# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=809 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 810 --- ## [Why do we watch sports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-watch-sports/345536)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-watch-sports/345536 "2006-02-24T01:22:05Z")
A bunch of guys living in Pittsburgh and another bunch of guys living in Seattle decide to get together in Detroit and toss a ball back and forth. I live in New York and I never met any of these people - why should I car… --- ## [NASA Official says, "CO2 emissions must be controlled within 10 years."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-official-says-co2-emissions-must-be-controlled-within-10-years/345035)
**Author:** [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-official-says-co2-emissions-must-be-controlled-within-10-years/345035 "2006-02-24T01:19:16Z")
Pretty disturbing stuff.According to Jim Hansen, the director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the icecaps in Greenland are melting far, far faster than previous global warming models had predicted. He … --- ## [Nigeria:If you can't kill the one you hate, hate the one you kill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigeria-if-you-cant-kill-the-one-you-hate-hate-the-one-you-kill/345863)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nigeria-if-you-cant-kill-the-one-you-hate-hate-the-one-you-kill/345863 "2006-02-24T00:04:15Z")
"The city is the worst hit by religious riots that have killed at least 138 people across the country in five days. Christian mobs, seeking revenge for the killings of Christians in the north, have attacked Muslims with… --- ## [Best synopsis I've seen to date on Bush Admin & the war - M. Hirsch Newsweek article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-synopsis-ive-seen-to-date-on-bush-admin-the-war-m-hirsch-newsweek-article/345691)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-synopsis-ive-seen-to-date-on-bush-admin-the-war-m-hirsch-newsweek-article/345691 "2006-02-23T23:44:18Z")
Not a debate, but politically pointed enough I think it belongs here rather than the other forums. All the swirling miasma of disappointment and frustration I feel with our Iraq policy is crystallised in this insightful… --- ## [Do the paltry TV ratings of the Olympics (in the USA) mean the end of civilization?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-paltry-tv-ratings-of-the-olympics-in-the-usa-mean-the-end-of-civilization/345638)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-paltry-tv-ratings-of-the-olympics-in-the-usa-mean-the-end-of-civilization/345638 "2006-02-23T23:24:40Z")
In the United States, there is much discussion of the poor TV ratings that the Torino Olympics are receiving. Some of the debate centers around NBC’s frustrating and poor coverage of the games. However, is there someth… --- ## [Bigfoot...Sasquatch, Legend Meets Science](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bigfoot-sasquatch-legend-meets-science/345648)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bigfoot-sasquatch-legend-meets-science/345648 "2006-02-23T23:07:57Z")
I was watching an interesting show last night on The Discovery Channel. It was called Sasquatch, Legend Meets Science. Basically they had various scientists looking at the various data that we have (foot and body print… --- ## [Letting the House Burn Down: Our Fee-For-Service Future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letting-the-house-burn-down-our-fee-for-service-future/344942)
**Author:** [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letting-the-house-burn-down-our-fee-for-service-future/344942 "2006-02-23T20:58:41Z")
From the AP: Two questions. Was the firefighters’ decision not to help justifiable? Some argue that incidents like this are the natural consequence of an increasingly fee-for-service society, where once-publically su… --- ## [Lyndon LaRouche? Scientology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307)
**Author:** [@Caius\_Preposterus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caius_Preposterus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyndon-larouche-scientology/345307 "2006-02-23T20:52:40Z")
Ok, I’m putting this here because it’s about politics and religion. A little background: I went on a blind date this weekend. I’m a guy. My date’s a guy. In the middle of the date, he gets a call on his cell phone. … --- ## [Look. I didn't know anything about it when we approved it. Feel safe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-i-didnt-know-anything-about-it-when-we-approved-it-feel-safe/345701)
**Author:** [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/look-i-didnt-know-anything-about-it-when-we-approved-it-feel-safe/345701 "2006-02-23T20:23:55Z")
Ok. This is in regards to the whole UAE-port fiasco that’s currently popping up in newspapers everywhere. Here’s an example of one such article. I’m curious to hear y’all’s thoughts on this, most importantly the rationa… --- ## [Ports For Sale!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ports-for-sale/345821)
**Author:** [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ports-for-sale/345821 "2006-02-23T18:56:07Z")
well, by now, many of us have heard the news. 6 major US ports have been sold to the United Arab Emirates for something likt 5.8 billion dollars. Is this a problem for you from a national security standpoint? have you… --- ## [Ports For Sale!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ports-for-sale/345822)
**Author:** [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ports-for-sale/345822 "2006-02-23T18:22:07Z")
well, by now, many of us have heard the news. 6 major US ports have been sold to the United Arab Emirates for something like 5.8 billion dollars. Is this a problem for you from a national security standpoint? have you… --- ## [Resolved: Plano ISD Did Not Ban Red & Green Because They're Christmas Colors. Discuss](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-plano-isd-did-not-ban-red-green-because-theyre-christmas-colors-discuss/345091)
**Author:** [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-plano-isd-did-not-ban-red-green-because-theyre-christmas-colors-discuss/345091 "2006-02-23T16:36:07Z")
Recently, Bricker posted this thread; War on Christmas - revisited, wherein one of the examples he used to illustrate his point was a currently pending case against the Plano Independent School District in Plano, Texas, … --- ## [What Will Europe Really Do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-europe-really-do/344496)
**Author:** [@Jeffr062](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffr062)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-europe-really-do/344496 "2006-02-23T09:42:52Z")
That’s the title of a column by Victor Davis Hanson. He asks the question what will Europe do about the cartoon riots. He lists several probable options and I’m curious what our European dopers think of them. http://www… --- ## [Crime & Punishment: Should the degree of harm to vicim matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-punishment-should-the-degree-of-harm-to-vicim-matter/345405)
**Author:** [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-punishment-should-the-degree-of-harm-to-vicim-matter/345405 "2006-02-23T08:35:43Z")
This is an offshoot of this news story. A man, found guilty of forcing his 14yr old girl step-daughter to have oral sex with him, appealed his original sentence of three years and four months in jail, saying that the fac… --- ## [How serious a threat were the three alleged terrorist plotters arrested in Ohio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572)
**Author:** [@alaricthegoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaricthegoth)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-serious-a-threat-were-the-three-alleged-terrorist-plotters-arrested-in-ohio/345572 "2006-02-23T07:11:09Z")
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13927844.htm We really needed to know nothing more about the three “jihadi” sleepers arrested in Ohio than the charge that amongst their misdeeds was downloading … --- ## [Copyright expiring - record companies panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-expiring-record-companies-panic/345155)
**Author:** [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-expiring-record-companies-panic/345155 "2006-02-23T00:39:00Z")
Inspired by this story. Note this is just the copyright on the sound recordings themselves, not the copyright in the orginal work. The UK recording industry is lobbying the government to extend the copyright period f… --- ## [If on September 11th 1993...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-on-september-11th-1993/345594)
**Author:** [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-on-september-11th-1993/345594 "2006-02-23T00:08:29Z")
If the 9/11 terrorist attack had happened in 1993 when Clinton had just been elected president, instead of 2001, how do you think things would have played out differently? Would the US have invaded Afghanistan? Iraq? … --- ## [What was the thinking behind staging this picture (2002 prisoner air transport)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-thinking-behind-staging-this-picture-2002-prisoner-air-transport/345542)
**Author:** [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-thinking-behind-staging-this-picture-2002-prisoner-air-transport/345542 "2006-02-22T21:49:57Z")
In articles on US prisoners in TWOT, at Guantánamo and elsewhere, one of the frequently used pictures is this one, which first appeared IIRRC some time in 2002 when prisoners were first transferred to Cuba. I presume … --- ## [Did Perfect 10 kill Google image search?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-perfect-10-kill-google-image-search/345620)
**Author:** [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-perfect-10-kill-google-image-search/345620 "2006-02-22T20:49:59Z")
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11488787/ Is this going to have a chilling effect across the board now? Is it infringment? (And did I use effect right? Or was it affect?) --- ## [Is the 'Cartoon Crisis' Spiralling out of Control?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-cartoon-crisis-spiralling-out-of-control/345247)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-cartoon-crisis-spiralling-out-of-control/345247 "2006-02-22T19:41:53Z")
In the latest insanity over a few cartoons: Muslims Assault U.S. Embassy in Indonesia So, the U.S., which had nothing to with the cartoons and which actually issued a weasely ‘apology’ for them, gets attacked. In oth… --- ## [New Pics of 'Hazing' at Abu Ghraib](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-pics-of-hazing-at-abu-ghraib/344613)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-pics-of-hazing-at-abu-ghraib/344613 "2006-02-22T14:59:13Z")
There are fifteen of them here that haven’t been previously seen, courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald. Some of them are pretty bad, and a number of them are not safe for work. This link goes to one that IS safe, but … --- ## [Why isn't the "Windhexe" waste disposal system more widely used?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-windhexe-waste-disposal-system-more-widely-used/345563)
**Author:** [@MessyPaint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MessyPaint)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-windhexe-waste-disposal-system-more-widely-used/345563 "2006-02-22T13:36:35Z")
From Wikipedia: The Windhexe is an industrial waste processing machine invented by Frank Polifka. It is distributed through his company, Vortex Dehydration Systems. The machine uses high-speed air to turn nearly anythin… --- ## [Nitpicking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpicking/345458)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitpicking/345458 "2006-02-22T12:38:05Z")
Inspired by the early exchanges in New Pics of ‘Hazing’ at Abu Ghraib. As far as I’m concerned, accusations of nitpicking constitute throwing in the towel. Nitpicking is one of those accusations of convenience, like unf… --- ## [Holocaust Denial and Free Speech](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holocaust-denial-and-free-speech/345465)
**Author:** [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holocaust-denial-and-free-speech/345465 "2006-02-22T10:37:32Z")
As we all know only too well, free speech is something of a hot topic in the news at the moment with all of the controversy about the Danish Mohammed cartoons. I find it interesting that it’s in the midst of this crisis… --- ## [Bush vs. American Ports!?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-vs-american-ports/345581)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-vs-american-ports/345581 "2006-02-22T04:44:36Z")
How can Bush compromise our national security by allowing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) operate them for us? Bush supporters, do you STILL stand by Bush on this decision? If so, why? What if it were the airports ins… --- ## [Does Randomness Actually Exist? Does it matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-randomness-actually-exist-does-it-matter/345371)
**Author:** [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-randomness-actually-exist-does-it-matter/345371 "2006-02-22T04:28:08Z")
Are there things in this universe that, regardless of how well we understand the underlying physical phenomena and starting conditions, cannot be predicted, or are events that we call “random” merely an artifact of our l… --- ## [Is a United Africa possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-united-africa-possible/345084)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-united-africa-possible/345084 "2006-02-22T04:05:56Z")
Today’s featured Wikipedia article is about the emergence of a united India in a politically integrated federalist state, and this article inspires me to wonder if such is possible or desirous for some combination of Afr… --- ## [Has The Administration Lurched Into A Way Out Of Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-administration-lurched-into-a-way-out-of-iraq/345442)
**Author:** [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-administration-lurched-into-a-way-out-of-iraq/345442 "2006-02-22T02:53:21Z")
On The News Hour tonight (20 Feb) the US Ambassador was shown warning the Iraqi politicians that they need to get their act together. He said that the US will not continue to spend our resources there unless they select… --- ## [Has abortion made killing babies more tolerable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-abortion-made-killing-babies-more-tolerable/344869)
**Author:** [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-abortion-made-killing-babies-more-tolerable/344869 "2006-02-22T02:40:03Z")
We recently had another mother found guilty of killing her own baby. She got 2.5 years out of a possible 37 and it wasn’t even a plea bargain. Story. What’s telling is this line from the DA; I’m quite shocked by tha… --- ## [Present Pakistani Government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/present-pakistani-government/345273)
**Author:** [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/present-pakistani-government/345273 "2006-02-21T20:42:47Z")
How long can General Pervez Musharraf (currently President of Pakistan) expect to hold onto power in the face all of this Islamic anger? As he is a U.S. ally, isn’t his position as President now very precarious? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=808) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=810)