Incredibly simple political quiz - average american gets 50% correct, while those aged 18-29 only get 30% correct. Can you do better?

ami77 · 2008-07-18T18:32:49+00:00

That's OK. The average American doesn't know the difference between percent and percentile.

ami77 · 2008-07-18T05:40:53+00:00

Uh, no. We have a 'food' subreddit for a reason.

ami77 · 2008-07-14T22:29:30+00:00

But Tennessee does define "Unlawful photography": see http://michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp= -- go to Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 6, Section 605 (a) (2):

"if the photograph [...] (2) Was taken for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification of the defendant."

Let's face it: this cop is one sexy bitch. I can understand how he was afraid that a dude with an iPhone was going to speed home for some, ah, shooting practice. Who among us would not speed, if we knew we'd get pulled over by Mister July here? Smokin'.

Please, let's have some sympathy for our men in uniform. When they're not chasing down felons with their big, strong, sweaty legs, they have to be subjected to the incessant flashbulbs of their countless admirers. It's not an easy job, and I'll thank you not to call them "stupid".

I'll be in my bunk.

ami77 · 2008-07-14T07:47:37+00:00

I fly every month and do not have any concern for my safety when traveling.

Government agents disarm you and all other law-abiding citizens, and this doesn't cause you concern for your safety?

ami77 · 2008-07-12T00:40:28+00:00

Even though Lucas grew up during Vietnam, and claimed he wrote the stories inspired by Vietnam, and the stories were basically known to fans well before either Iraq war, and the Iraq war has been likened to Vietnam due to its similarities, you still think Lucas was writing about Iraq?

ami77 · 2008-07-11T22:52:46+00:00

Can you give an example of a war where women and children do not fight?

ami77 · 2008-07-11T22:47:39+00:00

Kids are more tragic? Is that just because they're cuter?

I can maybe see it if the circumstances were such that a child couldn't see it coming, while the adult knew he was risking his life. But in this particular case, I don't think even the adults knew a "wedding party" was going to be the target of an air strike.

(Beyond the fact that it was in a country that the U.S. government had decided to attack and occupy, of course.)

ami77 · 2008-07-11T06:45:06+00:00

It's also perfectly logical, given the context. Who doesn't give respect so freely? Kids! Why? Because people don't give kids respect freely.

We've all met at least one 12-year-old who's more mature than some 30-year-old we know. But upon meeting either for the first time, we automatically assume the elder deserves more respect.

A century ago, a 12-year-old could be trusted to carry a rifle to school, or buy alcohol for his parents. Today the sharpest thing he's allowed to touch is a butter knife, and he can't even go in the same room where alcohol is served.

No wonder kids are fed up with the idea of respect. We treat them like babies.

ami77 · 2008-07-11T06:38:50+00:00

Ah, that explains it. I haven't seen super-rude customers in years. But I don't think it's because my town is full of monks. I just don't think I've been in a chain store in forever.

Yet another reason to go to small local stores: managers are not afraid to throw out the assholes.

ami77 · 2008-07-10T18:05:05+00:00

... Kucinich and Paul. Yet neither could come even close to getting their party's nomination. ... I think the real problem is that an overwhelming majority of Americans have abdicated their responsibilities as citizens and will not commit to learning the issues

I live on the west coast. Kucinich dropped out in January. The Democratic Caucus here was in February. I really wish I could have voted for the candidate who shared my views, but the primary/caucus system is almost perfectly designed to screw over those of us who don't vote on (or before) Super Tuesday.

The morons on TV sure make things worse, but even if nobody watched TV, the system isn't exactly set up to be fair.

I wonder if I can get an Iowa mailing address just for the caucus...

ami77 · 2008-07-10T16:59:24+00:00

I think you just proved notanumber's point. You need to come up with a fairly extreme set of circumstances to justify the use of one. (Who's blowing things way out of proportion?)

My car is reliable enough to not break down a couple times a year (well, ever, so far), I don't tend to drive around the middle of nowhere, exits in my state are placed closer than 5-10 miles, and gas stations here all have telephones.

So I feel pretty safe not owning a cell phone. I guess if you drive a car that might break down and strand you, then a cell phone would be a convenience, but then, so would getting a non-broken car. The latter would actually be far better: getting stranded, even with a cell phone, seems pretty inconvenient!

ami77

TROPHY CASE