the Left, while tearing down established society, will visit upon the rest of humanity a terrible tyranny not soon to be recovered from.
Posted by: Liberal Mindset at January 24, 2015 12:41 PM (028dR)
63
Human nature actually isn't the same everywhere. It's the product of evolution. And different groups have different evolutionary histories.
Humans are mostly evolved for small group tribal living and then, fairly recently in our evolutionary history, we discovered farming. Agriculture had major effects on human genetics, and hence human culture. And some populations farmed before others.
Simple example, east asians really are more conformist than most other ethnic groups. The leading explanation is their early use of farming, leading to higher density populations, which selected for more conformist personality traits.
People aren't the same wherever you go. We are very similar, but our differences are real. Finns really are more introverted than most other ethnic groups. And that's a result of Finnish genetics. Finnish culture is a product of Finnish people and their personalities, which are a product the evolutionary history of the Finnish ethnic group.
These are, of course, extroverted Finns and non-conformist Japanese -- they are just much less common in the population compared to other ethnic groups.
Personality is mostly inherited.
Humans are mostly evolved for small group tribal living and then, fairly recently in our evolutionary history, we discovered farming. Agriculture had major effects on human genetics, and hence human culture. And some populations farmed before others.
Simple example, east asians really are more conformist than most other ethnic groups. The leading explanation is their early use of farming, leading to higher density populations, which selected for more conformist personality traits.
People aren't the same wherever you go. We are very similar, but our differences are real. Finns really are more introverted than most other ethnic groups. And that's a result of Finnish genetics. Finnish culture is a product of Finnish people and their personalities, which are a product the evolutionary history of the Finnish ethnic group.
These are, of course, extroverted Finns and non-conformist Japanese -- they are just much less common in the population compared to other ethnic groups.
Personality is mostly inherited.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 12:41 PM (ZPrif)
64
they were all briefed, as were the parents, on what to do if they encountered groups of illegals crossing into Texas
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator
Did that include calling the Border Patrol?
they were all briefed, as were the parents, on what to do if they encountered groups of illegals crossing into Texas
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator
Did that include calling the Border Patrol?
Posted by: fairweatherbill gatekeeper of pestilence at January 24, 2015 12:41 PM (hcW+E)
65
/ liberal mindset
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:41 PM (028dR)
66
A third of the Koran was obsolete by the time of Muhammad's death because Allah changed his mind, you may recall.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 12:40 PM (TwDq4)
More like Mohammad changed his mind... I'm highly skeptical of people who claim to 'talk' to their deities, simply because I don't think a higher power would a) deign to talk to us mere mortals, 2) they probably wouldn't communicate in a manner that we could truly understand, and III) the Koran's pretty long. Allah must have had a LOT to say to Mohammad.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 12:40 PM (TwDq4)
More like Mohammad changed his mind... I'm highly skeptical of people who claim to 'talk' to their deities, simply because I don't think a higher power would a) deign to talk to us mere mortals, 2) they probably wouldn't communicate in a manner that we could truly understand, and III) the Koran's pretty long. Allah must have had a LOT to say to Mohammad.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:44 PM (ThxKk)
Posted by: fluffy at January 24, 2015 12:45 PM (Ua6T/)
68
I am not sure what the chaperones and staff were told to do. There is no cell service there
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:45 PM (zOTsN)
69
I'm highly skeptical of people who claim to 'talk' to their deities,
Well, there was Moses and the whole Ten Commandment thing.
I'm going with Moses on this one.
Well, there was Moses and the whole Ten Commandment thing.
I'm going with Moses on this one.
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 12:48 PM (dFi94)
70
I am not sure what the chaperones and staff were told to do. There is no cell service there
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:45 PM (zOTsN)
Shelter in place? Seriously, what does one do when encountering illegals? I've heard you're not allowed to shoot back at them, etc.
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:45 PM (zOTsN)
Shelter in place? Seriously, what does one do when encountering illegals? I've heard you're not allowed to shoot back at them, etc.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:48 PM (ThxKk)
71
I stopped reading after "Now, there's noting [sic] different about us compared to anybody else in the world. People are people after all."
And that's why white people and black people get sickle cell anemia at the same rate. That's why there are so many white running backs in the NFL. Everybody's got the same IQ, the same physical and mental characteristics, the same hopes and dreams and goals. The same human genome irregardless of race.
I'm sick of this PC crap, which frankly is responsible for Obama and the Iraq war and Muslim apologetics and yes, the destruction of the "Western" (i.e. white) culture.
Maybe I'm the Last of the Mohicans ...
And that's why white people and black people get sickle cell anemia at the same rate. That's why there are so many white running backs in the NFL. Everybody's got the same IQ, the same physical and mental characteristics, the same hopes and dreams and goals. The same human genome irregardless of race.
I'm sick of this PC crap, which frankly is responsible for Obama and the Iraq war and Muslim apologetics and yes, the destruction of the "Western" (i.e. white) culture.
Maybe I'm the Last of the Mohicans ...
Posted by: Jane58 at January 24, 2015 12:48 PM (oLZsm)
72
Finns really are more introverted than most other ethnic groups.
-----------------
Long hours of darkness, spent sweating in saunas, while consuming large quantities of alcohol have that consequence.
-----------------
Long hours of darkness, spent sweating in saunas, while consuming large quantities of alcohol have that consequence.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:50 PM (028dR)
73
Here's an excellent book that covers recent human evolution and specifically looks at the genetics behind culture. Wade was the NYT's Science editor for years.
The genes for lactose tolerance and high altitude survival have only spread in the past few thousands years. Massively impacting the cultures of the ethnic groups where those genes spread.
A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History by Nicholas Wade http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204462/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_wV9Wub0BBYAED via @amazon
Wade, the longtime journalist covering genetic advances for The New York Times, draws widely on the work of scientists who have made crucial breakthroughs in establishing the reality of recent human evolution. The most provocative claims in this book involve the genetic basis of human social habits. What we might call middle-class social traits--thrift, docility, nonviolence--have been slowly but surely inculcated genetically within agrarian societies, Wade argues. These "values" obviously had a strong cultural component, but Wade points to evidence that agrarian societies evolved away from hunter-gatherer societies in some crucial respects.
The genes for lactose tolerance and high altitude survival have only spread in the past few thousands years. Massively impacting the cultures of the ethnic groups where those genes spread.
A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History by Nicholas Wade http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204462/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_wV9Wub0BBYAED via @amazon
Wade, the longtime journalist covering genetic advances for The New York Times, draws widely on the work of scientists who have made crucial breakthroughs in establishing the reality of recent human evolution. The most provocative claims in this book involve the genetic basis of human social habits. What we might call middle-class social traits--thrift, docility, nonviolence--have been slowly but surely inculcated genetically within agrarian societies, Wade argues. These "values" obviously had a strong cultural component, but Wade points to evidence that agrarian societies evolved away from hunter-gatherer societies in some crucial respects.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 12:51 PM (ZPrif)
74
I think the idea was to stay the hell away from them. Could be a drug cartel
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:52 PM (zOTsN)
75
Personality is mostly inherited.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 12:41 PM (ZPrif)
I would argue founder effect, and self selection and cultural survival
Founder effect is what you start with, and the other two are elements of groups surviving and excluding the members that don't minimally conform.
Personality can be genetic, but these tendencies are re-enforced by cultural norms. The cultural norming is based on societal mores, and the environment.
A friend of mine's dad was from Germany, and he always disliked the Austrians, he thought they were frivolous types that threw their money away. But Austria has had massive inflation since the 18th century, saving your money is the same thing as flushing it down the privy. Environment has a lot to do with personality exhibited.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 12:41 PM (ZPrif)
I would argue founder effect, and self selection and cultural survival
Founder effect is what you start with, and the other two are elements of groups surviving and excluding the members that don't minimally conform.
Personality can be genetic, but these tendencies are re-enforced by cultural norms. The cultural norming is based on societal mores, and the environment.
A friend of mine's dad was from Germany, and he always disliked the Austrians, he thought they were frivolous types that threw their money away. But Austria has had massive inflation since the 18th century, saving your money is the same thing as flushing it down the privy. Environment has a lot to do with personality exhibited.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 24, 2015 12:52 PM (t//F+)
76
Long hours of darkness, spent sweating in saunas, while consuming large quantities of alcohol have that consequence.
Posted by: Mike Hammer
Good lord that sounds like heaven. Where do I sign up?
Posted by: Mike Hammer
Good lord that sounds like heaven. Where do I sign up?
Posted by: fairweatherbill gatekeeper of pestilence at January 24, 2015 12:52 PM (hcW+E)
77
I'm going with Moses on this one.
Posted by: grammie winger
------------------
Generally speaking ( a pun!), the prophets , and Moses, were pretty much on the receiving end of the 'conversation'. "Here is what you are to do.."
Posted by: grammie winger
------------------
Generally speaking ( a pun!), the prophets , and Moses, were pretty much on the receiving end of the 'conversation'. "Here is what you are to do.."
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:53 PM (028dR)
78
I wonder how much these Leftists are going to cry, bitch and complain once they get what they "want" but it turns into a nightmare for them all? How soon after that happens will they blame the remaining conservatives for causing their "dream" to collapse into a nightmare of unimaginable proportions. I hope i am around so i can point and laugh at these idiot Leftists and say to them, "You were told what would happen and you refused to listen." Even if they killed me then and there i would still get the last laugh in and a bit of revenge. The Left is chock full of idiots, plain and simple.
Posted by: Cycomiko66 at January 24, 2015 12:54 PM (aulvH)
79
Seriously. Best post ever. It is why I shake my head is disbelief at these guys - every expedient move such as "the legislature won't approve this? then let's get a judge! or take to the streets!" chips away at the very foundation that protects these lazy, useless, WEAK twerps from utter annihilation.
It is a lot like the Islamic crazies. They literally cannot invent, make, or build anything. Without the west they'd be raiding their neighbors tents for goats to screw. On top of that, the only thing keeping them alive, literally THE ONLY THING is our restraint in the face of their barbarism. The west has shown itself perfectly capable and willing to completely obliterate movements and peoples that serious threaten its existence. Just ask the Nazis, or the Japanese, or the Italians. If we even begin to act anything like them, think anything like them, they are all dead. They, their family, their religion, dead. We worry they Iranians might get a nuke? We have nukes, several thousand, know how to build more, and have used them before.
Seriously. Best post ever. It is why I shake my head is disbelief at these guys - every expedient move such as "the legislature won't approve this? then let's get a judge! or take to the streets!" chips away at the very foundation that protects these lazy, useless, WEAK twerps from utter annihilation.
It is a lot like the Islamic crazies. They literally cannot invent, make, or build anything. Without the west they'd be raiding their neighbors tents for goats to screw. On top of that, the only thing keeping them alive, literally THE ONLY THING is our restraint in the face of their barbarism. The west has shown itself perfectly capable and willing to completely obliterate movements and peoples that serious threaten its existence. Just ask the Nazis, or the Japanese, or the Italians. If we even begin to act anything like them, think anything like them, they are all dead. They, their family, their religion, dead. We worry they Iranians might get a nuke? We have nukes, several thousand, know how to build more, and have used them before.
Posted by: Dr. McCoy at January 24, 2015 12:54 PM (F192H)
80
Costanza Defense, those differences are cultural, IOW it's the software. The hardware doesn't change. A Finn raised in The US won't be anymore likely to be introverted than the average American, and an American raised in Finland will tend to be more introverted then the Finn raised here.
Posted by: Weirddave at January 24, 2015 12:55 PM (+OYy0)
Posted by: navybrat at January 24, 2015 12:56 PM (JgC5a)
82
whoa. Trump (I know) just said at the Iowa Freedom fest that we didn't need another Romney run (cheers) and lord we don't need another Bush (shouts and standing ovation)
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 12:56 PM (zOTsN)
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 12:57 PM (dFi94)
84
I'm going with Moses on this one.
Posted by: grammie winger
------------------
Generally speaking ( a pun!), the prophets , and Moses, were pretty
much on the receiving end of the 'conversation'. "Here is what you are
to do.."
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:53 PM (028dR)
I partially concede the point, but I tend to think of God as being on a higher mental plane of existence similar to our own intellectual relationship with animals. Yes, we communicate with them, but only through cause and effect (Hello, twelve plagues of Egypt!), not in an abstract sense.
Posted by: grammie winger
------------------
Generally speaking ( a pun!), the prophets , and Moses, were pretty
much on the receiving end of the 'conversation'. "Here is what you are
to do.."
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:53 PM (028dR)
I partially concede the point, but I tend to think of God as being on a higher mental plane of existence similar to our own intellectual relationship with animals. Yes, we communicate with them, but only through cause and effect (Hello, twelve plagues of Egypt!), not in an abstract sense.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 12:57 PM (ThxKk)
85
As Wade demonstrates in the book, human evolution is "recent, copious, and regional". The idea that human evolution is something that happened long, long ago and then stopped and we're all the same ... is just false. We adapted to our environments -- and those environments are often very different around the globe. Our genes reflect the evolutionary environment of our ancestors.
From a review of A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History by Nicholas Wade http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204462/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_wV9Wub0BBYAED via @amazon
In this book Nicholas Wade advances two simple premises: firstly, that we should stop looking only toward culture as a determinant of differences between populations and individuals, and secondly, that those who claim that any biological basis for race is fiction are ignoring increasingly important findings from modern genetics and science. The guiding thread throughout the book is that "human evolution is recent, copious and regional" and that this has led to the genesis of distinct differences and classifications between human groups. What we do with this evidence should always be up for social debate, but the evidence itself cannot be ignored.
That is basically the gist of the book. It's worth noting at the outset that at no point does Wade downplay the effects of culture and environment in dictating social, cognitive or behavioral differences - in fact he mentions culture as an important factor at least ten times by my count - but all he is saying is that, based on a variety of scientific studies enabled by the explosive recent growth of genomics and sequencing, we need to now recognize a strong genetic component to these differences.
From a review of A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History by Nicholas Wade http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204462/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_wV9Wub0BBYAED via @amazon
In this book Nicholas Wade advances two simple premises: firstly, that we should stop looking only toward culture as a determinant of differences between populations and individuals, and secondly, that those who claim that any biological basis for race is fiction are ignoring increasingly important findings from modern genetics and science. The guiding thread throughout the book is that "human evolution is recent, copious and regional" and that this has led to the genesis of distinct differences and classifications between human groups. What we do with this evidence should always be up for social debate, but the evidence itself cannot be ignored.
That is basically the gist of the book. It's worth noting at the outset that at no point does Wade downplay the effects of culture and environment in dictating social, cognitive or behavioral differences - in fact he mentions culture as an important factor at least ten times by my count - but all he is saying is that, based on a variety of scientific studies enabled by the explosive recent growth of genomics and sequencing, we need to now recognize a strong genetic component to these differences.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 12:57 PM (ZPrif)
86
Good lord that sounds like heaven. Where do I sign up?
Posted by: fairweatherbill
----------------
Sorry, that's not the way it works.
First, you mustundergo be subjected to extensive periods of listening to repeated recordings of Sibelius ( That's Jean Sibelius, not to be confused with Kathleen Sebelius).
If your sanity survives that, then we can talk.
Posted by: fairweatherbill
----------------
Sorry, that's not the way it works.
First, you must
If your sanity survives that, then we can talk.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:58 PM (028dR)
87
Costanza Defense, those differences are cultural, IOW it's the software. The hardware doesn't change. A Finn raised in The US won't be anymore likely to be introverted than the average American, and an American raised in Finland will tend to be more introverted then the Finn raised here.
---
That's just not true. Modern genetics science does not agree with you.
Introversion is a genetically heritable trait, like height or IQ.
---
That's just not true. Modern genetics science does not agree with you.
Introversion is a genetically heritable trait, like height or IQ.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 01:00 PM (ZPrif)
88
Maybe I'm the Last of the Mohicans ...
Or maybe you're confusing individual physical ability or lack thereof with the behavior of societies as a whole, which is what I was talking about?
Maybe I'm the Last of the Mohicans ...
Or maybe you're confusing individual physical ability or lack thereof with the behavior of societies as a whole, which is what I was talking about?
Posted by: Weirddave at January 24, 2015 01:01 PM (+OYy0)
89
As Wade demonstrates in the book, human evolution is "recent, copious, and regional".
------------------
Liberals believe that all evolution ceased 50,000 years ago. John Derbyshire when confronting this attitude, responds, "Oh..., so you're a Left Creationist."
I have stolen that, and use it often.
------------------
Liberals believe that all evolution ceased 50,000 years ago. John Derbyshire when confronting this attitude, responds, "Oh..., so you're a Left Creationist."
I have stolen that, and use it often.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:02 PM (028dR)
90
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 12:57 PM (ZPrif)
Any mention of the fact that siblings raised in the same environment will grow up to have very different personalities and abilities? That's always been my strongest evidence for the subject.
Any mention of the fact that siblings raised in the same environment will grow up to have very different personalities and abilities? That's always been my strongest evidence for the subject.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:02 PM (ThxKk)
91
"Reading zombie's stories of the insanity that is Berkeley and the surrounding area makes me glad to live at the opposite end of the country"
They're so unhappy and yet they live in one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the country.
Now there's a puzzle for you - why are so many places which are stocked full of miserable leftists so very lovely, in both the natural or manmade sense, or both? Vermont is full of quaint little towns right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The Pacific coastline from Seattle to San Diego is famously beautiful and loaded with moonbat settlements. The dreadlocked kook who blocked traffic in Boston lives in a beautiful house on a beautiful street in beautiful tony Brookline.
What gives here? Is it because when you live in beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
They're so unhappy and yet they live in one of the most spectacularly beautiful places in the country.
Now there's a puzzle for you - why are so many places which are stocked full of miserable leftists so very lovely, in both the natural or manmade sense, or both? Vermont is full of quaint little towns right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The Pacific coastline from Seattle to San Diego is famously beautiful and loaded with moonbat settlements. The dreadlocked kook who blocked traffic in Boston lives in a beautiful house on a beautiful street in beautiful tony Brookline.
What gives here? Is it because when you live in beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:03 PM (+XMAD)
92
If your sanity survives that, then we can talk.
Posted by: Mike Hammer
I had a Finlander girlfriend when I was in college. Nice gal, and well built....
....hmmm, what were we talking about?
Posted by: Mike Hammer
I had a Finlander girlfriend when I was in college. Nice gal, and well built....
....hmmm, what were we talking about?
Posted by: fairweatherbill gatekeeper of pestilence at January 24, 2015 01:03 PM (hcW+E)
93
Yup. Somehow they think that they can destroy the Constitution and still keep the Bill of Rights.
Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at January 24, 2015 01:05 PM (V70Uh)
94
Another famous saying: you never miss the water until the well runs dry.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at January 24, 2015 01:05 PM (512xz)
95
I wonder how much these Leftists are going to cry, bitch and complain once they get what they "want" but it turns into a nightmare for them all?
You have no idea.
You have no idea.
Posted by: Emmanuel Goldstein at January 24, 2015 01:05 PM (Ua6T/)
96
Costanza, height and IQ are also affected by upbringing and diet.
Other elements are also affected by cultural elements that affect upbringing and diet and preconceptions and learned patterns of thought.
Genetics only tells you what you start with, it does not tell you what you will achieve.
Male children of alcoholics who are raised outside of their birth family (and there have been a surprising number of them) have a much higher tendency of being alcoholics as adults. But they also have a higher tendency of being tea-totalers, too.
Other elements are also affected by cultural elements that affect upbringing and diet and preconceptions and learned patterns of thought.
Genetics only tells you what you start with, it does not tell you what you will achieve.
Male children of alcoholics who are raised outside of their birth family (and there have been a surprising number of them) have a much higher tendency of being alcoholics as adults. But they also have a higher tendency of being tea-totalers, too.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 24, 2015 01:06 PM (t//F+)
97
The heritability of personality traits, like introversion, has been well established for decades via twin studies alone.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 01:06 PM (ZPrif)
98
Youtube green lipstick and Froot Loops in the tub............
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 24, 2015 01:07 PM (W5DcG)
99
What gives here? Is it because when you live in beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Proverbs 15:17
Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
What gives here? Is it because when you live in beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Proverbs 15:17
Better a small serving of vegetables with love
than a fattened calf with hatred.
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 01:07 PM (dFi94)
100
What gives here?
-----------------
Multiple pathologies. Self-loathing-driven guilt is a biggie.
It is worth observing that most of these folks have led protected lives of leisure, which affords them the time to preoccupy themselves with 'issues'.
In an earlier day, they would have been concerned about food, shelter, clothing etc., but no more.
Pretty much the same circumstances that Marx was in.
-----------------
Multiple pathologies. Self-loathing-driven guilt is a biggie.
It is worth observing that most of these folks have led protected lives of leisure, which affords them the time to preoccupy themselves with 'issues'.
In an earlier day, they would have been concerned about food, shelter, clothing etc., but no more.
Pretty much the same circumstances that Marx was in.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:08 PM (028dR)
101
What gives here? Is it because when you live in
beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be
outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are
corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:03 PM (+XMAD)
*Ponders*I wonder if they're trying to self-medicate, as it were. They realize, maybe subconsciously, that they're miserable, and move to beautiful places to try and bring something more substantial into their lives. But it has to be something that doesn't require any effort on their part, of course, because apparently hard work is for suckers.
beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be
outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are
corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:03 PM (+XMAD)
*Ponders*I wonder if they're trying to self-medicate, as it were. They realize, maybe subconsciously, that they're miserable, and move to beautiful places to try and bring something more substantial into their lives. But it has to be something that doesn't require any effort on their part, of course, because apparently hard work is for suckers.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:09 PM (ThxKk)
102
Awesome post Dave, thanks.
Posted by: dartist at January 24, 2015 01:09 PM (ahBY0)
103
No American Leftists move to Cuba or North Korea.
They seek power or they are insane or both.
I have lost interest in trying to understand what motivates them.
I just want them to go away.
They seek power or they are insane or both.
I have lost interest in trying to understand what motivates them.
I just want them to go away.
Posted by: eman at January 24, 2015 01:11 PM (MQEz6)
104
That saying "Ins'allah", it shall be as Allah wills, captures that, and therefore, if his followers are zealous enough in pleasing him, he shall will the present world to be pleasing to them. Not "pie in the sky, by and by", but now. And also that the misfortunes of everyday life are not from the things they do, but because Allah hasn't been sufficiently propitiated.
Posted by: SDN at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (Ao5fh)
Filipino National Phrase: "Bahala na."
'Whatever God wills'...
Posted by: SDN at January 24, 2015 12:28 PM (Ao5fh)
Filipino National Phrase: "Bahala na."
'Whatever God wills'...
Posted by: Cicero Kaboom! Kid at January 24, 2015 01:11 PM (uSAVP)
105
It is worth observing that most of these folks have
led protected lives of leisure, which affords them the time to preoccupy
themselves with 'issues'.
In an earlier day, they would have been concerned about food, shelter, clothing etc., but no more.
Pretty much the same circumstances that Marx was in.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:08 PM (028dR)
Hierarchy of needs, I think some people have called it. No time for art/philosophy/leftism/etc when you're being chased by a tiger.
led protected lives of leisure, which affords them the time to preoccupy
themselves with 'issues'.
In an earlier day, they would have been concerned about food, shelter, clothing etc., but no more.
Pretty much the same circumstances that Marx was in.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:08 PM (028dR)
Hierarchy of needs, I think some people have called it. No time for art/philosophy/leftism/etc when you're being chased by a tiger.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:11 PM (ThxKk)
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:11 PM (028dR)
107
Hierarchy of needs, I think some people have called it. No time for art/philosophy/leftism/etc when you're being chased by a tiger.
Posted by: right wing
-------------------------------
(ahem)
Posted by: right wing
-------------------------------
(ahem)
Posted by: Maslow at January 24, 2015 01:13 PM (028dR)
108
what gives?
in order to live off other people you have to live where the other people are
all people like beautiful places. The coasts are beautiful and where ever there is a coast or a port there is commerce
they bite the hand that feeds them
in order to live off other people you have to live where the other people are
all people like beautiful places. The coasts are beautiful and where ever there is a coast or a port there is commerce
they bite the hand that feeds them
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 01:13 PM (zOTsN)
109
Filipino National Phrase: "Bahala na."
'Whatever God wills'...
Posted by: Cicero Kaboom! Kid at January 24, 2015 01:11 PM (uSAVP)
Personally, I've always thought 'Deus vult!' has a nice ring to it. (Latin for 'God wills it' and the battle cry of the Crusaders.)
'Whatever God wills'...
Posted by: Cicero Kaboom! Kid at January 24, 2015 01:11 PM (uSAVP)
Personally, I've always thought 'Deus vult!' has a nice ring to it. (Latin for 'God wills it' and the battle cry of the Crusaders.)
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:13 PM (ThxKk)
Posted by: eman at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (MQEz6)
111
(ahem)
Posted by: Maslow at January 24, 2015 01:13 PM (028dR)
Yes, you. I had forgotten the name. Thanks for reminding me.
Posted by: Maslow at January 24, 2015 01:13 PM (028dR)
Yes, you. I had forgotten the name. Thanks for reminding me.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (ThxKk)
112
learned a new slur on twitter
Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (zOTsN)
113
Introversion, like height and IQ, is a "complex" trait. That means there are many genes of small effect, not a single gene.
If you are tall that means you have hundreds of genes all which helped to make you slightly taller -- and didn't get hundreds of genes that each make you slightly shorter.
No trait is 100% heritable. Adult IQ is about 80% heritable. Smart people have smart kids, on average. Tall people have tall kids, on average. Introverted people have introverted kids, on average.
Ethnic groups are just very, very extended families. And that's why ethnic groups vary in traits like families do. Some families are taller than others. Some ethnic groups are taller than others.
Here's a recent article on the genetics of IQ. More a summary in Molecular Psychiatry, Sept. 2014.
http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2014105a.html
If you are tall that means you have hundreds of genes all which helped to make you slightly taller -- and didn't get hundreds of genes that each make you slightly shorter.
No trait is 100% heritable. Adult IQ is about 80% heritable. Smart people have smart kids, on average. Tall people have tall kids, on average. Introverted people have introverted kids, on average.
Ethnic groups are just very, very extended families. And that's why ethnic groups vary in traits like families do. Some families are taller than others. Some ethnic groups are taller than others.
Here's a recent article on the genetics of IQ. More a summary in Molecular Psychiatry, Sept. 2014.
http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2014105a.html
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 01:15 PM (ZPrif)
114
I've pondered if a people are somewhat isolated their culture is a reflection of them even to their genetics.
Here in America where we are called a 'melting pot' we mostly aren't. People self segregate you can see it most everywhere.
I also wonder if being 'conservative' or progressive' has a primitive base of genetics.
How many have heard 'wow that was just like your grandpa' he would have done that. Too bad you didn't know him.
Here in America where we are called a 'melting pot' we mostly aren't. People self segregate you can see it most everywhere.
I also wonder if being 'conservative' or progressive' has a primitive base of genetics.
How many have heard 'wow that was just like your grandpa' he would have done that. Too bad you didn't know him.
Posted by: Bob from table9 at January 24, 2015 01:15 PM (WNERA)
115
You left out the big one, Dave. Without Christianity, neither the West nor science would have developed.
Posted by: crazy jane at January 24, 2015 01:15 PM (bUdTD)
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 01:16 PM (dFi94)
117
112 learned a new slur on twitter
Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (zOTsN)
We do have dominion over the Earth...for as long as the Earth says we do.
Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (zOTsN)
We do have dominion over the Earth...for as long as the Earth says we do.
Posted by: eman at January 24, 2015 01:16 PM (MQEz6)
118
' Without Christianity, neither the West nor science would have developed.'
Disagree. Both were well underway in the Greco-Roman tradition. The West would certainly have turned out different without Christianity though.
Disagree. Both were well underway in the Greco-Roman tradition. The West would certainly have turned out different without Christianity though.
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 01:18 PM (jOumW)
119
We do have dominion over the Earth...for as long as the Earth says we do.
Posted by: eman
------------------------
Hahahahaha
Posted by: eman
------------------------
Hahahahaha
Posted by: The Universe at January 24, 2015 01:18 PM (028dR)
120
I suspect none of these social justice warriors were never exposed to the story of King Midas in the modern school system, nor anywhere in what passes for their popular culture.
I suspect they've never been exposed to a lot of things.
I suspect they've never been exposed to a lot of things.
Posted by: richard mcenroe at January 24, 2015 01:18 PM (XO6WW)
121
Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (zOTsN)
The stupid, it burns. Don't these people realize that humans ARE the dominant creature on Earth, at least in terms of geographic spread and ability to affect the lives of other creatures?
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Posted by: ThunderB, Professional Ball Deflator at January 24, 2015 01:14 PM (zOTsN)
The stupid, it burns. Don't these people realize that humans ARE the dominant creature on Earth, at least in terms of geographic spread and ability to affect the lives of other creatures?
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:18 PM (ThxKk)
122
Race baiters living off of the guilt of society in Middle Ages Europe? Hell, they were all the same race and they killed each other by the millions.
Point understood, idea of 'race' as we use it today, didn't exist.
They wrote about a race as those of a common occupation or grouping. Later, around the time of the US revolution, race was used in describing national heritage; the French race, the English race, etc.
This post-modern obsession with 'race' is fucking insane. Future generations will point and laugh.
Point understood, idea of 'race' as we use it today, didn't exist.
They wrote about a race as those of a common occupation or grouping. Later, around the time of the US revolution, race was used in describing national heritage; the French race, the English race, etc.
This post-modern obsession with 'race' is fucking insane. Future generations will point and laugh.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 24, 2015 01:19 PM (fADgx)
123
Re: genetics vs. environment. Suppose a child of introverted Finns is adopted by a loud mouthed family of New Jersey Italians? That kid might end up being the quiet one in the family by the standards of New Jersey Italians. But when he goes to Finland to trace his birth family roots, I'll bet that the Finns wonder if this loud American ever shuts up 
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:19 PM (+XMAD)
124
Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Given that the foundation for dominionism is in Genesis, it has a religious overtone as well.
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Given that the foundation for dominionism is in Genesis, it has a religious overtone as well.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 01:19 PM (TwDq4)
125
118 Both would have been lost in the collapse of the Roman Empire and the ensuing Dark Ages, at least to the extent those concepts would come to be embodied in the European mind... unlikely you would ever have evolved a raging liberal (in the classical sense) in Byzantium, India, China or Japan...
Posted by: richard mcenroe at January 24, 2015 01:20 PM (XO6WW)
126
123 LOL
Posted by: Bob from table9 at January 24, 2015 01:21 PM (WNERA)
127
Scott Walker up at the Freedom Summit in Iowa via The Right Scoop.
Posted by: m at January 24, 2015 01:21 PM (rn/hC)
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:21 PM (0HooB)
129
124 Dominionist
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Given that the foundation for dominionism is in Genesis, it has a religious overtone as well.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 01:19 PM (TwDq4)
Ya, I take it as a slam on Judeo Christian tradition.
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
Given that the foundation for dominionism is in Genesis, it has a religious overtone as well.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 01:19 PM (TwDq4)
Ya, I take it as a slam on Judeo Christian tradition.
Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at January 24, 2015 01:21 PM (dFi94)
130
I suspect none of these social justice warriors were never exposed to the story of King Midas in the modern school system, nor anywhere in what passes for their popular culture.
----------------------------
Or read 'The Little Red Hen', 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' or played Simon Says.
But..., you know, 'Heather has Two Mommies'.
----------------------------
Or read 'The Little Red Hen', 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' or played Simon Says.
But..., you know, 'Heather has Two Mommies'.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:21 PM (028dR)
131
its some one who thinks man has been given dominion over the earth. its an eco slur
-------------
So is tree stump nickelfucker....
-------------
So is tree stump nickelfucker....
Posted by: fixerupper at January 24, 2015 01:22 PM (JmjOe)
Posted by: eman at January 24, 2015 01:22 PM (MQEz6)
133
Here's an article on the genetics of height.
Like IQ, height is about 80% heritable. 2014 study found 423 genes linked to height, though they'll find more in the future. Those genes are estimated to account for about 60% of the genetic influence.
Our ability to do mass genome analysis (that one looked at 250k people) is really exploding and the next decade will reveal a lot more.
The Chinese are being a bit more aggressive than we are when analyzing certain traits that might be taboo to analyze here. Chinese, for example, are putting a lot of effort to figure out the genetics of IQ. They mass screen the population for IQ and take genetic samples from the ultra-smart to figure out which genes are having the greatest effect.
http://time.com/3462490/new-genes-found-that-determine-your-height/
Like IQ, height is about 80% heritable. 2014 study found 423 genes linked to height, though they'll find more in the future. Those genes are estimated to account for about 60% of the genetic influence.
Our ability to do mass genome analysis (that one looked at 250k people) is really exploding and the next decade will reveal a lot more.
The Chinese are being a bit more aggressive than we are when analyzing certain traits that might be taboo to analyze here. Chinese, for example, are putting a lot of effort to figure out the genetics of IQ. They mass screen the population for IQ and take genetic samples from the ultra-smart to figure out which genes are having the greatest effect.
http://time.com/3462490/new-genes-found-that-determine-your-height/
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 01:23 PM (ZPrif)
134
http://time.com/3462490/new-genes-found-that-determine-your-height/
----------------------
And the slouch towards the 'engineered human' continues.
----------------------
And the slouch towards the 'engineered human' continues.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 01:25 PM (028dR)
135
Since the eco thread died and we're past 100 comments, is the the time to share a FB encounter with a animal-rights activist?
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:25 PM (ThxKk)
136
There needs to be some standard retort to the self-loathing mewling quims who spout their inanities on social media.
I'm rather fond of Andrew Breitbart's very succinct: "So?" and "So what?"
I'm rather fond of Andrew Breitbart's very succinct: "So?" and "So what?"
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:25 PM (0HooB)
137
Since the eco thread died and we're past 100 comments, is the the time to share a FB encounter with a animal-rights activist?
If it is amusing, by all means.
If it is amusing, by all means.
Posted by: Grey Fox at January 24, 2015 01:26 PM (TwDq4)
138
137 yes
Posted by: Bob from table9 at January 24, 2015 01:26 PM (WNERA)
139
More like, is 'this' the time to share... Yeesh. Maybe I should delay the story until I've learned how to type.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:27 PM (ThxKk)
140
OG Celtic-American, didn't the Irish save civilization?
Posted by: crazy jane at January 24, 2015 01:27 PM (bUdTD)
141
Your favorite Asian fusion bistro is located on what once was someone else's favorite meadow.
Posted by: eman at January 24, 2015 01:28 PM (MQEz6)
142
China put $1.5B in a project on the genetics of IQ. Goal being to allow parent to select higher IQ embryos.
Chinese firm set to allow parents to pick their smartest embryos http://dailym.ai/1aDzL98 via @MailOnline
”People believe it’s a controversial topic, especially in the West,' Bowen Zhao, head of CG, told the Wall Street Journal.
'That’s not the case in China.'
In fact, China Development Bank, a state bank that lends to government pet projects, has given BGI $1.5 billion, although the firm says it will not turn over its data.
'Imagine what a couple might pay to ensure that they get the best out of 10 or 50 possible offspring, optimizing over their choice of heritable attributes,” he wrote on his blog, comparing the cost of a Harvard degree or private school with the few thousand dollars it takes to fertilize and implant embryos.
Chinese firm set to allow parents to pick their smartest embryos http://dailym.ai/1aDzL98 via @MailOnline
”People believe it’s a controversial topic, especially in the West,' Bowen Zhao, head of CG, told the Wall Street Journal.
'That’s not the case in China.'
In fact, China Development Bank, a state bank that lends to government pet projects, has given BGI $1.5 billion, although the firm says it will not turn over its data.
'Imagine what a couple might pay to ensure that they get the best out of 10 or 50 possible offspring, optimizing over their choice of heritable attributes,” he wrote on his blog, comparing the cost of a Harvard degree or private school with the few thousand dollars it takes to fertilize and implant embryos.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at January 24, 2015 01:28 PM (ZPrif)
143
The Chinese will never be able to keep up. Their generations take too long.
Posted by: Skynet at January 24, 2015 01:29 PM (WNERA)
144
I'm rather fond of Andrew Breitbart's very succinct: "So?" and "So what?"
-----------
I like.... "Thanks for emoting what you feel..... now... tell me want you think"
-----------
I like.... "Thanks for emoting what you feel..... now... tell me want you think"
Posted by: fixerupper at January 24, 2015 01:29 PM (JmjOe)
145
A) No
B) Save is not create
B) Save is not create
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 01:30 PM (jOumW)
146
I'm rather fond of Andrew Breitbart's very succinct: "So?" and "So what?"
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:25 PM (0HooB)
That, and I also wish people would stop their damn apologizing everytime some public figure says something true that happens to offend the SJW's like Billy Crystal saying he doesn't want gay sex in his face every time he turns on the TV.
We really need people to man up and say "No, I'm not going to apologize for what I said because it's true. If you're offended f off."
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:25 PM (0HooB)
That, and I also wish people would stop their damn apologizing everytime some public figure says something true that happens to offend the SJW's like Billy Crystal saying he doesn't want gay sex in his face every time he turns on the TV.
We really need people to man up and say "No, I'm not going to apologize for what I said because it's true. If you're offended f off."
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:31 PM (+XMAD)
147
The FB story is mildly amusing, so here goes: The person in question is a friend, and actually quite nice, but she has a thing about cute
animals that leads her to post stuff like 'If you think about it,
wouldn't cats and dogs prefer to be free to come and go and do as they
please?'
I, of course, am a nasty, horrible animal hater, so I
commented, 'I think the dogs and cats would prefer to be safe and warm
and know where their next meal is coming from, same with all animals in
captivity. Humans put them in these circumstances, so we have a
responsibility to take care of them for the rest of their lives. If I
released my horses, dog, and chickens into the wild, none of them would
survive more than a few days.'
The comment was driven home by the fact that the temperature was in the low single digits when I wrote it.
So, there you go. Not hilarious, but somewhat silly.
animals that leads her to post stuff like 'If you think about it,
wouldn't cats and dogs prefer to be free to come and go and do as they
please?'
I, of course, am a nasty, horrible animal hater, so I
commented, 'I think the dogs and cats would prefer to be safe and warm
and know where their next meal is coming from, same with all animals in
captivity. Humans put them in these circumstances, so we have a
responsibility to take care of them for the rest of their lives. If I
released my horses, dog, and chickens into the wild, none of them would
survive more than a few days.'
The comment was driven home by the fact that the temperature was in the low single digits when I wrote it.
So, there you go. Not hilarious, but somewhat silly.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:31 PM (ThxKk)
148
I like.... "Thanks for emoting what you feel..... now... tell me want you think"
That works as well.
The point is to start being just as dismissive as possible to these alleged "people."
I just thought of another one: "Would you like it if someone did that to you?"
That works as well.
The point is to start being just as dismissive as possible to these alleged "people."
I just thought of another one: "Would you like it if someone did that to you?"
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:32 PM (0HooB)
149
OT: the new guns work YAY!!
Although nck is wondering why we let her shoot first (she's insured)
Although nck is wondering why we let her shoot first (she's insured)
Posted by: Navycopjoe at January 24, 2015 01:34 PM (NAofJ)
Posted by: JohnnyBoy at January 24, 2015 01:34 PM (KG0mU)
151
Generally speaking ( a pun!), the prophets , and
Moses, were pretty much on the receiving end of the 'conversation'.
"Here is what you are to do.."
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:53 PM (028dR)
Today we call these people "psychotics."
Moses, were pretty much on the receiving end of the 'conversation'.
"Here is what you are to do.."
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 24, 2015 12:53 PM (028dR)
Today we call these people "psychotics."
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 01:34 PM (oKE6c)
152
We really need people to man up and say "No, I'm not going to apologize for what I said because it's true. If you're offended f off."
"Everyone is allowed their opinion except me? When did this start?"
But, as you mentioned, that requires balls. BC must've misplaced his. I can't help but wonder if it was his agent who had a conniption fit when he saw it and read BC the riot act.
"Everyone is allowed their opinion except me? When did this start?"
But, as you mentioned, that requires balls. BC must've misplaced his. I can't help but wonder if it was his agent who had a conniption fit when he saw it and read BC the riot act.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:36 PM (0HooB)
153
'Today we call these people "psychotics."
Schizophrenics, actually, unless they have additional pathology, which so many of the cult leaders do...
Schizophrenics, actually, unless they have additional pathology, which so many of the cult leaders do...
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 01:36 PM (jOumW)
154
I heard a new lefty slur this past weekend: "Essentialist." It means you think that having a dick makes you male and having a vagina makes you female. This is apparently a HORRIBLE THING to think.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 24, 2015 01:36 PM (SmcXL)
155
Here's a blog post by SF writer John Wright which touches on a lot of the same issues:
http://www.scifiwright.com/2015/01/word-fetishes/
http://www.scifiwright.com/2015/01/word-fetishes/
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 24, 2015 01:38 PM (SmcXL)
156
I heard a new lefty slur this past weekend: "Essentialist." It means you think that having a dick makes you male and having a vagina makes you female. This is apparently a HORRIBLE THING to think.
The world is full of crazy people.
And on that note, I gotta go do stuff. Y'all have fun and try not to trash the place, 'k?
The world is full of crazy people.
And on that note, I gotta go do stuff. Y'all have fun and try not to trash the place, 'k?
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at January 24, 2015 01:39 PM (0HooB)
157
142 China put $1.5B in a project on the genetics of IQ. Goal being to allow parent to select higher IQ embryos.
Very short-sided. We need some dumb asses, as well as some geniuses, and a lot of people in between. Some are good at working with their hands rather than their brains, some are the other way around, and each of the two groups typically would be miserable (and failures) if their situations were reversed.
Very short-sided. We need some dumb asses, as well as some geniuses, and a lot of people in between. Some are good at working with their hands rather than their brains, some are the other way around, and each of the two groups typically would be miserable (and failures) if their situations were reversed.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 01:39 PM (oKE6c)
Posted by: Thin veneer of civility at January 24, 2015 01:39 PM (XzRw1)
159
153 'Today we call these people "psychotics."
Schizophrenics, actually, unless they have additional pathology, which so many of the cult leaders do...
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 01:36 PM (jOumW)
Fair enough. I meant to refer to them generically as being psychotic, but you're right, I was sloppy in my usage.
Schizophrenics, actually, unless they have additional pathology, which so many of the cult leaders do...
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 01:36 PM (jOumW)
Fair enough. I meant to refer to them generically as being psychotic, but you're right, I was sloppy in my usage.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 01:40 PM (oKE6c)
160
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:31 PM (ThxKk)
When I was growing up, we had a dog we never kept tied up because she had learned the boundaries of the yard. In cold weather, she'd do her business and be scratching at the back door in no time. She'd roam around in the woods but would always race back to us. Unlike your friend,she had enough sense to realize that "captivity" and that nice fluffy bed and Milk Bones were a good deal and that belly couldn't rub itself.
Cats are different - however, I don't think the life of a feral cat is that great. Much better to sit on the windowstill and get the Meow Mix rather than dig around in the trash can.
When I was growing up, we had a dog we never kept tied up because she had learned the boundaries of the yard. In cold weather, she'd do her business and be scratching at the back door in no time. She'd roam around in the woods but would always race back to us. Unlike your friend,she had enough sense to realize that "captivity" and that nice fluffy bed and Milk Bones were a good deal and that belly couldn't rub itself.
Cats are different - however, I don't think the life of a feral cat is that great. Much better to sit on the windowstill and get the Meow Mix rather than dig around in the trash can.
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:41 PM (+XMAD)
161
145
Whether Irish or Byzantine, the West was indubitably Christian, building on Classical. Everything is created from something except the Prime Mover. You simply can't have the West without Christianity.
Whether Irish or Byzantine, the West was indubitably Christian, building on Classical. Everything is created from something except the Prime Mover. You simply can't have the West without Christianity.
Posted by: crazy jane at January 24, 2015 01:41 PM (bUdTD)
162
160 Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:31 PM (ThxKk)
Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:41 PM (+XMAD)
------------
The amazing thing about people who bleat about the plight of domestic animals ("Run free, Skippy, run free!") is that in the next breath they'll whine about the homeless. Aren't they "running free" too? Does it look that good?
Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:41 PM (+XMAD)
------------
The amazing thing about people who bleat about the plight of domestic animals ("Run free, Skippy, run free!") is that in the next breath they'll whine about the homeless. Aren't they "running free" too? Does it look that good?
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 01:43 PM (oKE6c)
163
Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:41 PM (+XMAD)
Smart dog. Mine is not so smart, hence the leash that gets clipped on every time she goes outside. All beauty and no brains, that one.
Smart dog. Mine is not so smart, hence the leash that gets clipped on every time she goes outside. All beauty and no brains, that one.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:44 PM (ThxKk)
164
Free range humans, something about on ramps that attract them.
Posted by: Skynet at January 24, 2015 01:44 PM (WNERA)
165
Here's a story from last night. Showed up to work a camera at a hoops game, hadn't met the other camera guy. A thirty-ish, red-headed version of John Candy. He strikes me as odd from the get go. Just seemed awkward. Well, the games are running late and we're having a couple power supply issues, nothing major, just have to be patient for a bit. We're sitting about 10 feet apart from each other, in the bleachers, surrounded by parents/fans.
So, waiting for our games to start, I look over and the guy is beet red and literally punching himself with both fists in the sides of his head. A half dozen double punches at least. A woman behind him, gives him a concerned look, I do to, the guy between us, the producer, leans over and whispers something like "what the fuck?". The guy looks back towards me/the rest of the crew, and asks meekly, "everyone gets angry, right? Right, everyone gets angry sometimes?". I joined the woman behind him and the fans in the seats around him in trying to discreetly look away our of embarrassment or him. Games started, nobody mentioned it again.
This morning, a guy who works with me but wasn't there last night called excitedly to ask me what working the guy was like and did I "see anything weird"? I started laughing and describing it and he cut me off, saying the producer had already told him and he wanted to be sure I wasn't freaked out by it or anything. Best part, the Producers phone was on, and he got at least some of the dialogue between them after the fit I haven't heard/seen it yet.
So, waiting for our games to start, I look over and the guy is beet red and literally punching himself with both fists in the sides of his head. A half dozen double punches at least. A woman behind him, gives him a concerned look, I do to, the guy between us, the producer, leans over and whispers something like "what the fuck?". The guy looks back towards me/the rest of the crew, and asks meekly, "everyone gets angry, right? Right, everyone gets angry sometimes?". I joined the woman behind him and the fans in the seats around him in trying to discreetly look away our of embarrassment or him. Games started, nobody mentioned it again.
This morning, a guy who works with me but wasn't there last night called excitedly to ask me what working the guy was like and did I "see anything weird"? I started laughing and describing it and he cut me off, saying the producer had already told him and he wanted to be sure I wasn't freaked out by it or anything. Best part, the Producers phone was on, and he got at least some of the dialogue between them after the fit I haven't heard/seen it yet.
Posted by: Lincolntf at January 24, 2015 01:45 PM (2cS/G)
166
Every highly successful society in Earth's history - from ancient Greece and Rome, up to modern Europe, North America, and the Pacific Rim - has at its core the fair and equal enforcement of its laws and the honoring of its contracts and agreements.
Why do you think Russia is such an economic basket case while Singapore is so successful? Both are essentially authoritarian dictatorships. The difference is that one is a kleptocracy that uses selective enforcement of punitive laws to attack political enemies, that tears up business contracts, while the other is a society that upholds the law and honors its contracts and agreements. For example, Russia forced Gazprom to stop delivering natural gas and oil to Europe as a political weapon, so now Europe is scrambling to find other sources.
The biggest requirement is predictability. Businesses will neither make plans nor take risks if the government is arbitrary and capricious. When a country starts to selectively enforce laws for political ends, when it cannot be trusted to honor agreements, it poisons everything. This is why the United States was so successful during its first two centuries and why it is now starting to flounder.
When the government routinely violates its own laws for political ends then everything begins to fail. People start hoarding wealth instead of trying to create it. If everything boils down to favoritism and which politicians you can bribe or buy, when the politicians buy votes by forcibly redistributing wealth from the makers to the takers, then the makers simply stop making. Or they give up and become takers themselves. Then you have just another banana republic.
Trust is everything. Lose that trust and it all falls apart. Society becomes a free-for-all of corruption and thievery, where everybody hides inside of walled compounds or lives in shantytowns and tin shacks.
Why do you think Russia is such an economic basket case while Singapore is so successful? Both are essentially authoritarian dictatorships. The difference is that one is a kleptocracy that uses selective enforcement of punitive laws to attack political enemies, that tears up business contracts, while the other is a society that upholds the law and honors its contracts and agreements. For example, Russia forced Gazprom to stop delivering natural gas and oil to Europe as a political weapon, so now Europe is scrambling to find other sources.
The biggest requirement is predictability. Businesses will neither make plans nor take risks if the government is arbitrary and capricious. When a country starts to selectively enforce laws for political ends, when it cannot be trusted to honor agreements, it poisons everything. This is why the United States was so successful during its first two centuries and why it is now starting to flounder.
When the government routinely violates its own laws for political ends then everything begins to fail. People start hoarding wealth instead of trying to create it. If everything boils down to favoritism and which politicians you can bribe or buy, when the politicians buy votes by forcibly redistributing wealth from the makers to the takers, then the makers simply stop making. Or they give up and become takers themselves. Then you have just another banana republic.
Trust is everything. Lose that trust and it all falls apart. Society becomes a free-for-all of corruption and thievery, where everybody hides inside of walled compounds or lives in shantytowns and tin shacks.
Posted by: HuuskerDu at January 24, 2015 01:49 PM (gYAkw)
167
Posted by: crazy jane at January 24, 2015 01:41 PM (bUdTD)
To say nothing of the fact that we wouldn't even know of many of the ancient writers and thinkers if the monks of the Dark Ages hadn't preserved their writing.
That is a key difference between Christianity and Islam as well. Islam largely sought to obliterate the pre-Islamic cultures of the countries they invaded - there is no truth outside of Islam. Christianity retained a reverence for the best of pagan thought.
To say nothing of the fact that we wouldn't even know of many of the ancient writers and thinkers if the monks of the Dark Ages hadn't preserved their writing.
That is a key difference between Christianity and Islam as well. Islam largely sought to obliterate the pre-Islamic cultures of the countries they invaded - there is no truth outside of Islam. Christianity retained a reverence for the best of pagan thought.
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:51 PM (+XMAD)
168
166 Every highly successful society in Earth's history - from ancient Greece and Rome, up to modern Europe, North America, and the Pacific Rim - has at its core the fair and equal enforcement of its laws and the honoring of its contracts and agreements.
Yep. The key is predictability. When you can't predict what will happen next, you don't invest in or build for the future. You hunker down to await what happens next. See, e.g., Obolacare and the unemployment rate.
Yep. The key is predictability. When you can't predict what will happen next, you don't invest in or build for the future. You hunker down to await what happens next. See, e.g., Obolacare and the unemployment rate.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 24, 2015 01:52 PM (oKE6c)
169
Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:51 PM (+XMAD)
Ever read Thomas Cahill's book How the Irish Saved Civilization? It's a fascinating look at the monastic movement and how their intellectualism led them to preserve ancient pagan and early Christian writings, thereby keeping the knowledge accessible once Europe had calmed down enough for the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Ever read Thomas Cahill's book How the Irish Saved Civilization? It's a fascinating look at the monastic movement and how their intellectualism led them to preserve ancient pagan and early Christian writings, thereby keeping the knowledge accessible once Europe had calmed down enough for the High Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at January 24, 2015 01:54 PM (ThxKk)
170
I listened to the book in the car, very enjoyable.
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at January 24, 2015 01:55 PM (jOumW)
171
"THE "secret" Khrushchev speech, admitting and detailing to the Soviets' Twentieth Party Congress the terrors of Stalin's rule, was published in The New York Times on June 5, 1956.
The next day the staff of the Daily Worker met. We had all read the speech. The somber terror of it was in our eyes and on our faces, and now the discussion was whether or not to print it in the Worker. In the course of that discussion, something happened that will remain with me until I die. It could only have happened then, at that time, for the truth we saw was brutal, cold, and terrible beyond description. Few of us were any longer young. Most of our adult lives had been given to this movement. All of us had made great sacrifices. Here were brilliant careers given up, success and wealth bypassed by some, respect and honor abandoned by others, all of us together in a tiny minority group that had been hounded and persecuted for a decade, all of us driven by and wedded to the splendid dream of brotherhood and justice, all of us knowing each other so well and so long. And in this group, compelled by an idea and realization that had fastened upon me, I rose in the course of the discussion and said, "I wonder if there is any comrade here who can say now, out of what we know and have seen, that if our own Party leaders had the power of execution he or she would be alive today?" They all looked at me, but no one broke the silence. We had come to the end of a road. and we knew by what grace we were alive. We knew it - and oh, what a terrible knowledge that was. Each one according to his talent and ability had given his life to the cause of mankind, the brotherhood of man - and we knew that for this the reward was death.
Howard Fast, 1957
"THE "secret" Khrushchev speech, admitting and detailing to the Soviets' Twentieth Party Congress the terrors of Stalin's rule, was published in The New York Times on June 5, 1956.
The next day the staff of the Daily Worker met. We had all read the speech. The somber terror of it was in our eyes and on our faces, and now the discussion was whether or not to print it in the Worker. In the course of that discussion, something happened that will remain with me until I die. It could only have happened then, at that time, for the truth we saw was brutal, cold, and terrible beyond description. Few of us were any longer young. Most of our adult lives had been given to this movement. All of us had made great sacrifices. Here were brilliant careers given up, success and wealth bypassed by some, respect and honor abandoned by others, all of us together in a tiny minority group that had been hounded and persecuted for a decade, all of us driven by and wedded to the splendid dream of brotherhood and justice, all of us knowing each other so well and so long. And in this group, compelled by an idea and realization that had fastened upon me, I rose in the course of the discussion and said, "I wonder if there is any comrade here who can say now, out of what we know and have seen, that if our own Party leaders had the power of execution he or she would be alive today?" They all looked at me, but no one broke the silence. We had come to the end of a road. and we knew by what grace we were alive. We knew it - and oh, what a terrible knowledge that was. Each one according to his talent and ability had given his life to the cause of mankind, the brotherhood of man - and we knew that for this the reward was death.
Howard Fast, 1957
Posted by: Dr. McCoy at January 24, 2015 01:57 PM (F192H)
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:57 PM (+XMAD)
173
Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
On Drudge now
Teh SARAH!!!!11!! says she interested in running in 2016!!
Palin/Cruz!!!11!!
On Drudge now
Teh SARAH!!!!11!! says she interested in running in 2016!!
Palin/Cruz!!!11!!
Posted by: Navycopjoe at January 24, 2015 01:58 PM (NAofJ)
174
I don't know the source for the quote, but there has been some talk that in a population the high end IQ occurrence is equivalent to the low end, the more really smart people you have the more really stupid people there are. The question boils down to whether the genes are simple or complex.
When a company in the 90s was trying to hybridize and genegineer petunias to make the colors more saturated in the blossoms they ran into the fact that just splicing in more genes actually made the blossoms look "streaky" and mottled. The multiple repetitions of the genes actually impeded the functioning of the genes. This may be the case in dealing with the genes for intellegence.
The Chinese may wind up horribly surprised when they try for children that can solve differential solutions in their heads and wind up with kids that like paste and licking windex off windows instead.
When a company in the 90s was trying to hybridize and genegineer petunias to make the colors more saturated in the blossoms they ran into the fact that just splicing in more genes actually made the blossoms look "streaky" and mottled. The multiple repetitions of the genes actually impeded the functioning of the genes. This may be the case in dealing with the genes for intellegence.
The Chinese may wind up horribly surprised when they try for children that can solve differential solutions in their heads and wind up with kids that like paste and licking windex off windows instead.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 24, 2015 02:04 PM (t//F+)
175
Posted by: Dr. McCoy at January 24, 2015 01:57 PM (F192H)
I've never read it but I've always meant to check out "The God That Failed" about that generation's disillusionment with Stalinism.
In the case of those old 20's and '30's Commies I'm willing to cut a wee bit of slack. In the 1930's, thanks to the efforts of Duranty and other bootlickers, many American Commies genuinely didn't know how bad it was in the USSR. After the Iron Curtain came down - there was no excuse.
I've never read it but I've always meant to check out "The God That Failed" about that generation's disillusionment with Stalinism.
In the case of those old 20's and '30's Commies I'm willing to cut a wee bit of slack. In the 1930's, thanks to the efforts of Duranty and other bootlickers, many American Commies genuinely didn't know how bad it was in the USSR. After the Iron Curtain came down - there was no excuse.
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 02:09 PM (+XMAD)
176
130 I suspect none of these social justice warriors were never exposed to the story of King Midas in the modern school system, nor anywhere in what passes for their popular culture.
----------------------------
Or read 'The Little Red Hen', 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' or played Simon Says.
But..., you know, 'Heather has Two Mommies'.
-------------
Awhile back there was an " updated" version of The Ant and the Grasshopper. The ant worked just as hard, but in the winter the grasshopper sued the ant and the government made the ant give his stuff to the grasshopper!
----------------------------
Or read 'The Little Red Hen', 'The Ant and the Grasshopper' or played Simon Says.
But..., you know, 'Heather has Two Mommies'.
-------------
Awhile back there was an " updated" version of The Ant and the Grasshopper. The ant worked just as hard, but in the winter the grasshopper sued the ant and the government made the ant give his stuff to the grasshopper!
Posted by: Chilling the most at January 24, 2015 02:09 PM (wWs6x)
177
Great post, Weirddave. I saw a comment in the last thread that fits perfectly here, too:
70 The thing that bothers me is when the AGW hysteria finally blows over and gets revealed as the largest scientific fraud in history, it's going to permanently damage people's trust in science (or rather, in scientists).
Posted by: HuuskerDu at January 24, 2015 11:11 AM (gYAkw)
That has me worried, too. As if it weren't bad enough that Western Civilization is menaced by 7th century barbarians and their supporters, if distrust and cynicism about science spreads, we could be headed for another Dark Age.
70 The thing that bothers me is when the AGW hysteria finally blows over and gets revealed as the largest scientific fraud in history, it's going to permanently damage people's trust in science (or rather, in scientists).
Posted by: HuuskerDu at January 24, 2015 11:11 AM (gYAkw)
That has me worried, too. As if it weren't bad enough that Western Civilization is menaced by 7th century barbarians and their supporters, if distrust and cynicism about science spreads, we could be headed for another Dark Age.
Posted by: rickl at January 24, 2015 02:10 PM (sdi6R)
178
Moralitas ratio aequalitatis.
Posted by: David Pruett at January 24, 2015 02:12 PM (muF0Z)
179
Word, dude. I tried to explain to a very smart, but very liberal, associate of mine that civilization is fragile, and if you take out its support mechanisms it goes away. He didn't believe it, liberals think civilization is inevitable and they can tinker all they want with its fundamentals and it will absorb all insults and persevere. (But the environment won't?) Likewise our economy: Tax and spend and waste all they want, somebody will make enough to replace it. That somebody is getting mighty pissed and getting ready to retire and leave the liberals with their own mess.
Posted by: Socratease at January 24, 2015 02:18 PM (2GbWn)
180
And don't forget...
"It (Christianity) was a shining bridge connecting two shining civilizations. If anyone says that the faith arose in ignorance and savagery the answer is simple: it didn't. It arose in the Mediterranean civilizations in the full summer of the Roman Empire.
The world was swarming with skeptics, and pantheism was as plain as the sun when Constantine nailed the cross to the mast.
It is perfectly true that afterwards the ship sank, but it is far more extraordinary that the ship came up again: repainted and glistening, with the cross still at the top. This is the amazing thing the religion did: it turned the sunken ship into a submarine. The ark lived under the load of waters; after being buried under the debris of dynasties and clans, we arose and remembered Rome.
If our faith had been a mere fad of the fading empire, fad would have followed fad into the twilight; and if civilization had ever re-emerged (and many such have never re-emerged) it would have been under some new barbaric flag.
But the Christian Church was the last life of the old society and also the first life of the new.
She took the people who were forgetting how to make an arch, and she taught them how to invent a Gothic arch. In a word, the most absurd thing that could be said of the church is the thing we have all heard said of it. How can we say the Church wishes to bring us back into the Dark Ages? The Church was the only thing that ever brought us out of them...."
GK Chesterton in Orthodoxy
"It (Christianity) was a shining bridge connecting two shining civilizations. If anyone says that the faith arose in ignorance and savagery the answer is simple: it didn't. It arose in the Mediterranean civilizations in the full summer of the Roman Empire.
The world was swarming with skeptics, and pantheism was as plain as the sun when Constantine nailed the cross to the mast.
It is perfectly true that afterwards the ship sank, but it is far more extraordinary that the ship came up again: repainted and glistening, with the cross still at the top. This is the amazing thing the religion did: it turned the sunken ship into a submarine. The ark lived under the load of waters; after being buried under the debris of dynasties and clans, we arose and remembered Rome.
If our faith had been a mere fad of the fading empire, fad would have followed fad into the twilight; and if civilization had ever re-emerged (and many such have never re-emerged) it would have been under some new barbaric flag.
But the Christian Church was the last life of the old society and also the first life of the new.
She took the people who were forgetting how to make an arch, and she taught them how to invent a Gothic arch. In a word, the most absurd thing that could be said of the church is the thing we have all heard said of it. How can we say the Church wishes to bring us back into the Dark Ages? The Church was the only thing that ever brought us out of them...."
GK Chesterton in Orthodoxy
Posted by: SAG1 at January 24, 2015 02:27 PM (krNf+)
181
Mostly true, but . . .
Not as many of those people will disappear as you might think.
My parents were newspaper people. My dad was, at one time, managing editor of Barron's. My mom covered the Leopold and Loeb trial for Hearst's Chicago American. They frequently spoke of themselves as practitioners of the second-oldest profession.
Cave drawings or The Enquirer, someone will be telling the story, and the story will please the king. Or else.
Not as many of those people will disappear as you might think.
My parents were newspaper people. My dad was, at one time, managing editor of Barron's. My mom covered the Leopold and Loeb trial for Hearst's Chicago American. They frequently spoke of themselves as practitioners of the second-oldest profession.
Cave drawings or The Enquirer, someone will be telling the story, and the story will please the king. Or else.
Posted by: JimT Utah at January 24, 2015 02:29 PM (ckbBu)
182
Mores, Ratio, Aequalitate
Posted by: Reverend Darkness at January 24, 2015 02:29 PM (zkl7J)
183
One major cause of the mistrust in science today is the lack of transparency and accountability - the inability to review and verify scientific claims independently outside of so-called 'peer review'.
Back in late 1980s when I was an RA at the University of Illinois, all of the big federal granting agencies (National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, etc) required that any computer source code created or funded using federal research money must be made available to any US citizen on request. I spent plenty of time at the copy machine killing trees and spinning tapes for these requests. I tracked my time for billing purposes.
Some time after I left (not sure when) the federal research agencies quietly changed the rules. The requirement for public disclosure was dropped. Today AGW the researchers like Michael Mann at Penn State are not releasing their source code or raw data.
Michael Mann and the other AGW proponents are fighting it tooth and nail in the federal court system to hide their raw data from Mark Steyn and Watts Up. What have the AGW researchers to hide, if they are as above-board as they claim to be?
Well, whenever someone does manage to dig under the covers, they regularly find cherry-picking of data, adjustments that always go in one direction, and massive selection bias. It's everywhere in the data.
We need to go back to the old rules from the 1980s: if you get federal money to publish your research, then the raw data and source code must be made public under an Open Source license.
If not, why not?
Back in late 1980s when I was an RA at the University of Illinois, all of the big federal granting agencies (National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, etc) required that any computer source code created or funded using federal research money must be made available to any US citizen on request. I spent plenty of time at the copy machine killing trees and spinning tapes for these requests. I tracked my time for billing purposes.
Some time after I left (not sure when) the federal research agencies quietly changed the rules. The requirement for public disclosure was dropped. Today AGW the researchers like Michael Mann at Penn State are not releasing their source code or raw data.
Michael Mann and the other AGW proponents are fighting it tooth and nail in the federal court system to hide their raw data from Mark Steyn and Watts Up. What have the AGW researchers to hide, if they are as above-board as they claim to be?
Well, whenever someone does manage to dig under the covers, they regularly find cherry-picking of data, adjustments that always go in one direction, and massive selection bias. It's everywhere in the data.
We need to go back to the old rules from the 1980s: if you get federal money to publish your research, then the raw data and source code must be made public under an Open Source license.
If not, why not?
Posted by: HuuskerDu at January 24, 2015 02:30 PM (gYAkw)
184
Oops, wrong thread, dammit.
Posted by: HuuskerDu at January 24, 2015 02:36 PM (gYAkw)
185
My attempt as translated by William Whitaker:
moralitas mentis paritas
(morality, morals) (reason, intellect, judgement) (equality; parity)
moralitas mentis paritas
(morality, morals) (reason, intellect, judgement) (equality; parity)
Posted by: Armed and Larry at January 24, 2015 02:38 PM (5eM3R)
186
Actually, "Equality" is a European value. "Liberty" is an American value, as Dennis Prager points out. (Look at our money to see our values: In God We Trust, E-pluribus unum, and Liberty.)
We're born equal, but we have the liberty to end up where ever we wish. Equality is easily limited, however; such as by setting salary caps.
We're born equal, but we have the liberty to end up where ever we wish. Equality is easily limited, however; such as by setting salary caps.
Posted by: Robert at January 24, 2015 02:43 PM (cIL9k)
187
Sorry I haven't been around much, I wanted to discuss this more, but CBD put up his climate change post and by the time I could get this one up w/o stomping him, I had to leave for work. Now I have to go to a Cub Scout event with Little.
Posted by: Weirddave at January 24, 2015 02:46 PM (WvS3w)
188
91
What gives here? Is it because when you live in beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:03 PM (+XMAD)
This reminds me of a book I read about 15-20 years ago, "Guilt, Blame, and Politics" by Allen Levite. I think it's out of print, but you can easily find used copies at Alibris or Abebooks.
He notes that radicals and revolutionaries overwhelmingly come from the more privileged backgrounds in their societies. (This means the leaders and the theorists, not necessarily the foot soldiers.) He makes his points with copious examples from history.
Simply put, people growing up in wealth and comfort often look at the poor, downtrodden people around them and feel guilty. They know they didn't do anything to deserve it, so they end up blaming "the system".
This is usually seen in people who were born into wealth. It's not so common in people who started out poor and worked their way up.
What gives here? Is it because when you live in beautiful surroundings and are still miserable, you assume it has to be outside forces that are making you miserable and once those things are corrected, you will, at long last, be happy?
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at January 24, 2015 01:03 PM (+XMAD)
This reminds me of a book I read about 15-20 years ago, "Guilt, Blame, and Politics" by Allen Levite. I think it's out of print, but you can easily find used copies at Alibris or Abebooks.
He notes that radicals and revolutionaries overwhelmingly come from the more privileged backgrounds in their societies. (This means the leaders and the theorists, not necessarily the foot soldiers.) He makes his points with copious examples from history.
Simply put, people growing up in wealth and comfort often look at the poor, downtrodden people around them and feel guilty. They know they didn't do anything to deserve it, so they end up blaming "the system".
This is usually seen in people who were born into wealth. It's not so common in people who started out poor and worked their way up.
Posted by: rickl at January 24, 2015 02:52 PM (sdi6R)
189
"We're born equal,"
**************
We are not born equal. We have equal rights. We are not all equally smart. We are not all equally tall. We are not all equally good looking. The left has been trying to mandate equality for decades. This is what Obamacare is rooted in, the belief that poor people should get everything that hard working people have. Under their system of beliefs, why would you try and build a career when you can all your stuff for free while staying at home playing video games all day.
**************
We are not born equal. We have equal rights. We are not all equally smart. We are not all equally tall. We are not all equally good looking. The left has been trying to mandate equality for decades. This is what Obamacare is rooted in, the belief that poor people should get everything that hard working people have. Under their system of beliefs, why would you try and build a career when you can all your stuff for free while staying at home playing video games all day.
Posted by: Lemmiwinks at January 24, 2015 02:59 PM (z+4T3)
190
Moralitas, Causa, Aequalitatem
Posted by: Fewenuff at January 24, 2015 03:05 PM (zPNX5)
191
Come to think of it, my #188 comment ties directly into a post I read here some time ago. I have no idea how to find it.
It was something about there being two different survival strategies, depending on whether you were born into an environment of plenty or scarcity.
So Western Civilization has bred so many people who only see the flaws and want to tear it down, precisely because it has been so successful in giving so many a prosperous and comfortable life.
It was something about there being two different survival strategies, depending on whether you were born into an environment of plenty or scarcity.
So Western Civilization has bred so many people who only see the flaws and want to tear it down, precisely because it has been so successful in giving so many a prosperous and comfortable life.
Posted by: rickl at January 24, 2015 03:12 PM (sdi6R)
192
Good post! Thanks!
Posted by: gp at January 24, 2015 03:23 PM (mk9aG)
193
Morality, reason, liberty.
For some reason, it always sounds better in French...
Moralité, Raison, liberté
For some reason, it always sounds better in French...
Moralité, Raison, liberté
Posted by: Brendan at January 24, 2015 03:28 PM (8YVZT)
194
Now, there's noting different about us compared to anybody else in the world.
We are one of the few countries in the world which does not have a long history of Kings, Queens, and so on--there is no tradition of "you are born to one class, and you shall die in the same class."
That allows people to shape their own future, rather than having society shape it for them.
We are one of the few countries in the world which does not have a long history of Kings, Queens, and so on--there is no tradition of "you are born to one class, and you shall die in the same class."
That allows people to shape their own future, rather than having society shape it for them.
Posted by: Null at January 24, 2015 03:37 PM (xjpRj)
195
@189 Lemmiwinks
"Under their system of beliefs, why would you try and build a career when you can all your stuff for free while staying at home playing video games all day."
Soviet Union. Nothing gets produced or developed. You spend most of your free time standing in lines and hope they don't run out when you finally get in the door. Why work hard. You will onlybe rewarded with more work (Ayn Rand was spot on) and repsonsibility to be laterblamed for failing to meet some undeliverable politburo goal.
70% of industrial development was through espionage. Over 90% of GDP was given to keep the military complex going. The had more land and natural resources than any other place in the world, and they still depended on their enemies to feed them. On, and on, and on.....
You would think they would teach the living examples of the failures of leftism... but people remain silent the children are taught the same old lies hoping for a different outcome.
"Under their system of beliefs, why would you try and build a career when you can all your stuff for free while staying at home playing video games all day."
Soviet Union. Nothing gets produced or developed. You spend most of your free time standing in lines and hope they don't run out when you finally get in the door. Why work hard. You will onlybe rewarded with more work (Ayn Rand was spot on) and repsonsibility to be laterblamed for failing to meet some undeliverable politburo goal.
70% of industrial development was through espionage. Over 90% of GDP was given to keep the military complex going. The had more land and natural resources than any other place in the world, and they still depended on their enemies to feed them. On, and on, and on.....
You would think they would teach the living examples of the failures of leftism... but people remain silent the children are taught the same old lies hoping for a different outcome.
Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at January 24, 2015 03:44 PM (dbNTQ)
196
#175 - read Howard Fast's essays on communism.As a kicker he later wrote the novel Spartacus, which I highly recommend to anyone and everyone.
Posted by: Dr. McCoy at January 24, 2015 04:26 PM (F192H)
197
Well, I had to look up Lubyanka. What a beautiful building! Wouldn't want to live there, though
Good choice. The bloodiest building in the history of mankind. Literally millions of people have been murdered in the basement.
Good choice. The bloodiest building in the history of mankind. Literally millions of people have been murdered in the basement.
Posted by: weirddave at January 24, 2015 05:36 PM (CeHbE)
198
see Rodney Stark's The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success
Posted by: taba at January 24, 2015 08:42 PM (Ovhai)
199
I liked this choice from Google Translate best. Probably wrong, but it looks best, and it's better to look good than to feel good.
Mores, Rationis, Aequalitas
Mores, Rationis, Aequalitas
Posted by: Bart at January 26, 2015 03:38 PM (5gOJn)
200
Escort girls http://REGMODELS.RU
Posted by: Tina at January 26, 2015 07:21 PM (95udX)
201
Hello Web Admin, I noticed that your On-Page SEO is is missing a few factors, for one you do not use all three H tags in your post, also I notice that you are not using bold or italics properly in your SEO optimization. On-Page SEO means more now than ever since the new Google update: Panda. No longer are backlinks and simply pinging or sending out a RSS feed the key to getting Google PageRank or Alexa Rankings, You now NEED On-Page SEO. So what is good On-Page SEO?First your keyword must appear in the title.Then it must appear in the URL.You have to optimize your keyword and make sure that it has a nice keyword density of 3-5% in your article with relevant LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing). Then you should spread all H1,H2,H3 tags in your article.Your Keyword should appear in your first paragraph and in the last sentence of the page. You should have relevant usage of Bold and italics of your keyword.There should be one internal link to a page on your blog and you should have one image with an alt tag that has your keyword....wait there's even more Now what if i told you there was a simple Wordpress plugin that does all the On-Page SEO, and automatically for you? That's right AUTOMATICALLY, just watch this 4minute video for more information at. Seo Plugin
Posted by: seo plugin at February 09, 2015 01:17 PM (n2Rmf)
Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0397 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0114 seconds, 210 records returned.
Page size 143 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.
MuNuvians
MeeNuvians
Polls! Polls! Polls!
Real Clear Politics
Gallup
Frequently Asked Questions
The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick
Primary Document: The Audio
Paul Anka Haiku Contest Announcement
Integrity SAT's: Entrance Exam for Paul Anka's Band
AllahPundit's Paul Anka 45's Collection
AnkaPundit: Paul Anka Takes Over the Site for a Weekend (Continues through to Monday's postings)
George Bush Slices Don Rumsfeld Like an F*ckin' Hammer
Paul Anka Haiku Contest Announcement
Integrity SAT's: Entrance Exam for Paul Anka's Band
AllahPundit's Paul Anka 45's Collection
AnkaPundit: Paul Anka Takes Over the Site for a Weekend (Continues through to Monday's postings)
George Bush Slices Don Rumsfeld Like an F*ckin' Hammer
Top Top Tens
Democratic Forays into Erotica
New Shows On Gore's DNC/MTV Network
Nicknames for Potatoes, By People Who Really Hate Potatoes
Star Wars Euphemisms for Self-Abuse
Signs You're at an Iraqi "Wedding Party"
Signs Your Clown Has Gone Bad
Signs That You, Geroge Michael, Should Probably Just Give It Up
Signs of Hip-Hop Influence on John Kerry
NYT Headlines Spinning Bush's Jobs Boom
Things People Are More Likely to Say Than "Did You Hear What Al Franken Said Yesterday?"
Signs that Paul Krugman Has Lost His Frickin' Mind
All-Time Best NBA Players, According to Senator Robert Byrd
Other Bad Things About the Jews, According to the Koran
Signs That David Letterman Just Doesn't Care Anymore
Examples of Bob Kerrey's Insufferable Racial Jackassery
Signs Andy Rooney Is Going Senile
Other Judgments Dick Clarke Made About Condi Rice Based on Her Appearance
Collective Names for Groups of People
John Kerry's Other Vietnam Super-Pets
Cool Things About the XM8 Assault Rifle
Media-Approved Facts About the Democrat Spy
Changes to Make Christianity More "Inclusive"
Secret John Kerry Senatorial Accomplishments
John Edwards Campaign Excuses
John Kerry Pick-Up Lines
Changes Liberal Senator George Michell Will Make at Disney
Torments in Dog-Hell
Greatest Hitjobs
The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon
A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates
Margaret Cho: Just Not Funny
More Margaret Cho Abuse
Margaret Cho: Still Not Funny
Iraqi Prisoner Claims He Was Raped... By Woman
Wonkette Announces "Morning Zoo" Format
John Kerry's "Plan" Causes Surrender of Moqtada al-Sadr's Militia
World Muslim Leaders Apologize for Nick Berg's Beheading
Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree
Milestone: Oliver Willis Posts 400th "Fake News Article" Referencing Britney Spears
Liberal Economists Rue a "New Decade of Greed"
Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility
Intelligence Officials Eye Blogs for Tips
They Done Found Us Out, Cletus: Intrepid Internet Detective Figures Out Our Master Plan
Shock: Josh Marshall Almost Mentions Sarin Discovery in Iraq
Leather-Clad Biker Freaks Terrorize Australian Town
When Clinton Was President, Torture Was Cool
What Wonkette Means When She Explains What Tina Brown Means
Wonkette's Stand-Up Act
Wankette HQ Gay-Rumors Du Jour
Here's What's Bugging Me: Goose and Slider
My Own Micah Wright Style Confession of Dishonesty
Outraged "Conservatives" React to the FMA
An On-Line Impression of Dennis Miller Having Sex with a Kodiak Bear
The Story the Rightwing Media Refuses to Report!
Our Lunch with David "Glengarry Glen Ross" Mamet
The House of Love: Paul Krugman
A Michael Moore Mystery (TM)
The Dowd-O-Matic!
Liberal Consistency and Other Myths
Kepler's Laws of Liberal Media Bias
John Kerry-- The Splunge! Candidate
"Divisive" Politics & "Attacks on Patriotism" (very long)
The Donkey ("The Raven" parody)
News/Chat