Overnight Open Thread (1-4-2016)

Comment of the Day

16 I think 2015 is the year we finally stopped pretending that Kwanzaa was a real thing.

Posted by: Lauren at January 03, 2016 11:13 PM (GZ6Pf)

Moe Lane on How to Write Modern Poetry

1. Open up your word processor.
2. Decide how long your poem needs to be.
3. Type out about two paragraphs worth of stuff.  It doesn't really matter what, as long as it's vaguely coherent. Banal is good. Perfect, even.
4. Go to the first word. Control-Right Arrow your way through the text; at semi-random intervals stop, and hit the Enter key.  The length of the intervals depends on how long you want your poem to be; but don't be consistent.
5. When you have reached the end, look to see: is your poem the right length of lines? If so, hit save.  If not, go back up to the text and create/remove lines as necessary.
6. Pick a title. Pick something vague, pretentious, and at least vaguely related to the text.

So something like this:

The amount of detergent to use depends on the water hardness. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon. Using too little detergent can result in poor cleaning and hard water filming or spotting. Using too much detergent in soft water can cause a permanent film called etching.

Becomes this work of modern poesy:

The Right Amount

The amount of detergent to use

Depends

on the water hardness

water hardness is

measured in grains per gallon

using too little detergent

Can

result in poor cleaning and

HARD water

filming or spotting

using too much

detergent in soft water can

Cause

a permanent film called

etching

Reminder: Bill Clinton was fined $90,000 and forced to surrender his law license for lying under oath and obstruction of justice during Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against him. He eventually paid her $850,000 to settle the lawsuit.

End of the Line For Schengen?

Europe's passport-free Schengen zone is facing the biggest test of its two-decade existence after Sweden  re-imposed controls on visitors crossing from Denmark across what had been one of most open borders in the world.

Hours after the measures came into effect, Denmark announced it would slap new controls on its own border with Germany, while Berlin warned that the 26-nation zone of passport-free travel was now "in danger".

Six Schengen countries - Austria, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark and non-EU member Norway - have now reintroduced border checks as Europe struggles to cope with an unprecedented influx of refugees and migrants from conflict zones including Syria and Afghanistan.

Jay Nordlinger on White Privilege

If you're white in America, your life is supposed to be nothing but cotton candy, pretty prom dates, glowing health, and riches. A cloud never crosses your sky. In recent weeks, the cries of "White privilege!" have grown louder.

True, it's easier to belong to a racial majority than to a racial minority - or at least it is in most cases. Black people have coped with any number of obstacles and slights in this country, well after Jim Crow (to say nothing of slavery).

But lives are lived individually, aren't they? Rather than in groups?

Years ago, I worked briefly for a man who seemed to be a classic one-percenter. He was employed in a prestigious law firm and had been to the best schools: Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard, I believe, and in that order. One day, I asked him about his earlier life. And my eyes widened as he talked. He was from West Virginia. His family didn't have running water, as I remember. He himself didn't have proper shoes until he was 14. He didn't have any books, either. But a prominent man in town - I think it was a banker - let him use his private library. And that helped this kid, Michael, a lot.

Later, when the world looked at him, I'm sure they saw nothing but "white privilege." But they knew nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Campus zealots hound student out of lectures and bars with shouts of 'rapist' after he dared to question the effectiveness of rape 'consent workshops'

Daring to dissent in a time of group-think fanaticism is a dangerous choice.

Second-year George Lawlor, 19, fears for his future at Warwick University after being ostracised and bullied for challenging a student union drive to hold rape awareness sessions.

Writing in a blog, he argued that the overwhelming majority of people 'don't have to be taught to not be a rapist' - and that men inclined to commit the crime would be unlikely to attend such a workshop.

He added that he found his invitation to one of the sessions 'incredibly hurtful'.

But in the latest example of politically correct intolerance in universities, the student faced a fierce backlash from radical feminists. He was attacked on Twitter and Facebook by student activists branding him a 'rapist' and 'misogynist'.

...Mr Lawlor added: 'There was one guy messaging me on Facebook for over a week, calling me names like racist, rapist . I've stopped going to lectures and seminars because of the perceived threat.'

He said he was driven out of a bar in Leamington after some students overheard his friend mention his name. 'These six guys just crowded round me and started shouting at me . calling me a rapist, a misogynist, and threatening me . I had to get out of there,' he said.

Someone Tried to Assassinate Nigel Farage

Bill Clinton Received $8 Million From Groups With Business Before Hillary's State Department

I'm old enough to remember when even the appearance of a conflict of interest was enough to give people the vapors. Now it's graft right in front of everyone's faces and no one says boo.

Why are Cuban refugees trying to get into Nicaragua?

Most Americans Cannot Join the Military

The Army estimates that of those in the serving age range fewer than 27% could meet the eligibility requirements for enlistment. Mainly because of obesity and mental health-related issues.

144 Years of Marriage and Divorce in the US

Note that the divorce rate has fallen to only slightly higher than what it was in the 50s and 60s. The big difference though is that the marriage rate has plummeted to a historic low.

Prager University: The Three Types of Forgiveness

The world can use more forbearance.

Woman Realizes That She's Been Accidentally Abusing Her Husband This Whole Time...

My "Aha Moment" happened because of a package of hamburger meat. I asked my husband to stop by the store to pick up a few things for dinner, and when he got home, he plopped the bag on the counter. I started pulling things out of the bag, and realized he'd gotten the 70/30 hamburger meat - which means it's 70% lean and 30% fat.

...That's how it started. I launched into him. I berated him for not being smarter. Why would he not get the more healthy option? Did he even read the labels? Why can't I trust him? Do I need to spell out every little thing for him in minute detail so he gets it right? Also, and the thing I was probably most offended by, why wasn't he more observant? How could he not have noticed over the years what I always get? Does he not pay attention to anything I do?

As he sat there, bearing the brunt of my righteous indignation and muttering responses like, "I never noticed," "I really don't think it's that big of a deal," and "I'll get it right next time," I saw his face gradually take on an expression that I'd seen on him a lot in recent years. It was a combination of resignation and demoralization. He looked eerily like our son does when he gets chastised. That's when it hit me. "Why am I doing this? I'm not his mom."

I suddenly felt terrible. And embarrassed for myself. He was right. It really wasn't anything to get bent out of shape over. And there I was doing just that. Over a silly package of hamburger meat that he dutifully picked up from the grocery store just like I asked. If I had specific requirements, I should have been clearer. I didn't know how to gracefully extract myself from the conversation without coming across like I have some kind of split personality, so I just mumbled something like, "Yeah. I guess we'll make do with this. I'm going to start dinner."

He seemed relieved it was over and he left the kitchen.

Remember that people - especially your spouse - have an empathy budget. And when you're a bitch or a dick to them, their forbearance of your behavior out of love saps that budget until there's none left for any generosity or affection.

The 10 Scariest Theories Known to Man

The Yahoo AoSHQ group - it's got electrolytes and shit.

And my twitter thang.

Tonight's post brought to you by gun safety for children:

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posted by Maetenloch at 10:51 PM

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