I’m home. I’m worn out. I’m feeling a creepy cruddiness, probably a vestige of spending a long day standing in the rain. I think I need to get some rest.
Meanwhile, here’s AronRa’s clone.
Episode CCCXI: Not an invocation.
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Stacy: Thank you for posting that. RIP Adrienne Rich.
And RIP Earl Scruggs, too.
Oh, talking about reading, I’m reading Cordelia Fine’s “Delusions of Gender” at the moment.
I can only recommend it. Not only is the content brilliant, she’s also a very good writer so, although the topic is not, the read is thoroughly enjoyable.
+++++
Ah, Jehovas Witnesses.
The last time I encountered them was when I was still living with my girl-friend flatmate.
They struggeld up all those stairs to find us standing there, my arm around her shoulder, my 8 months baby-belly taking up most of the space on the platform informing them that we were indeed very happy the way we are and actually had something to do.
A once in a lifetime opportunity well used.
Ogvorbis
Urgh, shit.
My best wishes. Chocolate is coming
Katherine
I find “satirist” describes Pratchett best.
That sucks. He was fucking incredible.
@Giliell:
But I don’t think satire completely envelops the stories as a whole. Satire tends to be a little more… satirical and obviously so. In addition to the satire and the silliness, his stories are excellent. They’re not quite pure or sword-and-sorcery fantasy, but they’re still fantasy.
It was the weekend of my father’s first visit to Australia. Me, not knowing about this Rugby business, had scheduled our inaugural Sydney visit for that weekend. We ended up staying in Hornsby, in a double bed, with spiders and no heating, after a frantic search for a vacant hotel bed across the town. We did watch the final, and Wilkinson’s kick, in bed together. Bonding stuff.
I find I’m very uncomfortable with Buzzfeed’s “36 Best Signs At The Reason Rally”
I’m not just talking about the transphobic sign that Jen already drew attention to. There’s also “99 Problems This Bitch Ain’t One”, which is misogynistic hate speech by any reasonable definition. And the “Agnostistan” sign and costumes seem to me to be racist. This is not ok.
Hmmm fantasy, satire…hmmm
Fatire!
Louis
Rorschach, #504,
Watching rugby in bed with your dad? I…
{collapses}
…THE PAIN! THE PAIN!!!!! TOO MANY JOKES!!
Louis
@Louis:
Fat Tire?
Katherine Lorraine, #509,
Yes please. I’ll take 300. That should see me through the rugby tomorrow evening.
Louis
P.S. Ogvorbis. Glad to read you are at least well drugged. Not glad to read you are injured, possibly properly. Good luck. Rugby is a thug’s sport played by gentlemen. Suits me down to the ground! ;-)
Louis @488:
A fucking good read is still a fucking good read. Even better if it’s tinged with anger-induced Tourettes. Live the curse, be the curse.
Hey, folks!
I suspect I’m late to the punch as usual with this, but it looks as if Jimmy Carter has publicly broken with the Southern Baptist Church due to their stance on women’s issues. I believe HuffPo had such a report, for what that’s worth:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/07/20/jimmy-carter-leaves-church-over-treatment-of-women/
Mostly horror. But yes. I have that reaction sometimes.
Giliell, yes indeed! Absolutely the nonpareil of opportunities!
Nice despatch of JW’s, Louis (we got rid of ours by accident; the dog (fairly large and very loud) told them they weren’t welcome. Fortunately she was muzzled at the time; she’s a rescue of nervous disposition – fine with family, scared of strangers. And they were very strange.)
Ogvorbis, I am well-wishing your knees. Levity aside, I really hope you are soon in less pain.
Where is algernon ?
Louis, Giliell: Good job scaring off the Witlesses, both of you.
I almost never have praise for conservative Catholics, but I’ll give Tim Powers, the fantasy novelist, credit for how he got the Witlesses to piss off. He asked them to step out of his house with him into the bright California sunshine, where the reading light was better. Then he asked if he could look at their bible… with a magnifying glass, to augment his middle-aged eyesight.
“Oops!” **rip out page, stomp on it to put out the sudden flame** “Sorry about that. Want your book back?” No, they didn’t, as they were backing down the driveway in terror. Powers told the audience at Arisia that the Witlesses probably ran back to their kingdom hall and told their friends, “Those damned Catholics can set a bible on fire just by touching it!”
Walton, yeah, lots of fail in those signs. “Phelps has Super AIDS” is another one I don’t like. Same with “Lift and separate” and “I’m just here to pick up chicks.” IMO the sign “Agnostistan” wouldn’t have been so bad without the costumes.
Ogvorbis: Hope you feel better soon.
This is an important community for me. When I first came here in 2007 I was a clueless moron going through midlife crisis. All of the TET regulars are important to me, even those I havent met in person yet, like Walton or Bill D or SGBM or Josh or Ogvorbis or Lynna or Ms Cutter or Kath Lorraine.
Hope we can meet some day. So yeah, where is our friend Algernon ?
No details but
FUCK EVERYTHING AND FUCK MY LIFE.
Sigh…that is all.
Ing…(virtual) support and even a hug if you want one.
I’m so fucking tired of insomnia that I could punch things. I can’t have a fucking cup of caffeinated tea at noontime with lunch without being unable to fucking wind down for a 10 p.m. bedtime, to get up at 7 a.m., because even though there will be delightful energy in the evening by which I get housework and yardwork and other things done, there will inevitably be at least an hour of wakefulness for which I need to compensate. And it looks like a fucking alcoholic drink before bedtime isn’t helpful either. I can’t shut my fucking brain off at night. It’s like some goddamn windbag you get stuck sitting next to on a train or plane, babbling about stuff I don’t need to be mentally reviewing when I’m trying to drift off. Not necessarily alarming or depressing stuff, just … stuff. Quotations and movie scenes and lyrics and bars of music and the dishes in the sink and recent nookie and technical problems at work and so forth.
The above verbal pyorrhea brought to you by Lexapro, which enables me to function and permits me to have some libido but utterly sucks for sleep. I called in today. I am going to go have a swig of Nyquil (dosage cups are for amateurs) and get unconscious for several hours before I continue to argue on the internet and maybe cry for no reason and then have to answer awkward questions at the volunteer gig this evening.
Before I do that, though… Ing, while the stress of either academia or wedding planning is nothing to scorn, I hope you aren’t dealing with something worse. Hang in there.
Rorschach, I’m flattered by your inclusion of me. This is a good community, yeah. I miss Algernon too.
This is how I feel, although I am not yet really a part of the commenting community yet. But I’ve been reading for about a year and it is this group’s vigorous assertion of reason and sanity coupled with a refusal to accept that the injustices in society are OK – rejection of the idea of “go along to get along”, if you will – really helped to put the stiffening in my spine and helped me to come out as an atheist. Just knowing that there are hundreds of people out there around the world, which is a tiny sliver of the thousands or even millions who are silent and ossibly too frightened to come out, gave me courage. Not to mention made me laugh! I have said that I feel like the online horde “has my back” even though most of you/them do not even know I exist. This is because, like me, I know other people can find this community and others like them – realize they are not alone – and find the strength and humor to come to terms with being a square peg in this world of round holes.
Oh waxing philosophical in the morning without having caught up on the thread! I must need coffee! UGH! I wonder if I can get the teenage nifty boy to make a pot that is drinkable?
Owlmirror – Thanks so much for the book recommendation. It sounds perfect! I just ordered it and can’t wait to start reading.
Walton – I was not pleased by some of the signs that I saw either.
There is robust debate to be had here all the time, and sometimes to the point of resembling the Fukushima meltdown. But I love most of the people here, despite our more than vocal disagreements at times. I’d rather spend a night with SGBM or Brownian or Caine than with Lawrence Krauss.
Unsurprisingly, there is an SMBC comic about that.
Oh, and since the Atheist Foundation of Australia wouldn’t let the Pharyngulites sit with PZ at the dinner, we might really end up sitting with Lawrence Krauss ! Could be worse I guess.
Giliell!! While I totally agree with you (seconded..>Louis you make me laugh daily, you wonderful wit you!) but EARWORM!!!!
anri #512, huh I thought Carter had broken with them way back when over – well just about offing everything! But nice to know it is official.
Ogvorbis, damn I’m sorry about the knee, but here’s hoping you will evade the worst. (plus, you didn’t/can’t/won’t wish something on yourself by just thinking/saying it; there, let yourself off that hook, Nifty’s orders! lol)
Katherine – I visited your site and that is some world you’re creating! Forgive me if you’ve already posted the answer tot his (I am not good at keeping up) but are you going to write a full novel/series of novels? It is all so well imagined! I can think of several people who would just love this!
OK, the nifty boy is up and in the kitchen – I am hopeful for coffee, have a family visiting later today and must flee to prepare!
Good day to all!
rorschach, I’d love to have a dinner and a beer with you sometime. I also feel that people here are important to me, and you have all been critical in my growth as a person.
Og, so sorry about the knee – I must have missed when it went out. Spouse tore his acl and had surgery on it, and ever since then it’s been the magical trick knee that can go out at any time for any reason and leave him immobile for a day. What you have sounds a lot worse (but yay for hydrocodone!)
I’m sorry, Ing. Chocolate?
Walton, #513,
Oh man. I hope it’s more wonder and awe than horror. If it’s not: DO MORE SCIENCE!!!!!!
For all the ranting, for all the picking apart and mockery of morons and their “arguments”, it really is such a tiny part of life. In my case, sure the horror has helped to shape my thinking, sure it has value, but I hope it’s not too great a part.
Doubtless this is a relic of my awesome quantity of privilege and luck, but look at the world with eyes of curiosity and wonder. Sure there are horrors to observe, as Che Guevara said:
Whilst trembling though, try not to miss out on the good bits. Why? Because fighting injustice and trembling at its excesses is only part of the story. It’s not enough, it’s never enough. There must be something to fight for.
In another quote, this one from Karl Marx, there is what appears to be a tangential point:
Religion in this instance is merely one form of injustice. The removal of injustice, as an admitted ideal, is merely a tool to maximise the number of people able to appreciate the universe for what it is. To explore as they deem fit. To stand with awe and wonder in the short time available to them. I want others to enjoy the same privilege I do. That of course is the motivation for removing injustice, for looking at the universe and seeing the horror for what it is and screaming “FUCK!”. It’s the start, not the end.
If there is too much horror in your view, look further afield for a while. Refresh your view and your self, then back to the trenches. I’m guessing this shouldn’t be impossible in Harvard!*
Louis
* I spent part of my university career (post grad) in Cambridge (the real one, Oxonian! ;-) ). When things got me down, as they inevitably did, I occasionally managed to take myself off to a museum or a different department. There are so many nooks and crannies at establishments like that. Harvard is no exception. Go to the zoology dept/museum. You know you want to. Wig a lecture, get the notes off a fellow student. Skip out of the library for an hour. Head to a campus bar and get a courage beer in first (or non-alcoholic beverage of choice). If you can get away with it, create minor havoc by setting off a fire alarm.** You’ll be amazed how happy it makes you.
** Okay, okay, don’t actually do this. Especially not in the chemistry department. Substitute for minor act of wickedness. Steal a cardboard cut out from a local comic book store and plant it in the middle of a quad in the middle of the night. Climb a flagpole and add an amusing flag. Large pants are always good. Basically, if you can imagine it being in Animal House, it’s probably a Good Idea. ;-) I’m serious. There is wonder in transgressions of minor types.
No local equivalent of Milo Daisy Cutter? Or hot milk drinks of any sort?
*hugs*
*chocolate*
*green tea with orange*
*rooibos tea with vanilla*
*melissa/licorice/aniseed tea*
*cocoa shell tea*
*East Frisian tea*
*more hugs*
*moremore hugs*
Serve yourselves. :-) I miss Algernon, too.
I’ll catch up later. Maybe.
o_O Neurotypic. Never mind the somewhat questionable taste of lentils, the consistencies don’t match at all.
Nah. It grows by terminal addition.
No sound here. Summary plz? *batting eyelashes*
In other news:
No idea why I thought of THAT recently. ;-)
But also: METALIMERICK!
That is all.
Louis
You know, there was a time when the Count was more a pleasure than a duty.
I’m not too good at duties.
I never even got around to tallying up the third year. We–or you-all–are probably up around 230000 or so by now.
Someday, maybe.
@Rorschach:
This is an important community to me too. I know even if my own family rejects me that there are people here who would be more than happy to accept me, and that makes you all more than family to me :D
Just one thing. Don’t call me Kath :p Kat or Kitty, I haaaate Kath or Kathy.
@niftyatheist:
Yup, I’m planning on a large series. I have five books plotted out so far:
Book 1 is about a young gnollen who’s given a task by Luna to save his people from a wizard who’s trying to enslave the sem race as part of a plot to get as much power as he can, as well as to break the mystery behind the sem’s summoning ability.
Book 2 is about an expedition to the Free World, a land forgotten by time and magic, where they discover an ancient evil which has grown fat off of latent magical energies and chaos in the area.
Book 3 is about the War of the Seven Thrones, specifically related to the love between two older sem of different houses, thrust into a war where they have to decide between love for each other and loyalty to their house.
Book 4 is about an orc shamaness who wants to get revenge for the murder of her family, which sends her into a battle that will determine the fate of her people and require her to make amends to the family she abandoned years before.
Book 5 is about the sudden thrust of destiny upon a young woman who discovers, all too late, that she is Creation, and through this realizes that there’s been a massive multi-century plot by the agents of Destruction, which will result in the deaths of millions if she doesn’t stop it.
*hugs*
====
I think you’re too optimistic. It’s not just “morons and their arguments”, it’s the institutionalized and systematic injustice that pervades our society, and the fact that it often feels like we’re swimming against the tide.
The more I learn about, for example, the way our society treats undocumented immigrants and refugees, dehumanizing people and inflicting suffering on them merely because they crossed a border without permission, the more I get angry and frustrated. Especially as it seems that most people are utterly ignorant about it. It often feels like we’re all living in Omelas; our society privileges some and inflicts boundless suffering on others. And it’s getting worse as we speak, from SB 2061 in Massachusetts to C-31 in Canada. On a daily basis I encounter people defending this system, fulminating against “illegals”, spreading lies about immigration, claiming that we need more violent measures to “control our borders”, and so on. And on the progressive side, getting most people to talk about immigrants’ rights at all is an uphill struggle.
And that’s only one form of injustice; it’s simply the one with which I happen to be most familiar. The same could be said about the way our society treats other marginalized groups. Natalie’s blog has opened my eyes to the horrific extent of violence and discrimination against trans people. (And here in Massachusetts, I’ve learned that it was only last year, with the Transgender Equal Rights Act, that trans people were given any explicit legal protection against discrimination. Even now, it doesn’t include protection against discrimination in public accommodations. And this is supposedly a progressive state.) Then there’s the awful way we treat the homeless, for instance, and people with untreated mental illnesses and drug dependencies.
I’ve also grown completely disillusioned with the organized atheist movement, for reasons which, at this point, hardly need explaining.
Anyway, I’m sorry for ranting. It just all seems hopeless sometimes. We live in a world plagued by injustice and violence; and I feel like I’ve done a great deal in my own life to make things worse (I used to be a conservative and a homophobic bigot, in my teens, before I learned more about reality and developed more empathy).
Walton, #534,
Bolding mine.
Deary me, I do not disagree with that! Nor a word that follows. And trust me it’s not optimism I’m shovelling!
My post was aimed at you personally, not at dismissing the extent of the injustice baked into our societies. If you truly look at the universe and the only (or majority of) “FUCK!” that escapes your lips is one of horror and not joy then: U R DOING IT RONG.
The joyous “FUCK!”s are not there to cancel the horrified ones. They are there to give the horrified ones meaning and reason to exist. Something to aim for. The horrified “FUCK!”s hopefully lead us to realise that we should do something specific to minimise the cause of them. The joyous “FUCK!”s hopefully lead us to want to share them with others. In that attempt we notice things that prevent that sharing, and come back to a horrified “FUCK!”. They reinforce, they don’t cancel.
Any apparent “optimism” is realism. Take this from Pratchett:
Of course there is wanton injustice in the world. We’re evolving not evolved. Look at the things in this world that give you joy and think “I want anyone denied the opportunity to have such joy to be granted that opportunity. I want others to share in my fortune.”. Then you will realise that the experience of joy is just as serious and profound a stimulus to correct injustice as is the experience of horror.
Oh and never give up. That’s how the motherfuckers win. And we can’t have that. I’ve met some of them. Deeply abhorrent individuals. Best thrashed like the rank bad hatters they are.
Louis
I love you, Og.
Oh, I know. I just needed the opportunity to rant.
Addendum:
Walton, there is only struggle. You know that surely? You have two choices, fight or capitulate. Everything struggles to live, to be, to thrive. The existence of injustice and the horrific is a call to better appreciate those fleeting joys and to extend those joys as far as possible. That takes work. FIGHT, MAN!
Louis
Walton, #537,
Oh good. Ranting: it’s good for the soul.*
Louis
* Which appears to be the spleen for some reason! ;-)
… World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams…
It also occurs to me that I used the terms “motherfuckers” and “rank bad hatters” to describe the same individuals in some kind of P G Wodehouse/Gangsta Rap mash up.
This pleases me. I’m off to listen to Mr B, the Gentleman Rhymer.
Louis
Yay!
Just out of interest (monarchy geek question coming up), what type of hereditary succession is used in Moore? You mentioned earlier that…
…so I gather it’s not Salic Law. Is it male-preference primogeniture, like in Britain? Or equal primogeniture, like in Sweden? Or is it Semi-Salic, in which women can inherit only if there are no living male collateral descendants? You mention on your blog that when Loris Salena died without having a son, the throne passed to a cousin rather than to his daughter, which possibly implies Semi-Salic succession (although it would equally make sense if the daughter was unable to inherit because she married a commoner; some monarchies have had rules of this kind). Of course, these aren’t the only options; plenty of historical monarchies haven’t had well-defined rules of succession at all, hence many of the wars in history.
(Sorry about the pedantic question… I’m enough of a royal genealogy dork to be really interested in this. And in stories about monarchies, succession disputes can sometimes end up being important plot devices, so I thought I’d ask.)
(In the question of how the succession laws work, that is. I realize that such things are probably not the first question on most people’s minds when reading a story; I’m just odd.)
Ing, hugs and much chocolate if I may.
Did everyone hear that Oklahoma’s mandatory ultrasound law was ruled unconstitutional? (sorry for the HuffPo link)
You aren’t mistaken; the article is from two years ago.
*hug* for Ing. And I fear that it may be my fault; my life has been sucking perceptibly less lately (sinuses aside), and all of that SUCK had to go somewhere. It must have slipped off through the Intarweebs while I was reading one of your posts.
Major sorries.
–
+1. The Pharyngulite Horde consistently out-performs sliced bread.
–
*hugs*
I hear you, though the failure of my brainz to do this to me lately has contributed greatly to the reduced suckage, referenced above. Maybe you can find some deserving troll to Internettaly off-load it onto?
–
How about Kitty-Kat?
:) :) :)
–
*confetti/champagne/huzzahs!*
–
Starstuff – hooray! Thanks for the link – saved time and I don’t have much right now (time that is).
@Walton:
The law of inheritance is more of a “monarch’s choice” as to who gets the throne. It passes to his heir. Loris, being a bit of a traditionalist, wanted a son to inherit the throne. He wasn’t able to have a son in his lifetime so he passed it to his nephew. He refused to let his daughter ascend because a) she married a commoner and b) (spoiler spoiler spoiler. Spoiler, spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler) and so she’d never get the throne. Plus she didn’t want to be queen anyway, so it was no big deal to her.
Rule generally stays within family lines. While Moore is more “sons get the throne” Tavsere is more “eldest child gets the throne.” Which makes the family lines easier to follow in Moore, and right out confusing in Tavsere.
@Cicely:
… only if we’re being cute to each other *cuddles!!!*…
@Walton:
Oh and since it’s likely to be asked.
If the monarch dies without naming an heir, the throne passes to their spouse. If both monarch and spouse die without naming an heir, it passes to their eldest child. The law is gender-neutral even if the monarch’s choice wouldn’t be. If the eldest child is unable or unwilling to take the throne, it passes to the monarch’s eldest sibling’s line – with the sibling as first choice, niece or nephew as second choice – until the time the child is able to take the throne. If the child still refuses, the throne stays in the sibling’s line. If the monarch is an only child, with no children, the law of succession names either the chief councilor (in Tavsere’s case) or the leader of one of the other houses (in Moore’s case) as the ruler of the kingdom.
@Walton:
Erp, forgot a few things.
If the eldest child refuses, it passes to the next eldest child to make the decision, and so on down the line.
If the eldest sibling refuses, it passes to the next eldest sibling, and so on.
@ Kitty-Kat:
*wink*
Sure thing, girl-friend!
:)
–
@Walton:
Although, which I should’ve said earlier, it is rather uncommon for someone to refuse the position as leader of the entire kingdom. So most of the time it just goes to the eldest child or eldest sibling depending on whether or not the child exists and is able to rule.
Adrienne Rich may have been a great poet, but, as I had not known, she contributed heavily to Janice Raymond’s book The Transsexual Empire, which the linked commenter (a trans woman) describes as “perhaps the most repulsive work of trans-hatred ever published.”
There is subsequent discussion in the Feministe thread of Rich’s legacy as pertains to trans women.
I post a link to Mr B and nothing? NOTHING? You people are heathens. GO AND LISTEN NOW!!!!!!!
Louis
Finally some good news!
Post-racial America, cont’d. Fewer than 20 comments and already some idiot in there whining about people “playing the race card.”
I hear you.
I also have no real solution.
My least negative coping strategy so far–I think–has been just to use the time anyway…
As in: brain won’t sleep? Fine then. Be that way. I’ll just get up and write something. Or edit something I wrote the last time it happened… Or record something… Or mess around with some code…
… sure, odds any of it will be of any great value is pretty much zilch. But at least it seems to burn the time away. And usually I do get tired this way, after a while, at least. Trick seems to be to push myself just a bit into that… Get into that ‘I’m really trying to stay awake to do this but I can’t’ bit… And, perversely, then I’ll have to sleep. Possibly on the couch with the laptop still running next to me, but hell, fine, that’ll do.
… usually. Tho’ the risk is also very real I’ll be doing it until 4 am, and then be completely useless for much of anything, in much of the day to come.
Hey. Like I said. It was just the ‘least negative’.
Oh: and re that whole ‘late cocktail’ thing, you’ve probably already been told elsewhere (and I’m not a doctor and don’t even play one on the internet, usually), but generally:
Don’t. Generally. It might knock you out, yes. But the sleep you’ll get is usually at least a bit messed up, really not much like the normal deal.
I don’t want to live on this planet anymore. Sick of seeing this shit every time I turn around.
AJ, thanks… If it were just one night once in a while it wouldn’t be so bad, but it’s been three of the last four nights, and the fourth night, I went to bed at nine, woke up for good at around seven, and had a few hours of sleeplessness in there.
Sometimes getting up and doing something helps, although like you said sometimes it keeps me awake. Also, my doctor said the same thing you’re saying about alcohol. I also use a lot of chamomile tea, kava kava, and ashwagandha. If I get desperate I take an antihistamine.
I probably should not have any caffeine at all for a while, either.
Katherine: I apologize for calling you “Kitty.” I had seen other people address you as such and wrongly assumed it was your preferred nick.
I may have misunderstood, but I thought Katherine was saying yes to (Kat or Kitty), and no to (Kath or Kathy).
Was that it?
Re #559:
Yeah. I have a few different patterns, myself…
… the most common and vexing, lately, however, seems to be this thing where I actually pass out too early–probably from the hours having been a mite lean the night before–while putting my little guy to sleep, and then waking up somewhere around midnight or one, after some paltry two or three hours of actual sleep, and not being able to get back down for quite some time.
The trick with doing something anyway, I think, in reflection, is to find something finite but just slightly daunting. In my case, like one big fix in a longer bit o’ fiction, one track in a mix, tell myself: just get this done. And ideally to scare my brain a little bit with it. Get it thinking ‘Wait… No… Too much… I’m not sure I can quite get through all that…’
And to make sure it’s something private/self-contained. Arguing on the net, by contrast, that’s like the complete antithesis of that. Worst possible move. Because the odds are way too good if it gets heated, I’ll just keep wanting to respond. It’s like giving a complete stranger a license to ruin my night.
It may be being a smidge hard on myself, saying it, too, but then again, it may also be mere self-awareness: I think at least part of the problem right now for me is a lot of things floating around that I know damned well I need to resolve, get fixed/get done/move on with, and not quite being able to force myself through that, for various reasons–some of those good enough reasons, and probably the better part of valour, and some of them, less good, honestly, ranging through the deadly sins from cowardice to sloth… But anyway, it’s like there’s all these bits of unresolved floating around, too much the processor knows too well it has to get through eventually, and no wonder I can’t shut it off.
Oh. Right. And what you said about caffeine. Me too, probably, I’m afraid. That would probably really help. But dammit, I really, really like Bridgehead’s slightly scarily potent lattes.
Anyway. Good luck.
I am enjoying(?) my hydrocodone. Wife decided we should take a trip up to the Casino. Sure, why not. Mind is fuzzy.
Short story. I turned $20 into a pair of Durango western boots. With money left over.
And they say drugs are bad.
And now we get to hear Oklahoma (OKLAHOMA!) complain about their very own liberal judges.
Ing,
:-(
I’m sorry to hear that.
=====
I do not know why I have a strange pain on the inside of my left ear. (It was particularly acute when I awoke last night in the middle of the night.) Perhaps an alien parasite is burrowing into my brain in order to use me as a host and advance its evil plan to take over Earth.
Walton:
Have you been experiencing sinus troubles? The pollen levels in the northeast US are extremely high.
No, no… Speaking as an alien parasite (of the earworm variety), we were just planning on using Katie Perry again.
(/As usual.)
(/Hums first few bars to ‘In Another Liiiife…’)
I just saw a story on The Consumerist (via Joe.My.God) about how CapitalOne rejected the scarlet A of atheism on their cards while allowing tons of Christian symbols and even the American Atheists’ A-in-an-atom symbol. The comments there are full of people who have no clue about atheism and a few theist trolls laughing at us “militant” atheists. *eyeroll* (Getting a custom image on a credit card is sooooo militant!)
I’ve left a few responses to people there who don’t know our A from the one Hester Prynne wore. In one of them I told the questioner about how PZ is the one who first used it in a phrase and how Josh Timonen got the bright idea to make it into a symbol on a t-shirt for Dawkins, as documented now on the Pharynguwiki. My responses haven’t been published there yet, but I’m hoping they will go through.
Anyway, if you want some chew toys to play with, you’ll find some on that Consumerist thread.
Not all drugs are bad, some are excellent! [trrrrrr-kssh]
Okay, sorry, that was bad. Still, please tip the veal.
Sends Walton a soothing Mountain Dew (was that the one?) and/or a hot poultice (I have no idea, but they always sound like such a good thing for assorted ailments)
Diet Mountain Dew. The full-sugar stuff has the irritatingly cloying flavour of high-fructose corn syrup, and more than two hundred calories per bottle, and is thus best avoided.
Anyway, my ear’s fine… the pain’s mostly gone away today. I just saw it as an appropriate opportunity to promote conspiracy theories about alien invasions. Always fun.
Whisky Tango Foxtrot
uh
This.
You know I’m in bad times at the moment and I don’t know where I’d be without you.
*hugs all around*
Katherine
(I just love the mental sound of “Katherine” too much to ever use a short form.)
I’m looking forward to my own personal series of your books, autographed.
Hey, why not do it as in Stardust: they all have to kill each other and the last person standing gets the throne? *ducks and runs*
(But thank you anyway for the Mountain Dew. And the hot poultice.)
You’re welcome. Glad the aliens are in abeyance.
I have this half-remembered, vague and probably unfounded notion that poultices can be made out of stale bread …
Probably just as well I’m not in healthcare, eh.
I think you need mustard for a poltice.
Perhaps a nice Dijon.
Me too!
I wish I could write like Katherine. (I write poetry from time to time, but I’ve never had the self-discipline to write good stories. I’ve started several stories over the years, but I typically find that my efforts peter out after a couple of chapters, the plot loses coherence, or I end up filling them with clichés.)
It’s moldy bread, opposablethumbs. Penicillin’s precursor?
Aratina, Consumerist comment threads are wretched hives of scum and villainy. Especially on any issue relating to privilege. Hats off to anyone who chooses to wade in.
Rev. BDC: Yeah, that should end well. Also, there is absolutely no way it will be applied unevenly; e.g., white Hutaree types being given the benefit of the doubt, but not black victims of police violence.
Speaking of racism: rock’n’roll legend, 1; radical feminist blogger, 0. I have not seen Suzie’s original post, which she’s deleted, but there’s some context in this thread, and Suzie’s fauxpology and (in her comment thread) excuse-making also make her look bad.
Then again, Anthony McCarthy also blogs at Echidne’s.
Mrs. Daisy Cutter @520, have you tried melatonin? After complaining to a doctor that I just don’t get sleepy, he suggested taking one (or 1/2) about 7:30 p.m. and it’s been a huge help. Even if I take it later, say 1:30, I can usually get to sleep in about an hour by settling down in a low-light environment. That means not staring at my computer screen.
I hope gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana knows that the “stand your ground” law raised the average number of people shot in Florida confrontations from 13 to 42 per year.
Thanks for the heads up, Ms. Daisy Cutter, Gynofascist in a Spiffy Hugo Boss Uniform. I’ll keep that in mind never having commented there before. My comments there are still under moderation and not showing, but I did see one by Ben Zvan.
Unholy Jebus! I’m watching Conan the Barbarian on TV and playing a drinking game with an IRC friend: we take a sip every time it’s laughably corny. I’m fucking wasted at the time of the first commercial brake.
I hate it when someone links to this site, always end up spending too much time there.
PZ, don’t you like AronRa?
Timothy Stanley (CNN) is not joking: “If only Sarah Palin had run …”
Someone has not been paying attention.
Therrin #583
:D
I especially love the way the Finn is looking hostile. :)
Markita Lynda, I tried melatonin years ago and found it to sedate me far too much the next day. I might try titrating the dose, though (IIRC I had gelcaps, which don’t divide easily)… and, yes, I do need the reminder to wind down for bed away from the computer. Thanks.
How can you tell?
I’d like to spend time with you too, rorschach.
But I’ll bet the food is better at Josh’s house. And you don’t offer gay sex to females, like Brownian; nor do you provide all-important fire-fighting tips like Ogvorbis. I doubt you’d live up to Walton when it comes to disquisitions on the monarchy, or to Bill D on the issue of disenfranchising voters in the USA.
You could administer first aid after we all injure ourselves trying to keep up with Ms. Daisy Cutter. Or after we suffer a few self-inflicted blunt-force traumas following Kath Lorraine’s example of taking a sledgehammer to the patriarchy. Who knows what medical treatment we might need after following Slignot into the Nevada desert.
So, in summary, you would not be completely useless.
I’m always jealous when I hear about Pharyngulites getting together. They do it down under. They do it in D.C. They do it on the east coast. They even do it in Morris. I guess I could offer to take everyone camping in the wilderness. But, if I remember correctly, some people demanded clean sheets when last I proposed we all meet in Utah’s San Rafael Swell. I think we were going to drag ‘Tis Himself’s boat into the desert in order to provide better accommodations for the picky. Rev BDC could be counted on to bring bacon.
Perhaps Smoggy Batzrubble could be brought out of retirement. No expedition is complete without vibrating underwear for the ladies.
Oh, christ. Pro tip to Business Insider: When a white supremacist hacks into the email account of a young black murder victim and posts some highly questionable images to St0rmfr0nt, the correct response is not to repost the photos along with paragraph after paragraph of bigot-baiting JAQ’ing off about how nobody knows what really happened that night.
The author of the BI post is in the CJR comments defending himself. Don’t bother reading beyond that and the CJR blogger’s reply. Wall-to-wall nazi scum in there.
Katherine, Katherine, Katherine.
There. I hope that makes up my having shortened your name to “Kath” in previous posts.
(Don’t anger a woman who carries a sledgehammer.)
He’s upright.
I’m rather a clean sheets guy, myself, but I think the real problem is that I’m a wimpy little excuse for a human being. I really wouldn’t make it very far before collapsing.c
I’d love to sit on a porch and have you point out the local mormonacious ‘wild’life to me, though.
I’m considering starting to read some Bart Ehrman while I wait for Carrier’s book to come out, and the book on Daniel I’ve ordered to arrive.
Anyone have some recommendation for where I should start?
I’ve been reading McDonald and Goodacre on the origins of the Gospels, so I wouldn’t mind continuing in that line. But getting a grip on Paul won’t hurt either.
Hallo, all. I’m past deadline on a huge project, so I figured I’d come try to catch up on Teh Thread.
Congrats, AE!
*hugs* to the ones who are having various health issues (carlie’s SO, the Redhead and Nerd, Josh, Ogvorbis, anyone else I missed in reading 575+ comments)
Ing:
I’m so with you on that. I’m glad I went to Reason Rally, but American Atheists are shit to me. I happen to personally be acquainted with one of their higher ups. He seriously ended a facebook argument with me by saying “Nope, brainz ain’t my thang…but boogerz! Whew! I go change my diddy now…” In case you were wondering who in that organization had such amazing rhetorical wit, it’s their communications director.
Sili:
So you’re planning to make it back to Rhinebeck? *happy dance* We can both awkwardly not recognize each other!
Ms. Daisy Cutter:
ARGH. I spent a good bit of time in the company of a group of addicts. Even when one of them would get clean, the way they rhapsodized about their days as a junkie made it clear to me that there was so much more to the addiction than just the physical dependence on the drug. I just. Yeah. ARGH. That’s what.
Psych-Oh:
I believe that book somehow factored into the conversation, or maybe that was at a different point in the day. Having started the day a mere 3 hours after finishing my boozefest and on only that much sleep, it’s sort of a blur.
So, my life is very busy. Working (or procrastinating) ridiculous hours, and I’ve taken it upon myself to get involved in political activism. In fucking ALABAMA. That has gone well. We’ve succeeded in getting Alabama’s forced ultrasound bill dropped, and we’ve got plans for more. Any Bama folks on TET should come to the rally in Montgomery on April 28. I’ll be there. Saying words out loud in public. Maybe even into a microphone.
I got nothing else, except I miss y’all* lots and loved seeing all the people at Reason Rally.
*Since I’ve started doing public speaking here in AL, I’ve been making a concerted effort to learn to say y’all. I hate it. It feels weird in my throat. Like at the back. Probably because I pronounce the vowel l.
Everything is fine and he even got his stuff back, but my 13-year-old was mugged today. Apparently, he thought he would skip school, and went to the skate park (SOMEbody learned a lesson about that, mmm hmm). Where an older kid cornered him and threatened to beat his ass if he didn’t quietly hand over his mp3 player and phone.
When the mugger left, a nice lady found my son crying and asked him what was wrong. She took him in her house and helped him call Mr Kristinc, who promptly called 911. The cops were there inside of 10 minutes and my kid was able to give a clear account of everything. The nice lady recognized the description he gave and told the cops where to find the little shit, which they did, and he had Conor’s stuff, and now he’s in the tender hands of the PD because it wasn’t his first offense (quel suprise).
The nice lady really went above and beyond — she put his rainsoaked clothes through her dryer for him and her teenage daughter played video games with him while they waited. After he got his things back she drove him to school to make sure he got there safely. Apparently he’s pretty shaken up, but he did all the right things, and he neither tried to pick a fight with the mugger (thank god) nor tried to lie to his dad about where he had been, kept his head and all. Did everything exactly right.
Oh, I should add that I’m sad to be missing out on all this fun Groop Secks. I cannot believe y’all* would go and have a huge orgy and not tell me. But I won’t hold it against you.
Or maybe I will…
*greases up, dives in*
I hear cheesy grits help.
Oh, kristinc, how tough for him. I’m glad it wasn’t worse. Poor guy.
From KING 5 news in Seattle:
“Bacon Coffins are finished with a painted Bacon and Pork shading and accented with gold stationary handles. The interior has an adjustable bed and mattress, a bacon memorial tube and is completed in ivory crepe coffin linens.”
The Bacon Coffins are available for $2,999.95 plus shipping.
In the email announcing the Bacon Coffin, Justin and Dave added, “Don’t you judge us, after baconlube (bacon flavored personal lubricant), we all knew it was just going to keep getting weirder. And yeah, your (sic) right we’re probably going to hell for this one.”
Rev. Big Dumb Chimp – This has to be the casket of your dreams.
*peeks at Recent Comments*
*sees Jules*
i am 12 and what is this
…
Anyway, Rhinebeck: Yes.
…
Then you’d like Poland. Wanna come to the dig next year (if they won’t be afraid of an American invasion)?
…
Gotta go home, it’s past midnight. (I’m still in the museum because I still don’t have Internet at home.)
*meep meep*
<roadrunner escape>
I have tinned, red kidney beeans, ground beef and dried chili peppers – some red ones about 5 cm from China and some smaller ones called piri-piri.
Can I make a chili with those ingredients (and others) and if yes, how?
@Daisy Cutter:
Yes. My preferred nicks are “Kitty” or “Kat.” I hate “Kath” or “Kathy.” “Katherine” is also acceptable.
*joyous reunion hugs to DDMFM*
YES.
Cute kid story: Toddler Charge’s favorite thing to watch is “beep-beep sounds” aka The Roadrunner. It’s not good enough to simply call it “beep beep.” I might get confused. So she adds that extra piece of information just to ensure clarity. She also does a remarkably good “meep meep” for a kid not even 2 years old.
Well, it’s at the other end of my holiday this time, so it’s doable.
If I get hired permanently in my current job (goofing off from finishing off the application right now).
If I can afford it.
If I don’t have to actually take classes, myself, in that week.
But aside from that, no problem!
Very sweet of you to do the dance, though.
Yes. Put them in a pot. Cook until done. Onions and salt are advised. Maybe canned tomatoes if you’re feeling fancy.
You wouldn’t call it sweet if you could see it.
Sili, you can, but purists will hunt you down for even the slightest mention of beans.
Purity is overrated.
Let me rephrase then:
With the above-mentioned ingredients as the base, what I can I cook?
And I need something a bit more specific than that, ms Juoes. I’m not Josh or Alethea.
Oh!
I have the opportunity to go hear Helmuth Nyborg speak about intelligence to young people in two weeks’ time.
Should I take notes? I doubt he’ll say anything new.
Chili is really, really easy. I’d say go ahead and cook the dried beans in salted water, meanwhile brown the ground beef, and then add some onions until they’ve sweated a bit. When the beans and beef are done, throw them all into a big pot, add some canned tomatoes and your canned beans, and simmer.
Here. Just go read Homesick Texan.
Primarily the approach to dealing with the dried chilies. Her recipe is far more elaborate than necessary for decent chili (though it’s really good). You really don’t have to simmer it for 2 weeks or whatever she does either.
It’s one of those to-taste kinds of dishes.
If it’s not necessary to call it chili, I’d brown the beef with onions, lots of crushed garlic, cumin, black pepper and as much chilies as you feel comfortable with. Add a can of crushed tomatoes, let simmer, add beans, add salt to taste.
Hell’s teeth, kristinc, I’m glad he’s all right. And that he did the smart thing – and that someone looked out for him afterwards.
The fact that he felt able to tell his dad about it without prevarication shows what a good relationship he has with you. You must be pretty good at the scary job of parenting!
… or what Jules said. :)
kristinc, that’s scary. Glad he’s all right and things worked out.
Aaaaand working backwards!
kristinc: you have a smart kid (and good locals). Lessons learned: Don’t get beaten up. Revenge is a dish best served cold. (Faith in retributive justice systems may have adverse consequences, though.)
—
AJ Milne: “Hums first few bars to ‘In Another Liiiife…’”
I have no idea what this means. I am blessed.
—
Louis:
I don’t think much of Marx, but on this he had a point.
If it involved the Sedgwick, Bullard, or Cavendish, *TAG*!
If it involved the Shelley memorial, *tag*! to your target.
A senior person at a well-respected UK scientific research establishment once let off a powder fire extinguisher in my face (and room, and, as I found out many years later, the insides of my guitar amp …).
Let the record show that I do not bear a grudge, Dr REDACTED.
—
Oh, this one I got wrong. Ms Daisy Cutter:
… and I was going to say that I seem to run on a 26+ hour day. (Left to my own devices for a week a couple of years ago, I managed to skip a whole night’s sleep.) Except:
Actually, that’s not dissimilar to my experience with, uh, similar things. I have no advice. :-(
—
And finally, Og:
I haven’t seem so many strings on a stage since I saw the Philharmonic.
But sometimes six are all you need:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhG5dPk0fDcfeature=player_detailpage#t=193s
.
I can’t help but think he might be a little right. She seems to speak to people. She has more charisma than any of the doofi currently running.
Purists friggin’ ruin everything. Chili without beans? Ridiculous.
How about Katie? Katydid?
Katniss?
I’ve seen that The One True Way to make chili is a matter of utmost importance, and a plausible cause for family feuds that can go on for centuries – so I don’t make any. I just cook some hot shit.
In case you didn’t see this yet… It’s the Oatmeal’s latest entry:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/atheism
With tinned beans, IME, they make for a perfectly acceptible chili (faux chili I suppose), but a lot of them are too obviously sweetened, need to balance it out.
Here’s how I make chili, since everyone’s sharing recipes here: I have a container of assorted dried beans (an a bag of them in my bush backpack, JUST IN CASE). I soak these overnight.
Then I fry up a bunch of meat, preferably ground. With it, I fry some onions. And some peppers, if we have them. Then some cut up tomaters. Just throw them in with the browning meat and let it all cook together. This is the stage where I add my salts and spices… ground chili powder is important, but cumin and coriander help too. I usually dump in a bit of ketchup and frank’s redhot sauce if we have it as well, for liquid content. And butter. Fat content is vital.
Then you add your soaked beans. Some drain the water and add new water when cooking it, I prefer to just dump it all in. I think I heard something about removing the soakwater to reduce the flatulence, but I LIKE farting, so I leave it in.
I simmer this until the beans are soft and the flavors blended. The only acceptable accompaniment is buns baked by my grandmother, lightly toasted, with butter. And beer.
@Rey:
Katy is almost as bad as Kathy.
So a few days ago, I posted on my blog about an early 1990s Ninja Turtles porn from Argentina. Now, I am steadily getting a dozen or so hits a day from people searching for “ninja turtles porn” on Google.
Ace of Sevens: Cinema Snob on Thatguywiththeglasses.com did an in-depth review of that movie.
Oh, but don’t forget… according to Dave Silverman, they’re “the Marines of atheism”. *eyeroll*
(I couldn’t believe he actually said that. Twice, no less. It was a real cringe-inducing moment.)
@371 rorschach – I agree that we should get together for dinner in Melbourne too! Copenhagen was so much fun. Do you know who from the horde will be there?
Checking out apartment listings. No, not actually moving out, don’t fell secure enough for that yet. But I’m pretty sure some of these places weren’t going for $1045 or whatever before the economic slump. Certainly not the ones which look more upscale and that makes me wonder what I’d end up paying if the economy recovered next year.
I wrote a new blog post. Among other things, some more egregious examples of racism in law enforcement:
(Original source: American Immigration Lawyers’ Association.)
I bought myself one of these: http://www.coldsteel.com/riflemanshawk.html
Paint removed, edge fixed up, a bit of decorative filework (which barely shows in the photo), burned some patterns on the handle, gave it a wrap and a pretty little ‘snail shell’ carved pommel, and covered it in cordovan purple shoe polish:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=19bm2t&s=5
Beautiful enough to warrant a ‘name’ in the old norse traditions, I think.
Partially Thread Bankrupt (but not so much as to not recognize Oggie’s and Nerd’s problems are worse than mine, which they are. Best wishes to you gentleman):
1. Diabetic cat is diabetic—Sophie left diabetic remission with a stunning win in the Highest Blood Glucose Allowable Before Kitteh Koma today. 570 after the vet visit. She’d been tearing up the track with Xtreme peeing and off-the-charts thirst, but no one’s seen a champ like her in the history of the sport.
1 unit of glargine later she’s dropping about 100 BG points per hour and hopes to stabilize before Daddy goes to bed.
2. Cardiologist says yes, I probably have Raynaud’s phenomenon. Wants me to quite nicotine altogether. Told him ‘no.’ If the worst I get as a side effect from beta blockers is the occasional numb toes I’ll suck it up and massage them and wear socks. I’ve given up every other fucking pleasure and I’ll be god damned if I’m gonna give up another.
Oh, I’d so smoke a Marlboro right now if I had one. Grrrrrrr.
So I just found out that one of my friends (who I thought was a theistic evolutionist) is a creationist. I presented the evidence for awhile, but I was exhausted at the time. Will try again tommorow. Also discovered that one of the Physics Professors here is a Ham-style creationist. Arghhhhh!!!
Oh, also (as I keep catching up belatedly): big hellos to Rorschach (you were sweet to include me in your list of Quality Pharyngulites; the feeling is mutual) and to Jules-girl, it’s good to hear from you!!
The main ingredient in chili is beans.
Chili con carne contains meat (hence the name).
(I don’t care what Pffft says.)
Now to really catch up.
MG Myers @ 627,
Hi Mary ! As far as I have heard, Wowbagger and echidna will be there, haven’t heard from Kel or any other longstanding regular commenter so far, it’s a small contingent this time around by the looks of it.
I’ll be staying close to the venue this time, because I live 40km away from the city now and can’t be asked to drive or take the train every night, so we should be able to figure something out once you guys get in !
Listen to me, mate. You’re not even 40 yet, and you must stop now, or a future of strokes and/or chopped off limbs may well lay ahead of you. You must do as much and as aggressive secondary prevention as you can, starting now. Are you on a high dose Statin ?
rorschach:
For me too.
Josh, I concur with Rorschach. But didn’t you say the nicotine itself wasn’t the problem so much as the smoke inhalation, hence the e-cigs?
I’m 27, and while many things I do are damaging to my health, I would kinda like to still be running the woods and chasing rabbits well into my 80s, if not more. 122 years of it doesn’t sound too horrible.
Josh:
And you know damn well that was the wrong answer. Listen to Rorschach – they don’t come any more direct and honest than he is.
Good MOrning
So, it’s time for Giliell’s Chili
Fancy:
Mix minced meat with onions, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin and fry.
For not so fancy just fir fry and add seasoning while frying.
Add canned beans, canned tomatoes, cut bell pepper, sweetcorn.
Carefully add chilies.
Season to taste (Oregano and rosemary go well)
Make a lot of this (but always only fry about a pound of minced meat at a time so it gets lots of heat).
It freezes well and can be served as Chili, pasta sauce (add more tomatoes) or gratin (add taco chips and cheese)
Stop inhaling.
Hi Jules. Me. I also posted about health problems on this thread. I need a fucking hug too goddamnit. Fuck.
I will definitely be in Melb for GAC. I’m not going to the Saturday dinner, but otherwise am keen to hang with pharyngulites.
Chilli, hmm, I don’t believe I have a good recipe online, though I have some nice ones in books. What might be reassuring for a beginner is my “spag bog” post.
So look at the general technique, and instead of oregano and basil, think cumin, coriander (ground seed, not leaf), perhaps a spot of cocoa and cinnamon, and a dash of something smoky like a dried chipotle chilli, or some smoked paprika. And kidney beans. If you have canned beans, you can just add them, though I prefer to drain and rinse them first. If dried, you need to soak and cook them first. If they are old, and won’t soften, a half teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in the cooking liquid will help to force it.
Sorry Cath, forgot all about you, I was just thinking Saturday dinner….commenter tielserrath will also be at the GAC. Not sure about John Wilkins, he should have been there as a speaker IMO.
Alethea, I don’t do the hugging thing, but hey.
Apropos, you seen this? Finding humour in living with MS
Ohh yes, second coacoa. Or very dark chocolate.
I’ve found out that dark chocolate makes an instant perfect gravy.
So, since it’s recipy time again,
Giliell’s Haschee
Minced meat. Treat like with chili.
mushrooms, sliced. Fry with meat over high heat.
Add beef stock so you have enough liquid to serve it with rice or pasta.
Reduce heat
Add 1-2 ounces of very dark chocolate, 85% coacoa at best.
Melt chocolate, serve.
kristinc
Urgh.
Hugs for the whole family.
Your son really did the right thing and that lady sounds like the kind of people we need more of.
Jules
Hi there!
I always find that language development is one of the most interesting phases in children.
Alethea
Hugs should be dripping out of your port.
Alethea,
Hugs, and I’m looking forward to seeing you at the GAC.
I have finally reached the point where reading Pharyngula has become more annoying than interesting or pleasurable. I find myself typing angry replies on every thread and then deleting them before posting. Recent Comments is almost always full of people I dislike. I do not need to be more pissed off than I already am and so I am going for the permanent flounce. If you catch me backsliding, feel free to tell me to fuck off. Have a nice day.
Well, OK then. So long and thanks for all the fish to Chas. Thanks for the hugs & well wishes to the rest of you :)
ChasCPeterson, Pharyngula and you both have changed over the years.
(Who is to say whether both for the better, or only one?)
—
PS Lurking would be like not binding your ears to the sirens’ song.
Dont be a total ass diMilo, if I can manage to hang around here despite the changes to the Pharyngula culture, so can you. Believe it or not, but your voice is important too. Although admittedly I really hated all this sniper shit of yours of late.
ChasCPeterson, I’m sorry you feel that way. Bye then, I guess.
Bye Chas. Have a nice rest of your life. And don’t forget to stick the flounce.
Am very much looking forward to seeing people, either at the dinner or elsewhere.
If it’s scheduled like it was the previous GAC, the official stuff on Friday night will be done by 9 or so, and we can hang out wherever we want afterwards; we did most of that sort of thing at the Hilton last time around – even though I have heard they don’t have Fat Yak on tap there anymore…
And there was the pre-GAC meet-up at Chloes bar too.
Yes, we should do Chloe’s bar again, Friday pre-registration. That was nice last time.
I got in too late for Chloes last time, but I’ve got an earlier flight this year.
I’ll be there from Friday lunchtime, so plenty of time to meet up ahead of registration. If PZ comes in on Thursday, I can come down Thursday evening for a private meet as well.
Whatever people can make it to will be great. It was just so nice to see people IRL.
I’m pumping these puppies out one a day right now.
Another post on my non-nym blog about one of the major nations in my world. This time it’s about Seiis, which is a literal theocracy (not just a rule by a religion, but a rule by a goddess.)
And in case you’re wondering – yes, she could rule the entire world if she wanted. The problem is that she’s limited. She’s not all-powerful. She’s not all-knowing. She’s a mortal person with the spirit of the goddess within her. Plus she’s fair, and it would take her forever to be able to air all the grievances her people had. She’d have to hold court every day, and have to meet every day, and she’d just get so exhausted she’d be a wreck.
KristinC: ARGH. I’m glad there was a good samaritan there for your son, and that he got his mp3 player back, but what a nasty experience, especially for a young teen. Also, what Opposable Thumbs said at #614.
Therrin, at first blink I misread “I hear cheesy grits help” as a response to Jules saying, “*greases up, dives in*”. :D
Jules and/or Walton: Do I want to know the context of the argument? Because, to be honest, I loves me some toilet humor, but if this guy was arguing with you in his capacity as communications director, rather than as a random Arsebook acquaintance… damn. Don’t know what to say.
Screen door, ass, etc. etc.
See you at Chloe’s, Wowbagger!
Only 2 weeks to go! And 4 weeks until I meet Ariaflame.
OK, life doesn’t all suck all the time.
I realised the other day that I was rostered for an 8am shift on post-convention Monday. Yeah right, nice try, and very funny. Thankfully a collegue was so kind as to swap shifts. Oh, and it looks like I will be going to China in May. Entirely different story. We shall see.
This probably deserves a bit more coverage, the Catholic Bishops in Victoria are going to circulate a Pastoral Letter to all Catholics this weekend, urging them to vote and speak out against same sex marriage. I have written about it here, it’s a fucking disgrace, and a shameless abuse of their religious freedom to push their bigoted and hateful agenda.
rorschach
If there’s one thing the Germans can thank Bismarck for it’s the Kanzelparagraph
(For those not versed in German history, it’s a law that forbids preachers to do political campaigning in church or as part of churchwork. So they’re not allowed to tell you how to vote as a good christian)
+++++++
At this part of my journey to myself it really is time to say this:
I have a fucking great husband!
I’m entirely and eternally gratefull to have Mr.
Not only because it’s absolutely important to have a loving, caring and supportive husband, but also because my upbringing and psychological fuck-up also marks me as prime victim material for abusive assholes.
Seems to happen to women like me more often than not and it seems to be the only “box I don’t tick”.
Yay for that.
Oh, and Bärlauchspätzle with tomatoes and parmesan tonight
What’s Baerlauch in English ?
bear’s garlic or Ramsons.
Do not confuse witl lilly of the valley
The reason I asked was that I had never heard of any of those terms. But Baerlauch sounded familiar, I just couldn’t remember what it looks or tastes like.
I really appreciate the no-nonsense medical talking-to, really. Thank you!
Unless I’m really off course, though, I don’t think it’s as dire as it probably sounds:
1. My cardiologist didn’t find this worrisome enough to demand I make an appointment, and I was candid and described my symptoms fully. It hasn’t happened at all since I stopped walking around barefoot on my cold hardwood floors and put socks on. Advice was to keep feet warm, watch for symptoms, and carry on.
2. My cardio made no mention of the possibility of peripheral vascular disease (more below). I strongly suspect that is not an issue; rather, the cold toes were a side effect of the beta blocker (metoprolol, 25 mg, twice a day) instead.
3. Yes, I’m on a high-dose statin. 40 mg simvastatin daily. Last check of my cholesterol showed it had plunged from extraordinary heights down to what would be considered “perfect” for a normal person, though I need to get down lower as a heart disease patient. Tough road.
4. Yes, my HDL/LDL ratio is now favorable and good.
5. I’m 30 lbs lighter than I was when I had the heart attack. Still have 15 to 20 to go.
6. Despite posting about chicken and dumplings, my mainstay diet is veggie and legume heavy, more than half of bread products are whole grain, meat is lean and dairy almost non-existent.
7. I use the e-cigarette proportionally far less than the amount of cigarettes I smoked-by a lot. My nicotine intake has got to be far less by a long shot than it was when I smoked.
OK, that’s enough TMI from me, and sorry for so much of it—I felt I owed y’all who expressed a concern an answer.
Well, garlic, mostly, but with a “softer” finish. It has only become popular here in recent years, so i wouldn’t wonder if you hadn’t heard much of it.
At the moment it’s really a fashion-herb, much like Ruccola was a few years back.
It’s the only thing I’m sad about not spending the holiday with my parents: The bear’s garlic fields along the river.
I need to finish my map, so that people can see the world. And then work on the maps of the various cities (that’s gonna be fun.)
I’m in the process of building the Temple of Creation in Minecraft. I’ve got some architectural stuff I’m gonna change and just general… artistic changes.
I actually enjoyed that movie. Of course, I saw it as a midnight movie showing with about fifty teenagers. And we kept adding dialogue. Not quite RHPS, but still fun.
Okay. What he’s taking is far stronger than my drugs.
I really enjoyed Lost Christianities. He, quite unintentionally, lays out a good case for just why Christianity is bullshit.
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kristinc:
Scary. Glad things worked out. Still scary.
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I have itentionally kept my y’all. Mainly because, if I ever start saying ‘youse guise’ I will lose my shit totally.
Wife and I are planning to try to make it over. And Wife will bring her crocheting. If I can get the time off work.
Which still makes me laugh. Back in the 70s, among the Hispanic community at Grand Canyon, chile was a ‘let’s clean out the fridge’ stew.
Cool guitar playing.
Flatt and Scruggs introduced me to non-commercial country — the stuff that only got played on public radio back in the early 80s. And damn bluegrass is fun.
ANd I am constantly amazed at how good Steve Martin is on the banjo. He’s no Earl Scruggs, but he is good.
My now defunct blog had a steady diet of people coming in from a “Crushed his genitals” search. (It was a post on the innefectiveness of torture.)
I’ve got a pain in the knee and my pain pills keep me from dreaming, so I’m good. Send megasupport to Nerd.
And I ain’t no gentleman. I work for a living.
I have no cravings for cigarettes. I did, however, just get a nice humidor and ten assorted really good cigars. Just waiting for it to warm up enough for me to smoke them. My doctor knows I smoke, knows how much I smoke, and figures that, with the amount I smoke, there are less side effects from a good cigar than there are from ant-depressants and anti-stress meds.
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Rorschach:
Waves.
Not sure why I’m on that list, but thanks.
And it really is a community. I wrote earlier that this thread is about us and I stand by it. I may not always agree with people, but I stand by this community.
Black bean chile with pork and (damn, can’t remembe the chile pepper — dried, long and moderately thin, mildly spicey, a taste reminiscent of raisins) peppers makes a nice chile con carne y frijoles con mole. Just add the dark chocolate at the end with a little cinnamon.
Have a nice day, Chas. And I understand. There are some groups of people with whom I was associated for a long time where either I no longer feel welcome or my desire to do bodily harm to the others in the community is overwhelming. So I find a community where I fit. Things (and people) change. I hope you find that for which you are looking.
Don’t worry about the Cholesterol level. Statins are now recognized to have a more important function, and that is to stabilize the inner layer of blood vessels, which prevents cholesterol deposits from rupturing and causing heart attacks. But secondary prevention, especially if you are experiencing Raynaud’s at under 40 yrars of age, is just imperative. I’m a fucking hypocrite in this regard, I have smoked for 30 years and am still having the odd one now, but for you it is a matter of even getting to an age where you may be concerned of getting lung cancer.
I’ve made the meatless kind before (with Quorn or extra beans instead of meat); I call it chili sin carne. Not that I get the chance to cook any more.
Oh, I wasn’t involved in the Facebook argument. Rather, I was referring to Dave Silverman’s speech at the Reason Rally.
Again, Rorschach, I just don’t think the Raynaud’s is a harbinger of doom. It’s only happened twice, it was mild (yes, yes, I know, it needs to be carefully monitored and any sign of lesions or escalation requires immediate action), and it hasn’t happened at all since I’ve kept my feet warm. My doc said there was no need to try medication for it unless it got worse. Are you suggesting I’ve got peripheral vascular hardening, because there’s no indication of that. I’m certain my cardiologist would have had me in for an appt. in a minute if he thought so—he’s the guy that put my stent in during my heart attack.
Also, remember that I’m *not* smoking cigarettes. I inhale nicotine/glycerine vapor from the e-cig. No carbon monoxide, no tar, etc. Yes, I know nicotine itself is a vasoconstrictor. But I’m not smoking anything or burning leaves.
I’m refraining from any online diagnosis man, just commenting on what you write here. Your cardiologist is the guy to talk to.
Beijing, here I come. Looks that way, anyway.
Beijing? For work or pleasure?
Will you be taking a slow boat?
Define work or pleasure.
A few weeks ago, Wife and I went to Maine to see my parents and sister. Wife arranged with her boss to have someone else work her street corner. One of the older women who lives near Wife’s street corner saw that she was gone for a week, called Wife’s boss, and complained that Wife was not working her street corner. The woman also told another crossing guard that she was going to get Wife fired for not being at her corner.
Well, today, the older woman escalated. Wife has been very careful to say nothing to her, to not confront her in any way. Wife is, right now, down at the police department swearing out a complaint because the woman hit Wife. Not sure on the details yet.
Where do I trade in this circus for a simple life?
Only some of the Texas ones. Everyone else realizes that chili made only of meat is just meat soup. Or watery hamburgers.
Sorry you feel alienated, Chas. I guess there are a lot of shifts over time; when people link to old threads, I see lots of familiar names there that I don’t see anymore.
Rorschach, feel free to ignore this comment, but does having shift scheduling issues mean that your employment status is good? Hoping so.
So the Canadian penny is going bye-bye. Within an hour or so of the announcement there was a penny account on Twitter (which I found via Crommunist), and a few hours after that the Royal Mint felt it necessary to tweet that it wasn’t an official account. Given that the penny’s first tweet was “This is BULLSHIT”, I would think that would be kind of obvious. And, you know, that a penny was tweeting.
There is a video making the internet rounds of Santorum calling Pres. Obama “a nig-, uh,…” but I haven’t seen it hit any mainstream media yet. I wonder cynically if it even matters.
Until I got to the crossing guard part I was thinking to myself, “His wife also does strumpet solos?”
Nevermind. This is something else. A woman drove through the intersection while Wife was crossing kids and Wife cracked her windshield with her stop sign (accidentally) as Wife tried to get out of the way of the woman in the minivan.
Carlie,
I attended a meeting with the involved parties this week which was rather intense and emotional, and it was decided after that that I will keep my job for now. This has been giving me nightmares for the last few weeks now, and it has not been an easy time at all.
So China will be part escape, but also meet up with a friend. But the GAC comes first.
Yea, I wrote another non-nym blog post. I’m a crazy person. It’s here if you want to read it.
Josh: Bloody hell.
Chas: Do what you gotta do to be happy.
Jules – I think the book may have been mentioned, but I clearly didn’t write it down. My auditory memory is not so great.
Rorschach – I was supposed to go to Beijing in 2 weeks, but now I will be in Shanghai only.
That makes me think, will I be able to access this website in China?
I have a hotel with high speed Wifi, but no idea if I will be able to access my blog. Should be interesting.
Chas: Don’t let the door hit you.
Josh: Take care! Also, welcome to the diabetic kitteh club! My Cinnamon was diagnosed in January. And she’s doing much better now.
He obviously meant “a niggardly miser”.
Og,
The hell?!
What’s her malfunction? Does she think that her taxdollars have hired her a personal slave/garden jockey?
Some guy actually just tried to use PUA techniques on me in an email from OkCupid. He went way over the top on the negging, so it was easy to spot. Must be a newbie. I am bemused.
Funny thing is, there was a part of me that wanted to respond in the intended manner and “prove” myself to him. I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t know what he was doing.
I’m starting to contemplate disabling my account and calling a temporary/maybe permanent halt to my attempt to figure out if I actually like guys at all. Maybe in another month.
***
My department is having a biodiversity feast tonight, and I just finished the first round of preps for duck casserole. Mmmm, tomato-y, duck-y goodness.
Sounds like lots of people are needing comfort food today, so I will send some *virtual duck casserole* through the USB port. Help yourselves.
***
Dammit, I need some comfort food too. It’s cold and rainy today, and my mind seems to have chosen this week to make my problems seem bigger than they are.
*takes large portion of duck casserole*
Well, I like meat. I need to finish off the stuff I bought at the butcher before my sister arrives with the 5 kg of ground beef I got for Christmas.
Awww poor Chas…its almost like acting like a huge asshole and keeping grudges alive needlessly makes you look like an asshole whose just sticking around to be an asshole.
And nothing of value was lost ^-^
The only thing I will say about Chas; well, besides having flounced before; back when he did like this blog and it was filled with people he liked, he liked to brag about how many OM’s he had in his killfile.
And he wonders why people have a negative reaction to him, even when he was fully capable of bring insights to different subjects.
There’s always more weird mormon shit to hit the fan, but Romney’s campaign for the presidency has increased the frequency of the WTF shit storms.
This latest Moment of Mormon Madness relates to the practice of necrodunking non-mormons (old hat, we’ve seen this story before), and of then continuing to check off a list of rituals, including proxy “sealings.” It seems mormons not only proxy baptized Thomas Jefferson’s slave, Sally Hemings, they sealed Hemings to her master.
In mormon temples children can be sealed to their parents, spouses can be sealed to each other, unmarried persons can be sealed as married, and, little known fact, slaves can be sealed to their masters. The mormon intention is to create an eternal family. In Hemings’ case, it seems the mormons married her to Jefferson.
An article in Slate points out some of the troubling aspects of this posthumous sealing ceremony (troubling, that is, in addition to its fucking bugnuts oddity).
Mormons are always quick to point out the “agency” clause to bolster their claim that they are not forcing dead people to become mormons, but it’s obvious that they don’t buy into the concept that anyone in the Outer Darkness actually refuses the offer. They go on to confirm the necrodunkee as a church member, to seal the necrodunkee to whomever, etc.
Ah, jeez, Slate, must you call it “sacred” — sarcasm perhaps?
The article in Slate goes on to provide details of other slaves sealed to their masters after death. The reporter bought into some mormon propaganda, including heartwarming stories about dead black children being “returned” to their grieving mothers through the process of posthumous “sealing.”
And then there’s the idea that the steps the church took this year to remove most of these sealings from “public” view is not about the church covering its tracks and trying to limit the damage. No, it’s a signal the LDS Church leaders are trying to limit temple rituals to the direct descendants of living mormons. Hogwash. Inside the Church administration, someone is keeping every proxy ritual record intact, and is considering every one of them legitimate, necessary, generous, and kind.
Seriously Ogvorbis? That would be awesome. And Yikes on the woman hitting your wife.
It has to be said, vegetarian duck wasn’t the most inspiring food I’ve ever tried. (I first discovered it at a Chinese restaurant back home in England.)
I love General Tso’s Tofu, though.
Never had that veggie duck, Walton. There’s a place near me that does a magnificent one, though, with crispy skin and OMG. So good. A meat-eating friend I took there declared the kitchen to be staffed by wizards.
General Tso had as much to do with tofu as he did with duck.
A camping get together for Western Horde sounds awesome to me. I’d be in for that in a heartbeat, and I wouldn’t have any need for sheets at all. Well, pillow cases, I suppose, but it’s not like you need sheets in sleeping bags.
Maggie Gallagher has never stopped beating her wife because she never beat her wife.
Her appearance on state owned media outlet MSNBC.
(I have to make a joke about alexmartin.)
And see, I still would be happy to just go along and act like nothing happened with Chas like on the TSA thread. I’m happy to treat him like an adult when he makes a real comment rather than “Oh look it’s Ing policing the thread again” or whatever.
So yeah (Willywanka) No no stop don’t (/Willywanka)
@Ing:
Pst.
Wonka.
@Katherine
You heard me.
So guys, I have a question. I haven’t flown in years (after security theater got nuts, I started driving instead), but has airfare always been this bad? Priced airfare for a trip in October and nearly fell out of my chair. I used to fly stand-by using my mom’s employee flight benefits, so I didn’t get a good sense of what market prices were.
Honestly, if I hadn’t promised I’d be there for a friend I wouldn’t be going in the first place; I won’t have a job then, to start with.
@Ing:
Nuhuh!
I read you.
:D
Ing, I see that his whine about you comes from the same place where his bragging about the size of his killfile comes from.
I thought that was a very sophomoric charge from him but all too typical. But because I try to refrain from talking about him, I said nothing.
(And now I have failed to stand by my normal policy.)
Willy Wanka simply has to already be a porn name somewhere.
Rorshach – sounds painful, but I’m glad you’re still making a paycheck.
Og – sounds more like the other woman’s windshield hit her stop sign than the other way around!
What a nice gesture! Is it someone’s birthday?
I never needed your permission before, and I sure as fuck don’t want it now.
slignot:
Prices vary a lot by timing (how soon before you want to fly you buy the ticket) and demand (local convention in the area, common business route, etc.) as well as some seemingly random rules (non-stops vs layovers, hubs vs outliers, etc.).
Like, I had a flight booked from LAX to Midland, MI, through Detroit in December of 2010. Midland was going to be snowed in, so I figured I’d just fly to Detroit and take a car. It ended up being more expensive to fly from LAX to Detroit than to fly from LAX to Detroit to Midland. Which makes zero sense except in AirlineWorld.
They also nickel-and-dime for a lot of stuff now (expect to pay more for at the gate for checked baggage, most food, sometimes for “premium” seats in the general cabin such as emergency row seating, etc.).
Yay for de-regulation.
*waving at Jules* Hitherehowyabeen?
Awesomeness!
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kristinc, sorry your son was mugged, glad it ended well, hope it doesn’t happen again.
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*hug* for Alethea.
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Goodbye and good luck, Chas.
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Ogvorbis, if you find out what Older Woman’s problem is with your wife, I’m curious. And I’m sorry that y’all (since that seems to be the Word of the Day) are currently experiencing a surplus of elephants.
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Portcullis seems overdue.
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Likely-to-be-portcullised Marjanovićing
SRSLY. They tried to bill the event as positive, and then the head organizer gets up there and says that shit.
I don’t want to live on this planet anymore. </Professor Farnsworth>
I know you came in after I sorta fell off commenting, but every time I read you, you remind me of my youngest brother (a bit older). If you’re ever in Alabama, I’ll give you a tour of his place, and he’ll show off all of his handmade weapons. Y’all can shoot guns and burn piles of shit, and we can go swimming in the creek. (Where I’m so totally not afraid of the fish biting me; ask Rey, he’ll back me up.)
*fucking hug* Sorry you’re still dealing with all of that, Aletha. It really sucks :-(
Me too. She’s definitely in the says-funny-shit-all-the-time stage, but mostly it’s only funny in the context of her little voice. Give it a year, and it’ll be funnier even without context. Although this morning she spontaneously yelled, “Bubbles on a pogo stick!” which is pretty awesome. No idea what it means or where she got it.
Well, he wasn’t operating in his official Chair of Communications role, but it took place on the local freethought group president’s page. She posted the ugly racist bumper sticker photo from a bit ago. He said, “Odds that a Democrat is racist 20%; odds that a Republican is racist 80% Hmm….” I asked for a citation. High-larity ensued. I’m pretty fucking sick of ending up defending people I don’t even fucking agree with just because some asshat wants to make shit up. So, yeah, it was just dumbfuckery, and I don’t like people who are higher-ups in a national organization purporting to represent me to be so fast and loose with making reality claims that they cannot back up.
I’m happy for you. And I totally hear you on being a prime victim for abusive assholes. When I look back on many of my partners from the past, I’m aghast at how truly terrible I am about picking and sticking with abusive dudes. I’m working on it, but I just have a high threshold for batshit.
Oh, that would absolutely make the trip for me. You’re one of the people I even come back into TET to see (you, DDMFM, cicely, Giliell, Sili, Caine, janine, all y’all folks not on facebook). I hope it works out.
P.S. WTF with some crazy-ass almost hitting your wife. I once witnessed a crossing guard nearly get mowed down (I actually know her from my childhood). I just cannot believe how badly some people will drive, even with a HUMAN in the road.
*avoids diarrhea joke*
Sorry you got negged. I was always baffled by it when a dude would do that to me. I’d be all “Why the fuck are you talking to me, then, asshole?” Because I’m extremely literal. It’s such a weird, miserable experience.
*waves to cicely, tackle-hugs* Hiya, cicely! I miss you!
@Richard Austin, even trying to fly on lower cost days like Tuesdays, the best prices were shy of a grand. If it wasn’t over an ocean, I’d be happy to drive.
SLC to Rome in October is apparently ridiculously expensive. Starting to wonder if I can find a cheaper fare on the continent that justifies a train ride to Rome. (One of my best friends asked us to be there for his ordination. He’s known spouse since kindergarten. I figure it’s functionally like his wedding, and he did ask me to come; I have save the date card and everything.)
*hug-back* Miss you too, lots!
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Oh, there’s Jules! (checks, sees much Jules in thread)
Hi! *vigorous wave with embarrassing awkward happy dancing*
Hey, carlie! I come here to see you, too (even though I think you got left off of my list above). How ya been?
Holy shit! Representative Bobby Rush is a freaking magician!
Allen West Claims Congressman In Hoodie Created Security Threat
Gem!
“WEST: They’re watching us real close now. … Right now, the security folks there on the House floor are laughing about it, but initially, they did not know who it was. And they were concerned that someone had just walked off the street, or you know, wondered off a tour group. But look, this is the type of immature gimmickry we see coming from the other side that you know, does not have any place, especially on the House floor and really in the United States.”
So… Bobby Rush, who got recognized by the House chair, went up, talk for a bit, and then wear a hoodie. And BANG! Where’s Bobby Rush? Who’s this black hooligan standing on the podium? WITCHCRAFT (or wizardry, or whatever).
@FilthyHuman, given the percentage of congress that believes in magic, wizardry is as plausible an explanation as any. I really fucking hate people sometimes.
slignot:
Well, you could wait until the last minute and hope for a deal, but you risk paying a lot more instead. I’ve seen numbers that the base pricing of airline flights, adjusted for inflation, has generally gone down not up, but I’m not sure that includes taxes or fees. That being said, the middle class has fallen versus inflation as well.
Og: Hope everything’s all right with your wife. I seem to have been largely insulated from horrible drivers in my life, it seems, I’m having a hard time fathoming someone nearly hitting someone with a sign and a safety vest (and KIDS).
Yeah, didn’t scream at all. Scout’s honor.
(disclosure: quit Scouts after one year of Webelo)
Is that Prof. Hubert Farnsworth who says “As a professor of science, I assure you we did indeed evolve from filthy monkey men”? :-) A colleague has that as his e-mail signature! :-)
Indeed it is :-)
Rick Santorum barely stopping himself from calling President Obama a n**ger.
For those of you who haven’t seen it yet.
Hey look Chas may have so far stuck the flounce but he apparently really really really cared about what people thought of his leaving because he felt the need to continue his bullshit on my blog!
Just felt like sharing.
As pointed out be the blessed Geoff Pullum, it seems highly unlikely that even Santorum would use the word “nigger”. Something like “negotiator” appears more likely in the context.
Sili: Hadn’t thought of that.
NEW THREAD!