Shit! I have absolutely nothing to ask you all to start the day’s discussion.
And it’s not like I’m too busy to find a topic. I’m actually off today, and have had plenty of time to come up with something. Of course I slept in, and then went to the gym, and then took a nap, and then had some lunch, and then took another nap. So it’s not like I’ve just been sitting in the middle of the room, staring straight ahead.
I can only hope you are in the same kind of mood I’m in, and aren’t overly concerned that I’m being a loser for a day. But if you want, you can talk about what news story has got your interest right now.
The change of power in North Korea? Rare galaxies or Earth-like planets? Winter solstice and longer days ahead? A snowbound student surviving on candy? The Hobbit trailer? Italy seeking women with French breast implants? Other?
The Afternoon Inquisition (or AI) is a question posed to you, the Skepchick community. Look for it to appear Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 3pm ET.
I would like to bring up something about North Korea actually. It’s something I addressed over at Jerry Coyne’s blog. I know the over-the-top footage of grieving, wailing folks looks really bizarre to most of us, and WHO they are grieving for is odious and quite sad. However, I need to point out that outward displays of grief like what was shown (whether coerced or not) is not unusual in Korean culture. From my own experience, I’ve seen my own relatives collapse to the floor, keen, throw themselves at a coffin, and carry on with intense displays of grief. There was a high profile suicide of a pop star in South Korea that elicited public grieving not unlike what’s being shown for Kim Jong Il.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that, yes, it’s a little sickening seeing the rather oppressed people of North Korea bewail their oppressor, and many of them were likely coerced. But the actual acts of grieving (pounding the ground, wailing to sky, etc.) would not necessarily construe “faking” or “acting”.
I’m currently trying to re-evaluate whether intelligence officer Manning should be referred to as Bradley or Breanne, and whether or not to keep trying to get the Guardian to acknowledge that this is an important question. Actually, given the recent posts by Natalie, the Skepchicks might give useful points of view…
On the subject of Winter Solstice, there’s a piece at Less Wrong about a group of rationalists who had a go at creating their own winter solstice celebration.
Since this a a hodgepodge…I am trying to help my daughter figure out fact from fiction with the dinosaurs and the events of the Mesozoic era. If anyone happens to have a good resource, please help.
@greenstone123
You could give the Dinosaur Mailing List (dml.cmnh.org) a try. That list is populated by everyone from interested laymen to leading paleontologists. They are always willing to answer sincere questions.
Awesome! We will give em a try. Thank you.