RationalWiki talk:What is going on in the world?/Archive1

New Page?
I wanted to start up a collection of Hitler sightings around the web (people using Nazis or Hitler to demonize their opponent) or using the Nazi's when it's not needed, for example this gem which goes out of it's way to point out that Germnay's homeschooling law is based on something started under Hitler, even though it's been revised and changed several times. Would it be better to create a subsection on this page or just create a new one "What is going on with Hitler?" SirChuckB  13:25, 18 November 2008 (EST)
 * I just did an image search for "hitler" (wondering how highly CP would come up) and found this... 14:17, 26 November 2008 (EST) Totnesmartin

Neil deGrasse Tyson, and stars
I find it hilarious that I heard deGrasse talk about his fixing of Titanic about 6 months ago. He was doing a lecture and/or Q&A for BookTV, on CSPAN2 or whatever channel it was. It was a great program, I wonder if anyone else here caught it? Or am I the only person who actually watches BookTV, albeit sparsely/randomly?  ŖєuĻє  ux say wнäτ? 22:41, 21 December 2008 (EST)

The South: Where we can't even get our morals straight.
More commentary, links to RW pages, etc., might make this one clearer?  ħ uman  00:58, 1 January 2009 (EST)

Is this a transfer problem?
I can't see any red or green arrows, just the numbers. Also a new WIGO I put up already scores 4, despite having a unique number. Totnesmartin 06:19, 7 January 2009 (EST)

Self promotion
It surprises me that I come across entries on all the wigos that, immediately after insertion, have no vote. I would expect the inserter to vote 'UP' as soon as they've pressed the save button. Toast 00:01, 10 January 2009 (EST)
 * I hardly ever vote my own up....I don't really have a reason why... In fact, I rarely vote for any of them, unless they're really really good or really really bad. SirChuckB  03:04, 10 January 2009 (EST)

Marxist children's stories
What a bizarre article in the NY Times. So they prove that far left ideals are rampant by focusing on books that aren't actually being read by kids. And of all things including a Walt Kelly book, when he was known more for political and social satire than actual little kid stuff, although he used that style. Weird. --Kels 13:22, 11 January 2009 (EST)

Dubya State of Emergency
This is a misrepresentation worthy of CP. The third and fourth sentences say "The declaration, though, was not a political statement about Republicans being run out of town. Rather, it was a bureaucratic move intended to provide additional federal money to help the District of Columbia cope with the massive crowds that are expected to turn out for the swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20 that will make Mr. Obama the nation’s first black president.". Whatever Dubya's private thoughts on the occasion this is another matter altogether. Silver Sloth 07:33, 16 January 2009 (EST)
 * We have two options, we could fix it or vote it down. - User   08:43, 16 January 2009 (EST)

Atheist bus campaign
We have three entries for this! Генгис   04:34, 18 January 2009 (EST)
 * Typical, you wait ages for one and then three come along at once. Insert Name Here 06:12, 18 January 2009 (EST)

Warren's Invocation
Did anyone else find Warren's invocation to be obscene on it's front as an invocation for a president of the WHOLE united states. Apparently, every single thing we do, or Obama does, or history has ever done is done exclusively FOR GODS GLORY. And Jesus, Yeshua, and 4 other names for that virgin-born guy has no place what so ever in an invocation of this type. And the Lord's Prayer??? Fucking hello??? Atheist-Pagan here, doesn't want to hear your Sunday rant, leave it in your church with your invisible sky-god, thanks! (by the way, the southern Baptist pastor was SPOT ON at the end of the inauguration!) (WaitingforGodot - not signed in)--75.171.157.83 14:02, 20 January 2009 (EST)
 * Meh, let him be a jackass..... He's the one that looks stupid when the invocation is compared to the benediction: Let the black get some slack, let the brown stick around, let the yellow get mellow, let the red man get ahead man, and let the white embrace what's right. Classic... Best. Prayer. Ending. EVER! SirChuckB  14:23, 20 January 2009 (EST)
 * Yes, that was awesome. A nice "smile break", while still saying something important.  I also liked the triple "amen" call and response.  This is the sort of prayer an unbeliever can enjoy without parsing who the prayer is "to".  ħ uman  15:06, 20 January 2009 (EST)
 * I agree, it was classic.... However, on ABC, where we were watching it in the office, they cut to a young muslim girl who was very visably saying.... Nothing.... But I'm sure every liberal in the crowd did the same so it all evens out.... SirChuckB  15:12, 20 January 2009 (EST)

Offensive Pope
Just for the record here: Considering that the original excommunication had nothing whatsoever to do with Holocaust denial, and considering that the lifting of excommunication had nothing whatsoever to do with Holocaust denial, the case isn't really all that strong here, is it? Just asking. -- 20:30, 24 January 2009 (EST)
 * I dunno. Let teh ceiling kitteh decide? Or any kitteh you have handy?  ħ uman  21:38, 24 January 2009 (EST)
 * I just think it's bloody silly, because this is really about a whole different issue. But I guess if people want to, they'll be offended no matter what, so let's not let details get in the way of a good ol' bit of Pope-bashing, eh? -- 14:21, 25 January 2009 (EST)
 * But now the Vatican has acknowledged mishandling the issue, & not having been aware of the denialism, and decreed that the bishop must recant his views in order to be welcomed back into the fold .  10:51, 4 February 2009 (EST)

Atheist bus again again
No more Atheist bus entries pur-LEAZE!!!!111! Yours trulyDear Sir 15:15, 27 January 2009 (EST)
 * Typical: you wait ages for an atheist bus to turn up, and then two appear at once (groan)! KlapauciusEsteemed Constructor 15:20, 27 January 2009 (EST)
 * I refer you to the much funnier version of the same joke further up the page. Yours trulyDear Sir 15:35, 27 January 2009 (EST)
 * Oh dear, I didn't even see it. *Engages eyes and brain* KlapauciusEsteemed Constructor 16:51, 27 January 2009 (EST)
 * Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, the buses are driving around with advertisements for breast enlargements. Vive la différence. -- 14:36, 29 January 2009 (EST)

Iceland
Come on, guys! You know that you all fantasize about lesbians.

- and when the economy carries on going down the pan everyone can say "We gave her a chance and she blew it - just shows, women aren't capable; (and neither are gays!)". Watch it Gurl! They'll be out to get you. (Toast) and marmalade 12:03, 2 February 2009 (EST)
 * Speaking only for myself, I can't say I really fantasize about lebians.... Good old Lezbo Pr0n is entertaining, for sure... But does anyone think for second they're watching two real lesbians? I mean, in reality, I beleive that, by virtue of being lesbians, they'd be rather reluctant to have anything to do with me..... SirChuckB  12:52, 2 February 2009 (EST)

Raptors!
Does anyone else think that prank may have been based on xkcd, a webcomic in which raptors (and fear thereof) are a recurring theme? Wehpudicabok 16:45, 2 February 2009 (EST)
 * I'd imagine that it's pretty likely. I liked the zombie stunt better, though.  Corryundefined 17:35, 2 February 2009 (EST)
 * true, doing it again with birds of prey just doesn't work. Totnesmartin 17:50, 2 February 2009 (EST)
 * As an aside, my wife works with kestrels, and they're mean fuckers. Rip your eyes out if they got the chance.  Z3ro  talk  17:55, 2 February 2009 (EST)
 * Maybe soon we'll see an "all your base." I'll say, though, that absolutely nothing tops the Aqua Teen stunt.  Corryundefined 17:57, 2 February 2009 (EST)
 * I wouldn't be suprised. They did get wetriffs.com registered after xkcd did that skit on it.  A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 10:57, 4 February 2009 (EST)

Joe der Plumer
“In case you weren’t planning to attend CWG tomorrow morning, you might want to reconsider because Joe the Plumber will be joining us!”

So, basically, they just got him in to get their staff out of bed on time?  A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 10:57, 4 February 2009 (EST)
 * Joe the plumber says he can't make it, will the day after do? Totnesmartin 12:15, 4 February 2009 (EST)

Coulter voting wigo
I found it truly incoherent (posted by some bunchanumbers...). "she may have voted in Florida"? She did vote in Florida! When she lived there, although it seems she didn't vote in the right county, but the statute of limitations ran out. The current issue is over NY v. CT voting/registration. It's probably a tempest in a teapot, if she moved - who ever "unregisters" when moving? Anyway, voting down is easy, but can the items at least maintain some coherence to the real world?  ħ uman  22:32, 10 February 2009 (EST)
 * As I understand it, and I've not really been following it, is that her legal place of residence is listed in one place, and she voted in another. There is no "unregistering" done.  Fact is, it takes 10 years for a dead corps or live emigrant to get removed from the County of registration. In this case, however, her legal residence is still listed by her as the New York address, for publications, for business, and most importantly, for taxes.  So it is dubious she could legally claim to live in Connecticut.  You cannot have to legal permanent residences for all you can have 100 homes you live in.  If her driver's license is New York, and if she did vote in Conn, the lady is in deep trouble.-- 15:44, 12 February 2009 (EST)
 * Ah, I see. As I think I read it, she didn't get as far as voting in CT, she just tried to register to vote.  Still problematic, of course, if her legal residence was in NY. Seemed like a weak source, two - huff post quoting the NY daily news (tabloid, as I recall).  Oh well.  ħ uman  16:12, 12 February 2009 (EST)

Vaccines & eminent explosions
I'm waiting for Andy's head to explode, since his little pet project has been derailed. poor guy. First Lewinsky proves demonstrates the already proven evolution in his lab, - now vaccines have been looked at by an enpaneled banc of judges educated in science. And of course that black dude liberal terrorist commi fascist tree-hugging gay-loving democrat is still in office and has a higher approval rating than God himself Reagan. Must suck to be the king of your own little world. WaitingforGodot (not signed in)
 * You did mean "Lenski" instead of "Lewinski" there didn't you? My brain is melting... Totnesmartin 15:53, 12 February 2009 (EST)
 * Haha, yes. I can be like the banks, if you want... "Since i didn't ask for your correction of the problem, and since i don't really need it corrected cause normal people understand what was going on, then I wasn't obligated to take your correction.  and since i wasn't obligated it, you can't make me give it back and i did nothing wrong.  so there!-- 15:57, 12 February 2009 (EST)

Duplicates! Misnumberings! Oh my!
Okay people. There are two polls numbered 549. Also, there's a duplicate entry about how are brains are wired for supernatural beliefs. The problem is, they're all in the list, and others above them have been voted on, so someone with more technical expertise than me needs to figure out the best way to remedy this. YB <font color = "#FFD700">indeed! 23:23, 12 February 2009 (EST)
 * It's duplicate 548's now. I don't think it's as simple as just shifting them up. As the ones in question are slowly moving down, I think we can let it slide. <font color=red face="Tahoma"> A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 08:49, 16 February 2009 (EST)
 * And the North Dakota fertilised eggs thing was wrongly formatted so that's seven votes down the tubes. <font color=Blue>Генгис    17:10, 18 February 2009 (EST)

Boy and gun
"The shotgun used is designed for children and has a shorter arm and such weapons do not have to be registered". Jesus. Just, holy fucking shit. Who in their right mind designs, builds and buys shotguns for children? I mean, seriously? What fucking numbnut system allows such things? Oh yeah, bears have right arms. Whatever. <font color="#00F0A20">DogP  13:56, 22 February 2009 (EST)

Top Gear WIGO
It's at least a year old; I've seen it a lot. 12:16, 24 February 2009 (EST)
 * It's very old now, but it's still awesome and not many people outside the UK may have seen it. We should probably do an article on Top Gear or something because it has generated controversy and that US episode (particularly with the Alabama bit) and the criticism from environmentalists puts it quite firmly on mission. <font color=red face="Tahoma"> A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 08:35, 25 February 2009 (EST)
 * And we can snark mightily about the one-brain-celled English wanker. Totnesmartin 09:13, 25 February 2009 (EST)
 * Oh come on, Clarkson isn't that bad. Stick him next to his US equiverlent and suddenly he looks like a Greenpeace card-carrying moonbat! <font color=red face="Tahoma"> A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 11:01, 19 March 2009 (EDT)

Kryptonite
Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 02:46 GMT 03:46 UK Duh! 19:17, 24 February 2009 (EST)

Alabama Man!
Will we see any mention of this story on CP? This story, however, will probably make the mainpage "news" section. I'm shocked it hasn't already. Update: Ding, ding, ding. There it is. 09:18, 11 March 2009 (EDT)


 * Does anyone else think that this is just slightly in bad taste? 75.158.1.251 18:14, 11 March 2009 (EDT)
 * Yeah. Respect man, respect--Nate River 23:45, 12 March 2009 (EDT)

The Devil made me do it.
He made me make this new section and bring this topic up. I am blameless. It's not my fault at all. Blame the Devil, he's not likely to be around to refute the accusation. <font color=red face="Tahoma"> A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 09:20, 20 March 2009 (EDT)

Two-way evolution
Shame on The Montreal Gazette for not knowing their turtle from their tortoise. <font color=Blue>Генгис   09:22, 2 April 2009 (EDT)

Ghana
I have no idea why it's already on 7. mis-numbered previous wigo, probably. And yes I'm not logged in. Yo TK dance for me and block my workplace. It'll have changed in a few weeks anyway, but DANCE COFFEE BOY DANCE FOR MEEEEEE 86.161.119.17 10:16, 7 April 2009 (EDT)
 * It seems to be back to normal now. <font color=red face="Tahoma"> A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 11:50, 7 April 2009 (EDT)
 * When it was entered, there was an extra space added. So it read instead of like it should have.  But all is well now. <font color="#000066" >SirChuckB  12:26, 7 April 2009 (EDT)

Recent gay marriage WIGO
Warn a brother before you post shit like that... I almost ripped a chunk off my desk I was gripping so hard :-) <font color="#000066" >SirChuckB  18:46, 9 April 2009 (EDT)

PETA
Given the amount of time it takes to make a press release, does anyone at PETA stop for a second a go "is this actually a good idea"? In the last few months PETA seems to have gone Schlafly, where they just put out almost immediately any half formed idea without doing any drafting or checking it against reality to see if it holds up to basic thought. - User   09:10, 10 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Last few months? Dude, they've been like that for years. --Kels 11:34, 10 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Yep..but they're definitely at Poe's Law stage or beyond now. I cracked up laughing for hours over their "Sea Kittens" campaign, and this demand that the Pet Shop Boys rename themselves isn't any better.  Makes me wonder if PETA hasn't been sekritly taken over by parodists. Secret Squirrel 12:17, 10 April 2009 (EDT)
 * I don;t think they've been taken over my parodists, they've just fallen victim to the single advocacy trap. Any group, liberal or conservative that only takes in interest in advocating one position eventually goes off the deep end.  PETA, the NRA, MADD, The PTC (ok, they were insane to begin with), CWA... The list goes on and on.... And incidentally, The best Sea Kitten joke was Colbert's "Land Fish." I nearly threw up I was laughing so hard at that. <font color="#000066" >SirChuckB  12:44, 10 April 2009 (EDT)
 * My land fish thinks sea kittens taste delicious. -- 12:50, 10 April 2009 (EDT)
 * My thought was "Sea Monkeys" would have been a good spoof. Maybe they could join God hates shrimp with that one. Secret Squirrel 12:55, 10 April 2009 (EDT)
 * As the Pet Shop Boys sang once: "How can you expect to be taken seriously?" Totnesmartin 06:39, 11 April 2009 (EDT)

Caught this on RealClearPolitics
It's about today's teabaggers. I just thought that the first and second (especially the second) paragraphs were funny. They had me laughing. 10:37, 15 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Me too. Excellent, thanks! <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  01:54, 19 April 2009 (EDT)

Andy is going to have a field day with this!
I also think its a little strange. Whitehouse wishes all religious symbols covered during Obamas speech? I know Fox but still... Ace McWickedbitch and moan 18:12, 16 April 2009 (EDT)

1500 Indian suicide paste goof
The link to "Thomas Friedman's "flat" worldview" was to edit the page itself. We all make mistakes, can the perp dig it back out and fix it please? <font color="#DD00DD" face="comic sans ms"> ħ uman  01:49, 19 April 2009 (EDT)

Republicans and Global Warming
I'm a research student with connections to Green Chemistry and sustainable resources and I have a keen interest in atmospheric chemistry. What the fuck is the fucking point of me getting up in the fucking morning to do fucking research that could better mankind if these fucking morons are in charge? Fucking. Really. Should I just quit now and go with the flow? Burn the world and stop caring, perhaps? I know the Republicans are the "minority" party at the moment but not by that much and there's a chance that they could be back and even nuttier than before in 4 years time or less. And I know it's just America but whether we like it or not America is extremely influential and powerful and if it can't get its arse in gear there's little hope for the rest of the world. <font color=red face="Tahoma"> A rmondiko V  User_Talk:Armondikov 09:14, 24 April 2009 (EDT)
 * Unfortunately, the skills required to get elected don't have much in common with the skills required to be an effective administrator, and NOTHING in common with scientific literacy...unless the voters make it mandatory. And after two decades of deliberately-induced antiintellectualism, I don't have high hopes of that occurring any time soon.
 * That said, Obama does seem to be hiring a few Token Sane People, so at least he's an improvement over Bush, who ran this country like it was Conservapedia. --Gulik 20:12, 24 April 2009 (UTC)

Gentleman Ken, Operation Weedkiller is taking off. Are you prepared for Operation Disorderly Retreat?
Shurely we should crow the increased atheist thing at Ken somewhere loud? 12:42, 29 April 2009 (UTC)
 * That's a great article, we should mine it somehow for our athiesm article. Nice graphic, too. 21:53, 29 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Did you deliberately misspell "atheism" just to annoy me? 11:11, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Gentlemen, your alacrity concerning the atheistic paradigm is somewhat amusing me with alacrity. You should well know by now that I like to keep my internet operations somewhat mysterious however it is with alacrity that I think you should expect on the internet to see a certain conservapedia internet article increasing its alacrity on a certain search engine regarding the letter G. It is with great alacrity that I say LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL.

Sincerly, Conservative. Ace McWickedThe Liquid Room 22:01, 29 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, these things are always skewed by how they ask the question. Surely CP hacks will twist and turn that little fact into something. Or they'll claim that it correllates with declining morality. But when declining morality to them means a spreading of atheistic beliefs, then that's surely a given. 11:00, 30 April 2009 (UTC)

Let it be known the emphasis matters
"The GOP truly loves the word hoax" can be read in one of the following ways: (add more if you like)
 * The GOP | truly loves | the | word hoax
 * The GOP | truly loves | the word | hoax

What I mean is please stop letting people think there is a "word hoax" out there by putting some emphasis to split the words "word" and "hoax". Thieh 22:59, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
 * The logical way is to "put" it in "inverted" commas, no? 23:04, 30 April 2009 (UTC)
 * ...o_O... Oh, I see it now. Yes. It's worth checking this sort of thing for ambiguity. We have to remember that WIGO titles are headlines, afterall. 13:43, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

Disappointing flu
Keeping in mind, of course, that even the 1918 flu wasn't especially deadly until the second wave. Evolution's funny like that. --Kels 02:31, 2 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I need to catch me some pig flu while it's weak and hope that will inoculate me against the killer second wave... 02:49, 2 May 2009 (UTC)

WIGO world
I must say WIGO world is and WIGO world talk is not as popular as I imagined they world be. I also do kind of miss having the news on the front page. I know a WIGO from each of the WIGOs on the frontpage was kind of a disaster but could we have the most recent 3 or 4 for WIGO world on the mainpage as a kind of news ticker? 05:28, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * that'd be good. I read the news in the morning with half an eye on "what can I wigo", does anyone else do that? Totnesmartin 07:14, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I used to, but not much any more. Any ideas how we go about this as simply as possible? I could make a bot that every time I run it updates the main page with the last 3 or WIGO worlds, although I would like something slightly more passive. 07:22, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I read the news all day, every day but I assume everyone else does and has already read the same (or some variation of) story. Ace McWickedDisco Jesus 07:31, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * It was quite a nice feature of the old RW that we had our own selection of news stories on the front page. They were often quirky, science related or a little unusual. We never covered the major news stories it made us a source of interesting but largely ignored news stories that were important to us. 07:37, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * That was "according to..." wasn't it? Perhaps we should have entries from Wigo world and Wigo CP, but possibly at the expense of blog and clog, which don't get updated all that often. Totnesmartin 08:13, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Additional: I get the feeling (from similar situations at WP) that a lot of people don't click on links unless there's some incentive - a "hook". So maybe we should jazz up the hook for wigo world? "more arrows for you to click on" sounds really half-hearted. Totnesmartin 08:16, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I vote for Martin's non-suggestion of a suggestion to improve the wording. 08:43, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Something like "rate the utter obscenity of the world in which we live" or.....I am thinking....Trawl the news and the get the most obscene and revolting news you can find. Like the clogs but filthy fact, no holds barred truth from the finest news sources. Instead "Hey wow swine flu like, we are all gonna die man" and more "Woman bakes own hand and feeds to cat" sorts of stories. The lower the rank, the better the WIGO. Ace McWickedDisco Jesus 08:43, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Ace has finished a fine day of drinking slowly and abusing colleagues and is now into his evening routine of drinking heavily while exploring his medicine cabinet. Stay tuned for his vague recollection of the results in about 14 hours...  09:11, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Its actually a medicine "drawer". When I tried opening where I believed the medicine cabinet to be located the mirror fell off the bathroom wall and I had to call the landlords and complain about thier shoddy construction standards. Ace McWickedDisco Jesus 09:14, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * "Medicine Jar". Lightweight song by sideman on Venus and Mars. Shoddy construction, indeed.  I tried to make my house drunk-proof.  05:54, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Does this warrant an entry?
Alberta makes evolution teachings mandatory Canada 1 Rest of North America 0  Thieh 03:11, 6 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Told you there's hope for us Albertans! --Barikada, not signed in due to laziness.
 * Go ahead, Mr. KT4259827hieh!

Miss California
Will CP mention that their anti-gay pinup girl Carrie Prejean posed topless to show off her bionic boobs? Don't hold your breath. <font style="background: #880000" face="verdana"> Mega   13:30, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Even better is that the Miss California pageant committee actually paid for her boob job weeks before the competition. TK instantly yanked and banned ~that story when it was posted.  She is a SANCTIFIED GODDESS and may not be defiled. <font color="#00F0A20">DogP 
 * ...TK instantly yanked - please to be moar careful with teh wordings, I nearly spilt my tea. Totnesmartin 19:13, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
 * * Snigger*... Though I think that's may have been the intended meaning. 19:29, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

there's a reason for this, i swear
and it's lulz...or broken childhood...or whatever....teh gays! 16:05, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Even I think this is stoopid
Hawaii to have an Islam day? Nevermind that its FoxNews. I mean really, Islam Day? Ace McWickedDisco Jesus 04:20, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Providing they also start dedicating other days to Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism and, most importantly, FSMism, that's a mighty fine idea. 12:52, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
 * As usual I don't think we're getting the whole picture. It went through on a 22-3 vote so the vast majority of Hawaii lawmakers think it's a good idea and they can't all be fools, surely. Silver Sloth 13:06, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
 * After all, we're told over and over again by Republicans that we live in a representative Republic, not a Democracy like Democrats want. <font style="background: #880000" face="verdana">  Mega   13:41, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, they do have days dedicated to Christians, most notably Xmas, but also Easter and Easter Monday, which are national and state holidays. But I suspect you will find it's more about awareness, like Columbus day being a sort of "national pride day for Italians", and Cinco de Mayo, and of course St. Patty's day "kiss me, I'm irish".  -- 13:46, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I thought it went "Irish me, I'm fuck." The Foxhole Atheist 18:08, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

God I love when good Christians get caught lying.
Moar topless photos of Carrie Prejean. This is the second time she has sworn there were no more photos and the second time more surfaced. &mdash; Unsigned, by: Neveruse513 / talk / contribs 15:10, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * He let her keep the crown...what a mess. &mdash; Unsigned, by: Neveruse513 / talk / contribs 15:38, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * As soon as you talk morals in the same context as the Miss World contest you're lost. The two are incompatible. Silver Sloth 15:44, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Always seems to me it's kinda like grammar nazis and teh speeling polise, the minute you correct anyone's behaviors, or chastise someone for something they did is the minute your mistakes will come out to haunt you. :-)-- 16:07, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I am a grammar-Nazi and I hope [that] people will correct my grammatical errors. That way the total number of undetected grammatical errors in the world is reduced even further. 16:19, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I get what you're saying Godot, and I agree with you in principle. But this case kinda makes me smile inside.  I mean, here she is alligning herself with these religious whackjobs for her fifteen minutes, and now she's feeling the pinch from the her past.  This would all be a non issue if she had simply declared it up front.  18:33, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * When you criticise others for their immoral behaviour you really need to make sure you're squeaky clean. Too often it's the ones that shout the loudest who have the most to hide. 19:21, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * P.S. Has anyone got a link to a less "star-studded" site? 19:25, 12 May 2009 (UTC)
 * They ain't out yet :( &mdash; Unsigned, by: Neveruse513 / talk / contribs 19:26, 12 May 2009 (UTC)

So the rest of you are also fantasizing about a Ann Coulter-Carrie Prejean nude pillow fight? <font color="#ff0000">Me!<font color="#649CD6">Sheesh! <font color="#6ff6633">Mine! 16:27, 28 May 2009 (UTC)
 * Who needs pillows? [[image:Pussy01.gif]] Cat fight, yay! 16:31, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Animals can tell right from wrong
Yeah... that was known for a few decades. -- 17:30, 27 May 2009 (UTC)


 * Care to link us to a few studies on it, then? --Kels 17:32, 27 May 2009 (UTC)

Marmite in the news
It's a good day when Marmite makes the news. I'm delighted to see the world's eyes turning yet again to the food wonder that is Marmite. But I have to confess it'd disturb me if God was in my Marmite jar. "God - get out of that jar of delicious salty black goo!", I'd say, if that fucker ever showed up in there. <font color="#00F0A20">DogP <font color="#993300">Marmite Patrol 19:05, 28 May 2009 (UTC)

Tiller suspect - I'd like some advice
there's a ton of stuff going on about the suspect, but I'm not sure what to wigo. Advice? Totnesmartin 07:03, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Nothing. RIP.  We're not a news feed, even less, I hope, scavengers on tragedy.  08:24, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Possibly this as it makes interesting reading without going into the schadenfeude type thing that Human is up in arms about. 15:19, 1 June 2009 (UTC)

Sorry, Political Science Major Rant Ahead
In regards to the Obama Gay Rights WIGO People do understand that he doesn't have a real choice in this matter right? The executive branch can't make law, they simply enforce the laws as written. Even though Obama may (and does) hope for a repeal of DOMA, until that happens, he is required to defend the law as written. Obama has said many times that he wants a legislative repeal of DOMA, and until that happens or the supreme court kills it, HE HAS NO CHOICE. Thank you for listening to a Political Science Major shake his fist. 06:55, 13 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Signing Statements? --Gulik 23:02, 13 June 2009 (UTC)
 * But he didn't sign it. To use a signing statement to affect or communicate how he intends to enforce a law, he has to be signing the bill...  23:09, 13 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Not that signing statements ought to have any constitutional basis in the first place - particularly as a statement that a president will not enforce a statute as written. I'm unaware of any court ever giving any credence to a signing statement. Indeed, there is no constitutional authority for a president doing anything but taking "care that the laws be faithfully executed." 23:20, 13 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Ah, I love it when Obama proves me right 01:34, 17 June 2009 (UTC)

Relating Michelle Obama to gorillas
Wait... isn't that called common descent? (Ok, maybe "ancestors" is not the right word, but "cousin" would fix it, perhaps?) Or is that republican suffers from brain damage, learns some half-truths about evolution, makes comments, then the chronic moron syndrome kicks in and retract the evolution-related comment, so that he doesn't look as if he "believes" in evolution? 02:32, 16 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Who the fuck knows what he was thinking. 13:30, 17 June 2009 (UTC)

the healthcare WIGO
It's Andy Schlafly in the video! Would it be better to be in Clogs or CP because of that? 05:29, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I skipped to the end of the speech hoping to hear it end with "Godspeed, gentlemen". Sadly, I was disappointed. --PitchBlackMind 19:37, 18 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Can you imagine listening to Schlafly drone on for 40+ minutes IRL? The only amusement I get is watching for his lame-ass hand gestures that show what a poor public speaker he is.  22:47, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't have the patience to watch it all (I managed about 3 minutes.) Tell me, at any point does one of the audience of presumably doctors stand up and ask "What the fuck does a failed engineer, failed lawyer and failed homskollar know about how I should run my practice?" And if not, why not? -- 22:50, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Probably not. But keep in mind they are insane doctors.  23:51, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * There was a time when all insane doctors wanted was your brain as the final component to animate their monster. Now they want you to pay cash for the operation, too. Bloody cheek. -- 00:01, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * What, the insane doctor's group is called Association of American Physicians and Surgeons? What's the sane doctor's group called then?   16:27, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

RIAA WIGO
$1.9M is totally nuts, who are the people on this jury? Hell, $1900 is absurd for downloading 24 songs. Oh poor babies, after 50 years of raping listeners and artists they're finally getting hit with something they can't control. I hope the industry falls apart completely, the musicians don't need you, and the listeners sure as hell don't. I'm going to go download 24 torrents, seed them to 10:1 and then delete the albums without listening to them. --PitchBlackMind 18:38, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Pure scare tactics. They fine people unrealistically massive amounts and claim that they're actually losing billions. Might be worth reading Ben Goldacre's column on the figures they throw around here. 18:47, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * It's a good thing Activist judge (that, or lazy police) don't actively enforce these things in Canuckistan (the principle, I have heard, is as long as you don't actively distribute it you'll not be actively enforced).  19:06, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I think it was Janis Ian who also has chimed in heavily on this topic (industry killing music) on her website/blog. She accidentally became the poster girl for free downloading (legal, not bootleg) as a good thing for music & musicians. She ran through a lot of numbers which were very illuminating...  21:33, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * From comment #25 at the wigo'd article: http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html 21:50, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * On the topic of legal free downloading, I always like to promote the Internet Live Music Archive. Tonnes of music from a rather stunning number of bands, including a few familiar faces like Blues Traveller and Moxy Fruvous.  Some incredible music there and well worth exploring.  Stuff like this is great for the musicians, since it helps promote their live shows at no cost to them, and everything is approved by the artists themselves. --Kels 22:03, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * On the topic of legal free downloading, my country forces me to pay a tax on writeable disks, pendrives, memory cards etc. which then goes to an organization not unlike the RIAA, who use this money to buy nice office buildings for themselves support the poor artists. On the flipside, I'm legally allowed to download audio and video provided I don't upload (i.e. no p2p). So much for innocent until proven otherwise. So then why should I buy anything? -- Nx  / talk 22:17, 20 June 2009 (UTC)

That Janis Ian article is fantastic, sums up my thoughts exactly. I can think of twenty or thirty musicians off the top of my head who I wouldn't have known about if not for file-sharing. Which has led to me attending their shows, buying the vinyls of albums I downloaded, and most importantly, spreading the word about their music. Hundreds of dollars (possibly thousands) have gone to them as a direct result of me using p2p. Secondly, thank you Kels. That's all I can really say; this archive is amazing, I'd give you a hug if I could. Live shows of Elliott Smith, Jesca Hoop, The Ditty Bops, Animal Collective, Low, Spoon, tons of others....I don't even know where to begin. This is so damn good, I'm going to have to change pants when I'm done. --PitchBlackMind 22:53, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Start with some of the Mike Doughty shows. You'll thank me, seriously.  And the Moxy Fruvous show at Iron Horse includes a medley of, believe it or not, You Aughta Know, Salvation, One of Us, Ohio and Love Potion #9, and actually makes it work. --Kels 23:04, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I don't think the Iron Horse gigs had the medley, though a bunch of others do. 23:58, 20 June 2009 (UTC)
 * How come when I try to play things I only get a couple of seconds, then silence? Same thing happens if I move the little dot - 2 seconds, then silence.  00:04, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Have you upgraded yer flash plugin lately. They symptoms you describe sound exactly like an infamous flash bug that afflicted ye olde versions where something or other once instance of flash plugin would do would affect all other instances the browser would create for the rest of its life, causing them only to play a couple of seconds of video/audio then stop. The work around is to close and restart your browser, the fix is to upgrade flash. -- 00:14, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, it was a bug in the Firefox flash plugin, and it was actually only a few months ago. There were a bunch of problems with it, but it was fixed pretty quick. --Kels 00:48, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * This was an audio mp3 running on, um, quicktime I think in a firefox windowy thing, I think. 00:58, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * "quicktime" <--- There's your mistake, right there. A pox on Apple and all their works. -- 01:06, 21 June 2009 (UTC)
 * You think it might have a worm in it? It's happening in other places, too. Not sure if it's actually QT, the blurb says firefux embedded object or some such tripe.   01:27, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Deep throat wigo
WTF? It's not even wrong, and it's not exactly current. Redford and Hoffman Woodward and Bernstein  coined the alias to refer to him at the WaPo. And it's a freakin' joke, most of the adult world back then were "hip" to the movie at some level. 01:45, 25 June 2009 (UTC)

Michael Jackson
Died


 * So, what, we should discuss it everywhere on the wiki? Let's try to keep it all on teh saloon bar? 01:14, 26 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Michael Jackson died twenty years ago. What died was his reanimated corpse. Ironically, all successful, modern states are socialist welfare states. 02:15, 26 June 2009 (UTC)
 * All discussion is contained at The Bar - SirChuckB I think. 03:13, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Crop Circles
Stoned Wallabies Make Crop Circles is probably the greatest headline of my life. Classic. --PitchBlackMind 16:01, 26 June 2009 (UTC)
 * As soon as I saw it I knew it belonged here. Totnesmartin 22:28, 26 June 2009 (UTC)

Genderless kid WIGO
Call me provincial, but this is really absurd. "...their decision was rooted in the feminist philosophy that gender is a social construction." I'm not very familiar with feminist philosophy, but I must be missing something here. I think the penis or vagina you have is pretty clear on this matter, there's nothing social about it. --PitchBlackMind 16:47, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I wonder how far they're going to take this weird experiment? Flip a coin as to which toilets to take the kid in to when it needs a piss? Tell the kid to keep quiet if asked directly what sex they are, or not to correct people who make the wrong assumption? It's bizarre. It's one thing not to conform to barbie for girls, GI joe for boys stereotype of raising kids, quite another not even to admit your child has a gender. Honestly, I wonder if these people are actually fit parents. -- 16:56, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
 * In feminist philosophy, there is a strict separation between "sex" and "gender." "Gender" refers to the "social construct," which is railed against; "sex" refers to the actual body parts, which are ignored as much as possible (except in sex-positive feminism, known to other feminists by the dismissive term "f***-me feminism"). 17:04, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
 * They might not be fit parents. This kid is going to have quite a few weird things happen to it (especially when s/he enters school) that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I'd certainly agree that not pushing barbies/action figures on your kid is a good idea, but this is something else entirely.--PitchBlackMind 17:11, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Now do not rush to judgment; it is not a problem unless they compel young Pop to maintain their silence as well. Otherwise, it will be a highly useful example to cite in talks about gender as a social construct. 17:19, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I recall a case of a boy who had his penis mutilated in a botched circumcision many years ago. A doctor that heard of the case then decided to test the idea that gender is entirely socially constructed so essentially did a little bit of plastic surgery, started hormone treatments and told the parents to raise him as a girl. So "she" was raised as a girl and essentially lead an extremely fucked-up life after having gender reassignment force on "her". Later in life, she reverted back to being male by another operation. Last I heard, he committed suicide a few years ago. And if it was entirely social constructed then you wouldn't have the very clear MRI evidence that there is a difference in male and female brains and gender reassignment just wouldn't be needed because no one would feel that "they're in the wrong body". It's clearly a bit more complicated than "sex" and "gender" being 100% separated OR 100% the same thing. 19:36, 30 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Some of that stuff is pure unadulterated dogma, a fact that is often overlooked since a God is not cited to back it up. 19:45, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

Franken WIGO
First-off, sorry about the formatting the first time. I suck. Anyway, should I combine that one with the Pawlenty WIGO?--NTemple 18:53, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

Section 1
| just no words for this. (summary: 10 year old Saudi girl forced to return to 80 year old husband)Refugee 22:13, 28 August 2009 (UTC)

| this is better news (summary:11 year old kidnapped girl found alive after 18 years) Refugee 22:13, 28 August 2009 (UTC)

"You’re either for us or against us on this issue"
Am I the only one who notices that Republicanism tends to deal in absolutes? You either support it completly and fully in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE or you hate America and love terrorism. Oi vei Javascap 12:50, 2 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Ahh, the favorite Republican logical fallacy, the false dichotomy. Either you believe everything I say or YOU'RE A FILTHY TERRORIST. Crundy 13:26, 2 September 2009 (UTC)

Wogan
Good. I always have to wait until 9.30 before i can put Radio 2 on. Totnesmartin 13:58, 8 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Can't you get Radio 7? 16:15, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Not in the shower. Totnesmartin 18:11, 9 September 2009 (UTC)

Pendleton Heights brainiacs in waiting
"the speech might generate political discussion in the classroom."

Aw, that would be so awful. Another good wigo, imho. 05:03, 9 September 2009 (UTC)



Pigeon vs. Internet
LOL! 05:01, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway, plus you've read RFC1149 right? –SuspectedReplicantretire me 15:29, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I've added to the WIGO, a real life event. 16:14, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Hehe, nice links SR. I remember downloading and burning a 3-CD set of Linux install stuff for a friend, which of course we then sneakered over to his machine.  Also, once when my 'tubes were down, I brought a floppy with an image I wanted to email to someone over to his house... and then there's downloading drivers on one machine and carrying them to another to get it up and running... a week or two ago I was fixing up a machine next door and the only data transfer method I used to get info from 3 other machines to it was writing down strings of gibberish on bits of paper and entering them manually...  21:00, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

Lack of goat
Nepal might have more goats if they didn't need to be sacrificed to buses. Broccoli 20:22, 15 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Biofuels?  21:45, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

Michael Moore on newspapers
I quite liked this one. It shows Moore might be switching his brain back on. Shame about a large chunk of the comments below. They seem to have just read the headline "Capitalism is Killing Newspapers" and just jerked their knees without reading it - "well, capitalism created x, y, and z and you stupid libruls..." they're all crying (hell, some of them probably just saw the words "Michael" and "Moore" and had their minds made up already). Because if you do read it, he's not specifically stating capitalism per se, it's all about using advertising as an easy source of income when circulation would be better; he just concentrates a little on the social side effects of creating good newspapers. Capitalism is only the cause in the way that the cheap and greedy aspects of any political and social ideology usually cause the problems. And no one seems to have taken this point in. But then again, as Moore stated in the article, America is flooded with people who either can't read or can read but don't have the comprehension, the comments page quite conclusively proves this. 10:54, 17 September 2009 (UTC)

People in New Jersey being batshit insane...
That should be perfectly normal given what we saw on CP, wouldn't it? 06:15, 18 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Hey, I'm from New Jersey, and I...actually kind of confirm the hypothesis. :-P  --Gulik 22:55, 20 September 2009 (UTC)

Ray Comfort and the abridge too far...
Ok...as of this post I'm rubbing my sore eyes and trying to wrap my sleep deprived and work muddled brain around this latest stunt by Ray "the banana goes where?" Comfort. In my time I’ve see creationists quote mine, I’ve seen them use ad holmium attacks, I’ve see them try to discredit the theory of evolution with naught much more than “I don’t believe it’s possible so therefore it can’t be” arguments. I’ve seen them try to use the court of law and public opinion to validate their crack pot “alternative theories.” I’ve seen them twist data, misrepresent facts, and use every tool of mass media a modern, mechanized society offers to screech at the top of their lungs that the theory of Evolution is the core foundation of all evil because it does not jibe with what a book penned about 1,500 years ago and has received more revisions than Michael Jackson’s face says about how we got here. But this…this…is almost beyond words. Just so I know dementia has not set it let me make sure I’ve got this straight. He’s gone and scribbled down a few pages of rants against Darwin, evolution, secularism and all the usual stuff that gets fundy’s knickers in a twist, taken the Origin of Species (with a few chapters on geology he probably finds annoying because they detract from the idea of earth only being about 6,000 years old carefully pruned out), stitched this entire train wreck together with all the loving care of Dr. Frankenstein tripping balls on acid, and plans to pass out copies on college campuses. Dear gods and mother. Maybe dementia is setting in because this is either the most blatantly pathetic or retarded genius plan the creationists have EVER come up with. Why genius? Well Alice, follow me down the rabbit hole for a moment…

One its face it’s just another creationist attack on poor Charles Darwin. Now that’s nothing new, he’s weathered better from worse. It’s also another attempt by creationists to discredit the theory of evolution through personal attacks, quote mining (of both the Christian scripture and Origin of Species) and publicity. Again, been there, done that. Where this kicks up new dirt is by supplementing Origin of Species (already a controversial work, in the US anyway) with his creationist fantasies (relying heavily on Christian Scripture and thus leading straight to establishment clause territory) he’s created an absolute no win for science or schools. Think about it; if it gets accepted by (unscrupulous) teachers or (spoon fed) students he’s slipping his spacious arguments about evolution into schools without running headfirst into church/state debates. The title alone would keep it from raising an eyebrow on most book lists until its cracked open and by then it’s too late. Then if it does gets banned he can claim…

Wait for it…

That educators and students are rejecting the theory of evolution because they WONT ALLOW THE “ORIGIN OF SPECIES” TO BE TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM! Sure, the news story may say “Students shun Ray Comfort’s edited Origins of species.” But the part that will make it to youtube and the lecture circuit and all the talking heads is “Belief in evolution waning as students shun Darwin’s book, Origin of Species.”  We all know the attention span and reading comprehension of the average person. No one who reads a headline line like that will dig deeper to find out the truth. He’s passing out a book that achieves his goals whether anyone looks at them or not. Its…its terrifying and foolish and wallbangingly brilliant AT THE SAME TIME!!

I seriously need a drink right now. And sleep. And another drink. Please…someone out there…tell me this there is a way to counter this. I’ve not given up hope for humanity yet but this one is really, REALLY has me wondering when the bloody meteor is going to hit and end the pain. --Tygrehart


 * Yes, as a strategy it is insanely brilliant. And at the same time, horrifically moronic.  We haz stubby article on the "book" somewhere, by the way.    00:08, 23 September 2009 (UTC)


 * I got really annoyed about this when this blog post where he was a smug arrogant wanker, pretty mush saying "I have heard your arguments but I am going to ignore them as it does not suit me". I left him a message telling him what an idiot I though he was. I got some epic lulz yesterday when I was quoted on WND as the what secularist think of him. 00:21, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

Origin of Species (2009) - I will take liberty of copying your great rant above to its talk page. And maybe to the article... 00:09, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

Facebook is down?!
It seems that the "infallible" facebook server is down... interesting-- 15:31, 29 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Facebook uses almost hundreds of servers. While some profiles and groups can disappear "for maintenance" the entire site can't go down. It's practically impossible because of the level of redundancy you need to just operate a site like that. 15:39, 29 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Been down all day for me. Nothing to do with this, I'm sure. Totnesmartin 15:56, 29 September 2009 (UTC)
 * It's up for me. 16:45, 29 September 2009 (UTC)

Republican views on healthcare? Make them beg.
Don't know if this was brought up on RW, I can't really check to see. Was just reading up on healthcare in the US; and Oh.My.God. Do these people have some sort of mental disorder? Altering his bible to read "Jesus made a leper beg"? That pretty much sums up wingnut views on compassion and health care. It's from early August, too old to add to the list? Rebback 02:03, 5 September 2009 (UTC)
 *  'Religion scholar Dr. Karen Armstrong noted that it is quite common in the United States for conservative evangelicals to change Jesus's words to fit a right-wing political agenda. "Studies show that when right-leaning politicians from the States quote the Bible, most of the time it is taken out of context, or just completely made up."'  16:34, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * With the exception of academic theologians, who largely have their heads in the clouds, most people who make interpretations of the Bible are contorting it to try and prove a point. 16:59, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Jindal is a Catholic. The news item is parody. 17:09, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I figured as much... My skeptic alarm was ringing like crazy when I saw that. 18:54, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * "Another heading which read, "Jesus Makes a Leper Clean" was changed to "Jesus Makes a Leper Beg"." I don't think even Conservapedia would go that far, and we can be pretty sure they go as far as you can. "Jindal: Stop The Socialists 2012", however, I can believe. 19:40, 9 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Heh, I'd forgotten about this article in the excitement of having the server back, and it never occurred to me that it would be transferred back to RW. In hindsight, I agree that it probably is a parody, but not on the grounds that he is a Catholic, more on the grounds that anyone this stupid would probably be unable to even dress themselves in the morning. Anyway, I suppose my meters were out of tune and I wasn't able to pick this one up as being dodgy. Ah well, it shows how nonexistent my faith in humanity has gotten. I should spend less time on the net, go outside more often and remind myself that there really are decent, rational people in the world. 12:37, 3 October 2009 (UTC)

Placebos
''Ultimately, Merck's foray into the antidepressant market failed. In subsequent tests, MK-869 turned out to be no more effective than a placebo. In the jargon of the industry, the trials crossed the futility boundary.'' We should have an article on Futility boundary. 10:43, 3 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Add to the todo list? With a link to the source of the quote (is it in a wigo?)?  19:34, 3 October 2009 (UTC)
 * "Futility boundary" sounds cool. It is in the WIGOed article about stromger placebos. 19:39, 3 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Yeah, great article. "It's not that the old meds are getting weaker, drug developers say. It's as if the placebo effect is somehow getting stronger." Perhaps the reason is that people expect more of new wonder drugs?  So when they get the placebo, the psychological effects are stronger due to higher expectations?  Obviously, the point with people getting placebo is they think they might be getting the new drug, which surely must be better than previous wonder drugs, or why would Pharma make it?  Too bad there isn't a way to prescribe brand-name placebos for some ailments. Or... is there?  20:08, 3 October 2009 (UTC)

Hmmm


 * "Meanwhile, the classic use of placebos in medicine—to boost the confidence of anxious patients—has been employed tacitly for ages. Nearly half of the doctors polled in a 2007 survey in Chicago admitted to prescribing medications they knew were ineffective for a patient's condition—or prescribing effective drugs in doses too low to produce actual benefit—in order to provoke a placebo response." (about 60% of the way down article)

By the way, this article has been featured on the main page at wikisynergy for quite a while. The whole topic is fascinating, because (at least at the pill-popping level) it utterly depends on the patient thinking they are getting "real" medicine - a doc can't just say "we've discovered sugar pills will cure your anxiety, here, have a few dozen and tell me how it goes". Or can they? 20:30, 3 October 2009 (UTC)

And finally, as I finish liveblogging this article, my favorite reader comment: "Can't we figure out a way to design the placebo effect out of clinical trials? Keep it double blind, but tell every patient that "they probably have the placebo, but please watch for any effects because you might have the real stuff."  20:38, 3 October 2009 (UTC)
 * It's already been noted in our Placebo effect article that expensive placebos work better than cheap ones. 21:13, 3 October 2009 (UTC)
 * It's also interesting to point out that drugs appear to "get weaker" when new ones are released. Because new ones are perceived to be better, the additional efficacy generated by the placebo effect goes away in the older drugs. 14:43, 4 October 2009 (UTC)

Adopt a Liberal
Gotta love modern political thought. Snowe and the Guvernator make the list because they don't hate the gays.... Forget the fact that they are obviously conservatives in other areas...... I love the way we use litmus tests to classify people. 15:30, 5 October 2009 (UTC)

Obama's Peace Prize
Seriously? Isn't it a little early? Maybe he should have say done something first. 09:30, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Pretty silly - not sure he's really done anything to deserve it. Just waiting for CP to explode...with a fully considered and balanced comment of course.   09:33, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * That was roughly what we've just been saying to each other in the office. Not that I'm posting from work or anything. Obama seems like a nice guy but it's difficult to disagree with that recent Saturday Night Live skit that teased him for not actually having done anything yet. –SuspectedReplicantretire me 09:34, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * While Obama is to Bush what fresh air is to drowning when it comes to diplomacy and all that, isn't it a little early to be giving him the Nobel peace prize? It's less than one year into his presidency, so is like giving a lifetime achievement award to Miley Cyrus (perish the thought), and peace isn't in exactly danger of breaking out in Israel/Palestine and Afghanistan. Bondurant 09:36, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I would have liked something; a peace agreement between two warring countries, a major international agreement on something, Osama's head on a pole, just something to show for it. 09:38, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Ouch. The quote from Sky News' Foreign Affairs Editor, Tim Marshall is rather harsher: "There will be people who will say this is a marvellous, inspired, award. But next year let's give it to Miss World. Every year Miss World comes on and says I want world peace and the world free of nuclear weapons. It's a hope, an aspiration. This is a Nobel Peace Prize for not being George Bush. And I think it has been devalued."
 * I know Sky is a Faux News mouthpiece, but in this case, I very nearly agree with them. –SuspectedReplicantretire me 09:53, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm sure the committee's heart is in the right place, but I imagine Obama will be somewhat embarassed by this, considering the quality of some of the other contenders. I'll be interested to see what he says... could a refusal be a possibility?-- 09:56, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * That I think would be worse. Interesting fact, the last sitting US president to win was Wilson for ending WWI. 09:57, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I must say though I am waiting for the clogosphere to wake up and here this news. There is going to be some good clog written in the next few days. 09:59, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

A lot of people seem surprised and say he hasn't earned it, no matter how much they like him. I'm going by the assumption that Nobel Committee finally received word from the Shadow One World Illuminati that they're going ahead with the "assassinated martyr gambit" and they might as well give it to him while he's still around. --Mete
 * Being alive is the only condition. 10:16, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * The Nobel Peace Prize is often awarded in hope as well as for achievement. And the "given for not being Bush" is exactly what I thought before I'd even got to the quote. Totnesmartin 11:08, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I agree with the "hope" aspect, as the prize is more than just actions. Some of the quotes from the committee justifying the decision basically say this, that they agree with what he's doing, is going to do and how he does give people hope for a better future after nearly a decade at the hands of a President and government that almost managed to turn the US into Nazi Germany MkII (Yes, guilty as charged). Although this is just a nicer and firmer way of saying "prize for not being Bush", I don't think it "devalues" it as much as people say it does, there's always been controversy over the peace prize (And a lot of them, actually. This year's Chemistry one got a few eyebrows raised because of it's more microbiology. But as there's not a separate one for Biology, I let it slide). 12:44, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * It was about ribsomes though, really more medicine or physiology then chemistry. 12:49, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * But then of course, biology is just applied chemistry Totnesmartin 15:44, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I think that's how they were defending it. "When you get down to it, biology at this level is just chemistry and requires the laws of chemistry" (paraphrased from memory) which is true. Look at a bacterial cell, nothing particularly "special" just a large, powerul chemical factory where different reactions come together to perform different functions. 16:03, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * But if XKCD is right, then the chenistry of those cells is a branch of physics, which is a branch of mathematics - so they should have got the maths prize. In fact, all Nobel prizes should be for mathematics. Except economics. Totnesmartin 17:53, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * The economics prize is not a Nobel. It's a prize "In the memory of Alfred Nobel", instituted by the Bank of Sweden. And yeah, economics is pretty much witchcraft. Amusing, unless it controls your nation... Dendlai 05:02, 10 October 2009 (UTC)

Blame Canada Obama
Can we get down to business and figure out how to blame Obama for this? &mdash; Sincerely, Neveruse513 / Talk / Block 13:04, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I think he should refuse it. He's presently at war in Afghanistan - albeit one that he's inherited. But there is no obvious end in sight on that one. The situation with Iran continues to look dangerous.   I'm not aware of him actually doing any arms reduction. So real war, potential war and no arms reduction.  Lots of good words though. The only thing that I can see that he's done is not be George Bush.
 * That's a pretty good thing in itself of course, as it is something to which we should all aspire. But I don't think it's worth a Nobel prize.--BobNot Jim 14:52, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Talk, talk, talk without addressing the substance, Bob. Are you saying we can blame Obama once he accepts it? How will be blame Obama until then?? &mdash; Sincerely, Neveruse513 / Talk / Block 14:56, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I have read your question with much interest but, sadly, with little understanding. I can only assume that the answer is 42.--BobNot Jim 15:01, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * Conclusion: The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama is Obama's fault. Now please, help us figure out how to arrive at that conclusion or contribute elsewhere. &mdash; Sincerely, Neveruse513 / Talk / Block 15:08, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * They gave it to him so he looks more American and to draw attention away from his lack of birth certificate. Duh.  (This is easy!)  Sterile 16:00, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * This is one of the more inexplicable things that could've happened. A fucking Nobel Peace Prize, really? I held the door open for a stranger yesterday. I also gave $1.27 in loose change to a homeless guy. Am I in the running for the 2010 prize?-- 18:36, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * At least Obama was given the prize for actually doing something vaguely related to peace, unlike Al Gore. 18:40, 9 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I think you're wrong - fighting global warming is pretty much the same thing as fighting for peace, considering the wars we fight over energy and arable land. 05:11, 10 October 2009 (UTC)
 * The prizes, in general, are given to people who have contributed to the advancement of the human race and our society, usually at an international level ("shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind"). As Obama is, hopefully, going to bring the US out of a very shit time (with the worldwide consequences to go with it, considering America's position as a "hyperpower") and Gore has done a hell of a lot to bring climate change to the forefront of world leaders' attention, they're both fairly deserving recipients. 11:41, 11 October 2009 (UTC)