I've always heard that joke attributed to Emo Phillips.
But maybe he was cheating.

I don't know about "better" people. It is more like frightened people terrified of eternal torture for shoplifting a pack of gum. It is coerced behavior.

And I suspect that is why Romania had such a low crime rate under Vlad The Impaler.

I think I'd prefer the hats the guys in the background are wearing.

You want more proof of this problem?

Check out comments on someplace like Yahoo! News.
I think Ars Technica's 90% figure maybe a little optimistic.
And yes, I read the full post before sticking my foot in my mouth.

Forty-two feet tall, eh?

There has to be some cosmic significance to that . . .

Probably would work if your opponent had a glass jaw.

But then, maybe it is a Borg Butt Plug(tm). Their real method of assimilation . . .

If It Weren't For Physics and Law Enforcement, I'd be Unstoppable. 2XL, please.

These were developed about the time of the Hundred Years War(tm).

Knights on the road wearing all their armor all day long had a problem with being detectable downwind. This little device was attached to the knight's helmet, near the visor, and was intended to ward off the "foul miasmas" caused by too many days' wearing the same chain-maile Y-fronts.

These were extremely popular, especially if they were dipped in pine resin, which gave off a pleasing "Forreste-fresch Scentte."

If It Weren't For Physics and Law Enforcement, I'd be Unstoppable 2XL, please.

Sorry Mike, I didn't think to click on the picture credit right off. Guess I'm not as smart as you.

However, I have given the cup some serious thought. My education in History and Anthropology and my experience in museum collections sort of makes me wonder how and why something like a 2300 year old solid gold cup turns up in England.
The cup did not just appear in an ironmonger's shop all by itself. There are very few reputable dealers who would feel comfortable dealing with something like that cup knowing it can only be traced back to the 1930s. Someone dug it up--or bought it--or stole it.
But then this happened in England, home of the British Museum--one of the biggest collections of looted artifacts in the world. Maybe someone there tossed it out with the trash.

Mike B.

I checked the link and found nothing but basically the same information that was posted here. After your reply, I noticed the photo credits link and found the information you cited.
There STILL is a serious lack of provenance. The cup was made 2300 years ago. I'll buy the materials analysis. But there is still the gap from its manufacture date and location (Persian empire, circa 300 BCE) and its appearance in an ironmonger's inventory in Taunton, UK circa 1935. It did not just walk there. Where did Mr Sparks obtain it? Bet you it was looted grave goods.

Guess my sarcasm button was not working.

K!P:

No. Because there is no provenance for this piece.

How did a 2300 year old Persian gold cup turn up in England? How did Grandpa obtain it? If authentic, where was it stolen from?
Are there other examples like this one?

And finally, it seems suspect because that snake design would have been the ONLY authentic thing in Conan! ;)

I'd like to see the proof of its age. The double headed serpent makes it look too much like a prop from Conan The Barbarian.

I thinks its a fake.

A clear case of ukiyo-e-shop!

I always thought conservatives dreamed of electric sheep.

So, Patty Duke played BOTH of them?