by ponchi101 Yes. Everybody is going to be saying "happy New Year!!"... with a little aprehension.
It looks better, but we really do not know.
by shtexas What are the chances that I find the exact jeans I am looking for, they have one pair left, and out of all the size combinations you can have, the one left is my size?
I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket.
by ponchi101
shtexas wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 9:00 pm
What are the chances that I find the exact jeans I am looking for, they have one pair left, and out of all the size combinations you can have, the one left is my size?
I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket.
Too late! You just pretty much used all your quota of luck for 2020, and a little bit of 2021
That is indeed lucky...
by JazzNU Refrigerator Update : Order for Refrigerator I Never Wanted CANCELLED! Old One Up and Running!
So, basically, I practiced shameless reverse age discrimination searching for an appliance repairman. First guy that came was very young and he said, a new one was needed and this one would be faulty until a new one came but maybe not that long, hence me finding out there is an appliance shortage and ordering a refrigerator that isn't bad, but is hardly what I would've liked as a first choice. Second repair guy, he was older, I think in his late 40s, but he barely did any better and gave me a "it might last for 2 or 3 months before it dies." Better, but I just kept thinking it wasn't that serious and could this be fixed. In my experience, the older the appliance guy the better, they done seen some things and old solution to broken things was never just to buy something new, so they taught them differently. So, for the third time with a new company, I said to the booker, "who is your most experienced guy? I'm talking 30 years into doing this. Can I get an appointment with him?" "Uh, yeah, but not right away, you'll need to wait at least a week for that kind of scheduling." Sold! So, they sent out someone (young) to assess the refrigerator a few days later, he said I needed to unplug and defrost the fridge for 24 hours before the guy came. A pain, but okay.
Guy shows up, he's looking a little, well, not old. But then he started talking about something totally old school and I thought it might be okay and he just looked great for his age. And that ended up being the case. He moves the fridge, looks at things for like a minute and is like, "I'll have this fixed for you in 15 minutes!" YAY!!! Seriously fixed the damn thing in 10 minutes, said no big deal, just routine for a fridge. I said, thank you, I just need to get through March before the new one gets here. He told me I can get a new one if I wanted, but this one was "set to go at least another 10 years!" He said it so casually, like, oh yeah, this one is good, I wouldn't get rid of it. It might go 20 more years, but 10 is a given. the gap in knowledge is just massive. AND, he also said, I don't know why the guy who came out the other day to do the assessment didn't fix it then, this didn't need to be defrosted to fix this. He was like, "these young guys, you try to teach them, but they don't pick it up all that quickly."
So, a pain in the ass for most of December dealing with a not fully functioning fridge, appointments and finding a new fridge, but a great result and luckily, it was up and running a week before Christmas so I didn't have to do this with prep and Christmas leftover in the faulty fridge, which would've been something approaching a nightmare.
by ponchi101 Hooray for us old geezers!!!
by ti-amie If you're familiar with AITA on Reddit this headline will make you smile.
AITA: A confused older man called asking me to ‘find more votes’ for him but I refused
Opinion by
Alexandra Petri
Columnist
Jan. 4, 2021 at 5:12 p.m. EST
Hey! A lot of people seem mad at me, but I don’t think I’m actually the a------ here! So I (65, M) got a telephone call from an older acquaintance in a position of power (74, M). I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt here and assume that maybe he used to be a lovely man, because a lot of people seem very dedicated to him, but all I can say is that he has definitely reached the stage of life where talking to him on the phone is a duty rather than a pleasure. And this isn’t the first time he tried to call. He tried 18 times!
Basically, the call went immediately off the rails; indeed, it would be kind of inaccurate to say that it was at any point on the rails? I pick up the phone, we announce that everyone’s on the call, including his friend Mark (who frankly seems like he’s enabling a lot of dubious things right now) and a person he seemed to view as a lawyer (doesn’t necessarily mean anything!), and then he immediately starts shouting that I need to “find” him “votes.”
I should mention that I am the secretary of state of Georgia, and, as such, basically the absolute minimum of my job is to make sure we don’t just randomly pick the winner of elections and give all our electoral votes to them because they call and yell at me, so that was how I was coming in.
Anyway, the call mostly went like this:
Him: [Conspiracy theory I did not perfectly understand, additional different conspiracy theory, just repeating an election worker’s name a bunch of times as though the name itself was proof of wrongdoing, description of an edited video he saw on Fox News maybe? Incoherent shouting about how he has 500,000 votes we should just take as assumed — he does NOT, we checked — but we only need to give him enough votes to win the election, and we need to find them for him.]
Me: ??
Mark: So, we can agree to work together on this, right?
Me: We can agree to work together in the sense that we are happy to get on the phone later and explain that we think everything you’ve just said is incorrect!
Then he started to go on and on about how it was unlikely that anyone could ever move back to Georgia and legitimately vote here again after previously leaving the state? Which, I understand there are things in our electoral process that are pretty wacky, but the concept that somebody might want to move back to a state seems like a very weird one to latch onto as definitely untrue. But he kept going on about it. Literally, he was like: “How many people do that? They moved out, and then they said, ‘Ah, to hell with it, I’ll move back.’ You know, it doesn’t sound like a very normal … you mean, they moved out, and what, they missed it so much that they wanted to move back in? It’s crazy.”
Verbatim quote!! Which, in addition to being very strange, seemed kind of insulting to the lovely state of Georgia! Of course people who leave it for other places could want to move back!
My friend and I tried to say it wasn’t crazy, but he was not really in a listening place.
The call goes on for like an hour, somehow, most of it him yelling at me, and he and Mark kept trying to pressure me to look into this less “litigiously,” which I think meant that he wanted me to just announce I found a bunch of votes for him maybe in a drawer or a ravine somewhere? Really unclear where I was supposed to be getting these votes!
But he was like, I heard people saying there are a lot of fake votes and dead people voting. Okay, you heard that, that’s great, but did you hear it from somewhere true, or did you just read it on the Internet, where people make things up? And then he got offended that I thought he was reading made-up things on the Internet. Like, what am I supposed to do with this?
Anyway, I don’t think I was in the wrong here. I let him talk and talk and talk and tell me about these conspiracy theories he’d heard. I just didn’t agree to find him any votes, since I don’t think he understands how elections work.
I should mention he is the president of the United States. AITA?
by ponchi101 Ok. Side story.
In 2020, my motto was "I want the tiger to eat me". Why? Because there is a very old Spanish song that is called "What you want is for the tiger to eat me", and it became a cliché for when people give you no choices and still ask you to do something. For example, if somebody asks you for a cold coke, and all the ones you have are warm, but you have plenty of ice, so you tell him you will put some ice in the lukewarm coke to make it cold, and then he says he does not like ice, you reply "so you want the tiger to eat me".
That is the gist.
So in 2020, I decided to tell people that my goal was for the tiger to eat me, because it would make so many people happy. So, so many. Because again and again, I run into these sort of situations. In my job, where they want everybody to be impossibly safe but they have to drive at night through a hailstorm because the data need to get there. Or somebody asks me for a rum and coke, but there is no coke, so I say rum and pepsi, no, they don't like pepsi, so I say I will put more rum than usual so they will taste more rum (the whole point of drinking) and less pepsi but they say no, because they don't like them too strong, so then I say ... I want the tiger to eat me. Just to make them happy.
The point being:
You (or whomever wrote that) just made my goal for 2021 clear. Because my second name starts with an A, my last name starts with an A, and now all I need is for people to slam an IT in between. Because that is exactly one place where I find myself a lot of times. Wondering: I am the one NOT in the right?
But AITA is way shorter.
I can shut this forum down NOW! Mission Accomplished!
(All yours, people. And if you don't like it, well, may the tiger eat me).
by JazzNU Still missing Christmas presents. One was sent long enough ago to file a report with USPS. Filed it. Got a response. USPS proudly marked my issue resolved.
Small problem. Still don't have my package. There has not been a single update on the package since December 12th.
The damage the USPS is doing to their package business is incalculable. When is the next time people are going to legitimately rely on a package arriving in the stated time? And their Christmas business next year is toast, everyone I know is still waiting on something and everyone has the same "never again" energy on using them anytime in the foreseeable future.
by MJ2004
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 8:11 pm
USPS proudly marked my issue resolved.
Your luck has been worse than ours, but it was amazing how long things took. One card we sent to a house one hour away from us took two weeks to arrive. Normally that would take 1 day, or 2 days at most.
by Deuce Meanwhile, in Canada... my cousin sent me a micro cassette player/recorder in a yellow bubble-wrap envelope (so sized between a letter and a package) via regular Canada Post mail. He lives a good 45 minute drive from me.
He mailed it on a Monday. I received it on Tuesday - the very next day. And this was about 10 days before Xmas.
Given that it was Xmas time, which is the busiest time of the year for Canada Post, plus the whole COVID-19 situation, we were both amazed.
(He sent me the micro-cassette player/recorder because I have some old micro-cassettes, and I can't find a device to play them on - they are all digital now. He said he had one that he wasn't using, so he was nice enough to send it to me.)
by Fastbackss My mom lives approximately 600 miles away.
She mailed on 12/8 - arrived 12/26.
She mailed on 12/12 - arrived 1/5 (along with three Christmas cards).
We also have dog food on "recurring delivery" - the last two times when we check on it (mind you it's delayed) - the message we get is "it's in your mailbox."
I assure you the 28lb bag of dog food cannot fit in our mailbox, nor has it arrived.
by mmmm8 No packages lost, just two accidentally delivered to neighbors in the last 2 months and lots of delays, but they lost a letter from the IRS that I thought had a passport in it, so that was fun (luckily, the one with the passport did make it a couple weeks later).
by James My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
by ponchi101 Hope you are wrong about that last part.
Wish you well. So little one can do.
by mmmm8
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
I'm sorry to hear. I hope they all recover.
by ti-amie James I hope your grandfather makes it through all right. I'm so sorry to hear that so many in your family are ill.
by JazzNU
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
I hope your family, including your grandfather, will be okay. Please make sure your family knows that if they start feeling anything beyond mild symptoms to get to the hospital immediately. I'm speaking with knowledge from my own family members who've had covid, quick action can make a big difference in the outcome. I'll be praying for your family.
by Deuce Several people in their 90s, and even people over 100, have survived the virus, James. So it is possible.
Hang in there as best you can.
by dave g
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
I hope everyone makes it through OK. Keep us informed.
Group Hug emoticon.
(I miss the 'like' and 'agree' buttons and the 'group hug' emoticon.)
by dryrunguy
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
I'm so sorry, James. I really hope everything will be okay. It has been said already.... Many very elderly people have gotten through COVID just fine. I hope this works out the same.
by skatingfan I'm really sorry James.
by Omess
James wrote:My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
Sorry to hear it James . All the best to your family
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
by James Now my dog Sandy is getting a 4-site biopsy today. It's all a bit much this week. Probably not going to putz with predictions stuff unless I desperately need that distraction.
by JazzNU Still waiting on 2 would be Christmas packages from USPS...
by ponchi101 Unbelievable. I hope it is nothing with batteries in it.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:04 pm
Unbelievable. I hope it is nothing with batteries in it.
No, thank goodness, just clothes. I had 2 other packages come late last week that were for my niece and I'm thrilled those came first so I could give them to her last weekend, but this is highly ridiculous. I'm gonna have to contact the stores again and get a promise from about an extended return date if they aren't here by Monday. Because, yes, it's been so long, I'm gonna miss the super extended holiday return window.
by JTContinental
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
Just seeing this--so sorry to hear this, James. I hope everything works out ok.
by JazzNU
Japanese man you can ‘rent to do nothing’ has thousands of clients
by Emily Cope
A man who makes a living by renting himself out “to do nothing” has garnered an enormous following online and thousands of clients.
For 10,000 yen (£70) - plus expenses for travels and meals - anyone can rent Shoji Morimoto, 37, from Tokyo in Japan, but he will not do anything except “eat, drink and give a simple response”.
Morimoto first offered his services in June 2018 after posting a tweet that read: “I offer myself for rent, as a person who does nothing. Is it difficult for you to enter a shop on your own? Are you missing a player on your team? Do you need someone to keep a place for you? I can’t do anything except easy things.”
Although originally offering his services for free, Morimoto now charges to reduce the volume of requests and to discourage time-wasters, and says he sees three or four clients a day - and 3,000 since he first launched his services.
People rent him for various reasons, he says, but most are bored or lonely and simply want to be listened to.
He has been hired to have lunch, pose for photographs on Instagram, accompany someone filing for divorce, catch butterflies in the park and to listen to health care workers struggling with their work.
One man hired him to describe a murder he had committed, while another paid Morimoto to take him from the hospital to revisit the spot where he had attempted suicide.
Morimoto - who is married and holds a postgraduate degree in physics from Osaka University - told The Mainichi newspaper: “I’m not a friend or an acquaintance. I’m free of the annoying things that go with relationships but I can ease people’s feelings of loneliness."
“I personally don’t like being cheered on by other people. It bothers me when people simply tell me to keep persevering. When someone is trying to do something I think the best thing to do is to make it easier for them by staying at their side,” he added.
In less than three years Morimoto - who used to work in publishing but quit to “do nothing” - has published books about his career choice, inspired a television drama and acquired 270,000 Twitter followers.
One of his clients posted online: “I'm glad I was able to take a walk with someone while keeping a comfortable distance, where we didn't have to talk but could if we wanted to.”
While another wrote: "I had been slack about visiting the hospital, but I went because he came with me."
by skatingfan A person who does nothing for a living started charging money 'to discourage time wasters' - let that sink in for a moment.
by Fastbackss I may have a new hero
by JazzNU
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:38 pmJapanese man you can ‘rent to do nothing’ has thousands of clients
One man hired him to describe a murder he had committed, while another paid Morimoto to take him from the hospital to revisit the spot where he had attempted suicide.
This was fascinating so I thought I'd post it. But I couldn't be more confused on why there appears to be zero follow-up on this tidbit...
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:38 pmJapanese man you can ‘rent to do nothing’ has thousands of clients
One man hired him to describe a murder he had committed, while another paid Morimoto to take him from the hospital to revisit the spot where he had attempted suicide.
This was fascinating so I thought I'd post it. But I couldn't be more confused on why there appears to be zero follow-up on this tidbit...
The police hired him too (the man that does nothing) to do the follow up. So...
by JazzNU Just 12 hours to go. Let's just hope it's a peaceful 12 hours.
by ponchi101 Tonight, at 9:21, have a glass of something to celebrate. It will be the 21st minute, of the 21st hour, of the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century.
Cheers!
by Deuce As there is no topic named 'Inspiring and Passionate Youth', I put this here.
It's so wonderful to see such feeling and drive in the young...
by Suliso I was just reading that 250 million years ago during the time of Pangea supercontinent CO2 levels in the atmosphere were 5x higher than now (6x relative to preindustrial time) and there was no permanent ice anywhere on the planet except the peaks of the highest mountains. The planet was still teaming with life. So perhaps we'll be fine too for some time to come.
by ponchi101 If you are talking about CC: sure, "the planet" will be fine. This planet will laugh at us 100,000 years from now. When I hear environmentalists talking about destroying the planet, I do wonder.
What we will be doing is making it really uncomfortable to ourselves. We will make many areas uninhabitable, which you know. But to believe we will destroy the planet is hubris.
Who knows, in 2 million years some species of Austrolopitecus Sapiens may stumble onto the ruins of a great metropolis, buried under 100 meters of sediment. And find a copy of "Planet of the Apes".
(I hope the original)
by Suliso I guess we could "destroy" the planet by blowing up all our nuclear bombs at once but even then probably only for few million years. As for global warming it's of course all about us and our ability to adapt. We're pretty adaptable species, though.
On the opposite spectrum to the hothouse Earth merely 15,000 years ago glaciers covered the entire Canada, much of American North East and Midwest as well as majority of Northern Europe including UK. It's a pity that state of affairs was not preserved.
by Suliso Forgot to add that with 2-3 C warming Sahara will turn into green savannah again. Perhaps that could be used to good effect.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Jan 24, 2021 4:01 pm
I guess we could "destroy" the planet by blowing up all our nuclear bombs at once but even then probably only for few million years. As for global warming it's of course all about us and our ability to adapt. We're pretty adaptable species, though.
On the opposite spectrum to the hothouse Earth merely 15,000 years ago glaciers covered the entire Canada, much of American North East and Midwest as well as majority of Northern Europe including UK. It's a pity that state of affairs was not preserved.
Agree. If only I could ski just off the mountain in front of my house...
by Suliso Would you like to know how many camels you or your partner is worth?
by ponchi101 There is no way I am worth that many camels. And since I have been in the Gulf, I call BS.
I may be worth that many goats, but not camels.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 24, 2021 11:29 pm
There is no way I am worth that many camels. And since I have been in the Gulf, I call BS.
I may be worth that many goats, but not camels.
Only one way to truly find out.
by ti-amie Find Bernie
If you find him just say you found him not where he is.
by ti-amie I found Merlin and all the folks who ran into poles or trees but no Bernie.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Jan 25, 2021 2:43 am
Find Bernie
If you find him just say you found him not where he is.
Bernie wouldn't be anywhere near such a mass gathering of people completely ignoring physical distancing protocols.
by ponchi101 I found him!
► Show Spoiler
I think. Remember, you have the spoiler function if you don't want to ruin it for other people, but for those that are too curious...
by JazzNU Maybe I'm just out of practice and making excuses because I don't see him, but I think part of the difficulty here is I don't know what I'm looking for. With Waldo, you know you're looking for red and white stripe vertical stripe, but this? Not quite sure what the Bernie cartoon looks like, the colors here make me think it's not an exact replica. I wish they had added a legend of what his specific drawing is.
Update- I found him.
► Show Spoiler
And yeah, I still feel the way I did originally. Not having his whole body, the crossed legs are diminished, plus the colors are not what I expected. Without the mask, I think it's nearly impossible to find him. In particular, I find his mittens, which have become darn near iconic, are nowhere near distinctive enough.
by ti-amie I just found him. They hid him very well.
by JazzNU USPS Package update - I finally received both packages. I had sent a lost package request on both with a strongly worded note calling them on their eternal BS. Coincidentally, both packages started showing tracking within 48 hours of those requests after nothing on either in over 3 weeks. Delivery dates were something in the range of 50-something days after they were shipped for one, and 40-something for the other.
And today I received a Christmas card from my aunt and a New year's postcard from a friend that were sent out in early December.
USPS is a mess. DeJoy needs to get be bounced, and hopefully put in prison, at the earliest possible date.
by ponchi101 And I can't say that you are not the only one. Here, I still get my physical bills (power, gas, water) even before I get the electronic one.
In some things, Colombians are like the Swiss. In others, they are like.... Colombians.
by patrick
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 12:46 am
USPS Package update - I finally received both packages. I had sent a lost package request on both with a strongly worded note calling them on their eternal BS. Coincidentally, both packages started showing tracking within 48 hours of those requests after nothing on either in over 3 weeks. Delivery dates were something in the range of 50-something days after they were shipped for one, and 40-something for the other.
And today I received a Christmas card from my aunt and a New year's postcard from a friend that were sent out in early December.
USPS is a mess. DeJoy needs to get be bounced, and hopefully put in prison, at the earliest possible date.
Should have happened on Biden's first date in office but forgot USPS is not a President appointed job.
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 12:46 am
USPS Package update - I finally received both packages. I had sent a lost package request on both with a strongly worded note calling them on their eternal BS. Coincidentally, both packages started showing tracking within 48 hours of those requests after nothing on either in over 3 weeks. Delivery dates were something in the range of 50-something days after they were shipped for one, and 40-something for the other.
And today I received a Christmas card from my aunt and a New year's postcard from a friend that were sent out in early December.
USPS is a mess. DeJoy needs to get be bounced, and hopefully put in prison, at the earliest possible date.
Should have happened on Biden's first date in office but forgot USPS is not a President appointed job.
I saw a Tweet earlier that said Biden can appoint three new members to the board and that that would give Dems a majority so that they can get rid of DeJoy.
by MJ2004 I wasn't quite sure where to put this, so Random seems good. For those of you who are interested in the sagas of higher ed during the pandemic. I was shocked by the story of the professor in Buenos Aires who died of COVID while in the middle of her Zoom class.
How a Dead Professor Is Teaching a University Art History Class
The fact that the dead can literally replace living faculty members is a perfect metaphor for what is happening across higher education.
When a Concordia University student went to email his professor recently, he found out something startling.
“HI EXCUSE ME, I just found out the the prof for this online course I’m taking *died in 2019* and he’s technically still giving classes since he’s *literally my prof for this course* and I’m learning from lectures recorded before his passing.” In a follow-up tweet, he wrote, “I mean, I guess I technically read texts written by people who’ve passed all the time, but it’s the fact that I looked up his email to send him a question and PULLED UP HIS MEMORIAM INSTEAD that just THREW ME OFF A LITTLE.”
In a statement from Concordia, the university confirmed that François-Marc Gagnon, a longtime lecturer in the Department of Art History and prominent scholar with a large body of written work, created the lectures as part of Concordia’s online course catalog, eConcordia. In other words, Gagnon’s lectures are from a pre-COVID-19 era and were intended for a dedicated online class, not the in-person-designed courses that have moved online as a result of the pandemic. Technically, Marco Deyasi is now listed as the instructor of record, along with two teaching assistants who also interact with students and grade their work. Gagnon’s lectures continue on as a “teaching tool,” according to the Concordia spokesperson.
All around us, the dead perform postmortem work. In the past, I’ve written about the ways people’s likenesses or creative materials may live on beyond them, perhaps allowing corporations, platforms, or other institutions to profit. Thanks to digital technologies, dead celebrities can appear in ads, dead musicians can play at live shows, and individuals’ social data can manifest as chatbots. In addition to journal articles and syllabi, college professors like me might have a collection of video lectures and recorded talks that could potentially outlive us, perhaps instructing students and captivating audiences after we die. Does the university really have the right to profit from the lectures of a dead person? Or to charge students full tuition when they cannot access their professor except through a spirit medium?
This case may be particularly egregious, but it intersects with larger questions about copyright and control over faculty members’ online course materials and the various ways faculty labor within higher education is degraded and devalued. During the pandemic’s first days, contingent and tenured faculty members alike quickly adapted their syllabi and moved their course materials online, offering remote classes so instruction could safely continue. As weary professors have lamented, teaching online is, in many respects, more labor-intensive than being there in person: It involves recording, uploading, and transcribing video lectures; responding to asynchronous discussion posts; and fielding more questions from confused students. The pandemic has also brought new challenges, with faculty teaching from cramped quarters and caring for young children at home. Additional workload expectations are even more of a problem for part-time faculty members, who are expected to perform this additional work without more compensation. Despite increased workloads, some universities are cutting faculty positions, especially adjunct and other contingent positions, and reducing faculty pay. With an abundance of curated class materials uploaded to university drives, critics have flagged problems related to intellectual property rights and the repurposing of recorded lectures: Will faculty essentially automate away their own jobs by recording lectures that can be recycled year after year?
The fact that the dead can literally replace living faculty members, and that the work of grading can be carried out by TAs, is a perfect metaphor for what is happening across the sector. TAs standing in for a dead renowned professor is a different form of what researchers Mary L. Gray and Siddharth Suri refer to as ghost work, or the globalized and precarious underclass that allows the web to function. In some ways, higher education is already a scam. Tenured faculty might teach a few classes, but student work is often graded by underpaid graduate student teaching assistants or graders. At prestigious research universities, discussion sections are also led by graduate students. Many more classes are taught by part-time faculty, who are cobbling together a living, or other short-term contracted faculty, like visiting assistant professors or postdocs. Digital technologies like recorded video lectures allow for the appearance of continued traditional instruction while cutting costs.
Meanwhile, faculty are being asked to fill in for sick or dead colleagues. Many schools, including mine, have instated a new mandatory buddy system in which you name an understudy, a colleague who can take over your classes if you fall ill, become incapacitated, or die of COVID-19. The stories of faculty members who continue to teach while ill and even die on camera, such as Paola De Simone, a professor in Buenos Aires who died from COVID-19 complications while in the middle of Zoom teaching, are part of this devaluing of academic labor and life. Not to mention the fact that in many places, faculty are forced to teach in-person classes despite the risk to themselves, their families, and their students. Some graduate students I have spoken to say they have been told they should sacrifice themselves and teach in-person classes since they are, at least in theory, young and healthy. In other cases, graduate students are also asked to fill in as instructors for tenured faculty members who get sick or die.
These COVID-related developments are indicative of an ongoing relationship between academic precarity and death. Non-tenure track faculty are disproportionately women and people of color. Often, contingent and more junior faculty are the first to be laid off, erasing recent gains in diversifying faculty. Stories abound about adjuncts living on food stamps or sleeping in their cars. As I have argued elsewhere, contingent academic labor is akin to platform-based gig work. Thea Hunter was a Black woman adjunct professor in New York who died from health problems exacerbated by the stress of precarity and left untreated because of her lack of insurance. A brilliant scholar, she had a Ph.D. from Columbia University and had at one point been on the tenure track, but institutional racism conspired against her. Several years prior to Hunter’s death, Margaret Mary Vojtko, an adjunct professor of French at Duquesne University, died destitute at 83 while undergoing radiation therapy for cancer and living without stable housing. Such stories received a lot of shares and gained traction in the news at the time but did little to change the system.
And it’s a system that doesn’t just fail its instructors—it also fails the students. Teaching is more than the sum of lectures, syllabi, and other course content. Pedagogy is more than grading. Education relies on informal relationships and networks: letters of recommendation, serendipitous introductions, moments of encouragement, and conversations during office hours, whether in a physical office, a coffee shop, or a Zoom room. As the person who posted the original Concordia tweet noted, students appreciate talking to faculty and developing long-standing relationships with them.
To be sure, online classes bring education to people with unpredictable schedules, disabled people, international students, and lower-income students. Not so long ago, massive open online courses offered a glimpse of more accessible, cheaper forms of education, although the hype quickly faded because students often failed to complete such courses and the rhetoric around democratization mostly unrealized. But MOOCS are quite different from emergency-prompted remote learning scenarios or other dedicated online classes. A Zoom class can emulate many features of the in-person classroom, including breakout rooms, seminar-style discussion, virtual guest speakers, and remote film screenings. Academic labor advocates suspect that the once-dim prospect of MOOCs looks more feasible when most or all instruction takes place over Zoom. To make more money, universities could decide to release large-scale version of their existing classes, targeting wider demographics. They could repurpose all of the previous digital lectures and online content that faculty have created.
Some universities have already made moves in this direction. Purdue University, for example, adopted a new IP model that makes it possible for the university to maintain rights to courseware designed for distance or e-learning, even if the faculty member leaves Purdue. While online classes and recorded lectures predate the pandemic, more and more faculty at all kinds of institutions are now creating video lectures for their asynchronous classes. Asynchronous class offerings are crucial for a variety of reasons, especially during the pandemic. Students are in a variety of time zones and have different learning needs. Some may miss official Zoom class time because of problems with connectivity or other issues related to their living situations. Asynchronous lectures and online class materials can also be more accessible for students with disabilities or students who fall ill. But the growth of asynchronous classes during the pandemic has raised new concerns. Who controls and owns all of the content that faculty are putting online? With Zoom and other proprietary software becoming more central to university education than ever, there are additional worries over platform-based surveillance of both students and faculty—particularly with respect to creepy remote proctoring tools—as well as censorship.
Given this moment where academic labor rights and expectations are in flux, academic labor unions should address not only the health of their members but also the intellectual property produced by faculty as part of their university positions. Traditionally, faculty get to maintain control of their syllabi and other course materials, but the line is fuzzy when it comes to online materials such as recorded lectures. I was taken aback while reading over a book contract and seeing that if I died, the press could enlist someone to finish the book on my behalf. That struck me as morbid, and also unlikely: Could someone really “take over” my writing after my death? Would they find someone in my field to sort through my messy Word documents and writing fragments on Google Drive, or would they have someone close to me do that labor for free? Other digital assets that persist after death may be tied to workplaces, like email addresses, shared file drives, and LinkedIn profiles. If I die, I would prefer that my recorded lectures and other artifacts related to my job go to my next of kin, not my employer. I have no desire to be a zombie instructor.
Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
by ponchi101 That is so troubling that I have so many questions I don't know where to start.
by ti-amie These people are totally insane.
Pro-Trump Priest Parts Ways With Diocese After Livestreaming Exorcisms To Root Out 'Voter Fraud'
Dana Levinson
The Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin parted ways with Reverend John Zuhlsdorf after a livestream surfaced in which he tried to root out non-existent election fraud by way of Catholic exorcism. Zuhlsdorf is described as "a relentless critic of liberal culture."
At the beginning of the since removed video he states:
"As exorcists will confirm, the demons are very good with electronic equipment."
He went on:
"I think it's amply clear, there's enough evidence to demonstrate that there was fraud in some places, and people had to commit that fraud, it didn't happen by itself."
"It seems to have been well-organized. I am deeply concerned that anyone involved in this has put their soul in terrible mortal peril."
Zuhlsdorf claimed he had permission from the Bishop of Madison to perform the exorcism, however the Bishop of Madison stated permission was given to perform an exorcism for the alleviation of the pandemic, not for political purposes.
The diocese released this short statement after they parted ways with Reverend Zuhlsdorf:
"The Bishop of Madison is grateful to the Reverend Zuhlsdorf for his faithful support of the diocese's seminarians and priests, thanks him for his many years of steadfast ministry serving the diocese, and wishes him the best in his future endeavors."
by JazzNU I am so supremely uninterested in over a foot of snow right now.
by ponchi101 I am missing snow
by Suliso A Venezuelan missing snow! I've heard all in life now
by dryrunguy
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Feb 01, 2021 4:49 am
I am so supremely uninterested in over a foot of snow right now.
Last I checked, it should end here around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. But looking at The Weather Channel, I'm not sure I buy that. The storm is just sitting over us--kind of like those alien ships in Independence Day.
We have about 10-12 inches of snow here so far. The last time I went out to shovel the steps, it was coming down much lighter than earlier today.
Polly (the dog) is the only one here who likes it.
::
In other news, I got a set of twin lambs at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Getting them going kept me up until about 5:30 a.m.--thanks to the stupid twit who is still pregnant but thought they were hers and was constantly in my way because she wanted them to nurse. But all is well.
by JazzNU Sweet Polly! I'm so glad she's enjoying the snow cause I sure as heck am over it.
Yeah, I have a hard time believing the predicted amounts as well. It was *only* going to be an extra 6 inches earlier, looks way more like at least 8 inches out there since the last time I went out. Heading out now to tackle it. Think we're at around 15 inches total. And the snow is staying here throughout the day tomorrow, when it was supposed to be done early morning. This nonsense is just sitting here chilling. Are we honestly not getting much more than what is there now when it is staying around for another 24 hours? They switched the graphic of "Snow Thru Tuesday" to Snow Thru Wednesday". FML
by MJ2004 They definitely underestimated this one.They'd predicted between 8-12 inches, but we've had more like 18 inches so far.
by ti-amie Our official was 16.5" in Central Park.
by dryrunguy It has continued to snow here off and on all day. We have at least 18 inches so far. Now I'm hearing something about another storm hitting around Thursday or Friday.
Meanwhile, I'm out of potatoes, and all I can think about during a snow storm is a rich stew full of veggies.
by Suliso I went to work today and it was rainy and unseasonably warm (ca 10-12 C). I totally don't miss the snow except in the mountains.
by Suliso I was just wondering - do any of our US/Canadian members live in the mountains or very close (1-2 h drive max)? It just struck to me that I don't remember anyone on TAT1.0 talking about it, it's either one coast or the other or Texas.
by ponchi101 I live part time in Colorado. 1/2 hour from the mountain
by dryrunguy I don't think my mountains really counts as a mountain. Or maybe it does. My car has an external temperature gauge (most cars do these days). The last time I drove over the mountain behind my house, it indicated a 10 degree drop in temperature by the time I got to the top of the mountain. And then the temperature went back up as I was driving down the other side of the mountain.
But the Swiss Alps we are not.
by skatingfan
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:42 pm
I was just wondering - do any of our US/Canadian members live in the mountains or very close (1-2 h drive max)? It just struck to me that I don't remember anyone on TAT1.0 talking about it, it's either one coast or the other or Texas.
Isn't Woody from Calgary, or was in Calgary?
by ti-amie
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 11:42 pm
I was just wondering - do any of our US/Canadian members live in the mountains or very close (1-2 h drive max)? It just struck to me that I don't remember anyone on TAT1.0 talking about it, it's either one coast or the other or Texas.
Pretty sure this isn't what you meant since I live very close to the city. But can I get to a mountain to go skiing and is the trip under 2 hours? Yes, no problem. I can actually go to a place that is under an hour away if I wanted, it's at the extreme other end of my arguably too large county. But there are more places to ski about 90 minutes from me. Actually, one of the main roads in that ski area is the main road where I live that takes me 5 minutes to get to, and I can indeed take it all the way up there if I wanted (there faster ways to get there). So, though it's truly a different area than where I live, it is really isn't far. It's one of the appeals of living here, 90 minutes from the beach and the mountains.
Most of my TAT friends in NYC can meet me there, traffic depending of course, but they'd get there in 90 minutes to 2 hours. I've actually done that drive, it took just over 90 minutes when I did it with my cousin many moons ago. This is something Boston, Philly, and New York City have in common among other things, all 3 are relatively close to both the mountains and the beach.
I haven't been up to the mountains in ages. I used to go fairly regularly when I was younger, every few months or so. But that was when my aunt and uncle had a house up there. They've since sold it.
And I will echo what @dry said. I've been to the Austrian Alps. And what I'm talking about is most certainly not on the same level.
by Suliso Indeed, I kind of knew that many places on the East Coast are within driving distance of Appalachian mountains and from LA it would be close to Sierra Nevada. But sure I meant more someone in Utah or Colorado or nearby where the truly high American mountains are.
Myself I live about 30 min from Appalachian like Jura mountains and about 1.5 h from the Alps. That's about as far as one could be from Alps in Switzerland. I used to go regularly in winter to ski, but it's been some time and these days I use them mostly for hiking.
by mmmm8 Technically, the mountains around Philly/NY are not Appalachians. The larger mountain ranges are Poconos, Catskills, Adirondacks and Berkshires. They kind of extend from Appalachia but have a separate formation history.
As Jazz points out, I've gone skiing about 1.5 hours from NY (once only, because I'm awful at it). And for hiking, there are decent size mountains (like Bear Mountain in the Hudson Highlands range) less than an hour away.
by ponchi101 If we are counting the Appalachians and the Catskills as mountains, then technically I live in a mountain. The Appalachians highest point stands at 2.037 Mtrs/OSL. The Catskills stand at 1.027 Mtrs/OSL. My house stands at 2,600 Mtrs/OSL (8,500 ft), and the highest mountain in Bogota stands at almost 2,900.
Caracas stands at 1,000 Mtrs. Our highest mountain, which faces the city, stands at 2,700 Mts (Pico Naiguata). The emblematic mountain that stands right in front of the city, and which basically defines it, is El Avila, which stands at 2,065 Mtrs. We call it CERRO AVILA, or THE AVILA HILL. We don't even call it a mountain.
The first time I went to Colorado my friend stopped us and told us "Remember, you are at altitude here. If you feel a little faint or short of breath, stop, and we will rest". I had to explain that we had come DOWN from where we live
One issue about playing in Bogota. 10 years later and I still at times find myself short of breath. Sure, partially growing old, but also the height. I will never completely adapt to it. It is a city for flat strokes and pressure-less balls: regulars will bounce crazy high.
by Suliso Oh yes, you're definitely living in the mountains now. In Venezuela you're from Caracas close to the sea level, right?
by dave g I have what are called "mountains" near me, but I hesitate to call them mountains because they are not very tall. There is a ski slope about half an hour from me. The main reason that there aren't any closer is that there is not enough population to support more slopes, and that ski slope needs to draw people the Minneapolis area, almost four hours away, to stay in business. I don't know how well they are weathering the COVID crisis.
While I might not have really long slopes, I definitely have snow, about one foot of it.
by ponchi101 @Suliso. Nope. My home in Caracas was at 950 Mts (I lived in the outskirts, in a hill). Caracas is roughly around 900 Mts. high.
Venezuela's highest mountain, Pico Bolivar, stands at 5,008 Mts high. We even had a cable car in the Pico Espejo (Mirror Peak), which went as high as 4,900. The cable car reached as high as 4,600 Mtrs, but, of course, we let it run down and it no longer works. It was the highest cable car in the world.
The highest mountain in Colombia is Pico Cristobal Colon, at 5,730 Mts. Haven't been there but, although very close to the equator, it is covered in snow. Which is melting, of course, but is still there.
by Suliso I checked it too after writing and was surprised that Caracas so high. Somehow in my mind I had it as a seaside city.
by ponchi101 We are only 10 Kms away from the coast. It is just that there is a mountain in the middle (we have to drive around it).
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:25 pm
If we are counting the Appalachians and the Catskills as mountains, then technically I live in a mountain. The Appalachians highest point stands at 2.037 Mtrs/OSL. The Catskills stand at 1.027 Mtrs/OSL. My house stands at 2,600 Mtrs/OSL (8,500 ft), and the highest mountain in Bogota stands at almost 2,900.
Caracas stands at 1,000 Mtrs. Our highest mountain, which faces the city, stands at 2,700 Mts (Pico Naiguata). The emblematic mountain that stands right in front of the city, and which basically defines it, is El Avila, which stands at 2,065 Mtrs. We call it CERRO AVILA, or THE AVILA HILL. We don't even call it a mountain.
The first time I went to Colorado my friend stopped us and told us "Remember, you are at altitude here. If you feel a little faint or short of breath, stop, and we will rest". I had to explain that we had come DOWN from where we live
One issue about playing in Bogota. 10 years later and I still at times find myself short of breath. Sure, partially growing old, but also the height. I will never completely adapt to it. It is a city for flat strokes and pressure-less balls: regulars will bounce crazy high.
Going to Montserrate (Wiki says it's actually 3,150 above sea level) was I think the only the second time in my life where I felt affected by the altitude (the other was driving in the Caucasus mountains, and I don't know if that was height or motion sickness). But the rest of time in Bogota I felt my breathing was affected by the pollution (maybe it was both). Because the city is in a valley - but maybe also because the air is "thinner" I felt the car pollution near the main roads made the air really difficult to breathe, it's the only thing I didn't like about Bogota.
by ponchi101 Oh, the pollution here is sickening. My robot vacuum cleaner picks up so much soot is is unbelievable. So, if you can survive Bogota's pollution and altitude, your lungs are fine.
by JazzNU I'm shortchanging the Poconos, Catskills, Adirondacks and Berkshires because they are very accessible to me. I'm not some winter sports fanatic and don't pretend to be. But I've heard several US Winter Olympians talk about training at all of the above, so they are good for winter sports. And yes @ponchi, they are mountains.
As for LA, I wish you luck reaching wherever you are trying to go in 2 hours. You might, and I stress might, be able to make it to Big Bear in under 2 hours if you get the traffic just right.
by JazzNU In case you missed seeing the pandas at the DC Zoo enjoying the snow this week
by dryrunguy It turns out we needed one more foot of snow. I drove to Orbisonia today and could still see the Trump signs in people's yards.
by Suliso
by ti-amie I'm not sure where this is but that is a very large boulder.
by ponchi101 Two counties away from my place in Colorado. A gorgeous area, holding Mesa Verde National Monument, which is incredible.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 6:57 pm
I'm not sure where this is but that is a very large boulder.
This was the first thing I thought of when I saw the tweet after seeing the size. But turns out, the sheriff's department is just doing social media very well, the replies of the original and the quote tweet go into the callbacks.
by JazzNU
by dryrunguy Good grief. George Clooney is on the cover of this month's AARP Magazine.
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:33 pm
Good grief. George Clooney is on the cover of this month's AARP Magazine.
Does that mean it's okay to be an old now?
by meganfernandez
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:33 pm
Good grief. George Clooney is on the cover of this month's AARP Magazine.
Yeah, AARP age begins at 50! I'm almost 50 and I'm just getting going. And who can afford to retire at 50? I'll be lucky to retire at 80, if anyone will even employ me at that point. Anyway, Clooney ought to be on the cover of Old Dad magazine.
The AARP magazine has one of the largest circulations in the world. Lots of exposure.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:33 pm
Good grief. George Clooney is on the cover of this month's AARP Magazine.
Yeah, AARP age begins at 50! I'm almost 50 and I'm just getting going. And who can afford to retire at 50? I'll be lucky to retire at 80, if anyone will even employ me at that point. Anyway, Clooney ought to be on the cover of Old Dad magazine.
The AARP magazine has one of the largest circulations in the world. Lots of exposure.
Retirement will become a luxury pretty soon. I have witnesses that I have been saying for years that the lucky ones will die at their desks. The unlucky ones will die destitute.
by Suliso Well, I don't know... I do still except to retire, around age 60 preferably.
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 7:11 pm
Well, I don't know... I do still except to retire, around age 60 preferably.
Is Switzerland socialist?
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 7:11 pm
Well, I don't know... I do still except to retire, around age 60 preferably.
And I hope you will be able to, and in luxury.
But I am talking about people that do not live in an European country with an extremely high income, and a good social services network.
My plans, for example, to retire around 65 were completely wiped out by the drop in oil prices in 2014 and the drop in jobs. I would say that at least 5 friends in the industry are also unable to retire. My sister the shrink in Caracas will never be able to retire (fortunately she will be able to remain in practice for a long time).
This will lead to terrible issues: older people (me) will not be able to retire, not opening possible positions for the younger ones coming out of college. Automation will wipe out many of our jobs. And even though some places will have social security, one has to wonder what kind of life you will be able to lead on a pension. Seeing as by now it is agreed that $1MM for retirement is NOT enough, the picture is far from rosy.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:35 pm
Does that mean it's okay to be an old now?
Well yes. But old like George? It's okay about as much as using a Flowbee will make you look like George does...
In related news, Viola Davis did an AARP cover recently. I'm younger than her and have no hope of looking that good right now, let alone when I'm "old."
by Suliso I'm particularly privileged to be fair. Not only above average income in an already rich country, but also I have no need to remain here after retirement. My pension and savings will last much longer elsewhere, a million I don't need. At current prices one could lead a quiet and comfortable life in Riga for ca 15k per year as long as you own your own place (I already do).
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 7:38 pm
I'm particularly privileged to be fair. Not only above average income in an already rich country, but also I have no need to remain here after retirement. My pension and savings will last much longer elsewhere, a million I don't need. At current prices one could lead a quiet and comfortable life in Riga for ca 15k per year as long as you own your own place (I already do).
And how and where can I apply for Latvian residency? Because there is no way I can live my lifestyle here in Bogota for less than $1,500/month, if I want to keep such lifestyle. And the GOV will still nail me for taxes, so that $1,500/month is fictional to me.
You and I can move. A lot of people can't. The American dream of retiring to Acapulco or the Mayan Riviera simply are pipe dreams sold on TV.
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 7:38 pm
I'm particularly privileged to be fair. Not only above average income in an already rich country, but also I have no need to remain here after retirement. My pension and savings will last much longer elsewhere, a million I don't need. At current prices one could lead a quiet and comfortable life in Riga for ca 15k per year as long as you own your own place (I already do).
And how and where can I apply for Latvian residency? Because there is no way I can live my lifestyle here in Bogota for less than $1,500/month, if I want to keep such lifestyle. And the GOV will still nail me for taxes, so that $1,500/month is fictional to me.
You and I can move. A lot of people can't. The American dream of retiring to Acapulco or the Mayan Riviera simply are pipe dreams sold on TV.
Bogota must be very expensive then... As for lifestyle 15k per year (after any taxes by the way!) will not allow constantly flying around the world, new car etc. Will allow all the normal things. Two bedroom apartment in Riga will cost you about 300 $/month in maintenance costs (property taxes, heating, electricity, water, internet).
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:33 pm
Good grief. George Clooney is on the cover of this month's AARP Magazine.
Does that mean it's okay to be an old now?
It's just wrong. I mean, I remember early in his career when he was in an episode of The Golden Girls, so I can do the math. But people like him aren't supposed to get old.
Some months back, they had Bruce Springstein on the cover. I died a little that time, too.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 6:33 pm
Good grief. George Clooney is on the cover of this month's AARP Magazine.
Does that mean it's okay to be an old now?
It's just wrong. I mean, I remember early in his career when he was in an episode of The Golden Girls, so I can do the math. But people like him aren't supposed to get old.
Some months back, they had Bruce Springstein on the cover. I died a little that time, too.
Clooney was also on the Facts of Life. Jo's boyfriend.
Bogota must be very expensive then... As for lifestyle 15k per year (after any taxes by the way!) will not allow constantly flying around the world, new car etc. Will allow all the normal things. Two bedroom apartment in Riga will cost you about 300 $/month in maintenance costs (property taxes, heating, electricity, water, internet).
Serious, curious question. With 15K a year, can you play tennis twice a week in Riga?
I know probably I can ski in the street outside my $300/month flat, but the tennis is a must.
I love that Steffi (and Andre) still play routinely. It shows that for them, and especially her, it was not just a job.
And she must be one of the most fit 51's on the whole world. Plus Sabatini (she also still looks great).
by JazzNU
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:07 pm
Clooney was also on the Facts of Life. Jo's boyfriend.
Uh, no he wasn't. Her boyfriend that is. Definitely on Facts of Life. But he was the handyman and basically just all of their friend. They may have gotten together if he stuck around, but even that wasn't certain. I think he kissed Blair in one episode, not Jo.
My mind if filled with useless entertainment trivia.
Bogota must be very expensive then... As for lifestyle 15k per year (after any taxes by the way!) will not allow constantly flying around the world, new car etc. Will allow all the normal things. Two bedroom apartment in Riga will cost you about 300 $/month in maintenance costs (property taxes, heating, electricity, water, internet).
Serious, curious question. With 15K a year, can you play tennis twice a week in Riga?
I know probably I can ski in the street outside my $300/month flat, but the tennis is a must.
I don't really know for sure, but last I heard indoor tennis courts go for 20-30 $/hour and outdoor 10-15 $ (4 months only). How much is it in Bogota?
Skiing would be a lot more expensive than that since we have no mountains and you'd have to fly somewhere. Albeit I don't know too many 60+ year old guys who're still up for downhill skiing.
by ponchi101 Bogota is about $12, plus another $12 for a hitting pro. Since you will still be working in Geneva, I won't have anybody to hit with
No 60+ yo going downhill? Where I ski, we have a club called THE GREY WOLVES. MIINIMUM age is 50 (so I am in it) and I regularly ski with 70+. The highest point of the mountain is called, of course, THE PEAK, and they have a challenge called THE PEAK AT 80. It means being 80 yo and skiing that face down. The plaque that commemorates those people is pretty full.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:55 pm
No 60+ yo going downhill? Where I ski, we have a club called THE GREY WOLVES. MIINIMUM age is 50 (so I am in it) and I regularly ski with 70+. The highest point of the mountain is called, of course, THE PEAK, and they have a challenge called THE PEAK AT 80. It means being 80 yo and skiing that face down. The plaque that commemorates those people is pretty full.
Impressed!!! But then again I'm not a skier, grew up in flatlands and only moved to Switzerland at 31. I'm reasonably good at cross country skiing, but haven't done that for a while either...
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:55 pm
Bogota is about $12, plus another $12 for a hitting pro. Since you will still be working in Geneva, I won't have anybody to hit with
No 60+ yo going downhill? Where I ski, we have a club called THE GREY WOLVES. MIINIMUM age is 50 (so I am in it) and I regularly ski with 70+. The highest point of the mountain is called, of course, THE PEAK, and they have a challenge called THE PEAK AT 80. It means being 80 yo and skiing that face down. The plaque that commemorates those people is pretty full.
My mother learned to ski and snowboard in her 60s. She actually gave lessons, too. This was on the tiny hills of Southern Indiana, where you drive to the top of the "mountain." But she went skiing in the Alps when she was 70. She's 80 now and renovating a house mostly by herself.
by ti-amie
by mmmm8 Ponchi - It's actually absolutely possible to retire in Latvia. I looked into this for my parents precisely for cost reasons, since there are plenty of Russian speakers there so it would be easier for them. I think you only need to show funds of EUR 680 per month. (They decided it's too cold... and every other place is too hot... really, they just want NYC prices to be cut in half and then they can have a happy retirement..)
I think beyond housing, though, you may find that the overall cost of living is lower or on par in Bogota. Spain is actually a really good option as well and has similar rules around retirement, although i believe the minimum funds requirement is higher.
by ponchi101 I don't know how I would handle moving to such a place. The language barrier would be extreme.
Colombia is fine. But, as Drop and I have talked about: migrating within Latin America is like changing rooms in the Titanic.
by JazzNU
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:17 am
Ponchi - It's actually absolutely possible to retire in Latvia. I looked into this for my parents precisely for cost reasons, since there are plenty of Russian speakers there so it would be easier for them. I think you only need to show funds of EUR 680 per month. (They decided it's too cold... and every other place is too hot... really, they just want NYC prices to be cut in half and then they can have a happy retirement..)
If you're still looking for your parents, you can try Philly over NYC to cut costs. Northeast Philly has a large Russian and Ukrainian community. Plenty of Russian speakers and also many services offered in Russian.
by Suliso I myself sometimes dream of retiring in Southern Europe (Andalucia for example) just for climatic reasons, but would I really be so adaptable when older even if money no issue I'm not sure.
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:53 am
I myself sometimes dream of retiring in Southern Europe (Andalucia for example) just for climatic reasons, but would I really be so adaptable when older even if money no issue I'm not sure.
Since you've essentially done it more than once before successfully, I think it wouldn't be that hard. At least that's my perception for myself in such a situation. For my parents, the first immigration experiencе moving to the US without much purpose (with 5 years in Texas, a huge culture shock) was so difficult, I think they are just traumatized.
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:17 am
Ponchi - It's actually absolutely possible to retire in Latvia. I looked into this for my parents precisely for cost reasons, since there are plenty of Russian speakers there so it would be easier for them. I think you only need to show funds of EUR 680 per month. (They decided it's too cold... and every other place is too hot... really, they just want NYC prices to be cut in half and then they can have a happy retirement..)
If you're still looking for your parents, you can try Philly over NYC to cut costs. Northeast Philly has a large Russian and Ukrainian community. Plenty of Russian speakers and also many services offered in Russian.
They don't like anywhere in the US except New York (no, there's not really a reason).
But it wasn't just money, I think quality of life in Europe (not everywhere) would be higher too.
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 6:53 am
I myself sometimes dream of retiring in Southern Europe (Andalucia for example) just for climatic reasons, but would I really be so adaptable when older even if money no issue I'm not sure.
Since you've essentially done it more than once before successfully, I think it wouldn't be that hard. At least that's my perception for myself in such a situation. For my parents, the first immigration experiencе moving to the US without much purpose (with 5 years in Texas, a huge culture shock) was so difficult, I think they are just traumatized.
Perhaps you're right. Right now I'd move even as far as Colombia if that made sense for some reason, but I'm 43 not 63 and you're even younger so can we really tell how we'd feel then?
Where in Russia did your family move from? I guess from any place in the 90-ties Texas would have been a huge change...
by mmmm8 We are from Nizhniy Novgorod, the fourth largest city. Any sizeable European city to Texas would be a huge shock, even today, although the world does feel much smaller and more mobile today
by Suliso Found this fun video on how famous historical figures would look like now with a modern haircut and cosmetics. It's not a complete fantasy, based on historical paintings, sculptures and contemporary descriptions.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Jean-Michel Connard
@torriangray
so my eldest brother, who is a moron, has been playing soldier with his moron friends in the deserts of texas for the last year preparing for the collapse of civilization if biden won (lol). they were burying food and ammo stashes out in the desert, running drills, crazy stuff
locking two people with marital strife in a house with no supplies, no access to power, but plenty of access to guns and ammo seems like a great idea. i think this should work out great.
just to give you all some additional comfort: his wife is part of the group who helps select the textbooks texas buys every year, just in case you're wondering about the kind of people that make those decisions.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Downright poetic.
by ti-amie From the ublime to the idiotic...
by ti-amie
by JazzNU Ted Cruz jokes
by ti-amie A bit of social media drama from earlier today. Marjorie Green seems determined to alienate all of her colleagues.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101
Don't forget, it was not only cartoons. The music for the Lone Ranger was The William Tell Overture (if I remember correctly). And although Bugs would make fun out of Leopold Stokowski, Stokowski DID work with Disney.
Thanks. Those were fun memories from when I was a stupid little kid, glued to these cartoons
by MJ2004 They forgot this classic. The fact that a live orchestra is performing to it shows the memorable impact it had.
by ti-amie I always remember "kill the wabbit".
Freud would have a field day with that clip. I'll just leave it at that.
by ponchi101 And of course, who can forget the great episode in which Beavis and Butthead sing Bizet's The Pearlfishers a Capella...
(oops, sorry. Old man yelling at clouds is back )
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Somebody's CEO in about 30 years...
by ti-amie I...
What happens when her edgelord wakes up and decides she's expendable because who in their right mind would be with him?
Sometimes I think people make this stuff up but this sounds a bit more "real life" incel like stuff.
by dryrunguy I could have used Donald Trump's tiny hands today... It has been a LONG time since I have had to pull lambs.
It started last Saturday night when one of my very pregnant ewes did not eat. One thing Lincoln sheep never lack is an appetite, so I figured she was getting ready to go into labor. It's common for pregnant ewes to not eat when they are getting ready to birth. So I went out to the barn every few hours that night to check on her. Nothing happening.
Then, during the course of the past week, the ewe (we call her Mia) progressively got weaker. Sometimes she would eat a little or at least nibble on a little hay, but she showed no signs of labor. And kept getting weaker.
This is a condition called ketosis. You can read about it here: https://www.sweetlix.com/research-artic ... n-the-ewe/. All you can do is pump the ewe full of sugars. I use about 30 cc's of Karo Syrup twice a day. But as is typically the case, it didn't really help anything.
Thursday night, I finally decided to reach inside and dig around a little. She was only partially dilated. So I left her alone.
Finally, this morning her water broke. Mia was too weak to have them on her own, so I reached in again to assess the problem. I quickly found two feet, but the head wasn't where it should be. After feeling around a bit more, I figured out the problem. (See Figure 4 at https://www.iamcountryside.com/sheep/la ... positions/.) The head was still 100% behind and below the cervix. I couldn't get my hand under the head to lift it up, and I couldn't get my hand firmly behind the head, either. In a situation like this, you just have to be super patient. But then something else starts to happen. The cervix start slowing or cutting off blood flow to your hand and fingers. The fingers aren't working properly. So you have to take your hand out so you get blood flow to the fingers again. But then your arm starts to get really cold, especially in 35 degree weather.
Then I went back in with my right hand and used my fingers to bring the head up. That's more difficult to do than it sounds. But eventually I got the head up, got my hand behind the head and gently pulled it through the cervix.
It was around this time when the lamb fought back against me, which was a relief. That lamb was alive. Which surprised the hell outta me.
From here it was clear sailing. Gently pull the head forward until the front feet are out. Use one hand to gently pull the feet (outside of the ewe), and use the other hand to keep pulling the head. And boom. Lamb is out. I put the lamb in front of Mia, and she immediately starts to clean it and make the usual mothering noises.
Mia was 100% cooperative throughout this process. It's still difficult enough when the ewe is cooperative. Doing it when a ewe is NOT cooperative is a two- to three-person job.
I was sure there was at least one more lamb in there, so I went back to the house, washed my amniotic fluid-covered/bloodied arm, and got warmed up.
I went back out 20 minutes later. The first lamb is pretty listless, chilled, and breathing very heavy. It hadn't yet even tried to get up.
I went back inside Mia, and the second lamb was in the canal and everything was in the right position. I had it out in about 10 seconds. I put her in front of Mia and partially on top of the first lamb (also a girl) to help it warm up. Mia is now cleaning both of them. I reached in again and immediately felt afterbirth, so Mia SHOULD be done for the day. Twin girls. The first one is white with a black front leg. LOL! The second was black.
Since then, both lambs have nursed, but the first lamb is a little worrisome. That breathing is weird, but she had a very rough trip. I'm hoping with a full belly, she'll get some rest, get the breathing in order, and then be a normal lamb.
If Mia can get through the next 24 hours without a complete uterine prolapse (can happen with difficult births) and if the first lamb perks up a little, we should be in the clear. Fingers crossed.
But the whole thing would have been much easier if I had Donald Trump's tiny hands.
by ponchi101
We must be the sole board IN THE WORLD in which, this not being the main subject, we get ovine obstetrical advice. I swear
by ti-amie Ah, the Joys of Farming by DryRunGuy.
I hope everything is okay for mother and babies.
by dryrunguy
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 11:00 pm
We must be the sole board IN THE WORLD in which, this not being the main subject, we get ovine obstetrical advice. I swear
If someone had said to me yesterday that, at any point, I would have a live ewe and two live lambs, I would have said, "You ain't seen what I've seen."
I'm still worried about the first lamb. She has not yet been able to stand on her own. There could be something wrong with one of her front legs, the black leg (e.g., dislocated shoulder). Heading back out in 30 minutes to make sure she eats again. Lambs, even three-legged ones, are amazingly resilient, especially when they have a belly full of warm mother's milk.
Last I checked, her breathing is normal. So that's a positive development. And Mia snarfed down her grain and hay. She hasn't done that in a week.
by MJ2004 I cooked lamb stew today. This will not make me feel guilty, this will not make me feel guilty...
by dryrunguy
MJ2004 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 11:56 pm
I cooked lamb stew today. This will not make me feel guilty, this will not make me feel guilty...
by skatingfan
MJ2004 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 11:56 pm
I cooked lamb stew today. This will not make me feel guilty, this will not make me feel guilty...
More importantly how did it taste?
by JazzNU Dangerous out there trying to get candles, shower gel and body lotion.
by ponchi101 Wow.
by mmmm8 Did she get her purse?
by dryrunguy My first thought was, "Who the hell is this FOOL of a man trying to break up a catfight between women?!?!?" But, by golly, once he got back on his feet, he did okay. He's lucky he lived. I see a fight between women and I run the other way--like my underwear is on fire.
by ti-amie Vince McMahon is seething with rage that they stole his Monday Night Raw idea.
by JazzNU Watch the video if you'd like. Seriously, said seconds after one another.
by JazzNU ^^ I'm positive he thought this was a great thing to say and it would come off well. How often was he said it that it took 20 months to get it out of his vocabulary? Everyday and twice on Sunday at least is my guess.
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 8:23 pm
Watch the video if you'd like. Seriously, said seconds after one another.
by ponchi101 Well done, OAN...
He could have shot himself in public, and it would have been less damaging. Or disturbing.
by ti-amie
Of course only haters would read anything into this picture. Hawley's defenders posted this pic from the St Louis Post Dispatch to prove the haters wrong.
The first person who posted this pic was thrown off of Twitter later the same day for unknown reasons.
by JazzNU That photo minus the baby looks exactly like the ones from the Abercrombie catalogs that used to get delivered to our dorms in droves. This is likely from exactly that time. Pure thoughts were what those shirtless, barely dressed Abercrombie models always inspired.
by mmmm8 I don't know if it's funnier/sadder if he is closeted gay or he thinks of himself as looking like that when "defending unborn babies."
by JazzNU The replies to that Tweet are hilarious if anyone needs a laugh
by ponchi101 You people are focusing on the Abercombrie poster. I am looking at his photo kissing a rather pretty looking girl and it has been a while since I have seen a man looking so uncomfortably while kissing.
I mean, I don't expect him to go full french, but that is somebody that truly does not know how to kiss a girl.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 2:04 pm
You people are focusing on the Abercombrie poster. I am looking at his photo kissing a rather pretty looking girl and it has been a while since I have seen a man looking so uncomfortably while kissing.
I mean, I don't expect him to go full french, but that is somebody that truly does not know how to kiss a girl.
Like I said. Check the replies to that Tweet. There are plenty of hilarious mentions about that passionate kiss.
by ti-amie If you look closely his mouth is closed so...
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 It is one of the very bad aspects of the disease. Wearing a mask does not need an IQ of 150 to see the benefits. Heck, it does not need an IQ of 100.
by ponchi101 PT Barnum was wrong. There are not one fool born every minute. There are thousands.
Gist (from the link above):
Christie’s says it has auctioned off a digital collage by an artist named Beeple for nearly $70 million, in an unprecedented sale of a digital artwork that fetched more money than physical works by many better known artists.
The piece, titled “Everydays: The First 5,000 Days,” sold for $69.4 million in an online auction, “positioning him among the top three most valuable living artists,” Christie’s said via Twitter on Thursday.
Christie’s said it also marks the first time a major auction house has offered a digital-only artwork with a non-fungible token as a guarantee of its authenticity, as well as the first time cryptocurrency has been used to pay for an artwork at auction.
by JazzNU I promise you, NBA Top Shop is much better evidence of how many fools are born every minute. Paying tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars for stuff you can view free of charge on YouTube and Twitter is peak foolishness.
by MJ2004 We had a conversation a while back on how long it's taking for large items to be delivered. We ordered a new washer/dryer back in early-mid November, delivered today. So it took four months.
Luckily it was our dryer and not our washer that broke. So a nice to have, not a need to have. We've been ok hanging everything to dry. I've gotten used to crunchy towels, it will be amazing to have soft towels again! #fwp
by JazzNU Gotta wonder what the other excuses they came up with were when they decided this one sounded the best. In case you think this wasn't thought out by them and they issued this excuse in a rush - this came hours after he denied it was him, and was given as an excuse in a written multi-paragraph press release detailing what a good Christian family man he is, that his colleague didn't do anything, and that his diabetes is to blame for this. Cause sugar spikes cause racism apparently.
by Suliso Is the term "misspoke" out of fashion now for cases like this?
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 6:14 pm
Gotta wonder what the other excuses they came up with were when they decided this one sounded the best. In case you think this wasn't thought out by them and they issued this excuse in a rush - this came hours after he denied it was him, and was given as an excuse in a written multi-paragraph press release detailing what a good Christian family man he is, that his colleague didn't do anything, and that his diabetes is to blame for this. Cause sugar spikes cause racism apparently.
As a diabetic (Type 2) this really pi**ed me off. I guess they count on everyone being stupid enough to go for this (apparently not too many did). A sugar spike or drop is no joke and to my knowledge has never been known to cause racism.
by ponchi101 It still does not cease to amaze me. Black people kneel for a verifiable cause, and it causes a storm. Jan 6th happened, and nothing happened.
The myopia is absolute.
As for the diabetes excuse: a new low. Which will be broken sooner or later.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Ten Years?!
by ponchi101 Scandinavian people are Martians...
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 6:58 pm
As a diabetic (Type 2) this really pi**ed me off. I guess they count on everyone being stupid enough to go for this (apparently not too many did). A sugar spike or drop is no joke and to my knowledge has never been known to cause racism.
Diabetics are LIVID. They cannot believe they were brought into this.
by ponchi101 Ok, I know it is not funny but, that clip above made me
by ti-amie Nene in the role of diabetics everywhere.
by Fastbackss
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 13, 2021 7:23 pm
Scandinavian people are Martians...
Bummed that the first comment is that they are just cosplayers
by JazzNU
by Suliso Work friend just mentioned that he has 39 cousins. Crazy...
by ponchi101 Including how many off-branches? That is indeed insane if they are first cousins. But if he is counting the 23&ME ones, may be more sensible.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:45 pm
Including how many off-branches? That is indeed insane if they are first cousins. But if he is counting the 23&ME ones, may be more sensible.
First cousins only! Also 7 siblings and I forgot how many nieces and nephews.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:45 pm
Including how many off-branches? That is indeed insane if they are first cousins. But if he is counting the 23&ME ones, may be more sensible.
First cousins only! Also 7 siblings and I forgot how many nieces and nephews.
It's a lot but not crazy-big. My husband is one of 6 and I am one of 7. If we all had 3-4 kids, it would be about the same. I love the large family except I can't remember who's getting along at any given point.
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:29 pm
Work friend just mentioned that he has 39 cousins. Crazy...
Doesn't seem crazy to me. I'm guessing you're not used to big families.
I've never counted how many first cousins my dad has, it's not remotely common in black families to do the first, second, third cousin thing. But it's more than 39. It happens when your dad is one of 12.
by sokol
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 3:29 pm
Work friend just mentioned that he has 39 cousins. Crazy...
by mmmm8 One of the small culture shocks I experienced moving to America is the number of families with 3+ children.
Growing up in the USSR, there was only one family I knew with 3 children except some mixed families (i.e. second marriages with two kids from each first marriage or where later marriage/relationship resulted in small kids once first marriage kids were teens/adults).
I have 3 first cousins. There is only one person within my extended family with more than 2 kids (they have 3). You have to go back to my oldest uncle's generation to find another example (he's the youngest of his 3 siblings at 76).
I think the key factors are:
1. Women's rights - women went to work and had access to relatively decent quality OB/GYN care earlier in the USSR than certainly in the US + women not seen as baby machines;
2. Lack of religion - marriage not seen as just a vehicle for procreation
3. WWII - in those generations where numerous children were common, some of the parents and the children were wiped out. So, it just wasn't common to see families with many kids, or they were struggling to survive with a single mother - little incentive to follow such examples.
4. Wealth and real estate - I'm sure there's going to be correlation between number of children and whether one lives in an urban environment vs suburban/rural. Most American cities have a suburban lifestyle even within the city limits. Most of the Russian population live an urban lifestyle even in the city suburbs. That means smaller apartments vs larger houses, no/fewer/smaller cars, etc.
I'm sure this applies to most of Europe.
by Suliso
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 21, 2021 3:51 pm
One of the small culture shocks I experienced moving to America is the number of families with 3+ children.
Growing up in the USSR, there was only one family I knew with 3 children except some mixed families (i.e. second marriages with two kids from each first marriage or where later marriage/relationship resulted in small kids once first marriage kids were teens/adults).
I have 3 first cousins. There is only one person within my extended family with more than 2 kids (they have 3). You have to go back to my oldest uncle's generation to find another example (he's the youngest of his 3 siblings at 76).
I think the key factors are:
1. Women's rights - women went to work and had access to relatively decent quality OB/GYN care earlier in the USSR than certainly in the US + women not seen as baby machines;
2. Lack of religion - marriage not seen as just a vehicle for procreation
3. WWII - in those generations where numerous children were common, some of the parents and the children were wiped out. So, it just wasn't common to see families with many kids, or they were struggling to survive with a single mother - little incentive to follow such examples.
4. Wealth and real estate - I'm sure there's going to be correlation between number of children and whether one lives in an urban environment vs suburban/rural. Most American cities have a suburban lifestyle even within the city limits. Most of the Russian population live an urban lifestyle even in the city suburbs. That means smaller apartments vs larger houses, no/fewer/smaller cars, etc.
I'm sure this applies to most of Europe.
It does, but nevertheless I have nine first cousins without anyone having more than 3 kids in my parents or grandparents generation. The next generation is less "productive" though. Those nine cousins together have only 16 kids of their own, with maybe 1-2 extra still possible in the future.
by ponchi101 Cosmic coincidence.
Just finished reading an article about how the population in Russia is declining. It is down to 146MM, with some models even saying it will be down into the 135MM range in about 20 years.
I have also read (forgot were) that in the USA the population growth is fueled solely by immigration and immigrants having children. The reason is simple: finances. As we said further above, having a child nowadays involves a complex and expensive financial situation. For the vast majority, it means two incomes as the older model of working-dad/stay-at-home-mom seldom works (ignoring here the social issues of working women and equal salaries). So in Russia (this article says), the same situation is showing up. Fewer and fewer jobs, state-run companies that are collapsing with the consequential unemployment and therefore more couples deciding that no children is the way.
Add that Russia is not a friendly place for immigration (I can assume the language barrier is a tough one to hurdle over to begin with) and yes, families with more than 2 children are not in vogue right now.
It will be a very different world in 50 years. And I am not sure if I would even want to be around to see it (I won't).
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 21, 2021 4:09 pm
Cosmic coincidence.
Just finished reading an article about how the population in Russia is declining. It is down to 146MM, with some models even saying it will be down into the 135MM range in about 20 years.
I have also read (forgot were) that in the USA the population growth is fueled solely by immigration and immigrants having children. The reason is simple: finances. As we said further above, having a child nowadays involves a complex and expensive financial situation. For the vast majority, it means two incomes as the older model of working-dad/stay-at-home-mom seldom works (ignoring here the social issues of working women and equal salaries). So in Russia (this article says), the same situation is showing up. Fewer and fewer jobs, state-run companies that are collapsing with the consequential unemployment and therefore more couples deciding that no children is the way.
Add that Russia is not a friendly place for immigration (I can assume the language barrier is a tough one to hurdle over to begin with) and yes, families with more than 2 children are not in vogue right now.
It will be a very different world in 50 years. And I am not sure if I would even want to be around to see it (I won't).
I think that's one aspect, for the lower-income groups. For higher-income people, it's the same issue as elsewhere - women choosing to have children later or not at all because of career preferences and the cultural mindshift around the necessity of having a husband and children when you're financially independent.
by dave g The theory that I have heard is quite different. For a long time, the main way to not starve when you could no longer work was to have children that you could live with. However, now that we have enough money to retire separate from living with our children, having children are no longer necessary to survive your old age. Therefore, the countries where people have enough personal wealth to retire comfortably are the countries where the number of children per family has fallen.
I suspect some of this is also due to the increased mobility. As people have gotten more mobile, and as people have had to move to their job locations more often as opposed to finding jobs where they live, depending on help from your children in retirement becomes more difficult if they don't live in your area. I wonder if the increased amount of teleworking, etc., will have any affect on the size of families.
by ponchi101 Until historically recently, having children was a MUST, financially speaking. You needed those extra hands at the farm, and there was only one way to make that ironsmith shop or the carpenter's workplace more profitable. Plus, who were you going to sell it to? It had to be passed.
Now that does not apply.
by dryrunguy Does anyone else remember this classic scene/blooper (pretty sure it never aired, but I could be wrong) from The Carol Burnett Show? I discovered it on YouTube a few days back, and I keep going back to it.
So much talent on one sofa (left to right)--Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, and Dick Van Dyke (who never said a word in the entire sketch but still added to the humor since he couldn't hold himself together).
Some time back, I saw an interview with Vicki about this scene. Apparently, Carol had been warned before filming that Tim Conway was going to go off-script. Carol implored Vicki to keep it professional and not lose character. (At the time, Vicki was the "junior" member of the cast and had significantly less experience.) Except for Dick Van Dyke, it turned out to be Carol herself who struggled the most to keep it together. Vicki was 100% professional. And then near the end, she delivered the killer line that backfired on Conway.
Good stuff.
by ponchi101
by JazzNU Yes, I remember it well. Before my time, but it was a regular feature in any of the best outtake/bloopers that were shown because it's basically the best one ever. It's why I recognized him almost immediately when he guest starred on 30 Rock. Priceless. He won a Guest Star Emmy for his appearance.
by ti-amie Tim Conway.
by Suliso Found a fascinating youtube channel on lock picking. As far as simple bike locks are concerned this guy can get them open in under a minute.
by JazzNU Yeah, not surprising for a pro. I'm not saying it's ever happened to me, but if you've ever been dumb enough to lock yourself out of your car and give a call to AAA, you will realize these (reformed) car thieves technicians can break into your car door lock for you in under 5 minutes no problem, under 3 minutes is fairly normal. Not that I have any personal experience with that or anything.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie The real US Strategic Command's Twitter account just sent this out. Panic has ensued.
Nine minutes ago:
by JazzNU Gone! What were the tweets about?
by ti-amie Wow that was fast. A string of what people were jokingly saying was "code" got sent out by the SAC twitter account. It was up for about half an hour before they said "ignore this" and now they've deleted the Tweets. I'll see if someone got a screen shot.
by ti-amie
by Suliso For all the pyromaniacs among us.
by meganfernandez
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:49 pm
Does anyone else remember this classic scene/blooper (pretty sure it never aired, but I could be wrong) from The Carol Burnett Show? I discovered it on YouTube a few days back, and I keep going back to it.
So much talent on one sofa (left to right)--Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, and Dick Van Dyke (who never said a word in the entire sketch but still added to the humor since he couldn't hold himself together).
Some time back, I saw an interview with Vicki about this scene. Apparently, Carol had been warned before filming that Tim Conway was going to go off-script. Carol implored Vicki to keep it professional and not lose character. (At the time, Vicki was the "junior" member of the cast and had significantly less experience.) Except for Dick Van Dyke, it turned out to be Carol herself who struggled the most to keep it together. Vicki was 100% professional. And then near the end, she delivered the killer line that backfired on Conway.
Good stuff.
What does Vicki say at the end? I can't hear it... something about that little asshole.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 11:27 am
For all the pyromaniacs among us.
DO NO TRY THIS AT HOME? Heck, in most places on earth, trying this in ANY COUNTY gets a a SWAT team there in minutes.
That was fun
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:49 pm
Does anyone else remember this classic scene/blooper (pretty sure it never aired, but I could be wrong) from The Carol Burnett Show? I discovered it on YouTube a few days back, and I keep going back to it.
So much talent on one sofa (left to right)--Tim Conway, Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, and Dick Van Dyke (who never said a word in the entire sketch but still added to the humor since he couldn't hold himself together).
Some time back, I saw an interview with Vicki about this scene. Apparently, Carol had been warned before filming that Tim Conway was going to go off-script. Carol implored Vicki to keep it professional and not lose character. (At the time, Vicki was the "junior" member of the cast and had significantly less experience.) Except for Dick Van Dyke, it turned out to be Carol herself who struggled the most to keep it together. Vicki was 100% professional. And then near the end, she delivered the killer line that backfired on Conway.
Good stuff.
What does Vicki say at the end? I can't hear it... something about that little asshole.
"Sure that little asshole's done?"
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:26 pm
DO NO TRY THIS AT HOME? Heck, in most places on earth, trying this in ANY COUNTY gets a a SWAT team there in minutes.
That was fun
I'm amazed YouTube allows this to stay up. When these kinds of things are in say a movie or TV show, we typically never see that episode again or the original cut of the movie because people did try it at home and they are potentially liable for encouraging it and giving ideas on how to do it.
by Suliso
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:01 pm
I'm amazed YouTube allows this to stay up. When these kinds of things are in say a movie or TV show, we typically never see that episode again or the original cut of the movie because people did try it at home and they are potentially liable for encouraging it and giving ideas on how to do it.
This is a very popular channel and the video I posted is among the most tame ones. There is one with 10,000 (!!!) firecrackers.
There are a lot of videos on youtube with all kinds of silly experiments, but also scientific ones which should not be attempted outside specialized areas.
by JazzNU This is a Twitter thread full of Ever Given memes for anyone interested.
by ti-amie Remember our discussion about large families? The big red flag here is the situation around the joint banking account.
WIBTA if I started charging my husband "admin fees"?
Not the A-hole
Hello all, I'm really awful at explaining things. So I'm happy to answer questions if you have any.
I'm a stay at home wife, and mother of four, my husband is the breadwinner. This means I take on almost all of the housework, child raising, and I try to do as much as I can so he can come home and relax as much as possible. One of the things I'm in charge of is all his admin. Whether it be updating his resume, booking him into courses/flights/appointments, arranging accommodation, sending off his application to jobs (he tells me which ones) and all the relevant paperwork that goes with it. If anyone ever gets an email from him, it's me. Usually I don't mind this. I worked as a receptionist before we were married, and it's never really anything over complicated that needs doing. Although sometimes it's difficult to do the tasks as quickly as he wants them done, because I have to wrangle a gaggle of children. Well, today he rang me in a huff thinking I'd possibly jeopardised his upcoming new job by not sending in the correct paperwork. Even after I explained 3 times that I HAD done it all, and that it had been received by the recruiter, he continued being short and snippy. Now I'm thinking, since he expects me to always drop whatever I'm doing and immediately see to his paperwork whenever it comes in, I should start charging him a small fee. I thought a maximum of $50 a week for these "emergency admin tasks" (never ever an emergency, just him being pushy) just enough to do something nice with the kids (because oftentimes I have to skip out halfway through playing with them, or they get upset that mummy can't hang out anymore she needs to concentrate and send off these 50 million emails). Would that make me an AH? He works so hard, and I feel like this is one of those things most wives would be happy to do, maybe? But it also feels like I already do so much, maybe this is just me trying to not be his maid. Am I being petty? Thanks for reading and Iook forward to your judgement (even if it would make me an AH, I'd appreciate the feedback).
I think I could be an AH if I do this because he works long hours, and all he really asks is for me to tap away at a computer sometimes. It's not like he's asking me to climb a mountain and wrestle a bear.
UPDATE: wow, what an overwhelming response. Firstly thank you to everyone for taking the time to read and respond. I have read every one. And I appreciate the concern shown by the overwhelming majority. I'm blown away by the concern shown. It brought me to tears to know that so many people care. To answer a couple of questions: -I do have access to the joint account, however, he has said he wants to go back to using his own individual account for this job. I have access to his account online because I pay the bills from it, but I'll be telling him I'd like to stay with the joint one please. -we have a "fun" budget from each pay. I usually spend it on him or the kids. -he doesn't like to do his own paperwork. Thats it. Sometimes he has internet issues where he works, and if something needs doing urgently of course I'll do it. But, from now on he can do everything else himself. I really get annoyed when I have to walk away from a giggling toddler to draft an email/get it approved by him/send it off.
A lot of comments have mentioned that they think there's some abuse at play here (psychological, financial, or emotional), and that's really made me pause for reflection. I'm looking deeper into WHY I behave this way and why I allow him to treat me this way. Unfortunately, it's a lot more common than people realise - at least at a surface level. I know several women who bend over backwards for their husbands and do all the same things that I do, and sometimes more (I thought I was getting off easy by comparison to some of these women). Including his own mother (an amazing woman - shout out to all the fantastic MILs!), and also my mother. But perhaps their behind the scenes looks different. I don't know. I guess I'll have to reach out and ask around some subtle questions. I managed to put a small line in the sand last night, regarding the paperwork. And it felt good. I told him I wasn't comfortable doing a particular online thing for him, and he'd have to do it himself. He took it well. I intend to draw more lines about things I don't like. I admit, I pander to him. But he shows his affection in subtle or other ways. Please don't take away from this that he's some kind of monster. He's a good man. I'll take your words on board, and I'm going to come back to this thread once he's home and I've taken some me time. I really appreciate your time. Thank you all again.
by ponchi101 Never have a joint bank account.
Your money is your money. Hers is hers. What she does with hers is not your business, the same for you (unless something criminal is going on).
If she is your wife and you give her money, once it is in her account, it is not your money anymore. You don't get to audit her. If you don't trust her, you married the wrong person.
by ti-amie The other thing about this situation is that he wants to set up his own account splitting the joint account. Why? Either he's making a hell of a lot more than she thinks he is, or he's getting ready to book and is hiding assets. Her small victories are suspicious to me as well. Men like that don't concede anything.
by Suliso
by ti-amie
by JazzNU This really captures allergy season thus far for me.
by JazzNU Nothing like a computer glitch to stop you from being lazy about taking the time to back up your hard drive, am I right?
by ponchi101 Backing up files.
I had just landed in Niamey, Niger, and went for a walk in the market. Niger is very poor so I stood out tremendously. A terribly disfigured person* approached me and begged for money, but I really had none (I do that when I go out in countries I don't know) so I simply had to wave her away. The person said something very loudly and I asked my driver to translate.
"She just put a curse on you".
I obviously paid not attention and went back to camp. I started my laptop and started typing, then realizing there was something wrong going on. Pressed all the frigging Windows Combos, and nothing happened. I shut down the machine and tried a re-start, only to hear the dreadful "ping-ping-ping" of a jammed hard drive. My disk had broken down.
My back-up was, of course, back home. I was in Niger with no machine to talk about, and no way to buy a new one (this was a long time ago and there were no stores of such quality in Niger).
It is the closest I have ever come to believe in witchcraft. And, as you say, the worst possible lesson on keeping back-ups up to date, and with you.
Off Topic
* I believe the person had suffered from some pox or another disease and was disfigured because of it. But that would take us to the Covid topic, so I won't go further.
by JazzNU Work files are all backed up to network servers, but my personal stuff is what I get very lazy about. And just a rude awakening of yeah, you need to just take the time when my phone reminds me to do it every 2 months to minimize the losses if something happens. I probably need to just sign up for a cloud backup, but I've resisted because just feels like an additional cost that I'm not sure I need when my external hard drives are less expensive and work great as long as I actually back up my info.
by ponchi101 Some anti-virus providers are now including cloud storage as part of their packages. Webroot is offering 25GB of cloud. That should be enough for almost everybody, as far as documents are concerned.
by Deuce
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 10, 2021 12:47 am
Some anti-virus providers are now including cloud storage as part of their packages. Webroot is offering 25GB of cloud. That should be enough for almost everybody, as far as documents are concerned.
I read that ^, and for a good 20 seconds, I was trying to figure out why a company who denies that COVID-19 exists is offering cloud storage. Is it simply to get more people aboard the virus denial train?
It's fascinating how the mind works (or doesn't work) sometimes...
As far as 25 GB of storage goes... that's way too much. Bill Gates himself said that no-one would ever need more than 500 MB...
by ponchi101 25GB for you or I is too much. For young kids that want to have ALL their stuff in a cloud, it is just about right. They, of course, no longer have their music online (they have subscriptions for that) but their 3,000 videos of themselves having a burger with three friends, and their 10,000 photos of the same friends having the same burger need to be stored somewhere, because they already have 10,000 tiktok videos in their iPhone, which is about to explode.
It also shows how cheap memory has become. My first laptop had 8MB of ram and NO rom (it needed a boot from floppy's). My second machine, which was the second top of the line, had 128MB RAM, 3GB ROM and it was a monster, at over $1000. Now, a 256GB SD will cost you less than $50.
The progress in that area is incredible.
by JazzNU FYI, since masks aren't going anywhere anytime soon, if you or someone you know wears prescription glasses and has trouble with them fogging up when wearing a mask, I thought I'd share that I got this new product. Been using it for about 2 months, wish I knew about it months and months ago. I put one drop on once every week or two and the fogging is not a problem anymore. It's like it starts to fog a bit and the fog just disappears. It's great. Makes things much easier when I'm out in a mask, even though I wasn't doing bad before, it's definitely better this way.
These drops are for glasses with AR coatings. I think they have a similar spray for glasses without coatings, but I haven't tried it since all I don't have a pair without it. Here's a link to the product on the company site. I bought mine on Amazon.
by dryrunguy I'll check that out, Jazz. Thanks. Is there anything that will keep my nose from running like a hose the moment I put my mask on?
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 11, 2021 2:02 am
I'll check that out, Jazz. Thanks. Is there anything that will keep my nose from running like a hose the moment I put my mask on?
That's my biggest problem. I sent the anti-fogger to my daughter and her husband who both wear glasses.
by JazzNU The anti-fog treatment is great. I was doing really well with placement of masks and not fogging up my glasses much at all. Then I started with the double masking and it just was like it was April and I was fogging up all the time. So I found this when I was looking product ideas on Amazon, gave it a whirl and it's just wonderful.
The runny nose problem under the mask I don't have. I'm usually congested. But I'm thinking if I had this problem, in addition to my typical allergy meds that I take most days, I'd probably see if using Simple Saline before leaving the house made any difference. And see if using the Olbas inhaler in the car and blowing my nose in the car would make a difference in how long it was until my nose was running again. Both of those are OTC and can be found at a local pharmacy or on Amazon. I'm not sure either would help in this case, in many ways, it's counterintuitive, these help mostly with nasal congestion. But why is your nose runny? If it's an irritant in your nasal passages causing the problem, it would help with clearing it.
And maybe you could practice at home? See if it any of this helps at all. I've had to workshop out a lot with mask wearing at home testing out this or that before going out into the world.
Now, I have had a runny nose under a mask and it's the worst, so I feel for you both that this is a constant problem. The time that I just couldn't stand it anymore, I was at Home Goods, went to an unoccupied aisle in the back corner of the store where no one was nearby, pulled out a Kleenex, pulled the mask down and blew my nose lightly so I could make it through the rest of the the trip. I wasn't going to make it otherwise. I used hand sanitizer once I was done too. I'm not proud, but it had to be done.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101
Roger Waters calls that "The bravery of being out of range" (he was talking politics). But once that person is there in person...
by JazzNU There's a quote from Mike Tyson that sums up social media best. It's something to the effect of people being entire too brave running their mouths and not getting punched in the face for it. I'll find the exact quote. Say what you will about Mike about other things, but he's 100% right about this.
Here's the quote -
by ponchi101 Exactly equivalent to that time in which Tiny said to the crowd that he "would like to punch him in the face", when a person was being escorted out of one of his rallies.
Sure, when you are surrounded by the Secret Service that is trained to pelletize anybody that comes close to you, you can sound really brave.
by JazzNU
by ti-amie Young men: We're great at this
Baby: Hold my pacifier
by Suliso Every dot represents one or more tennis courts in the municipality.
by ponchi101 Blockbuster: what an incredible phenomena. I wonder if the same graph would be repeated for Blackberry phones, which I would say would be most likely.
Of course, too much work but Blockbuster was also international. We had one close to home until about two years ago. Then it became a Burger King.
Another company that maybe went that way, in a smaller scale, could be Tower Records. They were eliminated by Amazon, of course.
by JazzNU
by ponchi101 A little over the top... but 100% right.
by ti-amie Ponchi it's not over the top at all. Anyone who has worked retail or held a job where you have to interact with the general public - from bus driver to the person you call to talk about your utility bill to the person at your local fast food joint or supermarket knows this is just the tip of the iceberg. I think everyone should work retail once in their life so they know that they never, ever want to go back there if they don't have to.
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:07 pm
Ponchi it's not over the top at all. Anyone who has worked retail or held a job where you have to interact with the general public - from bus driver to the person you call to talk about your utility bill to the person at your local fast food joint or supermarket knows this is just the tip of the iceberg. I think everyone should work retail once in their life so they know that they never, ever want to go back there if they don't have to.
Preach! One of the most educational jobs I ever had in my life was as a server. Especially on Sundays when the church folks showed up. It was so bad on Sundays I refused to accept Sunday shifts.
Even to this day, I am amazed at the fact that customer service folks I talk to on the phone are shocked and pleasantly surprised when I treat them with respect.
by JazzNU Unfortunately not over the top. You don't even have to work retail to know this really, you can easily hear at least 3 of these if you go enough stores in a single day, like head to a mall and it'll happen in a span of just a couple of hours. Customers are awful. When I thank whoever helps me and tell them to have a good day, the look of appreciation on their faces makes it clear they haven't heard that too often that day, which is a damn shame, such a simple thing.
Hard to choose my favorite part. I think it's "the manager doesn't know what's going on - haven't you ever worked anywhere before?" But I also just love "When does it end, Diane?"
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:24 pm
Unfortunately not over the top. You don't even have to work retail to know this really, you can easily hear at least 3 of these if you go enough stores in a single day, like head to a mall and it'll happen in a span of just a couple of hours. Customers are awful. When I thank whoever helps me and tell them to have a good day, the look of appreciation on their faces makes it clear they haven't heard that too often that day, which is a damn shame, such a simple thing.
Hard to choose my favorite part. I think it's "the manager doesn't know what's going on - haven't you ever worked anywhere before?" But I also just love "When does it end, Diane?"
That was my favorite one too.
by JazzNU Though an impressive run, as I've seen pointed out, the dog should be disqualified. You can't switch lanes like that.
by JTContinental Yes, it almost Mary Deckered the leader
by ti-amie I just got this. They didn't really see it but their eyes and minds registered "incoming". I thought the person dropped milk.
by mmmm8 That COVID shield really saved the clerk. Why is only one of these people masked?
by ti-amie This AITA has made it to Yahoo news.
I confess I have never heard of an Apology Dinner. I like the idea though.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat May 01, 2021 12:22 am
This AITA has made it to Yahoo news.
I confess I have never heard of an Apology Dinner. I like the idea though.
This was trending on Twitter yesterday. People were dying because she went to the trouble to explain a potluck dinner and then breezed past Apology Dinner like anyone has heard of that before.
by JazzNU This thread jumped off Starbucks baristas sharing some of their craziest order, many of the replies are much more extensive than the original tweet. Starbucks should add automatic gratuity after a certain number of additions. These orders are insane.
by skatingfan My latest YouTube rabbit hole - Sudoku.
by ponchi101 I would have never been able to solve that one. And I do make at least one daily Sudoku.
by ti-amie Meet Anthony the son from he!! and his mom and dad
by dave g
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 7:46 pm
Meet Anthony the son from he!! and his mom and dad
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 7:46 pm
Meet Anthony the son from he!! and his mom and dad
Is this real, or is this staged?
The one with the mother at the sink looks staged. The first one, not so much.
It really looks like the kid is doing this just to make his mother angry.
by ti-amie I should've said the one with the mother in the black dress at the sink looks staged.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
Uh maybe it's the blanket?
by dryrunguy This was a horrible night.
It started around 7 p.m. when the next door neighbors, both 79 years old, showed up. They wanted to know if we had electricity. We had music playing in the garage, lights on, etc.
I remembered what happened the last time when we lost electricity, when our neighbors did not. Something had gone wrong with one of the telephone poles in my pasture field. I asked if they had called the electric company. They had not. I asked if their cell phones were working. They said they no longer had cell phones.
I agreed to call the electric company on their behalf to see if we could get something done. The neighbors went back home.
I called the electric company (same provider as mine). Since I was calling on behalf of someone else's account, the electric company could not tell me much. But they were able to tell me that the electricity to my neighbors' home had been cut off.
Now I've got it.
I go over to the neighbors' house with an 800 number to inform them why they had no electricity. I find the electricity disconnection notice hanging on the front door. I walk in, go upstairs, and what I see is a mix of squalor and a mild episode of Hoarders. I delicately explain the situation.
From there, the discussion devolved into someone has hacked our bank account/we should have money in the bank/we can't find our checkbook/we're afraid of losing our house/we're planning to spend $5000 to have the swimming pool cleaned and fixed. Needless to say, I was a bit lost.
But we spent more than an hour on my phone with the electric company, managed to find their checking account number and routing number (which may or MAY NOT have money in it), and got their electricity restored about 90 minutes later--around 9:30 p.m.. My guess is that they hadn't paid their electric bill in about 5 or 6 months.
I invited them over for dinner, since it was so late, but they said they'd go to Burger King to get chicken nuggets, which is about 40 miles away. I haven't seen them leave.
It was one of the most depressing experiences I've had in quite a while. I cannot stop thinking about it.
Aging sucks. And there's only so much I can do to help from here on out, which should actually be the responsibility of their good-for-nothing, useless children and grandchildren--who are nowhere to be found except during the summer when they want to use that all-important swimming pool.
Thanks for listening, so to speak. Sigh...
by Deuce ... and 79 is not even very old these days.
Sad that both of them seem mired in whatever it is they're mired in.
It was nice of you to help them as you did.
And it's disgusting that their children have all but abandoned them. I see that far too often. Damn - parents are the people without whom we wouldn't be here. Unless they've abused and/or neglected their children (which itself occurs too often), parents deserve much love, patience, understanding, etc. from their children in their declining years.
by dmforever
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 2:34 am
This was a horrible night.
It started around 7 p.m. when the next door neighbors, both 79 years old, showed up. They wanted to know if we had electricity. We had music playing in the garage, lights on, etc.
I remembered what happened the last time when we lost electricity, when our neighbors did not. Something had gone wrong with one of the telephone poles in my pasture field. I asked if they had called the electric company. They had not. I asked if their cell phones were working. They said they no longer had cell phones.
I agreed to call the electric company on their behalf to see if we could get something done. The neighbors went back home.
I called the electric company (same provider as mine). Since I was calling on behalf of someone else's account, the electric company could not tell me much. But they were able to tell me that the electricity to my neighbors' home had been cut off.
Now I've got it.
I go over to the neighbors' house with an 800 number to inform them why they had no electricity. I find the electricity disconnection notice hanging on the front door. I walk in, go upstairs, and what I see is a mix of squalor and a mild episode of Hoarders. I delicately explain the situation.
From there, the discussion devolved into someone has hacked our bank account/we should have money in the bank/we can't find our checkbook/we're afraid of losing our house/we're planning to spend $5000 to have the swimming pool cleaned and fixed. Needless to say, I was a bit lost.
But we spent more than an hour on my phone with the electric company, managed to find their checking account number and routing number (which may or MAY NOT have money in it), and got their electricity restored about 90 minutes later--around 9:30 p.m.. My guess is that they hadn't paid their electric bill in about 5 or 6 months.
I invited them over for dinner, since it was so late, but they said they'd go to Burger King to get chicken nuggets, which is about 40 miles away. I haven't seen them leave.
It was one of the most depressing experiences I've had in quite a while. I cannot stop thinking about it.
Aging sucks. And there's only so much I can do to help from here on out, which should actually be the responsibility of their good-for-nothing, useless children and grandchildren--who are nowhere to be found except during the summer when they want to use that all-important swimming pool.
Thanks for listening, so to speak. Sigh...
You were exceedingly kind and patient and generous. I hope that there is some sort of long term solution for them.
Kevin
by mmmm8 I'm sorry, dry. You're gracious and helpful and went above and beyond as always.
by meganfernandez
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 2:34 am
This was a horrible night.
It started around 7 p.m. when the next door neighbors, both 79 years old, showed up. They wanted to know if we had electricity. We had music playing in the garage, lights on, etc.
I remembered what happened the last time when we lost electricity, when our neighbors did not. Something had gone wrong with one of the telephone poles in my pasture field. I asked if they had called the electric company. They had not. I asked if their cell phones were working. They said they no longer had cell phones.
I agreed to call the electric company on their behalf to see if we could get something done. The neighbors went back home.
I called the electric company (same provider as mine). Since I was calling on behalf of someone else's account, the electric company could not tell me much. But they were able to tell me that the electricity to my neighbors' home had been cut off.
Now I've got it.
I go over to the neighbors' house with an 800 number to inform them why they had no electricity. I find the electricity disconnection notice hanging on the front door. I walk in, go upstairs, and what I see is a mix of squalor and a mild episode of Hoarders. I delicately explain the situation.
From there, the discussion devolved into someone has hacked our bank account/we should have money in the bank/we can't find our checkbook/we're afraid of losing our house/we're planning to spend $5000 to have the swimming pool cleaned and fixed. Needless to say, I was a bit lost.
But we spent more than an hour on my phone with the electric company, managed to find their checking account number and routing number (which may or MAY NOT have money in it), and got their electricity restored about 90 minutes later--around 9:30 p.m.. My guess is that they hadn't paid their electric bill in about 5 or 6 months.
I invited them over for dinner, since it was so late, but they said they'd go to Burger King to get chicken nuggets, which is about 40 miles away. I haven't seen them leave.
It was one of the most depressing experiences I've had in quite a while. I cannot stop thinking about it.
Aging sucks. And there's only so much I can do to help from here on out, which should actually be the responsibility of their good-for-nothing, useless children and grandchildren--who are nowhere to be found except during the summer when they want to use that all-important swimming pool.
Thanks for listening, so to speak. Sigh...
So sorry, Dry. You did what you could do and should have done - well, above and beyond, actually. You aren't responsible for their lives, and for all we know, they are happy driving 40 minutes for chicken nuggets. It's hard to believe living in squalor wouldn't bother them, but who knows.
Aging can really suck and people don't talk about it enough. By the same token, society sends the wrong signals to people as they age that hastens their deterioration.
It wouldn't hurt to check in on them now and then and ask if they need any certain services... But you aren't their safety net.
by ti-amie Are there social services available in your area, organizations that could possibly step in and see what can be done? The lie they told you about driving to get chicken nuggets speaks volumes. Thank goodness you're their neighbor.
by Ribbons UGH. You're a mensch, dry.
by Deuce On ageing...
by skatingfan I like the poem, but the story that accompanies it is a hoax.
skatingfan wrote: ↑Fri May 14, 2021 8:41 am
I like the poem, but the story that accompanies it is a hoax.
Yeah - maybe... or probably - whatever. But who cares?
I used to be like that - trying to 'prove' absolute truth, uncover 'hoaxes', etc. (though not to this extent) - but I eventually realized that when no harm is done, it doesn't matter. I don't seek to 'prove' anything anymore - unless harm is being done.
I prefer to simply let things be - if people want to believe something harmless because it makes them feel good, or brings them comfort, that's fine. It's even good.
Or if people wish to make up their own narrative - to something like this poem - and perhaps personalize the meaning to some degree to something relating to their own life - that's fine - and good -, as well.
I like the poem, regardless of its origin - because its origin is completely irrelevant. Each individual can create his/her own origin.
I don't see any positive point in being the person who proudly yells "A-Ha!" and uncovers a harmless story which makes people feel good as not being completely factual.
I hope that some people can still get something positive from the touching poem, despite your needless 'A-ha!' declaration.
by Suliso Did you know that words insect and sex have the same origin?
by ponchi101 I am waiting for the punchline...
by ti-amie
by ti-amie I put this here because it could easily be a SNL cold opening skit today.
by Deuce This is about as 'Random, Random' as it gets...
Pencil this in as the Bizarre Death of the Year right now...
(I've long said that human dependence upon technology is dangerous - but I never thought it would go to this extreme. )
by MJ2004 Many deaths have been directly related to iPhones. Usually people stepping off a cliff while taking a selfie. But a fair many also due to people reaching into dangerous situations for dropped phones.
by Deuce
MJ2004 wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 12:28 pm
Many deaths have been directly related to iPhones. Usually people stepping off a cliff while taking a selfie. But a fair many also due to people reaching into dangerous situations for dropped phones.
Yes, but... a dinosaur statue?
This has got to be the first killing by a dinosaur in several (million) years...
by Drop-shot A porn movie was played on a TV at the waiting room of a French hospital for 20' before someone realized what was going on.
I hadn't realized that Belslus had ventured into the health system.
by dmforever
Drop-shot wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 10:08 pm
A porn movie was played on a TV at the waiting room of a French hospital for 20' before someone realized what was going on.
I hadn't realized that Belslus had ventured into the health system.
It went on for 20 minutes. And when the guy took a video of the waiting room, no one was even watching it.
How does that even happen??
Kevin
by Fastbackss No comments on the graffiti on the side of the dinosaur statue?
I am disappointed in y'all
by ponchi101 One more post like the two previous ones, and it is time to change this topic to LUNATIC, RANDOM RANDOM...
by skatingfan
Drop-shot wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 10:08 pm
A porn movie was played on a TV at the waiting room of a French hospital for 20' before someone realized what was going on.
by JazzNU I understood the video, but I thought it must be a bit not knowing this was a legitimate news station, she was so serious about it. I'm glad I read the article.
by ponchi101 Mostly brave, and I would not call it stupid, but a little crazy. That bear could have torn her face off.
by ti-amie Many years ago on my way with relatives to eat in Québec City a small bear cub had found its way onto the highway. I wanted to slow down and while staying in the car look more closely but instead the driver sped up. His explanation was that the mother was nearby and that we were in a car she could, with a charge, possibly knock over.
In the heat of the moment she just reacted.
by ptmcmahon Ok, while in random, random I have to ask Ti...what's the original of your signature? Every time I see it I want to scream John Lennon didn't write or sing that, but I'm guessing there's a back story?
by Deuce Stealers Wheel.
by ptmcmahon Oh I know... but I want to know why we are apologizing to John Lennon instead of Gerry Rafferty.
by ti-amie
ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 4:03 am
Ok, while in random, random I have to ask Ti...what's the original of your signature? Every time I see it I want to scream John Lennon didn't write or sing that, but I'm guessing there's a back story?
Ya know...wow. I always thought it was John and Yoko. I'll fix it. Thanks.
by ptmcmahon Ha ha, no big deal of course, just one of things I'd always see and wonder if there was something I was missing
by the Moz
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 3:03 am
I was listening to a "regular" sports podcast (in other words rarely cover tennis).
Host is a former columnist.
One subset of their discussion on the Osaka topic that make me take a step back was how they knew that "tennis journalists are the toughest" and that "the questions Tennis players get asked would not fly in other sports" and other similar sentiments
That's because most other sports are dominated by men. And men aren't asked questions about their looks, their gender, their clothes or anything else that perpetuates the sexualization of their gender anywhere near the rate women experience.
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 3:03 am
I was listening to a "regular" sports podcast (in other words rarely cover tennis).
Host is a former columnist.
One subset of their discussion on the Osaka topic that make me take a step back was how they knew that "tennis journalists are the toughest" and that "the questions Tennis players get asked would not fly in other sports" and other similar sentiments
That's because most other sports are dominated by men. And men aren't asked questions about their looks, their gender, their clothes or anything else that perpetuates the sexualization of their gender anywhere near the rate women experience.
Male athletes also don't post photos bringing attention to their physical looks onto 'social media' nearly as often as female athletes do, either.
Do you think Genie (and many others) are really asking for comments on the quality of the material that their string bikinis are made of?
Not quite - they are seeking comments like "You look fantastic!", "You're so hot!", "Sexy mama!", etc.
You can't have it both ways.
When you voluntarily objectify yourself... Expecting to be able to have your cake, and eat it, too, is rather foolish.
by JTContinental Male tennis players absolutely do draw attention to their physical looks on social media just as much the women.
Also, women do not wear clothing for men, and they surely can dress how they want without the expectation that they will be sexualized. If they are, that isn't their problem...
by Deuce I seriously doubt that very much.
Do a count and let us know the real results.
You can start by comparing bikini shots to Speedo shots, which are the equivalent. I believe the difference will be rather significant.
by JTContinental Why? I already know the answer. This post above is super gross.
by Deuce Yeah, yeah... I've heard that from you before.... sigh...
If you're saying that males put as much focus on their appearance as females do, history proves otherwise.
Maybe you live in a different world than I do.
by JTContinental Clearly I do
by Deuce I'm quite content with the manner in which I observe the world. And I know many individuals who observe it similarly - and they're good, insightful, and intelligent people.
If you're content with your perspective, that's fine with me.
by mmmm8 Hmm... whatsoever in history would make young women seek validation for their looks more often than men do? Must be their own individual faults! They're just asking for it!
/s
by JTContinental And that's fine. I'm not looking to change anyone's mind here, or make directed personal attacks. But as a member of the moderating staff (especially during suicide pools), I'm going to call out boorish behavior if I see it.
by Deuce Yeah, you go ahead and do that.
If you need to state that a perspective that's not consistent with yours is not acceptable, and then put on your 'moderating' hat (a not-so veiled 'warning' that my perspective will not be tolerated ,even though it's accurate and was expressed without insults or anything similar) - if you need to do that to make yourself feel better, go ahead, I suppose.
I, personally, prefer to speak in realities rather than in 'political correctness'.
'Politically correct' people are, ironically and hypocritically, very often the most intolerant people of all.
by Deuce
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 10:50 pm
Also, women do not wear clothing for men, and they surely can dress how they want without the expectation that they will be sexualized. If they are, that isn't their problem...
I just saw that you added this ^ in an edit.
I believe it's very safe and accurate to say that far more males than females purchase the SI swimsuit issue.
And that these types of photos posted on 'social media' seek to attract male attention and approval with comments such as the ones I gave examples of - and that they do indeed attract far more comments from males than from fellow females.
But if you still wish to believe that they don't do it to get male attention, you're free to believe that.
by JTContinental
Deuce wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 11:14 pm
Yeah, you go ahead and do that.
If you need to state that a perspective that's not consistent with yours is not acceptable, and then put on your 'moderating' hat (a not-so veiled 'warning' that my perspective will not be tolerated ,even though it's accurate and was expressed without insults or anything similar) - if you need to do that to make yourself feel better, go ahead, I suppose.
I, personally, prefer to speak in realities rather than in 'political correctness'.
'Politically correct' people are, ironically and hypocritically, very often the most intolerant people of all.
Deuce wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 11:14 pm
Yeah, you go ahead and do that.
If you need to state that a perspective that's not consistent with yours is not acceptable, and then put on your 'moderating' hat (a not-so veiled 'warning' that my perspective will not be tolerated ,even though it's accurate and was expressed without insults or anything similar) - if you need to do that to make yourself feel better, go ahead, I suppose.
I, personally, prefer to speak in realities rather than in 'political correctness'.
'Politically correct' people are, ironically and hypocritically, very often the most intolerant people of all.
Enough
Agreed.
I have a racquet to string...
by the Moz Male athletes do post pictures of themselves on social media all the time. But thanks to gender role stereotyping and the aforementioned sexualization, a male athlete posting a picture of themself in jeans & a t-shirt isn't sexualized at the rate a woman in jeans & a t-shirt is. Yes women's attire skews heavily to showing skin. But how nice of society's men - and too many women actively condoning this outdated thinking - to label and define women's body parts to their own end. To further my point, please note how a large number of countries in the world 'view' a shirtless male versus a shirtless female. My totally, completely, 100% unscientific layman's view is that it is far more prevalent to see female tennis dresses described as pretty or sexy. Not sure I've come across the shorts and wife beater jersey that basketball players wear described in the same vein even though similar amounts of head, neck, shoulders, arms and legs are showing.
I don't spend any time thinking about what Genie is really asking for in terms of comments pertaining to the content of her social media posts. I don't think a female's off-court social media posts have anything to do with conducting a post tennis match press conference. It is a press conference to comment & critique the game you just played and the various nuances that go into competing in cette game and the sport overall. If a 'journalist' wants to compliment Genie's figure from her Twitter post, do it on her Twitter feed. And lastly, I absolutely, 100% fail to see what the point of that twat at the AO asking Genie to twirl while making comments at the net following her winning a professional tennis match. If you are aware of any of the Big3 being asked that, then I welcome the enlightenment.
In terms of your third point; I am at a complete loss for an effective response. I will say I find myself pondering on occasion why you fairly frequently respond to my - and others - opinion posts by attacking them and picking them apart. They are just my opinions, just like you post yours. And I think we both competently present our arguments for the opinions we're spewing. But I certainly don't attack your opinions with the passion you do. Perhaps you could find yourself an occasion to ponder that Deuce.
by Suliso This is a very weird conversation... Surely we can agree that it's unprofessional to ask questions like these in a public setting to anyone really, but female tennis players in particular.
As for us here perhaps we shouldn't pour oil into the fire and come this close to personal attacks. Not in the spirit of this community really.
by the Moz To the first point above: Clearly we can't agree. But that's okay. It's all part of a healthy exchange.
To the second point above: I agree. And I'd add responding to an opinion post with a baiting comment/question that is designed to rattle in some way and doesn't reference anything to do with the original opinion post is not in the spirit of this community really.
by Deuce ‘Political correctness’ is out of control to the point where you cannot question anyone’s opinion or perspective without being accused of ‘attacking’ someone today.
The entire premise of ‘political correctness’ is that no-one should utter an opinion or perspective, for fear of being accused of ‘offending’ or ‘attacking’ someone.
Such twisting and manipulation - it’s sad...
P.C.’s philosophy is that everyone should pretend to be completely neutral, with no opinion, in any and every subject. This is the antithesis of freedom, and also of true tolerance.
I responded to an opinion by expressing my opposing opinion. Where in the world is the ‘attack’? Calling this an ‘attack’ is highly manipulative, and designed to intimidate me into never posting an opinion or perspective which I think certain people would not agree with; it is a message that opposing opinions will not be tolerated. I won't be intimidated. If that's the way this DISCUSSION Board is going to go, then I would want no further part of it.
Following my expression of opinion, a few people called my opinion unacceptable, "gross", etc.. And these are the people who preach ‘tolerance’! It’s quite clear that I’m the one whose perspective is being ‘attacked’ here. And I’m fine with that. I just wish it was done more straightforwardly and honestly.
I always find it incredibly ironic - and somewhat humorous, as well as sad - that the people who are the loudest to claim that we should all be ‘more tolerant’ of other people’s opinions are always the first ones to lambaste any opinion or perspective which is not consistent with theirs, and then twist things around in knots in insulting and accusing the other of ‘attacking’ them, calling their perspective 'gross', etc.
It’s so incredibly manipulative.
by JTContinental Maybe we should move the last couple of pages to Random, Random? I didn't mean to derail the thread--TMQ regrets the error.
by Deuce Yahoo mail is my home page - so when I sign out of one of my yahoo mail accounts, I automatically get taken to yahoo’s home page.
So I decided to do a rudimentary ‘experiment’ - in scrolling down the list of ‘headlines’ on the yahoo home page, I counted the number of headlines which were directly related to the appearance of a female in particular or females in general - and I did the same with males.
Out of approximately 25 headlines, I counted 7 headlines focussing on the appearance of females, and zero focussing on the appearance of males. I feel, based on my experience in and observation of life, that this is a very typical reflection and breakdown of content in North American society - that far more attention is paid to female appearance than to male appearance. And while males are certainly largely responsible for this - there would be no supply if there were no demand - females are equally responsible for this, as they supply the supply. And, for the most part, they do it very voluntarily. And this has been the case throughout history - for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
Of the 7 headlines focussing on female appearance, 5 were drawing attention to revealing skin in a ‘sexy’ manner (‘sexy bikinis’, etc.) while the other two were about shorts and a dress, respectively.
Someone mentioned about how topless males and topless females are viewed around the world. Fine - let’s go there. The breasts of the female human have been viewed as being sexually enticing organs by both males and females for hundreds of years throughout history. Today, this is perhaps slightly more the case in North America and in other cultures where it is deemed generally unacceptable for females to walk around in public settings topless - but the breasts of the female human are certainly viewed in a sexually-related context in European countries, as well, where female toplessness is more common.
Women are extremely aware of the sexuality related to their breasts - this is precisely the reason that many women show ‘just the right amount’ of cleavage... They do this to get the attention of the human male. Sexual attraction is, of course, historically and biologically related to ensuring the continuation of the species. The sexualization of female breasts is also why some women have plastic surgery to alter their breasts... and why some women select braziers which accentuate their breasts. It is all part of trying to attract the male of the species, and has been so for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Right or wrong, that is how it is... that is how we (both males and females) are bred.
Do any of you honestly believe that it is feasible to change these centuries-old instincts in a day? Or in a week? Or in a year? Or even in a decade? No way. But that is exactly what some are trying to do.
Meanwhile, many, many females - I would say the majority - are very much perpetuating the objectification and sexualization of the female body. What percentage of post-pubescent females do you believe do not enjoy being viewed as ‘sexy’? If we are to be completely honest, I’d say considerably less than 10%. The other 90% view being seen as ‘sexy’ as a compliment. And many of them work precisely toward that end.
As for those who post bikini photos, etc. on ‘social media’ and other very public forums - what on Earth can the possible reason be that they do this other than to seek positive attention to their bodies? Seriously - what other possible reason is there for a female to post bikini photos in any public place? If she is doing it simply ‘to make herself feel good’, then she would simply stand in front of a mirror at home in her bikini. The fact that she posts photos revealing 95% of her body in a public forum (or several public forums) for hundreds of thousands of people to see renders it extremely obvious that she is seeking public validation and approval of her body. And when she receives many comments from males complimenting her on being ‘hot’, ‘sexy’, etc., she does not stop posting the bikini photos, etc. in disgust - the comments of her being ‘hot’ and ‘sexy’, etc. entice and encourage her to post more and more such photos - in order to receive more and more such comments from males. Like it or dislike it - but see it for what it is, please.
A woman who posts bikini photos in a public forum and then complains because the comments are about her body is the equivalent of me going to a tennis court dressed in my tennis shirt, tennis shorts, tennis shoes, and carrying a tennis racquet, and complaining about anyone who assumes I’m a tennis player!
This perspective of mine, by the way, is coming from many years of experience in fighting against the sexual exploitation of females in North American culture. Judge me all you want - for judging, or assessing, is part of basic human nature. But judge me accurately and fairly, and based on relevant facts, and not on assumptions or conjecture or your own personal bias or agenda. I have never been accused by any female who has known me of being a ‘male chauvinist’, or as being anti-female in any way - quite the opposite, in fact. I worked with prostitutes for several years - 98% of them female -, in a capacity of helping them to get out of that disgusting, dangerous, and hugely exploitative ‘field’ (I doubt very much that anyone in this forum has as much experience or knowledge as I in the domain of prostitution). I told them all that doing what they are doing is the precise opposite of ‘empowering’ - because they are catering to horny men, and just giving these men what they want from them, which is purely physical/sexual - and in the process, their intellectual, emotional, and psychological qualities are completely ignored and are rendered entirely irrelevant in the bargain. They are, quite literally, just pieces of meat - they are seen and treated this way by the ‘clients’ - and that is very inherently degrading, and will stifle the healthy development of anyone’s self-esteem.
I have had many an argument with males who’ve claimed that female prostitutes are simply fulfilling the difficult to control male sexual desire, which they say is the way things should be. I have strongly disagreed with this premise.
Add to that the fact that they are working for another man - the pimp (usually a man) - who controls their every move and takes their money on top of that.
How anyone can see prostitution as anything but the ultimate sexual exploitation is baffling to me.
So that’s where I’m coming from - from a perspective of viewing and valuing women as being much more than a pretty ass in a bikini, or an intriguing cleavage. I view women as complete human beings - as intellectual, emotional, and psychological beings. When male friends have asked me if I think a particular woman is beautiful, I’ve always replied by saying “I have no idea - I’d have to get to know her somewhat before I can determine that.” Because beauty to me is not merely skin deep. It is so to many - and unfortunately most - males, it seems. But to me, a beautiful woman must be intellectually and emotionally attractive to me. I’m not saying that physical appearance is completely irrelevant to me - it is not. But emotional and intellectual attractiveness are more important to me than is what would typically be labeled as physical attractiveness.
by ponchi101 Dear all:
Yesterday the preceding posts became slightly heated and therefore were moved to this topic, as they had strayed from a discussion about tennis. And while I can't see any blatant deviation from our rules, it can be argued that the spirit of this forum was tested. There are many ways in which two people can hurl offenses to each other, both purposely or inadvertently, without using any of the words that we have designated as unacceptable here. I will leave it to those that posted on the subject to read again your own posts, as well as the replies and further comments, and consider the possibilities of who was eloquent and correct, and who did cross a line. Do not disregard the option that it might have been you who was not on the right.
We have never shied in this forum from discussing the hard issues; it was indeed the reason that I, for example, stuck around. But we have to remember that although the forum is based in America, we are not all of such nationality or even of such culture. We are a cultural mix and therefore our cultural views of some topics will not be homogenous: sex, gender, race, religion and other topics are permeated by our differences and backgrounds, and I welcome that. Add to that our disparate ages and personal social surroundings, and I hope my point can be made clearly: we are similar, we are not the same. That has to be accepted or otherwise our conversations can be fruitless.
Having said that, some points must be stressed: you do not need to write a paragraph that will be replaced by a string of "(expletive)" by our automated controls for it to be disrespectful of others. Use the Golden Rule and test yourself: how enjoyable is it to have one's comment declared "ridiculous"? "Baseless"? "Absurd"? Such replies within our stream of comments have all the diplomacy of a contusion grenade, and serve very little purpose. Those are the ones that break the spirit of the forum, without breaking the rules. I ask to pause and consider such adjectives prior to pressing the SUBMIT button as it may make your post less effective as you may be alienating the reader.
We live in an era in which, I believe, proper discourse is being affected by the need or desire to "win" the argument, not learn from it. We see it when a headline claims that somebody was "owned", or a recipient was "destroyed". It has become an intellectual contact sport when in reality there was no exchange of ideas done in a mature way. In that aspect, we are not free of such occasions, which are of no profit to anybody. But we cannot also be hijacked by a single, vociferous opinion that may not be correct, is just a reflection of a current zeitgeist.
We have lost members in the past due to posted opinions; it has happened recently. Even with all of our controls and moderation, some people have found opinions in this forum to be too much; we have all been both dumbfounded at this statement, and sorry to see some of the leave. With our limited membership, I would not like to happen again.
In short. This is not to chastise anybody. Again, no rules are being broken. But at times we can be less than stellar. Follow some simple advice: if you need to "win" every argument, you may want to go to other forums. If you need to be right all the time, ditto. If you can't deal with opposing opinions without resorting to mental gymnastics to, again, "win", you may want more competitive fields and readers.
Above all, you are not right 100% of the time, and the person replying to you is not an opponent. And s/he is reading that same sentence, and I hope s/he is understanding it too.
Let's keep that in mind when having our important conversations.
by ti-amie Speaking of overexposure on "social media" Bernard Tomic has an "Only Fans" and I wish I was kidding. I mean it's his right but, oh well. ANYWAY here's some of the article.
Bernard Tomic officially gets NSFW on OnlyFans
by Mike Hitch
April 23, 2021
Tennis just got a bit more NSFW after Aussie star, Bernard Tomic, made his debut on adult social media site, OnlyFans.
Since going public about his relationship with reality tv star Vanessa Sierra on Instagram at the end of 2020, Bernard Tomic is now appearing in her OnlyFans content.
In a series of NSFW Insta-story posts, 28-year-old Tomic can be seen lying across Sierra’s legs and biting her bare bum while promoting a video uploaded to OnlyFans, which features the former top 20 tennis player.
“Oops I convinced Tomic to do something bad. Swipe up to see the video, sorry mum,” Sierra captioned the image while providing a link to the OnlyFans video of Tomic and Sierra.
25-year-old Sierra hit Aussie television screens back in 2019 as a contestant on Love Island, before turning her attention to OnlyFans...
A content subscription service, OnlyFans is often associated with NSFW content and blurs the line between social media and porn...
Despite enduring controversies that he deliberately failed to qualify for the Delray Beach Open in February, taking a brutal beating in Mexico during the ATP Challenger Tour in March, and eventually slipping down to 224 in the world men’s rankings, it appears Tomic, along with Sierra, is happy with this new business venture.
by JTContinental Is this different than the one where he softly bit her buttocks? The article makes it difficult to tell
by JTContinental Just found this article about their break up, and it sounds like Tomic's ex uploaded videos of them to her OnlyFans page without his permission:
by ponchi101 Oh, man, YES!!!
A channel with nothing more than Bernard Tomic's videos! All is right in the world! My repulsion for social media is over!!!!
(Who on earth would even bother to follow HIM? )
(And yes, I know the answer and I know I am yelling at clouds... )
by ti-amie
JTContinental wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 5:40 pm
Is this different than the one where he softly bit her buttocks? The article makes it difficult to tell
I didn't post any of the pics but yes it's the same.
by dryrunguy Today is the loudest the cicadas have been since their arrival this year. I don't see them very often--only when one of the outdoor cats is using one as a toy/torture victim/baseball--but today they are incredibly loud. During the day, the woods behind my house is worse than ringing ears that won't stop.
And at night, the frogs in the pond take over. Just to keep the noise constant.
It wasn't NEARLY this bad 17 years ago.
by Suliso It's a wonder of nature, dry.
by dryrunguy
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:55 pm
It's a wonder of nature, dry.
If you say so.
by JazzNU Wasn't sure where to put this, but more random than tennis really since it's a joke
by mmmm8 Is it a joke? I thought this was actually what happened on other courts during his roar (obviously the sound is from an on-court mic). Assumed Isner was in practice.
by JazzNU
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 8:56 pm
Is it a joke? I thought this was actually what happened on other courts during his roar (obviously the sound is from an on-court mic). Assumed Isner was in practice.
Definitely a joke. Nighttime match, don't think any other matches were going on. But for sure we know Barbora Strycova is retired and pregnant with her first child.
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 8:56 pm
Is it a joke? I thought this was actually what happened on other courts during his roar (obviously the sound is from an on-court mic). Assumed Isner was in practice.
Definitely a joke. Nighttime match, don't think any other matches were going on. But for sure we know Barbora Strycova is retired and pregnant with her first child.
Well, duh. I was definitely not paying attention well!
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:19 pm
A new AITA? post
Their beef is with their parents.
Not that I check it often, but I haven't seen such a clear NTA in a while.
by Suliso Found on the internet, wish I could use it someday at work.
There is nothing that can be done and everything that can be done is nothing. All that's left to do now is complain about how nothing is being done.
by MJ2004 Vacation homes, expensive weddings, and college tuitions at high-end schools. Takeaway=rich people problems
by ti-amie
by JazzNU In case you missed this thread - basically when Fantasy Football bets go wrong.
by ti-amie Why is the answer to these always GET OUT?
by JazzNU I mean, good he found out now before the wedding and especially before kids. He needs to bail right now.
by MJ2004 I'm just gonna say, someone who really has celiac disease would never eat a plate of spaghetti without any conversation about what kind they got, especially in someone else's home. The existence/non-existence of the sister is the bigger issue here though. Psychotic family rabbit hole is right.
by ponchi101 If she is lying about gluten...
Also, the story is so weird that if her family reads it they will know he was the person posting it. I say time to run away and open a donuts shop, so if she comes back with the shotgun he can get protection (there will be cops in there).
by JazzNU
MJ2004 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:49 pm
I'm just gonna say, someone who really has celiac disease would never eat a plate of spaghetti without any conversation about what kind they got, especially in someone else's home. The existence/non-existence of the sister is the bigger issue here though. Psychotic family rabbit hole is right.
I hear you, but it was her parent's home. Most people don't need to have any convos with their parents about what they can and cannot eat unless it was a new diagnosis and this wasn't (well her faking it at least).
by MJ2004
JazzNU wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:59 pm
I hear you, but it was her parent's home. Most people don't need to have any convos with their parents about what they can and cannot eat unless it was a new diagnosis and this wasn't (well her faking it at least).
Assuming the fiancee was telling the truth, she would know if her mother had prior issues with her "diagnosis" and wouldn't just blindly eat a heap of gluten. The point I was making is that unless you're in a safe environment, you always question. Her not saying anything in advance proves the fiancee was making it up.
by JTContinental My cousin was a talking head on CBS This Morning today--she's a conservatorship lawyer, so they brought her on to talk about Britney's testimony yesterday
by Suliso All European train stations with at least 80 million passengers per year (number of platforms in parenthesis). Data from before covid obviously (variously 2014-2019).
Gare du Nord, Paris 292.4 (32)
Hamburg Hbf 196.0 (12)
Frankfurt Hbf 179.9 (29)
Zürich HB 154.6 (26)
München Hbf 150.7 (34)
Roma Termini 150 (32)
Gare de Lyon, Paris 148.1 (28)
Berlin Hbf 120.1 (14)
Milano Centrale 120 (24)
Madrid Atocha 116.6 (24)
Köln Hbf 116.1 (11)
Gare Saint-Lazare, Paris 109.6 (27)
Wien Hbf 97.8 (12)
Wien Mitte 97.8 (5)
Berlin Friedrichstrasse 95.6 (8)
Hannover Hbf 95.3 (12)
London Waterloo 94.3 (24)
Stuttgart Hbf 93.1 (17)
Düsseldorf Hbf 91.3 (20)
Berlin Ostkreuz 91.3 (12)
For reference the three busiest train stations in North America are NY Penn station (107.4), Toronto Union station (72.4) and NY Grand Central Terminal (66.9).
Basel SBB station few blocks away from my apartment serves about 36 million passengers per year.
by ponchi101 When I was young I always had the fantasy of buying one of those Eurail passes and travel Europe by train. I like them (as we have none in Venezuela or Colombia, and just a few in S. America).
by Suliso Train travel is having a second renaissance in Europe these days. Even Latvia is buying new rolling stock and building a new line.
by ti-amie If you buy a Eurail pass before you fly to Europe you can plot out where you want to go and buy a pass that will suit your itinerary. We missed going to Germany because it would've meant an overnight stay we hadn't budgeted for. It's the best way to go
by mmmm8 Sidenote- if you ever travel by train on a new route or want to travel by train, or plan a trip involving trains, this website is a must, it's really one of the most useful travel resources I've encountered: https://www.seat61.com/
by ponchi101 Bookmarked! Txs, that is great.
by ti-amie AITA for inviting my (29M) Girlfriend (28F) on an expensive vacation and expecting her to pay all of her share? (I make a lot more than her)
Hello. My girlfriend, myself, my parents, and my brother and his wife all went on vacation in another country a week ago. My brother and I were the ones who did most of the planning of the itinerary although we did ask everyone else for input. For background, I make around $150,000k as an IT consultant, my girlfriend is a teacher making $45,000k. My parents are pretty affluent as well as my brother and sister in law.
My girlfriend knew this trip was coming up and took on a second job waitressing on the weekends for several months to get ready for it. We have always split things 50/50 in the 2 years we have been together. There were a few times on the vacation when she did not go on outings with us- wine tasting/scuba diving/etc. She also would only eat 2 meals a day, simply stating that she was on a budget. My family does favor more high-end (*expensive*) places. My parents thought it was very strange that she only eats 2 meals a day although normally she eats 3.
When we got home I asked her why she skipped out on several of the outings and only ate 2 meals a day- I mentioned how I heard her stomach growling one night and said I was concerned about her having an eating disorder. She got teary eyed and said that 3 meals a day wasn't fiscally feasible for her and neither were the outings that she chose not to go on (she went on 3 of 6 outings). She said she was not expecting everything to cost so much and she was overwhelmed.
She also said she doesn't know if this is going to work long term if she is expected to go on vacations like that with people who make so much more than her. I feel bad that I did not pick up on her discomfort sooner. But we did agree to split everything 50/50 and I don't know why she agreed to come if the cost was an issue.
by ti-amie Yes and she should've packed her bags as soon as the trip was over. Idjut.
by ponchi101 Call me old fashion. If you invite, you pay. Movies, dinner, amusement park, trip to Europe, it's on you.
Otherwise, do not issue the invitation.
What your partner wants to pay, gladly accept it. And say thanks.
by Deuce She's a teacher - one of the most important and most noble professions on the planet.
She should stop lowering her standards to be with people like this. She deserves better.
Much better.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 12:26 am
Yes and she should've packed her bags as soon as the trip was over. Idjut.
I'm very much stuck on the part where he says, she took a second job as a waitress when her profession is teaching, BUT he STILL didn't know she couldn't afford the trip??? I'm calling BS on this one. And then he basically sat eating plentiful meals while her stomach was growling?!? What is this mess?
by MJ2004 Probably fake, as many commenters on the original thread think. Not that people can't be that stupid, because we know they can be. But still, I'm guessing fake.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 How to deal with a king Cobra (and that one is a king):
Run till your shoes burn.
Massive shotgun, buckshot (use both barrels)
Be escorted by several mongooses
WTF?
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 10:29 pm
How to deal with a king Cobra (and that one is a king):
Run till your shoes burn.
Massive shotgun, buckshot (use both barrels)
Be escorted by several mongooses
WTF?
by ponchi101 Ok, my bad. This is not a KING COBRA, is a ZEBRA cobra, native of southwest Africa. It is not as venomous as a King Cobra, but it has this little, nasty habit: it SPITS its venom, up to 9 feet away.
Ok, not moving to Fla, Ga, AL, and now to N. Carolina. Too bad, Charlotte is pretty.
by JazzNU
by ti-amie ^^ Sad
by Deuce This is hilarious...
Not only does Donald Sr. behave exactly like an ignorant and spoiled 13 year old child - but Donald Jr. also behaves in exactly the same way...
Junior actually Photoshopped the current Vogue cover because the Trump family is whining that Jill Biden is featured, when Melania never received the 'honour'.
This is really well beyond juvenile and petty - and it's hilarious, in a pathetic sort of way...
by ponchi101 Why would people expect Don Jr to be a respectable human being is beyond belief. After all, daddy would not want that.
by ti-amie Melania has plenty of pictures all over the internet that show you everything you need to know about her. I don't get what their problem is.
/s
by the Moz
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 02, 2021 9:52 am
Alice Cooper can only wish.
I 'served' Alice Cooper once at a downtown Toronto restaurant I used to work at. He was in full get up as AC to go to a Comic Con fan thing. He never spoke to me, his minder ordered him a rigatoni bolgnese & diet coke. They ate and left
by ti-amie
by JazzNU A freaking idiot. And the best and most accurate reply.
by ti-amie She's alive and well no?
by ponchi101 There is a police officer next to her and she presses the gas. That man falls under the wheels and he is dead.
Reckless endangerment, that how it is called, right?
(And I know what you mean about her being alive and well. I just can't find anything proper to say about THAT part).
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 02, 2021 9:52 am
Alice Cooper can only wish.
I 'served' Alice Cooper once at a downtown Toronto restaurant I used to work at. He was in full get up as AC to go to a Comic Con fan thing. He never spoke to me, his minder ordered him a rigatoni bolgnese & diet coke. They ate and left
hahaha, the image of him in full makeup eating pasta is hilarious
by JazzNU Are you guys hearing fireworks, bigger ones I mean, not some smalltime sparklers, in your neighborhood in a way you never have before or is that just a thing near me? Like it's gotten out of control. The township had fireworks yesterday and legitimately couldn't tell when they were starting exactly because of so many random people setting off their own very loud fireworks in their yard or whatever after night had fallen.
There were fireworks last year during the pandemic for sure, but not like the frequency I was hearing this weekend. But even then, this setting off your own fireworks at this rate feels like a new phenomenon, it was definitely not a thing for so many just a few years ago. Pretty sure a good deal of what I'm seeing and hearing are technically illegal, but I think it's very hard to determine where they are being set off from.
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:00 pm
Are you guys hearing fireworks, bigger ones I mean, not some smalltime sparklers, in your neighborhood in a way you never have before or is that just a thing near me? Like it's gotten out of control. The township had fireworks yesterday and legitimately couldn't tell when they were starting exactly because of so many random people setting off their own very loud fireworks in their yard or whatever after night had fallen.
There were fireworks last year during the pandemic for sure, but not like the frequency I was hearing this weekend. But even then, this setting off your own fireworks at this rate feels like a new phenomenon, it was definitely not a thing for so many just a few years ago. Pretty sure a good deal of what I'm seeing and hearing are technically illegal, but I think it's very hard to determine where they are being set off from.
Mortars, like the one that killed that young NHL player seem to be the thing this year. It's horrible. And you're right. It's very hard to tell where they're coming from.
by mmmm8
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 7:00 pm
Are you guys hearing fireworks, bigger ones I mean, not some smalltime sparklers, in your neighborhood in a way you never have before or is that just a thing near me? Like it's gotten out of control. The township had fireworks yesterday and legitimately couldn't tell when they were starting exactly because of so many random people setting off their own very loud fireworks in their yard or whatever after night had fallen.
There were fireworks last year during the pandemic for sure, but not like the frequency I was hearing this weekend. But even then, this setting off your own fireworks at this rate feels like a new phenomenon, it was definitely not a thing for so many just a few years ago. Pretty sure a good deal of what I'm seeing and hearing are technically illegal, but I think it's very hard to determine where they are being set off from.
Much more than in the past for sure, although I think I wasn't here on July 4 last year and it's only my fourth year in this area. One of the cats was freaking out for hours
by JazzNU Thanks for the replies. I didn't even know this bothered cats, but people with dogs have been sharing ideas on local radio to deal with the noise because it really freaks them out. There's something called a thunder jacket I guess? Not sure if such a thing exists for a cat, but something to look into if this continues to be a thing.
by ti-amie They started early with the fireworks here. My daughter gave her cats calming treats as soon as it started.
by Deuce It being the USA, I'd think that some of those sounds would be gunshots, as well.
by ti-amie
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 10:29 pm
It being the USA, I'd think that some of those sounds would be gunshots, as well.
They used to only do that at New Year's but now anything goes.
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:27 pm
They started early with the fireworks here. My daughter gave her cats calming treats as soon as it started.
I'm sure y'all have seen this already, but just in case you haven't...
::
How to give a cat a pill ... and a dog, too
How to give a cat a pill:
Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil, and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
Tie the little @!!@#@#$%'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak filet. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and remove pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
How to give a dog a pill:
Wrap it in cheese.
(Submitted by Dr. John Delack, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:27 pm
They started early with the fireworks here. My daughter gave her cats calming treats as soon as it started.
I'm sure y'all have seen this already, but just in case you haven't...
::
How to give a cat a pill ... and a dog, too
How to give a cat a pill:
Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil, and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
Tie the little @!!@#@#$%'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak filet. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and remove pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
How to give a dog a pill:
Wrap it in cheese.
(Submitted by Dr. John Delack, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
I'd use ponchi101's laughing until I cried emoji if I could find it.
by MJ2004 Hilarious, but makes you wonder if they've ever had a dog. Our dog would pick off the cheese, eat it, and spit out the pill. Same with peanut butter - she'd just lick it off and spit out the pill. It is NOT that easy to feed a pill to a dog that refuses it.
Basically we'd have to force the pill down her throat by keeping her mouth closed while she stubbornly sat with the pill in her mouth, and once she finally swallowed, check her mouth for evidence of remaining pill. Then of course give her a treat as if she'd done something right.
by dryrunguy Shadow was like that, too. We'd put a pill inside a slice of hot dog, and he almost always figured out a way to eat the hot dog without the pill.
Polly is a different story. She'll eat anything without batting an eye.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:27 pm
They started early with the fireworks here. My daughter gave her cats calming treats as soon as it started.
I'm sure y'all have seen this already, but just in case you haven't...
::
How to give a cat a pill ... and a dog, too
How to give a cat a pill:
Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil, and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
Tie the little @!!@#@#$%'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak filet. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and remove pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
How to give a dog a pill:
Wrap it in cheese.
(Submitted by Dr. John Delack, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
by MJ2004 Growing up, my golden retriever once swallowed a hard boiled egg whole. He would devour a hot dog with just one bite. Basic food inhalation. We could hide pills in food for him easily.
by Suliso Finally bought flight tickets to Riga to visit parents and sister beginning of August. Surprisingly cheap, only ca 290 $ return. I haven't been there since last June... Getting my second vaccine shot just in time this Sunday.
by ponchi101 Hope you will have a great time. That is not a bad fare.
by Suliso Some people, including fabulously rich ones, are a bit odd. Was just reading that Elon Musk has sold all his properties (worth 100 million or so) to be free of an attachment to any concrete place and now stays in a house worth just 50k next to his Starbase in Texas.
by ponchi101 Seeing how he could go and buy 1,000 times that amount of real estate, he can live wherever. I wonder how long he stays in one place.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 10:20 pm
Seeing how he could go and buy 1,000 times that amount of real estate, he can live wherever. I wonder how long he stays in one place.
I have a feeling he plows an enormous amount of time and personal money in Spacex which after all makes no money and won't for some years still. Of course Tesla also still there and the actual source of his wealth.
I think both are among the most innovative engineering companies on the planet. Stuff what Spacex is accomplishing compared to old space companies is just Having said that they also take a lot of risk and one large accident can damage them permanently. That would not be the case for Boeing.
by JazzNU I view Elon Musk as part mad genius, part charlatan. I don't know what he's angling for with this, but I'll be watching to see how the dots get connected.
Also, I'll believe he's truly living in that shoebox and nowhere else whatsoever with his partner and many children when he sets up a 24-hour 360 degree live stream for at least a two-week period and proves that's the case. Not remotely buying this unless there's a mansion 2 acres away in the middle of construction that he's waiting on being completed.
by ponchi101
by Suliso Where he's living is just a fun speculation, the really important part of his career is the electric car revolution. There is little doubt it would have come anyway, but Tesla conceivable might have brought it forward by 5-10 years. Without a serious industry disruptor car manufacturers would still be at "all talk" stage. It's extremely expensive to retool from internal combustion to electric (or any other new propulsion) and not at all good for the stock price.
Spacex is another story of this type. The promise is enormous and the latest rocket in development is taller than the statue of Liberty and 2x more powerful than the old Saturn.
Not all ideas makes sense of course. For example I think the hyperloop one will die a quite death soon enough.
by Deuce This wonderful multi-talented kid is proof that the rest of us are using only about 2% of our brain...
(Watch the video until the end)
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 11:28 pm
Where he's living is just a fun speculation, the really important part of his career is the electric car revolution. There is little doubt it would have come anyway, but Tesla conceivable might have brought it forward by 5-10 years. Without a serious industry disruptor car manufacturers would still be at "all talk" stage. It's extremely expensive to retool from internal combustion to electric (or any other new propulsion) and not at all good for the stock price.
Not sure of how many Tesla owners there are in Switzerland or Latvia so not sure you see the same things I do because it's very much people talking about this, not the media. Amazing innovation? Sure. But Tesla has a massive problem on their hands. What I said about part genius and part charlatan? Applies to Tesla in spades.
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 11:28 pm
Where he's living is just a fun speculation, the really important part of his career is the electric car revolution. There is little doubt it would have come anyway, but Tesla conceivable might have brought it forward by 5-10 years. Without a serious industry disruptor car manufacturers would still be at "all talk" stage. It's extremely expensive to retool from internal combustion to electric (or any other new propulsion) and not at all good for the stock price.
Not sure of how many Tesla owners there are in Switzerland or Latvia so not sure you see the same things I do because it's very much people talking about this, not the media. Amazing innovation? Sure. But Tesla has a massive problem on their hands. What I said about part genius and part charlatan? Applies to Tesla in spades.
I see Tesla in Basel from time to time, but what exactly are you trying to say I'm not sure. There are a lot of fans of his cars. I personally have never been in one, though.
Not sure of how many Tesla owners there are in Switzerland or Latvia so not sure you see the same things I do because it's very much people talking about this, not the media. Amazing innovation? Sure. But Tesla has a massive problem on their hands. What I said about part genius and part charlatan? Applies to Tesla in spades.
What is the problem? Please tell. They do have a reputation for not great craftmanship (the Model 3) and they are very much a cult company, but is there something else?
Txs
by JazzNU The fandom is still there, but the core believers are shrinking in size and it's not uncommon to see the word Scam or Fraud used among Tesla owners in the various places they are online. There is more than one problem, so it will depend, but a ton of owners are understandably upset about this FSD, which means Full Self Driving. From the little I know about it, it would appear that this was touted and promised and PAID FOR back in 2016. 3 months away they think, but no more than 6 months, something like that was what was stated as the delivery timeline. 5 years later, still waiting. The issue is that, it's been paid for by owners on the promise of delivery by these much earlier dates and then all that's happened is that the price has steadily increased and owner after owner model after model pays for it and Tesla has just sat on the money, no refunds. I believe the current cost for it is $10k. Multiply that by millions and you see why the word scam is floating around with increasing frequency. I guess it can't be transferred either, I've heard that mentioned though I don't quite get that part or how it would work, just that it seems to be tied to the original car and buying something new requires a new FSD purchase. Pre-pandemic, I overheard a VERY loud conversation about this on the train, they talked so loud everyone in the car that day can tell you all the details. I had heard about it before in passing, but not in that much detail especially since I try not to talk to Tesla owners about their Teslas, it could be a bit much. I looked it up after that and it was like, yikes. And it's only gotten worse.
If the fandom was not as strong as it was, and if the clientele weren't as wealthy are they typically are, this would already be a massive class action suit and could still become one.
But to hear Tesla owners, who are much more dedicated and drinking the kool-aid than the most dedicated of the iSheep, say, "we passed into scam territory a few years ago," should be alarming for any company especially one that relies on brand loyalty as much as Tesla does. You can also see plenty of people in just a random Elon post reference it as a scam and others saying they don't think FSD is a scam, but they do think Elon has done quite a few scammy things. Just not great. Part charlatan like I said.
by MJ2004
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 3:02 pm
What is the problem? Please tell. They do have a reputation for not great craftmanship (the Model 3) and they are very much a cult company, but is there something else?
Not the only problem, for sure, but certainly attention-grabbing:
by Suliso They do sell more and more cars every year though and are currently building two new factories (Austin and Berlin). Let's see how it ends...
by ponchi101 My concern with electrics is: what will you do with the batteries when they will need to be replaced? And they will be.
I still want an i3, though
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:37 pm
My concern with electrics is: what will you do with the batteries when they will need to be replaced? And they will be.
I still want an i3, though
Recycle for precious metals I hope.
by ponchi101 Sure. And that recycling will be huge IF we all move to electrics, but currently I don't know if there are any of such facilities. We are lagging in that dept.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:29 pm
Sure. And that recycling will be huge IF we all move to electrics, but currently I don't know if there are any of such facilities. We are lagging in that dept.
There aren't, but currently there also aren't any old car batteries (assuming 10 year lifespan).
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:29 pm
Sure. And that recycling will be huge IF we all move to electrics, but currently I don't know if there are any of such facilities. We are lagging in that dept.
by ponchi101 Russia, August 2020. You know, uncontrolled explosions? They are good at that.
by JazzNU Yeah, knew it was old, still thought it was worth posting since it's circulating anew on social media now. The stuff they capture in Russia because of their car dash cameras is really quite remarkable.
There's a crazy chair fight I was going to post from the Netherlands, but that too is older so I guess I'll skip it. There's never any real rhyme or reason to things trending long after they initially happen.
I love how all the cars in the right lane going towards the explosion stopped at the same time. Here there would've been an chain reaction pile up.
by ti-amie It's not just gang bangers and the arguably insane that have forgotten how to function in public. Then again...
by MJ2004 The TikTok user who recorded this later said that the incident seemed to be "handled poorly." Without knowing exactly what she's referring to, I'd tend to side with the flight attendants who, with minimal training as compared to the police, needed to subdue someone who was trying to open the airplane doors mid-flight.
by ponchi101 For a while, there were federal marshals flying in planes. That idea, somehow, seems more than adequate lately.
(It was after 9/11, as a step to prevent terrorism. Somebody trying to open a door in midflight seems pretty terroristic to me).
by Suliso Yes, but the poor souls don't know that doing so is physically impossible in modern airliners.
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 12, 2021 3:12 am
There's a crazy chair fight I was going to post from the Netherlands, but that too is older so I guess I'll skip it.
You made me curious so I looked it up - it is totally crazy! Alternately, wth is wrong with people!
by ti-amiePeople dumped their pets into lakes, officials say. Now football-size goldfish are taking over.
One of several large goldfish pulled from a lake near Minneapolis. Officials nationwide are warning that the household pets are dangerously invasive when released into the wild. (City of Burnsville)
By
Reis Thebault
July 11, 2021|Updated yesterday at 11:59 p.m. EDT
The invasion begins innocently enough: A goldfish paddles the secluded waters of an at-home aquarium, minding its own business, disturbing no native habitats.
The real trouble comes later, when the human who put it there decides it’s time for a change. Not wanting to hurt the fish, but not wanting to keep it either, the pet’s owner decides to release it into a local lake, pond or waterway. That decision, experts say, is well-meaning but misguided — and potentially harmful.
Officials in Burnsville, a city about 15 miles south of Minneapolis, demonstrated why late last week, when they shared photographs of several massive goldfish that were recovered from a local lake. The discarded pets can swell and wreak havoc, the city warned.
“Please don’t release your pet goldfish into ponds and lakes!” the city wrote in a Twitter post, which had been liked and retweeted more than 15,000 times Sunday night. “They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants.”
Burnsville, along with neighboring Apple Valley, began surveying the lake’s goldfish population after residents complained of a possible infestation. Working with the company Carp Solutions, which specializes in controlling water pests, the cities sent a team to investigate, and even it was surprised by the size of the fish it found.
“You see goldfish in the store and they’re these small little fish,” Caleb Ashling, Burnsville’s natural resources specialist, said in an interview. “When you pull a goldfish about the size of a football out of the lake, it makes you wonder how this can even be the same type of animal.”
Far from being an innocuous domestic animal, a goldfish freed in fresh water is an invasive species, an organism that is introduced to an environment, can quickly reproduce, outcompete native species and destroy a habitat. And even though they get less attention than invasive organisms such as Asian carp or zebra mussels, goldfish appear to be a growing problem in bodies of water across the United States and around the world, triggering warnings from government officials in Virginia, Washington state, Australia, Canada and elsewhere.
“A few goldfish might seem to some like a harmless addition to the local water body — but they’re not,” the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advised this year.
The problem has been getting worse in recent years, said Przemek Bajer, who owns Carp Solutions and is an aquatic invasive species professor at the University of Minnesota. The most probable sources are former pets and their progeny, he said.
“They seem to be getting more and more widespread,” Bajer said. “You think about how many of those fish are sold nationally and how many are being released. That’s a pretty big vector of introduction.”
Also known by the scientific name Carassius auratus, goldfish can live to be 25 years old, weigh as much as four pounds and measure well over a foot long. They’re also surprisingly resilient: They can survive in severe conditions and can weather winters in bodies of water that have frozen over, living for months without oxygen. This quality, Bajer said, “makes them really, really tough and allows them to dominate certain types of ecosystems.”
Goldfish, like their common carp relatives, feed at the bottom of lakes, where they uproot plants and stir up sediment, which then damages the water’s quality and can lead to algal blooms, harming other species.
“Goldfish have the ability to drastically change water quality, which can have a cascade of impacts on plants and other animals,” Ashling said. “They are a major concern.”
Once goldfish are in one body of water, they can move on to others, and they can be tricky to evict. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the fish are able to “work their way through city storm water ponds and into lakes and streams downstream with big impacts, by rapidly reproducing, surviving harsh winters and feeding in and stirring up the bottom.” It is illegal to release goldfish in the state’s public waters.
In Carver County, which is not far from Burnsville, goldfish have plagued a chain of lakes for at least two years, frustrating water management officials and costing the locality money as it tries to battle the problem.
Last year, county workers removed an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 of the fish in one day. The origin of the problem, the county said, probably is “one or more individuals illegally dumping pet goldfish over the years.”
This year, Carver County signed an $88,000 contract with a consulting firm to study how to manage and remove the shoals of goldfish.
Paul Moline, Carver County’s planning and water management manager, told county commissioners that the fish “are an understudied species” with “a high potential to negatively impact the water quality of lakes.”
In 2018, Washington state officials said they would spend $150,000 rehabilitating a lake near Spokane that had become so overrun by goldfish that it was hurting the trout population. An invasive-species expert in Alberta called the Canadian province’s problem “scary.” And about two months ago in Virginia, state wildlife officials certified a record after an angler reeled in a 16-inch goldfish, but they warned that “pet owners should never release their aquatic organisms into the wild.”
Ashling and his colleagues in Burnsville are trying to determine the scope of their problem, but they’re hoping their early findings will discourage other pet owners from ditching their fish in public waters — which, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, are sacred.
“People are trying to be nice, but they don’t realize that goldfish can really have a lot of unintended consequences,” Ashling said. “Most people really care about their lakes and ponds, but you may be causing problems you weren’t aware of if you let them go there.”
by Suliso Company is giving out free wine today on a first come first serve basis. I think all 100 bottles will be gone within an hour.
by skatingfan
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:52 am
Company is giving out free wine today on a first come first serve basis. I think all 100 bottles will be gone within an hour.
Claimed within the hour, or gone within the hour. There's an important distinction there.
by Suliso Claimed of course. Drinking at work not allowed.
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 10:49 am
Claimed of course. Drinking at work not allowed.
Never stopped anyone (except the Swiss...)
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Interesting cultural take(s)
by ponchi101 THE SIXTH SENSE, in the horror category, is there, but THE EXORCIST is not.
Awright.
by ti-amie
by dryrunguy
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 6:07 pm
THE SIXTH SENSE, in the horror category, is there, but THE EXORCIST is not.
Awright.
And neither is Showgirls. Can't take that list seriously at all.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 6:07 pm
THE SIXTH SENSE, in the horror category, is there, but THE EXORCIST is not.
Awright.
And neither is Showgirls. Can't take that list seriously at all.
I'm not trying to be totally dismissive of this list, but I'd have to read much more than I'm willing to in order to understand how they came up with what they listed for each categories. I've looked it over a few times and am not understanding the delineations at all. I mean I see the general tones of snobbery and judgment, but that's about it.
by Suliso
by ponchi101
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 I went to sleep last night thinking about that tweet. I wanted to really give it a thought.
And I am sorry, I can't agree. What this man describes is the role of GOVERNMENTS. Bezos, Musk, Gates and Zuckerberg could be the most disgusting or the greatest of people, but they would still not be required to, for example, "secure the right to vote". That is not their responsibility. I think I have been clear in this forum about my position on Amazon (it has to be broken up) and FB (it has to be regulated), but that does not mean that their owners own society a "moral debt" that would include "ending poverty". That, again, should be proper government, doing the proper things: tax these companies fairly and accordingly. Make sure that they behave in accordance to the law (no blatant dumping of products to destroy smaller competitors, like Amazon did with diapers.com). Perhaps, as a society, decide if we want to have a billionaire class and, if not, then implement the proper controls.
This man's response is a non-sequitur: "Imagine if rich people were GOOD people". Yes, imagine that. While doing that, imagine if governments were GOOD governments, truly looking out for the impoverished, the environment, the poor and the needy.
Bezos has a budget of $200 billion. The USA has a budget of $4 trillion, and I assume that the EU has a about the same, China too, Russia is also in the billions. Imagine if they all were to drop their military budgets and use that for "good". A dream that has been voiced eternally, and will certainly not happen.
I, for one, have said it here: I would impose a salary cap on individuals ($10MM/year) and an earnings cap on companies ($100MM/year), worldwide. But until I get to be king for a day, it will not happen, and these billionaires are free to use their money in developing new technologies.
Imagine if in 50 years, a space travel industry is booming, with daily flight to the moon so you can enjoy a week of zero gravity. Who knows how many new jobs would spring from that.
by Suliso I think my opinion about this particular topic is well expressed by the cartoon few posts above. Otherwise I agree that taxes ought to be more and big tech more stringently regulated.
Also Bezos or Musk have nowhere near 200 billion budget nor should they. That is only a value of their stock there as governments really do have those kinds of budgets. Again that is a normal state of affairs.
One last point - where exactly do we think those space billions go? They go in paying good salaries to the employees (9,500 at Spacex) and providing business to a myriad of contractors. It would be worse to buy antique paintings or invest in bitcoins.
by ti-amie
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 5:18 pm
I think my opinion about this particular topic is well expressed by the cartoon few posts above. Otherwise I agree that taxes ought to be more and big tech more stringently regulated.
Also Bezos or Musk have nowhere near 200 billion budget nor should they. That is only a value of their stock there as governments really do have those kinds of budgets. Again that is a normal state of affairs.
One last point - where exactly do we think those space billions go? They go in paying good salaries to the employees (9,500 at Spacex) and providing business to a myriad of contractors. It would be worse to buy antique paintings or invest in bitcoins.
This fact isn't mentioned enough. They're VALUED at these astronomical sums. If some company decided it wanted to be paid in real cash money they wouldn't be able to. None of this wealth is liquid.
by ti-amie
What in the name of all that's good was the person on who lived in this house?
by JTContinental
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 17, 2021 6:07 pm
THE SIXTH SENSE, in the horror category, is there, but THE EXORCIST is not.
Awright.
They are also insinuating that I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Human Centipede are on the same plane of taste, and...no
by MJ2004
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 9:41 pm
What in the name of all that's good was the person on who lived in this house?
The house was built in 1950 and is being sold by the original owner. Process that. Helps explain some of the decoration choices. That house is a time capsule.
by JazzNU Less than 10 minutes from where I grew up. One of my good friends from high school lived two streets over, my sister's best friend lived one minute away. And I have no idea why this is trending in the first place and I'm mildly disturbed and annoyed that it is.
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:41 pm
Less than 10 minutes from where I grew up. One of my good friends from high school lived two streets over, my sister's best friend lived one minute away. And I have no idea why this is trending in the first place and I'm mildly disturbed and annoyed that it is.
It's one of the things you see a lot on HGTV. The house is decorated to suit the person who is now selling it and not for anyone who would want to buy it. You literally can't see the "bones" of the house and there are only one or two bathrooms that don't look as if someone was on a bad acid trip.
They're asking $500k+. It'll take up to $200k to redecorate the house. Once you pull off all of that wallpaper the walls will have to be redone. The bathrooms need updating and so does the kitchen. This room alone could cost at least $20k to remodel.
I doubt if they'll get that asking price.
by JTContinental Several of the rooms in our house looked like that when we bought it, and we basically had to strip everything down to the studs and start over.
by ti-amie
JTContinental wrote: ↑Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:08 am
Several of the rooms in our house looked like that when we bought it, and we basically had to strip everything down to the studs and start over.
I'm guessing because when you pull that paper off chunks of the wall come with it. The house, if you buy at that price, is about $750k
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:41 pm
Less than 10 minutes from where I grew up. One of my good friends from high school lived two streets over, my sister's best friend lived one minute away. And I have no idea why this is trending in the first place and I'm mildly disturbed and annoyed that it is.
It's one of the things you see a lot on HGTV. The house is decorated to suit the person who is now selling it and not for anyone who would want to buy it. You literally can't see the "bones" of the house and there are only one or two bathrooms that don't look as if someone was on a bad acid trip.
They're asking $500k+. It'll take up to $200k to redecorate the house. Once you pull off all of that wallpaper the walls will have to be redone. The bathrooms need updating and so does the kitchen. This room alone could cost at least $20k to remodel.
I doubt if they'll get that asking price.
No, I got why, I saw the photos before, I just wasn't happy with any of it.
It'll sell for close to asking, and the only reason it may go for a bit lower than asking is the style of the home (split level) and lack of classic features on the exterior (crappy/unattractive stone), not the interior. Even if someone did $200k worth of renovations, that would still leave that homebuyer with equity. That neighborhood supports $750-900k, that style probably no higher than $825k (right now that is, by the end of the summer, probably closer to $875k, prices have done nothing but increase steadily over the last year in this and neighboring townships, but especially in the last 4 months).
Switch this to a 1500 sqft cape in Scarsdale or bungalow in West Hollywood with similar decor, I doubt there'd be anywhere near as many replies commenting about the price unless they were talking about what a bargain it was. This thread is sorely in need of an HGTV real estate agent to provide some context about the home's listing price and the neighborhood's value.
by ti-amie I would say the same thing regarding the price and the condition of the home.
by JazzNU Maybe you would, but I'm talking about the Twitter thread. A decent number of people seem to think that is a McMansion neighborhood in the boonies, for instance. Plenty of "rural" mentions. Others using Oklahoma as a price comparison. A lot of ignorance in that thread.
by JazzNU Part random, part national news, but felt more random to me
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Sure, make fun of us now, but plenty of people learned how to program in a RS Model I
(If you wanted any kind of electronic component, Radio Shack was the place. You know, when people had to assemble their own stereo equipment, replace busted speakers, connect the VHS-to-the-stereo-to-the-speakers-to-the-TV AND program the remote... )
by ti-amie People have been having a ball with this all day on the bird app
by the Moz There's a reason his nickname is BoJo.
by MJ2004 By the way, if you're in the U.S. and if your passport is anywhere near its expiration date, you may want to get started renewing it now. And if you are actually planning a trip, make sure to pay for the expedited processing. I submitted mine for renewal almost four weeks ago and just received an email today from the State Dept saying that the application has been received and accepted and to expect it to take up to an additional 18 weeks to be processed. A quick Google search yielded a bunch of news stories about the extreme delays that are happening now, even up to six months. I'm not planning any upcoming trip, but even so I always feel unmoored without my passport. Can't flee the country.
by ponchi101 I renewed my visa three weeks ago. I have yet to receive my passport with my new visa.
Somehow, South American inefficiency is contagious.
by mmmm8
MJ2004 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:56 am
By the way, if you're in the U.S. and if your passport is anywhere near its expiration date, you may want to get started renewing it now. And if you are actually planning a trip, make sure to pay for the expedited processing. I submitted mine for renewal almost four weeks ago and just received an email today from the State Dept saying that the application has been received and accepted and to expect it to take up to an additional 18 weeks to be processed. A quick Google search yielded a bunch of news stories about the extreme delays that are happening now, even up to six months. I'm not planning any upcoming trip, but even so I always feel unmoored without my passport. Can't flee the country.
Same advice if you're living in a foreign country and need to renew your documents through your home country's consular services. I have a Swedish friend who couldn't get an appointment with their consulate until November.
by Suliso Funny it takes it so long in US. No idea about right now to be honest, but before covid one could renew Latvian passport in 3 working days (expedited option).
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Aug 04, 2021 2:57 pm
Funny it takes it so long in US. No idea about right now to be honest, but before covid one could renew Latvian passport in 3 working days (expedited option).
The US normally can be done in one day if you have travel plans.
by Suliso Here are the top 20 most followed Twitter accounts (excluding corporate accounts):
1. Barrack Obama 129.8 million
2. Justin Bieber 113.9
3. Katy Perry 108.8
4. Rihanna 102.7
5. Cristiano Ronaldo 93.2
6. Taylor Swift 88.6
7. Ariana Grande 83.8
8. Lady Gaga 83.6
9. Ellen DeGeneres 78.0
10. Narendra Modi 70.2
11. Kim Kardashian 70.0
12. Selena Gomez 64.9
13. Justin Timberlake 63.4
14. Elon Musk 58.9
15. Britney Spears 55.5
16. Bill Gates 55.2
17. Demi Lovato 54.7
18. Neymar 54.2
19. Shakira 52.5
20. Jimmy Fallon 51.4
Unsurprisingly dominated by entertainers plus a couple of politicians and few more flamboyant business magnates.
by ponchi101 Kind of surprised that Messi is not there.
by Suliso Messi not in the top 30 either. Maybe he's not active on Twitter? Lebron James barely missed the list with 50.0 million followers.
by Suliso A fascinating video on how high quality badminton shuttlecocks are made.
by ponchi101 You've got to be kidding.
That was impressive. No idea it would be that detailed.
by Suliso I imagine tennis balls are comparatively simple and fully automated. I haven't looked it up, though.
by ti-amie They made us learn how to play badminton in gym class back in the day. I hate everything about that sport.
by Deuce Badminton is one of the most deceptive sports in the world.
It looks so easy... but if you play against a good, experienced player, you'll quickly discover that it's extremely difficult to play well. I've discovered that a few times (on the losing end).
Curling is another sport that looks easy when watching it, and people are shocked to discover how difficult it is when they try it.
by ti-amie Curling doesn't look easy to me at all. Badminton isn't easy and that's why I said I hate it. It's damn hard hitting and keeping that thingie in the air and moving.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:48 pm
Curling doesn't look easy to me at all. Badminton isn't easy and that's why I said I hate it. It's damn hard hitting and keeping that thingie in the air and moving.
Most of the people who come to try curling for the first time are shocked with how difficult it is just to slide. Releasing the rock is another matter altogether (some don't even get to that point). Then releasing the rock so that it stops at a precise point about 120 feet away - well that's another thing still.
Typically, people who come to try it for the first time fall a lot. We have to tell them repeatedly to be careful, as injuries can be serious (broken bones, severe concussions, etc.).
I've been playing tennis for several decades at a level between 4.0 and 5.0. When I began playing pickleball 2 years ago, I took to it naturally, and could play at the same level as the best players. With badminton, against a good, experienced player, I feel useless. It's like they have the birdie on a string, and they're just playing around with me. In all honesty, I felt similarly when I played tennis against a Davis Cup player from Haiti - ball on a string type of feeling. Not a good feeling.
by ti-amie There is profanity.
by ti-amie OnlyFans has set a new policy re sexually explicit content...
by ti-amie How will this affect Tomic?
by ponchi101
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 6:34 pm
OnlyFans has set a new policy re sexually explicit content...
This sounds like PornHub banning porn honestly. It was like that with Tumblr to a certain extent, but there were at least Tumblr accounts that existed without sex on them even if they were greatly outnumbered by the ones that did. Is there such a thing as an OnlyFans account that exists without explicit sex? I wasn't aware they existed, I thought that was the site's membership.
I would assume there's been some forceful language from Visa, Mastercard, etc. that led to this decision, but haven't heard why they are taking this step. But it's the one that would seem to make the most sense given the rise they've had in the last 2 years and the money they've been making. Why kill off that gravy train if not being forced to?
by ponchi101 Does it come with its own ghost?
(I would buy it)
by ti-amie Ya know overall it's not bad. the kitchen needs to be updated and so do some of the bathrooms. The fact that there's a two car garage and a workspace adds value for some.
What I like is that despite the overall theme the owner didn't go nuts with the medieval knight theme inside. The walls are neutral and a paint job would be an easy fix. I only saw AC in one room - the master bedroom (the bathroom there was really nice) and to add AC to the entire place would cost a heck of a lot I'd think.
I wouldn't buy it because it's inside a forest. The bugs would have a field day. They send out flyers to notify their pals when I'm in a forested area. I think it's a good example of personal taste not overwhelming a potential resale.
Oh and it's in West Virginia hence the relatively low price.
by MJ2004
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 1:19 am
Oh and it's in West Virginia hence the relatively low price.
Actually, it's in Washington state. Near Spokane, so your point still holds.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 1:19 am
Oh and it's in West Virginia hence the relatively low price.
Actually, it's in Washington state. Near Spokane, so your point still holds.
My bad. And I'm glad my point still holds re the price.
by ti-amie
by dryrunguy
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 19, 2021 11:32 pm
Does it come with its own ghost?
(I would buy it)
Well, it already has a Tin Man. So I don't think you can rule out a potential Wicked Witch of the West in there somewhere...
by Suliso The color of bricks really ruins it. He should have used red ones.
by ti-amie
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 6:07 am
The color of bricks really ruins it. He should have used red ones.
Also the windows. For that full medieval effect shouldn't he have had a few mullioned ones?
What do mullioned windows look like?
Mullioned windows often have unusual shapes, and they are frequently arched at the top. Gridded windows are square or rectangular, and the grid is regular, with evenly spaced panes of glass divided into a grid, rather than large blocks of glass divided by mullions or transoms.
by ponchi101 If we are going there, it needs: spider webs, a lot of moss on the walls, a pit surrounding it and, of course, a dungeon and an oubliette.
Oh, and a turret for your young daughter, to be rescued.
But it is a fun house.
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 6:07 am
The color of bricks really ruins it. He should have used red ones.
Yup, the color and the uniformity of the bricks really ruin it.
by ti-amie
Here's the picture.
by JazzNU The medieval looking house made me remember a fantastic renovation hour once upon a time of this medieval I guess we could almost call it a castle in LA. Son of the owner and his girlfriend lived there and basically not a single kitschy thing had changed since the dad had committed 100% to the theme. The girlfriend was known to many because she was a model contestant on AMNT who went pretty far in an early season.
Does anyone else remember this? It was just craptastic in the most entertaining way possible. I don't remember the original show it was on, I feel like it was something on Style Network for some reason, but it's like that original wedding special episode in Long Island that basically started the wedding show craze that I think first aired back in the day on VH1 but made the rounds through many different names and channels because it was just worth showing however you could swing it.
by JazzNU
JazzNU wrote: ↑Fri Aug 20, 2021 6:17 pm
The medieval looking house made me remember a fantastic renovation hour once upon a time of this medieval I guess we could almost call it a castle in LA. Son of the owner and his girlfriend lived there and basically not a single kitschy thing had changed since the dad had committed 100% to the theme. The girlfriend was known to many because she was a model contestant on AMNT who went pretty far in an early season.
Does anyone else remember this? It was just craptastic in the most entertaining way possible. I don't remember the original show it was on, I feel like it was something on Style Network for some reason, but it's like that original wedding special episode in Long Island that basically started the wedding show craze that I think first aired back in the day on VH1 but made the rounds through many different names and channels because it was just worth showing however you could swing it.
Just looked it up. The show was called Tacky House and it was hosted by Thom Filicia (from the original Queer Eye). The episode was called Once Upon a Tacky Castle. The show did 30 minute episodes, but this was so bad they gave it an hour. It's up on NBC.com thru it would appear Bravo ownership which makes sense, but it did originally air on Style Network.
No need to seek watch, but I'll include the link if anyone wants to or just wants to get a gist from the first couple of minutes where they do the rundown, but this is a still photo from the show captures the commitment to the medieval time period. The woman in the photo is the model I mentioned from ANTM, Lisa D'Amato.
by dryrunguy I know it cannot be anything more than a freak coincidence. But it is freaky nonetheless.
Each of the last two mornings, we found a dead deer in the field by my house. (During the summer months, this is where I keep my old ram, Goliath.)
The dead 2- to 3-month-old fawn we found yesterday morning was just outside the fence (electric fence, four strands of high-tensile wire about 1 foot apart) on the south side about 10 feet from the neighbors' driveway. It looked like it had somehow got tangled in it on his way out of the field, couldn't get out (which shouldn't have been difficult), found himself lying with his head downhill, and probably suffocated.
Then early this morning, I get up and take the dog out. I see about a dozen hawks circling over my house. They couldn't have been after the fawn's corpse because we took him up the mountain deep into the woods. I go over to the field to look, and sure enough. There's a dead doe just inside the fence--this time on the west side. I assumed this was the mother of the fawn, probably looking for her baby. But this doe showed no signs of having ever nursed anything. In fact, she was probably a yearling--didn't look full grown. In any case, what happened to her was pretty clear. She had jumped the fence, caught one or more of her feet on the top strand of wire coming down the other side, fell inside the fence, and broke her neck.
Neither showed any sign of chronic wasting disease--and those are symptoms no one can miss. They're awful. Instead, both were perfectly healthy.
That fence has been up for nearly 20 years, and this had never happened before. On the contrary, late on almost any given night, even during the winter, you can stand on my front porch and hear the top strand of wire vibrating because of deer jumping over and a hoof clips the top strand of wire. It's actually a very pleasant sound on a quiet evening. But in all these years, every deer made it over and eventually got out safe and sound.
It's bizarre. But it has to be a freak coincidence.
by ponchi101 Can you check the voltage? If the voltage has, for some reason, gone up, maybe it is not the same fence anymore.
by dryrunguy
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 5:54 pm
Can you check the voltage? If the voltage has, for some reason, gone up, maybe it is not the same fence anymore.
This is what I use for that field: https://www.zarebasystems.com/zareba-10 ... TEQAvD_BwE. Maximum of 115 volts. It pulses electricity once per second, so it's not constantly hot. Even with prolonged exposure to the pulse, I don't think that would be enough to kill a deer.
by JazzNU How's the deer population near you @dry? I know your area isn't very high with the vaccinations and I'm not sure if that means people are out and about like they were in 2019 or if they've been staying in more often because they have the good sense to be more cautious about covid since they are unvaccinated.
Because during the heart of the pandemic, the deer population didn't die as it typically does each year because of so many less people out and about on the roads, which kills a healthy amount, and I don't think our hunting season was as robust as it typically is (which is a thing here in PA, for those that don't know the state, first day of hunting season was always considered a holiday in the west and central parts of the state, and schools and offices were closed accordingly). And I'm fairly certain there's been a carry over of that to now because in the last 3 weeks I've seen about 10 dead deer. Now, that number is slightly higher because I've had to take 2 road trips in that time and that increases what I will see, but still in the summertime when it's not their mating season? That's pretty darn high, they just aren't around like that usually this time of year. And this is not just here in PA, but in DE, MD, and NJ. So I think the population is just more than it typically is.
Point being, I'm not sure we're witnessing typical deer behavior right now. There might be more around than usual, and that could help to explain the unusual occurrences. That's the case around here, seeing way more than usual right now. Last weekend saw two just chilling on the side of a busy road (not a highway, a two-lane road with street lights) and they didn't move a lick when the cars passed at about 45 mph, which is very odd for them given how close the cars were to their position near the road, they spook pretty easily, but they were more concerned with munching on grass.
Also, they could be sick. Be careful if you're handling them, deer in PA (and a few other states) that were studied by the government had a surprising rate of COVID.
by dryrunguy I'll have to think about your questions, Jazz. I haven't really noticed anything radically different in terms deer population in the era of COVID. But I want to think about it more to make sure I've really considered everything.
I can tell you we wore gloves in handling them, though. I had read the news about deer and COVID. I'll get back to you.
by JazzNU FYI, make sure you're stocked up on toilet paper. The shortages have begun. I think it's only in-store, not at the manufacturer level, but just be aware, if you've reverted back to your 2019 behavior, time to return to your pandemic buying mode.
by ti-amie Paper towels too if you use them.
by Deuce If your fence is directly resulting in the deaths of deer, I'd say it's time to modify the fence. The deer were probably there long before the fence.
Lower the top wire?
Put up a solid fence that they can't get tangled or caught up in?
There are probably a dozen other solutions, as well.
by ponchi101 Wild random guess would be something related to the signing of the Armistice after WW1, and these 9 guys were about to lose a war and go and live in infamy for the rest of their lives.
Or the very, very, very first and original ensemble of "The Village People".
(Let's give others a try until you reveal how wrong I am)
by dmforever
JazzNU wrote: ↑Sat Aug 21, 2021 7:30 pm
How's the deer population near you @dry? I know your area isn't very high with the vaccinations and I'm not sure if that means people are out and about like they were in 2019 or if they've been staying in more often because they have the good sense to be more cautious about covid since they are unvaccinated.
Because during the heart of the pandemic, the deer population didn't die as it typically does each year because of so many less people out and about on the roads, which kills a healthy amount, and I don't think our hunting season was as robust as it typically is (which is a thing here in PA, for those that don't know the state, first day of hunting season was always considered a holiday in the west and central parts of the state, and schools and offices were closed accordingly). And I'm fairly certain there's been a carry over of that to now because in the last 3 weeks I've seen about 10 dead deer. Now, that number is slightly higher because I've had to take 2 road trips in that time and that increases what I will see, but still in the summertime when it's not their mating season? That's pretty darn high, they just aren't around like that usually this time of year. And this is not just here in PA, but in DE, MD, and NJ. So I think the population is just more than it typically is.
Point being, I'm not sure we're witnessing typical deer behavior right now. There might be more around than usual, and that could help to explain the unusual occurrences. That's the case around here, seeing way more than usual right now. Last weekend saw two just chilling on the side of a busy road (not a highway, a two-lane road with street lights) and they didn't move a lick when the cars passed at about 45 mph, which is very odd for them given how close the cars were to their position near the road, they spook pretty easily, but they were more concerned with munching on grass.
Also, they could be sick. Be careful if you're handling them, deer in PA (and a few other states) that were studied by the government had a surprising rate of COVID.
You probably all know this as well, but just in case, there is a mouse to deer to tick connection, and the ticks can carry Lyme. Please be safe and cover up when hiking anywhere, but especially in areas with a lot of deer.
Kevin
by JazzNU
dmforever wrote: ↑Tue Aug 24, 2021 9:57 pm
You probably all know this as well, but just in case, there is a mouse to deer to tick connection, and the ticks can carry Lyme. Please be safe and cover up when hiking anywhere, but especially in areas with a lot of deer.
Kevin
I don't know about a "mouse to deer to tick" connection, but unfortunately know all about deer and Lyme. I have a chronic version of Lyme. So I agree wholeheartedly, be very safe anytime you're in the woods.
dmforever wrote: ↑Tue Aug 24, 2021 9:57 pm
You probably all know this as well, but just in case, there is a mouse to deer to tick connection, and the ticks can carry Lyme. Please be safe and cover up when hiking anywhere, but especially in areas with a lot of deer.
Kevin
I don't know about a "mouse to deer to tick" connection, but unfortunately know all about deer and Lyme. I have a chronic version of Lyme. So I agree wholeheartedly, be very safe anytime you're in the woods.
I always read "The Best Science and Nature Writing" every year and it had an article about that. They originally thought that it was deer, but the found out later that it had to do with deer and either mice or squirrels and fleas and ticks. I don't remember the specifics now. Sorry.
I know it's the Nine Kings of Europe, but the only one I recognize is King George V seated in the middle of the front row.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Long live porn!
(I have no idea what that site is about)
by JazzNU From The Onion
WASHINGTON—Reluctantly acknowledging a faint stir of pride at the success of their tutelage, the CIA admitted Tuesday to being begrudgingly impressed by how well they trained future Taliban members throughout the 1980s. “Damn, we really have to give ourselves a little bit of a pat on the back for showing these sons of bitches the ropes,” said CIA director William Burns, admitting that the intelligence agency deserved some credit for providing Mujahideen militants with all the tools they needed to rapidly rise through the ranks of the Taliban. “This was a classic ‘teach a man to fish and he’ll fish for life’ situation, and our hard work back then obviously really paid dividends. Of course, these scenes from Afghanistan have been horrifying, but you can’t help but be a little wowed by how these bastards took our idea and just completely ran with it.” Burns added that this situation had made a nice change of pace after dealing with the disappointment of those goddamn Contra pushovers.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:31 pm
We're all gonna die. There is no future. We are damned.
No, we won't.
Look at this:
download.jpg
It is a reading of Charles Darwin's tomb. Laughing.
It took me a minute but I finally got it.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 9:45 pm
I didn't post my favorite one here because the man is rolling a blunt while he ascends the pyramid of milk crates.
It was the first one I saw and I was like what is he doing and why is there a mountain of milk crates? It just appeared on my TL.
You can't describe it like that and not post a link to it. Just add URL tags to it so it doesn't fully reproduce on here.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 25, 2021 5:56 pm
Long live porn!
(I have no idea what that site is about)
It's Instagram for porn.
by ti-amie We do a movie night on Tuesdays and what we watch is rotated between us. While discussing what to watch this coming Tuesday night "Fight Club" came up. Either my daughter or her husband said that that movie is considered the impetus (?) for incels coming together as a group. Really? Has anyone else heard this?
by skatingfan I was having difficulty remembering what country the US Open was being played in so I appreciate the large flag at the top of the page as a reminder.
by skatingfan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Aug 28, 2021 8:40 pm
We do a movie night on Tuesdays and what we watch is rotated between us. While discussing what to watch this coming Tuesday night "Fight Club" came up. Either my daughter or her husband said that that movie is considered the impetus (?) for incels coming together as a group. Really? Has anyone else heard this?
First that I have heard that but apparently it's a thing.
If you don't fully get it, open the spoiler, which I have collapsed for language that probably isn't allowed here
► Show Spoiler
OMG did that guy NOT hear it????? Or was he obliged to say all the names? This post made me guffaw out loud. Thank you. !!!
Kevin
by ti-amie OMG!
by ti-amie They are really trying to kill their base!
I hope this turns out to be fake.
by ponchi101 Why, a normal person would ask, would the government OF ANY COUNTRY would want to recognize your face IN THE WOODS?
There has got to be something in the water. It is the sole explanation.
(or in the Jack Daniels).
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:52 am
Why, a normal person would ask, would the government OF ANY COUNTRY would want to recognize your face IN THE WOODS?
There has got to be something in the water. It is the sole explanation.
(or in the Jack Daniels).
Probably the Jack...
by ti-amie Some entitled POS ordered food in this storm.
by mmmm8 To be fair, some people may have not been watching the news and thought it was just normal rain. Still a bit douchy, but not as much. The real culprit is the restaurant manager, imho, for taking the order.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 The Demon Haunted World should be mandatory reading. Together with The Dragons of Eden, it was Sagan's most interesting book in explaining how science is our best protection from obscurantism. Plus, it was the book in which he developed his Bull**** Detection Kit, which needs to be updated to include the nefarious effects of Social Media, but it is still totally valid.
by JazzNU What's up with the cost of air purifiers? Am I missing something? Not understanding why a good deal of them are over $300 (and I don't mean Dyson).
by Deuce It's amazing that this is 'news' today - because it has been so incredibly obvious for a couple of decades, and people have been warned about it.
The harm it does has been obvious, as has the fact that the companies simply don't care, as long as there is money to be made.
That it's being presented as a 'revelation' is just as disturbing as the information itself...
This, together with the recent news of Pete Buttigieg's announcement that he and his husband* had welcomed two children, is a good sign of progress. The news of an openly gay political figure getting married to his same sex partner was unthinkable as little as 20 years ago. Now, it is not even the top headline in your news feed.
I know, I know, I know. There are still plenty of places where this is frowned upon, and there is a lot to do still. Progress does not mean perfect. But it is progress, and it is welcomed.
Off Topic
* Another sentence that was unthinkable 20 years ago.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:11 pm This, together with the recent news of Pete Buttigieg's announcement that he and his husband* had welcomed two children, is a good sign of progress. The news of an openly gay political figure getting married to his same sex partner was unthinkable as little as 20 years ago. Now, it is not even the top headline in your news feed.
Do you know how these things are arranged practically these days? Biologically only one of them could be a father and a mother is still needed. Maybe technology will change it soon, but it's not there yet. A bit easier for two women obviously.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:11 pm This, together with the recent news of Pete Buttigieg's announcement that he and his husband* had welcomed two children, is a good sign of progress. The news of an openly gay political figure getting married to his same sex partner was unthinkable as little as 20 years ago. Now, it is not even the top headline in your news feed.
Do you know how these things are arranged practically these days? Biologically only one of them could be a father and a mother is still needed. Maybe technology will change it soon, but it's not there yet. A bit easier for two women obviously.
There a number of options, but most likely would be: they chose one of them as the biological father, they used a donor egg and a surrogate mother who was inseminated artificially. Because of the artificial insemination the chance of multiple births (i.e. their twins) is higher.
Another option would be using the sperm of both and seeing which one would "take." because the eggs are fertilized before insemination, only one of the potential father's embryos would be used, it would just be nature's/doctors' choice on which are more viable.
Obviously, the other option is adoption, but based on the newborn photos and the fact that they are twins, the above is more likely.
by ponchi101 I should have been more careful with my writing. Buttigieg and husband ADOPTED. They welcome twins, although the process is still ongoing.
You understand my point, anyway. That two openly gay men would be allowed to adopt children was impossible in the very recent past. The sick ideas that homosexual men would adopt children solely for the purpose of pedophiliac intentions would doom any such attempt. Who knows how many children were prevented from going to a loving household simply because of such ideas.
As you say, for women it is easier. I believe there are videos on line to assist women with house-hold fertilizations techniques. All that is needed, apart from some very basic tools, is a friendly donor.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:26 pm
I should have been more careful with my writing. Buttigieg and husband ADOPTED. They welcome twins, although the process is still ongoing.
You understand my point, anyway. That two openly gay men would be allowed to adopt children was impossible in the very recent past. The sick ideas that homosexual men would adopt children solely for the purpose of pedophiliac intentions would doom any such attempt. Who knows how many children were prevented from going to a loving household simply because of such ideas. As you say, for women it is easier. I believe there are videos on line to assist women with house-hold fertilizations techniques. All that is needed, apart from some very basic tools, is a friendly donor.
Not a very safe or doctor-recommended thing AT ALL.
The medical process for women is only slightly simpler in that one of the mothers is likely able/willing to carry the child (one of my best friends and her wife are expecting in October!).
AND MY BAD, looks like Buttigieg and his husband adopted indeed, I hadn't read the follow-up stories about it. It's not quite confirmed, but apparently he talked about being on adoption lists earlier this year.
Not a very safe or doctor-recommended thing AT ALL.
The medical process for women is only slightly simpler in that one of the mothers is likely able/willing to carry the child (one of my best friends and her wife are expecting in October!).
AND MY BAD, looks like Buttigieg and his husband adopted indeed, I hadn't read the follow-up stories about it. It's not quite confirmed, but apparently he talked about being on adoption lists earlier this year.
I'll take your word. Not a subject in which I have spent too much research time
by Suliso
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:23 pm
There a number of options, but most likely would be: they chose one of them as the biological father, they used a donor egg and a surrogate mother who was inseminated artificially. Because of the artificial insemination the chance of multiple births (i.e. their twins) is higher.
I wonder how do they find someone willing to do that. It's not really a pleasant process...
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:23 pm
There a number of options, but most likely would be: they chose one of them as the biological father, they used a donor egg and a surrogate mother who was inseminated artificially. Because of the artificial insemination the chance of multiple births (i.e. their twins) is higher.
I wonder how do they find someone willing to do that. It's not really a pleasant process...
In some countries, including the US (although not all US states), "commercial" surrogacy is legal, meaning women can be paid for this (on top of any medical/personal expenses. Even if commercial surrogacy is not legal, only "altruistic," if done through an agency contract, the intended parents typically pay medical AND MOST LIVING expenses for the mother during the process. So, even in that case, women are likely doing this out of financial need
Then of course there are friends/relatives who I guess agree to do this as a favor. Some women enjoy being pregnant.
(This is among the long list of random info I know from work, since my job is to talk expertly about issues I have basic knowledge about )
by dryrunguy Since it's germane to the current topic...
by ti-amie That entire episode and the follow up are two of their best episodes.
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:23 pm
There a number of options, but most likely would be: they chose one of them as the biological father, they used a donor egg and a surrogate mother who was inseminated artificially. Because of the artificial insemination the chance of multiple births (i.e. their twins) is higher.
I wonder how do they find someone willing to do that. It's not really a pleasant process...
The egg donor portion is a full industry in the US. Finding a surrogate is a harder search, but it's gained greatly in popularity in recent years, it's become fairly common. Finding an ideal match? A bit harder, but generally finding a willing surrogate? Much easier than you're likely thinking.
by Suliso I happen to own a very old pocket watch passed down the family. Story is that it was purchased as a university graduation gift for my grand grandfather by his father about 110 years ago. So I was looking online if I could find something more about it and its maker. It looks exactly like this:
And it was made in the workshops of Pavel Bure who was a Russian watchmaker of Swiss origin and the main supplier of the imperial court.
Perhaps an even more curious part is that this Pavel Bure is a grand grandfather of the famous hockey player Pavel Bure.
by ponchi101 As an admirer of watches: that is a beautiful piece. Obviously manual, which makes it more valuable.
Now you MUST have a kid, to pass it down
by Suliso Actually maybe it's another generation older or perhaps it wasn't purchased new. These watches have serial numbers starting from 1000 produced in 1880 and ending with ca 440,000 in 1917. Mine is a relatively early number of 40,859 and thus according to a table I found must have been produced in 1898. In the last decade of the 19th century they produced 3-5 thousand watches per year there as in the late period just before the revolution it went up to 20,000 pieces. However seems like it was a unified numbering for gold, silver, nickel and steel pocket watches.
Easier to find stuff these days. I don't think my dad knows this.
by Ribbons What a gem of a sentence this is. From the February 12, 1965, issue of Time:
"In its second week of spring and summer showings, Parisian haute couture managed to sashay back to the hip-flask era, blast off into far-outer space, and keep fashion pundits' necks swiveling as if they were covering an inter-aeon Davis Cup match."
(This random bit brought to you because I was looking up Edward Molyneux, a real fashion designer who has a cameo in K.J. Charles's The Sugared Game (part of a 1920s pulp adventure trilogy). And the epilogue to the series mentions young people "playing unseasonal games of tennis so vigorous as to remind" one character that they're now solidly middle-aged. )
by ponchi101 The hip-flask era. A time when no gentleman would be found in the streets without a fine spirit on him.
Then jerks like safety-advisors (uhm) decided that drinking in the office was actually a risk.
by meganfernandez
Ribbons wrote: ↑Sat Sep 18, 2021 1:01 am
What a gem of a sentence this is. From the February 12, 1965, issue of Time:
"In its second week of spring and summer showings, Parisian haute couture managed to sashay back to the hip-flask era, blast off into far-outer space, and keep fashion pundits' necks swiveling as if they were covering an inter-aeon Davis Cup match."
(This random bit brought to you because I was looking up Edward Molyneux, a real fashion designer who has a cameo in K.J. Charles's The Sugared Game (part of a 1920s pulp adventure trilogy). And the epilogue to the series mentions young people "playing unseasonal games of tennis so vigorous as to remind" one character that they're now solidly middle-aged. )
Don't you love coming across tennis in the wild? I always say "tennis is everywhere."
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Sat Sep 18, 2021 12:12 am
Perhaps an even more curious part is that this Pavel Bure is a grand grandfather of the famous hockey player Pavel Bure.
And I assumed this was where this story was heading. Think Valeri probably looks a bit more like the great grandfather than Pavel does.
Great that you were able to find out more about your family heirloom.
by ti-amie I was doing some research for one of my non tennis interests and found out that there is a very famous Icon created by a man named Andrey (Andrei) Rublev who was active in the 14th -15th centuries.
by JazzNU
by JazzNU Don't believe this was posted yet
by ponchi101 Christo and Damien Hirst were the last proof I needed that I know nothing about art. Don't get it.
by mmmm8
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:23 pm
I was doing some research for one of my non tennis interests and found out that there is a very famous Icon created by a man named Andrey (Andrei) Rublev who was active in the 14th -15th centuries.
Yup, he's the most famous icon painter and especially well-known after his life was a subject of a 1966 film named "Andrey Rublev" by one of the Soviet master directors, Andrey Tarkovsky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Rublev_(film)). It usually appears on film critics' "best of 20th century" lists.
If you want to go down a rabbit hole, the screenwriter of that film comes from a prominent artistic family and mostly wrote/directed art films or dramas, but he also worked in the US for a while and directed Tango and Cash, his brother won an Oscar for a film about Stalinism but is now a Putin ally, and their father was a prominent children's writer that also wrote the lyrics to the Soviet anthem.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 19, 2021 3:31 pm
Christo and Damien Hirst were the last proof I needed that I know nothing about art. Don't get it.
Think you probably just don't like large scale public installations and art about death (shocking!). Appreciating some, but not all of art doesn't mean you don't get the medium as a whole. Art, like, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This is not one of the better installations from them imho.
Think you probably just don't like large scale public installations and art about death (shocking!). Appreciating some, but not all of art doesn't mean you don't get the medium as a whole. Art, like, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This is not one of the better installations from them imho.
Art about death. In Venezuela there used to be a newspaper/tabloid called "Cronica Policial" (easy enough to need translation). It was basically 30 odd pages of gore and police stories, but REAL ones. It was rather graphic, too.
One day I went to the National Art Gallery and they had an exhibition about a rather unknown artist. I walked in and noticed that there were very few people there. I started to check the pieces and then it hit me. This guy was taking shots from Cronica Policial and turning them into large pieces, where the color red was prevalent. His depictions of blood and mutilations were a bit too much; that was the reason people were not there (it was too much for some). I felt it was sublime. It was gory indeed, but it was also artistic.
Long story to say that I mind not one bit art about death. For all my money, if we could only save one painting by Goya, it would be Saturn devouring his son. And Hyeronimous Bosch is a favorite.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie I would've packed up his stuff and had it waiting for him on the sidewalk.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Sep 20, 2021 10:48 pm
I would've packed up his stuff and had it waiting for him on the sidewalk.
Minus $3k worth of his belongings before putting it on the street. Sneaky bastard doesn't get to keep that.
by ponchi101 They declare you HUSBAND AND WIFE, not HUSBAND AND WIFE INC. You got married, not issued an IPO.
Two things that married people should never share: bank accounts, and the bathroom.
by ti-amie This is a bit tricky.
by ti-amie Sit her in with the kids or the friends of friends table.
She would not be in my wedding party at all.
by MJ2004
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:15 am
Two things that married people should never share: bank accounts, and the bathroom.
Sorry, nope, can't agree with you on bank accounts. Barring second marriages or people coming in already with large sums of money and keeping that separate, I do believe in couples setting up joint accounts and fully sharing everything. This assumes both parties are sane and without criminal tendencies. Everyone is different and it may not work for all, but I would never unequivocally say that married people shouldn't share bank accounts.
Agree with you on bathrooms.
by ti-amie I agree with ponchi. Have a household account where both contribute and then each person is free to spend their money as they see fit. If one stops contributing to the household account then there are issues.
by dmforever I don't have a Reddit account or even know if you need one, but I read these two and then took a big scary blind jump down that rabbit hole. I really have no words for some of these people. Human beings can be truly horrible. Thanks?
Sorry, nope, can't agree with you on bank accounts. Barring second marriages or people coming in already with large sums of money and keeping that separate, I do believe in couples setting up joint accounts and fully sharing everything. This assumes both parties are sane and without criminal tendencies. Everyone is different and it may not work for all, but I would never unequivocally say that married people shouldn't share bank accounts.
Agree with you on bathrooms.
I did not say NOT share expenses. That is the opposite. You should share all expenses, not to the point of keeping a running Excel sheet, but in a relationship where both partners bring in an income, a proper spread of expenses is the fair way to go. Things like "you pay HULU, I pay NETFLIX".
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:47 am
I agree with ponchi. Have a household account where both contribute and then each person is free to spend their money as they see fit. If one stops contributing to the household account then there are issues.
This would be my way of going.
---0---
The cancer case. That was very harsh from the sister. But, not inviting your family to your wedding is basically burning that bridge which, for people in the 20's, will be a long time of a life without family.
Of course, if the younger sister were to apologize, it would be so easy.
by JazzNU I like the NAH or NTA BUT responses on the sister wedding one, that's more what I'm thinking there. Don't think the sister that doesn't want to accept the apology is fully thinking through everything and is hanging on to this mistake with a death grip. If she wants to hold on that tight, then so be it, but she should really think through how she wants the rest of her life to go past the wedding. For me, both sisters have shown their immaturity in this scenario.
by JazzNU A designer I follow had this in his IG Stories and it is, by far, the most attractive view I've seen of the Arc de Triomphe in the Christo installation. Made me appreciate what I think they were going for much more than I had on the previous views. So just in case it helps others, I thought I'd share. Use the arrow to see different shots, including ones taken at night with the city lights.
by skatingfan I don't get it.
by JazzNU
by Suliso Somewhere in UK...
by ponchi101 If it only were not true...
by ponchi101 I have been thinking about this "problem" for a while now, and I believe that the collective brain power of TAT2.0 may help me.
As you may know, I am surrounded by the psychoanalytical profession. Those in my family that are NOT analysts are being analyzed (I am an exception). During one conversation with one of the analyzed, I explained some of the points why I do not believe in this methodology. One of my problems with psychoanalysis is the well documented unreliability of human memory; many experiments have proven that implanting or distorting memories is very easy to do and therefore, if the process of psychoanalysis is fundamentally based on recollection of memories and their analyses but, if such memories are actually not based on facts or real events, the entire process, to me, is bogus a best, charlatanerie at worst.*
My kin replied that it did not matter. Even if the memories are false, they are what you have and therefore their analysis is worthy. I found that reply interesting, although I have a feeling that it is wrong. If a memory is false and it induces psychiatric issues, the best way to get rid of these consequences, to me, would be to determine if the recollections are indeed false and, if so, declare them as such and take away the foundation of the issue. Of course, psychoanalysis is incapable of doing this (there are no processes inherent to the discipline to make this differentiation) and therefore, ALL memories, false or real, are treated as reliable information to be analyzed. No wonder (I say) that psychoanalysis goes on for years.
My question is: how do you refute the argument? To me, it is akin to saying that you will study and analyze any physical signal, regardless of its origin, without checking if the detecting apparatus is indeed working properly or generating noise by itself (i.e. the signal does not exist, the observed phenomenon is the result of a faulty machine). For example: my older sister once asked me to go with her to one of her sessions (her psychologist's idea) and, after she had talked for a while, the analyst looked at my face and asked me what was wrong. I had to admit: what my sister was talking about, I had no memories of (she was talking about our childhood life). So either she was making it up, or I had blocked it (the fact that I had not been paying attention at those events was not discussed).
Off Topic
* It is ONE of my doubts about the craft. I have others.
by mmmm8 I 100% agree with your "analyzed" family member. I think you're looking at it from an overly pragmatic stance. But therapy / psychology treats the emotional and the subconscious not the physical (Psychiatry is more oriented towards that, although not totally).Yes, finding out something you believe happened didn't could potentially free one from some sort of pressure, but it won't change the feelings and patterns they developed subconsciously because they believed it.
What I really don't understand from people who "refuse to believe" in psychoanalysis and/or actively try to refute it is why? What's the harm of other people benefitting from it (except potentially the cost), or even you trying it, if you think it does nothing. It's not like it's potentially dangerous and powerful like organized religion.
by dmforever I also agree with your family member. My younger brother and I grew up in exactly the same home with exactly the same parents and yet our memories and experiences of our childhoods, for various reasons, are wildly different. In many cases, perception = happen. I know that it may sound a little wonky, but it was actually a big "a hah" moment for me when I understood this. I will support you in that such analysis, or results from it, would have to be examined very carefully if used in a criminal case or something in which someone might be held responsible for perceived behavior, but as far as how it affects the person's psyche, it's totally valid. And as mmmm8 says, it seems like if someone is interested in figuring themself out better, why not?
Kevin
by ti-amie My remaining siblings and I all have different memories of our childhood because as adults we found out that our parents treated the then four of us differently. I watched the Friday night fights with my Dad as well as baseball. My younger sister remembers him taking her to church services with her. My brother, may he rest in peace, was supposed to go visit a relative with him the day after he died. I've never had a chance to talk with my other sister since she has been partially incapacitated by a stroke.
I don't think that that alone negates therapy. I think that people have to be very careful in choosing who they choose though. There was a recent example in my extended family that someone who is supposed to be a trained analyst has such deep issues of her own that she in no way should be working with other people.
What I really don't understand from people who "refuse to believe" in psychoanalysis and/or actively try to refute it is why? What's the harm of other people benefitting from it (except potentially the cost), or even you trying it, if you think it does nothing. It's not like it's potentially dangerous and powerful like organized religion.
Txs for your post. I find it interesting.
Why refute psychoanalysis? For the same reason you want to refute homeopathy. Of crystal power. Or any other practice that in reality provides no curative benefits. If the entire premise of psychoanalysis, to the point of Freud's partition of the mind is incorrect, that area of research may be involving considerable effort that will achieve very little, because the foundation is incorrect and not based on reality.
About its potential dangers. Some classical psychoanalytical processes claim that sexual issues, which originally for them included sexual orientation, arise from conflicts that are really not there. I find this problematic, even if it has been corrected since (now accepted just as sexual orientation, not an "issue"). I also find that the edifice of parental relation regarding the children is wrong, as when it claims the theory of Oedipus/Elektra complexes, confusing child affection to his/her parent with a position that I believe is sick (sexual attraction to the parent).
Still gotta think more about this
by dryrunguy Question... How are we defining psychoanalysis? And how, if at all, is it different from mental health treatment (using DSM-V criteria, which I know is a separate discussion/can of worms all in itself)?
by ponchi101 I am talking about psychotherapy that only involves, for lack of a better description, talking to a therapist, with the possibility that if such a therapist is a licensed MD, you can receive medication. In several cases, as for example, my brother in law, who is a licensed psychologist, he can't medicate and his method is simply conversational (which the therapy that I have doubts with).
The DSM is indeed one of the reasons I do not trust the craft. Symptoms are, on many diagnoses, multifaceted. It can be that you suffer from insomnia, or you sleep too much. You lose your appetite, or you indulge in binging. You never call a parent, or you can't make the slightest decision without consulting them. I always say: so, which is it?
Can of worms freshly opened, sir
by dmforever
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:18 pm
I am talking about psychotherapy that only involves, for lack of a better description, talking to a therapist, with the possibility that if such a therapist is a licensed MD, you can receive medication. In several cases, as for example, my brother in law, who is a licensed psychologist, he can't medicate and his method is simply conversational (which the therapy that I have doubts with).
The DSM is indeed one of the reasons I do not trust the craft. Symptoms are, on many diagnoses, multifaceted. It can be that you suffer from insomnia, or you sleep too much. You lose your appetite, or you indulge in binging. You never call a parent, or you can't make the slightest decision without consulting them. I always say: so, which is it?
Can of worms freshly opened, sir
I will only say that my experience with psychotherapy is vastly different from what you described. So maybe a lot depends on the individual client, therapist, and how they work together. If all I knew of psychotherapy were what you described, I would have exactly the same opinion that you do.
Kevin
by JazzNU Huh. That was not the answer I was expecting and not how I was interpreting the arguments being made. Good question @dry.
by ponchi101 Are we talking about two different things? If maybe this makes it a bit clearer: I am talking about psychoanalysis that can be held via SKYPE, and which I see more and more being used.
Psycho-facetime, if I may.
by dmforever
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:33 pm
Are we talking about two different things? If maybe this makes it a bit clearer: I am talking about psychoanalysis that can be held via SKYPE, and which I see more and more being used.
Psycho-facetime, if I may.
I"m sure there are people here who know much more about this than I do, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know, the method of how a client interacts with a therapist/psychologist/psychoanalyst doesn't differentiate it or define it. Psychoanalysis could be done in person or via Zoom/Skype or on the phone. From my limited understanding, the framework from which the doctor works and the types of focuses (I just can't use the word foci, sorry) that the discussions have make something psychotherapy, which is very different from other forms of therapy.
Kevin
by dryrunguy Okay. I am not sure where to start.
I will say this. I benefited greatly from seeing a therapist in my mid-twenties. That was when my therapist helped me develop what she called a "toolbox" for dealing with the struggles I was experiencing at the time. That "toolbox" is something I still use to this day.
In the mental health arena, "psychoanalysis", which is a term I haven't heard in ages upon ages, can take many forms. There's therapy (or psychotherapy), talk therapy, peer-to-peer support, etc. I supposed AA and NA fall into this category as well, though who leads the group, and their qualifications to lead such a group, can vary.
There's also a big difference between the "worried well" (people are really doing fine for the most part but don't have a specific diagnosis--they just want someone to talk to because they have no one in their personal lives where they feel comfortable talking about what they are feeling) and people who are seeking treatment for a specific diagnosis where evidence suggests therapy, talk therapy, etc., have evidence-based medical efficacy for some folks (but not everyone).
Then you have those dealing with addiction (whether alcohol, drugs, or whatever). Many of these folks will start their treatment journey with a primary care professional who uses SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) techniques, which includes Motivational Interviewing techniques, to assess a person's readiness to enact behavior change and seek treatment from a behavioral health professional upon referral, which can include talk therapy, etc. For severe addictions such as opioids, this can involve medication assisted treatment (MAT).
Then there's the difference between seeing a psychologist (who typically engage in therapy, talk therapy, etc.) and a psychiatrist (an MD who can prescribe medication if DSM-V diagnostic criteria are met [sorry to mention DSM-V again]). For the record, the vast majority of psychiatrists I have encountered in my professional life, with the notable exception of the psychiatrist I wrote speeches for and coordinated media interviews for when I worked for the federal Center for Mental Health Services [Bernard Arons, MD], have been frightening people.
Then you have the people living with serious and persistent mental illness, who are typically treated with a combination of therapy, talk therapy, etc., and medication. Some of these folks can live independently in the community with sufficient supports. Others cannot. Some require institutional settings.
So, again, when I read the term "psychoanalysis", which again is a term I have not seen used in a very long time, and see it lumped within a singular category in terms of medical efficacy and evidence, that's a little worrisome.
That said, I will agree there are A LOT of bad therapists out there who are more concerned with stringing clients along for as long as possible without trying to reach a real, achievable, and client-focused treatment objective.
And then there are people like my brother, a therapist, who are perfectly comfortable and empowered to say to a client, "I'm not the right person to help you" or "You may not believe it at this moment, but you really don't need me anymore."
by Deuce I am fascinated by psychology... but I have little faith in most psychoanalyses.
The reason for this is because I find that the psychological professions (psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis, etc.) try to mimic their physical counterparts. By this, I mean that they try to make it into an exact science.
While my broken arm will heal pretty much the same way as your broken arm, the same is not true of psychological wounds or problems. This is because, with respect to obvious differences owing to gender, we are all extremely similar in our physical construction - but we are very different in our psychological make-up. Part of the differences are genetic - but most, I believe, are owing to our different experiences in life. These experiences go a long way to forming our identity, or ‘personality’, or ‘character’. And I feel that the psychological professions treat psychological issues as if there is a blueprint which applies to everyone; as if there are universal solutions to given problems, and if the ‘patient’ doesn’t respond positively to the ‘remedy’, the patient is blamed for not making the proper effort.
In short, physical medicine is an exact science - because our physical wounds heal the same way. But psychology is not an exact science - not even close... but it is treated as if it is.
I believe that the psychology based professions can be quite dangerous, and so possess the potential to do great harm - in that there is obviously a significant hierarchy involved. The relationship between ‘doctor’ and ‘patient’ is not an equal one: the latter goes to the former for answers and solutions, and so will take whatever the doctor says as gospel. The doctor delves into his DSM book - regarded as the blueprint of psychological problems - and comes up with what can only be described as a universal solution. But there are no universal solutions in psychology - because we are all so very different, and our life experiences - which mold us - are so very different!
The doctor and patient are almost always complete strangers to each other - and so what qualifies the doctor to help a complete stranger with their psychological issues? I maintain that to provide such help, one needs to know and understand the other person intimately - which I do not believe can be accomplished within the very restrictive ‘relationship’ of doctor - patient, in which there are persistent time limitations, as well as a significant financial reward for one party given by the other party. This is the definition of an unequal and unbalanced relationship. Because the patient is almost always desperate for answers and solutions, and the doctor passes him/her self off as an ‘expert’ in matters of the workings of the mind, the patient is likely to follow any advice the doctor gives, no matter how absurd or damaging it may be. Blind trust is a dangerous thing. But the reality is that these therapists are not perfect people. They possess flaws, as well - sometimes very significant ones which influence their perceptions and judgments. And so to blindly trust a therapist simply because he/she claims to be an ‘expert’ is a very dangerous path upon which to embark.
In the past 25 years or so, there has been a massive increase in ‘diagnoses’ of children by the psychiatric profession. It began with what they called ‘learning disabilities’. Then came things like Attention Deficit Disorder, and ADHD... And, of course, the drugging of children naturally followed.
For several years, I worked with children who were so diagnosed, and I found it disgusting. It is a profession which adores labels. Labels can be damaging - especially to children. Imagine what it does to a child to be labelled to have a mental ‘disorder’ or ‘disability’ or ‘disease’. The kids were mere guinea pigs...
There was one 6 year old girl I was brought in to work with because she was ‘disturbing her grade 1 class’. On my first day with her, I was given a colouring book, crayons, and scissors and sent to a separate room, where it would be only the child and I. I was told by the teacher “Be careful with the scissors - she likes to stab people with them.” I simply smiled and said “That won’t be a problem.” And it never was in the 2 years I worked with her. I never had any problems with her. She was a wonderful child - but if you listened to the teachers and psychologists, etc., you’d think she was the devil incarnate. She had psychologists, psychiatrist, neurologists, ‘behaviour modification therapists’ (a horrible title), guidance counsellors, and teachers all trying to ‘fix’ her, with those who could prescribe pills doing so every 2 weeks, in an effort to find the ‘right’ pill that would make her fit into the box that they desperately wanted her to fit in. I told them all “STOP! Stop trying to fix her - she’s not broken! She is a wonderful and beautiful child who only acts out because you’re all pawing at her and trying to get her to be what you want her to be. I never have any problems with her - because I treat her with respect, and I enjoy who she is, without trying to change her. It’s up to YOU to adapt to her, not the other way around!”
Some people believe that many of the so-called ‘learning disabilities’ that children are ‘diagnosed’ with are in fact teaching disabilities... and that, when a subject which interests the child is presented in a compelling manner, the ‘learning disabilities’ and ‘attention deficits’ suddenly vanish. Count me as one of the believers in this theory. I’ve seen it played out.
Obviously, I’m only scratching the surface of the subject here - a proper discussion would take weeks, at least.
For anyone interested in psychology, I suggest the following books: ‘Toxic Psychiatry’ by Peter Breggin... ‘The Myth of Mental Illness’ - or any other book by American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Thomas Szasz... ‘Against Therapy’ and ‘Final Analysis: The Making and Unmaking of a Psychoanalyst’ by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (former director of the Freud Archives).
by dryrunguy Sorry, one other thing about technology assisted care, which includes the delivery of behavioral health services via technology, what other choice have people had during the age of COVID? Technology assisted care has been a mainstay in delivering behavioral health services for people in remote, rural areas for a long time. Many people and many communities do not have a local behavioral health provider. Technology assisted care is the only option available.
COVID exacerbated that reality.
I would stop short of saying technology assisted care in the behavioral health arena cannot be effective. But it is definitely limited. E.g., there's a big difference between being able to talk to a person face-to-face, only face-to-face, and not seeing that person's whole body, e.g., legs crossed, arms crossed, etc.) So while technology assisted care may be imperfect, for some populations, that's all they have at their disposal because of logistical, pandemic-specific, or broader health care access issues.
In case it's useful, there's a network, Project ECHO, that for years has been dedicated to telemedicine delivery in hardly reached communities, including behavioral health: https://hsc.unm.edu/echo/embedded-conte ... ns-us.html. The company I work for has been a partner of Project ECHO for about 5 years or so.
by JazzNU I agree with @dry where I haven't heard the word psychoanalysis in a long while. Therapy, whether conducted by a therapist, psychologist, or a psychiatrist, isn't necessarily psychoanalysis and the differences in the degrees each person holds with their title doesn't necessarily change their therapy approach. Every level of study uses the DSM V (I always want to say DSM IV).
Unless the terminology has changed in more recent years, entirely possible since again, haven't heard it in a while, here psychoanalysis is a more intensive therapy that deals with Freud's teachings to work toward correcting more abnormal behavior. So a lot of focus on getting in touch with the unconscious - repressed memories and the like, delving into childhood many times. Freud type things.
Now I believe the word can be and has been used more generally in the last couple of decades and what the person is trying to convey by using that term is that they are in intensive therapy occurring several times a week vs the more common once a week therapy appointment.
Also, just an FYI, I'm sure it differs from country to country, but standard practice in the US is that if you undergo therapy and are being treated by a therapist or a psychologist, you are supposed to have a psychiatric consult early on in that process where the MD evaluates you and determines if you are in need of medication as part of your treatment. This is definitely not always followed even in the US, I would guess this is especially the case with independent psychologists, but if you're part of a hospital network for instance, it's the standard practice that is followed while getting treatment.
by dryrunguy After thinking about it more, I probably approached this discussion incorrectly. So I'll shift gears.
Ponchi, if you have a friend or family member who says, "I'm thinking about taking my own life," or "I'm thinking about blowing up a government building," or "I'm thinking about killing my ex," and if you don't subscribe to the DSM-V or anything that falls within the category of what you would call "psychoanalytics"....
What would you suggest your friend or family member do as a prevention/mitigation/intervention strategy?
by Deuce There is no general or universal answer/solution... It is entirely dependent upon the make-up/history of the person making the threat, the make-up/history of the person intervening, and the nature and depth and history of the relationship between the two parties.
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 1:11 am
After thinking about it more, I probably approached this discussion incorrectly. So I'll shift gears.
Ponchi, if you have a friend or family member who says, "I'm thinking about taking my own life," or "I'm thinking about blowing up a government building," or "I'm thinking about killing my ex," and if you don't subscribe to the DSM-V or anything that falls within the category of what you would call "psychoanalytics"....
What would you suggest your friend or family member do as a prevention/mitigation/intervention strategy?
On the last two, is alerting the authorities an option?
Maybe a few less charged examples for @ponchi to consider unless he prefers those (cause that's a lot to take on) -
You have a very active friend that is always doing something, always social. Let's say one of your tennis buddies, who hasn't shown up to play in months and who you discover has barely left the house, because they've fallen into a depression and isn't acting like themselves as you've known them to be the last 15 years of your friendship.
Another one could be your hypothetical sister who is a social being that loves to be around people. You visit her one day and she is out of sorts, sitting in the dark, tells you she doesn't want company even though she invited you over and to leave her alone ad don't come back. When you see her the next week, she's feeling great, looking great, and you find out she just went out on the town with friends had a great night, drinking, dancing, staying out all night enjoying life. But when you see her the next week, you notice she's down again, doesn't want anyone around and isn't looking all that put together and she always looks great. You notice this pattern or something similar for a few months, it seems to be on rinse and repeat. Sometimes she's up, and when she is, she's maybe a bit too up, bordering on reckless, and when she's down, you're concerned about her well being because she seems nothing like herself, out of it in a way you're not familiar seeing her.
by ponchi101 As always, very thoughtful comments.
But my question was: if the memories you recall ARE FALSE, would that make a difference in your therapy? That is what I have doubts about.
What I really don't understand from people who "refuse to believe" in psychoanalysis and/or actively try to refute it is why? What's the harm of other people benefitting from it (except potentially the cost), or even you trying it, if you think it does nothing. It's not like it's potentially dangerous and powerful like organized religion.
Txs for your post. I find it interesting.
Why refute psychoanalysis? For the same reason you want to refute homeopathy. Of crystal power. Or any other practice that in reality provides no curative benefits. If the entire premise of psychoanalysis, to the point of Freud's partition of the mind is incorrect, that area of research may be involving considerable effort that will achieve very little, because the foundation is incorrect and not based on reality.
About its potential dangers. Some classical psychoanalytical processes claim that sexual issues, which originally for them included sexual orientation, arise from conflicts that are really not there. I find this problematic, even if it has been corrected since (now accepted just as sexual orientation, not an "issue"). I also find that the edifice of parental relation regarding the children is wrong, as when it claims the theory of Oedipus/Elektra complexes, confusing child affection to his/her parent with a position that I believe is sick (sexual attraction to the parent).
Still gotta think more about this
I think the mental health profession has largely moved on considerably from Freud, at least in terms of where the analysis leads, if not some of the tactics of talk therapy
Moreover, unlike homeopathy, there are clear, well-documented strong positive results from therapy.
by mmmm8 So, I HAVE heard the term psychoanalysis recently, from a psychologist with a PhD (not my therapist). But the definition is really quite loose now, essentially now it refers to the style of therapy/discussion used to arrive at helping people understand where they fit according to an approach used in psychology preferred by the therapist or person.
I find all of this quite fascinating and like the science behind it. Dry gave a great overview of what the spectrum of mental health issues and treatment looks like.
While psychology is not an exact science (psychiatry is more exact), I think about it kind of like physical therapy. Kinesiology is not really an exact science either, everybody's bodies are different and react differently to different manipulations/treatment. You can also find amazing physical therapists (I recently had a very bad back pain while on vacation and the random lady I went to fixed it completely in one session) and really bad ones (a professional masseur once gave me bruises for weeks).
Meanwhile, now that mental health issues are being measured, it's clear what a huge impact this has. 42% of Americans reported mental health issues last year. Even before COVID, something like 1 in 4 British people reported suffering from mental health issues at any one time (stats I know for work...).
by Suliso I'd be interested to know how we (I mean people reporting them) define mental health issues. Has that changed over the years? Did it actually go up from 25% before covid to 42% now or does that reflect differences between UK and USA?
This from a guy who has never met any psychologists etc., not even in a social setting...
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:49 pm
I'd be interested to know how we (I mean people reporting them) define mental health issues. Has that changed over the years? Did it actually go up from 25% before covid to 42% now or does that reflect differences between UK and USA?
This from a guy who has never met any psychologists etc., not even in a social setting...
I think COVID showed a REAL spike. I can tell you that just from my job where I had clients start telling me about their own mental health issues or their employee coming to HR with mental health issues.
But over the years, yes, I think the self-reporting changed. People are more open about mental health issues and not "embarrassed" to report them AND are more aware and can recognize them.
That's why you have such high numbers in a country like the UK, but when you go to some Asian countries where mental illness (and, often, illness in general) is stigmatized, the self-reporting is much lower. You also see higher numbers reported by younger people.
It's interesting that you haven't met therapists because there's a global shortage of mental health professionals!
(But you didn't have a mental health evaluation in school as a kid? we had a mandatory one around 5th or 6th grade in Russia)
I think the mental health profession has largely moved on considerably from Freud, at least in terms of where the analysis leads, if not some of the tactics of talk therapy
Moreover, unlike homeopathy, there are clear, well-documented strong positive results from therapy.
In some parts of the world. The two countries where I see more of this, Vennieland and Argentina, have devoted Freudians and Jungians. That is the sort of methodology that I find dubious, precisely because some new techniques are available.
As I just violated the rules of this forum and hijacked this topic. And I am serious here.
What are mental issues? I will give a personal example of something that I think is NOT one. I am going through a very rough time with the unemployment thing. It really is looking worse and worse. That is creating a lot of anguish, and by now I am showing some signs. My sleeping pattern is all out of whack, I am a bit more irritable, I am not feeling well. But, to me, that is NOT a mental issue; there is a verifiable reason, and I believe a valid one, why I am feeling this way. I have no work, and it is not a personal thing, it is my entire industry fading away (CC issues will do us in soon enough). So I wonder, what are mental issues? Are this, by definition, unstable feelings for which there are NO signs of origin?
I know I am the worrying, pessimistic kind, but if there are REAL reasons, I ask myself: is it a health issue? I say no; there is a tractable line of why the feelings are there. So, my question is serious: is there a definition of what a mental issue is? Or, as when people joke, is it just a rich lady that claims depression because her collection of hats got lost in transit?
EDIT. I did not see Suliso's post, basically asking the same question. My apologies.
by Suliso
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:59 pm
It's interesting that you haven't met therapists because there's a global shortage of mental health professionals!
(But you didn't have a mental health evaluation in school as a kid? we had a mandatory one around 5th or 6th grade in Russia)
I don't think so. Or at least I don't remember...
by dryrunguy In the U.S. federal government, there are two agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dedicated to mental health and mental illness--the National Institute of Mental Health (part of the National Institutes of Health [NIH] and is focused on biomedical research on mental illness) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which focused on public sector mental health and substance use/misuse service systems.
Both have definitions of mental illness (which would include "mental health issues") that largely overlap. Here is the text from the SAMHSA website:
Mental health and substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life and all age groups. These illnesses are common, recurrent, and often serious, but they are treatable and many people do recover. Mental disorders involve changes in thinking, mood, and/or behavior. These disorders can affect how we relate to others and make choices. Reaching a level that can be formally diagnosed often depends on a reduction in a person’s ability to function as a result of the disorder. For example:
--Serious mental illness is defined by someone over 18 having (within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
--For people under the age of 18, the term “Serious Emotional Disturbance” refers to a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year, which resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child’s role or functioning in family, school, or community activities.
--Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.
The coexistence of both a mental health and a substance use disorder is referred to as co-occurring disorders. The National Institute for Mental Health’s Mental Health Information page has information about specific conditions and disorders as well as their symptoms.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 4:57 pm
What are mental issues? I will give a personal example of something that I think is NOT one. I am going through a very rough time with the unemployment thing. It really is looking worse and worse. That is creating a lot of anguish, and by now I am showing some signs. My sleeping pattern is all out of whack, I am a bit more irritable, I am not feeling well. But, to me, that is NOT a mental issue; there is a verifiable reason, and I believe a valid one, why I am feeling this way. I have no work, and it is not a personal thing, it is my entire industry fading away (CC issues will do us in soon enough). So I wonder, what are mental issues? Are this, by definition, unstable feelings for which there are NO signs of origin?
I know I am the worrying, pessimistic kind, but if there are REAL reasons, I ask myself: is it a health issue? I say no; there is a tractable line of why the feelings are there. So, my question is serious: is there a definition of what a mental issue is? Or, as when people joke, is it just a rich lady that claims depression because her collection of hats got lost in transit?
Just trying to keep up here. Do you feel that if there's a verifiable reason to explain certain feelings you are having that they are not a mental health issue? Here's another example to consider if your own is too difficult to evaluate more objectively for this discussion. If a woman is pregnant and miscarries. Would you then consider the depression she experiences after the miscarriage not what you would classify as a mental health issue because the reasons for being depressed are easily traced? If so, how do you typically view and classify these feelings and struggles?
by dryrunguy Now, regarding Ponchi's scenario...
What you describe probably does not meet diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder. What a mental health professional would do is probably talk to you about your situation and then ask you a series of questions about how those feelings have affected your behavior and your daily functioning. Sleep habits, mood, etc., would almost certainly fit in there somewhere. But to get a diagnosis, depending on the diagnostic instrument used, you have to meet a certain number of criteria based on the number of measures included in the instrument (e.g., 5 of 10, or 7 of 10, etc.). A mental health professional also may use additional diagnostic instruments for diagnosing other disorders.
It doesn't sound to me like you need to run to a mental health professional.
But there would be nothing wrong if you did.
The most important thing is that you're asking the question. It speaks a lot that you're even aware of how this ongoing challenge has affected you. The awareness of that alone will help you to keep monitoring it over time, especially if you start to notice other things happening in your life, e.g., a change in eating habits or appetite, self-medicating, loss of pleasure in things you once enjoyed, etc.
A lot of people seek out a mental health professional when they probably don't really need it. And yes, some less-than-reputable mental health professionals will manufacture a diagnoses to get your health insurance reimbursements and co-pays.
The bigger concern is when someone needs help, especially a child, but people don't seek help. "Not my child!" And the reason why that is so critically important when it comes to kids is the strong relationship between the onset of a serious emotional disturbance and the increased risk for the onset of a subsequent substance use disorder. A study of adolescents completed by the University of Michigan back in the 1990s found that, among adolescents with a substance use disorder, an undiagnosed serious emotional disturbance preceded the substance use disorder by about 5 years.
And then there's the issue of stigma. National prevalence data clearly show that mental disorders are far more prevalent among women than men. That's not because women are more at risk of developing a mental disorder; that's the product of men refusing to get help because of stigma, skewed views of masculinity, etc. Data also show that racial and ethnic minorities are significantly less likely to seek help than their white counterparts. (And there are some good reasons for that, too. Among children and adolescents, for example, white kids back in the day were more likely to get certain types of "soft" diagnoses while Black and Latino kids more typically got slapped with a conduct disorder diagnosis.)
It's complicated stuff. But I'm really glad we're talking about it and that folks are asking questions. Because far too many people in positions of influence are quick to hear someone's problem and jump to, "Oh, you need Jesus!" or "Dude, you just need to 'man up'".
by JazzNU
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:59 pm
But over the years, yes, I think the self-reporting changed. People are more open about mental health issues and not "embarrassed" to report them AND are more aware and can recognize them.
That's why you have such high numbers in a country like the UK, but when you go to some Asian countries where mental illness (and, often, illness in general) is stigmatized, the self-reporting is much lower. You also see higher numbers reported by younger people.
Just to add to this, in the US, there's been a concerted effort to get men to be more open to identifying and being willing to get help for their mental health problems. We have identifiable issues, the number of daily suicides among service members and/or veterans, alcoholism and drug addiction in men, suicide and depression being a higher cause of death, the mass shooters being mostly young men. So there's just an overall effort to address toxic masculinity. Are there always mental health issues playing a part to all of this? No. But many times, yes.
Just trying to keep up here. Do you feel that if there's a verifiable reason to explain certain feelings you are having that they are not a mental health issue? Here's another example to consider if your own is too difficult to evaluate more objectively for this discussion. If a woman is pregnant and miscarries. Would you then consider the depression she experiences after the miscarriage not what you would classify as a mental health issue because the reasons for being depressed are easily traced? If so, how do you typically view and classify these feelings and struggles?
You mention one very good example against my opinion. I would not deny that a woman going through that scenario AND developing depression is justifiable, but that is because the event is NOT totally reasonable. Every parent (and here I would include the father) expects a pregnancy to reach a happy conclusion, and the expected "return" (a child) is too precious for its "non arrival" to be taken lightly. That case is indeed exceptional.
(And please, understand that I feel I am at the limit of vocabulary. I know that my phrasing sounds rather mercantilistic, which is not appropriate. But I am at a loss for proper words).
But, for example. The death of an elderly parent is very painful. But, IF ELDERLY, that is the normal flow of life. SADNESS is obviously expected and reasonable, but DEPRESSION is something that could be questioned and perhaps would not need therapy (loving support, indeed).
@Dry. Thanks for the definitions. Gotta think about them.
by JazzNU So, is it more about having a quality of the unexpected to you? That an unexpected life occurrence is different than a more customary or expected one? You mention that therapy for depression after the loss of a parent when elderly being called into question. Do you consider the same of a parent that loses a child? Or is that like the pregnancy to you, where parents always expect to outlive their kids so depression after the loss of one is a more exceptional case?
And serious question here @Ponchi. Have you ever taken a step back to consider that you are exceptionally mentally strong and can deal with life's struggles better and healthier than others?
And by the way, we've told you a million times how exceptional your English is, but to be clear, you're not remotely at the limit of your vocabulary, when you casually slide in mercantilistic in the next sentence!
by Deuce
Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:49 pm
I'd be interested to know how we (I mean people reporting them) define mental health issues. Has that changed over the years? Did it actually go up from 25% before covid to 42% now or does that reflect differences between UK and USA?
This from a guy who has never met any psychologists etc., not even in a social setting...
I don't think that anyone can honestly deny that the definition of what constitutes a 'mental health issue' has significantly widened and broadened over the last 30 years or so.
Think of all of the children diagnosed with 'ADD' and 'ADHD' over that period (here in North America, at least) - the great majority of whom are prescribed pills -, as just one example of this.
That the broader, more all-encompassing definition also puts more money in the pockets of those working in the mental health profession is not at all a co-incidence in my view. The more people who are classified as 'sick' to some degree, the more business it creates...
by ponchi101
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 1:25 am
So, is it more about having a quality of the unexpected to you? That an unexpected life occurrence is different than a more customary or expected one? You mention that therapy for depression after the loss of a parent when elderly being called into question. Do you consider the same of a parent that loses a child? Or is that like the pregnancy to you, where parents always expect to outlive their kids so depression after the loss of one is a more exceptional case?
And serious question here @Ponchi. Have you ever taken a step back to consider that you are exceptionally mentally strong and can deal with life's struggles better and healthier than others?
And by the way, we've told you a million times how exceptional your English is, but to be clear, you're not remotely at the limit of your vocabulary, when you casually slide in mercantilistic in the next sentence!
Believe me. You know me via a medium in which I enjoy vert much an interaction. Were this to be live, mentally strong would never be a quality that you would assign me.
Remember that I said, earlier in the topic, that I do not like to use myself (or single anecdotes) as examples. It is bad statistics. So, even if I were to really be strong, I clearly understand that that sample of one is not proper. Which is the reason I am asking. Were I one of those people that are always, invariably right, I would have made up my mind on this subject, issue my dictum, and disregard anybody else's opinion.
But, coming back to my original question. My doubt comes from that opinion that, even if memories are faulty, the therapy is worth it. I am not doubting that people may have issues, individually, but I wonder if these processes of therapy are the correct ones. Obviously, processes in the past (usually tied to religious ritual such as confession and penance) were not satisfying either, but if a process which cannot tell whether the source of the mental health issue is factual, I have doubts about it.
You again bring forth another extreme example which, I don't think, can be denied is one of the most tragic events in the lives of people: the death of a child. The anguish and pain are real and undeniable*, but I wonder what can therapy really achieve ** in a situation such as that.
Off Topic
* In modern times perhaps more than in the past, now that it is common, in advanced societies, for child mortality to be low.
** I am assuming we are excluding cases such as as those in which perhaps the death of said child could be due to actions by the parents. Or lack of .
by Deuce I've always felt that a good, sincere friend can help more than any therapist - because the sincere friend's caring is genuine, and not conditional upon being paid money, not restricted to 45 minutes per week, etc., etc.
For those who lack such a friend in their life, perhaps a therapist might be able to help. But only if a good one is chosen, of course - and that's often a crapshoot.
by dryrunguy Ponchi, I should have a fairly easy work week this week. I plan to do some reading up on this "false memories" thing from the most reputable sources I can find. The only orientation I have to the matter is an old episode of Law & Order SVU, and that does NOT provide an appropriate understanding of such a serious matter.
I will do some reading and report back. Because I know this really concerns you. And I am quite curious. Please stay tuned.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:06 am
But, coming back to my original question. My doubt comes from that opinion that, even if memories are faulty, the therapy is worth it. I am not doubting that people may have issues, individually, but I wonder if these processes of therapy are the correct ones. Obviously, processes in the past (usually tied to religious ritual such as confession and penance) were not satisfying either, but if a process which cannot tell whether the source of the mental health issue is factual, I have doubts about it.
So, I don't quite grasp this false memories issue you've mentioned. Is this like an intentional thing, something that the person has built up in their mind past the point of what really happened? Are they aware of it or not? And where or in what instance is this is common problem? Lying in therapy is fairly common, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're talking about.
It sounded to me like the example you brought up with your sister was less about a false memory and more about something specific she remembered from childhood and something you had no memory of, not had a conflicting memory of or knew to be certainly false. Am I understanding that right?
But I will say that regardless of the clarity of a childhood memory, if it is a point of depression, stress, anxiety, etc, it would seem like it's a good thing to talk to a professional to try to work through it and move past it as best as you can.
I think it's very problematic when people make up or exaggerate experiences that have consequences for others. But if it's just about you trying to better yourself, then speaking to a mental health professional doesn't seem like it'll do anything but potentially help. It may even get you called out for the exaggeration and why they felt the need to go there.
Just trying to keep up here. Do you feel that if there's a verifiable reason to explain certain feelings you are having that they are not a mental health issue? Here's another example to consider if your own is too difficult to evaluate more objectively for this discussion. If a woman is pregnant and miscarries. Would you then consider the depression she experiences after the miscarriage not what you would classify as a mental health issue because the reasons for being depressed are easily traced? If so, how do you typically view and classify these feelings and struggles?
You mention one very good example against my opinion. I would not deny that a woman going through that scenario AND developing depression is justifiable, but that is because the event is NOT totally reasonable. Every parent (and here I would include the father) expects a pregnancy to reach a happy conclusion, and the expected "return" (a child) is too precious for its "non arrival" to be taken lightly. That case is indeed exceptional.
(And please, understand that I feel I am at the limit of vocabulary. I know that my phrasing sounds rather mercantilistic, which is not appropriate. But I am at a loss for proper words).
But, for example. The death of an elderly parent is very painful. But, IF ELDERLY, that is the normal flow of life.
SADNESS is obviously expected and reasonable, but DEPRESSION is something that could be questioned and perhaps would not need therapy
(loving support, indeed).
@Dry. Thanks for the definitions. Gotta think about them.
Would disagree here again. Sadness is expected but depression WOULD need therapy precisely because it could be questioned as a normal response.
There are various kinds of diagnosable depression and one is situational. I.e. caused by a reasonable event (i.e. miscarriage, etc.) or situation (i.e. unemployment) AND still treatable.
by mmmm8
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:21 am
I've always felt that a good, sincere friend can help more than any therapist - because the sincere friend's caring is genuine, and not conditional upon being paid money, not restricted to 45 minutes per week, etc., etc.
For those who lack such a friend in their life, perhaps a therapist might be able to help. But only if a good one is chosen, of course - and that's often a crapshoot.
1. It's not your friend's job to be your therapist. That's a HUGE burden to put on that friend (I've been that friend). They will now, if a really good friend, feel responsible for your mental state and it's a very heavy weight if the issue is serious. It's one thing to "share," it's another to use friends and loved ones for treatment of a potential medical issue.
2. Your friend is biased and untrained and may give you bad advice that potentially pushes you away from healing.
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:59 pm
But over the years, yes, I think the self-reporting changed. People are more open about mental health issues and not "embarrassed" to report them AND are more aware and can recognize them.
That's why you have such high numbers in a country like the UK, but when you go to some Asian countries where mental illness (and, often, illness in general) is stigmatized, the self-reporting is much lower. You also see higher numbers reported by younger people.
Just to add to this, in the US, there's been a concerted effort to get men to be more open to identifying and being willing to get help for their mental health problems. We have identifiable issues, the number of daily suicides among service members and/or veterans, alcoholism and drug addiction in men, suicide and depression being a higher cause of death, the mass shooters being mostly young men. So there's just an overall effort to address toxic masculinity. Are there always mental health issues playing a part to all of this? No. But many times, yes.
I find that stat that more women attempt suicide but more men succeed to be really interesting.
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:59 pm
But over the years, yes, I think the self-reporting changed. People are more open about mental health issues and not "embarrassed" to report them AND are more aware and can recognize them.
That's why you have such high numbers in a country like the UK, but when you go to some Asian countries where mental illness (and, often, illness in general) is stigmatized, the self-reporting is much lower. You also see higher numbers reported by younger people.
Just to add to this, in the US, there's been a concerted effort to get men to be more open to identifying and being willing to get help for their mental health problems. We have identifiable issues, the number of daily suicides among service members and/or veterans, alcoholism and drug addiction in men, suicide and depression being a higher cause of death, the mass shooters being mostly young men. So there's just an overall effort to address toxic masculinity. Are there always mental health issues playing a part to all of this? No. But many times, yes.
I find that stat that more women attempt suicide but more men succeed to be really interesting.
It really is. Perhaps has to do with preferred methods and access to weapons? And/or there's an actual physical component to this, since we're talking about physical existence.
by JazzNU
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:02 pm
It really is. Perhaps has to do with preferred methods and access to weapons? And/or there's an actual physical component to this, since we're talking about physical existence.
That's exactly why. I haven't read anything about it in a while, so keeping that in mind, men's chosen method is on average more violent than women's and leads to a higher rate of success because intervention isn't there in enough time to save them.
I find many of the suicide statistics alarming. In the UK, probably the most was that it's the leading cause of men's death under the age of like 40. In the US, it remains the stat, that hopefully has improved, of service members that die by suicide each day.
by JazzNU
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:22 am 1. It's not your friend's job to be your therapist. That's a HUGE burden to put on that friend (I've been that friend). They will now, if a really good friend, feel responsible for your mental state and it's a very heavy weight if the issue is serious. It's one thing to "share," it's another to use friends and loved ones for treatment of a potential medical issue.
Amen! Been there, it's not good.
by Suliso The very first high speed train in Europe run on this day 40 years ago between Paris and Lyon.
by ti-amie
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 7:44 pm
The very first high speed train in Europe run on this day 40 years ago between Paris and Lyon.
And here in the US we're still waiting...
by ponchi101 Do you know what speed it could reach?
And yes, the USA never was into trains, and never will be. Trains are for Europe, Japan and China.
Which is odd because it is a very inexpensive form of transportation (compared to airplanes), it is far more comfortable than being in a metal tube 6 meters in diameter, and the scenery can be gorgeous. I would love to see a train cut through The Rockies.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:30 pm
Do you know what speed it could reach?
And yes, the USA never was into trains, and never will be. Trains are for Europe, Japan and China.
Which is odd because it is a very inexpensive form of transportation (compared to airplanes), it is far more comfortable than being in a metal tube 6 meters in diameter, and the scenery can be gorgeous. I would love to see a train cut through The Rockies.
by ponchi101 Oh, those I know. The Durango one is just one hour away from my place up there, and it cuts through some amazing mountains. But I was thinking about something like a French TGV and going from, let's say, Denver to L.A.
Those trains you mention are tourists attractions per se. There is nothing in Silverton, for example, other than the town looking like it is still stuck in 1850.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:30 pm
Do you know what speed it could reach?
The original one was going at 260 km/h, but now the line has been upgraded to 300 km/h. Have you not ridden TGV's in France?
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:30 pmAnd yes, the USA never was into trains, and never will be. Trains are for Europe, Japan and China.
Which is odd because it is a very inexpensive form of transportation (compared to airplanes), it is far more comfortable than being in a metal tube 6 meters in diameter, and the scenery can be gorgeous. I would love to see a train cut through The Rockies.
That inexpensive part is debatable. Building lines like this cost a fortune and with US building costs would be 3-5x as much as in France where it cost somewhere around 30 million euros per km (ca 55 millions dollars per mile).
As for prices it also depends when you buy just like for airplanes. Basel-Paris (3 h 4 min) could cost as little at 49 euros one way to as much as 180 euros for a 2nd class ticket. The former likely cheaper than airplane on the same route, the latter definitely not.
by Suliso Also note that Basel-Paris is only about 3/4 on a dedicated line. Otherwise maybe 2.5 h be possible.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:48 pm
The original one was going at 260 km/h, but now the line has been upgraded to 300 km/h. Have you not ridden TGV's in France?
...
Only one time, coming from the UK. It was a super pleasant experience. Last long distance trip on a train was Copenhagen-Oslo, then Oslo-Stockholm. But those were not TGV's.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:52 pm
Only one time, coming from the UK. It was a super pleasant experience. Last long distance trip on a train was Copenhagen-Oslo, then Oslo-Stockholm. But those were not TGV's.
TGV's are good, but for pure comfort I think Italian and Spanish high speed trains are even better. I think mostly because their rolling stock is newer. I've tried all the major high speed rail systems except Chinese and Korean.
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:21 am
I've always felt that a good, sincere friend can help more than any therapist - because the sincere friend's caring is genuine, and not conditional upon being paid money, not restricted to 45 minutes per week, etc., etc.
For those who lack such a friend in their life, perhaps a therapist might be able to help. But only if a good one is chosen, of course - and that's often a crapshoot.
1. It's not your friend's job to be your therapist. That's a HUGE burden to put on that friend (I've been that friend). They will now, if a really good friend, feel responsible for your mental state and it's a very heavy weight if the issue is serious. It's one thing to "share," it's another to use friends and loved ones for treatment of a potential medical issue.
2. Your friend is biased and untrained and may give you bad advice that potentially pushes you away from healing.
I completely and absolutely disagree with you. In the 'it takes a village' type of approach, we all have a responsibility to help each other. And who better to help than one who knows the person very well?
I am not saying that the friend should be forced or coerced to help. But if the friend is willing, and sincerely cares about the person, and there is mutual trust (as there is in any strong, sincere friendship), then that is a very big step toward being able to help.
I'm not talking about a 'medical issue' - I'm talking about psychological issues. As I've mentioned previously, one can be trained to deal with medical issues, as we are all very similar physically. But we are all very different psychologically.
I think that, because of the position you hold (which you've alluded to at times here), your perspective is naturally less than objective.
And I am obviously influenced by my own direct relevant experiences in the helping field, as well as by my observations within same.
A Friend is "untrained"?? How can someone who knows you and understands you intimately possibly be untrained? They have the entire relationship to draw on!
And if you claim that a complete stranger (therapist) is 'trained', then you must subscribe to the theory that there is a universal solution to every psychologically based problem - with which I also completely disagree.
We're not talking about stringing a tennis racquet - for which one can be trained, as there are only a few ways to do it efficiently.
Biased? Perhaps a friend may be biased - biased in favour of wanting their friend to feel better, and so they invest in that end.
Are you claiming that therapists are unbiased? Therapists are simply flawed human beings, as are we all. They, too, possess their own problems, judgments, prejudices, biases, etc. They are NOT perfect human beings who possess all the answers - though they are often held up to be, which can certainly be quite dangerous, as the client, not knowing the therapist at all, does not know what personal problems, biases, etc. the therapist may incorporate within their suggestions and advice. Thus the dangers of blind faith/trust I mentioned previously.
With a friend, the faith and trust is real and historically established, not blind.
In my (rather extensive) experience in the field of helping people, I have witnessed hundreds of times where 'professionals' (be they social workers, psychologists, guidance counsellors, youth workers, street workers, etc.) have helped people far, far more when they exit the restrictions of their profession and become personally and emotionally involved and invested than when they stay back and maintain a 'professional distance', which is obviously emotionally distant and very impersonal, as well as being very conditional (with things like time restrictions, monetary payments, etc.). While this impersonal, distant, conditional, cold approach may work for some (and I have seen it cause more damage, as well), it is my experience that the warm, personal, closer, loving approach works considerably better for the majority of persons.
"There are no experts in loving, no scholars of living, no doctors of the human emotions and no gurus of the soul. But we need not be alone; friendship is a precious gift, and all that we need do to see is remove the blinders." - Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson.
by ti-amie
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:30 pm
I would love to see a train cut through The Rockies.
I will pass on that. In theory it's great and scenic, in practice, still scenic I guess, but a bit terrifying. Speaking as someone who has been on a train traveling next to a ravine.
Acela is great and a good first step for the US in high speed rail, but because of the area it runs in, it can't hit the max speeds it is capable of, area is too populous.
by Deuce I've gone through part of the Canadian Rockies by train (the parts of the Rockies where the tracks are built, obviously). It's nice and scenic and all... but what I noticed was that they weren't as high or as spectacular as I'd seen in photos. I think that's because the train passes amongst them at a certain elevation - and so if you're already at a certain elevation when you see the Rocky mountains right beside you, it's not the same as seeing them from the bottom of the mountains.
I will also say that riding the train along the Fraser Canyon is both spectacular and frightening. We did it at about 3am in the moonlight, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The train is right on the edge of a cliff, and looking out the windows on one side, you see only the depth of the canyon to the river below - you see no man made or natural structure that would hold the train there if it were to derail.
The train moves comparatively slowly along the canyon's edge... and the train employees told me that they schedule that portion to be done at night - when people are sleeping, and when the view is obstructed by darkness for those who remain awake (I had the advantage of a full moon) - because doing it during the day made too many people sick.
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 2:21 am
I've always felt that a good, sincere friend can help more than any therapist - because the sincere friend's caring is genuine, and not conditional upon being paid money, not restricted to 45 minutes per week, etc., etc.
For those who lack such a friend in their life, perhaps a therapist might be able to help. But only if a good one is chosen, of course - and that's often a crapshoot.
1. It's not your friend's job to be your therapist. That's a HUGE burden to put on that friend (I've been that friend). They will now, if a really good friend, feel responsible for your mental state and it's a very heavy weight if the issue is serious. It's one thing to "share," it's another to use friends and loved ones for treatment of a potential medical issue.
2. Your friend is biased and untrained and may give you bad advice that potentially pushes you away from healing.
I completely and absolutely disagree with you. In the 'it takes a village' type of approach, we all have a responsibility to help each other. And who better to help than one who knows the person very well?
I am not saying that the friend should be forced or coerced to help. But if the friend is willing, and sincerely cares about the person, and there is mutual trust (as there is in any strong, sincere friendship), then that is a very big step toward being able to help.
I'm not talking about a 'medical issue' - I'm talking about psychological issues. As I've mentioned previously, one can be trained to deal with medical issues, as we are all very similar physically. But we are all very different psychologically.
I think that, because of the position you hold (which you've alluded to at times here), your perspective is naturally less than objective.
And I am obviously influenced by my own direct relevant experiences in the helping field, as well as by my observations within same.
A Friend is "untrained"?? How can someone who knows you and understands you intimately possibly be untrained? They have the entire relationship to draw on!
And if you claim that a complete stranger (therapist) is 'trained', then you must subscribe to the theory that there is a universal solution to every psychologically based problem - with which I also completely disagree.
We're not talking about stringing a tennis racquet - for which one can be trained, as there are only a few ways to do it efficiently.
Biased? Perhaps a friend may be biased - biased in favour of wanting their friend to feel better, and so they invest in that end.
Are you claiming that therapists are unbiased? Therapists are simply flawed human beings, as are we all. They, too, possess their own problems, judgments, prejudices, biases, etc. They are NOT perfect human beings who possess all the answers - though they are often held up to be, which can certainly be quite dangerous, as the client, not knowing the therapist at all, does not know what personal problems, biases, etc. the therapist may incorporate within their suggestions and advice. Thus the dangers of blind faith/trust I mentioned previously.
With a friend, the faith and trust is real and historically established, not blind.
In my (rather extensive) experience in the field of helping people, I have witnessed hundreds of times where 'professionals' (be they social workers, psychologists, guidance counsellors, youth workers, street workers, etc.) have helped people far, far more when they exit the restrictions of their profession and become personally and emotionally involved and invested than when they stay back and maintain a 'professional distance', which is obviously emotionally distant and very impersonal, as well as being very conditional (with things like time restrictions, monetary payments, etc.). While this impersonal, distant, conditional, cold approach may work for some (and I have seen it cause more damage, as well), it is my experience that the warm, personal, closer, loving approach works considerably better for the majority of persons.
"There are no experts in loving, no scholars of living, no doctors of the human emotions and no gurus of the soul. But we need not be alone; friendship is a precious gift, and all that we need do to see is remove the blinders." - Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson.
Would you leave it to a friend who is not a teacher teach your children? Maybe, if they had some particular predisposition to it. But generally, you'd want some sort of teacher to be doing the schooling, no? How's this different. Not everyone is equipped. Or, going back to my physical therapy example, I'd let a friend give me a back rub for fun if they're good at it (no dirty jokes please ) but if I had back pain, I'd want to see a trained masseuse or physical therapist.
BTW. My job is consulting multinational companies about their talent management strategy, it's not remotely in the mental health field. I"m not biased in this area beyond general life experience, I just see a lot of data come through.
by Deuce
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 3:46 amOr, going back to my physical therapy example, I'd let a friend give me a back rub for fun if they're good at it (no dirty jokes please ) but if I had back pain, I'd want to see a trained masseuse or physical therapist.
As I've stated numerous times already - when it comes to our physical make-up, we are all very similar. But when it comes to our psychological composition, we are very different. Ergo, while it is possible to train someone to help heal physical ailments - even if the two people are complete strangers to each other -, it is not possible to train people to help heal psychological ailments when the two people are strangers to each other. That is why a friend has a decided advantage in being able to help - because the friend knows and understands the other person.
I don't see your teacher example as being relevant or pertinent... but, that said, I did state earlier in this discussion that I believe that many (likely most) of the so-called learning disabilities that children are labelled with (by professionals) are in fact teaching disabilities...
And I have absolutely no problems with home schooling, which removes the professionals from the equation. The best ratio for efficient teaching/learning is 1:1. The further we get away from that ratio - as in traditional schools -, the less efficient the teaching and learning is.
I simply don't believe that professionals are inherently experts in their field - or that they're automatically competent, even. My life experience has proven over and over that quite often, they are neither experts nor competent.
And in the area of psychological well-being, I strongly believe that genuine understanding, trust, love, and caring are far more effective than is the distant, cold, calculated, conditional approach of professionals.
I've experienced and observed far too much to change my mind on this.
.
by dmforever Seeing a therapist/psychiatrist/psychologist/analyst and talking to a friend are wildly different.The former is sworn to confidentiality. The latter isn't. A good former doesn't have an agenda. A friend usually does, even if that agenda is well-meaning. The former focuses solely on you. While you may talk to a friend for a while about a problem or condition that you have, at some point the friend will expect a give and take. The former has training and has studied how the emotions and the psyche work. The latter hasn't. The former doesn't have a personal relationship with you outside of the office. This offers some degree of objectivity. This objectivity is not necessarily cold and/or detached. Usually they are friendly and warm. Also, as has already been said, a friend may be completely unequipped to handle, or unequipped to handle well, what a person brings in.
Of course people should have friends to confide in. That's super important. But comparing a friend and a therapist et all is a total false comparison.
But why don't you ask people who go to see a therapist et all? They would be the ones to know. It's not like we don't have close friends who we confide in. But for the above mentioned reasons, and others, we choose to talk to friends AND a therapist et al.
Kevin
by Deuce It's easy to simply re-hash how the pro-therapist lobby markets themselves. It reads like a therapist's promotional pamphlet. Kind of like a beer commercial in that it lists all of the potential positives without mentioning any of the very real potential dangers and negatives...
Once again - my real life experience over more than a quarter century within the field of helping people - which includes many, many different people of different ages and backgrounds, some of whom have gone to therapists, some who have not, some who have been helped by friends, some who have not been, and some who have experienced several different approaches, has led me to the conclusion I have expressed here in several posts - in which I am fully confident.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:30 pm
I would love to see a train cut through The Rockies.
I will pass on that. In theory it's great and scenic, in practice, still scenic I guess, but a bit terrifying. Speaking as someone who has been on a train traveling next to a ravine.
Why should it be terrifying? You just cut a base tunnel at the bottom of the mountains and you hardly notice them. Here we have a 55 km tunnel going under the Alps. 19 minutes and you're already on the other side. Of course the scenic aspect is lost, but the speed is the point in this case.
by ponchi101 It could be terrifying if you have a TGV doing 300 KM/H with a cliff on one side
After you mentioned Spanish trains, I remembered that I did take Segovia-Madrid in an AVE (Spanish TGV). Wonderful ride. Super smooth and only slowed down when it went into two separate tunnels. Total time, a bit under 40 minutes.
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:49 pm
It could be terrifying if you have a TGV doing 300 KM/H with a cliff on one side
After you mentioned Spanish trains, I remembered that I did take Segovia-Madrid in an AVE (Spanish TGV). Wonderful ride. Super smooth and only slowed down when it went into two separate tunnels. Total time, a bit under 40 minutes.
I'm going to Spain soon and am trying to decide between train and driving to go between Madrid, Asturias and Bilbao... Is someone on this board super familiar with Spain?
by ponchi101 The AVE's in Spain are wonderful. The thing about driving is that in Spain you have 1,000 little stops that are charming. Specially, for the food.
Try to mix it, if you can. Both experiences are great. Do one leg on train (maybe the long one, as you don't want to waste a full day in a car) and drive the others.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:49 pm
It could be terrifying if you have a TGV doing 300 KM/H with a cliff on one side
After you mentioned Spanish trains, I remembered that I did take Segovia-Madrid in an AVE (Spanish TGV). Wonderful ride. Super smooth and only slowed down when it went into two separate tunnels. Total time, a bit under 40 minutes.
I'm going to Spain soon and am trying to decide between train and driving to go between Madrid, Asturias and Bilbao... Is someone on this board super familiar with Spain?
It depends what you want to do in Asturias and Bilbao. Do you intend to travel between the two? That would be very long with a train albeit possibly scenic. High speed rail is only partially finished in that direction from Madrid. If you want to explore Asturias and the Basque country starting from Madrid I'd advise to take a train to Bilbao or Oviedo and rent a car there.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:49 pm
It could be terrifying if you have a TGV doing 300 KM/H with a cliff on one side
After you mentioned Spanish trains, I remembered that I did take Segovia-Madrid in an AVE (Spanish TGV). Wonderful ride. Super smooth and only slowed down when it went into two separate tunnels. Total time, a bit under 40 minutes.
I'm going to Spain soon and am trying to decide between train and driving to go between Madrid, Asturias and Bilbao... Is someone on this board super familiar with Spain?
It depends what you want to do in Asturias and Bilbao. Do you intend to travel between the two? That would be very long with a train albeit possibly scenic. High speed rail is only partially finished in that direction from Madrid. If you want to explore Asturias and the Basque country starting from Madrid I'd advise to take a train to Bilbao or Oviedo and rent a car there.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:59 pm
The AVE's in Spain are wonderful. The thing about driving is that in Spain you have 1,000 little stops that are charming. Specially, for the food.
Try to mix it, if you can. Both experiences are great. Do one leg on train (maybe the long one, as you don't want to waste a full day in a car) and drive the others.
Thank you guys! I was wondering if Madrid, Asturias and Basque is too much for 8-9 days. Madrid and Asturias are musts. Then I just hate to not go to San Sebastian or a cider house if I'm that close. I've always wanted to do to a sagardotegi at a cider house and we'll be there in season. In Asturias, we don't have specific plans. Just want to see Olviedo for sure. Would like to stay at a parador or two during the trip, too.
I was hoping we would happen across other interesting spots on a road trip. So you both think train from Madrid to Olviedo then car to Basque, maybe taking a couple days to make our way over there? Then drive back to Madrid? The thing is, my husband hates to be in the car for more than threre hours.
by Suliso It might be expensive to rent a car in one place and return in another, albeit I have not checked. It definitely makes no sense to have a car in Madrid itself.
As for times train to Oviedo (fastest) is 4 h 40 min, about the same as driving. To Bilbao trains are rather slow (5 h), driving would be only four (many locals fly). It's about a 3 h drive between Oviedo and Bilbao. Perhaps still makes sense to take a train to Oviedo, rent a car, go to all the places you want and return for a train trip back to the capital.
For fast trains you have chosen the wrong corner of Spain. They're way faster than this when going to Barcelona and points south (Seville, Alicante, Valencia, Malaga).
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:31 pm
It might be expensive to rent a car in one place and return in another, albeit I have not checked. It definitely makes no sense to have a car in Madrid itself.
As for times train to Oviedo (fastest) is 4 h 40 min, about the same as driving. To Bilbao trains are rather slow (5 h), driving would be only four (many locals fly). It's about a 3 h drive between Oviedo and Bilbao. Perhaps still makes sense to take a train to Oviedo, rent a car, go to all the places you want and return for a train trip back to the capital.
For fast trains you have chosen the wrong corner of Spain. They're way faster than this when going to Barcelona and points south (Seville, Alicante, Valencia, Malaga).
Okay, thanks! Maybe we should forget the Basque country and just take our time in Madrid and Asturias. Rent a car in Asturias and noodle around, but not try to cram in the Basque area. We don't want to rush rush rush. Would rather relax.
by Suliso That might indeed be a smart choice if you only have a bit more than a week. If I may ask why Asturias? Do you perhaps have some roots there?
I've been to Spain several times, but never to Asturias. Been to neighboring Galicia, though.
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:55 pm
That might indeed be a smart choice if you only have a bit more than a week. If I may ask why Asturias? Do you perhaps have some roots there?
I've been to Spain several times, but never to Asturias. Been to neighboring Galicia, though.
Yes, ancestral roots. How's Galicia? The more I read about Oviedo, the more i think we'd like three or four days there at least, especially if we have a car. It will be in the winter and maybe not the best time to hike or anything, but we'll see.
by Suliso Both Galicia and Asturias are rainy in the winter, but not particularly cold. I was in Santiago de Compostella and nearby in early September for a long weekend. It's a cool town, a big pilgrimage destination. Nearby Pontevedra is cute as well. It's one of the few places in Spain where I'd be willing to go in mid summer.
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:21 pm
Both Galicia and Asturias are rainy in the winter, but not particularly cold. I was in Santiago de Compostella and nearby in early September for a long weekend. It's a cool town, a big pilgrimage destination. Nearby Pontevedra is cute as well. It's one of the few places in Spain where I'd be willing to go in mid summer.
Great, thanks! I don't know if we'll get as far as SdC. Probably stay around Asturias and maybe another ancestral place to the east, and Madrid and points between those places. I guess we should be ready to hike in case there's good weather one day, in the Picos de Europa park. Love suggestions if you have any others. Have you stayed in a parador?
by mmmm8 Why not Madrid (3-4 days), then fly or take train to Bilbao (1-2 days in Bilbao), then rent a car to drive around the region (Bilbao-Asturias-Bilbao 2-3 days + Bilbao-San Sebastian-Bilbao day trip), then fly from Bilbao to Madrid and straight to US.
Also, for what it's worth the intercity bus system in Spain is quite good (have only tried it in the South though)
by meganfernandez
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:40 pm
Why not Madrid (3-4 days), then fly or take train to Bilbao (1-2 days in Bilbao), then rent a car to drive around the region (Bilbao-Asturias-Bilbao 2-3 days + Bilbao-San Sebastian-Bilbao day trip), then fly from Bilbao to Madrid and straight to US.
Also, for what it's worth the intercity bus system in Spain is quite good (have only tried it in the South though)
That might work if we do less time in Madrid and more time in Asturias. I'd rather not fly once we're there unless we get a connection when we land from the US, so we'd connect to Bilbao right away and then wander to Asturias eventually and train back to Madrid. Wouldn't want to backtrack to Bilbao by car. I just don't know if we want to move around that much. Might prefer to settle in 2 different places and roam versus switching hotels more than once.
Kinda want to check out a tennis club with a public restaurant. Heard those are common in Switzerland and other European countries. I found one in San Sebastian. Hopefully will fine more. Surely there are some in Madrid.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:30 pm
I would love to see a train cut through The Rockies.
I will pass on that. In theory it's great and scenic, in practice, still scenic I guess, but a bit terrifying. Speaking as someone who has been on a train traveling next to a ravine.
Why should it be terrifying? You just cut a base tunnel at the bottom of the mountains and you hardly notice them. Here we have a 55 km tunnel going under the Alps. 19 minutes and you're already on the other side. Of course the scenic aspect is lost, but the speed is the point in this case.
Because I was basically terrified when I was riding the train next to the ravine. There is no tunnel. You see it all. The drop is significant, looks like you can fall to your death if it doesn't go right and there just nothing there to assure you that there will be anything in the way to prevent certain death. Is it scenic? Yes. But also, quite frightening if you're forced to think about it. Much better if you just ride right through that section, which I have, but I've also been stopped in that section and we had to sit and wait for Conrail to pass and man does it get your mind wandering when you're there too long.
And FWIW, I am not afraid of heights, been to the top of the Sears Tower, Twin Towers, Empire State, Hancock, etc. and was fine. Flying is no issue at all. This was different.
I will pass on that. In theory it's great and scenic, in practice, still scenic I guess, but a bit terrifying. Speaking as someone who has been on a train traveling next to a ravine.
Why should it be terrifying? You just cut a base tunnel at the bottom of the mountains and you hardly notice them. Here we have a 55 km tunnel going under the Alps. 19 minutes and you're already on the other side. Of course the scenic aspect is lost, but the speed is the point in this case.
Because I was basically terrified when I was riding the train next to the ravine. There is no tunnel. You see it all. The drop is significant, looks like you can fall to your death if it doesn't go right and there just nothing there to assure you that there will be anything in the way to prevent certain death. Is it scenic? Yes. But also, quite frightening if you're forced to think about it. Much better if you just ride right through that section, which I have, but I've also been stopped in that section and we had to sit and wait for Conrail to pass and man does it get your mind wandering when you're there too long.
And FWIW, I am not afraid of heights, been to the top of the Sears Tower, Twin Towers, Empire State, Hancock, etc. and was fine. Flying is no issue at all. This was different.
I have a fear falling (close but slightly different than fear of heights), so I feel you. I try not to let it stop me and usually make myself go up and come to the edge, so I'd probably do the train but would definitely get an anxiety attack during.
by Suliso
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:37 pm
Great, thanks! I don't know if we'll get as far as SdC. Probably stay around Asturias and maybe another ancestral place to the east, and Madrid and points between those places. I guess we should be ready to hike in case there's good weather one day, in the Picos de Europa park. Love suggestions if you have any others. Have you stayed in a parador?
I'm afraid haven't stayed in a parador... Yes, always possible to have a lucky good weather day. Mountains might be really cold in November-March, though. When I said that climate is mild I meant mostly coastal areas where ocean moderates temperatures.
Btw roads in Spain are very good. Easy to drive except maybe parking...
As for travel itineraries where are two extreme types of travelers (not counting clueless ones) - get as much stuff in during the short time there or omit most of it but see few select places much better and just relax + of course everything in between. I tend to gravitate more to the second option.
by ponchi101 Renting a car and dropping it at a different destination is always very expensive.
Only thing I will say about 9 days in Spain... a bit short. Madrid is very much like Paris, London or NYC, in that just with the museums you can easily spend 4 days, or until museum saturation is reached. And you WILL NOT get to bed early. In Madrid, it is impossible.
Basically, you will not go wrong, but you may leave knowing that there are plenty of places you did not get to see.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 7:17 pm
Basically, you will not go wrong, but you may leave knowing that there are plenty of places you did not get to see.
That would be unavoidable in a trip three times as long too and not just in Spain.
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 7:17 pm
Renting a car and dropping it at a different destination is always very expensive.
Only thing I will say about 9 days in Spain... a bit short. Madrid is very much like Paris, London or NYC, in that just with the museums you can easily spend 4 days, or until museum saturation is reached. And you WILL NOT get to bed early. In Madrid, it is impossible.
Basically, you will not go wrong, but you may leave knowing that there are plenty of places you did not get to see.
yeah, and that's fine... the way it is. We just want to see a few key things and then soak up the area. We like to wander - usually with a bakery en route on my end. Not schedule too much ... but I'm always worried if we don't schedule ANYTHING then we'll miss everything or just reflexively go back to the main square every day and never get off the beaten path. I don't trust serendipity.
by JazzNU
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:47 pm
That might work if we do less time in Madrid and more time in Asturias. I'd rather not fly once we're there unless we get a connection when we land from the US, so we'd connect to Bilbao right away and then wander to Asturias eventually and train back to Madrid. Wouldn't want to backtrack to Bilbao by car. I just don't know if we want to move around that much. Might prefer to settle in 2 different places and roam versus switching hotels more than once.
I'm not sure if by ancestral roots you mean you'll be visiting your or your husband's family while there, but if so, I know a rental car might be especially useful. So I thought I'd mention, it is also very expensive renting one place and dropping off in another in the US, unless you figure out the exception to the rule. Budget was always the place to do one-way rentals and later Alamo started seeing there was a market for that kind of rental. Could be similar in Spain, worth double checking if every one-way rental option gets a fee for not returning to the same location if this is your preferred method during part of your trip.
Also, hopefully those much more knowledge about current European travel can weigh in on this. Unless there's been a big change in recent years, I'd guess most rental cars are still manual and there might be an extra cost to rent an automatic. Something to keep in mind if you don't want or can't drive a manual.
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:47 pm
That might work if we do less time in Madrid and more time in Asturias. I'd rather not fly once we're there unless we get a connection when we land from the US, so we'd connect to Bilbao right away and then wander to Asturias eventually and train back to Madrid. Wouldn't want to backtrack to Bilbao by car. I just don't know if we want to move around that much. Might prefer to settle in 2 different places and roam versus switching hotels more than once.
I'm not sure if by ancestral roots you mean you'll be visiting your or your husband's family while there, but if so, I know a rental car might be especially useful. So I thought I'd mention, it is also very expensive renting one place and dropping off in another in the US, unless you figure out the exception to the rule. Budget was always the place to do one-way rentals and later Alamo started seeing there was a market for that kind of rental. Could be similar in Spain, worth double checking if every one-way rental option gets a fee for not returning to the same location if this is your preferred method during part of your trip.
Also, hopefully those much more knowledge about current European travel can weigh in on this. Unless there's been a big change in recent years, I'd guess most rental cars are still manual and there might be an extra cost to rent an automatic. Something to keep in mind if you don't want or can't drive a manual.
thanks! Forgot about the manual thing. Might be a dealbreaker in a mountainous area. We'll see. I can drive one but it has been awhile, and I'm rather nervous in the mountains, especially in the rain.
by Suliso No problem there. In every car rental company you can rent both kinds and price difference is not big. Automatic cars are slowly starting to dominate here too. I also prefer automatic when renting abroad.
Specifically about Spain: listed prices look very cheap, but when you get there they try to sell you 100 other things. Know well what you do need and what not.
by ptmcmahon Not sure where we discuss this... but on the weekend for the first time in... maybe 20 years+ ... I played tennis! (And even that time was just fooling around with some friends once or twice one summer.)
Since watching US Open final son has seemed very interested and a couple of times has taken his sisters old rackets and played in the street. Told him we'd have to go to a court sometime, and so on the weekend we did.
We even played a real "match". For the record I won 6-2 6-3 Although we did play very loose on the serving rules and I was trying to get us into rallies. On the plus side he does get the scoring system much better than wife still does.
by Deuce
ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 2:01 am
Not sure where we discuss this... but on the weekend for the first time in... maybe 20 years+ ... I played tennis! (And even that time was just fooling around with some friends once or twice one summer.)
Since watching US Open final son has seemed very interested and a couple of times has taken his sisters old rackets and played in the street. Told him we'd have to go to a court sometime, and so on the weekend we did.
We even played a real "match". For the record I won 6-2 6-3 Although we did play very loose on the serving rules and I was trying to get us into rallies. On the plus side he does get the scoring system much better than wife still does.
What took you so long?
Now go full circle, so to speak in relation to the recent discussion here, get yourself and your son to Spain, and hop on a train to the Nadal Academy!
by ptmcmahon Daddy was what the kids want him to do I guess! Not sure if it was more seeing the USO or that we are in the .. two weeks... between baseball or curling.
As for Spain, I'm still working on getting out of the province, let alone the country or continent. Haven't been out of NS since December 2019.
by ponchi101 I have not been able to play tennis for months and it is driving me nuts. I miss it so much.
How did it feel, PT? I remember that soon after joining TAT1.0 I wrote an essay on how much I love this sport. How I feel when I am on court. You think you will be back on court more often?
by JazzNU
Eleven Madison Park Explores the Plant Kingdom’s Uncanny Valley
Now vegan, Daniel Humm’s acclaimed restaurant does strange things to vegetables.
by Pete Wells
The man with the hammer treats everything as a nail, the saying goes. Something like that seems to be afflicting Eleven Madison Park in its new vegan incarnation. The restaurant’s chef and owner, Daniel Humm, is using the skills he brought to meat and seafood to whack away at vegetables.
Almost none of the main ingredients taste quite like themselves in the 10-course, $335 menu the restaurant unwrapped this June after a 15-month pandemic hiatus. Some are so obviously standing in for meat or fish that you almost feel sorry for them.
We should have seen something like this coming when Mr. Humm announced the animal-free policy in May. Eleven Madison Park is one of the most closely watched restaurants on the planet, drawing press coverage even for its minor adjustments. This one, not minor, made headlines around the world. Many articles quoted a line from Mr. Humm that gave his decision a soft glow of social responsibility: “The current food system is simply not sustainable, in so many ways.”
Buried in his announcement was a less-noticed passage that foreshadowed things to come. “It’s crucial to us that no matter the ingredients, the dish must live up to some of my favorites of the past,” he wrote. “It’s a tremendous challenge to create something as satisfying as the lavender-honey glazed duck, or the butter poached lobster, recipes that we perfected.”
In tonight’s performance, the role of the duck will be played by a beet, doing things no root vegetable should be asked to do. Over the course of three days it is roasted and dehydrated before being wrapped in fermented greens and stuffed into a clay pot, as if it were being sent to the underworld with the pharaoh.
The pot is wheeled out to your table, where a server smashes the clay with a ball-peen hammer. The beet is cleaned of pottery shards and transferred to a plate with a red-wine and beet-juice reduction that is oddly pungent in a way that may remind you of Worcestershire sauce.
They used to do a similar beet act at Agern, a New Nordic restaurant in Grand Central Terminal, roasting it inside a crust of salt and vegetable ash. That beet tasted like a beet, but more so. The one at Eleven Madison Park tastes like Lemon Pledge and smells like a burning joint.
I suspect that the summer-squash dish that appears halfway through the menu somehow descends from the butter-poached lobster. I don’t know what else accounts for the viscous liquid that looks and sort of feels like browned butter, but clearly isn’t. It tastes of vadouvan and something else, something harsh and sharp that overpowers the nugget of sesame-seed tofu hidden inside a squash blossom.
Time and again, delicate flavors are hijacked by some harsh, unseen ingredient. Marinated wedges of heirloom tomatoes have a pumped-up, distorted flavor, like tomatoes run through a wah-wah pedal. Rice porridge under crisp, pale-green stems of celtuce has a tangy, sharp undertone that another restaurant might get from a grating of aged pecorino. A tartare of minced cucumbers, honeydew melon and smoked daikon is suffused with an acrid intensity.
The servers offer few explanations for the doctored flavors, and no warnings, either. The ingredients look normal until you take a bite and realize you’ve entered the plant kingdom’s uncanny valley.
Mr. Humm used to get purer, deeper results out of vegetables before the restaurant went vegan. Maybe he should bring back the celery root steamed in a pig bladder.
His cooking has always been process-intensive, but there seems to be something new at play, most likely an effort to add umami with fermented liquids rich in glutamates. Eleven Madison Park now employs a “fermentation sous-chef,” Brock Middleton, following the lead of other yeast-loving restaurants, including Noma, in Copenhagen, which keeps home-brewed garums and other magic juices around to provide an invisible lift.
At Noma, these sauces are administered so subtly that you don’t notice anything weird going on; you just think you’ve never tasted anything so extraordinary in your life. At Eleven Madison Park, certain dishes are as subtle as a dirty martini. It’s possible that some of the special sauce is so concentrated that an extra drop or two can push things over the top. This would explain why a half-eggplant in which glazed slices of pickled eggplant ride like passengers in a canoe had an intoxicating richness the first time I ate it and a cloying heaviness the next.
A couple of the kitchen’s efforts to get plants to mimic something else succeed. When it happens, all doubts evaporate for a few minutes.
Tonburi, made from Japanese summer-cypress seeds, arrives on chipped ice inside an antique silver caviar bowl that looks as if it belonged to the Romanovs. The seeds, dark and round and shiny, are sometimes said to taste like broccoli. At Eleven Madison Park, they have been seasoned with kelp. A chef might say the kelp adds umami. I’d say it tastes delicious, and I might add that its flavor brings up deep, partly subconscious associations with the sea. It’s a sleight-of-hand trick, but your taste buds accept it in place of the fishy brininess of sturgeon roe.
There is a plant-based version of the restaurant’s wonderful bread, like a savory croissant rolled into a crisp golden swirl. Originally kneaded with cow butter, the laminated dough has been rejiggered with butter made from sunflower seeds, and it’s an unqualified success. So is the nonbutter that arrives with the bread, molded into the shape of a sunflower, bright yellow with a dark eye of tangy fermented sunflower seeds in the center.
If the pastry kitchen, under Laura Cronin, is straining under the challenge of working without butter and eggs, it doesn’t show. There’s a charming two-tone pretzel — dark chocolate on one side and toasted sesame paste on the other — that hits you like a much improved Reese’s peanut-butter cup. An even lovelier duet comes in the final course, a coconut semifreddo under frozen elderflower syrup swirled with blueberry compote.
There may be more bartending skill and talent at Eleven Madison Park than at any other restaurant in the city. The new mission has spurred the bar to fresh achievements, with a lineup of cocktails that make delicious and sometimes improbable use of plants. A distant relative of the old-fashioned incorporates red bell peppers; for a drink called simply Sesame they’ve even figured out how to make clarified milk punch with the “whey” from sesame tofu.
Eleven Madison Park has trained its audience to expect “endless reinvention,” one of 11 touchstone words and phrases on a sign that hangs in the restaurant’s vast and precise kitchen. Each time the restaurant has overhauled itself — the cryptic grid menu, the magic tricks at the table, the themed New York City menu — it has gone overboard, then pulled back to a less extreme place.
Its talent for overcoming its own missteps was one reason I gave it four stars in its last review in The New York Times, in 2015. (I’m not giving star ratings while restaurants are still being rattled by the pandemic.) With time, Mr. Humm may stop overcompensating for ditching the animal products, too. Beets aren’t very good at pretending to be meat, but their ability to taste like beets is unrivaled.
The anxiety, political upheavals, protests — even the boredom — of the pandemic period have conspired to produce an urgent sense that people with power, in the restaurant business as much as any other, need to work for change or get out of the way. Mr. Humm acknowledged this in his announcement in May, writing, “It was clear that after everything we all experienced this past year, we couldn’t open the same restaurant.”
So far Mr. Humm, who says he is a vegetarian, hasn’t told us his objections to serving animal products, if he has any. He seems to want us to think Eleven Madison Park is leading the restaurant business to a better place, but how are we supposed to believe that this isn’t just another card trick when he hasn’t expressed a real opinion?
Diners who don’t eat animals for religious or moral reasons will probably welcome the new menu. Those whose chief concern is the environmental damage done by livestock farming may have less reason to celebrate. People tend to think of factory farms and feedlots when they hear about meat and sustainability. But Eleven Madison Park didn’t buy industrial pork for its compressed brick of suckling pig. As the servers were always reminding you in the old days, the pork, eggs, cheese and other animal products came from small, independent regional farms. Now, many of its vegetables are grown to order on farmland it leases in Hoosick, N.Y.
If every restaurant that supports sustainable local agriculture followed Mr. Humm’s new path, those small farms would be in deep trouble. To name just one likely result, developers would be lining up at the barn door to make offers. Millions of acres of pasture and cultivated fields across the United States have been lost to suburbs, which produce half of the country’s household carbon emissions.
And while Mr. Humm rarely talks about the bottom line, it’s obvious what happens when you keep charging $335 for dinner while getting rid of some of the most expensive items on your shopping list, like caviar, lobster and foie gras. (It’s the same thing that happened in 2016, when the restaurant essentially halved the number of courses in the tasting without changing the base price.)
Eleven Madison Park still buys meat, though. Until the year ends, the menu offered to customers who book a private dining room includes an optional beef dish, roasted tenderloin with fermented peppers and black lime. It’s some kind of metaphor for Manhattan, where there’s always a higher level of luxury, a secret room where the rich eat roasted tenderloin while everybody else gets an eggplant canoe.
by JazzNU ^^ One of the most brutal restaurant reviews I've ever read. From the NY Times. It was trending for a while yesterday for a reason. If you want the Cliff's Notes version, just read the excepts in the tweets below and you'll get the gist.
by ponchi101 Dumb question of the day (#1, I can't guarantee that I will not produce more).
Why is it that vegans are trying to create a lot of dishes that are imitations of meat (non-meat burgers, non-meat chicken nuggets, etc) but paleos and carnivores are never trying to create "meat based imitation broccoli"? "bacon-based mashed potatoes"? "Algae-based imitation Fish and Chips"?
by dmforever
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:02 pm
Dumb question of the day (#1, I can't guarantee that I will not produce more).
Why is it that vegans are trying to create a lot of dishes that are imitations of meat (non-meat burgers, non-meat chicken nuggets, etc) but paleos and carnivores are never trying to create "meat based imitation broccoli"? "bacon-based mashed potatoes"? "Algae-based imitation Fish and Chips"?
Your question made me laugh and I'm 7/8 vegan. ( My left toes and right hand are still only vegetarian). The issue of creating plant-based meat-like foods comes up a lot in vegetarian/vegan groups. I think we get used to those meat flavors and textures growing up and so we try to recreate them because they have positive associations with us. In my experience, a lot of these foods are kind of gross and sometimes not very healthy. And I have recently tried a whole bunch of vegan dairy products and have been mostly unimpressed. I made a vegan mousakka a while ago with impossible burger and I didn't care for it. The bechamel made with almond milk and Miyako's vegan butter, however, tasted great. I made it again with lentils instead of impossible burger and it was much much better. But I like other meat substitutes like tofu, TSP, and home made seitan.
And as to your question, it's because veggies are irreplaceable and uncopyable!!
Kevin
by Suliso Only converted vegans and vegetarians do that. Those whose families have been vegetarian for many generations do no such thing.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:02 pm
Dumb question of the day (#1, I can't guarantee that I will not produce more).
Why is it that vegans are trying to create a lot of dishes that are imitations of meat (non-meat burgers, non-meat chicken nuggets, etc) but paleos and carnivores are never trying to create "meat based imitation broccoli"? "bacon-based mashed potatoes"? "Algae-based imitation Fish and Chips"?
No idea, but I feel like they shouldn't be able to use the meat name that they object so much to. That they should have to come up with original or facon type names, not be allowed to call something vegan chicken fingers, beyond sausage, crabless cakes and the like.
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:48 pm
^^ One of the most brutal restaurant reviews I've ever read. From the NY Times. It was trending for a while yesterday for a reason. If you want the Cliff's Notes version, just read the excepts in the tweets below and you'll get the gist.
For the prices they charge you'd think they'd do better.The private room option though...
by mmmm8 Thanks for posting. i read about the review but didn't want to deal with the paywall. It was actually considerably milder than I expected!
by Suliso I've had an intern for the last 6 months. He did his MSc at university of Basel. I was asking him today how many people got their BSc degrees in chemistry in his year. He said 14 out of 45 who started. Needed to weed out all the lazy ones. It is a very different system than the one in US where public is concerned about graduation rates. Nobody cares here, at least not in technical disciplines.
by ponchi101 I would still say that is very low. 30%. I understand that any university does not want to graduate a lot of people that end up being incompetent in their field, but having such a low graduation rate means either a terrible pool of candidates to start with, or a curriculum that is hellish.
Specially in a hard science, where the subject study leaves very little room for interpretation.
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:38 pm
I've had an intern for the last 6 months. He did his MSc at university of Basel. I was asking him today how many people got their BSc degrees in chemistry in his year. He said 14 out of 45 who started. Needed to weed out all the lazy ones. It is a very different system than the one in US where public is concerned about graduation rates. Nobody cares here, at least not in technical disciplines.
Is this supposed to shame the US university system? And not sure where you got the idea anyone cares here either. That's the case for just about every pre-med program, which masquerades as a chemistry and physics program to start. The grand majority are weeded out in the first two years, but most are gone by the end of the first year.
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:38 pm
I've had an intern for the last 6 months. He did his MSc at university of Basel. I was asking him today how many people got their BSc degrees in chemistry in his year. He said 14 out of 45 who started. Needed to weed out all the lazy ones. It is a very different system than the one in US where public is concerned about graduation rates. Nobody cares here, at least not in technical disciplines.
Are they able to transfer departments or do they have to drop out of the University if they quit the program?
I think the US public is more concerned about high school graduation rates, which is 88% on average, and as low as 75% in some states, less so about college graduation rates.
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:38 pm
I've had an intern for the last 6 months. He did his MSc at university of Basel. I was asking him today how many people got their BSc degrees in chemistry in his year. He said 14 out of 45 who started. Needed to weed out all the lazy ones. It is a very different system than the one in US where public is concerned about graduation rates. Nobody cares here, at least not in technical disciplines.
Are they able to transfer departments or do they have to drop out of the University if they quit the program?
I think the US public is more concerned about high school graduation rates, which is 88% on average, and as low as 75% in some states, less so about college graduation rates.
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:38 pm
I've had an intern for the last 6 months. He did his MSc at university of Basel. I was asking him today how many people got their BSc degrees in chemistry in his year. He said 14 out of 45 who started. Needed to weed out all the lazy ones. It is a very different system than the one in US where public is concerned about graduation rates. Nobody cares here, at least not in technical disciplines.
Is this supposed to shame the US university system? And not sure where you got the idea anyone cares here either. That's the case for just about every pre-med program, which masquerades as a chemistry and physics program to start. The grand majority are weeded out in the first two years, but most are gone by the end of the first year.
Not at all. Where did I say that? Just a remark on how different systems work.
by Suliso
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 11:37 pm
it's possible ot switch programs, so
Yes, it is. Those people are not doomed or anything. I was just saying that there is a lot of competition in the first few years in university in technical fields (even more in a fancier place like ETH Zurich). I bet most of them earned their BSc degrees as well eventually, just not in chemistry.
"I have an idea. Let's pay somebody the full amount UP FRONT, for a vaguely defined task, for which there are no standards and no collateral down by the payee. What could go wrong?"
---0---
I once was at the Guggenheim NYC and spent the morning there. At the very top, the crowning jewel of the museum, an entire white hall was empty, and the "work" being showcased, with people gaping at it, were literally three strokes, one on each wall, of three different shades of grey, done with a wide spatula.
This is about the same, so be it.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:42 pm
"I have an idea. Let's pay somebody the full amount UP FRONT, for a vaguely defined task, for which there are no standards and no collateral down by the payee. What could go wrong?"
---0---
I once was at the Guggenheim NYC and spent the morning there. At the very top, the crowning jewel of the museum, an entire white hall was empty, and the "work" being showcased, with people gaping at it, were literally three strokes, one on each wall, of three different shades of grey, done with a wide spatula.
This is about the same, so be it.
The money was meant to be put inside the artwork. It was an update to a previous work he did, so they had to give it to him up front! This looks kind of like trolling/a joke, and they expect him to still give the money back when it's contractually due in January. So I think this is more a joke/statement/trolling than an actual case of theft. I think it's great.
I do think there is some amount of grift by some prominent artists, though, while some just get validated for pretty empty/talentless work unintentionally.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:42 pm
"I have an idea. Let's pay somebody the full amount UP FRONT, for a vaguely defined task, for which there are no standards and no collateral down by the payee. What could go wrong?"
---0---
I once was at the Guggenheim NYC and spent the morning there. At the very top, the crowning jewel of the museum, an entire white hall was empty, and the "work" being showcased, with people gaping at it, were literally three strokes, one on each wall, of three different shades of grey, done with a wide spatula.
This is about the same, so be it.
The money was meant to be put inside the artwork. It was an update to a previous work he did, so they had to give it to him up front! This looks kind of like trolling/a joke, and they expect him to still give the money back when it's contractually due in January. So I think this is more a joke/statement/trolling than an actual case of theft. I think it's great.
I do think there is some amount of grift by some prominent artists, though, while some just get validated for pretty empty/talentless work unintentionally.
Are you saying there's... more to the story than initially appears? I admit, I fell for it. It's pretty brilliant as a publicity stunt, if that's what it is (at least partially). Or whatever, I like it as long as it's not ripping them off, whether the museum deserved it or not (I wouldn't think so).
On second thought, if it's not real, then maybe it's not brilliant. It got attention, but if it's just a fake-out, I lose some respect. It's easy to make a joke, harder to commit and make a statement, which is what art is for. Made me think, at least, which is also what art is for.
The money was meant to be put inside the artwork. It was an update to a previous work he did, so they had to give it to him up front! This looks kind of like trolling/a joke, and they expect him to still give the money back when it's contractually due in January. So I think this is more a joke/statement/trolling than an actual case of theft. I think it's great.
I do think there is some amount of grift by some prominent artists, though, while some just get validated for pretty empty/talentless work unintentionally.
If that is the story, well, kudos to the marketing people.
But it reminds me of that group that does silly things in museums and pranks audiences (not Banksy). They set up a chair with glasses on it, and then stand around looking at it, seriously. People pretty soon stand next to them, not being aware of the prank.
Anyway. Old man yelling at clouds. Through a megaphone. You know me by now
by ptmcmahon
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:32 pm
I have not been able to play tennis for months and it is driving me nuts. I miss it so much.
How did it feel, PT? I remember that soon after joining TAT1.0 I wrote an essay on how much I love this sport. How I feel when I am on court. You think you will be back on court more often?
Depends on the kids. 95% of stuff I like to do I don't have time to between kids and work lately. But I'd like to, will suggest it when we have some free time next weekend. Well IF we have free time.
by ti-amie A positive story out of Florida.
by ponchi101 You have to be insane.
by ti-amie
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:38 pm
A positive story out of Florida.
He's an Army vet from North Philly. Hasn't lived in Florida long so while all these Floridians are critiquing his performance and saying that's not how you do it, that's not a thing up this way, so he said he had to figure it out and do it his own way,
dmforever wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 3:24 am
You have to be insane to live in a place where that's a thing, though I live in CA, and I'm sure people say that about us and earthquakes.
Kevin
I'm obviously not a good barometer on this, but I always say I'll take the earthquakes over what most areas have.
dmforever wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 3:24 am
You have to be insane to live in a place where that's a thing, though I live in CA, and I'm sure people say that about us and earthquakes.
Kevin
I'm obviously not a good barometer on this, but I always say I'll take the earthquakes over what most areas have.
Logic doesn't really play into our fears, does it? I honestly don't think I could live in a place with 'gators, yet I'm statistically much much much more likely to be killed by a drunk driver, and I've never contemplated giving up driving. I think a lot of it goes back to our beginning as a species, and the fear of being dragged under water and drowning and then being eaten by an alligator triggers the primitive parts of our brains that driving just can't. I'd put earthquakes in there with cars. Even though we may have had to deal with them since we began as a species, they don't trigger that part of the brain, or at least not any more, or at least not for most people. And believe it or not, you get used to them, unless they are really big. But now in many places in this state, you have to add in forest fires, and they are horrific. But for the most part we don't have tornadoes, or hurricanes, or blizzards, or dust storms.
Kevin
p.s. For a great read about people being able to control geology and earthquakes, I highly recommend N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, which is the first book in her Broken Earth Trilogy.
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 30, 2021 11:31 pm
You have to be insane.
dude did what he had to do! Brave guy! Hope someone bought him his favorite dinner.
dmforever wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 3:24 am
You have to be insane to live in a place where that's a thing, though I live in CA, and I'm sure people say that about us and earthquakes.
Kevin
I'm obviously not a good barometer on this, but I always say I'll take the earthquakes over what most areas have.
Logic doesn't really play into our fears, does it? I honestly don't think I could live in a place with 'gators, yet I'm statistically much much much more likely to be killed by a drunk driver, and I've never contemplated giving up driving. I think a lot of it goes back to our beginning as a species, and the fear of being dragged under water and drowning and then being eaten by an alligator triggers the primitive parts of our brains that driving just can't. I'd put earthquakes in there with cars. Even though we may have had to deal with them since we began as a species, they don't trigger that part of the brain, or at least not any more, or at least not for most people. And believe it or not, you get used to them, unless they are really big. But now in many places in this state, you have to add in forest fires, and they are horrific. But for the most part we don't have tornadoes, or hurricanes, or blizzards, or dust storms.
Kevin
p.s. For a great read about people being able to control geology and earthquakes, I highly recommend N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, which is the first book in her Broken Earth Trilogy.
I live in a tornado-y area, but they don't loom large over life here. I've never actually been in one. I've seen a funnel cloud from a distance, watched clouds swirl ominously over my house, and have retreated to a basement for shelter, but never actually been in a tornado. So even if you live in places where natural disasters happen, it's not like they rule your life.
When people move to Indiana from a different region, they are most afraid of snowy and icy roads. Those suck, but they are remedied pretty fast, and most people can just stay home until the roads are clear. I am much more worried about bad roads than tornadoes.
I always think I wouldn't move to the Austin area because of the tarantulas. Sounds like they are common house pests there. But millions of people deal with it just fine.
I think experience tells us to fear things like a gator attack or an airplane crash more than statistically common dangers. Let's say I've been on the road 1 million times so far in my life. I'm 1 million for 1 million in success, pretty much. Never been hit by a drunk driver. Never been seriously injured, despite being in a couple crashes. That experience affects how I feel more than the statistic about the likelihood of being hit/hurt by a drunk driver..
by Suliso To be fair it was a tiny croc... Wouldn't work with a saltie in Australia.
by JazzNU
dmforever wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 4:57 am
Even though we may have had to deal with them since we began as a species, they don't trigger that part of the brain, or at least not any more, or at least not for most people. And believe it or not, you get used to them, unless they are really big. But now in many places in this state, you have to add in forest fires, and they are horrific. But for the most part we don't have tornadoes, or hurricanes, or blizzards, or dust storms.
Kevin
I can't remember if you're from CA or moved there, but if moved, this is a sign you've been there too long.
I have never once had someone believe when I say earthquakes aren't that big of a deal unless it's the Big One and you get used to them and you can even forget to mention one happened to someone you see later in the day. "If you say so" they say as they look at me like I've lost my mind. Most Californians treat them like the car crash, but outside of CA, and possibly the West Coast since there's just more activity, they freak the heck out at the smallest earthquakes they feel. It's wild watching breaking news of like a 2.9 earthquake.
Wildfires are another thing entirely and scare me plenty, but in terms of hurricanes, tornados, and gators, crocs, panthers, bison and wildlife in general roaming free, I'll take the earthquakes.
by Suliso I think I'd prefer wildlife except maybe of poisonous type. I do live in a very boring land for all of this. In my exact spot not even flooding possible.
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 5:50 pm
I think I'd prefer wildlife except maybe of poisonous type. I do live in a very boring land for all of this. In my exact spot not even flooding possible.
Excitement can be very overrated and this is definitely one of those times. Boring sounds lovely on this front.
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 5:50 pm
I think I'd prefer wildlife except maybe of poisonous type. I do live in a very boring land for all of this. In my exact spot not even flooding possible.
Oh sure. Most wildlife if more afraid of you, and you can control pests and animals. You can't very well control natural disasters.
by ti-amie You guys always forget those giant spiders in Australia. I'd call this guy and his garbage can to come get it because there's no way I'd stay in a house with one of those.
dmforever wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 4:57 am
Even though we may have had to deal with them since we began as a species, they don't trigger that part of the brain, or at least not any more, or at least not for most people. And believe it or not, you get used to them, unless they are really big. But now in many places in this state, you have to add in forest fires, and they are horrific. But for the most part we don't have tornadoes, or hurricanes, or blizzards, or dust storms.
Kevin
I can't remember if you're from CA or moved there, but if moved, this is a sign you've been there too long.
I have never once had someone believe when I say earthquakes aren't that big of a deal unless it's the Big One and you get used to them and you can even forget to mention one happened to someone you see later in the day. "If you say so" they say as they look at me like I've lost my mind. Most Californians treat them like the car crash, but outside of CA, and possibly the West Coast since there's just more activity, they freak the heck out at the smallest earthquakes they feel. It's wild watching breaking news of like a 2.9 earthquake.
Wildfires are another thing entirely and scare me plenty, but in terms of hurricanes, tornados, and gators, crocs, panthers, bison and wildlife in general roaming free, I'll take the earthquakes.
I'm from here.
I believe you.
I was in SF for the '89 quake. That was bad. But even so, I still don't freak out when I feel a quake. And if the Big One happens while I'm still alive, I guess I'll come back here after and change this post.
I've posted some of Jill's videos before, but this one relates to this thread...
I'm obviously not a good barometer on this, but I always say I'll take the earthquakes over what most areas have.
Logic doesn't really play into our fears, does it? I honestly don't think I could live in a place with 'gators, yet I'm statistically much much much more likely to be killed by a drunk driver, and I've never contemplated giving up driving. I think a lot of it goes back to our beginning as a species, and the fear of being dragged under water and drowning and then being eaten by an alligator triggers the primitive parts of our brains that driving just can't. I'd put earthquakes in there with cars. Even though we may have had to deal with them since we began as a species, they don't trigger that part of the brain, or at least not any more, or at least not for most people. And believe it or not, you get used to them, unless they are really big. But now in many places in this state, you have to add in forest fires, and they are horrific. But for the most part we don't have tornadoes, or hurricanes, or blizzards, or dust storms.
Kevin
p.s. For a great read about people being able to control geology and earthquakes, I highly recommend N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season, which is the first book in her Broken Earth Trilogy.
I live in a tornado-y area, but they don't loom large over life here. I've never actually been in one. I've seen a funnel cloud from a distance, watched clouds swirl ominously over my house, and have retreated to a basement for shelter, but never actually been in a tornado. So even if you live in places where natural disasters happen, it's not like they rule your life.
When people move to Indiana from a different region, they are most afraid of snowy and icy roads. Those suck, but they are remedied pretty fast, and most people can just stay home until the roads are clear. I am much more worried about bad roads than tornadoes.
I always think I wouldn't move to the Austin area because of the tarantulas. Sounds like they are common house pests there. But millions of people deal with it just fine.
I think experience tells us to fear things like a gator attack or an airplane crash more than statistically common dangers. Let's say I've been on the road 1 million times so far in my life. I'm 1 million for 1 million in success, pretty much. Never been hit by a drunk driver. Never been seriously injured, despite being in a couple crashes. That experience affects how I feel more than the statistic about the likelihood of being hit/hurt by a drunk driver..
I lived in the Austin area for over 30 years. Saw maybe 2 or 3 tarantulas. They aren't poisonous. Fascinating creatures.
by ponchi101 My house in Caracas was in a very wild area.
I once was arriving (I had to go downhill) and as I took a turn, I could see my garden. And there was a "cat" in there.
Except that then I realized it was not a "cat". It was some rather big thing, maybe a local species we call a "cunaguaro". Roughly, the size of a Rottweiler. It has left by the time I got home (probably heard the gate opening).
Still, give me wildlife over an earthquake. Then again, the earthquakes I have been through have been in Caracas, and I don't know if the building codes account for them.
by ti-amie
Talk about over compensation...
by Fastbackss That's usually what I bring into the bathroom after eating at Subway...especially the..."tuna"...
by meganfernandez
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 7:22 pm
You guys always forget those giant spiders in Australia. I'd call this guy and his garbage can to come get it because there's no way I'd stay in a house with one of those.
Exhibit A
I would comment but the more I talk about this, the more I'm inviting the universe to bring a giant spider to me. I know, I brought it up. My fault.
Indeed. How small must your little friend be for you to need to carry a bazooka to make you feel safe?
And no mask. The worker isn't wearing one, either.
by JazzNU A friend put this up on Facebook
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 9:06 pm
A friend put this up on Facebook
Obviously not enough research was done but let's cut to the chase. How are his testicles?
by ponchi101
by Deuce Everyone who knows me knows that I believe that 'social media' does considerably more harm than good - both socially to the masses as well as personally to each individual.
Facebook began on a foundation of getting people 'addicted' to it, and all other 'social media' platforms have followed that disgustingly selfish model (see here... Facebook's Foundation is the Exploitation of Vulnerabilities)
Sacha Baron Cohen here calls 'social media' "the greatest propaganda machine in history"...
by ti-amie WILD animals are not your friends. That only happens in Disney cartoons.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:09 pm
WILD animals are not your friends. That only happens in Disney cartoons.
Not even going to watch. No need to give my potential nightmares material. But even without looking, can I just say that people are idiots. Why do they keep messing with wild animals? In real life, when has that had a good result?
by skatingfan I love how the warthog approaches all friendly, wagging it's tail. Never approach a warthog, unless, of course, it sounds like Nathan Lane, and has a meerkat on it's back.
(Why doesn't the spell check here know meerkat?)
by ponchi101 What do you mean? I just wrote it down and it does not give me an error.
Meerkat, meerkats, meerkatsssss... that last one does
by ti-amie
Brahmaputra River
Indus River
Mekong River
Nile River
by dmforever
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
That is just horrific news. I'm so sorry. I too hope you are wrong about your grandfather.
Take care.
James wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:05 am
My entire immediate family managed to catch covid this week. So I've been stuck fretting in a different state. I imagine my grandfather (they were together to celebrate his 96th birthday) isn't going to make it.
That is just horrific news. I'm so sorry. I too hope you are wrong about your grandfather.
Take care.
Kevin
Terrible! Hoping for the best for your family.
by Suliso That is quoting a post 9 months old...
by JazzNU That message from James is from very early in 2021. I know he hasn't been back on the forums since then so we didn't get an update on how him and his family are doing. I like to think they are all okay, but James was in need of a break from the forum as one of the members suggested.
If anyone is in touch with him off the forum and can let us know he's doing okay, that would be great. I know many of us have thought of him and his family since he posted about them.
by dmforever
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Oct 13, 2021 7:39 pm
That is quoting a post 9 months old...
Sorry. I don't know how I was on such an old page. My bad.
Kevin
by ponchi101 What JazzNu says. James has not been back to the forum since Sat Jan 9th. It was his last post.
I hope him/her and his/her family are Ok, but I have no access to him.
by ti-amie
by skatingfan Just reminder that Superman is an undocumented immigrant.
by ponchi101 Not so sure. His parents adopted him, I believe, after they find him in his spaceship in their farm. Being Kansas, there were no questions asked.
I think
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 11:56 pm
Not so sure. His parents adopted him, I believe, after they find him in his spaceship in their farm. Being Kansas, there were no questions asked.
I think
An unaccompanied minor sent by his parents to escape the situation in his home country.
by ponchi101 ^
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by Deuce At what point in history did real life become a TV show?
Whoever created "reality tv" should be locked up and the key to their cell thrown away. Sadly, the political press covers politics as if they're covering a reality show instead of reporting on the politics of what is happening. This is another grift of course..
by Suliso Current and past distribution of American black bear.
by ti-amie
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:45 pm
Current and past distribution of American black bear.
Sigh.
by dave g
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:45 pm
Current and past distribution of American black bear.
This map looks like the cause is deforestation, which has been going on for a couple of centuries.
by Suliso Looking at states with no more bears I'd guess more like intensive agriculture in the plains states. There are more bears in the recent decades, particularly on the east coast.
by ti-amie Here are the Terms of Service for the Tiny Social Network.
by dryrunguy A good Sunday laugh with... the Devil.
by JazzNU I love Jason. The entire thing was funny, but I probably laughed hardest at the Colin marrying Scarlett part because it was perfect and I didn't see it or the Disney jab coming.
by ti-amie
The tl;dr on the above
by ponchi101 Next video: same stuff, at the retirement home.
It is getting out of hand.
Funny, I think it's beautiful! The gold tones and such. Incredible depiction.
by ti-amie I hope this was a joke...
by mmmm8 The backlash I saw was also about him pointing out she "gave" him a healthy daughter. His older child with Anna Farris is a child with disabilities.
by ti-amie
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:35 pm
The backlash I saw was also about him pointing out she "gave" him a healthy daughter. His older child with Anna Farris is a child with disabilities.
Ah. I wondered about that. thanks.
The rest of it is ghastly though.
by skatingfan I don't think it was as serious as some people seem to be taking it - it seems very much tongue in check which is how Chris Pratt comes off in interviews and stuff - though I was not aware of the situation with his first child.
by ponchi101 My slow descent into becoming a fossil continues. What I find toxic is labeling everything toxic.
by ti-amie If he hadn't thrown in the line about his new wife giving him a healthy child I would've taken the comment as sarcasm too. That is where he went over the line and why he is paying the price for making such a toxic statement.
by JazzNU Tongue in cheek? Very few have taken most of his recent schtick that way. And if he means it that way, he sure hasn't been cluing many in on the joke. Him and his Christian music playlist while running alone in the woods to improve his mood seems quite intentional. He's not Andy Dwyer (or my personal favorite, Bright Abbott) and the sooner people stop believing that to be the case, the quicker they'll see him for who he's repeatedly showed himself to be in recent years.
by skatingfan
JazzNU wrote: ↑Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:48 pm
Tongue in cheek? Very few have taken most of his recent schtick that way. And if he means it that way, he sure hasn't been cluing many in on the joke. Him and his Christian music playlist while running alone in the woods to improve his mood seems quite intentional. He's not Andy Dwyer (or my personal favorite, Bright Abbott) and the sooner people stop believing that to be the case, the quicker they'll see him for who he's repeatedly showed himself to be in recent years.
I have to admit that I have no idea what your talking about so there's clearly quite a few things that I've missed.
by Deuce I can't help but wonder why people care so much about what 'famous people' say and/or do.
I have no idea who any person mentioned in this 'drama' is - and I'm quite convinced that I'm better off this way.
My life - and the characters within it - is interesting enough. I have neither the need nor the desire to wrap myself up in the lives of 'famous people' I have absolutely no contact with nor any relation to.
by Suliso Just came into my mind that it will feel very strange to speak in front of an audience (not Zoom) again someday. It's been almost two years since the last time for me...
by dryrunguy
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:22 pm
Just came into my mind that it will feel very strange to speak in front of an audience (not Zoom) again someday. It's been almost two years since the last time for me...
I would have far more anxiety sitting in an audience.
by ti-amie Who knew this is all it takes? Notice the dog was not fazed in the least.
by JazzNU
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:22 pm
Just came into my mind that it will feel very strange to speak in front of an audience (not Zoom) again someday. It's been almost two years since the last time for me...
I would guess it will largely depend on the person, but think it'll come back to you like riding a bike if it's something you were previously comfortable with.
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:22 pm
Just came into my mind that it will feel very strange to speak in front of an audience (not Zoom) again someday. It's been almost two years since the last time for me...
I would guess it will largely depend on the person, but think it'll come back to you like riding a bike if it's something you were previously comfortable with.
Yes, it will only be a bit strange not scary. I used to do it few times per year and was fine with it.
by Suliso There are 13 rail tunnels in the world longer than 25 km (11 more under construction). All but two (Seikan and Channel) were completed this century. Must be a serious advance in tunneling technology.
by skatingfan
Suliso wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:01 pm
There are 13 rail tunnels in the world longer than 25 km (11 more under construction). All but two (Seikan and Channel) were completed this century. Must be a serious advance in tunneling technology.
Didn't the building of the Channel tunnel lead to a lot of innovation in the technology?
Suliso wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:01 pm
There are 13 rail tunnels in the world longer than 25 km (11 more under construction). All but two (Seikan and Channel) were completed this century. Must be a serious advance in tunneling technology.
Didn't the building of the Channel tunnel lead to a lot of innovation in the technology?
That could be albeit Seikan tunnel is another 6 years older.
by ponchi101 It could be that after the first couple of tunnels, the moles used to dig them were simply sitting there, waiting to be used. it would be interesting to see if the new tunnels have a different bore than the Channel or Seikan, meaning a different machine, or they are similar.
by Suliso Boring machines, most often mady by Herenknecht, are to some extent custom designed for a specific tunnel. I'm thinking more of improvements in automation, guidance etc. 25-35 km tunnels while still very expensive seem technically routine these days (longest is 57).
by ponchi101 I would include metallurgy. Boring through rocks is really hard, but new compounds make it easier than before.
Also, finances. I remember that "The Chunnel" became gargantuan in expenses, and was completed as a sign of national pride by both nations. Perhaps now the math is clearer and the benefits of the tunnels make them more "affordable".
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 That's incredible!
by Suliso Elon Musk was asked whether Tesla would make electric motorcycles. He answered no because of safety reasons. Turns out there is also a personal aspect to this - was nearly killed by a truck while motorcycling at age 17.
by ponchi101 Less of a market there than for cars. HD has been trying to market an electric bike, which looks great and handles nicely (I have read) with a 150 Miles range, and it has been tough. People that ride bikes like the noise
by Deuce It's surprising that Harley-Davidson is carrying the torch when it comes to electric motorcycles.
Of all people loyal to a motorcycle brand, I would think that Harley customers would be the least likely to convert to electric.
Harley's historic reputation is about being loud, tough, raw, rebellious, and rather anti-mainstream. Not exactly conducive to the electric movement.
by ti-amie
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 11:29 pm
Elon Musk was asked whether Tesla would make electric motorcycles. He answered no because of safety reasons. Turns out there is also a personal aspect to this - was nearly killed by a truck while motorcycling at age 17.
If he was honest he'd say that there aren't any government subsidies to help him launch an electric motorcycle like there were when he pitched electronic cars. Without the US taxpayer he'd be nothing.
by Suliso I see no particular reason to think he's lying about this one...
He's kind of out of favor with US government right now. Biden doesn't even mention Tesla when speaking about electric cars which is downright ridiculous.
by ponchi101 Maybe Biden knows that talking about Tesla will affect a stock that is already highly volatile. Singling Tesla as an example will raise its price. Singling them as a warning drops it. They are too visible and the valuation of that stock is still very suspect, together with the valuation of all electric car companies. I recently read that the valuation of those companies is way more than the valuation of all traditional car companies put together, when they sell a fraction of what the regular manufacturers sell.
Tiny liked to talked about the market. Biden knows how that can bite you.
by Suliso That's a charitable explanation. Less charitable is that he's a not a big donor to the party and Tesla is anti union. Albeit relations with Obama used to be good.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 23, 2021 8:58 pm
Maybe Biden knows that talking about Tesla will affect a stock that is already highly volatile. Singling Tesla as an example will raise its price. Singling them as a warning drops it. They are too visible and the valuation of that stock is still very suspect, together with the valuation of all electric car companies. I recently read that the valuation of those companies is way more than the valuation of all traditional car companies put together, when they sell a fraction of what the regular manufacturers sell.
Tiny liked to talked about the market. Biden knows how that can bite you.
This is exactly right. Musk has been in serious hot water with the SEC the last few years and had to negotiate a settlement for his manipulation of Tesla's stock prices based on things he Tweets.
by Suliso
I started in 1995. How about you?
by ponchi101 Around 1995-6 too. The first service in Venezuela was around that time, and I was one of the first. My brother too.
My nickname here stems from there, as, at the time, Internet was not for serious business. So everybody had weird nicknames and references. My brother's was "Green Frog" (SapoVerde), I chose our dog's name.
I still remember dialing up
by mmmm8 1995 or early 1996 for me too. My school's Computer Science teacher got a modem and she happened to be my group's classroom teacher. I think I remember being there for the first time she connected to the internet.
by ti-amie In case you were wondering how the Biden family's Christmas decorations would look these are the pics so far. No more dystopian landscapes.
by ti-amie A better view of the Christmas Tree
by ti-amie The Vice President and Second Gentleman lighting their Menorah on the first night of Hanukkah.
by ponchi101 I know I am alone here, but I liked Melania's Xmas decoration. They were so Cruella DeVille, so "I called David Lynch for help", so "Santa's Halloween" that they were very different. I liked the style and the fact they obviously said that the person living there would skin Rudolph alive to make herself a pair of shoes, matching purse and a coat, with no second thoughts (and then feed the carcass to her pet Rottweilers).
It said so much about that house.
1997 for me, when I got a promotion at work that required me to have email.
by JTContinental
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 8:13 pm
I know I am alone here, but I liked Melania's Xmas decoration. They were so Cruella DeVille, so "I called David Lynch for help", so "Santa's Halloween" that they were very different. I liked the style and the fact they obviously said that the person living there would skin Rudolph alive to make herself a pair of shoes, matching purse and a coat, with no second thoughts (and then feed the carcass to her pet Rottweilers).
It said so much about that house.
I low key liked them too, although perhaps not the right venue for them.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 8:13 pm
I know I am alone here, but I liked Melania's Xmas decoration. They were so Cruella DeVille, so "I called David Lynch for help", so "Santa's Halloween" that they were very different. I liked the style and the fact they obviously said that the person living there would skin Rudolph alive to make herself a pair of shoes, matching purse and a coat, with no second thoughts (and then feed the carcass to her pet Rottweilers).
It said so much about that house.
I low key liked them too, although perhaps not the right venue for them.
It was always entertaining, if nothing else. Traditional White House decor is a yawn.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 8:13 pm
I know I am alone here, but I liked Melania's Xmas decoration. They were so Cruella DeVille, so "I called David Lynch for help", so "Santa's Halloween" that they were very different. I liked the style and the fact they obviously said that the person living there would skin Rudolph alive to make herself a pair of shoes, matching purse and a coat, with no second thoughts (and then feed the carcass to her pet Rottweilers).
It said so much about that house.
I low key liked them too, although perhaps not the right venue for them.
It was always entertaining, if nothing else. Traditional White House decor is a yawn.
Although I am a sucker for a tiny village
by Fastbackss
JTContinental wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:14 pm
Although I am a sucker for a tiny village
by mmmm8 I generally don't, I work close to that tree, navigating the streets is a nightmare and the only good time to see the lights is after 10 pm, but some of them shut off.
Yes, yes, I'm a jaded cynical NYer. This year might be better with fewer tourists.
by ti-amie I used to work on 3d ave and 50th street and would get the early express bus downtown on 5th. If you're up and about about 7a is very good too. I also used to take my daughter about 7p and start walking at Berdorf's. Their windows at this time of year are amazing.
You're 100% correct about the tourist mobs though. I'm not a fast walker and yet their slow pace - packs of them - drove me up the wall.
by ponchi101 So now, your crazy city is crazy because of US TOURISTS???!!!!
You people are used to it. It is simply very difficult to be a tourist in NYC and not keep constantly looking up at the wall of buildings on both sides. I gather in Xmas the lights and decorations must be so over the top (when compared to other cities) that for tourists it must be very difficult to keep the semblance of a local person.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:00 pm
So now, your crazy city is crazy because of US TOURISTS???!!!!
You people are used to it. It is simply very difficult to be a tourist in NYC and not keep constantly looking up at the wall of buildings on both sides. I gather in Xmas the lights and decorations must be so over the top (when compared to other cities) that for tourists it must be very difficult to keep the semblance of a local person.
Y'all just make it very hard to get from one place to another! NYC has a pace and tourists just, to use a British term, throw a spanner into it.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:00 pm
So now, your crazy city is crazy because of US TOURISTS???!!!!
You people are used to it. It is simply very difficult to be a tourist in NYC and not keep constantly looking up at the wall of buildings on both sides. I gather in Xmas the lights and decorations must be so over the top (when compared to other cities) that for tourists it must be very difficult to keep the semblance of a local person.
I'm not sure they are all that much more over the top compared to other big cities here, but there tends to be more of everything in New York, so the effect is a bit more substantial. It's not just Rockefeller Center, though that is wonderful, and I especially love the angels, the effect it creates leading to the tree is beautiful. But many stores put forth effort to decorate their windows and their stores, going up Fifth Ave and walking into your preferred store was a must, and the roasted chestnut smells as you're walking around are great.
Looking up at buildings is rare for me. But I probably don't fall into the tourist category when in New York. Less tourist, more visitor. I feel bad for the suckers (likely real tourists) who don't know what's up at Penn Station with the announcements, immediately behind the eight ball and have no idea that they are until it is much too late. The holidays in particular are a blood sport at Penn Station. I know how to get around, know how to handle cabbies, have favorite parts of the city, have favorite places to go, etc. But it's also why I say I love New York during Christmas time, I know it at other times, and I do love it then too*, but this time of year is my favorite there.
*It's somewhat possible, I may have been cursing New York's existence while sitting in non-rush hour gridlock in the Bronx trying to get to the GW Bridge less than a month ago.
by ti-amie Ha. Native NY'ers rarely look up at the buildings. As for non rush hour gridlock trying to get to the GWB us natives are known to have let a few bad words fly.
by ti-amie This is here because it's a spoof account. Still, the topic is real and should be part of the discussion on abortion in the US since we seem to be the only country trying to go back to the 40's when it comes to women's health.
If you don't know what a "pitch" is it's when, in this case, you go to your editor and tell them that this is a story you want to work on. The NYTimes has gotten so bad lately that someone started this spoof account to try and highlight just how bad they've become.
by ponchi101 That was brilliant
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:00 pm
So now, your crazy city is crazy because of US TOURISTS???!!!!
You people are used to it. It is simply very difficult to be a tourist in NYC and not keep constantly looking up at the wall of buildings on both sides. I gather in Xmas the lights and decorations must be so over the top (when compared to other cities) that
for tourists it must be very difficult to keep the semblance of a local person.
I know, when I think about it, I'm not mad, it's nice that they gawk at where I live and work. But, in the thick of it, my thought are more violent.
There are lots of European tourists again. I'm currently more weary of the Americans, since the Europeans have to be vaccinated. They're also more likely to not know how to walk on sidewalks.
by mmmm8
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:05 am
This is here because it's a spoof account. Still, the topic is real and should be part of the discussion on abortion in the US since we seem to be the only country trying to go back to the 40's when it comes to women's health.
That's not true, sadly. Poland and Slovakia are two that are at the forefront of this unvaliant fight and some countries never left the 19th century.
by ponchi101 Latin America is still discussing it. It is the typical hypocritical mentality here: it is not legal, it is not covered, it is easy to find.
But remember places like El Salvador, firmly in the grip of the Church in those aspects. Women can go to as long as 30 years to prison for an abortion, which is considered murder.
by MJ2004 Google is having a pizza moment.
by JazzNU
by ponchi101 That's a brave man!!!!
And then people wonder why millennials and Gen-Z's have no loyalty to companies.
by mmmm8 Fun fact: My friend (still) works there. On workforce optimization. That's not a euphemism for firing people, I think they just try to create more efficiency.
She's not very proud of how this was handled, needless to say.
And they just got a $750M infusion. What a prick/idiot.
by mmmm8 I take it all back! Christmas in New York really is wonderful. The Fox News Christmas Tree caught fire!
(ok, looks like someone set it off so less exciting)
by ti-amie
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 10:12 pm
I take it all back! Christmas in New York really is wonderful. The Fox News Christmas Tree caught fire!
(ok, looks like someone set it off so less exciting)
I just saw this! They did arrest someone.
I resisted the urge to post the ones featuring The Grinch.
by mmmm8 It's across the street from my office, I could have been watching it live but stayed home today.
by ponchi101 I know how you can feel about Fox News, but that was dumb and dangerous. If it was done purposely.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:03 pm
I know how you can feel about Fox News, but that was dumb and dangerous. If it was done purposely.
agreed, I didn't realize at first that it was intentional, thought it was lit by karma
by JazzNU I guess I shouldn't be surprised they put up a artificial tree at Fox News because fake's the only way they know how to be, but seems like a bit of an upset
I didn't see any of the Grinch posts unfortunately.
by ponchi101
JazzNU wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:52 pmI guess I shouldn't be surprised they put up a artificial tree at Fox News because fake's the only way they know how to be, but seems like a bit of an upset
I didn't see any of the Grinch posts unfortunately.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:03 pm
I know how you can feel about Fox News, but that was dumb and dangerous. If it was done purposely.
agreed, I didn't realize at first that it was intentional, thought it was lit by karma
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:52 pm
I guess I shouldn't be surprised they put up a artificial tree at Fox News because fake's the only way they know how to be, but seems like a bit of an upset
I didn't see any of the Grinch posts unfortunately.
by JazzNU
by MJ2004Fall on walk from bed to desk is workplace accident, German court rules
Man who slipped and broke his back while working from home was commuting, it is decided
A German court has ruled that a man who slipped while walking a few metres from his bed to his home office can claim on workplace accident insurance as he was technically commuting.
The man was working from home and on his way to his desk one floor below his bedroom, the federal social court, which oversees social security issues, said in its decision.
While walking on the spiral staircase connecting the rooms, the unnamed man slipped and broke his back.
The court noted that the employee usually started working in his home office “immediately without having breakfast beforehand”, but did not explain why that was relevant to the case. However, later it said that statutory accident insurance was only afforded to the “first” journey to work, suggesting that a trip on the way to get breakfast after already being in the home office could be rejected.
The employer’s insurance refused to cover the claim. While two lower courts disagreed on whether the short trip was a commute, the higher federal social court said it had found that “the first morning journey from bed to the home office [was] an insured work route”.
It ruled: “The plaintiff suffered an accident at work when he fell on the way to his home office in the morning.”
In many countries, firms have a duty of care to their employees, regardless of where they work.
The German federal court said: “If the insured activity is carried out in the household of the insured person or at another location, insurance cover is provided to the same extent as when the activity is carried out at the company premises.”
It is not clear if the man was working from home due to the pandemic or had done so previously. The ruling said the law applied to “teleworking positions”, which are “computer workstations that are permanently set up by the employer in the private area of the employees”.
- The Guardian
by ponchi101 Actually, I can buy that. Your company wants you to work at home? Hey, this might be a precedent.
by JazzNU That is wild. Did the employer install the spiral staircase? Make the decision for spiral instead of straight stairs? Choose the location of the office in the home? Was there video of this "commute?"
by ponchi101 So the people behind the BIRDS AREN'T REAL movement were running a parody. Good for them.
Of course, their believers will now say that they have been hijacked by dark powers to switch their message.
by ti-amieOrganizers of the South Dakota teacher 'Dash for Cash' are apologizing and paying up
December 14, 202112:36 PM ET
RACHEL TREISMAN
A South Dakota hockey team and mortgage lender are apologizing for a widely panned event in which schoolteachers scrambled to grab dollar bills off the ice during a game's intermission.
The Sioux Falls Stampede, a junior league team, had billed Saturday's event as its inaugural "Dash for Cash." It involved dumping $5,000 in $1 bills on a carpet at center ice, then inviting 10 teachers from local schools to scoop up the bills as fans cheered.
Videos of the educators — wearing hockey helmets and stuffing cash into their shirts and pockets — went viral over the weekend, after the videos were posted to Twitter by Argus Leader reporter Annie Todd.The teachers' hauls ranged from $378 to $616, according to the Argus Leader.
Organizers said all the money the teachers could grab would be used for their own classrooms and school programs, and they had framed it as a way to help educators amid the stressors of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, as NPR's Bill Chappell reported, it drew widespread condemnation from critics and shone a national spotlight on South Dakota's low teacher pay.
The Stampede and CU Mortgage Direct, which donated the cash for the contest, are now offering teachers an apology and an additional $500 each.
"Although our intent was to provide a positive and fun experience for teachers, we can see how it appears to be degrading and insulting towards the participating teachers and the teaching profession as a whole," organizers said in a statement on Monday. "We deeply regret and apologize to all teachers for any embarrassment this may have caused."
They reiterated that the promotion was aimed at raising funds for local teachers and classrooms and explained that they had randomly selected the 10 participants from a pool of 31 applicants. The team said it is giving them all more money, totaling an additional $15,500 for area teachers.
"Together with CU Mortgage Direct we will be providing an additional $500 to those teachers that participated in the event as well as providing $500 to those additional 21 applicants that were not able to participate," the statement said.
The organizers also promised to work with South Dakota's educators organization on future events that will support teachers and "funding for our next generation."
As Chappell reported, South Dakota ranks toward the bottom of the U.S. for spending on education, both in terms of average teacher salary and the average amount it pays per student.
by ponchi101 I wonder why people have never heard the concept of a "Pre Mortem". An analysis of what happens if this goes wrong? And have a few jerks like me sit down and try to figure out every single possible wrong scenario. It would stop so many things like this one.
by ti-amie A Christmas season AITA. This poor kid.
AITA for being upset about my family's Christmas plans?
God I can't believe I'm coming here again but I can't find an unbiased opinion from anyone I know.
Okay I (15m) have a different dad than both my brother (10m) and my sister (13f) and they both have different dad's. My step dad (36m) is my brother dad. My siblings, mother, and I live with my step dad. My father wants nothing to do with me as I was technically an accident. My sister's dad is active in her life and my brothers dad is obviously active in all of our lives.
My sister is spending Christmas with her father and my step dad and mom are taking my brother out of town for Christmas to go see other family. I am being left at home alone.
My best friend and his mom have offered to let me spend Christmas with his family.
My mother says that I have to stay at home and that it's not my place to intrude on another family's Christmas.
Her and I have been arguing about this for days but she's adamant on me staying at home.
I know that legally I'm able to stay home alone but I really just don't want to.
The best response I saw.
ijustwantedadryer
·
6 hr. ago
StarryGoldHelpful8Wholesome5
Hey there kiddo, when I read this I felt like I was transported back to my own childhood. I need you to know you are not alone in this. What your mother and stepfather are doing is abuse. When I was 14 and 15 my mother did this exact same thing. She took my younger sister with her bio dad and went to his family's place. They left me home alone during Christmas. I was alone for a full week. You are being left alone for 2 weeks which breaks my heart. Not only are they leaving you alone for Christmas but also New Year's. I can't imagine that. When I was 14 and left home alone, I made the best of it and I didn't tell anyone. My mother also told me the same thing, that I couldn't go to somebody else's house, and that I would be intruding on their Christmas. So I didn't say anything.
I made myself eggs on Christmas morning and I put on a comfort show on Netflix through our household Wii. I watched that show the entire day. I look back on that day now, and I see it with sadness. I was a young child, and legally yes I could be left alone. But what was not told to me was that for the length of time I was left alone, that was considered abandonment of a minor. I didn't do anything wrong, I wasn't in trouble or grounded. They just didn't want to take me with them, I wasn't a part of their family. Like you I also look like my bio dad and my mother resents me for that. I believe till this day that is why she didn't like to be around me during the holidays.
When I turned 15 she did the exact same thing. But this time I was confused, this was going to be in every holiday occurrence now? It didn't make sense and it wasn't fair. So I told everyone that would listen the second she left me alone. I was lucky because I had text messages in writing for proof of how long she was leaving me for and that I was not allowed to go to anyone else's house and I was to be left alone. I got her to admit to everything, and it saved me.
One of my friend's mother's called me on Christmas eve and asked if I was left alone since my friend told her. I explained to her everything and said I even had proof of it. She very calmly told me that she loved me and that she was going to drive down and come get me. But first she told me that I needed to be brave and that their were going to be police officers sent to my house and I very calmly needed to tell them everything that had happened and where my parents were and the proof I had on my phone. That freaked me out, her being my only family I didn't know how she would react and if I'd ever see her again. It scared me. But I said okay and that I would try my best.
Police came, I explained what happened, showed proof and they put me with temporary emergency custody of my friend's parent. I had to go to the police station and stay the day there but went back to my friends place after. My mother wasn't charged since she had no priors but was given a huge warning and was assigned a case worker that would check in on me once a week for three years and she would have to pay and go to parenting classes for a few months.
Did she resent me for that? Yes she did. But I tell you what, she never once disrespected me again until I was 18 because I had a caseworker coming there and making sure I was okay for for 3 years. If I didn't have anything that I needed or is being treated unfairly, that case worker stood up for me. My friend's mom also offered to let me move in when I turned 18 and I did. It was the best thing I ever did.
Please for the love of God, tell everyone and anyone. Try to get it in writing if you can. Because I promise you this will happen every year from now on if this happens. Please say something. My friend's mother was a lawyer and explained all of this to me after Christmas. She was the only trusted adult I had. Please got to your friend's house. You're not alone and people love you and want to spend that day with you. NTA, so deeply NTA.
by ponchi101 You should need a license to have kids...
by JazzNU The reply is an Airplane (the movie) joke if you don't get it.
by ti-amie That scene is one of the best from that movie.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:15 pm
That scene is one of the best from that movie.
Surely you can't be serious...
by ponchi101 The second, greatest, IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE TODAY, movie (after Blazing Saddles).
by dmforever
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:11 pm
The second, greatest, IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE TODAY, movie (after Blazing Saddles).
With the focus (understandably) being on the dummy and Airplane, I'm thinking many of you will skip the actual story. But just know the article contains this gem:
“I don’t use it for the HOV,” the $122,000-per-year government official insisted. “I use it for the company.”
With the focus (understandably) being on the dummy and Airplane, I'm thinking many of you will skip the actual story. But just know the article contains this gem:
“I don’t use it for the HOV,” the $122,000-per-year government official insisted. “I use it for the company.”
Does he actually think that makes him look better????? Thanks for highlighting that.
Kevin
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:46 pm
The best response I saw.
Best response you saw because it's the best response ever given in life on Reddit. Bless that person for sharing their story.
by Deuce .
The scene you've all been waiting for...
With a lead-in first, for context...
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Feynman. The cross between a physicist and a philosopher.
by JazzNU You're not misunderstanding, it's as bad as it seems. The attention seeking is off the charts.
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Wed Dec 22, 2021 7:44 pm
You're not misunderstanding, it's as bad as it seems. The attention seeking is off the charts.
Huh?
by ponchi101 excuse me? They took this baby OFF oxygen? What part of attempted homicide is this not?
by Deuce 'Social media' has created an entirely different type of human being - to the point where the human animal of today is significantly different than the human animal of 30 years ago.
It's very sad.
by ti-amie One of the most eye opening, and embarrassing things for an American to do is to go overseas and observe other American's behavior.
by ponchi101 Uhm, you behave BETTER when you are overseas. When you are home, there is nothing holding you up.
And it is not Americans. I got to travel enough to know how other cultures do not understand about "when in Rome" and such things.
by ti-amie When I was last overseas - not recently though - if you saw people being rude and shouting at the people whose country they were visiting nine times out of ten it was an American couple or a group of them. I do hope it's gotten better.
by ti-amie I know that they don't teach script anymore but come on man!
It should be noted that as a result of a car crash Cawthorn is confined to a wheel chair.
by ti-amie I thought of Dry when I saw this.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 7:07 pm
I know that they don't teach script anymore but come on man!
It should be noted that as a result of a car crash Cawthorn is confined to a wheel chair.
Wow. And given that he can load and shot a gun adeptly, I doubt this is related to his accident.
by ponchi101
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:18 pm
I thought of Dry when I saw this.
We are closing the year in style
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 9:18 pm
I thought of Dry when I saw this.
I can tell you... I have an old ewe I call Whitney because she was born the same day Whitney Houston died (January 30, 2012), and she hates my guts. And whenever she sees the trailer, which is what we load the sheep in to take them to the place where they will be shorn, she runs out to the field. She just stands out in the field and stares at me, wishing me an immediate and painful death. She cannot be lured with feed or any other tactic. Twice a year, she makes loading the sheep into the trailer a MAJOR production.
The last time we had the ewes shorn, we were smarter about it. Dolphins fed them in the barn that morning (they are normally fed outside), and while they were eating, he closed all the doors. Then we backed up the trailer to one of the doors, opened the door, and then they loaded no problem.
But it took a few years to learn that lesson.
Strangely, she has no problem when she has just given birth and I am there to make sure the lambs eat.
But once she sees that trailer, forget it.
by ti-amie How it started
How it ended
It's really too bad that the caller didn't say "my family tradition is ________ and the foods mean this in the culture we grew up in" and make this a teaching/learning moment the way the newsperson did. Instead, well, here we are.
by Suliso
by ponchi101 That was awesome.
And, together with the marbula series, a perfectly sensible waste of time!!!
Txs
by ti-amie
by dmforever
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:50 pm
How it started
How it ended
It's really too bad that the caller didn't say "my family tradition is ________ and the foods mean this in the culture we grew up in" and make this a teaching/learning moment the way the newsperson did. Instead, well, here we are.
I totally agree with you, but I will add that she didn't say that because she didn't mean that. She meant, stop being non-White. It was pretty clear.
Kevin
by ti-amie Definitely Kevin. The callers purpose was to shame and embarrass the newscaster for being non-White. It's too bad that that was the intent.
by Fastbackss
by dmforever
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 04, 2022 9:22 pm
Definitely Kevin. The callers purpose was to shame and embarrass the newscaster for being non-White. It's too bad that that was the intent.
It's hard to even know what to do with that, isn't it? It sometimes feels like we have progressed so very little, if at all.
Kevin
by ponchi101 Ok. My 2022 started just like my 2021 ended.
On Tuesday I woke up and I felt something odd in my right eye. My eyelid was drooping, and it felt extremely wet. I took a picture and sent it to my brother-in-law (eye surgeon and ophthalmologist) and he did say that it looked as if there was nothing wrong with the eye, but the lid was certainly not looking fine. One call led to some at home testing of my face, and we reached the conclusion that there was something wrong and asymmetric with my face. As both him and I know that that is early symptom of a stroke, I went to the clinic. Walking (about ten blocks). 12:30 PM
There, I went through some tests, and the ER resident started saying it was Horner's Syndrome. By now, my BIL and my sis (also a doctor) were telling me that, if I was not feeling anything else ANYWHERE in my right side of my body, it was probably a mild face paralysis, virus related (non-covid).
The Dr. decided that a MRI was needed. However, that would take a long time waiting, so we agreed (I was getting tired of this) to settle for a CAT and see the results. Which came back saying that indeed there was something VERY wrong and the MRI was needed, urgently. That moved me up the list of triage. 5:00 PM
By now, all my family was worried sick, because the Dr said she could see something abnormal in the CAT. A bit later, around 8:00 PM, I am wheeled to the MRI. By now my GF has come to be with me in the clinic, which I allowed because the news kept getting worse (the clinic is so full of C19 that the ER we were in was the pediatric ER, because the regular one is to the max with C19 patients). I got the MRI and had to wait about 2 hours for results. By then, about 10:30PM, I ask if I can go home. The Dr tells me that no, because I HAVE HAD A STROKE. A mini stroke, but a stroke. But to me, the words MINI STROKE are the same (expletive) as MILD HEART ATTACK; there is no such thing. A stroke is a stroke. But I ask her, how can I have a stroke and I have lost NO FACULTIES? I am talking, I am walking with no strange gait, I have lost no cognitive functions (I am reading a book on math, so I gather THAT section of the brain is not soaked in blood). How is that possible? But she is adamant and tells me I have to stay overnight because she does not want to release me with my condition. I have been given I don't know how many packs of dexamethasone and an IV drip, and what I am is fuming. Not at the Dr, but at the universe. Me, a stroke? Give me a (expletive) break. I don't get strokes, I don't get sick. I am going into "I am angry at the universe", which makes me more angry because, as it is well known, I do not believe in any of that. When somebody asks "Why Me?" when something bad happens, I think "Why not you? The universe does not care about you because the universe is not sentient". And now I am pulling the same (expletive)? C'mon.
So we both spend the night in an uncomfortable ER cubicle, unable to sleep, and at 7:30AM I ask if the neurologists have seen my case. Response: "No, they have not come down, they are checking the patients". Which I guess I gather makes me not a patient, and not worthy of triage level 2, a weird concept in view that I HAD A STROKE. Not only that, these doctors should be coming down and talking to me because a MRI says I had a stroke yet I am totally conversant. And angry.
Time passes and then another doctor (shift change, since I had been there now for 20 hours) comes to me and explains. He was checking the MRI and will call the neurologist and ask for my release because THE MRI IS PERFECT. I interrupt him and as him in ways more polite that my mental "WTF are you talking about?" to clarify. Did I or didn't I have a stroke? No, the MRI came perfectly clean, perfect image of my noggin, so I can be discharged. By now I know my mom has not slept one hour, neither has my sister and my GF and I are bent. They even had upgraded me to "possibility of falling" in my little board on the wall, which if I had had a marker, I would have corrected with "due to sleep depravation". The real diagnosis is indeed a mild face paralysis, virus related, and easily corrected with regular meds: acetaminophen, acyclovir, something else.
The Dr. signs my release, we walk back home. I have gone, in less than 24 hours, from mild discomfort, to suffering a bit of a strange syndrome, to having had a stroke, to nothing at all happening to me other than some condition easily treatable.
Days 4 and 5 of 2022. I wonder what the other 360 have in store.
by dryrunguy No words, ponchi. Except to say... I'm glad you're basically okay. And I'm really sorry it was such a horrendous experience.
by Jeff from TX Thankful that it was not a stroke and glad that you will be okay based on the prognosis. I'll look forward to your thoughtful reflections after you have had some more time to process the events.
by JazzNU Hope you're feeling better @ponchi. Good that it seems like something that will go away quickly.
I'm not trying to further freak you out, but...
Symptoms with a mini stroke do include eye drooping and temporary facial paralysis (also other things like speech impairment). Mini strokes can last for a very short amount of time, making them hard to identify at times, some people ignore the symptoms that they get. And symptoms typically disappear in under 24 hours. So yes, there is such a thing as a mini stroke, and they are appreciably better than a regular or major stroke by leaps and bounds.
Mini strokes are also called TIAs (transient ischemic attacks). It is possible to show a clean MRI if the mini-stroke has passed. Do you know if they ran the MRI with contrast?
I'd say, read up on them and follow up with your regular doctor soon to potentially make an appointment with a neurologist to make certain you didn't have a mini stroke and imaging just couldn't catch it the second time. Mini strokes can be an important warning signal for a future stroke, it can and has helped with identifying something that can be treated that will prevent the major stroke from occurring.
** My mom worked in rehabilitation medicine for most of her career and with stroke patients for many years. I paid attention. And I also volunteered on the stroke service.
by ponchi101 Thanks to all. It was a very hard 24 hours, specially for my family because they are so far away and, being Venezuela, there was no option anybody could come if the situation demanded it.
@JazzNu. Sure, there are mini strokes, and I have read about them. I perhaps didn't phrase it well, but the point is that it is something that can not be taken lightly. They did run a MRI with contrast and that is the one that they read. My question is that, despite the lid drooping (there was no face distortion) there were very few symptoms. For example: I have the gene that allows people to roll their tongues (like, make a little pipe with it). I lost that ability yesterday, and now, as I am recovering it, it is a bit twisted to that side. But coming back.
Good part of the story: relying solely on my Colombian Social Security ($35/month), a CAT Scan, a MRI, two drips and a full night at the ER cost me... $0. 11 years living here, and this country still surprises me.
by ti-amie
Thank goodness you're okay!
by Deuce If it continues, or recurs, take a look at this... A friend of mine had it and had no clue at all what was happening to him - it's a rather strange and mysterious thing...
by ponchi101 I did not want to go technical, but that is what has been diagnosed. Bell's Palsy or Syndrome. Treatable, in about two weeks. My GF says I look loser to normal already. Heck, I can still frown and brood and sulk, so I must be going back in track
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:59 am
@JazzNu. Sure, there are mini strokes, and I have read about them. I perhaps didn't phrase it well, but the point is that it is something that can not be taken lightly. They did run a MRI with contrast and that is the one that they read. My question is that, despite the lid drooping (there was no face distortion) there were very few symptoms. For example: I have the gene that allows people to roll their tongues (like, make a little pipe with it). I lost that ability yesterday, and now, as I am recovering it, it is a bit twisted to that side. But coming back.
I'm not sure, but I'll ask my mom, I'll talk to her in the next hour. Pretty certain that very few symptoms is not at all uncommon. But I'll report back soon.
by dryrunguy
JazzNU wrote: ↑Wed Jan 05, 2022 11:56 pm
Hope you're feeling better @ponchi. Good that it seems like something that will go away quickly.
I'm not trying to further freak you out, but...
Symptoms with a mini stroke do include eye drooping and temporary facial paralysis (also other things like speech impairment). Mini strokes can last for a very short amount of time, making them hard to identify at times, some people ignore the symptoms that they get. And symptoms typically disappear in under 24 hours. So yes, there is such a thing as a mini stroke, and they are appreciably better than a regular or major stroke by leaps and bounds.
Mini strokes are also called TIAs (transient ischemic attacks). It is possible to show a clean MRI if the mini-stroke has passed. Do you know if they ran the MRI with contrast?
I'd say, read up on them and follow up with your regular doctor soon to potentially make an appointment with a neurologist to make certain you didn't have a mini stroke and imaging just couldn't catch it the second time. Mini strokes can be an important warning signal for a future stroke, it can and has helped with identifying something that can be treated that will prevent the major stroke from occurring.
** My mom worked in rehabilitation medicine for most of her career and with stroke patients for many years. I paid attention. And I also volunteered on the stroke service.
Dolphins had a TIA a few years ago. I probably told the story here already, but in case I did not...
I was working at my desk, which is in my living room. He was sitting on the sofa. He wasn't feeling well. Dolphins looked at me and mumbled something. I did not understand him. I ask him to repeat it. Twice. He couldn't speak properly.
So I got up and looked at him face to face. He said it again: "Can you make me some cereal?" But I could clearly see the droop on the left side of his mouth.
Yes, TIAs are a thing and should be taken seriously. They are a far cry from the kind of stroke that kills you immediately or severely debilitates a person, but they are also a symptom of something much worse that could occur further down the road and require ongoing treatment.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 12:59 am
@JazzNu. Sure, there are mini strokes, and I have read about them. I perhaps didn't phrase it well, but the point is that it is something that can not be taken lightly. They did run a MRI with contrast and that is the one that they read. My question is that, despite the lid drooping (there was no face distortion) there were very few symptoms. For example: I have the gene that allows people to roll their tongues (like, make a little pipe with it). I lost that ability yesterday, and now, as I am recovering it, it is a bit twisted to that side. But coming back.
Okay, mom said few symptoms can be common for a mini stroke. There can be more, there can be less, can last for a few minutes, can last for longer like many hours, it all varies for the person. Some symptoms so minor that they can be missed, or from the way she described it, more overlooked or dismissed, and why some people do not get medical attention for it when it occurs. She thinks your healing timeline, already showing improvement seems like it could be a TIA. But that really, you should consider seeing a neurologist either way. Bell's Palsy is also a neurological condition, she said it affects the cranial nerve, so they'd be able to evaluate which one it is and any further steps.
FWIW, I have had family members and family friends that have had mini strokes and they have not had major strokes afterward. It is by no means a certainty that a mini stroke means a major stroke will occur down the line. But addressing it like they all did, being cautious is the best course of action just in case.
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 2:21 am
Dolphins had a TIA a few years ago. I probably told the story here already, but in case I did not...
I was working at my desk, which is in my living room. He was sitting on the sofa. He wasn't feeling well. Dolphins looked at me and mumbled something. I did not understand him. I ask him to repeat it. Twice. He couldn't speak properly.
So I got up and looked at him face to face. He said it again: "Can you make me some cereal?" But I could clearly see the droop on the left side of his mouth.
Yes, TIAs are a thing and should be taken seriously. They are a far cry from the kind of stroke that kills you immediately or severely debilitates a person, but they are also a symptom of something much worse that could occur further down the road and require ongoing treatment.
Yes, I remember. And the way that he presented is quite common. That's what I meant by speech impairment as well. They'll be talking but it'll be like gibberish, but the person speaking won't know it's coming out that way.
For those that are not that familiar with strokes, hopefully this discussion was at least a little bit helpful in learning more about them. Strokes are common, and the leading causes of disability in the US (which is why I said mini strokes are appreciably better, major strokes are a beast to come back from), but the average person knows very little about strokes and what to look for. They know about heart attacks.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 2:21 am
Dolphins had a TIA a few years ago. I probably told the story here already, but in case I did not...
I was working at my desk, which is in my living room. He was sitting on the sofa. He wasn't feeling well. Dolphins looked at me and mumbled something. I did not understand him. I ask him to repeat it. Twice. He couldn't speak properly.
So I got up and looked at him face to face. He said it again: "Can you make me some cereal?" But I could clearly see the droop on the left side of his mouth.
Yes, TIAs are a thing and should be taken seriously. They are a far cry from the kind of stroke that kills you immediately or severely debilitates a person, but they are also a symptom of something much worse that could occur further down the road and require ongoing treatment.
Yes, I remember. And the way that he presented is quite common. That's what I meant by speech impairment as well. They'll be talking but it'll be like gibberish, but the person speaking won't know it's coming out that way.
For those that are not that familiar with strokes, hopefully this discussion was at least a little bit helpful in learning more about them. Strokes are common, and the leading causes of disability in the US (which is why I said mini strokes are appreciably better, major strokes are a beast to come back from), but the average person knows very little about strokes and what to look for. They knew about heart attacks.
Given ponchi's story, I should mention that, obviously, I called 911 and had an ambulance take Dolphins to the hospital. They did all the tests, including an MRI. Nothing showed up. But I think that's how most TIAs go. They are very short term, disappear, and tend to leave no lasting evidence of any kind.
And you're absolutely right. Many people have a mild stroke, don't even know it, or loved ones don't even know what to look for or how to recognize it. THAT is when people can run into serious problems later on.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I should point out that, in Dolphins' case, the insurance company wasn't completely convinced he had a TIA. They balked about covering it.
So I sent them a slew of links to HHS agency educational videos (with those from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke at the top) describing best practices for how to handle a potential stroke, all of which included high-ranking NIH officials urging consumers to seek treatment at an emergency room ASAP and how a TIA may not show up on an MRI hours after it happens.
Within a week, they paid.
by mmmm8 Glad you are coming back to normal, ponchi. Scary and frustrating.
I've seen enough stuff happen to family, friends and colleagues the last couple years (even outside of COVID), to know this stuff can happen at any time regardless of general health level. It's also led me to believe the biggest contributor/predictor is stress... which just makes my stress levels higher, of course.
by ponchi101 Only one last comment, as I don't like to hijack topics (although, how can you hijack the RANDOM, RANDOM topic? )
Again, thanks for your words and good wishes. A great reminder that this forum is special because of the people, not the contents.
I woke up this morning and, after the effects of the dexamethasone wore out, I am basically back where I was on Tuesday. That seems to confirm that it was NOT a stroke/TIA, because those are one time events. This seems to line up with the last diagnostic of a virus induced paralysis. Also, this happened on Tuesday, and on Monday I did wake up with one of my "low tension" attacks, fueled by the last 18 months of anguish due to my labor situation. My brother IL tells me that indeed, these paralysis are highly related to stress, which right now, I am up to the brim with.
The main difference between the TIA and stroke possibility is that I never lost any mental/cognitive faculties. Indeed, I did walk to the hospital by myself (my sister already scalded me for doing that, don't worry) and did everything I had to by myself. Still, this is biased as I am the patient indeed, and I cannot rule out that I am looking at the evidence in a way to decrease its importance.
I started taking my medicines, expected recovery time is about 1 month, and I have to start doing physiotherapy for my face, which, you have to admit, sounds really funny.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:34 pm
Only one last comment, as I don't like to hijack topics (although, how can you hijack the RANDOM, RANDOM topic? )
Again, thanks for your words and good wishes. A great reminder that this forum is special because of the people, not the contents.
I woke up this morning and, after the effects of the dexamethasone wore out, I am basically back where I was on Tuesday. That seems to confirm that it was NOT a stroke/TIA, because those are one time events. This seems to line up with the last diagnostic of a virus induced paralysis. Also, this happened on Tuesday, and on Monday I did wake up with one of my "low tension" attacks, fueled by the last 18 months of anguish due to my labor situation. My brother IL tells me that indeed, these paralysis are highly related to stress, which right now, I am up to the brim with.
The main difference between the TIA and stroke possibility is that I never lost any mental/cognitive faculties. Indeed, I did walk to the hospital by myself (my sister already scalded me for doing that, don't worry) and did everything I had to by myself. Still, this is biased as I am the patient indeed, and I cannot rule out that I am looking at the evidence in a way to decrease its importance.
I started taking my medicines, expected recovery time is about 1 month, and I have to start doing physiotherapy for my face, which, you have to admit, sounds really funny.
by dmforever
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:34 pm
Only one last comment, as I don't like to hijack topics (although, how can you hijack the RANDOM, RANDOM topic? )
Again, thanks for your words and good wishes. A great reminder that this forum is special because of the people, not the contents.
I woke up this morning and, after the effects of the dexamethasone wore out, I am basically back where I was on Tuesday. That seems to confirm that it was NOT a stroke/TIA, because those are one time events. This seems to line up with the last diagnostic of a virus induced paralysis. Also, this happened on Tuesday, and on Monday I did wake up with one of my "low tension" attacks, fueled by the last 18 months of anguish due to my labor situation. My brother IL tells me that indeed, these paralysis are highly related to stress, which right now, I am up to the brim with.
The main difference between the TIA and stroke possibility is that I never lost any mental/cognitive faculties. Indeed, I did walk to the hospital by myself (my sister already scalded me for doing that, don't worry) and did everything I had to by myself. Still, this is biased as I am the patient indeed, and I cannot rule out that I am looking at the evidence in a way to decrease its importance.
I started taking my medicines, expected recovery time is about 1 month, and I have to start doing physiotherapy for my face, which, you have to admit, sounds really funny.
Ponchi, I somehow missed this thread before. I'm really sorry to hear about your medical problems. IF this place is special because of the group of people here, then you are the most special because of your time and effort to make this virtual space possible for the rest of us. If there is anything we can do, please let us know. I really hope that you make a speedy, complete recovery.
Take care.
Kevin
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 06, 2022 5:34 pm
The main difference between the TIA and stroke possibility is that I never lost any mental/cognitive faculties. Indeed, I did walk to the hospital by myself (my sister already scalded me for doing that, don't worry) and did everything I had to by myself. Still, this is biased as I am the patient indeed, and I cannot rule out that I am looking at the evidence in a way to decrease its importance.
I started taking my medicines, expected recovery time is about 1 month, and I have to start doing physiotherapy for my face, which, you have to admit, sounds really funny.
In case I wasn't clear about this before, you do not need to lose cognitive function to have a mini-stroke/TIA. For instance, some only have a dropping face, trouble walking, numbness in a limb, etc., but not a loss of some cognitive function. Strokes, mini and regular, present in a variety of ways, loss of cognitive function is just one. Happy to hear that you're unlikely to have had one though.
Physical therapy sounds appropriate. Have to regain strength in your facial muscles to correct the drooping.
If you haven't known anyone personally with Bell's Palsy, just know it is highly likely that in a few months if you commit to your therapy, someone you know but haven't seen in some time will see you and not know you had this problem unless you tell them about it.
by Deuce I’ve just watched this film, and I found it to be fascinating. I didn’t seek it out - it just happened to be on TV, and when I read the description, it intrigued me.
Beyond the sheer creativity and courage of the filmmaker to be among these people, and to challenge them face to face, the film insists on delving far beneath the mere surface of this issue... and beneath the surface, we find mental illness, childhood trauma, parental abuse and neglect, personal insecurity, high susceptibility to negative influence...
The film didn't so much offer astonishing revelations to me - I've 'picked the brains' of 'skinheads', etc. before - as it completely impressed me with the frank, thorough, efficient manner in which it was done.
There have been other films on this subject - but this is the best one I’ve seen. I find it to be very raw and real and sincere.
I would love to meet the filmmaker and talk with her... and give her an enormous hug.
Probably not easy to watch for some - but fascinating, fascinating stuff. I encourage everyone to take the time to watch it...
by Fastbackss Video unavailable - what was it?
by Deuce
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Fri Jan 07, 2022 11:34 am
Video unavailable - what was it?
Damn.
It still works fine for me within the post I put up. Must be a country restriction type of thing, as the network that put it on YouTube (TVO) is Canadian.
Since people have asked, here is the full story of the person unknown who is sleeping in my car
So for a while I’ve been confused by things happening with my Tesla, like i come down in the morning and the windows are vented or settings have just changed slightly
But it’s a Tesla, and it’s easy to hit random buttons on the screen or the app
I know, bougie problemz, (expletive) whatever
But a month or so ago I got in and the passenger seat was like fully reclined.
How?
It was bugging the (expletive) out of me for a while.
Then I just let it go
Then this morning I go to defrost the car on the app and it says the car is already super toasty, and the windows are vented.
This is called camp mode. I dunno, ask @elonmusk
Anyway, I get in and I’m waiting for my daughter so I can take her to school and I look at the passenger seat and
HOLY (expletive)
there’s a hat on it
A beanie
Specifically an England rugby beanie
Which if you know me, I would not allow in my (expletive) car
So I’m freaking out and I take it in the house and I’m like what the (expletive)
There is SOMEONE SLEEPING IN MY CAR
But I have to do the school run so I get back in the car, fully doing my nut
And I look around the car
And all the interior lights are on
And the dog’s blanket on the back seat is rolled up as a pillow
And there’s a coke baggie stuffed down the side of the seat
And the passenger seat is reclined
And my (expletive) @netflix is on the screen
And you know what, it has been killing me for months why my Netflix keeps reverting to French
But now I’m like - there’s a French person disguising themselves in an England rugby hat
Sleeping in my car
Or doing coke and chilling
But how are they getting in?
I think I usually lock the car but maybe I forget sometimes?
Or maybe my phone is in Bluetooth range in the house?
Because if you’re up to hacking a @Tesla I feel like maybe you aren’t living a transient lifestyle doing beak in my car
You’re into crypto fraud or some (expletive)
I dunno. Anyway.
The car is now on Sentry mode.
This will drain the goddamn battery.
But since I’ve been losing roughly 30 miles a night to the frigging Pink Panther watching Emily In Paris I think I can live with it
Thanks for listening. I’m bugging out about this.
@mikeskinnerltd i hope this does the job
UPDATE: daughter thinks this may be why someone has been watching The Conjuring on her Netflix. And Outer Banks
by JazzNU In case you're not on social media and you miss this going around.
by ti-amie
JazzNU wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 7:34 pm
In case you're not on social media and you miss this going around.
Jazz this won't load for me.
by ti-amie Via @juliusgoat and @threadreaderapp
Yes, the boat hit the iceberg, but putting the children in lifeboats is the most destructive thing imaginable to their psyche. It's time for us to stop all this evacuation talk and just complete the voyage.
Yes, the first 7 watertight compartments are now flooded with frigid North Sea water, but it's time for us to stop being ruled by our fears and get back to our normally scheduled travel. We MUST open the shuffleboard courts on the lido deck.
Look at children's faces when they're in lifeboats. They're frightened. They're confused. They don't want to be there. Their parents don't want them there. We need to put them back on the boat, whose deck is now pitched at 90 degrees.
It's time to declare this sinking OVER.
Look, I too want to survive this sinking, but I look at how people insist on wearing constrictive life-vests and taking to life boats and I sympathize with those who wants to spend their time drilling holes in the hull. Better to show this ocean we don't fear it than to cower.
Do you know what a full evacuation of this sinking ship will DO to our scheduled arrival time?
The cure can't be worse than the *glub glub glub*
Wow, there is a lot of drowning on both sides of this evacuation issue.
I don’t think people shoving their children into lifeboats understand how cruel they’re being.
Lifeboats are terrifying. They indicate a ship about to sink. What a terrible message to send impressionable children.
We need to trust parents as the true experts. Parents understand exactly how much sea water their child can swallow, and what their child’s core body temperature should be. It isn’t our place to shove our opinions on drowning down their throats.
What you alarmists in your lifeboat bubbles don’t realize is ordinary people don’t care about life jackets or buoyancy or physics, and when you talk about those things you sound out-of-touch.
Lifeboat isn’t real life. Go outside. Touch grass. Or seaweed; whatever’s down there.
If lifeboats work, then why are so many people in lifeboats still getting cold and wet. Answer me that.
The pro-evac crowd needs to improve its messaging.
I might get myocarditis from this fascist lifeboat, so I will choose to die in the ocean rather than risk it.
Remember: I will die *with* seawater in my lungs, not *of* seawater in my lungs.
I oppose measures to put out any rescue calls to nearby ships, when we don’t know the cost, and many survivors with means to pay might ride for free. I don’t want to create a culture of dependency and I fear many of the passengers in steerage will use their rescue to buy drugs.
Don’t call me anti-evac, that is a slur as bad as any that has been used in history.
Soon we will be forced to wear armbands to identify ourselves, like this one that I am wearing right now, which I made and put on myself, while I harass the crew, for trying to help.
These are the questions every evacuee of a sinking ship should be allowed to ask, at length, never moving until they are satisfied, regardless of their ignorance of evacuations or boatmaking, even if they're blocking the lifeboat line for everyone else.
JazzNU wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 7:34 pm
In case you're not on social media and you miss this going around.
Jazz this won't load for me.
That looks about right...
by JazzNU I'm not sure I've posted a FB link before, I assumed it would pre-populate the way the others do and not be any issues. Just in case there's a loading problem again. This is what that posts says.
Charcuterie Board of 2022
by ponchi101
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:50 pm
Via @juliusgoat and @threadreaderapp
Yes, the boat hit the iceberg, but putting the children in lifeboats is the most destructive thing imaginable to their psyche. It's time for us to stop all this evacuation talk and just complete the voyage.
...
While I agree with this, by now I am confused. Are we talking COVID crisis, or are we talking CLIMATE CHANGE?
You know, too many crises going one, really...
by ti-amie I put this here because I'm totally confused about his reasons for being in Belgrade.
by ponchi101
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 11:08 pm
I put this here because I'm totally confused about his reasons for being in Belgrade.
Because in Belgrade he will get support, while in Melbourne he will get deported too for not being vaccinated (I bet).
A simple case of "the bravery of being out of range".
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 09, 2022 11:09 pm
Because in Belgrade he will get support AND POSITIVE MEDIA COVERAGE, while in Melbourne he will get deported too for not being vaccinated (I bet).
A simple case of "the bravery of being out of range".
There, fixed it for ya
by Suliso Most popular cars sold in Switzerland in 2021
And here only electric ones
There is the great success of Tesla of course, but also note that 7/15 top sellers belong to Volkswagen group.
by ponchi101 It is going the same way as Linux. A huge initial bump, but then we have to see if it will sustain all the way to a total replacement of ICE cars. Norway is doing great with sales of EV's but, of course, both Norway and Switzerland are very wealthy countries with superb infrastructure. It would have to be seen if any third world country could emulate that, or many places in the USA.
by JazzNU There was a study done recently on preferences. US still barely wants plug-in electric. Gas is far preferred, and as I mentioned before, Hybrid is a choice for a decent percent and greatly preferred over plug-in, which ranks very low in consumer preference.
And when I see some poor soul sitting for hours behind Panera charging their electric car, it's not exactly difficult to understand why preferences are where they are. Acting like some cushy Tesla life is what's in everyone's future is such a joke.
by Fastbackss But I can mine crypto with my Tesla, yo
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 3:45 pm
It is going the same way as Linux. A huge initial bump, but then we have to see if it will sustain all the way to a total replacement of ICE cars. Norway is doing great with sales of EV's but, of course, both Norway and Switzerland are very wealthy countries with superb infrastructure. It would have to be seen if any third world country could emulate that, or many places in the USA.
Some data from Colombia, sales of EVs are up considerably vs traditional cars. Tesla are not yet distributing in Colombia, so any Teslas there are imported, seems like
JazzNU wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:36 pm
And when I see some poor soul sitting for hours behind Panera charging their electric car, it's not exactly difficult to understand why preferences are where they are. Acting like some cushy Tesla life is what's in everyone's future is such a joke.
Obviously Swiss (and Norwegians) strongly disagree. ICE cars will be phased out by law in most countries on the continent within 10-15 years (Norway first). We won't all be driving Tesla's though, there are cheaper solutions available (VW and Skoda, for example).
If I had a house (I don't) and needed a car (also don't) I'd probably only consider an electric car.
by Suliso Just to clarify sales of new ICE's will be phased out. You can continue to drive the older ones as long as they're road worthy.
by JazzNU
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 5:23 pm
Some data from Colombia, sales of EVs are up considerably vs traditional cars. Tesla are not yet distributing in Colombia, so any Teslas there are imported, seems like
Looks like percentages of EVs are up considerably. The EV sales themselves look rather paltry. Registered 3,651 units of electric and hybrid cars between January and April?
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 5:23 pm
Some data from Colombia, sales of EVs are up considerably vs traditional cars. Tesla are not yet distributing in Colombia, so any Teslas there are imported, seems like
Looks like percentages of EVs are up considerably. The EV sales themselves look rather paltry. Registered 3,651 units of electric and hybrid cars between January and April?
Yes, sorry, I meant up as a fraction of total sales of new cars. Overall, there were 173,121 new cars sold in 2020, so it's a very small percentage (a similar one to the US, I believe) and overall the market is small.
by Suliso Those markets are just going to skyrocket in the next 5-10 years as long as infrastructure can keep up.
by ponchi101 Yes. When you read the article, it seems there was some errors in editing. It claims that there were three million units sold, which has to be the total amount of cars, EV, ICE or Hybrids, sold. No way that that we would sell 3 million EV's down here.
Cars here are not cheap. Plus, one problem is, where to plug them. For example, I simply cannot buy an EV because my garage does not have a plug and, of course, I could not install a V440 outlet there. So, as most people in Bogota, I cannot buy an EV not because of other factors (right now, I can't afford it) but because of the logistics.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 6:10 pm
Yes. When you read the article, it seems there was some errors in editing. It claims that there were three million units sold, which has to be the total amount of cars, EV, ICE or Hybrids, sold. No way that that we would sell 3 million EV's down here.
Cars here are not cheap. Plus, one problem is, where to plug them. For example, I simply cannot buy an EV because my garage does not have a plug and, of course, I could not install a V440 outlet there. So, as most people in Bogota, I cannot buy an EV not because of other factors (right now, I can't afford it) but because of the logistics.
The 3 million is global EVs. I had to reread that paragraph 3 times.
by dryrunguy This is the current state of part of my front yard. All ice.
by ti-amie That cold weather is going to hit my neck of the woods tonight and tomorrow.
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:55 am
That cold weather is going to hit my neck of the woods tonight and tomorrow.
I thought it would have already hit you. It started here yesterday.
We have some hope for Wednesday and Thursday to warm up and melt a good bit.
Of course, our Canadian friends will sit back and laugh. They know much worse than this.
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:25 am
This is the current state of part of my front yard. All ice.
Is that from freezing rain? Melted snow?
Yeah, it'll be on the colder side til Wednesday here too. It should be somewhat sunny here then, hopefully for you too and then the sun will melt that, because the ground isn't likely to warm up til Thursday at the earliest.
by dryrunguy First, we had a few inches of snow. Then we had just a little freezing rain, but it was enough. Regular rain was supposed to follow the freezing rain, which would have helped a lot, but that never happened.
From what I saw on all the forecasts and radars, this storm was going to barely miss you and track north of you. And from what I've seen, that's what happened.
We've had far worse ice storms than this, that's for sure. But last night, I thought the view outside was rather pretty.
by JazzNU Wendy's social media team is exceptional and hilarious if you were unaware. They done this for a few years. If you visit the post, you can see many different brands telling Wendy's to roast them and their reply, many of them are very funny.
by ti-amie Hypertension sick of Variants getting all the press?
by ti-amie
by Deuce A few days ago, Owen posted in the 'In Memoriam' thread that Sinead O'Connor's 17 year old son committed suicide, and wondered how that would affect Sinead, as she's had her own struggles with her psychological well being.
Sinead has always been a controversial and polarizing figure - mostly because of the aggressive manner in which she has at times chosen to express that she is troubled.
No matter what you may think of her, this is quite sad...
by ponchi101 That was tear-jerking, in the good sense.
Now my GF needs some tissue.
by Deuce So do I...
by ti-amie
by JazzNU If you go to the article, it will link you to the Reddit thread that this is based on if you're interested in seeing more replies.
by ti-amie Sick of "Wordle" posts?
by ponchi101 Makes you wonder what the "serious" mathematicians are playing, then.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 I always wonder why these people think this is "real money". It is money quoted on some other money. It did not wipe out any trillion dollars or market value. The market value wasn't there, to begin with.
by ti-amie This is here because it's not quite sports, it's not only C-19/Omicron VOC and it's not quite politics.
by JazzNU
by MJ2004 Only in New York!
by JazzNU
by ti-amie Fraudgers is also trending...
by ti-amie
by JazzNU This Wordle craze is really strange. Glad everyone is enjoying it and I get that part, but everyone acting like this ish is brand new when it's just Lingo.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Thanks. That ties with the idea of the afternoon "siesta". Take a quick 30 minutes nap, and by now I gather everybody knows it is actually good for you.
Says the person that sleeps like a log for straight periods of time at night, most of the nights.
by ti-amie I've read several articles about sleep patterns lately and almost all of them avoid talking about the siesta still taken in many countries. I have no idea why that is.
by Suliso Siesta is traditionally taken because it was too hot to work during the middle of the day. Hence Spain not Sweden.
by ti-amie
by JazzNU Football adjacent, but really just a public service
by ponchi101 Who is Jackson Mahones? Obviously family of Patrick, but... who?
by Fastbackss He is Patrick's brother, who envisions himself a social media superstar, and posts ungodly embarrassing and often debasing videos - frequently around Patrick's equally obnoxious fiancee
by JazzNU
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 12:44 am
He is Patrick's brother, who envisions himself a social media superstar, and posts ungodly embarrassing and often debasing videos - frequently around Patrick's equally obnoxious fiancee
Whatever you're thinking @ponchi, it's worse. Just TikTok hell out of both of them, a ton of which is on the NFL field and from the suites.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by dryrunguy That reminds me of when I was in kindergarten or first grade, and my oldest brother got his driver's license. (Big mistake.). Anyway, he was driving us to school, and he saw a huge flock of birds flying off to our right.
He yelled, "Look at the birds! Look at the birds!"
And then he crashed into a stopped car in front of us that was waiting to turn left into a parking lot.
So it'll stay as it is for 1-3 months, be "free" with a NY times account for 6 months and be restricted to paid subscribers in under a year, right? Good move killing the fun NY Times. That being said, good on the developer for getting paid.
So it'll stay as it is for 1-3 months, be "free" with a NY times account for 6 months and be restricted to paid subscribers in under a year, right? Good move killing the fun NY Times. That being said, good on the developer for getting paid.
I agree on all points. It was fun while it lasted. Low seven would be less than $10m?
by ti-amie
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 01, 2022 7:21 pm
I agree on all points. It was fun while it lasted. Low seven would be less than $10m?
Yeah, I'm thinking in the $2-5 million ballpark based on the phrasing
by dryrunguy Just texted my mother to warn her Jim Cantore is currently located about 1 hour south of her.
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:45 pm
Just texted my mother to warn her Jim Cantore is currently located about 1 hour south of her.
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 03, 2022 4:45 pm
Just texted my mother to warn her Jim Cantore is currently located about 1 hour south of her.
I love the towns and businesses that put up signs.
Two percent of Australians live in the part colored yellow.
^ Thats because Bernard Tomic lives in the yellow area, right?
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Re all the crypto ads of late:
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Gary Trudeau, of Doonesbury, defined today what social media is for (paraphrasing the comic)
Facebook is to get misinformed and angry.
Instagram is all about envy.
TikTok is to show off
Twitter is for snark and self promotion.
What can you get out of all of these platforms? In the best case, the approval of strangers.
---0---
I can't find anything wrong with these definitions (says the old foggie that is in none of the platforms).
by ti-amie Out of the first three listed I don't use Facebook or Tik Tok. I look at cats on IG or if a tennis player has posted an InstaStory I'm interest in.
As for Twitter if you want news, sports or entertainment breaking news it's the best platform. There is a lot of self promotion right now but that's fairly recent.
by dryrunguy
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 20, 2022 4:43 pm
Gary Trudeau, of Doonesbury, defined today what social media is for (paraphrasing the comic)
Facebook is to get misinformed and angry.
Instagram is all about envy.
TikTok is to show off
Twitter is for snark and self promotion.
What can you get out of all of these platforms? In the best case, the approval of strangers.
---0---
I can't find anything wrong with these definitions (says the old foggie that is in none of the platforms).
What about YouTube?
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 20, 2022 4:43 pm
Gary Trudeau, of Doonesbury, defined today what social media is for (paraphrasing the comic)
Facebook is to get misinformed and angry.
Instagram is all about envy.
TikTok is to show off
Twitter is for snark and self promotion.
What can you get out of all of these platforms? In the best case, the approval of strangers.
---0---
I can't find anything wrong with these definitions (says the old foggie that is in none of the platforms).
None of them are particularly accurate.
by Deuce My definition is that all 'social media' platforms are for desperate self promotion and showing off. It's the equivalent of walking around inside a shopping mall and yelling out "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! PLEASE LOOK AT ME! AND LOOK WHAT I LIKE!"
It gives everyone a stage to 'achieve' notoriety or 'fame'- to some degree. The infamous '15 minutes of fame' has unfortunately morphed into a hope of 15 YEARS of 'fame'.
And the more insecure one is, the more one will use it - and often, the more negative the effects will be. Adolescents are particularly fragile emotionally - and a lot of of adolescent depression and even suicides can be directly traced to their use of 'social media'.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 20, 2022 4:43 pm
Gary Trudeau, of Doonesbury, defined today what social media is for (paraphrasing the comic)
Facebook is to get misinformed and angry.
Instagram is all about envy.
TikTok is to show off
Twitter is for snark and self promotion.
What can you get out of all of these platforms? In the best case, the approval of strangers.
---0---
I can't find anything wrong with these definitions (says the old foggie that is in none of the platforms).
None of them are particularly accurate.
I am going to make myself a geritol milk-shake
by Fastbackss
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 12:30 am
My definition is that all 'social media' platforms are for desperate self promotion and showing off. It's the equivalent of walking around inside a shopping mall and yelling out "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! PLEASE LOOK AT ME! AND LOOK WHAT I LIKE!"
It gives everyone a stage to 'achieve' notoriety or 'fame'- to some degree. The infamous '15 minutes of fame' has unfortunately morphed into a hope of 15 YEARS of 'fame'.
And the more insecure one is, the more one will use it - and often, the more negative the effects will be. Adolescents are particularly fragile emotionally - and a lot of of adolescent depression and even suicides can be directly traced to their use of 'social media'.
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 12:30 am
My definition is that all 'social media' platforms are for desperate self promotion and showing off. It's the equivalent of walking around inside a shopping mall and yelling out "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! PLEASE LOOK AT ME! AND LOOK WHAT I LIKE!"
It gives everyone a stage to 'achieve' notoriety or 'fame'- to some degree. The infamous '15 minutes of fame' has unfortunately morphed into a hope of 15 YEARS of 'fame'.
And the more insecure one is, the more one will use it - and often, the more negative the effects will be. Adolescents are particularly fragile emotionally - and a lot of of adolescent depression and even suicides can be directly traced to their use of 'social media'.
Overall, we were all much better off without it.
Are you on social media?
I have a facebook account - only to access certain events which are inaccessible without an account. I never post anything on my account - my 'page', or 'wall', or whatever it's called, is blank, and has been from the outset.
But I know plenty of people who are active on the popular 'social medias', and I've talked with them about it. And I've seen what goes on there.
I've talked with psychologists and sociologists about 'social media'.
Most importantly, I've seen the social change that has come with the popularity of 'social media'. And I find it significantly negative.
The original blueprint of facebook was to take as much advantage of people's insecurities and vulnerabilities as possible. Psychologically, it approached brilliance - devise an environment where people's appetite is insatiable; where the more attention ('likes', etc.) they get, the more they need...
Brilliant - but also incredibly selfish and harmful.
Once that blueprint proved 'successful' in getting people hooked, other 'social media' platforms copied it, naturally.
The users are viewed as commodities; as mere pawns in the game.
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 12:40 pm
TAT2 is kind of a social media as well.
KIND OF???!!! I have been busting my butt for a year and a half and all I get is KIND OF???!!!
(Joking).
We are completely social media; with a few exceptions, most of us have never seen each other in person, yet interact frequently here.
Still, boards are a fringe of social media. I am registered in two other boards: one for drones, and one for BMW's. The drone site has 140K members, the Bimmer site has 32K. Those numbers make them irrelevant and easy to patrol online. Us, with only 200 members, are basically a kindergarten in a small town.
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 12:40 pm
TAT2 is kind of a social media as well.
KIND OF???!!! I have been busting my butt for a year and a half and all I get is KIND OF???!!!
(Joking).
We are completely social media; with a few exceptions, most of us have never seen each other in person, yet interact frequently here.
Still, boards are a fringe of social media. I am registered in two other boards: one for drones, and one for BMW's. The drone site has 140K members, the Bimmer site has 32K. Those numbers make them irrelevant and easy to patrol online. Us, with only 200 members, are basically a kindergarten in a small town.
I think of our community as a boutique, that small shop where you can go and find exactly what you want - in this case intelligent conversation about tennis and other sports as well as current events. I don't subscribe to non tennis boards anymore. The two I subscribe to are full of young people who rarely watch tennis but have opinions about players that border, in some cases, on the unhinged or are downright sexist. h
I wonder how many of the members of the sites you mentioned are active?
I think of our community as a boutique, that small shop where you can go and find exactly what you want - in this case intelligent conversation about tennis and other sports as well as current events. I don't subscribe to non tennis boards anymore. The two I subscribe to are full of young people who rarely watch tennis but have opinions about players that border, in some cases, on the unhinged or are downright sexist. h
I wonder how many of the members of the sites you mentioned are active?
A boutique
The drone and Bimmer forums are as you say. Thousands of members but they are very specific in that we go there for technical issues. For example, I went into the Bimmer forum after I was unable to fix a problem with my car and did a web search, and I found these people, who have a lot of expertise. The drone forum was the same, just looking for very specific technical support.
But I gather that, keeping the volumes in perspective, they also have a small size of people that are there frequently and the rest simply signed up, found the info they needed and have not returned again. And will do so only when they have a new problem. I am that way with the drones forum. Once I found the info, I have not been there in a while.
Intelligent conversations there? A few in the bimmer forum, zero with the dronies.
by JazzNU Might want to think about filling up your cars, and containers if you use gas for other things, ASAP. Gas prices will surely keep increasing, with the potential to spike quickly in the coming days, with Putin losing his damn mind like this.
by ponchi101
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 12:55 am
Might want to think about filling up your cars, and containers if you use gas for other things, ASAP. Gas prices will surely keep increasing, with the potential to spike quickly in the coming days, with Putin losing his damn mind like this.
Russia controls 10% of all the world's oil. Saudi Arabia, where his buddy MSB rules, a bit more than that. Oil will break the $100/BBl mark this week, for sure. If not tomorrow.
So yes, that new EV Hummer is looking a lot better these days.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 1:56 am
So yes, that new EV Hummer is looking a lot better these days.
A lot more has to happen before an EV looks anything approaching good to me. But a hybrid looks more appealing for sure.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 1:56 am
So yes, that new EV Hummer is looking a lot better these days.
A lot more has to happen before an EV looks anything approaching good to me. But a hybrid looks more appealing for sure.
We’re on our second Prius and would like to switch soon to a Prius Prime. Except supply chain- barely any car availability. We’ll see.
Hybrids are great- over 50mpg with no change in driving behavior.
We just test drove the VW ID.4. 250 mile range. Not gonna happen until range increases and charging is faster and everywhere.
Good to know.
And yeah. that 250 is yikes for me. When I pass the EV cars charging at the rest stops on the NJ Turkpike looking like they are there for a long slumber I just think, not in a million years. That's just not how you do a road trip to me, so the range has to be considerably more than it is on average before I give them a look.
by ponchi101 I say: I want a BMW i3, FOR THE CITY. And keep my gasoline car for road trips.
Of course, I take no road trips in Colombia, and as long as the Colombian government charges me more for my electricity because of the area I live in, I am not ready for an EV.
Still, I use a lot of public transport and my legs down there (might fuel my car twice a year, really).
by JazzNU Not making light of what's happening, just unbelievable that a gaffe like this could happen, it doesn't even look real. If you can't even come close to seeing humor in a mistake in the coverage of the Invasion of Ukraine, this is one to skip altogether and I hope you don't take offense to me posting it.
► Show Spoiler
by ti-amie I mean you have to laugh at that. Not hilarious that's funny but maybe sardonic laughter.
by ponchi101 Pretty... tone deaf?
by meganfernandez
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 7:56 pm
I mean you have to laugh at that. Not hilarious that's funny but maybe sardonic laughter.
I chuckled in a shaking-my-head way, fully aware that I enjoy the luxury and privilege to do so. I hate that song, too.
by ti-amie
by JazzNU
by JazzNU And in case you missed it, the H and T were already guessed...
by dryrunguy That poor woman.
by dryrunguy Meanwhile...
by ti-amieI am [M34] and my wife is [F29]. She has asked me to pay her almost $50,000 to have our child, and I'm not quite sure what to do.
I have known/been dating my wife for 6 years, and we have been spiritually married for 2 years. We are not legally married, although at this point we are essentially common law.
We are both high earners (both earning over $175k a year after tax). We purchased our home together and we have agreed to split the finances 50-50. We paid for our wedding, honeymoon, everything 50-50, although I did pay for the cost of our rings and her engagement ring. Our mortgage payments were 50-50 and we comfortably own our home now, so much of our income goes to savings, investments, home improvements and discretionary spending.
Because of our incomes, we felt it would be best to keep our finances separate - we're both highly independent people and both very career driven. It's part of the reason I'm so attracted to her - she's amazing at what she does, and I'm so proud to be able to introduce her as my wife and explain what she does.
Unfortunately our first two years of marriage were hampered by COVID and lockdowns. We would have loved to have traveled and saved up quite a bit in order to do this. A couple months ago we had a talk and decided it might be a good time to have kids instead of continuously waiting for better or safer travel conditions. Without too serious discussion about it, we decided to stop using birth control and let things happen as they will.
Yesterday I came home and my wife was on the phone. She seemed like she was in a hurry to end her conversation and tried to evade my question when I asked who she was talking to. It was her sister. They don't talk a lot, so that was a bit weird. She still works from home, so she continued to do some work, then we had dinner and watched some news. Regular, pleasant evening. Then she says she wants to have a serious talk, and asks me to make us some tea and meet her upstairs at her work desk.
I make the tea, bring it up, and she starts talking financials.
Her work place allows for maternity leave for up to a year, but only provides 50% of her salary for up to 6 months. The remaining 6 months is unpaid. She was very direct, and said that while her insurance would cover the vast majority of hospital related costs during pregnancy and childbirth, taking a 6 month break from work would cost her almost $50,000 since her pay would be cut in half. She is asking me to compensate her for that $50,000, in addition to agreeing to split any related but unexpected costs to pregnancy and childbirth. Her stance is that she is doing something for us to start a family, but it is not a true 50-50 split if she is expected to take a financial hit for it and I am not, given that our finances are separate. She had a printed list of expectations in terms of what she expected financially, listed some things that her insurance may not cover.
I see the logic in that, but I am really very turned off by this because she is essentially asking me to pay her to have our child (or children?).
She saw my hesitation and just doubled down. While her ideal is to return to work after 6 months, she says it's a real possibility that she may require more time off and decide, as things happen, to take up to a year off. So, she had another plan drafted for that. For the first 6 months, her work will give her 50% of her salary, and I would compensate her for the rest, but for the next 6 months, since her work would not compensate her, and because this loss is something she is doing for the family, she is "comfortable splitting the loss of her income", and only asking me for 50% of her salary instead of 100% for the second 6 month period, and she will take the loss of 50% of her salary. The idea I guess is that both of us "suffer" half the loss of income for the second 6 month period. However, if she takes 7 to 11 months off, any months after the 6th can be prorated.
She expressed that she anticipates and hopes to return to work in 6 months, but that she wants a contingency plan in the event that she requires a year off. She said that taking more than a year off is something she is very unlikely to do as it would put her job at risk, but that she's open to exploring a third plan with me if I feel that it's necessary.
There are also detailed notes about how she wants to keep housework split, with plans to start saving for both childcare and additional housekeeper expenses for at least the first four years. I kid you not, it's a 16 page ring binder that she handed me with detailed notes, some explanations, and lists of expenses.
But the immediate and essential element here is that, she wants me to pay her $50,000 - $100,000 to compensate for the loss of her salary for 6-12 months as a result of her having our child.
I really do not know how to process this. My first thought is shock, because, despite our salaries, $50k-$100k is a lot to demand. The idea of a payment plan to have a child is just gross. And many couples manage to do this without paying their wives to have children. But then, I suppose most couples are married legally and a loss to one person's income is a loss to everyone. So in our situation, it makes logical sense, but there's something so transactional about it that puts a bad taste in my mouth.
I didn't fight it or argue, and she's basically allowing me to think about it, but says if having kids is something we're going to do, she wants to write up an agreement and go to a lawyer (splitting the cost of that is ALSO in the binder).
What really hits me here is that she was talking to her sister on the same day she brings this up to me. Why on that day? On the same day she mentions this to me? They do not talk often. I am partially excited and scared that the timing of this means that she is actually currently pregnant and that my response to her will have real consequences if I disagree with her. She has previously had an abortion, and only told me after the fact (almost a year later), because it was early into dating. I was shocked to learn that when I did, but supported her choice as it's her body, and at the time having kids would have been the wrong decision for us. Still, the fact that she makes decisions like that so independently has me incredibly cautious right now.
I checked trash cans and such for a pregnancy test but didn't find anything. She also asked for tea instead of coffee, but maybe that is overthinking it because she likes both. I want to ask her if she's pregnant, but we both had busy days today, and I was processing and it didn't even occur to me on the day we first discussed this. Definitely a conversation to have, but I don't know whether that should influence my response here.
tl;dr: My wife and I both earn over $175k a year and we are considering having children. She is asking me to compensate her for 6 to 12 months as compensation for the time she will have to take off to have our child. I do not know whether she is pregnant.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 03, 2022 8:04 pm
I'm at a loss about this one.
Their entire "marriage" has been transactional, why is it suddenly gross when it comes to a kid where she is taking on the grand majority of the risk and burden? He can high tail it out of there very, very easily too given it's not a real marriage that would be recognized anywhere as legal. Doesn't even sound like he suggested a a counter that she didn't have to pay anything towards their 50-50 split for the year in lieu of payment directly to her. He doesn't seem to appreciate that their setup doesn't give her any security during her pregnancy and maternity leave, and any potential consequences the leave has on her standing at work and why she'd ask this given how things have been so far in their "spiritual marriage." I don't know why he's surprised by any of this, it seems to be very much in keeping with their relationship setup.
But their relationship seems weird as hell to me. And doesn't seem like there's a lot of trust. Not sure why they aren't really married, but it seems that might go along with it.
by mmmm8 1. She should have charged him an hourly rate for all the planning work she did to prepare her proposal
2. Maybe he doesn't mention it because it's irrelevant, but where is his parental leave in all this?
3. It hasn't even occurred to him to suggest they just combine their finances since they are taking on a joint risk together.
4. There is no common-law marriage status in the US (some states have it)
In general, this woman should ask for more. The career break is likely to impede her career and slow down her salary growth beyond the direct loss, plus, the company likely won't be making any retirement contributions (and potentially paying for other benefits) on her behalf while she's on leave, so that's an additional loss.
by Fastbackss "It's nothing personal; it's just business. "
-David Samson
The transactional comment was correct. As was the comment about the binder. I am not going to wade into this one at all but will add a peripheral comment.
He makes 175K a year. So maybe he normally eschews social media.
There is NO way this wasn't going to go viral and likely the wife will find out. I bet she ups the charge
(And when I read the sister comment I thought for sure the sister was asked to be surrogate so wife could keep working)
by ti-amie I'm having a hard time sympathizing...
AITA for not telling my mom about my viagra?
nsfw
For you guys to be able to give an accurate judgement, this story requires backstory. Let me start of by saying I love mom. My mom is awesome and I wish her no ill-will. However, my mom is nosy as (expletive). Nosy. As. (expletive).
When I was growing up, she was the typical read-your-diary, go-through-the-nightstand, read-your-texts kind of a mom. It was all kind of chalked up to, over protective parenting. The situation got unbearable for me in college. My freshman and sophomore year I went to community college and lived at home (my parents had just gotten divorced) and like many other males I was horny. In my horniness, I went to the doctor and found out that I had contracted the clap (an sexually transmitted disease for any foreigners in the thread, treatable). A bill or something like that came in the mail for me and not only did my mom open it and read it (and pay for it) but she told my family about it. How did I find out? At thanksgiving when my aunt brought it up at the dinner table in front of a bunch of other family members who then proceeded to lecture me about safe sex.
Fast forward to today, I moved out after sophomore year and took a real step back from my family to figure out my life and where I wanted it to go. Went to pilot training, got on with an airline, life is good. My mom and I recently started slowly reconnecting and when I transferred base to my hometown, she offered to let me live in and use her house as my address because she now spends so much time with her boyfriend that she’s barely around. I would pay the bills, no rent, and I would put her on my flight benefits. Fair trade.
Well, my girlfriend and I decided to try out an online product. It’s a honey that supposedly has low doses of viagra in it to, you know it’s called a male supplement honey. Well, I got it delivered to the house but then flew back to back for like two weeks and didn’t make it home. Mid trip, I get angry calls and texts from my family saying that my mom went to the hospital thinking she was having a heart attack or tachycardia. Turns out my mom opened the mail, ate the honey, and was feeling the effects. Apparently I should have warned her that a box with my name on it was going to be coming with a perverted honey in it. Even my dad is siding with my mom and I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Am I the asshole for not telling her I got viagra sent to the house?
Edit: two things, I moved out and also, my mom went to the er but they discharged her. She got a little high blood pressure and that was it. Viagra isn’t fatal to women and there’s not enough in the honey. She just had a strong reaction to it and she so over the top that she decided to admit herself. She literally drove herself to the ER.
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 04, 2022 9:37 pm
I'm having a hard time sympathizing...
With who? I'm NTA on that one. I had no idea at all where that was going, but I didn't think it was going to be mom opening his mail and blaming him for doing it.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri Mar 04, 2022 9:37 pm
I'm having a hard time sympathizing...
With who? I'm NTA on that one. I had no idea at all where that was going, but I didn't think it was going to be mom opening his mail and blaming him for doing it.
I was joking...
He's NTA.
by ponchi101 The two steps of telling your GF about your viagra regime.
First time. You tell her. She looks at you in disgust: "You took A PILL?!", the underlying tone being "you need to take a pill because you don't find me attractive anymore".
Second time. You are in an amorous mood. She asks: "You took a pill?", the underlying tone being "last time it worked really well, so if you did not, I can wait a little".
It is a joke that has to be acted.
---0---
Nope, that guy is NTA. You opened somebody else's mail, you lost automatically. Something about privacy and all that jazz.
by JazzNU
by ponchi101 That was great!
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 And they can vote.
Nazi-Ponchi101 says: ....
You know what I say.
by dryrunguy I'm embarrassed by the fact that I actually knew precisely what she meant.
by dmforever
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 07, 2022 10:39 pm
I'm embarrassed by the fact that I actually knew precisely what she meant.
I"m embarrassed that I didn't. Did she mean digitize?
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Mar 07, 2022 10:39 pm
I'm embarrassed by the fact that I actually knew precisely what she meant.
I"m embarrassed that I didn't. Did she mean digitize?
Kevin
Part of it. You get a vaccine. Which means you get the chip. And then the government can take over your body (essentially turning you into a robot).
Oh that. Well, of course that. That's totally obvious. I thought she was saying something that everyone doesn't already know.
Kevin
by Deuce
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 07, 2022 10:34 pm
And they can vote.
^ Even worse than that - they can reproduce!
by ti-amie
On Saturday a man attempted to gain entrance to the museum with an expired membership, NYPD officials said. (Photo by FNTV)
NYPD: Man and woman stabbed inside MOMA in Midtown
By Estefania Hernandez New York City
PUBLISHED 5:22 PM ET Mar. 12, 2022
NEW YORK - Police said they are searching for an individual who stabbed two employees inside the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday.
The man and the woman who were taken to Bellevue Hospital are expected to survive, officials said.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. a man attempted to gain entrance to the museum with an expired membership, NYPD officials said at a news conference.
Police say the individual proceeded to jump over the reception desk to attack two workers. The victims received stab wounds to the back of the neck and collarbones, officials said.
Museum security was present at the scene, and police said the incident was "spontaneous" and "rapidly unfolded" before security could respond.
The NYPD said the individual has two prior "disorderly conduct" incidents on two separate dates and he is known to the staff. Police said he is not a previous employee.
Police in the vicinity are searching for a man wearing a black coat, colorful shirt and blue surgical mask.
A spokesperson for the mayor's office said, “This appears to be an isolated, criminal incident. Neither victim is suffering from life-threatening injuries at this time. The mayor will continue to monitor the situation and the progress of the two victims."
Mental health professionals and sociologists have their hands full. Psychotic breaks don't only happen in poor neighborhoods and end in violence.
by Suliso The picture below summarizes trends in internet usage for 11-17 year old Austrians. I wonder how different it would look elsewhere in EU or in USA. Percentage indicate difference from an identical survey in 2021.
by MJ2004 No Twitter?
by Suliso
MJ2004 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 2:26 pmNo Twitter?
Oh, I didn't even notice... Either teenagers don't use it much or maybe they were not asked about it?
by skatingfan Under 30% for Facebook - how that trend continues as these teens & tweens move into adulthood, and whether Instagram remains popular, or whether Facebook will need to find a new app to bring in younger generations.
by mmmm8 I thought I and some of my contacts were the only person still using skype.
by ponchi101 Skype has gone heavily corporate. Several oil giants use it for internal comms.
WA is so huge because it can sub for regular phone, in countries that do not have UNLIMITED calling plans. That is the reason it is used so much. I bet usage in L. America is as high.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 6:36 pm
Skype has gone heavily corporate. Several oil giants use it for internal comms.
WA is so huge because it can sub for regular phone, in countries that do not have UNLIMITED calling plans. That is the reason it is used so much. I bet usage in L. America is as high.
WA usage is high in the Caribbean too.
by ti-amie This newborn is like "Is this it? Really?" The eyerolls!
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 13, 2022 6:36 pm
Skype has gone heavily corporate. Several oil giants use it for internal comms.
WA is so huge because it can sub for regular phone, in countries that do not have UNLIMITED calling plans. That is the reason it is used so much. I bet usage in L. America is as high.
Microsoft is switching most corporates from Skype to Teams now.
WA is popular everywhere except maybe some countries in East Asia.
by Suliso
by Suliso The sky was orange in Switzerland as well few days ago, but the severity was nothing like south of the Alps. By the way it's a completely natural phenomenon. Has been happening for thousands of years.
by Deuce
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 5:11 pm
The sky was orange in Switzerland as well few days ago, but the severity was nothing like south of the Alps. By the way it's a completely natural phenomenon. Has been happening for thousands of years.
^ Thousands of years?? I don't think so.
Impossible.
That would mean that the world existed before 'social media', and you'll have a very difficult time convincing most people of that!
by skatingfan My mom got a new puppy on Thursday - Border Collie, Hound, Beagle mix named Molly.
by ponchi101 That's a cute dog
by ti-amie
by Deuce ^ This is certainly not a new phenomenon - it has been the case for a long time...
It's just that certain events (like COVID-19, wars, etc.) put a spotlight on it.
And the internet helps to spread the BS much more quickly, and to more people, than at any other time in history.
"If you wish to strive for peace of soul and pleasure, then believe; if you wish to be a devotee of truth, then inquire." - Friedrich Nietzsche.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Read all of the signs in every room carefully...
by ponchi101 I would still buy the house.
And sure, drop the signs
by ti-amie The house itself is really nice and tastefully staged except for, well, some of the signage...
by Suliso Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
by dmforever
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
I had to google it, so that's obviously a no from me, though I'm curious to try it. Have you?
Kevin
by ti-amie
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
I had to google it, so that's obviously a no from me, though I'm curious to try it. Have you?
No, before reading a BBC article about it yesterday I didn't know it exists. Was just wondering if it's any more familiar to those of you who grew up in its native area.
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
I had to google it, so that's obviously a no from me, though I'm curious to try it. Have you?
No, before reading a BBC article about it yesterday I didn't know it exists. Was just wondering if it's any more familiar to those of you who grew up in its native area.
I'll keep my eyes out for it. I wonder if it has another name...
Kevin
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
It sounded vaguely familiar but I had to look it up. Have never tried it.
by dryrunguy
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
Are we talking about puppies or grandfathers?
by ponchi101 And...... we have a winner!!!!
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Apr 26, 2022 5:23 pm
Have any of you living in US eaten pawpaw?
It took me a while to recognize them.
I have a tree in my garden. Down here they are called FEIJOA (fay-hoe-uh), and the ones you posted are actually very, very big. The ones in my garden are about half the size.
They are a family of the guavas. They are tart and sweet, with a pulpy inside. You can eat the rind or peel them (I eat the rind) and are extremely juicy. If you find them, do try them. I find them delicious.
by Suliso
I think he has a point.
by ponchi101 And a very good one.
However, I do have a friend that is basically health-obsessed, and he is mostly happy. My loony friend N, also a non-believer in modern medicine, rabid hater of Fauci et al, and certainly happier in life than I am.
But it is Nassim Nicholas Taleb, so he should know a bit or two about black swans.
by Suliso Want a flying car (toy)? This one could be yours for just 92,000 $ and delivery in 2023.
by ponchi101 A giant drone
Having said that. When you fly helicopters, there is this thing called "The Dead Man's Curve". It is when you are flying so low that, if something were to go wrong, you would fall at the exact speed at which you would fall too slowly to autorotate, but high enough for the crash to kill you.
That little drone looks to be high enough for serious injuries, too low to deploy a parachute. So.... I want one, but over water.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu May 05, 2022 3:13 pm
And a very good one.
However, I do have a friend that is basically health-obsessed, and he is mostly happy. My loony friend N, also a non-believer in modern medicine, rabid hater of Fauci et al, and certainly happier in life than I am.
But it is Nassim Nicholas Taleb, so he should know a bit or two about black swans.
I agree with his premise, but I met Taleb maybe 15 years ago and he didn't seem too joyous either.
I agree with his premise, but I met Taleb maybe 15 years ago and he didn't seem too joyous either.
I think The Black Swan is a very good book. But he is a serious man, after all
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Well, there is a man that has his priorities straight
by Deuce In a world of so much self-serving BS and apathy, I like seeing a person of principle - whether I agree with the person's position and/or his/her manner of protest or not.
It's so difficult to find people today who actually BELIEVE in something - other than in greed and selfishness.
In this case with James Cromwell, I agree with his position - though his manner of protest can certainly be improved.
(This guy played 'Stretch Cunningham', after all...)
Give me a break. As someone who has buys both regular and plant based milk- Cow's milk costs about $1.50 for a half gallon. Soy milk and almond milk in the neighborhood of $3.00-$4.00. Oat Milk about $4.50-$6.00.
I'm up for protesting Starbucks prices overall (though I'd prefer the messenger not be a millionaire who can easily afford the cost and could've sprung for the drinks of everyone in the store), but the price difference between the milks is valid and has nothing to do with Starbucks.
by Suliso Starbucks is overpriced for sure, but it's not any kind of necessity to go there.
by ponchi101 Supply, demand, economics. Soy and almond milk are more expensive because productions costs are, simply, more expensive. Any of these "milks" (they are really not milk) are new formulations, and they take way more expenditures to produce.
Go and get the new one: cashew milk. Cashews are terribly expensive, so you need to factor that into the cost of your milk. Just like coconut milk, which is the same pattern.
And like Suliso says. Nobody is forcing you to go to Starbucks AND order your triple-latte-smoked-almonds-milk Tetrapuccino. I know that in the USA you don't have the same number of coffee shops as here in Colombia, but Starbucks is a luxury, not a necessity.
by JazzNU Didn't know about the cost of cashews. Here, cashew milk isn't that much more expensive than almond milk to my knowledge. I tried it a few years ago, not bad, like the thickness, but the nutty flavor carries through to much for what I was using it for.
And yeah, none of them are milk. I support all of the fakes/alternatives being forced to come up with original verbiage, not piggyback and benefit off the food they so greatly object to.
by JazzNU
by ponchi101
JazzNU wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 3:51 pm
Didn't know about the cost of cashews. Here, cashew milk isn't that much more expensive than almond milk to my knowledge. I tried it a few years ago, not bad, like the thickness, but the nutty flavor carries through to much for what I was using it for.
And yeah, none of them are milk. I support all of the fakes/alternatives being forced to come up with original verbiage, not piggyback and benefit off the food they so greatly object to.
One example of the expenditures. A popular figure quoted by environmentalists for the production of almonds is that you need 10,000 lts of water to produce a kilo of almonds. That is not correct; they misquote the number of liters of water needed to SUSTAIN an almonds tree plantation, which does not translate exactly into a kilo of almonds (the tree, after all, stands there, an obvious environmental benefit). But it is one simple example of how expensive these nuts are. Seeing as the main producer of almonds in the USA is California, which is in a constant drought, the costs are clear to see.
by dave g Change of topic:
We used to have a much bar-themed Loser's Lounge in our Suicide Draw Pool. Do we want to go back to that bar theme? It would require a some more help. Specifically, we would need:
1. Someone to find a bar themed picture to include in the first post.
2. Someone to post a "Jukebox from Hell" selection.
3. Someone to come by and act as bartender on occassion by posting pictures of the drinks requested.
While, I would like to get back to that theme, I am not interested in taking on any of these tasks. Do we have anybody interested in taking on these tasks?
by ponchi101 Just to clarify. Dave is not "not interested" just per se. He is doing a lot of other stuff involving the SP (basically, running it).
I would like to keep it, but my pop-music knowhow (current music) is deplorable. It would truly be a jukebox from hell, if left to me.
by ponchi101 Nowhere to put this news but in the RANDOM topic, as we still don't have a LUNATIC topic:
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk said on Wednesday that while he voted for Democrats in the past, he will now vote for Republicans.
"In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party. But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican," he tweeted.
Sure, the GOP is the party of unity and love.
"In the past, I drank Vodka because it was a drink of mild potency. But now, it has become a drink that induces weird hallucinations in me. So, I will now start drinking 100% Kentucky Moonshine, to curb my insatiable visions".
Makes sense.
by Suliso Biden doesn't support his business. Obama did. That's all.
by ponchi101 Sure, but isn't that really childish? It is not as if Tesla is not successful under Dem administrations. And, if he really wants a world of only EV's, the GOP is not the party that will help him do it.
He is very confusing. He wants to "save the planet" by moving everything to an electric future, but will not allow unions in his factories. He wants "a better world" for everyone, but he wants everyone to work 70 hours a week. He will vote republican, while republicans still deny climate change and will certainly back O&G companies before they back him. I mean, I SHOULD VOTE republican; this environmental movement is slowly killing me with an industry that is disappearing. But I still can keep my personal issue separate from the global issues. He seems unable to do that.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu May 19, 2022 4:50 pm
Sure, but isn't that really childish? Tesla is not ONLY successful because of Dem administrations.
Fixed that for you. Tesla is nothing without the billions in government subsidies it received from state and federal Democratic administrations promoting environmentally friendly programs.
by Suliso That's how it started for sure. Now it's wildly profitable. Might even be the most profitable car company per unit sold.
by ti-amie For some reason Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones has been trending on Twitter. Keith is a walking meme of course but this is my favorite.
This is second.
Third
by Deuce I believe I've stated previously that Elon Musk is not a psychologically stable human being...
by ti-amie Be careful folks. Do like this woman and report this sort of thing to the FTC
by ponchi101 I get one of those once a week, at least. And I mean here in Colombia.
by ti-amie As a break from the madness of this past week I would recommend PBS two part nature series on Colombia. It's beautifully shot, the narrator is a native Spanish speaker so the place names are pronounced correctly, and it's a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours. It's also hones about the role FARC played and is still playing in the country.
The first part focuses on the Orinoco River and the Amazon basin. The first part also shows indigenous people in a positive light including the traditional way the coca leaf is used.
The second takes you on a tour from the Andes to the Pacific coast.
by ponchi101 It is a spectacular country, geographically. Very much en par with Venezuela, Peru and Argentina.
Only problem is how to get to these beautiful places. Very much en par with Venezuela, as Peru an Argentina have a better developed tourist industry.
by Suliso We're considering our first ever South America trip, maybe next year or the one after. Not decided yet where exactly, but most likely Patagonia.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Sat May 28, 2022 3:02 pm
We're considering our first ever South America trip, maybe next year or the one after. Not decided yet where exactly, but most likely Patagonia.
If you go Argie first:
Buenos Aires. You will have to enter the country that way, anyway.
The Lakes region: Bariloche, San Martin.
The Glacier region. It is incredible.
Try the far south. Ushuaia is a marvel.
by JazzNU Wasn't sure where to put this.
The fascination and focus of the cameraman during the Nadal vs. Zverev match on Sienna Miller was killing me. I assume these are Eurosport cameras and I know she's pretty famous in the UK, but still, I just started laughing at a certain point from just how many times she was shown. I've seen legitimate movie stars shown much less than she was.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 On. The. (expletive). Money.
I still say it. The cell/smart phone is the worst invention of the 20th century.
by Deuce But the reality is far worse than the mere inconvenience of the 'pocket phone' ringing at awkward moments...
Having the internet in one's pocket gives 24 hour a day access to the internet and all the garbage within it (cough - 'Social media' - cough), as well as destroying true, meaningful communication between people, encouraging endless gossip, making people more and more intellectually lazy, etc., etc...
by Owendonovan
Deuce wrote: ↑Sat Jun 04, 2022 2:15 am
But the reality is far worse than the mere inconvenience of the 'pocket phone' ringing at awkward moments...
Having the internet in one's pocket gives 24 hour a day access to the internet and all the garbage within it (cough - 'Social media' - cough), as well as destroying true, meaningful communication between people, encouraging endless gossip, making people more and more intellectually lazy, etc., etc...
A true day off for me is when I leave my phone on the charger. I hate that it's required for me, a physical education teacher, to have my phone on me at all times. My husband hates when I don't have my phone, but he has live with it. If you tell me you'll meet me at 7 pm, I'll believe you. I don't need a text every 10 mins informing of your progress towards me at 7 pm. I could go on and on of how phones have diminished the experience of living......
by ponchi101 That is why they are so perverse. Don't get me wrong; I have a smartphone and they do offer some fantastic APPS, many of which I use for work. And, googlemaps is an incredible tool for travelers.
But the idea that you MUST be available 24/7/365 is sickening. The idea that anybody can contact you at any time is sick. I live, of course, far from my family but even when I need/want to talk to them, I always message them to ask if I can call. In countries like Colombia, with no laws to regulate use, I wonder what kind of abuse a boss can impart on workers, who must keep their phones on at all times.
All in all, I gather I would rather not have them. How I wish to receive one letter from a friend, one postcard that I can stick to my fridge.
by Suliso I'm betting that you're all older than me.
by ponchi101 And wiser...
Yes, it is old foggie's talk. But, you have to admit. We may be (I don't know about Owen or Deuce) part of the generation that grew up without these items, and therefore we can compare how it was then against to what it is now. Business wise, it makes no difference to me as I do not work (or did not work) in offices, so it would not apply to me. But I have been with friends that have received a text from their boss on a Saturday afternoon.
It is basically a very intruding technology. Not to mention, the maniacal surveillance that parents now have over their kids. It is insane.
by Deuce Indeed, we can compare life before and after these invasive technologies, which gives us a decided advantage and a multi-dimensional perspective.
People used to communicate with each other directly. Now, it's not people communicating with each other, it's one machine communicating with another machine. All communication passes through these technological filters now, which lessens the direct experience.
A few years ago, I was with a woman in a romantic setting - we were alone in a quiet, dark, tranquil place... it was beautiful...
At least, I thought we were alone... Then, all of a sudden, her cell phone makes a noise - to indicate an incoming text message. I was quite upset upon being slapped in the face with this new reality that it's impossible to be alone with someone now, because everyone is carrying 75 people in their pocket, any one of whom could pop up at any time!
(Sure, she turned her cell phone off after the intrusion - but the mood had been ruined.)
A hand written letter is akin to sending a part of you to the person - it is so much more personal than generic type-written words... And hand written letters required effort and thought and were only written when there was something meaningful to share... whereas today, trivial, hollow nothingness is the what is most often shared - because it's so easy.
E mail replaced phone calls/conversations and hand written letters... text messages replaced E mails... 'social media' replaced real direct relationships...
It's not a question of enhancement - it has been outright replacement. The internet and cell phones and ubiquitous availability has replaced real communication with a mere impostor of real communication. Nothing of profound or meaningful value can be communicated in a text message (or 12)! And all of that has led to the deterioration of relationships... because when true communication is lacking, all relationships suffer.
I learned some time ago that the human animal will abuse absolutely everything it comes into contact with. This is how inventions which have wonderful potential to educate - like television, the internet, etc. - become negatives for society.
Thoreau foresaw this when he wrote: “Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end... We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate... We are eager to tunnel under the Atlantic and bring the old world some weeks nearer to the new; but perchance the first news that will leak through into the broad flapping American ear will be that Princess Adelaide has the whooping cough.”
by Deuce Those in Canada probably know the name and story of Amanda Todd...
Those in other countries may not know of her. I hope you will read the article linked to below to know her story, as the story and the person deserve to be known.
This is also a cautionary tale about seeking fame, and of the dangers that lurk on the internet - and why children need to be protected now more than ever before - because they are so naive and fragile and because there are many bad things and bad people on the internet.
Amanda Todd Trial Begins...
If this man is guilty - as it certainly seems he is - I would love for him to be sentenced to 5 minutes in a locked room with me.
Please watch this tragically captivating video of Amanda telling her story of depression and desperation and begging for help with flash cards.
I cry every time I watch it.
For those wishing to go deeper into Amanda's story, and who want to get to know her a little better, you can watch this documentary report...
by ti-amie SIGH
by ti-amie This post on reddit/AITA has gone viral with one woman posting a treatise on how this behavior is not pathological. She has had to lock her account because, well, how do you invite people to a wedding and when they get there tell them they can get food from the vending machines? I know about cosplay and other fandoms - Star Wars, LOTR, etc., but really?
AITA for not having catering at my wedding?
My (F28) and my fiancée (M30) just got married two months ago and we had our dream wedding. Everything was perfect, and I mean everything. My parents and his parents helped us pay for a great chunk of the wedding so we would be debt free and we are so eternally grateful for that.
The issue arose about a month and a half ago when my aunt started posting on facebook about how disappointed she was with the whole ordeal and a few guests sided with her.
Background-my fiancée and I are huge Disney fans, and we travel to Disney World as much as we can throughout the year. Disney is such an important part not only to us, but also our marriage.
The issue was with our decision to not offer catering services/bar services at our wedding due to routing the money towards having a wedding Minnie and Mickey make appearances at our special day. The cost to have both Minnie and Mickey for a good chunk of time (30 minutes) was almost exactly what our parents allotted for our catering budget, so we scheduled an appearance during our first dance and our wedding photos, forgoing served food (though there were PLENTY of facilities at the venue where people could eat…).
My parents were still very supportive of us, but everyone is else is being passive aggressive about it on Facebook.
AITA?
EDIT (Info): To those asking if the guests were “warned”, we CLEARLY outlined in the invitations that there was food available at the venue. We didn’t exactly spell out every restaurant’s MENU, but it was certainly mentioned. There were also vending machines available throughout.
EDIT 2 (Info): for everyone saying that’s it’s too much for 30 minutes, I want to clarify that it was two(2) 30 minute sessions on different days. $2750 was the cost for one session.
by ponchi101 I don't know if AITA's. But tacky, for sure...
by Owendonovan A new wave of first-time gun owners are rushing to buy weapons: Black Americans
“ I didn’t want a gun; I’m not a gun person. But this world has made me get one.“
by ponchi101 As long as they get training and keep them safe, it is hard to go against that logic. In the USA.
by JazzNU
by ponchi101 By now, a lot of things that Elon Musk is involved in are simply so odd they have to go in the RANDOM topic.
I am not particularly fond of the HuffPost, but this seems legit:
Summary. The guy that wants to own Twitter so it will be truly a free speech platform, fired some people for an open letter.
He is starting to sound a lot like Julian Assange (the consummate reporter that walked out of interviews when he did not like the questions).
by Deuce A Czech friend sent this to me. The article appears to be a not very good translation, so I've cleaned it up a bit, and the result is below.
Wasps “improved” the statue of Karel Havlichka Borovsky
Volunteer policemen and firefighters from Hořice in the Jicinsk region are a bit curious and smiling. A wasp’s nest was removed from the statue of Karel Gavlichka Borovsky. The insects built their nest in a rather interesting place – right between the writer’s legs. The nest could not even be found at first.
The police arrived the statue on Friday afternoon after receiving a warning about a dangerous wasp nest at the monument to Karel Havlicek Borovsky. “Based on the announcement, the patrol went to check the situation, but the location of the nest was not completely clear at first glance,” described the police from Hořice.
This was probably because it resembled a man’s genitals, and it was also right between the legs of the famous revivalist. They then called volunteer firefighters to help and cleaned up the nest together. “Some primary school children are allergic and may be at risk of a serious reaction if they are stung by these insects. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening.” they added.
The monument to Karel Havlicek Borovsky, a famous Czech journalist, poet and writer, has stood on Jablonsky Street in a park next to the Habru Primary School since 1929.
by ti-amie What can you say?
by dryrunguy
by ponchi101 ...
Wait. Is it really funny?
by Cuckoo4Coco Why is it funny? Do those numbers have something to do with old people eating a burger at a playground? I don't understand why that would be funny. Although it is so stupid I just laughed.
No definitely before my time just looking at the video and seeing the clothes and listening to the tune.
by dryrunguy A little, Cuckoo... That song is 40 years old.
by ponchi101 I cracked at the first post, and then this?
Too rich again.
Cuckoo4Coco wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:31 pm
Why is it funny? Do those numbers have something to do with old people eating a burger at a playground? I don't understand why that would be funny. Although it is so stupid I just laughed.
Which is exactly how the person at the McDonald's must have felt.
by ti-amie If the server had yelled out 634 I would've yelled out 5789.
I'll go eat my burger outside too. And pour one out for that guy on the guitar...
by Cuckoo4Coco I asked my mom who is in her 40's if she knew the 867 song and she said yes of course. She said even though she was really little when the song came out she still knows the song.
by ponchi101 Re-reading some old stuff, I came upon this:
Good government never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those that administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders.
Law and Governance.
The Spacing Guild Manual.
---0---
In reality, from CHILDREN OF DUNE, book 3 of the original DUNE Tetralogy. Frank Herbert, 1976.
I imagine a few 'For Sale' signs will go up for houses in the immediate neighbourhood very soon...
by dryrunguy More Darwin awards.
by ti-amie
by Deuce Pocket recording devices combined with the attention one gets by sharing on the internet has led to many deaths from people who want to record dangerous events - be it something natural like an avalanche, or some kind of stupid stunt they perform.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Not forever. It is a fantastic illusion, but you can flip back and forth between the circles and rectangles.
by Deuce This is, in my view, an absolutely excellent first-person article.
I have long felt that the recent 'popular trend' of changing one's gender is in large part a product of the 'political correctness' movement, which uses and exploits individual insecurity to further their very questionable agendas... I've felt that whatever problems or sadness is present in the lives of people who change gender will still be present after the gender change; that the pretty promises that this very radical change will eradicate their problems was a very false - and very dangerous - promise.
This article takes the same position - written by a person who came very close to changing genders, and is immensely thankful that she did not do it.
Various life problems and sadness and depression are profound, complicated issues... They cannot be solved by one action.
Relevant quotation: “Travelling is a fool's paradise. Our first journeys discover to us the indifference of places. At home I dream that at Naples, at Rome, I can be intoxicated with beauty, and lose my sadness. I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea, and at last wake up in Naples, and there beside me is the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from. I seek the Vatican, and the palaces. I affect to be intoxicated with sights and suggestions, but I am not intoxicated. My giant goes with me wherever I go.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
by Suliso Euro is so cheap these days, less than a Swiss Franc for the first time ever I believe. Our long weekend (3 days) trip to Germany is going to cost barely more than 50% of a similar long weekend trip we had two weeks ago within Switzerland.
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 3:25 pm
Euro is so cheap these days, less than a Swiss Franc for the first time ever I believe. Our long weekend (3 days) trip to Germany is going to cost barely more than 50% of a similar long weekend trip we had two weeks ago within Switzerland.
Switzerland doesn't use the euro?
by Suliso No, we're not even in EU
by Cuckoo4Coco
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:29 pm
No, we're not even in EU
What? Wait a minute, Switzerland is not in Europe?
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 7:29 pm
No, we're not even in EU
What? Wait a minute, Switzerland is not in Europe?
No - Switzerland is nowhere and belongs to nothing.
It's neutral.
I know I have heard that it is neutral in everything and always have been told that it stays out of all conflicts, but in all of my History & Geography books they tell me that Switzerland is located in Central Europe.
by ponchi101 It is in Central Europe, but it does not belong to the European Union because if they were to do so, their banking laws would have to be in tandem with the rest of Europe, and their central Bank would fall under the supervision of Brussels.
The EU is nothing but a club, and Switzerland would rather not be in it. Because if they were, everybody with a secretly stashed account there would have to declare it in their home country. Imagine the funds withdrawal if that were to happen.
by Cuckoo4Coco
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:06 pm
It is in Central Europe, but it does not belong to the European Union because if they were to do so, their banking laws would have to be in tandem with the rest of Europe, and their central Bank would fall under the supervision of Brussels.
The EU is nothing but a club, and Switzerland would rather not be in it. Because if they were, everybody with a secretly stashed account there would have to declare it in their home country. Imagine the funds withdrawal if that were to happen.
I just learned something about World Economy & Finance and I did it on a Tennis site.
by ponchi101 Seriously speaking. The depth and breath of this forum would surprise you. Suliso is a very accomplished chemist. Others here are basically experts in world economics and very well read in history and geography. Literature is a forte.
If you need some advice and information on technical aspects, at times, this is not a bad place to start.
by dryrunguy Butt Im zuh smartist 1 hear--jist sew evry1 nose...
by Cuckoo4Coco
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:38 pm
Seriously speaking. The depth and breath of this forum would surprise you. Suliso is a very accomplished chemist. Others here are basically experts in world economics and very well read in history and geography. Literature is a forte.
If you need some advice and information on technical aspects, at times, this is not a bad place to start.
So what you are actually saying is if I need someone to do my homework for me, I'm covered?
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:38 pm
Seriously speaking. The depth and breath of this forum would surprise you. Suliso is a very accomplished chemist. Others here are basically experts in world economics and very well read in history and geography. Literature is a forte.
If you need some advice and information on technical aspects, at times, this is not a bad place to start.
So what you are actually saying is if I need someone to do my homework for me, I'm covered?
No... It's more like if you need someone to provide you with a convenient, efficient, and articulate excuse for NOT DOING your homework, you're in the right place.
by Suliso There was a referendum on joining EU in the early 90-ties. The idea was rejected. Government maybe thought about banking, but population mostly didn't like the idea of sponsoring poorer countries.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 11:38 pm
Seriously speaking. The depth and breath of this forum would surprise you. Suliso is a very accomplished chemist. Others here are basically experts in world economics and very well read in history and geography. Literature is a forte.
If you need some advice and information on technical aspects, at times, this is not a bad place to start.
So what you are actually saying is if I need someone to do my homework for me, I'm covered?
No... It's more like if you need someone to provide you with a convenient, efficient, and articulate excuse for NOT DOING your homework, you're in the right place.
I like the way you think. Not sure if my teachers or my mom would like it, but ya know.
I actually would never get anyone to do my homework for me. I am actually a really nerdy type who always does her homework and studies.
by ponchi101
Cuckoo4Coco wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2022 12:44 pm
...
I like the way you think. Not sure if my teachers or my mom would like it, but ya know.
I actually would never get anyone to do my homework for me. I am actually a really nerdy type who always does her homework and studies.
Good to hear that. No, we would not make your homework. But, next time you are writing a paper on Why the Earth is Flat, Proof that Dinosaurs co-inhabited Earth with Human, Vaccines lead to Autism, or many relevant modern topics, we could help.
Dry, especially, is very good with grammar.
And, although I just praised the forum, some of us are nothing more than walking advertisements for the re-introduction of electroshock therapy in society. You will figure out who.
Cuckoo4Coco wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2022 12:44 pm
...
I like the way you think. Not sure if my teachers or my mom would like it, but ya know.
I actually would never get anyone to do my homework for me. I am actually a really nerdy type who always does her homework and studies.
Good to hear that. No, we would not make your homework. But, next time you are writing a paper on Why the Earth is Flat, Proof that Dinosaurs co-inhabited Earth with Human, Vaccines lead to Autism, or many relevant modern topics, we could help.
Dry, especially, is very good with grammar.
And, although I just praised the forum, some of us are nothing more than walking advertisements for the re-introduction of electroshock therapy in society. You will figure out who.
Not sure I will write on those topics, but I am taking American Literature this year and I am pretty sure I will have quite a few book summary reports to write. I am taking United States History this year as well and there also might be some papers, but not many probably. The Science I am taking this year is Physics so I am not sure what to expect. I also take Religion since my school is a Private Catholic School and there are some papers we write in that class. I take the Religion class every year we just learn different things. My other class like Trigonometry, Java Programming, Studio Art 3, and Yearbook won't have any papers.
by Deuce
Cuckoo4Coco wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2022 2:54 pm
Not sure I will write on those topics, but I am taking American Literature this year and I am pretty sure I will have quite a few book summary reports to write. I am taking United States History this year as well and there also might be some papers, but not many probably. The Science I am taking this year is Physics so I am not sure what to expect. I also take Religion since my school is a Private Catholic School and there are some papers we write in that class. I take the Religion class every year we just learn different things. My other class like Trigonometry, Java Programming, Studio Art 3, and Yearbook won't have any papers.
I'm curious how private Catholic schools handle the subject of sex education - because it's well known that the Catholic system of religion often ignores topics related to sexuality (or even condemns it).
You're obviously in high school now, but were you also in a private Catholic school for primary school, which is when sex ed usually begins?
I'm curious to know how your current high school deals with sex ed, and also how a private Catholic primary school deals with sex ed, if you attended a private Catholic school before entering high school.
Thanks.
Cuckoo4Coco wrote: ↑Sat Jul 30, 2022 2:54 pm
Not sure I will write on those topics, but I am taking American Literature this year and I am pretty sure I will have quite a few book summary reports to write. I am taking United States History this year as well and there also might be some papers, but not many probably. The Science I am taking this year is Physics so I am not sure what to expect. I also take Religion since my school is a Private Catholic School and there are some papers we write in that class. I take the Religion class every year we just learn different things. My other class like Trigonometry, Java Programming, Studio Art 3, and Yearbook won't have any papers.
I'm curious how private Catholic schools handle the subject of sex education - because it's well known that the Catholic system of religion often ignores topics related to sexuality (or even condemns it).
You're obviously in high school now, but were you also in a private Catholic school for primary school, which is when sex ed usually begins?
I'm curious to know how your current high school deals with sex ed, and also how a private Catholic primary school deals with sex ed, if you attended a private Catholic school before entering high school.
Thanks.
Yes, I have attended Private Catholic Education since Pre Kindergarten. They teach abstinence as the main thing for Sex Education. They also cover what is called Natural Family Planning which is a form of birth control that involves temperature checks, charting, when you are ovulating & your menstrual cycle. They do not believe in contraception. In the primary years they do not get into the Natural family planning method. It is only until we enter high school that they touch on that. My mom being a Physicians Assistant has talked to me and taught me way more about that sort of stuff than anything they try to teach in school.
by ti-amie
by Deuce ^ There are no possible words to describe that.
It's just...
by Cuckoo4Coco
Deuce wrote: ↑Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:37 am
^ There are no possible words to describe that.
It's just...
The world today is a complete mess to have to think something like that would have to be written. Totally sad.
The world today is a complete mess to have to think something like that would have to be written. Totally sad.
In this case, sorry, not THE WORLD. Mass shootings are 99% an exclusively American phenomenon.
I get that, but they do happen in other places as well. Yes, in America it is the largest problem that some stupid politicians don't seem to think is an issue .
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by Deuce ^ If that is a genuine photograph, it's wonderful.
But it's likely yet another photo that's been manipulated and enhanced in Photoshop or a similar program.
I can't look at any photograph now without wondering if it's authentic (untouched) or not. As such, I can't really appreciate photography anymore.
A photograph is what comes out of a camera without having been manipulated. Any manipulation, and it is no longer a photograph, but is merely an image. The images can be beautiful. But it is not a capture of real life - it is a manipulated version of real life - and so is, to me, not authentic or genuine.
Some 25 years ago or so, when digital photography was in its infancy, a professional photographer said to me "You know, a photo used to be proof that something happened. But today, with all of the technology available, a photo doesn't prove anything at all. And it's a damned shame."
I fully agree.
by ti-amie Deuce you should look at the winners of Sports Photography awards in the "Other Sports" thread.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by MJ2004 You can see the original photo here. The original photo was wonderful, but the version posted above has had some of the colors slightly modified.
Why on Earth apologize? It was a joke - and a very good one, at that!
It's so sad that the 'political correctness' lobby has such a powerful influence.
Pathetic, actually.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 What craftmanship!
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie This was deleted from reddit but the Twitter account posted a screen cap.
And yes this woman is the a**hole
by ponchi101 She had made the rule clear.
by ti-amie Bra straps? It happens whether you want them to show or not. It's not like she was wearing short shorts and her cheeks were hanging out.
by ponchi101 I know. I am on the edge here. I certainly don't mind bra straps, but here in L America we have much stricter dress codes.
I guess I really don't know. Second reading, I lean a bit more towards Yes-IATA.
by Deuce .
It shows a few different angles...
by ponchi101 I believe it is in St. Marteen, in the Caribbean. Famous for being one of the easiest approaches on Earth, followed by one of the hardest landings. The runway is spectacularly short.
^ Note the nothingness in the lower left-hand corner. Go and hold your loved ones tightly tonight, as this obviously signifies the beginning of the end of the universe!
^ Note the nothingness in the lower left-hand corner. Go and hold your loved ones tightly tonight, as this obviously signifies the beginning of the end of the universe!
Sometimes on Twitter if you move your cursor over a picture that happens. I have no idea why.
At least this isn't a slice of chorizo...
by Deuce No... this time, it's a photo of a jellyfish at night.
Jeez... I just noticed that now the upper right corner is nothingness, as well.
It wasn't like that before - HONEST!! It was just the lower left corner before!
This is definitive proof that the universe is ending - and that it's occurring more rapidly than I thought!
by ponchi101
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 14, 2022 2:13 am
...
Sometimes on Twitter if you move your cursor over a picture that happens. I have no idea why.
At least this isn't a slice of chorizo...
Hey! Don't punch down on the chorizo!!!
(That was such a great joke. And then people complain that scientists have no sense of humor... )
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Just as I was ruminating about this...
by mmmm8
Deuce wrote: ↑Fri Jul 29, 2022 2:49 am
This is, in my view, an absolutely excellent first-person article.
I have long felt that the recent 'popular trend' of changing one's gender is in large part a product of the 'political correctness' movement, which uses and exploits individual insecurity to further their very questionable agendas... I've felt that whatever problems or sadness is present in the lives of people who change gender will still be present after the gender change; that the pretty promises that this very radical change will eradicate their problems was a very false - and very dangerous - promise.
This article takes the same position - written by a person who came very close to changing genders, and is immensely thankful that she did not do it.
Various life problems and sadness and depression are profound, complicated issues... They cannot be solved by one action.
Relevant quotation: “Travelling is a fool's paradise. Our first journeys discover to us the indifference of places. At home I dream that at Naples, at Rome, I can be intoxicated with beauty, and lose my sadness. I pack my trunk, embrace my friends, embark on the sea, and at last wake up in Naples, and there beside me is the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical, that I fled from. I seek the Vatican, and the palaces. I affect to be intoxicated with sights and suggestions, but I am not intoxicated. My giant goes with me wherever I go.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sorry to come back to this post 2 weeks later, but it was unanswered and I'm not comfortable with that as a member of TAT and as a moderator. The aim here is to have an inclusive community and, I hope, not tell 1-3% of the population they're a fad.
You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but just want to point out again that there is a huge body of clinical research on gender dysphoria and it is fully valid and recognized on the DSM-5. Gender, like sexuality, can be fluid and this person in the article may have evolved to find themselves in a different place than where they thought they were. That happens, it's a minority. This does not negate millions of people over the years who have lived with a gender different from one assigned at birth - and many died because of it. Any trans or non-binary person I've met have known since childhood - and they're mostly my age, so their childhood was 30+ years ago, way before some acceptance - or become a "popular trend," as you say - came with being transgender. Moreover, no person that transitions has the illusion that transitioning will solve their problems, mental health-related ones or any others. They know transitioning is extremely difficult.
Finally, gender transition is not "one action," it is a years-long, sometimes decades-long process and in fact could mean different things. Most trans people don't actually go through gender affirmation surgery. That's partially due to the potential cost and the difficulty to access the surgery, but many are just fine with hormone treatment and cosmetic procedures. In a few countries (and US states) gender change is just completing an official form, in most, it's jumping through years of medical - and sometimes legal - hoops. No one takes this decision lightly.
by Deuce I stand by my post.
by ponchi101 Serious here.
Why is this (gender dysphoria) recognized in the DSM-5, which means it is seen as a "Mental Disorder"? (That is what DSM stands for).
by Deuce She could have achieved essentially the same thing in Canada...
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:09 am
Serious here.
Why is this (gender dysphoria) recognized in the DSM-5, which means it is seen as a "Mental Disorder"? (That is what DSM stands for).
Serious answer that I think answers your implication:
It's a condition that results from living in the wrong sex, so the disorder isn't that the person has something that erroneously makes them think they're in the wrong gender, but that the trauma and the distress caused by living in the wrong gender is so severe as to be a mental health condition.
Think about post-traumatic stress, also on the DSM-5. When someone who, say, lived through a war, experiences a trauma response to gunshot noises, it's because of the trauma connected to those noises (rather than that they are delusional about having gone to war).
Both PTS (formerly PTSD) and gender dysphoria (formerly gender identity disorder) have had the word disorder taken out of the official verbiage precisely to avoid the misconception you are having.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:09 am
Serious here.
Why is this (gender dysphoria) recognized in the DSM-5, which means it is seen as a "Mental Disorder"? (That is what DSM stands for).
Serious answer that I think answers your implication:
It's a condition that results from the difficulty of living in the wrong gender, so the disorder isn't that the person has something that erroneously makes them think they're in the wrong gender, but that the trauma and the distress caused by living in the wrong gender is so severe as to be a mental health condition.
Think about post-traumatic stress, also on the DSM-5. When someone who, say, lived through a war, experiences a trauma response to gunshot noises, it's because of the trauma connected to those noises (rather than that they are delusional about having gone to war).
Both PTS (formerly PTSD) and gender dysphoria (formerly gender identity disorder) have had the word disorder taken out of the official verbiage precisely to avoid the misconception you are having.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:09 am
Serious here.
Why is this (gender dysphoria) recognized in the DSM-5, which means it is seen as a "Mental Disorder"? (That is what DSM stands for).
Serious answer that I think answers your implication:
It's a condition that results from living in the wrong sex, so the disorder isn't that the person has something that erroneously makes them think they're in the wrong gender, but that the trauma and the distress caused by living in the wrong gender is so severe as to be a mental health condition.
Think about post-traumatic stress, also on the DSM-5. When someone who, say, lived through a war, experiences a trauma response to gunshot noises, it's because of the trauma connected to those noises (rather than that they are delusional about having gone to war).
Both PTS (formerly PTSD) and gender dysphoria (formerly gender identity disorder) have had the word disorder taken out of the official verbiage precisely to avoid the misconception you are having.
Thanks.
Last post from me in this subject. I don't have a misconception, I have a disagreement.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 1:57 pm
Thanks.
Last post from me in this subject. I don't have a misconception, I have a disagreement.
Your disagreement isn't with me. It's with the medical community
I'll be honest, this is no different to me than being anti-vaxx or people going crazy about GMO foods and chemicals without understanding the science. But at least vaccines or food safety affect one personally, I don't see how there is any stake for you in this.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 1:57 pm
Thanks.
Last post from me in this subject. I don't have a misconception, I have a disagreement.
Your disagreement isn't with me. It's with the medical community
I'll be honest, this is no different to me than being anti-vaxx or people going crazy about GMO foods and chemicals without understanding the science. But at least vaccines or food safety affect one personally, I don't see how there is any stake for you in this.
For some reason, LGBT+ issues are treated pretty dismissively on this site, depsite a large number of the forum's participants identifying as part of that group. It's my one big complaint and disappointment here.
by ponchi101 How is that JT? I have yet to read anybody in this site NOT supporting LGBT+ issues: marriage, rights to adoption, rights to love whomever you want. I have yet to read somebody here that is NOT against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In TAT1.0 we were pretty vocal against the discriminatory laws in Russia and other countries. In the Religion thread (TAT1.0), many of the skeptics expressed that one of our main issues with organized religions is their treatment of LGBT+ people: the Bible's open and extremely clear definition of male homosexuality as an "abomination", which we decried (it is truly one of the reasons I detest religion, together with their treatment of women as second class people).
Our support is such that we have banned slurs, done so automatically.
So, we are in 99% of agreement with the LGBT+ community. But then, we have some disagreement on some aspects, and we almost homophobes. We go back to the perfect purity test: 99% is not good enough, it has to be 100%. We enjoy Dave Chapelle, that's it, we are transphobic. We read what JK Rowling says, and we are, again, phobes.
I say it is the opposite. People stay away from the forum because the general atmosphere is that there is no tolerance for dissenting opinions about liberal issues. The one time in which somebody called somebody else "gross" was because of the untouchable subject of equal pay, and it was the supporter for equal pay, not the person posing the question. And, again, that subject is basically impossible to discuss; one member here once said equal pay was right because it was. And that ended the discussion, which I felt was unfair.
I really don't know what else to do to make the site as open to ideas as possible.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 1:57 pm
Thanks.
Last post from me in this subject. I don't have a misconception, I have a disagreement.
Your disagreement isn't with me. It's with the medical community
I'll be honest, this is no different to me than being anti-vaxx or people going crazy about GMO foods and chemicals without understanding the science. But at least vaccines or food safety affect one personally, I don't see how there is any stake for you in this.
For some reason, LGBT+ issues are treated pretty dismissively on this site, depsite a large number of the forum's participants identifying as part of that group. It's my one big complaint and disappointment here.
I am a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, but being a new member here I wasn't going to chime in so fast on the subject. I feel as mmmm8 has stated that this is something that a person is living with and not some erroneous circumstance of live such as stress or a mental health issue that makes someone decide they want to change their gender. This is something a person is dealing with internally for a long period of time. Even as they proceed through the long process of transitioning, there is a lot of counseling that is involved. This is certainly not some going with the flow of what society is doing at the moment. Surely, back in my day when I was growing up in the 70's & 80's this was not widely accepted at all, but that did not mean that many were not dealing with the struggles of gender identity inside. So in turn, I believe social acceptance of this has helped many people.
by Suliso Don't fret ponchi - you're doing well as our "boss". Maybe someone here could make the site feel more inclusive than you have, but I'd certainly not bet my savings on it. I probably couldn't.
by JTContinental
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:28 pm
How is that JT? I have yet to read anybody in this site NOT supporting LGBT+ issues: marriage, rights to adoption, rights to love whomever you want. I have yet to read somebody here that is NOT against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In TAT1.0 we were pretty vocal against the discriminatory laws in Russia and other countries. In the Religion thread (TAT1.0), many of the skeptics expressed that one of our main issues with organized religions is their treatment of LGBT+ people: the Bible's open and extremely clear definition of male homosexuality as an "abomination", which we decried (it is truly one of the reasons I detest religion, together with their treatment of women as second class people).
Our support is such that we have banned slurs, done so automatically.
So, we are in 99% of agreement with the LGBT+ community. But then, we have some disagreement on some aspects, and we almost homophobes. We go back to the perfect purity test: 99% is not good enough, it has to be 100%. We enjoy Dave Chapelle, that's it, we are transphobic. We read what JK Rowling says, and we are, again, phobes.
I say it is the opposite. People stay away from the forum because the general atmosphere is that there is no tolerance for dissenting opinions about liberal issues. The one time in which somebody called somebody else "gross" was because of the untouchable subject of equal pay, and it was the supporter for equal pay, not the person posing the question. And, again, that subject is basically impossible to discuss; one member here once said equal pay was right because it was. And that ended the discussion, which I felt was unfair.
I really don't know what else to do to make the site as open to ideas as possible.
Right off the top, I want to unequivocally state that I never once referred to you or anyone on this site as homophobic--if I thought that, I would not be here. Let's take "phobia" off the table here. But in my experience what happens is if I call anything out, the poster immediately doubles down and dismisses me as "woke," or get told my feeling is invalid and that you don't know what else you could possibly do to make us feel more included. Well, one way is to stop doing that and maybe try to receive the message I am trying to relay.
This is kind of what happens whenever this conversation is brought up--people immediately get defensive. I'm not saying that everything that you are saying above is not true--it is, but definitely more can still be done to make people feel more welcome when they call out some of the more outrageous comments that show up here. Some of the posters here have some very opinions on LGBT+ issues that are very antiquated/out-of-touch/uninformed (whatever you want to call them), and when this is pointed out, instead of trying to hear our side of the conversation, we are shut down and told basically that it us who are being rigid and inflexible, while others dig in their heels and double down on those ideas to which we are objecting. Go back and read the posts that were made during one of the French Open order of play threads when Kevin raised a red flag--one poster in particular was being over-the-top defensive, and when several TAT members who identify as LGBT+ brought this up, we were immediately shut down and made to feel like we overstepped. I very nearly quit TAT for good after that.
You are also right about what you stated above about TAT 1.0--I didn't have these feelings and experiences there. Something has shifted in the migration, though, and while I don't think it's pervasive in everyday conversation, things have come up a few times that have given me pause. I'm speaking up because I want to improve our community and would hope that everyone would want to do that.
I also want to stipulate that I love TAT and (very nearly) all of you. I realize that people contain multitudes, and can be more than one thing at once. You can enjoy Dave Chappelle and JK Rowling, likely separating art and artist, and not be homo- or transphobic. I do it all the time; I'm not a black and white person.
by AcesAnnie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:28 pm
How is that JT? I have yet to read anybody in this site NOT supporting LGBT+ issues: marriage, rights to adoption, rights to love whomever you want. I have yet to read somebody here that is NOT against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In TAT1.0 we were pretty vocal against the discriminatory laws in Russia and other countries. In the Religion thread (TAT1.0), many of the skeptics expressed that one of our main issues with organized religions is their treatment of LGBT+ people: the Bible's open and extremely clear definition of male homosexuality as an "abomination", which we decried (it is truly one of the reasons I detest religion, together with their treatment of women as second class people).
Our support is such that we have banned slurs, done so automatically.
So, we are in 99% of agreement with the LGBT+ community. But then, we have some disagreement on some aspects, and we almost homophobes. We go back to the perfect purity test: 99% is not good enough, it has to be 100%. We enjoy Dave Chapelle, that's it, we are transphobic. We read what JK Rowling says, and we are, again, phobes.
I say it is the opposite. People stay away from the forum because the general atmosphere is that there is no tolerance for dissenting opinions about liberal issues. The one time in which somebody called somebody else "gross" was because of the untouchable subject of equal pay, and it was the supporter for equal pay, not the person posing the question. And, again, that subject is basically impossible to discuss; one member here once said equal pay was right because it was. And that ended the discussion, which I felt was unfair.
I really don't know what else to do to make the site as open to ideas as possible.
Being new here, but an old soul, I have to say that anywhere you bring up a topic such as religion, gender equality, sexual orientation, politics, race there is going to be some sort of debate about it. You cannot get around that. What you can control though is the quality of the debate. Keeping the debate controlled and on topic without personal attacks. Once the topic gets off track and personal attacks and name calling starts that is where it gets out of control.
I am all for a good debate on all sorts of topics, once it gets out of control then it is over for me. If you as the leader here have that sort of control or the other moderators have that under control, then there isn't anything to worry about, and the site will run great.
by ponchi101
AcesAnnie wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:32 pm
...
I am a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, but being a new member here I wasn't going to chime in so fast on the subject. I feel as mmmm8 has stated that this is something that a person is living with and not some erroneous circumstance of live such as stress or a mental health issue that makes someone decide they want to change their gender. This is something a person is dealing with internally for a long period of time. Even as they proceed through the long process of transitioning, there is a lot of counseling that is involved. This is certainly not some going with the flow of what society is doing at the moment. Surely, back in my day when I was growing up in the 70's & 80's this was not widely accepted at all, but that did not mean that many were not dealing with the struggles of gender identity inside. So in turn, I believe social acceptance of this has helped many people.
Notice how difficult this subject is that, roughly standing on opposite areas, both JT and I feel defensive about the subject. It is not an easy topic, and many things are still to be clarified.
There is a difference between where "gender" originates and believing that you cannot switch. My position? You are Caytlin Jenner, full grown up, and want to transition? Please, get all the assistance needed, ensure the process is seamless, and be as happy as you can. I have no say on that decision of yours. You are Elliot Page? Same wishes.
But I disagree with some aspects and classifications, which all the people that fall under can tell me to go KMA. That does not mean that I would support any discriminatory legislation or attitude towards LGBT+ people. That is where I disagree that this forum is not receptive.
That is the hill I die on. I may/will disagree with your statement, but I will defend your right to hold it, as long as it is not an opinion to ban other people's rights. And still then, I will hold your right to voice it.
I am all for a good debate on all sorts of topics, once it gets out of control then it is over for me. If you as the leader here have that sort of control or the other moderators have that under control, then there isn't anything to worry about, and the site will run great.
My karma. The last thing I want to be is a leader; I want to be just an administrator, and mostly technical about that.
But... yes, the role is SITE ADMIN. Which I am not happy about 50% of the time.
by ti-amie It's a very difficult subject to address and that is why it's all the more horrific for people who are trapped in the wrong gender to be made the objects of political ridicule.
One of my daughter's in-laws is transitioning and they have met stiff resistance from their immediate family. They insist on calling them by their "dead" name among other things. It's not an easy situation for an individual to navigate.
by ti-amie Very well done satire by this young woman. It's been making the rounds as you can see by the number of views.
by ponchi101 And now, for something completely different...
(Txs)
AcesAnnie wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 6:32 pm
...
I am a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, but being a new member here I wasn't going to chime in so fast on the subject. I feel as mmmm8 has stated that this is something that a person is living with and not some erroneous circumstance of live such as stress or a mental health issue that makes someone decide they want to change their gender. This is something a person is dealing with internally for a long period of time. Even as they proceed through the long process of transitioning, there is a lot of counseling that is involved. This is certainly not some going with the flow of what society is doing at the moment. Surely, back in my day when I was growing up in the 70's & 80's this was not widely accepted at all, but that did not mean that many were not dealing with the struggles of gender identity inside. So in turn, I believe social acceptance of this has helped many people.
Notice how difficult this subject is that, roughly standing on opposite areas, both JT and I feel defensive about the subject. It is not an easy topic, and many things are still to be clarified.
There is a difference between where "gender" originates and believing that you cannot switch. My position? You are Caytlin Jenner, full grown up, and want to transition? Please, get all the assistance needed, ensure the process is seamless, and be as happy as you can. I have no say on that decision of yours. You are Elliot Page? Same wishes.
But I disagree with some aspects and classifications, which all the people that fall under can tell me to go KMA. That does not mean that I would support any discriminatory legislation or attitude towards LGBT+ people. That is where I disagree that this forum is not receptive.
That is the hill I die on. I may/will disagree with your statement, but I will defend your right to hold it, as long as it is not an opinion to ban other people's rights. And still then, I will hold your right to voice it.
That is what it is all about, the freedom to speak you mind, to get your position across without discriminating or putting down other people. Nothing wrong with that mindset at all.
I am all for a good debate on all sorts of topics, once it gets out of control then it is over for me. If you as the leader here have that sort of control or the other moderators have that under control, then there isn't anything to worry about, and the site will run great.
My karma. The last thing I want to be is a leader; I want to be just an administrator, and mostly technical about that.
But... yes, the role is SITE ADMIN. Which I am not happy about 50% of the time.
I can understand that.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by mmmm8 Oh good, we should finally find Atlantis by 2025 at this measure.
by ti-amie
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 8:43 pm
Oh good, we should finally find Atlantis by 2025 at this measure.
So real I can't even laugh. I wonder if the monuments that were flooded to create the Aswan Dam will be revealed again.
by Deuce Well... there's also the other extreme...
So... which natural disaster will lead to our extinction - not enough water, or too much water?
Whichever it is, you can bet your behind that humans will be the cause of it.
by Owendonovan I mostly feel it's too late with the climate.
by Suliso The overall amount of water on the planet (including ice) is obviously not going to change. The question only is where it goes...
by ponchi101
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 12:11 pm
I mostly feel it's too late with the climate.
If nothing is done.
The problem (or rather, one of the problems) is that it has become some sort "test" for being good or bad. You drive your Tesla? You are a good person. You drive your Hummer? You are evil. The reality is that it is very easy for people in developed countries to ask for reductions in emissions, while at the same time, they expect those reductions to happen as if by miracle, and somewhere else. We simply cannot change to 100% Wind and Solar; they are too unreliable (even the Tesla megafactory is connected to the grid). You cannot build stable economies based on them. Meanwhile, the most reliable AND clean source of energy keeps being attacked: Germany has almost completely shut down all of its Nuclear reactors, but most of those have been replaced with coal, an evil trade if there ever was one. NYC shut down Indian Point, a reliable, small plant, and California will be shutting down Diablo Canyon, all in the name of climate, but what will replace them?
It is not too late. There are some interesting geo-engineering projects that would help. Replacing coal for natural gas would have an immediate effect, and those are reliable technologies. But, planning on reductions by leaving developing economies stagnated will not work. China needs about 1 new plant a WEEK, to feed its economy; it is choosing coal. India also needs more power to allow its growing population to have a decent life, and India has considerable coal. It is choosing that path.
If the world is serious, it can be done. CC can be managed. But it will take some serious effort.
(Remember, I am unemployed and work/used to work in Oil and Gas, so all my opinions have to take that into consideration).
by AcesAnnie
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 12:11 pm
I mostly feel it's too late with the climate.
I don't necessarily think so. I may not see a remarkable improvement over the remainder of my lifetime, but my hopes are with the younger generation and the progress that will be made in the future regarding climate change and the environment it will make a better future for the likes of even my kids who are both in their 20's and, especially my 1 year old granddaughter.
by Suliso The goodness of nuclear reactors is sadly greatly exaggerated. There is of course the issue of waste, but besides that is the immense cost and time needed to construct a new one up to the best possible safety standards. Look up how UK is doing on this front in the link below... Virtually all nuclear reactors in the developed world are 20+ years old...
There is a talk about small nuclear reactors and various new technologies, but not a single one is certified and/or under construction.
by ponchi101 Sometime in this November, we will reach inhabitant 8 billion on the planet. I believe this is an undercount, as many areas of China, India and Africa cannot keep reliable censuses, but that point is irrelevant. The projections have changed and we will plateau at about 9 billion, somewhere in the 2030's. World population will then start decreasing, if current replacement levels remain the same. Of course, the decrease will be slower than the increase.
In the famous Thomas Friedmann example, even if we were only to give each one of those new 1 BB people coming in nothing but a 50 watt lightbulb, we will need 50 Billion watts of new energy production. In reality, we will need to increase our energy production from about 4.5 Terawatts to 6 TW by then, JUST to keep current standards. If we want to bring those new 1 BB people into middle class levels of lifestyle, PLUS bring some more out of poverty (of the ones already here), that is the target. But, if we decide to do that with wind and solar, there are some sobering stats. To power the USA just with Wind, you would need an area the size of California, and that would mean constant wind, and no wind shadow to account for (the phenomenon of a front turbine taking wind off a back one). Europe would require more. S. America and Africa less but being larger, we would need better transmission lines (the same as the USA). And, if we wanted to use solar, we would need to install batteries for the obvious: night. In Scandinavian countries, we would need to store power on a 2:1 ratio because, during the winter, that is the day/night ratio (more or less). The largest home battery available is the Tesla Powerwall, rated at about 9KW (Tesla is very secretive about its real capacity; its page says nothing about that). 9KW with be enough to keep one heater going, for about 6 hours, in a regular 1st world household. Imagine just the number of powerwalls needed. Imagine the resources needed to build all these batteries.
My 31 yo niece is very ambivalent on whether to have a child; she lives in Argentina, that country is going to pieces, and she does not know if she wants to bring a child to this world (she DOES want children). Her brother says no way (he is 33). In the next few years, many young couples will face that decision too.
Again, geo-engineering can do it. It will take considerable expertise, political will AND ENERGY. Moving water is a very difficult thing to do, and we will need to do that.
So: Maybe SOYLENT GREEN was not too far off the mark. It just did not understand what the real consequences of 9 billion would be (Soylent Green expected a world of 12 billion).
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 3:06 pm
The goodness of nuclear reactors is sadly greatly exaggerated. There is of course the issue of waste, but besides that is the immense cost and time needed to construct a new one up to the best possible safety standards. Look up how UK is doing on this front in the link below... Virtually all nuclear reactors in the developed world are 20+ years old...
There is a talk about small nuclear reactors and various new technologies, but not a single one is certified and/or under construction.
Agree. They are complex machines, and the red tape is very long.
Thorium nuclear is still being looked at. But by now, decommissioning working reactors is foolish. Because we don't know what will happen with nuclear (not completely) but we do know what will happen with CC.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 3:14 pm
My 31 yo niece is very ambivalent on whether to have a child; she lives in Argentina, that country is going to pieces, and she does not know if she wants to bring a child to this world (she DOES want children). Her brother says no way (he is 33). In the next few years, many young couples will face that decision too.
As strange as it may sound right now there probably will be a serious issue of population collapse by the end of the century in all but the most poor areas. Governments will struggle to encourage couples to have more children. China is possibly decreasing already and if not will start to in 5-10 years. India will follow in 50 years or so. Modern middle class Indians rarely have more than one child. Not because they think too much about world future, but because they can't afford to educate more.
In principle it would be great to have 1/2 or 1/3 of the current world population. Problem is that in the medium term you end up with an enormous number of old people. Very bad for any economic or scientific development.
As strange as it may sound right now there probably will be a serious issue of population collapse by the end of the century in all but the most poor areas. Governments will struggle to encourage couples to have more children. China is possibly decreasing already and if not will start to in 5-10 years. India will follow in 50 years or so. Modern middle class Indians rarely have more than one child. Not because they think too much about world future, but because they can't afford to educate more.
In principle it would be great to have 1/2 or 1/3 of the current world population. Problem is that in the medium term you end up with an enormous number of old people. Very bad for any economic or scientific development.
I went out last night with an old friend. During a long conversation, we talked about both our decision not to have children. We honestly do not regret it.
I am sure that there must be some serious emotional rewards; but the financial and societal pressures must be enormous. As you say, if in India the problem is the affordability to educate one, imagine the rest of the nations.
There will be some other interesting problems. How about real estate? What happens to prices when there are more houses that people want? That could be a huge collapse, unless you start a program of demolishing such houses. But then, you are wiping out value from the area where you would do that.
I guess we will have to imagine it (or I will; won't live to see it).
by Suliso Even in the distant past not everyone chose to have children (I don't have any either). There were monasteries etc for that. In my opinion if you want to encourage people to have more children it's a lot easier to incentivize those who have one to have two and those with two three. It is not a problem to be laughed about - otherwise in about 5-6 centuries there is nobody left or almost nobody.
by AcesAnnie It is extremely expensive to raise kids. Even when I was raising my 2 children who are now 26 and 24 years of age it was not cheap at all. Now my 26 year old son and his wife have a 1 year old daughter, and I can only imagine how expensive it is today. My husband and I help with purchasing clothes for the baby because she outgrows them so quickly, but young adults now especially don't want to or can't afford to raise a huge family.
by ponchi101 George Friedman said it: nowadays, having children is one of the worst FINANCIAL mistakes you can make.
(Again, financial. He was not discussing the emotional aspects).
@Suliso. Stating the obvious but: in the past, those special scenarios were the exception. Everybody else had children, who then proceeded to die due to diseases and such.
But that problem will be a problem for the 22nd century. Right now, it is the opposite (we know).
by Suliso Yes, of course. The point I was trying to make is that it's mighty difficult to keep the population stable peacefully. It's either one extreme or the other...
As for financially I kind of agree. For a young couple definitely. My own mom and dad didn't make the two of us for financial reasons (I think ), but now in the old age they do have a financial safety net from us in case their pensions are not enough anymore for some reason. Lots of old people in Latvia who don't have anyone are struggling very much. I imagine in South America even more so.
by ti-amie
by JazzNU What is wrong with people?
by ti-amieYangtze River waters reveal Buddhist statues
Reuters • Updated 22nd August 2022
Plunging water levels of the Yangtze River have revealed a submerged island in China's southwestern city of Chongqing and a trio of Buddhist statues on it that are believed to be 600 years old, state media Xinhua has reported.
The three statues were found on the highest part of the island reef called Foyeliang, initially identified as built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. One of the statues depicts a monk sitting on a lotus pedestal.
The Yangtze's water levels have been falling rapidly due to a drought and a heatwave in China's southwestern region.
Rainfall in the Yangtze basin has been around 45% lower than normal since July, and high temperatures are likely to persist for at least another week, official forecasts said.
As many as 66 rivers across 34 counties in Chongqing have dried up, state broadcaster CCTV said on August 19.
Weeks of baking drought across Europe have also revealed long-submerged treasures.
In Spain, archaeologists have been delighted by the emergence of a prehistoric stone circle dubbed the "Spanish Stonehenge."
Another of Europe's mighty rivers, the Danube, has fallen to one of its lowest levels in almost a century, exposing the hulks of more than 20 German warships sunk during World War II near Serbia's river port town of Prahovo.
There is video of both the Chinese site and the Spanish site at the link.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by JazzNU
by ponchi101 Or a Nobel prize. Depending on the crowd.
by ti-amie And this?
by ponchi101 Exhibit A for the re-introduction to society of straightjackets and cold water hoses. Used concurrently.
by ti-amie
by Suliso I was just reading a history of the city district to which we moved earlier this year. Our street not that old and the building not at all, but the suburb itself is approaching 1,000 years. Originally was outside the city walls and included only after the new walls were built after the earthquake in mid 14th century. Even afterwards there were lots of gardens and people kept sheep and cattle all the way till late 18th century. Fascinating...
by Owendonovan In 2 weeks, I will have gotten Monkeypox vaccine, COVID booster 3, and Flu vaccine. That's a sore arm for a while.
by JazzNU
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 5:04 pm
In 2 weeks, I will have gotten Monkeypox vaccine, COVID booster 3, and Flu vaccine. That's a sore arm for a while.
It would have to be. Hope you're doing okay.
by dryrunguy I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
by Owendonovan
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 6:43 pm
I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 6:43 pm
I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
Are their droppings good fertilizer?
LOL! I have no idea. But they've been camped out here for a few weeks now. They love my pond. And they love the rain and how it washes so many insects and worms above ground. It's raining right now, so they are having a feeding frenzy.
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 6:43 pm
I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
Don't know a Canada geese from other kinds of geese, but there are plenty of some kind in my area. It feels like they worked on their population during the pandemic because I'm seeing them more frequently in more places in the last several months.
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 6:43 pm
I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
You're doomed.
Owen mentioned their droppings and I agree with him. Hope they're good for fertilizing the field.
Geese, and I've witnessed Canada geese in action, are the meanest birds on the planet. They will attack at the drop of a hat.
canada goose.jpg
Every year, we have a pair of Canadian geese that come to the pond to nest and hatch. And every now and then, we have a flock of geese that come to visit for a few hours--or a few days at most.
But these geese have set up shop.
They don't bother anything. They just make lots and lots of noise when they are about to take off for a fly. But lately, they've been just taking off, flying a few circles around my property, and then landing in my pond or back in the pasture field where they took off about 90 seconds before. Bizarre. -->
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 6:43 pm
I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
Don't know a Canada geese from other kinds of geese, but there are plenty of some kind in my area. It feels like they worked on their population during the pandemic because I'm seeing them more frequently in more places in the last several months.
canada goose.jpg
Every year, we have a pair of Canadian geese that come to the pond to nest and hatch. And every now and then, we have a flock of geese that come to visit for a few hours--or a few days at most.
But these geese have set up shop.
They don't bother anything. They just make lots and lots of noise when they are about to take off for a fly. But lately, they've been just taking off, flying a few circles around my property, and then landing in my pond or back in the pasture field where they took off about 90 seconds before. Bizarre.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 6:43 pm
I just counted 79 Canada geese in the pasture field across the road. They're taking over.
You're doomed.
Owen mentioned their droppings and I agree with him. Hope they're good for fertilizing the field.
Geese, and I've witnessed Canada geese in action, are the meanest birds on the planet. They will attack at the drop of a hat.
They generally don't bother the sheep or even us humans.
Now, when they're nesting or preparing to nest, THAT is a different story. In fact, one of the funniest things to watch in late spring every year is when my young lambs get curious about the pair of geese that nests here, and then the geese chase them away. And yes, they've been known to bite a lamb bum or two until the lambs learn to stay away from that part of the pond.
That pair of geese will also attack my ducks that fly down to the pond to take a bath. Seriously, it looks like the geese are trying to drown them. But they haven't killed one yet. The ducks just swim to the edge of the pond, get out, and then run or fly back to the barn.
by JazzNU The geese near me are of the fairly pleasant variety I believe. I haven't noticed them bothering anyone. They travel with their family, cross the street whenever they are ready, traffic be damned, in single-file line and manage not to die as everyone tries to avoid crashing into one another as the suddenly come to a complete stop. But by and large, they congregate in areas that I believe were their homes where ponds or creeks are or were and building has disrupted that somewhat over the years.
by ti-amie
by Deuce I see Canada geese fairly often when I go to the river here. They are NOT instinctively mean at all.
They comfortably swim past me with their 8 or 10 young in tow, coming within 5 or 6 feet of me as I sit on a rock (I have had several different families - with the youngins of various ages - swim past me without any problem).
They are large, and could be intimidating if they choose to be - but as long as I don't bother them, they are fine with me. My presence alone doesn't threaten them.
by ti-amie Post of the Day
by ponchi101 She is the funniest person on Twitter.
by Owendonovan She is a fun kind of nut.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 That is not a galaxy. That is a water drain with some soapy water.
Just like the shot of the salami
(Nah, that one is real).
So this universe thing is apparently pretty big, huh?
by Owendonovan Looks like the night sky while on mushrooms.
by Suliso Fun video I was watching earlier today about spy craft in movies.
by JazzNU
by ti-amie
by MJ2004
by ponchi101
I got fooled
by ti-amie
by Deuce Yup...
by ti-amie Spoiled brats grow up to be spoiled grumpy old men and only the fountain pens of the world have the nerve to stand up to them.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie The TL;dr
Dr. Kevin Debiparshad points out the amount by which he was able to lengthen one of his patients’ legs by severing his femur and inserting a titanium nail through the center of the broken bone.
Roger Kisby/Redux Pictures
With a procedure like this, there are, of course, some caveats. All the height gain obviously comes from your legs, so your proportions can look a little weird, especially when you’re naked. Also, the recovery can be long and taxing. When we meet, the bones in John’s legs are not yet fully healed, and a small section of his right femur is still a little soft, like al dente spaghetti; the smallest stumble could snap a bone in two. And it’s especially dangerous since he’s a big guy, over 200 pounds.
Then there’s the pain, which is relentless, ambient. The extension of the nails in his legs stretched the nerves and tissue around the bones—especially the thick, meaty muscles like the hamstrings—to an almost excruciating degree. He couldn’t walk for months. “They fill you with enough painkillers that it’s bearable,” John explains, but his biggest fear was becoming addicted to the drugs, so he weaned himself off the regimen earlier than he should have.
Why would someone like John—handsome, confident, funny, a father to three—shell out for a procedure that costs more than a Tesla and results in months of agony for a couple of extra inches? It’s not like he was particularly short, at just shy of the average height of an American man (five feet nine). But the opportunity to be above average was too good to pass up. “I noticed that taller people just seem to have it easier,” John says, laughing. He shrugs. “The world seems to bend for them.”
by ponchi101 That is sick.
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan One side of your hand represents approximately 1% of the skin on you.
by ponchi101 I like those factoids.
If you were to stretch all the alveoli in your lungs, the surface area would be about a 100 sq Meters.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by Suliso
by ti-amie
by MJ2004
ti-amie wrote:
I have worked at several universities and can tell you this is a blatantly ludicrous idea.
Any idiot can throw out a tweet, doesn’t make it true.
by Suliso Wasn't it meant as a joke? If not indeed stupid...
by ponchi101 I thought it was a joke.
Everybody knows that the person that really runs a University in the USA is the football coach.
by dryrunguy Adam Sandler is on the cover of the latest issue of AARP Magazine. I feel like a fossil.
Adam Sandler AARP.jpg
by ponchi101 Eminem will be 50 in two weeks. Hailie Jade is 26.
Fossil? Not even close.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Frigging hilarious.
by Deuce .
This is both depressing and inspiring.
It is well worth watching in full...
by Suliso Can someone explain to me antisemitism from a non religious point of view? We're on vacation hiking in Albania and met two different Israeli couples. I just don't see how they differ much from regular white Europeans/Americans by looks or culture.
Usually bias arises against those who can't help standing out, but not in this case.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:23 pm
Can someone explain to me antisemitism from a non religious point of view? We're on vacation hiking in Albania and met two different Israeli couples. I just don't see how they differ much from regular white Europeans/Americans by looks or culture.
Usually bias arises against those who can't help standing out, but not in this case.
I don't think there is such a thing as anti-semitism if there is no religious animosity. The whole thing stems from ancient, biblical quarrels, which are truly meaningless in today's ambience.
I would be as confused as you seem to be.
by ptmcmahon Only took about 16 (or more?) years, but I finally have meet another TATer Glennharman is in Nova Scotia scouting one of our local university's music departments and we met up for lunch at Canada's "best" fish and chips - John's lunch in Dartmouth. And met his dog too
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 2:23 pm
Can someone explain to me antisemitism from a non religious point of view? We're on vacation hiking in Albania and met two different Israeli couples. I just don't see how they differ much from regular white Europeans/Americans by looks or culture.
Usually bias arises against those who can't help standing out, but not in this case.
I don't think there is such a thing as anti-semitism if there is no religious animosity. The whole thing stems from ancient, biblical quarrels, which are truly meaningless in today's ambience.
I would be as confused as you seem to be.
Here, there are strong Jewish cultures/communities. I'm guessing it could refer to hate toward them from people who know nothing about the religion.
by ponchi101
ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 6:32 pm
Only took about 16 (or more?) years, but I finally have meet another TATer Glennharman is in Nova Scotia scouting one of our local university's music departments and we met up for lunch at Canada's "best" fish and chips - John's lunch in Dartmouth. And met his dog too
Our regards to Glenn. His posts are missed.
by ti-amie
ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 6:32 pm
Only took about 16 (or more?) years, but I finally have meet another TATer Glennharman is in Nova Scotia scouting one of our local university's music departments and we met up for lunch at Canada's "best" fish and chips - John's lunch in Dartmouth. And met his dog too
Ponchi beat me to it but I miss Glenn too. I wish him the best.
by ptmcmahon I'll let him know He's definitely considering temporarily or permanently relocating up here... especially depending on how election results go. But he seems to be doing very good from what I can tell!
by ti-amie The winters are the only reason I've never seriously looked into relocating to Canada. I love the Quebec City area and that is where real winter lives.
by ti-amie Listen with the sound on.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:44 pm
Listen with the sound on.
I sure hope that was recorded from a drone, and not a boat - because a boat getting that close to them would be extremely dangerous to the dolphins.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:42 pm
The winters are the only reason I've never seriously looked into relocating to Canada. I love the Quebec City area and that is where real winter lives.
Winters provide a perfect contrast to summers, helping us to appreciate our summers more. Yin and Yang...
I wouldn't be so keen about the hurricanes in the Maritimes, though...
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Uhm, this person needs a bit more research.
In SPAIN (not all hispanic countries), the FIRST born was traditionally names JOSE MARIA (Joseph Mary) if male, MARIA JOSE if female. This, of course, due to Catholic "traditions".
In hispanic countries, naming the first born MALE after the father is not so strict. I have my dad's name, but I am the third of three brothers.
Also, individuality about names in hispanic countries is not the same. For example: we don't go for "uncommon" names; here in Colombia, I would guess they go by 15 names, and use combinations. As you can tell from some previous posts, Maria Camila is like super common (I know two, and two Camilos).
by ti-amie It's not just countries with Catholic tradition that have naming conventions that appear unusual to outsiders.
I was named after both of my grandmothers but my mother wanted me to be called by her mother's name which is my second name. She was livid when she found out that in the US you are called by your first name. She was from the Bahamas.
by ponchi101 That's interesting
It is the reason Spaniards use the mother's last name; so you are PEPE MARTINEZ UCHIRRISBIETA, while dad is PEPE MARTINEZ ZUBISARRETA. I bet PCB and RBA's dads have the same name.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Here is the full quote from Shatner's interview and a link to the article.
I had thought that going into space would be the ultimate catharsis of that connection I had been looking for between all living things—that being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe. In the film “Contact,” when Jodie Foster’s character goes to space and looks out into the heavens, she lets out an astonished whisper, “They should’ve sent a poet.” I had a different experience, because I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound.
It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind. It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.
I learned later that I was not alone in this feeling. It is called the “Overview Effect” and is not uncommon among astronauts, including Yuri Gagarin, Michael Collins, Sally Ride, and many others. Essentially, when someone travels to space and views Earth from orbit, a sense of the planet’s fragility takes hold in an ineffable, instinctive manner. Author Frank White first coined the term in 1987: “There are no borders or boundaries on our planet except those that we create in our minds or through human behaviors. All the ideas and concepts that divide us when we are on the surface begin to fade from orbit and the moon. The result is a shift in worldview, and in identity.”
It can change the way we look at the planet but also other things like countries, ethnicities, religions; it can prompt an instant reevaluation of our shared harmony and a shift in focus to all the wonderful things we have in common instead of what makes us different. It reinforced tenfold my own view on the power of our beautiful, mysterious collective human entanglement, and eventually, it returned a feeling of hope to my heart. In this insignificance we share, we have one gift that other species perhaps do not: we are aware—not only of our insignificance, but the grandeur around us that makes us insignificant. That allows us perhaps a chance to rededicate ourselves to our planet, to each other, to life and love all around us. If we seize that chance.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 10, 2022 12:51 am
Here is the full quote from Shatner's interview and a link to the article.
I had thought that going into space would be the ultimate catharsis of that connection I had been looking for between all living things—that being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe. In the film “Contact,” when Jodie Foster’s character goes to space and looks out into the heavens, she lets out an astonished whisper, “They should’ve sent a poet.” I had a different experience, because I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound.
It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind. It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.
I learned later that I was not alone in this feeling. It is called the “Overview Effect” and is not uncommon among astronauts, including Yuri Gagarin, Michael Collins, Sally Ride, and many others. Essentially, when someone travels to space and views Earth from orbit, a sense of the planet’s fragility takes hold in an ineffable, instinctive manner. Author Frank White first coined the term in 1987: “There are no borders or boundaries on our planet except those that we create in our minds or through human behaviors. All the ideas and concepts that divide us when we are on the surface begin to fade from orbit and the moon. The result is a shift in worldview, and in identity.”
It can change the way we look at the planet but also other things like countries, ethnicities, religions; it can prompt an instant reevaluation of our shared harmony and a shift in focus to all the wonderful things we have in common instead of what makes us different. It reinforced tenfold my own view on the power of our beautiful, mysterious collective human entanglement, and eventually, it returned a feeling of hope to my heart. In this insignificance we share, we have one gift that other species perhaps do not: we are aware—not only of our insignificance, but the grandeur around us that makes us insignificant. That allows us perhaps a chance to rededicate ourselves to our planet, to each other, to life and love all around us. If we seize that chance.
Attempting to destroy a WORLD HERITAGE (I find it hard to think of any artist more beloved universally than Van Gogh) will really help the cause.
by ti-amieThe palace is dripping in diamonds, so why bring out the disputed Koh-i-noor?
Catherine Bennett
The jewel in the last queen consort’s crown was plundered from India. Camilla doesn’t have to wear it
The crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1937), with the Koh-i-noor diamond. Photograph: Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images
On 3 July 1850, Queen Victoria was visited by two members of the East India Company. They wanted to give her something recently prised off Duleep Singh, the boy maharaja of Lahore. “They delivered up to me,” she recorded, “with a short speech, the celebrated Koh-i-noor, the largest diamond in the world.” She wasn’t mad about it: “Unfortunately it is not set ‘à jour’, & badly cut, which spoils the effect.”
The diamond went off to the Great Exhibition, where visitors also regretted the unsparkliness of a stone that had been described when it was carried off as “the historical emblem of conquest in India”. The Illustrated London News said: “The Koh-i-noor is not cut in the best form for exhibiting its purity and lustre, and will therefore disappoint many, if not all of those who so anxiously press forward to see it.”
If the slighted diamond is now getting its due, as a “fabulous” centrepiece on one of the royal crowns, “one of the grandest and most valuable gemstones in the world”, according to Professor Robert Tombs, then thanks are due in particular to the royal traditionalists currently alerting the public to the potential offensiveness of its appearance at Charles’s coronation. They seem to have been the first – albeit from a protective perspective – to recognise that a stone that might have looked acceptable on the Queen Mother’s head in the Britain of 1937 would look utterly indefensible on Camilla’s, next May. Its return has been sought, after all, since India’s independence; in a climate now more friendly towards cultural restitution, the exhibition of a jewel described by its curators (at the Tower of London) as a “symbol of conquest” could easily be mistaken for crass provocation.
While a claimed threat to its appearance from a museum-purging “motley crew of woke obsessives” appears, at this point, to be a routine, imaginary stage in an attempted culture war, it has certainly spared the “woke mob” (Professor Tombs again) the trouble of alerting the public to the dismal details of the Koh-i-noor’s acquisition. Had it not been for recent extravagant claims for the stone’s contribution to British life, many people could easily have imagined that it was decently obtained, rather than extracted from a coerced child whom the East India Company had separated from his mother.
In fact, it was thanks to Tombs’s romantic account of the young Singh’s determination to personally hand the diamond to Queen Victoria that I learned that it was presented to her, as above, by the East India Company. It was four years before the boy came to England and informally gave her the (re-cut and smaller) stone after being asked if he would like to see it again. Lady Login, an appointed guardian, recorded: “It was to me one of the most excruciatingly uncomfortable quarters-of-an-hour that I ever passed! … seeing him stand there turning and turning the stone about in his hands, as if unable to part with it again, now he had it once more in his possession!”
Camilla, since she’d be wearing it, might want to bear in mind that Singh later called Victoria “Mrs Fagin”, after Dickens’s receiver of stolen goods. The more you discover, prompted by Tombs, about the status of the Koh-i-noor, the more it makes the Parthenon removals look almost legit – and they’d been identified as vandalism by 1811.
Already, in what must be the easiest victory in the history of woke-mobbery, the palace is said to be considering other crowns: disappointing for Charles, who reportedly minds about his consort wearing Singh’s surrendered jewel. But massive old crowns, as testified in every photograph, are hard enough to pull off at the best of times; a faintly less preposterous, pillage-free version could be the ideal way to bring about that oxymoron he is also said to want, a modern coronation. Along with other diadems, many hardly worn, the couple have the option of putting something less embarrassing where the Koh-i-noor now sits, in a crown made for the Queen Mother in 1937.
As with the Queen’s funeral, at which the gun carriage-dragging ritual turned out to have originated in 1901, recent attempts to kindle Koh-i-noor hostilities have underlined the incredible youthfulness of many cherished royal traditions. The traditional royal grandchild vigil (shorter than many a wait for the 43 to Crouch End) seems to date, for instance, all the way back to the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002.
The Koh-i-noor’s relatively hallowed role in three 20th-century coronations allows its possible absence from the next one – for no better reason than its association with some of the most shaming episodes in British history – to be portrayed as an unconscionable crime against custom, of which only those who hate their country and wish to empty every single one of its museums would be capable.
What next, after “rushing down a slippery slope”, as Koh-i-noor loyalists portray Camilla forced to wear a different crown? Will successful exclusion of this diamond prompt the woke mob to demand the removal of the Cullinan diamond from the sceptre to which it was attached as anciently as 1910? Actually, since no black South Africans were involved in that donation it doesn’t seem like a terrible idea to put the sceptre back to how it was when commissioned for the restoration, its predecessor having been melted down in 1649. Though that might mean forfeiting another pair of clunking “chips” from the original Cullinan stone, which the Queen liked to wear as a brooch.
An enhanced appreciation of the royals’ Smaug-like treasure trove is a further benefit of this attempted cultural skirmish, though not necessarily for champions of the Koh-i-noor. Out of all the available bling, what makes the most obviously objectionable the perfect coronation choice?
by ti-amie So this is the latest thing I guess on Tik Tok. I hate posting their clips here but since it's filtered through the Twitter servers it's maybe not so bad?
by meganfernandez Haha, she did about 8 things, including going to get celery juice AND a latte, and then "made myself some breakfast." I thought it was nighttime by then. It was only like 9 am. I lost interest before lunchtime. BTW, Tommy Paul is dating a popular influencer, Paige Lorenzo. She appears to leave the house for more than Pilates and celery juice.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Oct 25, 2022 7:49 pm
So this is the latest thing I guess on Tik Tok. I hate posting their clips here but since it's filtered through the Twitter servers it's maybe not so bad?
by ponchi101 So... get a life is too much of cliche?
by Deuce Yesterday, I heard that a survey done revealed that 'social media influencer' was the 4th most popular aspiration among elementary (primary) school children.
The future looks very bleak.
20 years ago, after the internet had infiltrated people's homes, I saw that children need to be protected from the harmful effects of this unregulated, anything goes internet thing... but at a time when children need to be most protected from it, they are not being protected because their parents are being completely seduced by the internet - the promise of an open 'stage', the (much more than) '15 minutes of fame', etc.
I saw that parents were too busy trying to get attention on the internet, and were ignoring the very real fact that their children need to be protected from the huge amount of garbage that is so easily accessible to everyone on the internet.
Since then, the situation has only gotten worse, of course.
If I've learned anything in my life, it's that human beings will abuse absolutely everything they lay their hands on - and because of this, potential positives have been turned into negatives. It happened with television, which has the wonderful potential to educate, but has been turned into the 'idiot box'... and, predictably, it's happened with the internet, which also has the wonderful potential to educate, but has instead become a haven for pornography, child pornography, crime, misinformation, and, of course, massive insecurity through millions upon millions of people desperately seeking superficial attention. The negatives of the internet far outweigh the negatives of television because the internet reaches much more people much more rapidly - children are walking around with the internet - and all of its ills - in their pockets.
To see that young children are aspiring to be 'social media influencers' is not surprising today. But it is most definitely tragic.
Proving the point I always make about contemporary art. If I can copy it, or if a 4 year can make it (unless that 4 year old is Picasso), it ain’t art.
Proving the point I always make about contemporary art. If I can copy it, or if a 4 year can make it (unless that 4 year old is Picasso), it ain’t art.
I was in the Oslo museum of modern art. I was "exposed" to a Cindy Sherman expo and a Damien Hirst expo. Pretty close to the most wasted hours I have spent at an art museum ever.
When I was walking out of these farces, I went to the gift shop. I saw one book, an apology for modern art: "Why your 5 year old can't do that". The point the author missed was simple: I saw NO books defending the renaissance, the baroque, the cubists or any other established movement. If you have to defend and explain art, it just isn't.
I mean, it was a bloody can of Campbell's soup. It was not art.
by Deuce Sadly, the definition of what is 'art' is mostly dependent upon A) marketing, B) 'social status' and C) the 'artist's reputation, which itself is largely a mere product of the aforementioned marketing.
This is all commonly known as phoney B.S.
It's a tragedy that so many people believe whatever they're told, without actually enacting any thought process.
by Owendonovan Is there some kind of benefit to "signing in with your google account" when I'm looking at a website?
by ponchi101 Google will be able to track your browsing history better. They will be able to look at what you click and determine your purchase patterns and interests better; this information will be cleanly tabulated and sold to retailers, who will send you millions of spam mails and ads.
Seriously: the sole possible advantage will be that you will not use a password other than Google's.
Personally, I am navigating more and more in private window mode. But remember, I am paranoid to the max.
by ti-amie
by Deuce Please don't do drugs, people.
These days, more than ever before, it's playing Russian Roulette...
by Suliso We have an autumn fair these last two weeks in Basel with street food, carnival rides etc. This festival has been held since 1471. Only been canceled 5x including two years ago due to covid. Last year was a bit limited, but this year back in full force.
by ponchi101 Hope you enjoy it. The kind of thing that only happens in Europe (due to the longevity, I mean).
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Ok. He has behaved indeed like regarding this Twitter thing. But he is not a criminal, nor a monster.
by Deuce I don't personally believe in monsters, but he definitely fits my definition of a criminal.
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 3:34 am
Ok. He has behaved indeed like regarding this Twitter thing. But he is not a criminal, nor a monster.
Might want to read up on Elon. Many disturbing things about him, personally and professionally. And that's even if he never bought Twitter.
by Suliso I think a lot of us, myself included, admire technologies his leading companies have developed. Certainly not the man himself, particularly after this Twitter fiasco.
Not that you could be like Elon even if you wanted to money aside. He has a strong Asperger's syndrome. That's why he can be so workaholic and focused on one thing only.
by meganfernandez
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:39 am
I think a lot of us, myself included, admire technologies his leading companies have developed. Certainly not the man himself, particularly after this Twitter fiasco.
Not that you could be like Elon even if you wanted to, money aside. He has a strong Asperger's syndrome. That's why he can be so workaholic and focused on one thing only.
Probably also why he behaves like a dick sometimes. My brother has it. Most people would consider him an asshole, but he can't really help it. He also has a lot of close buddies who know what an amazing friend he is. I'm sure it has a lot to do with Elon's personality. Too bad he doesn't use his position to raise awareness and understanding (I'm assuming he doesn't - I don't pay attention to him).
by ponchi101 My point being: we (society) have to stop this process of demonizing people so easily. It is one of the problems that we have today, and I don't mean solely in the USA.
Story.
I was in Argentina during the 2019 election. Got into a conversation between people leaning for the two main contenders (Maccri and Fernandez). Invariably, I noticed that the camps were split along lines of good and evil: THEIR choice was trying to save the country, their OPPONENT was nothing but a SOB, bent on its destruction. Argentina is nowadays as polarized, if not more, than the USA, thanks in part to what I told those people that day: they could go from "such person is nice" to "that person is a SOB" in minutes. That is not healthy.
This type of mentality is detrimental to any kind of proper political or social discourse. Sure, Elon has truly mucked up this Twitter thing. Sure, he took Tesla from the original founders. But that does not make him a criminal, and some aspects of him are worthy. For example, he is truly passionate about science, which is something that is needed.
We can't have proper civilized discourse (and I mean not US, TAT2.0, but society) if everything gets dialed up to 11. And that is what that person's tweet is. Labeling an unnamed group of people as "toxic" is completely not helpful to have proper discourse.
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 2:11 pm
My point being: we (society) have to stop this process of demonizing people so easily. It is one of the problems that we have today, and I don't mean solely in the USA.
Story.
I was in Argentina during the 2019 election. Got into a conversation between people leaning for the two main contenders (Maccri and Fernandez). Invariably, I noticed that the camps were split along lines of good and evil: THEIR choice was trying to save the country, their OPPONENT was nothing but a SOB, bent on its destruction. Argentina is nowadays as polarized, if not more, than the USA, thanks in part to what I told those people that day: they could go from "such person is nice" to "that person is a SOB" in minutes. That is not healthy.
This type of mentality is detrimental to any kind of proper political or social discourse. Sure, Elon has truly mucked up this Twitter thing. Sure, he took Tesla from the original founders. But that does not make him a criminal, and some aspects of him are worthy. For example, he is truly passionate about science, which is something that is needed.
We can't have proper civilized discourse (and I mean not US, TAT2.0, but society) if everything gets dialed up to 11. And that is what that person's tweet is. Labeling an unnamed group of people as "toxic" is completely not helpful to have proper discourse.
I agree with you to an extent. Among rational people, yes. The average communication, yes. But otherwise I worry that the ship of responsible social discourse has sailed. I think we're going to war or whatever the contemporary version will look like in this part of the world. We'll know in a couple days. Of course, I'm just talking about the US. But things seem to be the same in a lot of places. "War" sounds alarmist and dramatic, but I don't think it's far-fetched. We have been in a civil war for awhile (what an oxymoron, civil war!). Who's going to stop the political violence on the right?
I don't agree with tempering rhetoric about dangerous people in positions of extreme power with unlimited reach. I'm not sure Elon is in the same camp as Trump, but if he is doing anything to amplify or legitimize the stolen-election conspiracy and similar lunacy, then his rhetoric and actions deserve a response of equal volume. I would call those actions toxic and worse. I'm not 100% sure that's what happening because I don't follow him very closely, but that's my impression.
We could dial back the rhetoric on a micro level, but it won't matter now. Things are well past the point where that tweet could have helped or hurt.
by ponchi101 To be clear. I am not saying that we have to dial back the rhetoric; if anything, we need to talk MORE. What I say is that, if you start the conversation demonizing the person the other person follows, very little will come from that conversation.
We have to scale back he adjectives. Lunatic, evil, toxic and so many more are not appropriate anymore.
Even though it is so hard not to label so many people with those.
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 4:04 pm
To be clear. I am not saying that we have to dial back the rhetoric; if anything, we need to talk MORE. What I say is that, if you start the conversation demonizing the person the other person follows, very little will come from that conversation.
We have to scale back he adjectives. Lunatic, evil, toxic and so many more are not appropriate anymore.
Even though it is so hard not to label so many people with those.
I'm not going to stop calling Trump an eff-nugget, even if it would save democracy!
I definitely see your point, I just worry that it's too late to matter. Might have helped 10 years ago.
I'm not going to stop calling Trump an eff-nugget, even if it would save democracy!
I definitely see your point, I just worry that it's too late to matter. Might have helped 10 years ago.
I know. And I am not going to stop calling him Tiny.
But my democracy was lost 2 decades ago, so...
by JazzNU And I'm saying Musk has enough hostile workplace environment problems at multiple companies, with racial discrimination and sexual harassment at the forefront - allegations, settlements and judgments - not to mention sexual misconduct allegations, some of which involve hush payments, to be vilified plenty. You should read an article detailing the culture he instilled at his companies, or better yet, read the court filings of some of those cases, And that's not adding in a whole host of concerning things or stuff that just showcases him being an epic asshole like his marriage and falsely accusing someone you don't know a thing about of being a pedophile on Twitter when you have millions of followers.
And I'd caution others to not associate any of his behavior with him being autistic. Acting like he hasn't done much wrong besides buy Twitter or doesn't have some seriously disturbing behavior alleged against him is a joke. And I certainly wouldn't want any of the behavior outlined above to be associated with or excused by autism.
by ponchi101 And notice how much more eloquent your post is, explaining many issues with Musk and his companies.
And you did not use any words that are "insulting". In short, proper debate. Txs, and I do mean it.
by Deuce
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 07, 2022 2:11 pm
My point being: we (society) have to stop this process of demonizing people so easily. It is one of the problems that we have today, and I don't mean solely in the USA.
Story.
I was in Argentina during the 2019 election. Got into a conversation between people leaning for the two main contenders (Maccri and Fernandez). Invariably, I noticed that the camps were split along lines of good and evil: THEIR choice was trying to save the country, their OPPONENT was nothing but a SOB, bent on its destruction. Argentina is nowadays as polarized, if not more, than the USA, thanks in part to what I told those people that day: they could go from "such person is nice" to "that person is a SOB" in minutes. That is not healthy.
This type of mentality is detrimental to any kind of proper political or social discourse. Sure, Elon has truly mucked up this Twitter thing. Sure, he took Tesla from the original founders. But that does not make him a criminal, and some aspects of him are worthy. For example, he is truly passionate about science, which is something that is needed.
We can't have proper civilized discourse (and I mean not US, TAT2.0, but society) if everything gets dialed up to 11. And that is what that person's tweet is. Labeling an unnamed group of people as "toxic" is completely not helpful to have proper discourse.
I very much agree with this ^ in principle.
But insofar as Musk is concerned, I believe that everything he does is done for the benefit of himself. I honestly don't think he gives a damn about others, or about the 'greater good'. He is as self-serving as it is possible to be. This assessment isn't based on an isolated incident - it is based on how he comports himself on a consistent basis.
Regarding 'demonizing' people too easily in general - I completely agree that it is done far too easily these days. We can thank the plague of 'political correctness' for that.
I see a huge hypocrisy in this approach - one of having people claim to be very easily offended by something someone says or does, claiming that they shouldn't have the right to say or do that, that they are a terrible person because of it, and that they are not 'tolerant' enough... These people who demonize others so easily don't see that THEY are at least as intolerant as those they accuse of intolerance, and are just as judgemental as those they accuse of judgementalism - and usually even more so, because they 'demonize' people MORE than the people they 'demonize' do!
They love to criticize and even 'demonize' anyone who has an opinion that is different than theirs - but as soon as someone criticizes THEM, they cry foul and play the role of 'poor victim'.
These people are incredibly critical of those who take a position that is not consistent with their position, essentially saying that others have no right to take a position other than one which agrees with their position. But in doing so - and doing so very forcefully -, they are doing the same thing as they accuse their target of doing. And it's even worse in my view because of the added element of absolute hypocrisy.
These 'politically correct' people feel that ONLY THEY have the right to criticize, to 'demonize', and to be grossly intolerant - those who have different views and opinions DO NOT possess these same rights.
It's ludicrous.
The 'politically correct' doctrine insists that people must be hurt and offended by every position or opinion which is not consistent with their own, and that anyone holding a position or opinion which does not agree with their own is a horrible, terrible person. As well, the 'politically correct' position ALWAYS requires that there be a 'terrible offender' and a 'victim'. And so they bend over backwards to create these roles in order to 'justify' their wrath.
And, at the same time as they fire all of these insulting, ugly accusations at people who disagree with them, they themselves claim to be 'tolerant' and 'non-judgemental'.
Sigh...
I see this same 'demonizing' being done on this discussion board, as well, with some posters completely 'demonizing' certain players - Gilles Simon and Holger Rune being perhaps the most recent ones (both of these players seem to be well respected by their peers, who know them much better than we do) - based on basically one thing that they've done, or one position they have which happens to oppose the view of the posters who crap on them.
by ti-amie
I was going to really pursue photography until #3 knock me into reality.
by ponchi101 You can get a good camera nowadays that will let you enjoy the hobby.
I have never had a top notch camera, and yet, because I was lucky enough to travel to some beautiful places, I have some shots that are worthy.
You don't need the $10,000 lens to enjoy it.
by Deuce I have 3 cameras - 2 Sony DSLRs (about $400 each - Canadian), and a Canon all-in-one with an integrated 40x zoom lens (about $300 Canadian). I use the Canon more than the other two - because it’s smaller and more convenient to have an all-in-one package. Of course, the quality of photos must be good, as well. Most people aren’t going to print 4x5 foot posters from their photos - that would require a premium quality sensor and premium quality lenses.
I bought one of the Sonys used, and it came with the original lens plus a nice and practical and fairly strong zoom lens.
Of course, because of the neverending changes in ‘technology’ (which is a product of manipulation and greed much more than it is actual progress), the cameras that I have were ‘obsolete’ about 4 months after I bought them (10 years or so ago). But, you know, things still function even if they’re called ‘obsolete’.
I have also kept an Olympus all-in-one 10X zoom 4 MP camera from 2004. It still takes wonderful quality photos - better than some of the all-in-one cameras today (I just wanted more zoom). So don’t be fooled by the number of MegaPixels a sensor has - in-camera compression can make the ‘impressive’ number of MegaPixels irrelevant.
The ability to shoot in RAW is an advantage - though it takes considerably more effort.
I would recommend a good all-in-one camera. I can’t point you to any in particular, because I don’t know what’s available currently. 10 years ago, I did a lot of research before buying the cameras I bought (2 new, 1 used) - but I don’t know what’s out there today. Do your research - look at honest reviews and sample photos on this internet thing...
If you’re dead set on an interchangeable lens camera, buy used. Find a good DSLR - a Canon or Nikon or Pentax or Sony or Olympus, etc. - and a decent lens or two... But do your research there, too, before buying.
The best thing about digital cameras - apart from the obvious instant results - is that we no longer have to change film to change to black & white, or to change speeds. That’s very useful.
Here are a few photos I've taken with my Canon all-in-one. Perhaps not perfect - but good enough for most people, I would think...
Unfortunately, I can't post them full size here, where you can see them in better detail...
by Deuce A couple more, to give you an overall idea of all-in-one cameras...
It all depends what you want to do with photography , of course.
by ti-amie Those are really good Deuce!
I have two Canon SLR's, really old school but I liked the results when I used them. I did pics for TAT 1.0 when we used to cover live tennis back in the day.
Right now I'm doing a lot of nature photography in and around the city. The lens on the iPhone are really good so I haven't thought about buying a DSLR. If I did I'd probably go with a Canon. I'll let you know how it goes.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Nov 08, 2022 2:05 am
Those are really good Deuce!
I have two Canon SLR's, really old school but I liked the results when I used them. I did pics for TAT 1.0 when we used to cover live tennis back in the day.
Right now I'm doing a lot of nature photography in and around the city. The lens on the iPhone are really good so I haven't thought about buying a DSLR. If I did I'd probably go with a Canon. I'll let you know how it goes.
If you right click on the photos I posted, and select 'save image as...' (or similar, depending on your browser), you can save them and when you open them on your computer, select 'full size', you'll see them much larger than you can see them here.
They still won't be the original size or quality, but it'll give you a better idea on the detail than just looking at them on this page.
(I would have included at least one tennis photo, but I use one of the DSLRs for tennis, due in part to the higher shutter speeds available in those as compared to the all-in-one - but the all-in-one is capable of tennis action shots, too - I just prefer the DSLR for that.)
P.S. - for those of you who don't know Sarah Harmer's songs, give her a listen. She's kind of left of center, very genuine, and quite wonderful.
by JazzNU Re: Powerball's "technical" delay
by Deuce It never ceases to amaze me how the larger a lottery prize is, the more people there are who purchase tickets.
A lottery prize of, say, $14 million will have people lined up to buy a ticket, where the week previous, when the prize was 'only' $10 Million, there was no line-up. It would seem that $10 Million is simply not enough money for many people!
It's very likely not that simple, of course. The reason that the number of people who buy tickets increases as the prize increases is probably due to more publicity - hearing about it more in the media, from friends, etc.
Most people don't seem to realize that it is counter-intuitive to do this, though - because the more people who purchase tickets, the less likely it is that each person will win the advertized prize.
But the element of these lottery things that disturbs me the most - especially when they reach absolutely ridiculous proportions like now - is that a hell of a lot of people could be fed and housed with this money. Even right here in North America. And there are about 'a Billion' other more useful and more progressive things that could be done with that money, as well. But, tragically, greed wins.
And, as if the amount of the 'jackpots' aren't insane enough, add the fact that ticket sales amount to even more money than the 'jackpot' (that's what makes these things viable for their creators - they have to turn a profit).
So... yeah - a whole lot of money that could be much better spent.
by ti-amie When the jackpots are this large it's ridiculous to play because the pool of people becomes so large and makes it easier for someone in the MidWest or a very rural state who is also retired to win.
I don't play at all but it would make better sense to play when the lottery jackpot is "normal".
by ponchi101 Playing the lottery, statistically speaking, is never "dumb".
Think about it this way.
You are a person with a "regular" job: nurse, teacher, bank clerk, etc. What are your chances of EVER being a millionaire? A multimillionaire? Your chances are zero.
So, whatever small chance you have of hitting this jackpot, or any other million $$$ plus lottery, regardless of how small that chance is, is more than that zero chance of every being a millionaire on your work alone.
I busted my butt for 25 years in my industry, saved like a maniac, invested (poorly) on some mutual funds and stock. No kids, never took a bank loan or borrowed any money (interests will kill you), and I am still very short of the first million. If I were in the USA, I would buy one ticket. Dream for one day.
by JazzNU $2 to change your entire family's life is why it makes sense to play the lottery. And you can pull that amount out of a forgotten change jar.
But given the size of the Powerball and Megamillions these days, I see no sound reason that there can't be a minimum of 10, 20, or 25 winners. Honestly, you'd sell more tickets because the chances of winning would increase because winning $100 million is still out of this world life changing. I seriously hate how often lately (and it's clearly intentional) that there is a single winning ticket. We used to get 2 or 3 winners now and then, but no more.
by Suliso It's very difficult to save a million, even in Switzerland with a good job. I'm also well short of my first one (13 years)...
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 A million is still a million.
But I would keep working too. The sole way I stop working is if I were to hit the $5 million mark. Then I would feel I would have enough.
by Deuce I could live very comfortably off of the interest of $1 Million. Or even less.
My wants are few.
"Some make their pride in how much their dinner costs. I make my pride in how little mine costs." - Henry Thoreau.
by ponchi101 I know this is a non-sequitur, but... my GF received this:
800 private jets landed in Sharm El Sheikh to tell the rest of the world we need to ride bicycles.
---o---
And I agree that we need to ride more bicycles, but, it has a little bit of a ring of truth.
by ti-amie
Okay
by ti-amie
The person with the yellow flippers really wanted to gtfo.
The person with the yellow flippers really wanted to gtfo.
I'm quite skeptical about the authenticity of this.
Because of the 'advancements' in technology, it is becoming more and more difficult to differentiate between what is real, and what is 'computer generated'. People are too eager today to create their own 'virtual reality' (an absolute oxymoron).
This doesn't look real to me. Add the fact that no source of the recording is mentioned, and... as I said, I am very skeptical.
The fact that we always must question now whether something is real/honest or not is tragic.
As a professional photographer said to me some years ago, when digital photography and computer editing of photos was first beginning: "A photo used to be proof that something really happened. But now, with all of this computer manipulation, a photo doesn't prove a damned thing. And that's a shame."
by ti-amie Deuce did you see the photographs from Ecuador vs Qatar in the World Cup thread? The one showing Ecuador's Enner Valencia making a header that ended in a goal for his country? Spectacular.
by JazzNU Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US. Hope you enjoy the day with family and friends. And good luck and God bless to all that are cooking today.
by ti-amie
by Suliso
The guy doing the folding, Robert J. Lang, holds a PhD in applied physics and is considered one of the leading theorists of the mathematics of origami.
by ponchi101 That made me feel so useless.....
Impressive. Txs.
This one kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it?
Indeed.
It makes the biggest assholes with the largest egos look extremely insignificant.
It's probably not a photo that the egomaniacs will be hanging on their walls.
This one kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it?
Sure. But then you can realize another bit.
WE were the ones that were able to send spaceship that far into the Solar System to take a photo of our planet. WE are the ones that have grasped enough of the laws of the universe to precisely maneuver such a craft to take that picture. Furthermore, we designed the gadget to capture the image AND send it back to us.
A tiny, insignificant species in a rather remote planet has reached a state in which we can do things like that.
In about 5 BN years, the sun will engulf us. And everything we ever were, will be vaporized and swallowed by the same star that nurtured us.
Except that no, it won't be. Already, Pioneer 10 & 11, Voyager 1 & 2, Deep Horizons and who knows which other future crafts will be out there in the immense void of the universe, microscopic reminders of a small primate that evolved to produce some technology that is praiseworthy.
Are we "insignificant"? That is one view, the pessimistic view, the progress-phobic view. The other view is: Sure. But see what we can do.
Something that we collectively can be very proud of.
by Suliso By that time we could easily be multi galaxy species or long extinct. People fail to realize how long a time 1 million years is. The entire history of settled human populations (that is after agriculture) spans only ca 1.5% of that time. And one million years is not much as far as geological processes are concerned.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic [Arthur C. Clarke]. We could be wizards in just a century or two.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:14 pm
By that time we could easily be multi galaxy species or long extinct. People fail to realize how long a time 1 million years is. The entire history of settled human populations (that is after agriculture) spans only ca 1.5% of that time. And one million years is not much as far as geological processes are concerned.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic [Arthur C. Clarke]. We could be wizards in just a century or two.
Of course. The progress that we have achieved in barely 500 years of Scientific Revolution is something to be very proud of.
But there will always be the existentialistic nincompoop that will come with the denials: "We are barbarians, we are destroying the planet, are we truly civilized?, we are nothing but animals" and on and on. Sure, we have PROBLEMS. But we live in the best of all times and, as that photo shows, our reach has increased by millions. Which the science denying a******s will always frown upon.
Can we blow ourselves up in thermonuclear Armageddon tomorrow? We can. We could. But we are reaching almost 70 years of nuclear bombs and after those first two, we realized they should not be used. Every example for our potential demise has not happened. The pessimists will always be right that it will take ONE bad moment for us to really hurt ourselves. That is just a scenario that must be considered.
But images like these are encouraging, to me, for the species. A Pale Blue Dot? Yes, that is all we are. And we are the sole species in the planet that knows that.
This one kind of puts things in perspective doesn't it?
Sure. But then you can realize another bit.
WE were the ones that were able to send spaceship that far into the Solar System to take a photo of our planet. WE are the ones that have grasped enough of the laws of the universe to precisely maneuver such a craft to take that picture. Furthermore, we designed the gadget to capture the image AND send it back to us.
A tiny, insignificant species in a rather remote planet has reached a state in which we can do things like that.
In about 5 BN years, the sun will engulf us. And everything we ever were, will be vaporized and swallowed by the same star that nurtured us.
Except that no, it won't be. Already, Pioneer 10 & 11, Voyager 1 & 2, Deep Horizons and who knows which other future crafts will be out there in the immense void of the universe, microscopic reminders of a small primate that evolved to produce some technology that is praiseworthy.
Are we "insignificant"? That is one view, the pessimistic view, the progress-phobic view. The other view is: Sure. But see what we can do.
Something that we collectively can be very proud of.
WE are also the ones who are destroying our own planet through OUR selfishness and greed and ego.
That's not a 'pessimistic view', but a realistic one.
All of this exploration of 'space' is impressive and interesting and fine and good - but if we follow our current path, it will only lead to us going on to destroy other planets and moons as we are destroying Earth.
Again - not a pessimistic view, but a realistic one, firmly based in factual evidence of what human beings as a species do.
by ti-amie
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by dryrunguy Sometimes my email inbox makes me chuckle.
Seriously.png
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:42 pm
Sometimes my email inbox makes me chuckle.
by Deuce If you read the article, you’ll see that there is still a very practical use for pay phones - for homeless people, victims of domestic violence, etc.
by ponchi101 Since this is random random.
For reasons that have nothing to do with my health, I haven't had a drink in a month. And you know all those articles and studies about how quitting alcohol is really good? Those people that go a month without alcohol and feel much better, lose weight, get better sleep patterns and a whole lot of other benefits?
Well, (expletive). I feel exactly the same, I haven't lost any weight (there is none to lose, anyway) and I see nothing better going on.
So, as far as this one-man data-sample is concerned: drink on. Moderately, of course.
by Deuce Check back after 6 months and see if you feel any different then.
by Suliso Not so much work this year anymore so I was playing with beeneverywhere maps. Here is my version
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Dec 13, 2022 1:13 am
I think this one is my favorite.
Mine too..I made a New Year card with it when it first came out..gives you a perspective of yourself...
by Deuce
by ti-amie I was today years old when I found out someone named Andrew Tate is something of an internet sensation. He will now, thanks to Greta Thunberg, be the reason behind the Tweet of the Year.
by Owendonovan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 8:22 pm
I was today years old when I found out someone named Andrew Tate is something of an internet sensation. He will now, thanks to Greta Thunberg, be the reason behind the Tweet of the Year.
Thanks Greta, He needed that.
by ti-amie So apparently this Andrew Tate guy is a self proclaimed expert on masculinity. That said this happened today.
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 29, 2022 8:20 pm
So apparently this Andrew Tate guy is a self proclaimed expert on masculinity.
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 29, 2022 8:20 pm
So apparently this Andrew Tate guy is a self proclaimed expert on masculinity.
That's called a red flag...
I know I am in the minority here, but, exactly.
Real men don't go around proclaiming they are a real man. It is called "insecurity".
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan I wish the fantasies of what these toxic men think women do to men (nag, whine, emasculate, take) would come true for themselves.
by Fastbackss I had never heard of him.
And I appreciate that his bravado (in posting AT her, and then in response to her) is what got him arrested.
PS - the descriptions from his website of his "empire" of webcam models and how they become them is vulgar at best
by ti-amieWho is Andrew Tate, ‘king of toxic masculinity,’ accused of trafficking?
By Timothy Bella
December 30, 2022 at 4:11 p.m. EST
Long before he was the butt of a viral joke from climate activist Greta Thunberg or accused of human trafficking, Andrew Tate claimed he was bored growing up.
As a child, his boredom was occupied by chess in the hope of following his dad’s footsteps as a great player because, he once said, “that’s the only thing I want to do most.” When he got bored with defeating adults, he turned to kickboxing, laying to waste opponents throughout Europe. And when he got bored with physical combat, he turned to verbal assault, becoming a men’s rights influencer known for his extreme misogynistic, violent remarks against women. He went on to build online followings in the millions from the darkest corners of the web, making him one of the most watched personalities on social media by his mid-30s.
The U.S.-born Tate, who along with his brother Tristan was arrested in Romania on Thursday and charged with human trafficking and forming an organized-crime group, is a self-described misogynist and sexist who has been dubbed “the scariest man on the internet” by critics and “the king of toxic masculinity” by fans. (A lawyer for the Tates could not immediately be identified Friday.)
The former kickboxing champion is known for his attacks against women — whether it’s saying that women who are sexually assaulted need to shoulder “some responsibility,” claiming that women are “given to the man and belong to the man” or noting in online videos that he dates women who are 18 and 19 because he can “make an imprint” on them.
“I’m not a rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want,” he once said in one of his videos about why he moved from England to Romania, according to Sky News, adding that “probably 40 percent of the reason” he moved to the country was because it might be easier to evade rape charges. “I like being free.” In another video, he described how he would react if a woman accused him of cheating, saying, “It’s bang out the machete, boom in her face and grip her by the neck.”
Tate, 36, who has portrayed himself as a self-help expert for men and was regularly photographed smoking cigars in front of fast cars and guns, has seen his profile rise after chats with far-right figures such as Alex Jones and Mike Cernovich. He largely gained attention on TikTok — one of the many platforms that has now banned him for his repeated misogynistic remarks — where videos tagged #AndrewTate were viewed roughly 13 billion times as of August, according to NBC News. In July, Tate’s name was a bigger search term on Google than some of the search engine’s most significant queries, including former president Donald Trump, Kim Kardashian and covid-19, Forbes reported.
Days after Tate’s back-and-forth with Thunberg dominated Twitter, he now finds himself detained by a Romanian anti-organized-crime unit that is seeking authorization from a judge to hold Tate, his brother and two Romanian suspects for up to 30 days, a spokesperson for the Romanian prosecutor’s office told The Washington Post. One person also was charged with rape, but the spokesperson would not identify that person, citing local laws.
Romanian prosecutors said in a statement that they identified six people who they allege were recruited and then sexually abused in Ilfov county, which surrounds the capital, Bucharest. Authorities say the victims were coerced into participating in pornography for distribution on social media and that one of the suspects twice raped a victim in March. The statement, which did not name the Tate brothers, alleges that the victims faced “acts of physical violence and mental coercion.”
While many have been aware of Tate and his social media rise, millions are coming to his story for the first time.
Born in December 1986 in the Washington region, according to a video he posted in July, Emory Andrew Tate III is the son of a chess master father and a catering assistant mother. After the family moved to Chicago and Goshen, Ind., his parents divorced, and Tate and his brother moved with their mother to Luton, her hometown in England. Tate stayed connected to his father through chess, a game he learned to play when he was 5, competing against adults.
“I know that I’m in the position to turn Andrew into a Bobby Fischer, but it’s a common-sense dilemma,” his father, Emory A. Tate Jr., the top-ranked chess player in Indiana at the time, told the South Bend Tribune in 1993, noting the lack of financial stability in becoming a chess master. While his father told the Tribune that he wished his son would pursue other interests, Tate said that he played so much because he was “bored all the time and that’s the only thing I want to do most."
He later got into the world of kickboxing, where he became one of the most decorated light-heavyweight fighters in the world. Videos of his fights are listed under titles such as “Prime Andrew Tate Was An Absolute Beast!” After a brief run in mixed martial arts, he retired from combat sports.
He was bored again.
His next chapter amplified his notoriety and criticism of his treatment of women. In 2016, Tate appeared as a housemate on the 17th season of “Big Brother” in the United Kingdom. He was kicked off the reality television show after a video surfaced that appeared to show him hitting a woman with a belt. (Tate and the woman in the video said what occurred was consensual sex, according to the BBC.)
From there, fans of the show discovered past tweets in which Tate used homophobic and racial slurs at users. The string of controversial behavior continued in 2017, when he falsely asserted that depression “isn’t real.”
Tate was denounced by critics and advocacy groups who said his mere presence on social media, and the following he was developing for his “extremely misogynistic” remarks, could present a “dangerous slip road into the far right.” At the same time, he was promoting an online marketing program for a monthly membership of $49.99 that claimed he could give people “high-income skill development.” (“Hustler’s University,” which one marketing professor likened to a social media pyramid scheme, shut down this year, despite having about 127,000 members, according to the Guardian.)
As backlash mounted, platforms took action against Tate this year. He was banned from Facebook and Instagram after violating Meta’s policy on “dangerous organizations and individuals,” NBC reported. TikTok, the platform where he grew his audience the most, also kicked him off for promoting content, the company says, “that attacks, threatens, incites violence against, or otherwise dehumanizes an individual or a group.” YouTube suspended him for hate speech and covid misinformation after he amassed millions of dollars in ad revenue.
But on Twitter, his ban was lifted last month as part of new owner Elon Musk’s changes that reinstated far-right firebrands. Tate’s return to the platform set up the online confrontation with Thunberg, in which Tate tweeted that he wanted to send the climate activist “a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions.”
When Thunberg trolled him in a tweet that’s been viewed more than 259 million times since it was posted Wednesday, the attention was again on Tate.
The next day, he was arrested in Romania.
Despite the online speculation that Romanian authorities were able to locate Tate after he posted a video in response to Thunberg containing a pizza box from a local spot that gave away his location, authorities denied that the video played any role. The investigation into Tate and his brother began in April after the U.S. Embassy called Romanian authorities with information that a U.S. citizen was being held involuntarily at a house in Ilfov.
But that didn’t stop Thunberg from having some fun at the expense of “the most toxic man on the internet.”
“This is what happens when you don’t recycle your pizza boxes,” she observed.
Kelsey Ables, Taylor Lorenz, Amir Nadhir and Sara Sorcher contributed to this report.
by dryrunguy Disturbing Fact: For some bizarre reason, Andrew Tate popped up in my Twitter feed for the first time ever. I was a bit alarmed by a few of the horse racing folks who follow him. But then again, followers don't necessarily agree with or endorse the people they follow.
Still... That man is a pig.
by Deuce I have never heard of any of the so-called 'social media influencers' that seem to populate people's attention. Not one.
I guess I'm not easily influenced.
The problem, of course, exists not just with boys. It exists equally with girls. And, especially tragically, also with men and women...
The root of the problem is insecurity. It is personal insecurity which leads one to be easily influenced. A lack of belief and confidence in one's own qualities and capacities is what makes one follow others and/or whatever is 'popular'.
And so, the problem comes down to parenting. It is the parental responsibility to build self-confidence and self-esteem, etc. in their children. But parents are not doing that today. Instead, parents get sucked in to the abyss of being strongly influenced and following the 'popular' trends themselves.
For the past couple of decades, children have been bombarded by more negative elements today than at any other time in history. Much more. From advertising aimed directly at them to television to the internet, they are constantly being goaded into trying this, or following that. As such, if they are susceptible to these influences, they don't develop an individual, independent identity of their own.
As I've been saying for the past 20 years: at a time when children need THE MOST protection from outside influences, they are receiving THE LEAST protection from the people who should be protecting them - their parents (and protection can come in many forms, including education). Because their parents are themselves too 'busy' updating their facebook status, or posting mindless 'tweets', etc. to actively involve themselves in nurturing, educating, and protecting their children.
The problem with far too many parents today is that they are incredibly immature, as compared with parents of 30, 40, 50 years ago. Parents today behave like teenagers - they have been totally seduced by the internet and the promise of a degree of 'fame' and attention.
Today's parents know exactly who their favourite singer or movie star is dating, but they have no clue who their own children are dating. They know little about their children's lives.
Again, this has been going on for over 20 years - and getting worse. Far too long.
Some kids get through it ok - especially those who are fortunate enough to meet a mentor who can help guide them through life in what can only be called the absence of their parents.
But far too many kids go down an unhealthy path - because of the huge number of negative influences out there. Because their parents are not teaching them better.
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
by ti-amie I wish I could find the Twitter thread that details how many parents who had never heard of this man found out their 11-18 year old boys were very familiar with him.
Girls get fed the Trashians and their ilk and that is just as bad although no one has ever accused them of trafficking.
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 12:34 am
Disturbing Fact: For some bizarre reason, Andrew Tate popped up in my Twitter feed for the first time ever. I was a bit alarmed by a few of the horse racing folks who follow him. But then again, followers don't necessarily agree with or endorse the people they follow.
Still... That man is a pig.
Lauren Boebert showed up in mine several times and so I muted her. People who say Twitter is exactly the same are lying or blind. This ish is intentional.
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 02, 2023 12:34 am
Disturbing Fact: For some bizarre reason, Andrew Tate popped up in my Twitter feed for the first time ever. I was a bit alarmed by a few of the horse racing folks who follow him. But then again, followers don't necessarily agree with or endorse the people they follow.
Still... That man is a pig.
Lauren Boebert showed up in mine several times and so I muted her. People who say Twitter is exactly the same are lying or blind. This ish is intentional.
I'm curious... Why mute instead of just blocking and being rid of them (hopefully)?
by JazzNU
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 1:17 am
I'm curious... Why mute instead of just blocking and being rid of them (hopefully)?
Muting someone gets rid of them as well, but they don't know it, which is my preference with crazies unless I was getting legitimately harassed. In this case, her Tweets just randomly started showing up in my Timeline. Muting solves that issue. If I was worried about actual interaction or someone sending me DMs, then I would definitely block them.
I went all the way.
Impressive. And educational.
My favourite is the 'faceless fish'.
by ti-amie The faceless fish shocked me too! What a fascinating "deep dive" that was.
by ponchi101
by Deuce Some of you may be interested in this.
I don't know if everyone will be able to watch it - it may depend on where you live and the access that PBS gives to different countries... but it is marked as 'Available To Watch Now'...
Here is the description: "In Venezuela, amidst a backdrop of poverty, murder, and corruption, the El Sistema youth orchestra offers children hope and the opportunity to pursue a life of art in spite of the harshness of the society around them. Yet the country’s spiraling collapse and political repression threatens the musicians’ dreams of a better life."
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:12 pm
Since this is random random.
For reasons that have nothing to do with my health, I haven't had a drink in a month. And you know all those articles and studies about how quitting alcohol is really good? Those people that go a month without alcohol and feel much better, lose weight, get better sleep patterns and a whole lot of other benefits?
Well, (expletive). I feel exactly the same, I haven't lost any weight (there is none to lose, anyway) and I see nothing better going on.
So, as far as this one-man data-sample is concerned: drink on. Moderately, of course.
Make it a 2-man (2-person) sample. Tried it a couple of years ago. Same result.
by Suliso But did you feel in some way bad before? I think that's the key
I could drop my already miniscule alcohol consumption (one drink per week perhaps), but I already feel good. Not overweight, sleep just fine...
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 1:52 pm
But did you feel in some way bad before? I think that's the key
I could drop my already miniscule alcohol consumption (one drink per week perhaps), but I already feel good. Not overweight, sleep just fine...
No. Granted. It is not as if I was having a terrible time, or my health was in dire straits. My sole problem remains the same and all issues in my life stem from it.
But when I read those articles it is always as if some panacea will be dropped on you: "Oh, I feel more energetic, I lost weight, blah blah blah".
Like you, my alcohol consumption is not major. I will have a beer on Sunday watching a football game, maybe another on Friday watching the NBA. As you hint, a highly unscientific datum. But, it is the sole datum I can provide.
This is fantastic. I wonder how long it takes for the mammals who dive over a mile to get there, they're doing it on one breath.
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 1:52 pm
But did you feel in some way bad before? I think that's the key
I could drop my already miniscule alcohol consumption (one drink per week perhaps), but I already feel good. Not overweight, sleep just fine...
My general health is fine, but things like stress level, sleep amount etc. weren't great (still aren't tbh). I was mostly looking to see if there'd be an effect on energy level or weight... there wasn't. Of course, I don't drink a lot, but it's a bit more than one drink a week.
by Deuce I didn't put this in the 'Sports' section because I don't consider UFC to be a sport. It is basically the equivalent of the similarly disgusting circus show that is WWE 'wrestling' - the UFC is just more violent.
I have always considered Dana White to be a low life. He has a big and vulgar mouth. The way that he treats people and talks about people shows very clearly that respect is not an element of his life at all.
Unfortunately, he's been able to get away with his ugly and despicable behaviour for far too long. Because he's 'famous', he's gotten a free pass, as 'famous people' tend to get in this dysfunctional society.
Until now.
Now he has done something (striking his wife) that people are finally holding him accountable for. And his track record for disrespectful behaviour is finally being highlighted.
It's about time.
In this article, his own mother says that he is "not a good person" - although she conveniently absolves herself of all responsibility for the way her son turned out.
She had a book to sell, as well - and controversy sells, of course - so that is part of it. But even without his mother's input, assessed by his own actions, Dana White is a disgusting low life...
by ti-amie I can take WWE. I have never watched UFC.
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sun Jan 08, 2023 1:50 am
I can take WWE. I have never watched UFC.
Because I've worked a lot with children, and because I view children as being especially vulnerable to influence, I have a tendency to look at things in terms of their effect on children. And the WWE has an absolutely horrible influence on children. And they do it deliberately - because it makes them financially rich (and morally bankrupt). Nothing justifies using kids like this for your own selfish benefit. It's completely inexcusable.
That's why I have absolutely zero respect for it.
by ti-amie What am I missing? There should only be one answer if the pattern holds no? Unless of course he named the boy Scott...
by ponchi101 Answer in the spoiler.
► Show Spoiler
They told you: JOHNNY'S Father has 5 sons. They gave you the name of 4.
...
by Deuce Yes...
It took me about 30 seconds, but I got it.
by skatingfan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 2:29 am
What am I missing? There should only be one answer if the pattern holds no? Unless of course he named the boy Scott...
Read it again. Who is Johnny?
by Fastbackss Little Johnny, you might know him from the dirty jokes he tells
by Deuce I could have put this in any number of threads - 'Tennis Related - Off Court Serious Issues', NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB...
But it was either put it in ALL of those threads, or put it here.
For anyone who has an interest in - or concerns about - the new sports gambling wave which has infiltrated North America, I urge you to watch this short documentary type report about that subject.
It is done by the 'fifth estate', which has been a very well respected and critically acclaimed 'investigative social documentary' TV program here in Canada for several decades.
This report is about sports betting in Canada - and the many negative consequences thereof... but it applies just as much to the U.S. as it does to Canada. It also casts a very negative light on 'celebrities' - including former and current athletes from various sports - becoming 'pitchmen' for gambling entities.
It's a dirty business.
This video demonstrates very efficiently that money will buy people - and at the same time, it will destroy other people.
I hope it's available for people outside of Canada to watch.
by Deuce It's quite disappointing to see Greta Thunberg sporting a 'Nike' bag as she is escorted away by German police...
'Nike', of course, have been well known employers of 'slave labour' in poor countries - often using children to produce their products and paying them next to nothing. To me, Nike have been among the worst offenders in this area because, while many companies are guilty of similar ethical malpractice, few have as much money as Nike does to pay their workers much better.
Yes - I know they've said that they 'don't do those bad things anymore' - but the accusations continue, as there is still plenty of evidence that it continues, and that their pretty claim is not true, and is just more 'public relations' marketing B.S.
I would have thought (or hoped?) that Thunberg, who preaches about doing the right ethical things - would not be wearing any brand name anything - much less something from a company as financially rich and as questionable as Nike.
I wonder now if Nike is actually sponsoring her in some way. It would be consistent with Nike's M.O. to manipulatively hitch themselves to a supposedly 'ethical person' as a means of improving their image.
by Deuce .
Sadly, I think this may explain what I refer to in the post above ^...
by Owendonovan I don't ever recall a thunder and lightning storm mid-January in NYC, but one just passed over. I also have noticed some bulbs coming up likely due to the temperature not dipping below 40f for while now.
by Deuce Follow-up to the story of the 6 year old child who shot his teacher - deliberately...
It appears as if the child in question has some psychological/emotional/developmental problems. That is an important factor. I initially stated that the child's parents should be arrested and charged, not the child. This was assuming that the child was developing in an average manner. That appears to not be the case, and that his difficulties made it difficult for him to assess situations in life - and to respond to situations - accurately and appropriately.
And so it would seem that the parents can be absolved of the responsibility of 'grooming' their child to resolve conflicts in a radical and extreme manner.
But the parents are not completely innocent... Their son still was able to bring a gun to school, and the gun in question was kept at the family home. And so the parents are responsible for that.
They are trying to squirm out of that responsibility, though, and are quoted as saying "The firearm our son accessed was secured."
Uhh... No, it obviously wasn't.
by ponchi101 Borderline makes you think: "That is not possible. Those are special effects".
by ti-amie Every few minutes I look at it to see if I can spot how he does it. Fascinating.
by JazzNU This Kia logo is so ridiculously bad and seeing it all over the stadium during the Aussie Open really helps to show why it caused such confusion. There is no time it doesn't look like KN to me.
by skatingfan
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 5:46 am
This Kia logo is so ridiculously bad and seeing it all over the stadium during the Aussie Open really helps to show why it caused such confusion. There is no time it doesn't look like KN to me.
JazzNU wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 5:46 am
This Kia logo is so ridiculously bad and seeing it all over the stadium during the Aussie Open really helps to show why it caused such confusion. There is no time it doesn't look like KN to me.
Took me a week to realize it was KIA, and not KN.
It was a bigger story in the fall, but when it started rolling out more widely on new cars, it was causing tens of thousands of Google searches each month asking about this new KN car make. Confusing the heck out of so many.
by ponchi101 I thought it was a great improvement over their original logo. But, yes, it can be confusing.
But they are making some very good cars (together with sister company Hyundai). So, go ahead and buy an EV6; it is one of the best, affordable EV's you can get.
by ti-amieThe Trouble When Jane Becomes Jack
Shane Caya, right, found fulfillment in making the transition from a woman to a man. But it meant the end of a relationship with his former lesbian partner, left. They share custody of a child.
Credit...Darcy Padilla for The New York Times
By Paul Vitello
Aug. 20, 2006
Correction Appended
SAN FRANCISCO
IN the most recent season of the lesbian soap opera, “The L Word,” a new character named Moira announced to her friends that, through surgery and hormone therapy, she would soon be a new person named Max. Her news was not well received.
“It just saddens me to see so many of our strong butch women giving up their womanhood to be a man,” one friend said.
The sentiment was a tamer version of what many other women wrote on lesbian blogs and Web sites in the weeks after the episode was broadcast last spring. Many called for the Max character to be killed off next season. One suggested dispatching him “by testosterone overdose.”
The reaction to the fictional character captured the bitter tension that can exist over gender reassignment. Among lesbians — the group from which most transgendered men emerge — the increasing number of women who are choosing to pursue life as a man can provoke a deep resentment and almost existential anxiety, raising questions of gender loyalty and political identity, as well as debates about who is and who isn’t, and who never was, a real woman.
The conflict has raged at some women’s colleges and has been explored in academic articles, in magazines for lesbians and in alternative publications, with some — oversimplifying the issue for effect — headlined with the question, “Is Lesbianism Dead?”
Barbara Price, a former festival producer, said the uneasiness has been “a big topic among lesbians for quite some time.”
“There are many people who look at what these young women are doing, and say to themselves, ‘Hey, by turning yourselves into men, don’t you realize you’re going over to the other side?’ ” she said. “We thought we were all supposed to be in this together.”
Beyond the political implications, the sense of loss is felt most keenly in personal relationships.
“I am a lesbian because I am attracted to women, and not to men," said a 33-year-old woman who broke up with her partner of seven years, Sharon Caya, when Sharon became Shane. The woman, who asked to be identified only as Natasha, to protect family members who are unaware of her lifestyle, said that she was ultimately faced with the reality of her sexual orientation and identity. “I decided I couldn’t be in a romantic relationship with a man.”
The transgender movement among men is at least as old as the pioneering surgery that turned George Jorgensen into Christine Jorgensen in 1952. Among women who wish to become men, though, the movement has gained momentum only in the last 10 years, in part because of increasingly sophisticated surgical options, the availability of the Internet’s instant support network, and the emotions raised by the 1999 movie “Boys Don’t Cry,” based on the true story of the murder of Brandon Teena, a young Nebraska woman who chose to live as a man.
The word for the process is “to transition,” a modest verb for what in women usually means, at the minimum, a double mastectomy and heavy doses of hormones that change the shape of the face, deepen the voice, broaden the upper body, spur the growth of facial hair, and in some cases, trigger the onset of male pattern baldness.
Politically and personally, the change has equally profound effects. Some lesbians view it as a kind of disloyalty bordering on gender treason.
The Census Bureau does not try to count the number of transgendered people in the United States, and many who make the transition from one sex to another do not wish to be counted.
It has been a subtext of gay politics in San Francisco, the only city in the country that covers employees’ sex-change medical expenses. And it bubbles to the surface every summer at the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, a lesbian gathering to which only “women born as women and living as women” are invited — a ban on transgendered people of either sex.
A European study conducted 10 years ago, and often cited by the American Psychiatric Association, says full gender reassignment occurred in 1 in 11,000 men and 1 in 30,000 women, a ratio that would place the number of men who have become women nationally at only about 13,000 and women who have become men at about 5,000.
Transgender advocates, however, say those statistics fail to reflect an increasing number of people, especially young people, who call themselves transgendered but resist some or all of the surgeries available, including, for women becoming men, the creation of a penis. Some delay or avoid surgeries because of expense. For women especially, the genital surgery is still risky.
“There are tens of thousands of us, probably more than 100,000,” said Riki Wilchins, the executive director of GenderPAC, a lobbying group in Washington, citing the looser definition of being transgendered.
Dr. Michael Brownstein, a surgeon in San Francisco, said he had performed more than 1,000 female-to-male surgeries in the last several years, and transgender advocates say there are a dozen surgeons specializing in the work in the United States.
The numbers are slight, considering the estimated five million gay men and five million lesbian women in the United States. Still, coupled with a simultaneous trend among the young to reject sexual identity labels altogether, some lesbians fear that the ranks are growing of women who once called themselves lesbian but no longer do.
“It’s as if the category of lesbian is just emptying out,” said Judith Halberstam, a gender theorist and professor of literature at the University of Southern California, San Diego, whose books include “Female Masculinity.”
Leaders of some lesbian organizations dismiss the idea of a schism or contend that it has been resolved in the interest of common human rights goals among lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people.
“The view in some lesbian corners that we are losing lesbians to transitioning is absurd,” said Kate Kendall, the executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “Given our history of oppression, all lesbians should encourage people to be themselves even if it means our lesbian sister is becoming our heterosexual-identified brother.”
But in private conversations and in public forums like women’s colleges, the questions about how to frame the relationship among lesbians, former lesbians and young women who call themselves “gender queer” rather than lesbian at all, seem largely unresolved.
“There is a general uneasiness about this whole thing, like ‘What are we losing here?’ ” said Diane Anderson-Minshall, the executive editor of Curve, a lesbian magazine. The issue stirs old insecurities about women being “not good enough,’’ she added.
Koen Baum, a family therapist in San Francisco who is a transgendered man, said the anxiety some lesbians feel has complicated roots. Some, he said, believe that women who “pass” as men are in some ways embracing male privileges.
Ben A. Barres, a professor of neurobiology at Stanford and a transgendered man, recently provided fodder for that view in an article in Nature and an interview with The New York Times. “It is very much harder for women to be successful, to get jobs, to get grants, especially big grants,” he told The Times.
The idea of male privilege was also part of “The L Word” plot: When Max learns he is to be offered a job that he was rejected for as Moira, he promises that he will refuse it and tell off the would-be boss, but he later decides to take the job and say nothing.
Mr. Baum said the anxiety also stems from fear over the loss of an ally in the struggle against sexism. “The question in the minds of many lesbian women is, ‘Is it still going to be you and me against sexism, you and me against the world?’ ” he said.
There are also practical questions: What place should a transgendered man have in women’s spaces such as bathhouses, charter cruises, music festivals and, more tricky still, at women’s colleges, where some “transmen” taking testosterone are reportedly playing on school sports teams?
Laura Cucullu, a freelance editor and recent graduate of Mills College in Oakland, Calif., phrased the question this way: “When do we kick you out? When you change your name to Bob? When you start taking hormones? When you grow a mustache? When you have a double mastectomy?”
The fact that there is no apparent parallel imbroglio in the gay community toward men who become women is a subject of some speculation.
“There is the sense that a transman is ‘betraying the team,’ joining the oppressor class and that sort of thing,” said Ken Zucker, a clinical psychologist and a specialist in gender research at the University of Toronto.
Despite the tangled set of issues involved, the survival rate of lesbian couples seems higher than among gay couples when one partner changes gender, advocates say.
After Susie Anderson-Minshall became Jacob several years ago, he and his partner of 15 years, Ms. Anderson-Minshall, the Curve editor, decided to marry. Their March 19 wedding was actually their second union. The first had been a partnership ceremony as lesbians; the second was as legally recognized husband and wife under the laws of the state of California, where they live.
Other couples, like the former Sharon Caya and Natasha, found the transition much rougher. Sharon’s decision to become Shane coincided with Natasha becoming pregnant, having conceived with donor sperm. “When the baby came along, I wanted to become myself,” Mr. Caya said. “I wanted the baby to know me as I truly am.”
She began taking testosterone about three years ago, then had “top surgery” — a double mastectomy — and is now a muscular 42-year-old of medium height with long sideburns and a goatee.
For financial and practical reasons, Mr. Caya, the legal director of the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco, decided to forgo “bottom surgery,” which could cost as much as $100,000 and would involve two or three operations to graft on an ersatz penis.
According to the standards of the European study, Shane Caya would not be counted as a transgendered person.
Natasha, a financial manager in San Francisco, still cries when describing Sharon’s decision to become male.
“You’re in love with a person, but there is something about gender that is so central to identity it can be overwhelming if the person changes,” she said.
“When she told me what she wanted to do, I was completely blown away at first,” Natasha said. Then, “I thought to myself, ‘All right, we’re good lesbians. We should be able to figure this out.’ ”
But after a month of struggling with the idea, Natasha said she could not make the adjustment. The breakup occurred when the child was 5 months old. The couple remain on friendly terms and share custody.
And when Mr. Caya attended a lesbian organization’s lunch recently, he recalled, he was welcomed by a woman who said she was “pleased to see a man supporting us lesbians.” His reply, he said, was quick and to the point:
“Of course I support lesbians,” he said. “I used to be one.”
Correction: Aug. 27, 2006
An article last Sunday about transgender lesbians referred incorrectly to Judith Halberstam, a gender theorist and professor of literature whose books include “Female Masculinity.” She teaches at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles; it has no San Diego campus.
by Owendonovan"“It just saddens me to see so many of our strong butch women giving up their womanhood to be a man,” one friend said."
Those strong butch women are actually men, not strong butch women. It saddens me those lesbians can't see that. I expect more from my community than that kind of short sightedness. They still have Martina.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:12 pm
Since this is random random.
For reasons that have nothing to do with my health, I haven't had a drink in a month. And you know all those articles and studies about how quitting alcohol is really good? Those people that go a month without alcohol and feel much better, lose weight, get better sleep patterns and a whole lot of other benefits?
Well, (expletive). I feel exactly the same, I haven't lost any weight (there is none to lose, anyway) and I see nothing better going on.
So, as far as this one-man data-sample is concerned: drink on. Moderately, of course.
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed Jan 04, 2023 1:52 pm
But did you feel in some way bad before? I think that's the key
I could drop my already miniscule alcohol consumption (one drink per week perhaps), but I already feel good. Not overweight, sleep just fine...
My general health is fine, but things like stress level, sleep amount etc. weren't great (still aren't tbh). I was mostly looking to see if there'd be an effect on energy level or weight... there wasn't. Of course, I don't drink a lot, but it's a bit more than one drink a week.
Related article about the results of a major recent alcohol study in Canada (one of many articles written on this subject when the study came out a couple of weeks ago)...
by ti-amie Alcohol sales have skyrocketed since the pandemic hit. I saw a lot more posts about people trying to do a Dry January this year.
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 7:53 pm
Alcohol sales have skyrocketed since the pandemic hit. I saw a lot more posts about people trying to do a Dry January this year.
My dry January has turned into dry February as well. I prefer to cocktail it outside, so until it's warm enough......
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 7:53 pm
Alcohol sales have skyrocketed since the pandemic hit. I saw a lot more posts about people trying to do a Dry January this year.
My dry January has turned into dry February as well. I prefer to cocktail it outside, so until it's warm enough......
I can't wait for the day I will be able to use that sentence.
by Fastbackss There is a weekly #becausemiami podcast that Dan LeBatard and Billy Corben (filmmaker not lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins) do.
I have no affiliation with Miami but I listen to more than half of them - and the grift they detail is unreal. Always makes me wonder how pervasive it is in other local governments
by ti-amie
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:48 pm
There is a weekly #becausemiami podcast that Dan LeBatard and Billy Corben (filmmaker not lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins) do.
I have no affiliation with Miami but I listen to more than half of them - and the grift they detail is unreal. Always makes me wonder how pervasive it is in other local governments
In my area it would be the Republican party of Long Island (Nassau County and Suffolk County). I can't speak for upstate NY where there is also a strong Republican presence.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Ok. About "beautiful".
Imagine you are a diver, and imagine this thing is 10 Mts across in size, and coming at you.
You'd pull your knife out and commit hara-kiri under water. It is beautiful because of the small size. Otherwise, this thing would be terrifying.
by mmmm8
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:38 am"“It just saddens me to see so many of our strong butch women giving up their womanhood to be a man,” one friend said."
Those strong butch women are actually men, not strong butch women. It saddens me those lesbians can't see that. I expect more from my community than that kind of short sightedness. They still have Martina.
This was from the script of the 2006 version of the L Word (the article is also from 2006). I'd like to think views on trans people have progressed a bit since then especially among LBTQ+ people
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:48 pm
There is a weekly #becausemiami podcast that Dan LeBatard and Billy Corben (filmmaker not lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins) do.
I have no affiliation with Miami but I listen to more than half of them - and the grift they detail is unreal. Always makes me wonder how pervasive it is in other local governments
In my area it would be the Republican party of Long Island (Nassau County and Suffolk County). I can't speak for upstate NY where there is also a strong Republican presence.
Shouldn't be too modest - the grift of the NY State Dems is pretty notorious as well.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 10:14 pm
Ok. About "beautiful".
Imagine you are a diver, and imagine this thing is 10 Mts across in size, and coming at you.
You'd pull your knife out and commit hara-kiri under water. It is beautiful because of the small size. Otherwise, this thing would be terrifying.
This is why I don't have an interest in diving. It's like going on a safari unarmed on foot, but also with limited oxygen
by ponchi101 Been a diver since I was 16. It is an amazing experience and, when you are down there, you really are in a different world.
Don't let a few sharks detract you. Serious: they are very scared of that strange sounding, also large creature that makes weird noises and explodes with bubbles every few seconds. It is very safe, unless you start poking at them.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 3:41 pm
Been a diver since I was 16. It is an amazing experience and, when you are down there, you really are in a different world.
Don't let a few sharks detract you. Serious: they are very scared of that strange sounding, also large creature that makes weird noises and explodes with bubbles every few seconds. It is very safe, unless you start poking at them.
I've been told I pet animals aggressively.
by JazzNU
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:48 pm
There is a weekly #becausemiami podcast that Dan LeBatard and Billy Corben (filmmaker not lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins) do.
I have no affiliation with Miami but I listen to more than half of them - and the grift they detail is unreal. Always makes me wonder how pervasive it is in other local governments
It's definitely a problem elsewhere. Not sure about Billy, but Dan and most others on the show are ignorant about most other cities especially outside of Florida with how they act like this "only happens in Miami" when it happens almost everywhere. When they talk about the Miami grift, I tend to think, yes, it's bad. Also, I can remember like 10 aldermen that have been indicted in Chicago for doing that. Swear to God there was an indictment damn near every week of someone in a public role when I lived there. Not saying Miami doesn't have some legitimate problems, but yes, plenty of cities have significant grift.
When it comes to local corruption, very few places can best Chicago (and Illinois for that matter as a state). Like you'd need to go international to find a contender for their level. But New Orleans and Louisiana have always been more than capable of entering this conversation as well. Hella corruption down there.
It's definitely a problem elsewhere. Not sure about Billy, but Dan and most others on the show are ignorant about most other cities especially outside of Florida with how they act like this "only happens in Miami" when it happens almost everywhere. When they talk about the Miami grift, I tend to think, yes, it's bad. Also, I can remember like 10 aldermen that have been indicted in Chicago for doing that. Swear to God there was an indictment damn near every week of someone in a public role when I lived there. Not saying Miami doesn't have some legitimate problems, but yes, plenty of cities have significant grift.
When it comes to local corruption, very few places can best Chicago (and Illinois for that matter as a state). Like you'd need to go international to find a contender for their level. But New Orleans and Louisiana have always been more than capable of entering this conversation as well. Hella corruption down there.
I was about to get really, really angry about this unequivocal attack on the sole thing at which we are totally, completely better than anybody else in the world (Ok, I grant it, the Middle East is very, very good at this) but then you correctly mentioned that you have to go "International" (and heading South, very South).
So, I will let this pass. But, I repeat, DO NOT talk about corruption and leave us out.
I mean, we have our pride!
(bad joke, just putting you on )
by JazzNU
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2023 10:40 pm
I was about to get really, really angry about this unequivocal attack on the sole thing at which we are totally, completely better than anybody else in the world (Ok, I grant it, the Middle East is very, very good at this) but then you correctly mentioned that you have to go "International" (and heading South, very South).
So, I will let this pass. But, I repeat, DO NOT talk about corruption and leave us out.
I mean, we have our pride!
(bad joke, just putting you on )
Haha! I was totally thinking that I don't even need to check to know Colombia was in the game for this one. I mean, similar to Capone and Chicago, Escobar was putting on a clinic for corrupting local politicians in Medellin and Colombia. In Chicago at least, they've never been able to break out of that cycle, it's too baked in. If you're familiar with the phrase "vote early and vote often" that's from Chicago. Had to get the right people into office, the ones you bought and paid for.
Y'all don't know about Aaron? He'd be so disappointed that you haven't heard about it given how he does his level best to make a headline about himself every damn week.
He's going on a darkness retreat for 4 days like he's an inmate getting sent to solitary.
Given how little sense that makes and his ayahuasca talk in the offseason, many have reasonably assumed this fool is going to be high as a kite during this "retreat."
by ponchi101 Thanks for that. I had not heard about it. Then again, he has become such an idiot that news about him just bore me.
I remember about the ayahuasca. I thought: "This guy is openly saying he is doing hallucinogenics and the NFL does nothing? Wow, talk about pampering!"
He will have more followers. Count on that.
by Deuce His predecessor as Packers quarterback isn't exactly the brightest candle on the cake, either...
by skatingfan
by ti-amie ^ Sigh
by Deuce .
Three siblings are going blind, and their parents decided to show them the world while they can still see it. It's a nice story (with video)...
by Deuce This is quite bizarre (and funny)...
Unknown 'mystery object'... keep the public away from it... big security... police in protective gear... conspiracy theories (because that's what the internet is for)...
Gist: there are new people, called DE-INFLUENCERS, telling other people NOT to follow influencers.
This is completely up the RUSSELL'S PARADOX alley.
by Ainsley
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 5:33 pm
It seems we have reached a new point of... lunacy? Idiocy?
(I am serious. I don't know how to catalogue this).
Gist: there are new people, called DE-INFLUENCERS, telling other people NOT to follow influencers.
This is completely up the RUSSELL'S PARADOX alley.
I honestly don't have an issue with these so called DE-INFLUENCERS giving their input on products they don't feel are up to par using Tik Tok or whatever Social Media outlet they choose. The problem I have with it is while using Tik Tok and amassing these huge amounts of followers these DE-INFLUENCERS are getting paid. This is where I find the whole thing ridiculous. If someone wants to express their views on a product that is perfectly fine, but to use a platform to pile up followers to get an income that just does not float well with me.
I have nothing against the App Tik Tok as something for entertainment purposes, but a lot of people use it for more than that thinking they will become famous because Charli d'amelio and Dixie d'amelio became famous and made tons of money and so have others. People don't understand that it is very rare for that to happen. These DE-INFLUENCERS are basically using Tik Tok to exploit themselves and are basically using these products to do just that.
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 5:33 pm
It seems we have reached a new point of... lunacy? Idiocy?
(I am serious. I don't know how to catalogue this).
Gist: there are new people, called DE-INFLUENCERS, telling other people NOT to follow influencers.
This is completely up the RUSSELL'S PARADOX alley.
This is a term, like quiet-quitting from a couple years ago, that doesn't mean anything but it allows people to write click-bait articles.
by Deuce
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 5:33 pm
It seems we have reached a new point of... lunacy? Idiocy?
(I am serious. I don't know how to catalogue this).
Gist: there are new people, called DE-INFLUENCERS, telling other people NOT to follow influencers.
This is completely up the RUSSELL'S PARADOX alley.
Just wait until these 'de-influencers' (who are, of course, trying to INFLUENCE people) start trying to get people to not buy things while holding a pickle in one hand, a red left shoe in the other hand, while hopping on their right leg and wearing a vertically striped top hat.
And they will surely succeed.
There is really no end to the absurdity and ridiculousness of 'social media'. It no doubt reveals the human animal to be a total fool to any extraterrestrials who may be observing.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 5:33 pm
It seems we have reached a new point of... lunacy? Idiocy?
(I am serious. I don't know how to catalogue this).
Gist: there are new people, called DE-INFLUENCERS, telling other people NOT to follow influencers.
This is completely up the RUSSELL'S PARADOX alley.
Just wait until these 'de-influencers' (who are, of course, trying to INFLUENCE people) start trying to get people to not buy things while holding a pickle in one hand, a red left shoe in the other hand, while hopping on their right leg and wearing a vertically striped top hat.
And they will surely succeed.
There is really no end to the absurdity and ridiculousness of 'social media'. It no doubt reveals the human animal to be a total fool to any extraterrestrials who may be observing.
But what is really insane is the more people follow these fools the more money they get. So I ask the question, are these people who are getting all of these followers and money is going into their bank accounts because of it, the idiots? Or are the ones that are watching these people and giving them the followers and basically the funds the ones that are the idiots?
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 5:33 pm
It seems we have reached a new point of... lunacy? Idiocy?
(I am serious. I don't know how to catalogue this).
Gist: there are new people, called DE-INFLUENCERS, telling other people NOT to follow influencers.
This is completely up the RUSSELL'S PARADOX alley.
Just wait until these 'de-influencers' (who are, of course, trying to INFLUENCE people) start trying to get people to not buy things while holding a pickle in one hand, a red left shoe in the other hand, while hopping on their right leg and wearing a vertically striped top hat.
And they will surely succeed.
There is really no end to the absurdity and ridiculousness of 'social media'. It no doubt reveals the human animal to be a total fool to any extraterrestrials who may be observing.
But what is really insane is the more people follow these fools the more money they get. So I ask the question, are these people who are getting all of these followers and money is going into their bank accounts because of it, the idiots? Or are the ones that are watching these people and giving them the followers and basically the funds the ones that are the idiots?
Deuce wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 11:28 pm
Just wait until these 'de-influencers' (who are, of course, trying to INFLUENCE people) start trying to get people to not buy things while holding a pickle in one hand, a red left shoe in the other hand, while hopping on their right leg and wearing a vertically striped top hat.
And they will surely succeed.
There is really no end to the absurdity and ridiculousness of 'social media'. It no doubt reveals the human animal to be a total fool to any extraterrestrials who may be observing.
But what is really insane is the more people follow these fools the more money they get. So I ask the question, are these people who are getting all of these followers and money is going into their bank accounts because of it, the idiots? Or are the ones that are watching these people and giving them the followers and basically the funds the ones that are the idiots?
^ Yes.
But the ones doing the videos are at least profiting from it. That has to be at least a little smart.
by Deuce It's also taking advantage of the stupid (which is largely what business is all about).
I prefer honesty to 'clever' manipulation.
In any case, all that 'social media' stuff is complete idiocy to me.
by Ainsley
Deuce wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2023 12:46 am
It's also taking advantage of the stupid (which is largely what business is all about).
I prefer honesty to 'clever' manipulation.
In any case, all that 'social media' stuff is complete idiocy to me.
I am totally with ya.
If social media was used as entertainment in the case of Tik Tok or as a means of connection between people as in Facebook and not all the other BS that they are used for then they would be okay in my opinion.
by Deuce This was done in very public settings... and this article is freely available to anyone of any age on the internet - so I figure it's safe to post here...
I post it both for educational and humorous purposes - because it is rather humorously unusual...
I also think that hiding open discussion about this general subject does more harm than good - which we can see in the fact that the teenage pregnancy rate is much higher in the U.S.A., where the subject is largely hidden, than it is in European countries, where it is much more openly and easily discussed, and where nudity is not viewed as something shameful to be embarrassed about, but rather as simply a normal and natural part of life - not to be flaunted, but not to be hidden in shame, either...
by ti-amie Remember that the US was founded by a religious sect known as the Puritans and as the late Robin Williams said they were so uptight the English kicked them out.
by Deuce Yes - in North America - or, at least in the U.S. and Canada -, sexuality and nudity are ALWAYS lumped together (which is not the case in several European countries)... and also in the U.S. and Canada, sexuality/nudity (always together) are either flaunted in inappropriate and unnecessary ways, or are completely hidden in shame and stifled. This is a very immature view - there is no middle ground, where the perspective is healthiest.
In European countries, public nudity is not viewed as being inherently sexual. Weather at a public beach or in public parks, etc., one can encounter nudity, and it's not viewed as a big deal - and not viewed as being sexual. There, it is the CONTEXT that determines the perspective on nudity, not the nudity itself. If the context is sexual, then the nudity is sexual... if the context is not sexual, then the nudity is not sexual.
One of the best analogies I've ever heard/read on the subject is that sexuality and nudity are like wine and grapes - grapes are a necessary ingredient of wine, as nudity is necessary (mostly) for sex... but grapes also exist on their own as a tasty and nutritious fruit, completely independent of wine - just as nudity can exist on its own, with no relation to sexuality.
For wine and grapes, one can substitute oranges and orange juice, or peanuts and peanut butter, or other things, just as well...
by ponchi101 75% is not bad.
Ask people where the amygdala is. Then you are talking.
by ti-amie
by Ainsley This subject has never been an issue in my household. My mom is a Nurse and we had open talks about this sort of stuff at a pretty early age. I imagine she also had talks with my older brother as well. I have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for 2 and a half years now and my parents know that I am using all the safest measures I can with my boyfriend. We do not treat sex as something bad in my home. It is something that is natural.
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan So spring has essentially started here in NYC, bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus) popping up everywhere, leaves actually coming out of trees in effing February!, and flowers, and now it's been snowing on and off for a day. If everything green gets frozen, calendar spring may not be so lovely.
by skatingfan
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 2:42 am
So spring has essentially started here in NYC, bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus) popping up everywhere, leaves actually coming out of trees in effing February!, and flowers, and now it's been snowing on and off for a day. If everything green gets frozen, calendar spring may not be so lovely.
I think you'll find most of those trees, and plants are resilient enough to survive a few cold days, and a bit of snow. That sort of thing happens here all the time where we get a late snowfall after spring has started.
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan The Hyacynth flowers next door are visible and smell so delicious when bloomed. I need that to happen.
Said Feynman, a notoriously great teacher.
But Paul Dirac, who OBVIOUSLY knew his stuff too, was notoriously bad. John Nash was also a bad teacher (he had no patience). Oppenheimer was a so-so teacher but a great mentor, meaning he had a hard time explaining things but was great at pushing people to do their best.
Side note: I wonder how many people have been driven away from any given subject (art, science, philosophy) by a bad teacher. It is one of the tragedies in the life of a person.
by ti-amie Whenever @Flightradar24 posts these my anxiety re flying goes through the roof.
by Deuce ^ They are all clearly crashing into each other, resulting in thousands upon thousands of deaths... yet we hear nothing about these accidents.
Obviously a huge cover-up conspiracy!!
by ti-amie Meanwhile in Canada
@MeanwhileinCanada@ohai.social
Most Canadians are nice because we secretly perform a ceremony during each full moon that puts all our nastiness into the geese.
That's Mr Badger to you
@BadgerBadger@mstdn.social
@MeanwhileinCanada
My son calls them Cobra Chickens
by Deuce
ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:56 pm
Meanwhile in Canada
@MeanwhileinCanada@ohai.social
Most Canadians are nice because we secretly perform a ceremony during each full moon that puts all our nastiness into the geese.
That's Mr Badger to you
@BadgerBadger@mstdn.social
@MeanwhileinCanada
My son calls them Cobra Chickens
^ Like most animals (except humans), Canada Geese are peaceful and harmless if they are not bothered.
by Deuce It's never a good idea to underestimate Nature...
(The video is impressive.)
by ti-amie There is so much "nope" in the video. It reminds me of a "service" done for tourists at the Zambezi Falls in Zambia where a ranger holds you by your ankles and you can "experience" going over the falls. Nope. Nope. Nope.
by Suliso Buckskin gulch is a great place for hiking, BUT one has to be super careful with weather forecast. It's a no go if there are thunderstorms in the area. Totally not the same thing as some artificial experience at Zambezi Falls.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Two options. Way braver than I will ever be. Or way dumber than I will ever be.
One sudden surge of the water flow and you are history.
by ti-amie I wonder if they do something similar at Iguazu Falls?
I saw a PBS special about this river. It's also one of the few where you can actually surf at times.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 My hero.
Nah. That is where you see how cowardice is an evolutionary trait.
by Suliso Have you ever wonder what would the most convoluted method of elections be? I present you the electoral system for choosing the Dodge of Venice (used for 500 years).
Thirty electors were chosen by lot, and then a second lottery reduced them to nine, who nominated forty candidates in all, each of whom had to be approved by at least seven electors in order to pass to the next stage. The forty were pruned by lot to twelve, who nominated a total of twenty-five, who needed at least nine nominations each. The twenty-five were culled to nine, who picked an electoral college of forty-five, each with at least seven nominations. The forty-five became eleven, who chose a final college of forty-one. Each member proposed one candidate, all of whom were discussed and, if necessary, examined in person, whereupon each elector cast a vote for every candidate of whom he approved. The candidate with the most approvals was the winner, provided he had been endorsed by at least twenty-five of the forty-one.”
by ponchi101 I need that for Vennieland. It would have saved us from 25 years of dictatorship (anniversary at the end of this year).
by Deuce This is quite bizarre. It's the kind of thing you see in a bad horror movie...
(If you have any of these, stop using it immediately. If you have them in your house, but are not currently using them, don't use them, obviously.)
by Deuce ^ Always check your lug nuts (with a manual lug wrench so you can feel it) after a tire change, people.
Sometimes garages over-tighten lug nuts with their various machines, and that can strip the threads, etc.
by ponchi101 Insane
by Suliso Flying to London for work in 20 min. The plane is so empty that most of us have our own row...
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 4:37 am
Flying to London for work in 20 min. The plane is so empty that most of us have our own row...
Are you flying at an odd hour? I was in Central Europe in January and planes and trains seems pretty full.
by Suliso Yes, very early in the morning to still make to our UK office. Maybe that's why...
by ponchi101 Enjoy the cuisine
(I actually ate very well in London. Lots of ethnics)
by Suliso The famous British cuisine, you say?
I'll be in Cambridge mostly and in London Friday night. Should be fine with food in those places.
by Suliso Some funny bar food in the countryside here. Ever heard of honey glazed piggies? First for me.
by ponchi101 Did a search. Did not even come up. But it sounds... ok.
by ti-amie
Hyperbole re aircraft carriers is justified. As part of my job a group of us was given a tour of one during NYC Fleet Week many years ago. Standing on the deck (seen above) is at once awesome and frightening. Below decks is not for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia though.
by ti-amie
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Tue Mar 28, 2023 6:45 pm
Some funny bar food in the countryside here. Ever heard of honey glazed piggies? First for me.
Are they pigs in a blanket glazed with honey?
by Suliso I'm afraid only small saussages glazed with honey
by Fastbackss I know I haven't had much coffee yet, but reading the above sentence and my brain replacing "only" with "of" made for a jarring difference
by JazzNU
by Deuce ^ Yeah - it seemed like he was a huge threat to pull out a machine gun and kill or injure at least 30 people there, huh?
I know that part of the reason that they ALWAYS overreact is to discourage others from going onto the field, etc. - but there's no doubt that the majority of these 'security' buffoons (and many cops) enjoy the 'power' of being thugs.
I would have walked out to the guy, and simply said to him "Sorry, bud, but we have to escort you out now. I hope the proposal works out - but this really isn't the right place to do that."
Add on a $500 fine.
That would have been a much more appropriate reaction to the actual situation.
ABSOLUTELY ZERO reason to physically assault him (other than to further inflate the fragile egos of the 'security' goons, who should be referred to as INsecurity, rather than 'security'.).
by Deuce Further evidence that nudity can exist completely independent of sexuality; that nudity is not inherently sexual - everything depends on the CONTEXT...
This is also something that could save people's health - and possibly even save some lives.
Good on them for not being afraid to do it...
We're American down here. We have an inability to subjugate our prurience, and unless the government regulates what we see and what they think is sexual, our carnality will proceed unfettered and scar our children.
(But yes, a lot could be learned about knowing the difference which would make us more learned and well rounded)
by JazzNU FWIW, you should think about following the people you like on Twitter and do so soon, today if possible. Twitter's ill-advised blue check changes were supposed to take effect today, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe some sectors will be willing to pay for it, but few of the ones I follow will be doing so as far as I can tell. So, copycat accounts will be popping up most likely, but if you follow who you like ahead of time, you'll know it's the right account. Just a suggestion.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 At the right place, at the right PRECISE MOMENT.
That's incredible.
by Deuce It's a nice image... but these days, it's much, much, much easier to fabricate such things in photoshop, etc. than it is to capture something like that in reality.
I don't believe it's real for a second.
As a professional photographer said to me when digital photography and digital photo manipulation were starting: "A photo used to be proof that something happened. But now, with the technology, a photo doesn't prove a damned thing. And it's a real shame."
To me, it's not the final image that matters - what matters is if something is real, or if it's fabricated on a computer. I respect the real. I don't respect computer fabricated images, videos, etc. that pass themselves off as real - and that's happening more and more, sadly.
by ti-amie What Time of Year Do Starlings Do Murmuration?
Starling murmurations occur once the birds arrive on their wintering grounds in Autumn and winter. You can see these displays as early as September and as late as December, depending on the location. Autumn roosting sites can contain upwards of 100,000 starlings, all swooping and diving in the setting sun. If you ever get the chance to see one, be sure to get to the site before dusk.
Where is the Best Place to See a Murmuration of Starlings?
European starlings are one of the most abundant bird species in North America, with over 200 million individuals. You can see starling murmurations anywhere in the United States, but they are most common in open spaces outside of big cities. You can also find them near cliffs, parks, reedbeds, and woodlands. But some sites are prime-watching areas.
Check out these locations for the best front-row seats to a starling murmuration:
Saguaro National Park – Arizona
Central Park – New York
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge – Florida
Indian River Lagoon – Florida
Lake Calhoun – Minnesota
Higbee Beach – New Jersey
Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park – Illinois
Rio Grande Valley – Texas
Astoria Park – New York
Sunset Lake – New York
And many more!
Starling murmurations can happen in most areas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. But you may have a better chance of seeing one near natural areas. Be sure to be in your spot before dusk during autumn and early winter. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast, pack warm clothes, and bring snacks or drinks. Natural displays are not known for happening right on schedule, so plan accordingly.
Are Starlings the Only Birds That Murmurate?
The term “murmuration” strictly refers to the hypnotic groupings of starlings. While many bird species form flocks, starlings are the only ones that make these unique formations. So yes, starlings are the only birds that murmurate.
by ti-amie "Very Impressive Starling Murmurations" by Daniel Biber
This series of images was captured in a 10-second window on the 31st, December 2016 near Sant Pere Pescador in Catalonia, Spain. For years I have observed huge flocks of starlings on the Costa Brava. It took me several days to scout out the location where the starlings gather at sunset to roost. I shot thousands of pictures and had the great luck to capture the moment that the murmuration took on the shape of a large flying bird - no retouches necessary! The shape then dissipated, and the birds began to reshape ending up as another impressive bird shape.
by Deuce If any of you are Don Lemon fans (CNN), you might want to reconsider...
Personally, I've always thought he was a jerk.
He was very obviously drunk on air at least once...
He's an intelligent guy - but also clearly quite obnoxious.
by Owendonovan I just saw someone pushing a backpack in a stroller.
by ti-amie I used to want to be a teacher. I loved working with kids and helping them find joy in learning. This weeks episode of Abbott Elementary is all about teaching - why teachers quit and why teachers continue to do their work. An amazing episode.
by Deuce Speaking of formal education...
There is a new TV show in Britain called 'Naked Education'. Yes, they are using the word 'naked' to attract attention... and the premise also obviously attracts attention (and viewers).
While I question making a TV show out of this, I do like the idea. I suppose making a TV show out of it does promote the general idea, which, in turn, is a good thing...
The premise of the show is to educate teens about the human body - and, most importantly, to encourage them to view the human body as a work of nature with many functions, and not merely as a sexual tool. With this goal, at one point, adults of various shapes, sizes, and colours get naked in front of the kids. In North America, of course, this would be viewed as 'pornography' and/or 'child abuse'... but in the more advanced and progressive European countries, it is viewed as educational. Yes, there will always be a sexual element to the naked body - and that's fine, as sexuality is obviously an integral part of life, and the more educated one is about it, the better the choices one can make in relation to sexuality. But the human body is also capable of many other wonderful things which have nothing to do with sexuality...
As one reviewer put it: "The backlash the show received for showing teenagers nude bodies is exactly why the show exists. To teach people that the human body isn't a thing to be ashamed of, and that each body is different, and that's okay."
We know that, because of the internet, children have virtually unlimited access not only to nudity, but to graphic sexuality - often vulgar and/or abusive and/or violent, and completely void of context. And so they are seeing not only nudity and sexuality, but are seeing it in unhealthy atmospheres for the most part.
In addition to that, children are bombarded with overtly sexual imagery from various 'celebrities' who all try to out-do each other and be the 'most sexy' - not to mention that 95% of these images are fake, thanks to programs like photoshop.
All of this does tremendous damage to young people's perceptions of themselves, and of what they feel people expect of them.
And so how can it be wrong to educate them to view the human body in a healthy way, and to learn about not only the physical elements of sexuality, but also the psychological and emotional elements of it?
Again - the teenage pregnancy rate in European countries where nudity is not hidden is half of what it is in North America, where nudity is considered 'shameful' and 'dangerous'. The difference, clearly, is perspective and context - in North America, there is neither.
by Suliso Below is a passage from a book I'm reading right now. I think this is very true and most likely our times are not as special as we sometimes like to imagine.
"-and my point is, there's always something. I think, as a species, we have a desire to believe that we're living at the climax of the story. It's a kind of narcissism. We want to believe that we're uniquely important, that we're living at the end of history, that now, after all these millenia of false alarms, now is finally the worst that it's ever been, that finally we have reached the end of the world."
by mmmm8 I think about this often, less in an end-of-the-world way but more in how the technological and other advancements of the day are going to become a blip.
by Suliso You maybe remember few years ago on TAT 1.0 I proposed a question - Which events of early 21st century are actually important long term and will be taught to kids in 27th century Argentina? Assuming there still is Argentina.
by Owendonovan
Deuce wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 9:37 pm
It's a nice image... but these days, it's much, much, much easier to fabricate such things in photoshop, etc. than it is to capture something like that in reality. I don't believe it's real for a second.
As a professional photographer said to me when digital photography and digital photo manipulation were starting: "A photo used to be proof that something happened. But now, with the technology, a photo doesn't prove a damned thing. And it's a real shame."
To me, it's not the final image that matters - what matters is if something is real, or if it's fabricated on a computer. I respect the real. I don't respect computer fabricated images, videos, etc. that pass themselves off as real - and that's happening more and more, sadly.
Are we heading towards only believing what we personally do/make/say is true and actual? Is this where we want to be heading? With AI and ever more sophisticated computers will we even have a choice of believing what's real?
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Apr 10, 2023 12:32 pm
You maybe remember few years ago on TAT 1.0 I proposed a question - Which events of early 21st century are actually important long term and will be taught to kids in 27th century Argentina? Assuming there still is Argentina.
I would consider 2 possibilities.
The dawn of AI. We will not live to see how much this will change the world or us.
The moment in which CC became impossible to deny (only the most passionate of people that can't see the data do so) and either the solution to it, or the moment the predictions came true.
Or not.
Argentina will not exist in the 27th century. But a lot of countries won't either (Vennieland).
Are we heading towards only believing what we personally do/make/say is true and actual? Is this where we want to be heading? With AI and ever more sophisticated computers will we even have a choice of believing what's real?
There is a level of nihilism there that is worrisome.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:49 pm
Argentina will not exist in the 27th century. But a lot of countries won't either (Vennieland).
Maybe not, but areas 100+ meters above the sea level will still be there. Whatever the area is called by then who knows...
by ponchi101 I meant because of politics. Argentina and Venezuela are such disastrous structures that eventually splits or secessions will occur.
Deuce wrote: ↑Sun Apr 02, 2023 9:37 pm
It's a nice image... but these days, it's much, much, much easier to fabricate such things in photoshop, etc. than it is to capture something like that in reality. I don't believe it's real for a second.
As a professional photographer said to me when digital photography and digital photo manipulation were starting: "A photo used to be proof that something happened. But now, with the technology, a photo doesn't prove a damned thing. And it's a real shame."
To me, it's not the final image that matters - what matters is if something is real, or if it's fabricated on a computer. I respect the real. I don't respect computer fabricated images, videos, etc. that pass themselves off as real - and that's happening more and more, sadly.
Are we heading towards only believing what we personally do/make/say is true and actual? Is this where we want to be heading? With AI and ever more sophisticated computers will we even have a choice of believing what's real?
^ Yes, most definitely. I think they're calling it 'deep fakes' or some such now...
You see it all over sports highlight shows - everyday Joes throwing a basketball over a house into a basketball hoop... throwing a frisbee 1/4 of a mile and hitting a target perfectly, etc...
It's all fake, of course - because even the average person has access to this technology now. And they 'celebrate' as if it was truly accomplished.
As long as it 'looks spectacular', fewer and fewer people today care whether it's real or fake. And that is extremely disturbing.
Criminals are already using AI voice to perfectly replicate people's voices and are using it in the 'Grandparents scheme' (where an older person receives a phone call claiming to be from their grandson/granddaughter who is in some sort of serious trouble and needs money wired right away).
This stuff will only get worse and worse, not better, of course.
But as long as the techno heads are happy showing off all of the technological magic they can create, and are lining their pockets with it, they don't give even half a damn about the very real consequences of their inventions.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 10, 2023 3:49 pm
I would consider 2 possibilities.
The dawn of AI. We will not live to see how much this will change the world or us.
^ We're well beyond that already.
It has changed people, and has changed the world. The degree will only get more and more significant with time.
And people like me feel that the costs (very real negative consequences) are much too high to justify any benefit.
by Owendonovan It's made trying to live a fairly simple life difficult, even with some money.
by Deuce Getting back to formal education...
If this (below) is the kind of thing that passes for education today - and I'm afraid (terrified, actually) it is -, it's very understandable when the education system is soundly criticized.
This is downright pathetic.
Even the mere existence of a 'influencer marketing class' is absolutely pitiful...
by Owendonovan If you're not influenced by an influencer, are they really an influencer? (I find the term and the "profession" a bit embarrassing)
by ponchi101 But that is because you are not. Some of these people really influence others, especially the young.
And, we have to remember. TAT2.0 (and TAT1.0) is like a very large gathering of cats. No one is going to herd this lot.
by ti-amie I'm glad she said this. I put it here because it doesn't really fit any existing thread.
by Owendonovan I've been looking at vintage South Pacific/Hawaiian fabrics on Etsy and I want them all.
by Owendonovan Someone is blaring MLK's "I have a dream" speech from their apartment which is better than any sermon said in any church this morning, quite a pleasure to hear this enveloping my neighborhood.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Today is International Labor/Workers' day in most of the world (the USA is one exception). I read this one.
"Happy Workers' Day! That is, until AI takes over..."
(I have my fixations too. Sorry).
by ponchi101 Related to this.
Happy workers' day, whole world. With demonstrations in:
Colombia, France, Lebanon, Tunisia, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina and I don't know how many other countries. Everybody protesting for "fairness".
(It varies from country to country).
by ashkor87
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:07 pm
Today is International Labor/Workers' day in most of the world (the USA is one exception). I read this one.
"Happy Workers' Day! That is, until AI takes over..."
(I have my fixations too. Sorry).
Will there be a Happy AI day? Forgot Ai can't be happy or sad!
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 5:07 pm
Today is International Labor/Workers' day in most of the world (the USA is one exception). I read this one.
"Happy Workers' Day! That is, until AI takes over..."
(I have my fixations too. Sorry).
Will there be a Happy AI day? Forgot Ai can't be happy or sad!
Will there be a Happy AI day? Forgot Ai can't be happy or sad!
Sorry Ashkor, I'm afraid I can't do that...
by ashkor87 well, Ai has its limitations. Saw a great interview with Chomsky where he pointed out that ChatGPT is just sophisticated plagiarirm, cannot tell us anything about the human mind or language...
I am reminded of the incident in Hitchkikers Guide to the Galaxy where the computer spits out 'the answer is 42..' but cannot say what the question is! It is the ability to ask the right question that matters, anyone can give the answer.. even chatGPT..
by ponchi101 AI is not being designed to tell us anything about the human mind or language. Mostly because not even the human mind can tell us anything about the human mind. It is still a largely unexplored area, in the sense that few inroads have been made.
And if AI has limitations, so do we.
AI is getting good enough at writing, both languages (including software programming) and in other human endeavors such as the arts and music. The recent award of a photography prize to an AI generated photo shows that this is moving at great speeds. Which is what is troublesome.
My issue with AI is the prospect of work automation to the point in which millions, if not hundred of millions of people, will be left unemployed. In my area, the sub-sector of surveying has been replaced by better and better GPS systems. I can very well see how my sector could be, at the very least, greatly reduced by an array of drones and robots, which with an AI controller could replace a lot of what we do and therefore a lot of us.
Think about the push to implement Full Self Driving cars/vehicles. The real goal is NOT to create great comfort for people when they drive their Tesla to work. The real issue is replacing millions of truck drivers, cutting down on the overhead. A FSD truck could go from one place to another, and service stations can be automated to refuel such trucks. Even worse, with such a truck all the weight destined for the driver's cabin could be replaced by fuel, making it possible for the trucks to cover extremely long ranges.
You and I live on countries with exploding populations. Young people need to find proper work in order for a society to be functional. And if Chomsky thinks AI is not important because it cannot write the next WAR AND PEACE, he is (as he very frequently does) just being unable to leave his Cathedratic Ivory Tower and realize that the vast majority of people live their day to day doing tasks that AI could easily replace.
And it will be a cold day in hell on the day that major organizations will say NO to laying off 60% of their workforce if it can be replaced by a little widget or APP. The prospects for a massive societal upheaval are not trivial.
And.
Thanks for your human appraisal that anybody can give the answer to any properly given question. Very optimistic from your side. We are still asking ourselves how to handle Nuclear Fussion, and although the question is very well formalized, we are still going forward al glacial speed.
And as brilliant as THGTTG was, invoking it as an indicator is... well, it is a funny book.
by Suliso Chomsky is wrong about so many things that it's not even funny anymore. As for AI it's probably inevitable. Interesting that anything involving physical motion is harder. Self driving cars very difficult, writing a bla bla essay for you not that hard. For now anyway.
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 4:37 pm
Chomsky is wrong about so many things that it's not even funny anymore. As for AI it's probably inevitable. Interesting that anything involving physical motion is harder. Self driving cars very difficult, writing a bla bla essay for you not that hard. For now anyway.
I would agree. Then, the issue will be what will so many people do.
A few years ago, in your country of residence, we had that "March of the Robots" (if you remember). People marching because they were voicing their opposition to severe automation. So, if AI indeed arrives soon, we may have to think about that idea. Better do it now than wait for AI to replace many. Or, will we let AI solve the problem of AI? Has anybody asked an AI: "What problems will AI bring forth to HUMAN society? In how many ways can YOU replace US?".
by Suliso I think we'll wait till there are severe employment issues in the rich countries. There aren't right now.
by ponchi101 Ok. I can see that.
Therefore, it will have to be us 3rd world countries that ask the question. Because our employment issues are here, right now.
by ti-amie
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 7:59 pm
Ok. I can see that.
Therefore, it will have to be us 3rd world countries that ask the question. Because our employment issues are here, right now.
Would your employement issues be significantly better at say 2010 automation level?
Outsourcing of manufacturing to Mexico is huge. Countries further South seem not to benefit from it significantly...
In Latvia, in between Colombia and Switzerland wealth wise, there is a great lack of qualified employees and salaries not high enough at the same time.
by ponchi101 Mexico is benefitted a lot because it is a member of NAFTA. They get a lot of tariff breaks when exporting to the USA, so many USA companies have set shop in Northern Mexico because they can pay lower wages across the border and get the same product.
What level of automation would be best for us? Hard to say indeed, but here in Colombia, the service sector is very large. So any technological improvement that can replace service personnel can affect us badly. My point about AI and automation is simple: automation that replaces people without creating other jobs somewhere is what scares me.
by Suliso What are the main exports of Colombia?
by ponchi101
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 5:33 pm
What are the main exports of Colombia?
Did you really needed to ask that?
Coffee, a little white powder, more coffee, there is this plant that holds "medicinal" powers , more coffee, they are large producers of beef but that is exported to regional markets, flowers, some fruits, coffee...
They are self reliant on agricultural products, so no need to import.
It is another subject we have spoken about. As long as we do not produce any sort of even mid-tech products (appliances, tools) we will always be screwed. So, if on top of that we will get average AI to replace our intellectual output....
I'm a broken record.
by Suliso Colombia and I guess large parts of South America are very different from India even if wealth levels are comparable. India makes and exports a LOT of things in pretty much every tech category except the very top.
by ponchi101 Yes. It is one of my main concerns with our region. Very little technological output, with the exception of Brazil. They do produce some serious technology such as airplanes.
Colombia and the rest of the Andean region is basically unable to produce, competitively, even household appliances. There are some automobile assembly lines (Venezuela used to have that, Colombia does) but not much more.
by Suliso Those are the facts, but I'm yet to understand really well why. Security situation is reasonable in most of South America, education ok for middle tech, infrastructure not completely bad either, but still not much happens. There must be some reason...
by ponchi101 All my life, I have asked the same. Some ideas (from me) are:
Very high financial costs, because our currencies are continuously devaluating.
Infrastructure. This is a vicious circle, because no infrastructure (roads especially) means lack of development which leads to less funding to create the infrastructure.
Policies. Countries like Bolivia and Venezuela drown themselves in red-tape.
It is easier to import than develop an in-country industry. The importer makes a killing, he has the money to grease the proper wheels, and it is impossible for local start ups to get a footing.
Corruption. Not only the red tape, but direct corruption in which you have to pay for "services"; therefore, your cost of production is increased.
Just some ideas. A proper study would be needed.
by JazzNU Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, godmothers, and mother figures here on TAT! Hope you are having a wonderful day with your loved ones. Or not, if your wish was a break from it all, I think you should get whatever the heck you ask for today.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101
by ti-amie I don't know how many people know about the bedlam the Waffle House chain is known for. I haven't watched SNL in a long time but this is one of their best skits in a long time. You may have to watch two or three times to get everything that's going on inside the Waffle House.
by ponchi101 One city that several people tell me has to be visited.
by ti-amie
Tri da Villain
@THEEEhottie
·
1h
Once they stopped at the 19th precinct, NYPD officers continued to yell at paparazzi to move back. NYPD already stated footage is under investigation. Two days ago, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office arrested Kevin Garcia Valdovinos for stalking them
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan One of my students accidentally swung an aluminum bat into my left arm full force, only a 4th grader, but man, I am feeling it. (teaching is not for the meek)
by ponchi101
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 2:02 am
One of my students accidentally swung an aluminum bat into my left arm full force, only a 4th grader, but man, I am feeling it. (teaching is not for the meek)
The gist.
This is what the owner says:
Unfortunately, the lack of generational wealth/seed capital from ethically bankrupt sources left me unable to weather the quiet winter season, or to grow in the ways needed to be sustainable longer-term," Sims-Fewer says in the announcement.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 3:25 pm
From "you can't make this up" land:
The gist.
This is what the owner says:
Unfortunately, the lack of generational wealth/seed capital from ethically bankrupt sources left me unable to weather the quiet winter season, or to grow in the ways needed to be sustainable longer-term," Sims-Fewer says in the announcement.
Shocked I tell you. SHOCKED!
by Owendonovan The school I work at (30+ hrs p/t, no benefits) sends this to me every year.
"As the year end approaches I'm writing to ask for your support in the 2022-2023 Annual Fund. As of today we have not yet received a gift from you and we hope we can count on your support!
A gift of any amount ($1,$5 or $10) would make a difference and mean a lot - I truly mean that! This is about participation and supporting each other and the great work we do every day of every year with our boys."
This is a private elementary school sitting on a $115,000,000 endowment. They'd like to say, to prospective families, that they have 100% participation from faculty and staff. They don't get that though, because of me.
If "supporting each other" means me sending Human Resources labor law they aren't following, great! But it's not.
I don't donate to millionaires.
by ponchi101 That's some chutzpah.
Stand your ground. You are doing the correct thing.
by ti-amie "Puts us in coach?"
Redrum!
by ponchi101 I have no issues with putting the kids in coach. As far as I am concerned, buy them a kennel and fly them dressed up as dogs.
But, flying your spouse in coach while you are in 1st class would mean divorce in Chez Ponchi. On a couple of occasions that the company paid for my business ticket and it was truly expensive, I bought my GF a coach ticket and when boarding we switched seats. She flies business, I fly coach.
And if she really means 1st class, the difference between 1st class and business is usually big enough to buy TWO business class seats.
The husband of a friend of my mother, a man loaded to the gills, used to do that too. It says a lot about the quality of the man.
by Owendonovan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri May 19, 2023 10:03 pm
"Puts us in coach?"
Redrum!
The comments to that Ethicist column were all suggesting she dump him. I agree, I hope she takes him to the cleaners. I loooooathe people like that.
by Fastbackss Two comments:
1) there used to be a Panera Cares in my city. Technically everything is free. They encourage you to pay "menu" price. We found we felt guilty and paid MORE. Every time we were in there it seemed most were paying. Occasionally we'd see someone come in and "clean out" the day old loaf bin, so I was surprised.
Not my city but news story https://www.eater.com/2019/2/5/18212499 ... restaurant
2. I was lucky enough to go to a prep school. Nearly put my family in bankruptcy to go. They have since increased enrollment, and cost. Kindergarten costs 35K ... and that's without fees (everything from food to buses to sports etc). And of course it goes up to 12th grade. Their requests for donations are extreme. I don't know what endowment is but I am sure it's huge. Their recent "drive" was trying to get 2M+
by Owendonovan
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 4:25 pm
Two comments:
1) there used to be a Panera Cares in my city. Technically everything is free. They encourage you to pay "menu" price. We found we felt guilty and paid MORE. Every time we were in there it seemed most were paying. Occasionally we'd see someone come in and "clean out" the day old loaf bin, so I was surprised.
Not my city but news story https://www.eater.com/2019/2/5/18212499 ... restaurant
2. I was lucky enough to go to a prep school. Nearly put my family in bankruptcy to go. They have since increased enrollment, and cost. Kindergarten costs 35K ... and that's without fees (everything from food to buses to sports etc). And of course it goes up to 12th grade. Their requests for donations are extreme. I don't know what endowment is but I am sure it's huge. Their recent "drive" was trying to get 2M+
$58,500 without fees at my school, but guaranteed passing grades and an unblemished elementary school record.
by ponchi101 Guaranteed passing grades? Wow, talk about a cushy upbringing.
by ti-amie And now we know why kids coming out of these cushy schools need remedial help.
by ti-amie
Apparently this Adams person is as big a tool as this tweet implies. And people wonder why celebrities sometimes run away from "fans".
by JazzNU
ti-amie wrote: ↑Fri May 19, 2023 10:03 pm
"Puts us in coach?"
Was coming here to post this. Thought it was from AITA at first for real.
by ti-amie Thursday's best photos via The Guardian
by Oploskoffie Always fascinating (and somewhat depressing) to see the world as it is through pictures, especially places you normally hear nothing about. For instance, I had no idea there were even slums on Mayotte and if you'd asked me to point out Mayotte on a map, I'd have probably chosen the wrong area altogether, nevermind the actual correct island.
by ponchi101 I only learned about it recently because I play a silly game called FLAGGLE and its flag came up. But indeed, I would have never been able to find it in a map.
It is a big world.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Demon Haunted World is still as relevant as when it came out. I actually re-read recently, and its clarity of exposition and lucid explanations remain as vivid as when it came out.
Together with "The Ascent of Man", I would make it mandatory reading.
But you know me.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Leopard383
@InfamousLeopard383@c.im
OK, which one of you did this? #funny #trumpindictment
by Suliso I was browsing through a Swiss statistical data. Some interesting factoids regarding the population (2021 data):
- 39.5% have a migration background (at least one parent born abroad)
- 31.1% are first generation immigrants (like me)
- 26.5% hold foreign citizenship (including some in the 2nd generation)
- the most common nationalities other than Swiss are German, Italian and Portuguese. This must be very unevenly distributed - I know a ton of Germans and Italians here, but just a single Portuguese
In general the immigration pressure here is among the highest in the world. Lots of jobs natives are unable (higher end) or unwilling (lower) to do and one could double a salary from already rich France or Germany.
by ponchi101 Lucky to be there, then.
I remember you mentioning that when you reach retirement age, you will return to Latvia. Is that still the plan, or will you remain? You said that you would not have the money to afford the same quality of live in Switzerland than you will back home.
by Suliso Who knows, but I doubt it. My girlfriend not from Latvia, wouldn't fit in there easily. It's true though that costs are high. Real advantage in income is not 2x, I'd estimate 30-70% depending on your family situation.
by Suliso
by skatingfan I thought that was some sort of meat at first.
by meganfernandez
skatingfan wrote: ↑Sun Jun 25, 2023 2:37 pm
I thought that was some sort of meat at first.
Rotten and burnt at the same time
by dave g Suliso:
I appreciate the map, but I am wondering if there was a reason you posted this particular map.
by Suliso
dave g wrote: ↑Sun Jun 25, 2023 9:19 pm
Suliso:
I appreciate the map, but I am wondering if there was a reason you posted this particular map.
No particular reason except that I found on TW a guy regularly posting relief maps of various countries and regions. Thought you likely not familiar with a geography of Poland. Poland is bigger than Italy and UK by area and only a bit smaller than Germany, but foreigners tend to be far less familiar with it.
by ponchi101 One of those tiny European countries
(312,722 sq Km, less than one third of Vennnieland or Colombia).
by Suliso More people than in your Vennieland
by ponchi101 I am usually surprised by the area of European countries, because they are indeed usually smaller than our countries here in S. America.
Of course, a couple of thousands of years of fighting made all the splits possible, but on the other hand, you guys are wealthier. By a lot.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 2:32 pm
One of those tiny European countries
(312,722 sq Km, less than one third of Vennnieland or Colombia).
It's all in perspective. Coming from the world's largest country and living in the third largest, I sometimes catch myself thinking very hegemonically about other countries, that almost all of them are tiny.
by ponchi101 Indeed.
It is one of the reasons I find borders to be silly, on many occasions. For example, there is no reason for Venezuela and Colombia to be split; it was petty infighting in the 19th century. Ecuador and Peru are the same; Bolivia and Paraguay another silly split.
by ashkor87 In many countries, borders were created by some Brit arbitrarily drawing a line...leading to decades of misery thereafter...
by ti-amie
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 26, 2023 5:03 pm
In many countries, borders were created by some Brit arbitrarily drawing a line...leading to decades of misery thereafter...
Thus making the resulting countries ungovernable. Nigeria comes to mind. Muslim north, traditional religion in the south.
by dave g I find it intriguing that the main river systems appear to run from east to west, as opposed to from south near the mountains north to the Baltic Sea.
by ashkor87 I still find it hard to get my head around rivers flowing from South to North! Have to keep reminding myself the earth is round ...
by ashkor87 I have always puzzled over how rivers know their way to the sea. Of course, the answer is they don't .those sho do not, simply disappear over time .but it is almost mystical relationship!
by ponchi101
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 1:08 am
I still find it hard to get my head around rivers flowing from South to North! Have to keep reminding myself the earth is round ...
Longest river in Africa runs south_north.
Longest river in S. America runs mostly west_east.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 1:15 am
I have always puzzled over how rivers know their way to the sea. Of course, the answer is they don't .those sho do not, simply disappear over time .but it is almost mystical relationship!
Gravity?
by ti-amie
by Fastbackss
by ti-amie I was listening to a podcast yesterday where they talked about how orca's are matrilineal and that the females actually go into menopause. When that happens she is then put in charge of training the young males. They are also capable of learning behaviors and building on what they've already mastered. If one pod knows about attacking the boats that maim them the information, like the songs of the whales, gets transmitted group to group.
Fascinating mammals.
by ponchi101 Remember that in a lot of mammal populations, the females run the "day to day operation". Lions are the same, several ape species. Males are there only for reproductive purposes and protection.
Which, come to think about it...
(I am joking!!)
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 That machine produces amazing images.
by dave g Google is beginning to give me an outrageous number of pop-up add/cards.
1. Is anyone else having this problem?
2. Does anyone know how to turn them off?
3. If they can not be turned off, does anyone have a recommendation for a different browser?
by ashkor87
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:03 pm
Remember that in a lot of mammal populations, the females run the "day to day operation". Lions are the same, several ape species. Males are there only for reproductive purposes and protection.
Which, come to think about it...
(I am joking!!)
I have this theory..as the human race evolves, hand to hand fighting is no longer the norm..men will disappear. Women will find they don't actually men for anything.. even for reproduction...evolution!
by ponchi101
dave g wrote: ↑Fri Jul 14, 2023 2:52 am
Google is beginning to give me an outrageous number of pop-up add/cards.
1. Is anyone else having this problem?
2. Does anyone know how to turn them off?
3. If they can not be turned off, does anyone have a recommendation for a different browser?
I don't have Chrome in my laptop. Too invasive.
I actually use EDGE for the forum. Give it a shot, it is good.
And, although I do have a gmail account, I go in, read my stuff, go out, and REMOVE my account from google workspace. I know, I pain, and I am paranoid, but google is looking at you all the time.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 3:03 pm
Remember that in a lot of mammal populations, the females run the "day to day operation". Lions are the same, several ape species. Males are there only for reproductive purposes and protection.
Which, come to think about it...
(I am joking!!)
I have this theory..as the human race evolves, hand to hand fighting is no longer the norm..men will disappear. Women will find they don't actually men for anything.. even for reproduction...evolution!
The only way that would happen would be if women start cloning themselves. Two eggs cannot fuse to produce a viable zygote (in the same way that two sperm cells cannot fuse to produce anything viable).
And, as bad as men can be, I don't think the majority of women want a world without us. We are good for screwing.
(Lightbulbs, nuts and bolts, screws, etc )
by ashkor87 Sperm banks...
by Owendonovan Birds don't urinate.
by ponchi101 I have my settings at "15 posts per page".
So, this page, for me, starts with:
Sperm banks...
Birds don't urinate.
And I really wonder why...
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 11:30 pm
I have my settings at "15 posts per page".
So, this page, for me, starts with:
Sperm banks...
Birds don't urinate.
When I was working in Syria, I was fortunate enough to be in Palmyra, one truly gorgeous city that held several historical sites. One small jewel of the city was the museum, which held priceless antiquities, some 2500 years old. It was a very well curated museum, sponsored by several international organizations, and one of the finest collections of artifacts in the world.
Until ISIS reached the town, and proceeded to destroy the museum. I saw photographs of Islamic soldiers destroying invaluable pieces with sledgehammers, vanishing history with a single blow.
---0---
When I was in Uzbekistan, I was only 20 kms away from the border with Afghanistan. In turn, just a few more kilometers away (inside Afghanistan) stood two majestic Buddhas, carved on the side of the mountain. I tried to get a permit, both from my company and from the border people, to go visit them, as they were acclaimed worldwide. Eventually I was not able, and that was my loss. A few years later, the Taliban detonated them with explosives, again erasing monuments that are impossible to be replaced. Western nations asked the Taliban to allow the Buddhas to be carved out of the mountain face and be brought somewhere else; they refused as the Buddhas were sacrilegious and had to be destroyed.
---0---
When I was in Egypt I was able to go to the Museum of History in Cairo. I was thoroughly disappointed in the curation: the museum has, literally, thousands of pieces just put onto shelves, with no explanations or details to follow the history of the country. The sole exception was the Tutankhamun Exhibit. A fully air conditioned and climate controlled area, the entire exhibition was curated to the most exquisite detail. The area is in shadows and only when you approach a piece do lights go on (triggered by sensors) so that the piece can be seen and it will not suffer from too much light exposure (it is incredible how delicate these stones are).
The Tutankhamun collection was sponsored and supported by BP (easy to remember as they were my employers).
---0---
Nobody makes any comments about the (Italian) Mona Lisa being in the Louvre; the (Spanish) Greco's at the Art Institue of Chicago; the (Dutch) Van Gogh's at the D'Orsay; the (Dutch) Rembrant's at El Prado.
by ti-amie Absolutely valid points Ponchi. Thanks.
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:11 am
Nobody makes any comments about the (Italian) Mona Lisa being in the Louvre; the (Spanish) Greco's at the Art Institue of Chicago; the (Dutch) Van Gogh's at the D'Orsay; the (Dutch) Rembrant's at El Prado.
I think consent makes a big a difference, and when countries, and people are asking for their artifacts back, and the British Museum is refusing it leaves itself open to ridicule. Also, the Mona Lisa was brought to Paris by da Vinci himself.
by Suliso Da Vinci lived his last years in France. As for museums I've heard that the new grand Egyptian museum in Giza might finally open in late 2023. It's been under construction for decades...
by ashkor87 I heard the Acropolis museum is planning to build a museum, virtual of course, not of the things that Are in the museum but the ones that ought to be there but are Not...
by Suliso
Don't play poker with this guy
by ponchi101 I admire these people.
by ti-amie
Ironically I was just reading up on this city in Japan. The deer are sacred to one of the Shinto deities.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Michael Martinez :verified:
@michael_martinez@c.im
I may occasionally follow and/or boost bot accounts that mirror content from X/Twitter. I'll try not to interact with the bot accounts (as they won't respond) but I may occasionally make a mistake and forget to check.
It'd be nice if there were a convenient method for preventing oneself from responding to a bot account (except to Follow or Favorite or Boost the content).
by ponchi101 C'mon. That is a direct descendant of "Britain and America, two countries separated by a common language".
I laughed.
(If the person asked it seriously, his problem )
by Suliso If you want to feel like in mines of Moria and stand on the bridge where Gandalf fought the Balrog visit Skocjan caves in Slovenia.
by ponchi101 Wow! I thought it was a photograph of hell...
by ti-amie No thank you.
by dryrunguy
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:32 pm
If you want to feel like in mines of Moria and stand on the bridge where Gandalf fought the Balrog visit Skocjan caves in Slovenia.
I think I see Laslo Djere's remains at the bottom...
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:32 pm
If you want to feel like in mines of Moria and stand on the bridge where Gandalf fought the Balrog visit Skocjan caves in Slovenia.
I think I see Laslo Djere's remains at the bottom...
I agree with ponchi.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 How dumb can you be?
by ti-amie Like the person said just get on the first school bus you see and go. Idiot.
by ashkor87 Reminds me of a joke..
A man on a California beach finds a bottle. Opens it. Djin pops out -a modern djin evidently.
Djin: yeah, yeah, I know 3 wishes but I ain't got time..I will grant you one wish.
Man: I always wanted to visit Hawaii but I am afraid of flying. Build me a bridge so I can drive to Hawaii
Djin : ( told you he is one modern, even woke? Djin): you crazy? You have any idea how many million tons of steel and concrete that will take? How much damage to the ocean ecology? Forget it, ask for something else.
Man (apparently always had trouble with women, married 3 times, divorced 4) : OK, Djin, get me to understand women..that will make my life better
DJIN: OK, So how do you want that bridge, 2 lane or 4 lane?
by ponchi101 A classic
by Owendonovan I choose the first 5 letter word I see here on TAT to use as my first Wordle guess.
by Suliso The Art of Debate
Imagine your opponent is making a solid argument you cannot really object to. How do you win?
1. Switch the topic of discussion from whatever is being discussed on your opponent
2. Question whether he has a right to say what he is saying. Is your opponent perfect?
3. No, he's not -> He is in no position to say it
Voila, you won. That's how you can win any argument without saying anything of substance
(found on Internet)
by ponchi101 Old definition: Debate. A form of dialectical exchange in which disagreeing parties tried to reach the truth.
Modern Definition: Debate. An exercise in which you try to make ANY point you hold valid, by demeaning the opposing position.
---0---
I like yours A LOT.
by ashkor87 Reading this great book now 'mistakes were made, (but not by me) ' - makes me realize how pointless it is to argue with someone in the hope of changing their opinion/mind.
by ponchi101 If your hope is to change somebody's mind, sure, it is a very difficult thing to do.
If you find other people willing to just exchange proper information, it might be worth it.
by ti-amie
Without the Suez Canal that separated the continent of Africa from its original location this does really show that Asia and Africa are one land mass. We can argue about Europe being Asia-West no?
by ashkor87 Yes, and the people who live there should be called human beings..not migrants, terrorists, kafirs, whatever...
Without the Suez Canal that separated the continent of Africa from its original location this does really show that Asia and Africa are one land mass. We can argue about Europe being Asia-West no?
From the point of view of geography, it stopped making sense centuries ago to have the three continents named as separate land masses. In a sense, Europe is an Asian Peninsula, but then again, that is also a very strange nomenclature. How big do you have to be before you are no longer a peninsula? Spain and Portugal are usually referred as "The Iberian Peninsula" (at least in Spanish), and so are the Koreas, but the group of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar are never referred as such.
The quirks of geography. It was always a fun subject for me.
Without the Suez Canal that separated the continent of Africa from its original location this does really show that Asia and Africa are one land mass. We can argue about Europe being Asia-West no?
From the point of view of geography, it stopped making sense centuries ago to have the three continents named as separate land masses. In a sense, Europe is an Asian Peninsula, but then again, that is also a very strange nomenclature. How big do you have to be before you are no longer a peninsula? Spain and Portugal are usually referred as "The Iberian Peninsula" (at least in Spanish), and so are the Koreas, but the group of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar are never referred as such.
The quirks of geography. It was always a fun subject for me.
I have alwyas been a map nerd. But not enough to join the Reddit group this came from...
My husand, from Mexico, learned that the Americas were one continent. Did you? I learned two, North and South America. He also doesn't consider Antarctica a continent, and I do. He says there are 5 contintents, I say 7.
In 1990, when I was 16, I was navigating my mom around Boston with paper maps and so frustrated that we couldn't know if we were in a turn late or if there was constrution ahead until it was too late. I though there should be a computer in your car that would give you directions and alert you of such things... Since this was before wireless technology, I thought you'd have to get the map on CD, updated every so often.
I still like to look at big map, even in an app. I have to have my bearings.
I don't know the origins of the continent names. Guessing the designations made sense at the time to the people calling the shots.
by ponchi101 We were taught THREE Americas: North, Central and South. There were groups placing MEXICO in North America, others in Central (due to the language). But basically, Central ended in Panama and Vennie/Colombia were the northernmost countries in S. America.
Antarctica is a huge land mass; I cannot NOT see it as continent.
The only continent whose name I know the origin is the Americas, named after the explorer Americo Vespucio. Australia of course originates from AUSTRAL, the word for SOUTH. The rest is a mess, and with the changing names of so many countries, it is hard to now know them all (Africa especially has been renamed so much sometimes it is hard to know the history).
I play Globle, Worldle and Flaggle every day, to try to keep my memory of countries and locations up to date.
by meganfernandez
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 6:13 pm
We were taught THREE Americas: North, Central and South. There were groups placing MEXICO in North America, others in Central (due to the language). But basically, Central ended in Panama and Vennie/Colombia were the northernmost countries in S. America.
Antarctica is a huge land mass; I cannot NOT see it as continent.
The only continent whose name I know the origin is the Americas, named after the explorer Americo Vespucio. Australia of course originates from AUSTRAL, the word for SOUTH. The rest is a mess, and with the changing names of so many countries, it is hard to now know them all (Africa especially has been renamed so much sometimes it is hard to know the history).
I play Globle, Worldle and Flaggle every day, to try to keep my memory of countries and locations up to date.
I play Worldle... haven't tried Globle. Flaggle, I'd suck at.
We learned Central America, too, but it was part of North America. Not a continent.
by ti-amie
We were taught three America's too.
The Suez Canal in this hemisphere becomes the Panama Canal which separated North and Central America from South America.
by skatingfan I was taught seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Interesting that everything outside of Europe starts with an A in English.
by Suliso I was thought only two America's. Where exactly would a Central America end in the North anyway?
by skatingfan
Suliso wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:32 pm
I was thought only two America's. Where exactly would a Central America end in the North anyway?
One side of Mexico, or the other, depending on the map.
by ashkor87 Of course, country borders themselves are so arbitrarily drawn sometimes,, what can we expect of continents?
Suliso wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:32 pm
I was thought only two America's. Where exactly would a Central America end in the North anyway?
One side of Mexico, or the other, depending on the map.
Central America was from Panama to Guatemala/Belize or, for those that said Mexico was in C. America, to the border between USA/MEX.
As I said, it was that since Mexico is a Spanish speaking country, it did not belong with the English speaking Americans and Canadians. Silly idea, but they all are.
by ti-amie Don't forget that parts of Mexico were annexed by the United States.
Which part of Mexico was taken by the US?
This was known as the Mexican Cession and included present-day Arizona and New Mexico and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Colorado (see Article V of the treaty). Mexico also relinquished all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary with the United States (see Article V)
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, that brought an official end to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), was signed on February 2, 1848, at Guadalupe Hidalgo, a city north of the capital where the Mexican government had fled with the advance of U.S. forces. By its terms, Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including the present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. Mexico also relinquished all claims to Texas, and recognized the Rio Grande as the southern boundary with the United States.
North America (Central America as a subcontinent)
South America
Eurasia
Africa
Australia
Antarctica
by meganfernandez
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 1:00 pm
Continents I was taught:
North America (Central America as a subcontinent)
South America
Eurasia
Africa
Australia
Antarctica
Interesting that Asia and Europe were considered one in your school.
by ponchi101 And that is was called Eurasia, as, simply by mass, it should have been Asia-rope.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 2:22 pm
Central America was from Panama to Guatemala/Belize or, for those that said Mexico was in C. America, to the border between USA/MEX.
As I said, it was that since Mexico is a Spanish speaking country, it did not belong with the English speaking Americans and Canadians. Silly idea, but they all are.
Same silly idea which doesn't count Suriname as South American country?
by skatingfan
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 6:36 pm
Same silly idea which doesn't count Suriname as South American country?
Suliso wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 6:36 pm
Same silly idea which doesn't count Suriname as South American country?
Is French Guiana part of South America or Europe?
Don't forget Martinique and Guadaloupe
by ponchi101 Martinique and Guadaloupe are in the Caribbean. Which is not North, Central or South America, and are not in any continent
It is silly, I already said.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 3:05 am
Martinique and Guadaloupe are in the Caribbean. Which is not North, Central or South America, and are not in any continent
It is silly, I already said.
But they're also in France. That's the added conundrum.
I think Nathalie Dechy was from Guadeloupe. Top American tennis player!
And Santoro is from Tahiti! Best Polynesian tennis player of all time.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101
by Owendonovan Anyone use "dark mode" here for TAT?
by Fastbackss
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 11, 2023 2:11 am
Anyone use "dark mode" here for TAT?
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 11, 2023 2:11 am
Anyone use "dark mode" here for TAT?
No, but should I be for some reason?
At your own peril.......
by ti-amie I use dark mode for everything including TAT but I'm thinking about changing it only because the way I see the color highlights I do is probably WAYYYY different than what I would see in another mode.
by ponchi101 I use it frequently.
And... really? You don't want TAT2.0 to have a dark mode? Us?
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 11, 2023 11:21 pm
I use it frequently.
And... really? You don't want TAT2.0 to have a dark mode? Us?
by ponchi101 No it isn't. 80 years ago the world was in a world war that ended up killing 80 million. Nothing like that is happening today.
Several of the countries involved directly in that war currently belong to an organization (NATO) that has a charter that states that said countries must invest 2% of their GDP in weapons systems. Those same countries are not doing so (they invest less).
The healthcare systems of Europe, as faulty as can be, have allowed for greater longevity than ever. The same for Japan, Korea and Canada. the USA is an outlier in that aspect but, as we just saw during the pandemic, when the money was needed it was produced.
In science, monstrous equipment like CERN, the WEBB telescope, LIGO and OPERA have been financed to detect the HIGGS boson (success), stare at the universe (success), detect gravitational waves (success) and neutrinos (success). NONE of those experiments have improved the lives of a single human in a direct way, other than expanding our knowledge. Science at its purest, done with public funding.
Education: just look at UNESCO and what they do. 80 years ago, the sole countries with educated populations were European and the USA. Now, you can add China, India, Korea, Japan, Singapore and good strides in the Americas and Africa.
The arts can KMA.
We have made progress. War still gets a big table, no doubt. But we are not living in 1943.
by ti-amie Interesting
Edited because the first set of brothers were in Burma 12 years ago. Their picture is rumored to be the inspiration for the brothers in Mongolia.
by ti-amieThe world very nearly adopted a calendar with 13 months of 28 days
A League of Nations plan for a unified calendar drew opposition from Jewish leaders and sparked the “Battle for the Sabbath”
By Shoshana Akabas
November 4, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. EDT
A mercantile calendar for the year 1860. The Gregorian calendar we're familiar with was nearly replaced in the 1920s and 30s with the International Fixed Calendar, with 13 months of 28 days. (John H. Duyckinck/Library of Congress)
In the aftermath of World War I, delegates from dozens of countries met at a League of Nations conference in Geneva hoping to create a universal calendar that would unite the world. It was my great-great-grandfather’s job to stop them.
Our calendar may seem like a fixed system, but calendrical disputes have been raging since, well, the beginning of time. Our modern calendar began in 45 BC, when Julius Cesar added leap days to the Roman calendar to create the Julian calendar, which was modified roughly 1,500 years later by Pope Gregory XIII to create the Gregorian calendar as we know it today.
Consensus around the Gregorian calendar took nearly half a millennium to build, and it was short-lived. Right after some of the final holdouts joined — including Russia, Greece and China — the League of Nations announced plans for a total overhaul.
In 1923, the league created the Special Committee of Enquiry Into the Reform of the Calendar and started accepting proposals. The goal was a perfect standardized system of timekeeping, and the committee quickly zeroed in on a plan called the International Fixed Calendar (IFC).
The IFC comprised 13 months of 28 days. The benefit of the new calendar was uniformity. Each month would start on a Saturday and end on a Sunday, so you’d never have to ask, for example, what day of the week the 26th was; it would always be a Thursday. A one-day “world holiday” between the final Saturday of the year and Sunday, Jan. 1, would bring the total number of days to 365.
A secular world holiday must have seemed appealing in the early days of the first international diplomatic body, created following the “war to end all wars.” But not everyone was sold on the idea that a new calendar would unify people on a single consistent system.
Jewish people, especially, had one major concern: The Jewish day of rest — the Sabbath — falls on every seventh day. With an added blank day inserted each December, the Jewish seven-day cycle (believed to be dictated by God) would no longer align with the days of the week. The Sabbath — a day on which work is prohibited for Jews — would land on a different day of the week (and not necessarily on a weekend) each year.
The thought of the Sabbath falling on Wednesdays had the Jewish world up in arms. “On the morrow of all this [postwar] woe and disillusion, and on the brink of such threatened upheaval, the League of Nations could still think it worth while to embark on a quixotic enterprise like calendar tinkering,” lamented Chief Rabbi of England Joseph Hertz in his 1931 paper “The Battle for the Sabbath at Geneva.” Just when nearly the whole world had “at long last acknowledged allegiance to one calendar, the League decided to start a new era of confusion for humanity.”
The IFC, however, was wildly popular among some businessmen, including Kodak founder George Eastman. Profit comparisons were difficult across months ranging from 28 to 31 days (or even across the same month in two different years, containing a different number of weekends) and obscured trends that might otherwise be apparent.
In a pro-reform 1927 magazine article in the Outlook titled “Shall we scrap the calendar?,” the editors maintained that months are changeable because they aren’t tied to any astronomical constants. “A ‘month’ does not mean anything,” they wrote. “A day means something. A year means something. But a month?”
By 1928, Eastman had already implemented the IFC internally at Kodak and was spending his own money to persuade the rest of the world to follow suit. Soon 140 American companies joined him, maintaining a 13-month calendar for their businesses and wagering that calendar reform would continue to gain traction.
For a while, it did.
‘The argument used by all tyrants’
My great-great-grandfather, Arthur I. LeVine, was a Sabbath-observant Jew who immigrated to the United States on his own at age 16. Penniless, he learned the printing trade in New York and started his own legal printing press that eventually served as the main printer for the country’s most prestigious law firm at the time, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which notoriously didn’t have a Jewish partner until 1958.
According to family lore, Arthur capitalized the “v” in LeVine, Frenchifying his overtly Jewish name to gain access to non-Jewish business. But as the son of a British rabbi, he maintained his proud Jewish identity.
“He knew everybody,” said my grandmother, Eleanor Lowenthal, “and he was president of everything you could think of,” including his synagogue, Boys Town Jerusalem, Beth David Hospital (founded by Jews at a time when many teaching hospitals barred Jews from becoming doctors) and other Jewish organizations.
As the new calendar proposal picked up momentum in spring of 1931, Jewish leaders scrambled. On June 9, Rabbi Hertz and other clergy shared their concerns with the Calendar Committee, but their religious critiques were dismissed as “exaggerated,” and the committee moved full-steam toward the October conference, where the IFC would be put to a vote. Fearing his concerns would be overlooked again, he invited Arthur to Geneva.
The fourth General League of Nations Conference on Communication and Transit began on Oct. 12, 1931. Hundreds of calendar proposals had been submitted, but only one was really under consideration: the International Fixed Calendar. And the attitude among government delegates at the conference seemed to be that the IFC was all but a done deal.
On the opening day, Hertz was among the first to speak. He noted that thousands of Jewish congregations across continents — not just a few “reactionary Orthodox rabbis,” he said — had protested making the Sabbath a movable day. The argument that religious difficulties incurred by minorities were of their own making was “the argument used by all tyrants in the past to justify their bloodiest religious persecutions,” he said.
But the calendar reform advocates considered this the problem of a select few, so Arthur took a different tack. He started by explaining that he was testifying to demonstrate that the opposition was “rooted in the laity, not just the clergy.”
His argument was practical rather than religious, outlining logistical disadvantages of the new scheme: Every insurance premium, he pointed out, every monthly or quarterly rate, every contract worldwide that included dates from the Gregorian calendar would have to be renegotiated. Bonds coming due at certain times would be thrown into confusion. The litigation would be never-ending. Not to mention, “the number 13, a prime number which could not be divided without fractions, would occur millions of times a year in everyday life.” In short, the IFC would be nothing but a headache.
His testimony was concise but seemed to help shift the sentiment at the conference. Some continued to resist: The Czechoslovakian delegate stated that no Jews in his country objected to the IFC. But after Hertz pulled him aside between sessions and showed him proof of protests in 126 Jewish communities across Slovakia, he corrected himself on the record at the next session.
As the conference wore on, religion became a sticking point for others as well. Seventh Day Adventists also raised concerns about the Sabbath, while various delegates debated which fixed date should be assigned to Easter: Finland wanted it late in the spring; Norway preferred April 20 to avoid conflict with the cod fishing season; and Ireland refused to participate without a unanimous agreement from the ecclesiastical authorities.
With the floodgates opened, the conference devolved, and by the time the Colombian delegate pointed to correspondence from the Holy See calling calendar reform “dangerous,” the IFC appeared doomed.
Proponents of the IFC continued to push the calendar at additional meetings over the years, but the momentum died out. An attempt to create something that would work for everyone had turned into something that pleased just about no one.
After the conference, my great-great-grandfather returned stateside. Nearly 100 years later, I found a copy of Exodus on grandmother’s shelf. Inside was an inscription from Rabbi Hertz: “To Arthur LeVine, a fellow fighter in the Battle for the Sabbath.”
Northern lights unleash outburst of color in skies over U.S., Europe
A G3 geomagnetic storm, featuring energy from the sun, was responsible for the colorful outburst
By Matthew Cappucci
Updated November 6, 2023 at 10:51 a.m. EST|Published November 6, 2023 at 10:50 a.m. EST
The aurora borealis in Bratislava-Devin, Slovakia on Sunday evening. (Frantisek Baxa via SpaceWeather.com)
The skies across large areas of North America and Europe turned red, pink, purple and green on Sunday evening and night amid a colorful visitation of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Parts of Australia also witnessed the aurora australis, or southern lights.
At least a faint glow — mainly visible through long camera exposures — reached as far as south as Texas and North Carolina, with more vibrant displays near the U.S.-Canada border that were visible to the naked eye.
Inciting the display were a pair of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — eruptions of solar plasma and energy that launch off magnetically disturbed regions on the sun. That energy propagates through space like a targeted cannonball. If it hits Earth, our planet’s magnetic field transforms that potentially hazardous energy into visible light — the aurora. The lights usually congregate around the poles, but if a CME is particularly intense, they can spill southward.
One or more CMEs arrived around 2 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. Since the sun was still up over North America, the timing favored skywatchers in Europe and Asia. Deep reds occupied the skies over Slovakia, while rose-colored pillars painted the skies like luminous brushstrokes in Hungary. In Croatia, one photographer reported that “it was clearly visible to the naked eye, [with] colors, curtains, movement, everything” perceptible for about 15 minutes. And predictably stunning displays dazzled folks closer to the Arctic Circle, like in Norway.
In Western Australia, the southern lights danced for “hours on end,” with columns that resembled enormous neon signs in the sky.
In parts of the Mid-Atlantic in the United States, photographers captured a Stable Auroral Red (SAR) which is a band of broad, diffuse red light that remains stationary and mostly colorless during geomagnetic activity.
Amid the northern lights show, some people observed a phenomenon known as STEVE — which is short for “Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.” It’s not the same thing as the northern lights but appears as a long, slender purple-and-white arc. It is fainter and narrower, and occurs at lower latitudes than most auroras.
Sightings of STEVE were mostly reported in Ireland and northern England.
Ahead of these displays, forecasters at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo., had warned of the potential for a “moderate” geomagnetic storm rated G2 on its 1 to 5 scale. This episode wound up reaching the G3 or “strong” tier for some time, though it had simmered to G2 by the time darkness settled over the United States.
When the geomagnetic storm began on Sunday afternoon, it initially wasn’t clear if both of the CMEs — an initial weaker one and then a more significant one — had overlapped into one “shock wave” of sorts. There was some speculation that the main CME hadn’t arrived yet, and that worse geomagnetic storming would be expected later. In retrospect, it appears that the second, more intense and faster CME probably caught up with the weaker “appetizer” CME and overtook it, with both energetic pulses slamming Earth Sunday afternoon Eastern time.
The main CME was what space weather forecasters call a “full halo” event. Looking at the sun from NASA’s SOHO, or Solar and Heliospheric Observatory — a satellite in space — the burst of solar material can be seen punching into space at all angles. That’s because the CME was directed at Earth.
The full-halo CME responsible for sparking the show. (NASA)
The most significant episodes of the northern lights are usually associated with CMEs, which most commonly emanate from sunspots — bruiselike discolorations on the surface of the sun. Sunspots are most numerous every 11 years during the peak of the “solar cycle,” which will probably peak in 2024. This means many more solar storms are likely over the next year or so and there will probably be more opportunities to view the lights.
Early this year, magnificent displays of the northern lights were seen in September, April and March.
Check out these photos captured from around the world from Sunday’s memorable event.
by skatingfan I feel like people here have the maturity to enjoy this kind of ingenuity.
by ti-amie The last one...
by Suliso We're in Buenos Aires today. A pleasant enough city for few days. At least if one sticks to well off areas as we do.
by ponchi101 Enjoy it. Will be there next week, as my shift ends soon.
by ti-amie We used to have a name for when TATeurs meet up and I can't remember it!
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:36 pm
Enjoy it. Will be there next week, as my shift ends soon.
A shift? What have I missed?
by ponchi101 The universe smiled on me a little bit and I am floating off the coast of Argentina, making a little money.
We will disembark via Mar del Plata, then f to BA before I connect with Bogota.
by Suliso Congrats! Looking for some oil?
by ponchi101 Doing the initial seismic exploration, to map an area offshore. Lots of protests and lawsuits against the project(s), and we are now being shadowed by a Greenpeace vessel which may try tactics against us, but yes, eventually their might be some drilling.
In the meantime, Argentina is suffering gasoline shortages in the provinces. It is all very confusing.
We sail on...
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 12:05 am
We used to have a name for when TATeurs meet up and I can't remember it!
I think it was TAT Tailgate?
by mmmm8 It SHOULD have been "The TAThering"
by ponchi101
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:53 pm
It SHOULD have been "The TAThering"
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:36 pm
Enjoy it. Will be there next week, as my shift ends soon.
We like the country (people friendly, climate good, Iguazu falls stunning), but I'm sorry to say local food sucks. I'm no vegetarian, but I can't eat meat like they do.
Tomorrow off to Salta and Andies.
by skatingfan This is supposed to be the government that wants to tackle climate change where as the Alberta provincial government doesn't want to.
"Canada is the only G7 country that has not achieved any emissions reductions since 1990," Jerry DeMarco, commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, told reporters Tuesday.
Liberal government set to miss 2030 emissions targets, says environment commissioner audit
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:36 pm
Enjoy it. Will be there next week, as my shift ends soon.
We like the country (people friendly, climate good, Iguazu falls stunning), but I'm sorry to say local food sucks. I'm no vegetarian, but I can't eat meat like they do.
Tomorrow off to Salta and Andies.
I know you are spending a lot of time outside the main cities but there's plenty of non-Argentinian cuisine in the cities if you don't want the meat.
by ponchi101 Argie cuisine has never been one to write home about. But in the cities you can get any variation. Especially in BA.
by Suliso We're having better luck in Jujuy province. If you like strange geological formations this province is for you. Reminds somewhat American Southwest (perhaps northern Mexico too) with lots of cacti. We drove as high as 4100 m today.
We mostly avoid big cities, albeit in this case few days in BA for practical reasons
by ponchi101 Photos. Without the photos, we can't get the full picture
by Suliso
I just don't know what's the best way to attach them...
I just don't know what's the best way to attach them...
Google drive link works
by Suliso Buenos Aires botanical gardens are really beautiful.
by ashkor87 Crowds are getting increasingly unsporting...a decade ago, when Pakistan beat India in India, they got a standing ovation from the crowd. This time, when Australia beat India at the cricket World Cup, the stands just fell silent and practically emptied before the trophy presentation...jingoism, nationalism,whatever but also just bad behavior.
by Owendonovan
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:09 am
Crowds are getting increasingly unsporting...a decade ago, when Pakistan beat India in India, they got a standing ovation from the crowd. This time, when Australia beat India at the cricket World Cup, the stands just fell silent and practically emptied before the trophy presentation...jingoism, nationalism,whatever but also just bad behavior.
Where do those of us who appreciate the efforts of all those competing go? Seems there's no longer any room.
by ashkor87 Too much crowd anyway!!!
by ashkor87 So, in the end, the 41 people trapped in the collapsed tunnel in India were rescued..after huge drilling machines failed, a team of workers dug then out by hand, manual rather than machine worked! Btw the team who dug them out is from Rockwell Corp., and the company did not charge a penny for it.
No dry eyes...!
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:09 am
Crowds are getting increasingly unsporting...a decade ago, when Pakistan beat India in India, they got a standing ovation from the crowd. This time, when Australia beat India at the cricket World Cup, the stands just fell silent and practically emptied before the trophy presentation...jingoism, nationalism,whatever but also just bad behavior.
Where do those of us who appreciate the efforts of all those competing go? Seems there's no longer any room.
Davis cup, in the 1990's. Venezuela Vs Denmark, for a spot in the world group.
Vennie goes up 2-1 after an impressive win in the doubles. Then, on Sunday, Nico Pereira goes against Ken Carlsen, and takes a 2-1 sets lead before the 3rd set break. The crowd is going insane, the quality of the match is off the charts. Pereira and Carlsen go into a 4th set TB, and Carlsen wins it. And Pereira deflates. The 5th match is a straightforward for the Danes. The tie is sealed, 3-2 Denmark.
The Danes were in a hurry to get off the court; they feel like the crowd can get angry. And then:
There were some girls, paid by sponsors, who had bouquets of roses, to be thrown to the Venezuelan team once they had won. But one girl, politely, threw one rose (literally, one rose) at the Danes. The Danes froze, and the crowd went silent. And then, the other girls started throwing the roses at the Danes, and us, the crowd, started clapping. REALLY LOUD. We clapped and clapped, and then the captain of the Vennie team got his guys to stand up, and received an ovation that lasted minutes. The Vennies walked over to the Danes, there were hugs and handshakes all over, and the crowd never stopped clapping and cheering both teams.
Later, in the press room, Carlsen said it was the most beautiful memory he had of his entire career playing tennis.
I was never prouder of my people. Ever.
by Owendonovan What are you supposed to use after the Serenity prayer stops working? A Benzo?
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:09 am
Crowds are getting increasingly unsporting...a decade ago, when Pakistan beat India in India, they got a standing ovation from the crowd. This time, when Australia beat India at the cricket World Cup, the stands just fell silent and practically emptied before the trophy presentation...jingoism, nationalism,whatever but also just bad behavior.
Where do those of us who appreciate the efforts of all those competing go? Seems there's no longer any room.
Davis cup, in the 1990's. Venezuela Vs Denmark, for a spot in the world group.
Vennie goes up 2-1 after an impressive win in the doubles. Then, on Sunday, Nico Pereira goes against Ken Carlsen, and takes a 2-1 sets lead before the 3rd set break. The crowd is going insane, the quality of the match is off the charts. Pereira and Carlsen go into a 4th set TB, and Carlsen wins it. And Pereira deflates. The 5th match is a straightforward for the Danes. The tie is sealed, 3-2 Denmark.
The Danes were in a hurry to get off the court; they feel like the crowd can get angry. And then:
There were some girls, paid by sponsors, who had bouquets of roses, to be thrown to the Venezuelan team once they had won. But one girl, politely, threw one rose (literally, one rose) at the Danes. The Danes froze, and the crowd went silent. And then, the other girls started throwing the roses at the Danes, and us, the crowd, started clapping. REALLY LOUD. We clapped and clapped, and then the captain of the Vennie team got his guys to stand up, and received an ovation that lasted minutes. The Vennies walked over to the Danes, there were hugs and handshakes all over, and the crowd never stopped clapping and cheering both teams.
Later, in the press room, Carlsen said it was the most beautiful memory he had of his entire career playing tennis.
Explanation: Single shots like this require planning. The first step is to realize that such an amazing triple-alignment actually takes place. The second step is to find the best location to photograph it. But it was the third step: being there at exactly the right time -- and when the sky was clear -- that was the hardest. Five times over six years the photographer tried and found bad weather. Finally, just ten days ago, the weather was perfect, and a photographic dream was realized. Taken in Piemonte, Italy, the cathedral in the foreground is the Basilica of Superga, the mountain in the middle is Monviso, and, well, you know which moon is in the background. Here, even though the setting Moon was captured in a crescent phase, the exposure was long enough for doubly reflected Earthlight, called the da Vinci glow, to illuminate the entire top of the Moon.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:09 am
Crowds are getting increasingly unsporting...a decade ago, when Pakistan beat India in India, they got a standing ovation from the crowd. This time, when Australia beat India at the cricket World Cup, the stands just fell silent and practically emptied before the trophy presentation...jingoism, nationalism,whatever but also just bad behavior.
Where do those of us who appreciate the efforts of all those competing go? Seems there's no longer any room.
Davis cup, in the 1990's. Venezuela Vs Denmark, for a spot in the world group.
Vennie goes up 2-1 after an impressive win in the doubles. Then, on Sunday, Nico Pereira goes against Ken Carlsen, and takes a 2-1 sets lead before the 3rd set break. The crowd is going insane, the quality of the match is off the charts. Pereira and Carlsen go into a 4th set TB, and Carlsen wins it. And Pereira deflates. The 5th match is a straightforward for the Danes. The tie is sealed, 3-2 Denmark.
The Danes were in a hurry to get off the court; they feel like the crowd can get angry. And then:
There were some girls, paid by sponsors, who had bouquets of roses, to be thrown to the Venezuelan team once they had won. But one girl, politely, threw one rose (literally, one rose) at the Danes. The Danes froze, and the crowd went silent. And then, the other girls started throwing the roses at the Danes, and us, the crowd, started clapping. REALLY LOUD. We clapped and clapped, and then the captain of the Vennie team got his guys to stand up, and received an ovation that lasted minutes. The Vennies walked over to the Danes, there were hugs and handshakes all over, and the crowd never stopped clapping and cheering both teams.
Later, in the press room, Carlsen said it was the most beautiful memory he had of his entire career playing tennis.
I was never prouder of my people. Ever.
lovely story.. also shows how one positive gesture by one person can spark an entire crowd..of course, negative ones can too, but this is a very positive story..
by ashkor87https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/24/trav ... index.html
A sweet (salty?) Story .loved the US 'official' response !! Of course we make tea very differently in India...I boil it with the milk and ginger and lemongrass and sugar all together .salt is actually a very good idea, works for many things ..will try it now!
by ti-amie The next time you are having brunch on a weekend with friends think of this guy and if you can pour one out for him. May he RIP
Friends of Anthony Bourdain @bourdainpodcast
“I hated brunch. No matter how badly I screwed up in my life or how unemployable I was, I could always get a job as a brunch cook because nobody wants to do brunch. Few people are good at it. I would find myself cooking these massive brunches on weekends, often for cash off the books, often under another name. So for me the smell of eggs cooking and French toast and home fries in the oven was always the smell of shame and defeat and humiliation.”
–Anthony Bourdain
by Fastbackss Let someone borrow my copy of "Kitchen Confidential" - haven't gotten it back - and I am pretty miffed
by ti-amie
Fastbackss wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:08 am
Let someone borrow my copy of "Kitchen Confidential" - haven't gotten it back - and I am pretty miffed
I think he would've loved "The Bear".
by ti-amie February 10, 2024 is the Lunar New Year. This year is the year of the Wood Dragon. This fruit plate has been making the rounds.
I don't know who made it but it's great.
Chinese_door.jpg
We don't know what it says. We suspect it is: Beware: Jerks! -->
by ponchi101 I am currently working on a Chinese vessel. They decorated our door:
Chinese_door.jpg
We don't know what it says. We suspect it is: Beware: Jerks!
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:50 pm
I am currently working on a Chinese vessel. They decorated our door:
Chinese_door.jpg
We don't know what it says. We suspect it is: Beware: Jerks!
It's for the Lunar New Year.
The Chinese New Year celebrations began on February 15 as a festive mood swept through town. As a way to bring in the New Year, many Chinese families customarily display a Spring Festival couplet (chunlian) at the front door. (A Spring Festival couplet is a pair of auspicious verses written on strips of red paper and pasted at the front entrance of the home. This New Year’s custom is observed throughout the Chinese-speaking world.)
Spring Festival couplets are, like Japanese tanka and haiku, a form of poetry, and composing a decent pair of verses takes considerable verbal dexterity. Really you’re supposed to compose the couplet yourself and write it with a brush, but fewer and fewer people bother to do so these days. Most people simply buy something ready-made at the store.
by ponchi101 Oh, yes. We know that part, and we did have a celebration. But what it says, remains a mystery to us
by ti-amieThis Evangelical Billionaire Family Wants to Convert You on Super Bowl Sunday
The Hobby Lobby family emerges as the driving force behind the group running ads about Jesus during the Super Bowl
BY ANDREW PEREZ, TESSA STUART
The Super Bowl will once again feature ads promoting Jesus, thanks in large part to the billionaire family that leads Hobby Lobby.
He Gets Us, the billion-dollar campaign to further raise Jesus’ profile, will be back at the big game this year to spread the good word. According to Greg Miller, a spokesman for the campaign, a 60-second spot will appear in the first quarter of the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, followed by a 15-second spot in the second half of the CBS and Univision broadcasts. Both ads “will emphasize loving our neighbors like Jesus did, encouraging people to respect and serve each other,” Miller says.
The He Gets Us campaign is being driven by the billionaire family behind Hobby Lobby, the arts and crafts chain infamous for its crusades to deny its employees birth control coverage and use of bathrooms associated with their gender identity. Hobby Lobby co-founder David Green has previously disclosed helping fund the He Gets Us ads, but his eldest son, Mart — Hobby Lobby’s “Ministry Investment Officer” — is one of three board members at the new nonprofit managing the ad campaign, documents show.
The Green family, worth an estimated $15.2 billion, has long committed to operating its crafts store empire on “Biblical principles.” The family and Hobby Lobby previously led a successful fight at the Supreme Court opposing the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate, citing “their sincere religious objections to facilitating the provision of abortifacients.” The case led to a 2014 ruling finding that closely held corporations do not have to comply with the mandate if their owners express religious objections.
Hobby Lobby separately led an unsuccessful 11-year legal fight to block a transgender employee from using the women’s restroom at a crafts store in Illinois.
In 2022, David Green announced that the family would transfer ownership of Hobby Lobby to a trust; the decision, he wrote at the time, reflected his view of himself as a “steward” of the company, and one with “a responsibility to the employees that God had put in my charge.”
Hobby Lobby did not respond to a request for comment about the Green family’s involvement with He Gets Us.
The motivation behind the He Gets Us campaign, according to Green, is a desire to reshape public perception of Christians: “What we’re known as, as Christians, we’re known as haters,” he said in a podcast interview last year. “We’re beginning to be known as haters — we hate this group, we hate that group. But we’re not. We are people that have the very, very best love story ever written, and we need to tell that love story. So, our idea is, let’s tell the story. As a Christian, you should love everybody. Jesus loved everybody.”
In addition to its two Super Bowl ads, He Gets Us will have a presence on the ground in Las Vegas ahead of the game. He Gets Us is the lead sponsor of the NFL’s official Super Bowl breakfast on Saturday. The organization is also hosting a public event at a Christian community center, where it plans to give out free lunch and pre-bagged groceries.
A one-minute Super Bowl ad from He Gets Us last year featured scene after scene of tense conflicts between people, before text appeared on the screen: “Jesus loved the people we hate.”
In the YouTube description for the ad, the campaign laments that people today “align ourselves on different sides of the fight in battles of politics, religion, justice, and too often, we let that conflict morph from a dignified defense of something good into a dehumanizing attack on the people we don’t agree with.” At the time, the campaign was closely tied to a conservative legal group leading the fight against abortion rights and LGBTQ protections.
Until this year, He Gets Us operated as a subsidiary of the Servant Foundation, a Kansas-based charity that has been a major funder of the Alliance Defending Freedom. ADF is a conservative Christian litigation shop that has led fights to ban abortion and allow businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ customers. This spring, ADF lawyers will be at the Supreme Court pushing to limit access to the abortion pill and to allow states to bar hospitals from performing emergency abortion care.
While He Gets Us is no longer part of the Servant Foundation, the Green family has ties to the National Christian Foundation, a top financier of ADF, as Salon first documented a decade ago. In 2022, Mart Green sat on the board of the Illuminations Foundation as it donated $23 million to NCF; that same year, NCF contributed $14 million to ADF.
New corporate documents show Mart Green is on the three-man board of directors at Come Near, a North Carolina nonprofit that recently took over the He Gets Us campaign, in place of the Servant Foundation. The other board members are Bob Hoskins and Marwan Rifka, who are both executives at OneHope, an evangelical ministry focused on sharing gospel messages with children around the world; David Green says his family has supported OneHope for 25 years. (Come Near’s CEO, Ken Calwell, was previously the chief marketing officer at the Christian charity Compassion International.)
“We feel like God has guided us to do a few things in a larger way. We’re involved with He Gets Us — that’s a larger thing,” Green said last year. He noted that OneHope has “given a billion kids the gospel.”
The Green family also funds the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., which opened to the public in 2017. The museum attracted attention when a Department of Justice investigation found it had purchased thousands of stolen Mesopotamian artifacts; the museum reportedly relinquished roughly 12,000 of its antiquities to the government of Iraq in 2021.
During an interview last year, Green explained why He Gets Us decided to advertise during the Super Bowl, the most expensive TV event of the year.
“We really feel that we need, as a group of Christians, to tell 350 million people that He cares about you and He gets you,” he said.
They advertise an inclusiveness that I have not encountered from any evangelical style Christian.
The group behind it traffics in a dearth of exclusivity, as evidenced in the article.
So what is the long game? Even their comments don't help me understand it.
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:59 pm
Oh, yes. We know that part, and we did have a celebration. But what it says, remains a mystery to us
I tried to find the exact match, but there were so many I couldn't find an exact match to translate it.
by ponchi101 AITA, as always, or:
When YOUR GOD needs a marketing agency to get his message delivered, his "all powerful" and "omnipotent" claims seem to be BS.
Right?
by Suliso Or you can compare it with job applications. Sending your CV left and right is good and might indeed work out, but chances are so much better if your previous manager makes a phone call and tells that this Ponchi fellow really knows his stuff and is pleasant to work with too.
by ponchi101 I would love to see that JOB OFFER:
Looking for
A GOD
Well versed in designing (and running) Universes, implementing morally flawed codes (with caveats) and pass judgement, although he will violate such codes himself on a regular basis. Discriminatory attitude towards minorities and discrimination based on gender and/or sexual preferences is a plus. Because in this job he (must be male) will be very much in public view, personal appearance and looks are important: long flowing beard, spotlessly white robe (self owned) and accessories are mandatory.
Must have previous experience of managing 1 Billion+ congregations but must be unable to handle finances (and therefore will be always in need of donations). Must speak ALL major languages; ignorance of mathematics and physics is an asset.
Please submit your resume in WORD, PDF, AMIPRO, WORDPERFECT, Clay tablets, marble stones or message in the sky format.
Females, POC, minorities and gods with handicaps and/or limitations please do not apply.
by Suliso Remember that Joan Osborne song where the God is just an old guy on the bus...
by ashkor87 He he, good
by ti-amie
posted by @deaconblues
by ti-amie From the Live and Learn files
Judianna
@Judianna
Monopoly - I didn't know this!
(You'll never look at the
game the same way again!)
Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British Airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the Crown was casting about for ways and means to facilitate their escape...
Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and accurate map, one showing
not only where stuff was, but also showing the locations of 'safe houses' where a POW on-the-lam could go for food and shelter.
Paper maps had some real drawbacks -- they make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear out rapidly, and if they get wet, they turn into mush.
Someone in MI-5 (Similar to America 's OSS) got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads, and unfolded as many times as needed, and makes no noise whatsoever.
At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington, Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort.
By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K. Licensee for the popular American board game, Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and pastimes' was a category of item qualified for insertion into 'CARE packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross to prisoners of war.
Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of Waddington's, a group of sworn-to-secrecy employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each region of Germany or Italy where Allied POW camps were regional system). When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece.
As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also managed to add:
1. A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass
2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed together
3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian, and French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money!
British and American air crews were advised, before taking off on their first mission, how to identify a 'rigged' Monopoly set -- by means of a tiny red dot, one cleverly rigged to look like an ordinary printing glitch, located in the corner of the Free Parking square.
Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POWS who successfully escaped, an estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly sets... Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy indefinitely, since the British Government might want to use this highly successful ruse in still another, future war.
The story wasn't declassified until 2007, when the surviving craftsmen from Waddington's, as well as the firm itself, were finally honored in a public ceremony.
It's always nice when you can play that 'Get Out of Jail' Free' card!
by ti-amie Friends of Anthony Bourdain
@bourdainpodcast
"I don't want to wait for my coffee. I don't want some man-bun, Mumford and Son (expletive) to get it for me. I like good coffee but I don't want to wait for it, and I don't want it with the cast of Friends. It's a beverage; it's not a lifestyle."
–Anthony Bourdain
by ti-amie What an interesting character study.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie The tweet says Mexico but there's a guy in what posters say is a government jacket from Colombia. Be that as it may it shows what a cultural phenomenon Dragon Ball/Dragon Ball Z was and is.
So swan are like geese, and they will grab you with those beaks and twist? Growing up around farms, I was more afraid of geese than anything.
I said that geese are mean here and everyone wanted to argue with me that they're not.
by ti-amie Mike Sington @MikeSington
International news agencies are killing the first official photo of Kate supposedly after her surgery because “the source (Kensington Palace) has manipulated the image”.
AFP kill order.
This was posted showing the questionable parts of the manipulation.
As I'm sure everyone here is aware this story has been strictly in the realm of, let's call it idle chit chat. With these kill orders from international agencies the story has moved into news. I don't want to speculate about what happened to her. All I know is, as someone who has had a hysterectomy you are not wearing skinny jeans so soon after the surgery.
I hope she's well.
by ti-amie Tenille Clarke
@tenilleclarke1
So just to be clear here - in the Public Relations industry, a “kill notification” is the coup de grâce of the media circuit. For AP to issue this update, means that something is TERRIBLY wrong. Think of it as a Cat. 5 cyclone. This is literally a death blow to any press source.
So swan are like geese, and they will grab you with those beaks and twist? Growing up around farms, I was more afraid of geese than anything.
I said that geese are mean here and everyone wanted to argue with me that they're not.
Geese are bastards.
by Fastbackss
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:38 am
Tenille Clarke
@tenilleclarke1
So just to be clear here - in the Public Relations industry, a “kill notification” is the coup de grâce of the media circuit. For AP to issue this update, means that something is TERRIBLY wrong. Think of it as a Cat. 5 cyclone. This is literally a death blow to any press source.
I always learn on this site.
Will say "kill notification" must be an old term because it seems extreme !
by Fastbackss [quote=meganfernandez post_id=104953 time=1710118272
Geese are bastards.
[/quote]
Local outdoor park is infested with them. They take no prisoners and loudly tell you it's their turf. They don't move.
I blame people that think it's fun to feed them.
But interestingly went last month to a "bird preserve" that was part of a state park. The geese bolted when even got with 50 feet of them!
by ti-amie Just so we're kept in the loop here is today's proof that Kate Middleton is fine.
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan I miss Vera's tears.
by ti-amie This man pretty much sums up where #kategate is right now.
by ti-amie What people don't realize is that there is a difference between photoshopping a photograph to correct imperfections and creating a collage, a brand new event that never happened. I'm skipping the background that I'm sure everyone knows now and starting with the discussion and analysis of the latest "photo" that is also a collage.
‘People question everything now’: how Kate’s photo scandal rips up the rules for royals and the media
What appeared to be a harmless-looking snap has turned out to be anything but. Though previous official images of the royals have been altered, this one could change their relationship with the media for ever
Vanessa Thorpe Arts and media correspondent
Sun 17 Mar 2024 09.00 CET
The Mother’s Day incident must be alarming the relatively new team working for the couple. Prince William has recently appointed Sean Carney in the newly created role of chief executive, while Kate has just finally installed Lieutenant Colonel Tom White as private secretary, after a long gap without one. But perhaps the strangest element of the whole furore is not what the Princess of Wales or her staff at Kensington Palace did, it is the way the outside world has changed. Candid royal snaps issued directly to the press as “handouts” were once a token of authenticity. “In the past it was a way to guarantee a front page picture and present a genuine image of a strong family,” said Suart.
Prince Louis, on the far right, has been moved back. His shirt stripes are repeated under the front of the arm of the settee, the cabling on the carpet disappears oddly, and his highly lit head has a sharp, cut-out edge. On the left, the curls of the hair of Mia Tindall are repeated exactly on the upholstery, draping as she leans around the head of her baby brother, Lucas.
The Observer’s picture desk can show this weekend that rough-edges of the editing process were nothing new. The photograph taken by Catherine at Balmoral and released last year to mark what would have been the 97th birthday of the late Queen bears similar signs of digital alteration. Prince Louis appears to have been moved back into the frame, while locks of a great granddaughter’s hair show telltale repetitions. Back then, though, the image was not urgently “killed” by the leading international photo agencies, like the latest one, because it didn’t matter so much.
But 2024 is a different place. With crucial elections taking place around the globe, including the UK and US, the question of what is safe to believe in has never been so pertinent. The public are aware of the perils of “deep fakes” as well as photo editing. Mobile phones, let alone good cameras, can take an instantaneous burst of frames and select the best bits of each shot before merging them convincingly into one image. These tricks are now widely understood.
There are also hordes of armchair analysts out there making technical judgments. How could the news agencies possibly protect their reputations if they did not respond last week to mounting amateur claims that the image was not trustworthy? “I don’t know if the likes of Reuters and Associated Press would have issued ‘kill notices’ if there had not been pressure from online analysis of the image,” said Suart. “They have to look after their brands as providers of reliable information. That is their business model. People question everything now, from the time stamps on the image, to the trees in the background.”
Of course, the really big change in the media landscape was the sustained absence of the Princess of Wales. Although it has been repeatedly, and unusually, officially explained away as a period of planned recuperation, the suspicion there is some dire secret factor has spread fast, as disconcerting rumours often do.
“The first issue is always to understand the environment you are operating in. With all these conspiracy theories going on, nothing they put out there was going to escape close analysis, if not from professionals, then certainly from amateurs,” said Suart.
What emerges is the newly enhanced value of “authenticity”, in a context where holograms, social media bots and cloned voices are the latest demons threatening to loosen our collective grip on reality. Trust in our institutions, whether the police, the church, charities or the royal family, is already being regularly undermined, but now so is our ability to be convinced once the truth does come out.
‘The trouble with all these losses of trust is that they are the result of different problems and some are extremely well founded,” said Robinson. “Sadly, everyone gets tarred. The best thing is often not to say anything at all, but it’s hard advice to give. You need to know what else might come out. We often work closely with lawyers who advise clients not to apologise, in case they leave themselves open legally. But I would urge people to take a longer view. It’s often more important to maintain your reputation and to take that short-term, lower risk of paying out legal fees or compensation.”
Suart believes the backlash to the royal snap demonstrates the worth of developing a good reputation before a crisis. “The Princess of Wales is already benefiting from that because the Sun headline called on conspiracy theorists to ‘lay off’ Kate and an opinion piece in the Express urged readers to move on.”
Yet the implication that newspaper editors might be colluding with the royal family is dangerous, Robinson acknowledges, whether true or not: “It is hard to judge. I think they are not, but there’s a problem anyway if people don’t believe that. It’s worrying if there is wide disparity between what people are reading and what they suspect.”
According to Robinson, in the political arena the upshot will be that every spin doctor will try to stop all doctoring of promotional images. “They’ll be accused of fakery even if they just do the most harmless bit of bringing someone closer to Keir Starmer. Authenticity is now the most valuable commodity there is.”
So whether or not those edits made after the original Mother’s Day photograph was saved on a Canon 5D Mark IV that Friday evening were designed to hide more than an ugly shadow or a silly grimace – in other words, if it actually was a way to send a secret message – it was certainly a move that is rippling out to create fresh waves of public doubt.
Note: Up close details of the pic and the discrepancies are at the link.
by ti-amie No one has done it better
It still gives me chills.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie A nice trip around the world for #silentsunday. There are too many pictures and videos to post here so I hope you click in and enjoy the trip.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by mmmm8 I wonder how you get to this last beach?
by ashkor87 i must say I am not proud of #ucla right now - calling in cops on your own students is not leadership..!
by ponchi101 Were they protesting in favor of Palestine?
Just wondering.
by Owendonovan I’m going to the White House today for the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony. One of the recipients, Judy Shepard, a close friend and officiant at mine and my husbands wedding, invited us to join her!
by ashkor87
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:46 pm
Were they protesting in favor of Palestine?
Just wondering.
not taking the bait.. too dicey... in favor of whom, I dont know, I would say they were protesting the inhuman conditions in Palestine.
by ponchi101 I'm not baiting you, Ashkor. And I am asking about the protestors, not your opinion.
by Owendonovan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:46 pm
Were they protesting in favor of Palestine?
Just wondering.
Yes, but apparently counter protesters attacked their encampment. (oddly partly financed by Jerry Seinfeld and his wife).
"Ms. Seinfeld attracted attention for another reason: She promoted on Instagram, and said she had helped bankroll, a counterprotest at the University of California, Los Angeles, where clashes with pro-Palestinian demonstrators have turned violent."
by ponchi101 Can't wait to navigate that stretch.
Wait...
by ti-amie
I'm pretty sure Raku didn't write this...
by ashkor87 What is happening in Ukraine and the Middle East shows how dangerous are ideologies/world views where something matters more than human beings...religion, a vision of a Greater Russia ..whatever. Everyone says Purpose is necessary in life...well, look at what purpose-driven people have wrought ..!
by ponchi101 But isn't that a great generalization? One ting is to be purpose driven. Another is when the purpose is wrong.
Your country provides a great example. Ghandi was certainly purpose driven: expel the Brits from India. That purpose was worthy. But some of his other purposes were not (keep India as a technologically poor country). And those were not embraced and were discarded, rightly so.
I wish Venezuela had a purpose. But we don't, and that is the reason we are a morally bankrupt country.
by ashkor87 My position is that it is wrong, even immoral, to have a purpose, because any purpose will say the human being in front of you is less important than the purpose ..the only purpose in life should be life itself . Life is its own purpose, it doesn't need any other
by ponchi101 I guess we could go into semantics. The purpose of a dedicated nurse, a dedicated fireman or policeman can be very worthy. My purposes are certainly not (trying to make ends meet) but they are not immoral.
Certainly the purposes you described above are loathsome: The Great Russia (aka the USSR), becoming the Dictator of America, and so forth. But not all purposes are immoral because many of them can be related to helping your fellow humans.
by ti-amie
This is the full quote:
Friends of Anthony Bourdain
@bourdainpodcast
“If you’re talking about a transcendent experience, one that still has a magical powerful effect on me every time, it’s spicy noodles in broth somewhere in southeast Asia, or a bowl of pasta, like working-class pasta, and some cheap wine in Italy. That’s what thrills me and fills me with joy and makes me believe that food is magic again.”
–Anthony Bourdain
by ponchi101 many of my most memorable meals have been like that.
by ponchi101 Reaching senior status only affirms your grumpiness. I should know (now).
My latest peeve.
When and how did this new meme of "It is what it is" started? What is the purpose of it? Sure, it is what it is, but is also isn't what it isn't. It drives me crazy. You are talking to somebody and they end up a conversation with it.
Yes, I know IIWII. So what? Do we go ahead and just drop any attempt to a fruitful conversation? After all, IIWI. And It isn't wat it isn't. Can you give me a solution?
End of rant. There is a cloud that is bothering and I am going to go yell at it.
by ti-amie He was hiding but the ladies knew he was there.
by ponchi101 Wooooooow!!!!
by ti-amie The lion on the left is like "Give me a reason. Just give me a reason."
This is one of the scariest nature pics I've ever seen.
by ti-amie
by skatingfan I'd never be able to eat any of that - it's just wrong.
by ponchi101 I couldn't care less about the nutritional thing. What a gorgeous picture.
by ti-amie
skatingfan wrote: ↑Sun Jun 16, 2024 12:42 am
I'd never be able to eat any of that - it's just wrong.
Corn is the perfect example of how genetic engineering works. Who decided that corn should be yellow anyway?
That said I totally understand. I would have a hard time eating "real" corn too.
by ponchi101 Nobody decided that corn should be yellow. In Venezuela, Colombia and Africa, a lot of white corn is grown.
Imagine if people were to mix different colors of corn to make their flour. Which flour would you buy? How would you know it was in good condition or had gone bad, as opposed to "this comes from blue corn"?
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2024 9:04 pm
Nobody decided that corn should be yellow. In Venezuela, Colombia and Africa, a lot of white corn is grown.
Imagine if people were to mix different colors of corn to make their flour. Which flour would you buy? How would you know it was in good condition or had gone bad, as opposed to "this comes from blue corn"?
I think in the States most corn sold to the public has yellow kernels. I have seen white corn but only in high end supermarkets.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 The second tweet looks a bit photoshopped to me. Meaning, the chigüires are pasted on it (that is how we call them in Venezuela).
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 11:47 pm
The second tweet looks a bit photoshopped to me. Meaning, the chigüires are pasted on it (that is how we call them in Venezuela).
Took a second look and I agree.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Wow.
by JTContinental
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 11:47 pm
The second tweet looks a bit photoshopped to me. Meaning, the chigüires are pasted on it (that is how we call them in Venezuela).
Yeah, I'd say it's AI generated.
by ti-amie But why were they parading down a city street at very early o'clock in the morning? Is that something they do?
by ponchi101 No natural predators? Hey, animals will go where it is safe. So, no reason why not.
by JTContinental The internet says yes
by Owendonovan Oh Boy, Joe Biden sucked at that debate. TFG mumbled about nothing, but Joe seemed impossible to go 4 years. The Dems need to seriously consider a different candidate.
by dryrunguy Hi, everyone. I am sorry I have been absent. I have had 12 proposals since May. I am hoping things will slow down now and that I can pay better attention to what gets posted here. I have seen so much interesting news I wanted to share (e.g., the new 6-day work week in Greece) but couldn't just because I was so stretched for time.
Meanwhile, Lulu Sun is a lot of fun. (I just made a rhyme.) I hope this is not a one-off. Her game looks like the type that could be very hit or miss and may not translate well to other surfaces and circumstances. I suspect there are very good reasons why she is 23 and ranked #123. Or maybe she just needed more time. But what I saw today was really impressive. Of course, one good stretch of match wins does not a career make.
Hope you all are well--and stay well.
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 1:09 am
Hi, everyone. I am sorry I have been absent. I have had 12 proposals since May. I am hoping things will slow down now and that I can pay better attention to what gets posted here. I have seen so much interesting news I wanted to share (e.g., the new 6-day work week in Greece) but couldn't just because I was so stretched for time.
Meanwhile, Lulu Sun is a lot of fun. (I just made a rhyme.) I hope this is not a one-off. Her game looks like the type that could be very hit or miss and may not translate well to other surfaces and circumstances. I suspect there are very good reasons why she is 23 and ranked #123. Or maybe she just needed more time. But what I saw today was really impressive. Of course, one good stretch of match wins does not a career make.
Ditto. Welcome back, and I hope the 12 proposals have been profitable.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie I don't know how true this is but ever since their convention started there've been reports of Grindr being overloaded.
by ti-amie
p1/2
by ti-amie p2/L
by ti-amie Also
Tomas Pueyo
@tomaspueyo
18. Mexicans are some of the hardest working people in the world—and the hardest working in the OECD.
by ti-amie When you stumble across people doing work like this and posting on Xitter it makes it hard to leave the site.
by ti-amie
I saw this breed of horse (or a similar breed) in a Chinese drama I was watching. The bad guy was trying to con its owner into giving it to him. They showed the bad guy trying to con its owner before panning to the horse. Talk about being slack jawed in shock at the horse's size and majesty. The one in the drama was black.
by ponchi101 What are they used for? Pulling 747's?
Majestic.
by ti-amie Best illustration of panic mode I've ever seen. Guy is so scared he can barely remember how to operate his own boat. It looks like the orca's are on their summer rampage.
by ti-amie A virtual travelogue - Three posts
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Feel like traveling. Txs.
by Oploskoffie We'd decided to skip vacations that required flying for the next couple of years. I'm now wondering how long that idea will last of I show these pictures at home
by ti-amie This is an actual political ad. I'm surprised Elmo hasn't gotten rid of it.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie This weekend it's a grand tour of bridges around the world.
by ti-amie
by Owendonovan My street and the street one block south of me has given landmark status! Which ultimately means, the encroaching Hasidic community won't be that interested in my street because they won't be allowed to put cages on the windows.
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 12:11 am Tore my meniscus on both sides of my knee. (climbing in and out of a window.
Oh No!
Will it be 6-8 weeks? More?
At least, there's a stress frature in my femur as well. Tore a tendon in my elbow earlier this year. I suppose after 50 years of gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, distance running and biking it's starting to catch up to me. Heading towards being that guy with metal joints.......
by dryrunguy Hope you recover as quickly as possible, Owen.
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 12:11 am Tore my meniscus on both sides of my knee. (climbing in and out of a window.
Oh No!
Will it be 6-8 weeks? More?
At least, there's a stress frature in my femur as well. Tore a tendon in my elbow earlier this year. I suppose after 50 years of gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, distance running and biking it's starting to catch up to me. Heading towards being that guy with metal joints.......
Get better soon. Hope the metal joints prophecy will not come true.
by mmmm8
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2024 12:11 am Tore my meniscus on both sides of my knee. (climbing in and out of a window.
Oh no! Hope it heals fast and doesn't give you too much pain!
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 That's not real. That has got to be a Hollywood set.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 4:47 pm
That's not real. That has got to be a Hollywood set.
All of Greece is fake.
by Suliso I've been to three of those.
by ti-amie HELP!
by ponchi101 The one on the left is a female (those are boobs) and the one in the right is a male (those are his backpacks, just that he is manspreading).
Right?
by Owendonovan Any single use bathroom is good for me. If the "women's" single use is open and the "mens" isn't, I use the women's. I'm also not a seat sprayer.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
Nope. Nope. Nope.
by Oploskoffie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 8:29 pm
The one on the left is a female (those are boobs) and the one in the right is a male (those are his backpacks, just that he is manspreading).
Right?
Ha And I thought the one on the left was the male (big/broad shoulders?) and the right the female (wearing a dress)?
Also, at 6' 4" I'd be scared of hitting part of something going round with my feet if in a far left or far right location. So yeah... Not happening, ever.
Also, at 6' 4" I'd be scared of hitting part of something going round with my feet if in a far left or far right location. So yeah... Not happening, ever.
Problem is that you will 100% need to go to the bathroom after that ride and you won't be able to tell which one is the right one...
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 14, 2024 10:29 pm
Problem is that you will 100% need to go to the bathroom after that ride and you won't be able to tell which one is the right one...
The right one is the one closest to the ride exit.
by ti-amie Since there's a lot of talk about spicy food lately apparently there's spicy and then there's Thai food. I've never eaten Thai food and that surprises me.
Ryan Ruby
@_ryanruby_
The owner of a Thai restaurant here in Berlin once told me that one of his German customers requested a dish "as spicy you would eat it" and then, I (expletive) you not, sued him for assault.
Reply guy
@solastsummer2
Thai heat is on another level, even among people that eat spicy food. I had an Indian friend that grew up in India, asked for Thai level spicy at a restaurant and couldn’t finish it.
everythingism
@_everythingism
I noticed that in Berlin, maybe elsewhere in Europe, it's quite common for Thai and Vietnamese restaurants to sell sushi along with toned-down versions of their own dishes. Must be very confusing in terms of what the actual cuisine is like.
*puts on flower crown, falls into a faerie circle*
@Klezmerstyle
I once asked a Thai restaurant to make something "spicy enough to make a white person cry" and they did and I did and the kitchen staff all came out to watch and laugh
a good time was had by all
by ponchi101 There is spicy food. Then there's Thai. It will make Mexican taste bland.
And then, at the real border of sadism, is Korean. I once asked for real Korean at a restaurant in Caracas. The chef came out and told me that he would do it, but if I could not eat it, I would not my money back.
It was delicious, but I could only eat half. You know when your upper lip is sweating do much it drops in your mouth? It is that hot.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 12:13 am
There is spicy food. Then there's Thai. It will make Mexican taste bland. And then, at the real border of sadism, is Korean. I once asked for real Korean at a restaurant in Caracas. The chef came out and told me that he would do it, but if I could not eat it, I would not my money back.
It was delicious, but I could only eat half. You know when your upper lip is sweating do much it drops in your mouth? It is that hot.
Wow. I didn't know real Korean food is up there.
Meanwhile re your "border of sadism" quip
by ashkor87 All spice is not hot...indian food is spicy but not necessarily hot
by ti-amie
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:08 am
All spice is not hot...indian food is spicy but not necessarily hot
That's how I feel about Mexican food but I've never been to a real, hole in the wall Mexican place where the menu is whatever the chef feels like that day and they cook for a Mexican not an American palate. I went to a Chinese place like that years ago and got to taste real Chinese cooking but the place is now a condo so...
by ti-amie I went on Uber Eats and found a Thai place that delivers to my area. I'm dipping my toe in the waters and ordering wings and spring rolls just to get an idea of what the spice palate is.
This will be later on the week though.
I tried Peruvian once and the seasonings they use didn't suit my taste.
I had Ethiopian once too and ate as they do, scoop with the bread, and didn't have a problem but again that was a long time ago.
by ponchi101 As Ashkor says, not all spicy food is hot. Indian can be both, and Korean can also be both.
The most delicious food in the world (to me) is Cambodian. The palette of spices is incredible, and you have a huge variation.
But Indian, for example, can be both spicy AND hot. The Indians know their hot well, and you can get some currys that will make your wooden spoon burst into combustion. When I was in Oman, we had Indian cooks and I used to joke with them that they did not know how to make hot food (they were cooking for our Commonwealth supervisors). One day the main cook told me he had made something special for me. I knew his time for revenge had come and he had prepared a delicious curry that had me sweating in no time.
It just depends on what you ask for. You can have mild Mexican, and you can have mild Korean. It is just a matter of asking for it.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 6:04 am
As Ashkor says, not all spicy food is hot. Indian can be both, and Korean can also be both. The most delicious food in the world (to me) is Cambodian. The palette of spices is incredible, and you have a huge variation.
But Indian, for example, can be both spicy AND hot. The Indians know their hot well, and you can get some currys that will make your wooden spoon burst into combustion. When I was in Oman, we had Indian cooks and I used to joke with them that they did not know how to make hot food (they were cooking for our Commonwealth supervisors). One day the main cook told me he had made something special for me. I knew his time for revenge had come and he had prepared a delicious curry that had me sweating in no time.
It just depends on what you ask for. You can have mild Mexican, and you can have mild Korean. It is just a matter of asking for it.
So many food people say that about Cambodian food. The first time I heard it was from the late Anthony Bourdain who of course traveled there.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:08 am
All spice is not hot...indian food is spicy but not necessarily hot
That's how I feel about Mexican food but I've never been to a real, hole in the wall Mexican place where the menu is whatever the chef feels like that day and they cook for a Mexican not an American palate. I went to a Chinese place like that years ago and got to taste real Chinese cooking but the place is now a condo so...
Mexican food in itself is rarely spicy. The hot sauce put on top of it is what's spicy, but the eater can regulate that. I cannot think of anything I've eaten in Mexico that was outright spicy before I seasoned it with hot sauce. Tex-Mex stuff like nachos is more spicy at a base than real Mexican.
Hope you like Thai, Ti, it's one of my favorite cousines! Not sure I'd go for Thai food in the Bronx to be honest, but the more common dishes like Pad Thai are hard to mess up. I'd say most Thai things aren't very spicy, but curries are.
Incidentally, I once took my cousin from Russia to an Ethiopian place and had literally forgotten the food was spicy because my palate is more used to it. She took one bite and needed a 15 minute break.
Yes sir, I'm so sorry I forgot to notice your wife's diploma and graduating class on her ticket.
by ponchi101 I remember when flying used to be a nice experience. People properly dressed, the airline did not cram 40 extra people in the plane, people flew with their handbags and backpacks and did not bring a refrigerator on the plane and tried to stuff it into the overhead compartment...
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Where did you expect these people would go to college to? Walla Walla Community College?
And, got me some bad news for you, sunshine. They will get the corner office too. Way faster than the kid that graduated with 4.0.
by mmmm8 There are so many "nepo babies" and legacies from the business world and politics at Yale, being related to a celebrity is a cool story but barely notable in terms of nepotism.
Also, I think Conan O'Brien went to Harvard? Not shocking his kid would go to an Ivy If anything, it's a surprise his kid didn't follow there.
Imagine being stuck there on a space station for 8 months! They must be going crazy...
by Suliso Boeing strikes again
by ponchi101 I guess you meant strikes out.
That is one of the problems with companies that almost hold a monopoly. When they screw up, you have no other options.
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:21 pm
That is one of the problems with companies that almost hold a monopoly. When they screw up, you have no other options.
In this case fortunately there is. SpaceX will rescue those guys so they're not actually in any danger.
by ponchi101 Indeed. I should have said few options.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:21 pm
That is one of the problems with companies that almost hold a monopoly. When they screw up, you have no other options.
In this case fortunately there is. SpaceX will rescue those guys so they're not actually in any danger.
I don't think SpaceX are rescuing, they will be leaving on an already planned flight that will bring 2 people instead of people, sounds like. It says NASA doesn't want to ask SpaceX for an emergency flight but doesn't say why. I wonder if it's money or feasibility.
It also sounds like the Russian capsule could take one of them but not both (it said it's fit for 3 people.
by Suliso I think NASA decided it's not necessary to pay for an emergency unscheduled crew Dragon. It probably would take 1-2 months to organize anyway. The two astronauts involved are fully qualified to replace those previously scheduled to fly for a six months mission.
by ti-amie I love these two! I usually see them on Instagram but someone posted this one on Xitter. There is profanity.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie NGL I laughed
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 wow
by ti-amie
by Suliso A colleague of mine remembers an exact restaurant and date in he went to in 2005 from work, what exactly they were talking about and what was the favorite chocolate brand of another colleague now in high management. It's a blessing and a curse. He'd prefer not to remember...
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:48 am
A colleague of mine remembers an exact restaurant and date in he went to in 2005 from work, what exactly they were talking about and what was the favorite chocolate brand of another colleague now in high management. It's a blessing and a curse. He'd prefer not to remember...
I have this curse, but it hits selectively. Sometimes I forget an entire person, but remember that type of random conversation/activity.
by ponchi101 I can remember every single "bad" thing or conversation I have had in my life, to the point of having the same feelings.
I wish I could be more selective. Or, like a friend says, that I had a better memory: one that would forget the bad.
by Suliso I have a very good memory (not as good as 20 years ago), but I don't tend to remember things like this.
by ponchi101 Memory is such a weird thing. I can recite the entire script for my favorite movie. I can remember all the Slam winners from the 70's, 80's and 90's.
I can't remember where I left my glasses, with increasing frequency I forget the trivial things.
I recently saw, for the second time, PRINCE OF DARKNESS. I had a pretty good recollection of it, although I saw it in 1987. But there were entire parts of the movie that I had completely wrong.
Last. Music makes me remember places and people. All the people I love have a soundtrack. Meaning, whenever I hear a certain song, they come to mind.
by ti-amie Has everyone seen the baby hippo that's taken the interwebs by storm? Adorable.
by skatingfan I'm surprised that mom allows the keepers to get that close - hippos are the most dangerous animal on the planet.
by ponchi101
skatingfan wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 2:42 am
I'm surprised that mom allows the keepers to get that close - hippos are the most dangerous animal on the planet.
Beat me to it. That young man could be in real danger.
by ti-amie
by ponchi101 Unthinkable today, in most countries. Good.
by ashkor87 I suppose chess is not a sport .but anyway ..India won the Chess Olympiad, both men and women!
Ps- Russia was banned..
by ashkor87 US won silver in the men's and Kazhakstan won silver in the women's
by Suliso Did Carlsen play?
by ashkor87 It is a team event anyway ..so Carlsen played but how many games can one man win,? India had 3 GMs on the top 3 boards.
by dave g
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:21 am
I suppose chess is not a sport .but anyway ..India won the Chess Olympiad, both men and women!
Ps- Russia was banned..
Congratulations to the India team!!
(former chess player (top rating was about 1680).)
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:21 am
I suppose chess is not a sport .but anyway ..India won the Chess Olympiad, both men and women!
Ps- Russia was banned..
Congratulations to the India team!!
(former chess player (top rating was about 1680).)
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:21 am
I suppose chess is not a sport .but anyway ..India won the Chess Olympiad, both men and women!
Ps- Russia was banned..
Congratulations to the India team!!
(former chess player (top rating was about 1680).)
Do you still follow the game? My dad and I used to play out each of the Fischer Spassky games and analyse them to death..I don't really play..
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:21 am
I suppose chess is not a sport .but anyway ..India won the Chess Olympiad, both men and women!
Ps- Russia was banned..
Congratulations to the India team!!
(former chess player (top rating was about 1680).)
Do you still follow the game? My dad and I used to play out each of the Fischer Spassky games and analyse them to death..I don't really play..
No, about 40 years ago, I realized that I needed to study chess openings to get any better, and I wasn't interested enough to put that much work into chess. Therefore, I stopped playing regularly. I only followed chess when I was still playing local tournaments and still trying to improve.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:21 am
I suppose chess is not a sport .but anyway ..India won the Chess Olympiad, both men and women!
Ps- Russia was banned..
Congratulations to the India team!!
(former chess player (top rating was about 1680).)
Wow!
In my mind, that is not a particularly high rating. I knew a fair number of people with ratings over 2000,
by Suliso It is not, but only if you know lots of chess players. Not completely trivial to achieve either. I play somewhat regularly online (rapid only) just as a time pass. I'm currently at 1150.
(former chess player (top rating was about 1680).)
Wow!
In my mind, that is not a particularly high rating. I knew a fair number of people with ratings over 2000,
To me, that is like saying you can hit serves at 125, and can rally with a pro.
Sure, you were no Bobby Fisher. But that level means you can understand the game at a very high level.
by ti-amie People are laughing but I think this is so sad
Ah, darlings, how utterly absurd and tragic all at once! Here we have two fine specimens of modern "warriors," decked out in their finest camo and strapped with enough weaponry to invade a small country... all for the high-stakes mission of ordering fast food. How noble! Nothing says “defender of freedom” quite like assault rifles and obesity waddling up to the counter for a burger. Truly, a vision of strength and liberty—if by liberty you mean the freedom to look utterly ridiculous while posing a potential threat to people just trying to enjoy their lunch.
I must say, the contrast is as stark as the absurdity of it all: weapons designed for war, wielded by men whose greatest battle seems to be with cholesterol. Yes, freedom indeed, though perhaps they'd be better off fighting for healthcare reform instead.
by ti-amie
This is why the very wealthy and celebs love New York City. He looks just like any shlub buying a hot dog.
by skatingfan He's also got a half dozen security officers around him, and probably vehicles nearby, and a team watching from above.
by ti-amie
skatingfan wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:57 am
He's also got a half dozen security officers around him, and probably vehicles nearby, and a team watching from above.
Like the person said, try and bum rush him and see what happens to you.
by mmmm8 Question - why? He'd easily be a lot less noticed getting a hot dog from any other corner in NYC. Why is he standing like a statue in Times Square waiting to be brought a hot dog?
by ponchi101 C'mon, you can even see the bodyguards standing around and how they have clearly made a 5 mts security radius around him.
I thought the video was of the FIRST man on the video. Who is a body guard and looks like somebody that can kill football players with a napkin.
by ti-amie
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:01 pm
Question - why? He'd easily be a lot less noticed getting a hot dog from any other corner in NYC. Why is he standing like a statue in Times Square waiting to be brought a hot dog?
Maybe he just wanted a hot dog and they were passing through? UNGA is in session so a lot of folks are wandering around NYC right now.
ETA: Also no one in NYC really cares what muckety muck is in their vicinity. Just don't be a group of tourists who stop in the middle of the sidewalk to gawk. That pisses us off big time.
by Owendonovan Incompetence had a strong game going on today in my world. It wasn't quite as bad as last Thursday when I walked out of work for the day at the beginning of my second class due to the head teacher not having any lesson plan after showing up late to class. I can't cover for incompetence this year.
by ti-amie If you're close enough to see that you're pissing off an animal of that size and with the speed to catch you as you stumble over tree roots and slip on grass to try and get away you are too close.
by dryrunguy That's really bad when even Sarah Palin would have known better...
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:01 pm
Question - why? He'd easily be a lot less noticed getting a hot dog from any other corner in NYC. Why is he standing like a statue in Times Square waiting to be brought a hot dog?
Maybe he just wanted a hot dog and they were passing through? UNGA is in session so a lot of folks are wandering around NYC right now.
ETA: Also no one in NYC really cares what muckety muck is in their vicinity. Just don't be a group of tourists who stop in the middle of the sidewalk to gawk. That pisses us off big time.
UN week is definitely a peculiar time. One time about 15 years ago, my colleague saw Robert Mugabe trying to buy toothpaste or something at the corner Duane Reade (his bodyguard paid).
by mmmm8
ti-amie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 28, 2024 10:25 pm
If you're close enough to see that you're pissing off an animal of that size and with the speed to catch you as you stumble over tree roots and slip on grass to try and get away you are too close.
Maybe using an angry tone with that animal was also not the wisest idea. That man really bought into the alpha dog theory.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie The only reason the pyramids of Giza are still there is because they couldn't figure out a way to carry them back to England.
by ponchi101 The only reason why the Museum Of Ancient Artifacts in Palmyra, Syria, is NOT there is because ISIS arrived there and destroyed all the beautiful statues and priceless items because they were not in accordance to Muslim tradition.
The sole reason why the two beautiful Buddhas of Bamiyan are NOT there is because the Taliban destroyed them simply because they were representations of a different deity than the one they worshipped.
Sorry. But this "western civilization is evil' idea is misleading.
by ti-amie
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:51 pm
The only reason why the Museum Of Ancient Artifacts in Palmyra, Syria, is NOT there is because ISIS arrived there and destroyed all the beautiful statues and priceless items because they were not in accordance to Muslim tradition.
The sole reason why the two beautiful Buddhas of Bamiyan are NOT there is because the Taliban destroyed them simply because they were representations of a different deity than the one they worshipped.
Sorry. But this "western civilization is evil' idea is misleading.
You're correct of course. It's not only the English who went around the world pillaging. The Brits never did it in the name of religion though (that can be debated but it was never the stated reason )and that is the difference between the destruction of the sites you're referencing and the theft of religious treasures from other cultures.
by ponchi101 But what about other countries that hold art and historical artifacts from other nations? I don't see the Italians going bonkers because the Mona Lisa is in the Louvre. I spent las weekend at the Buenos Aires Museum of Arts; several Van Gogh's, Goya's, Picasso's and multiple sculptures from Greece and the Roman's. Nobody minds (as should be the case).
You know who sponsors the Tutankhamen hall at the Cairo Museum of History? IBM (it needs very precise A/C settings). In Cambodia, at Seam Reap, the "Hall of the 1,000 Buddhas" is sponsored by a Japanese company (I forget which one).
So the Brits took home a lot of things. Why? Because at that time, they were the main navigating empire of the world and that was what conquerors did. And I really don't want to see the Rosetta Stone back in Cairo. In the British Museum, it is safe. And I have been in enough Arab countries to know they are as stable as a top. So its safety cannot be guaranteed there in the same way as it can be guaranteed in London.
by ashkor87 One could even say the Brits stole the Elgin Marbles etc because they appreciated them..maybe the countries of origin didn't ..not enough, anyway...
by Suliso French king bought Mona Lisa shortly after the painter's death. It's not the same at all.
by skatingfan I think there's a big difference artifacts, and artwork being displayed in museums with permission of the artist, or on loan from the owners of the pieces, and items taken from countries by force, and held in another country even when the country of origin asks for the items to be returned.
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 3:04 pm
But what about other countries that hold art and historical artifacts from other nations? I don't see the Italians going bonkers because the Mona Lisa is in the Louvre. I spent las weekend at the Buenos Aires Museum of Arts; several Van Gogh's, Goya's, Picasso's and multiple sculptures from Greece and the Roman's. Nobody minds (as should be the case).
You know who sponsors the Tutankhamen hall at the Cairo Museum of History? IBM (it needs very precise A/C settings). In Cambodia, at Seam Reap, the "Hall of the 1,000 Buddhas" is sponsored by a Japanese company (I forget which one).
So the Brits took home a lot of things. Why? Because at that time, they were the main navigating empire of the world and that was what conquerors did. And I really don't want to see the Rosetta Stone back in Cairo. In the British Museum, it is safe. And I have been in enough Arab countries to know they are as stable as a top. So its safety cannot be guaranteed there in the same way as it can be guaranteed in London.
As others have pointed out, provenance is the difference for art and other museum collections that acquired pieces legally or have paid for them in retrospect vs what The British Museum is continuing to do. There has been a lot of activity with museums and collections around the world trying to find a way to rectify by either giving the art back or allowing some sort of compensation. This is becoming the norm and there are even some regulations. The British Museum has been pushing against this.
Of course, there are complications in trying to give the art back - some of which you allude to.
The British Museum has been criticized for other reasons, like their big sponsorship deal with British Petroleum.
by ti-amie The Benin Bronzes via Wiki
Most of the plaques and other objects were taken by British forces during the Benin Expedition of 1897 as the British Empire's control was being consolidated in Southern Nigeria.[11] This Expedition was positioned by British sources as retaliation for a massacre of an unarmed party of British envoys and a large number of their African bearers in January 1897. Some Contemporary scholars, such as Dan Hicks, argue that the Expedition was part of a broader series of premeditated attacks, framed as retaliatory or punitive, to further European imperialistic and economic interests in Africa.[12] Following the Expedition, two hundred pieces were taken to the British Museum in London, while the rest were taken to other European museums.[13] A large number are held by the British Museum[11] with other notable collections in Germany and the United States.[14]
Some erroneously concluded that Benin knowledge of metallurgy came from the Portuguese traders who were in contact with Benin in the early modern period.[7] The Kingdom of Benin was a hub of African civilization long before Portuguese traders visited,[15][16] and bronzes were made in Benin prior to the arrival of the Portuguese.[17] The Benin bronze sculpture tradition is thought to have derived from or been influenced by that of the older nearby Kingdom of Ife in southwest Nigeria.[5][6][7]
A Benin Bronze plaque on display in the British Museum
The Kingdom of Benin, which occupied southern parts of present-day Nigeria between the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries, was rich in sculptures of diverse materials, such as iron, bronze, wood, ivory and terra cotta. The Oba's palace in Benin City, the site of production for the royal ancestral altars, also was the backdrop for an elaborate court ceremonial life in which the Oba of Benin, his warriors, chiefs and titleholders, priests, members of the palace societies and their constituent guilds, foreign merchants and mercenaries, and numerous retainers and attendants all took part. The palace, a vast sprawling agglomeration of buildings and courtyards, was the setting for hundreds of rectangular brass plaques whose relief images portray the persons and events that animated the court.[28]
"The king's palace or court is a square, and is as large as the town of Haarlem and entirely surrounded by a special wall, like that which encircles the town. It is divided into many magnificent palaces, houses, and apartments of the courtiers, and comprises beautiful and long square galleries...resting on wooden pillars, from top to bottom covered with cast copper, on which are engraved the pictures of their war exploits and battles, and are kept very clean."
Olfert Dapper, a Dutch writer, describing Benin in his book Description of Africa (1668)[27]
The Benin Bronzes that were part of the booty of the punitive expedition of 1897 had different destinations: one portion ended up in the private collections of various British officials; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office sold a large number, which later ended up in various European museums, mainly in Germany, and in American museums.[14] The high quality of the pieces was reflected in the high prices they fetched on the market. The Foreign Office gave a large quantity of bronze wall plaques to the British Museum; these plaques illustrated the history of the Benin Kingdom in the fifteenth and sixteenth century.[40]
In response to the British Museum's continued refusal to return looted Benin bronzes, the Iyase (traditional prime minister) of Benin Kingdom unveiled the largest bronze plaque to date on 30 July 2021.[63][64][65] The plaque contains over 2 tons of brass and was created by one of the grandsons of the current Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Lukas Osarobo Zeickner-Okoro.[66] It is titled 'The Return of Oba Ewuare' to symbolise the Benin belief in reincarnation and a restart of the Benin Bronze Age in the reign of the current Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. It therefore honours the Oba and was even offered in exchange for the bronzes held by the British Museum.[67][68]
I ate at a place like this in NYC Chinatown that was located at 113 Mott St. When you went in most of the diners were Chinese and the menu was whatever the chef cooked. The building has been gentrified and the Chinese place isn't there anymore.
by ponchi101 Have had a couple of experiences like that too. Walk in and ask them to bring me whatever the chef wanted.
It has always been great.
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ashkor87 All 3 Nobel Prizes this far announced have been about A.I. Now they should just award the literature prize to ChatGPT...for good measure, the Nobel Memorial prize for Economics to Satoshi...in hiding!
by ti-amie
by ti-amie Palate cleanser not named Moo Deng.
by ti-amie
P1/4
by ti-amie
P2/4
by ti-amie
P3/4
by ti-amie Noah Smith
@Noahpinion
32/There are lots of things that make Japanese cities uniquely awesome, but I think zakkyo are one of the most important and least appreciated ones.
(end)
by ponchi101 The Japanese are extra terrestrials. They just don't want us to know.
by ti-amie I was wondering, and I hope no one takes this the wrong way, about the way traditional writing is done in Asia - vertical and not horizontal, affects how they design their buildings. I'm a visual, Western person and seeing the business areas in Japan causes me to shut down and not see anything but lots of lights. It's the same in K-town in Manhattan. I see the street level businesses but not the ones on the floors above street level.
Just a thought.
by ponchi101 Perhaps tied to that theory that our languages affect the way we think. That, for example, Teutons think different than Latinos/Hispanics because our languages are different.
Maybe our LEFT to RIGHT writing makes us indeed look at things differently than cultures that write UP to DOWN.
by Owendonovan I've torn my meniscus post and ant and am having surgery Wednesday the 23rd. If I dont make it back,I've enjoyed you all. Even Deuce.
by ponchi101
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 4:11 am
I've torn my meniscus post and ant and am having surgery Wednesday the 23rd. If I dont make it back,I've enjoyed you all. Even Deuce.
Ok, I am serious here. What do you mean IF YOU DON'T make it back? Are there any chances your surgery will be so dire?
Sorry to hear that you got injured to such a degree. But I am hoping you make it back.
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 4:11 am
I've torn my meniscus post and ant and am having surgery Wednesday the 23rd. If I dont make it back,I've enjoyed you all. Even Deuce.
Ok, I am serious here. What do you mean IF YOU DON'T make it back? Are there any chances your surgery will be so dire?
Sorry to hear that you got injured to such a degree. But I am hoping you make it back.
Being put under unnerves me. I've never been confident I'll wake up from general anesthesia for some odd reason.
by mmmm8
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2024 4:11 am
I've torn my meniscus post and ant and am having surgery Wednesday the 23rd. If I dont make it back,I've enjoyed you all. Even Deuce.
Good luck tomorrow! You'll be fine (and hopefully up and healed soon!
by ponchi101 Ok. Get it. But, as M8 says, you will be fine. Keep us posted and wish you the best and speediest recovery.
by ti-amie
You'll be fine.
by ti-amie
I think they are related to dolphins though? I could be wrong.
I think they are related to dolphins though? I could be wrong.
Sort of like we're related to a monkey.
I wonder if that's the pod off the coast of Spain that attacks boats?
by Owendonovan Orcas are the largest dolphin species. They also eat dolphins. There's something darkly satisfying about the Orcas off the coast of Spain.
by ponchi101 Darkly satisfying.
Phrase of the month.
by Owendonovan I woke up! Everything went well and I should be back to running/playing/flipping in 6-8 weeks. Thanks for the warm thoughts and encouragement!
by ti-amie
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:11 pm
I woke up! Everything went well and I should be back to running/playing/flipping in 6-8 weeks. Thanks for the warm thoughts and encouragement!
by ponchi101
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:11 pm
I woke up! Everything went well and I should be back to running/playing/flipping in 6-8 weeks. Thanks for the warm thoughts and encouragement!
Do your rehab. Get back your legs.
Txs for the good news.
by mmmm8
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:11 pm
I woke up! Everything went well and I should be back to running/playing/flipping in 6-8 weeks. Thanks for the warm thoughts and encouragement!
Yayyy! Wishing you a painless and easy recovery!
by ti-amie
by Suliso
by ponchi101 Would love to see the same chart for L. America.
With a population of around 700 MM, that means that all Europeans spend about 3.5 nights at hotels every year. Am I reading that right?
by ti-amie
The Historical Lens
@HistoricalLens1
That is so cool!
We still have three of her signatures! It started as an X, and then evolved. You posted the first known signature from November 4th, 1429.
The letter reads:
"To my dear and good friends, the men of the Church, burgesses, and inhabitants of the town of Riom
Dear and good friends, you well know how the town of Saint-Pierre-le-Moutier was taken by assault, and with God's help I intend to clear out the other places which are against the King. But because so much powder, arrows, and other war materiel has been expended before the said town, and because myself and the lords who are at this town are so poorly provisioned for laying siege to La Charité, where we will be going shortly, I pray you, upon whatever love you have for the welfare and honor of the King and all the others here, that you will aid the siege and immediately send powder, saltpeter, sulfur, arrows, strong arbalests and other materials of war. And do this so that it will not be prolonged for lack of the said powder and other war materials, and so that no one can say that you were negligent or unwilling. Dear and good friends may Our Lord protect you.
Written at Moulins, the ninth day of November.
Joan
(translated by Allen Williamson) "
by Suliso
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:46 pm
Would love to see the same chart for L. America.
With a population of around 700 MM, that means that all Europeans spend about 3.5 nights at hotels every year. Am I reading that right?
Yes, but the chart is about EU only (450 million people) and includes also people from elsewhere spending nights in EU hotels.
What you can say is that Germans (biggest travelers?) spent 4.1 nights per year in German hotels/Airbnb and 3.5 nights elsewhere in EU. Probably another 1.5 outside EU for a total of ca 9, not even that much. I think I personally spend 25-30.
I was a bit surprised that even in Spain the local tourist is the most common one.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:46 pm
Would love to see the same chart for L. America.
With a population of around 700 MM, that means that all Europeans spend about 3.5 nights at hotels every year. Am I reading that right?
Yes, but the chart is about EU only (450 million people) and includes also people from elsewhere spending nights in EU hotels.
What you can say is that Germans (biggest travelers?) spent 4.1 nights per year in German hotels/Airbnb and 3.5 nights elsewhere in EU. Probably another 1.5 outside EU for a total of ca 9, not even that much. I think I personally spend 25-30.
I was a bit surprised that even in Spain the local tourist is the most common one.
Why? It will always be cheaper. In Argentina and Colombia, I am sure that it is the local people that do most of the tourism. They love their countries, do not fancy "weird" food and traveling within borders will be cheap.
But, I see your point.
by Suliso I meant it the other way - Spain extremely popular with foreigners and I was thinking there just might be more of them.
by ti-amie
The largest waterfall in Europe, the Rhine Falls in Switzerland.
As someone said it's more of a cascade than a waterfall.
These are waterfalls
The waterfall of the Zambezi River that straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe
Iguaźu Falls on the border between Brazil and Argentina
As for Europe the largest waterfall is the Denmark Strait Cataract. It's underground and is taller than Angel Falls in Venezuela.
And then there is the spectacularly frightening Angel Falls of Venezuela. This man Angel didn't "discover" anything. If the local people have not one but two names for the falls then they knew about it no?
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2024 10:46 pm
Would love to see the same chart for L. America.
With a population of around 700 MM, that means that all Europeans spend about 3.5 nights at hotels every year. Am I reading that right?
Yes, but the chart is about EU only (450 million people) and includes also people from elsewhere spending nights in EU hotels.
What you can say is that Germans (biggest travelers?) spent 4.1 nights per year in German hotels/Airbnb and 3.5 nights elsewhere in EU. Probably another 1.5 outside EU for a total of ca 9, not even that much. I think I personally spend 25-30.
I was a bit surprised that even in Spain the local tourist is the most common one.
I was surprised 14% of Luxembourg hotel stays are from the Luxembourgish. Where are they traveling, it's 51 miles x35 miles across? I guess it's people with Lux. citizenship who live elsewhere coming to visit family? Was also surprised Americans go there.
I wonder if this includes hotel stays only or also private rentals?
And then there is the spectacularly frightening Angel Falls of Venezuela. This man Angel didn't "discover" anything. If the local people have not one but two names for the falls then they knew about it no?
The local people discovered them in the same way that Newton discovered calculus. Sure, he invented it but if you don't tell anybody...
Jimmy Angel discovered them like Leibniz. He discovered them, documented them and brought news of them to the rest of the world.
I have never seen them (and never will). But friends that have told me about them say they are impressive. but the entire region is impressive. The MASIZO GUAYANES (The Guayana Massive stone) is a high plateau where time basically has stood still for millions of years. Look up the TEPUY's. And be ready to wonder.
by Suliso Going to Angel falls seem unlikely anytime soon. I've been to Iguazu falls and indeed very impressive.
by ti-amie I read that you can only "see" Angel Falls from an airplane because the entire area has no roads that lead you to them?
by ti-amie BTW the person on Reddit still insists that the cascade in Switzerland is a waterfall.
I'm surprised that the Denmark Strait Cataract has never been filmed.
by skatingfan
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 8:55 pm
BTW the person on Reddit still insists that the cascade in Switzerland is a waterfall.
I'm surprised that the Denmark Strait Cataract has never been filmed.
Assuming that you could get a reasonable video at that depth, and darkness of ocean would you be able to see the difference between the colder water flowing over the cliff?
by ponchi101
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2024 8:52 pm
I read that you can only "see" Angel Falls from an airplane because the entire area has no roads that lead you to them?
No. You can take a river boat and come almost to the spot where the falls land. Very expensive, but can be done.
You can also come close to them by foot, after a "true explorers" hike and get close to them.
Of course, all view will be impressive. But I would say the boat ride would be the best.
by ashkor87 Today is the festival of light- Deepavali, the most important festival in India..celebrated alike by people of all faiths and those with none..the victory of light over darkness...
Happy Deepavali to all!
My friend was part of that, I think I see her a few rows in
by ti-amie Always listen to your wait person.
by ti-amie
Gooner Raunak
@GoonerRaunak
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Nov 1
Tigers have "false eyes" on the back of
their ears to discourage predators from
attacking them from behind
by ponchi101 Excuse me? When a Bengal tiger LOOKS VULNERABLE? They are the second largest feline one earth, weighting about 130 Kgs and measuring almost 3 meters. Vulnerable? I mean, a Bengal tiger died pink would still look menacing.
They are so incredibly beautiful. But still, yes. Amazing.
by ti-amie I looked at the false face for at least half a minute before realizing it was a false face.
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:52 pm
Excuse me? When a Bengal tiger LOOKS VULNERABLE? They are the second largest feline one earth, weighting about 130 Kgs and measuring almost 3 meters. Vulnerable? I mean, a Bengal tiger died pink would still look menacing.
They are so incredibly beautiful. But still, yes. Amazing.
A male Bengal tiger can be about twice that weight, but a male Asian elephant or male Asian rhino can weigh up to 4 000 kg, so maybe some times they need a little deterant to being charged from behind.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:52 pm
Excuse me? When a Bengal tiger LOOKS VULNERABLE? They are the second largest feline one earth, weighting about 130 Kgs and measuring almost 3 meters. Vulnerable? I mean, a Bengal tiger died pink would still look menacing.
They are so incredibly beautiful. But still, yes. Amazing.
A male Bengal tiger can be about twice that weight, but a male Asian elephant or male Asian rhino can weigh up to 4 000 kg, so maybe some times they need a little deterant to being charged from behind.
Valid point.
She's got two cubs and while they're all drinking water they are vulnerable. She maybe senses the photographer so she's using the false face in the direction she senses danger from. Fascinating.
by Suliso Usually one just gets bills - need to pay for this and that, but today I received a letter from our building managing company saying that we've been overpaying for heating and hot water for 2 1/2 years and they'd be happy to give all that money back. That's the first time for sure.
by ponchi101 You will get your money back?
Wow. What it is to live in a civilized country...
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 4:46 pm
You will get your money back?
Wow. What it is to live in a civilized country...
I feel like the Swiss account manager would never sleep again at night if their accounts payable/receivable were even a franc off balance.
by Suliso I haven't yet, but I think chances are pretty good
by Owendonovan Knee update. 1st week is a little drug hazy, but it required crutches. Now in my 3rd week, it's "just" a very sturdy knee brace. No crutches or cane needed, though not moving very fast. I walk at least a couple miles a day. Somedays I'm more sore than others, but each day definitely feels like moving forward. The ultimate goal is to do some more back flipping, I'm coming up on 58 and I'm not entirely done with flipping, close but not there yet.
Sidenote; How you recover from these common knee surgeries, totally depends on your fitness level at the time of surgery. IT WAS HARD for a very fit 5'7" 130 lb 57 year old man with athletic ambitions. (still) If my injuries were weight related, I can't imagine how difficult that is. My leg felt like it weighed 200lbs and I'm fit and strong. It's a real chore. I also expect to be running 7 minute miles in 3 months........
by ponchi101
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 06, 2024 6:35 am
Knee update. 1st week is a little drug hazy, but it required crutches. Now in my 3rd week, it's "just" a very sturdy knee brace. No crutches or cane needed, though not moving very fast. I walk at least a couple miles a day. Somedays I'm more sore than others, but each day definitely feels like moving forward. The ultimate goal is to do some more back flipping, I'm coming up on 58 and I'm not entirely done with flipping, close but not there yet.
Sidenote; How you recover from these common knee surgeries, totally depends on your fitness level at the time of surgery. IT WAS HARD for a very fit 5'7" 130 lb 57 year old man with athletic ambitions. (still) If my injuries were weight related, I can't imagine how difficult that is. My leg felt like it weighed 200lbs and I'm fit and strong. It's a real chore. I also expect to be running 7 minute miles in 3 months........
As you say, once you hit a certain age, the issue is recovery.
Really glad you are doing better.
by Owendonovan Hasn't rained here in NYC for 40 days. You can't escape the smell of urine.
by mmmm8
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 4:31 pm
Hasn't rained here in NYC for 40 days. You can't escape the smell of urine.
Doesn't help that it's summer weather!
by Suliso
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Thu Nov 07, 2024 4:31 pm
Hasn't rained here in NYC for 40 days. You can't escape the smell of urine.
That's what one of my Italian co-workers always says about NYC. Doesn't like the city at all... But goes occasionally to visit a friend who's a trader at Wall Street.
by ti-amie When I worked in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan there were days when you couldn't escape the smell of dog urine and feces despite the fact that dog owners are supposed to pick up after their pets.
by Owendonovan What is this weird, kinda over masculinized clothing described as "Tactical wear"? I see more and more ads for it trying to make me feel this is what real men wear. Tactical, an appealing word to a young man, chest puffer.
by mmmm8
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Fri Nov 08, 2024 8:49 pm
What is this weird, kinda over masculinized clothing described as "Tactical wear"? I see more and more ads for it trying to make me feel this is what real men wear. Tactical, an appealing word to a young man, chest puffer.
It's so they are able to strap their open-carry weapons somewhere when they go to Chick-fil-a
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie
by ti-amie The French are so extra...
by mmmm8 Yes, stick it to the man(behind the counter earning minimum wage)
why do you do this.jpeg
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by dryrunguy
why do you do this.jpeg
by Owendonovan
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 3:01 am
Yes, stick it to the man(behind the counter earning minimum wage)
I can't tell you how many times I've told my husband that minimum wage worker does not care about your complaint.
On the other hand, I have on more than one occasion gotten seats pretty close to the court at the US Open by being very friendly with those minimum wage gate keepers!
(aren't McDonald's franchises?)
by dryrunguy So, as I have had time today, I have been trying to get to the bottom of what this particular protest is about. It hasn't been easy. This has been yet another excellent example of the amount of misinformation and outright lies exist on the internet. Some sources allege it's about the French government's stance on the war in Gaza. It's not. Some sources allege it's a protest about the state of the economy in France. It's not. There are other allegations, as well. It's insane.
But to answer my own question, the real reason appears to be a protest over the amount of meat imported from countries outside of France.
by ti-amie
dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 9:21 pm
So, as I have had time today, I have been trying to get to the bottom of what this particular protest is about. It hasn't been easy. This has been yet another excellent example of the amount of misinformation and outright lies exist on the internet. Some sources allege it's about the French government's stance on the war in Gaza. It's not. Some sources allege it's a protest about the state of the economy in France. It's not. There are other allegations, as well. It's insane.
But to answer my own question, the real reason appears to be a protest over the amount of meat imported from countries outside of France.
This makes the most sense. We had a discussion here recently about European countries importing meat from Argentina I think it was.
by dryrunguy But I don't understand the argument they're making. I guess, first, I must confess I know very little about agriculture in France, especially as it relates to beef production. But my gut tells me that farmers in France could not possibly produce enough meat to supply all McDonald's and Burger Kings in France. Maybe I'm wrong about that. I would also assume that beef produced in France would be too "good" for fast food establishments--and too expensive. The primary sources of cheap beef are cull cows, dairy bull calves, and dairy heifer calves that aren't good enough to keep as replacement breeding stock.
I just can't imagine how France by itself could produce enough cheap beef to meet cheap beef demands in the country.
But clearly something is wrong, because farmers in France are clearly upset about something that is impacting their wallets and financial well-being. I'd love it if someone could fill the disconnect currently happening in my brain.
by ponchi101 They are the largest beef producers in Europe. They produce a lot of beef, of all qualities. They are also the largest beef consumers.
And then I went to the front page ofLe Monde and looks like it's now blossomed into a massive protest about an EU-Mercosur deal. 85 demonstrations and they've blocked the road to Germany from Strasbourg.
by ashkor87 Do we have nobody from France on this group, who can enlighten us?!
by ponchi101 I looked up our collection of flags, and ... THERE ARE NOT FRENCH PEOPLE HERE!!!!
Mon dieu!!!
Well. They will not come to a forum where English is the official language. That is for sure.
by Suliso France is a huge agricultural producer, but sure Argentinians can produce beef cheaper.
by ponchi101 And it is beef of a different quality. Argentinian beef is free range, grass fed. France's is more modern-industrial type.
by Suliso Funny, but that was the biggest disappointment of my recent Argentina trip. I didn't find the meat better there at all...
by ponchi101 Their cuts are different indeed. And yes, the legend that Argie beef can be cut with a spoon is not true. After all, free range cattle do get some exercise. A considerable amount of exercise.
I don't like American beef that much either. Too much "marbling", which is nothing but intra muscular fat (what you get when you feed grains to an animal evolved to eat grasses).
by Suliso I have to say though that I don't consume all that much beef. Given a choice I prefer lamb or fish. Except for a good steak few times a year.
by mmmm8 The best beef I've had was in the Azores (there are more cows than people on those islands, and they seemed like the happiest cows).
Argentinian was good as well, but I would agree not as amazing as I expected.
by mmmm8 Yesterday, an article came out in Vanity Fair about the late author Cormac McCarthy. It is presented as a "love story" about his lifelong muse.
1. This was one of the most ridiculously overwritten pieces I've ever read.
2. The story romanticizes McCarthy's relationship with a then 16-year-old vulnerable girl. Complete with a road trip, this reads like Lolita from the narration of Humbert Humbert
i've never read McCarthy, but I'm just questioning how VF let this be published with that tone and without further editing.
by Fastbackss I saw many people referencing it - and saw the summary of who his gf was - decided I didn't need to read it
by ti-amie
mmmm8 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2024 3:25 pm
Yesterday, an article came out in Vanity Fair about the late author Cormac McCarthy. It is presented as a "love story" about his lifelong muse.
1. This was one of the most ridiculously overwritten pieces I've ever read.
2. The story romanticizes McCarthy's relationship with a then 16-year-old vulnerable girl. Complete with a road trip, this reads like Lolita from the narration of Humbert Humbert
i've never read McCarthy, but I'm just questioning how VF let this be published with that tone and without further editing.
Horrific.
by ti-amie When I was young I wanted to be a teacher. Most of my friends at that time were teachers. Life had other plans for me though so I never got a chance to join that profession.
I recently stumbled on a sub Reddit devoted to teachers: r/teachers. I thought it was bad a few years ago but reading what these men and women have to face leaves me speechless. I didn't understand how my friends survived years ago and now I wonder the same thing about those just starting their careers.
by ponchi101 It is the most under-appreciated career there is.
A great teacher can make such a difference in somebody's life. And when they do, you seldom hear anything.
by ti-amie Interesting
Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, collaborated with Germany during WWII, promoting Nazi propaganda in the Middle East and recruiting Muslim SS soldiers. After the war, he fled from Berlin to Egypt, where he is infamous for demanding Arabs leave Palestine before the 1948 Arab invasion.
plenty-sunshine1111
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1d ago
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The Husseini family opposed two important families, Nashashibis and Khalidis, who would have supported negotiation with Zionists. Another Palestinian nationalist for coexistance was Anwar Nuseibeh. imo it is unfortunate that the Husseinis won the internal power struggle.
Being_A_Cat
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21h ago
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Anwar Nuseibeh
Interestingly, he mantained that Jews were fellow Arabs and thus dialogue was possible, and also refused to be a founding member of the Ba'ath Party by claiming that he had always opposed fascism.
by Owendonovan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 10:28 pm
It is the most under-appreciated career there is.
A great teacher can make such a difference in somebody's life. And when they do, you seldom hear anything.
As a current teacher, I will speak to this at length soon. I’ve got a lot say about this.
by ashkor87 The situation in India is even worse..every program of the government is pushed through them..they even have to operate the election booths..
by ti-amie
Sorry for the wordy title. Not a teacher.
When I did my GCSEs in 2023, we had a digital exam clock instead of a normal analogue one because apparently the kids in my school have no idea where to start or how to look at it and quickly interpret the time. My mum told me that her friends son (aged 17, same as me) got a new watch as a birthday present but never knew what time it was because he never figured out how to read a clock so only used it for jewellery and decoration purposes. I learnt when I was a kid however as my mum taught me and in exams I can easily look at a clock and think ‘oh, I can afford to spend 15 more minutes on this section’ or whatever.
My mum said when she was in school back in the late 70s to early 80s it was one of the first things she learnt but now technology is only digital clocks and time and most people have smartwatches is it likely that the future generations will rely on digital time only?
If so is this going to be an issue related to other life skills that won’t be taught due to an over reliance on technology such as basic spelling or tying your shoe laces or whatever. I have a 7yr old nephew who’s obsessed with YouTube and Fortnite and although I’ll make sure he’s fully literate, my sister never makes an effort to help him read and write and according to his reports he’s below expected level.
Gold_Repair_3557
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1h ago
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Profile Badge for the Achievement Top 1% Commenter Top 1% Commenter
It is pretty common. It’s interesting because I know full well that my school’s 1st and 2nd grade classes teach how to read a clock, but just a couple grades later it’s like those lessons never happened. At some point, being able to know the 12 is the hour mark, the 6 is the half hour mark, and everything in between is just five minute intervals got pretty complicated for them.
flooperdooper4
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1h ago
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Write your name on your paper
Yes, I'm noticing this as well. We teach units on time in first, second, and third grade, along with a unit on elapsed time and measurement conversions in 4th grade. For some reason, none of it sticks. It's not as though we don't have analog clocks in every classroom, either!
by ti-amie
Making students hand write their essays
Teacher Support &/or Advice
I teach 12th grade humanities, and in my classes, students do a fair amount of writing. Our school does not issue Chromebooks; students bring their own laptops to class, which as you can guess raises all kinds of frustrating issues: texting, scrolling the internet, online gambling, TikTok galore, ChatGPT usage, etc. Every time I've talked to my admin about this, and stressed how much of a problem it is, I'm told it's my job as the teacher to monitor their computer usage as best as I can. (Lol, yeah, OK.)
I've decided that moving forward I'm going to require students to handwrite as much of their work as possible. The problem: so much of their handwriting is atrocious. Some of this is due to dysgraphia, which allows for accommodations, but for many of them, they just don't want to pick up a pencil and write. They rush through, don't take it seriously, don't think it's "real" work if it's not on a screen.
Nevertheless, I would like to have their semester exams be entirely handwritten. I'd also like to spend some time in the weeks before having them practice writing out longer answers on paper. I want to even start grading them on their penmanship - mostly to get them to slow down, take their time, not rush, and practice organizing their thoughts on paper. (Again, in cases of dysgraphia, I will of course provide accommodations - though the sad reality is that the students who will need these are some of the worst offenders when it comes to ChatGPT and distractions. Sigh...)
In my estimation, going back to hand-written work is the only way to ensure they aren't being distracted by dopamine hits or using ChatGPT to write their answers (which is an insane problem at my school that no one at the top seems interested in addressing.) I literally cannot spy on the computer screens of 15+ students at once. And until we get our own Chromebooks, where we can block certain websites, or simply turn off internet capacity, these behaviors will never change.
What do y'all think: is this a hill worth dying on? Or am I setting myself up for impossible frustration? Am I better off just washing my hands of this issue and accepting the fact that I cannot control what they do on their own computers? That until my admin wakes up and realizes the problem they're creating, students will just continue to do what they do?
Bigger picture, I'm at the point this year where I have to decide what's worth swimming upstream for, and what's not. At the end of the day, my conscience feels rotten allowing students to get away with things I know will hurt them in the future, but I also have to acknowledge when it's just not within my control.
Thanks, everyone, for any insights.
Quick edit: sorry, I should've given more context about my school. Without getting too much into it, I teach at a small independent school that doesn't give consequences for student behavior (I'm not exaggerating; I could write an entire dissertation on this.) So even if I caught them doing something they shouldn't, the best I can do is give them a "redirect," document if they don't comply, take off participation points from their grade (which they don't really care about), and hope the admin follows through (which they won't.) I'm also not allowed to confiscate their laptops; parents would absolutely freak. I know that sounds cynical, but it's the reality of the situation.
by Owendonovan I'm going to push super hard this year for us to award only 1st, 2nd, 3rd place trophies at my school's gymnastics competitions we do. Currently every student that competes gets a medal and there's no placement, highest score gets the same medal as the lowest score. I believe that's called an exhibition not a competition if you're all getting the same thing regardless.
by ashkor87 Certainly not a hill worth dying on..I am/was a teacher too, but grad students..telling them not to use the internet would be absurd and actually not what one wants them to learn. So I allowed them to use the net, even cut and paste, chatGPT etc but their grade would depend on an intense 'defence', orally, with me.
by Suliso That defence idea works with grad students, totally not if you have 150 undergrads in your class.
by ashkor87 Student: 'can I turn in my paper without citing all the sources?'
Teacher: 'No' #1
1: William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, scene 1, line 96
by ashkor87
Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 12:23 pm
That defence idea works with grad students, totally not if you have 150 undergrads in your class.
I had 65, MBA students
by ponchi101 I don't think anybody is saying that we need to raise kids to be computer illiterate. The world runs on computers.
The point is that they have to be literate in other forms too. Including the traditional ones.
by ti-amie I opened a Blue Sky account and I'm happy to see that lots of people who kept me on the hell site have done the same. I haven't found the ATP or WTA accounts over there yet though.
by dryrunguy
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:51 am
I opened a Blue Sky account and I'm happy to see that lots of people who kept me on the hell site have done the same. I haven't found the ATP or WTA accounts over there yet though.
I opened a Blue Sky account for Eurovision stuff. I will keep Twitter for horse racing for now, but Blue Sky, so far, is significantly less.... cesspoolish.
by Fastbackss
ti-amie wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:51 am
I opened a Blue Sky account and I'm happy to see that lots of people who kept me on the hell site have done the same. I haven't found the ATP or WTA accounts over there yet though.
Bluesky has been so refreshing.
I looked for you but couldn't find you?
Megan is over there already
Ps - much like dry said - I have to keep Twitter because most racing people will not migrate
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 12:23 pm
That defence idea works with grad students, totally not if you have 150 undergrads in your class.
Or 30 pre-teens
by skatingfan
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 10:12 pm
I don't think anybody is saying that we need to raise kids to be computer illiterate. The world runs on computers.
The point is that they have to be literate in other forms too. Including the traditional ones.
Should we teach them to engrave stone tables, or writing on papyrus? Hand writing an essay is not a skill that the current generation is going to use. Every project that they complete in school, or in their work life is going to be done on a computer, and submitted electronically.
by Suliso Oral defence of your work is obviously a much better solution, but unfortunately teachers/professors often have no time for that.
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 10:12 pm
I don't think anybody is saying that we need to raise kids to be computer illiterate. The world runs on computers.
The point is that they have to be literate in other forms too. Including the traditional ones.
Should we teach them to engrave stone tables, or writing on papyrus? Hand writing an essay is not a skill that the current generation is going to use. Every project that they complete in school, or in their work life is going to be done on a computer, and submitted electronically.
You are taking it to the extreme. Yes, I don't think you should have to write down an essay by hand. That is, as you say, something that is not done anywhere anymore.
But your hand writing should be clear enough that you can leave a post-it with a brief instruction for somebody, and they should be able to read it.
You should be able to read a clock (how this conversation started). It teaches you how to interpret graphical data.
And about the hand writing an essay. It is not to prove they can do that. It is to prove that they did not ask some bot to write the essay for them, in lieu of having the teacher keeping an eye over their shoulder while they write it.
by ti-amie I had two accounts on Xitter. One was focused on tennis and the other was focused on my other interests. I deactivated the second account today after finding everyone and every topic on Blue Sky. The NBA has set up a hashtag there but I don't expect the tennis tours to do the same any time soon so I will keep the tennis focused account on Xitter for now.
ETA: The WTA is there. Once the ATP shows up I'm done with Xitter.
I also found MLB and the NFL.
by ponchi101 Can you please try to post anything from BlueSky here, as a link? To see how it shows up.
Txs
Universe @wholethings.bsky.social
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37m
Mount Vesuvius
by ponchi101 Ok. Txs. The link works perfectly but it does not embed in the post.
We can work with that.
by ashkor87 Jasleen Kaur, a Brit of Indian heritage, won the Turner prize last week ..a reminder to everyone how valuable it is, a multi-cultural heritage ..my son is an example, closer to home..his career as a musician is marked by his multi- cultural background..born in the US, raised in India, living in UK...if he were just an Indian, or an American, or a Brit, his music would not be so interesting ..People like the MAGA folk in the US, the Hindutva brigade in India, all need to learn the value of diversity rather than be obsessed with 'the other' poisoning the blood of the nation...!
by ponchi101 And it cuts both ways.
I really dislike the "Cultural appropriation" thing. When you do something that another culture does, it is an homage to them.
After all, here we are, an Indian and a Venezuelan, talking in a third language. And all is well.
by ti-amie
by mmmm8
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 05, 2024 9:59 pm
And it cuts both ways.
I really dislike the "Cultural appropriation" thing. When you do something that another culture does, it is an homage to them.
After all, here we are, an Indian and a Venezuelan, talking in a third language. And all is well.
Is it? There are a couple of English-speaking imperially-minded countries that have impacted both those India and Venezuela in an arguably not great way and that's partially why you're speaking the third language you're speaking. I agree sometimes it's homage, but there's a line between homage and exploitation.
by ponchi101 I am in the camp that the USA impacted Venezuela in almost nothing but positive ways.
And my ALL IS WELL meant that Ashkor and I can communicate in a third language and neither one is culturally appropriating anything. So can you and I.
It had no connotation about what the Empires did.
I had to double check. I was surprised.
I guess that when Venus is on the opposite side of the sun from us, that distance offsets the farthest away that Mercury can get. But, wow!
by Owendonovan Did we solve the acid rain problem? It's been a couple decades since I've heard anything about it.
by ponchi101
Owendonovan wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 12:54 am
Did we solve the acid rain problem? It's been a couple decades since I've heard anything about it.
Not really. It is a mix of carbonic acid and sulfuric acid, and the carbon part remains. The sulfuric side has decreased a bit because new fuels are being made with less of that. For example, maritime BLUE diesel has very low sulphur in it. That helps.
by Suliso Carbonic acid is not truly acidic... Yes, we have greatly mitigated (not sure about China/India) SO2 and nitrogen oxides pollution responsible for this.
by ashkor87 18 year-old indian Gukesh just beat Ding Liren and became world chess champion!
by ti-amie Amy Ash
@lolennui.bsky.social
Snapdragons are my favorite flower to grow. They do however produce seed pods that look like the screaming skulls of the damned.
The actual flower
by ashkor87
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2024 1:21 pm
18 year-old indian Gukesh just beat Ding Liren and became world chess champion!
Interestingly, Gukesh is not even the highest ranked Indian by elo..Arjun is ranked higher,and ofcourse Carlsen is higher too..Gukesh is #5 in the world but his elo was higher than the reigning worldchampion's...well well, elo is not perfect but it did predict who would win this particular encounter...
by ti-amie Universe @wholethings.bsky.social
The sheer size of the Pacific
by ponchi101 This planet should not be called Earth. It should be called Ocean.
by Owendonovan 8 weeks post meniscus surgery and my knee bends 85% of what it could, I can skidaddle, but not run yet, I've developed quite a few one legged gymnastics skills, no pain, some swelling akin to a light sprain. Dr. says 100% in 4 months, I say 2.5 months. Downside, the atrophy happened so fast. The lack of use, especially the 2 weeks post, made that leg about 10-15% smaller. My hamstrings are kind of mushy and one butt cheek is bigger than the other.
by ponchi101 Sounds like you can apply for KICKER for one NFL team
Keep getting better
by ti-amie Nina Willburger
@drnwillburger.bsky.social
A complete mastodon jaw was unearthed in the backyard of a residential home near Scotchtown, New York.
edition.cnn.com/2024/12/18/s...
by ti-amie Literary Pearls
@literarypearls.bsky.social
"One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have a necessary connection. But the basis of morality is really very simple and doesn't require religion at all."
by ponchi101 Too bad he is remembered only as a science fiction writer. He said a lot of very smart things throughout his life.
by ti-amie
by Suliso Zurich airport crazy crowded this evening...
by Owendonovan
Suliso wrote: ↑Sun Dec 22, 2024 6:06 pm
Zurich airport crazy crowded this evening...
45 minutes on the rental car shuttle bus to go less than 1.5 miles to the 1st terminal at LAX.
by Suliso Hard to compete with LAX
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by Oploskoffie From my fluff-butts to all of you...
ChristmasCats.jpg
by ponchi101 TYxs, Oploskoffie.
Merry Xmas to you too!!!
by ti-amie
To all who celebrate have a joyous and peaceful day.
by ti-amie
by ashkor87 Merry Christmas to all ..we don't make much of it here, though we do have a large Christian population...I myself was educated at a SJ mission school..excellent education, no proselytising...
I thought of this pic yesterday when I had a meeting with a guy in the company who said he had gone to an "Ugly Xmas Sweater" party the night before.
by ti-amie
by Suliso I was just watching a YT series about a couple restoring an 18th century castle deep in rural France (totally in the boonies). In horrible condition, but 24 ha (60 acres) of land and 105 rooms in several buildings. They paid ca 800k $ in 2020, about the same as their two bedroom apartment in Paris which they sold. Location, location, location...
by mmmm8
Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Dec 26, 2024 11:47 pm
I was just watching a YT series about a couple restoring an 18th century castle deep in rural France (totally in the boonies). In horrible condition, but 24 ha (60 acres) of land and 105 rooms in several buildings. They paid ca 800k $ in 2020, about the same as their two bedroom apartment in Paris which they sold. Location, location, location...
What are they doing with it? Keeping it as a home?
by Suliso Not sure what's the ultimate plan. They're certainly living in few rooms now, but the rest might end up as a hotel and museum. Currently they're restoring it to 18th century glory (+ bathrooms, showers etc) any it's a long way to go still.
It's called Chateau de Purdon.
by ti-amie I used to watch things like this on House Hunters International. People would buy what would be charitably called a hovel dirt cheap and renovate it. The land makes this special to me. Do they give any indication of how long they expect the total renovation to take? It sounds as if it would take several years.
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Having said that they also take a lot of risk and one large accident can damage them permanently. That would not be the case for Boeing.
My bad. And I'm glad my point still holds re the price.
it’s called a male supplement honey. Well, I got it delivered to the house but then flew back to back for like two weeks and didn’t make it home. Mid trip, I get angry calls and texts from my family saying that my mom went to the hospital thinking she was having a heart attack or tachycardia. Turns out my mom opened the mail, ate the honey, and was feeling the effects. Apparently I should have warned her that a box with my name on it was going to be coming with a perverted honey in it. Even my dad is siding with my mom and I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. Am I the asshole for not telling her I got viagra sent to the house?
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regarding this Twitter thing. But he is not a criminal, nor a monster.
Tore my meniscus on both sides of my knee. (climbing in and out of a window.
