Things that make you go "Hmmmm…"

[kladner]

Originally Posted by wombatman

Honestly, I have no idea. But it came with an engraving done on it in the style of a Celtic knot type of thing. Goes all the around the band. My guess would be some kind of laser etching.

Fake edit: And a quick google search confirms my guess: http://www.tungstenworld.com/Tungste...n-Be-Engraved/

That does make sense. Thanks!
Now excuse me whilst I go shoot up some insulin, thanks to visiting that site.

[Xyzzy]

http://theweek.com/speedreads/582366...ntains-statues

Congressional review of the spending habits of the embattled Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reveals the agency has spent some $6.3 million on fountains and sculptures for its facilities, primarily at two locations in California.

[ewmayer]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

http://theweek.com/speedreads/582366...ntains-statues

$800 hammers are so last century...

Would you consider that money better or worse-spent than the $500 million the administration spent to train '4 or 5' "moderate" Syrian rebels, who surrendered instantly at the first contact with the rather-less-moderate rebels (who happen to be supported by the US's 'allies')?

No worries though - owning the world's dominant reserve currency means we can always print more and thus effectively force our major trading partners (the ones we run persistent trade deficits with) to subsidize our excesses. Who said TANSTAAFL?

[kladner]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

$800 hammers are so last century...
.....Who said TANSTAAFL?

The phrase and the acronym are central to Robert Heinlein's 1966 science-fiction novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, which helped popularize it.

[Xyzzy]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society...us-Peoples-Day

For decades, Native Americans have urged states that celebrate the federal holiday to reconsider honoring a man many historians accuse of opening the Americas to enslavement, genocide, and cultural destruction – and “finding” the wrong continent, to boot.

[davar55]

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society...us-Peoples-Day

Political Correctness be d*mned, Columbus is more hero than villain. Perhaps, however,
putting a famous native-American woman on our dollar coinage, and a male image on
our old-style nickels, wasn't enough; we could celebrate the discovery of America as a
projection of our potential future united. Both Columbus AND Indigenous Peoples Day.
My suggestion: call October 12 "Origins Day." and let it be like Thanksgiving.
We did combine Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays into Presidents Day.

[kladner]

Columbus is more hero than villain.

Please support this statement. There are records by Columbus himself which might belie it.

Also, explain the differences between ethical behavior and "political correctness."

[davar55]

Originally Posted by kladner

Please support this statement. There are records by Columbus himself which might belie it.
Also, explain the differences between ethical behavior and "political correctness."

You're making me work too hard...

[davar55]

Who said TANSTAAFL?

I think it's a motto of Classical Liberal economics.
And very valid as a principle.

[kladner]

There was no heroic adventure, only bloodshed. Columbus Day should not be a celebration.

Arawak men and women, naked, tawny, and full of wonder, emerged from their villages onto the island’s beaches and swam out to get a closer look at the strange big boat. When Columbus and his sailors came ashore, carrying swords, the Arawaks ran to greet them, brought them food, water, gifts. He later wrote of this in his log:

They brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they owned. . . They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They would make fine servants . . . with fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.

And this is only the beginning. Wait till you get to the part about chopping off the hands of indigenous people who did not bring in enough gold.

[kladner]

A Manhattan human resources manager is suing her 12-year-old nephew for leaping into her arms when he welcomed her to his eighth birthday party.

Of the damage done, Connell testified that she did not complain at the time, but she said her life had been “very difficult” since the injury because of “how crowded it is in Manhattan”.


“I was at a party recently, and it was difficult to hold my hors d’oeuvre plate,” she reportedly said.

So, four years later she is suing a twelve-year-old for something he did when he was barely eight. If she wins anything, I sure hope it makes up for her difficulty holding her hors d’oeuvre plate. She just dumped a load of guilt and confusion on a kid for being "unreasonably" excited and affectionate on his eighth birthday.