Considering the heavy lifting this blog has been undertaking in recent days, it almost seems out of place to post something so irreverent. Obviously, not enough to stop me.
The renowned Max Planck institute just released the latest edition of its academic journal, and focusing on China, wanted to adorn the cover with some dramatic, three-kingdoms type poetry. Instead, they printed an advertisement for a Macau brothel.
Could you make this up? Original story on Huffpo.
Showing posts with label Complete and Utter Nonsense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Complete and Utter Nonsense. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
The New Election
I remember discussing electoral politics with my father when I was in my mid-teens, and during the course of a conversation in which we bemoaned the quality of presidential candidates we came up with...an alternative selection method.
First: Any potential candidate would have to go through a series of psycological tests to determine basic sanity. I'm not talking about the kind of stuff they put astronauts through, just making sure you're not clinically depressed and that you don't worship a statue of Martha Stewart you carved out of a loaf of bread or anything.
After that, you'd be subjected to the most rudimentary skills/education test. Again, I'm not talking about the MCAT or anything. Just making sure you're literate, and can maybe pass a citizenship test or something (which would unfortunately exclude the vast majority of Americans).
After you'd passed this battery of tests, you'd be taken out to a Kansas field during a summer lightning storm and given your own metal "election pole", extending 100 feet into the air, to firmly grip with both hands. If your pole was struck by lightening, well, you were out of contention. You were obviously free to voluntarily let go at any time as well, though that would disqualify you from office. Last person gripping their pole is president.
It kind of combines the Greek election by lot with a sort of trial by ordeal. Sadly, it eliminates our democracy, as going to the polls (pun intended) ceases to be necessary. But, at least you'd find out who really wanted it.
To further consider this farce of an idea, referring back to the beginning of the '08 election cycle, out of all major party candidates, who do you think would have emerged victorious and why?
First: Any potential candidate would have to go through a series of psycological tests to determine basic sanity. I'm not talking about the kind of stuff they put astronauts through, just making sure you're not clinically depressed and that you don't worship a statue of Martha Stewart you carved out of a loaf of bread or anything.
After that, you'd be subjected to the most rudimentary skills/education test. Again, I'm not talking about the MCAT or anything. Just making sure you're literate, and can maybe pass a citizenship test or something (which would unfortunately exclude the vast majority of Americans).
After you'd passed this battery of tests, you'd be taken out to a Kansas field during a summer lightning storm and given your own metal "election pole", extending 100 feet into the air, to firmly grip with both hands. If your pole was struck by lightening, well, you were out of contention. You were obviously free to voluntarily let go at any time as well, though that would disqualify you from office. Last person gripping their pole is president.
It kind of combines the Greek election by lot with a sort of trial by ordeal. Sadly, it eliminates our democracy, as going to the polls (pun intended) ceases to be necessary. But, at least you'd find out who really wanted it.
To further consider this farce of an idea, referring back to the beginning of the '08 election cycle, out of all major party candidates, who do you think would have emerged victorious and why?
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