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Nov 2023 Mod notice:


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In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#51876: Mar 26th 2013 at 9:29:42 PM

TN lawmakers confuse mop sink for Muslim foot-washing sink

-headdesk-

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51877: Mar 26th 2013 at 9:31:02 PM

I dont know whats more offensive about that story. That they know so luittle about muslims they could mistake a mop sink for a foot wash tub, or that they got pissed at the idea of allowing muslims to perform their religion.

drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
Street Writing Man
#51878: Mar 26th 2013 at 9:32:28 PM

...Or the fact that they don't know the difference?? there is not enough face or enough palm for the stupidity of my fellow citizens sometimes.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#51879: Mar 26th 2013 at 10:30:50 PM

A Bill Passed the Texas House of Representatives Reducing the Amount of High-Stakes Exams needed to Graduate from High School

Notably, Algebra II was the most divisive.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#51880: Mar 27th 2013 at 1:46:12 AM

[up][up][up]Sure shows the difference between "freedom of religion" and "freedom to be a Christian".

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51881: Mar 27th 2013 at 6:03:37 AM

[up][up]

Genius. lets make sure our high school graduates cant do basic math.

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51882: Mar 27th 2013 at 6:48:54 AM

Regarding Toure accusing Ben Carson of being a house negro: Toure has put together a reputation rich with Uncle Tomfoolery and sour grapes. He shouldn't be allowed to even utter the name of someone who's done so much for humanity, not merely black people, as Dr. Ben Carson, but alas, freedom of speech.

Ah, but alas the beauty of freedom of speech is that it lets intelligent people let off gems such as

Carson responded calmly, saying, “if you don’t have anything useful to say, you attack people. If you feel that your house of cards has been discovered and is starting to come unraveled, you become very desperate.” He added, “intelligent people tend to talk about the facts, they don’t sit around and call each other names. That’s what you can find on a third grade playground.”

Well played Doctor. Well played indeed.

edited 27th Mar '13 6:50:09 AM by TheStarshipMaxima

It was an honor
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#51883: Mar 27th 2013 at 6:49:41 AM

[up][up]Actually, it's a good call. Our education system doesn't need so many overwrought standardized tests.

edited 27th Mar '13 6:49:59 AM by RadicalTaoist

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#51884: Mar 27th 2013 at 6:55:25 AM

Standardized tests are rarely for the benefit of the students. They are a tool to gauge school performance, which then gets turned around to determine funding and other forms of support. This then leads towards a pattern of teaching so students can pass the tests rather than teaching for them to learn useful skills, as well as incentives to cheat. No Child Left Behind is one of the worst laws that ever got passed.

That said, kids do need to learn algebra in school, and we need to grade them on it.

edited 27th Mar '13 6:55:43 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#51885: Mar 27th 2013 at 6:58:21 AM

Kids need to learn algebra in elementary, and it should be old hat by the time they graduate.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#51886: Mar 27th 2013 at 7:00:52 AM

Actually, the second bit about grading is probably wrong. There's strong evidence that we shouldn't be grading our kids because they'll learn more if we don't.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#51887: Mar 27th 2013 at 7:05:35 AM

Also apparently Algebra being taught before High School or so is a generally not great idea, as it being taught in Middle School or earlier apparently fouls up with brain development somehow and makes it harder to teach other forms of math later.

And speaking about Middle School, even the whole way that thing is structured apparently a pretty bad idea.

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51888: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:21:44 AM

Just a random thought, MSNBC seems to be the liberal equivalent of Fox News. Lots of rhetoric, somewhat dubious in the fact department. Not quite as bad, admittedely, but still.

Carry on.

It was an honor
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#51889: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:33:57 AM

"Reality has a well-known liberal bias." Starship, MSNBC would have to go pretty far to stoop to Fox's level of reporting quality (or lack thereof).

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#51890: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:37:08 AM

MSNBC is only 'liberal' because reality has a tendency to be. Once you cut out the lies and the BS. They've in fact only gotten a reputation for being liberal in contrast to Fox that keeps pushing farther and father left. In reality, their stance is actually fairly moderate.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Belian In honor of my 50lb pup from 42 Since: Jan, 2001
In honor of my 50lb pup
#51891: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:41:50 AM

@schools: Do we have a separate topic yet?

For now, let's just say that I think our education system is broken.

edited 27th Mar '13 8:42:10 AM by Belian

Yu hav nat sein bod speeling unntil know. (cacke four undersandig tis)the cake is a lie!
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#51892: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:43:14 AM

A lot of Countries' Educations Systems are broken, in many different ways...

Keep Rolling On
Medinoc from France (Before Recorded History)
#51893: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:43:25 AM

They still use strawmen though, according to the MSNBC Conservative page.

Edit: Oh, that's a redirect.

edited 27th Mar '13 8:43:58 AM by Medinoc

"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51894: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:44:11 AM

to be fair though. half the real consdervative positions are more ludicrous than the strawmen.

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51895: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:49:57 AM

From what I see of many liberal positions, I can't readily agree. But....I can take your point.

Nevertheless, Toure is an idiot and a race-baiter with a grasp of actual facts so tenuous I look good in comparison.

It was an honor
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51896: Mar 27th 2013 at 8:57:19 AM

[up]

That may be true..but you must admit some of the shit the blacks the republican party parades on stage comes off as hilariously apologetic to stuff Blacks shouldnt ever have to apologize for. Its the same reason i despise Marco Rubio despite being a latino. All he does is come onstage and apologize for how often the Republicans treat my family like shit.

And it pisses me off to no end.

edited 27th Mar '13 8:57:41 AM by Midgetsnowman

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51897: Mar 27th 2013 at 9:02:44 AM

Oh, for sure. Uncle Toms are no fun no matter what the minority or situation. But the answer is not more Uncle Tomfoolery, and that's where my beef with Toure (what the hell has he done to warrant a show anyway?) comes in.

Of course part of my beef, is that I'm well acquainted with the shit you get for being a black man that dares look at some of the abject nonsense of the liberal/"progressive"/Democrat bloc and call it such.

If you disagree with someone's position, attack the position; attack the premises behind them; attack the factual inaccuracies. But don't make a minstrel show of yourself by resorting to ad hominem attacks and gratuitous assumptions of someone's motives.

Especially since you (pr.) have so much to say about it when the "Repugnantcans" do it.

edited 27th Mar '13 9:03:10 AM by TheStarshipMaxima

It was an honor
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51898: Mar 27th 2013 at 9:03:49 AM

[up]

Well, I can agree with that, at least.

TheStarshipMaxima NCC - 1701 Since: Jun, 2009
NCC - 1701
#51899: Mar 27th 2013 at 9:06:51 AM

Midget, you do realize we actually agree on a lot, don't you?

It was an honor
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#51900: Mar 27th 2013 at 9:09:12 AM

[up]

I think most of the board generally agrees most of the time. We just violently disagree far more noticeably when it happens :D


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