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farnsworth

Published Letters: 739
Editor's Choice: 22

Monday, August 6, 2007 12:36 PM

Have you ever tried to teach math to teenagers?

I have. It's my job. And it is very very hard.

I have tried just about anything you can imagine to get teenagers to try to understand math. It doesn't matter what the method is, as long as it works.

I have even used the calculations employed to market and distribute illegal drugs to try and catch the interest of students. I wrote and perform a rap for the quadratic formula. You do whatever it takes. Especially now that state legislators are beginning to require success on standardized math tests in order to graduate from high school.

If McKellar has found a method that works to engage students with math, she has done a good thing. Worrying about whether it is a sexist method is missing the point completely. The point is getting children to study math.

Monday, August 6, 2007 06:21 PM
Original article: Cheerful boos for Hillary

Terrible picture

The picture of Hillary Clinton on the front page of your site is a terrible picture. A terrible picture.

So, of course you had it up there all day long. Are you trying to give ammunition to the Hillary Haters? Are you a secret Republican? Give me a break.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 02:16 PM
Original article: Various items

Why do they keep lying?

Simple:

Because they keep getting away with it.

Yes, Glenn Greenwald points out the fallacy of the statement, on his blog. But the liars don't care. The target audience got, and continues to get, the false statement, the unrepentant spin, the shameless lie. The liars have clearly demonstrated that a fact-based minority is not a threat to them, and they don't go out of their way to combat it.

What we need now is a plan of action to combat this. Clearly, repeated preaching to the choir about these endless falsehoods is not having any noticeable effect. What can we do that will actually accomplish something? That's what we need now.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 06:11 PM

Oh come on!

Jim Inhofe told me it was all a hoax!

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 08:58 PM
Original article: Art movies: R.I.P.

Oops! The least offensive Paglia ever!

Other than her causal I-Love-You to Ann Coulter, Paglia sticks to reasonably non-offensive cultural commentary. Not that she doesn't do her usual job of saying colossally stupid things. But fewer readers will be whipped to a froth by the idiocy of her comments about Star Wars than her usual fare.

Gosh, Joan Walsh, Paglia isn't going to do what you have hired her for this month. You had better get her straightened out!

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 09:34 PM
Original article: Obama's big blunder

Bonds has ADMITTED using steroids

When are people going to quit bringing up the "He never tested positive" nonsense? That would only be germane if Bonds had not admitted using treatments that contained steroids.

Yes yes yes, he claims to have been unaware that the treatments contained steroids. This only addresses intent. He has admitted using steroids.

Whether he ever tested positive or not is totally irrelevant. Can you drop it, please?

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 10:50 AM
Original article: Thank you, Hank Aaron

What if Bonds didn't play for your team?

I don't know anything about Joan Walsh's baseball team loyalties except for the fact that she is a Giants fan. I don't know which other teams she likes or dislikes.

But I can't help but wonder how she would feel about Barry Bonds and his admitted use of performance enhancing drugs if he played for a team she didn't like.

A broadcaster for another team said that he hoped Bonds would break the record in San Francisco, in front of the only fans who like him. He also stated that he didn't want to be behind the microphone when Bonds hit number 756. He didn't want to have to act like he thought it was a good thing.

I subscribe to MLB Gameday Audio. I almost never listen to Giants broadcasts, but I have been listening since Bonds got 755. I was listening when Jon Miller called number 756. It was something I felt like I should do as a lifelong baseball fan, regardless of my feelings for Bonds. Yes, I would have liked to have been there, because it was an historical moment. But it is very unlikely I would have been cheering.

Would Walsh have been cheering if she were not a Giants fan? Would she have been such a fervent Bonds supporter, repeating the nonsensical "he never got caught," if Bonds were not a member of her favorite team? That's what I wonder.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 01:08 PM
Original article: Thank you, Hank Aaron

Another anonymous coward

An anonymous coward calls my morals into question, along with the morals of millions of other sports fans. But this mighty judge of morals lacks the courage to attribute his post.

Yeah, your craven words carry weight.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 05:27 PM
Original article: Thank you, Hank Aaron

Question for Thrasher

If a white person dislikes a black person, must it always automatically be due to racism? I am white. If I dislike a black person, does that automatically make me a racist?

This seems to be the underlying message you are sending. Am I misreading you?

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