[Lounge #390]
This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly. Bleat!
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly. Bleat!
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
Alverant:
December 21st, 2012 at 3:24 pm
Anyone read this story yet?
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/21/pennsylvania-man-cites-newtown-while-ripping-down-atheist-holiday-display/
David Wilford:
December 21st, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Are you a Canadatheist?
http://crookedtimber.org/2012/12/21/the-christmas-sermon-2012-on-not-believing-in-canada/
lclane2:
December 21st, 2012 at 3:48 pm
The NRA statement today is admission that gun ownership imposes a burden on society. The NRA proposes that schools have armed guards. If we adopt the proposal it’s only fair that gun owners pay for it. I calculate that a tax of about $100/yr for each gun in the U.S. would pay for such a program. I’d be happy to see the NRA administer such a program.
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I was looking through my old elementary school photos. There was this one boy in another class in my year. He started in one of smaller schools that has classes only until 5th grade and then students travel further to our school, so we were about 11 when he started going to the same school as me.
People always said he was “retarded”, I remember him dragging himself along the corridors, alone. If in company, it mostly meant the company was bullying him. I don’t think he finished school with us, but I don’t know whether his parents transferred him or pulled him out of school altogether.
While looking at the photos and names, I remembered his name and did a little google search. I now know that he suffers from epilepsy, a pretty severe case. I can’t remember for sure, but I think I even saw him seizure a couple of times. It was laughed and mocked away by the students or dismissed as “that crazy boy”.
I don’t think that knowing this in school would have helped me understand, but I wish I had known and I wish all of us hadn’t been such stupid fucking little assholes.
I know that bullying would have been inexcusable in any case, so really, I just wish children weren’t so cruel to each other.
I hope he has a nicer life now. I’m afraid he didn’t have much of a chance in elementary school.
I don’t know why I suddenly feel so sad about this.
rq:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Beatrice
Because the world has ended? :( *hugs*
Here, have a chocolate-covered prune soaked for two days in black-currant-flavoured Black Balsam. Husband’s just finishing them up (making, not eating).
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:09 pm
rq,
Another article even says how he had had a horrible time during schooling and still has no friends at all, except a dog. I’m crying now.
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Oh, and this sounds delicious. Thanks!
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Beatrice:
I imagine having correct information would have helped, a great deal. When I was in elementary school (private Catholic), there were two kids with epilepsy and it wasn’t uncommon for them to have seizures in class. We were all taught about epilepsy and no one was allowed to turn around and gape at someone having a seizure. It made a huge difference, because the other kids were much more prone to stop on someone attempting to mock or bully them on the basis of having epilepsy.
Of course, it’s on the adults to see that kids have such information.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:18 pm
make that stomp on someone.
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Caine,
I can’t remember any concrete information, so I’m assuming it boiled down to “he’s sick, leave him alone” which, of course, worked marvelously. *eyeroll*
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:24 pm
A Catholic school doing something right. Now that’s a surprise.
rq:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Beatrice
*more hugs*
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:26 pm
You’re sad because you’re compassionate, Beatrice. I’m sorry for him and for your sadness. But you know it’s not your fault.
====
So often I’m glad I was homeschooled. : /
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Thanks for the hugs, but I don’t feel like I deserve hugs for this. I should be feeling bad about this, even though it’s not my fault.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Beatrice:
It was surprising. The nuns were scathingly strict* on that particular score, so no one even dreamed of making fun of kids for having epilepsy. They were treated like anyone else and both were popular (one girl, one boy.)
*More than normal and they were strict and harsh as all hells. This was old school Catholicism all the way.
Improbable Joe:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Beatrice,
Yeah, you SHOULD feel bad about it. Not so much that it eats you up inside, but enough that it reminds you not to be that kind of person, or to allow other people to be terrible in your presence. I know I’ve done some terrible things in my life, and allowed other things to happen without objecting, and I feel bad about it too. Some of those things were as an adult, which makes them even worse. But I’ve managed to use the guilt to force me to stand up and say something when I see things, and to absolutely not engage in previous rotten behavior.
It is OK to make mistakes, and even OK to forgive yourself for those mistakes… but only if you learn from them, only if you change yourself to not be the sort of person who keeps doing the wrong thing.
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Joe, you’re absolutely right.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 21st, 2012 at 4:51 pm
beatrice
What Joe said, actually. I was trying to compose something like that but he beat me to it. So I’ll just offer more *hugs.*
It really is amazing how predictable rightwingers are. Someone on my cousin’s Facebook was talking about how we need to return to ‘traditional values’ and progressivism is ruining this country. So I called him out on it, and he immediately started claiming I had anger issues and bleating about civility, and how one traditional value was ‘if you cant say something nice don’t say anything.” A classic combination of projection, hypocrisy and shutup that’s why.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:12 pm
This is Scott Vacula’s group. And also my current home town.
Improbable Joe:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Beatrice, I hope you don’t think I was beating up on you there…
Improbable Joe:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Scott Vacula? From Quantum Veap and Venterprise?
Beatrice:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Joe,
I don’t.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Dalillama:
I wonder what a list of these ‘ traditional values’ would look like.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Tony;
I asked him that, actually. He chose to whine about my tone instead, though.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Ratmas Fun, Cheeriohohoho, and Artemis wins photo of the day.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:49 pm
abc World News is about to tell whether Noah’s Flood was real. I can hardly wait for the this.
Prediction: local flood will be expanded to global scale.
Prediction: I will not be able to remain silent while watching it.
Prediction: They will waffle and still toss a bone to the radical religious right.
rq:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Beatrice
What Joe said.
Dalillama
Apparently whining is a traditional value. I wonder if it’s marketable?
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Oh, fuck. It’s Ballard and the fucking Black Sea flood.
The flood happened 5k BC. A thousand years before the earth was created.
I was right on all three predictions.
So off to bed. G’night.
rq:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Night.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Forgot part of my minirant.
According to Ballard, the flood happened ~5,000 BCE. In other words, 7,000 years ago. “Just as the bible says.”
Act like a scientist, Ballard.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:13 pm
For those who remember the last time, philisyssis has reappeared.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
I am going to try and avoid commenting in PZs new feminism thread since he is trying to do a social experiment. Dammit though, one of the things I have learned here is not to let harmful ideas go unchallenged.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Tony:
There’s no need to do that. Only one has shown and demonstrated an inability to follow directions. That, and an old godbot showed up.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:18 pm
BTW, Tony, PZ just said not to crush right away. We’re good on the inspection and analysis front. :D
rq:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:44 pm
That looks like a fun thread. Too bad I’m working, I’d love to watch!
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Never mind, PZ hath hollered.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 21st, 2012 at 6:59 pm
I’ve got another live one on the Facebooks. I understand why a bunch of you folks don’t like going there.
This one started in agreeing with a post proposing we arm the teachers. Suggestions of gun control were met with the Time article about how it’s not the guns it’s the cultural difference between Europe and the States that accounts for fewer mass shootings. I replied, (paraphrasing) ‘Yeah, but part of that cultural difference is that they don’t fetishize guns like we do, which is alo a reason they have sensible gun control laws. There’s not a huge lobby shrieking that everyone has a holy sacred inviolable right to as many firearms as they can afford and store.” He says it’s absurd to say that Americans Fetishize guns and I’m jsut overreacting to a vocal minority.. A few posts later, he asks why a responsible’ gun owner shouldn’t have an ak-47. When I ask why he should be allowed to run around with military ordnance, guess what the answer is? “FREEEDOM!!! LIBERY!!!!!RIGHTS!!!!” Seriously, do these people even listen to themselves when they talk?
carlie:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:00 pm
lol forever, because I made that same connection immediately but never would have been able to come up with that reply.
Beatrice, I have similar issues wrt things I have done in the past – I’ve mentioned it many times, but I was an evangelical fundie. Was too shy to do too much on the evangelical front, but I’ve had some “conversations” at people that I am really ashamed of now. All I can do is to be sure to teach my own children differently, treat people well going forward, and step in and stand up for people when I see others acting as I used to.
Child is all well. Well, still coughing terribly, but much more peppy. Good thing, because he has a lot of homework to make up over the holiday break.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Fuck it.
If I had a rocket launcher….
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:08 pm
I really, really want an explanation as to what, specifically, “that does not mean that women should be made more powerful than men” means. Seems to me that equality has a very different definition for some people.
carlie:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:18 pm
OMG YOU GUYS. I JUST GOT AN AD ON THIS SITE THAT IS A PRODUCT I WOULD ACTUALLY BE INTERESTED IN.
*falls over of shock*
If I never see another of those stupid t-shirt ads featuring busty women in skimpy shirts, it will be none too soon.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Survived the cold and the trip to the store to drag home a 24-pk of toilet paper, despite the strange looks on the bus. It should last until warm weather arrives. (Assuming I don’t end up with some sort of gastrointestinal plague between now and then.)
Then surprise! FWB got back in town a day early (yay!) so we went out for an early dinner. He’s on board with The Plan. I decided that, rather than tell my mother directly (which I’d never do if this were real), I’d “slip” and mention it to the sis-in-law I know will spill the beans “accidentally” so she and Mom can tut-tut over my sinful ways and eventual burning.
—
Joe:
Yay and congratulations on furniture!
—
cicely:
Yay for new boots!
Yes, I’m thinking The Plan could serve as a useful deterrent for years to come.
—
Beatrice:
Hugs, if you want them. And, what Joe said.
—
carlie:
And lo, by this sign you shall know that the Apocalypse is upon you: useful and appropriate advertising on FtB.
rq:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Socio-gen
That sounds like a good plan! And congratulations on the successful hunt (for TP). :) I hope it wasn’t a tough haul home. ;)
John Morales:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:36 pm
Caine,
I think G. Orwell pinned that one down long ago: in a society where people are equal, some will be more equal than others.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 21st, 2012 at 7:43 pm
rq:
The only real trouble is that the pack is so big, there’s no easy way of carrying it. I ended up holding against my hip like I would a toddler. (I’m going to write a letter to Scott and tell them that a carry-handle would be appreciated.) Normally, I wouldn’t buy such a big pack, but, as much as I hate going out in the cold, I’d really hate having to buy more in February when +6 will seem summery.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Cannot sleep. Knee throbbing. Watching Ball Sate v. UCF in the Beef O’Brady Bowl.
MissEla:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:07 pm
OK, is the 4th attempt at posting a charm? If it is, ignore this post! :)
bluentx:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Gregory Greenwood said: “… to turn schools into armed camps.”
So, the Glenn Beck/Alex Jones fantasy camps are coming true– with the help of the NRA?
Ironic.
And parents HAVE YOU HEARD about the great new Christmas idea for the kiddies… Bullet proof backpacks! Cripes!
As a retired cop said ” No way could they put the kind of armor in there that would stop the type of ammo used at Sandy Hook. And if they did the pack would be so heavy the kid couldn’t carry it and there would be no room for books.
bluentx:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Oh, and let’s all remember the TRUE MEANING of the season: Paranoia and Profits! Yea!
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Hello All!
-
*Taking cue from Janine*
If I had a rocket launcher
I’d launch in the morning
I’d launch in the evening…
-
Socio-gen @ 42
No worries, fire extinguisher at the ready.
*thumbsup*
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Ogvorbis – I am sorry about your knee.
I have a new pair of compression socks. Would you like one?
They’re thigh-high and toeless!
*presentation gesture*
bluentx:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Interrupting my reading of the “Experiment” thread (already WTFing).
I had already decided,before ShermerGate- (is there another name) to let my subscription to Skeptic mag lapse- due to Sermer’s Libraturdiness, Harriet Hall’s anti-RW crap and other reasons.
I intend to send a letter explaining my reasons for not renewing after so many (?) years. Anyone wanna help me compose the letter?
Now back to WTFing….
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:37 pm
No, thanks. This is a sprained knee and I allowed it to get too weak (my fault (normal, right?)). So, right now, my MCL is too weak and is putting extra strain on my distal hamstring. I also suspect that there is a horn flap tear, a small one, in the meniscus. The lock and pop, complete with a moment of exquisite pain, feels like a small tear in the cartilege. Which is, of course, inflaming the synovial lining (shut up, Firefox, ‘synovial’ is too a word!). No swelling. Just waiting for the mild painkiller to take the edge off.
But with no swelling, compsocks really wouldn’t do much. Though I do have a pair that I will be wearing when driving to Florida. I also wear them on airplanes.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Janine:
Even if you had a rocket launcher, you have no Judge…
(Will she get it?)
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:55 pm
No, Tony, sorry. Just a clumsy attempt at humor.
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Ogvorbis – May your painkiller kick in soon.
*very gentle hugs*
John Morales:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:06 pm
bluentx,
Not I (it’s your letter, after all!), but you’re welcome to post its draft here for criticism and/or suggestions.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:07 pm
They are.
Trying to bed myself again.
Tomorrow, new tyres, oil change and an alignment. And pack the car for Florida.
G’night.
chigau (違う):
December 21st, 2012 at 9:10 pm
We just watched Barbarella.
:) ;( :/
cicely:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Ogvorbis, I send my sympathy for your knee.
*snort*
“Intelligent Design”.
“In God’s image.”
…ergo, this God has bad knees, and likes company in his misery.
-
Where do you get them?
-
Crip Dyke, MQ, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:15 pm
I may be a bit late with this but I had to post it here. I didn’t see it in 390, but maybe the thunderdome or 389?
In any case, it’s the best response to this white-people-appropriate-and-misinterpret-the-mayan-calendar ridiculousness that I’ve seen yet.
John Morales:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:17 pm
chigau, hankering for the Excessive Machine? :)
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Hi Cicely –
The brand name is mediven. The local medical supply store orders them for me. If you want details you can e-mail me at
my nym at specs and host and dot and com.
Just take out the ‘ands’. : )
cicely:
December 21st, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Thanks, ednaz. I googled their website. Unfortunately, the ones I would find useful are also pricier than I can do, at least right now.
:(
I’ve bookmarked them for later, though.
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:01 pm
ednaz:
I was making a Buffy reference.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Probably the most iconic Buffy moment.
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Cicely – Yes, they are expensive as hell.
If you don’t mind, can you reccomend a better (lower) price sock? Talking to someone who knows about a brand really makes a difference.
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Tony and Jeanine – Haven’t seen enough Buffy’s to know.
cicely:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:27 pm
ednaz-
Unfortunately, no. I’m entirely shopping around, myself. I’ve got a pair of knee high compression socks, but I’m not very pleased with them—they just won’t stay up. My calves are unnecessarily large anyway, and then when the swelling starts, the droopy-socks problem only gets worse. Luckily for me, my big-time problems with swelling in the lower legs and feet come in conjunction with heat (summer time, look out!) and salt intake (which I generally can keep on top of, but occasionally catch an unpleasant surprise in eating out), which means I’ve got a few months before it becomes a constant issue.
Which is no excuse for winter.
*huddling in sweats and flannels*
-
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 21st, 2012 at 10:39 pm
So, I just saw this. In Iowa, it’s legal to fire someone because you just can’t stop yourself from sexually harassing her. I have no words.
ednaz:
December 21st, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Cicely –
Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
(They do stay up, though.) : )
Doc says get new every 3 months,(yeah, sure, I’m made of money) but I get new every 4 or 5 months.
If I had the means, I’d send you a pair.
Hope you find a brand that works the way you like.
bastionofsass:
December 21st, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Wanted to blog about some email I got recently about “Native Americans” discovering the secret to a 90 second facelift. What?
Sounds suspicious, said skeptical me, but when I googled, I found that the “active” ingredients that are in a number of similar “facelift” products have been promoted by Dr. Oz!!! Zowie! What else do I need to know to be sure the product is safe and effective?
Here’s what the product info says in part:
“Unlike Botox, which paralyzes the muscle, Argireline is clinically proven to relax facial muscles by naturally inhibiting the release of brain neurotransmitters. It visibly reduces wrinkles in seconds, unlike Botox, which can take a few days.”
I just want to check with people who know more about neurotransmitters than I do before I blog something incorrect about this:
1. Could a topical cream/lotion affect neurotransmitters?
2. If it could affect neurotransmitters, wouldn’t the product need to be approved by the FDA?
3. Messing with neurotransmitters is something one shouldn’t do based on an ad (even with approval from Dr. Oz), right? Seems to me that that’s something that shouldn’t be undertaken without medical advice and supervision.
4. If neurotransmitters were affected, wouldn’t more than just facial muscles be affected? Is there some way to limit any effects to just the face?
In case you want, just out of curiosity, to see the website the email linked to:
http://visagelabs.com/
BTW, I looked and couldn’t find anything on the site about “Native Americans” discovering this miracle solution to sagging skin and wrinkles. That disappointed me.
bluentx:
December 21st, 2012 at 11:28 pm
bastionofsass;
Is this the same Dr. Oz ad that keeps popping up on Facebook?. (Can’t seem to find it right now.)
I commented: “Dr.Oz is a hack” Some how the next time I saw the ad I couldn’t find my comment. Imagine that.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 21st, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Perhaps it’s my Canadianess and my ageiness but this is what “If I had a rocket launcher” means to me. And damn if that isn’t some of the tastiest guitar playing I’ve heard in a while.
bastionofsass:
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:05 am
bluentx
The email ad wasn’t from Dr. Oz, but from Visage Labs. I linked to their site.
But when trying to find out more about product I got a number of search hits that mentioned that Dr. Oz had recommended similar products on his show.
I don’t know anything about Dr. Oz’s ad on Facebook since I use Adblock. I’m always kind of shocked when I use iPad to check FB and I see all the ads.
But if the FB ad was promoting some kind of woo, it probably was the same Dr. Oz.
bluentx:
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:38 am
FossilFishy:
It’s not just you. I thought of Bruce right off ,too.And have been trying to parse other comments/references
since the post. Guess that shows my ageiness too.Maybe that’s why my driver license photo looks like I forgot to put my teeth in. (But…but..I don’t even wear dentures..yet.)
bastionofsass:
Yeah, Visage Labs sounds right. I don’t use FB much. Hate it actually, but can’t seem to delete my account. Wouldn’t do any good anyway right? We are in their files FOREVER!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:57 am
Ok, that’s it for the night. I cannot stomach any more of the Slymepitters/misogynists/MRAs in the feminism thread. I know that PZ asked for them to show up, but damn…every time I think I am caught up, another crawls in. Hell, it looks like 3 different fuckwits just strolled in. Tomorrow (or, to be more accurate, later today) will be another story.
bluentx:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 am
Ya done good, Tony. G’night.
rorschach:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 am
Hey PZ, you (and the Courtier’s reply) got an honorary mention from Amanda Marcotte here.
MissEla:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:34 am
ednaz/cicely–Would prosthetic socks work, or are they not supportive enough? Cascade DAFO carries prosthetic and orthotic socks that you can order through their website (multiple sizes and colors). Cascade DAFO
(Wow, that link is *huge* in preview! Hope it turns out like normal!)
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:50 am
Yeah, Bruce Cockburn was exactly what I meant. I remember how much right wingers hated that song. If I remember correctly, some were trashing the song in the youtube comments. (I know, never read them.) Damn good guitarist.
In the late nineties, for a fund raiser for an anti-landmine organization, song writers like Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and other were talking about song writing and singing song. It was the first time I heard Patty Griffin’s Top Of The World. I remember Steve Earle just saying “Wow!” when she was done.
Bruce Cockburn played guitar for everyone besides talking about and playing his songs.
rorschach:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:04 am
See, I’m so ignorant. I immediately thought of John Wayne as Marshal Rooster Cockburn in True Grit.
rorschach:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:07 am
Errr, wait, Jeff Bridges and all that…..
bluentx:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:19 am
Love Patty Griffin, too. Tho some of her songs get pretty godified–still great music!
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:29 am
Hello lounge friends. How is everyone tonight/day?
There are currently two moose asleep in my yard. We have a momma moose with a teenage baby moose laying rump to rump in the snow not 25 yards from my house. It’s painfully cold out, but sometimes there are benefits to visiting Fairbanks. The only bad thing is that I really miss my boyfriend. I know that sounds cheesy since we’ve only been apart for just over a week now, but I don’t like being without him, especially at night.
—
Ogvorbis: I hope your knee feels better soon and that you can get to sleep.
Tony: You’ve been amazing in the MRA thread. Seriously, you’re awesome. I gave up before #100. You deserve a break.
Beatrice: Hugs, if you’d like them.
carlie: Glad to hear that your son is feeling better.
—
In other news, I think a climate-change denier just showed up in the Frontiers of Taxonomy thread. I was too tired to think up more than a quick insult.
opposablethumbs:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:37 am
Sounds like a plan, Socio Gen! Also sounds like you know exactly who you’re dealing with.
Hope it has the desired effect and you get your peace and quiet back.
Matt Penfold:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:46 am
I’ve seem that commentator before. He is none too bright, and not much fun as a chew-toy.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:47 am
Good morning
So, Mr. and I went to see the Hobbit last night.
Very nice, but exhausting in 3D
And this morning I needed to talk with #1 about religion. She got an overdose of christmas story in kindergarten this year and wanted to send letters to Jesus.
So, I talked about stories and fairy tales and then we looked at the drawings and creatures in “The Voyage of the Basset” together.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:48 am
Well, this is me popping in to wish everyone a happy weekend. And to whinge a bit, considering that the phone calls from Husband’s sister re: the state of (in)ebriation of their collective father have already begun and it’s the first day of the holidays (time off until the 26th) and we’re heading out to the country for some wonderful happy family-togetherness time and I am not pleased. Ah well. Solace lies in 1) taking computer along for work (no internet, boo, but at least I can work) and 2) heading home sometime on 24th (as long as Husband doesn’t get guilt-tripped by sister into staying longer) because I have choir duties on 25th and I don’t want to be rushing home the morning of (it’s been done, not pleasant).
+++
Assorted hugs and well-wishes all-round, some Christmas cookies and a great big gingerbread castle that we constructed last night, with help of my middle Brother-the-Architect.
I wish we could stay in town this year, just once, just one year, but I suppose there are many years ahead for that kind of thing.
Yeah, I turned hugs-for-everyone into whining-about-me.
Well, here are some complaint-free hugs, and an even BIGGER gingerbread castle with four rounded towers and damn I should take a photo before we take it away and post it here for you all to enjoy! Especially the decorative chaos by Kids that ensued when gluing candies to the walls. :)
Matt Penfold:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:53 am
I’ve come to the conclusion I am not very keen on seeing films in 3D.
carlie:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:28 am
I know it’s probably obvious to everyone else, but it just hit me this year how solidly Santa is really just a god. He sees everything, punishes the bad, rewards the good, is the go-to heavy for inducing people to change their behavior to something more socially acceptable.
Matt Penfold:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:35 am
I am dressing up as Santa later this afternoon to play Santa at the children’s party in our village.
It’s cool I will become a god when I do so! Who should I smite ?
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:43 am
opposablethumbs:
Yep. Being far, far away has been a wonderful thing. Not having to deal with her every day, I started being able to see the ways she plays me, and, even if I can’t quite fight back when talking to her, I have figured some ways of using her own attitudes against her.
—
Giliell:
Oh dear.
—
rq:
Hugs, if you want them and chocolate.
I always hated having to go and spend the entire day at my paternal grandparents’ house every Xmas (mostly because we had to be there so early that we had to rush through the unwrapping of the gifts and I never got to play with any of my stuff). But tradition! So you had 18 kids, bored out of their skulls, watching the male relatives watch football and get progressively more drunk while the women worked in the kitchen. Fun times…
—
carlie:
I’ve actually used that comparison on people. If you get what you want, Santa obviously loves you and thinks you’re special. If you don’t, it’s because you were bad. The only difference between God and Santa is that one is going to burn you forever if you don’t do what he says. Though the other will supply coal for the fire.
Beatrice:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:52 am
rq,
*hugs*
I hope your family weekend turns out better than expected.
carlie:
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:40 am
Just did the first real snow shoveling of the season, and it was only 3 inches. Much as I like not shoveling snow, that’s just weird.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:59 am
rq
Hope the weekend goes well
sociogen
Have you thought about writing a letter?
The incredibly good thing about them is that you get to say waht you want to say without them being able to interrupt and play you.
carlie
I wouldn’t mind Santa that much because there they grow out of it.
Although I’m brutally honest about Santa, too. It’s make-belief, nothing else. I made the decission never ever to teach my children things I knew are lies.
As a child, the adults around me found it incredibly cute to teach me and my cousin (much like my brother to me) stupid things which would amuse the adults and embarass us horribly once we found out that no, you can’t go to the tree school after highschool and no there are no hillside-sheep whose legs are shorter on one side than the other.
I swore that they will never ever be humiliated because I knowingly taught them a lie.
Beatrice:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:00 am
I’m on comment #340 of feminists experiment thread, and it’s not very impressive. I kept waiting for that deciding argument that is going to show a huge blind spot we all have about feminism, but I got nothing.
I liked Cyranothe2nd’2 #62, as far as things I learned today go.
Beatrice:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:08 am
So, Hobbit.
Worth watching in the cinema or not?
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:29 am
Beatrice
If you ask me, definetly worth seeing it, but I’m biased.
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:31 am
Hey Lounge Lizards!
Just popping in for a brief pop-in. Spent the morning buying dollies to move my furniture, will spend my afternoon unpacking the truck. I have until next Friday to finish the job, but I’d like to get the bed out at least… the inflatable mattress I’m on has a small cat-claw leak in it and needs air every few hours.
Krasnaya Koshka:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
Beatrice, way above at 4 and 6 -
This reminds me of the time in junior high (when most are 12 and 13 y.o.) when it was decided to bring in a previously private group of kids who were developmentally disabled. It was a catastrophe.
I sort of befriended a young man named Jeff who was so happy-go-lucky and didn’t seem to notice the relentless teasing of him. But once in music class (we actually had those back then) Jeff ran to the drinking fountain repeatedly, causing a disturbance because…well, because he was Jeff. Finally he was asked WHY? Why are you so thirsty?
He responded, “Because my lungs are dry.” Laughet ensued. And I laughed along. Because I was too chicken- shit in that group setting to defend him, though he was my friend. I still feel really craptastic about that. Ugh.
My gf has epilepsy and I’ve seen the many reactions to it. Most are kind but some are awful “No, she must be drunk or on drugs.” I hate that.
Crip Dyke, MQ, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden:
December 22nd, 2012 at 12:38 pm
i have never understood the use of 3D in the film industry.
Is not a still photo 2D. What then of a film? Then, wouldn’t what we now call “3D movies” be 4D?
I’m just saying.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Hahaha, I am out in the country, ‘working’, and I scammed myself some intermittent internet.
Socio-gen, Beatrice, Giliell:
Thanks for the thoughts! Things will take a turn for the worse once FiL arrives (tomorrow). In the meantime, it’s cold outside but all the fireplaces are warm and toasty and the drinking has begun (at least no sports). The kids are huddling beside me and watching Harry Potter, because it’s scary but they just can’t look away…!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Not gonna say it…
Not gonna say it…
Screw that.
3-D can suck the little eye crusties you get after waking up!
Unless you’re the next Avatar, stop price gouging!
Beatrice:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
I think this is the second time in recent weeks I’m agreeing with this kind of sentiment about 3D
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:30 pm
In other news, I still cannot effectively create a space between paragraphs, as seen in my response to the skeptical misogynist by way of evo psych dude in the Feminism thread…
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 1:41 pm
I agree 100% with that statement. Because besides Avatar, all other movies have used it for shock value. For Avatar, it was simply a component of the scenery, to make it more expansive and to show its true depth and breadth (still a money-making gambit, but one well cone).
I’ll go see the Hbbit and then I’ll see what I think of it.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:06 pm
3D
Some things were really cool, like the moth (you know, Gandalf’s little friends) flying like 10 inches in front of your nose.
As for prices, I expected worse. I was totally prepared to leave 40€ or something like that for the two of us from what I heard. Tickets were 22€ and we needed to buy the glasses which were 1,50€
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Threadrupt.
Our clothes and sundries are by the front door. I have three books and six cigars carefully packed. The car has new tyres, has been aligned, and had the oil changed. I have done the cat litter and the cat food and water is set up for a week (Girl and FSiL will be dropping by daily to give the cats their canned food (spoiled little furry colons)). And I am now drinking an Ommegang Three Philosophers ale.
And I almost feel relaxed.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:28 pm
How empty is The Lounge Commune going to be over the next week?
chigau (違う):
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Have a great time Oggie!
Beatrice:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Ogvorbis,
Have fun!
—
Tony,
I’ll be here during the holidays. I hope someone stays for the New Year’s Eve, ’cause you’re my company for the night.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 2:54 pm
I’ll probably be here New Year’s Eve, at least for some of the time. :) For this weekend, intermittent; next week, probably as usual. Are we going to have a happy party or are we going to go out of our way to ruin everyone else’s fun (only in good fun)?
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:14 pm
You know, squirrels are fascinating to watch. I am sitting here preparing to go to the gym and am engrossed in this cute critter flitting about a tree.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Ugh. Tree rats. :)
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Have fun Oggie!
Tony, I’m going to be here on and off all week, and my wife is working Xmas day so I’ll be around for most of that as well.
****
The unpacking is going… OK? I hurt my leg on the very first thing coming out of the truck, which means I’m AWESOME! Nothing major, but I don’t have insurance, and won’t for a very long time, so I need to be just a little more careful. The big lucky thing of the day is that the TV fits in the nook built into the wall, so I won’t need to use a TV stand or a wall mount. And when I say “fits” I mean “slides in with a few millimeters to spare” and I had my fingers crossed the whole time.
The bed is set up, so no more sleeping on the floor. I’m going to try to get the washer and dryer hooked up tomorrow so I can do some laundry, and if I can get the sofa out of the truck and into the house that’s pretty much all of the really heavy lifting left on the job. Yay!
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Improbable Joe
Lifting a TV with crossed fingers? Impressive! And yet you manage to hurt your leg… ;) I hope for a speedy recovery; I hope all is well. Hooray for moving in bit by bit!!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:43 pm
rq:
Watching that squirrel reminds me of Caine’s rats. Utterly fascinating.
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Tony, you were that close with your non-breaking space code, but you left out the terminating semi-colon.
(& is the escape character to tell the parser an entity follows and ; is the terminator)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Test
Ing
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Success!
Thank you John.
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Tony! Do you have a snazzy hat yet?
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Snazzy hats?
Sili:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I was just listening to Händel’s Messiah and it reminded me how much I miss Smoggy Batzrubble.
(It was the “And we like sheep” chorus what did it.)
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Yeah, we like sheep – and goats, and ostriches, and goatriches most of all!
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Horde advice needed. I got an invitation to a Mardi Gras party, which would be cool, except…. this is a party for the admin staff and faculty in the Soc/CJ dept. Technically, I’m staff, because I do my work-study there, but, none of the other work-study people were invited. (You would not believe how discreet those inquiries were.) I’m going to be the only student at a party thrown by one of the professors and attended by the other faculty and their families, some of whom I’ll have in future semesters.
So, on one hand, I want to go (because party!), and on the other…it seems like it would be really, really awkward — and maybe crossing a line? — to socialize with my professors.
Suggestions, comments?
— —
Giliell:
Hmmm…I’ll have to think about that. On one hand, a letter lets me express my feelings clearly, without being interrupted. On the other, my thoughts will be on paper for her to use as ammo with the rest of the family, and probably result in a guilt trip-filled phone call.
Might be worth it…
—
Ogvorbis:
Safe travels!
—
rq:
Yay for intermittent internet! Warm fires and Harry Potter sounds lovely!
—
Tony:
I’ll be here all week except for a couple-three hours Xmas Eve and most of Xmas afternoon.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
I should add that, most of these professors are my age or somewhat older, so it’s not as if I’d be at the kiddie table. It just adds a whole weird dimension, being a student and at the same time being in the same age cohort.
chigau (違う):
December 22nd, 2012 at 4:57 pm
I’ll be here all week, too.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Socio-gen
Go socialize. :) I developed a good contact with one of my TAs in university and got invited to a couple of Christmas parties. Definitely worth it, as long as you remember which professors are yours and be polite and all that… These events can be very interesting and very educating, and they also provide you with a doorway into even more and better contacts. This is assuming this is a mildly sensible affair, and not just a raucous party that needs more bodies because students or something like that.
I say go, without too many expectation, and hope that they all behave like professors and otherwise educated people! :)
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Socio-gen,
Seems to me you want to go, but are feeling a bit timid about doing so because of your relative status.
I encourage you to take the punt, but remain aware you’re a bit of a newbie, and so take the lie of the land before you let your hair down*.
(Remember, they’re just people, too!)
–
* Yeah, mixed metaphorical idiomaticalness there. :)
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Tony, I’ll be around, although I can’t promise. I’ll be feeling talkative all the time. I’ve been way more social than usual lately, and I usually can’t sustain it very long.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Socio-gen:
I’ve gone to parties with professors before, even ones held at a professor’s house, and I’m an undergraduate. It wasn’t awkward at all. Actually, it was pretty fun. We had some great conversations, drank a little whiskey, and generally enjoyed ourselves. I’d say that if you like those professors and you think they’d be cool people to talk to, then go. Besides, if they invited you then they must think it’s ok for you to go, right?
Beatrice: I really liked The Hobbit. I saw the regular version, not the 3D, and really enjoyed it.
Joe: Congrats on getting all moved in and on not sleeping on the floor anymore.
—
I just got done carrying in wood. Goodness, that stuff is heavy. I actually got hot carrying it. Now I’m just sitting around procrastinating writing this T.S. Eliot paper that’s due at the end of the month.
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:41 pm
rq:
Yes, SNAZZY HATS! My wife bought me a trilby last weekend, and since I missed Tony’s birthday I bought him one too. Trilbys are cool!
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Aren’t trilbys the little fuzzballs that eat grain and are born pregnant?
chigau (違う):
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Socio-gen
Is this Mardi Gras party at Mardi Gras?
You have a few months to evaluate the situation.
[I say, go to the party but stay sober.
and take pictures.]
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:45 pm
blogofmyself:
Thanks! Getting off the floor is pretty cool… and almost as good is that I’m sitting in a real chair, rather than on the corner of my guitar amplifier.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Improbable Joe
I love snazzy hats. I was just wondering if you’re having a snazzy hat party. I’d go. Probably try to make/decorate one myself, for added snazz.
And yes, trilbies are cool. If they were more available (read: cheaper) here, the Husband would wear them. He likes snazzy hats, too.
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:02 pm
rq
You can get a trilby here for like $15-20, less than dinner for two at a half-ass restaurant. You can find a pretty wide selection at Target, or slightly nicer ones at department stores.
rq:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Problem: mailing overseas. :) Things can get crushed. BUT I appreciate the recommendation, and may try the overseas-method. This works best if I know one of my siblings will be visiting, because they tend to transport all kinds of wonderful things from back home with them.
And damn, I have to go to bed, because talking about mailing and siblings is enough to make me feel teary and homesick. (That’s the beer talking.)
+++
Before I go, I would once again like to mention how much I love this place. Because I think it cannot be said enough. Yes, I’m reading through the Feminsm thread, and I am again reminded by the amazing-ness of the commentariat here. I wish I could list you all, but I know I would forget someone and that just would not be acceptable.
PS I really will put together a Pharyngula Commune spreadsheet, if anyone’s interested. It will be my Winter Solstice present to all of you – because I got curious about the collection of talents and abilities and skills in this small circle of people. It’s the least I can do.
+++
On that note, I say good night, and I am grateful for not being cut off from all of you while I’m out in the country.
Does that make me ungrateful to the people here or anti-social?
Best to all, hugs where necessary/wanted whether requited or not!!
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:11 pm
G’night rq!
chigau (違う):
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Ogvorbis
I image-googled “trilby tribble”.
The results are very … odd.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:19 pm
G’night, folks.
I’m heading upstairs with a large shot of single malt and heading for bed. I am turning my computer off and do not expect to turn it on again until next Saturday.
Everyone, be safe. Those of you visiting family, be very safe and good luck.
You (all of you) mean a lot (or alot) to me. I feel very guilty that I have used you as a therapist as I figured out just why I react to certain things the way I do. Happy holidays/vacation/Christmas/Juel/Saturnalia/Solstice/etc. Have fun and be yourselfs.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Goodnight rq.
Ogvorbis: useless:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:23 pm
And this is really cool.
Love to all.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:28 pm
One of the things I love about Australia, and particularly rural Australia, is that hats are a normal part of one’s garb. Hooray for the gaping hole in the ozone layer!
I’ve one of these in sage plaid, though mine is a bit darker and doesn’t h ave the red stripe. And one of these in black as well as a slate blue trilby and I never get the funny looks when wearing them that I used to get back in Canada.
rorschach:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:34 pm
One of the things I really dont like about Australia is when it’s 39C/102F outside and I have to go to work…
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Happy merry stuff Oggie, and be safe!
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Oh indeed rorschach. But for me it’s reversed. I have air-conditioning at work and none at home. This is not good for a cold-adapted Canadian. Sleep becomes a foreign thing. I’ve spent the last 4 years trying to increase my heat tolerance with no noticeable effect.
Improbable Joe:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:41 pm
It turns out that I dress just like David Zayas as “Detective Angel Batista” on Dexter, now that I wear a trilby. It makes sense… we’re both Puerto Ricans with facial hair.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 22nd, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Thanks everyone! After reading your replies, I went ahead and sent my RSVP before I could talk myself out of going.
Now, next question: since it’s a dish-to-pass — anyone have recipe that is cheap and fits the Mardi Gras theme?
— —
rq:
Definitely not going to be a raucous party. At the most, and depending on the amount of alcohol imbibed, we might end up with the resident Durkheimien (is that even a word?) debating the resident Weberian on the meaning of “values” and whether or not religion is necessary in determining said “values,” while the rest critique the arguments put forth. Otherwise, we’ll probably just discuss recent news/events from the sociological perspective.
—
JM:
Exactly. My status fluctuates depending on context and I don’t want to assume a status I don’t have (if that makes sense?).
I’m not really the “let your hair down” type. I might have a glass of wine and laugh too loud if someone tells a good joke, but that’s it.
—
blogofmyself:
Yes, I usually have a good time talking to them in between classes or whatnot, so I should have fun. (Self: take note…we will have fun!) I think I tend to assume that invitations like this are some sort of “well, we can’t not invite her, but…” rather than being issued because they’d like me to attend. (Thank you, social anxiety!)
—
Joe:
Hooray on the TV and the bed. Good luck with the rest of the unpacking!
—
chigau:
Actually, the party’s on January 3rd. I guess it’s more of a Mardi Gras-themed “We Survived FA12″ party.
—
G’night, rq and Ogvorbis!
—
rorschach
I’m jealous. I’m sitting here wearing a full set of UnderArmour, a long-john shirt, a sweatshirt, jeans, and TWO pairs of socks. In my living room. (Admittedly, this is because I’m cheap and I refuse to turn the thermostat above 62 F.)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Is the use of Fahrenheit more a USian thing, with Centigrade used by most other countries?
cicely:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.
-
Hmm…this peanut brittle seems to have a touch of peppermint in its ancestry. It’s not bad…but it’s certainly unexpected.
-
Well, I expect to be here every day except Xmas day itself, when I’ll be at Son’s house to eat pizza and watch Hogfather. Not expecting to go anywhere for New Years.
-
Tony, you are welcome to come to my house and wrangle all the squirrels you want…providing you’ll take the ones that won’t stay out of the attic. They’re much cuter when you don’t know for a fact that they are eating your house.
-
Ogvorbis, have a good (and safe!) trip.
and also
No need for guilt. We help each other out—and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
-
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Tony, I checked the other day.
From Wikipedia: “The Fahrenheit scale was replaced by the Celsius scale in most countries during the mid to late 20th century, though Canada retains it as a supplementary scale that can be used alongside Celsius. Fahrenheit remains the official scale of the United States, Cayman Islands, Palau, Bahamas and Belize.”
(When I learnt about it, it was called ‘centigrade’)
carlie:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Socio-gen, if you can pull off being a little shy and flattered to be there, you will endear yourself to everyone and they will work to try to put you at ease. :)
Happy trip, Oggie! Come back safe to us.
I’ll be here all through the holidays, although I’m going to try to not be on the computer as much.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Tony
Yeah, what John said. It’s like the U.S. customary measurements (feet, pounds, etc) that we persist in using when the rest of the planet has sensibly switched to metric.
cicely:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Because we are special, special snowflakes.
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:30 pm
John, Dalillama:
So the continued use of Fahrenheit–American exceptionalism!
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Tony, I cannot tell you how it peeves me when our broadcasters present stories related to aviation and altitude is invariably expressed in ‘feet’.
(cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_Australia )
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:09 pm
I have made my brine, it is cooling now. Ingredients: a mix of table salt and smoked sea salt, dark brown sugar, peppercorns, and some dried chinese-style chillies – lightly smoky. Thanks to Rev for helping me get the proportions right (and yes, I was careful and used half the volume of table salt as kosher salt.)
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:15 pm
We are mostly metric in Australia. But people do still seem to measure height in feet and inches quite a lot.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Land area seems to be mostly expressed in acres here as well.
I was in elementary school when Canada switched to metric. For years I knew what inside temps felt like in Fahrenheit because that’s what our furnace’s thermostat read and I knew what outside temps felt like in Celsius because that’s what the weather reports came in.
I also still struggle with visualising people’s heights when they state them in metric. ‘Tis a strange nether world betwixt and between that I inhabit measurementwise.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Have you tired Murray River Salt Alethea? It’s pretty tasty and has the lovely bonus of being a minor part of the desalinization of the Murry/Darling basin.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Oh yes, I keep the Murray pink salt in stock all the time. But I wanted to use the smoked salt I got recently. I thought that using all the smoked salt would be overpowering so I just mixed it with plain table salt to reduce the intensity.
AJ Milne:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Random-ish Threadstuff:
I know ‘If I Had a Rocket Launcher’ from memory. Nor is it the only Cockburn tune from that era I can say this about…
Padded with power, here they come
International loan sharks backed by the guns
Of market hungry military profiteers…
Can’t play most of ‘em worth a damn, mind. That guy, he had a certain not from this world thing going on with the guitar.
Anyway, there were good things about the eighties.
Also, re #2, I may have to encourage the spread of Canadatheism.
… Okay. So bad idea. But dammit, it’s really crowded on my mountain right now. I wanted a little quiet early season time, and it just doesn’t look like that’s going to happen this year. And there’s a fair number of USAnians ‘mongst the pressing crowds. Convincing some of ‘em there’s just no such place as here, look, it’s just tempting, y’know?
Can’t really blame them, though. Sweet FSM did we get snow! Must have been 60 cm. After the shittiness that was last season, damn, it’s nice.
Anyway: to the threadizens: I’ll be back in the deep stuff shortly (and for a telemark lesson in this crazy soup of snow, tomorrow, no less) and probably between there and handling cooking and wrapping and all for the next little while. So Merry Days After The Solstice to all, as this will probably be the last I’m in here for a bit.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:04 pm
It makes sense – a third of a meter and ~1/10 of that are more intuitive given the scales humans operate at.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Sounds really yummy Alethea.
[looks at peanut butter sandwich]
Sigh.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Wow.
Herman Cain is dumb.
It’s like he didn’t read the original article.
Or didn’t read for comprehension.
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Azkyroth, most people are somewhat under two meters in height, tall people are a bit over two meters.
(More to the point, you’re claiming a great distinction between measures that are well under an order of magnitude different*, and ignoring that a decimal system is far easier in terms of computation (without a calculator) for people who routinely use base-10 in their arithmetic)
–
* .3048 of one, in fact — also note the difference between 1 yard and 1 meter (.9144) is less than between one inch and one tenth of a foot (.8333), yet the yard** is part of that supposedly “more intuitive” system.
** 3 feet or 36 inches, because that’s so intuitive too!
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:24 pm
cicely:
I forgot that Hogfather is on Netflix. It’ll be perfect after the Google Hangout and Simultaneous Gift Opening* with my sisters, their kids, and my kids on Xmas eve.
*Three states, six computers, and ~15 people with all the technical skills of a kebob. This should be interesting….
—
carlie:
I can do that without even trying. It’s my normal state of being. :)
—
AJ Milne:
Happy Merry and enjoy!
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:38 pm
And you really can’t see why people would find, say “five and a half units” more intuitive than “one point six seven four” units or “one hundred and sixty seven units”?
I did nothing of the sort; I made a specific and qualified claim about a specific subset of the general category of units of length.
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:38 pm
Bah, I am wrong above in one of the calculations above: the difference between 1 yard and 1 meter is 8.5% and between 1 inch and 1/10 of a foot it’s 1.6%.
(It was obvious to me only when I looked back at the thread; I carelessly used 1/12 rather than 1/20:1/12 for it)
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Azkyroth:
No; I find one and two thirds just as easy as five and a half.
Well, I think it’s a silly claim. I think that people are comfortable with (and therefore find intuitive) the measurement units with which they grew up, and that a foot is no more intuitive than a meter (or a cubit, for that matter).
–
Also, I see I made yet another typo in my previous comment. :|
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:01 pm
But if you allow “two thirds” you lose the decimal computation advantage you were trumpeting a moment ago.
By “intuitive” I suppose I mean that it allows for a level of precision which is intermediate between numbers of decimal places in metric (0 and 1, or 1 and 2, generally) but which is convenient relative to the scales at which humans usually operate.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:08 pm
@ John Morales
Aaaaack! I must protest!
Though this may seem true in very trivial cases, it does not hold true for more complicated cases. Imagine doing dimensional analysis in imperial units? The point about the SI system is that it allows one to develop such equations simply. Without the need of a complicated host of conversion factors. The simplicity and coherency inherent in SI frees one to work more intuitively.
vaiyt:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Just found out my college degree thesis was approved with honors, and the highest grade in the year :3
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Hell yes vaiyt! Congrats!
vaiyt:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:24 pm
As someone who grew up with the metric system, I can attest to this. My height is a simple “one (meter) and seventy-two (centimeters)”, just as easy to remember and recite as “five foot (feet?) (and) seven (inches)”.
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:25 pm
theophontes:
Not a problem :)
Dimensional analysis is done with dimensional units: time, mass, length etc. &dmash; so a foot-pound is the same dimensional unit as a meter-kilogram, both representing energy (displacement of a mass by a force).
(Now, if you’re referring to computation with mixed units (e.g. hours and seconds), then the solution is to convert them all to a common denominator, which is straight-forward if time-consuming)
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:26 pm
I’d love to know what your thesis was on, if you can do so without giving too much personal info away that is, and if your not totally sick of talking about it.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:29 pm
vaiyt:
Congratulations!!!!
cicely:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:35 pm
*confetti&champagne*
-
AJ Milne:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Person in the street shrugs; security comes first/But the trouble with normal is it always gets worse…
… thanks, Socio-gen, and right back atcha. And really gone now for a while. Time to unplug the kid’s boot warmers’ chargers, put two more logs into the stove, sleep.
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Also a particular sci-fi peeve of mine is the misuse of ‘force field’ to mean some sort of techno-magical barrier; a gravitational field is a force field.
(SF peeve of mine)
ajb47:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:49 pm
I am wondering what is the best way to move posts that might be tangents to blog posts over to the Lounge. Because what I am thinking now is that it requires a post to the “original” blog comment thread that links to the Lounge, but even that amount of off-topic posts seems wrong to me, but I don’t see a way around it if the conversation is interesting enough to continue.
Is that the accepted convention? Post about feminism leads to post including netiquette and further discussion should be somewhere else (the Lounge). Post a netiquette reply to Lounge, post a response to blog post pointing to Lounge post?
Sometimes I wish I were still using tin and able to reply via elm.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:50 pm
vaiyt:
*chocolate* *confetti* *chocolate confetti*
Congratulations!
++
I’m the opposite. I grew up with feet and inches. I’m 5’2″ (or 60″) which is simple to remember, and I can easily figure out how much taller than me you are (5″). Whereas, if you only said 172 cm…well, first I have to do that conversion thing to figure out how tall I am in centimeters (60 times…2 point something?), then subtract, then convert it all back to feet and inches so I can figure out how much taller than me you are. :)
What confused the daylights out of me as a kid was “stone” as a unit of weight. When I was 10-11, I read a lot of my grandmother’s old romance novels and most of the ones published in Britain used it. I always wondered, “How much is a stone and who came up with that?” Trying to find the answer taught me that you need to explain context when asking some questions, because asking the librarian “How much does a stone weigh” is not going to get a satisfactory answer. (It’s 14 pounds, by the way. Thank you, Miss Roof!)
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:56 pm
ajb47, you can’t move posts here, you can only copy them.
(Users here have no editing privilege; only the blog/post authors do)
That said, some topic drift and metacommentary is expected on regular threads, especially as the comment count rises, and if it’s not abused no-one particularly minds.
(I know I annoy some people with my comment tags… :) )
ajb47:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:10 pm
John Morales @186
Sorry “move” was the wrong term. I was wondering what the accepted way of taking a conversation away from a blog comment thread once a tangent has been spun off was. After 650 comments in the blog post asking for actual reasons for being against feminism, my adherence to the seemingly outmoded idea that people should think carefully about their posts came up, and since this was off-topic for the original blog post, I felt uncomfortable continuing the conversation there, but the move to here [Lounge] seemed to require a fully off-topic post on the original blog post comment thread pointing to the Lounge,
I admit that my netiquette may be getting the better of me here.
AJ
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:18 pm
ajb47, I for one find your observance of (and dedication to) netiquette exemplary, so please relax regarding that aspect.
And you did precisely the right thing; a link in each place.
(Just be aware of the difference between the Lounge and the Thunderdome!)
ajb47:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:44 pm
John Morales @188
A link from the original blog comment thread to the Lounge is correct. Check. That’s what I wanted to know. It feels weird but I guess that’s how it works with blogs rather than newsgroup posts.
My netiquette comes from me joining the internet when I went back to college in 1992 and almost every Usenet newsgroup pointed to the netiquette group which said “Lurk. Lurk some more. And when you are done, Lurk a little more so you don’t post something that’s been discussed a score of times (in 1992, it was only a score – I may be exaggerating a little).” And then, the suggestions were to make sure your post said what you wanted it to say. Even back in 1992, when there were far fewer people in the discussions, they knew, or had already encountered, folks who were unclear in the expression of their ideas.
Whoa. I have been wanting to post about my posting problems for awhile now, and I’m glad this came up with the [Lounge] as a place to post it. Half of what I read in the big discussion threads could use a throw back or shout out to the old Netiquette ideas of absorb the conversation before contributing and phrase your posts carefully.
AJ
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:45 pm
ajb47:
btw, if you’re at all worried about the appropriateness of talking about a subject in the Lounge, you can always take it to the Thunderdome, where *anything* goes.
John Morales:
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:59 pm
<sigh>
My wife is a long-time fan of “Dr. Phil”, which annoys me since he may be a rather competent psychologist, but he’s an entertainer first and foremost, a goddist, a nepotist towards his family, and unabashedly promotes woo.
Link to his site for the show on December 3, 2012 illustrating the latter claim:
Skeptics Beware: The Psychic Intuitives Are Here.
ajb47:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:01 am
Tony @190
No. I understand the uses for/differences between Lounge and Thunderdome. Heck, part of me wants to just put a post in Thunderdome that says, “Fuck.” For no reason whatsoever.
As I think I said above, I didn’t find the “post in Lounge, post in original thread pointing to Lounge comment” a graceful way of handling it. But I came from Usenet where replying in email was a way to shunt tangents if necessary. This blog way of handling things is new to me, but the more I think about it, the more I realize there is no better way of handling the tangents.
So I lurk. I’ve been lurking on Pharyngula for slightly over a year. One of my Facebook friends linked to a post where PZ showed that in fact, some random meteor did not have evidence of extra-terrestial life inside it. And lurking used to be the default position for people coming to a new situation.
Yeah. Blog posts and comments seem extremely nonsensical to me.
AJ
bluentx:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:09 am
Tony:
“That’s American Exceptionalism with a capital “E”, son.”/Senator Claghorn-Foghorn Leghorn voice
bluentx:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:14 am
Carlie said:
“…I’m going to try not to be on the computer as much.”
21st century Blasphemy!
_____
Anne C. Hanna:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:10 am
I’m trying to stay away from commenting on blogs because I need to be doing research and blog arguments are a huge time suck that I can’t afford. But this thing that Kate’s talking about here struck me as a huge deal when I (independently) encountered it, and I would really like to see more people taking note of this and screaming at the NRA for it.
Kate’s title, “A National Database of the Mentally Ill”, pretty much says it all. Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive veep, actually proposed such a thing in a press conference (do have a look at the transcript and/or watch the video that’s included with the NYTimes article), with an apparently straight face, and without even the fig leaf of trying to claim that the database would only include the “dangerously” mentally ill (however the hell one would determine that), rather than all of the roughly 25% of American adults who experience mental illness in any given year. There are so many problems with this it’s hard to even know where to start, and I’ve already spent enough time ranting about it in Ophelia’s and Kate’s comments that I don’t really have time to reiterate, but I’m sure y’all can work out the implications for yourselves.
Seems to me there needs to be more outrage about this, tho, so I’m laying it in front of the Horde in hopes that that’ll raise its profile a bit. :/
Anne C. Hanna:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:11 am
(I should mention that the relevant part of the NYTimes article starts at about 6 minutes in.)
Anne C. Hanna:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:12 am
Argh, I mean the video included with the NYTimes article. Apparently I’m tired enough that my brain is beginning to scramble words, so I’d better sign off for the night.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:26 am
@ vaiyt
YAY!
@ John Morales
In hell, speed is measured in furlongs per fortnight.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:43 am
The funny thing about this is – I was also eating a peanut butter sandwich when I wrote about my turkey brine!
bluentx:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:20 am
Anne C. Hanna:
Don’t have time to read it all right now (at work). Just skimmed Kate’s post and your comment but I will get back to it. Thanks for directing me that way.
Very important and not just a little creepy.
What the NRA is opposed to registration databases for guns but people should be tracked like pets with a chip emplant ? Cripes! Is someone going to come by my house twice a day to watch how I react after each dose of my depression meds ? Aaargh!
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:38 am
Congrats, vaiyt!
And Anne, thanks, I think? I had not read Kate’s article and assumed from the title that it was some kind of parody. I am very sad now.
But I am cheering myself up now with pasta carbonara made with maple smoked bacon and a clove of smoked garlic, a nice glass of white, and a fancy (shop-bought) chocolate truffle for dessert.
rorschach:
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:16 am
Especially sports commentators. It’s hard to fathom.
carlie:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:06 am
Socio-gen – we are the same height! Doesn’t it suck trying to buy clothes? Yes, yes it does. :)
Vaiyt – congrats, and sorry about not recognizing you in the other thread. (and ixnay on the engered insultsgay).
Now I shall go wrap presents that will be mailed, and therefore delivered, sometime between Christmas and new year’s. It’s the thought that counts, right? Not my fault that somebody decided to make a major holiday right after finals.
carlie:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:10 am
I agree that the measurement type that is intuitive is the type you are most familiar with using to measure that thing. For instance, when I’m cooking, I eyeball amounts and think of them in terms of ounces. When I’m in the lab, I eyeball them and think of them in terms of milliliters. Each is equally easy, it’s just dependent on the situation and context.
Matt Penfold:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:17 am
Stephen Fry once observed that the British use Fahrenheit to measure the temperature when it is hot (It’s boiling outside, must in the 80s) but Celsius when it is cold (It bloody freezing out there, must be – 10 at least!)
carlie:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:21 am
I’m looking for some new podcasts to listen to and itunes searching sucks – does anyone have suggestions on things involving social justice issues? I’m looking for social/political analysis types of broadcasts from perspectives that don’t get as much general media attention – minority issues, indigenous issues, disability issues, etc.
Matt Penfold:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:24 am
Carlie,
Take a look at Thinking Allowed, a Radio 4 program on sociology presented by Laurie Taylor. There is over 300 programs available as a podcast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qy05
rorschach:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:30 am
I’ll be here for Xmas like every year(I work every Xmas, what’s the point of sitting at home, and it pays well), and I will be here for New Year as well, although I’m flying up to Canberra to work there NY Eve until 11pm this time around. So see yous then ;)
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:52 am
So, pretty ‘rut and it ain’t going to change any time soon.
Plans for today:
1.) Take family to Tchaikowsky’s Sleeping Beauty
2.) Have lunch at in-laws
3.) Leave family at in-laws and go home to clean up that mess for tomorrow, finish the kids’ dresses and make brownies.
Everything worked well until after 2. and before 3. when my dad in law announced that no, he wasn’t feeling well, that his heart was giving him troubles and yes, please, call the paramedics.
Good news: It’s not a heart attack yet, so he alerted us early enough.
I can say nothing but good things about the team that came who worked in a team not less well choregraphed than the symphonic orchestra in the morning.
So, now he’s in the university hospital…
Gnumann+, nothing gnu under the sun (but the name sticks):
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:54 am
My standard for really cold happen to be the same in both scales (approx -40).
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:01 am
Giliell,
Oh no! At least he alerted you in time.
I wish I could be sure my father would do the same.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:02 am
I find tinsel distracting
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:02 am
@ rorschach
Not once you realise that sports commentators are EBIL!!!
@ Matt Penfold
It is well known that (high) temperature has a deleterious effect on the British. Obligatory song.(NSFP!!!)
Maureen Brian:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:07 am
Carlie,
You’ll have to root around on these pages but social justice / social change is certainly within the RSA’s brief and they put on some excellent events.
http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events
vaiyt:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:10 am
I feel loved <3 thank you all!
rorschach:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:11 am
Just in case you hadn’t heard about this : New Orleans evicts creationism and revisionist history from schools curriculums
Pretty sensational, really.
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:13 am
vaiyt, congrats! Job exceedingly well-done!
mildlymagnificent:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:35 am
Nice work, vaiyt. chocolate sprinkles on every thing … rainbows …. fireworks
(Some clown managed to get hold of some fireworks and let them off a few hours ago next door but one. Presumably nicked from a carols by candlelight event around here. It was over 40C today! The only saving grace is that a cool change is setting in, it’s now 23 at 1 am, so the fire danger is lessened. More good luck than good management, though.)
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:37 am
What did vaiyt do*? Oh, an excellent thesis. Congratulations!
*this is what happens when I skip half the comments
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:47 am
Yay, vayit
beatrice
I guess your dad and my dad in law are about the same generation and type of men who moved from the care of their mothers into the care of their wives minus the authority to tell them what to do, so, in short he’s fundamentally ill equipped to care for himself but will not, of course, listen to what his wife says about healthy eating…
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:50 am
vaiyt
Congrats.
Gilliell
Best wishes for your father,, and *hugs*
I’m up earlier than I wanted to be, as the ulcer flareup that woke me has precluded getting back to sleep for a while yet.
Last night, my computer decided it wasn’t going to boot anymore. This is annoying, to say the least. The problem is apparently with wither the graphics driver or the graphics manager, but none of the recommended fixes I tried worked. I expect to be tinkering with it more today, and hopefully with better results, but not yet, because I’m still tired.
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:05 am
Giliell,
You got the mentality partly right. There was a slight aberration of a couple of years living by himself, but he is now long used to mum taking care of everything.
I don’t want to think what would have happened had his (second?) heart attack not happened while he was at home. There was already one he hadn’t even told us about until after we’ve heard from the doctors that the big one was most probably not the first.
I hope your father in law gets released from hospital with as good results as possible.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:20 am
beatrice
Ahhh, my father in law’s first one was three years ago in the middle of the night, when he was rushed to the hospital with emergency surgery and everything.
At that time, my mum in law called me in the morning to tell me and to inform me that she was indeed sitting on her butt in front of a different hospital where she had an appointment for that day and, of course, neither the bad weather nor the fact that she hadn’t slept at night could keep her from going there. A broken ankle could…
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:11 am
Good morning, all!
I had the strangest dream last night. Some sort of Polar Express/Pharyngula mashup. We were on a train, and there was some kind of argument because some people wanted to talk amongst themselves in the club car, but other people were busy screaming that we had to talk to them and we weren’t allowed to leave the train…and then there was some kind of Bollywood dance number with the hot chocolate song….
*shrug* I have no idea…
—
Anne:
Thanks for pointing me toward that, even if my reaction is mostly stunned silence.WTF? How far back would they go? I was hospitalized and treated for depression in the early 90′s*. Would I have to be on the registry?
The NRA knows it would be completely unworkable — and wouldn’t change a damned thing. It’s just using every available scapegoat to turn public attention from the real problem: guns. The potential for discrimination
–
* I always feel as if I’m appropriating the experiences of those with depression when mentioning this because, IMO, it was the result of years of gaslighting during my childhood and, later, my marriage. After my divorce and after moving out of the town my family lived in, I never experienced another episode, and I was only medicated during my hospital stay. I only mention it now because of the idea that it could put me in LaPierre’s database.
—
carlie:
Oh my non-existent gods, does it suck! Pants…pants are ridiculously difficult to buy. More so than the usual struggle women have trying to figure out which size they wear (depending on manufacturer, I’m anything from a 2 to a 7).
*I realized just now that I wrote 5’2″=60″, which is incorrect; it’s 62″. Last thing I need is to lose any inches!
—
Giliell:
Oh no! Glad your FIL let you know early enough to prevent serious damage.
—
Rev. BDC:
I dislike tinsel intensely. Feels weird in my hands, looks silly dripping from a tree, and you can’t get rid of it all afterwards, no matter how much vacuuming you do.
—
rorschach:
Whoa! Good on Orleans Parish! I hope more districts follow their example.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:25 am
Hello all, ‘rupting all the way. :)
Congratulations to vayit, yay Socio-gen on sending the RSVP (and I’m only a bit taller than you), Metric all the way, and hugs for Giliell! I hope your FiL recovers well and quickly!
Also, FossilFishy, very nice hats (way back up there).
+++
My turn to vent, please stop reading if want to avoid whining and frustration.
So I mentioned yesterday that drama should ensue today due to the arrival of my FiL. Well, turns out quite the opposite – drama has ensued (so far low-level drama) due to his lack of arrival. But drama it is, because now I am uncertain as to whether he will be showing up at all, because all of his children are pissed off at him… for having a relationship with the wrong kind of woman. And being an incorrigible alcoholic, but you know. Small fry.
So yesterday Husband’s sister took a detour through their hometown to pick up their little brother and head out to the country, because the FiL was apparently too drunk to drive himself and also was insisting he had a meeting to attend that evening. Fine.
Turns out it wasn’t a meeting, but another woman – the local slut (I apologize for using the term), according to Husband and his siblings. None of them like her. The younger brother found this out after looking through his father’s phone to see what kind of a meeting was so important for him to come out to the country a day after everyone else.
Now, they’re all mad and angry and upset (underneath all the HAHA and HAPPY HOLIDAYS) , because their father is seeing the wrong woman too soon after their mother’s death (she died last August).
Now, I understand that they’re upset and they’re allowed to be, but the thing is, their father didn’t appreciate their mother in life – and they expect him to be able to appreciate her in death (that is, have a suitable mourning period – apparently over a year is not enough)? Also, he’s an adult. He can see who he likes. No, they don’t have to like it, but they shouldn’t be smashing their father’s phone over it. There’s so much more I could say, but all I can do here is stick to the computer and my translation and hope that he doesn’t get here, or if he does, that nobody opens the discussion – knowing Husband’s sister, this is a near-impossibility.
Right now it looks as if he won’t be showing up at all just to spite his kids. That, or he went and got drunk and is now feeling sorry for himself and expecting the kids to show some kind of respect? concern? (for which they no longer have the patience or desire) for him, for them to somehow apologize to him… I mean, the younger brother wasn’t right in looking through his phone or smashing it just because he didn’t like what he found on it. And I believe that the mourning period should be as long as the mourner feels necessary, and he’s also free to see whom he likes, no matter the reputation of the person (ironically, while this woman has an ill repute in the local village where they grew up, she was a close friend of their mothers, who often defended her in general conversation).
So I don’t know what to do even though I know there’s not much to do, because… Actually, I don’t even know why I worry, because I’m only peripherally involved and nobody has asked me for ideas, advice or recommendations, and I don’t plan on giving any besides ‘He’s an adult and is allowed to do as he likes’. And suffer the consequences, of course.
I guess I just wanted to complain. Considering that yesterday the conversation from Husband’s older brother got very racist, this is turning into one delightful holiday.
The one thing for which I’m grateful? The kids have not absorbed my passive dislike of tihs place and are always excited to visit. And it is a nice place, a house, lots of room inside and outside to run around – the lack of facilities is an issue for adults, not children, as is the general atmosphere. They’re having fun; that matters a lot!!
/rant
*sigh*
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:25 am
I’ve got a lot of problems with you people
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:34 am
*hangs head in shame*
I can’t believe I didn’t recognize the tinsel line.
carlie:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:35 am
Socio-gen – and the really annoying part is that it’s just about an inch too tall to be able to use capri pants as regular ones, so that avenue is right out. :p
Thanks, Matt and Maureen!
Realized this morning that the fact that the kids are getting one big gift each this year means we have nothing for the traditional christmas eve “you get to open one present of your choice” ritual, so I went out and got a shirt and a pair of sweatpants for each. So they’ll have two to choose from, and it’ll be clothes either way. Heh.*
*when I was a kid, no matter how many presents there were, no matter how I chose, I always ended opening up the pajamas as the Christmas eve gift. Always. I don’t know how my parents managed to rig it.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:36 am
hehe
Matt Penfold:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:39 am
Somehow I have ended up being put in charge of compering our village carol concert this evening.
So we are having no religious stuff like prayers or readings from the Bible. And absolutely no singing of Away in the Manager, since I hate that song.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:43 am
rq:
So much ugh! Smashed his father’s cell phone?! I mean, I can understand being hurt and angry that your parent is seeing someone else (especially on top of all the other issues), but to destroy their property over it?
I’m sorry you’re having to deal with all the nonsense, but glad the kids, at least, are having a good time. Hugs, if you want them.
birgerjohansson:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:43 am
Piranha tops T Rex in the bite league, study finds http://phys.org/news/2012-12-piranha-tops-rex-league.html
Which is why I am breeding a variety that can survive in temperate climates, like the rivers of the Eastern seaboard, or in Europe.
Next step: Cross-breed pirhana and lungfish, so shore dwellers get “interesting” visitors at night.
— — — — — —
PZ and meteors; would that have been ALH 84001?
— — — — — —
The old units are presumably a bit like the King James Bible edition. They have been around so long that they are seen as intrinsically correct, unlike pagan stuff like the metric system, or modern Bible editions.
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:50 am
rq,
That sucks. Your plan to just stay uninvolved is probably for the best.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:50 am
Socio-gen
I’ve maintained for a long time that a large percentage of cases of even clinical levels of depression(and also anxiety and a number of other problems). are simply perfectly natural reactions to a deeply fucked up life situation, rather than a sign of any malfunction of the brain per se. Even in cases where there is actually neurological dysfunction underlying it, it can still be seriously aggravated by seriously problematic life situations.
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:55 am
Thing number 388235 I don’t like about winter holidays: firecrackers.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:57 am
birgerjohansson
Can we use the lunganhas for security in the Commune?
Thanks, Socio-gen, I’ll take the hugs. Mostly I just wanted to get that out so I don’t sit on it all weekend.
Beatrice
As long as it all stays in the background and doesn’t become a source of open conflict, it’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure that means the FiL doesn’t show up, so the kids will ask questions, but oh well. It’s just one more night.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:03 am
A donation has been made in all your names to the Human Fund
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:03 am
Asa Hutchinson is a gigantic fucking asshole.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 am
carlie:
And capris are too long to be worn as capris! (Unless you have a friend who sews and will hem them up for you.)
I was the terrible kid who found my parents secret hiding spot every year, and knew exactly what everyone was getting because my mom is an obsessive organizer and labeler. On the third year of successfully avoiding the pajamas package*, I gave myself away by announcing “I’m really going to like this [toy].” (I don’t even remember what it was.) From then on, we weren’t allowed to choose the Night Before gift.
*I realized after having my kids, that parents do this so their kids look decent in the Xmas pictures, instead of wearing the normal ratty sweats with the holes.
—
Matt:
Sounds like a nice event!
—
Dalillama:
That makes complete sense to me. So often, what is a normal reaction to a loss or a traumatic event (or a “deeply fucked up life situation”) is treated as abnormal by people who think everyone should be happy happy joy joy all the time.
My sister was diagnosed with depression 6 months after her husband died at age 25 from brain cancer. (She was 27.) I was, and still am, angry at the family for pushing her into a psychiatric hospital because it seemed that grieving the loss of your partner of 4 years and the father of your children, who died a year to the day after you married… that is an utterly normal reaction. I’m more angry at the docs who medicated her rather than help her through the grieving process.
—
Beatrice:
Most of my family (and neighbors) don’t bother with firecrackers. They just go out and shoot guns into the air. I have no idea why this is a tradition, but I hate it. It always sounds like WWIII has begun.
Matt Penfold:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:24 am
It is. We are lucky in that because of a family connection in the village, a professional classically trained singer, and her partner, also a classically trained singer, come along and do some solos for us. Apparently years ago she made her first ever public performance at our carol service!
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:34 am
Socio-gen
Your poor sister! I’m surprised nobody realized she was just having trouble grieving – although the lack of recognition of these things that seem so logical and normal seems to surprise me less and less. :( I hope she’s doing ok now.
It’s also another reason why I don’t understand the purpose of a socially mandated grieving period – some people get over things fast (or just didn’t give a shit), but other people need lots of time to recover and put themselves and their lives back in order.
I get flak from Husband’s family for not being always happy (social) enough, while direct family members are allowed to be variously pissed off and anti-social. Also, I’m a girl, and the ones usually being depressed and reticent are boys… But I’m not depressed. I just find socializing a chore. :/ In real life, at least.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Matt:
One of the (few) things I miss about not being home for the holidays is not going to the annual free show given by a concert pianist who comes in at Xmas to visit her family. Listening to her play, you could almost believe in a god.
—
rq:
Oh, they understood she was grieving, but they thought she should have “moved past it.” I think the problem was that she made other people uncomfortable by reminding them of her loss and making them sad. Plus, the cultural idea that if you aren’t happy all the time, something is terribly wrong with you.
She is doing wonderfully well now. It took years for her to work through her grief and find happiness again, and of course, she’ll never really be “over it.” But she’s found her way back to smiling and laughter and joy.
Socializing is hard for me as well. I’m not good at small talk, and I have little interest in things the majority of people around me like to talk about (reality TV? I don’t even own a TV!) and a tendency to dissect things from sociological and feminist perspectives. Plus I tend to be snarky (although I prefer calling it “dry humor”) which very few people seem to understand isn’t literal. So, I tend to be quiet and subdued, and get called anti-social and bitter and told to “smile” and “act happy.” (Which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because the more I worry about being called anti-social, the more quiet and subdued I become.)
Put me in the right setting, of course, and I’m chatty as all hell, but those are rare.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:08 pm
Socio-gen
I sense we share socializing genes. :) I like being snarky but I’ve discovered that, yes, a lot of people do not understand snark. Also, if I don’t smile, I look pretty scary (my best friend’s neutral face once told me I have a very off-putting neutral face). But like you, if in the right situation, I cannot be stopped/quieted/shut-up/otherwise disengaged. It’s one of my more wonderful qualities and is especially dominant when I drink (even in small amounts). Considering extended drinking leads to belligerence and general emotional loudness, I try to refrain, and while I used to be considered ‘fun’, since I’ve cut back on the drinking, I have become less so. :)
Oh well, once I’m 50 or so I expect the society around me will be more accepting of snark from a past-middle-aged woman, and I can return to my old ways of putting down everyone around me without them noticing. Oh wait, snark =/= meanness… ;)
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
RANT!
So… we live in a patriarchy where the whole society trends towards giving too much attention to the wants/needs of men to the detriment of women. So the problem with feminism according to the geniuses in that “experiment” thread… is that it doesn’t give enough attention to the wants/needs of men, in the only setting that isn’t already heavily weighted towards men? Seems like that’s pretty much the reason feminism exists in the first place, and the complaint is the rough equivalent of protesting that the one vegan restaurant in town “discriminates” against people who want to order a steak.
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Socio-gen,
I’m glad your sister is better now.
I think a lot of us here share socializing genes. Except that I got the smiling lesson down perfectly after being admonished for looking unhappy too many times, so a smile has become something I automatically plaster on my face when in company. I’m still awkward and shy and quiet, but I smile and look endearing. I mostly hold in the snark when not in company of people I have known for ages. In the right company, I’m snarky and a right chatterbox.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Improbable Joe
I think that’s it – and I link it to a failure to acknowledge one’s own privileges. Who said it recently on a thread – they feel so discriminated that they even need a piece of the oppression pie… Ech, someone said it better than I ever could.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:30 pm
I sense conflicts when all of us get together. Imagine trying to talk over each other!!! :)
Anyway, my work continues in a short while – it is saune time!!!
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:31 pm
*sauna
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:37 pm
rq:
Strangely, drinking makes me more subdued. I think it might be a holdover of always worrying that I would end up an oblivious alcoholic like my father. (He always thought he was the life of the party, but he was just embarassing.)
I thought once I was over 40, snarkiness would be more tolerated, but…apparently not. Although, I can get away with saying “outrageous” things more often. I eventually want to be the kind of old woman who is rudely honest and snarky and wears “inappropriate” outfits and carries a walking stick with which to hit — okay, tap — annoying people. I’m not sure how old you have to be to get away with that, though. 70? 80?
—
Joe:
I’m half-afraid to go back to that thread for fear my blood pressure will do not-good things. I know I’m going to look though…
—
Beatrice:
I’ve been told that my neutral face looks sad, so I tend to do this half-smile thing that, while not quite expressing happiness, doesn’t make me look (to others) as if my dog died.
chigau (違う):
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:44 pm
oooh
an excuse to link to one of my favorites
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I cannot smile for photos. At all. I try, but never works.
That’s why I prefer the other side of the lens.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
chigau:
One of my favorites as well!
Beatrice:
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Smiling for photos… I still haven’t perfected that smile. I always end up looking horrible. That’s why I run away from cameras.
Nutmeg:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Hi, everyone! I’ve been away and not even lurking much lately, and I missed you all! I’m managing to keep up with PET, but that’s about it. I’m trying to finish the labwork for my thesis, and that’s keeping me busy. Plus I’m working on writing/procrastinating about writing a couple of chapters. And fighting with various forms of data analysis that I don’t understand.
I think I will probably be around a bit over the holidays. I just have the immediate family to contend with, and they’re not too demanding of my time. Mostly I stay out of the way by going to the lab a lot. It’s blissfully quiet in here, but also freezing. I think the university must turn the heat way down or off on the weekends. I wish I had enough dexterity to do benchwork in my parka.
*hugs* and *chocolate* to all who need them, *cake* and *sparklers* for all who are celebrating something, *rattie scratches* to Mallory and the whole crew at Caine’s, and HAPPY MONKEY to everyone!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Hey there Nutmeg!
Pleasure to see you again.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Just had someone tweet this at me after tweeting Rorschach’s blog post.
http://markbarham.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/why-i-owe-stephen-king-4-99/
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Rev:
Please tell me you asked which creation story they were referring to…
vaiyt:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:15 pm
“But in the meantime I’ll feel free to pontificate as if I actually knew something.”
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Yeah he’s back and forthing me now on twitter.
Every one of us could have predicted this…
“Just a theory”
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:24 pm
He wants to be convinced, ok I’ll play nice. Just sent him a link to Coyne’s book
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Has anyone ever noticed that people who actually say (out loud or in print), “I’m willing to be convinced,” never are? It’s like telling someone you’re a nice guy — if you have to say it, you’re probably lying.
Rev: did you tell him gravity was just a theory, too?
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Not yet. Waiting for the next response.
chigau (違う):
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Rev.
Don’t forget germ theory.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:12 pm
so far nothing, hopefully he’s reading Coyne right now.
But I suspect he wasn’t prepared for for someone challenging his idiocy.
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:12 pm
HOLY SHIT MOVING FURNITURE IS HARD!!
I thought I would be all clever and shit and not pay anyone to unload my stuff, oh hell yeah me and BossNurse can move everything off the trailer and into the house ourselves, no biggie and saves me a couple of bucks. WHAT A FUCKING NIGHTMARE!
I mean, we technically can get everything into the house, but at what cost? My wife is a middle-aged desk jockey and I’m a halfway-to-broken wreck of a human being. I woke up in the middle of the night and had to take a handful of painkillers to get back to sleep. Today we got the sofa into the house, and I can already tell that my right arm is going to be all but useless for the next few days based on how my elbow joint is starting to swell and ache. Add that to the pulled calf muscle and strained quads and twisted ankle… and it is a good thing that about the only thing left on the truck is boxes, about 4-5 trips worth of them.
I am done for the next two hours, during which time I am going to drink a gallon of Gatorade, following which I will drink a gallon of beer and start unpacking boxes.
My lovely wife was kind enough to buy me some video games for Xmas, but what she doesn’t know is that I was kind enough to buy me some video games too… no, just kidding! She doesn’t know that I bought her a bunch of movies. The Alien Anthology box set won’t be here until Wednesday, but I’ve got the latest Resident Evil “movie” and that Batman thingy for her.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:20 pm
You mentioned Resident Evil upthread. That series is the best example of treading water. My goodness, there have been 5(?) movies and how much has been accomplished? The whole series could have been done as a trilogy.
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Yeah, Tony… five movies, and none of it makes any fucking sense and basically nothing has happened. The whole series could have been done as a single long film, if you took all the slow-motion fighting and ran it at normal speed.
carlie:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:38 pm
? This is a tradition with which I am unfamiliar.
rq – so sorry about family drama.
I’ve tried to learn tricks for small talk. If they bring up some show or something I don’t know about, I’ll ask what they like about it, rather than asking what the show is about (because I DON’T CARE about the show). Then they get to talk about themselves, which everyone likes to do. And then usually that spins off into one or two other related things, and that’s just about when you need to refresh your drink or whatnot so you can exit before the conversation runs completely dry. :)
cm's changeable moniker:
December 23rd, 2012 at 2:46 pm
*grin*
In my mid-20s, a secret santa, bought me, a bloke, the book. To this day, I have no idea what they were thinking …
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
So, dad in law had a catheder examination, no additional stents required, it was most likely too high blood pressure. So, medication will be adapted, words will be spoken. At least there’s no immediate danger.
And we was on TV.
Well, we was on the regional TV in the broadcast about the concert, but the kids were totally fascinated.
rq
Hugses about “happy” family reunion.
sociogen
Ahh, seems like you know my mother. Yep, that would be her thing, too: guilt-tripping, gaslighting, triggering. Every single conflict would run after a certain pattern, like a well-scripted dance and in the end she’d be totally justified in her Opinion about me.
I learned that while I can’t stop her from turning on the music (nagging, questioning my authority, questioning my decisions etc), I can refuse to dance with her.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Giliell
Glad to hear things are more-or-less ok. I hope the talking-to sticks!
Socio-gen
You mean I can’t be more and more snarky as I get older?? Too bad, I was looking forward to recovering the days of my youthful teenaged years, when it was acceptable for me to tell everyone off, because, you know, hormones. :)
Love the link, though! Thanks, chigau! A new one to put on the favourites list. :)
Yeah, doesn’t look like I’ll be going back to the Feminism thread. But, on that theme, had a rather interesting conversation about sexism and such with the Husband on the way out to the country. He’s something like an MRA but only because he hasn’t been educated otherwise, and I say that because in his mind, nothing is wrong – he has never experienced sexism towards women (!! his words!!) and none of his friends have mentioned that they have seen it or noticed it, hence – it must be a non-existent problem in our country. HA! Well, I explained about hand-shaking (about how men/boys here will not shake hands with women-friends; cheek-kisses for those close in the family/friends circle, but no hand-shaking) and how I feel horrible when his friends don’t even look at me when we arrive at parties/events, never mind shake my hand. And I also explained to him that there must be something wrong with his friends’ view of women if, when attending a wedding with wives, the men are on the dance floor, pissed drunk and ready to strip and be assholes to other people on the dance floor (e.g. the wife of one of the friends who just wants a dance with her husband), while the wives sit at a table in a different room being unhappy and depressed and talking about how difficult it is to keep their husbands in line. Follow-up: sometimes boys just want to be boys (says Husband-mine), to which I counter – a week previous, they’d all had the chance to get it out of their systems in the bachelor party (another tradition I despise), and they came to the wedding with their wives, not alone. Anyway, the point is we had a good conversation and I managed to explain a few things, especially the fact that he might not notice any discrimination against women because he’s not a woman.
Had to get that out, too. And I see I have much educating to do, but I have the impression that it is ignorance that he is willing to erase. It’s been true so far, anyway. His fundamental way of thinking is already different from the average man here, and mostly I wonder how that happened, but I am grateful it did.
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:33 pm
But re: the poem and it’s last few lines (getting pepole used to the shock: I say, go for the shock value. That’s what I would do, and in fact, I’m going to plan on the shock value. None of this advance warning, but straight-off-the-bat weirdness and purple clothes and red hats that don’t go. :) Most fun of all.
‘Make up for the sobriety of my youth.’
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I, too share the ‘genes’ for lacking small talk and having a neutral face that reads as forbidding or pissed off.
socio-gen
You have my sympathies on horrible family. Roommate is staying with us this year instead of having to deal with her horrible family. My mother and possibly brother are coming up for Christmas dinner too, as is L’s slightly woo-addled pseudo-foster-sister (long story), her hubby and our honorary niece, the spawn of hubby and his previous SO. Nevertheless, I can still safely predict very little drama (Mom might gently nag Roommate about her continued unemployment, but hopefully the other guests will distract her). I’m just reminded again that I’m very lucky in my family, what with the stories I hear here and elsewhere. We hope that my aunt might be able to turn up too, but her picture is in the dictionary under ‘flaky,’ so who knows.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:40 pm
vaiyt: Congrats! That’s really impressive.
giliell Glad your FIL is ok.
rq: I’m sorry that your family get-together is so full of drama and general nastiness. Hugs if you want them.
Socio-gen, rq, and Beatrice: I have the same socializing problems. Luckily most of the parties or social situations that I attend have my boyfriend and/or a few of my friends there, so I always have someone to talk to.
It looks like my family is not going to mass today, which means that I don’t have to hide in my bed pretending to be asleep while they leave. Yay!
rq:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Thanks to everyone for being here, and good night!
*hugs* all around for those who want/need, some hot chocolate and a few bottles of mulled wine with gingerbread, too!
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Does anyone remember/know what happened with JAL?
didgen:
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Wayne la Pierre is a completely disgusting sack of feces. They won’t pay for teachers but there would magically be funds to pay for armed guards in every school. Then to so predictably turn all blame onto movies, video games and surprise surprise mentally ill people. No worry that these shooters are not really known for having a history of mental illness. Being evil is not a mental illness, it is simply what they chose to do.
Orange Utan:
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Azkyroth
I think I’ve seen them on one of the feminism threads recently.
didgen:
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Now that I have given my opinion of the NRA solution in a forum that I think has a good chance to be sane rational people, unlike my facebook acquaintances. I hope that you all are having reasonable preholidays.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 23rd, 2012 at 4:44 pm
*hugs* for Giliell – I hope all works out well.
@rorschach, do you have friends in Canberra? If you’re at a loose end, and you’d like to chill out with a beer, you’re welcome to visit. (email cajela at the gee mail)
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 5:05 pm
didgen,
“reasonable” is a word rarely meaningful in discussions about guns.
cicely:
December 23rd, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Good news indeed! Best wishes for your FiL.
-
I blame the Horse racing.
-
What a terrific Xmas present! Huzzah!
-
*hugs* for rq, and commiserations for the Family Drama.
-
Oooooh! Stat that sucker up!
Oh, oh, oh! Vampire pirhana lungfish!!
*swooning with giddy gleefulness*
(And perhaps slight malice.)
-
I like this plan! I endorse this plan heartily!
-
Nearly always true; I wear ‘em anyways. I have never been known for my good taste; anyone who finds my lack of fashion sense disturbing can just look somewhere else.
-
Do-noted.
:)
-
Socio-Gen, rq…perhaps we are triplets.
-
*proffering cigar*
-
Okay…quads then, with the addition of Beatrice.
-
Nutmeg!
*pouncehug*
-
Yup. Lack of physical proximity helps, too.
-
I guess we must be an entire litter.
-
This was asked a couple of days ago, but there was no answer. Does anyone know?
-
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
December 23rd, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Some extreme weather (for the UK) at present, in the form of heavy and persistent rain, and strong winds. Today, my wife and son were off to the in-laws down south, I was off to work (part-time job in a second-hand bookshop), but just before I left, my wife went into what we call the sitting room, and noticed that the cover of the sofa cover by the window was a bit wet. Looking more closely, the whole thing was soaking wet. As sometimes happens with heavy rain and strong winds, water had come in above the window. We hurriedly dismantled the sofa, draped covers over radiators, left the heating on. When they got to the station, they found that all trains were cancelled, due to a landslip on the line. Eventually they got transported past it by bus and reached their destination. Of course, others have had it a lot worse – 100 homes evacuated and flooded a few miles south of me, and in south-west England, whole towns flooded. As my wife said: “We’ve had enough rain now, it can stop.”
opposablethumbs:
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Hope your dad in law is OK, Giliell. And it’s great that he was able to let you know in good time.
I see I missed Ogbvorbis taking off on his travels … ::shouts after departing car:: drive safely Ogvorbis!
Sympathies for the fraught family situation rq. In fact my most heartfelt sympathies to everyone who has to deal with difficult family and/or other-relationship-type situations, things not being as we wish they were or people NOT being there who you wish were there – in the next week or so. I am so right there with you … in spades :(
vaiyt:
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:49 pm
It could have been done as one movie. Everything from 2 onwards consisted on “Milla Jovovich wins at everything ever while Paul Anderson masturbates just offscreen”.
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:32 pm
TACO SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Folks, it is great to be home! My wife and I have been doing Taco Sunday for most of our marriage, and nothing says “home” like cheap crappy Old El Paso tacos with cheese, guacamole, lettuce, and plenty of Cholula hot sauce. I’m sitting in my comfy chair typing this, and in a few minutes I’m going to join my wife on our couch to watch some TV. Maybe we’ll pop some popcorn, and share it with our dog. It has been a long year for us, but nights like tonight make it all OK.
Rodney Nelson:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:35 pm
I was under the impression that persistent rain was a feature of British weather.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Taco cat backwards…
Taco cat
Carry on
The Mellow Monkey: Caerie:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Taco cat has changed my life.
Also changing my life: Caine informing me that rats laugh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-admRGFVNM
Rats Laugh, but Not Like Humans
My world will never be the same and I am the better for it.
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:45 pm
You’ve got to watch out for those rats… they’ll infest your house, and then your heart.
John Morales:
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Improbable Joe, I doubt you and I share the same meaning of ‘infest’.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Ugg, can Richard Dawkins please just stop? Seriously, he makes me ashamed to be an atheist sometimes.
(TW: sexual abuse)
https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins/status/282918574673231872
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:31 pm
In lighter news, Taco Sunday sounds awesome, Joe.
Improbable Joe:
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:43 pm
blogofmyself:
Rich or poor, good times or bad, it is nice to have something regular you can count on. It keeps you grounded and focused. It was weird from September through the first of this month, with my wife being 1000+ miles away… but never more weird or lonely than on Sunday nights, when we didn’t get to share the simple process of assembling tacos together.
Michael Goold:
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Here’s a grammar question I was wondering if people could help me with: Do commas and periods go inside or outside of </a> tags?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Some fucking Christmas songs that I like.
I love both the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, how could I dislike this.
Jesus, kiss my ass.
2000 Miles
La-la-la-la-la la-la, la-la la-la la-la.
chigau (違う):
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:22 pm
We’re watching Rollerball*.
It’s brilliant.
—
*1975
There was no remake.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Threadrupt.
Last day before Christmas, soon I will have a chance to stand still and survey the rubble of two weeks of insane busyness.
We live in a funny time.
Mrs. Fishy and the Small Fry are out of town. They’re 303km away according to Google maps. How strange that is, to know with an unnecessary degree of accuracy just how far away one’s loved ones are.
I just received a text with this picture of the SF on a merry-go-round. That happy smile, that coy glance at her new friend of all of 3 minutes acquaintance just slays me. But then I’ve been under her spell since that moment in a motel in Colorado Springs. The one where she was asleep on my chest as I lay there exhausted from a long day of classes. The one where she opened her 3 month old eyes, looked up at me, smiled and snuggled down to fall back asleep.
They’re 303kms away and yet I can share in my daughter’s joy at almost the very instant she’s experiencing it. How strange that is, how unprecedented that is, to see her smile while she’s still whizzing round and round delighting in the endlessly stretched time of a five year old’s perceptions, and delighting me in turn.
We live in a golden time.
That the scale of our world has been diminishing is not news. Our technologies, our phones and files, our wheels, our wings and our engines great and small are magic tools. Real life wands, reducing what was once unimaginable vastness down to human sized chunks.
We live in a magical time.
And for all the hurts and ills of our world, for all the anger, and hate, and places where our best efforts have seemingly been for naught, still, even still, I would not change the moment of my birth.
We live in a beautiful time.
And I refuse to pretend otherwise.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Christmas Eve Can Kill You-Everly Brothers
Space Age Santa Claus-Hell If I Know
Rocket Ship Santa-The BellRays
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:45 pm
That’s a big Hell YES! forThe BellRays. They put on one of the most electrifying shows I’ve ever seen. It was so good that the albums I bought seemed pale and weak in comparison.
John Morales:
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Michael Goold @295, that’s not a grammar question, it’s a syntax question if the meaning would thereby be changed and an esthetic one otherwise.
(The answer is yes if you want the symbol inside the tag, and no if you don’t)
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:08 am
FossilFishy, TELL THE LIE!
Black Lightning
Stupid Fucking People
Blues For Godzilla
Lisa Kekaula is the fucking truth!
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 24th, 2012 at 12:09 am
For those on the fence about violet end of the colour spectrum:
Start Wearing Purple
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:19 am
Poor weird Al.</a.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:19 am
Oops.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:21 am
I blame it on red red wine.
Replace me.
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 12:22 am
FossilFishy
♥♥♥
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 12:24 am
There is no replacement for Janine!!!!!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:30 am
When I Grow Up
Never understood exactly what happened to her. I guess I really do not want to.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 24th, 2012 at 12:34 am
And another hell YES! to that. She took a bunch of hip, cooler-than-thou alternative kids, the kind that stand at the back to show how unimpressed they are, and had them gathered around her screaming for more by the end of the show. I’d never seen anything like it before and haven’t seen anything like it since. The fact that they aren’t a household name is a travesty.
Heh, I prefer to Party at Ground Zero.
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 12:41 am
Watching Kung Fu Panda 2
in a discussion of ‘daddy issues’,
from a preying mantis:
“I don’t have daddy issues mom bit his head off before I was born.”
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:49 am
FossilFishy, those days are gone.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 24th, 2012 at 1:06 am
True Janine, but it’s also the same as it ever was.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:10 am
MOAR BONE!
Fight The Youth
Freddie’s Dead
U.G.L.Y.
Sunless Saturday
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:24 am
You know how sometimes you just don’t “get it”? When I first read RevBDC’s comment @288, I sat there puzzled and could not figure it out. Now, hours later, the lightbulb just went off. Sheesh.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 24th, 2012 at 1:30 am
I’ll take those Bones over these any day.
(Weak, I know.)
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:35 am
Thank you Alathea! I know Kel is there, but who would know what he is up to these days…
I will be working until 11pm on 31/12 and fly back home at 1pm on the 1st, so probably have to settle for a few quiet beers in my hotel.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:40 am
So I went out to our local gay bar tonight. I wound up on the dancefloor and just went into my zone. Thankfully there were few people on the dancefloor, bc I tend to prefer at least an arms length of space. The exhibitionist in me likes performing for crowds in this manner. I don’t dance for the attention, but for the personal enjoyment. But I love the [often] accompanying gazes. I won’t get too self deprecatory (dat a word?), but of the things I am good at, dancing is one of them. When the music is right and I get in my zone, all my problems fade away. It becomes me and the beat. I am so happy my mother taught me how to find the beat to any song. Watching dance videos (I own Darrins Dance Grooves), I have picked up a lot. I don’t have a style, rather, it is more freestyle. Dancing is such a release. To be able to move with the flow of a song, all the while choreographing yourself, trying not to replicate moves, dodging people and spilled drinks, plus keeping to your own space…it can be challenging. But by damn is it fun! So when I see people engrossed in watching me, it makes me feel good. It’s like a natural high.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:45 am
As much as I like Stop Making Sense, I love the Heads live in Rome even more.
I, Zimbra
Drugs
Born Under Punches
Crosseyed And Painless
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:51 am
Happy Nightmare Baby
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:55 am
FossilFishy #298: Great, now I have emotions and stuff.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:56 am
Good morning and a merry hohoho.
Good news: FIL can already come home.
Which isn’t only great news for him, but it also seriously uncomplicates my day
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 2:07 am
Tony
*huge hug*
and a granny-style cheek-pinch
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:12 am
Socio-Gen @242:
I’m sorry, were you describing yourself or me?
Seriously, I have some idea what you mean. If I am in an unknown environment, I freeze up. I have been to parties with a friend before with no one I know. I feel like a leech if I stay too close to my friend, but opening up and relaxing just doesn’t come naturally. Now if I am introduced to someone and they spark a conversation that interests me, that can be enough to open me up. Funny thing though, in a work environment, especially one where I am a senior employee, I try to conversate with newer people or let them know that they are welcome to ask me anything. I don’t know why I can do that in one situation but not another. Perhaps it’s about my comfort zone.
About conversations, I feel you. My awareness of social injustices inevitably spills over into any conversation. Even if I am watching tv with friends, the smallest thing can get me talking.
I recently created a profile on a gay site called Adam4Adam. In trying to craft an interesting profile that spoke to my personality and interests, I faced difficulty at first. But then I turned to what I have learned during my time at FtB. The result:
” I like people who have opinions and aren’t afraid to discuss them. I like talking to people and finding out their beliefs and *why* they have those beliefs. I’m interested in the psychology of human behavior, the intersectionality of various forms of discrimination, the efforts to move humanity towards social/economic/political equality, and I value evidence based (not woo) science as one of the best tools for understanding and exploring the world around us. I like to dance, eat, laugh, & cry.”
Since I’ve dated my share of vacuous men, or those who seem unable to give voice to their thought, I figured such a profile would attract people witha similar mindset (in fact, just today I had two people compliment me on specific parts of that profile).
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:13 am
Fade Into You
Around My Smile
On The Low
For The Rest Of Your Life
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:14 am
Giliell: good news indeed. Less stress for you and your family.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:23 am
Janine’s links have made me surf a myriad of 50′s and 60′s songs, and I’m currently breaking my fingers trying to play “Unchained Melody” on guitar. While attempting to not commit suicide after that Everly Brothers song. No, Im good, it’s just a sad song…
george3:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:30 am
A happy end-of-this-year-and-start-of-the-next to you all.
Just reading here for 1year, and you have all taught me something, individually and collectively. Thank you all for that.
IO SATURNALIA!
This may be of interest, some of the gifts Ancient Romans actually gave each other,
http://the-history-girls.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/dormice-and-other-saturnalia-gifts.html
G
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 2:30 am
I really love ‘Unchained Melody’.
really
lots
[who can really hit those notes??]
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:37 am
Don’t Suck My Breath
Take Your Head Off My Shoulder
I’m Not Your Mother
Watch Me Now, I’m Calling
george3:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:44 am
@328
Link goes to correct blog, then you have to scroll down to blog archive on rt. for Dec. to find it. sorry. I’ll get the hang of this eventually.
G
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:46 am
Santa Dog’s a Jesus Fetus.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:47 am
Or just do a search for “dormice” in the bar at the upper left.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:47 am
Well it’s more that I’m a lousy player tbh. It’s a change of chords every 2-4 beats or so, and that sure has me struggling. No big deal for anyone competent in this I think.
C Am F
Oh, my love, my darling
G C
I’ve hungered for your touch
Am G
A long, lonely time
C Am F
And time, goes by so slowly
G C
And time, can do so much
Am G
Are you still mine?
C G
I need your love
Am Em
I need your love
F G C C7
God speed your love to me
F G F G
Lonely rivers flow to the sea to the sea
F G C
To the open arms of the sea
F G F G
Lonely rivers sigh wait for me wait for me
F G C
I’ll be coming home wait for me
C Am F
Oh, my love, my darling
G C
I’ve hungered for your touch
Am G
A long lonely time
C Am F
And time, goes by, so slowly
G C
And time, can do so much
Am G
Are you still mine?
C G
I need your love
Am Em
I need your love
F G C
God speed your love to me
And also, there must be some major drama playing out not far from where I am, I can hear ambulances and fire trucks very close by, it’s been going on for a long time now, and still going. Freeway pileup, maybe. Or house fire. Something not good.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:07 am
People are strange
Downtown
R.E.M. Have you ever seen the rain
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:10 am
Be My Baby
Surf City
Good Vibrations
River Deep Mountain High
Blame rorschach. It should be obvious to most music geeks what I am doing here.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:16 am
Oh, you want war Janine? Here you go! ;)
Rod Stewart It’s a heartache
Rod Stewart Downtown Train
I don’t want to talk about it
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:21 am
Morning goods.
Tony I think I like how you dance. :) Also, I hope your profile yields non-vacuous men with great taste and good opinions and debating skills.
Giliell
yay for FiL (yours)! :)
+++
So a week ago, meteorologists predicted -26 for these days over Christmas. Ha. On Friday they changed their minds and said ice, thaw and +1 or 2. We woke up this morning to -15, high winds, and lots and lots of snow. It’ll make the drive back to the capital (a mere 250 km) interesting, long, slow, but overall – cosy in the car. If we time it right, the kids will sleep the entire way.
Husband went out with his uncle to hunt for a tree to bring home. I hope they’re back soon, but they brought lots of shovels and sand (since the dirt roads ain’t the best especially when snowed over and iced).
Still no sign of FiL, at this point a good thing. Nobody seems to be missing him.
+++
Ditto on the JAL question: anyone have news/updates?
george3:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:21 am
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven.
Thanks.
Iknewthat
G
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:31 am
Walking On The Water
Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
Green River
Proud Mary
george3:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:33 am
339 cont.
No, I did, I’m just not competent.
No snide intended.
G
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:34 am
Do not toss that post-Faces Rod at me.
This is not a war.
There is a connection between Unchained Melody and that selection of songs I linked to.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:38 am
Massachusetts
San Francisco
Heart of Gold
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:50 am
Btw, I can do this all night, because Im planning to spend all of Xmas Day tomorrow in splitting-headache agony, at least it will distract me from my misery.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:57 am
Here is a non terrible version of Downtown Train.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:58 am
But yeah, I try not to
Cry
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:01 am
Fuckin’ Up
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:05 am
Maybe I should just emigrate to Singapore.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:08 am
To Cry About
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:13 am
Dancing with someone might make me feel better.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:15 am
Filopino Box Spring Hog
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:18 am
Reminds me, I dont think Pharyngula has ever had a commenter named Marianne.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:20 am
Night Comes In
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 24th, 2012 at 4:23 am
Oh dear. I leave work, ride home, go look at concrete drying, eat, water the garden and shut up the chooks for the night and come back to find too many music links to get through tonight. Ah well, Tomorrow then. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Pharyngula, it’s that Janine’s music links are always worth a look, especially when I don’t recognise them.
rorschach, are you playing those chords in open position or with barre chords? It’s much easier with barre chords.
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:27 am
rorschach
Dancing With Yourself is not enough?
By the way, FossilFishy, I agree with your post above about living in a beautiful world. And not having it any other way. :) Sounds like you have a busy day ahead.
Janine
I don’t think I’ve expressed this before, but I appreciate your musical education.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:29 am
For the German/Austrian contingent:
Es lebe der Zentralfriedhof
And for me:
Science Fiction Double Feature
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:29 am
By that I mean the fact that you educate me musically.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:32 am
Her knowledge of music(among other things) is unbelievable.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:45 am
Ampersand
Shores of California
The Mouse And The Model
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:46 am
We were drunk for three days straight
Feeling like we were Tom Waits
I think I am sober now.
And it is almost dawn.
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:47 am
“Unbelievable” would be the operative word. It is flabbergasting. It gasts my flabber (ew). Every time.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:54 am
The dozens of songs a linked to the others I have listened. Yet for the past couple of days, I had this song echoing in my skull
At least I know that Richard really hated it.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:59 am
When I cannot tell the difference between “a” and “I”, it i time to quit.
(a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OffZRdPUnLw”>So I’m calling it quits.
Wait a second, she has a christmas album.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:02 am
Eep!
John Morales:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:24 am
Fuck the fucking fuckers: Pell says sorry to abuse victims in Christmas message.
My heartfelt response to Pell.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:27 am
I wasnt going to link to it, but here is my response.
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:37 am
Well, time to have lunch and make the trek back to the capital. Here’s hoping the weather magically improves!!
Arkady:
December 24th, 2012 at 6:59 am
My usual threadrupt delurking, found a lovely drink for xmas on amazon, the reviews are wonderful! http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002ATI4VG/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk
vaiyt:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:04 am
Walking down the mall to keep company to my mother. She saw a dancing Santa Claus in a store, dressed in nothing but a pair of bermuda pants. She said, “he’s almost naked!”. I replied, “do you really think he would be wearing those thick winter clothes in THIS climate?”.
Beatrice:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:18 am
So many music links and I plan to follow every one, yay!
carlie:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:12 am
I treat them like periods outside of quote marks. If the period isn’t part of the thing being tagged, it shouldn’t be in the thing being tagged.
So if it’s a full sentence that’s tagged, then yes, include the period. If it’s a single word or phrase that happens to be at the end of the sentence, then no.*
*Yes, I understand that the rule is to put the period inside the quotes if it’s a word at the end of the sentence. But I will swear, with my hand on an Oxford comma, that the rule is wrong.
Beatrice:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:24 am
Beer lovers, is O’Hara’s Irish Red any good?
We rarely buy beer and when we do, it’s some cheap store brand that people who probably never tasted piss say tastes like piss, so I decided to buy something nice for the holidays. I went with the good old tradition of choosing something with a pretty label.
I’m obviously going to drink it now, I’m just wondering about the quality. (google indicates it’s good stuff)
Matt Penfold:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:57 am
dianne:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:59 am
Today’s XKCD makes me happy.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:04 am
Ugh. Can I just sleep till the new year? I’m not sure why, but this second year of being away from my kids at the holidays is harder than the first. Probably because they’ve all got problems and the best I can do is offer comfort over the phone. One engagement broken, one relationship on the rocks, and OldestSon got pink-slipped on Friday (Merry fucking Christmas from Best Buy) — at this point, all we need is a pregnancy and/or an arrest to turn it into a Tom Waits song.
And then I realized I made a transposition error in my checkbook and now I’m about $150 short of what I need to survive until my overage comes in one month from now. Awesome. But I caught it early, before my account could be overdrawn, so there’s that!
At least I’ll get to have dinner with the cousins this evening and then hangout with the family as we all open our Night Before gifts via Google. Hopefully it will improve my mood.
— —
socializing genes:
I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with this! Of course, it’s probably why so many of us end up commenting on blogs — only your words matter, not what you look like or how you behave in company.
—
carlie:
I’ll try that! Usually, I mention that I don’t have TV and *thunk* goes the conversation as we all wonder what else we can talk about. Weather, usually.
—
Tony:
I like your ad! I haven’t used a dating site in a couple years, but that’s got to make it easier (on both sides) to sort out who might be worth meeting, rather than having to go through the entire dance of discovery — which can go so very wrong.
One date I met through an online site seemed great — funny, well-read, etc. We’d been exchanging emails and phone calls for a couple of months and decided to meet in person. After meeting in the parking lot, he opened the restaurant door for me and said, “I’m old-fashioned. I don’t believe in this feminist stuff.” *needle scratch* I saved him the time and expense of dinner.
—
FossilFishy:
We do live in a beautiful time (even if I’m not feeling it right at this moment). When I had OldestSon, I was 2800 miles from my family. They didn’t know what he looked like for 3 weeks, because first you had to get the photos developed, then mail them out. Calls were a Saturday-only, after 9pm thing and it took a minimum 8 days to send a letter and get a response.
Almost 26 years later, from 1300 miles away, I saw my new nieces just minutes after they were born, can talk to/text my family for free since we all have the same cell provider, and — if all goes well tonight — we can use Hangout to share special moments.
Not quite the same as being there in person to exchange hugs, but so much better than the old days.
—
Janine:
As someone accused of having little or no musical taste (my iPod has nothing but 80s rock and, *mumble* Nickelback. (I know, I know…)) I have no idea what those songs have in common, but, I’m enjoying listening to them!
—
rq:
Glad the day went a little easier for you. Safe travels home!
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:45 am
Janina,roschach
I”d play too, but my already unreliable memory is shot even more completely than usual after a week of no sleep to speak of. Cool links, though.
Improbable Joe:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Jeez, so Verizon sent my wife her new phone and it got here TODAY! Merry fucking Xmas!
… of course, it didn’t come with a memory card, and it seems to be impossible to activate it, but what can you do?
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:43 am
I just went out for some last minute groceries and discovered that I had $0.77 left of my food stamps when I went to checkout, which was deeply fun.
Joe
Check the details of the order to see if it was supposed to come with one, some don’t. If not, or if you want a bigger one, they can be had absurdly cheap online (I paid $0.02 for mine, plus shipping). Ot activate it, if it’s a smartphone you’re almost certainly going to have to activate it by calling Verizon (from another phone). Do this NOW, as tomorrow and for the next 3-5 days their lines will be completely overloaded with people activating their new Christmas phones.
carlie:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Tony – even without having ever seen you, I think you’re pretty hot.
But then again, that’s the opinion of a frumpy middle-aged white lady, so there’s that.
:D
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 11:33 am
carlie
Tony posted a picture once.
He is hot.
carlie:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Oh, and I missed it? Damn.
Improbable Joe:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Dalillama
Yeah, turns out it doesn’t come with a card at all, but has 16GB internal memory. So with the 32GB SD card I scavenged out of her old phone, my wife has “lots of gigabytes!” (her words) She called, her phone is activated, me and she are going to play “Samsung Galaxy S III commercial” with me co-starring as the hapless iPhone owner. :)
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 24th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Oh wow, yeah. I only have an 8 GB card, but my phone’s at the bottom end of smartphones, it only came w/ a few hundred MB internal. I used to work customer service for Sprint, Christmas and the few days after were absolute hell.
Chigau
indeed.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Heh. I thought it was obvious. Those set of sixties era hit songs that I linked to after rorschach linked to Unchained Melody were recorded with what has been retroactively been dubbed The Wrecking Crew. They were a set of highly skilled LA based studio musicians that included Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, Carol Kaye, Hal Blaine and others.
For example, most of the classic Beach Boys, those teen age symphonies for god that Brian Wilson worked on, the music were made by Brian Wilson and the Wrecking Crew. The Beach Boys just sang the vocal tracks.
ImaginesABeach:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Obvious to you, maybe. I’ve never heard of The Wrecking Crew.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Taking a break from the feminist thread. My blood is boiling. Fucking scumbag lutherflint says women here don’t have it as bad as Jews in Nazi Germany. Way to handwave sexual assault asshat.
Where’s the grog?
And Sangria?
Absinthe?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Imaginesabeach, for decades, these people were unknown to the general public even though we all heard their work.
For example, here is the website for one of the key players, Carol Kaye. Here is a list of songs she played guitar on, including Unchained Melody. Here are a list of songs she played bass on.
It really is rather awe inspiring.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Tag. I’m it.
Beatrice:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
*slides a thick slice of gugelhupf** in Tony’s direction*
**I remember that you are a bit picky when it comes to desserts, but I forgot what you like. This one’s freshly baked
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
::has to remind himself to take compliments on appearance without questioning the tastes of xe who is doing the complimenting; it is hard after 20 years of feeling unnatractive because you could play connect the dots with my acne; even after it subsided, I always projected my feelings about my appearance onto others, such that when I got a compliment, I refused to believe it was sincere; I knew I wasn’t attractive…this person says I am, but I am not, so they must be faking it to be nice::
I realized a few years back that it is insulting to claim someone is lying when they compliment you. I still don’t have a great sense of self esteem, but these days, when I get a compliment, I say
Thanks
So, thank you.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Socio-gen:
Thanks.
How could that guy be so clueless about you to make such a statement? “I don’t believe in feminism”…? It’s as if he paid no attention to your prior discussions.
****
Beatrice:
Nom Nom.
Thank you.
Ichthyic:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
merry xmas to all for whom it is the future, now. :)
my xmas day weather is:
BLINDLY HOT SUN WITH A TROPICAL LOW.
humidity: 80%
temp: 30C
ugh
and here I am, about to roast a turkey in the oven, and make all the things for the standard xmas feast.
At least I prepared with much chilled wine in the fridge!
man, I don’t know if I’m ever going to get used to xmas in summer.
…. OTOH, the beach looks nice…
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Tony, I still have a bit of pear brandy left, I’ll stick it in the USBs for you, hot stuff. ;)
Socio-gen
Wow. Methinks he’s trolling for a certain kind of woman, specifically one he can push around. Good riddance.
Ambushing firefighters. Now can the country talk about fucking gun control?
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Threadrupt but jebus, the Rochester shooting. Someone of facebook has told me the “MOAR GUNS” solution is the answer. I told him that there were cops at the fire scene, so how exactly does he think this could have been helped by more guns?! I’m so livid I need to take some deep breaths.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Dalillama:
Thanks my friend.
****
I followed your link to the story about the firefighters. What a damn tragedy. They were just trying to do their jobs and were killed. Life isn’t fair.
Then I made the mistake of clicking on the article about a man who lost his girlfriend in the Sandy Hook massacre.
I still have tears running down my face.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Merry Xmas, folks!
Here is a cute game to amuse you – can you name all these 16 scientists? Each one has a clue.
Full size image: http://www.chayground.com/wp-content/uploads/16_Scientists_Quiz_FULL_ChaygroundDOTcom.jpg
Answers: http://www.chayground.com/archives/1677
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
Home safe, for those interested.
Counted 5 snowplows and 6 trains, not a cop in sight, just snow-snow-snow-blowing snow-snow…
+++
Portia
I’m starting to believe that spiders are out to get me, too. Second time they’ve set off the motion alarms while we’re 3 hours away and we have to wake up one of my family members in the godawful hours of the night (3AM, 5AM) in nasty weather for them to go turn the damn alarm off. Last night, and the last time we went out to the country. *sigh* Since it wasn’t the cat, the security tech said it’s probably a spider living inside the motion sensor in the living room. … I think the spider wants the neighbours pissed off at us.
+++
Tony
Any guy who dances like he loves it (which is what your description sounded like) is hot to me, no matter what his orientation or taste otherwise (that means you’re allowed to not like my favourite food). :) Something about the way people move when they’re really into music (dancing, playing) is extremely attractive to me (yeah, had a thing for musicians when I was younger… because I’m just so damn old :P).
+++
re: firefighters and gun control
Please talk about gun control now. This is ridiculous – do you now send out a scouting party to every fire, to ‘secure the perimeter’, before allowing firefighters to do what they do best (save lives and fight fires)?
+++
Anyway there’s a bunch of beer with my name on it, so I’m going to go hit that and be back tomorrow. Hugs to those not where they wish to be tonight or with the people they would like to be with, and I hope everyone’s at least safe and sound and not caught out somewhere in freakish weather/cold/wind/rain/snow/travelling.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Tony:
I wasn’t as confident in expressing my feminism then, and tended to let him change the subject if it came up, so…maybe he thought I wasn’t serious, or that he could change my mind? In my darker moments, I suspect him of humoring me in order to get a face-to-face date because, hey, woman over 40 must be desperate for a little some-some, y’know?
—
Ichthyic:
Can I come visit? It’s currently -2F with a windchill of -23 here in Fargo.
—
Dailillama:
Very probably. He still ranks way ahead of the guy who spent our first date telling me how he would be happy to be a “father figure” and bring discipline into my kids’ lives. Also ahead of the guy who sent me the address where we were meeting and didn’t understand why I was angry when Mapquest told me it was a motel. (I suppose they might have had a nice restaurant, though I’ve never encountered such a thing attached to any motel.)
++
Jeezus fuck! Webster’s only 3-ish hours northwest of my hometown. I’ve done shows in their fire hall. They’re all volunteers.
I have to go call my brother now. And maybe have a good cry.
MikeG:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Tony, hold you loaded absinthe spoon under the USB port. It’s not the best, but it’ll make you appreciate the fairies in the garden. ;-)
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Talking about gun control now will just exploit the memories of the two murdered firefighters..
(The great thing about this meme? There are enough high profile killings that there is always a recent incident that should not be exploited for political gain.)
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
I do not want to talk about guns. Will a hearty AAAARRRRGGGGH FFFFUUUUCK! do for a reaction?
I am now waiting for the bloke to wake up so we can do the Irish coffee & present opening. There is a ridiculous amount under the tree, considering there’s just the two of us. It includes stuff from our families and our traditional gifts from the cats. This year Zeppo & Archie bought the bloke some beer, and some beer-flavoured tomato sauce & BBQ sauce. Quite good little shoppers, they are.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
rq
The spiders. They are organizing. RUUUUUNNN.
But seriously, that’s such a pain!
Re: guns and fires: the cops do secure every emergency scene…if they know of a problem. For instance, cops secure a violent person in a domestic violence situation before the first responders go in to tend to wounded. In situations like this…well, somehow we are supposed to have known a person’s proclivity to violence and prevented them from owning a gun! Problem solved!
Janine: What pisses me off is that it’s so insulting to their memories to brush the cause of their deaths under the rug. Raage.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Huh.
Just learned something in the ‘Learning’ thread.
Ichthyic:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
any time, and I think the flights have gotten much cheaper, too.
unfortunately though, I don’t think they are any shorter.
man, it is a nightmare being in a cramped plane for 14 hours straight. still brings back bad memories, 4 years later.
carlie:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
It has also just now occurred to me how dangerous it would be to try to extinguish a fire at a house that has a lot of ammunition stored. I know firefighters already know all about this, but it just came to mind.
I saw that story this morning, and, well, fuck. First it just hit me the obvious way, and then awhile later I thought about the fact that my brother is a firefighter. To think of some slimy asshole setting a fire specifically to ambush these people, who risk their lives every time the call goes out… fuck.
Extra hugs to Portia, too.
Matt Penfold:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
I did LA to Auckland once, as part of a longer flight from London to Brisbane. The only thing that made it bearable was being able to grab four centre seats to myself on the trans-Pacific leg so I could stretch out and get some kip.
Nepenthe:
December 24th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Spiders don’t have to organize. They are all alien monitoring devices, with secret hidden recording equipment (why did you think they needed so many “eyes” huh?). Thus they are all directed by their programming to be horrifying little critters and to be everywhere.
Theories vary as to what they’re recording for. Some say they are gathering data for a future invasion force. I believe they are filming an extremely popular and long running reality television show.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Talked to the brother, who is a bit shaken. Like he said, firefighters go out every time knowing it could be their last call, but they never expect to be shot. The county is holding a candle service tonight at the firefighter’s memorial and all the fire companies are making plans to caravan to Webster for the funerals.
—
rq:
Ooh! That can be my contribution to the Commune: spider relocation services!
—
Portia:
Hugs. Apparently, y’all should wear bullet-proof gear and maybe carry assault rifles on each rig? *blech* I just made myself sick writing that.
—
Ichthyic:
Well that idea’s out. I can’t even pass an airport without getting the shudders. No way could I manage to get on a plane, much less stay on it for that long.
—
carlie:
I know. And when you consider that most firefighters (and EMS) are volunteers, doing it for nothing more than the satisfaction of helping neighbors in need… even curse words aren’t enough to convey my anger and sadness that someone would deliberately target them.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Wait. Do spiders eat mosquitoes? If so, they gots to stay.
rq:
December 24th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Tony
Spiders have their benefits, but lately, they just haven’t done enough. All those benefits? Getting cancelled and overcome by a few very annoying negatives. Generally I support spiders, but due to the last couple of incidents, I’m ready to change my mind…
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
December 24th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
At the Pharyngula Saloon and Spanking Parlor. How many days old and how much? That way I’ll caluclate whether I need confiscate your vehicle keys and reserve an upstairs room for you…guarding by the Lilac Berets is extra.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
carlie and Socio-gen
Thanks for the hugs. I think “shaken” is a good word for my state today. I can’t imagine it. Volunteers in particular go to fires because if we don’t show up to put out the flames (or bandage the wounds, or cut off the car door) no one else will. And to do that to someone….
On facebook, someone I don’t know told me that if the guy hadn’t had a gun, he would have used a bow and arrow. I told him that an arrow might not even puncture fire gear, so I’d take that any day over a gun. He never did tell me how everyone who wants an assault rifle will automatically know where to get one illegally should they be banned again. And, if a fuckwad had almost anything *but* a gun, firefighters are incidentally well-armed and could take care of most problems if they really had to. Fire tools can serve more than their intended purpose. Axes, halligans, hell, even something as simple as a hose wrench would do in a pinch.
——–
Tony
We’ll get a bunch of bats for the commune, how’s that?
rq
Yes, come over to the right and proper anti-arachnid side.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Bats work just fine. Bye bye spiders.
Improbable Joe:
December 24th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Another fucking shooting… and of course the NRA answer is even more guns. Those folks? One part sales department, one part pro-violence group, with a pretty large sprinkling of seditious and racist ideas mixed in for flavor.
SC (Salty Current), OM:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
I don’t know the theme.
That’s life. Great hat.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
What would their answer be if every adult in the US owned and carried a gun, resulting in no decrease of gun violence.
cicely:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
NRA calls for end to childhood obesity by putting McDonalds in every school
-
Giliell, hurrah for the FiL’s early homecoming, and a separate hurrah for the uncomplicationifaction of your day.
:)
-
*hugs* for Socio-gen and troubled offspring.
And—confessions time—I admit that my office computer has a number of Nickelback videos bookmarked. (As mentioned above: I have no taste. It’s no secret—everyone knows it.)
-
And very huggable-looking.
;)
-
Clearly those firefighters should have been—I started to say, “packing heat”—heavily armed. Then they could have had a shoot-out with the ambusher, while the house etc. burned, and if there were people trapped inside and they didn’t get to them time, well,
fortunes of warit was just really bad luck for them. Sucks, but whatcanyado?</sarcasm>
-
Yay!
-
Improbable Joe:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Tony, I’m guessing they expect the race war to start long before then… interesting to note that they aren’t exactly pleased with “urban” gun ownership *wink wink*
cicely:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Probably gathering intel for the Horses.
-
*hugs* for Portia. And *strong drink*.
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Joe:
Are you insinuating Wayne LaPierre only wants members of the ‘caucasian’ race to own guns?
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
hugs for Portia
Tony:
Don’t be silly. I’m sure he has no problem with Jews having guns too, as long as they’re pretty pale.
ajb47:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Tony:
I read this somewhere, but has anyone argued that Travon Martin should have been armed?
AJ
Improbable Joe:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Tony, I’m saying that the NRA is part of the marketing arm of the gun manufacturers AND a political group with an agenda that coincides with the most racist and reactionary elements in American society. Rather than move away from those elements, the NRA embraces them in the name of profit and political power. Besides looking at the politics of LaPierre and the Republican Party he is wedded to, it was also interesting that the pro-gun spokepeople on TV and radio weren’t interested in talking about the fact that mass shootings and spree killings in general are almost exclusively the province of white men, but if they were willing to talk about gun violence at all it was always redirected and re-framed as an “inner city” or “urban” issue. You know, black and brown people with guns.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Mentally ill black and brown people with guns.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Thanks, cicely and Dalillama.
I did have a glass of wine with dinner and the dinner guests, but then I stopped because stepdad was getting unruly and I just can’t stand to even vaguely support his drinking by drinking with him. So now the company has left, and I am cozied up in bed, being cranky and sad. On the bright side, I have a little time to try to catch up on the goings on here. I’m sorry for bursting in earlier in such a mood. I now offer commiserations, consolation and congratulations where appropriate.
One of our line officers just sent this out, and I finally cried about the shooting today, even though this poem is a bit cheesy:
Aside from the obvious issue with the last line, it really got me. Ugh. Need to see some kitteh pictures or something. I’ll be cheerier after one last thought. We need to add one to the List of Commons Saying for Which We Need a Secular Alternative: “There but for the grace of God go I.”
…okay, back to reading up :)
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
What about women “at that time of the month”?
With guns.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Joe:
I agree
****
AJ:
It is entirely possible, but I haven’t heard of anyone suggesting that Trayvon should have been carrying. In fact, that could mean something too…he was already walking with a hoodie while black. None of the same pro gun proponents advocating the arming of teachers would likely want to arm someone ‘like him’.
Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Mmm! Almost 11am on christmas day and the outside temp is already 35.1°C, supposed to top out at 39°C but it might hit 40. YAY.
I hate hot weather. I’d hate it less if we had a pool and my skin wasn’t pastytransparentpalepinkyskin that burned within milliseconds of being anywhere near sunlight.
Ham smells nice, though.
ImaginesABeach:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
I wish I could adopt all of you and take you all to Christmas at my parents’ home. My dad is a retired physicist, so geek grandpa. My mom is a retired school nurse, so a realist. They raised my brother and I as atheists, but loved me when I tried to believe, and love my brother even though he became a Catholic. It doesn’t matter what I do, they think I’m wonderful. And they would love all of you too!
dianne:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Happy anything you celebrate if you celebrate anything this time of year, all. Caine, if you’re around, would you mind if I put an image of Neville on my facebook page?
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
We’re watching Ghostbusters.
:) :) :)
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
oh god
it’s sooo sexist
and ableist
but
“Listen! Do you smell something?”
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Chigau, can’t have women with guns. No matter the time of the month, they would never have the fortitude to use them “when it counts,” what with their delicate feminine constitution. Ergo, they shouldn’t have access to them at all. If there’s defending to do, the menfolk best do it.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
It’s 230 in the afternoon, but I’ve decided that this day can not be endured sober any longer.
And on TV I have the choice between EPL game reruns, NFL and Darts on the sports channels, and Christmas with the Kranks or A wonderful life on the other ones.
Kill me now.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
I won’t lie…I let out a squeal like a 10 year old opening presents on xmas day when I saw this:
http://www.ultrasabers.com/default.asp
I mean LIGHT SABERS!!!
I totally want the manticore!
Finally an ad on FtB besides tee shirts that I like.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
In other news, I am bored out of my mind. I think I am going to follow rorscach’s lead and start drinking.
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
I love watching darts.
The choice between “Wonderful Life” and nine-inch steel needles would be a tough one.
carlie:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Oh, wow.
I’m sitting on the couch, all preparations recently done, with just the tree lights, taking a rest before bed.
And I’m staring at the other couch, and thinking about every christmas we’ve had in this house, 10 years exactly now I realize.
And I’m remembering every year, and how the kids sit on that couch while I sit on this one, watching them open gifts and play and get bigger and older each time.
And how I’m always a little melancholy, thinking about how we’re always alone, it’s always low-key, how our families are always across the country, how my kids don’t have the kinds of christmases I did with aunts and uncles and cousins falling over each other and food and noise and wrapping paper flying.
But,
every one of those christmases? have been happy. And the older I get, the more I realize how special that is. And how I won’t have many more with them, but for now, it’s so good.
And I’m kind of overwhelmed by that. I’m so undeservedly lucky.
ajb47:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
chigau @437
I’m in the States and we don’t get much in the way of darts competition on TV, but I am fascinated by it when it is on. I finished part of my basement, put in a bar, but there is not enough room for a billiard table, so I had to go with darts. After all this time, I wish I were better.
AJ
carlie:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Oh, now I feel like a jerk reading back upthread and seeing the crumminess other people are having. Not refreshing the page for ages gets me every time. I wish I could have everybody over for cookies and drinks.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Carlie
I’m glad you have such great memories and happy times to come. :)
Maybe someday in the commune we’ll all have a lovely solstice celebration together, with hot toddies and dusted eggnog and tasty treats all around.
ajb47:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
OK, favorite holiday movies?
Since 1987, I have not been able to decide between Lethal Weapon or Die Hard. Are there really any better holiday movies? I’d like to know.
Right now, on 12/24, I put Die Hard in the DVD player.
AJ
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Well, we are watching Phryne Fisher DVDs. After a morning Irish coffee, I’m now now drinking until dinner. I need to do things with hot ovens and sharp knives, so best to be careful.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
You’re weird! I’m really a sports person, but Darts for me ranks at the bottom of activities I might possibly enjoy doing or watching, like Lawn Bowls, or Waterpolo.
At least the Cricket starts tomorrow.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
*NOT drinking until dinner. Duh.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Q: How many NRA spokesmen does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: More guns.
cicely:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Nice one, Portia!
-
cicely:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
Q: What is the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything?
A: More guns.
ajb47:
December 24th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Tony:
Yeah, that, I think, was the point of whoever was more clever than me.
NRA: Arm everyone.
Trayvon Martin: Even me?
In case it wasn’t clear, I was responding to your post about LaPierre asking about who should own guns.
And perhaps I should say I am against outright bans on gun ownership, not that anyone here has posited that. I’ve been a hunter, though I never managed to actually bag anything. I don’t think civilians should own assault rifles, bazookas, and other such firearms, but I don’t think strict bans are the answer here in the States. My opinion, not backed by any formal studies, I admit it.
It is probably my least liberal position, but it’s all based on hunting, I think.
AJ
AJ
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
ajb47 #439
re: darts
practice practice practice
practice practice practice
practice
and don’t drink too much
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
rorschach
I also like watching golf on TV because I don’t understand how the camera-people follow that little ball.
and I ♥ curling
(you’ll probably need to google that)
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Since I missed it:
you will get better at darts if you use more guns.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
As to Golf, I find it extremely tiresome, but it can be a bit like Anaesthetics, boredom punctured by panic, when a player is 2 shots up at the last hole and puts the ball into the lake.
;)
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Put a gun rack on that golf cart and your game will improve drastically. Because guns.
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Story of my life, incidentally.
ajb47:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:03 pm
chigau @450
Don’t drink too much?
Here is the really interesting thing: My friends and I have decided that yes, you have to drink the *right* amount.
We haven’t quite found what the *right* amount is yet, though.
(But my practice has allowed me to be able to group my darts pretty well, though I don’t always heit the number I’m aiming for.)
AJ
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
I bumbled my way through a couple games of darts on Saturday night. We played “cutthroat” and then “gotcha” I didn’t win at either, but I had a fun time.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Today I had to go to Christmas Eve mass with my family. Ugggggg.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Not so merry, was it? : (
rorschach:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
I’m curious about this. I assume that you didn’t “have” to go, but rather felt obliged to do so. Why is that? I apologize if that is a too personal question. I’m not certain what I would do in the same situation, tbh.
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
re: drink and bar-games
I have a (small) window wherein my performance improves.
Thereafter it gets ugly.
ajb47:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
chigau 461:
Yes! That is what my group has decided. Lousy. Lousy. Not so bad. Pretty good. Right on and then back to pretty good. Pretty… lousy. lousy… really bad. bad. bad.
Portia:
I love darts, lousy though I am. When it comes to bar games, it probably goes darts, pool, then shuffleboard. And basically, if you’re having fun, and you don’t stick a dart in someone’s hand, then Yeah!
AJ
chigau (違う):
December 24th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
I am not going back to the feminism thread tonight.
Keep up the good work!
and
Merry Happy to all!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 24th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
I also like darts. Playing with drinking socially is fun.
Like poker, bowling and billiards, I just don’t count it as a sport however.
****
chigau:
I am done with that turd in the feminist thread. He’s gone too far for my tastes.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 25th, 2012 at 12:01 am
rorschach:
No, it’s a good question. My family knows that I’m an atheist, and they usually don’t even bother asking me to go to church. My mom has asked that I don’t tell my siblings that I’m an atheist because it will upset them or make them doubt or something. Anyway, I’ve agree to that while I visit them, partially because I don’t feel like arguing, and partially because they’re not my kids. I am going to have a talk with each of them once they move out, and really it’s only my little sister (11). My little brother (17) is old enough to have figured it out from facebook, so as long as I generally keep it to myself then it isn’t a problem. It’s not the best solution, but it’s what we’ve got. Ok, admittedly, it’s a pretty shitty arrangement, because I basically have to pretend like I agree with them, but again, it’s what we’ve got going on.
Anyway, it’s generally a truce: they don’t ask me to go to church, and I keep quiet. But on Christmas it’s expected that I go because I would ruin Christmas if I didn’t. Honestly, I don’t want to have an argument on Christmas because everyone is otherwise so happy. On usual days they go to church in the morning, so I just sleep in, but Christmas Eve mass is in the evening, so it would be really obvious if everyone left and I stayed home. My sister would ask me all kinds of innocent questions, and I really don’t feel like dealing out that kind of trauma around Christmas. Also, my little sister was in the nativity play, and it would break her heart if I weren’t there to see. I’m only home twice a year, and we get along so well other than this that it doesn’t seem worth it to argue.
So, all that basically boils down to me not wanting any arguments. (This applies to a lot of things really.) I never thought of myself as someone who would compromise on stuff like this, but when it comes to my family I’m really kind of a pushover. Goodness, why didn’t I just type that to begin with?
rorschach:
December 25th, 2012 at 12:11 am
That makes a lot of sense to me, thanks for the answer! I guess it’s the “tell granny on her deathbed that god doesn’t exist” situation in another form…
I went to a church for a wedding a few years ago, and it wasn’t something I could have gotten out of without upsetting a lot of people, so I went along. The only other time in maybe 30 years I’ve been inside a church was for a funeral, and by the end of it I could have killed the priest, his total disinterest in the dead person was just too obvious. At least I don’t have to deal with going to church with any family over Christmas.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 25th, 2012 at 12:11 am
Blarg, that doesn’t sound like a fun time. : ( But I bet it was fun to see your sister in the show, though. Some consolation?
I think last year was the first year that SO explicitly did not accompany his parents to Christmas mass. He literally trembled from the anxiety of being so obviously defiant of tradition and jebus, etc. Maybe when your siblings are older it’ll be easier for you to opt out? I’m thankful my own family is not church-going.
—–
Apparently my brother invited everyone over for Christmas morning, including our divorced parents and their significant others. This could be interesting…but it will be fun if for no other reason than it is my 8 year old niece’s birthday, and she is so joy-filled it’s contagious. And her 2 1/2 year old sister is almost competitively enthusiastic, so it will be great to see them.
I just wish I didn’t have to share the day with my dad’s awful, spiteful, martyr of a girlfriend.
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 25th, 2012 at 12:35 am
Yeah, I think that will be the case. And yeah, it was nice to see my sister being a shepherd, even if she only had one cheesy line about Jesus. She was very proud of herself.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 25th, 2012 at 12:55 am
Briefly popping in to say Happy Holiday all.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:06 am
Ing:
Happy holidays.
You are missed.
Be well.
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 1:12 am
Ing!
Merry Happy!
Please come back.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:15 am
Hi Ing! Happy holidays! Welcome back!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:17 am
Ing, get your fucking ass back here!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:18 am
You know I had to say it that way.
Ing, don’t let the idiots keep you away.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:41 am
I’ll have to give a final report after baking, but I seem to have nailed low-fat pseudo-alfredo on the first try and white port is good enough that it’s kinda not good. O.o
Also, my family remains dysfunctional enough to really hurt, but not dysfunctional enough that I don’t feel like a poseur/crybaby complaining. :(
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
December 25th, 2012 at 1:47 am
*headbonks Azkyroth*
Happy Christmas (or other Winter Holiday of your choice) to everyone!
blogofmyself, writer of papers:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:48 am
Ing: Happy holidays to you!
Azkyroth: If you feel like ranting about your family, we’d be more than happy to listen. I promise that you aren’t a crybaby. You shouldn’t feel guilty about them hurting your feelings.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:49 am
I look foward to that report. Low fat pseudo alfredo…sounds potentially good.
rorschach:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:51 am
So I just went for some light reading, and read the whole “Never Forget” thread. It was quite the journey.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:00 am
WMDKitty, can I have some summer holiday headbutts instead plz?
Azkyroth:
1. Low fat but delicious alfredo? Recipe!
2. Families can suck. Mine are perhaps similar? Not quite bad enough that I really should cut them out of my life, but also not any actual good. They’re living in their own imaginary & utterly self-centred world – I am a kind of cypher with no actual humanity. No interaction really possible – phone calls are monologues by them to their imaginary me. Yuk. It’s depressing.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:09 am
What I did:
Took a *checks* 48oz CostCo container of lowfat cottage cheese and put it through the food processor last night, mixing 1 12oz can of fat free evaporated milk in. At this point it came out sort of gooey-jiggly but with lumps the size of a pencil dot instead of cottage cheese curds. Tonight, I cooked three shallots (about 3/4 lb) in about 2 tbsp of olive oil until the purple had mostly faded to gray, on medium heat, then mixed the cottage cheese/evaporated milk mixture with two more 12oz cans of fat free evaporated milk (including scraping the protein goo off the bottom) in a large pot, then heating it until it was pretty warm and all the congealed fats decongealed (or, for the pedants, substantial decongealment was observed), then poured as much as would fit in the blender and ran it on liquefy for about a minute, poured it back into the pot (in which about 1/4 of the mixture remained, repeated this, then added the shallots and what was left, after making two pans of pumpkin lasagna, of the aged parmesan cheese I got at CostCo (not the $10/lb Parmigiano Reggiano, the stuff that comes in 90 degree segments) and 1/3 cup of flour, then cooked it until the parmesan was fully melted. About halfway through melting the cheese I added 1 tsp of Italian Seasoning blend and at the end I added somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 tsp black pepper, which all “real” alfredo seems to have. This marks the first time I have ever consciously added black pepper to something. We’ll see how it goes.
What I wish I did:
Measure the fucking parmesan. It was about 1 inch deep in the bottom of a Ziplock gallon bag so…2 cups?
I may also regret not increasing the flour to 1/2 cup, but it’s still pretty warm and I’ll have to see how it cools. O.o
Oh, and I added the drippings from the shitake mushrooms I sauteed in the white port I didn’t drink.
(Did I mention it was a bit too good? x.x)
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
December 25th, 2012 at 2:10 am
*makes the rounds, giving ALL the headbonks*
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:12 am
*licks finger* okay, it neither tastes nor textures exactly like alfredo sauce, but it is a quite passable and quite good white sauce thus far and will fulfill the same niche excellently, I expect.
Full disclosure: I have no idea how the fat actually compares, though with the lack of cream it SHOULD be favorable. The point was actually “full of fucking protein” rather than “low fat” per se.
Also, I should have added 4-5 garlic cloves to the shallots. I was even prepared to, but decided garlic would clash in the dish I was making it for.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:15 am
(I should probably also mention that I whisked it pretty aggressively after the cheese melted.)
John Morales:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:36 am
Azkyroth:
TMI!
–
PS Merry Xmas all! :>
Beatrice:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:57 am
Merry Christmas/Holiday/day off everyone!
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:59 am
Let it cool and scooped it into tupperwares. That recipe made about 10 cups after scraping the pan, but not going to heroic efforts.
So far so good.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 25th, 2012 at 3:36 am
Haha, love the piecemeal recipe.Well done there. Sounds like too much effort for me at the moment, though, and honestly I’ve never liked evaporated milk. I have had some success with low fat white sauce using chicken stock thickened with cornflour, though. (Needs to be good quality stock.)
Meanwhile, I am now well stuffed with turkey, stuffing, gravy & veg. Watching LotR and waiting for the interval to have pudding. Today’s loot included, very oddly, no books and no chocolate. But I have DVDs and other good things, and I get to read the Bloke’s new Tim Powers & Pratchett.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 25th, 2012 at 3:44 am
So, a real recipe would be something like:
48oz lowfat cottage cheese
36oz (3 cans) fat-free evaporated milk
3/4 lb shallots
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian Seasoning blend
1/2 tsp black pepper, or to taste (or lack thereof)
4 large cloves garlic (optional)
Chop shallots and garlic if using and saute in olive oil on medium-high heat in secondary pan until color fades and slightly browned. Meanwhile, combine cottage cheese and evaporated milk in large saucepan, mix thoroughly, warm over medium-low heat, then blend in batches until satisfactorily smooth, turning down secondary pan’s burner if too browned. Add shallots and garlic to main pan, along with flour, seasoning, and pepper; mix thoroughly with whisk. Add parmesan cheese and cook until cheese melts, whisk again, then allow to cool if storing.
I’ll check back on how THAT one goes.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 25th, 2012 at 5:17 am
Christmas day is all but done and dusted here. Mrs. Fishy put off coming back ’til boxing day. She’s come down with a nasty cold and a full day of reli visits followed by a late train home was too much to contemplate. Her birthday celebration last around a month so why shouldn’t Christmas last two days? This means the Small Fry will have three consecutive days of presents. Nice work if you can get it.
The delay is good. I cleaned all the things and tidied all the other things. They’ll now be returning to a house that doesn’t look like it’s been used for years by a succession of punk bands as a practice space/flop house, the latest tenants of which have just found out that they’re being evicted so the owner can tear it down. Twas like it never happened.
A happy happy and a merry merry to one and all.
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
December 25th, 2012 at 5:28 am
Christmas morning, can’t sleep, keeping myself amused with Sailor Moon SuperS… and remembering just why I hate, and I mean HATE Chibi-Usa. She’s not as obnoxious as she was in the latter half of R and the entirety of S…. but she’s in every gorram episode, because — for reasons never really defined in canon — this particular Big Bad (and Generals and their Monsters of the Week) require the power of Pegasus for the super-senshi powerup, and only Chibi-Moon can call him. So, less obnoxious, still annoying as all get out, and so. much. pink. *falls over from the overload*
Maybe I should just skip right ahead to Stars…
Lofty:
December 25th, 2012 at 5:36 am
Happy reason season everyone! 10pm here, we had a lazy day over all, hopefully a good night’s sleep ahead as the temperature has dropped to 14C with a stiff breeze from the Southern Ocean. Beats 41C a couple of days ago. G’night to the Aussies, g’day to the Europeans and g’mornin to the rest of you.
carlie:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:29 am
Well, you do take shots in golf, right?
Sorry for being so sappy last night. Given my lack of decent memory, of course after I went to bed it was then I remembered that there was that bad Christmas, and that not so good one, and then oh yeah THAT one… Heh. Rose colored glasses and all.
blogofmyself – seeing your sister in the play makes it worth it, yeah? Maybe next year, if she’s not performing, you could be the one who’s cooking dinner while they’re at evening church.Then they might even be happy for you not to be there. ;)
*hugs Ing*
Azkyroth – yes, yes, recipe, now go ahead and vent!
Child the younger has been awake for almost 4 hours already. He’s a bit excited. Cat is happily playing up and down the stairs with a bouncy ball she received, which should wake up child 1 short.. oh, here he is. Happy day (or evening), everyone!
Xanthë:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:45 am
Twenty to midnight here in Tasmania and the rest of the eastern states… happy Buttmass all?
opposablethumbs:
December 25th, 2012 at 7:00 am
Heartfelt good wishes to all Horders who have had/are having/will have a good day, and even bigger and more heartfelt good wishes to those of us having a shitty one for any variety of reasons.
Hugs and kittens to those who can’t be with the people they would like to be with, and those who are enduring people they would rather not be with; and THANK YOU to the Horde for being the Horde. (Currently, my particular admiration and appreciation to everyone in the Feminism thread. Reading you slice and dice the MRA misanthropes has been a pleasure and an inspiration!)
Owlmirror:
December 25th, 2012 at 9:06 am
http://xkcd.com/323/
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 9:41 am
Happy whatever it is you are doing today! May you do what makes you happiest under the circumstances.
Xmas is a special time, when my wife goes to work and I sit at home playing Halo 4. Oh, wait… I have unpacking to do! I guess it is like when I was a kid, opening boxes and never knowing exactly what I’ll find in any box? I’d like to make this sort of special for my wife to make up for the fact that she’s working today, by getting a big chunk of the unpacking and decorating finished before she gets home.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 25th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Greetings from “fucking cold” Minnesota, currently -13F with a -27 windchill. *shivers*
Had a great dinner with the cousins, then we drove around checking out the holiday lights. Back home, after some technical difficulties, I hooked up with the family via Hangout and did the present opening. So much fun! Especially with my 1yo niece giving me cyber-kisses and yelling at me to “‘M’out!” (come out).
Another dinner this afternoon. And then curling up on the couch with an afghan to watch Hogfather.
—
cicely:
Thanks for the hugs. Luckily, the three offspring are getting support from each other (and the aunts) while they go through all this, so I don’t feel quite so guilty about not being there.
—
Portia:
I hope today is better for you. Since I’m not the praying type, I offer heartfelt thanks to you and all those who are there when we need you.
I usually say “There, but for sheer dumb luck, go I.”
—
ImaginesABeach:
Your family sounds wonderful!
—
carlie:
Your Christmases past sound so nice, even if they aren’t full of relatives and noise. (Or maybe, to me, because they aren’t full of relatives and noise.) Savor every moment!
—
ajb47:
Favorite holiday movies? A Christmas Story. Never fails to make me laugh, even when I’m all by myself.
—
on darts
I’m horrible at darts. No one wants me on their team because, regardless of my state of inebriation, I have a tendency to hit the wall…and once, a human being. (It didn’t go in that deep! And it was his fault for walking too close to the board while I was shooting!)
—
FossilFishy:
Yay for cleaning all the things!
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Also… I think in my discussion of gun rights/control I’ve been arguing for Schrödinger’s shooter, to the tune of Schrödinger’s rapist but with a slightly different tempo. When I hear a gun nut argue “we don’t need to restrict weapons, because it will prevent non-criminals from getting guns” my answer is “EVERYONE starts out not being a criminal, if they buy the gun first and THEN commit the crime, then all the screening in the world doesn’t matter. Criminals don’t look different from non-criminals.” (Of course, there’s the racial element… to gun nuts, some people DO look different and that makes them more likely to be criminals)
So if you can’t tell by looking at someone whether or not they will commit a gun crime, what do you do? Well… you can get at some of the underlying situation and try to prevent everyone from being in a position to do harm, and minimize the harm that you can’t prevent. If that means that no one can buy a semi-auto rifle with a crate of 50-round magazines, or we limit handguns to 5-shot revolvers and charge a 300% tax on ammo, that’s a tiny price to pay.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 25th, 2012 at 10:23 am
This is one that I’ve used too. I noted in an FB argument that very few if any of the mass shooters, for instance, have had prior criminal records. Nor did what’s his name, who shot Jordan Davis, or the guy who shot that pizza customer, and that’s just ones that have made the major news in the past couple weeks, and doesn’t even count the people who’ve shot late returning family members etc. by accident, who aren’t usually considered ‘criminals’ by most even after the fact, but that doesn’t really help whoever was unfortunate enough to stop a bullet, does it?
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 25th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Favorite holiday movies:
A Nightmare before Christmas, maybe? Is that one a Christmas/winter holiday movie or is it a Halloween movie? Mostly I hate Christmas movies with a fiery passion. I can’t watch Lethal Weapon anymore since ol’ Mel decided to air some of his very dirty laundry in public, and I can’t see his face these days without the raving wingnut overlay. I think I’ll like Hogfather, but I still haven’t come by a copy; or rather I did, but then ex-Roommate made off with it before I had a chance to watch it, so now I need another one.
Hugs and happy wishes to all for any holidays you may celebrate. I’m killing time ’til L and Roomate get up, and waiting for Mom and Brother later this afternoon (everyone else canceled/had other plans, so small and quiet this year).
opposablethumbs:
December 25th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Just caught a few seconds of the TV news through the open door of the other room – seems our resident top-ranking cat-lick in the UK has chosen today to complain some more about government moves to legalise gay marriage.
Yay, nothing says “christian” like trying to stop people – who have absolutely nothing to do with you – who love one another and want to get married from getting married …
Beatrice:
December 25th, 2012 at 11:30 am
opposablethumbs,
Top-ranking catlicks over here are using Christmas to rail against health education in schools. Would you like your child to learn in school that homosexuality is completely normal? *shock horror*
opposablethumbs:
December 25th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Yay for partners/spouses (I wish the plural could be spice) like FossilFishy and Improbable Joe. That’s a really nice thing to do.
Kind of like (to take an extreme example) a friend of mine who recently got home from hospital (major surgery) to find her spouse and a sibling had made a whole completely new bedroom (that she’d wanted for ages) so she would have a pleasant place to rest while recuperating.
.
When it’s so blindingly obvious that non-[whatever religion] decent people are a million times better human beings than the pontificators in stupid hats and all their most rabid followers, it beggars belief that anyone would seriously argue religion has some kind of a correlation with, let alone a lock on, goodness and morality (well, except a negative correlation of course).
opposablethumbs:
December 25th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Hey Beatrice. Yes, because that would be sooooo shocking!!!!!!!!!!11elebenty!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the Heads of Department (now moved on to even bigger and better things, sadly for us) at my kids’ school is gay; his partner used to come to some of the big school events sometimes that teachers would bring their partners and kids to. I always thought the positive role model this gave all the kids (and their parents) was kid of like this great bonus he generously offered us just by being there. Because all too often kids in school get no positive gay role models at all.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 25th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Christmas Don’t Be Late slowed down so that the chipmunks are singing at normal speed.
Annoy someone now!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Oh wow. Tis slow indeed.
Happy holidays all.
Beatrice:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
I hope there will be more of a crowd on New Year’s Eve. You’re supposed to be my entertainment and company for the evening.
My family isn’t exactly capable of peacefully socializing for an evening and I’m not going out.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 25th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Well I have to work New Years Eve. The resort apparently has a big bash and people drink a lot (or alot). Doubt I will be on much that day.
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Hey peoples!
Well… my grand decorating scheme fell through, because all of the picture-mounting hardware is in the car, with my wife, at her job. Gick. So instead I unloaded the rest of the trailer, set up the furniture in the guest bedroom, moved some boxes out of the garage and to the rooms where they’ll be unpacked, and I’m busy washing and scrubbing and such in the kitchen so that I can prepare and serve my wife a Christmas dinner at our sort-of table(I bought a tablecloth) on our new plates. Tamales that someone at my wife’s job made for us with green chile sauce that I’m about to make, refried beans and rice, and bacon.
carlie:
December 25th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Tony – wait, so you did get a job? I thought you were between them at the moment – I must have missed it, congrats !
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 25th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Azkyroth
Sauce sounds good. I like to make ad hoc white sauce. : )
Socio-gen
Today has been better, thank you. I like your substitiuton of phrase.
Oh, and I hope that you’ll keep us posted on the progression of The Plan. :D
Joe
Good luck getting things arranged, that’s really sweet. I adore tamales. Hope they’re yummy.
Beatrice
Sorry to have left you hanging! If you’re still up, hope your day was ok.
===
The day has been alright for me, in spite of Santa bringing me a semi-migraine (semigraine?). Went to brother’s house and my dad and his gf had already left, so that was a relief. I do feel a bit guilty for not seeing my dad on Christmas, but…oh well.
The birthday niece was ecstatic about her presents, enthusiastic and sweet. Her older half-brother and sister showed up early afternoon and we got to visit with them a bit. Those two are 17 and 18. The 18 year old brother has until very recently had a strong aversion to any affection (typical of many teenage boys, it’s not macho!) but he gave unsolicited hugs goodbye and even told my mom he loves her. Very heartwarming.
How’s everyone’s day been, for those around?
rq:
December 25th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
I hate Christmas with my parents. I love my parents, but I hate Christmas with them.
“It’s Jesus’ birthday!”
*barf*
I’m pretty sure I’ll be asked soon why I’m not telling the kids about such wonderful things as the birth of Jesus. And frankly, I didn’t have the guts to tell my dad to stop it with the Jesus’ birthday stuff every time the kids asked about presents or wanting to sing Jingle Bells instead of a religious carol (mostly because they know Jingle Bells and can both half-way sing it).
Sorry, that was a bit ‘rupt. :(
rq:
December 25th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Socio-gen
But yes, how’s The Plan working out for you?
Nutmeg:
December 25th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Merry Squidmas, Hordelings! I hope you’re all surviving your family gatherings/lack thereof!
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I think I shall drink some beer tonight.
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I’m pissed off and in serious pain, so I’m just going to drink a metric shit-ton and try not to vomit on anything.
carlie:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Oh no, joe, cooking accident?
If anyone needs to blow off steam, Yo, is this racist? is doing Merry Dissmas posts. It’s basically people writing in with long lists of everyone and everything that can just fuck right off. Cathartic reading.
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
carlie,
No, unloading/unpacking accidents. Plural. And the cats are fighting, AND the dog is being a pain in the ass. I’m getting too old for this shit. The cooking is going OK though… my green chile sauce smells awesome! Just letting it simmer away for another 45 minutes or so, and then I’m going to steam the tamales and make some rice.
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Joe
Have you read this one recently?
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
chigau,
I think you’ve linked me to that before… still funny though. :) I wish my dog played with toys. She just sort of doesn’t though.
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Joe
I think I linked it while you were in the midst of your own move.
I expect it’s a bit funnier if you aren’t living it.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
December 25th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Ham and Chateau Potatoes in the oven, and Brussels sprouts ready to steam. Getting there.
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
…
…
… apparently, fresh-made tamales take 1.5-2 hours to cook. Would have been nice to know about 1.5-2 hours ago. :(
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 25th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
You know, the cleaning of all things is a sort of gift to Mrs. Fishy, but is shouldn’t be.
I’ve been living alone for a week now so any and all maintenance is fully my responsibility. The notion that it’s a gift is in part predicated on an expectation that I wouldn’t do any cleaning while she’s away. And yes, I’m a slob with a horribly high tolerance for the stepping over of things that are not in their place and an even higher willful blindness to the grottyness of uncleaned sinks and the like. And yes, I did all the cleaning in one day rather than sensibly keeping up as I went along. So that expectation isn’t unwarranted. And the fact that I am that way in part because there is no societal pressure on me to be otherwise is no excuse.
An understanding of my privilege is one of the great gifts that Pharygula has given me,. The realisation that no one will ever judge me on the state of the house, no matter how long I’ve been left to my own devices has had a tangible benefit to me. I no longer loath housework the way I once did because fuck society and its subversion of my desire to be a good person, to be a fair person.
This understanding has also benefited Mrs. Fishy, not just in the fact that I now put more effort into doing my fair share, but also in that I no longer expect a cookie for doing that work. Yeah, I’m ashamed to admit that is was that guy.
Anyway, she will see the love inherent in my effort. She’ll thank me. And I in turn will thank her for the work that she puts in every day, and we’ll both feel awkward and slightly embarrassed. And almost unnoticed in that interaction a few more grams of the stupid gender baggage will drop away. And thusly, drip by drip by tiny drip things get better.
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
♥♥♥
Who else wants to move in with the FossilFishys?
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
FossilFishy,
What’s funny is that you and I got mentioned as “good mates” for doing stuff around the house, and we come at it from opposite directions. I carry no gender baggage about housework, because my parents split the housework and raised three boys in the ways of household chores like scrubbing toilets and folding laundry. One of my very earliest memories is of being 8-9 years old on Sundays and helping my dad walk sacks of laundry around the corner to the laundromat, and grabbing hot coffee and a huge loaf of fresh-baked Italian bread on the way back.
If anything, I still have an odd sort of macho bias against women and what is considered “women’s work” on account of my time in the Marines. I got so good at cleaning things that my last few months in the Corps they put me in charge of the weekly barracks inspection. And a woman’s place? The hell out of my kitchen, that’s where!(that’s just me being a smartass) It annoys my wife because she’d sometimes like to help, but she simply can’t meet my exacting cleaning standards, or match my skills in the kitchen… :) It has been an adjustment for her, because her help is often unnecessary and even unwanted, but on the other hand her contribution to the cleaning is scooping the occasional litter-box and really not much else. I do wish she’d relax about the cooking, but she’s so afraid of screwing it up… whatever that means. I am a good cook but not a particularly picky eater. If it isn’t raw, burned, or so over-seasoned as to be inedible, I’m fine.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 25th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
*raises hand*
MikeG:
December 25th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Happy Monkey, everyone!
Joe, I know how you feel about the kitchen. MrsG and I have managed to work it out pretty well by dividing the meals. One of us will take point, the other will play sous chef. I do always get knife duty, ’cause she’s kinda scary with a knife (and slow, too). It seems to work well for us. Plus the smoker (named Alice) is all mine. For Xmas, she got me supplies to build a cold smoker. I need to think of a name for that bit of kit.
cicely:
December 25th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Happy Axial-Tilt-Related Holiday, everyone!
-
*pouncehug* for Ing.
-
Pizza and presents and Hogfather with Son and D(still)IL.
:)
-
And then my mother calls to poke her nose around, looking (in vain) for the sordid details of Son’s divorce. Not her business. Can’t imagine why she thought I’d tell her.
:(
-
I should be here most of New Years Day; no pizza, no family, no Hogfather.
I may drink some wine.
-
*hug* for Joe. Unpacking-related pains? Ah; I see that it is so. You have my sympathies.
-
One day, come the Commune, we all will!
:)
-
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 25th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
That’s interesting Joe. It’s a reversal of the forces that produce learned helplessness in men. Also, I wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes in the Marines. ;)
Uhm, I do believe that Fishy Estates, including The Ghost Train Villa (TM), will be at the very least a satellite of the Phayrngula Commune. All are welcome, but because GTV is going to be a tiny house indeed it’s highly recommended that new arrivals bring their own accommodation. And ammunition for the trebuchet. And it would be advisable for those with tents to bring something to feed the moat crocs. But the more the merrier I say!
Now personally I want to go live in Joe and the Boss Nurse’s place. I can take orders real well, especially when they say that I’m forbidden to clean or cook.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 25th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Wow, what a day. I just got home a short time ago, when originally I thought I’d spend maybe two or three hours with the cousins — have dinner around 1, chat a bit, head home. As usual, we all got talking and laughing and time flew by. I am just so lucky to have them in my life because they are the people with whom I can always be my real self, without even thinking about it — and they make it more than obvious that they like that person.
— —
Beatrice:
As far as I know, I’ll be here all New Year’s Eve and Day. Not sure how entertaining I’ll be, but I can try…
—
Improbable Joe:
Mmmm…your dinner sounds yummy! So sorry you’re in pain though!
—
Portia and rq:
The Plan has been put into motion! I did the Great Round of Calls this morning — calling every family member to wish them a happy holiday, because if I don’t, I’ll be accused of forgetting I have a family. When it was the bro and SIL’s turn, she asked (as she always does) what I was doing for New Year’s. I told her that it depended on whether FWB had all his stuff moved in, then very quickly, said, “Don’t tell Mom I told you that!” She agreed, but we both know she’s going to tell, probably at the family party on Saturday when she can get maximum mileage out of my “bad sheep” status.
I expect to hear from my mother after church on Sunday. If she follows the usual dance, she’ll express disapproval and mention she’s talked with the pastor about it, then go silent for about a week. Then, probably around the 7th or 8th she’ll call and tell me she can’t stay with me and condone my sin. I’ll agree and tell her the Marriott is nearby and on the bus route, so she can easily tour the area on her own. Another couple days of silence, but some passive-aggressive postings on Facebook, and she should call to tell me something’s come up and she won’t be able to come out for my birthday after all.
—
chigau:
*raises hand* Alternatively, what with my whole fear of flying thing, Joe and BossNurse.
—
FossilFishy and Joe:
You are both good people. It would be, for both of you, so much easier to just go with the status quo and not really think about doing any different, but you don’t. More than that, whenever you speak about your wives, the respect and admiration you have for them (and other women) as human beings and as equals just shines through. And I really admire that.
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Improbable Joe and BossNurse
vs
FossilFishys
–
tough call
perhaps we could exploit something like L-space
all nice places connected…
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
FossilFishy, I’ll put you to work… I’m not sure which is worse, making you listen to me play guitar, or forcing you to deal with the landscaping. :)
MikeG: you named your smoker. You win.
cicely and Socio-gen: Pain is temporary, unpacking lasts at least until the end of the lease.
Socio-gen: I don’t know how good I am, but I know I try to be better because my wife deserves better. I know it sounds cliche, but it is true. For instance, I’m really good at reading my wife… I try to use that to sneak up on her with surprise cool things that she will appreciate, rather than to manipulate her to get shit I want. It could go either way, I’m certainly capable of being a terrible shithead.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 25th, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Joe:
The point is, you try.
And, certainly, I don’t want to imply you two are the only ones here at FtB whom I admire for this. Just that your words in this thread really hit a sweet spot in my heart. I’m constantly being blown away by the amount of support, encouragement, and education that I find in nearly every thread here at Pharyngula that makes me feel safe and supported.
Even if y’all don’t always do it perfectly every single time, you are trying — and succeeding more often than not. And it really makes a huge difference, when I have to leave my house and face a world that isn’t like that, to know all of you are out there.
—
Having had a bit too much wine through the day, I might be a bit maudlin and possibly incoherent tonight. But the thoughts are sincere, if not well expressed.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
December 25th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Holiday Dinner was a success, with the Redhead too stuffed after the main course and a piece of stollen to eat any plum pudding.
I’m beginning to suspect I’m having some ergonomic problems with the counter level in the kitchen. The level is slightly lower than I am used to in the lab, and whenever I do a lot of work there like today, I get a pain in the mid-back region. Time for a naproxin.
chigau (違う):
December 25th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
We’re watching The Magic Christian.
teehee
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
December 25th, 2012 at 11:36 pm
I’m watching “The UneXplained” on Bio. Killing time until the midnight repeat of this year’s Christmas Special on the Beeb.
Improbable Joe:
December 25th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Socio-gen:
Glad I contribute in some small way. Often I don’t feel worth much around here… a feeling that I realize is pretty fucking common, come to think about it. My guess is that we’re all sort of optimists at heart, and expect a whole lot out of the world, and out of ourselves too. We’re always disappointed at the world, and at ourselves… but we need to probably cut ourselves some fucking slack, right? We’re not perfect, but we’re better than what we face elsewhere.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 25th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Ok! So the Pharyngula Commune will be located on the 40 acres of land behind the FossilFishyFarm!
When is the move in date?
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:00 am
Don’t we need a summer vacation place? Split time at the Fishy’s and the Improbables
****
I would like to second Socio-gen’s comment about appreciating Joe and FossilFishy. Two awesome people who value their spouses as equals and treat them-and women in general-with respect and humanity.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:05 am
Joe:
There is nothing you need to contribute. Just you being you is great.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 12:06 am
I’d like to offer Minnie the Finn’s summer place.
Do you think we should consult her?
Improbable Joe:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Speaking of treating my wife with respect and humanity, I’m off to bed! Night folks, and Tony? Keep an eye out for a snazzy hat with your name on it.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:14 am
Will do Joe. Take care!
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 12:15 am
@ chigau
{pan to image showing a tardigrade laboriously peddling it’s unicycle along the Great Silk Road in the general direction of Helsinki.}
No, we better not!
John Morales:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:33 am
theophontes, obviously a poor sales-tardigrade.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Everyone needs to watch The Magic Christian.
Yul Brynner in drag singing Mad About the Boy.
rorschach:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:07 am
Hope everyone enjoyed their Xmas!
Just home from Boxing Day day shift, there is lots of Norovirus around in Melbourne, and I was on gastro duty today. Not my most glamorous 10 hours, but there you go, copped one for the team.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:11 am
Mine was delightfully peaceful. Some skyping with one family & phone with the other, but mostly peace and quiet and too much food and drink. Today is even quieter, with much less food & drink. Looking forward to Dr Who Xmas special tonight.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:18 am
Uhm, Tony? We only have two acres.
Those forty acres behind our place are owned by farmers. Farmers with guns. Farmers with guns and a demonstrated willingness to use them. Farmers with guns who, after demonstrating their willingness to use them on trespassing animals, then used the very same guns to threaten the owners of said dead animals. We kinda avoid them in the same way one avoids snakes.
Besides, those 40 acres are subject to inundation in a rather major sorta way. Unless the commune is going to be building arks we’d better stick to the high ground. Across the highway is a pine plantation. I hear that the margin in pine has dropped to the point where they’re probably willing to sell cheap. Or in the event of an apocalypse they’re not likely to do anything about defending that land.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:20 am
Sooo, remember that profile message I wrote for a dating site (last thread)? I had somone message me specifically because it was thought provoking and gave a window into who I am. He lives in South Dakota currently, but moves back to Pensacola next month. We chatted a few times on the phone and the conversation had a great flow between us. Only thing I have never dealt with–religion. I haven’t dated anyone long enough since I became an atheist, feminist SJ advocate, so my beliefs haven’t conflicted with anothers’. This guy is a recent convert to Islam (although strangely he has already rationalized his homosexuality with his religion, which is not friendly towards homosexuals ) on a journey to develop himself spiritually and fight the sins of the flesh (paraphrasing him). He hasn’t proselytized or anything, but given my anti theistic beliefs, I almost anticipate some tense conversations. My roomie, E, said I should just respect his beliefs, to which I said I respect people, but not stupid beliefs (adding that I would mock someone claiming to have an invisible pink dragon in their garage every bit as much as I mock silly superstitious religious beliefs).
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:26 am
@ John Morales
Picture or it did not happen:
Link
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:27 am
FossilFishy:
Ok, so first order of business is to simply inform your neighbors that we shall be relocating them. I am sure they will understand.
Secondly, this is the Pharyngula Commune. We don’t do arks. Patheos does arks. we do self sustained private ecosystems built by Nerd and theophontes*.
Theophontes, if you are reading, when I tried to get my ‘speak to text’ to type your nym, it came out ‘feel fine tease’.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:33 am
@ Tony
Tardigrades tend to tickle…
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:35 am
Tony
re: relationship with a ‘recent convert to…’
Please proceed with extreme caution.
OK?
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:41 am
And speaking of Chez Fishy:
Yesterday,
Why yes, watching concrete dry is exactly as exciting as it sounds, thanks for asking.
Mind you, it is possible that I will come home to find a shed in some stage of completion on the other slab. T he builder showed up at the back door this morning to collect a box of shed bits that we’d been storing.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:42 am
chigau:
Personal experience? Can you share any details?
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Seconding chigau’s advice Tony.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:46 am
@ FossilFishy
EEEEEeeeeeepppPPPP!!! Don’t let that happen ever!
(Concrete should set, not dry. It is a chemical reaction very much dependent on there being water about. Hose it down, hose it down!)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:46 am
Uh oh.
FossilFishy, can you elaborate? I am looking for some advice/guidance.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:48 am
Tony
Just generic.
Your commitment to rationality would make it difficult to start a relationship with someone who has recently abandoned rationality.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 1:59 am
I’m sorry.
My internet connection is fucking-up.
I’ll be back tomorrow.
ie about 8 hours
*hugs to all*
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:00 am
Well, after all the lies and threats and blustering and grandstanding and whining and general bullshit, I finally have proof that my scumbag ex is still drinking.
Merry fucking Christmas. >.>
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:00 am
True. That said, while I haven’t pried-much-I didn’t get the impression he recently abandoned rationality, so much as he traded one irrational system of beliefs for another. Point taken though.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:01 am
Azkyroth:
I am sorry my friend.
Beatrice:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:32 am
Portia,
Don’t worry, I was just being a demanding whinger. :)
I went to bed early.
—–
Joe,
I hope you’re not in pain any more by the time you’re reading this.
—–
FossilFishy,
You won’t get a cookie for cleaning, then, but you’ll get one for sounding sort of brilliant in general.
—–
Socio-gen,
Good luck with the plan! May your sil and mother be predictable, and your birthday peaceful and fun.
—–
Tony,
He may have rationalized his homosexuality in the “no, I don’t deserve to die because of this” way, but it doesn’t sound like he’s exactly at peace with his desires.
I’m certainly not a relationship expert, but I third the advice to proceed with extreme caution if at all.
—–
Azkyroth,,
*hugs*
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:44 am
It is so much fun playing with the felines. First it was the laser pointer. Then I broke out the catnip. Then I hit upon the idea of hiding cat treats like Easter eggs. What fun.
now watching Blade.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:52 am
Beatrice:
In our chats, I got no indication of self hatred for being gay. I should have mentioned that the sins he said he’s fighting against were explicitly stated as being drinking and drug use. He said he fell in bad with the wrong crowd and went to South Dakota to get away from them. When we talked about Islam and homosexuality, he said that he believes in the end that Allah will not judge him for loving a man if he lives a good life.
Beatrice:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:00 am
Tony,
I misunderstood then, since people usually include sex into sins of the flesh. Especially when it comes to non-impregnating kinds of sex.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:12 am
Yeah, I was unclear in my initial details. The sex thing is one area I likely do not have to worry about. He has been quite explicit about his desires.
I also do not think he has fully embraced Islam. He has made comments about searching for himself and trying to find his place. I get the feeling he’s going through what many of us have and has partially embraced Islam as a way of figuring out what he wants out of life and himself.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 3:13 am
@ Azkyroth
*more hugs*
@ Tony
IIRC, although Mohammad was straight (if one can believe the tales), this was not the case with many of his followers at the time. Not much was made of it then – perhaps in order to not upset the choir.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:20 am
Speaking of non impregnating sex, I had a conversation at work with a guy who’s GF is pregnant with their child. He also said he wants more kids but no time soon. When I mentioned that he shoyld wear a condom if he wants to prevent that, he said he doesn’t like using them. He said they don’t feel as good as skin to skin. He then asked me if I used condoms. To which I deadpanned “I don’t have to worry about pregnancy”. And walked off. It took a few seconds before the light bulb went off and he and two others busted out laughing. A minute later I came back and added that condoms also help prevent STIs.
rorschach:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:30 am
Well he was straight and his wife raked in the money, acording to the tales.
Lesbian couple one of which is a Consultant at my work just had their second surrogate child, one each now. It’s very sweet, and nothing weird about it afaiac.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:39 am
I was speaking of gay male sex as being non impregnating in a matter of fact way. Not in a weird one.
rorschach:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:46 am
Yep, I’m sorry, my bad.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:52 am
” A petition to deport CNN host Piers Morgan over his heated comments on gun control has reached more than 62,000 signatures in just 4 days, far exceeding the threshold required for a White House response. A petition must get 25,000 signatures in 30 days in order to elicit a response.
In the wake of the elementary school shooting in Connecticut that left 27 dead, Morgan has become a vocal advocate for tighter gun regulations. Specifically, he is calling for a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, as well as strict background checks on gun sales.”
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/12/25/1376291/petition-to-deport-cnn-host-for-gun-control-support-reaches-60000-signatures/?mobile=wp
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:14 am
Now maybe I can fucking DO something about it.
On the other hand, I NOW realize I should have called the cops when she drove off. Fuck. :(
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:21 am
Azkyroth
*even more hugs*
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:25 am
Today’s XKCD – Xmas themed.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:34 am
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. I suppose there’s little chance she’d be pulled over but if she finally got caught DUI…
WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF IT?
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:43 am
So, totally threadrupt and not going to catch up, since soon all grandparents assembled will show up at Chez Giliell.
Azkyroth
Serious hugs.
My mum has developed a healthy skin tone -for Marge Simpson…
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:06 am
” Italy is to press on with plans to open 1,000 new gambling arcades despite mounting national anguish over the spread of pathological gambling in what until recently was a nation of frugal savers. ”
http://m.guardiannews.com/world/2012/dec/25/gambling-addiction-takes-toll-taly
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:40 am
So, I had a thought this morning.
What if sex-positivity was the way of the world? What if it weren’t so bad being sexual? What if people were more open to what they wanted and more willing to discuss and communicate? All within bounds of safety, consent, and communication.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 7:33 am
@ Kitty
You will find that prudery is more the exception than the rule throughout human history. (Hell, even in very stuck up cultures, where it just goes underground.)
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 7:37 am
@theophontes:
Well we’ve got a pretty damned prudish society here in the US (I know, US centric thought.) Can’t even show a nipple for two seconds without people going all insane… it’s a nipple for Pete’s sake.
(On a side note, who the heck is Pete?)
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 7:58 am
No, there is a lot of that going about.
Sexuality used to be seen as divine, now (for too many) it is seen as just the opposite. Which really makes no sense at all.
You will be pleased to know that all the good old ways are alive and well in Asia. (Though perhaps not quite to the extent of Khajuraho!)
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 26th, 2012 at 8:01 am
So, in 30 minutes a batallion of grannies will show up here.
I have strawberry-cupcakes, apple-cheesecake and brownies…
I hope it’s enough
vaiyt:
December 26th, 2012 at 8:25 am
What you have is a society where a lot of people want to APPEAR chaste. The debauchery happens behind the scene.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 8:39 am
@vaiyt:
Yea. But what if it weren’t behind the scenes debauchery?
I think if people weren’t so caught up in this idea of sex=bad that we’d be a much more culturally healthy society, pro-choice by consequence, pro-homosexuality, pro-women…
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Argh! I hate when I hear a song and realize I’ve heard it somewhere before, but can’t figure out WHERE I heard it before!
Helena Beat by Foster the People. I’ve heard this song before I heard it on Pandora, and I don’t remember from where…
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:04 am
Here by the way, is the song.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:12 am
The Fiscal Cliff was a friend of mine.
theophontes (坏蛋):
December 26th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Filmed on location @ Teh Thunderdome?
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:33 am
@Theophontes:
Looks that way.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Theophontes
Indeed, Muslim nations were extremely tolerant of homosexuality (relative to Europe anyway) until around the 1700s IIRC, when the more fundamentalist strains started to dominate.
Azkyroth
*hugs*
Improbable Joe:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Good morning friends and far-off neighbors! I hope everyone got exactly what they deserved yesterday. :)
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 10:31 am
Why is it that so many supernatural beings are concerned with human sexy-bits?
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@chigau:
Supernatural beings don’t have human sexy-bits. They’re jealous.
At least that’s in my stories they don’t have human sexy-bits, since they’re either spirits that travel between human bodies or pure magical energy that sometimes takes on human form.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Katherine Lorraine
I guess immortality and omnipotence just aren’t enough.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:57 am
@chigau:
I guess not.
(Though again, story-related, none of my deities are omnipotent and they’re only immortal by definition of being undying – the elementals are made of energy that is dragged up out of the leylines into people and objects and when said objects are destroyed or people die the energy circulates to the earth, the gods are an eternal spirit that will forever hop between the bodies of people, who die, a lot.)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Katherine:
I had a discussion a few days ago with a guy if he was talking about oral sex. he mentioned that 1 girl he was previously with frequently used teeth during oral sex, which made him cringe. I asked him if he talked to her about it, but he didn’t. I explained to him that if you’re open and honest with the person you’re having sex with, you should be free to discuss the things you like and the things you don’t like. If you don’t talk about your sexual activities,you cannot expect people to get better.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Christmas seriously fucking ended about 20 minutes ago. Thank goodness.
+++
As a European, I say yes.
Seriously, US sex scenes (her still wearing her bra because of tits, the L-shaped sheets that cover him to the hip and her to the chin) and the frequent uproar when there was a suggestion of female nipple somewhere are the running joke over here. Not saying we’re all wonderfully sex-positive and fine and dandy, but more relaxed.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Katherine:
I think I became more sex positive years before I heard the term, simply because I stopped treating sexual activity as something hush hush. I started discussing things with any partners (at least more often). In conversations at work-restaurants are notorious for sex talk-I would try go drop ‘communicating with your partner’ into the chit chat. I also became fairly blunt when heterosexual men would ask me sexual questions.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:15 am
I were a giant I would open a restaurant called Fe Fi Phô Fum and only serve phô made with British ex-rock stars
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:16 am
It still amazes me the uproar over Janet Jackson’s boob falling out , because yo boobs are bad. And that was during halftime show for an extremely violent American sport. Americans are more comfortable with violence than sex, but how big is the porn industry…?
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Katherine
I think Pete = St. Peter, but I can’t back it up at the moment.
As for prudish societies, I had a similar thought today while changing for the concert. We’re an all-voices choir, and yet we always get the one changeroom, and everyone changes in front of everyone else, without the slightest bit of shame at a bit of flesh, men or women.
It’s a situation that would never have been allowed in Canad.a
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:22 am
That’s not to say it’s a particularly sex-positive society. Just not prudish in the sense of nakedness = bad because nakedness = sex.
Beatrice:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Giliell,
Everything went well with the family gathering?
—-
I never understood parents who let their children watch movies with people chopping each other’s limbs off, but wouldn’t let them catch even a glimpse of sex (even the “sheets moving in a vaguely meaningful way” kind).
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Tony
Ha! Gold star.
Akyroth
*hugs*
You didn’t think of it because it’s hard to think of the right thing at the right moment, especially when that moment is a stressful one.
Giliell
Om nom nom nom
Katherine
Tell that to Zeus :D
Beatrice
Whinging is okay, as long as I am correct in that I understand it to be somewhat similar to whining. I whine all the time. : )
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Here’s one explanation
For Pete’s sake
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:46 am
My issue being sex positive is that my partners I’ve had so far don’t listen, my few times having sex have turned out the same. I like exploration of bodies, trying to find out what where feels good when you do that thing. Me touching them, them touching me, and when we’ve got ourselves worked up to the point of explosion – then we can have sex.
Both of my partners have been straight to the sex. I told them – “I like when you explore my body” – and they maybe do it a few seconds at most before right to sex. And it’s disappointing (although exhilarating) that they both chose to enjoy me the same way. Blow/hand job. I hate that part of my body. They knew I was trans, but still.
Not to say I didn’t enjoy it – I may hate it, but it still feels good.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:50 am
beatrice
Yep, everything went well, everybody behaved themselves, cake was yummie.
BUt now I’m seriously glad this is over.
Christmas eve we were at my parents’, the my in-laws’, then at home, yesterday we were at Mr.’s aunt and uncle for the big family reunion, which is actually very nice but exhausting and today everybody came here.
What is really nice is that my brother in law’s boyfriend has become a no-brainer to everybody the way I always was.
How did my friend always say?
Slice up a woman in a movie, show in graphic detail how her intestines are removed and fry her up and the movie is PG12. Make that tit naked and it’s X-rated.
cicely (Co-co-Prophet of the Equine Apocalypse):
December 26th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I like this plan. I endorse this plan heartily. And not just because I could winter over in one of the nice places in the other hemisphere.
:)
-
Tony: Cafeteria Islam???
-
*hug* for Azkyroth. Majorly sucks.
-
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Re: violence against women getting lower ratings than nudity or sexual situations.
http://www.feministfatale.com/2010/12/hey-girl-bet-you-didnt-know-im-a-feminist/
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Katherine
Sorry you have had such crap experience with partners : ( Hopefully you can find someone someday who really listens and is more compatible with you in that way. Maybe with practice you can be more specific about what it is you want and find someone who cares enough to find out what that is.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
My 616 comes off sort of blaming you for your bad experiences, I’m sorry. I meant that communication about sex is difficult, because we are all-too-often conditioned to be abstract and vague about what we want. Shedding the training takes practice and work, is what I meant. It also takes a receptive partner who is trying to get free of the cultural expectations of demureness as well.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!
Dick Armey attempted an armed coup of a Tea Party group and gets paid off for his efforts. Grass roots, my fucking ass.
And he is being paid off by the man who owns Cancer Treatment Centers For America.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
what that what? Literally an armed coup. I can’t fathom it…who are these megalomaniacs and why are we giving them any shred of credibility in our political discourse?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Should not Dick Armey, Susan Armey and the unnamed armed muscle be charged instead of being paid off.
The fucking Mafia must be looking on with envy.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
“When ‘assault weapons’ saved Koreatown” The “good minority vs. bad minority” undertones are making me want to puke. (And I haven’t even checked the veracity of the story yet).
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
May I just say… FUCKKKKKK! I made a cup of tea this morning, walked out of the kitchen and tripped over the …board thing between two rooms (?) … and flung my cup of tea in the direction of my coffee table before crashing to the floor. I’m fine, though there are probably bruises forming but the worst? I splashed my laptop!! Luckily the mug itself missed everything important and just shattered on the floor.
I unplugged it super-quick, but I don’t have the right screwdriver to open the back, so hopefully, just lying on a towel (keyboard down) near the heater for a couple days will be enough to dry it out and keep anything horrible from happening.
So, now I’ve dragged the ancient and pitiful Averatec out and it is soooo slow. It’s like the old days of dial-up – I might as well bring a book to pass the time while each page loads. Forget opening more than one tab or *sad face watching Netflix. And that’s if the wireless adapter can hold the connection for more than ten minutes. Argh!
On the bright side (yes, I’m desperate to find one), I’ll have more time to read.
— —
Azkyroth:
*hugs*
—
Tony:
It sounds like he’s in the “I need to believe in something because otherwise I’ll go back to where I was” stage. I think a lot of people go through this, having had “You’re a terrible terrible sinner” pounded into them, often from childhood. It’s hard to overcome that and believe that although you made mistakes in the past, you are a different person now who doesn’t need a god to keep you from repeating them.
Since he believes he won’t be judged for his orientation as long as he lives a good life, it might be that, as your relationship progresses, he can begin to see that living a good life doesn’t require gods.
—
Giliell:
Oh..dear. Hope the visit with the grannies went well. Or at least wasn’t completely horrid.
—
Tony:
I found it rather amazing just how much better my sex life got when I was finally comfortable enough to tell my partners what I liked and what I didn’t and what I wouldn’t even try. A few were of the “oh you’ll like it when I do it” variety, but the best ones (including FWB) listened and were (I think) more comfortable telling me what they liked, didn’t, wouldn’t try as a result.
—
Beatrice:
Yep. The idea that sex is some horrific thing that will scar children forever, but hey, here’s SAW XXIII, is just fucked up.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
I did that with tea to my laptop a few weeks ago. Your exact solution fixed my laptop right up pretty quickly. Once everything has drained there’s not much more to be done. You should be netflixing again soon : )
Speaking of which, I am loving Kerry Washington in Scandal.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Ok, this is over a month old, and may have been covered, but what the heck, it still raises my ire:
(Short wall o text):
” For eight years James Finley went to work for VCU’s women’s volleyball team. For eight years he pouredhis heart and soul into his team of women. And on Monday November 19th, James Finley was fired. Finley says the reasons for his contract termination are simple. It wasn’t his winning record. It wasn’t his personal commitment to the team. It wasn’t the move to a tougher competing conference his team earned under his guidance. According to Finley, it was because he was openly gay.
People picked the Rams to take 6th place. Instead they took 3rd, with a final record of 25-6 overall in the regularseason – theygot as far as the semi finals – a solid standing for a team in their first A10 championship.
On Nov. 19th, the Monday after they returned from the championships, Coach Finley had a message waiting for him from AD McLaughlin’s secretary. “They wanted a confidential meeting,” said Finley. He figured it was to discuss his contract renewal -most VCU coaches are on year-to-year contracts, and at the end of seasons, coaches and administration get together to discuss their future together.
But when Finley met with McLaughlin this time, the conversation was different. “He said they wanted to go in a different direction,” said Finley. The new direction did not includeFinley as the head coach of his team. It did not include Finley on staff at all. [T]here were several red flags that popped up throughout the season leading up to this moment.
“From the beginning he interacted with other coaches, staffs, other teams. He participated [with them], and with ours he didn’t… At booster events, he avoided me whenever I was there. [I'd be] having a conversation with him and he’d walk away when I was trying to talk to him. I’d say ‘Hi’ and he’d look up at me, and put his head back down and not acknowledge me.”
Finley didn’t think much of the issue as the season passed, but on Oct. 5th, when Pat Stauffer, a 30-year-veteran of VCU athletics and an open lesbian, was demoted from Senior Women’s Administrator to Sr. Associate AD for Sports Administration. It was too much for Finley, it was another red flag.”
http://www.bilerico.com/2012/11/virginia_commonwealth_university_coach_fired_for_b.php
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Odd. I put everything within italics, and it showed up in preview correctly. Huh.
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Oh here’s another song I know I heard before I heard it on Pandora and I can’t recall from where:
The Cave by Mumford and Sons.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Socio-gen:
I had this one guy who liked to spank and scratch during sex…both of which turn me off. During the sex I didn’t say anything (this was around the time I was learning how to become more comfortable talking about what turned me on and what doesn’t). The next morning, I told him and from then on and he was very receptive. He never did either again, and it made the sex soooo much better.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Frustration of the day: trying to do my annual attorney registration and the damn bank closed my trust account. Without telling me. Because there was no balance. After they withdrew the amount they told me to deposit for paying for the checks. The whole point of the account is that it sits empty until I have client money to put in it. Arg. I would love to not be the one to have to deal with this anymore, that “regular job” is looking better all the time.
Happy of the day: my newest client is an adopted baby. I was asked to serve as a guardian ad litem in an adoption. I’m tempted to ask to meet with the client, so I can squee in person. : D
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Portia:
Have a pastry, on me and hugs for the bummer part.
Now have a chocolate covered, lightly powdered sugar topped pastry for the squee!
Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
This said.
Mumford and Sons. Holy crap I love this band.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Thanks, Tony. :D *scarf*
And so as not to get too meta, I will take my bow over here for my miniscule contribution to the feminism thread : )
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Portia
The Feminism thread is still alive? I’ll have to go look for your addition!
Also: the Family went out for a walk today. As we crossed the parking lot, a black Porsche pulled out of a spot, and I though to myself, That car is totally the wrong colour.
Also, congrats on the new client! :)
Tony
I’m still not very good at articulating what I want, but I keep getting better at it – mostly because rare is the person with whom I feel fully capable of expressing myself without the fear of being ridiculed or being told that that’s not actually what I want. Two factors have helped me: 1) the Husband being who he is; 2) this guy I saw years ago who had a very open and communicative attitude towards sex – the kind you’re supposed to have, and it was a huge revelation that people like that actually existed. Didn’t see him for very long, but a lot of what he said has stuck with me (in a good way).
dianne:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Happy of the day: my newest client is an adopted baby. I was asked to serve as a guardian ad litem in an adoption. I’m tempted to ask to meet with the client, so I can squee in person. : D
Shouldn’t you meet the client, to ensure that s/he is being treated well and in good health (with extra bonus squee if all is well)?
Sorry, but my view of adoption is a little dark.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Thanks rq
Dianne
You’re right. However, I’m told the Chinese end of the adoption is totally formalized (I’ll be getting the paperwork in a few days) and this step in the process is just to have the American courts recognize the adoption. From what I’ve heard and read, Chinese authorities are pretty strict about the adoption process. Not that any of this means I don’t have responsibilities to the child by virtue of my accepting the case.
dianne:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
And he is being paid off by the man who owns Cancer Treatment Centers For America.
Interesting. I always instinctively felt that CTCA must be evil but now I’ve got solid evidence. Beyond anecdotes of dumped patients, of course.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Tony:
The real turning point for me was realizing I had to speak up because certain things really trigger my memories of past abuse. A playful tap or holding my head or hands in a certain way, for example, not only kills the mood in an instant, they can sometimes turn me into a sobbing puddle. Which, because I’d never said anything, left my partners utterly bewildered and made things worse each time afterward as we were trying to avoid repeats without ever discussing why it happened. And, in my experience, absolutely no one believes, “It’s not you…” :)
—
Portia:
WTF? They’re a bank…how can they not understand how a trust account works? If they can’t handle something as relatively simple as this, I don’t know that I’d trust them with my retirement or any kind of complex financial planning.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Socio-gen
That’s exactly why SO doesn’t even playfully hold my arms to tickle me or something like that. He knows it will result in hyperventilating, ha. He’s been great at believing “it’s not you” for the most part : )
Bank: yeah, I’m extremely peeved. I think it might have been one incompetent employee. But damn. Still. Quite the oversight.
Another item in the list of ways taking the “regular job” would be a good thing: I would no longer be in a position where I’m leveraged as a bargaining chip because of my alleged attractiveness. The attorney I’m subcontracting for literally told me he believes he can use having me around as a way to get what he wants because “attractive women can get whatever they want.” I feel dirty. And worthless. And like I stepped into Mad Men and I can’t figure out how to get out.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Eh. Was going through the Once again the Lord… thread of PZ’s, read this comment and was immediately reminded of this oldie. I think it was the use of the (non)word bannanage in association with horrible, terrible slimy things. Posting here because doesn’t seem relevant to that thread.
+++
Feel free to ignore the following.
Sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing here. I mean, y’all are great and all, but some days, like today, there’s just this huge disconnect between how much I like this place and the whole purpose of me being here. Or something. I just… you know, like I shouldn’t be here because I can’t keep up? Or something. Not articulating well right now.
Sorry for more emotional-dumping. It’s been a terrible holiday season (but not in any specific way) and I can’t quite put my finger on why (but it has something to do with yesterday at the parents’ and all that Jesus’-birthday crap, and also being generally exhausted in all kinds of ways over the past couple of weeks). Also, I realize a lot of you out there are having a much worse time of everything in all kinds of ways, so I feel bad for putting this here, but I don’t know where else to do it.
Beatrice:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Only a couple of days in the workplace and I’ve already been met with that curious kind of sexism where I’m supposed to be treated “like a lady”. Had to act all stealthy while helping a coworker move some boxes so that the (woman) boss doesn’t notice and reprimand him.
Also, the “marry a rich man so that you don’t have to worry about money” jokes. Because I’m young, that kind of joking is absolutely appropriate, right?
Some kind of sexism is everywhere.
Beatrice:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
rq,
*hugs*
I like that you’re here.
If it helps any, I’m feeling out of place here often too. Especially lately. I used to comment in other threads more often, but I can’t find anything intelligent to say on any given topic any more, so I mostly babble here or in Thunderdome.
I hope you’ll manage to rest a bit and that the remaining holidays won’t be too stressful.
Tethys:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
/utterly threadrupt.
Hey horde, guess what? My DIL has filmed a show for TLC. It premiers on the 27th and it is called Wives with Beehives
*watches clips but DIL is only on screen for 2 seconds*
D:
/begin sad ranting and run-on sentence
I was hoping they focused on the ‘enthusiastic collector of cool vintage stuff aspect, but it features some ridiculous “backstory” of women who want nothing more than to stay home to cook and clean and perhaps have some babbys while big strong hubby works all day and every aspect of her daily life revolves around serving him and is hollywood BS and arrghhhhhh………….
/end rant
I hope someone here at FtB can watch it and do a horde style critique, or use it as a case study in media in pop culture. Maybe it isn’t as bad as the previews lead me to believe?
*crosses tentacles*
————
I hope everyone had a lovely monkey, and now I’m going to scan through the monster feminist thread and see if there is any good troll chomping to be had.
dianne:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
I wonder who we’re supposed to arm to prevent this sort of thing.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Portia:
One of the things I really loved about the FWB* from the first was that he didn’t just listen, but affirmed that he understood why those things were a problem and even asked questions to make sure he got it right. When we finally started becoming intimate, he went slowly, asking at each incremental step if what he was doing was okay, was I okay. And, on the very rare occasion when something isn’t right, he does believe “it isn’t you” and he’s okay with backing off until I’m ready to try again, whether that’s a few minutes or a few days (which is rare now).
*I feel like I should find another name for him, because he’s much more than just a friend I use for sex. We have a really close relationship, and I trust and respect him more than any other man I’ve been with, mostly because he makes it clear that he respects me and my opinions/values. We just like having our own spaces and using FWB makes that more understandable to others.
Gee, nothing like being valued for your appearance instead of your skills and abilities. What a jerk!
—
rq:
I feel that way too, sometimes, especially when school’s in session and I’m lucky if I have time to read the OPs. I mostly stick to the Lounge because (especially in the contentious threads) the regulars say everything a hundred times better than I could and they do so long before I get there. Plus, it takes me awhile to write out any sort of thoughtful response, so the whole conversation has moved to another point before I post. But when I haven’t been around the Lounge much, I feel awkward about coming in because I have no idea what’s been going on, and haven’t got time to read through and catch up.
For what it’s worth, I love that you’re here and I always look forward to reading your comments.
—
Beatrice:
Ugh!!
—
Tethys:
That sounds…hmm…interesting (not really). It being on TLC does not give me a good feeling.
No good trolls, sadly. Just the same pitiful non-evidenced opinions. “Dworkin! MacKinnon!” was the latest “gotcha feminists!” card to be played (again) when last I looked.
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Beatrice
Thanks. I think I’m just too tired to feel useful, and I’m hoping a return to a more ordinary schedule in the New Year will solve most of these issues.
In the meantime, I feel your pain about the job and the sexism (haha, funny, that joke again :P). Many *hugs* for you too.
Personal share on the topic: When we’re out in the country, I make it a point not to let any of the guys carry heavy pails for me. I’ve had actual tug-of-wars with Husband’s younger brother about these things (I win because he doesn’t want to spill and I’m more stubborn), and I know they mean well, but it’s just so annoying. If I need help, I’ll ask for it, thanks.
Yeah, Mad Men are alive and well. Everywhere. :(
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
rq:
When I first started reading here, I lurked a while. Once I worked up the courage to post, I stayed mostly here (TET back in the day). I still lurked across FtB, but didn’t know enough to join any conversations. For a while I felt bad for only chatting in the Lounge/TET. Then I started asking myself what I was doing here. I realized that this space is a safe zone with genuinely compassionate people where I can be myself and share in the laghs and tears and successes and occassional failures. More importantly, I realized that there is nothing wrong with not helping out in other threads. I had felt guilty reading some of the regulars taking on creationists or MRAs or general anti skeptical thinking while I just sat back and watched. It was like I felt there was some obligation to post ‘in the threads that mattered’. Once I realized there is no such obligation…that I am free to post or not post wherever, it really freed me. Thats when I started clicking on links people provided as well as exploring various subjects. It’s like once I realized I didn’t HAVE to make a contribution, I realized I wanted to…if that makes sense.
So please do not think that you are obligated to post anything. You are not obligated to defend sexism. You do not have to say anything about the latest WLC stupidity. Just continue doing what you like and feel comfortable with. If and when that changes, then you make the decision.
No pressure.
No requirements.
No obligations.
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
And thanks, Socio-gen. :) I feel reassured in a strange way – I have nothing to contribute, but I don’t need to contribute…
Beatrice:
December 26th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Socio-gen,
Everyone is being so damn nice to me, it’s hard to resent them anything. I’m hoping these are all just misguided efforts to make the new worker feel welcome.
off to bed, might check the Lounge in the morning if I get up in time
rq:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Good night, Beatrice!
Tony
Thanks for that.
I guess I do somehow feel that I should help in the defence because I’m here, but I know how much time it would take, and I don’t have it… I also know I don’t have any obligations, but sometimes, when it feels like everyone is putting in so much effort and I’m running around doing a bunch of other stuff (even though I know the internet can’t take over my life because I have obligations), it just feels… odd.
Don’t worry, though. In another 18 years or so the kids will all be grown and legally sendable-out-into-the-world, and I can engage fully. :) I’ll stick around and be useless/-ful here to the best of my ability.
opposablethumbs:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Huh. I chucked in a couple of little comments on the feminism thread a couple of hours ago, and I’m ashamed to realise that I didn’t pick up on the latest MRA-alike markneil’s unfounded demonisation of Dworkin but just allowed that to slide while I tried to pick up on other aspects of his dishonesty.
I have so much to learn.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Tony:
Realizing that I can just hang out and chat and don’t have an obligation to do more was such a relief because I feel like I have a long way to go before I’m as knowledgeable or as articulate as the regulars when it comes to discussing most subjects. Especially when it comes to skewering the trolls and MRAs.
—
rq:
:)
—
Beatrice:
Oh that makes it tough. I find it easier to deal with sexism from jerks than sexism from genuinely nice people. *crossed tentacles* that it’s just welcoming gestures.
carlie:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Anyone a Les Mis fan? I have an irrationally strong fondness for it, given that it is all about redemption in a religious sense, because it was the first big professional musical I ever saw performed live (and hey, the music is catchy and there’s that number about loving a guy who doesn’t know you exist and when you hear it as a teenager OMG IT IS ALL ABOUT ME). Just saw the movie.
Thoughts, in random order:
Holy crap, but poor Russell Crowe should not have been cast in this movie. There are people who can act and sing at the same time and make it work, and there are people who can’t. He can’t.
In a similar vein, you can definitely tell which actors are screen actors and which have theater experience, particularly musical theater experience. It’s quite obviously more natural looking for the ones who know how to do it. Anne Hathaway has gotten a lot of acclaim for being able to cross the boundary, but I thought she still wasn’t as believable as some of the other characters.
The opening sequence was totally meh. That’s the part that’s supposed to grab your right in, and maybe it was the lower volume at this theater, but eh. Bland. And then the scenes where Valjean goes trekking off looked straight out of LOTR CGI.
It did a very good job of clarifying the parts that are confusing and poorly explained in the musical. I was happy that the storyline was a lot more understandable.
There were several musical/lyrical changes, and I was surprisingly fine with all of them. Some were even improvements.
So I’m glad I saw it, and there are things that a movie can do better than a stage production and they took full advantage of that, but I still like the renewed stage version better.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
The Lounge could be Dagobah and you’re all like Luke in training to battle TheDarkSide…
but then where (or who) is Yoda?
Nepenthe:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@carlie
I will forever be a fan after playing in a pit orchestra for a production of it. This might be Stockholm Syndrome though, because I’ve probably seen the whole thing 30 times*.
*It was a high school production, not a professional one where you do two run throughs and then the show.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Soci-gen:
We all of us have much to learn.
For my part, I want to learn more about various logical fallacies and how to detect and counter them. Several of the regulars are excellent at that.
I stick to what I know and feel comfy with.
For instance in the feminism thread, currently markneil is arguing over defining terms. I may not know how to argue as well as others, so I approach him from where I feel comfortable.
Ok, you are trying to bog us down in definitions. Why? Here is your definition. Why are you still stuck on this? What is your definition if you’re dissatisfied with ours? Keep your eye on the ball. What is the challenge PZ posted? Are you meeting that challenge or just wanking in the locker room? .
I love watching consciousness razor or nick gotts, or sgbm or john morales or sastra or janine verbally eviscerate someone with strong arguments. I ain’t as skilled at that, so I go with what works.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Bikers turn out to protect Newtown mourners from left-wing Westboro cult
Gotta love that Faux News. If Barack Obama can be called a marxist, it is equally truthful that the Phelps klan are leftists.
They report their bias, you decide if it is bullshit.
birgerjohansson:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Maybe you have already seen this years ago, it is why Republicans should vote in favor of building the Death Star. “The Case for the Empire” http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/248ipzbt.asp?page=1
— — — — —
Is it permitted to bring Neuromancer-type “Black Ice” to The Thunderdome?
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
I ran into something …different. I follow Guerrilla Feminism on Facebook and today they posted a warning to their commenters to stop with the transphobic comments (which I was glad to hear because some of it was rather vile.) I go to read the comments and see this:
Several commenters have questioned the person who made that statement, expressing the same confusion I have: how do you transition from one race to another? Maybe it’s a real thing about which I’m uneducated, but it seems like, after some 3-4 years of reading Pharyngula, this is something that, in the context of so many previous discussions, might have come up at some point.
I’m willing to be wrong, but this just rubs me the wrong way.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Socio-gen:
I am baffled. Would be curious to know if/how that is possible.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
rq
I feel the same way, a lot of the time. It takes a lot of my mental energy just to psyche myself up to post at all, and frankly I get a lot better kind of feedback here than I do in most of the other threads. When it’s on a topic I’m particularly interested in, and I feel like an argument, (since that often results), I’ll post on another thread, but honestly lately I’ve been dealing with enough stuff in my personal life that I hardly have the energy to even read most of the posts/threads anymore. I’d like to again sometime, but I don’t know when that will be.
Pretty ‘rupt and have things I need to do, will talk more later.
Improbable Joe:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
chigau:
I think we’re all Luke AND Yoda, depending on the needs of the moment. Except for Tony, who occasionally gets to be Lando in a snazzy hat. :)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Can I be Chewie?
I’m pretty strong, don’t betray my friends and am quite loyal…
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Socio-gen
I’ll try to find a link, but I’ve read progressive POC bloggers who view that sort of thing as huge bullshit. (Transitioning races, not genders, obviously). There are also people who claim they are victimized by society because they are non-human animals stuck in human bodies. They claim oppression par with POC and other marginalized grroups.
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Joe
If we’re all Luke AND Yoda, we’re probably all Spartacus, too.
and maybe even perfect cherry-blossoms.
and we should all get hats.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Dalillama:
Funny how we all deal with stress differently. Sometimes I have the same reaction as you. Other times, I like diving into a post that pisses me off enough to distract from my stress.
carlie:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Nepenthe – the guy who’s been Valjean the most times has almost 2000 performances, not counting rehearsals. I can’t imagine coping with that much repetition.
Hope everyone’s coming off the holiday bump ok.
Improbable Joe:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I’m 100% NOT SPARTACUS, but I’m on board with the hat thing. It is how we’ll identify each other on the way to the commune.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Here’s one article:
http://www.womanist-musings.com/2012/06/dear-demi-sexual-trans-ethnictrans.html
carlie:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
I guess it *could* be someone who’s biracial and passing white, but then they’ve gotten a lifetime of white privilege and that’s how people initially react to them, so finally broadcasting their status wouldn’t really change a whole lot.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Portia:
Thanks for that link. I am with that blogger. “Trans ethnic”, “trans fat”, that is a huge slap in the face to trans* people everwhere who are discriminated against.
How does one arrive at the “realization” that they should be 700 lbs, or disabled, or a wolf in human form?
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Oh and demisexual:
” Demisexual
A demisexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone. It’s more commonly seen in but by no means confined to romantic relationships. The term demisexual comes from the orientation being “halfway between” sexual and asexual. Nevertheless, this term does not mean that demisexuals have an incomplete or half-sexuality, nor does it mean that sexual attraction without emotional connection is required for a complete sexuality. In general, demisexuals are not sexually attracted to anyone of any gender; however, when a demisexual is emotionally connected to someone else (whether the feelings are romantic love or deep friendship), the demisexual experiences sexual attraction and desire, but only towards the specific partner or partners. “
http://www.asexuality.org/wiki/index.php?title=Demisexual
Does anyone have any exerience with this concept?
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Janine:
Erm…so the left is simultaneously trying to destroy marriage by demanding equal rights for the LGBT community while protesting funerals because God hates the LGBT community?
I’m sure that makes sense in whatever alternate universe Fox inhabits.
—
Tony:
Well, it turns out it was a troll who did a really good job of derailing. He was just plausible enough to confuse the hell out of me. One thing he did point out was how quickly those who questioned him (almost all people of color) were jumped on by those who accepted what he said unquestioningly.
Google tells me there are people who use the term “transethnic”* to describe themselves as having been born into the wrong race/ethnicity. Almost all are white and choosing to adopt the identity of an oppressed group. Because, of course, they have that option, unlike people of color. An example.
*It is an actual term, but is normally (appropriately?) used to describe adopted children who internalize their adoptive parents’ racial identity.
John Morales:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Tony,
No, but it seems used as a label for a particular position in the gradient (on the sexual attraction axis) from asexuality to hyper-sexuality, i.e. jargon when discussing certain concepts but not an ordinary word.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Stupid ancient laptop and crummy wireless adapter!
—
Portia:
Thanks for that link! My first reaction to that person’s claim on GF was “Appropriation!” But then I second-guessed myself by thinking perhaps this was an area of bias on my part, so I should at least consider it, even if it didn’t sound right. Which is why I asked about it here. If it was real, folks would let me know in no uncertain terms.
—
carlie:
That’s exactly what I thought of as well. But then, it’s not as if President Obama (for example) could suddenly announce he was now white. The only people who could “successfully” transition to a different race are those who (appear) to be members of the dominant group — and they’ll still benefit from privilege because they’ll be perceived by others as members of the dominant group.
vaiyt:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
I don’t want to be a Jedi. In fact, I hate all the major players in Star Wars. They’re all agents of destruction, decay or stagnation. The Galaxy needs more healers and builders.
John Morales:
December 26th, 2012 at 7:07 pm
I don’t want to be a Jedi, either. I wanna be Yoda.
(Hmm — trying to restrain my Yoda-speak, I’ve been)
carlie:
December 26th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
The Weather Channel just had a headline “deadly snow marches east”.
Being a Doctor Who fan, I laughed.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
vaiyt: they are *all* agents of destruction?
Certainly many of them have caused chaos and death, but like humanity, they have also done much good (here I speak of the Jedi).
I guess when I think of an agent of destruction, I think their primary focus and actions are centered on causing destruction.
A case can certainly be made for the characters trying to maintain the status quo, but more than that seems like overstatement.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Star Wars is deeply sexist, classist and otherwise hierarchical – which does trouble me. Many works of fantasy are, though, so I’m not quite sure that’s why I dislike it. I’m used to glossing over that kind of thing. I thought the original trilogy was ok, and I am mildly fond of it, but Lucas’ horrific prequels – AUGH!
ImaginesABeach:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
I’m trying to imagine John’s precise use of language with Yoda’s syntax…
cicely (Co-co-Prophet of the Equine Apocalypse):
December 26th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
*hugs* for rq
You do so belong here! And you “keep up” much better than I do. If you don’t belong here, then I don’t belong here, and I refuse to go!
*tentacles wrapped and locked*
-
And that goes for you, too, Beatrice. All of it.
-
Also Socio-gen.
-
Also, listen to Tony.
-
And Dalillama.
Possibly the whole socially-hesitant portion of the Horde?
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
ImaginesABeach:
Try it now John must.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
What science and/or technology sites are good recommendations?
chigau (違う):
December 26th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Watching Howard the Duck.
It is hilarious.
What am I supposed to hate?
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Did you know that The Ikettes including Tina Turner sand the backup on Overnight Sensation (Frank Zappa)?
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
sang
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I’ve been watching the British remake of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock.
Benadict Cumberbatch is fucking amazing, and has the most amazing British name ever.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:51 pm
I wonder how that will work, making Holmes British. Strange twist.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Howard the Duck is a hilarious cult classic.
****
I just watched the american Godzilla from the 50s and Alien vs Predator. I know, two extremes of movie quality.
****
Rev:
I tried watching the first ep of Sherlock, but got bored and didnt finish it.
****
Joe:
Is this season of Waehouse 13 good?
****
carlie:
I got a job tending bar at a resort here on Pensacola Beach…at exactly the wrong time, since tourist season ended back in October. I am really struggling right now. Assurances that things will get better in March do not help me now. The bartenders bank in tourist season, making anywhere from $1200-$2000 a week, but tight now I am not making $300 a week.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Now watching Bourne Supremacy.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 26th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Rev: I really like that version, myself. Especially how they work in things like texting into the plot to emphasize the modernization.
===
Just watched a bunch of silly rom coms with Mom. It was nice. Should go to sleep now. But I probably won’t.
chigau (違う):
December 27th, 2012 at 12:12 am
Thank you, Tony.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:12 am
I hear you Portia. I should sleep too, but enough of me doesn’t want to.
chigau (違う):
December 27th, 2012 at 12:20 am
I’m 40 minutes into The Expandables.
Pure, straight-up, unadulterated, grade A shit.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:23 am
So you’re having a Bourne Insomnia evening? : )
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:28 am
Going on my fourth night of sleeping alone, and I tell ya what, I am *over* it.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:31 am
Actually, I switched gears. Forgot I saw that installment of the Bourne series recently. When I recalled it, I decided to watch Peter Jackson’s King Kong.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:32 am
Yeah I’m not really one for rewatching movies very much. The main exception is Princess Bride.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:33 am
Belatedly, for rq when she wakes up:
Big hugs, and I’m so glad you’re here. I feel silly hiding out in the Lounge sometimes, too, but everybody does what they can, when they can.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:45 am
I am so accustomed to sleeping alone that I don’t know what I would do if I had someone consistent to sleep with.
Speaking of which, I spent some time today chatting with Mr recent convert, W. We have fun conversations and cover many subjects. Tonight we got on the subject of his beliefs. I have opted not to mention my atheism, bc I don’t want to color his perception of me. My profile gave him a taste of my values and I have dropped into our talks more things I value. I have chosen also to approach some things he says with subtle doubt and questioning. Tonight for instancd he mentioned that he cannot eat pork. I mentioned how odd I thought it was that his god would focus so much on unclean foods, especially if W thinks Allah will ignore his sexuality (provided he lives a good life). He also spoke of Jesus casting demons out of people and into pigs, which accounts for some of their unclean nature. To which I asked how he knows that is a true version of events and not a metaphor.
Thus far, I feel more comfy merely asking questions if the subject comes up. I want to get to know him, not deconvert him. But I also cannot let the idiocies of religious belief go unchallenged. Boy, this new territory for me. Especially since I will not get to meet him t he moves back down here next month.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:52 am
Tony:
WTF? It’s the other way round; Jesus picked pigs to cast the demons into because they were unclean animals. The uncleanness preexisted.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:52 am
I admire your restraint When I start talking to someone about their religious beliefs…I rend to get aggressive pretty quickly. Or I avoid the discussion altogether to avoid getting aggressive. I’ve told SO I think his parents are funding a despicable rape-enabling misgynistic death cult with their tithes to the RCC.
But really, I’m glad for you that you are exploring the idea of getting to know someone new, and that you are doing so well treading relatively lightly. Sometimes it’s interesting in an almost anthropological sense to probe a person’s religious beliefs I’m excited for when you get to meet him, and see what he’s like in person. (Perhaps by next month he’ll have decided Islam isn’t for him…)
I think I really will crash out now. Hopefully I’ll catch you tomorrow!
ChasCPeterson:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:02 am
then…you want to be a (particular) Jedi.
If gender and race are merely social constructs, then anybody ought to be able to transition to whatever the hell they want. It’s all just self-identify. Right?
four whole nights?
rough life.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:09 am
So the 20s setting for King Kong has some nice visual elements. I like some of the period piece sets but gaaaaaaaaaaah! I cannot enjoy anything without having my sexism filter in place. Cis, white female has alluring charms that can soothe the savage [man] beast and prevent his rages. Said man goes wildly head over heels for her, is massively protective of her, and yet often treats her like property. Yeah I know Kong is a big ape, but he is more an unrepressed animalistic, primitive man who needs the loving, nurturing female to ground him and keep him centered.
For the love of all that is unholy–this somewhat sucks. Just as I can no longer shut off my critical eye when watching 1980s cartoons, I can no longer NOT see the sexism and gender stereotypes at play in movies.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:14 am
Chas:
This is the Lounge, so I cannot say to you what I really want to, but your insensitive comment @703 pisses me off.
****
Portia:
Unlike Chas, I understand where you are coming from and hopefully you will have a fuller bed soon.
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:34 am
Well, technically, that was Yahweh’s idea 1500 years earlier, and Mohammed just stole it, like with most of the rest of the Koran.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:39 am
When is the Koran said to have been written?
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:44 am
That question is not so easy to answer. Mohammed received his “revelations” between 610 and 632 AD I think, but since god had chosen someone illiterate to receive his messages, they had to be written down by someone else, and so the texts were not assembled into a formal canon until the 8th or 9th century or so.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:47 am
Of course not, the same way an object can’t generally exert a force on itself.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:50 am
Good morning!
The Expendables – bad film; Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch – excellent series (if returning to cliches in later series – also, for lovers of BC’s voice, check this trailer out (I may have posted this before); Star Wars – childhood favourite, but it can’t be the Lounge because lack of strong female characters (and I’m sorry, I will not be Jabba the Hutt or Princess Leia – although she’s ok in the first book; also, Yoda is a Jedi, he’s like the most bad-ass Jedi of all time); the Bourne series – I’m just a Matt Damon fan, but I find those movies quite enjoyable overall (unlike the Mission Impossibles because I cannot stand Tom Cruise or his face; The Princess Bride is an awesome movie, but for re-watchable-ness, I love: Gladiator, the Battlestar Galactica intro mini-series, Music and Lyrics, Amelie, The Black Stallion and RED. Sometimes North by Northwest. Haven’t seen any version of King Kong.
+++
Portia
Major hugs for your empty bed (fill it with peas!), and an extra comment for comment #703. But good for being over it. :)
Tony
I’m glad you’re moving forward and having lots of discussions, and also that you seem to be countering some of his religious claims with at least questions for him to think about – I just hope he really does think about them, instead of presenting the straight, pat answers to them, because if he becomes even more entrenched in his religion, it’ll be even more difficult for you to come out as atheist to him… For the moment, though, I believe it’s a good approach.
I should also mention that I am extremely excited for you to be at the start of a relationship. It fills me with eeeeees on the inside, and I sincerely hope that the religious aspect works out to the massive, amazing benefit to the both of you!!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:57 am
rq:
If you can, watch the original, 1933 King Kong. A very good movie. The 2004 update was enjoyable, but a bit too long and scattered. I haven’t watched the 1975 Kurt Russell version in some time.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:58 am
That god, so smart! He just knew Mohammed would remember everything correctly and that it would only take him 200 years to learn to read and write, thus transcribing everything perfectly!
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:59 am
rq:
Thank you so much for the well wishes.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:00 am
Tony
Noted! I have a few so-called classics on which to catch up, and this old one is now, in fact, on my list (like the 1938 Robin Hood was, that’s a fun movie with lots of green tights…).
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:09 am
Good morning
So, yesterday my car decided to turn into real estate.
Need to call the dealer and hope they can fix it. Somehow the handbreak doesn’t open. The handle can be moved but the brakes stay shut…
rq
Hey, welcome to the place for people who feel slightly out of place
communication and sex again
Paying some conscious attention to the communication going on during sex, I was afraid about the kind of sex all those people who claim that “enthusiastic consent/communication is hard” are having.
Now, two big caveats:
Triggers and cultural conditioning
The former obviously need to be communicated beforehand, the latter must be overcome in order to be able to communicate your likes at all.
But: Everything was communication. You make a move, your partner reacts. Depending on that reaction you go on or stop it. And then one says something like “I really (don’t) like this” and you fucking pay attention and remember that.
+++
Sounds a lot like “I’m a Saint who’d never ever have as much as sexual thought about anybody who is not my romantic partner” to me.
It’s like they want a cookie and sympathy at the same time.
+++
I’m also wondering, what would the otherkin do if we could offer them the same kind of treatment we can give transmen and women? I guess there would be a lot of Very Good Reasons™ as to why they actually couldn’t become a dog or cat…
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:12 am
re: Les Miserables
I do, actually, love the musical play, and I enjoyed the book (even though it seemed long and rambling at times), but I’m not sure about the movies – I saw the old(er) one with Liam Neeson, and wasn’t particularly impressed, but that was years ago. I should re-watch it.
The main thing for me is the character of Javert. He’s been my favourite character probably since forever because I feel sorry for him – he goes through the whole story with this one goal in mind – that Valjean is a bad person who should be put away – and once he realizes that he’s wrong, he just can’t reconcile this revelation (that someone once bad isn’t always bad) with his world-view (that bad people are always bad) and become an awesome person himself. I don’t know why, but I always felt a deep connection to that way of thinking.
I’ll probably see the new movie and like it despite its shortcomings (I do enjoy my Russell Crowe, mostly…).
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:17 am
Out of curiosity I did a search for “King Kong and sexism”. One site I came upon opened my eyes to more problems than sexism–
” King Kong is a movie about a group of civilized European white males venturing into the wilderness (lower civilization) to capture a savaged monster lurking in the wild to bring back to civilization for profits by a ship. This is obviously a metaphor for the slave trade, where white people undertake a journey into Africa to exploit and bring back blacks to become slaves.
In various scenes of the film, King Kong was displayed as being violently abused for the amusement of the upper class white males. First, they capture him via chains, kept him captive in a (slave) ship, and then brought him back to New York for display and profitable entertainment without any concerns for his physical and psychological well-being
“
http://grannybutter.xanga.com/676130150/item/
I don’t know if the creators used racist and sexist ideas deliberately or not but the end result has strong sexist and racist undertones, which is in keeping with a society where racism and sexism permeate the culture .
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:22 am
Hm, this Dawkins interview with Al-Jazeera linked from this article at Raw Story is at times a bit embarrassing IMO:
Higgs boson theorist criticizes Richard Dawkins over anti-religious ‘fundamentalism’
Credit to the moderator, he caught Dawkins out there a few times. I don’t think Strange Gods or Brownian would have struggled with answering any of those questions that much.
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:25 am
Actually, any Pharyngula commenter worth their money would have pulverised this moderator, I reckon.
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:31 am
Imagine Hitchens with this clown. Alien versus Roger Rabbit.
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:44 am
Now, have the pitters finally gotten bored with bullying Ophelia Benson and impersonating her?
Since Russell Blackford seems to be sending out cryptic passive-aggressive tweets mentioning me tonight a lot. Somewhere in China, someone may care.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:50 am
rorschach
Your tribute to Flailink?
+++
Now I’m waiting for the car service person to show up. Can’t start anything serious while waiting…
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:07 am
I dont know what that is and I didnt contribute to it.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:13 am
Your link above is a fail, so, Flailink, like Borkquote.
Apparently failed attempt at humor on my side
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:17 am
Thanks, fixed now. Link
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:19 am
Yes, rorschach, your Dawkins moderator link isn’t working (it says page-not-found when I click it).
+++
Meanwhile, in Canada, it turns out that Native Americans are getting tired of getting nothing from the Canadian government. Who knew!
birgerjohansson:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:20 am
Christmasland!
http://satwcomic.com/merry-disney-christmas
(Please notice that Norway and Denmark have swapped shirts)
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Speaking of re-reading classics, I just re-read “Wormwood, Gentleman Corpse”
and found this line: “Who knew you could do that with butter and a yak?”
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
“the texts were not assembled into a formal canon until the 8th or 9th century or so”
and a lot of the companions of Muhammed were killed in the wars of succession, the survivors who contributed to the canon would have belonged to the winning side.
There were many versions of the quran but a religious boss simply picked one as “correct” and had the others burned, much like the Christians did.
Which did not prevent a plethora of different versions from cropping up afterwards.
And every ve rsion is as full of inherent contradictions as the bible.
And there are four different versions of the religious laws.
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:34 am
And ignore my 721 please, it was not about me as it turns out. Strike that one.
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 6:00 am
Who is this, please?
Woman talking about Elevatorgate
rorschach:
December 27th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Ah, Jean Kazez apparently. Dr Jean Kazez. Talking about a panel discussion she did not attend. I see.
(And hey Jean, I would have interrupted too, like you claim Rebecca did, on the panel she was, you know, on, had it not been for the fact that I didnt get the mic, so I just spoke to Rebecca about how to best address this lunacy, and she said she was going to mention it at the next panel discussion, which she did).
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Popping in quick to say hi and I hate this freaking ancient laptop! I’m trying to be patient and let the good (newish) one dry out in its own time, but, holy hell, am I frustrated with having internet only for 5-10 minute bursts (which is about how long it takes a page to completely load!) followed by two hours of downtime — although there is the occasional rare hour or so where I can read, post, and re-load without being disconnected.
— —
Star Wars
Not sure if I should admit this or not, but I don’t like Star Wars. I saw the first film as a kid and just…meh. Never worked up enough interest to watch any of the others.
—
Rev. BDC:
I like the new version of Sherlock. I just wish there were more episodes.
—
Tony:
I enjoyed this season of Warehouse 13. It’s bit darker than previous ones, though not hugely so until the last couple eps.
I like your approach with W. By asking questions as you are, he has to think about his beliefs rather than reflexively defending them.
—
Portia:
*hugs* Sleeping alone when you don’t want to be sucks.
There are very few movies I’d watch more than once, which is why my entire DVD collection is a 5-disc Live Aid collector’s edition boxed set, The Princess Bride, and The Breakfast Club.
—
rq:
If you like Benedict Cumberbatch’s voice, you should check out Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking, if you haven’t seen it. He does the majority of the narration, speaking as Steven Hawking. (The transitions between the Hawking’s synthesized voice and BC’s are smooth enough that you never feel as though you’ve switched over to a narrator. You’re in Hawking’s mind the whole time.) The computer animation is incredible and Hawking’s work is presented in a way that anyone can understand.
I also cannot stand watching any Tom Cruise movies. He has three facial expressions but doesn’t seem to know quite how to use them.
—
Giliell:
Hope the car is soon moving again!
birgerjohansson:
December 27th, 2012 at 7:58 am
“New study challenges old (zinc-related) views about evolution of early life” http://phys.org/news/2012-12-views-evolution-early-life.html
The comment thread includes some pre-emptive strikes against creationists inevitably claiming this disproves evolution. Also a fascinating comment about how we now can date Earth with an astonishing accuracy (+- 100.000 years) considering the age is ca. 4.5 Gy.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
“Zinn’s influential history textbook has problems, says Stanford education expert” http://phys.org/news/2012-12-zinn-influential-history-textbook-problems.html
Since Zinn merely intended his book to be a supplement to existing textbooks the quoted inaccuracies do not seem damning.
I am also irritated over the claim that Zinn was writing from a “far left” perspective.
From a European perspective, Zinn’s history is hardly shocking. Europeans are by now well aware that their own ancestors were bastards, wether you are talking about the slave-trading and colonial eras or more recent history. As I wrote in the comment thread “exceptionalism does not survive contact with reality”.
birgerjohansson:
December 27th, 2012 at 8:00 am
Superheroes of Mammalia: “Did learning to fly give bats super-immunity? http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23020-did-learning-to-fly-give-bats-superimmunity.html
“What we’re hoping is bats can do something better than humans can, and maybe we can strive to reproduce it”
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
Supercomet to outshine the moon November 2013? http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628965.800-2013-smart-guide-supercomet-to-outshine-the-moon.html
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
Cadaver stem cells offer new hope of “life after death”. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23034-cadaver-stem-cells-offer-new-hope-of-life-after-death.html
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
MRI can screen patients for Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal lobar degeneration http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-mri-screen-patients-alzheimer-disease.html
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Oh for the love of Sif… Jean Kazez?!?! She’s got a PhD in philosophy, so that’s strike one… :)
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Tony
I concur with and appreciate the respective parts of your 705 : )
rq
Good morning! Thanks for understanding my whining. Peas, hehe.
I’m excited to see Star Trek with Benedict.
Socio-gen
Thanks. And sorry you’re still having computer trouble! Boo.
…and into the queueueue it goes.
Giliell
Hope the car is operational again soon. : / hugs and chocolate?
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 27th, 2012 at 9:40 am
*takes chocolate and hugs*
Car is running again and everything is totally not my problem anymore
I also have the rare occasion to watch the snset through the falling rain…
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Hooray! Sunset sounds lovely.
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Yay Giliell!
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 10:48 am
Oh, and I was meaning to ask:
As far as this whole Greg Laden/Justin Griffith feud that seems to have grown to include Jason Thibeault and Stephanie Zvan… can I just call both of those people assholes and cross my fingers that they create some sort of bullshit black hole that eats both of them whole?
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Portia
Sleeping alone can indeed suck; so much so that Roommate is prone to sleeping in our bed with us(She’s prone to dreadful night terrors, else)
birgerjohansson
Fly? Just saying.
Because of course the usual history textbooks used in the U.S. are flawless exemplars of accuracy, completeness, and precision, right?
Tony
Vaiys said ‘destruction, decay, of stagnation. The REpublic was, according to Lucas’ timeline, stuck the way it appeared in the first prequel for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, due to the Jedi Council. And the Republic was basically like the UN in that all the member planets seem to have their own laws and whatnot (including all kinds of heinous civil rights abuses on various planets), and the Jedi keep it that way;They’re actively preventing anyone from trying to fix that. Not really the good guys, in my book.
rupt
There’s probably more I wanted to respond to, but it’ll have to wait. Ans also I know I’ve seen someone (possibly John Morales?) talk about making line breaks recently, but hell if I can find it right now.
xmas
Xmas was not a disaster, although Brother got kind of straight white cis dood at L. Roommate was depressed and anxious anyway, and company drove her into the back of the apartment, from whence she did not emerge until they’d left. But dinner was very nice.
dianne:
December 27th, 2012 at 11:34 am
I feel kind of guilty saying this, given the number of people who had horrible holiday experiences, but…I quite enjoyed Christmas. Made dinner for and hung out with relatives out of law on Christmas eve, went to work for a couple of hours on Christmas, then hung out with the nuclear family for the rest of the day. Came out at the end thinking we should do this more often.
dianne:
December 27th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Joe, any time you want to move in and make sure I never besmirch the manly art of housekeeping by practicing it again, feel free. But be prepared for a challenge: I am not the world’s most naturally tidy person. And we’ll have to negotiate on this cooking thing. I like cooking. It allows me to live out my fantasies of being a 19th century mad chemist and yet also get something practical done at the same time.
Beatrice:
December 27th, 2012 at 11:57 am
I read some comments at work, but wanted to respond when I got home. Now, I have no idea what I wanted to say to whom.
So, to everyone: I’m really really happy I found this place because you people are awesome.
opposablethumbs:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
I don’t think you should feel guilty for a second, dianne – on the contrary, I’m happy to know that some of the lovely Horders have had a good holiday! FSM knows you all deserve one! :-D
opposablethumbs:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Beatrice, you are definitely one of the you-people who are awesome! :)
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Not directly. It seems plausible and could be unpleasant and marginalizing, both in the broader culture particularly for men who are SUPPOSED TO BE READY TO GO ANY TIME ANYWHERE WITH ANY SPECIES WHAT ARE YOU A FAG OR SOMETHING, and even in relatively enlightened spaces where people are more likely to erase those reported experiences rather than overtly attack them, but not comparable to transgender experiences.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Um, are they tinkering backstage, or is it just my computer doing a little freakout? The main page looks kind of like a mobile site — plain white background, no pictures, no ads, no banner, no sidebar.
I’m only seeing it if I go to the main page from the Lounge. Once I click on a headline, or if I go from an OP to the main page, *poof* the regular site design is there.
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Socio-gen, mine is normal.
-
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Okay. I’m going to assume the problem is on my end….which it probably is. :)
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Socio-gen, I’ve seen the same problem you’re having, swapping between the mobile and desktop versions. Does it on my phone too.
ImaginesABeach:
December 27th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
I’m happy to hear (read?) that I’m not the only one who keeps getting the mobile site. I don’t have a smart phone, so it took me a while to figure out what it was that I was seeing. It happens sometimes, and other times I get the regular site. And clicking “Full Site” at the bottom doesn’t do anything.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
For the third day, I have a headache. I wish it would go away. Sigh. Oh well, I’m cozied up in quilts at my mom’s house.
Dalillama, I’m glad I don’t have that much trouble sleeping alone. Poor Roommate. Yeesh.
Dianne, glad you had a good Christmas. I agree, don’t feel guilty for a minute. : )
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
dianne, you’re funny but I doubt my wife would approve… unless you paid me, in which case? Who knows… my wife’s got her eye on the whole Coach bag display again. :)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Gah!
Me too.
I have Pharyngula bookmarked on my phone, so it opens fine, but when I click on any other blogs, I get the mobile view.
****
Speaking of other blogs, you all should go check out Dispatches. Ed Brayton has weighed in on the anti FtB rhetoric in the wake of Al Steganelli’s video. I am not spoiling much by saying he takes the uncontoversial position on feminism that PZ, Greta, Jen, Stephanie, Ophelia, et al take.
Giliell, professional cynic:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Dianne
I had a nice Christmas, too, although it was a lot of stress, so I’m glasd it’s over and I can finally start on making the christmas presents…
Joe
If you want my take, Laden’s an arrogant asshole who can’t run a blog, but the shit he’s getting isn’t because of that but because he’s a feminist. Those who target him generally have no problem with behaviour like his, but they’re happy to go after him because they know he gets little support on accounts of being an asshole.
Justin Griffith, otoh is just a hypocritical asshole who still wails over the “kick your ass” comment while happily tweeting about what to do to Laden.
All in all, most of this should never have left the backchannel.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
dianne
I’m very happy to hear you had a good Christmas. Mine was just bad because (a) increased parental religiosity (or at least heightened perception thereof) and (b) too much running around and not enough sitting still in one place, hence exhaustion, hence a vague unease, hence dislike of everything happening around me.
Socio-gen
I will definitely put Into the Universe on my list as well, but only because of Benedict Cumberbatch’s voice… I’m not interested in the science. ;)
Portia
I hope the headache goes away soon! Here’s some home-remedy fennel tea. My dad swears it does all kinds of wonders; I have yet to see any, but it’s certainly a soothing taste, with honey (mild licorice without the sharpness?).
Beatrice
You are awesome, too!!
Improbable Joe
What is this feud that’s been going on, or is it better not gotten into here? (I just know the vague back-story but if it’s spreading throughout FtB – is it worth knowing about?)
Tony
You have to admit that the Jedi, as an obscure religious sect-gone-secular with strings in every government and a finger in every pie, don’t look all clean and shiny all the time. Not that the Empire’s any better, with the invisible long-distance choke-hold and general dislike of human rights and freedoms.
I still like the movies, though. The old ones, not the new ones. But there are too many menfolk for my taste (yeah, I’m straight (Han Solo, anyone?), but you know how much I love strong women characters… :) ).
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Ah, I have now read Giliell’s take on the Laden-Griffith story.
Yeah, not going to catch up on that kind of crap.
Nakkustoppeli:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Socio-gen, I’ve had the problem with mobile layout/normal layout for some time now (approximately since the new layout was introduced), most of the time I get the normal layout, but often mobile.
Eris Caffee:
December 27th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
I don’t know where else to ask this since I can’t find any links for tech support.
Sudddenly today I started getting email notifications about new comments in a thread I’d posted in. I could find no place to disable this in the WordPress Dashboard, nor any relevant link on FTB, but finally noticed that there was a “manage subscriptions” link at the bottom of the emails. When I went there and deleted the subscription to the thread I was then sent “manage subscription” emails for every blog on FTB regardless of whether or not I’ve ever read them.
What’s up with this and how do I disable it?
I really don’t want any email notifications ever.
(Note: I have not checked any boxes about notification below the message form, but I do notice that the “Preview” button is greyed out for me, so there may be a problem with the form submission.)
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Eris Caffee, I had that happen to me, a few months back. I think I ended up having to go into each of the blogs and turn ‘em off. It was tedious and annoying.
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
rq and others:
I don’t mean to imply I think the Jedi are squeaky clean, they are a force to maintain a specific status quo. I think they do more good than religious organizations.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
So glad I’m not the only one experiencing the site weirdness!
—
Portia:
Sorry about the headache. Hope it leaves soon! My grandmother used to swear by cutting a small onion in half and placing each half over an eye.
My theory is that the onion vapor hurts your eyes and nose so much that you’re grateful for the headache.
—
Joe:
I’m avoiding reading any more of it than I have already (which was one post by Stephanie Zvan).
—
rq:
Watch for the animation too! (Seriously, it’s as beautiful as BC’s voice.)
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Eris:
I have that problem too. I clicked the email notification for Pharyngula and Dispatches, but I noticed that every FtB blog I go to shows the same box checked. Sometimes I even get email updates too.
I subscribe to The Lounge and want to get updates on my phone, but even when I click the second box, I don’t always get updates. It’s erratic.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
rq
That tea sounds lovely, thanks! I may have to hunt some down in meatspace to try it. Very soothing sounding.
Socio-gen
Thanks for they sympathy. Your grandma’s remedy makes me laugh. I’ve heard a theory that the nervous system can only process so many sensations at once, which is why sex is supposed to be helpful for migraine sufferers. *cough*
I’m feeling marginally better for a moment, which is good, because I have cousin plans tonight. I’m going to start on knitting my fourth hat this week. Finally now that Christmas is over I’ll make one for myself.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Socio-gen
Of course I will! ;) I watch science for the science imagery, and have been known to sit through some terrible narration just for the science. But if Benedict Cumberbatch ever narrates a creationist video, I’d probably watch that, too.
Tony
Pfft. You just saved yourself.
(I do agree they do more good than religious organizations, but I think a factor in that is the fact that they’re a mostly extinct cult and they need to get their good name back – I don’t believe they were nearly exterminated as quickly as the three new movies would have us believe; I think they were already in steady decline before the
SenatorEmperor got his hands on some real political power. Because it was too easy to leave Luke as the last Jedi, as Obi-Wan andTo(a)daYoda would have us believe. Also, at any one time, there are only two evil Sith Lords? I don’t believe that. That is a complete unbalance in the Force, unless the Dark Side really is that much more powerful than the Light Side…)Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
Once, when I was being processed in the ER, they asked my religion. I told them Jediism. Jedism? Whatever.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
rq:
Nothing odd about you liking strong female characters. I long ago realized thst I liked strong female characters in movies, tv or in comic books. In fact, I ptetty much gravitate towards female characters: Buffy, Faith, Willow on BtVS; Sidney Bristow on Alias;Claire on Heroes; Ripley in the Alien movies.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Tony
I know. That was a poor attempt at bad humour, above. :) Of course there’s nothing wrong.
Portia
Some insist it’s an acquired taste – but if you like anise or fennel root (you can buy it as a vegetable gere, don’t know about there), or licorice, you’ll probably like fennel tea, too. It’s a very mild licorice taste, though, which is what I like about it. (I’ve always been partial to black jelly-beans – nobody else ever liked them, and I don’t like that some varieties now have some strange fruit flavour instead of the original licorice.)
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Here we go with the Ripley again…
It is only coincidence that my Xmas copy of the Alien movies on Bluray arrives some time this afternoon. :)
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Portia:
I’ve never heard that one. When I get a migraine, I just curl up in the fetal position under the covers in a darkened room and make pitiful moaning noises. Often while battling nausea. So not the right time for sexytimes.
—
rq:
Let’s hope he never uses his powers for evil because…yeah, I’d watch him narrate a creationist video or talk about numerology and Anti-christs in pop music videos. :)
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Socio-gen:
Sex is often good for tension headaches, not migraines. However, many people (especially people who have the former but not the latter) fail to understand the distinction between them, and refer to all severe headaches as migraines.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Doctors have always told me mine are migraines. Friends of mine with diagnosed migraines have also reported the effectiveness of migraines. *shrug* (Anecdotal evidence, aren’t you convinced now?) Doctors never do a lot of investigation, though, so I don’t know what’s that’s worth. I have battled through the pain for the reward of actually eventually enjoying myself during migraine-time, as weird as that sounds
Chalk up another “pro” for “regular job”…health insurance with which I could potentially see a doctor and get a new prescription for migraine meds. (The only thing that has ever worked with consistency, and trust me, I’ve tried everything).
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Portia
I’m with Socio-gen on this one… Sex while migraining? No thanks. :P Ugh. Usually feeling puky and please, no external stimuli, while migraining.
I’ve heard that taking a 10-second, freezing cold shower every morning can prevent migraines – funny, though, because extreme hot-cold contrasts is one of my migraine triggers (or just insufficient body heat – but I can get that back by extreme snuggling, not the actual active-sex part…).
+++
I have never seen the Alien movies. At least, not in their entirety, and certainly not all of them. I’m not sure why.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Dalillama
I get both, but yes, there is a distinction that people seem to miss. I know I have a migraine when nothing works to stave off the in-coming pain – there’s usually a fair amount of advance warning (strange peripheral glitter, too much contrast even in low light, increased sound sensitivity, a halt in the digestive processes usually involving vomit, although this can also come later, with the pain). Tension headaches usually pass with wool scarf + wool hat + lie-down + leaving the computer, and some time. And paracetamol, that works on those. Usually by the time sexy-time rolls around, the headache is manageable enough for the fun. And, of course, by the end, it’s all gone and cured.
Not migraines, though. Any stimulus (smells, tastes, etc.) with migraines is just… *shudder*
And yes, I did get an official migraine diagnosis after a rather quick consultation with the university doctor in the walk-in clinic.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Also, Socio-gen, if Benedict Cumberbatch ever does go over to the Dark Side, I might just have to follow
himhis voice. Kind of like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, but better. And knowingly.Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
rq,
The Alien films are all so very different movies, it is weird watching them one right after another. The first one is a slow-build “haunted house in space” movie almost in the realm of “Amityville Horror” in that both are in no small part economic horror films. The second is rip-roaring monster action with a horror element, in the same realm as the first two “Terminator” movies. The third is a gorgeous failure, a serious horror film hampered by budget and studio interference… David Fincher’s first feature film if I recall correctly, and he wound up walking away in disgust. The fourth is kind of a weird trainwreck of a movie, but actually not terrible if not actively compared to the other films; it feels like a really cool TV movie with a nice big budget.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Yeah, if I’m nauseous sexytimes are not appealing. Luckily, that doesn’t happen as often as it used to with my migraines. But if we can make the room dark, then I can usually play through the pain, ha. More often, SO just keeps me supplied with fresh ice packs and saltines and tea.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
rq
And these right here are the distinguishin marks of the true migraine. Common a variants include visual halos, extreme light sensitivity, auditory hallucinations, and in some cases partial paralysis. Tension headaches produce none of these, although sometimes they will be accompanied by nausea, caused by some combination of simple pain and muscle tension pulling the stomach around.
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Portia
Nah, I’m usually in the dark corner by the closet, moaning under 5 blankets or under no blankets, cursing the children who are already as quiet as little mice for making too much noise, and telling Husband to turn the darkness off and to stop shaking the floors so much. It’s an intense experience, and I can laugh about it while not experiencing it, but when I’m in the middle of it, I honestly believe I’m going to die.
Waking up in the morning, completely pain-free (usually) is such a lovely surprise, which usually induces a strange elation, a post-migraine hangover, if you will, where everything seems lighter and easier and brighter than usual.
It’s genetic in the family, though – my sister gets migraines (with one-eye blindness as advance warning, woo-hoo driving!), and my dad gets/got them, and his mother did, too. The only time I know I won’t have any is while pregnant (apparently something to do with blood pressure).
Dalillama
Yup, listing those things was what made the doctor come right out and say, Yes, you have migraines. Apparently she’d often have people come in saying they had migraines, but in the end having the wrong self-diagnosis.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Dalillama:
Ahh…that makes sense. I can usually get rid of a tension headache by getting a neck and shoulder massage from the FWB or using the chair massager, so redirecting the tension elsewhere should do the trick.
I shall have to conduct some experiments during the next one. Yay science!
—
rq:
I’ve found some relief by putting ice-packs on my neck and forehead during the migraine. Supposedly it constricts the blood vessels or something. I figure it just numbs the nearest parts of my brain.
And yes, I’d follow that voice wherever it led.
—
Portia:
Yeah, my migraines are easily identified because my vision starts getting glittery at the edges like bright sunlight reflecting on waves. As the glitter starts to fill my field of vision, my sense of smell goes offline (I’ll start smelling chlorine, as if I’m in a heated pool). If I can get into the dark with my ice-packs before the weird smell starts, I can break the migraine with a couple hours of sleep. Otherwise, it’s going to be hours (or days, on a few rare occasions).
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Mine usually start with pain in the back of my head, on one side or the other, with lots of muscle pain As it gets worse, the light and sound sensitivity kick in, and I start to feel like there’s a knitting needle stabbing into my temple and on one side of the back of my head. They are always right side or left side. It’s really unpredictable whether they will last a few hours or a few days. Sometimes sleeping helps, sometimes it makes it worse. Sometimes hydrating helps, sometimes it’s neutral. Sometimes Excedrin helps. Usually not. I do use the icepacks for temporary relief at the very least. Falling asleep on an ice pack under my neck can be good (I know, you’re supposed to take them off after 20 minutes).
Lately, I have found that sleeping face down can help, propping my chest up with my folded arms and my forehead up with a pillow, so I can breathe.
Improbable Joe:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Well… I’m emotionally exhausted by FtB today. Maybe will be back tomorrow, or next day at the latest.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
*hugs*, Joe.
chigau (違う):
December 27th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
More *hugs* Joe.
Socio-gen, something something...:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
*hugs* Joe. Sorry again about misreading your comment in the Problem-solving thread! I think I’ve gotten too sensitized by all the “you don’t have it as bad as women in Saudi Arabia so why are you whining about sexism here” that I’m seeing that kind of thing everywhere, even where it doesn’t exist.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Um…testing?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Um testing?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Um testing? can anyone see this?
Ing Blarg:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
testing something
rq:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
*hugs* Joe!
Portia, Socio-gen
I’ll haev to try the ice-packs next time warning signs appear. I usually steer away from the cold because it’s been a trigger in the past, but maybe… maybe… I mean, it can’t make it any worse, can it? Since the whole heating thing doesn’t seem to work…
Ing Blarg:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Yeah so tried to comment again. Either something is broke or my old account is banned or put into instant mod on FTB. So…bye I guess
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
WTF? Come bbaacckk!!
Caine, Fleur du mal:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Ing! No, don’t say goodbye. No one did anything to your account that I’m aware of – but people want you back.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Ing blarg:
I saw your comment, it looks like they’re posting.
Ing Blarg:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I attempted to comment on the MRA child support thread and Ed’s blog and all comments seem to be eateded from old user. sent PZ e-mail asking if it’s a glitch or if I’m banned and won’t say anymore until I find out so it’s clear I’m not trying to morph or anything.
Gnumann+, something borrowed, something gnu...:
December 27th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
AFAIK – banhammer is blog-specific, so both troubles here and at Ed’s point to technical issue. So does your name not being on the dungeon page.
The Mellow Monkey: Caerie:
December 27th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I see Ing posts showing up earlier in the thread. I’m assuming they’re unfiltered now?
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
December 27th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
My 91 year old grandfather is in the next room bemoaning the state of the nation to my cousin. He says he is “concerned” and “feels sorry” for the people of the younger generation because “it’ll never be better than it is now” …this is the Fox News watching, Rush Limbaugh loving, asshat I call my grandfather. The one who told me Obama isn’t a good Christian, he’s a Muslim. Puke.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Testing. PZ addressed the issue. Apparently some others are having it as well and it might be linked to the layout change
chigau (違う):
December 27th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Hi, Ing!
Welcome back.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
well now I feel silly doing all that to get back the privilege to bang my head against a wall of stupid. That that it wasn’t appreciated
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Ing!!!
*pouncehugs*
No! Wait! Come back!
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Cicely: weevils? Ok, what is the story?
****
Ing: please stay :)
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
December 27th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
RE: migraines
Mine start with nausea and a “snow” effect (rather like a poorly-tuned antennaed television). Then my right eye goes a bit weird, like I can feel the lack of vision.
I usually end up popping the migraine pills and some benadryl, smoke a bowl (if available), and take a nap. I’m woozy-but-functional upon waking.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
I’m on day shift this week. What is this odd bright star that seems to be bleaching out the sky?
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Tony: Nothing to tell—I have two lice, and I lease them out. Reasonable rates. It’s the coming thing in the World of Business—I would go so far as to say, it’s a whole new paradigm! Get in on the ground floor!
:D
Actually, it was a sideways jump from “the lesser of two evils”; it just suddenly occurred to me last night, and I was amused. (See previously-used epithet.) It so desperately wants to be the punchline of one of those bad pun jokes, along the lines of “If the foo shits, wear it”.
-
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Beatrice @743:
so now I’m curious..I’m very happy you found this place too, but now I wonder how did you find this place?
For that matter the question is open to everyone. How did you discover the lounge or T ET ?
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Sorry—weevils. The lice are a whole ‘nother deal.
-
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
I found Pharyngula back in Crackergate days…or possibly in connection with Ben Stein’s Epic Movie…which ever came first.
-
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
So if I’m back for time being…
*Partner has passed drivers exam
*Grandmother still in danger of losing house to Rapist Grandfather Jerk
*Decided to cut strained relationship with father to no relationship or distant one
*Doctor Who X-mas Special: Thoughts? Mine were that I’m disappointed Ozy is companion over Strax and Co. She was the weak link of the episode which was a shame cause I feel bad for the actor as she’s doing well, it’s just that the character feels like so much of what we’ve already gotten before. She was totally over shadowed by Victorian Lizard Detectives and Potato Coachmen
cicely (The Lessor of Two Weevils):
December 27th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Good!
Bad!
Good.
Recorded, but not yet watched.
-
shala:
December 27th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
*Grandmother still in danger of losing house to Rapist Grandfather Jerk
That sounds like an awful situation. Yeah, I know, it’s not much for me to say. My best wishes go out to your grandmother, and hopefully the grandfather stops and realizes how much of a jerk he’s being (given what I’ve read so far of him though…). :/
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
@Shala
Grandmother is going to offer a few thousand in a settlement to make him go away. He still owes *counts on fingers* all the child support but not like a court will do shit about that! Best hope is that he dies suddenly (given his reported health not a remote possibility) removing the problem.
Nutmeg:
December 27th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
Headaches: I get frequent tension headaches, 2-3x per week. They started happening occasionally at puberty and have become more common over time. For some reason, my body thinks that being even an hour short of sleep is an excellent reason to have an afternoon headache. Since I’m a grad student and I don’t remember the last time I had a regular sleep cycle, this is a problem. Fortunately 400mg ibuprofen almost always fixes the headaches. But I’m not thrilled with this level of ibuprofen consumption. I should probably look into some kind of long-term preventative, if such a thing exists for tension headaches.
When I’m not taking good care of myself, I get weird other headaches. Bilateral with no aura, but with light and motion sensitivity and mild nausea, and sometimes sinus pain. I got them checked out in high school, and the pediatrician said they “may or may not be migraines”. Helpful, eh? But he gave me a list of common migraine triggers, which has been useful even though those headaches might not be migraines. If I don’t get too far behind on my sleep and I minimize my consumption of caffeine, nuts, and sulfites, I only get tension headaches.
Tony ∞The Queer Shoop∞:
December 27th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
So what thread is seeing the action at Pharyngula tonight?
For a change, I’ve been following Ed’s feminist thread most of today, which is complete with its own antiFeminist nitwit.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Ing
Welcome back, here’s hoping a swift yet unpleasant death befalls your grandfather soon. The other news from your end is good, though.
Tony
Looks like the MRA thread is hopping.
I found the TET awhile after I found Pharyngula (don’t recall how, or indeed when, that was). I dropped in periodically, was confused, and then read the articles some more. Eventually, I realized what was going on, and someone said something about a topic that interested me, so I chimed in,
Nutmeg
I don’t know what the hell that pediatrician was thinking. Granted, I’m not a doctor, but identifying migraines was one that was focused on pretty heavily in massage school (massage can help tension headaches, but not migraines. It is therefore very useful to know the difference), and I don’t know of anything else that has those symptoms.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
December 27th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
@Tony
MRA one as usual. Shock awe
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
December 27th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
Oh, hey, moderator call in the No one should be embarrassed thread:
Trigger Warning
PZ Myers:
December 27th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
NEW THREAD.