Politics

Please see the Guardian article below.... http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1936635,00.html Forgive the rather ardent thread title, but I was completely stunned when I heard this. I'm also clueless as to how this can improve grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary. The sheer range of the English language, makes it a wonderful tool for expression, and articulation, and this really (in my mind) seems a very bad path to take. It just seems like an incredibly lazy way of expressing one's self, hence it's used for writing quick text messages. For this to be extended to exams, of all things, just seems baffling to me. So anyone have any thought…

To continue the Iraq debate without hijacking Pangloss's thread any further... Ndi / Mokele - You two seem to have interpreted my post as a pro-bush, pro-war opinion piece. I'm just sharing what I believe the plan is, what I believe the intent of the administration is, in this "war on terror". It's not my plan. I've already posted what my idea was and still is. It's interesting how both of you are so adamant about condemning the US as a failure, even though not a single country has solved Islamic Terrorism to date. Nothing anyone has tried yet, has worked. So, we're all failures. No country yet has been able to stop Islamic terrorism and whether or…

Hello What would happen if Sudam was put back into power. True he was convicted and sentenced to death. But sentences can be overturned on appeal. Could he restore stability to Iraq? Would he be more able and willing to halt Iran's Ambitions? He was the U.S. man once, could they use him again. And would he be worse than what Iraq is likely about to fall into? Mr D

Simple enough question, but actually pretty difficult to answer clearly, or in such a way that all agree. See what you can do with it. Answers should try to address the following categories: - Politics (international and US-domestic) - Economics - Military/Defense (training, fitness and equipment, i.e. readiness/preparedness) - Social/Misc (trust-of-government issues, popular partisanship, "mood of the country", etc) - Impact on other major issues/events (war on terror, national security, and impact on unrelated events like abortion, gun control, immigration, etc) (Note for international readers: Just to clarify, this question is intended to be US-focused…

Harvard scientists found people who ate bacon at least five times a week were 59% more likely to develop the disease than those who never did. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6194502.stm

A few months ago a new from appeared on Jupiter and scientists all around the world have been watching it progress and develop in hopes it would lead to insights of how the Great Red Spot originally formed. The Little Red Spot is gaining strength and its wind speed is increasing although scientists have no idea why at this time. http://www.physorg.com/news79713185.html -- Ryan Jones

This is not a rhetorical question. As I understand it, it first arose as intentionally merely a matter of terminology. From the wikipedia article (which I recommend), the goal is outlined as follows: 1. Certain people have their rights, opportunities, or freedoms restricted due to their categorization as members of a group with a derogatory stereotype. 2. This categorization is largely implicit and unconscious, and is facilitated by the easy availability of labeling terminology. 3. By making the labeling terminology problematic, people are made to think consciously about how they describe someone. 4. Once labeling is a conscious activity, individual mer…

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235279,00.html I don't know if anyone is really interested in stirring this subject up, but watching the video that goes along with this article reminded me of that nagging question I've never received a satisfactory answer for...Why did the UN choose that particular stretch of land we know as Israel? Why did the UN decide that palestinians shall pay the price and force them to move? Why don't we understand how that would be unacceptable and would likely be militarily rejected by most of the powers involved in that process if it was imposed on them? Ok...I guess that's three questions. But the first one is the most…

well, here comes one more reason to start digging. drinks on me "Deposits formed in Martian gullies during the past seven years suggest that liquid water exists on Mars today. Researchers have observed two downhill tracks of light-colored material that were not present in images taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft before 1999." from: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=596EADAB-E7F2-99DF-3F373E177D108C1D

Here's a search providing 233 links to the mainstream media's plethora of stories that came out yesterday about the new Danish study released yesterday indicating that the incidence of postpartum depression may be much higher than previously believed (13% in this study): http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&ncl=1111752875 Now. That's all very interesting, but what does it really say in the end? That new moms are short on sleep and under a lot of stress, right? Um.... DUH! Women, according to the study, are 7 times more likely to suffer psychiatric illness than other women, due to physiological changes and mental stress. Shocking…

Here's the PDF file: http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/iraq_study_group_report.pdf I have to admit that the number of attacks and persistant violence there is much worse than I thought. What do you all think of this report?

The International Astronomical Union has finally come to a consensus in a meeting of over 2,500 astronomers, deciding to demote Pluto from its status as a planet. The resolution has created a new class of planets, "dwarf planets," that includes Pluto and two other objects. This should clear up most ambiguity, as the definition of "planet" now requires the planet to clear the area around its orbit of debris - giving astronomers something to look for specifically to determine just what is a planet. http://www.newscientistspace.com/article.ns?id=dn9824

Since we've got the 'White Scholarship' discussion going, I thought this might be a good one to compliment it. Personally, I see this whole thing blown out of proportion and this "apology" as an empty, hollow act on the part of Richards, Jesse Jackson, Sharpton and etc.. And of course, they're using the good ole buzz words and phrases - "healing", "injury", "psychiatric help" and blah blah blah. Does anyone else see this whole thing as a shallow, phoney act on the part of all involved? I hear cracker used all the time but I don't feel injured or in need of "healing". I realize that I nor my ancestors have been through the oppression and the dehumaniza…

Hello! I have always been said that the buildings in the US has been destroyed by terrorists. But recently I have heard that the reports of for example the Pentagon is not quite right... I would like to have further Information about this topic. What happened really? Does somebody know? Thanks in advance. Shiney

Thought this was an interesting story. I've always thought that discrimination was discrimination, no matter who's the majority or what the intentions may be. This is long overdue. BU - White Scholarship to protest race-based scholarships

Anyone heard of this book - Who Really Cares? This guy, Arthur Brooks, has put together some detailed studies and discovered that conservatives are more compassionate and giving than liberals, in terms of charity and philanthropy. In fact, one thing that surprises me is that religious conservatives give the most. I tend to see religious conservatives as exclusionary, stuffy types. You wouldn't think the same people who kick homosexuals out of their churches would actually care and give more to society. And according to John Stossel, I'm in the category of folks that don't give a damn thing. I'm a selfish, middle class, cheapskate. If it wasn't true, I…

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/10/09/ap3077504.html A boy took an AK-47 assault rifle to school with the intent to kill. He got this weapon from his parents. I think the parent(s) who owns the gun should go to jail. It is ridiculus to allow a child access to a gun and not know that they took it to school. No need to comment about gun control, everyone has discussed that to death. Shouldn't the parents have some responsibility if they own weapons?

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/iran_pres_letter.pdf Was wondering if anyone has read this and what they think about it. After a quick read I can say that I see some inconsistencies with his logic and I can't help but to be suspicious. That said, it's an interesting idea at the least. I'm saving any other opinions until I've thought about it more.

Bushenfreude is a term used by Daniel Gross in this article called "The Rich Aren't Republican Any More", which appeared in Slate the day after the election: http://www.slate.com/id/2153272/ The term is defined as "angry, well-off, well-educated yuppies, generally clustered on the coasts, who were funneling windfalls from Bush tax cuts into the campaigns of Democrats and preparing to vote for those who would raise taxes on their capital gains, their incomes, and their estates". ROFL! It's an interesting look at the demographics of the election. His main point seems to be that biggest change from Republican to Democrat was the wealthiest kind of voter. …

Does anybody else think the protests over the papal visit to Turkey are ridiculous. From the BBC: "Tens of thousands of people protested on the streets of Istanbul at the weekend, calling on the Pope to stay away or apologise for comments he made about Islam in a speech in September." Considering that he already apologized numerous times and has justified his perfectly legitamate intellectual speach analyzing past christian attitudes. It seems that middle eastern Muslims don't even need a real reason to protest christianity or the West anymore. edit: by the way, why is Turkey being considered entry into the EU? Are they even in Europe, or is this…

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/11/29/pelosi_drops_her_intelligence_post_pick/ Credit where it's due -- Pelosi denied Alcee Hastings the chairmanship of the intelligence committee, in spite of MAJOR pressure from the black caucus, which was already pissed off at her for putting pressure on Jefferson to resign after they found $90,000 in his freezer. (Yeah right, it's all just a racist plot. Yeesh.) It would have looked awfully hypocritical if she had folded and let him in, given her stance on political corruption in the Republican party prior to the election. So this is a double-win and an encouraging sign for skeptics like myself. …

does anyone else think that there may be an Iranian invasion of Iraq following a US withdrawal? I say this because of the long standing gruge between the two countries, and with the US gone There wouldn't be any major opposition to an Iranian invasion. There is also a fairly large contingent of shia muslims in Iraq tht practically demand a theocracy and ouldn't mind at all if the Iranians gave it to them. EDIT: sorry for the poor grammar and spelling, th keyboard i'm on sticks alot.

This story has been making the rounds the last couple days since MADD launched its new initiative. Basically they're pushing for legislation that would force all first-time DUI offenders to install ignition interlocks on their cars. The story has gotten a lot of play, but with very little counterpoint. For example, the ACLU would presumably oppose this measure, which would set left against left in an interesting political correctness showdown. I haven't seen any discussion on that point. Mostly reporters are just rebroadcasting MADD press releases. The idea does have a lot of appeal, but this interesting article from the AP wire today shows that this is perha…

Is it just me, or does the situation in Iraq suddenly look a lot more grim this week? American politicians right now are debating whether to send more troops or begin to schedule a distant withdrawl timetable. But I'm getting a vibe here that that decision is about to be made for us. I could be wrong, of course. It's not just the escalation in sectarian violence that has me thinking this. The fulcrum, if you ask me, is the Iraqi government ordering us not to intercede on behalf of Sunnis. After which they promptly swoop with a death squad in faster than you can say "pogrom". Watch to see if the "more troops" option comes off the table this week. If it…

Interesting position from a democrat. I would never agree to conscription. All military should be volunteer only. If you are fighting a noble and worthy campaign, then the country will be behind it and volunteers will be plentiful. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,230598,00.html http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/19/rangel.draft.ap/index.html It's funny too, because democrats are supposed to be the anti-war crowd. I guess Rangel didn't get the memo. I wonder how many New Yorkers are feeling betrayed after voting for him. These next two years with the Dems in power are going to be so awesome...