The Humour Club discussion

There are remarkable insights into human nature that viewed as an outsider (IF that were possible) are amazing, flabbergasting, and, just as often, downright hilarious.

Take for example, the remarkable proliferation of the 'fast food diet' around the world. A McDonalds on every corner and a Twinkie in every schoolchild's lunchbox is simply good business... Or, is it?

Obese people outnumber underweight for first time in history
A new study published by the Lancet Medical Journal finds that for the first time in human history, there are more obese people than underweight people in the world.

And so...

It's now official. Forget climate change and nuclear proliferation... The human race is going to eat itself to death!

...Do you want fries with that?

If you think about it, evolution has always been about the pursuit of calories. Those capable of taking in more generally thrived better than their hungrier counterparts. The mechanics of pouring those calories, mainly in the form of sugar, coupled with not having to move very much, which causes the pounds to accumulate. That, and Game of Thrones marathons.

Part of me is relieved that it's not just a U.S. problem, but the rest of me is pretty horrified.

IT'S ONLY HUMAN to believe that reality is flexible.

Once upon a time, facts (eventually) overruled myth and prejudice.
• The ancient Greeks (among others) proved that the Earth was not flat. This concept took a while to catch on, which it did with everyone whose head is not flat.
• Galileo spent the last years of his life under house arrest for his heretical support of heliocentrism, but his math was correct and verified by experts. On the other hand, the pope has given up trying to convert the appropriate calculations to infallible cubits.
• Geologists had the temerity to prove that some rocks are billions of years old and continents do drift. The former was done primarily by direct observation of various rock formations (Who would have thought to actually look!), or by measuring the radioactive decay of various elements. The latter—let's just say that GPS no longer indicates Dublin and Glasgow are suburbs of Boston.
• Polar bears, with a relative intelligence equivalent to some of the great apes, are adapting to climate change. Humans, at least those with a relative intelligence greater than an ape, are also inclined to adapt.

These fine examples show that reality is testable and generally agreed upon by everyone except crackpots and fanatics.

BUT...

Enter politics, and all bets are off.

Not only is there some twisted truth to the statement the perception is the reality, but voters are lining up to swallow political agendas riddled with pure nonsense.
• Obama is gutting the military. - Actually, the federal budget is public record and anyone can look up the fact that the military budget increased every year of his presidency.
• Trump saw thousands of Muslims cheering in New Jersey after the 9/11 attack. - How is it possible that no one else in New Jersey saw this? Is there some requirement that New Jersey citizens be blind?
• Another genuine favorite, thanks to Real Time with Bill Maher:



Really, Ted? Do you expect your constituents and supporters to believe such unadulterated crap?

Apparently.

Lies, damned lies and entirely imaginary statistics have become our political reality. The media has abdicated any responsibility for fact checking; social media will "SHARE" anything regardless of truth or relevance, and many voters are willing to support the most outrageous lies as long as they can stick it to the opposition to their group or pet peeve.

Even most of our think tanks have abandoned facts for partisan agendas.

There is no longer a need for us to agree on reality. (Much less, deal with it.) Reality is not only flexible, we are now seemingly entitled to make it into anything we desire.

Is it any surprise that reality has been Trump-ed?

The unfortunate truth is that our politics has entered a Tabloid Era.


NOTE: Verifiable facts are still available for those who know the TOP SECRET, mystical, magical formula: look.

IT'S ONLY HUMAN to want to explore our wonderfully beautiful and diverse world...and then post a bunch of really boring, poorly-framed photos online.

That is, unless you're female and your work requires that you visit countries that offer more rights to sheep and cattle than to their female citizens.

Time Magazine (online) Article:
Air France Is Letting Its Female Crew Members Opt Out of Flying to Iran

Kudos to Air France for being considerate to their employees.

However, in fairness, we must admit that it has been at least 24 hours since Iran, Saudi Arabia, et al. stoned a woman to death for being raped without four male witnesses present to attest that a crime had been committed. Naturally, rapes in more advanced countries are required by law to have the four male witnesses present before the commission of the actual rape. That is, in the rape-planning stages, so to speak.

WAIT... Further research shows that's not true. Mainly, because it's completely insane to legally require a gathering of witnesses prior to the commission of a violent felony in order to later prove that someone was victimized. (See 'Cart before horse' and various other philosophical treatises on logic, reality, and\or 'Bullshit by any other name does NOT smell as sweet.')

Still, maybe the West just thinks differently. After all, there's a lot to be said for respecting tradition, and trading women and horses is certainly traditional.

WAIT... Now that I think about it, that tradition may have changed also. That is, since they introduced the automobile, Eleanor Roosevelt, Michelle Obama, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Aung San Suu Kyi, Benazir Bhutto, Angela Merkel, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Emmeline Pankhurst, Susan B. Anthony, Eva Peron, Malala Yousafzai, Marie Curie, Simone de Beauvoir, Oprah Winfrey, Dorothy Hodgkin, Cleopatra, Boudicca...ad (nearly) infinitum.

Are you seeing a trend yet?

And for the record, most of today's world leaders are pussies compared to Boudicca.

Speaking of automobiles (It's true, they were mentioned a while back.), perhaps it should be noted that it's very rare for a Saudi woman to be sentenced to jail time for the crime and unpardonable sin of driving a car.

WAIT... Further investigation shows that there are quite a few such cases that can be cited of women who were caught behind the wheel of a Chevy instead of staying home where they belong, chewing leather to make it softer and more pliable for their husbands new sandals. However, a sentence of jail time may be appropriate when one considers that driver statistics have repeatedly proven that women are better, safer drivers than men; ergo, legislating some discriminatory attempt to protect the fragile male ego does make a bit of sense. A very small bit—very, very, VERY small—perhaps, mathematically definable by string theorists.

Maybe Air France is not so progressive after all. They may actually be discriminating against their male employees by forcing them to fly to Iran and look at hijabs?

As Bowie sang, "This is not America".

Joel wrote: "As Bowie sang, "This is not America"."

Sha la la la la

And I could have the faintest idea...

Sha la la la la

Love Bowie's muse. All 16 million interpretations.

We lost a great artist in that one.

It's only human to sit in front of hide behind a computer and type threats and hate-filled speech in lieu of speaking on's mind face to face. All in the name of cupcakes . . .

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisf...

Lisa wrote: "It's only human to sit in front of hide behind a computer and type threats and hate-filled speech in lieu of speaking on's mind face to face. All in the name of cupcakes . . .

http://www.theguardi..."

Good article, Lisa.

Free speech vs. shielding hateful morons... Hmm...

I completely agree that there are a ton of assholes who use the web as the electronic equivalent of a KKK hood when venting their anger and frustration. The Internet provides an opportunity for the resentful and the moronic to rabble-rouse and heap anonymous abuse on everything, including whole genders as noted in the article. In such a case, I have to agree that Internet anonymity is shielding cowardice, with or without cupcakes.

On the other hand, there is a vitally important and overwhelmingly positive side to online anonymity. Consider being gay in Saudi Arabia, where they will indeed cut your head off in the public square. Consider being a single female in many Muslim countries where becoming involved in a sexual relationship could mean you'll be stoned to death. Consider being a political dissident in North Korea, where openly exercising free speech could mean imprisonment or death for your whole family. Here, the anonymity of the web indeed shields the innocent.

Let's be honest, hate-speech, anonymous or otherwise, directed at Kim Jong-un is not abuse; it's common sense.

I think it's worth putting up with the world's online assholes in order to shield those who risk death for the heinous crime of free speech.

See, there's good and bad in everything, including cupcakes.

And, I'll pay the full dollar if it's chocolate with buttercream icing.

I can't decide if this one is too cute or too realistic.





Even without the Clinton slam, this one is only human.

Who says kids don't know what's important?

Fortunately for us, the president has his priorities straight.

Can this be considered a speed bump on the road to True Love????

Quit drinking or leave your spouse... Decisions, decisions...

I've always said my spirit animal is a cat, but I'm starting to see the down side.

Trixie wrote: "I've always said my spirit animal is a cat, but I'm starting to see the down side."

Who wants nine lives if you have to spend them on the bottom?

Honey I'd be on top every time.x

What's her handicap?

Definite internet addict.

At the very least, we can safely say that this gentleman has at least one friend.

Anyone know the Braille for "Oops!"

Jay wrote: "Anyone know the Braille for "Oops!""

I love that! It reminds me of one of my favourite limericks:

On the breasts of a barmaid in Sale
Was tattooed the price of pale ale
And on her behind
For the sake of the blind
Was the same information in Braille

...the more they stay the same.

Love it, Jay - I'm going to borrow that for Facebook if you don't mind :-)

Yes, like that one very much!

From the new hit show: 'CSI: When Is Dinner Ready'

Jay wrote: "From the new hit show: 'CSI: When Is Dinner Ready'


"

True!

Quiet, please.

Jay wrote: "Quiet, please.
"

Love that one - just posted it on Facebook!

Brenda

Sometimes, a picket fence is just not enough.

Nothing quite beats a frank second opinion.

Kudos to the First Lady for encouraging everyone to adopt a special needs friend.

Honesty is the key to any good relationship.