Very interesting--I never heard of the burakumin caste before and how it existed in feudal Japan. What is more concerning is the fact that they still suffer prejudice within Japanese society in this modern age. I'm not sure I like the idea of erasing evidence of them but it seems the intention...

So many people have undergraduate degrees these days they've almost become meaningless in the quest for a job. Occupations are more interested in specialized skills anyway, which is why I encourage my students to look at all options and consider the trades if they are at all interested in them...

Then you admit you are in this more for the pontificating and less for the discussion--I'm glad we're clear on this. For someone who can be patronizing toward others and dismisses their views you seem to throw out the victim card quite freely. People are attacking your opinions, not you. It's...

Actually there are quite a few more. This piece has been on the net in a slightly different form for a few years now though additions have been made over the years. Here's a longer list: http://www.flamewarriors.com/

Careful now, if you respond directly to her thinly-veiled insults and demand she get on topic she might get all huffy and threaten to leave again. ;)

Everyone else in this thread has already accurately assessed the mindset of conservative evangelicals in some form. Being more supportive of torture while insisting they hold to the ideals of the founding fathers takes a strong display of moral compartmentalization but this is hardly surprising...

While I'm tempted to wash my hands of them I believe it's doing the kids a disservice. It doesn't prevent the parents from doing their best to make their children unlearn everything they learned at school if they want to try, but unless we don't believe that kids are profoundly influenced during...

Evolution classes optional under proposed Alberta law Here's strike two, though it's at a provincial level this time. Honestly, provincial stereotypes aside, I never expected us to have our own Kansas (or Texas).

I remember the planetarium fondly--what a waste in a city that seems to forget the sciences (apart from the medical ones) completely. What a waste of Adrienne Barbeau's talents as well. The 90's weren't so kind. :D

Don't know why I thought it was the ROM but you're right.

I vaguely remember going to the first one at the ROM back in '79, and this one is supposed to be better. Hope it draws good crowds but not too good as crushing throngs make it more difficult to go slow and take in all the pieces.

Enjoyed many walks through this area over the past few years--great pics.

While I haven't suffered like the original poster (at least not yet) I recently bought a new condo and learned firsthand how the developer has all the advantages in the arrangement--just little things that kept working in the builders favour. So the creation of a "Tenant Bill of Rights" or at...

The soccer shots reminded me of Korea during the 2002 World Cup, a time when the country went crazy and yet behaved far better than most soccer-mad nations. Great atmosphere. Korea is far removed from the glory days of Hiddink & Co. but still loves its soccer.

Unfortunately rich people buy their way out of trouble all the time--just look at how stars, athletes and big businesspeople are treated in the U.S. Connections and power make the world go round which is a sad thing to consider but its reality. While the offence is relatively minor in the...

Durban was a disaster and letting someone who has called for Israel's destruction be the keynote speaker just reduces the conference to a farce once again. Surely the UNHCR could have seen this coming and planned accordingly. Israel has issues but compared with the rest of the region (and...

Wait a minute, isn't Dec. 21st 2012 the Mayan end of the world (so-called, since I don't believe even the Mayans consider the world to end with the calendar) rather than the Christian one? The Rapture is always around the corner, Jack and Rexella Van Impe told me so! :rolleyes: I'm just glad we...

Flaherty: I think we just jumped the shark, Mr. Fonza~, er, chief. Harper: Aaay!

Now if only the Riders could get Taylor Field bulldozed...