Overnight Open Thread (8 June 2013)

22 Maps That Show How Americans Speak English Totally Different From Each Other.

Equality

Well, well. Looks like we're finally getting some equality when it comes to dishin' out punishment for teacher sex predators. Female teacher, 45, gets life in prison for having sex with 14 year old student.

Apparently the juries in Columbus, Georgia haven't heard of the double standard for female teachers accused of having sex with underage boys. Typically, these ladies get probation or a brief (months) jail term, while their male counterparts receives years and years in prison.

But not this time. This time a jury slapped former teacher Cristina Preston, 45, with a LIFE sentence, with no chance of parole for 25 years after she was caught in a parked car in a park with underage boy.

Missile Silo For Sale

Hmmm. This looks mighty enticing except it's in NY. Cold War Missile Silo For Sale In NY.

Littering To Save The Forest

Jeez. Discarded Android Phones Protect Rainforests From Loggers. Who cares. I want something that protects me from NSA keyloggers.

Baseball

Useless College Courses

With college getting so dang expensive, you'd think that folks would avoid classes that are really a waste of your time and money. 20 Completely Ridiculous College Courses Being Offered At U.S. Universities. Of course, college leadership could help out by doing away with some ridiculous graduation requirements that have nothing to do with your actual degree but force you take these electives.

6. "Invented Languages: Klingon and Beyond" (The University Of Texas) - Why would anyone want to learn Klingon? Who really speaks Esperanto, anyway? Could there ever be a language based entirely on musical scales? Using constructed/invented languages as a vehicle, we will try to answer these questions as we discuss current ideas about linguistic theory, especially ideas surrounding the interaction of language and society. For example, what is it about the structure of Klingon that makes it look so "alien"? What was it about early 20th century Europe that spawned so many so-called "universal" languages? Can a language be inherently sexist? We will consider constructed/invented languages from a variety of viewpoints, such as languages created as fictional plot-devices, for philosophical debates, to serve an international function, and languages created for private fun. We won't be learning any one language specifically, but we will be learning about the art, ideas, and goals behind invented languages using diverse sources from literature, the internet, films, video games, and other aspects of popular culture.

Let The Wookie Win

Good lord, the TSA thinks a lightsaber cane is a weapon? It's never wise to upset a wookie.

The actor known for his role as the Wookiee from Star Wars had his cane confiscated by airport security on his way back from a Sci-Fi convention. Seven-plus-foot-tall Peter Mayhew had his lightsaber cane seized when TSA thought it was an actual weapon, but thanks to some pictures posted to Twitter, they let the Wookiee win.

Big Bite Bacon Fest

Man, I wish I was in San Diego for this. The Bacon And Beer Fest Of Epic Porkportions.
h/t mpfs

Cat Video

Doggeh don't like the tiger drinking his water.

Future outcome:

Bonus video: Late breaking addition courtesy of mpfs.

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posted by CDR M at 10:05 PM

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