The Off Topic Topic

[celedhring]

Pizza with anchovies isn't that rare around here. And no, we're not turtles. I think.

[The Minsky Moment]

After reading about the USSC decision limiting the rule making powers of the EPA, I am coming to the view we really are living in a simulation and a 12 year old decided to fuck with the settings to see what happens.

Read the decision itself.  Then you realize you are mistaken, as no simulation, however sophisticated, could be creative enough to come up with something so screwed up. 

[Sheilbh]

Incredibly positive and I think really important move from Germany - now formally signing the declaration to return all 1,000 bronzes and objects looted (by the British) from Benin in 1897. Hopefully the start of a wider movement:

[HVC]

How'd Germany get them?

[Sheilbh]

How'd Germany get them?

There was private looting but the Admiralty generally tried to seize all the looted items to cover the costs of the expedition (that wiped out Benin City). A big chunk ended up in the British Museum but huge numbers were just sold - German institutions were big buyerrs, so were American galleries and universities, there's at least one in Canada, but loads of smaller museums or universities in the UK and across Europe have some Benin bronzes.

It's fragmented to an extent that I don't actually think anyone knows where they all are.

[HVC]

Good for them for returning it, but if that's the going theme the uk is in trouble

[Sheilbh]

About time

[Jacob]

Parts of the world had a "ninja panic" the way the US had a "satanic panic".

[Valmy]

Incredibly positive and I think really important move from Germany - now formally signing the declaration to return all 1,000 bronzes and objects looted (by the British) from Benin in 1897. Hopefully the start of a wider movement:

I think that is fine. There is more than enough artifacts native to Europe to fill all their museums and frankly when I go to Germany I want to see German shit in museums, as cool as things like Pergamon are.

Maybe the British Museum should, you know, be filled with British things.

[Josquius]

Returning looted items when it's safe to do so is only right.
Stuff like the Elgin marbles however... Far iffier and less clear cut.

[Syt]

Parts of the world had a "ninja panic" the way the US had a "satanic panic".

That's why in Germany it was called "American Fighter" and "Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles"

[HVC]

Returning looted items when it's safe to do so is only right.
Stuff like the Elgin marbles however... Far iffier and less clear cut.

Greece is unsafe for sculptures and monuments?

[HVC]

Parts of the world had a "ninja panic" the way the US had a "satanic panic".

That's why in Germany it was called "American Fighter" and "Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles"

I can maybe get racial sensitivity, but ninja panic? Where there a lot of criminals running around dressed in black ninja costumes in the 80s?

[Syt]

No idea, I assume "ninja" wasn't deemed appropriate for kids? I think I read somewhere they removed the nunchaku for the UK market.

[celedhring]

Parts of the world had a "ninja panic" the way the US had a "satanic panic".

That's why in Germany it was called "American Fighter" and "Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles"

I can maybe get racial sensitivity, but ninja panic? Where there a lot of criminals running around dressed in black ninja costumes in the 80s?

About the same amount as of satanic cults kidnapping babies for dark rituals, I'd say. Moral panics are moral panics.

FWIW, always been ninja turtles around here.