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Comment Re:Theia (Score 1) 105

The problem, I think, is in the wording of the sentence... The sentence in question:

Analysis of lunar rock brought back by Apollo astronauts shows traces of the "planet" called Theia.

Simply saying it was called Theia like that implies that somebody was actually around back when this actually happened, and gave it that name.... There's absolutely nothing inherently wrong with giving it a name, however... but I would suggest that it would be less ambiguous to explicitly state that they gave the name Theia to the other planet, rather than simply that is what it was called. It may be called Theia now, but it certainly wasn't called Theia then, while how the quoted sentence from the summary is phrased heavily implies the latter.

Going to venture a guess that someone who is confused about the naming conventions in scientific process of hypothetical worlds (or anything, for that matter) probably has no business rooting around in such articles; they've got bigger, more remedial issues to work out. The article is fine; it does not need to dumb down the conversation to explain something so obvious to anyone who has even a modicum of understanding in basic astronomy.

Comment Re:painted into a corner... (Score 1) 403

I'm in a theatre for two hours, you need to entertain me, outsmart me and give me something to think about for a long time after.

I think by that criteria he failed 2 out of 3 then. Abrhams made a Star Trek that didn't outsmart anyone: it confused, annoyed and disrespected its audience more than anything. Did he make us think about it for a long time after? I'd venture to suggest that people dwelling on the starship-sized plot holes is not quite what you intended, and suggest that no, these films were essentially irrelevant. That's a shame, because by contrast I still think about and enjoy the original films and many of the TV episodes, but the two latest movies were spectacle without substance. I'll agree his ST take was popcorn-at-the-movies-bam-wow-wizbang entertaining, though.

Comment sigh (Score 1) 493

Marvel's stories have always been parables about racisim and homophobia, using mutants and superheroes as a cypher to teach kids that it's not okay to discriminate and to entertain old cheeto-stained adults (disclaimer: I pick up about 40 comics a month, but admit I am not actually cheeto-stained so I have not not been living up to the standard I set for our kind). They are not parables about ways to make sure that health concerns caused by misinformed individuals do not blow up in our face and cause loss of life. Terrible article premise, sorry.

Comment Re:As Jim Morrison said... (Score 1) 1198

Or you could, you know, have more realistic standards and just look for a gal who's decent if not a barbie super star, also likes video games, and enjoys a good shut-in away from the plebians as much as you do. There are plenty of nerdy gals out there....but the real problem is that men have a weird disconnect between "who I am" and "what I deserve" in our society. Every buddy of mine I've ever known who has made it to his forties (and in two cases fifties) single and unwed (or divorced) have a common habit of always, inevitably believing that only the finest, most knock-out amazing women are good enough for them. These women must not only be attractive but they must be agreeable, great servants, wonderful conversationalists and also be doting. If they fail to meet that criteria, then something is wrong with them and out the door they go. Where does this come from? Each of these guys is facing a lonely tenure at the end of their life, while admiring myself and other friends who have a wife and kids, because we "got lucky." But I didn't get lucky...I just realized that I needed to find a woman who was like myself, or close enough to accept who I was, and was happy do so because....and this is where it gets hard for guys who are part of the "culture of misogyny" to understand...because I also accepted her for who she was. That mutual acceptance is really damned important. But who knows, maybe my buddies who are facing their alone years in their waning decades are happy; they never could find someone they could just accept...and be accepted by. Instead, they have created a wall of perfection that can never be scaled, and maybe secretly that's how they wanted it.

Comment Re:Do we really need new books? (Score 1) 405

You must not engage much on the creative side, as your view sounds like one who is very much good at consuming rather than producing. Speaking as someone who'd love to write more, I find that this plebian real job I have makes that damned difficult. I can safely say that if anything, writing and making money at it can only assure you of increase in volume; quality will come from the author, not whether or not he's motivated exclusively by financial needs.

Comment Re:Do we really need new books? (Score 1) 405

No no no, he's just pointing out that he prefers to look to the past rather than the future. Also, that he's too cheap and lacking in personal momentum to bother picking something up that isn't out of copyright, near as I can tell. Or, in other words, totally irrelevant to the issue at hand.

Comment Re:Do we really need new books? (Score 1) 405

I think Charles' target audience is for people who hunger for something new. Just sayin' you're not his target audience. Enjoy reading Wells and all the other out-of-copyright classics, I'll be reading some fiction that's of more than literary historical significance while you do that.

Comment Re:good (Score 1) 350

Bad analogy. This kid's doing the "driving equivalent" of jumping lanes and driving into traffic because it's fun to see people swerve out of his way. And then slash-dotters here are defending him on the grounds that people driving in one direction should assume that other people will be driving down the wrong lane toward them so its their fault for not double checking before going out. Geez......guess this one must touch some people in their dark naughty bits with all the defense this guy's getting.

Comment Re:Obamacare exists because... (Score 1) 288

I'm also trying to wrap my head around the idea of a paltry $90 for a doctor's visit. That's damned cheap, and I'd be suspect of the quality of service is that was the uninsured price they were charging. Next time you get your doctor's bill and an insurance claim, take a moment to do the math on how much you would have paid without insurance, and that'll give you a more realistic picture of uninsured health costs. If it were only $90 we wouldn't be having this discussion........I still have lingering medical debt from my uninsured days fifteen years ago.

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