treetop57 Member

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/04/oh-the-irony-coursera-suspends-online-course-about-how-to-run-an-online-course/

I did a coursera class last summer on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The lectures were great. I didn't do the homework, reading, or on-line discussions just because I was traveling a lot at that time, but I would highly recommend coursera based on that experience. On the downside, I read a funny story about a…

I agree completely, jq2122. And thanks for explaining, TheRoadDog.

Yes and no.

From the Plaintiffs' brief to the Supreme Court in the Prop 8 case. (Plaintiffs are pro-marriage equality. Proponents are anti-marriage equality.) Quoted by Andrew Sullivan. http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/02/22/prop-8-goes-to-washington/

Glad I missed that whole thread.

I always assume that the people who rail against all dairy on in the 75%. My ancestors depended on milk into adulthood or they wouldn't have passed on to me the ability to digest lactose. And I'm happy for it!

Yes, raw milk is fine to drink . . . until you get a bad batch and get sick.

I'm thousands of miles away from the nearest Waffle House, but I like to eat there when I travel to the south. Do they support anti-gay organizations?

In 17 years on the meds, I packed on a lot of pounds. But I think that was due to eating too much for too long, not a direct side-effect. The meds did very quickly send my cholesterol and triglycerides through the roof. But losing ~35 pounds in the last year did help that quite a bit. My doc had me cut my statin medication…

I'm sorry I was unclear.

I was not talking about you. I was talking about the NRA and its lackeys in Congress. You are not alone in demanding that the unprovable be proved.

Proving that bans on certain classes of weapons are constitutional.

Disgusting.

I made zero claims about you shutting down reearch. If I make a general statement that doesn't apply to you, don't assume I'm talking about you.

I also support funding for research, so we don't have the ridiculous situation where people say "Prove it," when there is no reliable information because those same people have shut down research. Stopping the Republican "starve the beast" toward the ATF would also help. Let me repeat: I doubt an "assault weapon" ban would…

That's the one thing I've consistently said here should be done and will be at least partially effective. Higher penalties for straw purchasers would also help a bit.

You're funny! You prove nothing yet want me to prove everything. This is a discussion. I'll prove what I want to prove. My opinion is that some of the measures on the table will probably reduce gun violence. Prove me wrong.

You have a different definition of "curb" than me, I guess. To me it means "reduce." Apparently to you it means "eliminate." No legislation is going to eliminate gun violence. Some measures on the table will probably reduce gun violence. Eschew the excluded middle.

Not all semi-automatics are covered by the proposed ban. Only those with "military" features.

The 40% number had nothing to do with "illegally obtained firearms." It was a gross estimate of the percentage of legally obtained firearms where no background check was required.

I should have said outlawed federal funding of research. I let my rhetoric get ahead of the facts.

Where did I get the figure from? The article I linked to obviously. But I don't think that's what you meant to ask. The number is all around; the source is apparently a study from 1997. As I said, good numbers are hard to find, especially since the gun lobby is afraid of facts and has outlawed research.

Numbers are hard to come by (in part because people afraid of the truth have outlawed research), but an estimated 40% of guns are bought in "private sales" that require no background check and no waiting period. http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/the-gun-show-loophole-puts-guns-in-wrong-hands_2013-01-09.html

That's the reason I don't really care about the so-called assault weapon ban. I'd guess the numbers for suicides are even more skewed to handguns. My guess is that the assault weapon ban will die, in exchange for universal background checks.

I just noticed this at the end of that ABC article:

For what it's worth, the Church of England is the established church only in England, not in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, none of which have established churches.

Actually no. I don't know whether it would be a local option within the Church of England or whether the Church would be able to make a general rule for all parishes and priests. I also don't remember whether the Church of Scotland is still established in Scotland. Or whether Wales or Northern Ireland have established…

Woohoo!

Two LOLs in a row!