Around the Moronosphere 11/1/09 - In which it is revealed scientifically that I am a dumbass and I prove it by questioning the NEA

Ace steps in it with Dede's Farewell I understand exactly what he is saying and agree completely. Many of his readers apparently disagree vociferously.

Dilbert - Experience is just another word for losing hope.

Doubleplusundead - Awesome local television - Jeebus, at this point we just need to legalize marijuana and get it over with.

JustOneMinute - If only reviewers read the books they review -

...Yet while Rand took to wearing a dollar-sign pin to advertise her love of capitalism, Heller makes clear that the author had no real affection for dollars themselves. Giving up her royalties to preserve her vision is something that no genuine capitalist, and few popular novelists, would have done.

Hmm - is Steve Jobs a capitalist, and what is his view on compromising his vision for a few extra bucks? Never mind. More to the point, has Mr. Kirsch the vaguest familiarity with "The Fountainhead", Ms. Rand's earlier book whose protagonist, Howard Roark, was always refusing to compromise his vision in exchange for a bit of business? As to Atlas Shrugs, it is replete with characters who are similarly uncompromising and non-businesslike (as Kirsch understands it).

Stop the ACLU - Another conservatives are stupid accusation - People have told me all my life I am a dumb-ass. Now there is scientific proof

Conservatism and cognitive ability

Lazar Stankov

Abstract

Conservatism and cognitive ability are negatively correlated. The evidence is based on 1254 community college students and 1600 foreign students seeking entry to United States’ universities. At the individual level of analysis, conservatism scores correlate negatively with SAT, Vocabulary, and Analogy test scores. At the national level of analysis, conservatism scores correlate negatively with measures of education (e.g., gross enrollment at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels) and performance on mathematics and reading assessments from the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) project. They also correlate with components of the Failed States Index and several other measures of economic and political development of nations. Conservatism scores have higher correlations with economic and political measures than estimated IQ scores.

Jason Richwine discusses problems with the conclusion of this study here

Bring the Heat Bring the Stupid - Load Heat Kelly Ripa edition

Nice Deb - National Education Association Website Promotes Saul Alinsky’s Books For Teachers -

Saul Alinsky, who was a labor and civil-rights activist from the 1910’s until he died in 1972, has written here a guidebook for those who are out to change things.

Hey teachers - how a bout a little less time spent on social change and a little more on bringing up math and science scores. Is that really so much to ask? You want a world free of hunger and full of justice. Educate the little shits so we have engineers who can build what we need for that world, and politicians who can understand basic economics. How's that for some radical thinking.



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