-rePost: Remember when Arguing-Donkeylicious: The Difference Between Analogies And Counterexamples

Especially hate it when people do the sneaky thing and try to refute you by saying how weak an analogy is when you are giving a counterexample, especially hate it when the person you are talking to seems to either not care or doesn’t understand. Read the whole thing it is short and you would probably learn a thing or two.

Strive to give sound arguments, and to show that other people’s arguments aren’t sound. Use counterexamples to argue against general claims. Don’t fuck around with analogies. That’s how it’s done.
Donkeylicious: The Difference Between Analogies And Counterexamples.

-rePost-Learned Today: Basketball Game Winner Rule Of Thumb-The No-Stats All-Star – NYTimes.com

One statistical rule of thumb in basketball is that a team leading by more points than there are minutes left near the end of the game has an 80 percent chance of winning. If your team is down by more than 6 points halfway through the final quarter, and you’re anxious to beat the traffic, you can leave knowing that there is slightly less than a 20 percent chance you’ll miss a victory; on the other hand, if you miss a victory, it will have been an improbable and therefore sensational one.
The No-Stats All-Star – NYTimes.com.

Grasping Reality with Both Hands: Evil Republican Senators Watch

And I can’t believe there would be any electoral fall out that would follow what would be clearly understood by all as a classy gesture. McConnell — or Gregg, or any of a number of Republicans of impeccable (sic) right wing ideological pedigree — would be able to demonstrate a kind of reasonableness that the rest of their recent actions hide pretty well.
Even better: they would be praised for the kind of gesture that the GOP has found it impossible to make in response to what polls show is a pretty effective campaign to suggest that they are refusing the proffered hand of a very popular president.
Plus, of course, its just the right thing to do, the sort of care you take for those with whom you work — even the ones with whom you disagree, who you may in fact dislike — just because it makes the world a slightly better place in a way that costs nothing. Your mama told you to do such things; I and my wife work on my eight year old all the time to get him to internalize the notion that kindness is the default option in his dealings with the world.
Is this so hard to get? To do? If you are a Senate Republican, I guess so.
I can’t even get angry about this one. It’s just sad. These are damaged people.
Grasping Reality with Both Hands: Evil Republican Senators Watch.

-rePost: Excellent News For Eminem Fans-Eminem is having a Relapse

Excellent news! I have to say for me Eminem’s music is like Andy Warhol’s art. I’d like to explain it but its like a magic trick it ceases to amaze you if it is explained.

Eminem is having a Relapse
Just what has Eminem been doing for the past three years? According to this profile of the now-reclusive artist: recording.
…..
His new album, Relapse, is due out sometime in the next month or two.
Eminem is having a Relapse.

-rePost: Something To Be Happy About-Unfogged

Unsullied
Posted by Becks
on 02.11.09
It’s almost equally impressive in this day and age that Captain Sully from Flight 1549 has been in the spotlight as a hero for nearly a month now without some sigh-inducing reveal like he’s having a sleazy affair or has a history of DUIs or some such. You know people are surely digging, loving to take down heroes almost as much as making them.
Kudos, sir.
Unfogged.

-rePost: Darwin-Op-Ed Contributor – The Origin of Darwin – NYTimes.com

This reads like a great eulogy

MY fellow primates, 200 years ago today, Charles Darwin was born. Please join me in wishing him happy birthday!
Unlike many members of the human species, Darwin makes an easy hero. His achievements were prodigious; his science, meticulous. His work transformed our understanding of the planet and of ourselves.
At the same time, he was a humane, gentle, decent man, a loving husband and father, and a loyal friend. Judging by his letters, he was also sometimes quite funny. He was, in other words, one of those rare beings, as likeable as he was impressive.
Op-Ed Contributor – The Origin of Darwin – NYTimes.com.