Links - 7th November 2018 (2)

Dissent through the centuries - History Extra - "The first act, if you like, of bringing down the monarch wasn't to challenge his authority, it was to start ridiculing him. And that ended it in an execution. It’s that first moment when you start to question whether that person is as great as they say or they think they are. And usually, not always but usually that starts with a joke, a bit of humor"

Sex differences in personality are larger in gender equal countries: Replicating and extending a surprising finding - "Sex differences in personality have been shown to be larger in more gender equal countries. We advance this research by using an extensive personality measure, the IPIP‐NEO‐120, with large country samples (N > 1000), from 22 countries. Furthermore, to capture the multidimensionality of personality we measure sex differences with a multivariate effect size (Mahalanobis distance D). Results indicate that past research, using univariate measures of effect size, have underestimated the size of between‐country sex differences in personality. Confirming past research, there was a strong correlation (r = .69) between a country's sex differences in personality and their Gender Equality Index. Additional analyses showed that women typically score higher than men on all five trait factors (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness), and that these relative differences are larger in more gender equal countries. We speculate that as gender equality increases both men and women gravitate towards their traditional gender roles"
*Patriarchy intensifies*
Keywords: personality differences, social role

Shayne Downs - In United States law, the Bradley Amendment (1986,... - "In United States law, the Bradley Amendment (1986, Public law 99-509, 42 U.S.C. § 666(a)(9)(c), Bill Bradley) requires state courts to prohibit retroactive reduction of child support obligations.
Because of the Bradley Amendment:
Bobby Sherrill, a Lockheed employee in Kuwait from North Carolina, was captured by Iraqis and spent nearly five months as an Iraqi hostage. Sherrill was arrested the night after his release for not paying $1,425 in child support while he was a hostage.
Larry Souter was wrongly convicted of murder in 1992 and spent 13 years in prison before being exonerated and released in 2005. Upon release, he was ordered to court to explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt for failing to pay $38,000 in combined back child support, interest, and penalties"

Japan’s AI schoolgirl has fallen into a suicidal depression in latest blog post

Pretend Billionaire Jho Low Threw Insane Parties for Celebs and Vanished - "From hosting champagne-drenched ragers on the French Riviera to helping arrange funding for the 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' Jho Low seemed to have it all—until his world started falling apart."

For Taiwan, a Year to Go to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage - "I visited Taipei at the invitation of Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan. I met with activists campaigning for equal marriage rights, but also with Vice President Chen Chien-jen, members of the national parliament from various political parties, and the counsellor and executive secretary of the City of Taipei government. Some jurisdictions, including the city of Taipei and other large cities in Taiwan, as well as nine other counties in Taiwan, allow same-sex couples to register as partners. But partnership provides less rights than marriage. For years, Taiwanese activists have pushed for marriage equality. In May 2017, Taiwan’s constitutional court struck down the legal definition of marriage “between a man and a woman” as unconstitutional. This landmark decision paved the way for marriage equality. The court gave the Taiwanese legislature a limited time frame of two years to provide for same-sex marriage in law. The Taiwanese legislature could simply amend the definition of marriage in the civil code or introduce new legislation on same-sex marriage. If the legislature fails to deliver within two years, the court ruled that same-sex couples will automatically be able to marry."
For those who claim that the repeal of 377A won't lead to gay marriage in Singapore because Asia is different - despite Singapore being probably the most Westernised country in Asia

[Premium]Image inciting acts of terror posted on Instagram account linked to Nanyang JC; police investigating : singapore - "An Instagram page believed to have been set up by junior college students is coming under police scrutiny after a post was uploaded that appeared to advocate acts of terror. The social media page nyjcmememachine satirises current events in Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) and around the world. It posted a meme on the 17th anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks that featured former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. In a play on sports apparel giant Nike's "Just do it" advertising campaign, the words on the meme read: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing 3,000 lives and two steel towers."... A 23-year-old undergraduate who declined to be named said he lodged a police report as he found the material a threat to national security. He told The Straits Times: "We just need one person to be wayward and be self-radicalised to pose a threat to our security. It is not too far-fetched a possibility, seeing news reports all this while.""
It's no wonder there's no creativity in Singapore when satire gets you a police report

Swedish student whose flight disruption went viral now faces charges - "Student activist Elin Ersson protested against the Swedish government’s policy of deporting some rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan by boarding an Istanbul-bound flight that carried an Afghan man who was to be returned home after being denied asylum."

Maine restaurant sedates lobsters with marijuana - "Charlotte's Legendary Lobster Pound, a restaurant in Maine, says the process is more humane as it lessens their pain before death... The owner of Charlotte's Legendary Lobster Pound, Charlotte Gill, says eating the sedated lobster will not make customers high and using marijuana leads to better quality meat, as the animal is more relaxed when it dies."

South Africa's highest court legalises cannabis use - "This judgement is a reminder that South Africa's hard-won constitution is among the most liberal in the world, backing individual rights, and in this case the right to grow and smoke your own marijuana in private, against the government's concerns about public health and public order... In political terms, the landmark ruling emphasises the primacy of South Africa's constitution, which brushed aside the united opposition of numerous government ministries at a time when the authority and credibility of many of this young democracy's other institutions have been eroded by corruption and poor governance... In April Zimbabwe became the second country in Africa, after Lesotho, to legalise the use of marijuana for medical use"

Abu Dhabi named safest city in the world for second year running - "Abu Dhabi has been ranked the safest city in the world for the second year, with Dubai close behind in 11th place, according to a website that collates crime statistics on the world's major cities... The remaining nine safest cities were Doha, Basel, Singapore, Quebec City, Osaka, Tokyo, Bern, Munich and Zurich, in that order. The most dangerous was San Pedro Sula in Honduras and Caracas in Venezuela, where gun violence, drug dealing and kidnapping are rife. Also in the bottom ten were the South African cities of Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg, despite a recent economic revival in the latter."

Study finds people flock, or behave similarly to others, despite reasoning abilities - "people are usually driven to "flock," or behave similarly to others in a given situation. Seth Frey, an assistant professor of communication at UC Davis, said this happens "even when people use the fancy reasoning processes that are supposed to make humans so special.""

The whiff of sandalwood makes the human head sprout more hair

B.C. mosque removes link to anti-Semitic website following questions - "The website of a B.C. mosque that federal charity auditors said received funding from Qatar included a link to anti-Semitic content that urges an “Islamic jihad” against Jews, denounces democracy and approves the killing of ex-Muslims."

Ex-Muslim asks Lakemba locals if it’s OK to criticise their faith – and gets some strong responses - "Iranian-born author Armin Navabi visited Lakemba - considered Australia's unofficial Muslim capital - to act out the controversial social experiment... The majority stressed it was important for any criticism or questions to be posed with the utmost respect... After further questioning of one man, Mr Navabi was told he believes the Muslim community eventually wants Sharia Law to be established worldwide. '100 per cent that is my goal – and every Muslim's goal. To establish Sharia law on earth,' the man claimed. Mr Navabi questioned whether this meant 'somebody like me' who had turned his back on Islam would be 'killed' if Sharia law was in place. 'That's Sharia law, that's what I believe in,' the man stated. 'There's two choices, Islam or death.' Another man said that anyone who criticised Islam should be attacked by police."

Facebook - "2017: Imam Tawhidi says there are Muslim Extremists in Sydney, Lakemba, who are willing to kill.
The ABC: Imam Tawhidi is a liar, a charlatan, a Fake imposter. Ignore him!
2018: Extremist Muslims in Lakemba publicly say: Islam or death!"

Clarkson's Sunday Times Columns - "Jeremy Clarkson: argue with today’s youth and they’ll call you a racist — then start blubbing
Over a lovely lunch on my holiday this year, one of the “old people” around the table said that Britain’s super-slack immigration policy means we are letting an army onto our shores. Well, the mood couldn’t have changed more quickly if she’d said: “I’ve just murdered 14 tramps.” One of the young people began to sob. Actually sob. And another fixed the old person with a stare made from rage and bile, and explained that everyone from anywhere should be allowed to live wherever they like. And between mouthfuls of padron peppers, I agreed with this, saying that I’d love to live in George Clooney’s house on Lake Como."

This Is Why Koreans Have Blue Sponges On Their Cars - "The origins of the rectangular sponges come from the manufacturers. They are attached to the cars for the practical purpose of protection during transit. It helps stops them getting damaged between the factories and dealerships. They remain on the cars until they're sold... but a lot of people aren't taking them off. Small car spaces are common in Korea, so it stands to reason that owners want the same protection afforded their cars before they're sold to avoid scratches and dings."

Michigan mom charged after taking away daughter's iPhone won't go to jail - "Charges have been dismissed against a western Michigan woman who faced possible jail time after taking away a cellphone from her 15-year-old daughter as punishment. Jodie May of Grandville tells WOOD-TV she took away the iPhone 6 in April after the girl got in trouble in school. May says she was "just being a mom, a concerned parent," but she was arrested on a misdemeanor larceny charge after her ex-husband filed a complaint saying he owned the phone."

Soon-Yi Previn on Mia Farrow and Woody Allen - "“I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement,” he recently told Argentine TV. “I’ve worked with hundreds of actresses, and not a single one — big ones, famous ones, ones starting out — have ever, ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all”... With regard to almost every aspect of life in the Farrow household, Soon-Yi’s story, like those of her younger brother Moses and Allen himself, is strikingly different from what’s put forth by Mia and Dylan as well as their son and brother Ronan Farrow... "I don’t need kids out there who have similar traits to me and look similar to me and Woody. Why is one’s DNA so special? Why would one keep on breeding when there are so many kids out there who need a loving home?”"

Why is South Korea so intolerant of its gay community? - "Incheon, South Korea’s second-biggest port city, held its first-ever gay pride parade. Things took a violent turn, however, as more than 1,000 anti-gay protesters, including Christian groups, verbally and physically pushed back the 300 parade participants. The event was expected to last 20 minutes, but took hours due to the conflict. Since 2003, homosexuality has no longer been classified as “harmful and obscene” in South Korea, but discrimination against the community remains widespread... the South Korean military has been accused of targeting and exposing gay personnel, even creating fake dating apps to track down gay soldiers, according to the Military Human Rights Centre of Korea. Soldiers can be punished for “disgraceful conduct”, a term used to refer to homosexual behaviour, and jailed for up to two years, according to Human Rights Watch"
If only South Korea would repeal Section 377A, gay men there would live great lives