#42 ::: Nicholas Waller:
Oh the plot was real. It was the liquid explosives that were a rumor:
We're told that the suspects were planning to use TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive that supposedly can be made from common household chemicals unlikely to be caught by airport screeners. A little hair dye, drain cleaner, and paint thinner - all easily concealed in drinks bottles - and the forces of evil have effectively smuggled a deadly bomb onboard your plane.
Or at least that's what we're hearing, and loudly, through the mainstream media and its legions of so-called "terrorism experts." But what do these experts know about chemistry? Less than they know about lobbying for Homeland Security pork, which is what most of them do for a living. But they've seen the same movies that you and I have seen, and so the myth of binary liquid explosives dies hard.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/17/flying_toilet_terror_labs/
I would forgive everything else - even the shoes - if they would drop the liquids nonsense. As my mom put it, that wasn't even a plot. That was a rumor.
Here is my nomination:
http://www.laweekly.com/2007-10-11/news/the-life-and-death-of-jesse-james/
albatross @ 24 - I kind of want to live in that country . . .
Caroline @19:
Isn't this a bit straw-man-ish? I suppose there are a few people who think these things. But no one in this thread as far as I can tell.
It really is possible to have misgivings about hijab and also have misgivings about 14 year olds bikini waxing. It's possible to think women should be allowed to wear what they want, including burkinis, and still wonder whether women wearing burkinis are wearing them because they want to. It isn't so black and white.
I actually have found the current anti-bullying policies in the schools to be effective. One of my daughters went to the vice-principal when she was being teased by two boys, and they were called in and told to shape up. Further incidents would result in suspensions, etc. They stopped. I know of one kid who was expelled permanently for repeated bullying.
I can certainly see why moralizing lectures to the entire group but no consequences wouldn't be effective though.
Evan @38: "Very sharp response, thank you. Allow me to elaborate: The moment we realize we are being bullied is the moment we see the bully's behavior as a pattern rather than a series of individual battles that we feel compelled to engage. That is always a moment of revelation, after which the bully's power goes away."
Well, there are at least two issues here. You are talking (I think) about what an individual can do when he finds himself in a "being bullied" situation. Maybe it can be a learning experience. Maybe he can change his attitude so that the situation is no longer painful. Or maybe, as you said earlier, he can decide he doesn't want to learn anything else along these lines and quit interacting with his tormentor. I agree that these are good and useful things to think about.
But most of this thread is about something else. What does allowing bullying behavior do to the community? What does it do to the members of the community who are in category three above - they don't want a learning experience from being bullied. Allowing bullying to continue means that the community is choosing to have the bullies in the community *instead of* the category three people. There are plenty of communities that do this, and enjoy the atmosphere that results. I enjoy it sometimes - I still spend some time on usenet even. But I am very glad that there are also communities where the bullies have to shape up or leave and the type three people can be contributing members.
"many of the sternest exponents of “I want novels to have plots, dammit†are also demonstrably fans of, for instance, quite a few Robert A. Heinlein novels whose plots can barely be detected"
OK, but, I really don't like Heinlein in large part because of lack of plot. I like Terry Pratchett and not Douglas Adams because of plot. I like later Pratchett more than earlier for several reasons, but largely, again, plot. Some people really do want books to have plots.
We can't know how the votes were actually cast. As far as I can tell they haven't even been properly counted, since the results were announced three days before they should have been. But these people are sure *acting* like they stole an election. Therefore, that is my guess until I see evidence that they didn't.
Boulder, Colorado had same sex marriage for about five minutes in 1975.
A day or two ago, I was on a blog that had that awful ad three times in a row. I kept scrolling down, and there was another one! Eek.
I don't think I have ever seen a website with four (4) blocks of text all overrunning each other. Each in a different color.
#36: It's not possible to read that as anything other than a
condemnation of non-interactive entertainment. Reading a novel -- any
novel -- is worse than grinding your way through a level or two on WoW.
Watching a TV show -- any TV show -- is worse than arguing about gun
control on Usenet.
It is quite possible to take it otherwise. IMO, you have taken
quotes out of context and twisted the speaker's meaning. He clearly
likes the idea of people taking *some* of their passive consuming time
and devoting it to creating for others. He really isn't trying to pry
your novels away from you.
I like the part where 1% more contributing makes a big difference.
Because even on the internet I mostly just read (like Lee I never
watched much TV). But 1%? I can manage that.
And my kids are the generation after the gin carts. They play
interactive games, they text, they facebook, they enter contests with
self-developed neopets, they take care of stables of horses online.
Whatever is coming they are all set.
#6 - that would be so appreciated
#7 - off to read
That was riveting. Are there old posts about this condition? I've
only been reading here about a year. I noticed the Cylert comments
(being an ADDer), but that's about all.
Good luck going to the national convention, Elise. Definitely report back if you get to go!
As usual Digby has said what I tried to say a million times better.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/going-distance-by-digby-i-hate-writing.html
A snippet:
"To me, this primary is actually a good thing for the fall. All this hand wringing strikes me as typical Democratic nervous nellie-ism. A huge increase in Democratic voter registration, building of strong ground operations in most states, new technologies being beta tested, lots of media coverage and battle testing for the nominee are of benefit to the nominee in the fall. Meanwhile, the Democrats stay at center stage while McCain wanders around in obscurity, failing to raise money and leaving a trail of gaffes in his wake. "
| Year | Number of comments posted |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2007 | 3 |
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