Monday, October 12, 2009

Some Things Make Me Stabby

Family Security Matters staffers researching the issues.
stabby, feminism, misogyny, curie,science, family, security, matters, asshat
So, fresh off of burying the local FBI office under a mountain of paperwork, I ran into something else to make me stabby.


Family Security Matters published a "study" comprised entirely of misogyny and anecdotal evidence on why teh wimminz getin' teh edumacashun will lead to the downfall of Western society. (Shorter me: fuck it, let it burn.)
Less visible is how this influx of women has shaped what might be called the “style” of knowledge creation and dissemination, and here the news may be less welcome. To be blunt, burgeoning feminization typically emasculates males and their resulting flight from education is a huge though almost invisible national loss. This is an awkward to discuss phenomenon and statistical evidence sketchy, so explication must be largely anecdotal. Still, the appalling potential consequences of feminization warrant discussion.
"While statistical evidence of the recent upswing in child molestations commited by Family Security Matter's employees is sketchy, and explanation will therefore be entirely lies, the appalling potential consequences of the child molestations commited by Family Security Matter's warrents further discussion."

File that under games you don't want to play with me today.

Next up, we get a description of a classroom run by a sociopathic football coach:
Let’s begin by distinguishing two educational “styles” – masculine and feminine – as they might emerge in classrooms, conversations or a meeting. The masculine style (and many women certainly embrace this approach to knowledge) exhibits the following general characteristics.

First, finding the objectively correct answer drives inquiry and that truth exists is axiomatic.

Second, social niceties – being tactful, not interrupting – are subordinate to the quest for truth. Bruised egos, put-downs and the like are just tolerable collateral damage.

Third, forceful give-and-take is not to be viewed personally. The model is the friendly pick-up basketball game – roughness washed away by post-game beers.

Fourth, not all views are equal, demonstrable expertise is central, and some comments are not worth hearing. “You’re ignorant of the facts, so stop talking,” is a legitimate rejoinder in a masculine-style debate.

One can certainly imagine a group of physicists arguing about an experiment – a heated debate, snide rejoinders, claims and counter-claims of special expertise, even some table pounding, all followed by a clear outcome on how to proceed. Then a friendly lunch. This style, obviously, hardly guarantees The Truth but few can deny it has proven remarkably effective in advancing knowledge, especially in technical fields.
Actually, if that's what's really going on when physicists get together, I think we could argue that advancing knowledge has occurred despite the table pounding and general nastiness. Really, this asshat is arguing that men are incapable of comporting themselves with a modicum of decorum- and that's a good thing.

Then we have the "feminine style" of education, in which apparently everybody discusses whether or not 2 + 2 = 5, and there's hugs all around no matter what your answer is.

Now consider what we shall deem the feminine approach (and certainly many men embrace it).

First, the quest for some hard-edge objective truth, while outwardly affirmed, is subordinated to social etiquette. It is impermissible to cut off speakers, belittle their facts, roll eyes, or otherwise demean participants.

Second, knowledge emerges from consensus building not strong arguments demolishing the weak via sharp confrontations. Masculine discourse is authoritarian; the female version democratically flavored. In the latter one “shares” information (and is always thanked for sharing) while speakers eschew making incisive points to destroy opponents.

Third, arguments must be subdued lest they undermine personal relationships far beyond the immediate agenda. Ongoing friendships cannot be checked at the door so proper diligence must be exercised. While combative men may wash away ill-feeling immediately afterwards, women may use perceived slights to build new long-term alliances while junking old ones.

Finally, the feminine style subordinates time constraints to satisfying social needs. Discussions, no matter how seemingly pointless, may ramble to collective exhaustion. Everybody gets their say. The parallel is shopping – men want to get in, buy and get out as quickly as possible; women see shopping as a total “experience” to be extended, if possible, to socializing with friends,

That's right: women can't determine truth or make scientific discoveries because we like to shop. Notice also his apparent love of violent interplay: "destroying opponents . . . demolishing the weak." Why on earth would anyone think that "destroying" and "demolishing" are words that should ever come up in connection with education?
To repeat, the feminine styles, merits aside, emasculates men, pushes them out of the classroom and thus deprives Western Civilization of the very brains and energy that made it all possible.
First of all, I don't believe for a second that consensus building is why there are fewer men in college these days. Secondly, what do you suppose Western Civilization could have accomplished if women had been allowed to participate from the start? Madame Curie, anyone?

Ugh, well that's enough volunteer stabbiness for one day- I need to get back to getting paid to be stabby.

He's Back!

mcnabb, eagles, buccaneers, nfl, football
While the rest of spent the last two weeks slowly coming around to the virtues of Kolb, McNabb was apparently bent on reminding us why we loved him in the first place.



(Insanely busy with a huge bankruptcy case. Regularly scheduled atheism blogging will resume eventually.)

Update: Apparently, the FBI does not understand the meaning of "give us the insurance documents we need to run the hospital, or the only hospital in a 50m radius that can deliver babies will shut down." Sigh.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Fine Art

McNaughton Fine Art raises the political cartoon to whole new levels. (Hint: run your mouse over the picture and look to the right.)

h/t to shadowmouse.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Prayer Cannot Cure Cancer- Even When Combined with Herbs

funnier than the real thing
tbn, daniel, cancer, pentecostal, religion, christianity

A Pentecostal minister/doctor has been arrested for killing people by promising that her herbal concoction, combined with prayer, could cure everything from MS to cancer.


Prosecutors said Daniel concocted a remedy known, among other names, as "C-Extract" that she claimed would help treat cancer and other afflictions such as multiple sclerosis, hepatitis, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Some of her patients were drawn to her from her appearance on TBN's "Praise the Lord." Daniel told viewers she collected herbs from around the world, and, when they were combined with prayer, there was a good chance their cancer could be cured.

"We have seen the dead raised," Daniel said on the broadcast, according to the indictment.



Now, when will we see TBN charged? They put this woman on the air, in front of millions, to preach that herbs and prayer would cure cancer. Desperate people will do anything, including risking their lives on the belief that somebody had managed to raise the dead with herbs. That is shameful. It's shameful that Daniel took advantage of desperate people that way, and equally shameful that TBN gave her a forum to do so.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

My Very First Guest Post

not a picture of Sara, just a cool picture


My Iranian friend Sara asked me to guest post on her blog. I actually squealed with joy when she asked. The post is up, and I encourage everyone to visit Sara.





LINKY TO SARA.





A note: regulars to this blog may find my style a bit different on the guest post. I'm no sure how well snark translates, and I'm not out to start an international incident.

3 out of 4 Republicans Agree- Rape Victims Should STFU

rape, franken, republican, justice
Due to the terrible injustice experienced by female employees of defense contractors, Al Franken suggested an amendment to the 2010 defense bill that would protect the rights of rape victims and help ensure that rapists are punished for their crimes. Guess who thinks that's a bad idea?


In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. She was detained in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed, and "warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she'd be out of a job." (Jones was not an isolated case.) Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR "if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court."


30 of 40 Republicans voted against that amendment.

3 out of 4 Republicans voted against rape victims getting their day in court. 3 out of 4 Republicans voted against rapists facing punishment.

Family values, my vagina. These people are monsters.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Controversy, I Has It

war mongering, iran, israel, nuclear, weapons,

I know some people are just going to explode when I say this, but I'm really get sick of all this "bomb Iran before they bomb everyone" bullshit.



First of all, Iran is populated by . . . wait for it . . . people. I don't care how tactical your strike is, you can't bomb Ahmedinejad without bombing my friend, Sara.



Secondly, there isn't overwhelming evidence Iran is even making nuclear weapons, and a lot of evidence that it is not. In fact, the Supreme Leader issued a fatwa, declaring nuclear weapons immoral. A fatwa may not mean much to you or I, but Muslims take their fatwas seriously. The IAEA denies that Iran has, or had, a program to develop nuclear weapons.



Then there is the assertion that Iran wants to nuke its neighbors. Its very close neighbors. Iran is about 1,000 miles away from Israel. That's half the distance from Pennsylvania to Nevada. I don't care how crazy Ahmedinejad is, I'm sure he understands how nuclear fallout works. Also, no matter how much Ahmedinejad hates Israel, he can't nuke Israel without also nuking the Palestinians, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, etc. Do we really think Ahmedinejad is so crazy that he doesn't care what the results of that would be?



It's especially insane to suggest that Ahmedinejad wants to bomb Saudia Arabia's oil fields- 50 miles away. If you're going to nuke something 50 miles away, you may as well just drop the bomb on yourself, the effects would be pretty much the same.



Warmongering- even in the middle of two wars we just can't win, we still has it. I'm really sick of it.
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