RationalWiki:Saloon bar/Archive140

This is an archive page, last updated 30 January 2012. Please do not make edits to this page.

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, (new)(back)

Sci-fi Novel Research

Well, I decided that if I'm going to attempt to write a sci-fi novel, I should do some bloody fucking research. I'm searching Amazon now, but I was wondering if you idiots knew any good books that deal with topics related to: quantum physics & black holes & wormholes & string theory, artificial intelligence & robotics & transhumanism, artificial food, space travel, weapons, and... I think that's it. F_arter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 05:35, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

What is your current level of knowledge on these things?--^talk 05:57, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

On AI, read Minsky. All of it. And then again. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 06:10, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

(EC) Probably just an average high school sophomore level. None of them I really know anything about besides the very basics. I don't want the books I read to be too simple, though -- stuff that insults my (limited amount of) intelligence. F_lint^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 06:12, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

EC This on black holes. This on transhumanism. This on space travel. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 06:16, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I was kind of thinking 'non-fiction'. F_lucked^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 06:19, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Donna Haraway on transhumanism, then. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 06:28, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Also read "One-Half a Manifesto." Lanier refers to "cybernetic totalism," which is more or less transhumanism. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 06:44, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

For what it's worth, as a reader of sci-fi, unless you've got a Ph.D. in a related field I'd avoid like the plague any sort of mechanics of how your future works. If you've got faster than light, don't try and put physics behind it. That kind of thing. I've never seen really hard science fiction done well by anyone who doesn't have "Dr." in their title. Hand wave where necessary. A physicist will tell you that you could never traverse a wormhole, but even the informed science fiction reader will happily suspend disbelief if you say your FTL drive involves wormholes. Handwave freely. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 07:21, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm probably in over my head here, but some knowledge is better than next-to-no knowledge. I want to make it seem as if I at least tried. F_lubber^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 07:33, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

If you want to write hard sci-fi, then go to university for a few years and actually study physics. If you want to write soft/good sci-fi, then watch BSG or Firefly and count the realistic technobabble references. ^bomination 11:32, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

never let reality get in the way of a good story. Wormholes are the gateways to the universe, theres just a small problem of getting into them. Quantum mechanics isn't understood by anyone so make up quantum effects and you may be right ;) Lots of stuff on rail guns and directed energy weapons, even some very old things like axes become believable for cutting enery resistant armor. Hamster (talk) 17:06, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

A quick list of problems with our understanding of physics, it always gets my imagination running 64.28.244.238 (talk) 20:35, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Shit.

My print-screen button broke, so I can't take screenshots with it by pushing it. When my right arrow key broke and I tried to fix it, it broke so now I can't play most games on my computer. Is there an alternative way of taking screenshots? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:05, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Also, why was this deleted? It's a legitimate problem. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:09, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

You can probably find a screencapture program that does what you want or try a keyboard remapper. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 17:16, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

try MWSnap. Is screen capture to jpg or whatever format you select. Does full screen , window or any rectangular area. 67.72.98.45 (talk) 19:10, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Try a new keyboard 64.28.244.238 (talk) 21:37, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Also Windows7 comes with the 'Snipping Tool' for screen shots, just type snip into your start menu and then press your right arrow key. 64.28.244.238 (talk) 21:39, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

It's a laptop. Laptops typically don't come with spare keyboards. But thanks for the tip with the snipping tool, BoN (bunch of numbers, used to indicate those who have an IP address instead of a username and should probably register). The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 00:12, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

More advice - ipad word

You know that sometimes you are asked to fill out a questionnaire and they say that you will be put in a prize draw with a value of x if you fill them out? Well I've just been contacted with the happy news that I'm up 1,000 pounds (or the equivalent in the currency of my choice).

So I'm thinking of treating myself to an ipad. But I'm wondering if it will do something that I presently use my netbook for. When I'm giving one-to-one English classes I have a word document open which is split into three columns. In the first column I enter student "errors" in the second column I enter corrections or suggestions and in the third I make a note of student successes. All this is discussed with the student during the class and later emailed to them.

I see that I can get a keyboard for the ipad but is it possible to create a document as I have described for later dispatch to a student who will probably be working in a windows environment?

I know this is not what the ipad is "for" but I'm just wondering if it would be technically possible.--Bob^{Spring is sprung!} 19:34, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I guess it depends on what app you use on the iPad. I use Quickoffice but haven't used multiple columns and can't see how I might do it. I guess you could do it in a spreadsheet. Exporting is not a problem as you can save as PDF and email directly from the iPad. I visited VietNam last year and didn't have a visa when I left home, I picked it up on my ipad and was able to show it on screen when I checked in at the airport and for a visa on arrival in the country. Editing is not as easy on the iPad as with using a mouse and you would probably want to turn off the autocorrect if you are trying to teach English. An iPad really is a different tool, you can run full-blown programs on a netbook which you can't do with an iPad, it just doesn't have the processing power. But the iPad is great for mobile work, it starts up a lot quicker than a netbook, you are on the web and email as soon as you open the cover if you have a wifi connection. You can easily use it as an ebook, play games or use its GPS and accelerometer capabilities in ways that are not possible with a computer. Want to do a bit of stargazing then load up an astronomy app and you can point your iPad at the sky to see what everything is. The touch screen is nice for browsing or painting. I'd say get an iPad and enjoy it for what it is even if you don't find it works for your teaching. Steven Kavanagh (talk) 20:20, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for that. Everybody I know who has one seems to be delighted with it, I was just wondering if I could use it as described as well. It wouldn't be the main reason for purchase, I was just wondering if it was technically possible. --Bob^{Spring is sprung!} 20:44, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

If I was use, I'd get a tablet other than an iPad. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 20:35, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Why?--Bob^{Spring is sprung!} 20:44, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Usually better specs for the price. With the Apple stuff you're really paying through the nose for the brand. ^bomination 22:31, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

It's true that a lot of the Android tablets are technically better, have removable storage, wider selection of apps, more easily customisable, easier to replace the battery, etc. But iPads are much more well-rounded and sorted peices of kit - at a price. And this is from a man who has an HTC Desire S rather than an iPhone. Ajkgordon (talk) 13:28, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Interestingly I too have a Desire (HD) so I know what Android is all about. My question is not "Should I buy an ipad". My question is - "If I buy an ipad could it do this particular thing?"--Bob^{Spring is sprung!} 18:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Kennedy and Alt History

So I was playing JFK reloaded earlier when the thought crossed my mind; what would happen had kennedy not been assassinated and won a second term? How would things possibly turn out and what would his legacy be. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 23:37, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Impossible -- he killed himself. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 23:42, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I can't see this video on my current computer but I already know the appropriate response is "Red Dwarf FTW". -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:56, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Meh. Seeing as how he was the one who committed to Vietnam in the first place, and seeing how MacNamara is a constant variable in either scenario, there's not much reason to think that might have gone differently (unlike if Gore won = no Iraq war). P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 23:45, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

One thing is for sure: the quest for meaningful civil rights legislation would have been put back at least 6 years. --Damo^Hi 04:11, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I think this is the first time nobody expressed horror at the idea of me playing that game--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 04:12, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Never heard of it. Should I have? P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 04:16, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Its an edutainment game designed to disprove all the jfk conspiracies by showing "yes, you can pull off the official setup of events".. through random luck i actually found out what the official line of events was (shot to nothing, shot into jfk and the third is the killing shot) However.. this video here is much more indicative of how people play this game)--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 04:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

For some reason I was thinking of the Call of Duty zombies thing. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 05:05, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

According to my "Chrononauts" deck, if you save JFK, you create holes in time in 1968 and 1969 and a potential time hole in 1974 (assuming you also saved Abraham Lincoln in 1865). Patching those events creates the following, respectively: Gulf of Tonkin conflict ends in a peace accord; Russian cosmonauts land on the moon; MLK becomes first African American president. -- Seth Peck (talk) 17:05, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Westboro 2: Electric Boogaloo?

http://home.earthlink.net/~thogmi/fag/fag.html (NSFW for vicious hate speech)

I read this shite, so you don't have to! CodeMaster9000 (talk) 00:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Hope you don't mind, I tagged the link. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 00:51, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

The tell-tale sign of a respectable site: shitty shared hosting. F_idgeter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 01:03, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

And shitty 90s-style HTML.

Even a hint of homosexual immorality in speech, manners, clothing, etc. must be met with swift severe correction by the Pentecostal church immediate expulsion.

This approach may seem harsh to the weak minded, but temporary mental pain to the fag is better than eternity in the fires of hell.

SEND YOUR TITHE AND LOVE OFFERINGS TO:

PROPHET R. M. HANDS

POB 1505

WILMINGTON, CA 90748

F_lucked^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 01:10, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Well, this is a new one. Balaam (talk) 09:53, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

The ongoing rape of my childhood continues

After the tragedy that was Fallout 3, I'm saddened to learn they're making an X-COM first person shooter. Dear game publishers: The beloved game titles of yore are not there as a resources to be plundered so you to rip off their names and slap them on some crappy FPS. If they ever make a first person populous or a first person theme park, I think I'm going to go on a murderous rampage. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 03:58, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

First-World problems. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 04:03, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

You're eleven years late with your outrage. Vulpius (talk) 04:29, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Read this and feel better, and have some pretty pictures here. It won't make the big bad FPS go away, but at least we'll have this XCOM too. CoyoteSans (talk) 04:43, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh yay. I haven't seen this before. I hope it makes it to release. I've always thought the turn-based tactical shooter would really benefit from fully 3D environments and the sort of improved AI that modern uberfast machines can provide. I have my fingers crossed that turns out to be an awesome game. Hell, I'll probably buy it even if it turns out to be mediocre just because I really miss the whole genre. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 04:56, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, I was gonna say I thought they already made a shitty X-Com shooter. BTW, you're not talking about the Bullfrog Theme Park, are you? Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 05:04, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

(EC) First post: 'This is a fucking travesty.'

Second post: 'I really want this game.'

The lesson? Before you form an opinion, do a Google search of the subject in question. F_arter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 05:06, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

To be fair, The FPS XCOM is still a thing, but this strategic XCOM is also being made a different company (the one that did the recent Civilization games). The FPS is terrible, though. CoyoteSans (talk) 05:12, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh, I thought they were the same thing. Hypocrisy and obnoxious emoticons :D F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 05:16, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

And because I was dumb and forgot to post it, here's the trailer for it proving it's not Enforcer. CoyoteSans (talk) 05:19, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

It looks like they tried to make a retro sequel to MDK and forgot to make it funny, so they slapped the X-COM name on it to salvage the investment. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 05:30, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm actually more hyped about the FPS XCOM right now. It seems to have a nice 60s vibe to it and it's made by 2K Marin, which managed to make a worthy sequel to effing BioShock, which could be a good sign. I need more than a few pictures to be able to form an opinion on Firaxis's attempt though. Slightly sceptical though as I've seen more than enough failed sequels to the original, spiritual or otherwise. Additionally, while Firaxis is a very good company, they haven't done much anything other than Civilization games so far. Vulpius (talk) 05:48, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Is it just me or have they completely abandoned the international aspect of XCOM? It's all "it's an attack on the United States" as if an fucking alien invasion would give a crap about just attacking a single country. I know in the original you usually had to bum the US just for the obscene amount of funding they gave you, but still, it was a worldwide thing. ^postate 12:07, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Eh, the original Laser Squad and X-COM games were all British developed. Presumably the loss of any notion that Aliens are interested in the entire planet was lost when the franchise was taken over by yanks. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 12:43, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

In my experience: American works = America because we are the best damn country ever; British works = areas that are in the UK or were colonized from the UK (and look like quarries in wales), and japan = tokyo or maybe rural japan. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 15:05, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Wait, are you trying to hint that there are places that don't look like quarries in Wales?!? ^postate 15:56, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Readers' Choice Awards for Agnosticism / Atheism

Get over there and nominate now, bitches. Don't make me come down there... --PsyGremlinSnakk! 05:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

You weren't complaining last time I made you come down there. ^{ONE / TALK} 12:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

That was before you made me sleep in the wet spot. Also, herpes. --PsyGremlinTal! 12:42, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Unpleasant thought

Today is the March for Control of Women's BodiesLife in DC.

I could conceivably encounter Andy on the Metro today. (I doubt he'd be in my part of the city, though. It's purely a business district. I suppose they could go harass the OccupyDC crowd at McPherson Square, but even that's a couple of blocks away from me.) MDB (talk) 14:21, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Why not wander down there and give him a big hug from all of us. --PsyGremlinParla! 14:31, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

And get conserva-cooties? No thank you. MDB (talk) 15:00, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Damn, if I were you I would simply not be able to resist the opportunity to turn up as an IRL parodist and start parroting Conservapedia memes to see if he even noticed. ^{ONE / TALK} 15:21, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Honestly, it's gonna be a huge crowd. I'd be "lucky" to even find Andy. MDB (talk) 15:23, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

You won't meet Andy on the Metro he's going by bus - well, three of them to be precise as he he's taking his ego. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 16:12, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Not necessarily. If the bus drivers are smart, they'll park at one of the outlying Metro lots and the marchers will take the train in. Parking in downtown DC is bad enough; a major rally will make it nasty. MDB (talk) 17:16, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I apologise, I am far too ignorant to be commenting on Washington public transport. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 17:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Maybe, maybe not, after all, public transportation is a corrupt socialist enterprise funding union bosses at the expense of honest, hardworking taxpayers!!!1! -- Seth Peck (talk) 17:23, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Well, I did see a number of marchers at Union Station, based on signs and badges and such. No Andy, though. As far as public transportation being socialist, I was amused how many people I saw on the Metro after the last mass teabagging downtown. MDB (talk) 22:07, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Next time I make the trip over there, I'm gonna stand in a Metro station and sell irony meters, which will basically be signs that say "Support small private businesses: don't utilize socialist enterprises like public transportation!" and the arrow broken off. The cabbies will love me. -- Seth Peck (talk) 22:47, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Playing the original Civilization.

Yes, the original Sid Meier's Civilization. As in, the 1991 game for MS-DOS. I managed to download a program which allows my computer to run MS-DOS games, and I really enjoy it. Does anybody have any good strategies for this game? The Mongol strategy (high research rate, no cities above size 3, continually pump out units to conquer everyone, build the occasional temple to keep people happy but nothing else) works well, but it gets boring after some time (i.e., when you've taken over your entire island and you can't build ships fast enough to colonize the world). It's humorous when I have frigates in -1000, or when there would be knights in the American Revolution (tanks don't come until you get Automobile). Does anybody have any other strategies (for Prince level)? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 15:17, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

We call that program dos box love. I always played it on the snes version, which is a lot more annoying to use. haven't played civ I in a long time though; i ussualy hang out in civ II and Civ 5 land. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 15:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 15:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I've been playing Civ Revolutions on my XBox lately. It's a dumbed down version of Civ IV, but still a lot of fun. And damn, but the nuclear launch sequence is the best in any of the Civ games.

Speaking of computer games with nuclear wars, anyone remember the old Balance of Power (cold war geopolitics, US vs. USSR)? If things went nuclear, all you got was black screen with white text: "You have ignited a nuclear war. And no, there is no animated display of a mushroom cloud with parts of bodies flying through the air. We do not reward failure." MDB (talk) 15:40, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I much prefer shadow president; as if i want to drop 5000 nukes on Luxemburg; not only will it let me, but i get a nice little animation of the keys turning and the missle silo opening, a city being trashed and then tell me that 5k nukes dropped on a tiny country not only only effected Luxemburg (besides radiation) but only a few hundred thousand people died at most. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 15:47, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Shadow President is clearly the child of BoP. But I think the nuclear was message for BoP was great. Chris Crawford, the developed, said directly in the "strategy guide" (which was more of a book on geopolitics) that a nuclear war was a loss, no matter who initiated it or why. MDB (talk) 15:57, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Yes but doing this is so much funner!--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 16:23, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Is anybody going to deal with my problems? I don't really like pampering my people with religion. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:24, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/564621-sid-meiers-civilization/faqs--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 17:36, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Our long national nightmare is finally over

Rand Paul has been detained by Federal authorities.

(Okay, it's the TSA detaining him, because he refused a full body scan. The snark opportunity was too good to resist.) MDB (talk) 15:29, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Both Pauls have cried foul about TSA and their tactics. Maybe this will focus their attentions on the particular agencies/practices that DO need to be discontinued and away from the departments that we'd be in trouble without (like Education and Transportation). One can dream... -- Seth Peck (talk) 17:25, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Idea: Mathematics section

Kind of like the section on logic or creationism or Bananaman or anti-allopathy and the like.

When you say "section", do you mean a Category or a right-aligned Navigation bar? -- Seth Peck (talk) 17:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

The latter. Didn't know the right word. Thanks. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:28, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

You do not need a saloon bar discussion to make a side-bar template. Just make it, and it will either catch on or be ignored. Ty^Annoy 17:33, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

How do I make one? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:37, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Dodd's "bribery"

So I've seen from both CP and liberal friends on Facebook outrage over Chris Dodd's "bribery" of politicians for failing to support SOPA and PIPA. What it amounts to is Dodd saying the groups he lobbies for won't support the candidacies of politicians in the future if they don't support these acts. Since when is that bribery? I mean, if this is bribery then our entire political system is (which isn't too far from the truth actually). Since when is saying you're not going to support candidates who don't represent your interests bribery? Jesus. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 17:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I think it's just how bluntly he put it. Everyone "knows" that's how political shit works (groups "donate" to campaigns with the understanding that if that politician wins they'll be legislatively favourable to that group), but to just come out and say "you listened to the people instead of us, therefore, no more money" (which is a severe threat given how much political campaigns cost nowadays, which in itself is another issue entirely) has kinda shocked people into paying full attention to it. X Stickman (talk) 17:57, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

It involves giving money to politicians in exchange for favourable treatment - so it's superficially similar to bribery. Although it's not underhand (it's, if you will, "legitimate" bribery) it's certainly the sort of thing people don't agree with, so will happily bundle it in with an emotive term implying some sort of immorality such as "bribery". ^pathetic 17:58, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

So if I write a letter to my congressman, telling him I gave him money for his last election but won't do it next time if he votes for SOPA, I may have committed a felony? I hope not. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 18:00, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

A Question on Wiki-fu

Okay. There is Topic W, Article X which is on Topic W, Article Y, and Subsection Z in Article Y. Article X is a redirect to Subsection Z. Is there any way to create a new article on Topic W with the name of Article X? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 18:53, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

There is Topic W, Article X which is on Topic W...Is there any way to create a new article on Topic W with the name of Article X? - looks like it's there already. Rennie McGreet (talk) 19:07, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Try and be a bit more specific. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 19:32, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

No. The redirect would be replaced by the new article. Blue (is useful) 21:11, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

reference/texts/etc

We've had several "go nowhere" discussions about our "source" material, that never really have been resolved. My question is - do we have a category? This article Philip Atkinson 2007 Essay on Democracy is a perfect candidate for such a category. I made one up for now. Anyone know the correct cat?GodotGrow a vagina 20:29, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I don't think there is one. Ty^Annoy 20:31, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

"Source texts" looks fine for now, I would say. But we might be back to this topic at some point. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 20:32, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

The category "Source namespace candidates" already includes that page, and is effectively the same thing. Blue (pester) 21:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I don't really like that category, cause of the word "candidates" and the idea that it's linking to some future project we may or may not use. We should have something that tells what they are, here and now. "Source" or "Fair Use documents' or something.... I mean, keep the one we have, of course, but we should also have one that is more descriptive.GodotGrow a vagina 21:29, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, like I said on my talk page, changing the category's name is easy enough. Blue (is useful) 21:32, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

You'll be wanting to remove the {{hiddencat}} then. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 21:35, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Hello, Discovery Institute researchers!

They love us, they really love us! Except the "love" bit - David Gerard (talk) 23:24, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Did the people at DI ever take a course in READING? I'm only asking cause they blast Huliq for saying that the amendment was called "no child left behind", when CLEARLY they were saying the BILL was "no child left behind". clearly, SOME children have been left behind, and they now write for DI.GodotGrow a vagina 23:30, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

(EC)We didn't really come up with that phrase, did we? Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 23:31, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Anyone wanna write up human exceptionalism, the DI's latest wizard wheeze? Like everything they do, it's creationism in a funny hat - David Gerard (talk) 23:43, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Um....Wikipedia says pretty much the same thing. -- Seth Peck (talk) 23:44, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm sure the 'tute stopped reading wikipedia a long time ago. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 23:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I really have to admire Luskin's lawyerliness on this one. Beginning of article: "Stupid atheist-Darwinist conspiracy theorists, the Santorum amendment says nothing about intelligent design! Stop making things up!" End of article: "It was merely intended to teach the full spectrum of scientific ideas about evolution, not just Darwinian dogma." Wink wink nudge nudge. Academic freeeeeeeedooooooooooooom!!! Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 00:01, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh the finds you can find with Google

Sociobiology meets suspense. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 03:58, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Capitalism is the Crisis

A movie on how capitalism is the problem, some good points, bad points, nuttery certainly. Worth a watch at perhaps! Opinions on it? Hollow (talk) 05:10, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

What the fuck is wrong with people?

I posted this in WIGO-clogs, but I want to discuss it, so... (Edit by Godot - warning, this link shows the dead cat. Make sure kids aren't reading over your shoulder).

Democrat's cat killed, word "LIBERAL" written on its corpse. WARNING: Graphic imagery.

Like the header says, what the fuck is wrong with people? Kill a cat because you hate its owner's politics? That's the product of a truly sick mind.

I need something to restore my faith in humanity. Okay, this works. MDB (talk) 17:35, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I've lost faith in humanity. Earth needs more goat. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:36, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Dude, today I heard someone say it was about time Giffords resigned and stopped sucking pay and healthcare from the government. Ty^Annoy 17:43, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Okay, I'm fine with highlighting the sicknesses of humanity but for the love of all that is just and kitteh related please warn people ahead of time that there's a picture of a dead cat on your link. I almost threw up when I saw this. I'm with HK on this one. -- Seth Peck (talk) 17:45, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm sorry, seriously. I mentioned that on the WIGO-clogs post and my twitter feed, but I forgot here. Please accept my apology. MDB (talk) 17:48, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

And I added a warning. MDB (talk) 17:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I wish the site did a better job. they say "graphic image", but they don't attempt to white it out till you click, or push it one full page down the scrolling. sighs... what the fuck. why would anyone kill an innocent animal just to make a point?GodotGrow a vagina 17:50, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Thanks MDB. I would resort to guilt by association by saying something like "Republicans are sick fucks", except I know plenty of Republicans who love animals and their pets and would never do anything like this. And even "Only in the South" doesn't cut it. It's just horrible, and I really hope who ever gets caught is charged under some law worthy of jailtime punishment. -- Seth Peck (talk) 18:03, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I agree with one of the comments on the site: what would have happened if the family had been home? You could argue anyone who'd do this is a chickenshit who wouldn't have the balls to confront someone who can really fight back, but you can also wonder if they had human life in mind. MDB (talk) 18:05, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Of course, "in the South" and "Republicans" doesn't excuse it, but the cat has "LIBERAL" written on it and was dumped on the doorstep of a politician. There's only so far "it's just a random nutter" will get you before you have to concede that it's random nutters PLUS Republican fed paranoia. ^theist 18:10, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

When you read the story, it sounds like there is a Limbaugh wanna be on their local radio, not only banging the drum, but giving "targets" (my word) addresses over the radio. Why else would you give private addresses if your intent wasn't exactly this. kinda like the anti-abort guys posting "wanted" photos GodotGrow a vagina 18:16, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Okay, I feel kind of weird posting this on a site dedicated to mocking conservatives, but dammit, we are seeing this again and again -- some deranged person, apparently inspired by right-wing rhetoric, commits an act of violence. The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church shooting. The guy in California who wanted to shoot up the ACLU and the Tides Foundation, two groups Glenn Beck rants about. Killing a harmless cat in Arkansas. Some nuts in PA (I think) who shot some police after being pulled over because they thought Obama wanted to take away their guns (I'm hazy on the details of that one.) And I'm at a loss to find similar recent examples from the left in America (probably because the American left is largely non-violent at this point -- I know there was definitely a violent American left in the Sixties and early Seventies.) Now, yes, you can argue that every one of those people had mental problems, but if you keep telling a deranged person that "liberals want to destroy everything you hold dear", you fucking hold some responsibility when they act on it! MDB (talk) 19:25, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Well, when your fans are stupid, deranged and/or psychiatrically paranoid...and even in the turmoil of the 60s/70s, no one on either side resorted to this kind of disgusting violence, short of serial killers who were not politically motivated. All I know is, had it been one of my cats, and I figured out who done it, committing homicide would be the least of my hangups. My cat == my child, regardless of what the law says. -- Seth Peck (talk) 19:30, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

You know what, I'm not even going to click on the link. I have a little furball to take care of. If this is what American society has dumbed down to, then fuck it. Osaka Sun (talk) 19:33, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Yes. All three hundred million Americans in all fifty states and other territories and their increasingly atheistic society are terrorists. -- Seth Peck (talk) 19:46, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Ok, totally not what I meant. Osaka Sun (talk) 19:54, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Sorry, I've had a hell of a weekend, dealing with a car accident and some crazy friends. I guess when you said "If this is what American society has dumbed down to", I failed to realize that what you were simply implying, "Damn, there appear to be at least one or two fuckheads in rural Arkansas that are in desperate need of psychiatric evaluation if they're willing to go to such lengths." -- Seth Peck (talk) 19:59, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

...Could've prevented bad things. Although, it probably would've been uncomfortable.--Dumpling (talk) 01:55, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Need a proxy.

I'm getting to RW from school, so I need a proxy in order to view all the links and videos and all the cool shit. Unfortunately, my school also blocks web-proxy websites, as I found out when I tried Hide my Ass. I've read the school policy, so I know the risks. Any ideas? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 17:39, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Search Google for new proxies. Alternatively, an HTTPS proxy might work -- try to find one of those. F_lint^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 18:01, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Better yet, do your schoolwork and stop mucking about on the wiki on my taxpayin' dime, kid. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 18:12, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Does the fact I got straight A's, 4.0 GPA, am in an accelerated math class and still find it way too easy mean anything to you? I come here because my schoolwork's done and this site isn't blocked. Think: by giving me guides to proxies, you can make it so I won't come on here and bother you nearly as much! The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 18:44, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Nope. Means nothing to me at all. Go read a book, or work out. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 19:07, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Flip some burgers and pay for a proper VPN. It might also have the benefit of interacting with ordinary people. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 19:28, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

HK, in this race to nowhere in which the American secondary education system finds itself, you can always do more "extracurriculars." Blue (is useful) 21:09, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Walk into college as a sophmore and then you'll impress me. Ty^Annoy 21:11, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

(ಠ㉨ರೃ) Google that shit. --Dumpling (talk) 21:20, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Why is that image called "Tyson reaction"? -- Seth Peck (talk) 23:45, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Because it's Tyson. The Tyson. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 23:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh man, I just lost the game...this whole time I've seen that meme I was thinking it was Steve Harvey/"Mr. Hightower" making fun of Bullethead. Sigh. -- Seth Peck (talk) 00:15, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The school doesn't offer any clubs during school hours every day. I have nine periods in the day. Eighth period is nearly always "free", I always manage to catch up on excess homework before then (mainly during the time in classes where they're going over material I learned years ago). I go on here a lot during eighth period on the library computer. I've checked for extracurriculars, but there are none in the time I need. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 00:07, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

PROTIP: "Does the fact I got straight A's, 4.0 GPA, am in an accelerated math class and still find it way too easy mean anything to you?" "...going over material I learned years ago." We're all pretty smart cookies here, kid. NOBODY likes the guy who boasts about how smart he is. Don't be that guy. Just be smart, do good work, and shut up about it. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 00:11, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

You beat me to it, P-Foster. I was going to describe how much straight A's mean after you leave the educational setting...

-- Seth Peck (talk) 00:32, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

My IQ is 132. Which, as we all know, is average on the internet. ^sshole 00:48, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

YouTube and Yahoo answers pushes your IQ well into the "Above Average" range on the internet. Crundy^{Talk nerdy to me} 09:32, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

My IQ is off the scale (but I ain't sayin' which end). Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 12:04, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Sorry, HK - can't think of any way for you to do it. You could always read some stuff instead - check out longform.org for some good long journalism about things. That should keep you occupied.--^talk 02:50, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Ha ha! The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 16:17, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Got a netbook? If you're under 18 you won't be doing any time. Hey, come out and play! By the time you hear the siren, it's already too late... TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 16:00, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

My IQ is 142, the actual average on the Interwebs. I see you're an xkcd fan. So am I. The word "sustainable" is unsustainable, er, I mean, sustainable sustainable sustainable sustainable by 2109. (I presume when we get to that point, "sustainable" and "unsustainable" would be used like ones and zeroes as if it were binary or Morse code, allowing for alphabets to be made and words spelt out. Then the same thing will happen again, and again, and again, ad infinitum. Fun! ;D) How do you put emotes in parentheses? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 16:17, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I pointed it out as a response to the complaint I should be doing my schoolwork instead of being on RW. I was saying I had already done all of my schoolwork and had the spare time to go on RW, and cited the fact I had such high grades to show that. I'm not trying to toot my own horn. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 16:17, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Who needs The Onion...

...when you have real life.

Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum launches C.U.M.

It seems to be real. MDB (talk) 20:31, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Hahaha How on earth did he and his staff not pick up on that? Sam ^Tally-ho! 20:52, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Faith in humanity restored. -- Seth Peck (talk) 21:01, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

(ಠ㉨ರೃ)...Ohohoho. --Dumpling (talk) 21:22, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

"Frothy Mix" launched "C.U.M."? Normally I have a stupid comment/joke on everything, but here I can only throw my hands in the air and smile. --★uːʤɱ federalist 21:46, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

WIGO it. Thank you Internet. Osaka Sun (talk) 00:26, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The hits just keep coming with these guys. --PsyGremlinParla! 00:29, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

It's on WIGO-World now. I have to believe someone at Santorum's campaign staff or whatever is a closet liberal and is laughing his ass off at this. MDB (talk) 00:33, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

"Hello Sen. Santorum,

I am a representative of the PEN 15 PAC. We represent hundreds of conservative groups around the country and we are willing to donate $15 million to your campaign. All we ask in return is that, to show your support for our organization, you write PEN 15 on your forehead.

Thank you for your time,

Mr. Richard Stroker."--Dumpling (talk) 05:35, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

In the unlikely event he gets elected President, his inaugural speech could only be this: "Trolled!"--Brendiggg (talk) 08:59, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Maybe this was intentional

I was thinking about this on the way to work this morning. I wonder if this was intentional on the part of the Santorum campaign.

1. Anyone in the campaign in a position to approve or discuss this is undoubtedly aware of Santorum's "google problem".
2. The phrase that leads to the CUM acronym is "Conservatives Unite Moneybomb". That's weird phrasing... unless you assume they picked it for the acronym.

So, they create this fundraising campaign, under the assumption that us lefties will have a big laugh and spread it all over the interwebs. Conservatives see it and go give to the campaign. And it seems to have worked -- the web page said they had a goal of one million in seventy two hours -- they got over two million in less than 24. Not bad for a campaign that's second tier at this point.

In other words, did Santorum pwn us? MDB (talk) 13:00, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

If it's true then I suspect you'll never know. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 13:10, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Gays, biological determinism, and moral dilemmas

I found this paper recently, which suggests that people will be more tolerant of gays if they believe sexual orientation to be biologically determined. Q: Is it morally acceptable to push pseudoscience in the name of the "gay agenda"? Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 04:30, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

It's not necessary. People associate 'biologically determined' with 'not their fault', but something doesn't have to be determined before birth to be able to be consciously altered -- we can just show them that yes, people don't 'choose' to be gay, and you can't just have some Christian scammer wave some holy water over you to turn you straight. F_litzer^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 04:35, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

What is the correct explaination, anyway? Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 04:40, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I think it's probably a complex relationship between biological and environmental factors. I also don't think it's probably elastic to a certain extent, but you certainly can't just change it at a whim. F_lint^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 04:45, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

My impression is that a person's sexuality is determined by genetics in the womb. I learned something along those lines in AP Psych a couple years ago. Sam ^Tally-ho! 05:17, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Would you say that's elastic to any extent? F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 05:41, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

From what I've learned and from my own personal opinion, I wouldn't think it's very elastic, especially if it's genetic. I imagine that much of the perceived elasticity comes from the human brain's complexity in regards to interpreting your own and others feelings concerning sexuality (I hope that make sense). I'm sure there's still a lot of research and discovery to be done that will help to clarify the issue. Sam ^Tally-ho! 05:54, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Au contraire, mon frere, according to the APA: "There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation." Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 06:29, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Even if it was a choice, it still wouldn't be wrong. Tielec01 (talk) 09:28, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

It's also not binary. No one is 100% gay or 100% straight - we're all in a spectrum. To some extent, everyone is bi. Jack Hughes (talk) 09:46, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

A quick summary (play the song) --★uːʤɱ libertarian 10:20, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I agree it is a mix of nature and nurture, but I lean towards nature on this issue and I think hormone levels have a lot to do with how one develops their sexuality. I really agree with the spectrum comment by Jack, life is not black and white. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 14:41, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The case of it being "biologically determined" as implying "not my fault" is interesting, because it's why it's very attractive to pass off some problems as "diseases", and is also why certain mental disorders are on the rise. What sounds better to you, that you're a bit emotionally unstable or that you have bipolar disorder? That you don't have time management skills or that you have hurry sickness? Of course, the best example is alcoholics, if it's a disease you're not to blame. The trouble with this is that "blame" is a bit of a fuzzy concept when we're talking about this anyway, but we treat it as if it's a far firmer one. ^postate 15:13, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Sexual orientation, like gender, is socially constructed. To look for the science behind why people fit into a social construction the way that they do strikes me as an incredibly futile exercise. Some people like to suck dick. Others like to eat pussy. Some like to do both. Some of them have dicks. Some of them have pussies. Can we talk about getting past trying to figure out why and just stop treating people as second class citizens because they suck dick or eat pussy without the correct corresponding organ between their legs? P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 15:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

It almost sounds like you disapprove of scientific inquiry into human sexual orientation... surely that's not what you mean, is it? ^{ONE / TALK} 15:50, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

If you understand that "human sexual orientation" is a construct with a history, trying to find the "scientific truth" about it is problematic. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 15:53, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

While sexual orientation is sorta socially constructed, "as we know it", attraction to same-sex or opposite sex is not a social construction, but a biological reality. No one knows what causes you to be attracted to a same-sex, or differnt sex. But no one knows what causes you to be attracted to dumb blonds, 6pack abs, or long haired skinny dudes. But to argue that it's socially constructed is as confusing as arguing that it's "biologically driven". GodotGrow a vagina 16:03, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

But we don't invest so much into figuring out why people are attracted to blondes instead of brunettes, because we know that that really doesn't matter beyond curiosity. By making "sexual orientation" the subject of intense scientific speculation, we simply reproduce the idea that the fact that somebody is more attracted to people with penises than people with vaginas is something that we should really be concerned about, which then has all kinds of political/power knock-on effects. Just let the guy suck a dick and worry about researching things that might actually improve people's lives. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 16:09, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Also adding to the muddy waters is the fact that some of it is a choice. The attraction is biological as Godot says, but frankly where you put your twinkie or yoohoo is a choice (unless you are forced and that is rape). If you want to do it gay on the slide and run Republican that is fine by me, the choices people make that do not concern me I don't give a fuck about. I agree with you P-Foster in that society should not stop how people want to live their lives... But the biology of sexuality and attraction is scientific and worth studying (especially since it does not just apply to humans). Curiosity is never a bad thing. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 16:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Perhaps, but the attraction to blondes vs, say, red heads, or perhaps the Suicide Girls doesn't produce as much of a headscratcher as "but this isn't how we biologically reproduce, so why?" And I don't think you can compare sexuality to something like "I prefer blondes", unless you want to call sexuality effectively a fetish for a particular sex/gender. Perhaps when we look to see if BDSM enthusiasts or amputee fetishists or "chubby chasers" are akin to a sexual orientation we're looking at it the wrong way, and that orientation is actually a fetish. Perhaps. ^pathetic 16:35, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, I tend to shy away from arguments that put reproduction at the centre of explaining sexuality--sure, making babies is part of fuckin', but people fuck for a lot of different reasons besides makin' babies, and some of us go so far as to get our junk worked on so that we can continue to fuck without worrying about making babies. The sum total of things that shape who it is we want to fuck -- some of it biological, but a lot of it tied to social factors and personal histories -- are simply too complicated and contingent (especially contingent) to ever be reduced to the point where there's a meaningful answer to the question: "why are people gay." This is especially true when you remember that the idea that being "homosexual" was not something you WERE until sometime in the 19th century or so. Buggery or sodomy was something you DID, not an identity or subject position. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 16:42, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Come to think of it, the "identity" aspect has always bugged me for that kind of reason. ^gnostic 17:15, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Interesting... And of course in the eyes of haters a gay does nothing but gay it up, as if they are not capable of contributing to society because of all the gay may contaminate the non-gay. And society is at risk of this gay epidemic. At least I figure as much, I am not sure what the world looks like with homophobic glasses. Rationally I do not see why people give a flying fuck... If gay is not a choice but a genetic thing then natural selection would breed it out over time because gay couples do not reproduce(though some people seem to have trouble with the whole natural selection concept), if it is a choice then it is not even a tangible thing really and does not matter (the gay 'identity' is simply a concept not grounded in reality but constructed by society). I just wonder what apocalyptic gay scenario some people have in their heads that would lead to the end of the world because two dudes (or gals) poke each other. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 17:38, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

"Nature vs. nurture" is a category mistake. It makes no sense to say that sexual orientation, among many other things, is not both socially constructed and biologically constituted. (See these short pieces by H. Allen Orr and Jeremy Yoder just to scratch the surface.) The question then, is, would it be acceptable to use a pseudoscientific notion of biological determinism in order to counter the "it's a choice" narrative? Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 21:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The paradox of ads

I remember that when RW experimented with advertising we got some bizarre ads being displayed. Nevertheless I got a chuckle out of an ad for The God Who Wasn't There cropping on up on TerryH's blog. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 13:30, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

A while back I remember seeing an ad on the cyber athletes league's counter strike website, it was an ad for counter strike cheats. The weapon of choice of the robot overlords will be ambiguity. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 14:28, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The ads at Pharyngula are often barking up the wrong tree too. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 14:32, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The ads at Pharyngula are frequently hilarious. Wish they'd kill off the ad network that uses blocker-evading popups, though - David Gerard (talk) 15:32, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I don't recall ever seeing popups at Pharyngula. Or maybe my mind has suppressed them. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 15:52, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The Oscars

Oscar nominations just got announced, and even though they recent expanded the number of Best Picture nominees, this is the first time in living memory that I haven't seen any of them. Was it a poor year for movies or am I missing out? Also, in the Long Overdue Department, Gary Oldman got his acting first nom ever, and Kenneth Branagh got his first since Henry V in 1989. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 14:52, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Hmmm... let me put my head on the block here.

• Actor - Oldman (Pitt might get the sympathy vote)
• Actress - Streep
• Movie - between War Horse, The Artist, Descendants
• Animated - Rango --PsyGremlinSpeak! 15:05, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

If Streep wins, it's obvious that the Republicans will win the election in November. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 15:07, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Well DUH. And if The Tree of Life doesn't win it will be the end of evolution on the internet! Turpis 3:16 (talk) 15:16, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Also, Psy, you think War Horse is more likely to win than Hugo? Admittedly I haven't seen either, but I thought War Horse got a somewhat chillier reception than they hoped for (it also looks kind of lame). Turpis 3:16 (talk) 15:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I must admit I know nothing about Hugo. Heard raves about Descendants and Artist. I just have a feeling Spielberg might get sympathy vote - when was his last Oscar? Only nom'd film I've seen is Moneyball and that was nothing special. --PsyGremlinПоговорите! 15:35, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm always disappointed that there are never any Oscar noms for Best Boy, Dolly Grip or stand-in. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 15:56, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Did some quick research and in the last 25 years, the film with the most total nominations has won 19 times (in 4 cases they were tied with another film for total noms). That's a pretty good record, and makes me think Hugo is where the smart money is. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 19:14, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

More cute but meaningless sayings

I should start an official collection of this crap. ^pathetic 15:37, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

There is a message in that image but I think it got garbled. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 15:49, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Who writes gay people's love stories then? ^{ONE / TALK} 15:45, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

For me, it seems to be an expert in blank verse. MDB (talk) 15:47, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

You'd actually have a decent (if obvious) saying there if you replaced the last sentence with "Your's wasn't." Turpis 3:16 (talk) 15:51, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

If that's true, then God has no idea about my taste in women - I mean I'm not even picky. Is the ability to suck a golf ball through 5 feet of hosepipe too much to ask? --PsyGremlin말하십시오 15:56, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

In which case it would be true but trivial. ^moral 17:38, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Articles needing expanding - United States

Can someone look at this United States and see if you can see the source for the "articles needing expanding?" I've not been able to find it. GodotGrow a vagina 16:20, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The template in the Moderenization section. Ty^Annoy 16:31, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Adding to Roshambo.

I've added dynamite, well, telephone, foot, roach, nuke, lizard, Spock, fighter, bomber, flak, wood, water, fire, what else should I add? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 16:21, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Just stop. Seriously. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 16:23, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

ignorant me but, is this an article?GodotGrow a vagina 16:55, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Here ya go Balaam (talk) 17:09, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Rage/rant

Today I figured out that my van had been towed away from its parking space in my condo parking lot (I am both a resident and a property owner there). Call the sheriff, they tell me who has it--call the towing company, come to find out it was towed last week (I don't always use it, so I don't always see it) at the request of the property management company because they thought it was abandoned.

I'm a pretty damned liberal guy, but HOAs/neighborhood associations are EVIL. I left a message with the PM asking him what he was going to to do correct their mistake. Sigh. Between this and dealing with a car accident on Saturday (totalled a vehicle), I'm having a fun freakin' week with cars. -- Seth Peck (talk) 17:20, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm not sure if I see the tension between being liberal and hating on HOAs. HOAs are the antithesis of liberalism, in that they have a pretty narrow idea of what it means to own and enjoy property and work hard to limit your freedom to enjoy your property as you see fit. sorry about your ride. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 17:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Our hoa (we are a townhouse) is pretty benign, since we are old enough a community that our property values suck as it is. But I've had friends who were charged cause they were on vacation for a month and neglected the lawn, or because they flew various flags on their porch. Who the heck cares about these things? GodotGrow a vagina 17:37, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I like my HOA. I am the lazy asshole that would not take care of his lawn as much as I would do if I didn't get a fine. Community standards is not a horrible thing to uphold, but some HOAs can be a bit far reaching I am sure. Sorry bout ur car woes :(, but the alternative could be some asshole parking in your spot all the time ;) TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 19:42, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Normally I like my HOA too, they usually leave me alone...but they're quite inconsistent regarding which rules they want to enforce (I see bikes and charcoal grills on balconies everywhere, two big no-nos). I guess they're more fascist than anything else. I DID get my van back, but it cost me. Ouch. -- Seth Peck (talk) 21:37, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

HOAs come too close to Stepford Suburbia to me, but then again I do live in an apartment which is more or less an HOA contained within one building. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 22:54, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

If I ever purchase a house around where I live, it will be in the old city where there are no homeowners' associations. They are not "fascist," of course, but they share one crucial feature with fascism, in that, like most other neighborhood groups where authority is delegated, they draw out the cranks and fanatics and reward them for it. ListenerX^TalkerX 03:47, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Bumper sticker making it's way round Facebook

"What schools need is a moment of SCIENCE". love it. GodotGrow a vagina 18:27, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Love that one. My science teacher has that pinned on the bulletin board for all to see. I like a lot of things from evolvefish. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 19:08, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

They need a whole lot more than a moment. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 23:06, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

How do I earn respect on here?

I know we've talked about this before, but I still am not sure as to how to become a respected editor. I feel like I can't talk in the bar because I always get shot down or yelled at for talking too much. How do I get in your book of people you respect or even personally like? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 18:44, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Stop posting stupid shit. Osaka Sun (talk) 18:46, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Could you be a little more specific than that? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 18:49, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

See this post for starters. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 18:54, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

research this guy Diederik Stapel and fix the article. GodotGrow a vagina 18:51, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

You're too young to go to bars. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 18:55, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Aren't you, too? ;-) you havn't even officially grad-gu-gated yet. GodotGrow a vagina 18:56, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

NO! no! no! you do not get respect by creating more stubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GodotGrow a vagina 18:57, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

If RW is collaborative, why aren't you expanding it? :S The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 19:01, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

The important thing is to try and blend in; if you try too much, delete things, post myriads of stubs or continuously seek approval then you are just going to get on people's tits. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 19:04, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Then please give me simple, step-by-step instructions on how to earn your respect. Remember I have Asperger's syndrome, am slow to pick up idioms, and self-define as eccentric. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 19:06, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

My troll sense is tingling. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 19:08, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

How about for the next couple weeks you don't start any new topics in the bar here, just confine your edits on this page to responses to already ongoing threads. Try your best to make your comments on topic and worthwhile. That'd be a good start. Once you have that down you can maybe think about starting new sections of your own that might fit in well here. So far you've been very bad at that. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 19:11, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Simple Hidel, STOP ASKING. jesus christ, you expect everything to come on a silver platter dont you?--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 19:14, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Keep trolling the cabal, I'm already warming up to you. Occasionaluse (talk) 19:13, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Shut it, Cicero. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 19:16, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Wait wait, does this mean i'm finally part of the kabal? wheee!!!! I'm so happy. GodotGrow a vagina 19:17, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

There is no cabal. Jack Hughes (talk) 19:22, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I think you have now sunk any chance of cabal membership that you might have had WfG. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 19:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Wait this kid has some legitimate concerns that I am gonna apply for myself. Do yall love me? Do I fit in yet? LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME. i wet myself. HK, just settle down. You remind me of my GF's dog. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 19:35, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Neck five shots of Absinthe and a tab of LSD before going to work. If you make it through the day you'll have my respect. Ace^Moderator 19:40, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

You're all wonderfully accepting people. ^moral 19:58, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Seriously though I have no problems with the H-Kid. After dealing with Brx no one else seems problematic. Ace^Moderator 20:03, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

H is the kind of kid that annoys the living crap out of you and you really want to punch him, but as soon as you turn around, you just can't do it. --★uːʤɱ netlabelist 20:15, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I just realize I probably never should have children. Or at least only girls. --★uːʤɱ atheist 20:18, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Girls turn 13, and start rolling their eyes. There is nothing more evil than a teen girl. --GodotGrow a vagina 20:33, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Testify. Blue (pester) 22:59, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

One of the worst ways to try and get respect is to ask for it. Respect yourself, do ordinary stuff without bragging or demanding praise, comment without expecting a reply, stop demanding stuff be deleted. Make that math template (steal the code from another one you like the look of) and stick it on all the math articles without then going LOOK WHAT I DID PLEASE RESPECT ME. Rennie McGreet (talk) 20:16, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Ty^Annoy 20:19, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

lol I can see that UHM, he also reminds me of my nephew who also has an autism disorder. Very gun-ho and either means well or is a troll wasting more of his own time than anyone else. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 20:20, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Obama relection committee

Meet the Barack Obama re-election committee. CS Miller (talk) 21:11, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

They sure are doing their best to work to get him re-elected! -- Seth Peck (talk) 22:04, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Chinese (lunar) New Year Holidaze thing

I know it's gone now, but would it make more sense to replace the characters many computers won't render with images of same? Oh, and is that thing fully automated, like the Easters? ħuman 21:48, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

There are still computers that come without the fonts for eastern characters? --★uːʤɱ netlabelist 22:12, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

XPs, mainly. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 01:13, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Template : maths

Hey, I made a template:maths, and I was wondering if any of you who know math, would be willing to look at our math articles and choose 3 or 4 as "key concepts". I really really am not qualified to add 2+2, much less choose key concepts. thanks! GodotGrow a vagina 21:59, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Since we don't address fundamentals, but rather interesting concepts that some people don't understand as vital to things like physics and economics and understanding the universe, my votes are for: game theory, complex numbers, golden ratio, statistics, Fibonacci sequence, or probability. -- Seth Peck (talk) 22:09, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

BBC evolution prog

New series on BBC4 tonight about living fossils and catastrophes. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 22:20, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

As an aside I very much enjoyed David Attenborough's First Life. Definitely a winner when it comes to looking at all the amazing creatures which were killed in the great flood. Ace^Moderator 22:23, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Sigh. More programs to add to my iPlayer queue… CS Miller (talk) 22:24, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

BBC anywhere but America seems more interesting then BBC america. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 22:29, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, BBC America only plays four things: Graham Norton strokefests, Doctor Who, Battlestar Galactica, and crap. -- Seth Peck (talk) 22:33, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

It does look crap. You need to find out how to bypass iPlayer's region-checking, or nag BBC Yankee or Discovery Science to show it. CS Miller (talk) 23:08, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

First life rocked. He is amazing. at 80ish, he's walking up mountains i can't get up at 40. THIS IS ILLEGAL, NO ONE IS ADVOCATING IT. only go there to get a listing of the great shows you can check out at the library! (mvgroup.org) --GodotGrow a vagina 00:01, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I suck at geometry

Way back when I was doing GCSEs, I would have laughed if someone had told me I'd some day need to remember this stuff for a real world application. Now I'm actually having having to tile a plane with a few complications for reals, and figuring it out has taken many, many hours. Stay in school, kids. Don't do drugs. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 02:46, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

The only thing I remember from my sophomore geometry class is proofs and how i hated them.--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 03:02, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Algebra > geometry. Fuck shapes and shit. F_lint^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 03:10, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Children and tv

So i follow some doctor who thing on Facebook when i saw this: It's comforting to know the next generation of Whovians in my family are coming along nicely, my youngest, 1 year old Liam regularly watches Doctor Who, he has a real liking for the eleventh doctor, but he is also soothed to sleep on a night to the songs of @MurrayGold. Meanwhile, 8 year old Callum takes his sonic into school everyday, he believes the head teacher is a Slitheen.. anybody else see some things wrong there?--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 23:04, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

I think biggest problem is with the people who are calling themselves Doctor Who fans yet don't know who Adric, Ace, Leela, the Brigadier or Romana are, or what Bessie is. -- Seth Peck (talk) 23:21, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

im going to point out you never mentioned any first doctor people now.--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 23:42, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Like Susan Foreman? How weird is it that the Doctor has a "grandchild" who never gets mentioned again after she leaves the show? Besides, those first assistants (Barbara and Ian) were kinda unintereresting, little more than sounding boards/straight men for the Doctor to wax his wisdom onto. Later episodes the female assistants were there for little more than scream value (though, admittedly, I prefer the screaming to all the crying in the last five seasons). We've seen no one as insidious as Turlough since. And I've already done my part with Hartnell: check my snarky addition to the article on the Marie Celeste. Now go sit on a can of Nitro-9; Eldrad must live! -- Seth Peck (talk) 06:30, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

the doctor never mentions any of anybody after its over unless the plot wants to be "hey look nostalgia!". Also susan died in the time war... so yah. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 06:41, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

State of the Union

Get pumped. Blue (is useful) 01:03, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I was just home watching the build-up on Fox. Pumped me right up. Ace^Moderator 01:05, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

For all their faults, HuffPost's drinking game is one of the better ones in recent years. Blue (pester) 01:08, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

More "tax the rich"! Yippie!--Elvis is King (talk) 01:11, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

It's times like these that I almost regret not owning a television. Almost. Ty^Annoy 01:16, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Ty, it's on like every damn internet news channel. even FranceInfo is carrying it. course it's like 4 am there... ;-) --GodotGrow a vagina 02:55, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Listening to Barack Obama makes me feel 150% more patriotic. Sam ^Tally-ho! 03:17, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Too bad %150 of zero is still zero. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 03:19, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Odd lack of applause for the appointment of special prosecutors for the perpetrators of the financial crisis. Blue (is useful) 03:44, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

To be quite honest, I feel a bit uncomfortable with America's unchallenged dominance in the world. It's weird. I guess it's because I just feel for other countries a bit. If America could be a better country (ie: like what Obama's vision in his speech was) than I think I would be more satisfied with its international role. Again, it's kinda weird and hard to explain. I even find myself rooting for other countries facing the US in things like The World Cup (this doesn't apply to the Olympics, though, where I'm all USA). Maybe someone can relate and explain it better. Sam ^Tally-ho! 03:46, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I'll probaby just wait and get a rational and trustworthy description from Conservapedia. Sparky! ^{bored now}

Don't hold your breath -- you aren't likely to find one there. F_idgeter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 04:16, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Obama's rant about kicking ass on the rest of the world and anyone who opposes us almost persuades me to vote for him. nobs^Moderated 04:25, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

You should vote for him. He's been a decent president, and he'll be infinitely better than Romney, Gingrich, or Santorum.--^talk 05:52, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

So your measure of a good president is one who wants to put us back front page and center on the international scale? O.o--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 16:43, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Fuck yeah! Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 16:48, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Pretty funny

Hat tip to PZ. Pretty funny, if only to prove we can laugh at ourselves: [1] Turpis 3:16 (talk) 04:06, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

The 70s called. They want their sideburns back. May I also present this for your viewing pleasure. --PsyGremlinParlez! 04:42, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

While this whole "Shit [x] says" meme is basically jumping the shark as we speak, I do like this one too. And I officially have a crush on this girl. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 05:16, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

"You know that doesn't actually work, right?" Well, that nailed me. :P Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 06:19, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Hey, I would love it if aliens were real! ^bomination 11:35, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I know it was a quick one, but "Well I'm not using any elevators at TAM" had to be the funniest for me, only just recovered myself from the floor. ^bomination 11:36, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I have to admit I didn't get that one. What is TAM? Turpis 3:16 (talk) 13:06, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

The Amaz!ng Meeting, I believe. (ʞlɐʇ) ɹǝɯɯɐHʍoƆ 15:40, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Man pleads "not guilty" for attempting to kill Obama

After all, Obama is "the Anti-Christ" disguised as a seekrit Muslim from Kenya! The Symphony of Noise ^{The official spikey-haired skeptical punk} 08:58, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh my Darwin!

A good article on evolutionary debates over human nature. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 21:05, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Object Sexuality.

I've read about it before. Still not quite sure on how to think of it. Especially after watching this clip of a documentary.

--Dumpling (talk) 21:32, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

There've been a couple of documentaries about it in the UK. Think they all interview the same few people. ₩€₳$€£ΘĪÐ^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 21:39, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

hey are not hurting anyone. Why should anyone care what we think of it? AMassiveGay (talk) 21:54, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Ooh, let's point at the freaks. Rennie McGreet (talk) 22:41, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

End of the road for Star Trek interior design

Poor bloke. I think he greatly overestimated the intersection of "people with vast wads of cash to blow" and "people who want their house to look like the starship enterprise." Still, I can't help thinking he didn't try hard enough to cash in on his feat. The real market would have to be in offering fans the opportunity to star in their very own Voyager themed porno. Find an actress who looks tolerably like Seven of Nine and you'd have the punters lining up round the block. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 21:57, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I saw that guy on some gameshow thing where a group of people would go around to each other's houses and rate them. Like Come Dine With Me, only without the food, so more boring and therefore on earlier in the day. I also seem to recall reading an article about him years and years ago (specifically stating that his wife had left him because of it). Perhaps the weirdest thing about that flat is there's no bed anywhere, he had to sleep on some pull out thing in the kitchen. Anyway, shame that the whole thing has collapsed. If nothing else it's an interesting project. X Stickman (talk) 02:15, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Similar to the "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" thing

As I scrolled through my news feed on Facebook, I saw that a cousin of mine posted this video that talked about how Jesus was more important than religion (basically the message from the Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus video). What I found funny about it was at the very end it asks you to "support the mission" at marshillchurch.org/give. So to help promote Jesus and not religion, you have to donate money to the religion help expand the reach of said religion? Dafuq? Sam ^Tally-ho! 23:30, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Ray Comfort pulls the same trick. He claims he's not religious, while running a religious ministry. It's just a way of avoiding blame for anything your co-religionists do. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 00:42, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I have retired - Can the terrorists who hacked into my computer please stop their activities

MarcusCicero has officially retired from Rationalwiki. His computer was broken by a malicious hacker. He assumes it was a rationalwikian. Due to this act of terrorism he has completely withdrawn from his long struggle. He will allow the mediocrities and the pathetic twats and cunts to continue their quest to utterly destroy rationalwiki and make it boring and authoritarian. Enjoy your shit website, you pack of intolerant cunts. Fuck you all. Goodbye forever.

Everything I ever did was hilarious and inspired. You miserable fucks.

MARCUSCICERO^{— Unsigned, by: 83.71.77.101 / talk / contribs} 22:21, 19 January 2012 (UTC)

I've no idea if your IT malfunction is genuine or not, or even if it was an external agency. However, you should know better than to mess with the aspies as you liked to call them. Lastly, as a farewell I would like to say, thanks for introducing me to this site. Steven Kavanagh (talk) 09:55, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Sure. --★uːʤɱ soviet 12:15, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

It was probably his brother.--Bob^{Spring is sprung!} 12:43, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

I'll believe this when me shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbert. The Symphony of Noise ^{The official spikey-haired skeptical punk} 11:16, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Nah, it was me. Quaru^{home theater system - You can't explain that!} 02:13, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Have you tried contacting the FBI? nobs^Moderated 23:38, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Update to the possible greatest headline ever

Headless body in topless bar killer seeks parole. MDB (talk) 13:42, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

"Man found dead in graveyard" is still my favourite. Rennie McGreet (talk) 11:58, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Charlie Dingle was the headless body in topless bar killer? what ever happened to the ethics charges against him? or was that Congressman John Wrangle? nobs^Moderated 23:52, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

WELL....

...I'm Impressed.--Dumpling (talk) 21:26, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm 98% excited and 2% acknowledging my continued loss of self-esteem. Blue (pester) 21:34, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Well, if she actually found a cure for cancer, the Nobel Prize can be happy if she takes it. --★uːʤɱ kant 21:43, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

It can't possibly be true. She's a girl, and she's not even homskolled. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 22:49, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

It's great that young women can overcome stereotypes but why oh why did she have to celebrate her winning by buying ten pairs of shoes? Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 22:52, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

This is what my research group are currently actually doing. The problem is that chemicals simply don't show up on MRI scans, it's always a water contrast that you get in medical imaging. It's a neat enough idea, but hardly groundbreaking to be honest, and they'd have to suggest more than "hey, just do this, it's so simple" because it rarely ever is simple. ^sshole 22:54, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

But it is so simple! Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 23:02, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

She has not yet cured teh world. Therefore, Asian F. GodotGrow a vagina 00:54, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

every time I see "cure for cancer" I think of this comic. ^{ONE / TALK} 11:34, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Wow. Just wow. It's brilliant. Assuming it gets through the rigorous testing, this is probably the most important discovery of the new millennium. Fingers crossed it gets through (not that the finger-crossing makes it work). The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 00:02, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Not really. This is not "cure for cancer" (there is no such thing) but a new proposal for photodynamic therapy, and appears to be designed to score high on the buzzword bingo cards in the research grant committees: nanoparticles, cancer, MRI, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy etc.

The "see where the tumor is" part can already be done with positron emission tomography and cancer-specific MRI contrasts. Photodynamic therapy involves injecting the patient with a dye that absorbs infrared light and then shining a light on him, which kills the cancer cells via heat; it's not used clinically yet. The main innovation here is that instead of heating, the cancer cells are killed with a localized release of a drug. --Tweenk (talk) 22:03, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

2012 Board of Trustees results

Hey guys, I want to extend my thanks to everyone who ran. The election was tight and I think that was a reflection of the high quality of people we had running. I have contacted those who were elected and they have all agreed to serve another year so this year's board is as follows:

• Human
• ListenerX
• Nutty Roux
• Reckless Noise Symphony
• WaitingforGodot

I would also like to extend a special thanks to our out going board member Bob M it was a pleasure working with you and I am thankful for your service to building this site and community. More information will be coming out shortly. Tmtoulouse (talk) 17:06, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Thank you for your thanks. I wish the Trustees well in their term of office.--Bob^{Spring is sprung!} 21:15, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

You can tell the information that it's fine with us. Doctor Dark (talk) 01:12, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

What does water fluoridation, the pineal gland, Spiritulaity and the Mayan 2012 apocaplyse have in common?

Everything, apparently. Some bat-shit insane occupy protester pointed this out to me as "truth". I couldn't even read it. Ace^Moderator 22:59, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Wow, that is an impressive amount of woo in one article. Cartesian woo never dies. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 23:12, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

Still not nearly enough goat, though. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 00:53, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

... what?--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 00:58, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Ouch, what a load of bullshit. It was painful to read.

• Synthetic fluoride. That must be some very expensive kind of fluoride, because the only way I know to make synthetic fluoride is by using a nuclear reactor or a particle accelerator.
• Calcium fluoride appearing in water supplies. Not only is this stuff extremely poorly soluble (pKso around 10.4), but the guys are missing the point that "calcium fluoride" and "sodium fluoride" do not exist in solution, there is only a mixture of fluoride ions and sodium ions floating in water.
• Fluoride accumulating in teeth. Isn't that what we actually WANT to occur?
• Exploitation of radiophobia. This is so common I think it should have a word. I propose "nuxploitation".
• Surprisingly, their advice for avoiding fluoride would actually work.

--Tweenk (talk) 00:39, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Those Wacky Public Adovactes!

They're at it again! When will they learn? *rolls eyes*

Now I want to watch gay porn out of spite (but also horniness). F_arter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 23:09, 24 January 2012 (UTC)

NOAA (or should that be Noah) upgraded it from a "storm" to a "flood", and now it's a "tsunami". wow. when will it be the "nuclear bomb".GodotGrow a vagina 00:05, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

So much whipping and ramming... Kinky. Vulpius (talk) 00:16, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

This stuff is golden. "My friend, if you don't act now, the Homosexual Lobby will ram it right down our throats. . . . The federal government will hand control of the American economy over to radical homosexuals. . . . it will be nearly impossible to terminate or even discipline homosexual employees -- even in day cares or churches! I know this all sounds like something out of a nightmare. . . . Honestly, my job feels like the loneliest in the world. . . . Every day, as I walk through the halls of Congress, I feel the eyes of radical homosexuals on me." ₩€₳$€£ΘĪÐ^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 01:10, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I often think that a psychologist would have a field day with these sorts of folks -- transference, projection, you name it, it seems pretty obvious. Doctor Dark (talk) 02:14, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

But, no… no… that can't be true! I can't have gay feelings myself! That is a sin! I'd be sinfull then! Psychology is part of the liberal conspiracy! Don't believe a word they're saying! --★uːʤɱ heretic 08:56, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Okay...

Thanks for the tips in previous conversations, but there's one problem. I want to become someone "famous" on here like Blue or Human or Nebuchadnezzar, and in a good way. How can I do that?
Also, I don't know what "fits in here". What should I talk about, if you don't like the things I bring up? If you tell me to talk about what I want, and you complain when I ask about rock-paper-scissors or yourself as a blood cell, or tell about weird dreams I had. (Could anybody please respond to that dream, maybe continuing the story that ended when I woke?) Sorry if this is n00bish. I just still feel I need this information. Again, I'm just posting my interests. Could somebody please reply? The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 00:51, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Ty^Annoy 00:57, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

IT's ok to be Takei Ty...

Stop drinking fluoridated water. Ace^Moderator 00:52, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

My god! Are you STILL talking?! --il'Dictator Mikal

(talk) 00:55, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Funny. I like KotH. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 01:06, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

File:SexyAce.jpg

This is how to get people to like you

I'm going to reiterate my advice about not starting new comments (which you've clearly decided to ignore). You're appallingly bad at ascertaining what other people will respond positively to. And don't try too hard. Or don't try at all. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 00:57, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

It doesn't help when nobody replies to what I talk about, cuts off the conversation, or derails it. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 01:06, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

crying about it DOESN'T HELP. nor does demanding we tell you what to do. Want to know why? WE HAVE TO9LD YOU, MANY TIMES. All you are doing is making yourself less liked. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 01:10, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

My home doesn't have fluoridated water to begin with: my water at home comes from a well, not the reservoir. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 01:06, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I've only one thing to say sing: Ne faites pas de boogie woogie avant de faire vos prières du soir!!GodotGrow a vagina 00:58, 25 January 2012 (UTC) (ec)

Drink more fluoridated water. Ace^Moderator 01:10, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

If you listen to and act properly on the advice we keep giving you and you stick around for a few years then you might get to that status. It's not something to worry about, really. Sam ^Tally-ho! 01:18, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Nothing that hasn't already been said, but 1) stop asking us how to behave, 2) don't insist that people reply to you & pay you attention & 3) don't expect to instantly get the same level of community standing, respect or "fame" that longstanding contributors have, just by asking for it. ωεαşεζøίɗ^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 01:17, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Okay. Now, how do I get rid of the bad reputation that is following me? I tried talking in the saloon bar. But right now, I feel like I'm being tangled in a web of contradictions. Don't delete that. Delete this. Talk in the bar. Don't talk in the bar. It's too much. I was told that people get known here for talking in the bar, so I figured that I should generate a lot of conversation so people can get to know me. I was told to post about things that interest me, so I did. My weird dream interested me, your thoughts on blood cells interested me, roshambo interested me, et cetera. I am just confused. I am very, very confused. The Heidelberg Kid (talk) 01:39, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Asking how to be liked is the highway to dislike my friend. Now do what I tried to get you to do til ace decided to screw it up; DONT post for a while, lurk, watch, learn. Thats what I've been doing for Something awful.--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 01:43, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

fuck you, I didn't screw up fucking nothing. Ace^Moderator 01:46, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

You unblocked him--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 01:49, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

No need to block. Ace^Moderator 01:49, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

(EC) Hey Mickey, don't hand out long blocks for people who aren't vandals or spam bots. Ty^Annoy 01:51, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

It was a day and it was to give him a chance to actually try and learn. --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 01:53, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

5 minutes max bucko. Ty^Annoy 01:55, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Wait, BLUE is famous here? P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 04:13, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I like Blue better on fb, where I get to see that totally hot picture of hipster ariel every time she posts. The Foxhole Atheist (talk) 03:52, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Search broken again?

Could someone feed more damned souls to the demon or whatever it is? - David Gerard (talk) 08:01, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

It seems to be working for me. You just must be an idiot. F_lint^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 08:03, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

(EC)It's been broken since the site went down the other day. The demon needs to be hit with a shoe, if it's anything like the last time. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 08:04, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

In a cruelly ironic twist, I am the idiot. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 08:06, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Take it to technical support. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 08:27, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Already did that yesterday. No response. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 08:30, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Since the tech support page is just us lot again, why not here? Rennie McGreet (talk) 22:45, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Because the guys who actually do tech stuff with the wiki monitor that page rather than the slew of stuff that comes through here. However, Nx han't been round for two weeks and Trent is busy, but try giving him a direct prod. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 09:02, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Who wins in Florida?

Newt Gingrich	15	Vote
Ron Paul	2	Vote
Mitt Romney	15	Vote
Rick Santorum	0	Vote
You know, I don't really give a fuck?	9	Vote

P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 15:29, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Romney. I think Gingrich got lucky in SC. He keeps having these enormous spikes in the polls and this time he happened to line one up with a primary. He'll fall right back off when Romney goes on the attack. (ʞlɐʇ) ɹǝɯɯɐHʍoƆ 15:32, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I bet a day-long block that Gingrich takes it. Anyone wanna take me up on that bet? (I'm not really that confident, but betting makes it more fun). Anyway, I think we can all agree that, if we want Obama to win, a Gingrich nomination is preferable to a Romney nomination. ^{ONE / TALK} 16:37, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I'll take that bet. I think people in Florida aren't "Gingrich-angry" or as stupid as other southerners tend to be. Occasionaluse (talk) 16:40, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Never underestimate the power of human stupidity [2]. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 16:55, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Mitt needs to use the nuclear option. Go for Newt's hairpiece. Just an ad with a picture of Newt's dodgy rug, ominous music and creepy announcer guy intoning "Newt Gingrich is even lying to you about how much hair he has." --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 19:45, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Will this have an impact on Romney's numbers in FL? -- Seth Peck (talk) 19:47, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

"Do you trust a man with this hair cut to make desicions about the security of our nation?" Love it. --★uːʤɱ structuralist 20:07, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

A question from a Non-American: What would happen, if Ron Paul will win the Florida Primary? Then every candidate would have won one primary (Santorum would have to insist, that he won Iowa). Would that become a massiv problem for the RNC? Btw: Could it be that Romneys hair has lost a lot of its former glory? I remember him always having a perfect hair cut. Lately it seems a bit off... --Th. Bernhard (talk) 11:08, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

There'd still be 46 other states and various territories. That's a lot of votes. And even it the extremely unlikely case that they end up all for 25% of the RNC vote (is that even possible?) three of them would get together and transfer their votes. --★uːʤɱ heretic 12:55, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Also, it's not the number of primaries, it's the number of delegates. And Florida is a winner-take-all state so whomever wins that will have a lot more delegates than anyone else at this stage. Paul isn't even competing there, so he won't win (hell, he'd never win no matter what). I guess a 4 way tie is not completely impossible, bit so unlikely that it might as well be. The real danger (which is also very remote) is that someone will finish with a plurality, but not a majority. It's a scenario like this that could allow Andy's fantasy of Jeb Bush or someone coming in an being selected as a compromise candidate. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 15:26, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

The delegation votes don't matter until the Republican National Convention when the actual nominee is chosen (and then they must accept it). Between now and then, with more polls and as things come to light, the candidates will drop out slowly until the front-runner becomes clear, then attack ads will mostly cease (except for maybe a few third party runs from the Libertarian Party or whomever). For a new candidate to arrive this late in the game, it would be unlikely given that they've missed state ballot deadlines. Write-in choices are still possible, but it is rare that write-ins ever win (I think an Alaskan state rep won last year, simply because the only non-write-in candidate was unopposed at the time of deadline and the write-in aggressively campaigned) and that would be unprecedented for a presidential election (at least since the party system was established). -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:31, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Thanks guys. I now see that the American election system is a lot more complicated, than what I previously thought. Oh well a lot to catch up to/procrastinate. Thanks--Th. Bernhard (talk) 16:40, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Bots on strike again?

Talk pages seem to be getting very long again. --PsyGremlinTal! 18:33, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Nope, Pibot did it's job last night. Ty^Annoy 18:36, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Maybe we should try to get the forum active again. I like being able to just go to the Saloon to chat, but it's starting to get too clunky.--^talk 03:00, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

This site would function better with actual forum software alongside MediaWiki. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 03:13, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

We had it but no one used it so it was fishbowled. With multiple log ins it would be a pain to spread activity over multiple areas, and besides, considering people got confused by LQT I'm not sure they could get their heads around something as hardcore as phpBB. ^moral 09:30, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I think it could work if:

• You use something simpler than phpBB. There are lots of really easy forum software that are designed for this sort of situation.
• Use a plug-in or leet hacker skills to connect the databases so there's only one login.
• Redirect the bar to a forum, or at least put it on the Main Page. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 14:42, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Well, good luck doing that! ^bomination 20:01, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Come at me bro

[3] Osaka Sun (talk) 22:20, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I think that a Twitter feed publicizing articles, etc. is a good idea. I think that one particular editor using that feed to be a confrontational jerk and to wave his o-so-massive e-peen at whatever troll happens by and then signing all of our names to it is a bad idea. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 22:32, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Hey, we all love our e-peens. Osaka Sun (talk) 22:36, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Wave it on your account, not ours. P-Foster Talk "Watched Mad Men thinking it was supposed to be a sit-com. Found it disappointing." 22:40, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

As the prior holder of the account I have to say I agree with PF. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 14:25, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I missed whatever comment or incident brought this on, but I'm not very keen on the idea of one user speaking on behalf of the whole community/site within Twitter, or any other medium. ωεαşεζøίɗ^{Methinks it is a Weasel}

RWians, please put your WTF glasses on.

And now Glenn Beck will be eliminated from the Internet. Osaka Sun (talk) 09:57, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Am I the only one a little scared by that sort of thing? ^pathetic 12:23, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

No. Very sinister. Even if it is parody. Ajkgordon (talk) 13:05, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Is that synthesized voice taking breathes @1:00? Chocolate rain! Some stay dry while others feel the pain. (I move away from the mic to breathe). TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 15:44, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Gordon Ramsay's dwarf porn double Percy Foster found dead in a badger den in Wales.

Yeah, WTF? Ace^Moderator 21:01, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Gordon Ramsay+dwarf+porn+dead+badger den+Wales = the most random headline I've ever read. Sam ^Tally-ho! 21:10, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

"Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's up your arse we go" is such an awesome name for a porn film I'm almost tempted to see if the pirate bay has it. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 21:20, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Is a badger den in UK the same as a badger den in the US? -- Seth Peck (talk) 22:16, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

This story is a hoax. Apparently The Guardian didn't catch up. --Tweenk (talk) 22:55, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Alas, what sort of world is this where midget porn stars aren't being eaten by welsh badgers? I have to admit the diamond encrusted soda stream did sound a bit suspicious. Ah well, hopefully some good will come of this. Maybe some enterprising pornographer will make "Hi-ho!" now. --JeevesMkII ^{The gentleman's gentleman at the other site} 23:48, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

This was on WIGO whatever-the-heck a few months ago guys. Ty^Annoy 00:16, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Conservatives are dumb....and racists

http://news.yahoo.com/low-iq-conservative-beliefs-linked-prejudice-180403506.html 66.68.86.111 (talk) 00:43, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Jesus, I hate when people use 'low IQ' synonymously with 'low intelligence'. Also, go away, troll and/or idiot. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 01:01, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, let me see the error bars on that. At least this study has one thing going for it -- it wasn't published by Satoshi Kanazawa! You see, liberal superiority goes all the way back to our Savanna ancestors... Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 03:51, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Some of the nicest and most loving people I've ever met are complete and utter idiots. It takes brains to hate. 04:26, 27 January 2012 (UTC) C®ackeЯ

Same-sex marriage in Washington

Senate committee approves same-sex marriage bill.

As a Washingtonian/Seattlite myself, I really hope this passes into law. Seventh place isn't the best, but out of fifty, it certainly isn't the worst. F_arter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 01:09, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Also, because it's my job, Public Advocate gives their surprisingly tolerant opinion -- nah, I'm just fucking with you, they say the same hate-filled bullshit you would expect them to say. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 01:12, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

If only they could get it going again in California. Anyone know if Prop 8's being appealed? I heard the lawyers from Gore v. Bush are involved somehow. Sam ^Tally-ho! 03:27, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

yes prop 8 has been appealed. the Right set it for appeal almost a year ago. GodotGrow a vagina 03:31, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Wouldn't it have been the left appealing? Sam ^Tally-ho! 03:33, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

No. within days of it passing, the left challenged it in court and won. the Right put up a horrible display, by the way. even on the wrong side of everything, they should have done better. Anyhow, then the Right appealed to the Cal Supreme Court, and at the same time, tried to get the judge thrown out, cause the judge was gay. (THAT WAS ONE HELL OF AN OPINION). So it's awaiting the appeal (by the right, who lost) in the Cal supreme court. They are likely to uphold the Judge's decision, which would send it to the USSC. 4 of the USSC really don't give a shit about the law, just their own fears of gays. so who knows what will happen.GodotGrow a vagina 03:55, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

It's kind of funny, in a morbid way, to watch them try to delay the inevitable. Do they even realize how they'll look in a historical context twenty, fifty, one-hundred years from now (nevermind how they look now). F_arter^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 04:00, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Obviously not -- I am always on "the right side of history." And if I were a wingnut, wouldn't I want to support this so the blue states suffer civilizational collapse and then be ripe for takeover by Jesusland? Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 04:05, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

I thought you said there was no such thing as a "blue state"? Anyway, if they allow this it's a slippery slope to a constitutional amendment. Peter ^{Monomorium antarcticum} 04:11, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Wingnuts ain't got time for no fancy-pants statistics! There's the latte-sipping Prius-driving liberal scum on the coasts and Real 'Murricans in-between. Everyun' knows that. Nebuchadnezzar (talk) 04:16, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

So how bout ACTA? (Super SOPA)

How bout ACTA?--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 01:30, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Xg_C2YmG0, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16735219, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement, http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/240664/acta_will_be_signed_saturday_us_and_japan_say.html --il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 01:54, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

So I don't play a lot of Magic

and my knowledge of it comes from watching some friends on campus play it, So could somebody explain to me why People would hate somebody with a Highlander deck?--il'Dictator Mikal (talk) 05:44, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Probably because if they have a Highlander deck that means they play Magic. Turpis 3:16 (talk) 06:10, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

And if you play Magic, that means you're a demon-possessed Satanist. I've done my research. F_litzer^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 06:12, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I haven't bought Magic cards since 1997, but basically a Highlander deck was a Type II tourney deck (meaning no more than 4 duplicates of a non-land card, at least 60 cards, and certain cards were banned) of at least 100 cards with no duplicate non-land cards. There is nothing inherently hateful about such a deck, unless you keep getting beat by one (which would involve your own deck being unable to adapt to a less focused deck). Since you can lose if you run out of cards from your draw pile, there is something slightly cheesy about a deck so large, but I always thought 40-card resurrection decks (where the graveyard keeps getting mixed into the draw pile, or the creatures keep moving from the graveyard back into play) was cheesier. -- Seth Peck (talk) 06:21, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Also a geek. F_ucker^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 06:22, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Is it possible they were joking? If you're an outsider it can be hard to judge whether something is so ridiculous that insiders would automatically assume it was meant jokingly. Like, "Conservapedia's best of the public system produces far better results than Wikipedia" or "Batman & Robin was by far the strongest of the four movies, particularly the fully-formed characters of the villains". "I hate Highlander decks" might likewise mean that the speaker finds it funny that people try to go up against his preferred build with such a puny deck and he routinely wipes the floor with them. No? 82.69.171.94 (talk) 13:25, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

@Fallacy: Please be respectful. I have a degree. I'm a nerd.

Hey, no disrespect here -- I love nerds. It's geeks I absolutely loathe. F_lucked^{talk to me :D|see my shit} 15:18, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

*big shit-eating grin* -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:46, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

@BoN: Entirely possible, and I'm certainly no expert given it's been almost 15 years since I played or bought cards. My thought would be that if I were to say something like "I hate Highlander decks", it would mean I hate having to build one, like for a tourney or something, simply because of the unwieldy size of the deck and the diversity of cards being used (I would have preferred a "Direct Damage" deck or a "Counterspell" deck, where I had multiple copies of the same card or types of cards, and I knew at any given point I would have a hand that would represent the point of the deck and be able to advance towards winning, than depending entirely on the luck of whatever happened to pop up). -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:46, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I only play the XBox versions (there've been two) of Magic, but I know in the first version, there was a Vampire deck that was so wildly unbalanced, other players would get pissed if you used it in on-line play. And beating it against the AI required a strong dose of luck. MDB (talk) 15:59, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

You need to give that shit up, and concentrate on golf. Errr settlers of catan. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 14:46, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

My recent new favorite is Pandemic. -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:46, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Pandemic is pretty damn cool. There should be more co-op board games. Since we're on the topic the whole niche of deck-building non-collectible games begun with Dominion is also cool if you liked Magic (I didn't, but I know Magic players and they like that niche even more than I do) but no longer want to spend your income on boosters. Thematically there's a lot of range now, I played one recently (which supposedly our host had purchased "by mistake") which features Japanese maids but was largely the familiar mechanics. Nightfall is very, very Magic-like in that there's a lot more player conflict than most Dominion games, but it's really very vampire themed, so if you're sick of vampires you might avoid. 82.69.171.94 (talk) 20:30, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Pandemic is fun. If you want semi-cooperative, try the Battlestar Galactic board game from Fantasy Flight. I say semi-cooperative because at least one player (dependent on how many people are playing) is secretly a Cylon. Great fun, and it really captures the paranoia and other "feel" of the TV series. It's considerably more complicated that Pandemic, though.

I'm playing Through the Ages tomorrow -- if you like civilization builder games, it's spectacular. MDB (talk) 20:36, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Fundraiser coming up!

So I am getting ready to start pushing the fundraiser soon. There was some feedback from multiple people that they didn't really like the widget that showed the first name of donors. So I have altered it to a simple thermometer style thing and just a straight donation button.

What would you guys think about creating a little template with the thermometer and a donate button and putting it up on some high traffic sub pages? Too much? Too annoying? Tmtoulouse (talk) 13:29, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I don't mind. Ty^Annoy 15:36, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Goonie's talk page, then. ^gnostic 21:25, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

One of these, please. Rennie McGreet (talk) 22:44, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

I like the idea. The Symphony of Noise ^{The official spikey-haired skeptical punk} 13:24, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Yank TV Geeks

I need your help planning my downloading pleasure this season.

Current series: Fringe, Pan Am, Being Human, Luck, Grimm

Any thoughts on: The Firm (I'm half-way through the premier and I'm unimpressed.), Alcatraz, Touch? Anything else worth looking out for? PS UK Geeks - any news on new Bedlam and Luther series?. --PsyGremlin Parlez! 14:49, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

F-Troop, Hogan's Heroes, McHale's Navy, and Lost in Space. Ty^Annoy 14:52, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Watch it, I'm in South Africa, not New Zealand. Even we know those came out last year. --PsyGremlinPraat! 14:54, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Voyage to The Bottom of the Sea is also a excellent choice. Ty^Annoy 14:55, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Alcatraz is pretty good, J.J, did it again with that one. Maybe The Vampire Diaries and Nikita, their plots may sound old or cliché-ed (is that a word?), but they are pretty damn good. --★uːʤɱ heretic 14:58, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Oh, oh! Once Upon a Time! --★uːʤɱ libertarian 15:05, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

ooh no. That was awful, despite having Robert Carlyle. Dropped that after a few episodes. Ditto Secret Circle. Still not sure how I made it through all of Terra Nova. --PsyGremlinRunāt! 15:09, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I can see were Once Upon a Time would be terrible for some people, it's weirdly quirky and doesn't really pay a lot of respect to the material they are working with. Secret Circle is kinda weird because the only character I like is that crazy snarky bitch, it's ok though. Terra Nova was way overhyped, the show itself was ok. --★uːʤɱ federalist 16:14, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Once Upon a Time would have been much better if it was an official version of DC Comics' Fables series. MDB 18:00, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

If retro TV is your thing Radar Men from the Moon, Undersea Kingdom and Zombies of the Stratosphere are all esxcellent productions from Republic. Ty^Annoy 15:07, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

la la la la la la I can't hear you. --PsyGremlinKhuluma! 15:09, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Now, Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers Conquer The Universe was just flat out terribe. Rocky Jones is passable. Gomer Pyle USMC and The Andy Griffith Show are both excellent. Ty^Annoy 15:11, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

How is Grimm? I have a lot of episodes downloaded but have yet to give it a try. Friday night lights (talked about here a week or two ago) is too much drama for me. Anyway back to you instead of me all about MEMEMEMEMEME (Good job HK, by the way, on easing up on your mass postings). If you like comedy try: The League, Parks and Rec, 30Rock, Its always sunny in Phillidelphia, and modern family. TheCheat^{I run on alcohol} 15:48, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

You're watching "Being Human?" bleah. Found PanAm to be a bit dry after 3rd ep. GRIMM rocks! as does Once Upon a Time. The firm is predictable. and I can't decide on Alcatraz. I just don't want to get into another endless Lost. Terra Nova, Secret Circle were horrible. Oddly, I liked the one about the Brain Surgeon (Gifted man) though there is not one realistic thing about it. From UK I'm watching: Todd Margaret, and Without you. Arctic Ice from Canada is looking intersting, too. GodotGrow a vagina 15:53, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I think they learned from their mistakes. One can currently see that Fringe does it differently. --★uːʤɱ atheist 16:14, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Grimm is great, by the way. There is nothing expected about it, yet it does not have teh "lost-esque", oh god, when will we know anything feel. You know who is who right from the start. I see it having a hard time keeping itself fresh for too many seasons, but for season one, it's a cop drama on steroids. :-) GodotGrow a vagina 15:54, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Funny, that's why I stopped watching after the first episode. I hate predictable. --★uːʤɱ secularist 16:14, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I didn't think I'd like Downton Abbey, but the wife got really into it and I actually thought it was really good. There's a new series airing in the UK in September / October. Crundy^{Talk nerdy to me} 15:59, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Person of Interest is kind of compelling, stars Jesus Jim Caveziel and one of the "Others" from Lost. It's basically a more-realistic reboot of Quantum Leap without the time travel. It's sure to drive the conspiracy wackos crazy. -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:01, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, after 20 minutes I stopped watching and deleted it. The social security number is the only thing you have? WTF? Should I really believe that? --★uːʤɱ sinner 16:14, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

No the SSN is the only thing the "machine" spits out--the team invariably is able to hack municipal records and get basic information, but the show focuses on finding the "why". But whatever. -- Seth Peck (talk) 16:24, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Grimm isn't bad, I don't think the format is sustainable long term, but it's nice to have a cop show with a difference. PoI is pretty decent too, as was Prime Suspect. One of the better cop dramas and sadly cancelled after 1 season. Will have to wait for S2 of The Killing. Being Human S2 is looking good. Plus it has the hawt Asian chick from Dollhouse, so I'm happy. (yes, I wear my fetishes on my sleeve - it's the same reason I watched the awful Three Inches... it has Torchwood's Toshiko in it *le sigh*) --PsyGremlinSpeak! 16:18, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Downton is watchable so long as you ignore the anachronisms, in general I find the BBC does their historical dramas much better than ITV. However, I've really enjoyed some of the Danish stuff, The Killing 1 & 2 were both good (the US cover was dull) and Borgen is also very good. But I realise not everyone can deal with sub-titles. Mrs K gets a lot of foreign movies from Love Film which I sometimes watch, Les Incendies a French Canadian production was good, and I enjoyed the quirky French comedy Micmacs. One US series which didn't get much coverage in the UK as it was on Five was Breaking Bad, I saw this in Australia last year and thought it was excellent. Генгис^{You have the right to be offended; and I have the right to offend you.} 16:27, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

The new season of Spartacus starts tomorrow night. It's basically 300 as a TV series (in terms of concept, not the historical basis.) MDB (talk) 16:53, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

'Archer' and 'The Venture Bros'. Venture bros is he best thing on the telly I've seen for year. AMassiveGay (talk) 18:28, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I'm wary about Touch, because it was made by the same guy who made Heroes, which was a pile of shit. (ʞlɐʇ) ɹǝɯɯɐHʍoƆ 19:03, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Heroes was brilliant! Shame they never made a second series, though. ^postate 19:59, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Obligatory XKCD --PsyGremlinTala! 20:03, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Have you see the new British Sherlock? Holmes and Watson in the modern world (even moreso than House, which is really going downhill. But I digress.) MDB (talk) 20:29, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

I presumed that the absence of Sherlock from the discussion above was because it goes without saying that you must watch it. No excuses. ^moral 20:38, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Sherlock has been duly watched and enjoyed. --PsyGremlinSnakk! 04:41, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

I couldn't get into sherlock. It seemed to much like Dr Who without all the time travel. Not to mention Sherlock holmes as character is somewhat redundant in a modern setting AMassiveGay (talk) 21:09, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

Similarly. Avoided watching it originally because I'd exceeded my quota of female friends squeeing over characters who are clearly created specifically to elicit that response. Didn't like most of what I've seen now that they've stopped. The ending of ... Belgravia for example was heavily telegraphed and wouldn't even have been good if it was a surprise. Likewise with the Fall. It felt like it had been written by people who didn't understand the difference between Columbo and Miss Marple. A "modern" Holmes is indeed redundant. The outside specialist, called in by baffled police? The man with a gift of incredible insight, and yet he is spectacularly self-destructive, sabotaging every aspect of his personal life? They already made that TV series, it was called Cracker. Back when ITV made good drama. It takes a lot more risks than Sherlock, and they paid off. 82.69.171.94 (talk) 23:05, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

But it's Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. And Sherlock is not a CSI show, it's about the characters, so it really doesn't matter if the scenarios are plausible (they aren't). Blue (pester) 23:51, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

In fact, that's the entire point. Take it from someone who's TV only ever plays cop shows and has just got into Castle - every current police TV series is the same. Body turns up. They poke around inside. They follow people around. Interview suspects. Twist. End. Sherlock effectively kicks that formula in the bollocks by removing the clues from the viewers perception so it all becomes about Sherlock's own skill at deduction, no grisly images of corpses in pathology labs or deus ex machina forensics needed. (also, why are all detective series these days about murder? Since CSI: Croydon The Bill ended, it's like there's like Zero crime-rate in TV Land, except for murder, which is 80,000 times higher than everywhere else.) ^narchist 09:38, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Do forgive me for being a philistine here, but I don't really see the "yum" in Benedict Yumberbatch - not my phrasing of it. ^pathetic 09:56, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

I concur. Loads of creepy, not much yum. This is not a guy I'd want appearing at my door to take my entirely fictitious daughter out. In other news watched Touch and Alcatraz - both look worthy of keeping on the list for now. --PsyGremlinRunāt! 13:21, 27 January 2012 (UTC)