Not Polite Dinner Conversation – Free Speech and the forum troll

The internet forum is an unusual environment.  There are forums for just about any subject under the sun, all built on people discussing those things, disagreeing and agreeing, sharing information and ideas.  All of this is without any of the usual social cues we humans have evolved to use, facial expressions, tones of voice, etc.  … Continue reading Not Polite Dinner Conversation – Free Speech and the forum troll

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Pennsylvania politicians at it again

Well, this week we have a twofer.  We have Patrick Toomey, a US senator from PA, unable to stand his own additions to the veteran's jobs bill, was evidently forced to oppose everything that Pat Toomey stands for.   Or he was voting against veterans? Which was it Pat?  Can't be seen helping some of those folks … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Pennsylvania politicians at it again

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – A brief tour of theist/atheist interaction

Recently, I commented on another WordPress blog, http://dmergent.org/2012/09/14/atheism-and-christianity/   I thought I’d repost things here since it’s a great example on how atheists and theists often interact on the internet, all displayed in a few posts.      This was my post in response to the blog entry linked to above: "Mr. Poindexter, I’m an atheist. I have … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – A brief tour of theist/atheist interaction

What the Boss Likes – Hard Magic by Larry Correia, and some political caveats about the writer

First off, I’ve just finished “Hard Magic” by Larry Correia. It’s very good, excellent dieselpunk with magic.  I kinda wish it wasn’t. (BTW, I've tried to make sure that there are no spoilers about the book  in this post. But as always, read at your own risk.) Why does it seem that so many people who … Continue reading What the Boss Likes – Hard Magic by Larry Correia, and some political caveats about the writer

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Ann, Ann, why do you think other women are idiots?

Ann Romney is doing her best to help her husband with his problem with women voters.  It’s nice that she’s trying to help him but it’s not nice when she evidently thinks women are idiots and that she can lie to them with every intention of trying to take their right to a informed decision … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Ann, Ann, why do you think other women are idiots?

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Ignoring science at a cost

While watching the rather breathlessly done “Dark Matters: Twisted but True” (link to the episode if you’d like to watch) on the Science Channel, I got a reminder on just how stupid people can be when clinging to false beliefs that support their feelings of self-worth and I started ruminating on how this still happens … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Ignoring science at a cost

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Parade Magazine’s Romney Interview

Parade Magazine, that little insert that often comes in the Sunday paper that I’ve been reading probably since I could read, had an interview with the Romneys on August 26, 2012.  The mag has always struck me as rather conservative and simplistic which can explain the questions asked and the lack of any follow up … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Parade Magazine’s Romney Interview

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Rough Men and taking a stand

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. – attributed to George Orwell, Winston Churchill etc, and likely to have some basis in Orwell’s comment about Rudyard Kipling: “He sees clearly that men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Rough Men and taking a stand

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – PA’s Voter ID law stands, for now

In Pennsylvania, the GOP/TP “suddenly” became alarmed by all of the voter fraud.  They can’t show that it happens in any numbers above fractions of a percent, but oh, they did need to change the laws.  Funny how it wasn’t a problem for them UNTIL a Democrat who happened to not be “white” won the … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – PA’s Voter ID law stands, for now

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – War on Religion

 The culture wars have been revived yet again by the Romney campaign. Unable to get people to stop asking him for his tax records, and pointing out he has no economic plan other than Bush policies taking to extremes, Romney has returned to the usual attempts to create wedge issues between Americans, right out of … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – War on Religion