[Lounge #377]
This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly. How are you going to type with a baby bat snuggled up to your finger like that?
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Dhorvath, OM:
October 28th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Is that a bat? How is it that little things make me feel so funny inside?
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 28th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
This baby bat is even cuter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9nIIZS_9v0
scottyroberts:
October 28th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Civility is the name of the Game Dr. Meyers. Bravo. Now let me see if I can get this little bat off my finger…. ;)
Dhorvath, OM:
October 28th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Beatrice,
It’s not a competition. All the cutes make me jiggly inside.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
October 28th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
snottyroberts,
One part of civility is getting your host’s name right. Since you’ve already been corrected on this, you’re clearly using the wrong name deliberately.
Ichthyic:
October 28th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
I’m actually kind of surprised bats have never really caught on as pets.
I’ve personally known two people that have had them as pets, and they really liked it. I can’t recall ever seeing a negative experience from someone that has actually had one as a pet.
*shrug*
Dhorvath, OM:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Bat pets? Sure, why not? It’s no dinosaur, but it can fly.
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
scottyroberts
What do you want here?
You have your very own thread.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/10/23/did-anyone-attend-the-paradigm-symposium/comment-page-1
Couldn’t you just stay there?
Markita Lynda—threadrupt:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
It looks as if the Sandy storm surge will be 14′ in Connecticut and 11′ in New York City. Plus waves which could be another 10 feet: Hurricane Sandy update, Sunday afternoon.
DLC:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
hmm. . . large scale summer melt-off in the north, coupled with more icing in the south, and higher global average temps.
Increased energy state, bigger, slower moving storm. messy.
I hope it doesn’t mess up election day much, but I’m worried it will. with this country’s fixation on instant results things could be a bit worrisome.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
AAAAH! Portcullis’d!!
Luckily I copied the tl:dr comment before attempting to post! =^_^=
Maths and English:
It must be a cultural thing. My GP is Canadian and gets quite flustered when I point out her many and abyssmal spelling mistakes. She says that she doesn’t understand the emphasis on spelling as it wasn’t a requirement at school, whereas I think that it is absolutely vital in a GP! Just one letter wrongly placed or substituted can lead to a prescription for entirely the wrong drug, for instance.
Ditto mathematics. Growing up in the UK, it was just assumed that maths was a gender-neutral subject, like sciences, languages and art. The gendered subjects were textiles and cookery (girls) woodwork and metalwork (boys) and certain sports (football and cricket for boys, netball and hockey for girls; all other sports being gender-neutral and usually mixed).
I have heard from people raised in other European countries that maths is regarded as a female talent and boys expect to flunk it (and so usually, as is the way with such cultural expectations, succeed).
Certainly my all-girls secondary school expected us to do well in English, French, maths and biology, as all were compulsory subjects to O-level. At least half of the year group of 120 also did chemistry and physics. Girls who wanted to do woodwork or metalwork had to go to the local boys’ school for those lessons, as ours didn’t have the facilities.
However, I went to a Grammar School (the stream for academically-minded, intellectually-gifted kids; future lawyers, doctors and the like). I gather that it was the least gendered stream with regards to subjects taught, despite (or because of?) it being the stream most likely to be gender-segregated. Hubby went to a mixed-gender Technical High School (the stream for practically-minded, intellectually-gifted kids; future engineers, architects etc.).
We were the product of the old Eleven-Plus system that gave IQ tests to all children aged 10-11 in their last year of primary school and where ‘selective’ schools creamed off the top 5-10 percent.
All other children went to Secondary Modern Schools where, in theory at least, they got put through a less demanding (academically) curriculum but would be given the opportunity to take the same exams (GCSEs) as the ‘selected’ kids. Mostly, though, they were encouraged to take CSEs, a ‘lower-value’ (to future employers and further education) exam, because, in practice, the schools’ ranking depended on the exam pass rate and kicking the kids most likely to get low scores out of school and into apprenticeships at fifteen (the year before the first set of exams) and putting the rest through the lower-standard exams where they were more likely to score As reflected well on them.
Basically, the Eleven-Plus was regarded as a ‘Pass-or-Fail’ test and kids who didn’t get a high enough score for the selective schools often felt like failures and just gave up. At the age of 10/11. And were then further written off by the system.
Totally unfair.
And those of us for whom passing IQ tests just happened to be a doddle because of our particular brain-wiring were put into a high-pressure academic atmosphere, with the expectation that we would get to a ‘good’ university, which led to several of my peers getting burn-out before they could even take their exams. I came frighteningly close. I left school at 18 and went straight out to work instead of going to university. To this day, I have been unable to contemplate going back into full-time education without getting a stress reaction, even when merely reading a brochure.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Ah, the joys of living in the old part of town with small lots and good sidewalks. We had about 380 ghosties and ghoulies come begging in two hours (the cities/villages in the area limit the Trick or Treat times).
ginmar:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Baby bat!! Ahem. Bats are so neat. I’ve got a new book on my Kindle that is by a bat expert that I’m very excited to read. Bats are so beneficial in so many ways.
ginmar:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Sorry. His name is Merlyn Tuttle, which is just delightful. He’s written for National Geographic, including an article which detailed how he turned a potato farmer from a bat hater to an active bat lover by showing him the handfuls of potato bugs he’d scooped up from the cave where the local bats were nesting. A few years later, he discovered that the farmer had put an iron gate across the cave so people couldn’t get in to hurt the bats, but which allowed them to come and go, had all but stopped using chemical pesticides, and had put up numerous bat houses and bird houses. The bats were taking care of the bugs.
Ichthyic:
October 28th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
good to hear stories like that.
mildlymagnificent:
October 28th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Hah! The whole of Norwood Primary was about the size of the junior primary at Magill and our sign in the school office had a list of 90+ languages. Of course, the fact that people came from all over the Eastern suburbs to use Norwood because it was ‘on the way’ for city workers had absolutely nothing to do with it.
“I was never any good at maths.” How I hated that. Parents bringing kids in for assessment for learning problems would happily announce this to me or the magnificent mr or to anyone in the room. Strangely enough, if those kids were still coming to us when the dreaded algebra had to be dealt with, these were the kids who told us vague stories about adults who claimed that algebra was useless, “what’ll you use that for when you grow up?”
blogofmyself:
October 28th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Oh my goodness, that is the tiniest cutest little bat ever.
—
Re: People who brag about being bad at math or reading. (I know, I’m a little late.)
I am an English major, and I hear a lot of other English majors (and English professors) laughingly profess to being bad at math. It’s almost as if it’s a given that people who work with words all day should be bad with numbers. One of my old high school friends is an electrical engineering major, and he will gladly joke about how he doesn’t read. It makes perfect sense to him that someone who loves math and physics so much would be bad at understanding novels. I think the gleeful admittance of the lack of skill goes both ways. The problem, I think, comes from a false dichotomy. People see the math an science fields as being the opposite of the humanities. They are happy to admit being bad at the thing they perceive as being the opposite of their specialty, as if that somehow makes them better at said specialty. I, for one, pride myself on being an English major who loves math and science. I’m more of an analytical person than a creative one, and that personality trait fuels both my love of analyzing literature and my enjoyment of subjects like astronomy.
–
ginmar:
That is an awesome story. I love bats, and I always try to convince people who don’t like them that they are beneficial creatures. I’m glad to know that it can sometimes work.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Tigger_the_Wing:
I’m a perfect example of that whole high-IQ, education fast track, early burnout thing. I joined the Marines to get away from college and even though I’ve managed to go back and do at least a little more schooling, it still fills me with all sorts of stress and such.
I went to a very small high school though, so almost everyone who was good at anything was good at a lot of things. Math AND languages(not just English), academics AND sports, that sort of thing. I had the highest SAT score in the school’s history, varsity club AND science club, plus ham radio club and World League Bowling. :)
cicely:
October 28th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
My voice sounds different to me “live” than it does “canned”. I hate the “canned” sound. I blame all the “additives and preservatives”.
-
And people masquerading as Plastic Surgeons.
-
Lynna, best wishes for your daughter’s safety.
-
JohnnieCanuck:
October 28th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Ah yes, Merlin Tuttle (note spelling). He’s a lot more prominent in the world of bat studies than that.
He’s the founder of Bat Conservation International and has done significant research, including at the University of Minnesota.
The magazine published by BCI is full of great photographs and stories, many of them his. We had a subscription for a while and the girls really looked forward to seeing it.
Not just one, but many farmers and other landowners have been convinced by his efforts to switch from negative to positive relations with bats.
We have Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) and it’s always neat to see them fluttering about, high over the lawn in the summer. I still want to get one of those ultrasonic listening devices so I can tell when they are about.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Every time I read “note spelling” I immediately think of Magrat and her daughter in Discworld. The perils of spelling and naming.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
I’ve noticed the voice thing too – I’ve always wondered if it is because we hear our own, live, voices through the bones in our jaw and skull as well as (or more than) through the air.
ginmar,
What an amazing bat story! Thank you for your conversion of the farmer. I love bats; one of the things that saddens me most about aging is that I can no longer hear them. I actually wanted a fruit bat as a pet when I was young; rather than telling me that they were far too expensive and to wait until I was an adult and could afford one, my parents instead put me off the notion for life by telling me they urinated all over themselves, stank and had rabies.
Improbable Joe,
It’s so sad when encouragement turns into pressure. It rapidly becomes unsustainable until total escape is the only option.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Zomney: He Needs Brains
YouTube is deeply strange. As of this moment, it has been viewed 301 times, has 9,798 likes and and 232 dislikes.
Are people just pushing buttons?
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I hate teenagers, stating that she wants to start doing “all the nasty drugs” so she can see her rib cage. When I mildly suggests that she do crunches instead I was told “that takes to long” sigh, did I tell you I hate teenagers?
thunk, Blob Alert!:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Way to hasty generalize. :P But seriously, that’s just… dangerous. I admit I’m lazy too though.
Fucking fat-shaming culture.
ginmar:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
@22, oh, Tigger, it wasn’t me! Did you leave out the word ‘story’ perhaps? Bats get such a bad rap and yet they do so much good! I was gratified to find Tuttle had a book on Kindle—and has a magazine, apparently! Yeah, there goes my budget.
Markita Lynda—threadrupt:
October 28th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
I believe it’s Finland that has the best non-gendered results by refusing to stream its students until far later in their careers.
dianne:
October 28th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Rain’s started. I’ve been told to stay away from work via email, phone, and text message. Guess I’m not going anywhere tomorrow.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
@Dianne
LUCKY. I have to go in tomorrow night
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
dianne:
Good. Stay indoors, and stay safe!
carlie:
October 28th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Whut.
Ian McKellen. In a sitcom.
Oh, buckets outside is a great idea for flushing water! I hadn’t even thought of that. We’re not supposed to get flooded, just lots of high wind that might knock things out.
Good luck, Dianne and Ing!
mildlymagnificent:
October 28th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Mrmagnificent tells me that a woman professor at Adelaide Uni had a pet bat *mumble* years ago. He couldn’t tell me any details of how or where it was kept or what species it was. All such trivia were obliterated from memory, if they ever registered, by the fact that the bat was male and was named ‘Balls’.
Education. Finland has the ‘best’ results because it uses an idiosyncratic system. All teachers are highly qualified (but not especially well paid). At primary level, and especially junior primary years, whenever a student doesn’t meet grade level standards, they put more resources in for that child. Still doesn’t meet standards? More resources again. And again. and again if needed.
The big difference shows up in high school. Those teachers simply never face a class of kids who can’t read the questions in the maths textbooks or the facts in a science book.
There will always be a very small minority of students who face nearly insurmountable learning difficulties. But Finland’s system ensures that the much larger number of kids who have a small (or big) problem getting started with reading or maths don’t have their whole education blighted by being forever behind – and further behind each successive challenge they face. Must be bliss. Mrmagnificent really didn’t want to hear about this when I excitedly conveyed this message a few years ago. We were in the process of creating times table/fraction practice sheets for his then Yr 10 maths class. Soul destroying stuff if you let it get to you.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
I’m convinced Capitalism is out and out evil
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
#33 Ing thats not capitalism, that is marketing, propaganda if you will. Think about it.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
No it is capitalism. It shows exactly how the invisible hand is jerking off.
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Ing #33
It’s hard to argue with that…
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
#35
ok then greenpeace is a capitalist organization, thanks I thought it might be described as something else
They pick a discussion and make money from the gullible
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Broboxly are you dedicated to being as fucking stupid and dense as possible?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Create a “problem” and sell the “cure”. Classic.
Reminds me of how the diamond industry marketed itself as the true means of showing love.
How fucking romantic.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
@Janine
And note that a system that encourages people to con people via making problems, is going to solve all our problems….presumably including the frivolous ones it causes.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Ing, I don’t think you’re living up to the Lounge spirit… I feel where you’re coming from, but there are better places to take it. :)
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
@Improbable Joe
Concern is noted
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Ing
“telling chinese women that they are are too hairy” as a method to make money
“telling gullible people that chlorine must be banned world wide” as a method to make money
seems to me that both entities are trying to pray on the credulous with marketing and propaganda.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Damn, I liked the old undead thread better. It was formed because people were argumentative.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
blocking broboxley (cause duh). Just presume anything he says I respond with a very civic post explaining why he’s an idiot.
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Janine, you example is correct, tell a story and get the money rolling in. Religions, wall street and a lot of non profits do exactly that. Susan G. Komen Foundation comes to mind as well as greenpeace.
That isn’t capitalism, thats marketing
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Ing:
If you can show me how to do that blocking thingy in Chrome, I’ll owe you a whole twelver of beers.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Broboxley, I find it really difficult to reconcile your demeanor and rhetorical style with the heterogeneity of the positions you espouse.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Right, broboxley, breast cancer was “invented” and SGK is there to sell a cure.
Piss poor comparison.
Besides, my problem with the Susan G. Komen Foundation lies in an other place.
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
#45 Ing, too bad, I always get a kick out of you by pointing out a faulty binary thought process. You are really interesting once you get past the invective.
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
I just shoveled snow off my sidewalks.
I think I froze a finger.
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
#49 Janine
Right, broboxley, breast cancer was “invented” and SGK is there to sell a cure.
hairy chinese were invented and the big pharma is there to sell the cure.
Both conditions were present, one sells a cure, one promises to use ?% of every dollar raised to find a cure and has disreputable (in my mind) associations. Both have employee’s and CEO’s that make a buttload of money off of their
which was my point. Marketing isn’t capitalism unless we expand the definition of capitalism to include any
“premise, promise, function that an exchange of funds would make the person feel better about their personal condition”
strange gods before me ॐ:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
You’re quoting Patrick Moore. Since he is an AGW denialist and thus a proven liar, you should provide some reliable links demonstrating that he is even characterizing Greenpeace’s position accurately.
nms:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
They were. That was the point of Ing’s link.
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:18 pm
#53 SGBM yes, I should do that. Since I need to crash will do so tomorrow.
Also improbable and monitors, When Ing starts swearing and hurling insults at me, that is the normal conversation between us, I don’t believe in that particular case it should be considered rude. I certainly don’t pay attention to it as long as its confined to me. A free pass in that case should be considered.
What is the icon for evil grin again?…..
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
#54 nms no that was not the point of Ing’s Link.
If hairy chinese were invented then it was marketing and propaganda that sold product not capitalism, why I pointed out that other economic models, not just capitalists do the same thing to secure funds. With a caveat on one, I owe SGBM a link first.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
On a totally different topic, does anyone have a good, simple solution for turning a tailgating grill into a decent gas range? I’m afraid I’m going to be out of power soon, and I have a rusty old Coleman Road Trip grill.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Yet again, you show off why you are so vulnerable to the “tell both sides of a story” gambit. Those are not the same thing. SGK did not create a problem and is now profiting from the fear of the creation.
Once more, this is a piss poor comparison.
strange gods before me ॐ:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Great. See, there’s this pretty clear article right there on their website, calling not for a ban but regulation on chlorine gas plant safety:
So it’s apparent that Moore is lying again.
nms:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
You haven’t pointed it out yet. You have one awful comparison (SGK) in which the problem wasn’t invented by marketing, and you have one conspiratorial comparison (Greenpeace’s ban on chlorine, which incidentally was denied by Greenpeace).
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Broboxley, you whinging about how Greenpeace was trying to ban choline and how dare they try to ban an element falls into the same type of whine the Michele Bachmann gave about carbon dioxide.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
@Janine
HA! Did not read you but made the same pt in Thunderdome…where I moved upon request.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Fucking, fucking typo! Why can’t I do a better job at this?
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Joe
Do you have cast-iron cookware?
You can do almost anything with a Coleman and cast-iron.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Just something I noticed today, all resources on emotional abuse focus on what the victim can do. How to escape, how to move away, how to deal with the abuse and start their own recovery process.
In no way is the abuser ever called to take responsibility for their actions, they’re still there spewing their poision. The abused party loses their friends, possibly their family, access to places and things they loved previously. Their abuser retains control of those things and tries actively to control more, forcing the abused to retreat further and further away from harm.
Anyone else totally and utterly disgusted by this? It’s victim-blaming in an insidious disguise. Not so much blaming as ignoring – yeah, the things they do to you are horrible and all, but it’s your job to deal with it and you’ll get no help from legal channels or police, so… sorry. Just run away and disappear, that’s your only recourse.
Fuck that. I want people to PAY for crimes, not be able to hide behind the fact that it’s not an easily provable physical crime and get off scott-free. Everything about it is so frustratingly broken. GARGH.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Careful, Sophia. Some people seem to think that your style of rant has no place in this thread.
I am not one of them.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
chigau:
Everything I have is stainless steel… pretty good quality, but I’m not sure of how to put it over a flame, and especially since the grill surface is sort of cruddy already.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
@Janine
To be fair I think Joe was referring to me out right insulting someone. Though *muffle muffle muffle muffle*
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
I’m not attacking anyone except the justice system and societal assholery. As neither one of those are people (even in America, I believe), there’s no personal attack and anyone who doesn’t like ranting in this here safe space can bring it to my face.
My face will not be a happy face.
broboxley OT:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
thanks SGBM appreciate the correction
#60 nms
please let me know what criteria you need
apparently pointing out that marketing as a tool to make money
mao’s red book
Karl Marx Communist Manifesto
Adolf’s little struggles
Hovind et al
Book of Mormon
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/9046668/labour-party-plans-fundraising-blitz
http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/teaparty.htm
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/28/fundraising-to-defeat-marylands-dream-act-question/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/06/obama-democrats-fundraising_n_1944878.html
all of the above get people paid, are all of the above capitalist? That was what Ing’s link was about. Advertising making money for people.
lets make it simple, lie about shit, get paid.
That includes All religions, All politics and most non profits as well as every for profit company existing.
Ing was pointing out an odious practice but his href was over narrowing in my opinion
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Just saw a godbot drag out a John 3:16 sign at the World Series game.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Giants sweep.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Sophia,
I’m with you on that. Done made that mistake myself when addressing victims both directly and in the abstract. “Why don’t you buy a gun? Why don’t you do XYZ to prevent bad things from happening to you?” It looks like victim-blaming, and it is certainly burden-shifting. It shouldn’t be the job of the victim to deal with abuse better, it should be on the perpetrator to fucking stop. It should be on the system to better help victims and better prosecute perpetrators, and on the society to stop making excuses for perpetrators and to stop blaming the victims.
And not just pay for crimes, but to suffer a social cost for creeping on the edge of criminal behavior while still causing harm to other people. I don’t accept the whole “call the cops or it didn’t happen” nonsense we see in these discussions. Maybe it doesn’t rise to the level of notifying the FBI, but abusive behavior should at least be met with the response of “not in our place, you’re no longer welcome here.”
Yeah, it is pretty fucking disgusting.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
I guess the message of the big sky daddy is so important, someone had to make sure it is seen the the WS highlights.
Because we do not get enough of that shit in our real lives.
As it turns out, the original Rainbow Man(John 3:16)was a terrorist.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Look if you don’t want me to insult you just don’t talk when you clearly don’t at all understand things.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 28th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Focus on wording rather than the message, got it.
Marketing is one of the most powerful driving forces behind capitalism. It’s everywhere – not ONLY capitalism makes use of marketing strategies, but in this particular case the equivalency is apt.
The people behind Listerine invented the term halitosis to play on people’s insecurities. They then marketed their product as the cure to this heretofore unknown “condition”.
Create a perceived need where there isn’t one.
Convincing Asian women they’re too hairy – case in point. “Too hairy” is a highly subjective and unfair superficial value judgment, like “too-stinky breath”. To use societal pressure to conform as a marketing tool is doucheholery of the highest order.
Happens all the time, yes. The point is it shouldn’t.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 28th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
The point is it is actually evil to consciously decide to make the world a worse place, ie manufacture a problem, to enrich yourself. Even something as small as actively seeking to lower self esteem needlessly (seriously if this was done to ONE person it would be bullying) should be unacceptable. It’s no where near the worst even, just here where they feel fine admitting they are horrible horrible assholes. Capitalism does not encourage someone to make a good product to sell it honest and fair and square, it encourages jackassery and con work.
nms:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
My criteria are the ones you set out to provide with your SGK and Greenpeace examples.
You have completely misinterpreted that article.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Ing,
Yeah… just calling names is bad. *muffle muffle muffle muffle* right back at ya… :)
Yeah, I’m sort of tone-trolling I guess… but I’m also looking at what this place is supposed to be, which is a safe space where even when we disagree, we try to do it KINDLY. And I know I’ve failed sometimes, but I think it is a worthwhile thing to work towards.
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Joe
Stainless steel on a Coleman just needs supervision (constant stirring).
(you will be eating soups and stews for a while)
strange gods before me ॐ:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
You’re insufficiently precise here. Janine has it right: «Create a “problem” and sell the “cure”. Classic.»
Inventing a fake need and then advertising to encourage belief in that need is different from marketing per se. It’s possible for marketing to exist without this deception.
Now, you should also consider whether capitalism is especially reliant upon creating fake needs, since capitalism is especially reliant on producing excess profits for non-working investors.
And if that is the case, then it is valid to point to a symptom of this and complain about capitalism as responsible for the surfeit of fake needs.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:06 pm
chigau,
Are you sure? Don’t kill my dreams!! :(
Actually, I’ll have a mix of foods as long as the propane holds out. I’ve got some things I can grill like chicken breasts and chunks of lamb I can marinate. But I will need to be able to cook the frozen veggies I’ve got, and that really needs boiling water.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Bingo.
When the entire system has a goal that can be reached more easily at the expense of others, people will take that easy way out more often than not. Humans are like that.
Same problem with any societal management system to date – people can do better personally at the expense of others. Look how most of history’s communist regimes have fared – failed due to greed on the part of single or small groups of people in charge.
The problem is accountability. If people aren’t held responsible for shitty things they do, or don’t feel compelled to follow these accountability laws, they’ll end up doing those shitty things. Look at America’s corporations, or corrupt governments. Greece’s financial system comes to mind, according to my Greek relatives the main issue was that for some reason, Greek government officials were above the law. ABOVE the law. No accountability, no reason to act fairly. That’s hearsay, of course, but it’s telling if true.
Any large corporation in a capitalistic society has similar issues. they’ve got the means to buy off anyone who objects to things they do, they can afford all the perks like a crack legal squad and bought loyalties from lawmakers and all sorts of officials. If they’re hurting people, nobody can touch them unless they have the resources to combat all the caked-on layers of corrupt safety.
In short, it’s irrelevant what system you’re talking about, if people aren’t held accountable for doing awful things, people will continue suffering without recourse.
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
The [Lounge] rules concerning name-calling are about those present on the thread.
You may not call someone who is here a fucking asshole here.
You may point out the flaws in their argument.
And take the name-calling to the [Thunderdome].
Here is all about a nice, quiet, recipe for babies space.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Quiet except for the “strident” ranting, I assume ;)
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
chigau,
Yeah… the Lounge is mostly a happy place, but also a safe place to vent and rant about stuff, and about people who aren’t actually here. Plus a happy place!
Damn, I miss my happy place. 5 weeks from now, maybe I get to start being happy again?
Nutmeg:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Improbable Joe: I like to treat cooking on a barbeque just like cooking on a campfire with a grill over top. I don’t know if that’s helpful to you or not.
My mom doesn’t share the kitchen well, so I learned to cook over a campfire long before I was confident with a stove. When I was left to myself as a teenager, my meals were sometimes a little…unorthodox. Fortunately, several years in a molecular biology lab have given me the ability to follow a recipe, so I can now cook without imagining my kitchen as a backcountry campsite.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Boy, that linky thing went belly-up for me.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Nutmeg,
I’m just hoping to avoid damaging my cookware by throwing it on the grill. Like I said, it isn’t awesome but it is pretty decent quality and I got it as a wedding present almost… holy shit, has it been that long? Almost 8 years ago. So obviously not junk I can afford to throw away since my pots and pans don’t appear to be any different than they were after about the first 6 months of stains on the bottoms from the cheap electric ranges we’ve used.
strange gods before me ॐ:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Not other Pharyngula commenters. We’ve had problems before with people attacking people in TET when they weren’t around.
chigau (棒や石):
October 28th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Joe’s happy place is clean and tidy.
(unnaturally, strangely tidy)
I want to see the floor.
(Joe. I like and live on soups and stews during the winter. Which is now, since I have already shoveled snow.)
(Go to garage sales and get some cast-iron. You can bake bread in an open fire with cast iron.)
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
ginmar,
Ooops! *Hangs head and goes off muttering something about needing a new brain/reading specs*
Nutmeg:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Joe:
Ah, I see. I didn’t think of that, because I don’t yet own any cookware that could be described as “decent”. Hopefully you can figure something out. I’m a big fan of wrapping food in aluminum foil and putting it on the grill, but that obviously doesn’t work for everything.
Improbable Joe:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
chigau,
That happy place is in the last house I lived in… and the floor was as clean and tidy as the desk. I was so so happy there!
If there’s still power tomorrow morning, I’ll try to hit the Big Lots and Goodwill store for a cast iron pan.
strange gods before me ॐ:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
No, although they popularized it.
The term appears in The breath, and the diseases which give it a fetid odor. With directions for treatment by Joseph W. Howe in 1874, and he cites “Harvard” regarding the etymology; so presumably it was already in occasional use.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 28th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Ah, fair enough.
Fact checking – not a simple task, apparently :|
Still, makes you wonder if it was originally an earlier invented term. Snake-oil salespeople have been selling bogus “cures” since humans first discovered the concept of gullibility. I’d love to know if it was originally coined by a medical or marketing person.
Interesting to note now the line between medical and cosmetic blurring into obscurity. Look at all the crap you can buy at a pharmacy :|
Ariaflame, BSc, BF, PhD:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Sophia, Improbable Joe
Alas I suspect the reasons that people give advice mostly for the victim to change their circumstances, is that the abuser doesn’t want to change the circumstances. What we really need is a way to increase the chances of the abusers to see what they are doing as wrong and to want to change. Or to have education early enough that such behaviors are not seen as normal.
Rawnaeris, FREEZE PEACHES:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:12 am
*cant sleep*
Week long meetings starting early tomorrow. Which since my bosses boss will be in and out, dozing is not an option.
*wanders off to corners of the Internet unknown*
chigau (棒や石):
October 29th, 2012 at 12:19 am
Ariaflame
Aye. That’s the ticket.
I’m working on it.
One incident at a time.
mildlymagnificent:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:32 am
Me? I think the advice is along the lines of put your own oxygen mask on first. You’re no good to yourself or anyone else if you’re in immediate danger.
The places where things are getting better are the jurisdictions where police are obliged by law to get the abuser to leave premises rather than telling the abused to get away if they can. The problem with that is that the police have to be responding to an incident bad enough to make that happen.
Getting away and out of reach of an abusive partner before anything serious happens …… I dunno. Back to the oxygen mask probably.
chigau (棒や石):
October 29th, 2012 at 12:48 am
I’m for bed.
More snow to shovel in the AM.
Joe. Get as much cast-iron as you can.
It’s ugly but the best cook-ware ever.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:59 am
Ariaflame – yeah, that’s kinda what I was aiming for. Resources for people to use that get counsellors or some kind of legal person to sit the abuser down and show them exactly why their behaviour is abusive, and what they are not to do. Once they’ve been told, they have no excuse for doing anything that contravenes what they’ve been told, and any breach of that should be met with legal consequences.
A bit like a restraining order, but for behaviour. Also, actually enforced.
Pipe dreams, eh?
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:05 am
mildlymagnificent – true, and I’m not denying it’s good advice. The problem lies in that it NEVER goes any farther than that. You get the advice, then you’re out on your own. At no point does anyone mention legal options, criminal proceedings, even resources like counselling to educate people about their own destructive behaviour. These things don’t seem to even exist.
If they do, they’re not publicised, I’ve been searching for something – anything – that could help me, and there’s nothing but stuff that I should be doing that I can’t. Well, not without losing my entire family, my baby and being broke and homeless.
I could live without my family, money or a real place to live, but I’m not giving up my baby. He’s the only thing keeping me going.
pixelfish:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:19 am
I went to the local science museum (the fantastic California Academy of Science) and sketched specimens in the learning center. Thought folks here might be interested in today’s sketch, cuz of its cephalopod nature! Octopus in a Bottle
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:54 am
Good morning
Good news: toothache is gone. I still have fucking big hole in the tooth with open root canals, but it doesn’t hurt.
bats
We once found one in our liveing room in winter. Poor thing must have been disturbed and somehow made it into our flat.
maths
It was generally assumed that nobody apart from some very strange people could do it, but there were definetly more boys doing it in advanced classes.
Personally, I simply found it uninteresting. Too abstract for my liking.
BTW, white US-american girls are the ones hit hardest by gender expectations about maths.
re: Finland
They were quite shocked when they found out that Germany failed so badly in the PISA-evaluations, since they had copied their education system from Germany. Only they had copied it from eastern Germany and after the reunion everything that was socialist had to go!
The idea of selection, especially earyl selection is deeply engraied in the German mind.
broboxley
Have you suggested an X-ray? Shows ribcages nicely…
Sophia
The True Pooka just has a video up telling their story with a stalker (sadly, he hasn’t got over using gendered slurs much yet but has some decent insights otherwise). He tells how early in their story they themselves assumed that when another woman complained about the guy the problem was with her. And later, when they became the targets, everybody did the same with them.
I don’t want people to pay as much as I want them to stop.
+++
Yes, and making them would require efforts. And put yourself in the line of fire.
Part of me can actually understand people. I mean, would you want to put yourself in Rebecca’s or Amy’s place and go through what they’re going through?
Joe
Do you talk about a gas-powered camping grill? I use my normal cooking-stuff with them.
mildlymagnificent:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:11 am
I did a quick search on http://captainawkward.com/ because I remembered I’d read something useful there, but I can’t find whatever it was. Have a look and use your own search terms.
Note: The heading need not be exactly like your problem. Many times the response from the blogger gives links to previous answers on these topics. Most importantly, some of the commenters give absolutely terrific links or advice.
I might add, Jennifer does give advice about remedies for the abuser, but her biggest focus is on physical health of the writer and any children involved as well as the mental health of the letter writer. The mental health or behaviour modification of abusers gets discussion, sometimes excellent, but the focus is first and foremost on welfare of letter writers.
(You might find the attitude of some commenters very dismissive about the abusers. Basically, their behaviour is theirs to acknowledge and modify, your responsibility is to yourself and your children and they should never, ever, be allowed to suffer for the sake of someone else.)
StevoR:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:22 am
For folks that don’t already know, there’s a good anti-racist site / blog here :
https://theantibogan.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/dumb-drunk-racist-loses-keys
That captures moments like the one, well, there.
mildlymagnificent:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:47 am
Sophia, I was just flipping through the cloud on captain awkward and finished up at http://www.lundybancroft.com/?page_id=294
I got to the home page from this one. http://www.lundybancroft.com/?page_id=294. Depends where your head is at whether you might like to get hold of the book – or just check out the various articles and extracts.
Protective Mothers Alliance (17/7) on that home page might find you some useful links or other resources. But …. I notice that the organisation itself requires screening and security clearances before you can sign up to their FB or other venues. When they say Protective Mother they mean it.
mildlymagnificent:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:59 am
Thanks Stevo. Always proud to be Ostroiyyun. Groan.
btw, it was you talking about newsagents wasn’t it? I didn’t ask the staff at Norwood the other day, I just extracted the Creation ministries rubbish from the bottom of the science magazine display. (Very professionally presented rubbish, in fact.) They didn’t have a religion/barmy belief section, so I stuck them, back to front, at the bottom of a Current Affairs section. Clearly visible and identifiable to those who might be familiar with it and actively looking for it – but out of the way for the innocents (like mrmagnificent) who pick it up ‘cos of the supercute meerkats on the cover – along with some very, very misleading headlines for what’s inside.
McC2lhu doesn't want to know what you did there.:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:01 am
Semi-threadrupt. Just curious if anyone had seen the story from the papers this weekend about the increase of racism against blacks and Hispanics in the US.
It makes a lot of people’s voting strategy this election very suspect.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:32 am
Bats are totally wondersome. I’ve caught several in towels or gloves when they got lost inside a house. They seem to pause for a moment regarding me when I release them outside. Can’t help but wonder what goes on in their little furry mammal brains.
Something else that is pretty cool is renewable energy sources like windmills. After the initial expense, which is considerable, and with minimal maintainence, they just spin about and the juice comes out.
But, there is a sticky wicket and I find myself a bit at odds:
http://trib.com/news/updates/wind-turbine-pressure-change-kills-bats-research-may-help-prevent/article_24b620cf-9e69-58e1-b638-32499d9ef11f.html (*)
In all things there seems to be an imposition of compromise. Championing the extremes is easy. Finding the central point of balance is, well, challenging if not outright flusterclucking.
What, then, some kind of ultrasonic warning system? Specie specific?
*Used to be my daily paper when I lived in Wyoming. (delivered state wide every morning!) Damn! How I miss my mountains.
StevoR:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:33 am
@109. mildlymagnificent :
Yep – and cheers.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:54 am
mildlymagnificent – if the child in question wasn’t 7 months old, and the abuse coming from not only the party I -did- manage to mostly escape but from the people I had to run to, that might help.
Heh. Shitter of a situation. Out of a frying pan into another one. This one has people who want to help in it, but they do the same emotionally abusive and controlling things he did. Still, they’re family and it’s a roof over my head, so what can I do?
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 4:31 am
Hello? Insomniacs? Early risers? Eastern hemispherers?
—
I’m only now watching the first episode of season three of The Walking Dead. (no spoilers for this season, just the second)
I hate Rick. And Carl. And Lori.
I still haven’t forgiven Rick for the whole “Why don’t you just try staying pregnant?” She’s not a kid trying how she likes swimming, which she can quit anytime and go back to basketball! She should have gotten ridden of the zombie spawn when she wanted.
Not to mention all the guns that never miss and never get out of ammo.
I do like the new woman (haven’t caught the name yet). If she and/or Andrea get killed any time soon, I’m quitting this series.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 4:33 am
riddenridBeatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 4:33 am
And I even previewed.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 4:49 am
Hello?
Haven’t watched the Walking Dead, so I can’t share my feelings for the characters. Sounds like most of them are unbearable, though. :)
And if ammo ran out, I think that plot twist would take too much attention away from the usual inter-personal-relationship stuff that is sooooo much more interesting… No?
birgerjohansson:
October 29th, 2012 at 4:56 am
“Adolf’s little struggles”
In the Benny Hill version we have him standing proudly next to his tent.
Headline: “mein camp”
If my personalities are quarreling is it OK to call myself an asshole? Yes, I have been reading the “A Million Gods” blog.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:02 am
The recently laughed-out Sunday Roast has some ‘splaining to do… The mistral blew all fecking weekend, with lashings of rain, making it so cold I had to bring out the heavy jacket first time this season. And it’s not even November yet!
Not to mention the megastorm now(?) hitting the East Coast of USAlienland, and the Tsunami on the other side.
So which one of these is the bringer-of-eviiillll weather and stuff?
And you thought AGW was nasty…! It’s got nothing on Teh Dark—mumble—
It wasn’t Teh Dark Mother of All This Recent Evil that laughed, it was Teh Dark—mumble— going BRRAAAHAWHAAAAWWW!!!11!1111!
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:03 am
Just read that post, too.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:04 am
rq,
They’re making head shot after head shot after head shot. And really, this show could do a lot better at inter-personal relationships. Like, at least pretend someone’s making an effort at character development.
TV shows going bad after season 1 frustrate me.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:10 am
Sorry, Beatrice, I’ve never seen the show either; and your review hasn’t persuaded me to try it, either!
At the moment, my favourite channel is ‘off’.
mildlymagnificent:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:11 am
@113. Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion
From my pov, Jennifer at captain awkward responds to many more abusive parents/family questions than she does with the standard get-away-from-violent-bloke situation. Given how young your littlie is, you might have to follow one of her ‘long-term’ plans for creating a “Team You” for support while you’re in the process of finding a way out. Have a look anyway.
And from me …. best wishes to Chef you and baby Apprentice. You will get through one way or another. The mantra about raising babies sometimes applies also to living through bad situations.
“The days and weeks may drag, but the months and years can fly.”
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:12 am
Beatrice
It seems to be a common affliction. Season 1 – fantastic! Glorious! Avant-garde and entertaining as hell! Season 2 – Meh, we have them hooked… Kind of like reading long strings of novels. After about the fourth or fifth one (sometimes even earlier) the novelty wears off, and sometimes I think the writers/authors get tired of trying to think of new things. Can’t really think of any particular exceptions at the moment…
About the weather, well, if everyone’s complaining (in a spirit of solidarity with those in the path of Sandy), then might I say that, unusually for this latitude, we had a (admittedly) minor fall of snow back on Thursday night, and contrary to ALL expectations, it has LASTED UNTIL TODAY and isn’t likely to disappear until, oooh, say, this coming Thursday. And it’s only October. Best we usually do around this time of year is a few random flakes that don’t even make landfall. First semi-stable snow is in November, and even that melts within a day or two. December is REAL snow time… So yes, all that lovely sunny late-fall weather we had? It is now winter. (Generally speaking I love winter but this year we have been caught unawares and somewhat unprepared.)
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:21 am
Hah, mine too.
I haven’t watched anything since Doctor Who made the half-season pause. There just isn’t anything that can keep my concentration. I might keep watching The Walking Dead just to pass some time.
Turkish soaps are currently popular here and mum watches one every evening. Dad hates it, so she watches on “my” tv. Urgh. It’s enough to put a person off television forever.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:23 am
I refer to it as “those suckers will watch/read it anyway” syndrome.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:42 am
Beatrice
“those suckers will watch/read it anyway” syndrome
And it works, to a certain point. Eventually I can’t take the bullshit anymore and I manage to stop reading, but admittedly only after I’ve invested a significant amount of time. Oh well. Better late than never, right?
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:42 am
I am totally bored by zombie movies. After all, how many times can you watch a rotting corpse bite the arm off a willowy youngster? That many? Damn.
On the other hand, I can watch old movies featuring stop-motion by Ray Harryhausen all night long. Like I did last night courtesy of Turner Classic Movies. They also ran the original silent version of Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney. (did you know he was born to deaf parents?)
Did you know that there are at least thirty (count ‘em!) movies featuring zombies before Romero’s 1968 Night of the Living Dead?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_movies
Ah, well. There’s no accounting for taste, is there? Especially when it comes to . . . BRAINS!!!
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:59 am
Hi folks
Well, Sandy reminded me at least to get some canned food stocked up for winter. Not that there’s much risk of “being snowed in so I can’t leave the house”, but it came close to “you shouldn’t leave the house unless you have to” some times over the last winters. As long as there’s electricity we’re fine.
re: TV
I hardly ever watch anything except the kiddies’ TV with them. If my brain’s still able to follow a movie it’s usually on DVD. So I’m totally innocent of TV pop-culture.
Sophia
Loads of hugs for you
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:02 am
Just a small sub plot in a larger story is this news of a tall ship adrift in the seas whipped up by Sandy:
AAaaar! Surely these hearties will weather the blow. Unless the Kraken rises to add to their woes.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20121029/DA2757P80.html
McC2lhu doesn't want to know what you did there.:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:05 am
My wife was joking that the zombie routine has become a tired cliché. Instead of moaning ‘BraAaAaAins’, she recommended they moan ‘BoOoOoOgerrRRrrs’ just to change it up a little. The idea had definite appeal to my inner 10 year old.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:06 am
I’m not a big fan of zombie movies (I think I’ve seen 2) mostly due to the sameness factor.
Children’s movies are lovely for the nice, straightforward story-lines and nice, colourful pictures. Somewhat afflicted by sameness, too, but the variations in presentation tend to make up for that (in my opinion). Also, children’s movies are more obvious about messages within the movie. I like that. I DO like complicated, thoughtful movies, too, but I don’t like those movies which pretend to (or attempt to) be wise and message-ful simply because they’re for the over-18 category of people. Recently watched ‘John Carter’ for the fun of it, knowing it would be mostly trash, but by the end I couldn’t help but thinking that it was too much trash in one movie for my taste…
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:06 am
rq
The only one that leapt to mind was Harry Potter. I really enjoyed each book even more than the preceding one.
I expect that any series that was planned as such from the beginning, with a known finite number of iterations, will be much better than one which just grew because of demand.
YMMV and all that.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:13 am
Tigger_the_Wing
Yes, Harry Potter does break the trend, probably for the reason you mention.
The only other trilogy/series that didn’t bore me was the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake. Part of what keeps that one fresh is the fact that he was unable to finish his (planned) series due to unexpected death. I am constantly left wondering what would have been, if… But the three books written are certainly a journey into strange, strange lands, and some wonderful (and terrifying) English.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:34 am
Two book series which I really enjoy are Terry Pratchett’s Discworld, and Glen Cook’s Garrett P.I. Each book is refreshingly different from the others albeit with some continuity, but neither authour worries too much about being completely consistent from book-to-book. The discrepancies between books aren’t distracting (says someone who is a bit of a pedant at times…).
As far as I know, there are no Garrett movies or plays?
There are a number of Discworld movies, all made-for-TV by Sky in the UK, of varying quality (all of which have had Terry’s input, so I tend to overlook the glaring discrepancies from the books…). There’s also a few freelance / unauthorised Discworld fan-made “movies” / cartoons, which I think can all be described as shite. And there are several (both authorised and, I think, unauthorised), Discworld plays, some productions of which Terry has praised. However, I’ve never seen any of the plays…
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:40 am
Douglas Adams wrote one of the best trilogies I’ve ever read. I bought all five volumes.
Asimov’s Galactic Empire series had me in thrall as a youngster and it is on my re-read list.
Some ideas can be expanded with plot and characters and surprises that a thoughtful author can put to paper. Rare, but oh, so engaging.
That reminds me, I’ve haven’t haunted any used book stores or garage sales lately. I better get after it. For my own enjoyment, of course, but also for the edification of the grandspawns who are now old enough to absorb and entertain new thought patterns.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:51 am
Did my comment just disappear?
I’m confused.
Anyway, I wanted to add that I’ve just begun a series (read the first two books), but I have also discovered that it has about 10 installments at hte moment, which predisposes me to disappointment.
Anyone heard of/read/know Shadow of the Apt series, by Adrian Tchaikovsky? So far, it’s been very engaging, lots of characters (lots of memory work…), decent story lines and a lot of action. I’m just worried about the author’s imagination in future installments.
Oh and Douglas Adams, I find, is also very well-enjoyed as BBC radio plays (those people do wonderful stuff – personal favourite, The Hobbit). I haven’t read all his books (did the trilogy, though), but I did listen to several of his books in radio-play version while working the evening shift, and it passed the time extremely well.
opposablethumbs:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:06 am
Discworld on paper – brilliant!!! Some of my favouritest stuff there is in the whole wide world.
Discworld on screen – surprisingly disappointing, especially considering some parts were overtly written with visuals in mind :(
I suppose it’s partly because what’s brilliant about it is the verbal humour and Pterry’s principles, which don’t necessarily lend themselves to being conveyed in visual form.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:07 am
correcting brain fart in my #136, Asimov’s series is more properly called the Foundation series which is comprised of seven novels which, in proper chronological order, is comprised of:
Prelude to Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Foundation’s Edge
Foundation and Earth
If you haven’t, you should read the whole whopping deal. Beginning in the Golden Age of Sci Fi and extending into the 1980s, Asimov’s concepts also encompass themes from several of his other novels, including Pebble in the Sky as well as his Robot series. Taken together, this amounts to a million and a half words and covers a time span of about twenty thousand years.
One (I) can only hope that our species can not only last so long but also accomplish our business on such a grand scale.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_series#Foundation_and_Earth
Most of his Robot stories are also cracking good detective stories, for those of you who like a good who-dunnit.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:13 am
Oh yeah, Discworld series. Brilliant.
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:16 am
Absolutely. Nothing is as good as in your head, and for Discworld, that goes quadruple. It’s interesting to watch just for the novelty of it being on screen, (and Sean Astin is cute no matter what), but in general? Meh. And I hated the tooth fairy depictions altogether. NOT what was in my head.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:18 am
Abusers know they are abusive and know they are doing wrong. They still do it, and still will do it. Hence shoving everyone around the victim away and lying about what’s going on.
For every kind of abuse, I think that’s true. For emotional abusive, if you go to a therapist/counselor, ask them if they can suggest help/resources/counselors for the abusers. They would probably know more since they tend to study abusers and such behavior. Your local shelter or case worker focuses on the one person who doesn’t get believed or focused on – the victim. Interacting at all with an abuser puts the victims they take care of at risk because the abusers have a legitimate reason for going to those places of help. Especially since victims struggle accepting that it isn’t their fault and that it isn’t going to get better, putting out those resources for the abuser most likely will just make things worse. The abuser will never go, but the victim will think “If only I could be good enough to get him to go…” etc.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:19 am
Update to my #130:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/29/hurricane-sandy-strengthens-to-85-mph/?iref=allsearch
Those who go down to the sea in ships . . .
Serious weather, folks. I hope that all seventeen are seaworthy and well prepared and that they reach shore again walking upon their own legs. Keep them in mind as well as those who are ashore awaiting their return even as they await the teeth of the storm.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:27 am
Crudely Wrott @ #143:
That doesn’t sound particularly encouraging… I hope that particular story ends very happily, indeed – meaning, all safe and found and on dry land.
Looks like I’ll actually have to read Discworld. While I have only heard good things about it, I don’t think I’ve even read a single book from the series (although I may have – and if I did, then I didn’t read the others because it’s a series; I think I just tend not to like anything in a large series).
Which brings me to Asimov, whose short stories I’ve managed just fine, but never really liked his longer works. Oh, except for the non-fiction, accessible science. But novels? Maybe I should give those another try, too.
Oh, and I just received a reminder about an up-coming three-day deadline. Need some votes to make the top 5. All you choir fans who are in Europe (doesn’t work outside of Europe, even though the US is on the list), please read this: http://freethoughtblogs.com/entequilaesverdad/2012/10/15/monday-music-help-a-choir-out/ and if you have the time or the desire to push through all the buttons, please help out! We have until Halloween.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:41 am
CNN just now reports that communication has been established with the crew and that rescue aircraft are en route.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:44 am
SGBM
Smelling breath for signs of disease go back a long way
http://www.therabreath.com/articles/news/oral-care-industry-news/from-antiquity-to-today-the-authorities-on-bad-breath-were-rarely-shy-about-it-6122.asp
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:56 am
rq: Part of Asimov’s writing style in his fiction was a relative dearth of descriptive prose and a reliance on dialogue to create the stage and the progress of his stories. For those who have read Steven King or, say, H. P. Lovecraft or Tolkien and are used to long paragraphs and pages of expository prose, Asimov’s novels do seem sparse and dry.
My experience is similar but I’ve discovered that on re-reading that clarity blossoms, especially when considering the roles of the various characters. I mentioned above how many of the Robot stories were dialog driven and I see a parallel with classic detective stories (think, if you will, of Nick Danger) in which the protagonist is the narrator and the basic view is first person. I find it engaging and exciting. Of course, as in all things, your mileage may vary.
If you would like to read the Good Doctor at his best I would recommend his collection of essays, Only a Trillion (1956), with special emphasis on the chapter entitled, The Hemoglobin Number. Also the intro. Pure delight and enlightenment!
Good reading to you.
birgerjohansson:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:08 am
Sounds like a Pharyngula bloke.
“NYC cannibal case tests lines of fantasy, threat” http://phys.org/news/2012-10-nyc-cannibal-case-lines-fantasy.html
— — — — — — — —
“Biology and ideology: The anatomy of politics” http://www.nature.com/news/biology-and-ideology-the-anatomy-of-politics-1.11645
— — — — — — — —
Factoid: “28 days Later” is not a zombie film, but a clever re-make of “Day Of The Triffids”.
— — — — — — — —
“Asimov’s novels do seem sparse and dry”
Also a feature of Arthur C. Clarke. Both relied on the “sense of wonder” to make the stories succeed. You can only get away with this if you have very good ideas.
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Crudely Wrott
Thank you. I’ll make a note of all of that, but I’m not big on lengthy descriptions, either. Besides The Hobbit, I’ve only managed to slog through one other Tolkien book (Fellowship etc.). Also why I find Tolstoy a tedious slog, as well. I’m all for sparse narrative, in fact I tend to prefer it… Which is why Asimov fiction might be due a re-read. But back when I did (attempt to) read him, I think it was other things (fairly non-specific in memory) within his story-lines that didn’t sit well. (I DO enjoy quite a bit of older Stephen King; I would NOT, however, put him in the same lengthy-description category as Tolkien, also different language style, which makes a huge difference to me.)
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:13 am
Factoid: “28 days Later” is not a zombie film, but a clever re-make of “Day Of The Triffids”.
Very interesting!
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:23 am
CBS is reporting some crew members have been winched onboard a USGS helicopter, but that there is confusion as to how many crew there are in total: The USGS is reporting 16 have been detected but the roster apparently lists 17. The tall ship itself, the “HMS Bounty” (not absolutely certain that’s the true name of the ship), has apparently sunk.
(I’m impressed the USGS has managed to get a pair of helicopters, in addition to a C-130 (now relieved by another Hercules) out there…)
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:39 am
Every hurricane visualised since 1851: “With a new projection of the globe and data on every hurricane for the last 161 years, developer John Nelson has visualised every one on record”.
Matt Penfold:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:43 am
Yeah, it cannot have been properly called HMS anything.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:46 am
You’re a step ahead of me, blf, in reporting the good news that the crew of the Bounty has been rescued. This from MSNBC:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/29/14775512-helicopter-sent-to-rescue-17-people-who-abandoned-hms-bounty-off-nc-coast?lite
From what I gather, the good ship is still afloat, though taking on water but without propulsion and without her good crew, she may go right on down. (paging Dr. Ballard, Dr. Robert Ballard, please pick up a white paging phone)
And, to put a fine point on it, I think you meant USCG. United States Coast Guard. USGS is, of course, the United States Geological Survey and while it provides invaluable services with reference to the geology of the earth’s surface and its evolution, is poorly equipped for rescues at sea during a hurricane. ;^>
I just talked to my uncle who lives in New Jersey just west of NYC. He assured me that his house is high enough to avoid flooding and his generator is already tied into the house electric system and has plenty of fuel. I was concerned for him. He’s the patriarch of the family now and if he were to become a victim of the storm that station would become mine. Honestly, he’s much more qualified.
Owlmirror:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:49 am
You are not the first to wonder.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Oops! Yes, I did mean USCG. I probably tpyoed USGS out of habit, since the geology department at university had rather more contact with them (not that I had anything to do with any of the three organizations…). The geology department did have an amazing four-wheel drive bus which we borrowed once to go total solar eclispe watching…
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:55 am
Oh, my. Perhaps two crew members have been lost.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2012/10/29/ns-hms-bounty-hurricane-sandy.html
This is a developing story and some facts may not be clear.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Nice find, Owlmirror. Did you echolocate it?
I remember when we worked with (upon) planaria in biology class back in high school daze. We made them choose between turning left or right.
I could not escape the idea that inside that tiny brain was an awareness of a wider world. Obviously they perceived and reacted and learned. Surely, I kept thinking, and still do, that there must have been some ghostly notion of self in relation to not self.
Unfortunately, there existed a language barrier so I could never know for certain. Still . . .
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:05 am
The Google doodle today…
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:05 am
Oooo!! Libby Anne lays the smackdown on the argument that birth control is a zygote massacre.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Oh for feck’s sake! I also got the site wrong, it’s CBC not CBS. Can I blame the geology department for that tpoy also, please? Or is this the not-so-benign influence of the Laughing Dark Weathermistress?
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:07 am
Does anyone have advice on how to address the use of “retard” as quickly and efficiently as possible? Working in a restaurant environment doesn’t afford me the ability to discuss issues at length, but on a daily basis, I hear a server or bartender use that word to describe undesirable actions. I cringe each time I hear it, but I have the feeling that I would need time to sit and talk to the individuals that use the word.
I was thinking the way to attack it might be:
“There are individuals with varying degrees of mental disability. They are people too and many of them are hurt by the use of that word. To associate that word with a negative outcome can have the effect of dehumanizing these individuals. One can never know if someone they work with is mentally disabled, so avoiding such a hurtful word is prudent.”
****
rq @124:
Not Buffy or Angel. I’d argue that both shows had a weak first season (largely dominated by Monster of the Week) and became quite stronger in their second seasons (Buffy staying consistently strong through season 3, dipping somewhat in Season 4, rising again somewhat in Season 5, and declining-though not necessarily in quality-with Season 6 and 7; Angel was more erratic. IIRC, Season 2 was strong, as was much of Season3; Season 4 went off the rails a bit though, while Season 5 had a great concept, but was hampered by cancellation.)
****
Crudely Wrott @128:
Are they referred to as zombies in the movie title or within the movies themselves? I ask because I thought it was a no-no to mention the word until Romero’s movie came out (and even then it wasn’t universally accepted).
****
Wikipedia also has this to say about zombies:
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:11 am
Update on HMS Bounty:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49596412
It’s said that at the time the ship was still “upright”. I certainly hope so. Even more, I hope that there are two more people winched up from the waters.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Not in Europe (nor, it seems from a random sample of other non-USAlien domains, the rest of the world). I assume this is it.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Tony @ 162:
I pulled my info from the Great Pfft which listed movies that featured lurching corpse-like entities that shuffled and slowly perused their hapless wictims. The research is not my own. Still, having seen several of the listed titles that predate DOTLD I would say that they did, in fact, have zombies in them even if not specifically identified as such.
If it shuffles like a zombie, grunts and whimpers like a zombie and eats like a zombie, it’s probably a zombie.
–Crudely Wrott’s Rules of Thumbs.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Here is the farcebork page on the “HMS Bounty“. Nothing really to add to the previous reports. Apparently 14 of either 16 or 17 are aboard a USCG helicopter, and the ship either is or isn’t still afloat.
Matt Penfold:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:22 am
I have a question about those areas in the path of Sandy that the authorities have ordered people to evacuate.
Did they provide transport for those without their own transport, or did they follow the New Orleans model of leaving the poor and elderly to die ?
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:37 am
Faux News is reporting on the Bounty story:
http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/10/29/coast-guard-monitoring-tall-ship-in-distress-off-north-carolina-with-17-aboard/
Pretty tough sailing considering that Sandy is one thousand miles wide.
I keep hearing lyrics from The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Matt Penfold:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:43 am
The conditions in the North Atlantic this time of year are not good as the best of times.
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Matt, according to news reports that I have read yesterday and overnight there has been great effort by many communities to provide transportation to higher ground for those in areas that are subject to evacuation.
Since I’m getting pretty sleepy now I offer no citations other than to mention that I was heartened to see that efforts are being made to help those who need assistance to find shelter.
For those who will not leave their homes there are apparently no strong arm tactics to force them to do so. As it should be even though some may die or wish they had gotten on the bus when it came by.
If you are in the path of the storm I hope you weather it in one piece.
We’ve come a long way since Katrina. We have learned.
As an aside, I think it was on Ed Brayton’s blog where it was mentioned that someone predicted that people left to fend for themselves would soon be fighting in the streets over food and fuel.
I really don’t think so. People are (mostly) better than that and when faced with a common threat are (mostly) apt to help each other for mutual benefit.
Not that there will be no struggles for basic needs should the situation drag on. Some will inevitably think that their own needs outweigh the needs of others. That is, I think, unavoidable in times of extreme (read: extreme) duress.
Spock nailed it when he observed that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. I think that something similar is part of our culture and can be demonstrated by watching what happens when a community is struck by sudden calamity in this (USA) country. There are, unfortunately, exceptions to every generality.
Matt Penfold:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Well that is good to hear.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Hurricane Sandy: 10 statistics that place this powerful storm in perspective:
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:00 am
Matt at 169:
To the best of my understanding, the Bounty began taking water about a hundred miles off the North Carolina coast. Not quite the North Atlantic, but still, the Atlantic. One tough and unforgiving body of water from Newfoundland to the Straights of Magellan.
Assuming that the ship had an experienced captain I wonder why she left Connecticut in the first place given that this storm has been brewing for at least two weeks.
Someone will write a book about this, I’m sure.
Matt Penfold:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:04 am
And if she was heading for St Petersburg, why was she off the Carolinas ? She should have been going the otherway, following the coast to Newfoundland before heading east.
dianne:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:05 am
Rain. Some wind. Not much else here yet. But apparently, Brooklyn has already flooded on pure storm surge. If a genie appeared and offered me one wish right now it would be to transport all the climate change deniers in the country to the flooded parts of Brooklyn and see if they still didn’t believe in global warming.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:11 am
Royal Horticultural Society photographic competition 2012 — winning pictures.
I rather like #6 (which is where the link should be pointing…).
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:16 am
blf at 172:
Like you, I’m wondering if future storms might more often than not take this unusual track. This storm is highly unusual in that it’s turning west in the higher latitudes. True, there is a major high pressure system hovering in the North Atlantic and the jet stream is taking an unusually deep dip to the south and is lingering there. These conditions amount to steering mechanisms that are controlling Sandy’s course. The cold front trending ESE from Canada is playing a supporting role but! Conditions like this are novel and are not reflected in the historical record of Atlantic storms.
It is really daunting to think that large storms could be changing their habits and posing a threat to a part of the country that has historically been isolated from the ravages that are all to familiar in Gulf of Mexico coasts. The northeast coast has an overwhelming amount of resource and influence, not to mention little experience with major storms, especially one that may linger for several days. Most Gulf storms show up and blow through in less than one day. We’re damn sure gonna learn where our weak points lie during the next few days.
Just this moment Faux News (don’t dis me, bro, I’m channel surfing) reports that sixteen are safe and the ship has foundered and is observed to be awash but not sunk. We’ll know more this afternoon, I suppose.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:18 am
Threadrupt!
I picked a hell of a day for my umbrella to snap in half. ಠ_ಠ
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Matt at 174:
Shirley you jest. :|
Crudely Wrott:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:26 am
I’ve been awake for nearly a full earth rotation and I’m getting silly and weak and I’m out of beer.
I go sleep now.
Ya’ll keep watch for me, eh?
See ya later.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Crudely Wrott@177, Just for clarity, that “Whether I agree with it or not, this will lead to discussion over whether we’re witnessing the first impacts of climate change” (in @172) was part of the quoted article (not my added comment). The blockquoting is correct.
Having said that, I don’t disagree with the sentiment, but am loathe to attribute any one particular weather event to AGW. However, I have no clear idea at what point a repeating / predictable series of weather events can be plausibly attributabled to AGW.
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:34 am
You wanted to be carried away on the winds Mary Poppins style?
(What the feck are you doing outdoors anyways?)
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:41 am
It is called “work.”
And in any case, the storm isn’t going to hit here until tomorrow. Today is just heavy rain.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:47 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_New_Jersey_hurricanes#Deadliest_storms
a bigger problem is that the coast has been built out with crap housing in the last couple of decades that will cause some issues.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:49 am
the housing statement in post #181 is anecdotal from a NJite friend
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:51 am
181 dammit! bash scripting and posting dont mix
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:57 am
I fink you mean @170…
blf:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Actually, @184 would make more sense in context re “housing statement”…
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:17 am
thanks blf
Matt Penfold:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:17 am
Well unless St Petersburg, Russia has moved, no.
To get there from the East Coast of the US, head up to Newfoundland, turn right and head east across the North Atlantic, pass between Iceland and Scotland, and once clear of Scotland, head south-west and thence into the Skagerrak and then the Kattegat, heading up the Baltic to the Gulf of Boethia.
Rey Fox:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:31 am
The typical arc of TV show quality
jose:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Everybody go read Libby Anne.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:32 am
vid from the last frankenstorm 1938
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze– @162
I’ll take your word on Buffy and Angel. Never got a chance to get into the shows: being under the Great TV Ban until I moved out of my parents’, and subsequent efforts to try to get into it failed miserably (I think it’s the monsters and vampires and stuff – for all of delving into the paranormal and supernatural, I never quite found the appeal of them as life-like story elements; now dragons, on the other hand…).
Friends who did follow the shows seem to be more or less unanimous in their positive reviews over all seasons (more for Buffy than for Angel).
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:51 am
Rey Fox @191
Thanks for that! :D
jose
Did that. Brilliant work, that.
Still keeping all my good wishes up and running for those in the path of Sandy! Not much on the news over here, but I hope all is well and that things have been wildly exaggerated. (I know that things are already pretty crazy in places, but still…)
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:58 am
vampires in New England
http://theweek.com/article/index/235398/new-englands-vampire-panic
rorschach:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
My Thailand holiday hasn’t quite panned out the way I planned it. Last night I found myself translating missives to the Finnish government until 1am. Although the whole “being driven around town in an E class Merc by the nicest woman on the planet” thing I could really get used to.
Needs more Corona…
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I’m going to watch Once More With Feeling (since we’re talking Buffy) tonight and then go to bed early. I’m already in too bad mood to deal with sexist shits half the night.
Too bad it’s only quarter past 6pm. I’d rather just go to sleep.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
…I think this line is mostly filler…
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 29th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Have to saw having gone back to review Buffy and Angel the difference between Buffy at prime and early Buffy is startling. I think if Buffy came out now with me as I currently am I would have not watched beyond the first 4 episodes. It really catches its pace in second season and reaches an apex in 3rd for me. 4th and 5th start to show a slide downward as they drift away from the original tone but still had some memorable moments. 6 and 7 were a needed shot in the arm of the original juice, but I think the series died a natural death there with anything beyond that going to just be a march towards disappointment (ie the comics)
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Oh, come on, that’s just been sitting there?
*ahem*
DON’T CALL HIM SHIRLEY.
dianne:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Does anyone know if the islands off the coast of NJ were evacuated? They’re predicted to go under water.
chigau (棒や石):
October 29th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Roger, Roger.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
test
Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel):
October 29th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Well, crap dammit. My county has issued a state of emergency.
*hunkers down!*
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Stay safe, Audley.
chigau (棒や石):
October 29th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Audley, safe wishes for you and yours.
And everyone else in the path.
cicely:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Joe, I like your Happy Place. Bobble heads!
*squee!*
Also, Army surplus places sometimes have lots of cast iron cookware, for cheap.
-
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Oh Joy getting ready to loot on hurricane day
https://twitter.com/Call_me_WORM/status/262916688905895936
TRIGGER WARNING! THE RESPONSES ARE HORRIBLE!!!
https://twitter.com/LucasEmil_10/status/262915295956574208
https://twitter.com/Adoo_S/status/262873391290281984
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
ARGH
Cat puked on the bedspread.
Took bedspread into bathroom, shook puke into toilet, stuck stained bit of bedspread in the sink, turned cold water on to run over stain.
Went into kitchen to resume working on cookies, turned on mixer.
Ran mixer for nearly 10 minutes straight.
Turned mixer off.
Put cookie dough in fridge.
Put away baking equipment.
Sipped tea.
Wondered idly what the running water noise was.
Remembered bathroom sink.
… yup.
Flooded the fucking bathroom.
FUCK
Improbable Joe:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Time to panic? Hurricane to the east of me, blizzards to the west of me! Woo!
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
ROFL
http://www.theonion.com/articles/god-distances-self-from-christian-right,30087/
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Beatrice re:Walking Dead
Her name is Michonne, and she’ll be around. I do get annoyed with the perfect aim of all shooters, Carl included. The ammo thing is also a problem but I think they’ve done a fairly good job with story so far. Plus the story is about to get really crazy with the Prison and the Governor.
opposablethumbs:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Hoping all of you in the affected areas are well-prepared and safe.
There’s a great big throbbing-with-rage arsepimple on the Buffy thread frothing at the mouth over people not finding his sexist “humour” funny. Quite the textbook example, really – got almost straight to the point of accusing people of being humourless hivemind feminazis who need to get laid … ’cause imma make any joke I like, and lotsa Real Men all over the place think it’s real funny, so tough!
No, really, you’d think it was reading from a script except it was so frothily, spontaneously indignant.
Popcorn.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
kristinc
One day a few years back I was at home filling the sink to thaw something. My phone rang and I went upstairs to get on the company VPN and help out the caller.
20 mins later I remembered the sink
and the water
and the wood floors in the kitchen.
no bueno
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
kristinc – can you claim it as hurricane damage?
I woke up once in the middle of the night and heard a sound. It took a minute or two to wake up and realize that it was the sound of spraying water. I followed it out, and as soon as I got to the bedroom door, stepped in water. The filler tube on the toilet had sprung a leak, and had covered the bathroom and adjacent hallway. Fun times.
The town I am adjacent to has just shut down all non-emergency travel. The college, however, has not yet announced any shutdown. I am this close to calling the president and telling him he’s out of his freaking mind.
Richard Austin:
October 29th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Joe:
Just repeat after Tiffany:
tbtabby:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
I just finished reading Issue 257 of Electronic Gaming Monthly. I think it’s relevant to this community because it talks about women in video games, both as video game characters and the actual women who work in the industry. Here’s a brief summary:
-Press Start has an article on women in the industry and the struggles they’ve had with sexism, making special mention of Anita Sarkeesian and the disgraceful treatment she got. After that is an article about the Frag Dolls and the way they’ve risen to become more than just an all-female gaming clan.
-5 Lives featured Meggan Scavio, general manager of the Game Developers’ Conference. She doesn’t do well.
-The EGM Roundtable discusses the subject of well-rounded characters in video games, touching briefly on the difficulties of writing strong female characters.
-The EGM Interview is with Amy Hennig, who’s worked on the Legacy of Kain and Uncharted series.
-There’s a list of the 20 best female characters in video games. I think the number one choice may be a little controversial, though…
-The cover feature is on the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot, and how the developers are trying to make Lara Croft a more realistically defined character.
-Next Wave showcases two games with female protagonists: Beyond: Two Souls and Remember Me.
-Two of the editorials deal with sexism among gamers: Abbie Heppe writes a painful column about the experiences she’d had with misogynists and how difficult but necessary it is to keep fighting, and Eric Patterson writes about the need to stop being passive towards bigotry among fellow gamers and speak out against it.
-To end on a more lighthearted note, Seanbaby gives a list of the 5 worst female characters in video games.
I recommend you seek out this issue on the newsstands if you’re not a subscriber. Reading Abbie Heppe’s column, I had to keep glacing at the date on my iPhone to make sure it really was 2012. How is that shit still going on?!
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Good evening
Today I learned how privileged I am compared to some other students. The girl in the row behind me complained loudly to her neighbour that tonight her mum will cook something that’s not exactly her favourite meal while I got exactly the can of Ravioli I bought and cooked myself…
I also hate daylight saving time
++++
Hope all the Horde-members are warm and dry
++++
kristin
Damn, I hope no greater damage was done.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Wrong end of the country, alas.
Ooooh.
This is the THIRD flood we’ve had, but at least it’s the only one that was my fault. Once the soap tray clogged in a washing machine that routed the water flow through the soap tray to fill the machine. Once the toilet backed up while we were out for several hours. Now this. Fortunately, it wasn’t a major flood and every towel in the house was enough to mop it up.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Giliell, does Europe do canned ravioli better than the US? Because here, it’s a barely-edible single mass of blech.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
There’s a good side to arguing with fuckwits on internet. I’m now drained enough that I can’t be bothered to argue with my father. He can be insulting, I’ll keep my mouth shut and at least won’t get accused of making his life miserable with my arguing.
(Yes, a real life version of “I can insult you, but if you get angry it means you’re crazy/mean/evil”)
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Beatrice, I am sorry that you live with a Troll.
Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel):
October 29th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Thanks, Beatrice and chigau.
We should be fine. Since this part of the world is mostly getting wind and not rain, the likelihood of my neighborhood being evacuated is pretty low*. We have everything we need if we lose power for several days and I’ve got family who live within walking distance, so I’ve also got plenty of support should I need it.
According to Wunderground.com, we’re not supposed to start seeing Sandy until late tonight, so for now I’m getting some odds and ends done and snuggling with DarkInfant on the couch.
*We were evaced during Irene. That was… surreal.
cicely:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Word.
The consistency of the “noodles”, in particular, sucks on toast.
In fact, I recommend throwing out the “noodles” and just eating the toast.
-
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Hehe, thanks
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
I forgot we’re out of cat food. I have to go get some this afternoon. It’s in the same shopping plaza with walmart, and there’s only one entrance. *whimper*
rq:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Once I forgot I was boiling eggs and locked myself out of the house. Haven’t managed to flood anything yet, though. Enough of that happening on its own!
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 29th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
kristin
Hmmm, I would have to have sampled US canned Ravioli to say anything concrete. At least you can clearly distinguish noodles, meat-filling and sauce and they have a comfort-food component.
beatrice
Hugses
+++
Flooding
My bathroom-radiator once flooded two floors when a rubber gasket gave way. Funny thing was that it was in the early days when we had rented this flat and were actually not sleeping here usually because the house was being renovated and horribly loud. It was only pure chance that I was there and heard the neighbours ring the doorbell.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
I never caused a flood either, but had a couple of minor ones in the kitchen during heavy rain. Some genius made rain water from the roof drain into the same pipes that are used for waste water in the kitchen. Debris gets them clogged and some apartments have a fun kitchen experience every now and then. We’re near the top, so that’s usually either us or ap. above.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
trade in can of ravioli for a can of baked beans heat and put them on the toast.
cicely:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Years back, The Husband and I lived in a first floor (of three) apartment. Things from somewhere else in the system—we suspect from upstairs—would wash up in our bathroom sink.
We never did find out what the red, rigid plastic thingies were (sized about right for a shotgun shell, but plainly not), but the condoms were pretty self-explanatory.
-
cicely:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
By far the best plan that doesn’t involve a bucket of wet cement!
:)
-
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/10/tweet-of-day_29.html
cicely:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
And thinking of using cans of ravioli in a stocking to stun rabbits, has anybody seen/heard from TLC, lately?
-
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
October 29th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
kristinc, carlie,
The flood I caused was much bigger than yours! I was living in a rented house, went away for a few days around Christmas, and didn’t drain the system, or leave the heating on. Came back, switched the heating on, went to bed. Woke in the night to the sound of dripping water and assumed it had been raining. Looked out, saw that it was dry. Dripping seemed to be coming from above. Went up to the attic – AAARRGGHHH! Water jetting out of a burst pipe, everything soaked. Couldn’t find the stopcock. By the time I found it, water was cascading down the stairs. Bloody thing was frozen or rusted in place. Tried ringing my then partner (now wife) for advice. No reply. Tried ringing the landlady. She answered, but had nothing to suggest. By the time I eventually managed to turn the thing, water damage was so extensive I had to move out. Landlady was not pleased. Fortunately, I was able to get my insurance to pay.
cicely:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
“If you do not have a second or third home, go stay at your parents’ second or third home until after the looting and cannibalism by the 47% have abated.”
-
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Stupid question time? In the US, can we finally drop the singing of at sporting events?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 29th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Man Men/Doctor Who mash up: Mad Man With A Box.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 29th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Am I the only one who liked Angel more than Buffy?
I mean I loved Angel all the way through so much I own all the DVDS. Though I can see some of its issues.
I can’t stand Buffy, thought it was hit or miss episode wise and then watched enough to hate her. I didn’t bother to watch more or see how it ended.
cm's changeable moniker:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Somebody I lived with managed to burn boiled potatoes.
Apparently, you have to put the potatoes on to boil, then watch something really interesting on TV. After a while, once the water’s gone …
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
#238 Janine they dont sing that around here, we use star spangled banner
It’s an old tradition to sing or play the national anthem at sporting events, even other countries do it.
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Nice opinion piece about abortion.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
JAL:
I liked Angel a lot, but I reeeeeeaaaaly disliked Connor. I felt season 4 with jasmine never clicked with me. Season five was quite good until the end when they rushed things.
The intro music though…? I LOVE the moody score.
ibyea:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
@broboxley
That Onion article is not a great fanfiction of Yahweh. He is totally OOC in it.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9640920/Moscow-police-discover-brothel-on-monastery-premises.html
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
timing your poots into a revolving door, priceless
makes the workday go faster
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Oh, yes that intro! It’s so good I could imagine tracking it down just to listen to it. Not that have or anything. *shifty eyes*
Yeah, Connor was…terrible to be nice about it. It felt like they came up with Angel’s child and the kidnapping, then didn’t know what else to do with it. I was really happy when that was all over but kept thinking that him posing as a normal mortal isn’t going to work. Lo and behold, it didn’t and they went that way anyway…Oh god, what if he comes back as like a Super Hero Douche? I could totally see Connor doing that. Ugh. (The show is over obviously but I mean later in other works or some fanfiction.)
Jasmine worked for me because I loved Angel’s struggle with humans being evil too and that Earth was the home office of Teh Evil Dudes. The whole Jasmine thing,saving everyone from mind control was ending world peace. I’m a humanist but cynical. I think it worked so well because of my own struggle with how much humans suck at the time. I connected well with the series. I loved how Cornelia grew and changed. The last episode with her left me bawling and still does. Fred’s readjustment to the world hit home for me so much.
I could go on and on about this.
I love and hate season 5 because it was the end. Maybe it’s because I didn’t see it when it aired, only saw it on DVD later but it worked for me. I hate the cliff hanger but really can’t see it ending any other way so I love it too.
I never connected with Buffy that way. I like Angel, thought Spike was entertaining in a guilty pleasure way and like Willow. Then there was Faith. Her story arch in Angel was awesome.
The biggest hurtle for me liking Buffy was Buffy herself. She was so annoying, self-centered and came off as stupid. I also kept wondering where were anyone’s parents and why did her sister mysterious appear out of nowhere. You know that episode where Buffy’s sister gets them all trapped inside Buffy’s house because they all kept ditching her and Buffy was all self-centered? I remembering thinking at the time, this perfectly demonstrates everything I hate about this show. I’ve only seen it the once but that probably still holds true. That’s really the only episode I remember now.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Rev BDC:
theyre doing the prison? Damn. I hate that I can’t watch the show. The prison arc in the comic was great.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
JAL:
What artist created the ANGEL score? I’d love to have that as a ringtone.
a_ray_in_dilbert_space:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
Sandy is blowing through just north of us about now. Amazingly, we still have power. I made a big batch of Peruvian deviled potatoes just in case we lost power.
Sandy is a pretty impressive phenomenon so far, but we will hope the luck–and the house–hold out.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
It says it was Holly Knight/Darling Violetta
That’s where I got my version from, though admittedly I had to get the info from Wiki since I couldn’t remember the names. I got it so long ago and it still has an effect on me. Little One even recognizes it. lol.
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Tony and JAL – The Hoodlum and I really enjoyed watching ANGEL. Especially the intro music.
Now I have to check out the link to the intro. : )
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
I got this cute little key chain thing that has a picture place in it. I was going to put Little One’s picture in it only to discover I didn’t get any wallet sized pictures from her picture day. =(
Of course, now my inner paranoia is rejoicing. Yep, I’m paranoid about putting my daughter’s picture on a key chain because what if I lose my keys?, what if someone targets her?, what if I run into my abusive ex?
Ugh. Baggage is heavy.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Oh, that link was just to the Wiki. Here’s a quick link to it on youtube though.
Angel intro, full song.
ftfkdad:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Godless Teen wants you to know he was lucky enough to introduce Richard Dawkins at his school!
http://www.godlessteens.com/2012/10/presenting-richard-dawkins-by-godless-teen-2/
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
I’m tired and I need to go to bed, and I have no homework done, but I feel somehow like I have to keep paying attention to all the storm coverage because somehow it’s disrespectful not to. This makes absolutely no sense, but I still can’t go to sleep.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Tony
What worked for me was a person I liked and respected immediately looking me in the eye and saying “Please don’t use that word around me. I don’t like it.” Of course, there was a headstart in the sense that I was sensitive in a lot of other areas and had that blind spot remaining. YMMV and all that.
Not climate change. The End Times.
carlie
Thank you. It was getting unseemly just sitting out there like that.
Audley
It occurs to me to be very glad that there’s no danger of you going into labor while stranded or out of power, etc.
Janine
: ( Sorry you have to worry about those sorts of things. *hugs* if you want ‘em.
-+=+-
I hope all the Hordelings are safe and warm and healthy.
-+=+-
Tomorrow I have to give a talk at the Rotary meeting. Hoping it drums up some new business when I show off all the knowledge I have about the one law I beefed up on in order to present on it. Bonus, it’s a new law so if I don’t know an answer, it’s probably because it hasn’t been interpreted yet!
carlie:
October 29th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Holy fuck, is DDMFM in New York??? Did he cancel on going??? I think he was supposed to be there, like, now.
Muse:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Carlie – yes, David is in NYC. He’s checked in on PET though and seemed to be fine at last report.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Portia, that was not me. That was JAL. I do not have a child nor an ex I need to avoid.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Sorry, Janine. My brain thought “J” and my fingers went wild.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
(Just to be clear, I did know you weren’t the one describing the photo key chain, it was just in the typing that I had the issue).
Jadehawk:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
hi.
I got a perfect score on the GRE verbal section. [/pointless bragging]
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Congrats Jadehawk!
*doublechecks that it’s the right “J” name*
Yes, congrats! :D
Bet that eases some worry about your application.
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Jadehawk, that’s not pointless bragging that is a true achievement!
Jadehawk:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
dunno. how important do you think the math section* is for getting into a sociology program? cuz that one didn’t go nearly as well (ok, but nothing to write home about)
*i typoed that as sextion at least 3 times before it finally came out right :-p
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
JAL – Thanks for both links. Very cool. Beautiful music.
*thumbsup*
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
#267 Janine,
I went all the way thru the eighth grade. I know how hard tests are. I respect those who achieve academic goals. Unfortunately I’m serious.
Thank (insert deity of your choice here or Carnegie) for public libraries and the tech revolution. In a revolution you need people who can do the work and pay them accordingly without asking for credentials, just experience.
Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel):
October 29th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Still waiting on the storm. So far, we’ve had some gusty winds and drizzle.
But the good news is, we’ve discovered that the heat in our apartment doesn’t work, yay! Add that to our grand total of zero storm windows, and tonight’s gonna be great. >:(
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
JAL @ 254 – (Sorry, I’m out of order.)
I’m sorry. The see-saw of emotions sucks. Hugs if you want them.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
cicely @237:
Ah, that tweet and those following were hilarious (in that “I can almost believe this is true” kind of way).
****
Janine @238:
I’m ready when you are.
I’m still waiting to hear when God is going to start blessing America (that’s a great segue to the following link):
broboxley OT:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:18 pm
#270 Audley
You already know this but just in case :-) cuddling under heavy blankets are fine for you but not for the little one. A very warm head covering and very warm foot covering and a light cover in layers is what keeps the little one warm. Speaking from sub arctic experience with newborns with a woodstove in the main room and sleeping in the 35-40F bedrooms
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Hey all. Threadrupt, have a teenage friend of my son’s here. Apparently his father hit him and left bruises 2 days ago, he doesn’t want to go home, we’re willing to let him stay here tonight, does anyone have any general tips on our legal position, liabilities and so on? I think as far as I know right now his mom is okay with him staying, but I’m not absolutely sure about the outcome of that discussion yet.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
kristinc
Remind me, sorry, are you in the U.S.? What state, if you’re comfortable saying.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Oh sorry, meant to say I’m in the US. In WA.
We did get Mom’s approval for one night, but no more. She has another side to the story, which I don’t know and I’m not interested in. I’m interested in advocating for the kid in whatever conflict it is, because the kid is always the under-represented one, and I was an abused teen with no one to advocate for me.
Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel):
October 29th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
Broboxely:
Got it covered. She’s in warm one-piece pjs (with a matching hat!) and swaddled up tight (in one of those Velcro-able “Swaddle Me” blankets) and she’s in her own crib– not with us.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
:D
kristinc
Ok, thanks. I’m gonna look a little and think a little and let you know what I think in just a minute.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
JAL @248:
I loved Cordy’s development as well. Watching her from the beginning of Buffy when she was self absorbed, vacuous, and pretentious until her death in Angel, when she was a compassionate, courageous, self sacrificing heroine was amazing. I liked Wesley’s growth as well.
Don’t let me stop you. I’m all ears.
Ah, the rogue Slayer.
Faith Lehane.
Played by Eliza Dushku.
A character with layers.
A character who was one of the *most* human of all those on Buffy or Angel.
Of all the characters on either show, she is by far my absolute favorite.
Did you ever learn why (it was an interesting how they pulled it off)?
@252:
Oh thank you!
@254:
:( ::Hugs::
****
ednaz@253:
The intro really fit the show, given the noirish feel they were going for.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Minor update to my 274 & 276: his mom reported him as a runaway when he didn’t come home from school today. When Misterc talked to her on the phone a few minutes ago, she agreed to contact the police and tell them he wasn’t a “runaway” any longer because she knew where he was. Well, she called back about 5 minutes later to say that the cops won’t un-runaway him until he’s actually home, so there’s a slim chance the police may show up at our door for a chat (pretty slim though). In which case we’ll advocate for him as best we can, I guess.
I did offer to call the police myself and try to get him in contact with social services if he would rather go to a foster home than go home, but he didn’t want that. He seems to plan on sleeping on friend’s couches indefinitely, which, obviously concerns me. I wish I could help him have some kind of coherent longterm plan, or at least resources to make one himself when he’s ready.
He’s not the kind of kid who cries, or hugs or is demonstrative, but he has just closed up like a limpet. He’s obviously really, really upset and it breaks my heart.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
kristinc
Based on what’s in the Washington statutes, it looks like if you gave the friend’s parents the required notice of his whereabouts, you are immune from civil liability. Mom knowing he’s at your house means the notice is satisfied, I think. (IANAWSLL-I am not a Washington State licensed lawyer).
I recommend reading the comments to the statute, as well.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=13.32A.010
There is potentional criminal liability. It says that “unlawful harboring of a minor” is a “gross misdemeanor.” That’s not a classification I’m familiar with, but I suppose at that point it becomes a question of how far out you’re willing to stick your neck. It look like you have to refuse to turn the kid over to the cops in order to be charged. Proceed with caution.
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
I ran errands this morning. 8 people smiled and said ‘Hi’ to me. I smiled and said ‘Hi’ back. It was great. Maybe I am not so ugly and fat and so hated by everyone that I can’t leave the house.
I have become a hermit in these last few years. Between being laid off my job and health issues my confidence has disappeared.
I remember the young woman, unafraid, standing in the spotlight – soaking it up. I remember she was full of empathy for her family and friends – and they felt comfortable talking things over with her.
Now there are days I don’t even leave the house. I don’t answer the door when someone knocks. I wait as they walk away to see if I know them. (Thanks to the thug who “works” for the landlord who tried to force his way into our home. My Hoodlum had to literally push him back out of our home.)
It’s time for me to go back to work. I let my fear keep me from doing the things I wanted to for too long.
First I’ll get a job, then we’ll save, then we’ll move. And I will be so happy to leave this awful place.
TL;DR – This is my rebuilding year and I have a lot of work to do.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Jadehawk @264:
Awesome!
Happy dance time!
****
Sometimes I like hearing stories from guests at work.
Sometimes I don’t.
Tonight I waited on a married couple. The guy did *a lot* of talking, even though I kept trying to initiate something with his wife (who, for the most part, seemed comfortable being silent). The guy had some interesting stories to tell, but he said two things that made me cringe mildly. One-he complained about The Affordable Care Act, saying he was going to have to pay $250,000 for his business because of the ACA. He also mentioned that he thinks it’s disrespectful to wear a blazer, dress shirt and jeans in a fine dining establishment. He feels that if there’s white linen, one should dress for that.
Personally, I do not like dressing up. One of my last jobs, I had to wear a dress shirt with a tie, and slacks. I don’t like ties. I don’t really care to dress up with long sleeved, starched shirts. I’m a jeans and tee shirt kinda guy (obviously with some variation-I do like turtle necks, for instance). It just rubs me the wrong way that there’ s perception that your appearance is more important than eating. And who is disrespected if you wear blue jeans in a 5 star restaurant?
****
I had to kick myself for being an idiot earlier. I had to buy cat and dog food on the way home and returned to my car, I saw a guy park his car in the disabled parking spot. I noted his license plate stated that he was a disabled veteran. As I watched him get out of his car (this was taking place over a few seconds) he seemed to be walking fine, with a possible limp. My knee-jerk thought was “This guy is walking fine. Why does he have a disabled tag on his plate?” Within seconds I was berating myself. There I was judging another person whom I knew *nothing* about, and thinking he was faking or being a liar; neither of which I had any evidence of.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
kristinc
Taking off my analytical hat, I’d like to say I think this kid is lucky he has you to advocate for him. It’s definitely heartbreaking. Poor kid. No kid should have to deal with the cops because of this sort of a circumstance. I hope it all works out in the long run.
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Tony @ 279
Exactly! : )
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 29th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
ednaz:
Best of luck to you with rebuilding and moving forward with your life.
I completely understand becoming a hermit. I have too. Being fired twice in one year for B.S. makes it so frustrating. Being broke all the time means I can’t socialize with my friends much. There are days I don’t leave the house, so that I can save gas. I haven’t been to the gym in 2 months because I can’t afford the monthly fees. Between missing K earlier (really I was missing the *idea* of having a boyfriend you know? Just having someone to kiss) and being frustrated at not making enough money to live on, I was really in a mood (still am to a small extent).
Xanthë:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
Hi folks, and hi PZ — just to let you know, check your email, I’ll be writing to you in a minute or two. :-)
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 29th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Thanks Portia. Doesn’t look like I’ll be able to do a lot for him — I’d love to have the resources to say “sure, pack a bag, we’ve got lots of space” but … yeah. I don’t. I’ll do what I can.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Best of luck, kristinc.
Portia:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Re: hermitage. I do that sometimes, because going out means being social, which can feel risky. And expensive. So some weekends I just don’t leave my house. The downside of a home office is I’m not always forced out into the world, and I end up wallowing in hermitude even when I’m working.
Anyhow, goodnight all, I’m turning in. Take care out there.
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Tony @ 283 – My sister’s mother-in-law had a handicap sign for her car. She wore braces on her legs – which noone could see as they were under her pants. People would yell at her. She would lift the cuff of her jeans and show them the braces!
It was a real eye-opener for me.
I also tell myself, when I see someone with a sign who seems to be “walking just fine” that it could be a family member who is handicapped and that person is the one who does the driving. : )
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Tony – I hear you. You have my ear and *hugs* if you want them. And thanks for your kind words.
Portia – Thanks for your understanding. I appreciate it. And *hugs to you too. : )
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
kristinc – You are a good person. I hope you can help your son’s friend with very little (or no) grief.
ednaz:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
If you live in the midwest of the U.S.A. go outside right now and look at the moon!!
It has two HUGE circles around it that connect. It is amazing!
: )
Patricia, OM:
October 29th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
Hope I didn’t miss too much, and everyone is OK! I’ve been ill with Exorcist scene vomiting, headaches, weakness, and diarrhea that gave a whole new context to Johnny Cash’s song Burning Ring of Fire. Ugh. Better finally, tonight. My doctor doesn’t know if it is the drugs I quit or not. (That’s so fucking helpful)
The news out here is reporting New York is getting pounded, so I am worried about the Darkheart family especially because of the new baby.
I hope all the Horde is safe. *begins hand wringing of a jewish grandmother*
Patricia, OM:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:05 am
Regarding handicapped permits, we have a lot of veterans that come into our office that have them. Sometimes it isn’t a walking issue for legs, sometimes it’s breathing issues. Another cause, M has a permit and it isn’t for breathing or legs, it’s for 4F flat feet that can only walk so far. He simply cannot walk from the furthest edge of a parking lot into a store or pharmacy.
In Oregon he was able to get a sticker for his bike & sidecar, making him able to ride for another year to the store. :D
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 12:11 am
It’s coldish here.
About -4°C.
Best hopes for all in the path.
and hugses for everyone else.
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 12:20 am
Oh. and
we stopped at the convenience store on the way home … bought smokes, chocolate, chips, milk, cat food and aspirin.
(but not bread (I won’t be baking until Wednesday or Thursday))
bread is the reason we stopped at the convenience store.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:31 am
John Scalzi knocks one out of the park. Trigger Warning.
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:33 am
Patricia O.M. – Sending tea and warm slippers and what else can I send?
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:33 am
Patricia @296:
Thank you for the added perspective.
****
I feel kinda bad complaining about the chilly 50º F we have here when chigau is dealing with -4ºC.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:34 am
ednaz:
Thank you for the hugs and concern :)
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:34 am
chigau –
Oh no! Aaaarrgghh!
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:47 am
Good morning
Where has the night gone?
Oh, I remember…
Seems like the littel one picked up a Croup and I’m debating myself whether to take her to the doc this morning. Everything I read on the internet says yes.
+++
Hope all Hordlings are safe and dry and the worst is over.
+++
kristinc
Fuck.
Maybe a night of peace and some sympathetic people, i.e. you can at least help jim to figure out realistic options, because just staying with friends obviously isn’t one.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Damn. Following up on my last post, is another one requiring a Trigger Warning (again, about rape).
The statistics are horrifying.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 30th, 2012 at 12:50 am
Ah Tony, just wait until chigau has an actually cold day. I used to live in the same city and the minus 20c’s are not far off and it’s likely to get down to the mid minus 30c’s at some point. Refreshing! :)
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:05 am
Oh, that’s not good. Respiratory distress is one of those things they take seriously in the very young. I’d go to be on the safe side. I had a peditrician tell me that for the first child she spent most of her time reassuring parents that they probably wouldn’t kill their child. For the second she spent most of her time pointing out that it was indeed possible to kill their child. Her point was that we can get a bit too casual because with the second child we now have a sample size of one feeding our availability heuristic.
I had “The” croup as a child and ended up in an oxygen tent. Mind you, this was in the early seventies, here’s hoping they have better treatments now. As a sign of just how different times were: I remember being back at home after the hospital stay. My parents put me in my room with one of those old steam vaporisers. I was having trouble sleeping and was scared and restless until I noticed that there was a parent watching over me in the dark room. How did I know? By the glow of their cigarette. Oi.
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:13 am
Tony
FossilFishy has it correct.
Tonight is put on a hoody.
Later is put a cat under the hoody (while wearing said hoody).
—
ednaz
I’m making biscuits for breakfast.
Patricia, OM:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:16 am
ednaz & Tony – I know that there are some folks that are less than honest with the permits, but as we transition from the WWII generation into the Korean and Viet Nam veterans you will see more and more people that you may not understand their disability. Some PTSD sufferers simply cannot cross the wide open space of a large parking lot. So thanks for taking a second look at the permit system. :)
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:19 am
FossilFishy
I did laugh aloud.
My General Practitioner used to conduct an exam whilst smoking.
Ah. The good old days.
*cough*
Patricia, OM:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:28 am
ednaz – Thanks for the warm fuzzies! Three of us can’t figger out what happened to me. Was it suddenly stopping the drugs my doctor proscribed, was it a bug I caught, was it some wine I drank that tasted like Dow dumped the dregs of every vat in it?
Who knows, but I’m sure happy to be better!
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:29 am
And I laughed out loud at the ‘eh’ correction. I’ve been away too long it seems.
I also fear that I’ve become so weak from antipodal living that should I return I would be culled by wolves the second I stepped off the plane.
Patricia, OM:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:42 am
The news reports from back East are scaring me. I’m worried as hell about y’all.
I wanna show up with every pot I own full of hot bubbling soups, and every baking dish full of hot buttered biscuts.
Oh dear, oh dear! :((((
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:45 am
FossilFishy
Should you return, do it in Northern Hemisphere Summer.
The shorts and
thongsflipflops will fit right in.The wolves will be in some basement-bar, wearing sunglasses and howling under their breath.
(probably at a table with Brownian)
rq:
October 30th, 2012 at 2:45 am
Sandy seems intent on causing trouble. Flying signs killing people? That’s windy.
In other news, the news reporters here can’t seem to decide whether ‘Sandy’ is masculine or feminine (it’s important because it’s a strictly gendered language with no neuter option and according to the language laws they can’t just write ‘Sandy’, it has to follow local grammar rules). One news outlet is saying ‘Sendijs’ and the other is saying ‘Sendija’. :P Useless trivia.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:21 am
Seconding love for Angel intro music. I haven’t heard it in years (listening to the linked video right now).
I’ve been watching some Buffy episodes lately, but I think I’ll have to download Angel too. I didn’t watch the series to the end. Considering some spoilers I’ve read here, it seems I’ve stopped watching quite a bit before the end.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:24 am
I’ve read the thread before going to the store, so now I’m not sure any more who were the people I wanted to address, so I’ll just offer *hugs* for everyone who needs them.
McC2lhu doesn't want to know what you did there.:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:06 am
ednaz @294:
Is what you are seeing the optical ‘halo’ effect? I have seen a double one on a few occasions in Alberta. Not so much here in SoCal :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_%28optical_phenomenon%29
carlie:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:42 am
Well, my area is ok. A few hundred without power in the county, and some trees down here and there in town, and there was one power line that went down and caught fire. There was a no-drive order last night that does not appear to have been rescinded, but they also haven’t closed the school district, so I assume that means it’s no longer in effect.
blf:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:22 am
Finally! A use for forty-foot high killer rats. We already have about two dozen, so just a few dozen more, point them at South Africa, and voilà, a free phone: South Africans offered free phone for every 60 rats caught.
I wonder how long it will be before the Patrician’s advice (“tax the rat farms”) will be sought…
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:33 am
So, there and back again.
Even managed to spend half an hour in college to tell everybody I’m not there.
And I got homeopathic bullshit, even though I told the guy I don’t believe in that stupid (German doctors are a riddle wrapped in an enigma in that respect.)
And I got real medicine.
+++
I hope everybody on the East coast is safe. The pictures look scary (although there are always a few idiots who should have put “stupidity” on their death certificate in case they die, I’m angry that they also endanger rescue personel and take up resources urgently needed)
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Dundee:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:35 am
A poll!
http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/awards/shonky-awards/shonkys/shonkys-2012-poll.aspx
Vote for the homeopathy (“Nature’s Way Kids Smart Natural Medicines”) to win the shonkiest of the shonkies product award.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:49 am
Wait, they get upset because Toblerone bars have not-easily-to-divide-servings? Seriously, there must be some bigger problems in the world…
Matt Penfold:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:59 am
I’ve never had a problem dividing a Toberlone into equal shares, since I do not share my Toberlones with anyone!
StevoR:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:17 am
Hope all the East USA coastal Pharyngulites & other FTBers are well and safe from the Storm.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
From the old “somebody-give-that-man-a-geography-lesson” thread on Mitt Romney’s geographical cluelessness posted here because the people I wish to thank are more likely to see it here :
@107. Nepenthe [Answering the doublely landlocked nation question.]
Cheers. Much appreciated.
@76. Ogvorbis: broken and cynical :
No worries. Thanks.
@126. JohnnieCanuck
23 October 2012 at 6:20 pm
Hey, I’ve actually got that map myself somewhere! Its a good one I reckon.
StevoR:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:27 am
@258. Portia :
See :
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4341984.html
An article on The Drum (Aussie news) website already covering that possible set of implications from Sandy.
Horrible if it takes disasters like this to wake people up to the reality of Global Overheating and consequent climatic change. But perhaps true?
Not than anybody deserves the suffering here which no doubt will hit those least responsible for causing the problem and worst off and least able to cope with such catastrophes hardest. As is so often the case with Human Induced Rapid Global Overheating.
Louis:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:37 am
[Flying in yet again]
1) ‘Rupt.
2) ‘Ello all.
3) Moving day soon I think!
Louis
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:53 am
Kristinc
around here there are a lot of 15-17yo boys living on friends couches. Usually due to step parentitus. Best you can do is offer to feed em and let them stay over one or two nights then rotate out. My son and his peer group are now 18+ so that phase of liability is over. Now to get them to clearly understand that there is no imbibing of booze on my property until the youngest peer is 21.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:54 am
Hello, Louis
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:54 am
kristinc, I’m glad the boy has you to help with this. I’ve been where he is. My advice comes from my experience, though.
My mother was on drugs at the time and our house basically became a crackhouse. I ran away. When the woman I was staying with, who had gotten out the system herself and was a distantly connected friend, had called to find out how to keep me from having to go back we didn’t get much help. I don’t actually remember what they said but then the cops showed up even though my mother honestly didn’t know where I was. I had to go back home. They made me and threatened to arrest the woman helping me and me.
I couldn’t stay home, not around drug addicts smoking that crap and I was pregnant. So I ran away again. The cops came out and I hid around til they went away. I found a program that helps teenagers and dealt with a social worker there. She told me I was still listed as a runaway and told me she had called to get that removed. She got me into a program for pregnant teens who actually had a space available. I go to sign into the program, only to find out I’m still listed as a runaway and that they can’t sign me in without my mother’s signature. Well, shit. The case workers there didn’t give up though. They told my mother to sign me in or they were going to open a neglect case with CPS and get me in that way. They weren’t going to send me back to her since I’d just runaway again and be in danger. My mother signed me in. I stayed in programs. Some suck, some rock but at least it wasn’t home.
I’ve known kids to run from couch to couch. The parent’s remain in control and can yank him back with cops anytime and threaten any person who helps him. The abuse will most likely get worse. He’ll have a hard time going to school, since his parents will know where he is, which leads to the high drop out rate. Without parents, social workers or a program, he won’t be able to get back into a school by himself.
Look for programs for him and if all else fails call CPS. I know that’s not a happy prospect and he isn’t going to want to do it but anything else long term will most likely end badly for everyone If you and your family are willing, and the boy wants too, CPS might even let him stay with you. Less upheaval, with people that cares about him and the sheer lack of places for kids like him to go would factor in to sway in your favor. Of course, if you do that and the parents know, I don’t expect it to go pleasantly. At the very least, you can call anonymously to CPS and get information directly from them for your state and specifics before you guys make the next decision.
If he’s extremely resistant and you worry he’ll bot at the mere mention of these things, I don’t know what else to do but give him a reality check. The statistics. The risks to him and you. I’m sure he’s a good kid and won’t want to get you guys or anyone else in trouble. Let him know though you’ll go to bat for him, you guys just need to do it in a legally responsible way so your family doesn’t get wrecked in the process. Tell him my story, or find other stories. It’s a hard reality. No one thinks that this will happen. Every teenager assumes they’d be the one to make it work all on their own. I have yet to meet a single one. I only know bad, bad stories that don’t end well. All the kids I know in programs complained and said it sucked but most of them survived at least.
(It’s not so bad usually, just the usual teenage complaining. )
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:00 am
Sounds like the internet is the perfect place for us hermits to huddle together and drink.
Seriously, I’m right where you are and man does it suck. I hope it gets better. Or more precisely, that it changes for the better.
.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:05 am
Hmm. Looks like the main difference between broboxly’s experience and mine, is abusive parents and how bad they are.
So determining how bad his home situation is and how bad the parents are going to react would be a good starting point, I think. And how this kid is going to react as well obviously.
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:09 am
this guy was seriously pissed
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2225061/Church-pastor-killed-Rev-Danny-Kirk-Sr-beaten-death-electric-guitar.html
blf:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:09 am
Superstorm Sandy: every verified event mapped and detailed. I don’t see the cause of it all, the Laughing Dark One, listed…
blf:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Or just took “axe” a bit too literally.
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:27 am
ednaz
Anytime. *hugs* : )
What?! Damn, I always go to bed a couple minutes too early. Or a couple hours too late, depending on how you look at it.
Freakonomics did a podcast about exactly that. Except phones weren’t the reward. But it’s an interesting podcast.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:09 am
Giliell @321:
I notice commercials for homeopathic products a lot more than I used to (must be from hanging out here). Yesterday at work, I watched one about some product designed to eliminate some sort of tiny skin lesions (I can’t remember the exact name). I rolled my eyes when they mentioned the “active ingredient”.
****
blf:
The penguin is standing right there—>.<—
How can you miss the lil' guy?
Chilly Willy did it!
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:21 am
teh cuteness
http://www.slothsanctuary.com/
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Did I fuck up a really easy dessert? Yes, yes I have.
Argh
(the custard is lumpy)
blf:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Either you’re desperate or you’re really into kinky stuff…
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:35 am
*high five* for Jadehawk!
-
*hug* for ednaz.
-
Patricia, glad to hear you’re better. Symptoms sound…un-fun.
-
:(
-
Possibly the one I saw just last night, that claims to remove skin tags. Eye-rolly indeed!
-
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Have y’all seen this?
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/10/29/fair-warning-to-convention-attendees/comment-page-1/#comment-482236
—–
Beatrice
Is it too late for raisins?
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:44 am
blf, ha ha ha
(it was, as I said, easy. asking for it, one could say)
—
chigau,
raisins don’t go into this one. It’s just thick custard between two thin pieces of puff pastry (Samoborska kremšnita)
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Well, I totally dodged the Sandy bullet. I’m going to attribute it to my taking Lindsay Lohan’s advice. I stopped projecting negativity and I prayed for peace. That totally changed the path of the storm, right?
blf:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:11 am
This link (from @334) suggests its been wobbling left and right. Someone is preying in the opposite direction. Or being negative.
Most likely, Teh Great Sky Faerie is as shite at driving a superstorm as it is at everything else (except being shite at things…), and didn’t even notice your preying. Or misinterpreted it as a request to put The Grateful Dead on the CD (and then probably tried to turn the superstorm over to the B-side, being shite at doing stuff…).
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Joe
Glad you’re OK
I wished we knew of the Darkhearts…
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Yep.
Been walking around the office with my fly down all morning.
Awesome.
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Yay! Joe. Good preying.
—-
re Darkhearts
yeah.
It’s almost 12 hours since Audley’s last comment.
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 11:56 am
Rev
Have you zipped it up?
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:57 am
I got an email from Audley about 90 minutes ago.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:58 am
Not yet. Going to ride it out for a few more hours.
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Yay! for Audley email (assuming it was good news).
—
Rev.
har
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
It was good news, and I’m reminded I should answer her, ha. Cute cute picture of DI with her mama, to boot.
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Huzzah!
-
+1
-
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
More huzzah!
-
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
huh, wasnt sky pixies that caused the storm but President Obama
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/10/29/conspiracy-theorists-say-obama-engineered-hurricane-sandy
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Chrysler corrects Romney
more at linky
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
I just got a pro bono file. Client speaks only Swahili. This will be interesting. Luckily the legal aid agency provides interpreters when necessary.
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I maded a meme thingy…
-
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Asshole capitalism:
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/iconic-us-retailer-slammed-cyclone-sandy-sale-5177029
(via JoeMyGod)
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
cicely
har
Audley Z. Darkheart (liar and scoundrel):
October 30th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Sorry for not checking in sooner, guys! I got to sleep in this morning, then my mom stopped by to check up on us* and drop off new, clean, non-pooped Onesies. We are all fine– Sandy was pretty much a non-event up this way. We had (and continue to have) gusty winds, but we never lost power and barely got any rain.
*Our neighborhood is whoa prone to flooding.
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Hi Audley.
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Ummm… yay Audley?
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
chigau – Oh no! I missed the biscuits! I haz a sad. : (
Patricia OM – Thanks for another perspective. Always appreciate that.
McC2lhu @ 318 – Yes. It was the ‘halo’ effect. The second ring intersected the ‘halo’. So beautiful.
Thanks for the knowledge! I love learning.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Yay Audley!
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
JAL @ 331
The more the merrier! Thanks for your kindness. Thank Science for the Internet – we’re less isolated. : )
cicely @341- Thanks for the hug. Sending one back to you. : )
Beatrice – no worries. You just invented a new dessert. All it needs is a name. *thumbsup*
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Rev. BDC @ 357 – Thanks for the link. Enjoyed this so much.
Yay! Joe is safe!
Yay! The Darkhearts are safe!
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
cicely @ 359 – I LIKE this!!
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
ednaz,
Heh, that’s a good way of looking at it. *thumbsup*
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Portia
Bahati nzuri!
:)
(I human translator is probably a good idea. Gooogle Translate can have … issues.)
Patricia, OM:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Hooray, and thanks to everyone that has checked in to say they are OK! The pictures we’re seeing out here are terrifying.
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
cant we all just get along?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/eagle-fox-cats-hang-out_n_1389438.html
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
ednaz,
Thanks for the concern. :)
I did 8 years in Florida facing those storms, so I think I was a little over-prepared this time. Now I’ve got a whole lot of canned crap ravioli I have to eat.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
We got my son’s friend off to school this morning. I still don’t know what’s going to happen with him in the future. Broboxley, I forgot that one of his parents is a step until you brought that up, but right now I can’t remember if the stepparent is the dad who actually hit him, or the mom who told Misterc on the phone “We are allowed, by law, to lay hands on him”. Ugh.
Anyway, his mom wanted him to come home tonight, but it didn’t sound like he planned to do that. He’s pretty cagey about his plans but it sounds like it’ll be someone else’s couch tonight.
For now my strategy is to try and stay open to him. He doesn’t live in our neighborhood but rather in the neighborhood where my son goes to school. I’m going to pass the word through my son — if I don’t see the friend himself soon — that if he needs a hot meal he should come to our house, and if he’s really in a bind with nowhere to stay the night that he feels is safe, he should come over but tell us that his parents totally know where he is. I hope if we remain available to offer what help we can, he’ll come to us when he needs something we can give.
I’m still not sure if I should call protective services myself. Did I already say that he talked to his counselor at school about being hit and she contacted the authorities? According to him, they went to talk to his parents, but did not come to talk to him at school to record the bruises he had. Dumbshits. I was thinking that if I registered a report too, it might make intervention on his behalf more likely, but then I don’t really know whether calling attention to him will actually result in attention to what’s best for him, or rather how best to keep him (as a brown, teenage “runaway”) in line.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
So, talking about Sandy and the elections, German media think that Obama is profiting from the catastrophy politically as he’S all present and so far doing a good job.
Do they get it right?
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
kristin
Can’t offer much advice (basically systems are just too different), but I remembered some general advice given to people who might face some legal investigations (like being a witness) etc in the future:
Write down everything as precisely as you can NOW. Legal matters take ages and in three or five months your memory of some details or timelines will invariably be gone.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
*sigh*
That’s an all too common story, unfortunately. It’s why I don’t have much trust in CPS. They didn’t help me when my mother and her boyfriend were addicts and there wasn’t any food in the house. Yet I have a dirty room in a shelter and CPS is up my ass threatening me because I hadn’t yet taken out the trash that day.
I hope he finds a solution that works for him and that everything turns out okay. I’m glad he has at least one family to turn to.
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Well, Chris Christie went from lambasting the POTUS to lauding him. For whatever that’s worth. It’s great PR to have an notoriously acerbic GOP figure come out in such unequivocal praise. I haven’t heard any negatives about how he’s handling it, only positives.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Well, shit, JAL, maybe you should tell them your kid came home late a couple times and sometimes she yells at you. Then they’ll decide she’s a delinquent getting what she deserves. *bitter laugh*
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Here is The Paul Lynde Halloween Special.
Do not ever say I never gave you anything.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Ratzafrassin’ English Lit instructor decided, tyranically and arbitrarily, that our papers may not use any blockquotes. Only quotes of 3 lines or less, in-line with the text.
But my 4-line blockquotes were so goooooddd … *sniffle*
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
chigau
I think you’re quite right. I’m thinking there’d be serious liability issues if i relied on google : )
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Joe
Dang, Joe, I’m sorry to hear that.
I was looking forward to your cooking adventures on the campstove.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
So, one little batty-wing done, one to go!
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
But google translate tells me to say “Thank you” to you, too : )
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
ednaz,
Well, my grill is bigger than a camp stove so not as much of an adventure as it could have been. More like just trying to figure out how to boil water and heat cans of soup and such. I’m way more looking forward to the current crop of cooking adventures… shrimp fra diavolo, crab spring rolls, cottage pie.
rorschach:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Hi, I hope everyone of our US denizens is fine Sandy-wise. I had the surreal experience of watching CNN in my Bangkok hotel room earlier today, where Richard Quest was explaining while LaGuardia airport was flooded, while pointing out the 3000 odd planes currently in US airspace.
Off to the Gulf of Thailand tomorrow.
Rev @ 213,
Fuck yeah, if the book is anything to go by!
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
rorschach,
You’re in Bangkok? I expect you’ll be enjoying the thing that the city is most famous for? Try not to drop too much money, and try to have fun!
rq:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
I’m glad to hear those in the path checking in safe.
kristinc – How very unfair. I always took a special delight in using blockquotes, because sometimes you just can’t say it in three lines or less.
Giliell – How are you doing batwings? I remember how my mother did them and I did bird wings recently, but I’m curious about your method.
rorschach:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Smog? Sweltering heat? You got that right.
Patricia, OM:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Here we go.
http://www.examiner.com/article/christian-leader-blames-homosexual-agenda-for-hurricane-sandy
I thought this time it would be the fault of the abortion loving democratic pagans stirring up Poseidon.
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
rorschach… I was talking about chess!
Should be a semi-treat for all the Buffy/Angel fans too.
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
And you’re enjoying that???
-
Rey Fox:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
All that storm nesting talk makes me weirdly jealous. I got to go out and buy some provisions for the big huge snowstorm in early ’11, it was kinda fun. And I have a little backpacking stove that I’ve only used once.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Inorite? And this is a verse play, so being able to include blockquotes really made a difference in being able to capture the flavor of the work I’m analyzing (the characters of Creon and Iocaste versus Oedipus in Oedipus Rex: my thesis is that Creon lacks a desire to take matters into his own hands, and Iocaste is gunshy about knowledge in general, so neither of them has the complete recipe for trainwreck that Oedipus has).
His reasoning was that too often students turn in 1200 words of mostly blockquote and not enough analysis. But, but, I don’t have that problem! Can’t I be a special snowflake? Now I’ve had to chop and butcher segments of beautifully eloquent verse.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Improbable Joe: Buffy fan, love that song, watched the video a dozen times and never once noticed that the Head brothers, well, look like brothers. Doh.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
rq
Fabric and thick cord. They aren’t very glamorous, but given that tomorrow is Halloween already, they’ll do.
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Rey Fox
Shopping… my motto has always been that where other people see problems, I see opportunities. Opportunities to buy high-priced solutions to tiny little problems, which is why I have a $250 pocket knife that I use to open my mail. :)
rq:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
kristinc – Then he should mark according to analysis, and if someone has stuffed their essay full of quotes, well, too bad for them! And he could tell people not to use too may quotes – you know, teach people how to use them properly and all that teacherly stuff… I know some will hand in a block-quote essay anyway, but… sucks for those who have to butcher and chop. I HATE doing that to delicious, delicious quotes – because they’re supposed to be read together, not in pieces or by parts. :( Good luck chopping and butchering, though! I hope your argument doesn’t disappear.
+++
Personal rant. I do some translating on the side. Current work: which horoscope signs are most accident and injury prone. Commented by a certified astrologer. I’m sorry, can I just translate the whole thing as ‘wrong’? (Although, for those women born under Pisces, Aries, or Taurus, or men under Cancer, don’t be surprised if you start paying higher insurance premiums – apparently we’re accident prone!) Gah. At least it’s a short article.
ednaz:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Joe – Ah, it’s a grill. Thanks for the clarification. MUCH better than what I thought you would have to work with.
Here’s to more cooking adventures. : )
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
kristin, I’m sort of an trivia savant is how I know that link, and why when I read “Bangkok” I think of that song. I’m not even a Buffy fan, I couldn’t get through the first 4-5 episodes, but I might try again thanks to Netflix.
rq:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Giliell – I think for Halloween, not glamourous should do even better than glamorous. :) Filing away for future reference (the fabric and thick cord).
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
rq: as an old lady (all of 33) in my first year of college, I’m consistently boggled-to-shocked at how work-avoidant many of my younger classmates are. Like, why do you even want to be there if you’re not the slightest bit interested in interpreting literature more effectively? or writing better? I fully realize, though, that this is a function of me being one of those bizarre specimens who’s going to college voluntarily.
a_ray_in_dilbert_space:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
The Xtian smackasses blaming Sandy of teh gays just 2 months after Stephen Colbert satirized this very position is proof that satire is not merely redundant, it’s prescient.
And then there’s Brownie chastising Obama for responding to rapidly to Sandy.
Help! I’m trapped inside The Onion!
rq:
October 30th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
kristinc – Haha, college voluntarily… Oh wait. In a couple of years, that will be me, too (probably around the ripe old of 33 as well, by the time I get around to it).
Reminds me of the time I took second-year physiology while in fourth year, and wrote up (to my mind) one of the crappiest, most-rushed lab write-ups ever, and got an 86% (to my surprise). I asked the TA about it (who happened to be in one of my fourth-year classes), and she explained that for a second-year level course, it was an excellent write-up. Left me wondering where, along the whole line, my lab-writing abilities had actually improved… Well, at least the experience of a couple of years taught me SOMEthing! And I suppose my point is that at least a few of those younguns will also learn to be more interested in actual interpretation rather than word-count. Eventually. In the meantime, enjoy being the wise one! ;)
Rey Fox:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
It’s easy, too. And oh so repetitive. For fuck’s sake, superstition peddlers, give us some new material. The whole blame-the-gays-then-get-caught-with-an-underage-male-prostitute thing is SO PLAYED OUT.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
My step-dad passed out drunk with their door open music blasting. A friend of my parents notified me since mom had left like 10 mins before to pick up the Little One and all was normal. All three animals got out roaming the property and the adopted dog almost ran into the street. Their cat ran back inside their house, I unplugged the music and shut the door on my step-dad’s head so the cat wouldn’t get back out. I have both dogs inside my house because attempting to put them back in their house is futile without leashing and not being their owner. Our adopted kitty is going crazy trying to get away from the dogs because they are trying to sniff his butt like a little train. Then I had to call my mother to tell her where the animals are to and to bring Little One home the long way so she wouldn’t see fuckface passed out.
Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Hi.
No outages here. Heavy wind (especially up high) and moderate rain. My wireless router, however, decided this would be a good time to reprogramme itself. Hope all are in good shape — not too much Sandy in your shorts.
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
JAL,
Gosh, you’re a better person than me. If I could send you magical pet-keeping and idiot-tolerating energy, I really would.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
JAL
Oh shit.
I really, really wish for a large amount of god luck to come your way.
*hugses*
kristinc
Well, I had both, the young college student-life and the, let’s call it mature for the lack of a better word, student-life.
I enjoyed being young and doing tons of stuff and well, not being as straightforward as I should have been* and even with all my troubles I’m not saying it was that bad.
Apart from some real spoiled brat problems (which I couldn’t stand back in my youthfull days either, cause if your biggest problem is to find somebody to take care of your horse while you’re flying to the States for a holiday, you don’t have problems), the only thing that annoys me now is when the “kids” actually disrupt classes. It’s OK if you don’t want to listen, but I do.
Which reminds me that I still have a mail to write
*Former German system really wasn’t for me. Nobody gave a shit if you lived or died, so, duh, I can still do that next semester.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Omg, could I use that energy or any energy at all right now.
Mom brought Little One home and took the dogs back in separate trips. Little One threw a fit over not being able to go to Grandma’s as planned. Mom came back over to help explain and calm the Little One down. Fuckface woke up, opened the door and let all the animals out. Then started yelling and chasing them. Did I mention the dogs are little furballs of energy? Little One hears him and runs over. Hugs him and asks him if he really is sick and she can’t come over. He said of course you can come over! Oh. Great. Thanks. He’s still drunk, slurring, stumbling and yelling in normal conversation. Little One proceeds to throw a fit again since the Almighty Grandad said it was okay.
Now I let Little One watch this god aweful Monster High show crap because I just don’t have the energy or strength to deal with her high pitched, kicky screaming hair pulling scaring the neighbors fit.
I hate that show. It’s like the Winx Club but with monsters like Frankie Stein in full make-up, ultra-unrealistic skinny and heals in high school.
*collapse & cry*
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Oh, god another episode of Monster High. It’s animated differently but it’s still terrible. At least the Zombie nerd isn’t drooling like a fool and being treated like a pet. That was just cruel.
And now it’s a lecture about how Valentines day was started and made for a Vampire at their school. Why if their 1600 years old are they in high school? Seriously, they called it a sweet 1600 party.
It just gets worse and worse.
birgerjohansson:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
JAL, hugs if you want them.
— — — — — — — — — —
One reason why there is so much good music in Scandinavia?
“Legatum prosperity index” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-30/u-s-prosperity-slides-in-index-that-ranks-norway-no-1.html
Norway, Denmark & Sweden tops the new list. I don’t buy that you have to suffer to be creative, in that case Bangladesh or Haiti would have the world’s greatest artists.
The morons who thinks suffering is ennobling are jerks. And normally I would be into schadenfreude over USA falling off the top ten list, but with the hurricane and eveything I just feel sad.
— — — — — —
Copied some flyers about a missing cat today and mailed them to the cat owner.
— — — —
We had our first snowfall yesterday afternoon, 29 October. Unfortunately, it changed into rain and now it is just the usual late autumn misery.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
JAL
*Big hugs*
Can you set boundaries and make it clear that he’s not welcome when he’s drunk? I know I have those problems with #1 and her grandma, too (although I’m, of course, 1000 times better off not living next doors), she knows that something is wrong and she wants to get her life back as it used to be, with frequent stays and slumber-parties and everything. And it’s simply mean that you have to be the asshole and tell them no and set the boundaries.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
My talk with the Little One about how Monster High is a terrible show has failed. No matter where I started or what angle I used, she just kept saying,”But they’re pretty!”.
Fuuuuuuck.
I have bargained a special treat of strawberry milk to change the channel. I’m just so full of fail today.
Why couldn’t have Ninja Turtles, Batman, My Little Pony, Spongebob, or anything, anything else have been on right now?
/headdesk
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
JAL:
Hugs and sympathy.
John Morales:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
I missed out on the joys of parenthood, can’t say I’m even slightly wistful.
(Better others than I)
birgerjohansson:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
I would favour dosing up far-gone alcoholics with antabuse every day, whether they consent or not. Regarding “freedom of choice” the addiction has hijacked their brains and *already* deprived them of freedom.
If we ever get some narcotics-blocking drugs they should also be administrated to far-gone addicts regardless of consent.
.
Just as we prevent clinically depressed people from committing suicide*, we should prevent the slower self-destruction of addicts and alcoholics.
As I have mentioned above, the addiction has already taken away the freedom to choose.
*not the same thing as terminally ill people wanting to end it.
— — — — — — — — —
SF authors; The Polish author Stanislaw Lem and the Russians Boris and Arkady Strugatsky have a much different style from western authors. Plus, their ideas are very good.
Weird SF: I have just finished reading “Empty Space” by a British Sf author that is lauded by reviewers. I did not get it, nor did I get his previous novels. I feel like a rube that goes to a museum and sees a painting by Pollock.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 30th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
JAL.
I was in your little one’s situation as a child except it was my dad who was the alcoholic. It was so very hard because I didn’t understand why he acted the way he did. Sober Dad I loved as children do, unconditionally, absolutely. Drunk Dad frightened me beyond all reason. It was scary and confusing and my solution was to withdraw, while my brother’s was to act out.
Now as a parent I can see just how hard it must have been for my Mum, trying to keep it all together in the midst of an uncontrollable situation. She had to ride the storm of his sodden and misshapen emotions, sheltering us as best she could. No easy task that, being an umbrella in the gale.
So I say that the occasional collapse and cry and some crappy TV to keep the peace is no bad thing at all. Do what you have to do to keep yourself sane, and remember that there is no shame in taking a little time out.
I wish I had more to offer than crappy advice from the other side of the world. Hang in there and hugs if you want them.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
Oh, trust me he knows this. He decided to get drunk knowing the plans for Little One to come over because he thought he’d be sober in time. He knows this is stupid but he’s also an alcoholic. So he gets to be drunk and detox and feel like shit. I’m, frankly, out of sympathy for him. He doesn’t treat my mother well at all and I find his behavior at the very least emotional abusive. We’ve had this discussion. I’ve kept Little One home because of his stupidity and drunkenness before.
We just in the same apartment complex and his drunkenness outside is what caused the problem this time. My mother knows I will cut him out completely because seriously this shit isn’t right. Just last week he got arrested because he was being drunk and stupid. My mom’s just in the terrible position of not having any income since her disability claim was denied and is being appealed. Going on 4 or 5 years now. With me not working either (fuck is it hard trying to get a job) and relying on Roomie for support the only way to cut out step-dad without cutting out Grandma would be for her to move in with us, bringing her 3 pets along. All surviving on Roomie. And it’s not like we could move so he’d still be nearby no matter what.
But he knows how I feel about him. Roomie feels the same way. Step dad also has other problems making him a terrible person while not drunk, like saying the n-word like it’s nothing. *sigh* He’s not allowed at our house and he knows to stay the fuck away from Roomie. He’s allowed to see the Little One while sober and supervised. I prefer to be there because I’m scared he’s going to berate Mom into submission. However, I’ve seen Mom step up and stand up for Little One. Step dad has admittedly been mostly co-operative about what’s allowed and what’s not like no spanking, stay firm on the time out, no sugars late, don’t say racist shit like the n-word, etc. He hasn’t broken those and my other rules. He’s just also an alcoholic fuckhead who goes through this about once a month. Then sober for awhile and things are good. Then back to drunken stupidity. It’s a terrible cycle, though we’ve been good about protecting Little One. She’s knows he’s sick but doesn’t quite get that you can’t always see people’s sickness by looking at them.
Blehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
JAL
More hugs
There’s one series where I stomp my foot and that is “Chi Rho The Secret”, a TV series telling Bible stories as an adventure trail back through time and I’m not letting them get the idea that there was a guy called Noah who built an ark.
I’m the MUM!
With the other stuff I try to watch it with them and talk about it, make remarks and such. Oh yes, I dare to *scary music* judge and don’t let my kids develop their “own tastes” carefully formed with the aid of a multi-billion dollar budget.
Maybe you can talk about the monsters being pretty but also that women can’t look like that and whether there isn’t actually something more important about the characters? Like they’re good friends, or smart and so on…
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
JAL
Shit. You’re really betwee a rock and a hard place. I know that stuff is hard to deal with when you have solid middle-class privilege and you’re just basically stuck.
Fingers crossed for finding a job.
+++
Now off to bed. Seems like the little one might actually let me get some sleep…
birgerjohansson:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
JAL,
shit, I have no useful advice. It sucks.
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
I actually prefer the very dry SF of Asimov or Clarke over this.
Empty Space: A Haunting (Kefahuchi Tract Trilogy 3) by M. John Harrison http://www.amazon.co.uk/Empty-Space-Haunting-Kefahuchi-Trilogy/dp/0575096314/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
John Harrison’s books have been compared to films by Lynch or Tarkovsky.
I actually like Tarkovsky but liking John Harrison is too much of a culture shock.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
I’m sorry, that really, really sucks. My father was an alcoholic and drug addict and abusive. That’s what terrifies me and breaks my heart about Little One. I’ve kind of been there and I hated how my mother wasn’t there to protect me. I thought she left me, when in reality it was my Golden Boy father and his family that shoved her out and took me. That’s what my father wanted and he simply used my mother’s absence to emotional abuse me, to make me feel alone, worthless and like it was all my fault. It wasn’t til later that I reconnected with my mother and understood. Then she got addicted to drugs and I had to cut her out of our lives. I don’t like this. I don’t want this. I don’t want the cycle to keep going.
My father was a terrible person who should be behind bars to protect society even when he was sober. My step father isn’t like that but if he’s drunk, he’s dangerous and stupid. She’s so attached to him and it’s so, so sad. We’ve never let her see him like that so she doesn’t get it. She sees him as the funny, playful guy that loves her and taught her how to ride a bike. But even sober he has to been watched and on leash, so to speak because if he was allowed he’d be spouting bullshit about Satan, the endtimes, racism, and oh the list goes on. His good qualities are short so the leash is short. But when he’s good, he’s good. Which makes it all that much harder. If he gets worse, then I will leave to a shelter if I have to. I really can’t stand addicts around Little One and I’m terrified if he escalates. It will be the right thing to do, but she’ll be heartbroken, confused and hate me for it.
StevoR:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Poll people may probably / possibly be pleased to pharyngulate :
http://ninemsn.com.au/
VOTE :
Do you think hurricanes and climate change are linked?
Latest figures :
Yes = 5751
No = 7605
++++++++++++++
Note Ninemsn web polls tend to only be up for a day or so so get in quick.
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
419# birgerjohansson let me guess, you have the patent for antibuse in Russia :-)
Addiction isn’t that simple. Addicts when deprived often compensate in switching addiction to something else equally destructive.
StevoR:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Plus here’s :
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4343312.html
another new Drum item on Global Overhetaing and hurricane Sandy.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Er, sorry everyone that was a lot of heavy stuff to dump all at one time.
Thank you for everything. It does help. It’s a relief to get it off my chest and have people who get it. I don’t have really anyone to talk about this stuff besides here. I can’t talk to Roomie, he does the withdraw, hold in and ignore coping that I do.But for those times I need to let it out or explode I have to tell someone. I have no idea how he doesn’t burst sometimes because he refuses to talk emotions. Talking about anything bad that happened to me makes him rage with nothing to target so he shuts down and gets quiet. There’s my mom who will talk and listen but she blames everything on herself and it breaks my heart to see her so miserable. I can’t do that to her. I haven’t told her much about living with my father because I don’t want to push her over the edge.
So, thank you. It means more to me than I can express.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Oh, that’s good. I’ll have to remember that next time. Admittedly, I wasn’t in a good frame of mind to have that conversation with her so it’s no wonder it didn’t go well. Hearing her repeat in her sweet, little voice “But they’re pretty…” just broke me.
birgerjohansson:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
The United States congress:
http://www.xkcd.com/1127/
Click on the diagram to see large-scale diagram.
Incidentally, the diagram is the perfect answer to those who would cast their votes on a third party.
— — — — — — — —
broboxley,
Yes, I was thinking of winning time, preventing them from dying from liver failure. If they switch to meth or sniffing glue it is obviously time to take them off antabuse, hopefully the liver has had time to self-repair enough to handle the renewed influx.
— — — — — — — —
The Russian security apparatus has apparently kidnapped an opposition politician that had fled to Ukraine, brought him to the Lefertovo prison and subjected him to psychological torture to make him sign a confession implicating himself and two other politicians.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Now, now. “Do not lecture, blame, or scold me; you will only confirm my bad opinion of myself.”
*spits*
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 30th, 2012 at 7:33 pm
JAL: All you can do is try your best to break the cycle. It is possible, you are proof of that, as am I. In the face of all the other crap you have to deal with allowing a little gender-stereotyping TV is no great issue. All parents pick their battles and let some things slide just to get some peace. You have to take care of yourself too after all. There will be time enough to sort out sexist issues in the future. Do you have a copy of The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch? It stands the usual helpless princess trope from children’s books on it’s head.
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
#431 I was thinking more along the lines of degenerate gambling or other extremely risky behavior.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Wow!
An atheist ad on the front page of FtB.
I’m not sure it fits in here though.
This site loves some religious ads (yes, I know about the third party advertisers and the fact that none of the bloggers has any control over the ads; it’s just jarring to come here and consistently see religious ads).
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
cicely @341:
Yes! That was the commercial.
Skin tags. I still don’t know exactly what they are. Wikipedia, here I come.
****
Joe:
If you took her advice, then you’re *still* drunk and grinding your teeth.
StevoR:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
The Bad Astronomer has this item :
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/10/30/a-wind-is-rising/
on the link between HIRGO and Hurricane Sandy if folks are interested.
Reckon its worth a read and could probably do with a hand fighting the deniers in the comments there too.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Heckava whine, Brownie.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
ednaz:
QFT!
This is my primary social outlet at the moment and without it…I shudder to think. I love the diversity of people here. At any given time, almost every single day, there’s a new perspective on a subject or a new piece of information I learn from someone (or several someones) here.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
JAL:
Damn.
I’m sorry you’re having to deal with that shit from your step father. Is getting shit faced his normal pattern of behavior?
****
Joe:
Feel free to swap places with me. I don’t like Pensacola (wait, where in the U.S. do you live again? Up north?)
As for the ravioli-it could be worse.
You could be eating canned ASSparagus (that has to be one of the most disgusting items I’ve tried to eat. Asparagus in no good mushy.) or canned peas.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Giliell:
I’m not sure this would be beneficial.
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Tony,
Currently drunk but not grinding teeth or planning to drive… I’m not actually influenced by Lindsay Lohan. :)
I was in Daytona, currently in Virginia, about a month from moving to New Mexico. We still have power, obviously. And I don’t/can’t eat canned veggies, but I love fresh asparagus. I toss it on the grill for a few minutes, and then toss it with olive oil and Parmesan cheese and sea salt.
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
*hugs* for JAL. Wish there was something….
-
They’re little (usually) sticky-outy bits of skin, not like a wart, and easily mistaken at first for a pimple. I’ve got ‘em; the only ones that are a problem are the ones that are badly located, and big enough to catch on things. A nuisance, but hardly Epic Tragedy.
-
*sign of aversion*
-
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Mmmmm…fresh asparagus with olive oil, parmasan cheese, and almond slivers, roasted in the oven.
-
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Joe:
Grilled asparagus is amazing.
I like it exactly the way you described.
Funny thing-I don’t like the ends of asparagus (or broccoli). I *always* chop off the upper half of asparagus (inevitably, someone will eat it; or my dogs will); same with broccoli.
I also prefer thin asparagus. Those mutant ones that you could thump someone with just don’t look right.
****
cicely:
re: skin tags-
I see. Many thanks for the information.
(were you watching Food Network when that commercial came on?)
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
cicely:
I’ve done pine nuts and sunflower seeds, but never almonds… I’ll try that next time around. :)
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Not as far as I know. The Husband had control of the remote, and I was trying to ignore the noise.
Unsuccessfully.
-
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Pine nuts…I’ll have to try that.
-
Improbable Joe:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
cicely, Pine nuts are actually really really yummy. I stumbled across them mostly by accident, and so so good.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
A while back I read a fantasy novel set in a world (similar to Australia in many ways) with something called bunya pines. Turns out they’re real — they drop life-endangering cones the size of a human head, containing what looks like giant pine nuts.
cicely:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
I know they’re awesome on salads.
-
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
this is pissing me off. I keep trying to submit a comment on the Screw those women… thread, and even though it’s only *one* link, it just disappears.
Let me try it here:
There are a great number of physiological changes women’s bodies undergo during pregnancy. I can imagine countless women do not enjoy *being* pregnant. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy_symptoms#Physiological_changes
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Fuck.
What’s wrong with this post? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy_symptoms#Physiological_changes
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Parmesan AND salt? *cringe*
Sounds good otherwise.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Mmmmm… asparagus…
One of the few things I miss about living in Sussex is the proximity of asparagus farms where I could stop on my way home from dropping someone off at the airport and buy a huge bunch, picked that hour, for less than half the retail price. And the apple orchards just over the border in Kent, with fresh apples of dozens of varieties and bottles of their respective juices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JAL
I don’t have anything but e-hugs and praise to offer, I’m afraid.
I think you’re doing an amazingly good mothering job anyway; the circumstances that you have to do that job in, make that accomplishment even more impressive.
It is oh-so-easy to be made to feel a failure as a parent. Allowing Little One to watch a favourite (if meh) TV programme, especially when she has had a great disappointment, isn’t a bad thing to do. My kids watched some junk amongst the better programmes (and I think they’ve all turned out OK) because kids pay attention to what you say about advertising, sexism, racism, bullying, unrealistic expectations etc. between TV-watching sessions. Which means that you can tell Little One once in a while “You know what? You’re right. They are pretty!” without the sky falling in. She’ll learn soon enough to discriminate between good programming and rubbish, with your guidance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mature students:
I spoke with my daughter again this morning because we’re both worried that neither of us has been able to contact my sister in Long Island since Friday. During the conversation she mentioned that she really feels rather the odd-one-out in her course (BA in French and Politics at University). She has returned, after a long gap due to health reasons, to complete her final year. She’s 28; the other mature students are between ten and twenty years older than her. The ‘standard’ students are around five years younger but, she says, due to having absolutely nothing in common with them they might as well be ten or twenty years younger! However, the other mature students haven’t been incuding her in their group because she looks young for her age and they see her as one of the others.
Ah well; as she said, she didn’t go there to socialise! She did that first time round and still has her good friends from that earlier era.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Fuck.
I’ve tried *four* times now to post a link to a wikipedia page about the complaints women have about being pregnant. One link. I even reduced my comments down to 2 simple sentences.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Re: salads-
Do I have a recipe for the *ULTIMATE* salad:
Iceberg and romaine lettuce
Mixed greens
Carrots
Boiled Eggs
Red Onions
Leeks
Scallions
Crumbled Bacon (the real thing)
Sunflower seeds (or pumpkin seeds)
Seaweed Salad (just a small portion)
Blue Cheese Crumbles
Masago
Edamame
and whatever dressing you want (I typically use balsamic vinegar and olive oil)
I fixed this at a restaurant I used to work at (it had a sushi bar), and fell in *love* with it.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Tigger:
Ah apple juice. Neck and neck with grape juice for me.
I love any kind of apple juice, though it has to be 100% juice. I love warm/hot apple *cider* during the winter, especially with a honey flavored whiskey added to it. Yum Yum!
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
October 30th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
honey … flavored … whiskey?
I am enchanted.
Tell me more.
broboxley OT:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
Tony, heretic!
boiled eggs cold are good for
egg salad
pickled eggs
It’s about the eggs not the garnish!
Markita Lynda—threadrupt:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Isn’t it illegal for a political party to train their poll watchers with false information about voting regulations?
Romney Campaign Training Poll Watchers To Mislead Voters In Wisconsin
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
kristinc:
Jack Daniel’s Honey
Evan Williams Honey
and
Seagram’sHoney
My rule of thumb:
If you like bourbon whiskey, you’re not likely to like honey flavored.
If you do NOT like bourbon whisky, you’re likely to enjoy honey whiskey.
I fit in the latter group. I don’t like any kind of whiskey (scotch or bourbon), but I enjoy the Jack Daniel’s Honey. I wanted to combine a Hot Toddy with Apple Cider (an Apple Toddy) and it worked.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
broboxley:
Sorry, I’m not much of an egg salad fan and I *really* don’t like pickled eggs.
For me, boiled is the way to go. A little salt and pepper after they’re done and down the hatch they go, minus the yolk (yuck)
And boiled, they’re eggcellent on salads. Don’t care what you say NYAH NYAH.
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
JAL @429
Wow. This describes the primary relationships in my life. And my step dad sounds a lot like yours. I am so sorry to say I understand so much of what you’re talking about. [With the exception that my dad is not so terrible, just…immature].*hugs* and good wishes for getting a job and having more control over your circumstances.
-============-
I handled an extremely emotionally draining case today. Well, this evening. I am so wiped out. Do you ever feel so worried and upset, but you have to be the one holding it together, so by the time you can allow yourself to experience your emotions, they’re sort of…on vacation? That’s how I feel right now. Like my feelings are on vacation. And I’m not sure I want them to come back wrt this issue. It’s too overwhelming right now.
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
I’m also physically exhausted, but that was totally worth it because I got lots of apple cider out of all the cranking and pressing and apple washing and funneling. Josh is right, fall is nice.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Tony, what was particularly
nicedelicious about the apple juice was that the bottles came from a single, named variety of apple and so were all different. Pink Lady juice, Crispin juice, Cox’s Orange Pippin juice, Granny Smith juice…We always got in a crate of 12 different juices for Midwinter. One year, one of the younger boys opened a bottle and drank some, then put the re-sealed and partly-consumed bottle back in the crate under our bed. Over the place where hot water pipes ran under the floor. By the time the theft was discovered, the remaining juice had turned into what his big brothers termed “A very nice cider indeed!”
That salad sounds delicious; I’ll have to see if I can make it for this year’s Midsummer celebrations in December.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Portia:
I’m am highly intrigued by how you make apple cider. I’d love to see such a process.
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Tony:
My aunt and uncle’s press is very similar to this one. That wheel on the side cranks a crushing mechanism to shred the apples before pressing. The difference is my uncle hooked that up to electricity so it’s a much easier process. Once the apples are shredded, you fold the sides of the mesh bag over top, put the wooden plate (I don’t know the names of the pieces, but this part in the above link is leaning against the front corner of the machine, it’s big round and wooden) on top, then crank the press down on it by screwing it down. If that makes sense, I’m a little brain dead. Then, where the end of the tray tapers, you put a container to catch the cider as it pours out. We used the same method when I was a kid to make cider out of concord grapes. Mmmm a vinyard was a delicious place to live.
(Aunt and Uncle are so environmentally friendly that they dry the pressed apple remains and add it to the feed for their organic beef.)
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
The press in this video is obviously quite a bit different, but it gives you the general idea of the mechanics of pressing. (And it taught me that the shredded apples are called “mulch”)
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Portia:
Thank you for the video. I rather want to try that out one day. To the bucket list you go!
(minus any mention of golden showers).
Portia:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
…yeah as I clicked “submit” I heard that comment in the other tab of my browser…and it was too late haha. *facepalm*
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Tigger:
I must be No True Apple Juice Fan, because I haven’t heard of those. Damn I must try them some day. Maybe I can try them as I’m making cider…
chigau (棒や石):
October 30th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
I offer hugs to everyone.
and I also offer my deep appreciation to all the people with difficult lives sharing with us their
storiesnarrativeslives..
[I had a pretty Normal™* childhood.
One moderately alcoholic and one moderately religious parent.
Nothing that could be remotely defined as abuse for me or any of my cohort.
No racism (everybody was white, racism was on TV).
I am not naive or sheltered but most people in meatspace don't express themselves as freely as they can here.]
.
I am grateful to everyone who is helping me to kick-to-the-kerb my racism, genderism, transism, fatism, and all the Otherisms.
—
*Normal™ as shown by 1960s TV shows eg. Father Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver.
rorschach:
October 30th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
WRT things Bangkok is (in)famous for, funny thing happened last night. Sitting with friend in open sky bar on 24th floor, table next to us had a 65yo fat white guy pouring red wine into the glass of what sure looked like a very young Thai hooker, and the female DJ just so happened to play a song called “Tonight I’m fucking you”. Coincidence or very very cheeky, I really don’t know!
This is the one thing that really makes me cringe in this place, the frequent display of this kind of exploitation. These girls are not independent free agents who do what they want to do, many of them get bought from their parents in the rural north to work in the sex industry, and when their time is up and the bills paid they go back home and resume their previous life somehow, all very sad.
It’s raining here, so off to the beach….
george3:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:53 am
Salad
O cool in the summer is salad,
And warm in the winter is love;
And a poet shall sing you a ballad
Delicious thereon and thereof.
A singer am I, if no sinner,
My muse has a marvellous wing,
And I willingly worship at dinner
The Sirens of Spring.
Take endive – like love it is bitter,
Take beet – for love it is red:
Crisp leaf of the lettuce shall glitter,
And cress from the rivulet’s bed:
Anchovies, foam-born, like the lady
Whose beauty has maddened this bard;
And olives, from groves that are shady;
And eggs – boil’em hard.
MORTIMER COLLINS
Now back to Lurkington. All the best to the Horde.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:10 am
Good morning.
JAL – Can I offer hugs, at least? And a great deal of respect? My husband’s father is alcoholic (along the lines of ‘of COURSE I’ll be sober in time!’), but we don’t live even remotely nearby, and sadly so, he has improved since the death of his wife… Never had to deal with your amount of stress, though. Respect.
birgerjohansson @419 – Stanislaw Lem and the Strugatskys are awesome. Particularly the nonsense of Lem’s ‘Memoirs Found in a Bathtub’, but his ‘Solaris’ is one of my all-time re-readable favourite books. The old Russian movie in black-and-white is just… so good.
FossilFishy @433 – Thanks for the reminder about the book! I’ve been looking for ways to teach the boys that girls can also do things besides dress up, since the kindergarten the eldest goes to is, unfortunately, quite segregating in the opportunities children have to play with all of the toys together (there’s a pink girls’ corner with kitchens and dolls and a multi-coloured boys’ corner with blocks and cars…). And they’re already showing signs of not wanting to associate with girls by default. (And here I thought raising a girl would be difficult.)
kristinc @450 – Similar to Australia in the sense that everything is trying to kill you?? :D Sounds scary in real life; is the book any good?
Tony @460 – Thanks for those recommendations. Next year when apple season rolls around again, I’ll have to try this out. Don’t know what varieties will be doing well next year, but this year we had a fantastic, fantastic one giving giant, delicious apples and fantastic juice. I have no idea what any of our varieties are called in English, but we have about 10 (I think). This year the rk and I have attempted an apple wine (currently still fermenting) (not a cider, a wine). It should be ready around apple season next year. Oh, and if the harvest is any good, everyone’s welcome to help with the picking. :P Extra hands are always useful. What you do with the afterwards is also up to you – usually pies, juice, preserves happen, and then by Christmas most of us are a little bit sick of fresh delicious apples.
The only thing we need is something better than a small-scale manual press.
+++
Still some snow on the ground. Last night went out for a bit, and the frost in the air had the distinct, crispy flavour of winter about to arrive. That being said, it’s supposed to go up to +9 today. I wish we could have more snow.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:24 am
Good morning
I wished you could have seen the view I got from my kitchen window: A small hill floating in mist bathed in golden sunlight
JAL
You’re doing an amazing job as a mum.
I know it hurts so much knowing that it’ll break their hearts and there’s nothing we can do against it and it’s so totally unnecessary.
Yes, alcoholism is a disease just like cancer is, but we would be equally bitter if a cancer patient just refused treatment, ignored the visible tumors and became angry at us for pointing it out.
birger
Although I sympathize with the sentiment of “make them stop and help them even if they don’t want to”, I also understand that it’s not going to help those people much anyway and that it’s Pandora’s box to open. There has been more than one occasion when I was seriously contemplating to call an ambulance against her will. My sister told me that she was seriously tempted to do what other children of alcoholics have done: To fake a suicide attempt by throwing all her pills and medication into the toilet and placing the bottles and strips around the passed out alcoholic.
BUt in the end it’s not going to help. Willing alcoholoics take an average of 10(!) attempts, so by forcing an attempt on an alcoholic there won’t be much good done therapy-wise, but you’re taking away resources from the alcoholic which is a sense of trust and being able to rely on people.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:43 am
In my experience, the alcoholic has to decide for themselves (a) that they have a problem and (b) that they want to do something about it. If anyone tries to influence them, the alcoholic blames their ‘nagging’ for ‘driving them to drink’; if no-one says anything, then “obviously there isn’t a problem with the drinking, is there?”
My maternal grandmother’s frequent blackouts were whispered to be ‘epilepsy’. My paternal grandfather “only drank at the pub, in company, so where was the problem?” Both my parents were largely teetotal as a result. But my husband’s family were all hard-drinking Scots. It took my brother-in-law hitting rock bottom for my husband to recognise his whole family had a problem with alcohol (except for his sister; who, with her husband, owned and ran a very successful pub. Go figure).
Hubby and I had a weird conversation one night, following a phone call from his sister about their brother. Hubby was all for intervention. Every time he suggested a tactic, I kept pointing out all the things his brother would say to deny he had a problem. After a while, hubby went very quiet. I apologised if I had upset him “by sounding like his brother”. “No,” he said, “It’s because you sound like me.” I asked him where else did he think I’d learned all those evasive responses? He gave up drinking that night and hasn’t touched alcohol in the 12 years since.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:58 am
Tigger
Judging from your story, I think I’ve lucked out, as well. Although I can’t be sure. My side of the family is big on the (heavy-ish) social drinking, but my husband’s side has the predisposition for what is usually called alcoholism.
Even just a few years ago, his sister came right out and said that she doesn’t mind alcoholism, that it suits a man to be an alcoholic… Thankfully, Husband himself has come to a lot of personal conclusions about his drinking habits and is also taking steps to avoid falling into the same situation as his father. It does actually involve me refraining from nagging (which is oh-so-difficult sometimes) but the reasoning is sound: if I nag, I drive him to drink, and in that way, he can excuse it to himself and to those around him (especially his friends). If I don’t nag, then he can’t justify it (apparently being ‘forced’ to do housework isn’t enough to drive a man to drink ;) ).
I think one of the main reasons it came to this (for a long time he resisted the idea that he could ever have a drinking problem) is when his older brother lost his license for driving under the influence, and, once not inhibited by the steering wheel, took to drinking more seriously. Out of nothing better to do. And I think it made him realize that he can’t afford to take any kind of drinking lightly, because he has a lot more riding on his sobriety than his brother.
I still worry about the future because we’re both still young, but I think his self-awareness in this matter is the most important thing at the moment. And, you know, the not-nagging. :P :)
mildlymagnificent:
October 31st, 2012 at 3:32 am
JAL, your little one and the pretty-as-a-princess stuff made me think of a book my girls loved 20+ years ago. Their godmother got it for them. http://childrensbooksguide.com/general/the-princess-and-the-dragon
Fabulous stuff about the dragon turning out to be better at being a princess than the princess herself was. I couldn’t save it for the family bookcase ‘cos the girls absolutely wrecked the thing (pretending to “read” it for themselves). The paperback looks to be pretty cheap on Amazon.
I think you’re doing pretty well. Circumstances are combining to test your resolve and your reserves. Just keep on keeping on. And get support wherever you can.
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 31st, 2012 at 4:13 am
Seconding the recommendation for The Princess and the Dragon. All my five, boys and girl, loved it. As did my grandson when I read it to him.
Yes, rq. The not-nagging. Ugh. Sounds like a similar situation to mine – hubby’s older brother lost his license (drink-driving) for the THIRD time, has lost his marriage, has lost his employability (long-term contractor in IT, after his contract wasn’t renewed (probably drink-related) would turn up for interviews already under the influence) can’t see any reason not to drink.
Even at the time he gave up, Hubby was nowhere near that level of drinking (he never, ever drove after having a drink, for instance). If it hadn’t been for big bro’s bad example, hubby may well have gone down the same path. Hubby’s drinking, he realised, was more of a crutch for social anxiety. He stopped going to pubs and joined chess clubs instead (the venue for the socially-anxious), deliberately choosing, for his first club, one that met in a temperance hall. =^_^=
Oh, and he did it all by himself, which makes me very proud of him. He did make a couple of visits to AA but decided that AA was weird and not for him.
It is very easy for an alcoholic to deny they have a drinking problem so long as the cultural depiction of an alcoholic is someone unemployed, dishevelled, permanently drunk, homeless…
Anyone who is employed, married, clean, tidy, keeping their life on track will use all those facts to deny that their drinking is a problem. Even if they never, ever go out for the evening without coming home smashed, if they are sober and on time for work the next morning they’ll deny there’s a problem; even if that happens several times a week, every week, year round. It’ll be the ‘nagging’ partner who has the problem; sheesh, why can’t they just relax?!!! No wonder the drinker has to get out of the house for the evening!
birgerjohansson:
October 31st, 2012 at 4:29 am
Azkyroth, Giliell
Yes; I am aware of this paradox. The question is, how do we keep the substance abuse victims alive until they are ready to quit? The liver is able to regenerate itself to an amazing degree, but it has limits. Dying from liver failure is a bad way to go, this is why I may sound “militant”.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 4:40 am
The nagging is how the Husband’s father has excused himself for this long, I think. And which is why things seem to have improved since his wife died (cancer). I think those first few weeks after her death, when he drank even more than usual, and NONE of his four children expressed greater sympathy (if anything, even less) because his state of grief was no better than his everyday state – that made him think, a little bit. The self-pity card was no longer working, and nobody was nagging at him to stop.
My goal is to have Husband not descend that far. Don’t know about any chess clubs in the area, but we certainly are trying to look into hobbies (a bit difficult, with the three kids current and a house hopefully on the way), and (in my opinion) some new friends. That being said, the alcohol=masculinity of this society is pretty… overbearing. So far, though, my Husband seems to be resisting the general idea about men (that they don’t stay home with any children, never mind 3 at once!!!), and I’m hoping that we can put the drinking in that cart, as well.
But the misogyny in general (and the whole ‘guys gotta stick together!’) is very deeply entrenched, even among his current friends (who, as I have grown older, have lost their appeal as fun-loving, hard-drinking rowdy men-folk simply out for a good time… especially as, more often, even at weddings, the wives sit at their own quiet table in the corner, having dejecting conversations about the hopelessness of their men, while the husbands prance around the dance floor with their shirts half-open, acting like the ordinary frat-boy). But it’s shocking how obivious it is, if you know how to see it – an article I read this morning (about why women avoid sex – yes, I know I shouldn’t) finished with the sentence, ‘Men, basically the main reason women avoid and run from sex is because you let them.’ So, apparently women can’t just not-want sex. And when women nag about drinking, it’s because they’re trying to emasculate their men. And they’re constantly manipulating their men in order to trap them in various situations where they end up doing only what the woman wants.
Sorry, but my Husband enjoys being with his kids, and we enjoy our time together, and we enjoy being not-too-drunk together (having an actual dance, for example). But it’s hard, when his entire family thinks I have him whipped and obedient, simply because we don’t conform to the accepted in society. And my friends are always surprised that I’m able to leave the kids with him for an evening. Shocking, I know…
Anyway, about the alcoholism, I’m very glad that he’s actually made a conscious decision to control it, even though I’m sad it has to happen at his brother’s expense. Now to find some alternate activities…
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 4:44 am
Oh, and speaking of stories about unconventional princesses, does anyone remember a story about the princess who wanted to be a knight, and dressed up as a knight. But the king wanted to find out which knight was the princess, and so he laid out several traps (I think a jousting tournament (because girls cry), fancy clothing and jewellery (because girls love that stuff) and a drinking contest), but they all failed (the ‘manly’ knights cried more than the princess, the knights all dressed up in fancy clothes while the princess looked on in disdain) except for the drinking, because while drinking the full goblet down, her throat stayed smooth while the knights all had giant adam’s apples… Anyone remember it? Title? Author? Or has it already been listed here?
Tigger_the_Wing:
October 31st, 2012 at 4:56 am
Not heard of that one, rq; sounds like one for the shopping list if anyone can tell us what it is called!
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:07 am
Ah, google, how I love thee – let me count the ways!
The book is here . And it’s about a princess trying to avoid marriage because she’s too smart for it.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:11 am
Also there seems to be a play on the same theme. Haven’t read through it so I don’t know if it ends well for the princess, but a pdf of it can be found here . Might be useful to someone out there who enjoys putting on interesting school plays for children. (I’m assuming it’s for children, or at least teenagers, since the language is pretty straightforward.)
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:23 am
birger
The sad truth is that you cannot do that. You have to watch helplessly as they slowly kill themsleves. I know it sounds cruel, but don’t think I haven’t considered the alternatives.
+++
Oh denial is so easy.
I think that part of my dad’s denial (and his resignation now) are motivated by the fact that he would have to change things, too, if this situation changes. You can’t live with a “dry” alcoholic and continue to have your beer, wine and home-made apple-schnaps as you used to have.
Frankly, my family’s attitude towards alcohol was always problematic. I grew up thinking that beer is what adults drink. I never occurred to me that it was a choice adults could make, you know, like watching horror movies or driving a motorbike, which are certainly things you can do as an adult but not as a child but that you don’t have to do.
Don’t know how much beer which I actually don’t like I drank just to prove that I was no longer a child.
And even though I recognized that my mum’s drinking habbits were critical, it still took me a long time to make the obvious connections between her drinking and her being ill. I won’t say that I was denying it, I just didn’t connect the dots.
We were famous for throwing parties. We would spend two days together in the kitchen and make tons of food and a dozen cakes. Or bake 16 different varieties of christmas cookies. And I would notice and point out that she was having her second beer and first schnaps at 11am but I didn’t realize the fact that I was always making the final dish alone, doing the cleaning up alone and her never ever being actually present at the party was due to her being drunk.
Because duh, alcoholics aren’t able to do the stuff she did before!
Also, alcoholics all have to drink all the time. People who can go for weeks without alcohol can’t be alcoholics!
As for the nagging:
I’m over the emotional blackmail. Her drinking doesn’t depend on me saying or doing X, Y and Z.
She will tell my sister that my dad was the problem, me that it was my sister, our dad that it was me and her psychiatrist that it’s her job. It’s them rationalizing, not something you actually do.
I’m not putting on that shoe anymore. After the second suicide threat you realize that you can’t let them run your life because you must never ever do anything they disapprove of because that’s driving them to drink.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:31 am
I always have a bit of a problem with that kind of stories (well, could of course be that this one is the exception where the message is that it’s ok to be who you are) is that they usually end up with the message that some girls can be just as good as the guys or even better!
They often still paint those “girly” things as inferior and bad. There’s nothing bad about crying when you’re hurt or sad, liking jewellery and fancy stuff isn’t vain and a weakness.
When I bought #1 a set for making jewellery I was kind of sad because I knew she would love it while I would much rather buy her some mechanical construction set.
But working with her on the pretty necklaces showed me how educational this actually was: how she learned about symetry and how her fine motor skills were trained.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:41 am
The way I got out of feeling guilty for nagging was one time when I asked what I should do instead of nagging (or, in my opinion, gently asking him if he really needs that next beer). And he said, Do nothing.
And then it came to me that, when he’s been drinking, anything I say is nagging. And if I say nothing, then I don’t care enough to say anything. And if I act angry, then I’m causing negativity and being obvious about my feelings. If I act happy, then I’m faking it and lying to him about how I feel about things. So yes, I can’t win – and I explained it to him. I asked him outright, what I should say if I think he should not have any more. And he said – Say nothing. So I asked him what happens when he goes past his limit, and he said Remind me not to have anymore before I reach that limit. So then I asked him about what I should do – should I or shouldn’t I remind him? Since either choice would land me in an argumentative situation with him. He didn’t have a good answer for it, but I believe he thought about it for a while, and now he accepts gentle commentary for what it is – gentle commentary. Also, he’s become much better at actually monitoring his own state and number of drinks. And no, he never drives if he’s been drinking.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:50 am
Also, I haven’t read the book in a long time… I don’t remember if it had a particularly girls-are-as-good-or-better sort of message. The girly things (if I remember correctly) aren’t necessarily put down, they’re just not what the princess wants to be doing. But I could be wrong, it was back in elementary school that the librarian read it to my class (grade 3?), and my memory of it may be very skewed. But it was still a nice story, and what I remember very well is the utter delight that the brothers took in dressing up in jewellery and fancy dresses! They may have gotten put down for it, though. Well, I guess it’s another book due for a re-read.
As for the boys, I don’t mind them playing with cars – I mind the fact that they haven’t had much opportunity to play with other toys. We bought LEGO (as gender-neutral a set as possible), and we read all kinds of books, and the eldest does enjoy dressing up… But sometimes I wonder if they’re being too cornered, by not having access to the ‘girls” toys in kindergarten and the like. I may be worrying too much. :P They don’t watch a lot of TV yet, but they still get a lot of boys = robots, cars, mechanical sets, and all their (boy) friends are the same way.
Also I’m afraid that if we end up having a girl at some point in the future, we’ll be inundated with pink prams and kitchen sets and dolls… And I cringe at the idea – not so much that it’s ‘girly’, but that it is SO PINK and that it’s everyone’s AUTOMATIC reaction. No nice LEGO sets or coloured crayons, PINK OVENS.
John Morales:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:56 am
rq, a simple syllogism, a nasty realisation, a good result.
(Life, eh?)
John Morales:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:57 am
um. @488 above, which should be obvious.
(I shoulda refreshed)
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:59 am
I think that’s a freaking point where lots of conversation just goes wrong: Mixing different levels of it, or understanding something to mean another.
Not just about drinking.
“Honey, the traffic light is red” can mean “factual information”. It can mean “you’Re really to dumb to drive, you need me for doing it.”
Which means that you have 4 possible combinations of intended message and received message and only one of them isn’t going to end in a fight or traffic accident.
Because Mr. and I both loathed it about our parents (and initially read the same book about communication that seperates the different levels of communication) we worked at communicating at the information level in information language and at the personal level using personal language. So if I tell him “the traffic light is red” or “there are children playing over there” I get a “yes thank you, I have/haven’t seen it”
+++
My friend babysits two kids once a week in the evening. During the week the kids are in an after-school programm.It’s St. Martin’s day here in 2 weeks time so everybody is making lanterns. There the girls could make a horse-lantern, the boys a UFO lantern. No mixing allowed.
And yes, you do get swamped in pink. Everybody thinks that a pink onesie for a girl is so original.
mildlymagnificent:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:07 am
It doesn’t need to be either one or the other. Our girls quite happily made decorative plastic flowery things in the morning and got out the trainset or other mechanical type activities in the afternoon. The younger one was seriously into Barbies for a while and my husband eventually relented and allowed the ‘rotten’ things into the household. (He never told her he hated them.) It was just a phase and she moved abandoned them after three or so years.
When they were in their teens they happily took up bead crafts all on their own. It was something they could do quietly at home when not running from choir to sport or music lessons.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:11 am
John Morales @490 – Indeed. And yes, I understood for which post. :)
Giliell – We have also talked about the factual information idea, too. Sometimes I take things too personally, sometimes he does, but quite often we tend to prefix our statements with ‘This is a factual statement’ or ‘This is just a general comment that may apply as equally to me as to you’ or ‘Just so you know…’ It seems to work. That, or phrasing it as a question.
And yes, I have also made the effort to make my gentle commentary actually SOUND like gentle commentary. No negative inflections (I have a tendency towards sarcasm even in my best moments).
I wish teachers in kindergartens would be a lot more open to mixing toys up, or giving children a choice. At least most activities for my eldest are done by everyone, but their Christmas presents are segregated (princess bags for the girls, Cars bags for the boys). And what was really sad was that one of his friends likes to play with dolls, and he regularly borrows dolls from the girls in his group, and he said he wanted a doll for his birthday. And his mother told the teacher not to buy him any dolls (apparently it’s enough that he can play with his sister’s dolls). I felt sad for him, but I didn’t know what to say, especially when one of the other parents (parent-teacher meeting) said that it’s better for him to play with the dolls now and get it out of his system rather than do it when an adult. It made me so sad. How do I educate these people?
And – a UFO lantern for St Martin’s? Here, we still get songs about roosters and goat costumes. No one has modernized to UFOs yet. :D
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:13 am
Anyways I’ve got to get off the computer, I’ve been talking a lot – it’s been nice (it’s been a while), and I’ll check in from time to time, but I have to put the two youngest down for a nap now…
Before I go, is there anyone out there in Europe who could help out until midnight (GMT+2 time) tonight? Sort of like Pharyngulating a poll, but it would help me out a lot?
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:00 am
Oh, our kindergarten is pretty good in that respect. The boys are often in the kitchen/doll-corner and all the costumes in the dress-up chest are for all the kids, so you occsionally you get a boy in a frilly princess dress.
mildlymagnificent
Sure, but you can’t just buy everything for one birthday ;)
What I would really love to get them are Magformers, they’re just soooo coooooooool.
But also equally expensive…
rq
the traditions must be very different.
Here the children walk the street with a lantern and at the end there’s a big bonfire. Our kindergarten offered a pirate, a frog-king on the moon (don’t ask me) and a chestnut-figure lantern. #1 picked the froggy and the little one the pirate.
My friend offered the girl tp make a UFO lantern with her that would be 10X better than the other one.
Sorry about your request. Tomorrow’s a holiday which means that Mr. will be here and demand I talk to him ;)
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:10 am
Oh, btw, a series I quite like is Chloe’s Closet
I can even forgive the notorieouly blonde and blue-eyed main-character. They explore different things every day and all things are presented as fun option of equal value: dancing ballet as well as being a pilot.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:11 am
Holy fucking shit
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:14 am
This is troubling
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:18 am
Giliell
Actually I just need you to click some buttons, but I need lots of people to do it. It’s ok, though. I think I’m more or less resigned to the fact that we won’t win this time. (700 extra votes seems a bit extreme.)
Thanks for the recommendation. One show that I’ve enjoyed is Country Mouse and City Mouse. The boys so far have loved it. It’s about two mice who travel the world, having all kinds of adventures, where everything is fun and the boy-mouse doesn’t always have to rescue the girl-mouse (in fact, quite often it’s the other way around). It IS, however, extremely steoreotypical in its representation of different world cultures. Can’t have it all…
John Scanlon FCD:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:19 am
As part of a course of learning, a third-order acquaintance has made a 2-minute video titled Take Your Place, the stated aim of which is “to inspire young women to take action and become involved in politics and the world”.
She would welcome constructive feedback via comments at the link.
Thank you, and have a safe and happy hallowe’en.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:24 am
So I started reading Salman Rushdie’s new autobiographical retelling of the events around The Satanic Verses (and his life), Joseph Anton: A Memior.
I’m only a little way into it but so far it’s very good.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:29 am
Rev. BigDumbChimp @498
I’d heard about the possibility of 3 more movies previously (even a couple of years ago, I think – about the period of time right after the fall of the Empire) but I don’t really trust Disney (even with Lucas at the helm, but he’s only ‘creative consultant’ at the moment).
Television series? No thanks. Too much of a good thing going bad.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:31 am
I don’t trust Lucas or Disney.
Just has me thinking of JarJar Binks done by Disney.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:37 am
Jesus Christ! Don’t say things like that. Gives decent people nightmares.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:42 am
Yes, don’t say things like that. Think of the children.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:50 am
Who should direct the new Star Wars Trillogy?
opposablethumbs:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:02 am
Extra piles of hugs today – and my admiration – to all those who are dealing with/have dealt with alcoholic or otherwise fucked up family members. Sometimes it feels like despair, sometimes things seem to repeat (with variations) from one generation to another.
Sometimes
youI try to persuade someone either to helpyoume or to accept help or to help themselves, and nothing seems to work, andyouI look atyourmy kids and worry that maybe some of the fucked-upness could repeat yet again (with variations) in the next generation andyouI knowyou’veI’m letting them down.rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:12 am
You really said it, opposablethumbs. It’s the ‘letting them down’ part that gets to me
sometimesoften.AussieMike:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:19 am
Aussie scientists and science teachers getting some love. Well done guys. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-31/astronomer-to-be-honoured-at-pm27s-science-awards/4344624
AussieMike:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:24 am
If you can, watch this very sad report from Australia’s Nightline on ABC about female genital mutilation. Very cruel and upsetting. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-29/women-speak-out-on-female-genital-mutilation-in/4340294
AshPlant:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:35 am
MYKURL BHEY!!
AussieMike:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:37 am
Oh look. Millions of dead Americans are going to climb out of there graves on Election Day and vote. They’ll probably demand some welfare payments as well. You know because being dead is a real disability.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rQR-aSyLwNU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DrQR-aSyLwNU%26feature%3Dyoutu.be
Thanks Glen Beck.
AussieMike:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:43 am
As For star wars, how about Peter Jackson, Ang Lee or Scorcese.
Something dark and gritty.
opposablethumbs:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:48 am
Yup, rq. It’s worse because you really are (partly) responsible for them. :(
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:52 am
Without looking it up, let’s see how close I am. They are fleshy growths, usually caused by a fungus, on one’s skin. They can be be as small as 1mm or up to 15mm long and about 3mm thick. They usually do not have nerve endings in them and can be frozen off. During the middle ages, witch hunters sometimes stripped the accused and looked for skin tags — these were the places where the witch’s familiar gained nourishment and were a good way to get burned as a witch. I’d've been dead meat (well done, of course) — I have about thirty of the damn things. I get them frozen off, they come back. You can’t explain that.
Fresh asparagus wrapped in a sheet of phylo so the tips are exposed, brushed with butter and sprinkled with freshly grated Asiago and baked.
No parboiled and chilled garden peas? Heathen.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 8:53 am
Direct the new Star Wars?
Who is going to write them?
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:13 am
No. Fucking. Shame.
MLK was a Republican.
Vote Republican!
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:31 am
opposablethumbs
I would argue not only partly for the first little bit of their lives, when they’re most impressionable and when it’s so sad to see them learn that life isn’t all about smiles and rainbows. I dunno, but now, seeing how happy #3 is in his little five-month oblivion, my heart is already squeezing for those moments soon to come when he will be disappointed and saddened and crushed.
And the trouble is, I won’t know if I’m guiding them right and actually helping them face their issues and be decent human beings until they’re adults, or very nearly so. Won’t know for sure, at any rate…
Josh, Official SpokesGay:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:37 am
I’m going to self-immolate. New Honda for Her features pink paint and molding, plus special air-conditioning and a UV-filtering windscreen to help prevent wrinkles.
Yes, really.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:42 am
All that needs is a Hello Kitty steering wheel
AussieMike:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:45 am
They have thought of everything
If pink’s not your color, the model also comes in shades of brown and white, that Honda hopes would complement women’s eyeshadow color—
WTF.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:49 am
Did they even put any sparkly bits in there? And they expect women to buy this shit? It needs to be pink and sparkle. Seriously, people.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:50 am
I’m such a cynic.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:51 am
Does it come in a “My Little Pony” package? What the fuck is wrong with Honda? Do they actually expect this to sell more cars?
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:51 am
Upgrade to the optional Edward package to get sparkles.
Nutmeg:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:55 am
Seriously? After the whole Bic for Her thing, someone still thought this would be a good idea?
(Yes, I know it must have been in the works long before the pen incident. Still, I doubt it will get a much better reception.)
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:00 am
I ♥ wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:06 am
rq @477:
Do what..??!!
She clearly doesn’t know how destructive alcoholism can be to an individual and his or her family. It’s not a badge of honor.
Also, was she just addressing your husband or speaking in general? To say that it “…suits a man” sounds really sexist-as if either there aren’t female alcoholics or that it doesn’t suit them.
****
RevBDC:
from your link:
I’ve long wished Lucas would create some movies *NOT* focused on Han, Luke, Leia, Chewie, et al. The Star Wars universe is filled with many fantastic characters (as we’ve seen with the animated Clone Wars) and so much potential. I hope any Episode 7 is *not* a continuation of Episode 6, but rather, something new. They can slap the title Star Wars on a movie as bad as I am Legend and people will go see it.
****
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:06 am
Yeah, really not buying eyeshadow angle. I mean eye shadows come in all kinds of colors and women change them all the time. I think for women and colors the only ones that came to mind were PINK and skin color.
Bleh.
Richard Austin:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:06 am
I’d just like to point out a recent SF series Disney was involved in, and we all know who directed that, right?
(No, it’ll never happen, but I think I’d rather trust Disney to handle a series like Star Wars than, say, the folks who brought us Jar Jar Binks.)
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:11 am
Oh boy! I mean, oh girl! When can I get one? And how do I upgrade to class Edward? (Does that mean it sparkles only in sunlight, or all the time?)
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:18 am
Do cars from class Jacob have fake fur seats?
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:22 am
rq:
Wouldn’t Class Edward have scissorhands? Or am I (as usual) being culturally clueless?
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:24 am
Wrong Edward, Ogvorbis. I present you : the sparkly vampire
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:26 am
Tony @529
That’s what freaks me out so much. Their father – father! – is an alcoholic, and she has seen even more than my husband how destructive and ugly it can be. Very much so. And yet, and yet, and yet… I think in the intervening years, she has changed her mind somewhat, but she still can’t accept a man who enjoys his children. Even when it is her brother changing diapers with nary a complaint.
Oh and mostly, yes, it’s ok for men to be alcoholics (goes with the territory, ya know?) but not women, because women are supposed to be proper and calm and in control and responsible. That’s how it rolls over here.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:27 am
Beatrice
Faux fur, please. :P Let’s not be crass and use English, ok? (Can I get sparkly zebra stripes?)
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:28 am
Oggie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Cullen
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:30 am
Beatrice and chigau:
I plead cultural ignorance. Sorry.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:30 am
Excuse-moi, I will try to be properly in vogue.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:31 am
rq @6:
IIRC, Lucas was thinking of the children when he created Jar Jar.
So they need to *not* think about the children-as much.
****
RevBDC:
Christopher Nolan or Joss Whedon. I lean more toward the former (even though I love Joss), because of how mind blowing and thought provoking he makes some of his movies (Inception and Memento spring to mind).
****
I’m handing out USB brownies to everyone. It seems like many have family member struggling with alcoholism. I’m so sorry for the stress that puts you all (and your families) under.
****
AshPlant @12:
Now *that’s* something that should never be uttered! M*****L B*Y seems to display as much talent as Uwe Boll.
****
chigau @17:
Meh.
Who needs a writer?
M*****L B*Y has released 3 Transformers movies, and they didn’t appear to have a writer at the helm, just a string of explosions and fights strung together with a bare bones plot, no character development and bad dialogue. Yet those movies raked in the big bucks.
****
Beatrice @23:
They’re trying to appeal to women with this sexist ad, not gay men ()
****
And the laugh of the morning goes to JAL’s comment @26!
****
From Josh’s link:
Firstly (that’s in honor of Josh), who came up with the name for this vehicle? It’s deeply dumb. Are they going to create a Honda Fit: For Gaze of Honda Fit: Just For Menz next?
Ok, the sexism just *reeks* off this ad.
In addition, why do they think that this is something only *women* would want? Depending on how effective it is, I think many men would like a windshield that blocks 99% of UV rays. I want to know how an AC system can improve skin quality.
Hah! I just got this image of a female driver and male passenger. The car wasn’t made for guys so clearly we would melt into a Wizard of Oz puddle of liquid, or spontaneously combust, or be ejected from the seat.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:32 am
Ogvorbis,
You were better off not knowing. I fondly remember the times when I knew nothing of vampires that sparkle and imprinting (shudder) and similar horrors.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:35 am
Beatrice:
Yeah. That’s the problem wit this place. I keep learning things I really ddn’t need to know. Or want to know. In addition, of course, to the really useful stuff.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:36 am
Obviously, spelling was not one of them. All Hail Tpyos!
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:39 am
I don’t have a green thumb-more from a lack of never having tried.
I would like to start growing a few herbs at home. Does anyone have any tips?
****
Oggie:
I have weeds and dead leaves in my garden. No peas. If I did, I’m sure even the weeds would die.
****
Ok, you folks are on a roll today. I’m laughing my ass off from rq @32 and Beatrice @33. Will you folks (and JAL) be here all week?
****
rq:
If I may, what part of the world are you in?
I thought the sexist stereotype was “women are irrational and overly emotional. Men are the level headed, responsible, rational types.” Perhaps that’s largely in the U.S.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:40 am
Ok, so if Honda gets Twilight, can Mazda have Buffy? Oh, and GM can have True Blood.
vaiyt:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:42 am
I would buy that Honda Fit, if it came in hot pink or rose. That shade is hideous.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:43 am
Beatrice @42:
It’s going to be ok.
Just remind yourself that this is one of the rare cases where No True Scotsman can be invoked and not be a logical fallacy.
Twilight vamps aren’t real vamps.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:47 am
Cancer doesn’t cause behavior that victimizes others. This is not a fair comparison, and it’s one that I find both incredibly irritating and rather triggering, perhaps because I’ve had it manipulatively brandished at me too many times.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:53 am
When evangelicals were pro choice.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:07 am
Tony @45
I tried the herb thing a little while ago, but apparently watering them once a week doesn’t do much good (especially when it’s a deluge every time). That being said, basil is hardy (still have a few surviving leaves from three years ago), rosemary is resilient (can dry it out then drown it and it will grow new shoots), but everything else dies easy. Sage, especially. This is why I like African violets. I water them close to never, when I do I overwater, and they still bloom something like 6 months of the year.
I am in Eastern Europe, yes you may ask – Latvia, to be more specific (it’s not like anyone actually knows where it is without looking it up :P). And no, I don’t speak Russian. BUT. What makes it a little different from other places is the post-Soviet and might I say Russian influence. Not that Russian women are supposed to be quiet and even-tempered, but the men definitely have the upper hand when it comes to (violent) emotionalness. The saying ‘If he doesn’t beat you, he doesn’t love you’ is more than just something to laugh about in a circle of friends (although going out of style, is true). Latvia has been routinely occupied by all kinds of forces, was a county of Russia, Sweden, a part of Germany, heck – we even had a whole Crusade come our way, once, when we were all Christianized oh so nicely (the one that went to Livonia). Since the early 90s, the country has been recovering from the Soviet occupation, with mixed (mostly, IMO, negative results). The whole idea of feminism is different here – not completely, but definitely so. It’s hard to put my finger on how, exactly, but there’s a different flavour to the women hating. Maybe because it’s a lot more insidious. Maybe because the mentality is still all about how now that we have capitalism, we ALL have it good. (Yet, oh boy, oh the opinions, oh the commentary about women, abortion, rights… Racism, homophobia, we have it all. Being in the EU has done nothing (very little) to improve the general opinion – more like an entrenchment (“We are the last bastion of morality in a dying continent!”). And yes, the government IS discussing the banning of abortion outright, because a lovely
pro-lifeanti-choice group has received funding from the US (which they deny). Anyway, that’s where I’m at right now.Back to the point. Women are supposed to pick up after the men – uphold the family, be more upstanding, drink less, party less, wear longer skirts… The low demographics are due to feminism (because men themselves couldn’t possibly be the problem, or the really low wages, or the really poor social support network…). If only women wouldn’t be educated, they wouldn’t want to get out of the house, while men would be free to drink, roam, and party to their wits’ end. So, a woman alcoholic is stepping outside of her gender-norm, because it makes her look ugly (and yes, apparently women have been placed on earth in order to look pretty for men).
What shocked me A LOT? When a friend of mine said, outright, that she believes that women were placed on earth to serve men, and those around her nodded contentedly. She is also an atheist and went way out of her way to have as non-religious a ceremony as possible.
And yes, I’ll be here all week, although I can’t guarantee that level of wit. It comes and goes, you know, like my hormones. :P Actually, I’m going to be here more regularly, though still intermittently, from now on. I’ve decided I like it here.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:17 am
RevBDC @50:
WTF?
Someone needs to circulate that to every Christian organization across the world.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:19 am
Yay!
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:27 am
Beatrice
Just wait until I get settled in. ;) I’ll be plying everyone with home-made apple wine and various Latvian delicacies until you’re all sick to death of bacon, pork chops, potato salad and whipped cream pastries.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:30 am
rq:
I’m glad you like it here.
This really is a wonderful place.
What’s worse than ::headdesk::? Whatever it is, I just did that 5 times back to back.
What the hell??
Obviously your friend hasn’t analyzed her views once she became an atheist. I’m not aware of any secular reason to believe women were put on earth to serve men. AFAIK, there are only *religious* reasons. If you reject religion, you should reject that line of thought. I know it’s not easy to do, but damn, that’s just blatant religious indoctrination there.
…and this is a bad thing, why?
(this wasn’t directed at you)
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:33 am
It’s alright OG I thought the edwards reference was to a “piece of crap politician wannabee who still owes me money”
rq Latvia, isn’t that where swedes go to buy booze?
what? No Sprats?
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:34 am
rq:
There are many people here that love bacon. I’m not certain you’ll reach a bacon saturation point for them.
I’m not sure how long you’ve lurked, but food is a recurring topic here. Along with recipes, knitting, adult beverages, books (especially book recommendations), tv shows & tropes, and more.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:38 am
rq:
I’m in luck then.
That’s my favorite herb!
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:40 am
BLASPHEMY
cicely:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:40 am
*gag! choke! gaspgaspgaspwheeze*
Not while I’m drinking, please.
*shudder*
-
O.o
-
Plus, of course, thinking of the merchanidising to/for children…and Disney is all about the merchandising.
-
*sigh*
Oh, bright and shining (but not sparkling; never sparkling!) days of Yesteryear!
And imprinting on a newborn isn’t creepy at all, no it isn’t! </sarcasm>
-
True. If it’s functionally immortal, has supernatural powers, and sparkles, it ain’t a vampire, it’s a faery of some sort. Break out the cold iron bolts.
-
Good news! :)
-
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:43 am
Tony @55
Tony, my dear (may I?), gender-norms are THE thing here! Did you read my comment about the child in my son’s kindergarten who wants to play with dolls? Well. Boys don’t do that, don’t you know. Just like girls don’t run around, they sit quietly still, even at the park.
Girls need dolls because they’re natural mothers, boys need cars because they need to learn to drive fast (and also while drunk, but that’s unofficial). (Aside: If girls are natural mothers, yet society wants better fathers, why aren’t boys trained with dolls and prams, since they’re the ones who need the practice…?)
As for those outside of gender norms: If you’re gay, you’re automatically a pedophile; if you’re trans-gender (what’s the proper way to say that?) of any kind, you’re just sick; if you’re a woman who likes to work but doesn’t want kids, you’re a freak of nature; if you’re a woman with kids who would rather work, you’re a horrible, horrible mother; if you’re a woman with no kids and no boyfriend, you’re obviously doing your life wrong (and probably ugly, too)… I could go on, but I’m getting upset, and anyway, it’s the same list brought out everywhere, that people here have no doubt heard from end to end several times. And yet here, these are the prevailing views, the ones in government, the ones on the streets. Of course, if you asked everyday people, they’d have the ‘proper’ response of, Well, I don’t mind gays, as long as they don’t hit on me. Which means, of course, that they’re so not discriminating.
Please read all of the above with a lot of sarcasm. I try to break the gender-norms that I can, and I hope all of my boys will, too. Mostly I do that by being blase about leaving my Husband alone with the kids some evenings *GASP*. People honestly wonder how he deals with them. I tell them he’s a father, not a random donor. And he likes it. And that I don’t like being the caring one as much as he does. I don’t think they believe me.
And I think it’s the post-Soviet atheism – where god didn’t exist because Communism, but there was no alternate world-view of men and women on equal footing presented – just the same old models, without god. But with Communism (you know, ‘Women serve Communism by giving birth to good little Communists!’). I think. I haven’t done any research; I think it would be painful. Horribly, horribly, headdeskingly and facepalmingly and beyond painful.
cicely:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:44 am
Mash-up:
-
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:46 am
broboxley
I’m a heathen-Latvian; I don’t like sprats. That being said, I can inflict them on the rest of you in the blink of an eye. And you’re right about the Swedes. Now I’m wondering, did you already know that, or is Wikipedia up-to-date on the drinking habits of Swedes?
Rev. BigDumbChimp
Blasphemy? I do that well.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:47 am
rq,
Never!
You remind me, I haven’t made potato salad in a while.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:48 am
Very nice, cicely , very nice indeed! Can I have a song-and-dance with that?
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:49 am
Beatrice
That’s a never on the plying or the sick-to-death?
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:50 am
rq,
On the sick to death. Sorry, I wasn’t clear.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:56 am
It’s too bad the Husband’s grandma no longer keeps pigs, because when she did, they made their own bacon – home-smoked and salted and delicious. Duh-LISH-usssss…
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:01 pm
yes
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:06 pm
rq
I try to keep up with geohabits in different spots and I love sprats, especially these
http://parthenonfoods.com/smoked-riga-sprats-160g-p-258.html
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:06 pm
cicely @62:
I was all set to say “Hey, don’t mash-up my bacon with rosemary”, until I realized that might taste good…
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Rev. BigDumbChimp
Yes, like that, but we do it in here . Yes, we cleanse our bacon. Slightly different process, same location.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:07 pm
what the frackin’ frack are sprats
::too lazy to peform Wiki-Foo::
cicely:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Why, certainly, rq!
*producing and handing over Song Inna Bucket™, all the while lurch-stepping with Unnatural Rhythm™*
-
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:09 pm
broboxley
Funny thing, my antivirus just blocked that site because it has potentially dangerous content.
And alas, the Riga sprats were bought out by a company based in Russia, if I remember correctly. Just like our herbal remedy for everything .
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:10 pm
rq (from your link @72):
I’m not seeing the appeal of this. The rest of it sounds wonderful.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Thank you, cicely . Love it.
And Tony , sprats are little fishies kind of like sardines but not.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Nevermind.
I engaged my Wiki Foo.
Sprats look similar to mackerel or sardines!
Sounds yummy in my tummy!
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:13 pm
*searches for sprats on wikipedia*
Ooooh, you mean papaline. I like those.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Tony,
Very similar to sardines, yes.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Oh and I forgot – here’s the potted flower for your efforts, cicely !
Tony
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. :) It’s like a massage – a very interesting, unique, sort of massage, but it has to be done right. The word for it in Latvian is actually the equivalent of spanking, not swatting. Most would argue that the whole point of the sauna is the spanking part – techniques very from hard to light, with honey and without, with salt and without, in steam or not… Call it a beautification process. Supposedly it does wonders for the skin and circulation.
thunk, Blob Alert!:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Hia all. *pokes people*
Oh, all the hugs and USB brownies for people affected by diseases and natural disasters.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Beatrice @79:
I read palpaline as ‘Palpatine’…
thunk, Blob Alert!:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Oh yum. They’re delicious; I still have fond memories of eating them. Until I bit into one and discovered caviar. No thanks. The ones without are fine.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:19 pm
The ones with the caviar are supposed to be the best ones. But it’s the reason I don’t like them. Don’t like caviar; don’t like fish with surprise caviar inside them.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:19 pm
rq:
I began learning how to communicate with a partner several years ago. Let’s just say I don’t like spanking in *any* context, and the next day, I informed him of that (plus he like to scratch-hard- and I don’t like that either). To his credit, he never did either one again.
I’m thinking I wouldn’t like spanking in a sauna either.
Rey Fox:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I was under the impression that regular glass filtered out UV enough.
thunk, Blob Alert!:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:21 pm
One of my family friends has a sauna. I’ve never actually been in one though, unlike the rest of my family.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:23 pm
re: Riga
I might try that (if I can ever find it and have money to buy it). I’m a little wary given the ingredients, but I love Vodka.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Tony
Ah, I see. In that case, the steam may be enjoyed in peace and quiet. :)
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
thunk:
I like saunas. I’ve been in both a wet and a dry sauna (the YMCA has both). I prefer the wet sauna as the dry one feels too intense. In the wet sauna, you still get the heat, but the mist feels refreshing. I don’t recommend either if you have problems breathing.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Tony
If you do try the Balzams (I think it’s available some places in the US), get the black-currant flavoured one. The regular flavour is atrocious, but good for colds and coughs (in small doses). Only the hard-core patriots drink it straight, and even then, most of them fake it. But the black-currant flavoured one is amazing.
Richard Austin:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Rey:
Normal glass doesn’t block UV; things like car windows and even home windows are often treated with a coating to do so, but I think “plain” glass offers minimal blocking.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:28 pm
I don’t like surprise caviar either, so I usually clean all but the littlest fish.
—
Sauna sounds like something I would enjoy for the peace and quiet. Being in there by myself would probably be a requirement.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:33 pm
That’s the best way to enjoy it in my opinion, as well. Not in a crowd.
And on that happy note, I bow out for the night – my quiet time has come to an end and I must return to the noise and activity of the family returning. A good night to everyone and best wishes all around to those who need them and want them – hugs included.
Thank you for talking. I am grateful for being heard and having a chance to express some things that have been on my mind for a while. Thank you all and once again good night.
cicely:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Thank you, rq; I will treasure it always.
And for you, a flowered pot.
-
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Hi thunk.
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Oh the wit is just flying as I walk out the door (@ cicely ). :) Thank you! And a calm, floaty, paranoid evening, to you too (I AM allergic to the stuff).
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Beatrice:
If you’ve never been in one, yes, they are quite peaceful and relaxing. I’ve only been in a sauna a few times when it wasn’t quiet. Oddly enough, at the YMCA, some people want to chit chat while you’re trying to relax in a sauna. Even more funny-the last trip M and I went on before he died, we went to a gay Bath House in Orlando. I liked the wet saunas they had and frequently wandered into them to relax. They were *very* quiet (and occasionally populous), which was eerie given that I know what *some* people were doing…
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:45 pm
rq,
Wait a moment, what was that thing you needed us to click until midnight?
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:46 pm
rq:
You’re more than welcome. Anytime you need to chat, you’re sure to have several ears listening.
I hope you and yours have a good night.
cicely:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Hey, me too! I never make it to a “calm, floaty, paranoid” state, though; the “eyes and sinuses swelled shut” stage gets me every time.
-
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Beatrice
I need masses and masses of people in Europe, though. Doesn’t work in the States.
Here’s the rundown, though.
Go here , and on the right-hand side, find your country in the list (Vācija = Germany, Horvātija = Croatia, Apvienotā Karaliste = UK, Krievija = Russia, Igaunija = Estonia, Somija = Finland, the rest are more or less figure-outable), then enter your cell number, and once you receive a text message with an alphanumerical code, enter it into the new space provided and hit ‘Balsot!’.
You’ll be helping my choir get to new concert regalia (ok, just regular old nice dresses but new and shiny).
We’ll be going to Canada in 2014 for the Latvian Song and Dance Festival there (everyone’s welcome!).
But like I said, I need masses and masses of votes and there are only 4 hours left. We’re currently 6th and behind by 700+ votes; we need to make the top 5. Anyone willing, please help; if not, well, it’s not like we’re ahead anyway! :) Good night, and thanks in advance for this, too!!
And I will definitely be back to chat to the several listening ears. :) *smiles all around*
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Tony,
Nope, I’ve never been to a sauna. I doubt I would be comfortable with semi-naked strangers there with me. I’m too self-conscious and paranoid for that.
Even being there alone would probably make me paranoid about touching something that somebody’s naked ass touched before. But I’m weird like that (in the locker rooms in high school, I would never sit on the bench in my underwear, like others did, because that’s just gross)
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:00 pm
I might be an idiot, but I can’t find Croatia (Horvātija) on the list. :/
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:02 pm
… I assume it needs to be the right country because of the country code
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Beatrice:
Many people use towels to cover themselves in a sauna. I don’t like being naked in them either, so I towel up.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:12 pm
But there’s ASV (USA) on the list.
*confused*
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Beatrice – yes, precisely…And you’re right, it doesn’t seem to be there. Croatia isn’t yet in the EU – the snobs. That’s why it’s not on the list. :/
Portia:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Judge in Trayvon Martin Case Refuses to Ban Defense Lawyer’s Blog and Comments
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
That’s the weird bit, and it won’t work from the US. That’s been tried and tested. :( It confuses me, too. Considering the US isn’t a part of the EU, either. Oh well, thanks for trying, at any rate! If you just want to hear the choir, try here , playlist on the right. Thanks for trying!
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:16 pm
rq,
Sorry I can’t help!
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:28 pm
me too
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjrthOPLAKM?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Good evening
*yawn*
After a massive tantrum by the little one we made it to the zoo for Halloween, pictures will follow.
Azkyroth
No, it doesn’t. But alcoholism does. It’s part of the symptoms and that’s actually why I don’t consider drugs to be solely a question of bodily autonomy.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Wegmans (where else?) carries an unsmoked, fully cooked Italian ham in the deli which is flavoured with rosemary. It is fantastic. I bet bacon cured with rosemary would be good, too.
Small human beings. Usually, but not exclusively, male. Archaic usage (my childhood memory).
Must not be the steam I am used to. Ours is loud. And smelly.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Eli Manning Looking At Things
I feel so wrong for laughing.
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 1:55 pm
well said
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/michael-ignatieffs-timely-warning-on-the-politics-of-fascism/article4753299/
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Behold!
The Anus Dagger!
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Wait, there was a total of 3 kids trick or treating. What do I do with all the candy?
rq
Anecdotal evidence from my neighbourhood confirms your observations about men, women and alcohol for some parts of the Russian-German community here as well.
No, I’m not saying that the “German German” community is much better, only different shitty attitudes (actually in terms of “nice, clean and friendly” I would say the Russian German community wins hands down. Largely because the women care a lot)
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:42 pm
That was rhetorical, right?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:45 pm
The Most Stupid Man In The House Has Spoken!
Stephen King has never been as terrifying as Steve King. And enough people like him well enough to keep him in office.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I bought 150 little chocolate bars.
It is -10°C.
I expect to be eating 140 of them.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 2:50 pm
At that temperatures you’ll need the calories
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
October 31st, 2012 at 3:16 pm
So, here’s of our Halloween costumes
a_ray_in_dilbert_space:
October 31st, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Greetings Threadlians,
Useles News and World Retort needs some help remembering that reality is not determined by the results of a poll.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/10/30/was-hurricane-sandy-caused-by-global-warming
opposablethumbs:
October 31st, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Such cool bats and spiders, Giliell! They’re great (I especially love the black-on-black bat – stunning).
ImaginesABeach:
October 31st, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Giliell – both are great, but I really like the spider on your little witch’s head.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
October 31st, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Were ok. 48+ hours without power though with no clear end. Food has all spoiled :(
Nutmeg:
October 31st, 2012 at 4:45 pm
This thesis would be a lot easier if someone would just build a time machine already.
/evolution student problems
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Ing, ouch, do you any insurance that covers that?
rq:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Giliell
Excellent costumes!!! Love the spiders, and the bat is superb.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:18 pm
It was costume day at work today. I’m trying hard to keep my “someone who gives a shit” costume on, but it is getting itchy.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Hi Ing!
Glad you’re OK even though dark and cold.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Rev.
Do up the zipper.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
October 31st, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Just what the people left without power because of Sandy needs, fools talking about god. People who are supplying emergency generators so people can change their phones are doing an infinite amount more good that some one out to spread their religion.
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Rev. BigDumbChimp @ 498
I enjoyed Star Wars (the first three, er, I mean episodes IV, V and VI) but I thought it was funny that after 6 movies they still were missing 20 years. We see Luke and Leia being born – next thing you know they’re a young man and a young woman. (???)
Still fun, though.
New movies? Hopefully about new characters. : )
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:25 pm
rq @51
This is very cool. : )
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Ing – Very glad to hear you’re o.k.
And sorry to hear about your power and food situation. Wish I could do more than send hugs. : (
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Horde Parents One and All –
Sending big hugs and nothing but the utmost respect for all the parents invested in their children’s lives. I am so proud and so impressed to be in the company of such a fine caliber of people.
More hugs.
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Sandy wasn’t global warming
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4299880,00.html
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze– @ 439
Yes. THIS. 100%.
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Giliell @ 123 – What sweet pictures! Thank You for sharing them. : )
Portia:
October 31st, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Cute costumes Giliell!
I’m having fun shoveling candy into the total of 8 trick or treaters I’ve seen. That last one got chastised for taking too much because I don’t think Mom could hear me telling the little vampire to take more and more.
On the Star Wars note, a Stormtrooper has been the only kid to decline my encouragement to take handfuls, demurring with “I can only take one” Maybe his parents want him to walk further for his candy. Or just be polite and not take too much.
opposablethumbs:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:23 pm
This house is one that full-grown and hard-bitten adults hesitate to approach after dark, because it is … The Spooky House (bwahahaha). Srsly, no trick-or-treaters ever dare come up here.
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:38 pm
one barely old enough to walk gorgeous red devil in a red dress. Thats it so far. Most of the kids around here have graduated highschool
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 7:48 pm
One 10ish clown-like creature with mother.
It’s warmed up to -8°C.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
October 31st, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Here’s a Halloween treat for you—Eric Idle has redone the Galaxy song with biology, better astronomy, and Brian Cox.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/31/eric_idle_brian_cox_galaxy_cox/ is where I read about it.
http://www.nerdist.com/2012/10/eric-idle-on-galaxy-song-the-new-biological-version/ has Eric Idle’s story and the lyrics.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5WaLqcRmCIWZm10LTNNZ0NMbk0/edit?pli=1 is the vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpROxIq0Tec is the YouTube version of the vid.
It is beautiful.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:18 pm
broboxley:
Well duh.
Everyone knows God sent Sandy because of The Gayz.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Yesterday the Redhead ran an experiment. She had a friend take her on the commuter train (Metra) into Chitown, and they took in the opera Electra at the Lyric. I drove into the city to pick them up afterwards. Success, except her friend had a bag containing her vote by mail ballot stolen while noshing sammiches I made at the OTC. The next two operas have now been exchanged for handicapped “seating” (end of row seat taken out making room for a wheelchair). The downside is that I can no longer go directly to bed when we get home, and have to get her to bed first. Some assembly required, as they say.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Two bigguns collecting for the Campus Food Bank.
They got a 12-pack of KD.
AJ Milne:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Approx. 50 kids here, guessing from candy stock depletion.
We’ve lots left. It’s always so hard to call. We’re in this weird spot: nearby blocks where people just go all out–mad decorations, streets take on this carnival atmosphere. We’re a slightly quieter block, sometimes I think we get overflow from the carnival, sometimes we don’t.
It’s a bit scary, seriously, how much some of ‘em do though. When did this become a thing, anyway? Smoke machines, sound systems, animatronic skeletons rattling their chains. Last year, someone had a live band trying to look goth on their lawn. And there’s these places just seem to go for volume. Cover the lawn in ghouls and orange lights.
Fun, though, I guess. I’m not complaining. Even my seven year old is less than focused on the candy. It’s more: let’s go here; this place looks sufficiently awesome.
Me, I tried to do a kinda tasteful (by this holiday’s standards, anyway) gothic-tinted graveyard this year. Tombstones, cobwebs, candles, antique lanterns. And, okay, a skeleton with a pulsating, glowing skull, digging itself out of one grave…
Kids liked it. But the little guy figures it needs sound.Possibly something motion-activated, he figures…
I guess I could be talked into that…
I’m drawing the line at animatronics, though.
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Hooray for Redhead’s successful experiment!
One tiny Batman perched on his dad’s shoulders showed up at my door tonight. He was so cute! Success!
Chigau – What’s a 12 pack of KD?
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 31st, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Love the costumes Giliell.
Here’s the Small Fry in her first door-to-door Halloween adventure.
Cuteness courtesy of her mum. The spiders are of course redbacks. The handmade fairy dress was bought last year. Friends of ours who own a toy store wanted kids to model them in a parade. The incentive was that they would sell the dress to us at cost after the event.
Trick or treating partners in lollies. Note the sandals.
This is what trick or treating looks like in small town Australia. The witch is the mother of Batman. Like many a new convert she’s pretty keen on her new-found holiday.
I have to admit that over and above the novelty being the parent in this situation I found it strange indeed to be wearing shorts and sweating whilst collecting the candied goodness.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Four high-school? girls collecting for themselves.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:51 pm
I swear this oath:
****
I got to speak briefly with a co-worker tonight who made a comment about his Hyundai Santa Fe being girly. I told him there’s nothing masculine *or* feminine about a vehicle and even if there were, there’s nothing wrong with femininity. I also told him it was sexist to make that statement. He didn’t have much to say.
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:53 pm
#148 Tony
couldn’t be. Iran has assured us that they don’t have teh gayz
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 8:56 pm
ednaz
behold!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraft_Dinner
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 8:56 pm
mind blowing, I love their commercials
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVvc_0YY0uM?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:22 pm
#157 a co-worker was describing a drive thru new jersey when he passed thru an area that he was convinced a mustard gas was being released. He was scared, gagging and choking and after he got thru the miasma he stopped at a gas station so they could call the authorities. He was informed that it was Thursday, the day kraft cooked up a fresh batch of “cheese” for that product.
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:28 pm
#155 beg to disagree. Cars are always feminine. You ever hear someone call their car “Bob”? Yes he was being sexist in describing it as girlie. My wife doesn’t like the new pickups because they look feminine, she prefers the looks of our old 85 as it looks manly. Even if it looks manly I still call the pickup “old girl”
Jessa:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:36 pm
chigau:
I remember when, back in grad school, I would be thrilled with that because it would mean food for the week. I don’t miss those times.
cicely:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Ah, the bad old days—no jobs, a newborn Son, and nothing but generic mac&cheese and vienna sausages on our menu.
-
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:49 pm
chigau – O.K. *thumbsup* Also, left several bottles of Rum on the counter.
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze– @155
Good for You, Tony! And good for all of us.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 31st, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Nope. But the first car I drove that wasn’t parental or driving school owned was a 70′s VW Bug with a sticky clutch called Hans. Absolute statements are often wrong, who knew?
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 9:56 pm
FossilFishy @ 153
Adorable trick-or-treaters and impressive costumes!
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 9:57 pm
broboxley #159
That is hilarious!
—
I once saw a neighbour leave his dwelling and walk down the street eating a styrofoam bowl of microwave KD.
It was about 10°C and raining. He was wearing shorts, sandals and a nice warm hoody.
I concluded he was an engineering student on his way to the nearby University.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:00 pm
ednaz, aren’t they though? I’ve no idea where the boys got theirs, Halloween still isn’t much of a thing here.
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:04 pm
In the late 80′s my folks bought an older powder blue station wagon. The owner made sure to tell us the car’s name was ‘Bucky’.
Bucky had been parked for years and backfired – much to the mortification of his teenage drivers. : )
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Another moment in my ongoing “Where am I, and how did get here?” file: At one point during the trick-or-treating we wanted to cross an overgrown lot. I was sent ahead to scare any lurking snakes away. It’s moments like that that make Canada and my youth seem very far away indeed.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Best car name: an eighties Ford panel van that had gone through several small level touring bands: Muffy the Highway Slayer.
Mattir:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Happy Halloween to me – this evening I managed to get struck hard, by the classic array of flu symptoms, including a lovely fever and all over achiness. And because I know too many people from Pharyngula, my auto-diagnosis was promptly endorsed by an actual virologist. So now I’m too miserable to spin, knit, read anything beyond the most trivial, or straighten up after the hurricane prep from Friday and Saturday, Also not particularly sleepy, so commenting on blogs and FB it is…
/whine
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Links to a chart showing Halloween Celebration Around the World.
http://chartsbin.com/view/5vy
broboxley OT:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:21 pm
#165 can we call exception makes the rule? I had a 1965 vw camper bus called maude in 1986. Lived in it for 8 months or so. Wished I had one just like it. I would run away from home.
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Mattir – I am sending warm slippers, hot tea and very gentle hugs (if you want them).
ednaz:
October 31st, 2012 at 10:28 pm
FossilFishy – ‘Muffy the Highway Slayer’ – Hee hee. : )
Thanks for sharing about Halloween in Australia. It’s fun to learn.
chigau (棒や石):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Mattir
I’ll add some Rum.
ednaz left me some.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
October 31st, 2012 at 10:40 pm
broboxley: “Exception that proves the rule”, “Special pleading”, however you want to pronounce it I suppose. ;)
Mattir: Soothing balms and a sound sleep heading your way via the intertoobs.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
October 31st, 2012 at 11:13 pm
I’ve never regarded automobiles as gendered, except when using the phrase, “Fill ‘er up”, which I haven’t ever said, now that I think of it.
I hid from Halloween. Today I went to fill out a job application, after fighting the computer for a printout of my resume, and wound up doing an interview with the owner of the biz. I think I did well, and parts of the job sound excellent, but it left me exhausted.
So I gave the girl cat a flea bath, and took the boy cat into the bathroom, then just let him go—lucky for me, he says.
Kraft dinner? Ew. I used to make boxed mac-n-cheese when I was on bicycle trips, using my little camp stove, then I decided to just buy a loaf of bread and a chunk of cheese, instead. It was a lot less work, and even a sweaty, greasy lump of unrefrigerated cheese was better than the powdery stuff. (Now I’m off cheese for digestive reasons, and tend to just buy canned chili with beans and eat it cold—still better than KD.) (When I do eat home-made mac-n-cheese, I like to put Worcestershire sauce on it, and that’s the only time I use it.)
The kids are home, still in costume and looking cute …
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:27 am
I’m currently driving the first car I didn’t.
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 12:48 am
Now that there is worthy of being a Zen koan.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Dundee:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:03 am
I knew someone back in college who called his VW “Ringo”.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:50 am
Word car is of masculine gender here, so cars are a “he” unless stated otherwise by someone who gave them a feminine name. But I don’t know anyone who’s named their car. It’s a car.
(But Muffy the Highway Slayer is an awesome name for a car.)
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:02 am
Good morning all.
Interesting – cars are feminine here, but they don’t get named.
When I was younger, we had a giant Chevy Caprice in a pinkish-beige colour, basically a tank and so much fun to drive (the feelings of invincibility). My older brother named it Christine. Yes, after the Stephen King book.
StevoR:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:21 am
Not sure if this has been posted here already but worth a look :
http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/heymate
Via Ophelia Benson’s “You’re all a of bunch of feminists!”thread :
http://freethoughtblogs.com/butterfliesandwheels/2012/10/youre-all-a-of-bunch-of-feminists/
And it is.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:58 am
Good morning
Thanks for the compliments. The bat turned out way more elegant than expected, given that it’s acetate lining fabric found in my stock…
I didn’t take the kids trick or treating so far because after the Halloween at the Zoo they’re usually just tired. The little one fell asleep in the car. What was really cool there was a kid dresed up as a ghost. While the costume itself wasn’r spectacular, xie wore those shoes with rolls integrated so xie looked really like floating over the ground.
Portia
On the Star Wars note, a Stormtrooper has been the only kid to decline my encouragement to take handfuls, demurring with “I can only take one” Maybe his parents want him to walk further for his candy. Or just be polite and not take too much.
Or just reduce the total amount of candy. I know I threw away the last of the carnival candy last month.
Fossil Fishy
Cuuuuute.
I see that Halloween in Australia definetly has advantages. Mine wore 3 shirts on top of each other and tights and trousers.
broboxly
Not Bob, but the majority of our cars had male names.
Mattir
Ouch, I’m sorry. hope you get well soon.
Ing
Glad to hear you’re OK, sorry about the food
opposablethumbs:
November 1st, 2012 at 4:28 am
RIP Maurice the Morris Minor (deceased).
.
FossilFishy, I have to say your small relative looks awesome. I swear her expression conveys “naturally I will not be taking anything you say as incontrovertible fact unless accompanied by hard evidence; I am open to argument” ;-D
mildlymagnificent:
November 1st, 2012 at 5:48 am
I’m afraid we call our car ‘Mary’. Unfortunately, because it has a turning circle of the same dimensions as the Queen Mary.
Never even heard of it when I was a kid. Our kids never got into it. It’s only been much of a thing here for kids for the last 10 years or so, even though adults already knew that it was something American in horror films and not much more. (And a lot of people of my generation, or older, would snort something about US cultural imperialism if you pushed them too hard.)
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:00 am
I love writing. I love writing interesting characters with realistic stories that make my novels more interesting.
Like the transgender gnollen woman – Tala – who was kicked out of her home by her parents because she was a woman and yet had the body of a male of her species. Who has been taking an herbal remedy that causes the same effects as HRT. Who is the owner of a tea cafe which makes awesome sandwiches and usually has one or two guards eating and drinking on their breaks so she has some safety from assholes.
Or the Wivverin woman who lives a life without education, under the iron fist of her very abusive husband, because he subscribes to a culture that considers women to be subservient to men, disallowed from achieving an education, and forced to stay at home according to the wishes of her husband – because it’s for her own protection of course.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:05 am
mildlymagnificent
I laughed. About the car, that is.
Growing up in rural Canada, Halloween was the usual tedious three-house stop with the neighbouring kids for the first few years (yesss, looooots of candy…), and then, when development moved in, a few more houses, but it never FELT like a big thing. Just the pumpkins, and later, wreaking havoc on the golf course and being chased off of it by security guards in golf buggies. Ah, the memories.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:10 am
Wups. Yes, the Wivverin woman has a name. It’s Farah.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:19 am
My mom had a huge station wagon that we called “the barge”.
Dad had a big car that my sisters sometimes called “Wretched Excess”.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:22 am
Katherine
How can I read more?
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:28 am
@rq:
Travel forward in time most likely to late 2013 and pick up the book “Millennium” by , most likely in the Kindle marketplace.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:28 am
Oh and Tony @41 re: Jar Jar Binks
Oddly enough, the original (and still the best) Star Wars movies are actually more child-friendly, even without the so-called help of Jar Jar Binks.
We just finished showing all 6 movies to the young ones. The new 3 were hard for them, a bit heavy on dialogue and backroom politics, and the whole mother-love-loss-dark angle went right over their little heads. We even cut the 3rd movie short because once Palpatine grows old in the space of seconds, he and Anakin get pretty terrifying for the 6-and-under crowd. (The eldest was scared of Gandalf for the longest time simply because he is old. Yes, we’re working on it.)
BUT once we turned on Episode 4 (the Husband insisted we watch them in the ‘real’ order, even though I said it would be better to watch the old ones first – from a kinder, gentler era), the kids were back into it. Even all the other monsters like Jabba and Darth Vader himself weren’t nearly as evil and threatening. And ewoks were the final straw – the old ones were definitely better than the new ones. :) I was QUITE pleased with that opinion.
(Sorry missed this part of your post yesterday.)
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:29 am
That is, *by [insert real name here]. Stupid angle brackets.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:30 am
Katherine
I’m on my way. One day at a time.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:39 am
@rq:
I’ve also introduced a middle-aged lesbian couple of a species that is, for lack of better phrase, a hyperactive, scientifically minded, obsessive, steampunk race of draconic humanoids. Aaand I also have an asexual, female elf who is not at all your typical “I’m a woman so my purpose in this story is to have sex with the main character” and is one of the best fighters in the story.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:48 am
Katherine,
The way PZ’s book is going, yours might be out before his. :P
Since you probably wouldn’t want to share the name you use in meatspace here, I hope you’ll “recommend” your book when it’s out, or in some other way nudge us in the right direction.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:55 am
@Beatrice:
Yea. That’s probably what I’ll do. I doubt I’ll have transitioned enough by the time I publish the book to go by the name Katherine Lorraine (I may include that name in the by-line anyway? So “by [meatspace name] and Katherine Lorraine”) When I do transition to that point, I can just drop the “by [meatspace name]” part of it.
It will definitely be titled “Millennium” though. I have no doubts about that part of it.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:59 am
I agree with Beatrice, nudge.
You have me intrigued with all those characters.
What’s PZ’s book about (fact or fiction)?
Matt Penfold:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:05 am
It is non-fiction.
From the Amazon UK blurb:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Happy-Atheist-Dancing-Graves/dp/0307379345/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351775014&sr=8-2
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:06 am
Today’s WTF
(7.8 inches) is the correct measurement
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/chinese-university-beauty-pageant-organizers-mandate-contestants-nipples-7-8-inches-article-1.1154271
I am looking at a ruler in puzzlement
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:11 am
Eh?
Rawnaeris, FREEZE PEACHES:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:16 am
My dad has always named his cars. The first one I remember was a 1987 mustang named Mean Mr. Mustang, then several years later he got a 2003 Mini Cooper, it was Mongo, then a yellow Mini that was Queso.
I didn’t name my first car, but my current one is a Hyundai Genesis named Eve.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:19 am
Gilliel and fossilfishy:
Cute kids and costumes.
Amazing. My 1970 VW Microbus Transporter (Der Bussenwagen (I know it is fractured non-German, no need to tell me.)) was named Hans. Had a four-speed manual but, once you were out of first gear, you could shift, sans clutch, by watching the engine rpms.
Wife and I’s first car (she was still protoWife at the time, but we chose the car together) was a Subaru wagon. I think her name was Janice.
Broboxley:
Gave me, and my coworker, our first what-the-fuck of the day.
carlie:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:21 am
It just hit me that I’ve been in my current job longer than I’ve ever been anywhere else, even counting all schools and other places of living.
I feel weird.
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 9:31 am
carlie
You’re all grown up now.
It’s all downhill from here.
(kidding)
carlie:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:32 am
on the WTF – I assume that what they really were going after was a minimum cup size, but didn’t want to seem quite so crass. The larger the hemispheres they’re on, the further apart they’ll be.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:45 am
This way is even crasser.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:47 am
Janine:
I believe I am scarred for life thanks to viewing the Anus Dagger (which was a bit too blunt to be a dagger).
I hold you responsible.
I wonder if they make companion pieces for other body parts…
****
Beatrice @183:
I’ve only heard people refer to their vehicles as “she”, never “he”. And I’ve heard that *a lot*.
****
Katherine @189:
How’s your book coming along?
****
rq @195:
I beg thee-please stop.
The thought of Ewoks is horrible.
Worse still coming on the heels of Jar Jar talk.
I cannot stop the thoughts percolating in my mind. They must come out. I. Must. Share. The. Torment:
I give you: Jar Jar-woks. Please take a minute to allow the thought and image to fully seep into the recesses of your brain.
****
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:55 am
Tony , no! Ewoks for kids is SO much better than Jar Jar, but you have now ruined them by… making a new species! A revolting one. Well, basically I pictured a long-haird (a la Persian) Jar Jar, who not only sprays saliva but also tufts of shed fur every time he shakes his head. Does that improve anything on your end?
This topic should end. *shudder* JarJarWoks… Nightmares there, too.
+++
carlie
I’m almost at that point in my current job, except I’ve actually spent more time away from it on maternity leave than actually doing it. Does that count as time spent on a job? :)
+++
In other dream news, I had another dream about Pharyngula commentors, where there was a whole thread dedicated to congratulating all those commenters coming out as feminine online. Because everyone was coming out as feminine all over the place (and no, I don’t mean female). When I woke up, I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry. And yes, I’ve been dreaming about Pharyngula commenters even before I started lurking at the Lounge. Weird. I know.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:03 am
Maybe that “nipples apart” distance is to prevent pushup bras mashing up some fake cleavage. Which is still wrong of the pageant people. (The whole idea of getting some metrics into a subjective field is oddly amusing, though.)
Ogvorbis, I learned clutchless shifting in my VW, and still like to do it, just as a challenge. In my little red truck, which my daughter calls “the Jolly Rancher” (that’s a type of red hard candy, BTW).
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:07 am
How does one shift clutchlessly?
Sounds like something with which to freak the Husband out, just for fun.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:13 am
World’s worst idea for a Chinese restaurant chain.
Portia:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:17 am
FossilFishy
Very fun costume on your little one.
opposablethumbs
:D I agree
Mattir
Feel better soon : (
=====
Re: Cars and names. My old thunderbird is named…Tony.
Richard Austin:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:18 am
My first car was named Rocinante – a definite male.
My current car is referred to by my mother as “the black bandit” – largely because it often appears and disappears in the driveway without warning (they generally have a rough idea of when I’ll visit, but not specific) – but also because it’s sleek and black and damned near silent and probably mischievous. I never officially named it; I tend to refer to it as a “he”, though.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:19 am
This works best on cars or trucks with older transmissions.
You are in 2nd gear, accelerating. When you reach the top of 2nd, push the gear shift gently into neutral. Allow the rpms to drop and, at the correct rpm for your speed and 3rd gear, slide it in. You do need to know speed and rpm ratios for your gears, but it works in Boy’s Hyundai Accent which is only 3 years old, so maybe not older vehicles, just broken in vehicles.
carlie:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:20 am
rq – I think that counts!
Also, I’ve been meaning to say – my husband has stayed at home with our kids since they were just wee little things, and he’s loved it. It would have driven me crazy. And he does about 90% of the laundry and cooking, and to bash any stereotypes, he’s a football-lovin’ gun wanna-be owner midwest Baptist Republican. So there’s another example counter to what your friends say is normal.
Richard Austin:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:23 am
rq:
Modern cars use “paddle shifting” in a lot of engines – it’s a kind of automatic where you can control which gear it goes into, but the actual shifting of gears is handled by the engine. My car has this. I have the normal “automatic” center-console gear shift (P, R, N, D), but there’s a slot to the side of the “drive” section that I can shift to. Doing so puts the car in “paddle shift” mode, where I just tap up on the gear shift to shift up a gear and tap down to shift down. If I come to a stop, it automatically shifts to 1st.
Sometimes the “paddles” are on the steering wheel.
This is now the accepted way to build “manual” systems – even NASCAR race cars are clutchless shifts now. It’s a bit contentious for a lot of reasons, but it’s where the market is going.
Richard Austin:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:29 am
… or there’s that :)
cicely:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:30 am
*hugs & chikkensoop* for Mattir.
-
Son used to call our (now late) green van “The Great Green Whale”—and make whalesong noises as he lumbered around the corners in it.
I think he would have preferred to learn to drive in something more…nimble.
-
That question sounds pretty rhetorical to me.
-
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 10:39 am
Who wants some little chocolate bars?
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:40 am
rq @212:
My job here is done :)
****
Ogvorbis @215:
Yes, but the food is Fab!
For dessert, they serve JarWok Ears, dipped in chocolate and caramel, then tossed in crumbled cashews. They are to die for. If you pay extra, you can have it delivered to your table via vine swinging servers (don’t ask me where the trees come from).
And how can you knock Jolly Ranchers?? They’re so good (though not good FOR you). I remember in high school (back in 1990), I was on a Jolly Rancher kick. I would bring bags of them to school almost every day for months. I used to share them with classmates, but looking back I don’t know why I didn’t try to *sell* them to classmates.
****
carlie @219:
given what rq has said about Latvia you’re totally screwing up some gender roles. Those things are supposed to be rigid and there you are upsetting the cart.
Good job!
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:49 am
Richard @220
Thanks for that, but yes, I was looking for the 218 version (thanks, Ogvorbis – I haven’t yet discovered the gear ratios, but I have a general idea… Trial and error, here I come!).
And carlie , yes, you have upset the cart and rocked my world . The shame.
Personally, my friends can put ‘normal’ in their pipe and smoke it any way they like. I am my own normal.
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 10:55 am
FYI
There is a poll to Pharyngulate.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/11/01/a-shonky-poll/comment-page-1
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:58 am
I love to Pharyngulate a poll…heh heh.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:06 am
@Tony:
It’s coming well. I’m doing my edits, and I’m adding a new section to make the case go a little bit slower than normally it would.
dianne:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:06 am
Hi, thread. A petition suggestion for you: http://www.no-cuts-on-research.eu/index.php?file=petition.htm
Save European science. US science is probably a lost cause.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:07 am
Well, Halloween is over but #1 decided to dress up as a unicorn by bumping her head against the couch table…
We made up by crafting a paper-unicorn (with pink wings! No glitter!) together and making shortbread (currently on the cooling-rack)
rq
Mr. is working in a different town during the week but he’s still a very much hands-on dad. At the weekend, the laundry and poopy diapers are his job.
Me, I went back to my little job (teaching 2 nights a week) 6 and 8 weeks after kids were born.
Guess we’re just plain evil…
+++
Car names:
First one: Puck (a blue Peugeot 106)
Current: Little Red Ridinghood (a Citroen Berlingo, you’re allowed to guess the colour)
Mr.’s former car: Yoshi (a grey Toyota Avensis, in its last days known as “piece of shit”)
Our current big car: Lion Tidje Shadowfax (a black Peugeot 5008)
The legend goes that Mr. wanted to name it shadowfax from the beginning, but told #1 she could pick a name, hoping he could trick her into choosing “Shadowfax”. She said “Tidje” (a Northern German name). He said “but it’s a lion, something more lion-like?” and she said “Lion Tidje!” He was allowed to add Shadowfax…
My friend had a car named “Asfaloth” To the end she couldn’t decide whether it was the mighty steed from LOTR or the archdemon from our RPG
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:15 am
You obviously didn’t try the JarJar roll.
Because anything that glues itself to my teeth is anathema!
Go for fewer errors. It can be very hard on the transmission. Picture the sound of a paradigm shifting without a clutch for instance.
Yellow? Green? Octarine?
Our current car is a 2008 Ford Taurus. We call it The Boat or The Luxobarge. Boy’s car is a 2009 Hyundai Accent. He calls it Manuel (it has a manual tranny).
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:17 am
dianne,
signed!
UnknownEric:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:33 am
Though I can’t complain too much, given how badly NYC and NJ were hit, my block has been without power since Monday. And we were basically told that since only six houses are being affected, we’re a low priority for BGE (gee, thanks). A lot of huddling on the living room floor with blankets, entertaining the kiddies with endless games of Go Fish for us.
dianne:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:33 am
I’m afraid my car, when I had one, was mostly called **explicative deleted**.
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 11:47 am
What a coincidence!
**explicative deleted** is what I call my computer.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:53 am
I used to call one of my old bosses **expletive deleted**
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:56 am
dianne @229:
Signed!
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:59 am
I call my computer **obscene gerund piece of obscene noun**. Can I be in the club?
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:03 pm
If any here has voting rights in Alaska
http://www.adn.com/2012/10/31/2678544/anchorage-chief-judge-targeted.html#emlnl=Morning_Newsletter
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Facepalm.
Headdesk.
Rise.
Lather.
Repeat 5 times:
At what point in the early indoctrination years of a child’s life are they exposed to points of view that they are to evaluate?
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:08 pm
My sister was taught how to drive a stick shift by my dad at 15: he drove the car to just below the top of a hill, put it in park, and then made her get behind the wheel. When she was capable of driving the car over the crest of the hill without dropping the clutch, she was declared “trained” as a driver.
I did not get this lesson, because when I was old enough, the family no longer owned a stick-shift car.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Esteleth:
All three of us learned to drive in a 1978 Ford Fairmont with a 3-speed manual. And each one of us burned out a clutch doing stop-and-goes on hills on Antietam National Battlefield. Car went through 3 clutches in it’s 125,000 mile life.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Unknown Eric
Glad to hear you’Re OK, hope you get power back soon and it’s not too cold (or you have a place to go to if it is)
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:22 pm
You say you want DC Comics inspired Kia cars? Look no further:
http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=47947
The Cyborg car just doesn’t work for me. First off he lacks a visual iconic representation of him (like Superman’s shield, the Flash’s lightning bolt, Green Lantern’s ring, Batman’s bat), so the car loses out in the recognizability factor. In addition, there’s no distinguishing feature of him that can be placed in the interior that says “Cyborg” (unlike all the other cars).
Of course the flip side of this is that the other cars have too many distinguishing features in the interior. There’s an image overload. Someone should have told Jim Lee that less is more.
Someone should also have mentioned to the colorist that bright or puke green within the interior looks awful. The red in the Flash car is too overwhelming.
While we’re talking about the Flash car–I get it. It’s the Flash’s car. We don’t need lightning bolts all over the place. Again, less is more.
This is a neat idea, and frankly, if I had the disposable money and these were actual cars, I’d *almost* be inclined to buy the Flash car (with a few tweaks).
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Esteleth:
I still don’t know how to drive a stick shift.
The first and only time someone tried to teach me was 10 years ago. An ex BF took me to an abandoned field and let me go at it for 20 minutes-of grinding gears. That was the first and only time I’ve tried. I just don’t understand how people say driving them is easier than an automatic. With the amount of information you’re processing and the things you need to keep your attention on, it’s strange to me that having to worry about shifting gears-one more thing to take your concentration off the road-is considered a good thing.
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Tony #240
and
seems reasonable,
mythbri:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Have to do a quick rant here, similar to some previous ones.
I work with a lot of engineers, most of whom are conservative, all of whom are male. They had a lovely discussion today that started about firearms in general but escalated in the best ways to dispatch people they felt threatened by – whether these people were home invaders, or muggers, or what have you. They were more focused on the “killing and getting away with it” part than the “people” part.
I finally had to say something, so I walked up and asked, “You guys do realize that you’re talking about killing people, right?” And they laughed a little and stopped their conversation.
But seriously. These guys are conservative, and based on that and their respective religious beliefs, they’re probably “pro-life” as well. Seriously?! The hypocrisy is astounding. I just don’t understand it.
I already get a lot of flak from them because I work on our facility’s safety and health program, which they see as nothing but interference and useless.
Let me ask the Horde then:
Let’s say you worked in the production/maintenance departments of a manufacturing facility with dangerous chemicals and machinery.
Who would you rather have looking out for your rights as a worker to return home alive and in one piece at the end of your shift?
A. A “pro-life” guy who thinks that firing a shot into the ceiling to make it look like he fired a warning shot, after he’s killed the person who entered his house to take his DVD player, is a great strategy to cover your ass with the cops so that you don’t face any legal repercussions for taking someone’s life.
B. A pro-choice bleeding heart liberal (yeah, that’s me) who actually cares about whether or not people die, and does their best to prevent it from happening at your workplace.
dianne:
November 1st, 2012 at 12:58 pm
**explicative deleted** is what I call my computer.
I used to call my computer that, but felt it unsuited to work. So now I call my computer “stupid hunk of microsoft”.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:04 pm
If you want to learn to shift a stick without the clutch, just work on making your shifts more and more smoothly—which is a good thing, anyhow—then when you have a good feel for matching speeds, start pushing the pedal less. It may get you home someday when the pedal breaks (if you need to start the car without the clutch, put it in first, get some help pushing it, and engage the starter—it ain’t good, but it will get you going).
I like driving manual when I have it, but generally speaking, I prefer automatics for city driving, manuals for country life. (BTW, if you are dating someone who insists on a manual transmission because they “must be in control at all times”, run like hell.)
My dad once drilled a hole in the gas pedal, put a point on a broom handle that fit into the hole, and had a hand throttle. Which was real handy for manual-transmission uphill starts.
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:04 pm
#248 dianne 1,$s/stupid/steaming/g
#247 mythbri A. is too stupid to know that in most states the requirement is that they be inside your dwelling so if you shoot them on the steps, drag them across the doorway
So lets check B. politics dont matter, cares about his job so B it is
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:13 pm
mythbri:
That’s easy: B is answer.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
broboxley:
Or conversely, don’t shoot them at all and just hit them 5 times with a baseball bat.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:23 pm
The only things I have that are named are things that I’ve given descriptive names to in Bluetooth. These include:
“[Esteleth]‘s laptop”
“YAY IT’S A PHONE” (my smartphone)
“[Esteleth]‘s iMac”
“Typing Thingy” (my keyboard)
“Moving Thingy One” (wireless mouse)
“Moving Thingy Two” (second wireless mouse)
and
“Lindale” (my iPod). Side irritant: I was not able to use accent marks in this. It should be “Lindalë.”
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Interesting. My computers are all named after genuses of albatross, and my flash drives and such after things albatrosses eat. O.o
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Oh, I forgot. My backup USB drives are named, respectively, “iMac Time Machine,” “Laptop Time Machine,” and “Backup.”
My jump drives have not been renamed, and thus have names like “Kingston 4GB.”
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 1:36 pm
My flash drives are called “the black one”, “the blue one”, “the one on the pink ribbon”, etc.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Not getting the “naming things” thing.
I have only ever named my dolls when I was little. And three names that I remember were all after cousins. I could imagine they were with me that way.
I suppose the conclusion is: lonely, but unimaginative.
Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:46 pm
More Republican hypocrisy: remember when the Republican National Committee cut off all funds for Todd “legitimate rape” Akin? Well, it turns out they didn’t really mean that. Empty threat. A show of sensitivity for women’s rights, not actual support for women’s rights.
Now that they think they can get away with it, it looks like the RNC is funneling ad money into the Missouri Senate Race.
Politico link.
Maddow Blog link.
The Maddow Blog link makes a good case for the fact that the ad blitz money is coming from the RNC.
mythbri:
November 1st, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@broboxley OT
I agree with you that politics shouldn’t matter, but I think that they do.
Several of my colleagues regard the EPA as “the nation’s #1 job-killer.”
You know what else kills jobs? Killing people with jobs, because you were too lazy/too cheap/too Libertarian to do due diligence and put protections and contingency plans in place.
Rey Fox:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Ooh, Red Rock Canyon!
Um…yeah the cars. I don’t mind that comics have sort of gone mainstream and adult-accepted, but this is sort of taking it too far.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:10 pm
My flash drives do have names, mostly so I can recognize them when more than one comes up in the computer. And some so I can tell them apart in the pile I keep obsessively accumulating.
One is named for one of my best “inventions”, which can’t get off the ground, literally, as life keeps getting in the way. Seeing the name on the case, and the research files inside it, always gives me a twinge, and a little more motivation to get moving on it. I’ll write it up for NASA soon, or someday, surely.
kristinc is writing a book called "50 Shades of STFU":
November 1st, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Last car was the Blue Beast. This car — a beige minivan given to us by the painfully suburban inlaws — is the Whitebread Wonder.
My iPod is Louise.
My sewing machine is Rosie.
The roomba is HAL.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:16 pm
My computer is named Lucy. My laptop is named Nyu. My iPod is named Little Ninja. My network is called Cocytus. My bluetooth network is called Gehenna.
Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Cross-posting this news from the “Romney is a very devout man” thread:
The Mellow Monkey: Caerie:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
My laptop is Billy. Previously, I had a desktop named Matthew. My wireless network is Lindy. There’s no real pattern to it. They just needed to be called something.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
My sewing machine is my preciousssssss
although I’m suspecting the little one to be related to Gollum: Give me the fish, keep the potatoes and take away those vegetables!
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:40 pm
My wireless network at home is “Uncle Frodo’s House of Pain.” Which probably raises some eyebrows when the neighbors look at available networks (it is password protected etc., but they still see the name). Someone in our neighborhood has a network called “usethisoneforporn.” It only shows up occasoinally and is very weak.
chigau (棒や石):
November 1st, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Come to think of it we did have a computer named “the doorstop” until the name was changed to “finally this city has a place to recycle electronics”.
cicely:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
My sewing machine is named [expletive deleted]. We hates it, precious, we hates it forever….
-
dianne:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Latest drug shortage where I am: injectable B12. How the bloody hell does one run out of B12?
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
November 1st, 2012 at 2:52 pm
dianne,
Signed – thanks!
My laptop is Albert, but I haven’t named my new desktop.
In the department where I did my doctorate, the computers (there were only a few in those days) all had names with the syntax:
c
so the first Sun acquired was csuna (the “c” was the first letter of the department name – Cognitive and Computer Studies – and was pronounced as “see”). The department accidentally acquired a cat: ccata.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
November 1st, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Damn! Syntax was c[manufacturer's name][letter of the alphabet].
ednaz:
November 1st, 2012 at 2:57 pm
StevoR @ 185 – Thank You for your oath.
UnknownEric:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:04 pm
The last time I named an inanimate object of mine was when I named my crappy old late 90s computer “The Ultramega Trashcan.” In my less enlightened days, however, I did name my first bass guitar Nicole (though I don’t remember why 20 years later).
Orange Utan:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:08 pm
@Ogvorbis
It’s not how
bigstrong it is, it’s what you do with it.Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Republicans never waver in their efforts to keep reality a bay. Remember when they decided not to publish a report that showed sea levels rising? Well, now they have a new target, inconvenient economic data. We the taxpayers pay for the output of the Congressional Research Service, but Republicans have quashed publications:
UnknownEric:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I named my wireless network “Series of Tubes” in “honor” of good ol’ Ted Stevens.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Oh, WiFi networks?
I went to visit a friend once. I get there, and I ask for the WiFi key. She replied, “My network is ‘Cuddlefish.’ The password is [password].”
So I open my laptop, check the list of networks, and see “Throbbing Cock.”
She claims to have no idea which of her neighbors is “Throbbing Cock.”
But then, I’m the person who named a WiFi network “myosin turnover.”
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:15 pm
My guitar is named Marty. The name makes sense: a 1964 Martin D-35.
Lynna:
How the fuck do conservatives get away with this shit? Why are they allowed to decide what federal papers are available when we are all paying for them?
Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Democrats liberated the Congressional Research Service report that so effectively rebutted Republican theories that giving rich people tax cuts will benefit everyone.
http://www.dpcc.senate.gov/?p=blog&id=193
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Did Ann Coulter say something vile and hostile that I’m just now hearing about?
Why yes, she did.
Pond scum is better than she is.
****
What’s with the naming of electronic devices? That’s a new one for me.
Now once you start talking about naming genitals, then we’re in familiar territory (no, I haven’t named anything, but I’ve certainly been around guys who do).
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Every time I think Ann Coulter can’t get any more disgusting she one-ups herself.
=========
Leave Mr. Happy out of this!
Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:23 pm
They get away with it because most of the media doesn’t cover it, let alone call them on it. And they get away with it because Faux News thinks they were right to pull the paper from the CRS website because it was flawed, in their view. Republicans didn’t like its “tone” for one thing, which was very straightforward. It called the Bush tax cuts “the Bush tax cuts.”
Mitch McConnell realized he couldn’t let a thing like that go public, so he invented the “partisan tone” argument, plus he voiced some ignorant claims about methodology. If Mitch has a case, he is free to present it. He shouldn’t get to demand that the report go bye-bye.
rq:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Tony @224
I remember Jolly Ranchers in high school. They were like currency. And there were valuable flavours, and less valuable flavours. My parents refused to buy them, though. Said they were ‘unhealthy’ or something weird like that.
+++
I don’t name objects, but I name pets after objects. Does that count for anything?
Oh wait, my last laptop was named the Feisty Maggot. This one doesn’t have a name. I think we expected it to be too short-lived to grow personally attached to it. Alas, it has outlived our expectations.
+++
Just got home to once again discover that, yes, the Husband was fully capable of feeding, washing, dressing, and putting to bed two small children (youngest still travels with me). Yay! Muffin for him and lots of muffins for me.
Good night to all!
UnknownEric:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:34 pm
My kids probably think I’ve named my off-brand eReader “Turn the page, dammit!”
Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Tales of excommunication and purges in the LDS Church, where the pursuit of history is dangerous. Slate link.
Excerpt:
Quinn was excommunicated in September, 1993.
Here’s an excerpt that illustrates how the mormon community can work behind the scenes to harm an apostate’s career:
Lynna, OM:
November 1st, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Mitt talking about mormon theology: YouTube video link.</a.
Effing strange to see Mitt so animated about theology.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Lynna:
At some western national parks and national forests (not sure about the BLM), people jokingly refer to ‘the mormon mafia’ when it comes to who gets hired and who doesn’t. I remember the reference back in the 70s and still hear it when I’m at fires today. Now I’m not so sure they mean it as humour.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Of course trickle-down doesn’t work. The rich just get richer.
As Terry Pratchett’s Sam Vimes puts it, a poor man has to buy cheap boots that wear out, while a rich man can buy good boots that last. The poor man spends more on boots, over time, and still has wet feet. And is still poor.
And since many of the rich get their money buy exploiting the poor, they keep making money. I owe more money than I can comprehend, and I’m going further into debt because I can’t keep up payments, while Mitt has so much money he can pay people just to use his money to make even more money, some of that by lending it to people like me, and I borrow it in hopes I can use some of it to make more money, but I don’t have enough, and I can’t pay people to do anything but take my money, so I borrow more money ….
Whereas when Donald Trump goes ten million in debt, he has the bank by the short and curlies.
It’s a divergent series, and in a capitalistic system, only the people with capital are going to succeed.
mythbri:
November 1st, 2012 at 4:32 pm
@Lynna
My dad was ex-communicated after he was divorced from my mom. It took them about six – no, seven years before they would let him get re-baptized.
And I remember the great “ex-communication and firing of feminists” purge back in the nineties. :P
Really nasty stuff.
Rey Fox:
November 1st, 2012 at 5:28 pm
A couple years ago, I named my wireless network “My Damn Network” in a fit of temper from trying to get it to work for the first time. Some time later, the student apartment people included a bit in the newsletter about not using naughty words in your wireless network name because there are kids about. I wasn’t sure if they were referring to me or not (“damn” isn’t even in George Carlin’s Seven Words), but I hid my network until I could figure out how to change the name, then I changed its name to H. Jon Benjamin.
My old Honda Civic was named Ed after its first owner, my maternal grandfather. Haven’t bothered with my new car.
Also, the voice on Google GPS is named “Gerty”, after the unknown person that Grandpa Simpson tried to talk to on the iron.
I think that’s the extent of it for me.
Matt Penfold:
November 1st, 2012 at 5:43 pm
I call all the computers on my network after biologists, but only dead ones so none called PZ. In the past I have named computers on a network after characters from the Magic Roundabout.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Dundee:
November 1st, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I’ve never named a car, and my bikes have only been named extremely obvious things like Suzy, Kwaka and Bonnie. But electronics need names. You have to identify them on networks. My current lappy is thyme. Older ones have been sage & ginger. Our home networks are named after the cats.
Previous work systems have had themes – astronomical (I had ceres), sea creatures (nereid) etc. But now my computer at work is WS-037. There are remnants of older cooler days in the main server names: we still have timelord and tardis, though stargate is defunct and has been replaced by something like svr04p or whatevs.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Dundee:
November 1st, 2012 at 5:54 pm
@Matt, back when I had naming rights over a small server at uni, I called it Dayhoff.
Matt Penfold:
November 1st, 2012 at 6:06 pm
I did once call a computer Dobzhansky, but I had to change it since I could never spell it the same two times running, and not getting it right when doing stuff via the command line is a pain
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Republicans Are For Black Americans!
Because Abraham Lincoln freed slaves.
And because Republicans passed the Civil Rights Acts. Never mind that it was LBJ’s bill, one that he got passed knowing that his party would rebel. Which is what happened, most southern Democrats in the late sixties and early seventies switched to the Republican party.
How fucking convincing.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
November 1st, 2012 at 7:24 pm
My laptop is named The Spanish Inquisition, because no one expects The Spanish Inquisition (to work).
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
November 1st, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Still no power…exhausted no real break between stress and work since sat.
@Tony: Jim }ee’s design work is always attrocious. No idea why DC took a look at the shitty 90s and said “YES THAT MOAR PLZ!!!” Oh wait yes I do.m idiots. On a related note DC art putting so much attention into nonsense like frelling costume seams and then still drawing women without any sense of anatomy is whiplash inducing. Its so much effort put into the wrong place. If you want stylized anatomy then do stylized art, the pick and choose is glaring.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
November 1st, 2012 at 7:28 pm
No mere hurrican or act of God can keep me from nasaly whining and moaning about comics and/or scifi.
If yawl had mentioned ME pretty sure I would have commented via spontaneously developed telepathy
The Mellow Monkey: Caerie:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Because things never, ever change and the actions of a single person within a political party at one point in history reverberates to the present even when that party has completely changed membership and platform!
This is why Republicans harass and kill Irish Americans to this day, because of all of those Know Nothings who switched affiliation in the mid-nineteenth century.
blogofmyself:
November 1st, 2012 at 7:33 pm
All the laptops in the electronic music studio at my university are named after modern composers and electronic music pioneers like Lansky, Bukvic, etc.
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Almost all my/our vehicles have been named, although I don’t remember them all (my ‘nym is actually my motorcycle, called Tigger the ‘Wing to distinguish it from my first Tigger). I name other stuff, although rarely name electronics anything other than the obvious (‘silver laptop’, ‘white Mac’, and ‘the Windows laptop’).
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:15 pm
I have named my walking sticks, though. I have a plush toy horse that I use as a lumbar pillow; hubby once asked me (before I had even thought to name it) “What’s it’s name?” I answered “Yes.” so it became ‘What’. After that, it seemed logical (to me, anyway) to name my outdoor walking sticks (which have hobby-horse heads) ‘Who’ and ‘How’. My indoor quad-cane, a pink unicorn, is called ‘Not Very’ (as in ‘Not Very Invisible Pink Unicorn), and my bicycle (which has a white unicorn head on the front) is called Charlie.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:19 pm
I just remembered. My kayak, back when I was in high school, was named “This Side UP!!!” The name was painted on the top of it where I could read it from the cockpit.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
November 1st, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Big post was eated so block points
*no power possibly till 5th
* our area is good with services returning
* water in cities being reported as possibly contaminated
* no power to cook and no heating…very cold
*gas shortage rumored. Tensions high at gas lines . Lines are over hour long in places without power
*today was first day we got news and reliable phone. Coast of state fot hit hard it seems.
*Donald Trump is a selfish sociopathic asshole dancing on the graves of people who died.
*mothers house had dowbn wire and fire…cannot get to it yet due to closed roads so don’t know if its still standing (she had left when the line went down so no lives in danger)
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Right wing asshole in office: “Just watch. Obama’s going to make sure that the rural areas have the power on last so they can’t vote. He’s using the hurricane to steal the election and I guarantee that real Americans will not let this stand. We have the second amendment, right?”
These people (right wing extremists) scare me.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Oy. I just saw a child repeat some of its parent’s irrational behavior, with its own hateful spin on top.
Ing, I’m not a comic book fan, really, but what little there is was always Marvel all the way. DC comics always bothered me. Thanks for explaining some of it.
Tigger, I like the bicycle.
I had a kayak that I called Kotik, after Kipling’s white seal, because it was white and it was a Seal model. (I sold it because I didn’t like the way it handled in the water, and then had to lie to the designer about that.)
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
November 1st, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Right-wing asshole at garage sale, “I was just in a neighborhood with Obama yard signs. God, I wanted to shoot those people.”
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Memyambal:
Mine was one of the Perception tupperware boats — 14 feet long, 40 pounds, and damn near indestructible. Took it down Great Falls on the Potomac a dozen times. Broke four or five helmets, but the boat never had a problem.
The Mellow Monkey: Caerie:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:12 pm
The other day I overheard a conversation between right wing assholes about factory workers “whining” about jobs being outsourced. They called the employees minions and plebes without a drop of irony, and then said that those damn plebes just don’t get how hard it is to be a CEO and the terrible burden there is of trying to maintain a high profit margin.
It was like a cartoon come to life. I’m still baffled that they could say this crap without twirling their mustaches.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Pity the billionaire.
ibyea:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:46 pm
@Ing
Be safe.
Pteryxx:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:51 pm
damn, Ing. *offers drive-by hugs*
—
Meanwhile…
http://americablog.com/2012/11/computer-glitch-votes-black-florida-county-election-fraud.html
AJ Milne:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:52 pm
The machines at a student newspaper I long ago worked at got various vaguely Russian-sounding names, in the first round of networking thereof.
(Yes, there was a time when computers were not universally networked, and didn’t even always come with the interfaces on the motherboard. And this particular exciting leap forward, partially requested/instigated by me, production manager at the time, was all 10BASE2 coax, baby… Also, I believe we had cars with stone wheels held on by cotter pins made from broken branches, and you had to do this weird running-on-the-spot thing to get them moving. Anyway…)
It started as a sorta baby-eating type reference. ‘Vladimir’ was named for Lenin, as we periodically got right-wing ranters in the letters section claiming we were Communist provocateurs or useful idiots at the very least. I suppose for proper continuity we could have named the later machines ‘Alexey’, ‘Vyacheslav’, ‘Joseph’ and so on, but somehow the whole Comintern-specific vibe got lost in the shuffle somewhere and we wound up going more toward Rocky and Bullwinkle…
… And so we wound up with Vladimir, Boris, and Natasha.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Yes, I think I shall sing Justin Timberlakes song ‘Cry me a river’ tonight when I shower. It shall be in honor of all the poor billionaires.
AJ Milne:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:56 pm
(… Checks news sites for stories indexed on ‘Trump’…)
(/… immediately regrets it. As usual.)
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Pteryxx:
Pouncehug!
Long time no see.
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:57 pm
#313 Pteryxx thats broward county, its a glitch or human error. That county is solidly dem with the clerk in charge being a dem. No republicans allowed unless they walk real small.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 1st, 2012 at 9:59 pm
G’night, folds. To bed, perchance not to dream.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:02 pm
George T Stagg Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is like angles tears
On fire
I’m in love
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Ing, good thoughts heading your way.
Here in the deep south we are used to long lines with no gas. Every idiot in Atlanta waits an hour a day or longer to top off their tank. They don’t understand the gas delivery system isn’t set up for that level of demand in a time of shortage.
I feel sorry for the folks in staten island, wish I was rich I would haul a tractor trailer full of food and water over there.
Take csre of you and your family.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Or if you like
Angels tears
Pteryxx:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:06 pm
*wave* heya Tony, peepz. Mostly I’m over at A+ forum nowadays, when I’m active, but I try and lurk FTB as much as I can manage. Sooo damn many blogs… loved reading y’all’s spot of rape-apologist-kicking in the old AA thread just now. ♥
cicely:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Sharp, and to the point?
-
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I miss me some bourbon, however a broboxley drinking bourbon is like a meth head at full throttle with a Satan’s Choice (defunct MC) attitude and priapus problems. Funny how histamines affect the system.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!
My abusive ex found us. He found us. He knocked on my parents door in the apartment complex while Little One was out with Grandma! He said he didn’t know my exact apartment number but that he would find me and that he would see Little One. He knows about Roomie. He knows she goes to school down the way. Grandma took Little One to their house while Step Dad was out chasing off the asshole and she had no idea what was going on. Now we’re scared to bring her home in case he sees. Roomie works nights so it would just be me and her at least at Grandma’s step dad is there if he has to be physically stopped. Step Dad is also really loud and his friends would come out to help him.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I’m scared what if he tries to take her?
ibyea:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:22 pm
@JAL
Can’t you put a restraining order?
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Nope, it’s been years since he abused me so going back they ask “what’s he done recently?” because I couldn’t keep up the original restraining order. It’s not like they believed me then either even bruised and battered. Plus the restraining order wouldn’t and previously didn’t do shit to protect Little One because he’s the biological father and the court refused to list her on it. They said that issue is for family court.
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:33 pm
JAL if you dont mind, what city are you in?
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:45 pm
I’m in Phoenix, AZ.
broboxley OT:
November 1st, 2012 at 10:52 pm
okay any hordelings with contacts in phoenix?
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I’d don’t think there is much to do but sit and wait out tonight. Then warn the school and her teacher tomorrow. I’ll start looking into shelters but it’s going to really, really suck. This whole situation just sucks. It’s not fair to live in fear and have to move her from her school, friends and grandparents.
ibyea:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Holy crap. I hate how unfair the world is.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Fear is going to make tonight and tomorrow while she’s at school very, very long. I don’t think I’m going to sleep a wink.
Rob:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:13 pm
I thought I’d share some news of social progress
Source
Sad that “no you can’t rape your wife” has to be regarded as progress, but still, rape in the Solomon Islands has been a huge issue and the Courts now seem inclined to start doing something about it.
Portia:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:22 pm
/rant
Totally threadrupt,but I got in a stupid online argument with at stupid guy who said stupid things, made personal attacks, then told me to get a thicker skin when I fired back. What is with this epidemic of assholes who are assholic then blame you for telling them they’re assholes? Huh? How does telling him he’s an asshole make me weak? Rarg.
Portia:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Holy shit! I’m sorry I should have looked for two seconds, JAL. I’m so sorry. Keeping you in my thoughts. I wish there was more to be done. I can’t believe they wouldn’t list Little One on the order. Fuck.
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Oh, JAL, that’s terrible. I wish there were something I could do. Damn, I hate a world where people like him exist and no-one in authority can be bothered to do a damned thing about it. Stay safe, wishing you all the best for tonight and tomorrow and I hope you get somewhere safe really soon. Damn, it shouldn’t be you and Little One having to move.
mildlymagnificent:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I had a stock reply for some people at the church the girls went to. These people thought it would be ‘nice’ if the magnificent mr and I could be ‘properly’ married so surely I could approach ex for an annulment. All those problems were soooo long ago.
There are only 3 options. He’s the same now as he always was, he might be better, he might be worse. 2 bad options out of only 3 looks like a pretty poor bet to me.
(Given that “better than” violent asshole doesn’t give any guarantee of good enough to be regarded as civilised anyway.)
mildlymagnificent:
November 1st, 2012 at 11:48 pm
I know I’m on the other side of the world but I’m wishing and hoping that you and Little One can stay safe long enough to get out of harm’s way. Deal with the safety first. You’ll have time enough to feel the feelings about family and friends.
How to maintain contact with them without putting them in the position of having to conceal your whereabouts is a slightly longer term thing. Sounds as though skype from ‘location unknown’ might be a good option when you can get around to it.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:12 am
Thank you everyone.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:13 am
Pteryxx @323:
I figured you were spending time over at A+.
I’ve popped over there a few times, but as you say all these blogs!
****
broboxley:
Satan’s Choice?
I take it you’ve had some bad experiences with bourbon?
****
Ing:
I’m glad you and yours are ok. Here’s hoping power gets back on ASAP.
****
Menyambal @307:
TL;DR
One of the biggest differences is the approach to the characters. DC was born shortly before the United States entered WWII. Like many of the costumed characters various companies created, Superman, Batman (my laptop doesn’t recognize fraggin’ Batman in lowercase, but does in uppercase; that’s odd), Wonder Woman et al. had fairly simple adventures, and very one note characterization (of interest though is Superman’s tendency to be far rougher with human opponents, as well as an interest in social justice-that said, this was 1938). Like DC’s heroes, The Timely characters (which later on became Marvel’s characters) encountered Nazi’s as well as the regular criminal element. Timely/Marvel and DC thematically were somewhat similar. Fast forward to the 1950s. After the war, the US Senate began cracking down on wholesale retailers because comics were seen as bad for kids (I wonder what their argument for this was). Along with superhero comics, there were horror and true crime comics. The Comics Code Authority was founded in the mid-50′s and comic books sales declined substantially. The Comics Code criteria was rigid and ridiculous (although I do like the fact that it stated female figures were to be drawn realistically and not exaggerated; I doubt they were approaching that from a feminist perspective though; more likely it was to draw women in UNdesirable ways, as comic books were seen as causing juvenile delinquency).
In 1956, DC comics began re-imagining it’s stable of characters, beginning with the Flash (Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman were-and remain to this day-the only continuously published characters in comic book history-though there were hiatuses for at least WW)
I can only speculate, but reading DC Comics from the time (in an era retroactively labelled the “Silver Age” of comics), I get the feeling that they were constrained by the Comics Code Authority. The heroes were bright, shiny paragons of justice. They were virtuous, and had few moral failings. They were nearly perfect (in the most simplistic ways possible). This became something of the golden standard of DC comics for decades to come.
When Marvel debuted in 1961 with the Fantastic Four, they tried a different formula. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby wanted the heroes to be more human and realistic. Yes, these were still comics, but the “sibling” rivalry between the Human Torch and the Thing was intended to reflect how siblings and/or close friends interacted. Mr. Fantastic was meant to be the dispassionate scientist. The less said about Susan Storm (later, Richards) the better (the weakest power set; routinely captured; constantly nagging; trying to get Reed’s attention; worried about shopping–it was like Comic Book Sexism Bingo). Stan and Jack set out to do super-heroes in a new and exciting way and it worked.
They quickly created Spider-Man (few people add the hyphen), the X-Men, the Avengers, etc. With Spidey, they had an everyman character. Almost the complete opposite of Superman. He was powerful, but had girl troubles, worried about school and was trying to balance super heroics with both. He was also a nerd and was bullied. The X-Men were ostracized (though Stan Lee didn’t play up this angle much), and were a metaphor for disenfranchised minorities. Marvel was an attempt to better reflect real world personalities.
All of the above is to say that Marvel started off (the official company started in 1961, prior to that it was Timely Comics; Timely is retroactively considered part of Marvel) treating its characters more like people than DC, which treated it’s characters as shining perfect heroes. The distinction between both companies remained for more than a decade until the 1970s, when the Comics Code was relaxed. Horror, true crime and drug usage were allowed (though they still had limits to what could be shown or talked about). DC changed Green Lantern’s title to a buddy book: Green Lantern/Green Arrow. One of the stories dealt with Green Lantern being perceived to not care about black people. Another dealt with Green Arrow’s ward-Speedy-becoming a drug addict. Even though stories like this were created, by and large DC still had unflinchingly heroic characters, while Marvel still had heroes with feet of clay. To this day, the differences between both companies remain, though DC has attempted-with some degree of success-to make their characters more human.
I know this was probably more than you *ever* cared to know, but I was trying to explain why DC and Marvel appear so different. The above is my analysis, nothing official.
Special thanks to Wikipedia for the information on the 1950s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_comic_book
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:19 am
JAL @326:
I am so sorry to hear about your abusive ex. Do you have friends/neighbors that can assist you in looking out for him?
****
Rob @335:
Thank you for sharing that bit of good news. So nice of the Solomon Islands to join the late 20th Century (yeah, I know we’re in the 21st, but when did the US make the same changes to its marriage laws–in the 1980s?)
****
Portia:
Ah the joys of dealing with assholes.
Next time tell him you don’t need thick skin, he needs empathy.
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:33 am
fecking hell
JAL
stay safe
ednaz:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:57 am
JAL – I am so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:00 am
JAL, does your ex already have a paper trail, that is, has he been arrested or reported on for actions against you?
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:02 am
(Also posted to the Thunderdome)
cm @157:
So I clicked on your link. Interesting stuff there.
I made the mistake of clicking one of the links in that article. It took me to a TakiMag article by John Derbyshire. http://takimag.com/article/the_talk_nonblack_version_john_derbyshire/print#axzz1rC3fsLMv
I really want to scrub my brain right now. Along with drink a bottle of vodka. Along with break something.
Excerpts:
Fucking racist scumbag this guy is. Of course I see that Pat Buchanan is a columnist for the same magazine. Ugh.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:08 am
JAL
I hope you’re safe and I wish I was in Phoenix for you. :(
In other news, good morning all.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:08 am
Here is a link to the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Even if there is not a threat of violence, you can at least talk to someone who, hopefully can provide help for your daughter.
The national hotline number is 1 800 799 7233.
Good luck.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:10 am
Several times. Each time they gave him probation, even though he was already on probation. He also has a gun charge for bringing a weapon that wasn’t registered into the airport, which they also just gave him more probation even though he was already on probation. The longest he was in jail was 30 days because he refused to take a plea deal, then he took it and was immediately released.
That’s just the stuff I’m aware of that’s he done as an adult. No idea if he’s kept getting caught for stuff.
raven:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:12 am
I’m sure this will be all over the news for weeks.
Another fundie who couldn’t tell the difference between being obnoxious and incompetent and being “persecuted”.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:12 am
Tony, recently, John Derbyshire was a columnist for the National Review. But he was fired when he wrote a racist column supportive of the murderer of Trevon Martin. This too much even for the NR. He got a new home at the VDARE.
I will provide no links.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:15 am
JAL, that should be enough to get an order of restraint. While that is no guarantee of protection, you can use it to bring the police over. And be used to punish him if he does something.
Please, call any of the numbers I have provided and get an advocate and a lawyer. Call now.
raven:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:23 am
I’ve been following the superstorm saga like most.
A while ago, in the context of North Carolina’s declaring that sea levels can’t rise by law, I came up with the following.
1. Global warming sea level rise is projected to be 3-6 feet by 2100. It’s not that much and it isn’t going to be a huge problem.
2. The real problem is 3-6 feet sea level rise plus a hurricane at high tide i.e a storm surge.
Obviously the oceans level changes a lot on minute, hour, day, and monthly basises.
From the news reports, a huge amount of the damage in NY, NYC, and NJ was a storm surge.
We are getting to 2100 conditions a lot sooner than 2100. You can imagine what 2100 is going to be like on the low lying and often times subsiding coastlines.
Not sure how you adapt to storm surges. Higher sea walls I guess or houses tied to sturdy foundations or something.
We have similar problems on the Pacific coast. Parts are washing away. Local governments are having to deal with it. Some of the global warming denialist politicians still refuse to call it global warming though.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:40 am
I did. Thank you. They gave me a list of numbers to call in the morning. It helped to do something now at least. She asked about the precautions we are talking and said we were doing what she would suggest to do.
She said the exact same thing, that his prior charges should be enough for another restraining order. I wonder if it was just a stupid and/or new person I talked to in the court or if AZ has some different requirements. Would it matter that he was charged with assault against me and not like domestic assault or something? We were living together at the time of his arrests, except the first one. One time he even started beating me in front of his case worker. He was at least 18 then and older with the subsequent arrests. Funny, how every time there’s a witness the cops acted differently and believed me.
Setár, genderqueer Elf-Sheriff of Atheism+:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:45 am
Don’t like Harper trying to force Canada into a contract that gives China first right of refusal over all Canada’s natural resources? You’re an extremist, even if you happen to be the Leader of the Opposition.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 am
Good luck, JAL. Please, take advantage of anything that you find to keep you and your daughter safe.
It sounds like your ex has enough of a paper trail and witnesses, you should be able to get an order of protection.
And while this is not at all fair to you, it sounds like you need a new place.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:01 am
Here is the Mittbot 3000 talking about his Mormon faith.
Pteryxx:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:05 am
JAL, I’m so sorry, and angry for you.
…Or they’re fine with blowing off their responsibilities if nobody’s around to hold them to it. Suggestion… could you ask your contacts that you call in the morning if they can provide an advocate to go with you and hold the court person accountable? Having someone officially on your side could induce them to treat all the past incidents seriously.
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:07 am
To interject a really serious First World Problem:
the velcro-cord-wrapping-thingy was caught on my sock and as I moved, pulled my netbook off the table.
I caught it (as I slipped and fell to the floor).
(no injuries)
(but my kitteh laughed at me)
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:13 am
I suggested it earlier and I want to stress what Pteryxx said, have an advocate. Your advocate should know what being in court is like, what to expect and how to get the results you need.
You cannot be expected to know all of the ins and outs, you need someone on your side.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:21 am
Good morning
Tigger
I know a girl who would totally steal your “not very”
Networks
My Networks always had very mundane names, but I have a history of people using the wrong one. When I moved into my first flat together with a friend, another friend did all the computer stuff for us. Only the next week we called him again because the connection was so bad. On close inspection he found out that he’d forgotten to turn on our router and we had been surfing in somebody else’s. When I moved here it was the other way around. We had this flat a few months before we actually really moved in and so I hadn’t really set up the network. Turned out somebody else had (must be one of my immediate neighbours because the concrete here blocks the WIFI really well). Within two days of me finally connecting to it and trying to set it up it was suddenly password protected. That person must have been mightily pissed that I had finally set up my own WiFi correctly!
+++
It always amazes me time after time again how much being middle-class allows us to remain middle-class. I can save a lot of money by having enough to spend it in the first place, not to mention that nobody will trash-talk me for “being so poor I can’t buy my kids clothes at a real store”. No, I get credit for being economical when I shop second-hand or at the discounter.
Ing
Fuck. Is there anything we can do?
Menyabal and Ogvorbis
I would be scared to hell. Not that people around here might not engage in some violent rethoric à la “I’d really like to smash their head against the wall”, but, well, it’s just that. Stupid talk. And it doesn’t happen because somebody supports the other major political party. And people don’t run around with weapons…
JAL
Shit, shit, shit, shit.
*big hugs*
I wished I could just beam you two over onto my couch and get you asylum or something. :(
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:52 am
And something funny to cheer everybody up:
Conversations you never thought you’d be having with your husband.
Last night I was chatting with Mr. about the idea that maybe next semester I could do some sports at college. Maybe they even had archery? Well, clicking on the list it turns out that sadly no, no archery, but looking at the list Mr. noticed “Irish Dance” and said “That’s something like table dance, right?”
I couldn’t tell if he was kidding at first, but when I saw he wasn’t we took a short trip to youtube for educational purposes
vaiyt:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 am
Fucking racists on Youtube, and I just wanted to enjoy a sports video but nooo, I HAD to look at the damn comments.
emburii:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:43 am
So my insurance company charged me early for the money we didn’t have yet and my account is in the negative, and even with my partner’s check coming in we’re going to have seventy dollars for the next two weeks’ food after bills. I doubt anyone’s going to care since last time I tried to talk with (not at, with) people here I was roundly ignored, but might as well vent somewhere.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:47 am
JAL,
I can offer you nothing but sympathy.
*hugs*
emburii:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:52 am
JAL…
I wish there was something I could do to help. It’s pretty feeble, this entire comment, since I don’t know what I could do, but count this as another voice hoping for the best? You’re in people’s thoughts, and if anyone in the thread is in AZ maybe they can help.
mildlymagnificent:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:11 am
Don’t worry, emburii, we all feel a bit helpless. But when people like JAL are all alone with serious problems, it can’t hurt to tell her that we hope for the best and that she’s free to vent here or ask for whatever advice or help we can offer. (You never know when someone might just know someone else who really can offer practical help. If we’re not told of the need, the chance never arises.)
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:27 am
Gilliel,
There’s a similar one here but, of course, it doesn’t have a quad-cane inside it and thus no legs. I crocheted and stuffed the body, legs and tail at the request of the little girl across the road, who made the reins.
JAL,
I’m relieved that you are getting some help. I hope that there is someone in the horde close to you who can give you a hand.
John Morales:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:36 am
There are two kinds of people: those who worry more for those whom they love than for themselves, and the other kind.
opposablethumbs:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:51 am
Ing, I hope you and yours are safe … that it turns out your mother’s house is not damaged, and that you get the power back on soon (fingers xd)
.
JAL, oh shit that’s awful. I hope the school respond well, I hope the people you’ve been in touch with can help, and that you have an advocate/official Friend to help you through proceedings, someone who knows the law and who will be a witness to how officials/the police deal with you and your case. I’ve been reading all the great things that Little One and you have accomplished – all the drawing and reading and thinking, and how hard you’ve been working to make a good life for both of you – and I hate it that this guy can turn up and you have to think of moving. I wish I could do something more than send all my hugs and best wishes. I hope you both stay safe.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:11 am
Tigger
I love the description of all your walking sticks. I have the faint suspicion that you like unicorns. ‘Not Very’ is particularly fantastic.
Ing
I hope things improve speedily! And that everyone’s safe!
Tony @342
Thanks for the comic book short-history. That is one strange, strange and unknown world to me.
JAL
Good thoughts for you; I hope all the number calling comes to something positive in the end! Rooting for you.
emburii @365
I don’t think it’s a matter of not caring or ignoring, but a matter of following the conversation. Go ahead and vent; someone will read your posts, at any rate – even if there’s not much we can do to help. See what mildlymagnificent said @368.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:12 am
Hmm, college just forced me to have a muffin. OK, Ok,
actually I only needed to break down the banknote so I can make deposits…
Tigger
Your link is borked (or blocked at college)
Last night #1 told me a wonderful bedtime-story about how all the unicorns got in a storm and then their fairy-friend had to rub them down :)
emburii
Sorry to hear about the financial strain. Can you change the payment mode for the insurance for the next time, like you sending them the money instead of them deducting it?
As for the “I was ignored”: just don’t take it personal. Conversation flows and just because nobody answered you it doesn’t mean people ignored you. They just didn’t have any meaningful to say.
+++
Sop, in the wake of Sandy Mr. and I decided to send the money we usually spend on a new-years eve party on hurricane relief for Cuba which has also been heavily hit by Sandy.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:28 am
Oh and Tigger I second Giliell @373, something’s up with that link – couldn’t open it from home.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:34 am
JAL,
I’ve got nothing to add except that I hope the advice you’ve gotten here helps in some way, and that you know if there’s something more concrete we can do all you have to do is ask.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:45 am
Instead of the gold standard, perhaps we should return to the even older salt standard . For those of you planning on hording gold, like all good libertarians should. :P
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:57 am
Funny, the link worked when I tested it in preview.
Here it is again!
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:58 am
Well, I’m currently in the college library searching for literature for a presentation. There’s a number of books I’d like to send to Stedman et. al.: Criticism of politeness theory…
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:03 am
looks at link
Funny how traditionally a hobby-horse was more of a boy-toy but now that all girls are about pink! and horses! the poor boys miss out on a hobby horse.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:05 am
Since when did horses become more of a girl thing? I’ve noticed it a bit, too, that horses are more geared towards girls these days… But you’d think such a large animal historically connected to manual labour and war would work for both.
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:19 am
Yes, I know. I really hate the return to gendering toys. I had four hobby-horses when I first arrived in Canberra and a small boy fell in love with the dark brown one so I gave it to him.
When I was a child, I wanted a hobby-horse more than anything, but we were really poor so I had to make do with imaginary ones. So I imagined a whole stable of them and would imagine riding them to and from school. I always gave them turns! When I was working in Adelaide I suddenly realised that I could fulfil my childhood dream and buy a real stableful of hobby-horses.
OK, it’s childish; but although I won’t be able to fulfil all my dreams, I could do that one. And now, adapted, my stableful (since added to by the pink unicorn hubby bought me for Monkey two years ago, replacing the brown one) actually does accompany me everywhere, taking it in turns just as my imaginary horses did all those decades ago.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:24 am
Tigger
Pfff, who cares. Mr.’s birthday present was a huge Ikea plush hippo which I imported from the States because they’re not avaible anymore (and apparently not as highly sought as here).
He was 100% happy.
As somebody once said, the only reason to grow up is so you can have rainbow-cake for breakfast and nobody can tellyou not to.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:35 am
Tigger
Exactly what Giliell said. Love the story.
I also wanted a hobby horse when I was little, and of course a bunch of real ponies, but I haven’t got around to either one yet. I tried to make a hobby horse when I was little out of an old sock and a broomstick, and I failed miserably (in my own mind) and I never tried again. Considering the boys are huge knight fans (when we travel to other cities, the first question is, does it have a medieval castle? – most do), perhaps I should try again.
As for the real horses, a friend of mine with a similar dream actually had the guts to drop everything and start keeping horses for a living, and while I still want horses, it’s so much easier just to go and visit… :)
Oh and my Husband’s secret ‘childish’ wish was colourful suspenders; his last birthday, I bought him some. Haven’t had opportunity to wear them out yet, but his work’s annual Christmas thing is coming up. This time around, I have to find a dress to match him.
John Morales:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:38 am
I’ve said it before, but I consider one of the joys of adulthood (tinged with wistful melancholy as it may be) is to sometimes be able to please the child one once was.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:42 am
Giliell
Also, your point about shopping secondhand, and getting praise for it.
It’s a bit the other way around here, although opinions are slowly changing. If you can buy stuff new, you’re cool and obviously doing well for yourself (appearance is everything – shiny car but crappy apartment seems about the norm); if you buy secondhand, obviously something is wrong with you because you’re not spending enough on your appearance.
For a while, it was a necessity for us (children’s clothing prices here are atrocious), even with the mail-ins from Canada, but I discovered some secondhand shops that had excellent-quality children’s clothes, practically new and sometimes completely unworn, for about a quarter (or less) of the price of brand-new, store-bought items – which tend to be of rather poor quality here. I got into the habit, and now, while we COULD afford a whole lot of stuff new, and for some things (like snow suits) we do it, it’s still less painful to go spend a day in some secondhand shops and find the bargains.
To top it off, a lot of the stuff comes from out of the country, and thus is also more unique and interesting than the boring clothes in stores. (Also, the boys’ section tends to be about a 3rd of the size of the girls’ section.)
We’re thinking of roadtripping to Germany (Poland quality is a bit low) when there’s a huge sale going on and buying new winter clothes (coats and the like) for myself and the Husband; yes, the drive pays off, the difference in prices can be THAT big.
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:01 am
When my children were young, living in Sussex, I and my friends in the village formed a clothing exchange. We all had boys and girls of different ages; clothes and toys in good condition as they got outgrown got passed to the mum with a child/children just coming up to that size who would then pass their outgrown clothes to the next mother. It worked brilliantly. It reduced the number of new clothes we each had to buy dramatically* (and there wasn’t a clothing shop, new or second hand, within 10 miles so it was convenient).
*Except, for a while, for socks. I was variously blaming the washing machine, the tumble dryer and the dogs for the fact that the twins’ socks were vanishing in huge numbers. I was buying a packet of six pairs a fortnight to replace them. Then, one evening, a toy got dropped behind a radiator by Number 4 Son. When I went to retrieve it for him, I discovered the missing socks. Several dozen of them had been stuffed behind the radiator by Number 3 Son who thought it was huge fun to see me searching for them. Toddlers!
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:05 am
Oh, in other sock-related news, I just got an e-mail. I won third prize in a competition; yep, a pair of socks. =^_^=
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:12 am
Hooray for socks! Especially wool socks. Are they wool socks? I love my wool socks. Especially now.
And hooray for toddlers (those little social experimenters). The sock story reminds me of the time we moved the couch and found all the Lost Toys.
We have a bit of a clothing exchange going on, but we’re the leaders – the Husband and I were the first to have children in our group of friends, and only now, with #3, would it be possible to have a full-fledged clothing exchange (beginners, heh). :( I did get some from friends in Canada, also some of MY old-old clothing that my mother brought over, but we’re blazing the trail for all our friends – plus we have three boys, so everything just gets handed down one more time. All our newborn clothes have already been recycled 3 times and they haven’t even gone out of the immediate family. Also, my babies have a tendency to be on the small side of the current large-baby trend, so even a difference of 3 – 6 months in age means the younger baby is already wearing the same size of clothing as mine, making exchange rather difficult. :( We’ve also offered to pass our little clothes on to others, but they laugh at us because they’re always too small. :)
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:14 am
rq
I think the different attitude is well explained by the different wealth of the countries. (shit, do you notice that I’ve been reading academic texts?) Here in Germany I only get praise because I’m actually well off enough thatI could buy the more expensive stuff.
When #1 was born I got a hellotof clothes from a friend of my sister. But that sister had a sister herself who had given birth to a girl herself only a few days after me. But that sister would not take the hand me downs. For her it would indicate that she herself was not able to buy her daughter clothes and had to rely on hand me downs.
It’s like Sam Vimes says:* Too poor to paint, too proud to whitewash. For poor people, new clothes signify “I’m not that poor, look at me, I don’t have to buy second-hand”, but for middle-class like me the discounter stuff and the second-hand stuff signify “look what a sensible person I am, I’m not wasting any money!” (Of course with the implicit assumption that if those good for nothing poor people just acted like us they wouldn’t be poor while of course judging them at the same time if the stuff is a bit worn).
My kids are not permanently checked for signs of us being bankrupt or them being neglected and ungroomed, even if they’re a bit grubby from time to time, but with poor people’s kids, every tear in the jeans and every bruise on the knee is an indicator of evil things.
For Germany I recommend C&A. They have good quality for decent prices. My most favourite place for shopping clothes is although Aldi Süd, but that’s no use for you since their programm changes every week.
*There’s a Pratchett for everything
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:20 am
Socks are my permanent nightmare. There are never enough. They are always gone. Each week, more socks end up in the lonely stockings box than go out of it.
As I said, we got lots of hand me downs. Our baby-stuff has been used by 5 kids already and is now going to make its voyage never to come back to me to a friend’s place and I guess she’ll pass it on as well.
And now I’m off for a while, making copies and begging the librarian to let me borrow the one book already over the weekend.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:29 am
Giliell
You’re like that butler from The Moonstone except you use Pratchett instead of Robinson Crusoe.
Thanks for the tips! When does Germany have the giant sales? After Christmas, like everybody else? For example, would January be a good time to go for the discounts? When we get more organized, I’ll probably have a lot more questions.
And the national wealth discrepancy probably explains the attitude, but also the importance of appearance/superficiality. Image here is SO important (falls into the whole gender-norm idea) – what car you drive, how fast you drive, what you say about other drivers, what clothes you wear, your make-up, nails, heels, the beer you drink… Everything is keenly observed and noted and then a whole lot of things are assumed about you.
For example, I was born in Canada; that makes me a foreign-Latvian (already bad). Also, supposedly, that makes me rich, but because I don’t buy new, I’m obviously stingy. Also, it means I have a poor grasp of the language, a terrible accent (oh noes!!), and probably strange ways of thinking. In other words, I am not a real Latvian.
[Aside: Never mind that my first language was Latvian, my grammar is better than most people my age, I know my history better, my folk songs better (at least more of them), and I bothered to return to Latvia as a third-generation exile (those who don't return, well, they're not real Latvians either because they're obviously too Canadianized to care about their country).]
So, when I don’t buy new clothes in a(n) (expensive) store for my kids, something must be wrong with me, because I can obviously afford it. What with paying the bills on time and all. :P If you can afford it, you’re supposed to buy it, to prove that you can afford it. (Pictures or it didn’t happen…)
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:35 am
Threadrupt and exhausted. Sorry if this inappropriate to the current conversation.
Last night I looked to the stars. No big deal of course, after all I live in the country and the stars are so very bright and thick overhead here. After all, we might be at the bottom of the map but our face is turned towards the heart of the galaxy. But it’s been awhile since I stood and looked up after sunset. You see, I wear glasses, and over the last few years they’ve grown more and more scratched. Slowly, one almost invisible line at time my sight had dimmed. It had got so bad that work was getting difficult and the stars had become one dim smudgy streak in the sky. Yesterday I got new glasses and the night sky once again is pricked with uncountable sparks of ancient light.
We all get knocked around don’t we? And some of us more than others. Life, never in the whole of human history from australopithecus to homo sapiens could be considered even remotely fair. Some of us get bumped and bashed, abraded and abused far more than our fair share. Those injuries are not always obvious. Damaged trust, broken hope and crippled confidence don’t leave scars upon the skin as a flag of past harm. But it takes its toll, the vagaries of life’s hardships. Layer upon layer upon layer it all builds up trapping us within ourselves with no obvious way out.
But like the stars, the world is still there. People, good people, are still there. They’re all around if only we can see them through the crazing and cracking. There are no new specs for this, would that I could invent such a thing. All I can do is stand ready to listen, to bear witness to the horrors of other’s lives. To offer the paltry comfort of an auditor who hears, believes and understands to the best of his ability. To be the the bright insubstantial spark through the haze, a reminder that beyond it all, beyond the cruel few who grind and gouge, compassion still exists. It’s not enough, it’s never enough, but it’s all I have to offer.
Be strong my friends, and know that you are heard.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:38 am
FossilFishy , that was beautiful. Thank you.
I also agree that new glasses rock!
And once I get the larger bits of unspoken conversation out of me (a few years’ worth, so be warned), I swear I’ll take up less threadspace.
dianne:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:42 am
Good morning, thread. I just want to say that today’s XKCD is 100% accurate for me. Google voice, though. I’m not sure…
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:44 am
Tony
http://www.blueharvestfarm.com/pic/339a4559.jpg
Have you ever watched the movie “Unforgiven”? I turn into Will Mony when I drink bourbon
dianne:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:45 am
Also, totally threadrupt and probably checking out for at least the day. Alles gute, Horde! Tschuess.
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:53 am
cool evolution bumper sticker
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zylv6EXqwTI/TyGLrgYp4mI/AAAAAAAAADU/CLZS2HdLS58/s1600/evolution
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:26 am
Oh no, rq, please don’t reduce your input! I look forward to reading your comments. They always have a fresh take on things.
My older three children were the oldest kids in the clothing exchange, but the twins were the youngest so I did benefit!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beautiful as ever, FossilFishy. Where’s your blog?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a real sign of the snobbery of the middle classes when the twins were small. They were born six weeks prematurely so for their first eighteen months they were looked after by a pædiatrician at the hospital where they were born. It was the nearest hospital to where we lived, but was over the border in Kent so we eventually had to start taking them to a Sussex hospital many miles away.
When we turned up the first time, not knowing anyone, I had to answer endless questions about the family. Now, Number 4 Son takes after his Dad’s, Scottish, side of the family. He is small and dark and at twenty months he was tiny. His twin, however, takes after my side of the family and is tall and fair. At twenty months he was 50% bigger than his brother just as he had been at birth. Well, it was obvious that the woman taking notes had immediately come to the conclusion that the twins were unplanned (true, as it happens, but irrelevant) and unwanted (completely untrue) and that being the youngest of five Number 4 Son was being neglected.
I was getting utterly filthy looks from her as the boys played at my feet, the older one just walking but the younger still crawling.
Then she looked down her nose at me and asked where the older three went to school. As soon as I started rattling off the names of the three schools (prestigious selective schools in Kent, rather than the local comprehensive) her attitude did a complete 180º and she started treating me with something approaching deference, and now Number 4 Son’s failure to grow and walk was obviously a medical problem. I was utterly furious. I would still have been the same woman if I hadn’t sent the older three over the border to school in the town where their Dad worked, largely to avoid the bullies from primary school (who had gone to the local school). But now, in her eyes, I was ‘middle-class’ instead of ‘working-class’ and thus above suspicion.
Anyway, I should say that the pædiatrician, when he arrived, turned out to be a small, dark Scot. His attitude was “There’s nothing wrong with being small!”
He got out his charts and after asking my height (5’7″ – “Good, good – that’s in the top 10% of women) and hubby’s height (5’8″ – “Oh. That’s in the bottom 20% of men”) told me his conclusion that our children could turn out any height at all and not to worry about the difference in the twins’ sizes (he was right; apart from a brief time between twelve and thirteen when Number 4 Son overtook his brother, he has always been smaller; their adult heights are 6’2″ and 5’7″). He also examined their joints and diagnosed both with a minor connective tissue disorder which resulted in loose limb joints, which was more pronounced in the younger (“He’s built like a marionette – when he picks his foot up he no longer knows where it’s pointing”), and wrote a letter for me to take to the shoe shop explaining that Number 4 Son needed boots to support his ankles and keep his feet in line or he’d never learn to walk. (Good shoe shops usually refuse to sell shoes to not-yet-walking children).
Number 4 Son was walking two months later. He wore boots until he was twelve. I have still not forgiven that pædiatric nurse’s snobbery, though.
opposablethumbs:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:41 am
FossilFishy, I really needed to
hearread that today. Thank you.Tigger_the_Wing, I loved your photos! And I know what you mean about the paediatric nurse … (mine was a consultant and it was my non-English-speaking OH that triggered the reaction, but it was the same ignore-the-parent shite. And it still makes me angry that I didn’t smack him down instead of trying to keep calm about our toddler’s fucking real problems).
emburii:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:49 am
mildymagnificent, rq, Giliel, thank you for the responses. I apologize for my fit of pique in mentioning past experiences, it wasn’t relevant and I shouldn’t have let my bad mood try to shame anyone here. I was just so worried and stressed, especially about my partner; I can handle being poor and foodless, but he does so much and he tries so hard and the unexpected shock practically destroyed him. If they’d waited even one more day…
Giliel, it was a mix-up on my part as well as the agent’s. I didn’t think to mention post-dating it, since my last insurance providers had done that as a matter of course, and he didn’t make it clear that the funds were being drafted that day. It won’t happen again.
Fortunately, a family member was able to help with even more than I expected. And our friends are kidnapping us for the convention that we didn’t think we could afford. The day’s turned around in just a few hours, I just hope there’s good news for JAL and anyone else in trouble as well.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:51 am
Tigger
As I mentioned, I have several years’ worth of all kinds of observations to get off my chest, so the input is not likely to be reduced anytime soon.
That doctor sounds like he has an excellent attitude – ‘any height at all’ and ‘built like a marionette’ made me giggle.
That nurse, though. Ugh. That’s just just snobbery coming out of her pores.
Government workers like to use it here, those who have to deal with people. But they go for the ignorance factor (into which, of course all other factors are factored, but what I mean by that is that their default assumption is that you know nothing). Then they play for power, in the sense that they know everything and you know nothing about what you need, yet the attitude they put on is that ‘It’s so obvious, and you’re a fool and an idiot for not knowing!’ and it takes great amounts of effort to get any kind of information out of them.
I say that, but it mostly applies to the older generation (MOSTLY), most of whom grew up in the Soviet system and know nothing about customer service and smiling, because when they were small and growing up and learning, everyone was bitter unsmiling and also impolite (since being polite could land you the wrong kind of attention because it made you stand out). So they carry it over even now, but what worked for me (haven’t had need to try it out but it might still work) is to play the dumb card right back – put on the most vacant expression ever an explain that you have no idea because you’re not from around here and you’re trying to figure things out for the first time.
Now, here’s where I’m uncertain about the results: either (a) being a newbie just pulled on their heartstrings enough for them to be more open with information (ah, so it’s on the third floor and to the right), or (b) the realization that I was not from this country (slight accent) put me on a different ignorance scale (I have never even tried to look particularly wealthy, just well-kept and healthy, but I’m pretty sure that would get me extra points). Either way, I have always hated the first-impression-negative attitude around here, but at least I learned to manipulate it, a little bit.
That being said, it always helped to ask questions very politely and with a slight emotional lilt. Don’t know why, but speaking in sing-song also brightened people right up.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:56 am
emburii
That’s very good news! :)
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:59 am
oooers nice fin on the intartubes
http://esperanto.org/Ondo/Libroj/Libroj.php
I’m very rusty but this might help
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:59 am
Well, according to many modern evangelical literalist Christians, women are evil. And horses are evil.
One of the perks of my job is a uniform allowance. And I’ve been around long enough that I really don’t need to buy that much each year. And they have really really good smartwool wool blend socks with arch support and extra padding on the instep for a really good price. I now only have one pair of socks that is not work socks (a pair of Acorn fleece socks given to me by my parents). I wear the wool socks year round and they are cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Between Pratchett and xkcd, there is an apropo quote for just about anything.
See what I mean?
=
And yay new glasses. I got new glasses earlier this summer and got to see stars out at the forest fires — high altitude, no clouds, no humidity and no pollution (well, other than the smoke plumes from the fire).
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:07 am
Ogvorbis
Besides carrying the Four Horsemen, I was under the impression that horses are Useful Animals. How are they evil??
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:13 am
They are maleviolent. I once had a Morgan stand on my foot and lean against me, pushing me into an electric fence. For five minutes (seemed much longer) until my friend could turn the power off. I have been bitten by a pony at a carnival. I have been stepped on, kicked, shat upon, and abused by horses on many, many occasions. On the evil scale, peas are about a 1 (1 to 10 scale). Horses are 13 or 14 (right below modern US conservatives) on the same scale.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:19 am
Oh, I thought there was some biblical basis for it. (You put them in the same category as women.)
I get the feeling you’ve been meeting all the wrong horses. A whole lot of them.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:25 am
One for the geologists and one for the heartstrings (I’ve always wished all animals could talk).
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 am
rq there are people that think horses are evil, then there are people that know that horses are extremely large ground squirrels except with a smaller brain than their tree climbing cousins
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:37 am
Fine, everybody insult horses and compare them to oversized rodents. I’m going to go pout in that corner over there until you all get it out of your system.
*mumble mumble beautiful intelligent ungulates mumble mumble*
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:39 am
Everything is still okay. Roomie finally got home a little while ago. He had to work late since he got promoted and has to do two jobs until they hire someone to take his old job next week. Feel much better with him home and not alone. Little One is at school and they are all notified. We’re going to be picking her up a bit earlier since they open the gates to let the parents in like 15 mins before school is out and just taking her home then. Will notify my landlord and start making calls to legal places at 8 when they open. I don’t know how much we can do on a Friday without notice but at least I’ll know what steps to take next week is all else fails.
Eventually, there will be sleep again.
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:47 am
rq, horses are fine. I have owned fed cleaned rode and cleaned and herded and cleaned them a lot in my yout. You do have to understand that they think that sticks are snakes, people will cook them when they get old and, every little strange sound needs to be shrieked and hit at followed by running madly.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:49 am
In today’s news of a game company doing it RIGHT: Permabans for online users of Halo 4 making sexist comments. The writer (Casey Johnston) says:
My guess, from the 235 comments, is DRTC. But it’s a good article. I’ll have to check the actual interview when I get home (Gamespot is blocked at work.)
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:54 am
broboxley
I know horses aren’t evolution’s Answer to Everything. It’s ok. I’m not being particularly serious. Guess I should specify that. :P Learning.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:54 am
JAL
Fingers still crossed for you.
UnknownEric:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:55 am
JAL, my thoughts are with you. Glad things are okay at the moment.
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:55 am
quote of the day
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:58 am
good news, the gay are off the hook for sandy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2226642/Muslim-clerics-say-Sandy-Gods-way-punishing-America-anti-Muhammed-film.html
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 am
Oh, rq, I missed your comment about the socks. I have no idea if they are wool because I only got the email a minute or so before I commented, so they won’t get here for a week; but if they are you are welcome to them (provided you don’t mind socks with an internet service provider logo on them!) as I’m allergic to wool.
JAL, so glad that Roomie is back so you aren’t alone and that the school is being sensible with Little One. Can you take a nap for a while?
I wish I could offer you something more than my hopes that everything works out the way you want.
emburii, I am delighted for you! That is good news, I was worried but didn’t know what to say.
Ogvorbis, please stay safe in those fires! I’m glad you got to see the stars. Some beauty to compensate for the horrors. I’m afraid, though, that I don’t agree that horses are all malevolent. Most of them are just very, very stupid. Beautiful; but stupid.
And peas are delicious except when processed or mushy.
The Mellow Monkey: Caerie:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 am
Horses are not extremely large ground squirrels. They’re guinea pigs.
Grazing animal? Check.
Herd structure that’s primarily led by a dominant matriarch with a single male with breeding access? Check.
Prefer to sit still and get fat rather than do what you want? Check.
Prone to flinging themselves about over silly things and often injuring themselves? Double check.
Portia:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:10 am
I had a horse* as a kid that was terrified of men, having been abused. I had the saddle on her and my dad walked out of the barn, 30 feet away, untangling the bridle. She lost her mind. Reared up, pulled the post she was tied to out of the ground, which hit me and threw headfirst into a 7 foot high stack of chopped wood. She landed on her back, saddle first, scrambled over onto her feet and ran off. Dad managed to run after her and coax her back with a handful of grain. I still loved her. It’s surprising to me that I don’t have a more healthy fear of horses, actually.
*She was named Rahab, after the harlot of the Bible (Was it Jericho that she betrayed? I can’t remember) because we got her from a Bible camp I attended.
And I have a fun google voice number, but I never point out what the numbers spell because I’m always too embarrassed of my dorkiness.
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:11 am
Wait ’til cicely gets here.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:17 am
Horses?
They’re more related to dragons than anything. Fierce monsters they are. I’ve heard through the grapvine that they breathe fire, have a venomous bite, and can cut you to shreds with their knife-like talons.
Portia:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:21 am
*snort* Erm, ahem, I mean, horses are evil and rightly terrifying and should be avoided at all costs.
Tigger_the_Wing:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:26 am
Yes! Having spent a fair bit of time around both species, I can confirm the kinship between horses and guinea pigs.
Once upon a time, my daughter, like many young teenagers, was desperate for a pony. I agreed that she could have one – after she spent a year getting up early every morning and mucking out at the local Riding for the Disabled stables where she volunteered, in addition to her after-school riding (as much a reward for the volunteers as needed exercise for the animals). Needless to say, before the year was out the idea of owning her own pony had become a lot less attractive! Meantime, though, the twins and I got to spend a lot of time there waiting for her to finish her chores.
Number 4 Son adored ponies and horses. As soon as he could walk he would toddle over to them. Some of them were rescues and rather skittish, but they were all as gentle as could be towards this tiny little ape – even the one who had been beaten about the face would let him stroke its nose, lowering its head so he could reach. I never fail to be amazed that these huge, usually rather dim, animals can suddenly show amazing intelligence and understanding when dealing with very young or very disabled people.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:27 am
Horses? I don’t know nothing about any horses. My wife rode show horses when she was young, but I don’t think I’ve ever been on one. Just not something I mess with, animals bigger than me.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:34 am
I’ll be back later.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:03 am
In its endorsement of Barack Obama for President, The Economist made a few pithy statements, including this one:
And this one:
blogofmyself:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:04 am
Hello all! I miss talking to you. My computer has been flailing about miserably trying to decide if it wants to die for the past week now, so I haven’t been online too much. I hope you all are well.
—
JAL: That is terrible. I am so sorry that he found you. I’m glad that Roomie is back and that everything is ok for the moment. I hope that you are safe and that all the legal/school/everything people help you in every way that you need. We’re all thinking about you.
—
I just saw this ad on one of the posts here. It made me laugh in that sort of cynical I-hate-everything way. Oh Rmoney, you certainly know what women need.
http://twitpic.com/b9oawe/full
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:12 am
I just had to take a break. My computer just got replaced and I am now repopulating it with all the shit I need to do my job.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:13 am
Ogvorbis @288
Yeah, I’ve heard and seen that same mormons-hire-mormons effect.
I think the mormon influence is slowly, very slowly, being diluted in western states. We still see a disturbing partnership between conservative mormon groups in Utah and environmental protections being weakened in states as far away as Alaska. They’ve got money. They are connected, networked.
When I was working a guidebook to the wilderness and proposed wilderness area of Utah I saw a lot of hatred toward the BLM, most of it from mormons descended from pioneer stock. But they hated the environmental groups more, far more. There are a lot of mormons working for the BLM in Utah, Idaho and Arizona, so that softens mormon hatred toward what is, after all, a federal agency. Local mormons tend to be wary of, or to hold in contempt, BLM employees that come from “back East.”
The generalities above paint with a broad brush. Not all mormons are like that, including not all mormons who work for the Bureau of Land Management.
As far as land management in Utah and Idaho goes, most of the hardcore mormons that I know want ALL federal lands returned to the states. As far as they are concerned, it it their land, not the land of we the people.
Rey Fox:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:18 am
Sadly, today’s xkcd is no longer accurate for me as of about two weeks ago. My last tangible tie to Idaho has been severed.
Wait, actually, I still have a bundle of checks from 2005.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:20 am
Giliell @363:
Did you make him read the comments as punishment for not knowing what “Irish Dance” was?
****
emburii @365:
There’s plenty of sympathy to be had here, as many of us are going through financial struggles as well. I’m sorry you’re stressed about money.
Not everyone reads every comment, and even those that do may not feel compelled to respond. Some people may intend to respond at a later date, but life gets in the way and they simply forget.
****
Tigger @386:
What an awesome idea.
The amount of money all the families saved by NOT buying new clothes was probably substantial.
****
FossilFishy @392:
You have a *stellar* ability to lift the spirits of others in a secular manner. My hat is off to you.
Oh, and I’m glad you acquired new glasses so that you can enjoy the stars above you.
****
broboxley @397:
That is one *sweet* evolution sticker!
****
rq:
That. Does. Not. Compute.
In all seriousness, you’re not taking up any space. Not only are we happy to have your voice here (and heard), we welcome you and any conversation you choose to have. Aside from kindly discussion, there’s no limitations on what you can post and when. From what you’ve said previously, it seems like you’ve been unable to express some of your inner thoughts, despite a desire to do so. Let them flow freely as you will, for as long as it takes. There’s no pressure here and we certainly aren’t going to hurry you along. I’d tell you to kick back, relax and have some Sangria, but someone here in The Lounge drinks it all up as soon as it’s made…Grog it is!
mythbri:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:24 am
@JAL
I hope that everything turns out okay. My thoughts are with you, and I’m glad that the various people you’ve contacted seem to be acting sensibly.
broboxley OT:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:24 am
#431 Lynna ,OM in Alaska the enviro groups are hated because of the proposed rules making for access to “the land of we the people.” is restricted to the rich and well connected. Poor folks without airplanes are not allowed to visit some of the most beautiful spots in America.
blogofmyself:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:25 am
Here’s a happy story:
Last night I was talking to my mom on the phone, and she was telling me that my little brother is preparing to take the SAT. He is currently practicing for the writing portion, so they’ve been doing practice essays. One of the prompts was “If you could pick any person to be President, who would it be and why?” Apparently, my little brother wrote the essay on why I should be president, because apparently I’m smart and I care about people a lot. Is there anything more adorable or touching than that? Seriously, I basically started crying when she told me that. I’m getting all watery-eyed now just thinking about it. I feel so special I can’t even handle it.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:34 am
Tigger @398:
Argh!
Damn snobbery. Who the hell was she to express such barely hidden disdain?
****
Oggie @406:
Um, damn.
I can completely understand why you don’t like horses. For some strange-unsupportable-reason, I’d thought horses to be friendly and kind towards humans. But I guess like all animals, horses have varying temperments.
****
JAL @411:
I’m glad things are going well enough for now. Hopefully if the ex reappears, you and a support group (or person) are ready for him.
****
chigau @422:
I was thinking the same thing.
****
I’ve never ridden a horse. I don’t know anyone who owns one, or how to go about doing this, but I really want to ride horseback one day.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:36 am
blogofmyself:
That is wonderful.
To know that your sibling holds you in such regard is a true honor.
I’m quite happy for you.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
Oh, and you *should* feel special.
You are.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:43 am
Horses are quite intelligent. They can even be creative. Which can lead to maleviolence. I’ve heard that there are some nice horses out there. I have also heard that the GOP still has some moderates.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:44 am
JAL:
I hope things work out to your benefit. Could the fact that the ex tracked you down after so much time be used as evidence that the ex may mean you harm?
Portia:
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:58 am
Nice!
FossilFishy
Thank you for the pick-me-up. I needed it. I’m working on a case the last few days that is tearing me up and giving me chest pains and migraines and all manner of anxiety-induced yuckiness. I’m hoping it can be resolved soon. I
maywill most likely pass it off to another lawyer.Richard Austin:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
A friend of mine used to be an instructor/guide at an equestrian camp. Her favorite horse used to play “fetch” with itself: it’d grab a blanket in its mouth, swing it around and toss it, then chase after it, pick it up, and do it again.
For like an hour.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Ogvorbis, sometimes I feel sorry for the BLM in Utah. They see hikers writing “Fuck the BLM” in trailhead sign-in logs (mostly due to frustration with cows and with seeing portions of land that looks like the cows brought the apocalypse with them); while on the other hand ranchers, ATV riders, and even “green” outfitters that guide horseback expeditions disparage the BLM for the restrictions they impose. The BLM rescues a lot inexperience tourists in, for example, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
mythbri @290
Yeah, I remember that too. Keep those uppity wimmen in their place. Mormons were a major force against the ERA.
Sorry to hear that your dad had to go through the inanity of excommunication. It always kills me that that mormons call those excommunication hearings a “Court of Love.”
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
My daughter is back in her apartment in Lower Manhattan. She is in one of the few buildings that had power as of yesterday.
Unfortunately, the madness is not yet over for her. The steam heat pipes (about 1980s vintage) sprung a leak behind her bedroom wall. She woke at O’dark thirty to find her bedroom full of hot steam. Paint was billowing off the walls in big bubbles. It took workmen three hours to arrive to fix it, thanks to massive traffic jams.
The leak is fixed, saturated, (and partially burned!), sheet rock has been removed. She now has sheets of plastic instead of a wall. More repair to be done soon, she hopes.
She said she can’t even muster what ever it takes to be upset because the damage in her bedroom is so much less than a lot of people are putting up with in New York and New Jersey. She did lose one favorite comic book to steam damage.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Update:
House fine. Power eta now the 9th still no food or heat. Temperature seems to be dropping. Getting worried.
Rest of area has power: signals, stores etc but we are apparently fucked till 9th…nmaybe time table keeps getting pushed back
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Fuck.
Ing, I am so sorry. Are there any prospects on food?
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Ing,
Shit. I’m sorry. And what Tony asked.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:28 pm
When we had a series of wind storms about 15 months ago, the local power distribution company explained that they worked on the lines using a triage type system. First hospitals, traffic signals, police and fire stations and public transport. After that would get the downed lines effecting the biggest number of people back up first. We had a tree over a line servicing about a dozen houses including ours, so we were late in the queue.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Ogvorbis @306
I am convinced that far-right-wing doofuses say this kind of stuff because it reflects what they would do if they had the chance.
For example, Republicans have taken every path they could come up with to suppress the vote of populations likely to vote for Obama. Some of these efforts have been beaten back by the Courts, but others are still having effects. There are long lines for early voting in Florida, with some voter saying they’ve tried two or three times to vote but had to give up. This is true mostly in neighborhoods dominated by persons of color. Republican legislators in Florida were successful in reducing early voting days by half.
The Romney campaign itself never gives up on surreptitious voter suppression tactics. Think Progress posted an exclusive story about the Romney campaign training poll watchers incorrectly, and in a such way that Obama voters were most likely to be intimidated.
After Think Progress outed the deceptive Romney Campaign video, the video was scrubbed from the Romney site and replaced with a version that did not mention voter I.D. The original video and be viewed at the Think Progress site. Note that most of the Romney poll watcher training had already done damage before they belatedly replaced the video.
opposablethumbs:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Shit, Ing >:((((((
Being considered a smaller problem just because there are fewer of you is the pits.
No chance you can get away anywhere for a bit? (I mean, that’s more of an “I wish you could get away” because obviously you’ll have considered every possibility). Argh.
.
.
Thinking of you, JAL, I hope you get the help you need!
.
.
{hug} to emburii, if I may – I’m glad the problem situation got at least somewhat turned around, though.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:37 pm
brobroxley
Yeah, that happens in Idaho too. There are private airstrips grandfathered in within Idaho wilderness areas. Only the well-to-do can afford that kind of access. Hiring an outfitter that uses horses can also be expensive. Ditto for river rafting trips. When you have a wilderness area that is about 2.4 million acres, most people are not in good enough shape to backpack around in there. They need help.
Fees to enter National Parks keep most of the surrounding population of Native Americans out of that knock-’em-to-their-knees scenery.
In Utah, mormon General Authorities have their own private big-game hunting preserves that benefit from lax oversight by mostly mormon legislators and land management personnel.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, an Obama critic, says “Romney’s plan is based on magic.”
Romney can’t catch a break on his economic dunderheadedness, not even from Obama’s critics.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Good evening
rq
Don’t stop.
January is about right for a sale.
If you’re also still interested in making Hobby horses, I recently made one for the little one, I could take pics of the pattern if you want to.
emburii
Glad you could work out the problems for the moment.
Tigger
I’m absolutely sure the only reason I didn’t get into trouble with #1 being underweight (she’s always been and is on her very own growth/weight chart just slightly off “normal”) is because my mother had a very good reputation with the pediatrician. She used to be a highly respected lab technician at the pediatric hospital so every pediatrician in the area had at some point worked with her.
Fuck judging kids by charts without looking at them or their parents.
Moar later, dinner is about to be ready
cicely:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:49 pm
:( :( :(
JAL, there aren’t enough *hugs* in the world.
-
emburii, I’m glad that your day is looking up.
-
The Horses are forever on the look-out for new ways to extend their Evil Influence.
-
Ignore the Horsemen; they are merely misdirection. It’s the Horses that bring the Apocalypse.
That whole “Useful Animals” charade is disinformation and propaganda.
By nature, having been spawned in the Nethermost Pits of Hell.
(Ever notice how Horses always lead the parade? That’s so everyone has to walk in their shit.)
All horses are wrong. No exceptions.
(It is important to note that Unicorns are not Horses. As Zelazny revealed to us, the Unicorn dwells in the bright center of reality; it therefore follows (as night the day, and “as above, so below”) that Horses occupy the Outer Darkness.)
Will not happen. Not so long as Evil continues to gallop un-hobbled upon the face of the earth.
-
Never fear; I’m all over the situation.
-
And don’t you forget it!
-
Ah! Your confusion in this respect can be easily cleared up when you remember that Horses are not animals, but daemonspawn. What you mistake for varying temperaments is actually differences in the aggressiveness of the Evil, taken on a Horse-by-Horse basis.
-
*hugs* for Ing. I hope the food&power situation improves soon.
-
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 12:58 pm
cicely:
Yup.
She’s got it covered. If there’s a situation involving peas or horses, cicely will be there…with cement.
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:02 pm
rq
See?
cicely and horses.
and watch this:
*ahem*
Peas are delicious and nutritious!
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Thoughts on this joke please.
cicely:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:04 pm
And napalm!
-
cicely:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:07 pm
With cement…and napalm! And at the bottom of the Challenger Deep.
-
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Chimpy, that is a harsh joke but I do find it funny.
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Rev.
Opportunistic misogyny.
Not really about any of the issues.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:12 pm
I found it funny but can see some other aspects, hence my question.
From the same article, another one
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
and another
hard to find much fault in that one. Just funny.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Here’s the link. Some people might find some of this offensive.
Possible triggers too.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Interested to hear some peoples take on the whole thing.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:27 pm
chigau:
::booming voice of FSM::
Thou hast gone too far with thy oral venom. The statement you have made:
shall not go unpunished.
Minions–>prepare the Spanking parlor. Clean the Spanking Chair. Attach the Spanking sling.
****
On a wholly different note, is there a general consensus about Lance Armstrong and doping? T is a huge fan of his and she’s doesn’t believe he doped. I haven’t followed any of that. Anyone have a linky for me to read relevant info?
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:31 pm
No offense but T is deluded. He doped. Virtually EVERYONE successful in cycling dopes.
I think the number I heard was 20 of the 21 people who came in 2,3,4 the years he won have been busted for doping.
Nearly his entire team came out giving details on Lance’s doping and coverup.
He doped and frankly him not coming out and admitting it and moving on is hurting the wonderful things he’s done with the Livestrong org.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:33 pm
RevBDC:
I’m not comfortable with telling rape jokes. Nothing I read at your link changed my mind. In fact, it made me think less of those comedians. Especially Silverman.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Rev:
I don’t take offense. I genuinely wanted to know the facts.
T and I agree on a lot, but she’s also a Libertarian and is all about states’ rights and supports Ron Paul. That might explain a lot.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:37 pm
re: Feldman joke
What chigau said.
blogofmyself:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Ing: I hope your power comes on sooner rather than later. Do you have some way of getting food and staying warm? Is there anything the horde can do for you?
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Ing:
That sucks. Feeling powerless is never good. I hope things light up more quickly than anticipated.
Yes. Yes they are. Thank you for finally acknowledging reality.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I’ve realized it is one of those days when I have absolutely nothing to say, my comments all being “what ________said”.
And yet I don’t like being quiet all day.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Hmmm, I haven’t planned tomorrow’s lunch yet. Maybe pea soup. With some bacon.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Romney has issued lots of veiled threats about what will happen if we don’t elect His Assholiness. But now he has issued an overt threat, a Big Bully threat. Elect Me Or House GOP Will Wreck The Economy.
As far as I can see, the House Republicans have already tried several times to either wreck the economy, or to obstruct Obama’s efforts to repair the economy. But, I guess now that His Assholiness’s political career is at stake, Republicans are more determined than ever to send the entire USA down the economic shit pipe.
So much for working together.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Lynna, I thought of you when I saw this post by Ed Brayton. Who knew that the Constitution was mentioned in Mormon religious texts and that means God supports our country. From the planet Kolob.
blogofmyself:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:46 pm
RevBDC: I responded to that quote at the Thunderdome, if that’s cool. Not because I got angry at it or at you, but because it’s a long and serious post about jokes and misogyny and I don’t like putting those things in the Lounge.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Beatrice:
You were one of my favorites here.
Now you’ve dropped out of the top 1000.
::mixing bacon with peas…grumblemumblegrumbleunamericanmumblegrumble::
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Yeah I’m sort of on the fence on those as to me the jokes are directly attacking the people making light of rape.
But I’m fully conscious of the way others with different life experiences might take them and it’s why I asked.
Thanks for the input.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Bah you’re right. Wrong forum.
Sorry all. Please take any answers from my questions there.
mea culpa
Patricia, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Now see here you ungrateful lot, stop all the pea abuse! Peas are sweet, innocent and delightful. It’s those damned hot peppers that are dangerous and ebil.
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Beatrice
I agree.
;)
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:52 pm
When DDMFM was visiting me, we went to a local British-style pub for dinner one night. He had bangers and mash (proclaimed them excellent), I had fish and chips (excellent).
Both dinners came with peas (he asked for his to be withheld). I love peas, so I ate them with gusto. Offered him some (even helpfully deposited some on his plate). He got all ungrateful!
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Mother Jones posted a circular graphic that covers all of the paranoid fantasy conspiracies of the far-right . It’s called “The Obama Conspiracy-o-rama.”
Wish I could show it here, but here’s the link:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/10/chart-obama-conspiracy-theories
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Especially the chile peppers. Gives everything more taste and more zing! Life without peppers would be akin to the Christian heaven — boring as hell.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 1:58 pm
you
are
dead
to
me
Richard Austin:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:00 pm
… so, peas vs peppers reminds me of something in World of Warcraft.
There’s a species called “virmen” which are basically rabbits. They quite often spout, “You no take carrot! You take turnip instead!” They’re very fond of carrots and hate turnips. There’s even a quest where, to scare some away, you paint turnips orange and toss them to virmen, who then bite into them thinking they’re carrots – and promptly run away screaming.
… I wonder if peppers could be disguised as peas…
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:01 pm
not really
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Tony,
You’re still in my 1000 favorites, despite your pea abuse.
*read in snotty “I will not stoop down to your level” voice* ;)
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:11 pm
So the little one just discovered that there’s a hole down there. And you can put your finger into it! And it feels quite nice….
+++
I love today’s design at Urban Threads I think that needs to end up on some shirts and stuff…
++++
I like horses. When I was a kid our caravan was at a campsite with a stable. We didn’t have enough money (probably) for me to take lessons (it could also just be that my mum was too scared of horses) but I would spend most of my time around them and help the grooms. Donkeys are, of course, superior, but horses are ok.
JAL
Glad you’re OK
Tony
No, but I made him compare Riverdance to Selma Hayek in “from Dusk till Dawn”. He agreed that there was a noticable difference.
Fossil Fishy
You sound a bit like Sam in LOTR
Ing
I’m sorry, but I’m glad your mum’s ok
BDC
It’s the kind of joke that maes you laugh because the alternative is to cry because it’s so fucking true.
+++
So, off to do some college work.
Anybody got some books to recommend on cultural imperialsm and English?
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:11 pm
OMFG, one of Romney’s heavyweight advisors is Jay Sekulow. This is a dude that, under the guise of bringing “Christian’s views into consideration as they draft legislation and policies” brought the right-wing’s anti-homosexual, anti-abortion views to Africa.
This is one of the guys instrumental in criminalizing homosexuality in African nations. He even opened satellite offices in Africa, the better to spread intolerance and stupidity. In Zimbabwe he lobbied to outlaw homosexuality. In Kenya he lobbied to eliminate an exemption allowing an abortion when a woman’s life is at risk.
How nice. Export the most toxic underbelly of the USA’s culture wars to Africa.
Sekulow expanded in Africa in 2010. Several African countries were revising their constitutions and Sekulow saw a chance to reshape those nations in his own twisted image. Wherever his organization failed, or didn’t get every retrogressive law it wanted, they took the issues to court. And they are still engaging in “civic education to warn people of the dangers of homosexuality and abortion.”
Romney consistently buddies up to the worst of the far-right. I wish people would stop thinking that Romney is really a moderate. No, dudes and dudettes, Romney is a conservative at home with the far-right. And he is a mormon, which puts him even further right.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:13 pm
ugh
ACLJ
I’ve caught his little talk show and it’s one misrepresentation of the constitution after another.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Oh that Governor Rick Scott. He is proving his Republican manliness by refusing to extend early voting hours in Florida.
Link.
Just keep on standing in line peons, ’cause that’s what makes Rick Scott happy.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Romney to be charged with violating the federal Ethics in Government law by improperly concealing his multi-million dollar windfall from the auto industry bail-out.
I wonder how much of this means anything
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Tony @478, thanks for the link. Those right-wing conservatives always have liked the idea of Jesus delivering the Constitution, one of more twisted evil marriages between politics and religion.
Excerpt from the doofus who thinks we should vote for a mormon because the Book of Mormon makes this Jesus-Constitution meld official:
Uh, no. Just, no. None of that shit follows, not even from the flawed premise of mormon Jesus blessing us with the Constitution.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:33 pm
I just got off the phone with an advocate. I can’t get a restraining order because there hasn’t been any harm or threats in the last 12 months. AZ is a very father friendly state and people are pushing more laws to make it more so. He could file for custody and get joint since he never harmed the Little One (I never let him) and the only reason he hasn’t been in her life is because I wouldn’t let him. The advocate told me to go into a shelter immediately and gave me the numbers to a counselor and free legal aid.
It sounds more like I need to leave the state.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Oh, I left out one part. He doesn’t have any current rights to Little One because his name isn’t on the BC and we were never married. There are people trying to change the way the law works to be more father friendly.
Patricia, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Hot peppers is food for orcs’s. Not even fit food for the DumbestChimps. So there. *pfffft*
Richard Austin:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:47 pm
For those who know:
Bryan Singer is directing the next X-Men movie (the sequel to “First Class”).
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Rev. BigDumbChimp
As per those jokes, I’m not sure what to think. Jamie Weinstein has decades of being a right-wing shill, and maybe three weeks of being a journalist, so there’s that. Also, telling a joke about rape victims is bad, but I’m not sure how bad it is to tell jokes at the expense of a political movement with an anti-rape victim and anti-woman agenda. Mostly that “article” seems to be the standard whining to camouflage the fact that the criticism against Republicans is 99.99% justified by finding some 0.009% that so much as puts its toe on the line and the 0.001 that actually crosses it.
I mean, how dare someone call a bunch of sexist, misogynistic homophobes names, and use dirty words too!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 2:53 pm
JAL, I had no idea about those conditions in Arizona. That is why you needed to speak with an advocate. Bitterly funny, the fact that you have been successful in keeping your child safe from your ex makes it easier for your ex to try to place himself in her life.
I was afraid that you might have to move. Not at all fair. But you need to know your options so you can pick what works best for you. At least your advocate gave you something useful. Keep at it.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
I feel sorry for Steve Benen, who writes for The Maddow Blog. Back in January he decided to take on the task of chronicling Mitt’s mendacity. Now, in his 41st edition of Chronicling Mitt’s Mendacity Benen finds that he has documented 917 falsehoods. He is weary.
We can only hope that the election ends his misery. Four years of a Mitt Romney presidency would do him in.
To honor Benen’s heroic effort, here are few excerpts from the latest Chronicle:
Romney does not know how to vet his sources, nor does he know the meaning of the word “almost,” nor the meaning of “double,” (as evidenced by his claim that Obama “doubled” the deficit. The deficit was $1.3 trillion when Obama took office. It is now $1.08 trillion.)
Take a break, Steve Benen. We may need you in the future.
Giliell, Approved Straight Chorus:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:15 pm
JAL
Fuck, fuck, fuck
That asshole’s no father
Can we drum up some money to get you out of state?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Trump has proven that Obama was born in Kenya.
Warning, the link takes you to a strange and paranoid alternative universe.
Lynna, OM:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Rev. BigDumbChimp @496 before the portcullis fell:
I posted the text below in the “Romney is a very devout man” thread about Romney’s uncharitable “charitable” giving. That was thread was dead by then.
Romney is charitable toward business cronies. He gives them tax breaks and he removes the terrible burden of regulations that are meant to keep the little people safe. At least that’s how he operated as Governor of Massachusetts. Now it turns out that Romney Style may have caused the deaths of 25 people. So far.
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/30/romneys_lax_regulation_fueled_meningitis_outbreak/
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Oh, so that’s the big revelation Trump was promising. Over here, it was reported that he has evidence that the Obamas are divorcing.
Ogvorbis: broken and cynical:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:25 pm
JAL:
Shit. Be safe and good luck.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Threadrupt:
Might go good with pi?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Beatrice, that was one of the things that was being speculated about by people who are foolish enough to take Trump seriously. That is so last week, literally.
Funny that this would be a bombshell; Saint Ronald was a divorcee.
Beatrice, anti-imperialist anti-racist Islamophobiaphobic leftist:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Ah, I don’t follow news every day, so I’m often behind on sensationalist crap and conspiracy theories.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Sadly, sensationalist crap and conspiracy theories makes up the bulk of the presidential campaign in the US.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:51 pm
So far, no shelters have openings yet but they say keep calling, you never know when one will open up. On the waitlist for some places. Going into the shelter means we can’t take the cat or her fish. We’re going to let her stay at Grandma’s for the night again since Roomie has to work tonight. She’ll be kept indoors all weekend until we can find a place to go. She is just going to fucking hate me and throw a fit. I’m going to call the advocate back in a couple hours to update her. She was really nice and concerned. It sounded like it just broke her heart to hear we were finally stable after being in homeless shelters and now have to go back in the system because of stupid fuckface.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:55 pm
By topic:
Horses
Tony @437: if you want to try riding, I could hook you up, but getting over here might be a bit of a hassle for you.
Giliell – would love a pattern for the hobby horse, but I was thinking of going make-shift with old socks and reforming them.
cicely – I don’t want to take it to the [Thunderdome], so I will simply disagree with you, and say that horses are the loverliest animalses ever to be evolved on this earth because they ride like the wind. And you don’t need to be smart to be loverly.
chigau – I saw the reaction. Nice. The peas, too.
peas
I was almost on your side here, cicely . I used to hate peas and they’re still not a favourite, but with this, I present Latvian Delicacy #1 . Sorry there’s no English, but the pictures should be more-or-less self-explanatory. Tony , it’s kind of like what your’e doing with the bacon and the peas @480. This is about the only way I enjoy peas, and then only on cold, cold winter evenings after several hours outdoors.
hot peppers
I love them, but I can’t take too much of them, so I use them sparingly. Lack of acclimatization (Latvians don’t do spicy, hey?). But I love them.
+++
And yes, it’s true that I haven’t had much opportunity to talk about a lot of things for a while. Somehow it’s worked out that way without my even noticing it. That’s what happens when you move to a different country and life goes about 90 degrees from where you were expecting it to (not necessarily in a bad way) but you discover that your closest friends are moving in different circles, and others around you just don’t think the same way you do. I’ve been thirsty for intelligent conversation for a long time. And no, I don’t yet feel that the Husband can understand the things I want to say – sometimes, you just want someone to say ‘Yes, I get it’ instead of ‘I don’t undersand, but I’ll take your word for it’.
+++
JAL
I so wish there was something I could do to help. Even when I’m not remotely connected to a situation like that, it scares the hell out of me. Because it can so easily not end well, and I want it to, very badly. For you and the Little One. :( Hugs?
+++
Today’s big news: they had to shut down some major arteries downtown during the day because they dug up two unexploded shells from WWII while digging for water pipes. Happens from time to time, like that time they accidentally rediscovered a medieval graveyard right under the main road of one of the largest cities and had to stop all reconstruction for archaeology.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Lynna, it sounds like the Mittbot 3000 is trying to use the National Lampoon Gambit.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Using Google Image, I searched buy this magazine or the dog gets it. The first few were on target. After the accurate hits, it get weird.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Adam Carolla will never work in Hollywood again!
*sniff*
We will never have pure comedy like again.
When will Daniel Tosh join him in self imposed exile.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I also just remembered that my godmother lives in New York. I remembered when she posted on Facebook that everything is fine for them, besides no heat and no power and water, water, everywhere…
I think it’s time I became a better goddaughter, since she’s also one of the people I really miss in my life. (I’m just glad she’s ok.)
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:36 pm
You know… The Man Show was actually kind of OK for what it was**… which you can tell if you compare the original show with the season where they replaced Carolla nd Jimmy Kimmel with two guys who appeared for all the world like “Trent the Likely Date Rapist” from Michael Bay movies. Of course, it became obvious over time who the more talented person of the duo is… that dude who could drink a beer in a half-second.
Adam Carolla is a sexist, racist, homophobic narcissist with an inflated sense of his abilities in general, when his only specific skill is finding other terrible people and convincing them to give him money.
**I’m not saying what it was is something I can defend.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Good news, the New York City Marathon has been cancelled.
Maybe all of the food, water, generators and all of the diverted human resources can be used for the people in New York and New Jersey who needs it.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Anyhoo, good wishes all around to those who most need them and to those who just want them, and a good night to all.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Dear President Obama:
I voted early today. For you. If you win this term, no more torture. No more drone strikes. Tax cuts should go to the middle class. Don’t just endorse gay marriage, fight for it. Stand up to Republican asswipes.
Don’t let me and hundreds of millions of Americans down (for that matter, don’t let the rest of the world down).
memegene:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:12 pm
In comparison to the struggles of people affected by Sandy, this is small in comparison. But I wanted to pass on this unfortunate story of octopus-abuse that recently happened in the Seattle area:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/11/02/divers-fight-to-outlaw-octopus-hunting-in-puget-sound
Summary: two divers were photographed with a giant pacific octopus that they were hitting before throwing it into the back of their truck. The observers saw that they took it off an egg cluster – implying that this was a brooding mother octopus. Although the law wasn’t broken (it was outside a preserve area), there is a movement among local divers to ban the hunting of octopus in the area, and especially to restrict this type of abuse by putting pressure on the local WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife Commission, which is meeting in a couple weeks to review laws.
Pteryxx:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:17 pm
…Holy shit JAL. I’m sorry, and Arizona can go the rest of the way to hell.
For what it’s worth, I’m in Texas and can make long drives more or less on a whim. If you form a plan to get out of there I might be able to take this car and help.
ednaz:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
JAL – It’s good to read you’re getting some assistance. My wish is that you and Little One stay safe.
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:33 pm
RIchard @1:
That’s good news. I read about that earlier this week and was pleased. I wish Singer had done X-Men 3, rather than Brett Ratner. That said, I thought Matthew Vaughn did a very good job directing X-Men First Class. It was probably the best of all the X-Men films, IMHO.
****
Lynna @4:
Steve Benen isn’t the only one who needs a break.
I’d say you’ve earned one as well.
Out of curiosity, has anyone compiled a list similar to Mitt’s Mendacity for President Obama?
****
Beatrice @8:
Forgive me for asking, but where are you speaking of when you say “over here”?
****
Fuck, I really wish we could provide some sort of assistance for you JAL. You and your daughter absolutely deserve stability and freedom from your abusive ex.
****
rq @15:
I hear Latvia is lovely this time of year. :)
(I pulled that out of my ass. I have no idea what it’s like over there. But you’re there, and you’re good people. So that’s a plus.)
ednaz:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:36 pm
FossilFishy @ 392 – Thank You for that beautiful piece. My heart is warmed.
My world had become very small, but thanks to the many kind words from The Horde, I am remembering kindness still exists.
rq:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Tony @27
Smiles for you. :) Latvia’s pretty terrible this time of year, unless you enjoy rain, thick cloud cover, dampness, mist, fog, and light festivals. (The light festival is about the only good thing going in this season.) Things improve once we get some real snow down for the winter, but that seems to be hit-and-miss these days, too.
We’ll be even better people when we have a house. It’s in the works. Hopefully this winter.
Ok, I got caught up reading about quanta over there, but now I’m really leaving; it’s late. Good night!
ednaz:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Lynna OM @ #486 – Thank You for “The Obama Conspiracy-o-rama.”
Tony–Queer Duck Overlord of The Bronze–:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Does PZ have any idea what he’s started in the Quantum thread?
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Thanks again everyone and especially you Pteryxx. I might be taking you up on that offer in the near-ish future. I’ve been looking into places that help abuse victims flee the state they are in. My parents are willing to move with us as well, and they are going to talk to their case workers and programs to see what help they can get. Going into a shelter here really is only a temporary solution. He’s never going to stop and there’s always the chance of him finding us again. Moving to another state – preferably a blue state that is you know, helpful and sane – would be far more safer. Of course, it’s a lot of planning and co-ordination we need to do to make it work but I’m done living here. I hate it anyways and he’s only been able to find us out of sheer dumb luck and proximity since we’ve been moving through shelters but not far enough away.
If all the programs aren’t able to help us, I’ll jump ship with just the Little One to another state temporarily if I have too. If you’re still willing at that time, I could look into shelters there – either near your or anywhere you’re willing to take us.
If I’m going to run, I’m going to run.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 5:58 pm
And obviously still looking into a shelter here because it at least helps immediately until I find a way to move states.
thunk, Blob Alert!:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:09 pm
JAL:
I’m very sorry. If only I could help. I live in a blue state!
*many, many hugs* *and wishes that abusive ex will stop*
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Dundee:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Hugs and all the best wishes to JAL!
I’m having some fantasies on your behalf – some kind of scam involving a faked paternity test so BadMan loses his rights. And possibly some sort of set-up trap involving you wearing a wire, and police snipers and ninjas and falling anvils.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:39 pm
JAL,
I’m hoping and wishing things work out for you, and having fantasies like Alethea, except involving my parents letting you and your kid occupy their old house rent-free through the winter while you figure things out.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
November 2nd, 2012 at 6:56 pm
LOL!
Your fantasies are far more entertaining than mine. Mine are just the plain “When he comes back, I hope he accidentally walks a cement block with his head or a wall falls on him or a meteorite hits him”. Anything involving a car, makes me feel bad for the people that own the car.
——
In other more happy news, my Little One won first place in the pumpkin decorating contest. All the kids got trophies and kids that places got a really nice looking certificate.
—–
I know I talked about it before but you guys may have missed it and not remember. I did a review for a Christian paranormal romance book and it was a negative one. The author had two of her friends, one of them another author at the same publisher, make comments on my review. They trashed me and my review. They quickly shut up and dropped it though because I was arguing back and pointed out their comments just put my negative review at the top of the list. So it doesn’t matter how many good reviews the book has, mine’s the first people see. Well anyways, another author from the same publisher messaged me and wanted to know that she did not agree with such silencing tactics and found all authors like that shameful. She wanted to assure me that not all authors at the publisher were like that and she offered a copy of her book to read. She only just found out about the nasty comments and has no connects to that author. I don’t think the Christian wing and the Gay wing of the publisher have much contact. I found it all extremely heartening and thankful she reached out.
Makes me wish I had a safe way like a blog to give her props.
Pteryxx:
November 2nd, 2012 at 7:26 pm
JAL: Understood. My gmail is my nym and I’m watching it now if you’d care to contact me about the prospects. Otherwise I’m kind of intentionally difficult to reach; the quickest ways would be via IM or IRC or through the A+ forum. Let me know and I’ll make sure to keep my presence up.
Unfortunately I’m in Texas which also hates everyone and keeps cutting social services. I know nothing about restraining order laws here but I don’t expect they’d be any friendlier. However, if worst comes to worst I could get to you in roughly 24 hours and be at your service to, say, drive somewhere else entirely.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Pteryxx, like you told JAL, if you are to get involved, contact an advocate so you know just unfriendly the laws in Texas. If anything, if JAF is staying around where you are at, it will make it less unlikely that her ex will find them. Breathing space while a new plan is put in place.
I am sure you already realize everything I have just suggested but I want to make sure just in case you do not.
Good luck to JAL and her daughter. And good luck to Pteryxx if you get involved. A childhood where one fears that one parent will harm an other is a childhood to be avoided.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:29 pm
With apologies to, well, everyone…
Say!
I like chill-ee’s and peas!
I do!! I like them, Steve-I-be!
And I would eat them in a shoe!
And I would eat them with ragu …
And I will eat them with your brain.
And in the pub. And in the rain.
And in a shoe. And with baby.
They are so good so good you see!
So I will eat them in a hole.
And I will eat them with a vole.
And I will eat them with marmalade.
And I will eat them with a tardigrade.
And I will eat them downunder there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!
I do so like
chill-ee’s and peas!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Steve-I-be
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:32 pm
A thought:
It would be a considerable outlay, but it may be possible for there to be a Horde Fund To Get JAL Out of Dodge. Enough for a pair of one-way tickets to someplace that is not Phoenix and start-up money for a new place (1st month rent, security deposit, etc). I would be willing to contribute to such a fund. I am on the other side of the country, so there’s little I can do otherwise (except sending e-hugs and moral support).
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:35 pm
…incidentally, my googling informs me that air tickets from Phoenix to where I live (to pick a place at random) for one adult and one adult less than five add up to ~$250. Not saying that JAL needs to come here, of course, but if that’s the sort of outlay we’re talking about, that is rather doable if enough people chip in.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:41 pm
I’m in for whatever I can afford at the time, should a get-JAL-the-hell-away-from-the-asshole fund be set up. I can’t promise much, but at least the conversion rate is good at the moment.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Esteleth, I was thinking the same thing, and if it can wait until Wednesday I can chip in a little towards it. I wish I could do more.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Here’s what I’m thinking (using numbers from my city for the sake of argument)
-airfare for JAL and Little One: $250.
-1st month rent and deposit on an apt: $1200.
-Starting-up cash: $1500, to tide JAL and LO over until they get settled.
For a total of ~$3950. Round to $3000. Which, indeed, is a hefty chunk of change. But how many regulars do we have here, anyway? A few bucks here, a few bucks there, and that could actually be achievable in (relatively) short order.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Obviously, my math @45 is wrong. But my point stands.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Word just came in that gas rationing is goingting to be enforced tomorrow
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Where are you in the area, Ing, out of curiosity?
chigau (棒や石):
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Ing
Gasoline or natural gas for heating?
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Esteleth,
On the other hand, if JAL picks a place where multiple Hordelings live, the $1500 start-up money might drop down to a couple of hundred after donations of physical goods.
And I’ll talk to my parents about having someone “housesit” their home for a month or three and see what they say. There’s power and heating oil and propane for the fireplace, and it is just sitting there empty but semi-furnished and will probably never sell.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
I don’t want to say where my parents live beyond “east coast” because it would certainly be an excellent hideout without a lease or a credit check or announcing online where they live.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Absolutely, Joe, totally agreed.
And the cost of rent might also be highly variable – having a Hordeling in the area who can go and vet apartments, meet landlords, etc can help see if that cheap place is worth taking. Also, people who know local landlords who are amenable to arm-twisting of the “discount on rent the first few months” variety would be helpful.
FWIW, my landlord is both a decent chap and I know he has some empty units – and a mountain of random furniture.
cicely:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 pm
rq – We will simply have to agree to disagree; and I promise not to hold your obvious moral degeneracy against you.
</tongue-in-cheek>
-
I would pitch in to a Rescue JAL & Little One fund; my contribution wouldn’t be much, but it does add up.
-
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:40 pm
I should mention that when the Horde-Signal went up for me, it totaled a figure that was large enough to make me uncomfortable even talking about. And I wasn’t in any specific danger, and there
were no children involved. Plus, I’m not even particularly liked or likable.
I can imagine that JAL’s predicament would merit more attention than mine did. Plus, I’m finally going to be in a position to help.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Pfffft
cicely:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:50 pm
Untrue! Two counts!
-
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:53 pm
LIES!
When JAL returns to the Lounge and if she indicates her willingness for some sort of plot to help her get out of Phoenix and some sort of idea of where she’d like to go, I can take the lead in gathering donations.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Back at ya. Considering all the factors, including my relative recent arrival here, and tendency towards semi-suicidal meltdowns, I’m not exactly the most sympathetic person here. Not excusing myself, but FFS I know a single mom with a kid and an abusive ex beats me. The fact that I can and will spell it out makes me more of an asshole than not. And whatever my likability might be, JAL’s kid should win every goddamned time, right? I know I think so.
Improbable Joe:
November 2nd, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Esteleth,
Email me at my nym with no spaces at the gmail thingy if/when you get something set up.
Esteleth, Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I was probably going to use paypal, which is set up at my nym at google’s mail bot.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Joe, it ain’t no contest. Each case is it’s own thing, and unless there are two situations at the same time that require resources I flat out refuse to compare them.
And as far as being likeable, well, you willfully and maliciously chose to disregard my recommendation for Teh Hoard Hammer, and somehow I managed to still like you.
PZ Myers:
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Yikes! I’ve been busy, but at last, here is a NEW THREAD.