Indeed, my science classes in Wisconsin almost exclusively used the metric system. It's part of the socialist conspiracy to turn all of our kids into communists. I learned that on Fox News.

This is exactly what I thought of. For those who don't want to look it up for yourself, I present to you David Hahn. At the age of 19 he created his own Superfund site and inspired a Duran Duran song, a book, a movie, and, perhaps most importantly, a joke on the Big Bang Theory.

Who says they haven't put some of this technology into their phones?

Either way, I'm all for big companies suing big companies over patent disputes. Monetarily it's going to be a wash for consumers (minus some money for the lawyers) since all the companies win some and lose some. However, it will be a definite win for consumers as many of the patents often get nullified. And, hopefully, someday these companies will realize it's no longer worth the hassle or money and might support logical patent reform.

How about never try again for a first post?

At least this way they have a chance to to do it right. Some will, some won't, and eventually those that won't will have to try again.

This story just triggered my geekometer. To me, this step seems so cool, that we now have space gas attendants and junk men. It makes me feel as if some of the science fiction that I've read is not so far away after all.

I don't agree with your statements, and neither does this chart.

I really wish you hadn't included the "pro-lifers" in your comment. The abortion debate is not even remotely similar to being an AGW or evolution denialist. Whereas global warming and evolution allow for testable hypotheses and have sound science backing them and those denying it are ignoring science because of their ideology. Abortion, on the other hand, is not a debate over acceptable science, but rather it is strictly a moral debate as to when a fetus becomes a human with a right to life, and further, when that right to life outweighs the mother's right to her own body. This has nothing to do with fact free science.

Misclicked and modded you redundant instead of insightful :(

I don't know. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that games in which there is a leader who gives details about a setting and situation and asks the players how they would react have been determined to lead to the development of gangs. I don't know about you, but I do not want our Secret Service members organizing or joining gangs. Perhaps they should scrap this whole system.

Nah. Some of them know they are criminals. Their moms probably think they're good boys, but these guys who are actively participating in organized crime know that they are bad guys.

Religion:
      1. beliefs and worship: people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life
      2. system: an institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine
      3. personal beliefs or values: a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by

Cult: (now this is in my words, but I believe that others would basically agree)
A structured religion in which (1) members are required to pay money to be a member or progress within the religious structure, (2) members are segregated from their family or other outside influences as part of membership, (3) members are forbidden from leaving and harassed if they do manage to leave, or any combination of the above.

Most Christian religions do not require any money whatsoever (although they do encourage charity and giving). They often condemn other beliefs, but, especially in the case of the modern Catholic church, encourage study and exploration of other belief systems as a way for members to reaffirm their own beliefs. And if a member does decide to leave, other members often reach out to them, however the level of contact rarely ever (I sadly cannot say never) even approaches many of the things Scientology has done.

Pretty sure that's not what I read. What I got out of it was that he doesn't even worry about the receipt anymore because he knows that if he wants to return something, they'll have the information on file. But hey, if you really enjoy jumping to conclusions so much, I might have a mat to sell you.