[Lounge #393]
This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly. Wallaby.
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. Wallaby.
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
PZ Myers:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Sorry about the length of the last one. I’ve been distracted.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Actually… length of last one was fine, once the gender discussion started it would have been weird to cut it off. It is still going on a little bit though. :)
chigau (無味ない):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I like it.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
It being bunday I would have preferred a bunneh picture ;P
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
It was good.
Paul K
From last thread: I watch TV intensely, too. Husband, on the other hand, does it with a slack jaw and wide-eyed amazement, and complete mental involvement (that means no questions). ;)
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I’ll admit to still having a bit of a problem with that. I get it on an intellectual level, but emotionally, it doesn’t gel. Of course, being a half-way decent person, I recognize that it’s my problem, not anyone else’s.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
I want a whole mess of wallabys.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
LykeX, here is one of the things that Mark Driscoll is most infamous for.
I’ll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
In case you don’t know
Socio-gen, something something...:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Ugh. This head cold is doing me in. Nose is stuffy and runny and I can’t stop sneezing. Ears are clogged so I feel like I’m listing to the left. And I sneezed so hard this morning that I bounced my forehead off my knee, so now I’ve got a bruise and possibly a concussion. I think I’ll take some more meds and maybe a nap.
Have a good day, all!
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
So, I bought myself one of these small steppers because I need some exercise and damn am I out of shape. I don’t exactly break a sweat but my muscles tell me in no unclear terms that if I want to walk tomorrow I have to stop now.
beatrice
Definetly.
Socio Gen
Yeah, I think some guidelines about naming children are OK, after all we’re talking about people and not goldfish. And most of the time it isn’t a problem. We didn’t have any with # 1 and the little one even though 1#’s name isn’t actually a name but sounds like one and the little one’s is a made-up name by the German translators of a Swedish book. But they have traditional second names.
Only once in a while you meet a power-hungry judgemental asshole…
rq and Tony
I HATE the Harry and Sally trope. Seriously. And the Will and Grace one as well. That’s not about you, Tony, it’s about this idea. Yeah, maybe it is easier for women and gay men to have friendships and relationships but I think that’s because society allows us those while it denies us the intimate non-sexual relationships with straight men because haha sex, you know?
Actually, my gay best friend (yeah, I know) was often mistaken as my boyfriend. What seriously confused people was when they alternately saw him with me and another female friend.
People just thought they could make assumptions about our relationships based on gender and behaviour. There wasn’t any working sexual combination between the three of us.
Paul K
I kept my last name, too, but the kids have Mr.’s, mostly because of the “nobody questions my status as a mother” thing. But people feel free to just call me Ms. “Mr.’s last name”, even if I just spelled them mine…
Also, hearing all you ‘Mericuns talk about IDs and voter registration and driving licenses makes me glad to live in a smaller country.
+++
I beg to differ, y’r honour, I think it does…
Speaking of it, here’s a cute story
Warning, TMI
So, some nights ago, Mr. and I were lying in bed, trying to sleep when I was enthusiastically picking my nose. Yeah, I know, ladies don’t do that. Sue me. Mistaking the sounds for something else, apparently, Mr. rolled over and said “But honey, that’s my duty“…
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
Socio-gen
A concussion from sneezing??? Get well soon!!!
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Actually, I was wondering why the need to start new Lounge threads. Why not just let them continue?
SQB:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
I don’t know about that. With chickens, we label them hen/rooster, not just female/male, just like we label humans woman/man*. And I can think of several species were the behaviour differs between the female and the male members, without (AFAIK) an underlying biological need. For instance, the lionesses hunt most of the time, with the male lions only participating for large prey.
Of course, IANAB, but this is a blog with random biological ejaculations, so perhaps PZ or any of the other resident biologists could shed a light on gender roles in the animal kingdom.
*You know,
sheep – ewe/ram
chicken – hen/rooster
horse – mare/stallion (filly/colt)
human – woman/man
Also, hello again. I stopped commenting about half a year ago, kept reading on and off, and have a little more time at the moment. No need to tell you I’m utterly threadrupt, so hello again to you all and my well wishes to those who need it.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
rq:
I know I annoy people when I watch movies (at home or in the theater), or television. When something comes up of interest, I want to talk about it. If something ridiculous happens, I want to discuss it. If Indiana Jones survives a nuclear explosion in a refrigerator, I’m going to comment on it. In the theater, I try to hold back, but I dislike having to wait until the end of the movie to comment on it. Especially since there’s often plenty I want to discuss, but will forget much of it. Maybe I should start taking notes.
****
Improbable Joe:
Look what your questions spawned! Totes awesome buddy.
You have anything else you want to ask that can get such interesting conversation going?
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Giliell
Thanks for that TMI. I also like to pick my nose enthusiastically (but never has Husband mistaken it for anything else ;) ). One of the many reasons I am not a lady, too.
As for the Harry-and-Sally trope, yeah, I agree, I hate it – a lot. Especially since I like hanging out with guys of any shape or leaning, but it really bothers me that there’s a certain assumption from society as to our relationship, just because it’s a mixed-gender relationship.
For instance, in choir, one of the basses and I have a very easy-going relationship. You know the kind, teasing, laughing, a lot of touching, very flirty from the sidelines. You can’t imagine how many times other members of the choir have made comments, joking and not joking, about how my Husband should know what’s going on, and aren’t I married, and what about the kids, and all that stuff… Strangely, though, we’ve settled our boundaries, and it’s clear there’s no sexual undercurrent. At all. To us, at least. And yet! And yet… (To be clear, the Husband knows of this relationship and is quite comfortable with it. Which I make clear to anyone who questions it.)
SQB:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
And, like others have said, thanks to Improbable Joe for asking the question and thanks to all participants for the very interesting discussion that followed.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
SQB:
Welcome back.
It sounds like you’re probably the most threadrupt of us all :)
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Longer page==more data==slower loading time.
It is a gradual increase but it does accumulate.
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
SQB
The original question/statement was about labelling animals as men/women, not other gender-specific descriptors. I know of labels for female animals and male animals, but when I look at a horse, I don’t say, that’s a man horse. I say that’s a male horse (and I might specify stallion or gelding). That’s where that sentence is coming from. :)
But yes, gender roles in other animals – interesting topic!
Tony
I know what you mean – I’m a commenter myself! If I’m enraptured, fine, but I like to make all kinds of comments on the side, too. Especially if it’s something ridiculous! It’s tough when there’s no response…
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Partner has observed there are shows I do not watch, I debate with. X-files and Enterprise or Trek are big offenders for me.
SQB:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Isn’t that solved by having a new subpage every 500 comments? Or does a page with 2603 comments (103 comments on the 6th subpage) load slower than a page with 495 comments (still on its first subpage)? I never took notice.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
@SQB
I have to check but the mobile version may not do page breaks
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Giliell
I’m always amused when we get marketing calls on the phone (even though we’re on a do-not-call list), and I answer the phone. The phone is in my wife’s name, so they always ask, ‘Mr [wife's name]?’ I always answer, ‘Sorry, there’s no one here called that; that’s my wife’s name. My name’s [my last name].’ There’s almost always a confused pause, and sometimes a surprised, ‘Really?’ For some folks, it’s like we’re from another planet.
I think it’s just bizarre that some of the women in my parents’ generation, whose husbands have been dead for decades, are still listed in various places as Mrs. John Whatever.
eyeroll:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
ScocioGen, I think you must have caught that from me. Last week I was blasting the keyboard with mighty sneezes and maybe some got through the ether. I went to see my mother yesterday…she can’t hear because of oldness and I can’t hear because of plugged ears. She said “What?” and I said “What?” and she said “What?” That was about it.
Last night I stayed up till 4 am drinking vodka and watching christian tv. Its good for mocking purposes but, phew, I am tired today.
SQB, one time I noticed that a hawk was after my chickens. It was very interesting in that the hens sat down quietly in the tall grass and the rooster was jumping around in the open trying to fight the hawk.
chigau (無味ない):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Welcome back, SQB.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
The most interesting would be if we can demonstrate transgression of gender roles in other animals, and sanction for that transgression. Without sanction and transgression there really are no meaningful role (though both can be very subtle).
Other primates would of course be prime candidates, but other social animals would be interesting too. Wolves perhaps.
It might be hard to spot though, it’s hard enough in humans.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
Ing, rq:
That’s why I would love to be able to pause a movie in the theater (shyeah right, like that will happen, ever). It’s also why I’m glad for DVR. Even when I watch a show by myself, sometimes I like to think about and process some bit of information.
One of the many things M and I used to do was watch and comment on movies and tv. He got me into watching Project Runway, and we would have running commentary throughout.
::Sigh::
I miss my lil’ buddy.
Oh fuck, I just realized tomorrow is three years to the day that I found him dead.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Tony
:
Nope, sorry. And, I’m convinced my almost complete lack of participation was the key to its success… the less I say, the better things are? :)
chigau (無味ない):
January 6th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
*hugs* Tony
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
Woot go thinking about movies shows etc. I’m very prothinking about these things ^.^
Anyone else had to face the obnoxious “Its science FICTION! So it doesn’t have to make sense” argument? I really really hate that one.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Yes.
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
When Eowyn confronted the Nazgul in the movie The Return of the King, it was all I could do to not shout out ‘What the fuck?!’ in the theater. Yes, Tolkien was sexist, but he was born, literally, in Victorian England, and raised for much of his childhood by a Catholic priest. So Peter Jackson had to take the strongest female character in his work, and turn her into a frightened squealer.
And when Frodo tells Sam to go home, and he does (or starts to), I stood up to leave, but my wife pulled me down again.
My wife does not like watching TV with me very much. I was raised by TV, and we have always had strong, vocal disagreements.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Must not have heard of hard science fiction.
Shit, most movies that are called science fiction are actually fantasies.
(Glares at Star Wars.)
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Shit Tony I’m sorry.
SQB:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Tony, that’s terrible. I’m fortunate enough to never have had something like that happen, so I don’t really know what to say except that I’m sorry.
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
Tony
*so many hugs!!!*
Gnumann+ @28
Anecdote: When I was little, we had geese. Supposedly a female pair, but whaddayanoh soon enough there were some fertilized eggs in the nest, and Mrs Goose was a-sitting on them. Every time – every time – she got up to get a bite to eat, Mr Goose nearly pecked her to death, until she went back to them eggs. She was this close to dying of starvation when the eggs finally hatched (4 healthy goslings, thank you). (Later one of the young males was killed by his father in a territorial dispute.)
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Ing:
Yeah, same here. It doesn’t much register with me.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Also, while I do not expect Doctor Who to be hard science, I am beginning to get real annoyed at aspects of Steven Moffat’s fairy tale direction. While I loved the images of an air borne shark pulling a sled, wtf was that shit about the snowmen being melted by children’s tears.
“spits”
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Ing:
speaking of Trek, I was talking with T the other day about how some of you ruined Star Wars for me because now I’m aware of the classist the movies are, as well as how not-so-nice the Jedi are. She is a fan of Star Trek, but my beef with Trek is how utopian it is. I long for a more just and fair society, but it isn’t going to happen in the short amount of time Roddenberry envisioned in his fictional universe. I also dislike-strongly-how disconnected episodes of each series are. I like character development and seasonal arcs. While the Trek series have the latter, the former is lacking. The characters change very little over the course of ST: TNG for instance. Another thing I like is a sense of continuity…the sense that events in the present are affected by what happened in the past. I had a writer once explain to me his preference for continuity by using ST: TNG as an example. If you marked every episode of the show on a card and tossed all the cards into the air, then randomly assembled them into a deck, the vast majority of episodes could be watched and you wouldn’t be able to tell they were out of order.
Contrast that with a show like Buffy, where that’s extremely difficult and you get my point.
That’s one of the reasons I think Babylon 5 may appeal to me. Serialized storytelling, continuity, and character development.
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Actually, to be really annoying, Tolkien was born in South Africa.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Fiction also has to make sense even if it’s an internal logic. Superman flying is fine. Superman throwing a kryptonite mountain is shit
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
an airborne shark pulling a sled?????!!!!
****
thanks for the hugs, all.
I’m sure I will be a little melancholy tomorrow, but there’s enough distance from his death that it doesn’t hit me the way it used to.
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
HA! Not annoying at all. I should have remembered, and written the Empire in the time of Victoria Regina.
PZ Myers:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Just so you know, I really hate “first” posts, and they get deleted.
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Sorry, PZ!
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Ing:
Did you know that John Byrne attempted to insert some pseudo science into Superman’s background when he re-imagined his history back in 1986? He had Superman’s powers have both a physical and psionic basis. He was superhumanly strong, yes, but when he lifted objects, the same power that allowed him to fly-TK-held objects together so they wouldn’t collapse under their own weight. Likewise, his heat vision was changed so that he psionically agitated molecules to generate intense heat, rather than generating the heat internally.
SQB:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
I parsed that a bit different from what you meant and laughed.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Tony, to be fair, continuity in US TV shows really did not become common until shows like Wiseguys. Babylon 5 was able to arc over several season because it was a syndicated show.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Catching up from last thread:
Caine
Scritches and good wishes for Vasco.
Tony
Congrats on the new job too.
This is something I’ve noticed in my own live as well. I strongly suspect that rq has the right of it as to why. A number of female friends have explicitly told me that the reason for their comfort around me is that I was both physically and emotionally nonthreatening. (One explicitly said she felt she could relax around me because she knew that she could kick my ass if the need arose.)
I too have a tendency for my face to relax into ‘serious’ which many take as ‘offputting.’ Meanwhile, both ‘concentrating’ and ‘confused’ always seem to come across as angry (although L insists that the difference is obvious and other people just aren’t paying attention)
Pteryxx
I don’t really worry about the gender of my partners at all, and tend to let people worry about their own gender roles. That said, I don’t really like being around dudebros and their performance of masculinity, so I’d say that that particular gender role is one that turns me right off.
&nbnp;
Also, The Hammer is nifty, and was a big hit in our household.
Nepenthe
I agree completely on this score, with the caveats about dudebros I mention above. (including the bit about olives).
Beatrice
I agree completely.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Yuck! A foul fowl indeed.
You can’t trust those bloody feathered dinosaurs.
Geese are definitively on the list of animals I like far better once a substantial part of their anatomy is within my oven.
The hard bit with something as alien as fowl, is to determine if this is role at play or if it’s instinct.
Jafafa Hots:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Why are all the couches in this lounge Naugahyde? I stick to them when I sit around in my underwear.
Plus the snack machine rejects all of my dollar bills.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
52nd?
@tony
Yeah when star trek started (ie tos) not having a running arc was common but it really dated a lot of the later series (voyager in particular SCREAMED for arcs and character growth but no). Also has its fair share of modern prejudices for a future utopia. There are enough interesting episodes that I still like it but not as much as I used to.
@Ing
Indeed internal logic very important to fiction. Though I would like some basic science as well. To pick on star trek having the crew dying by a silicon based virus is so silly I can’t imagine anyone with even basic science knowledge looked at the script.
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
To be fair, some of the longer descriptive passages in LotR might suggest that Tolkien had a penchant for being deliberately annoying.
billygutter01:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Funny, my loonies just slip right in.
Rob Grigjanis:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Tony @39: Babylon 5 is the best sci-fi series ever, IMO. Wonderful characters (Ivanova was my favourite). One of these days, I’m buying the set and breaking my no-DVD (or whatever the kids are using these days) rule.
Nepenthe:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Paul K
Yep. My parents have the same last name, but they are both MDs and when telemarketers say “Is Dr. [last name] there?” I like to confuse them by saying “Which one?” I’m upset by the letters, usually personal ones at that, addressed to “Dr. and Mrs. [last name]“. (The correct form of address is Drs X and Y Last Name. or Doctors Last Name. I’m tickled that etiquette rules have expanded to include this possibility.)
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Nepenthe:
Wow, now that shows real sensitivity.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Remember when it was a big deal that in the cartoon series The Tick that when CHA was carved into the Moon, it stayed that way. And when the Moon was bitten, the bite marks remained.
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
One thing I really liked about Babylon 5 was that events that did not occur until nearly the end of the series were foreshadowed long before. I remember asking, ‘now what does that portend?’, and then had to wait years to find out!
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Yay the tick great show ^.^
B5 really had the advantage of a lot of planning ahead. Compared to star trek or battlestar galactica where the over all story and even most cliffhangers was not planned ahead (yes they’re right half a cliff hanger drop it for months then come back and try to pick up the pieces).
Big gripe about B5 though is the vice president conspiracy to take over earth thing. I could have really done with taking out the middle man just have the president get tempted towards fascism. Maybe it’s something about american TV but conspiracies in the government to subvert power stuff just bugs me after a certain point. Fit in quite well with the Centauri wish it had stayed there.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
rq,
What I meant was that we are adapted to be acculturated: a member of our species who does not grow up as part of a human culture is inevitably severely disabled in various ways. Part of being acculturated is learning key distinctions, such as human/non-human, edible/inedible, kin/non-kin, clean/dirty… It’s possible the existence of some of these has a biological basis – say in specific brain circuitry – even though what gets put in each category varies across cultures – and maybe, gender is one of these. Pure speculation really.
Not quite. I meant that within a sexual orientation, you can have preferences for how members of a gender you’re attracted to express their gender identity (both in and out of bed), and in particular, how far they conform to gender stereotypes. Tony@1371 got what I meant if that’s still not clear.
Well no, clearly it couldn’t if you didn’t! But for myself (and this is purely hypothetical as I’m in a monogamous relationship), if I were to be attracted to someone (and on past form that would be someone who appears and identifies as a woman), we got to the point of undressing, and I found she had male genitals, I’m as sure as one can be of this sort of thing that I’d just lose interest in continuing with the sexual interaction.
Afraid I eat olives too – can’t get enough of them, in fact! I guess in both areas you can learn to broaden your tastes – but to do so, perhaps you first have to want to.
dianne:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Last names. I particularly dislike getting addressed as Mrs. Partnerslastname because a. we’re not married b. we wouldn’t have the same last name even if we were c. I’d be Dr. Partnerslastname if we were married and I took his last name and d. the person so addressing me is inevitably a fundraiser for an organization that should know better. Took the ACLU forever to issue me a card with my last name on it…
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Tony, hugs if you want them.
My mother is 85, and I am always worried about the inevitable happening.
— — — — — — — — — —
Geese are merely showing their dinosaur heritage more clearly than the cute birds.
There is a new TV series, with digitally reconstructed moving dinosaurs that incorporate all the *new* findings about theropods: The four-winged glider, or the giant oviraptor predator that weighed at least a ton and a half, and had feathers for threat and mating displays. It looked a lot closer to a goose than T.Rex.
— — — — — — — — — —
A publisher to watch: “Spectacular fiction”.
An author to watch: Nick Mamatas, author of “Sensation”.
Did you know that toxoplasma gondii is not the only organism that alters the behaviour of its host?
Did you know that what we call “human” civilization is just the by-product of an ancient conflict between a social parasitic arachnid* and a parasitic wasp species?
OK, so the arachnids have a group intelligence, and strive not to harm their human hosts, but it is still creepy if you have tendencies of arachnaphobia.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Another book by Spectacular fiction:
“Fire On The Mountain”
It is 1958, the second manned mission to Mars has landed and the Deep South is a socialist republic. A young black person goes on a journy to find the history of a great-grandfather who fought in the guerrilla army after John Brown launched his successful attack a century ago.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Tony@28
Shit. Big *hugs* and USBooze, mate.
Gilliell
Well, I’m bi, if that helps. :)
michaeld
Oh, me too. Or even fantasy, for that matter. I like Linkara’s show, but his slogan that ‘It’s magic, is doesn’t need an explanation’ really gets to me. Jsut because the rules of a sci fi/fantasy unverse are different that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. It has to be internally consistent and hang together, you have to be able to see how it makes sense within its own context. If it doesn’t, then the author has screwed up.
@Last names
L took mine, but that’s only because he’s disassociated himself from his family. Mom kept her last name, although the kids all got Dad’s. I had fun when I was a kid and we got telemarketers who would ask for ‘Mr. Momsname,’ and I’d explain that he was dead, and had been for 20 years and more (Mom’s dad), or ‘Mrs. Dadsname’ (My grandmother) who I would tell them lived in another state, and thus could not come to the phone right now, sorry.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Same here (actually I need to check we still are on such a list – they automatically take you off after x years in the UK). I have to be a bit careful in my response, as it may also be a professional contact of my wife, but it’s a useful heads-up.
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
“the best sci-fi series ever”
Hmm…Blake’s 7 ?
They were the ultimate underdogs.
— — — — — — —
“might suggest that Tolkien had a penchant for being deliberately annoying”
Cue song from Spitting Image: “I’ve never met a nice South African!”
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
You mean like “Frodo was very tired, Sam was very worried and Gollum ate a fish”?
I must have read the books like 20 times but I skipped that part most of them.
Yeah, Tolkie was a guy of his times. Although I still find Eowyn’s speech a wonderful insight into patriarchy.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
By FSM, I wish I could unlearn some things.
Thanks to Paulburnett, I give you breast ironing
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
Janine:
good point about continuity.
Funny though, because soap operas had continuing stories for decades before prime time tv did. I wonder why.
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
“I really really hate that one”
Tolkien spent a looong time going back through the manuscripts, catching errors and contradictions. That was one of several ingredients in making the trilogy great.
Both SF and fantasy authors should make it a matter of honour to avoid inherent contradictions. And don’t get me started on TV or I will go on until springtime.
— — — — — —
(looks around for a Gila monster to swing as a weapon)
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Ick yeah breast ironing….
Mildly amused your first reaction after “I wish I could unlearn this” was I better share it with more people. ;P
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Really? Maybe it’s time for a reread, then. I don’t remember that bit.
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Tony:
I could say many things here, but I’d have to use snark tags, and I’m not that great at snark. But it boils down to sexism, and the marketers views of their intended audience.
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
“Breast ironing”
“one in four”
OH SHIT!!!!!!!!
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
If I remember correctly, Ophelia has a couple of posts about breast ironing.
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Jafafa Hots
I recommend laying down a towel between you and the couch. Saves a lot of stickiness. ;)
re: it’s SCIENCE FICTION, dammit
I like my science fiction to be more science than fiction, and if people tell me to suspend my belief, I usually tell them something not particularly polite. I have a hard time watching ridiculous shows for any length of time, unless I’m watching them for the ridicule.
Nick Gotts
Thanks for the elaborations. Yes, things are more clear now, and make more sense from your initial reply post. (Tony’s post helped, too.)
re: best sci fi show ever
I’ve been getting a couple of endorsements for Babylon 5 lately. I suppose that means I should take a look.
Gnumann+
Role vs. instinct? I suppose that begs the question, Do animals (e.g. geese) have culture, that might impose a role upon them, or do they follow instinct for everything? /slightly facetious
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Admittedly, it’s maybe ten years since I read it last, so…
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Nepenthe:
I just saw your comment about olives.
It seems you and Dalillama have good taste.
Those things are *awful*.
In fact, they are so bad, I will eat a plate full of peas before I eat them.
Amusing story:
A few years ago, while at work, I decided to play around with stuffed olives. It was a sloooooow Saturday night at my bar, and I was working with another bartender, who was more than able to handle the few guests at the bar. I decided to stuff olives for the morning bartender, because we had great Sunday brunch specials, and we did bottomless champagne/mimosas, and $2 Bloody Mary’s. I knew that people love blu cheese stuffed olives, but I wanted something a little different. So I pureed blu cheese, tabasco, lime juice, garlic and avocado together and, using a makeshift piping bag, filled a bunch of olives (after I depitted them).
Funny thing is: I don’t eat olives, so I had to ask other people how it tasted.
Apparently it was amazing, because people wouldn’t stop eating them. I had to hide the olives. After all, I was prepping them for guests to have the next day with their Bloody Mary’s.
I did wind up trying the mixture atop grilled salmon, and it was positively DELISH!
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
michaeld
It’s all about sharing the misery, ya know. :) Just like cute cats must be shared!
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Tony
I don’t like olives, but if I start eating them, I can’t stop eating them. I’m not sure why. I honestly don’t like the taste, but I usually can’t help myself snatching up that first one. It’s terrible! (But I prefer them to peas, that I do!)
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 4:02 pm
@dalilama
Linkara agrees with you. The motto is mocking JMS and Quesadas One More Day Spiderman where plot holes are waved away with that exact phrase.
Oddly his show has explained how it’s magic system works and is mostly consistent.
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
“She is a fan of Star Trek, but my beef with Trek is how utopian it is. I long for a more just and fair society, but it isn’t going to happen in the short amount of time Roddenberry envisioned in his fictional universe.”
The narrative universe of the German TV “Raumpatrouille” (1966) is also fairly utopian and even closer to the present.
— — — —
By the way, did you know Germans have a Kurd Lasswitz award, named after one of the really early German SF authors? It is a shame there are so few translations of non-Anglo-Saxon SF.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
The things I know about geese:
They eat snails and grass (I think)
They are vicious bastards
Taste good
The French likes to torture them to obtain a slightly too fatty liver paste that’s just not worth to torture for
When animal rights activists protest against Canada Goose jackets for their fur trim, they never seems to worry about what happens to the goose.
None of which helps med explain if the birds have culture or if they are vicious by nature. So that was indeed the question.
alanbagain:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Paul K #32
Eowyn = “frightened squealer”?
I always had a lot of admiration for Eowyn.
Yes, she was terrified to have to encounter the Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl (possibly, only No.2 to Sauron himself) during the battle of the Pelennor Fields.
He was dismissive of her and threatened to “bear [her] away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where [her] flesh shall be devoured, and [her] shriveled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.”
No matter how terrified she would have been, she slays the horrible creature ridden by the Witch-king and fights against him despite being injured.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.”
Merry, who she had brought with her, stabbed the Witch-king (unknown to Eowyn who seemed to expect no such help). With is attention diverted Eowyn produced the death blow and collapsde, as if dead.
When push comes to shove, frightened and squealing, that is one feisty woman, despite the real and terrible dangers.
What gets my goat about the film version is the character assassination of Farramir. In the film, he is weak. He hesitates and can’t make the crucial decision. He holds Sam and Frodo captive and they almost loose the ring to one of the Nazguls. In the book, he helps Frodo as much as he can with food, guidance and warnings. He shows his true character by rejecting the ring out of hand:
“But fear no more! I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her, so, using the weapon of the Dark Lord for her good and my glory. No, I do not wish for such triumphs, Frodo son of Drogo.”
The contrast between the brothers, Boromir and Farramir is totally lost.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Yikes! I said bastard. Old habits die hard (I suppose it’s on the “don’t say that, it reinforces patriarchy”-list)
Sorry!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
The soaps were based on keeping their audience tuned in everyday. On going plot lines and cliffhangers were how this was done. Also, they were stretching out plot lines over several hours every week.
The old style TV show were going for the largest possible audience and having continuity would exclude people who have not watched past episodes. This has changed with cable stations cutting into the audience (There will never be mass numbers for an event show like Roots.) and the advent of VHS, DVD and online streaming. Now, they are more interested in keeping a certain percentage of a demographic in order to remain profitable. How else could shows like 30 Rock and Community remain on. They do not get the same ratings that Cheers and The Cosby Show did.
(I still remain perplexed by how Two And A Half Men goes on.)
Nepenthe:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Nick Gotts
That makes sense I guess. I certainly can’t see any benefit of eating olives though.
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
rq,
I haven’t seen Babylon 5 either, I think we should both watch it.
The series has never been shown on our TV. For shame, really, especially since the reason was quite probably political (Mira Furlan not being enough of a nationalist during the war).
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Giliell:
I don’t know how I missed your comment here.
I know exactly what you mean.
I’ve noticed a tendency among many couples I know that neither one is “allowed” to have friends of the opposite sex. Now, aside from the massively insulting notion that anyone gets to dictate who my friends are, I find it silly because there’s always an implied jealousy/ownership. Many men don’t want their girlfriends hanging out with guys (sometimes even GAY men). The reasons are rarely given, but one can figure it out. I’ve found the same thing with women saying they don’t want their boyfriends to hang out with women. It’s as if neither partner trusts the other to keep their hands to themselves and their clothes on.
It’s very aggravating.
It is entirely possible to have a platonic relationship with members of the opposite sex, whether both parties are gay, straight, or anywhere in between.
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Gnumann+
From personal experience, they are vicious by nature. Also terribly large birds, and ready to be aggressive at the slightest provocation. This is personal opinion based on experience with house geese and Canada geese in the wild. I doubt they have culture; dinosaurs didn’t evolve that far.
Right? :)
alanbagain:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
And now for something completely different:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/pillsbury/10-food-sculptures-too-incredible-to-eat-2pec
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Nick:
Heh. My long time girlfriend was what I’d call ultra-femme (make-up, hair, clothes all that) and had fabulous breastses and a fabulous penis. I consider that a right nice combination.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Some dinosaurs have culture. The corvids to name one group.
Jafafa Hots:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
House M.D. was a pretty decent sci-fi show.
Imagine a future where middle-income or poor people with an undiagnosed illness get a team of six of the top doctors in the country working 24 hours a day with the latest tech to try to help them.
OK, maybe it was just fantasy after all.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Ing@ 81
It is now, but in the early days he played that card pretty heavily before he retconned explanations into everything. Which admittedly could easily be part of the schtick too, since the whole thing is a send-up of comics tropes. But anyway, magic damned well does need to be explained.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Tony:
That’s because they don’t. A majority of hetro people have an underlying suspicion that a friendship with the person of the opposite sex will eventually reach a point of emotional closeness, which will in turn lead to sex. And that does happen – but I think it happens more because there’s always been this reinforcement that friends should be of the same sex as you.
People also get suspicious and upset about same sex friendships – a hetro woman may perceive the homosocial bonding her husband does to be more intimate (emotionally) than what they have in their relationship; a hetro man may fear that the bonding a woman has with other women may lead to criticism of him or make her think she could do better, etc.
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Beatrice
Maybe we can do an episode-by-episode, almost-synchro watch of Babylon 5. :)
Tony
I’m a jealous person by nature, and I know that, and it takes all my effort to know that the Husband has female friends (girl friends?). But I make a conscious effort to overcome this, because it is rooted in the refusal to believe that anybody would actually remain with me, if offered the choice of someone else. It’s taken a lot of personal effort to overcome this, and I’m still not perfect, but I know I’m better than I was. I’m terrified of being left, left behind. Sometimes I still can’t assure myself that he’s with me by choice and that he wants to be with me, which makes me an ass sometimes, but he bears with it, to an admirable degree. But yeah, terrified of being left.
Which is strange, because I’m perfectly alright with being alone.
All of that, I think, is rooted in the fact that I’m a possessive person. I like to own things. I consciously resist this, as well, and am slowly improving.
So sometimes I can understand why people might want to limit the friendships of their partners, while realizing that they’re wrong. And I can’t understand why they don’t realize it’s wrong, and try to do something about it. *sigh* People.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Jafafa Hots:
I’m the only person I know who couldn’t stand that show. It was the same exact fucking show each and every time. Boring.
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Gnumann+
Point acknowledged. :)
There was also a species of bird in Oceania, where the males learned songs and improvised new ones, that they taught to other birds. Ring a bell?
And sorry, but I have to run off – will catch up tomorrow!
Good night, everyone!
rq:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
PS Caine
You sort of know me. Watched a lot of that show, but by the second season, Husband and I were reciting the lines with the cast – “His kidney’s are failing! The liver is shutting down! If we don’t transplant within the next 24 hours, s/he will DIE!” That was fun. ;)
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
rq:
Fear of abandoment is pretty common. The trick is for you both to be aware that’s at the bottom of a lot of emotions and possible actions/reactions. It will get better. It did for me.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
rq:
You’re the first person I’ve known who didn’t simply praise that show to the skies.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
I grew to hate House
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
It’s never lupus! (except when it is)
(Actually, my aunt has lupus.)
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
House was a horrible fucking doctor who should have been fired
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Damn.
I drove home, make a pizza for dinner, and am already inhabiting Threadruptia! Not fair.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
Several species does this, at least as mimicry. I can’t quite remember names though.
And some species of birds I can’t quite name either dance in pairs for courtship. One apprentice and one master. The apprentice doesn’t get to mate, but he gets to be master one day – IANAB, but this seems a bit complex for instinct…
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
I liked House. For a while. But it grew boring, and I soon started hating it after the three regular assistants (more or less) left and House started torturing the candidates.
I don’t handle humiliation well and at some point House had become quite outrageous with humiliating everyone. Although, it could be argued that it was his MO from the beginning.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Hmmmm…
Serialized TV shows. Watching Willow grow as a character was one of the joys of Buffy. But there was one thing about her development that bothered me. Actually, it was more how some fans reacted that bothered me.
I did not celebrate when Tara got back with Willow. Willow was abusive of Tara. Simply because the means that she used to make Tara be the woman Willow wanted was not violent does not mean it was not abuse. Few fans ever commented about that.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I like Hugh Laurie, but I couldn’t abide the character of House. Christ, he was basically a whiny narcissist with zero compassion for anyone else. In what world is that attractive?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
TLC should be here to start telling stories about his mynah bird.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Tony
Jealousy is something I never got.
Envy, yes, jealousy, no.
Mr. and I have always had a distance relationship and at the most that distance was 10.000 km. We needed to trust each other or it wouldn’t work. So, he has female friends (actually, he has more female friends than male ones) and they’d been friends for a long time before he even knew me. Now, if they were couple material, they would have found out by the time we met. So, we joke about that he’s going to see another woman for lunch. The question is S or B, greetings and love to her.
+++
Wow, these people truely have no shame
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Yeah, it’s quite possible that I hung onto “liking” House for as long as I did because I really do like Hugh Laurie.
w00dview:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
As Gnumann and rq have pointed out, there are bird species with what you would define as a culture. Tits from the family Paridae being a particularly good example. There is the case of blue tits learning how to open bottles of milk delivered to the doorsteps. The behaviour is far rarer now due to most people buying milk from the supermarket than from the milkman:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_tit#Learning
There is also the more recent discovery of Great tits in Hungary hunting bats during harsh winters!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8245165.stm
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
I agree. When reading the books, it always seemed to me that it was a big point to show the difference in attitude between Boromir and Faramir; pride, arrogance and ambition (which what originally lead the nine to fall to the influence of the rings) vs. humility and simplicity (paralleling the small halflings having more power than was apparent).
I haven’t seen the all the films, but if your description is correct, then they’ve really missed something.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
The GOP? The Tea Party?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Ogvorbis:
Yeah…okay.
dianne:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
“His kidney’s are failing! The liver is shutting down! If we don’t transplant within the next 24 hours, s/he will DIE!”
That’s not when you transplant.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Dianne:
Yabbut, drama. With extra eleventy one.
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Giliell,
re: criticism of Greta Christina’s spending
What a bunch of assholes. The little that Stephanie didn’t cover in her post, you covered in your comment so there really isn’t much else to say.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Ing:
You.
Mentioned.
One More Day????!!!!!
I’m going to go cry now. I still think it was stupid to eliminate the marriage because “kids cannot relate to a married Peter Parker”. I dropped the Spider-Man titles for a few years after that.
I’ve come to enjoy them again with Dan Slott writing, but I still maintain that the target audience for most American comics *may* be teens, but the hobby is supported by adults. *And* the stories that have come out since OMD would not be significantly altered with Peter and MJ married, so the whole “there are so many more stories to tell with a single Peter Parker, rather than a married one” haven’t borne out.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Caine
This has happened in my heterosexual (and homosexual for that matter) relationships. I find that it saves a lot of stress and anxiety to just not worry about it, really; my romantic partners aren’t my property, and neither is their sexuality. Of course, I recognize that many people feel monogamy is part of the emotional commitment in their relationships, but I’ve always thought that most people make much too big a deal out of it.
rq
I suspect, however, that this is actually at the root of a lot of the sexual jealousy thing. I further suspect that it’s worse the more ‘traditional’ a relationship is. By this I mean, for instance, that a couple who married young, had no sexual partners but each other, and didn’t have sex with each other until they married seems like they’d be more prone to worrying ‘what if he/she likes someone else better? What if it turns out that I’m a bad lover and this other person is better than me?’ etc. compared to a couple where both parties have had multiple past sexual relationships/partners, where there’s more confidence of “out of them all, he/she picked me.” I can’t prove it, it’s just a suspicion, and of course there will always be individual personality differences that also influence how worried someone will be about that type of thing.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
Seeing that the tweeters were Renee Hendricks and Fletch Grogan, it is hard to take them seriously. They pile on just because Greta is outspoken.
w00dview:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:44 pm
You are thinking of long tailed manakins. This article explains more and shows the males cooperating in their courtship dance. I would agree that there seems to be more than instinct at play.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7891243.stm
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
dianne
A spam mail?
For years I had a reply saved for the well-meaningly forwarded “Help, my son/daughter/mum/dad/goldfish/hamster has Leukemia and needs a donor who is AB-” explaining people that no, if you have Leukemia your blood-type is actually not important and that they will at best lower people’s willingness to actually do something like register themselves for marrow-donation.
+++
Yeah. All the really good folks in the book could have the ring but reject it. Gandalf, Aragorn, Galadriel, Faramir. That’s the only thing I can’t forgive Peter Jackson.
Sam says something in the movie about “We shouldn’t even be here” I agree.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
Spent all day building a new workbench with the FIL for my shop. Almost done. Been a good day.
Eurasian magpie:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:49 pm
I wouldn’t say I loathe House the show, but oh boy did it lose it’s allure fast. Every episode in the same formula and no real development in the characters or in their relationships. And House the character is an annoying sociopath. And Perry Cox would kick his ass :P
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Caine @110:
That is the reason I *hated* Brian’s character on the American Queer as Folk. He was most rude, obnoxious, self centered person on the show. I really don’t see what anyone like about him.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Fuck yeah Perry Cox!
I loved Scrubs, except that towards the end they sort of regressed JD and stripped him of character development and made him super cartoon quirky. House I thought was OK until they did the same thing with him.
w00dview:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Are people really outraged that Greta bought shoes? Is this going to turn into shoegate and be another example of DEEP RIFTS? Christ, these people will whinge about anything. It’s pathetic.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Tony:
Yeah, I agree. And the whole “he’s really an emotional good guy who was trying to protect Justin” crap at the end was not enough to salvage the character, at least not for me.
I had the same problem with Jenny in The L Word. Holy cow, did I ever want one her whiny “I’m going to off myself! *sob*” scenes to actually happen. Follow through, please. (There was that one ep. where she adopted an elderly dog, just so she could have it put down to fuck up someone else’s relationship, yada, yada, yada.)
Nepenthe:
January 6th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Janine
Right on wrt Buffy. I even watch season one, just because I can’t stand to miss the character development. (Yes. That’s present tense.)
I love how as the show progresses I find myself identifying less and less with Willow and more and more with Tara and Buffy.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:00 pm
@rq, beatrice and anyone thinking of watching b5 for the first time
The first season of B5 is well frankly a bit rough around the edges. Its not nearly as bad and unwatchable as season 1 of TNG but its not the best the series has to offer. Season 2-3 though are great and 4 is very good. Just be aware the show had some minor growing pains before it caught it’s stride.
ChasCPeterson:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:00 pm
because why?
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:00 pm
America’s Lead Menace http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/03/america-s-new-red-menace-lead.html
Hmm…Is the situation in urban USA regarding lead pollution really this bad? Sounds a bit like having to live in Pripyat, Ukraine.
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Tony,
Hah. Queer as Folk. I remember the first time I stumbled over an episode. My innocent little self watched with interest but then realized there were some strange things happening all men in a club! dancing! and kissing! and OMG is that one wearing just really small shorts!? *changes the channel quickly*
I did continue watching it for a while, and later watched the whole thing on YouTube (wasn’t aware of torrents then).
I couldn’t stand Michael.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
W00dview:
Eh, it’s primarily Hoggle and Hendricks, the toxic twins. Idiots both, who have made it their life’s work to rail against all things FTB and the uppity bitches and manginas. Hendricks, in particular, couldn’t figure out how to get out of a wet paper bag if you even handed her scissors. Her ‘arguments’ here were beyond laughable before she got herself banned. She’s a pitter, too.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:03 pm
Who As Folk.
birgerjohansson:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
The original article about lead pollution and crime in Mother Jones: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
Michaeld:
I disagree. I liked Sinclair much more than Sheridan. Also, Season 1 has the awesome sauce of G’kar explaining things to Catherine Sakai:
Catherine Sakai: Ambassador! While I was out there, I saw something. What was it?
G’Kar: [points to a flower with a bug crawling on it] What is this?
Catherine Sakai: An ant.
G’Kar: Ant.
Catherine Sakai: So much gets shipped up from Earth on commercial transports it’s hard to keep them out.
G’Kar: Yes, I have just picked it up on the tip of my glove. If I put it down again, and it asks another ant, “what was that?”, [laughs] how would it explain? There are things in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. They’re vast, timeless, and if they’re aware of us at all, it is as little more than ants, and we have as much chance of communicating with them as an ant has with us. We know, we’ve tried, and we’ve learned that we can either stay out from underfoot or be stepped on.
Catherine Sakai: That’s it? That’s all you know?
G’Kar: Yes, they are a mystery. And I am both terrified and reassured to know that there are still wonders in the universe, that we have not yet explained everything. Whatever they are, Miss Sakai, they walk near Sigma 957, and they must walk there alone.
G’Kar: Let me pass on to you the one thing I’ve learned about this place. No one here is exactly what he appears. Not Mollari, not Delenn, not Sinclair… and not me.
Paul K:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Things have moved along, but:
Just to be clear, alanbagain, I was comparing the strong Eowyn of the book, who laughs — quite literally — in the face of Death, to the frightened rabbit in the movie. In the book, she wants to fight, like all the men she loves and admires. She was raised among warriors, and identifies with them. (There’s also the fatalism involved with thinking Aragorn is unattainable). I didn’t really understand her motivation for going along with the Rohirrim in the movie. She was scared nearly out of her wits before the battle even began.
LykeX, #72:
This might be the quote Giliell was refering to in the comment at 67. Eowyn is responding to Aragorn, who has just told her to stay in Rohan because it is her duty:
This was not the Eowyn of the movie. She may have actually said the words (I don’t recall), but she didn’t show the truth of them with her actions. And I looked forward to the scene on the Pelennor for years.
Rob Grigjanis:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:12 pm
Giliell @125: “That’s the only thing I can’t forgive Peter Jackson.”
Agreed, but I’d add miscasting and the extra importance he gave to Merry and Pippin. In the movie, they convince the Ents to fight, as though they needed the wisdom of a couple of gormless halflings. And Pippin lighting the fire to summon the Rohirrim?
Oh, and Legolas doing his Spider-man impersonation during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. And the lame soundtrack. I should stop now.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 5:15 pm
I always wondered if the British Queer as Folk was better than the American version.
****
At the height of my tv watching (around 2009, when M was alive), I was keeping up with 7 or 8 shows. Never found time to watch House though.
Another one I never watched, but want to: Battlestar Galactica (the newer version).
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
I can’t forgive Peter Jackson for padding King Kong. That movie could have been so much better without the filler.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
What I really can’t forgive Peter Jackson:
All the fucking dwarf jokes.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Oh, and I second the bit about Ëowyn.
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
Never watched the British version of QAF. Because I’m biased against American remakes, I’m assuming the original was better.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:18 pm
@Caine
I wouldn’t say its bad it just didn’t work for me (and anecdotally from some others I’ve talked to) as well as later seasons. Sinclair wasn’t bad but he was a bit… stiff ( which worked really well in his later appearances). Sheridan seemed more in key with the material. Several of the memorable dud episodes for me are also in season 1. I don’t really mean it as a scare people away just to me the show got a lot better in the next 2 seasons where I think it deserves the most credit.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Peter Jackson.
The same person who gave us Dead/Alive.
Jafafa Hots:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
I only watched it for the snark.
braggart.
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
I’m still not sure whether I’m going to forgive Peter Jackson for dragging The Hobbit through three movies. I’ll have to at least watch the first one.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Michaeld:
I really loathed all the “star killer” crap and how the glory of being a sociopathic killer in war was constantly emphasised with Sheridan.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:23 pm
Jafafa Hots:
Hey, she was something to brag about! :D
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
glory of being a sociopathic killer in war
Sontarans?
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Off topic, but remember the conversation about hot sauces that cropped up yesterday(?) on a different thread? I give you Sriracha popcorn.
Rob Grigjanis:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:25 pm
Gnumann @: Thirded, but it’s (accent pedantry) Éowyn.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Janine:
No. It was always about Sheridan having the rep as being the one who killed more Minbari than anyone else in the war. Big ass Killer. There was never one opportunity missed to bring that into things.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Hehe yeah I agree with you there, course I find the animosity the held against Sheridan over that far stupider then the glorifying aspects. But I kind of don’t want to get into details in case people want to watch it :-/
OK RQ, Beatrice (others?) go watch quick and report back on who you agree with so we can discuss this in detail! ;p
w00dview:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Chas, wouldn’t the fact that a junior manakin has to learn the courtship dance from a older, more experienced male suggest that instinctive behaviour alone would be insufficient to explain this behaviour? If it was purely instinctive why be an apprentice to a more successful male? Wouldn’t you have the right moves from the beginning if it was just instinct? Now I have not checked the latest literature and do not know if ornithologists have determined what the main driver of this behaviour is, but if it is instinct then it is very complex instinct.
Caine, these pitters are really becoming the Ann Coulters of the atheism scene. Make shit up and spew hatred at any opportunity. I’m pretty cool with alienating folks like that from the “movement”. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Rob: Drat! At least I didn’t go for Ê.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
I need a new pair of glasses. I just now realize what Rob Grigjanis’s avatar is.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
…
… I haven’t seen most of the shows you folks are talking about. :(
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
w00view:
Good description.
Beatrice:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
re. babylon 5
I don’t have unlimited internet, so I have to ration any downloading. It might take some time to finish even just one season that way :)
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
OK I’ll go into a bit more detail look away spoiler concerned people though its not too spoilery I think .
It was one of earth’s only victories and it was an important ship that he blew up. The minbari got really upset that in during their genocidal war where they were accepting no surrender and out powered their opponents that the enemy had the nerve to blow up one of their ships. And they keep bringing it up. Cry me a river if the I don’t feel sorry you lost a ship during your genocidal little campaign. The glorifying it part was over played but I found the reasons for the minbari anger over it was dumber.
Nutmeg:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
TV show discussion
Buffy: Yeah, I was super creeped out by Willow’s manipulation of Tara before they broke up. I otherwise adore Willow, so I’d prefer to pretend that never happened.
The L Word: Caine, I will join you in the “Let’s hate Jenny!” corner, along with the majority of queer women, I’m sure. I almost gave up on the show just because I couldn’t stand Jenny any longer. I made it to the end eventually, but the last 3 seasons took a lot of patience.
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
Tolkien was largely a product of his times, but there is one speech that makes me forgive him of a lot. To wit:
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
I prefer to think that she learned from it.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:41 pm
Michaeld:
I couldn’t disagree more. I loathe the glorification of war and I loathe the glorification of “soldier! look at him slaughter!” There’s a lot of sexism and conceptual masculinity tied into the glorification of war, though, so I expect most people didn’t find it irritating or upsetting.
Nutmeg:
Yep, same here. I was having the worst time following the show because of Jenny. I made it through, but gods, did I ever want her to die. Or disappear. Whatever. Alice was my fave character, next was Shane, so I kept up for them.
Nepenthe:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Janine has introduced me to an amazing site. I put in John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”) and the last thing it managed to say in English before wandering off to total gibberish was “The orders of nothing of butter pears.”
I think it makes more sense than the original, don’t you?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Sheridan killed the most Minbari because he’s the only one that actually won a fight. The Minbari were just plane old assholes
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Nepenthe, a couple of years ago, I infected this blog with that site.
Now, I try to save it for special occasions.
But I like that!
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
I didn’t think we were allowed to disagree on pharyngula :( ;p
I see where you’re coming from and do agree that it has some nasty baggage tied to it. I think for some reason I’m may be more forgiving of some of the stupid tropes that tend to get batted around over and over again then I am of bad writing for some reason. Something I should think about.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 5:55 pm
The Minbari anger of Sheridan is hard to take seriously when the only reason his strategy worked was because the Minbari were engaging in war crimes. Again this is a culture that has a religious and military caste dominating all politics. They are pure myopic war glorifying theocratic assholes.
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Two points:
1) That makes the Narn, or at least G’Kar (not unreasonalbe given that he’s so introspective), more knowledgeable that anyone else in the galaxy.
2) It’s kinda Lovecraftian: Great, inhuman power that control our fates with no chance of us changing their path.
@Paul
Thanks for the quote.
Nutmeg:
January 6th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Janine:
I’d like that to be the case, but it doesn’t seem to be emphasized. To me, Willow seems to focus on her magic addiction as the problem.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Looking back at B5 a lot of it was held up by some really good acting. There are times when the writing plummets.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Ing:
So…the same as humans.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Its also held together by the planning ahead. Without the foreshadowing of events and building up that it does, its kind of grand scale story arc it probably would have fared worse (BSG could have really used some of this).
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
Nutmug, the equating of magic use to drug use really bothered me.I know they needed a shorthand to convey the effects that magics can have on a person. But it was so literal, it became painful to watch. Especially Crash, the episode of the show I hated the most.
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
<blockquoteAgain this is a culture that has a religious and military caste dominating all politics</blockquote
Had, if memory serves. Didn’t they alter the composition of the Grey Council to include a majority of the Worker Caste?
But, it’s still true that at the time, they were governed by soldiers and fanatics; not a good combo.
ckitching:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Nepenthe, always remember the important message of John 3:16: “In addition to creating a world in which love, death. In the music.”
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
I WILL kill you, blockquote. If it takes the rest of my life, I will destroy you.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 6:08 pm
@LykeX
Yes they did because the workers were being exploited. The Warrior Caste was basically thugs and the Religious Caste was the happy smiling hippy face they put on so they could be respected as wise and spiritual. After all it was the Religious Caste who declared genocide on humanity.
Also too big of a spoiler but yeah consider who set up that system
Rob Grigjanis:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Ing @174: “They are pure myopic war glorifying theocratic assholes.”
Well, they did offer the (rather lame) excuse that they went temporarily insane, as a race. Didn’t take much, apparently.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
@ caine
I’d say no not to the same degree. Just as there’s the sexism of 100 years ago and the sexism of today (at least in the west). They’re both bad but one is less bad (in this case less genocide, war crimes, more diplomacy, also compare why the human led wars and the minbari war ended).
@lyke
yeah blockquote is a tricky tricky thing….
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Oh yeah that’s an excuse. And recall that their reason for NOT killing all humans wasn’t that they realized it was wrong to genocide another race.
Nepenthe:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:17 pm
Re Buffy:
The “drugs are bad, m’kay” was terrible. Especially since it came out of the blue. There was no foreshadowing of “magic is a dangerous thing even if you don’t fuck up the spells because reasons” in the first seasons. We get to watch Willow become a strong character and a strong person, but suddenly it’s like “oh shit, she’s more powerful than Buffy now and we can’t have a female character who isn’t disabled by her power in some way, so magic is gonna be a drug now”. There are better narrative ways of dealing with magic to keep one character from becoming overpowering. Of course, we throw away the whole idea of having any sort of reasonable balance of power between protagonists and between protagonists and villans in season 7 anyway, so what the hell.
/rant
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:27 pm
Willow’s abuse of Tara could have been done with the drug analogy because it could have easily fit in with how abuse is done, who has the power and privilege. And Willow was more powerful then Tara. And she did not want to hear about any complaints that Tara had, so Willow silenced her. That fact that Willow could be vindictive was already established.
But I really hate the magic as drug abuse arc. Hate. Hate. Hate.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Michaeld:
Yeah, I suppose. I think in the context of B5, humans simply hadn’t had the opportunity to get as powerful and nasty. Also, the way it struck me was that in season 1, Sinclair was shown as sensitive and empathetic, thoughtful and inclined to ‘bookishness’. In Season 2, the Minbari were written as the toxic femine archetype, whiny, secretive and manipulative, while Sheridan was written as the ManlyMan™ masculine archetype, a killer, a good soldier, stubborn, a problem solver and so on. The whole thing just struck me badly, left a bad taste in my brain.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Fun trivia: the Minbari were originally supposed to be a genderless androgynous species
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
bad taste in my brain
Your head is not like a normal head.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
Nepenthe and Janine
RE:Willow, Hear, hear. I agree on all points, so I won’t go on there.
Tony
The new Battlestar Galactica has quite a a lot of really good bits, leavened with some deeply, deeply stupid bits. It’s hard to say more than that without getting all spoilery, though.
 :
I haven’t seen B5, but a lot of people say I should.
Nutmeg:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Caine: I always related most to Dana, so I lost a lot of incentive to watch after she died. Alice and Shane were the runners up, though. I remember reading an article on a queer website that suggested that, on a first date with a girl, you ask what she thinks about Jenny. If she likes Jenny, you run away screaming. Seemed pretty reasonable to me.
Janine and Nepenthe: Yeah, I really hated the “magic=drugs” storyline too. It was so heavy-handed, and so obviously done to diminish Willow’s power. It especially frustrated me because, in earlier episodes, Willow was shown paying a physical price for doing magic (exhaustion, nosebleeds, etc.). If they wanted to limit her power, that would have been a plausible mechanism without all the anti-drugs preachiness.
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
True, their reasoning was that human were spiritually identical to Minbari. That’s the equivalent of realizing it’s wrong to kill Jews because they were really Aryans all along.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
If you’re talking about the one at ended a few years ago, I loved it despite some glaring flaws and… Well.. Ending.
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 6th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Tony
This is one of the things I love about Netflix. I can yell at the screen in the comfort of my own home.
Also, *headbonks* sorry about M.
Ing
Yep, there are shows that get yelled at. A lot. This is why Fox News is not allowed in this household.
*gets lost in the scifi discussion*
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
@caine
hmm I dunno. The Minbari were already fairly secretive to begin with I’m not sure that season 2 did much to change it. Sheridan has emotional baggage and his greatest successes to me were always in diplomacy. Despite touting his war hero status at the start he seemed more a great leader another often male archetype but not necessarily the same one.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
I am currently watching Voyager. There is yelling.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
I do not watch that show (Voyager) and even I know about Janeway and Paris regressing to amphibious creatures and mating.
I will speak no more of it.
Crip Dyke, MQ, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
She was a fast machine; she kept her motor clean.
She was the best damn laptop that I ever seen!
3yr old macbook pro with endless repair issues replaced by apple, with a little extra money turned into the new retina display/SSD version.
She’s GORGEOUS, and oh my goodness, waiting at startup exists, but ain’t nothing like any laptop I’ve ever used. The SSD start up times are fantastic. The Retina(ridiculous name TM) display is deceptively gorgeous. I was looking at my partner’s laptop this morning wondering how a Retina display could be better when I couldn’t see individual pixels anyway. I don’t know how they do pixel blending (though I know that they do it) to make the pixels on the best screens seem NOT to be individual units even though they are. But they do a good job, so what was I going to notice anyway?
Short answer: everything.
The icon for Numbers in the dock is a 3-D histogram overlaid on something that looks like some vague calendar/spreadsheet thingy.
At the top there’s a white squiggle supposed to be an abstract design that represents some spreadsheet-title without actually being one – one would presume that this is because they want it to be generic, so you can believe it’s something that might be relevant to you.
Except that with the new display, you can see that the abstract squiggle is actually the word “Numbers” in all caps, though very small and angled funny from the 3D perspective. You can read
Every. Single. Letter.
Sigh.
My album covers in iTunes? Righteous Resolution, Batman! I often couldn’t find an album pic that was the right resolution when I was searching, so I saved a lot of album covers in much higher resolutions. The album icons are still approx 1″ by 1″ … but the resolution is so much better that I can see details I didn’t know existed on those things.
And the sound? Frenzied F*ing Funk, Batman!
Okay, I had the 13″ with only 1 speaker before, but I’ve used lots of laptops before, and listened to music on a fair few. This thing has a subwoofer that gets completely eaten when the center of the computer’s base in on your legs, but if you spread your legs to support it by only the edges – or, better, rest it on a table/desk surface – the laptop is as loud as and at least as clear as any set of desktop speakers for $150 or less that I’ve ever heard (though, I admit, if you get a good combo that isn’t *only* desktop – a set with a big subwoofer that sits on the floor, for instance you can beat the laptop’s bass by a good margin for $150-200). And you don’t have to carry the darn things with you.
With Ms. Cripdyke’s laptop (borrowed for the entirety of last semester since my old macbook broke immediately before the term with no time to go through repairs/replacement until break) you have to struggle to hear dialog on some streaming video at even max volume. On this thing, if you were intended to hear the dialog on the TV, you hear it on this machine. I tried it out on a bad copy of a TV episode that I had recently had trouble hearing. It’s loud enough I’d worry about waking up the kids in the next room if I did it after they were asleep – my usual streaming time.
I am absolutely sure that this machine has drawbacks besides the price and the tight DRM of Apple. But Unholy Fucktoy of Gods, the pure functionality of being able to see text you would otherwise miss, ID icons from farther away, enjoy music that would otherwise be tinny background noise, and skip the vast majority of waiting one does every time one starts, reboots, or wakes a laptop … at 2kg! … it’s enough to make me overlook a lot.
A. LOT.
Damn. I love this thing.
Back in Black just came on. Gotta go, read law and rock out. When I’m a zillionaire every single one of the horde regulars gets one of these on hir birthday.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
@Ing
Oh I’m so sorry :(
Voyager totally squandered its premise and characters. Harry is useless and underdeveloped to the point of just taking up space. Chakotay is based on awful native american stereotypes the writers got from a con man. The only running plot lines are mostly stupid ( see neelix’s jealousy of tom) when all the characters should have some sort of arc and growth. Almost no maquis/federation animosity. No sense they’re trapped far from home where decisions and supplies matter. So much love for the reset button and forgetting the consequences of an episode. Janeway is occasionally just evil. I could go on and on about voyager.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 6th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
My “neutral” face apparently looks like an “I’m damned pissed off!” face. It took a while for me to believe it, but in the face of enough data, I have been forced to concede that it must be so.
A couple of times when people have asked what was wrong, I’ve told them, “I’m not mad; I’m just drawn that way!”, which used to get a laugh.
-
-
*hugs* and sympathy for the cold, Socio-gen. I’ve finally got mine on the run. I hope yours is fleeting.
-
Hi, SQB! Welcome back.
-
*manymanyhugs*, Tony.
-
Yes. IMO, it’s because they are blurring the SF/Fantasy border…which, admittedly, can sometimes we deliberately blurry.
-
Olives are nummy.
-
Blu-ray.
-
Big fan of The Tick.
Spoon!
-
?????
Can has details? Linky?
-
“Breast ironing is extremely painful and can cause tissue damage.”
Noooo!!!!!
</heavy sarcasm>
-
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
As an undergraduate, I went to a screening of Troy with my classical mythology class. The professor got kicked out of the theater for yelling at the screen.
In Attic Greek. :D
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
No they’re not even doing that. Good Fantasy works on its own set of rules. They’re excusing shit writing.
Watching now the Voyager episode with Ferengi setting themselves up as gods. The shear audacity of them showing the Ferengi being revealed and played the DRAMATIC BAD THING SCORE. Where we have goblins dressed as Aladin genies
jayel:
January 6th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Saw the wallaby picture and just had to comment, although unrelated to the present discussion (apologies).
Most days, at dusk, a mother and joey just like the ones in the photo come to my backyard and graze for an hour or so (sometimes there are as many as 5-6). When they’re feeling bold, they come right up outside the bedroom windows. I feel very lucky to just watch these beautiful creatures.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Oggie @155:
O.O
I want some Sriacha popcorn!
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
…Really Voyager? You’re pulling the Prime Detective when Ferengi are already exploiting a primitive society? WTF?
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
Ing, check out the first action figure.
*snort*
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Janine:
My most hated episode is probably Doublemeat Palace, followed by Beer Bad.
I do agree that the “magic use=drug/alcohol abuse” was ham fisted.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DOCTOR-WHO-5-DESTROYED-CASSANDRA/dp/B0014DRL72
Oh god. This is the funniest fucking thing ever
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
@Ing
That was one of the one’s I mentioned in the italy thread. Another strange case in voyager prime directive lore though I’ll let you watch it.
@Janine
I want mutant tom paris :( Actually on that list I own the Dennis Neadry JP toy somewhere :P.
Crip Dyke, MQ, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Tony: I literally cannot imagine the stress and awfulness. Today is one of the more important anniversaries with Ms Cripdyke. I think of this day with such joy, maybe I can offer you some of my joy and you can shed a little of the awful to folks who can shoulder it today. It is one of the wonderful functions of the horde.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Even the bad episodes had scenes that were worthwhile. Doublemeat Palace had the training video and Buffy’s reaction to it. And Beer Bad had the scenes with Parker and Willow.
Crash did not even have those grace notes.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:11 pm
Partner is pressuring me into buying the Destroyed Casandra Figure
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:11 pm
DOCTOR WHO 5″ DESTROYED CASSANDRA
On my fucking non-existent god! That is fucking fabulous!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Oop. Oh my…
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Esteleth:
My wife kicked me out of the room for screaming at the TV while we were “screening” Troy… just a terrible movie.
ckitching:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
How many stories in Voyager were “Captain single-handedly saves ship, proves crew to be extraneous” or the “Captain performs crew duties better than crew, proves crew to be extraneous” storylines? They were constantly trying to prove that Catherine Janeway really was the captain or something.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:14 pm
@Ckitching
More often it was “Tom Paris can do every job on the ship while steering it with his dick”
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:18 pm
This is almost as good as the Destroyed Cassandra Figure.
The Cassandra Action Figure
Action figure?
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:18 pm
hehe
Yes tom is hyper competent. History, piloting, medicine, commando tactics, engineering physics defying engines etc etc etc.Though Janeway is always right. Janeway’s moral in alliances is we shouldn’t compromise our principles and form an alliance with the kazon. Then in scorpion we should compromise and form an alliance with the borg. Its flipped and why? Cause Janeway says so pretty much. Borg are way worse then the kazon in terms of over all malevolence and negative impact on everyone.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Janine:
I know.
Michaeld, I don’t expect you to see the feminine/masculine archetypes the same way. Funny, that, eh? As long as I’m grouching about B5, I was infuriated that the relationship between Susan and Talia was nothing more than a teeny *blip*, then the Talia character was *poofed* away (I won’t say more as to spoilage). First, it’s a bunch of fear, fighting and dismissal, then it’s “ooh honey” in bed, then gone. That was absolute bullshit. There was a lot of intense sexism in B5 and it ran along cis/het lines almost exclusively.
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:24 pm
I didn’t get kicked out of the Troy screening. I just whispered ἐρώμενος! with the person sitting next to me.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
There’s a reason we netflix – so I can hit the pause button and complain right at the moment. (Or praise, whichever the case may be.)
ckitching:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Very true. How could I forget Tom Paris. The only way they ever managed to give any of the other characters any story was by removing these two characters.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Hey everyone I suspect it’s fake but over on the football rape thread we have someone claiming to be one of the people involved. Anyone want to actually yell at him before inevitable ban better do so quick
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Caine
hehe. No you’re right I can think of a number of reasons (gender and upbringing most obviously). I’m sure I have more then a few views influenced by them for better and worse.
Yeah Talia and Susan was a weird mess, out of no where and gone. I joked about it with my GF who got me into the show when it came up.
Janine
How can they really call a stretched layer of skin an action figure? What actions can it make?
ckitching
Don’t forget Seven of Nine once did a whole episode practically by herself while everyone else slept in pods. Since she joined the rest of the crew doesn’t even need to be conscious for there to be an episode :P
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Ugh every time Trek tries to do sexy or talk about sex it’s like anti-porn
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:51 pm
@Ing
Which is about on par with their comedy record. Outrageous Okona being the more infamous.
From the Original script which Whoopi Goldberg changed to a bad android humanoid joke (You’re adroid and I’m anoid).
My job here places me under some obligations, like a vow of secrecy. I can’t repeat anything I hear or see. Now the obligation of the patron is to tell the truth, otherwise I’m being placed under a commitment to keep a secret about “nothing.” That’s not fair. It’s called wasted honor. You understand?
Find the joke in that someone…..
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 7:52 pm
Oddly I found House of Quark legitly funny
ibyea:
January 6th, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Lol, destroyed Cassandra figure. ^_^
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 6th, 2013 at 8:05 pm
Threadrupt, but:
No statute of limitations or damage limitations on Malignant Shit-Stupidity lawsuits by children against their parents?
I know one of the things Greg Laden has mentioned on a couple occasions is that in every known culture, within that culture the men are generally more violent than the women, but that there are lots of cases where the women in culture A are more violent than the men in culture B.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 8:14 pm
@Ing
Hehe ok you’re right there are some funny episodes but they often seem to be the exceptions among some really terrible episodes. I’m very fond of magnificent Ferengi myself. Fascination or worse profit and lace on the other hand…
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 6th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
House of Quark is a good example of a rare good Ferengi episode.
a) It lets the Ferengi expand beyond their stereotype…daring to even let them have some nobility while still staying true to their established nature
b) It has good pacing and writing, with a Kafkaesque humor to it. Quark is dragged further and further into a situation outside his control with each new lie he tells trying to get out of it only causing him to sink further in.
c) It doesn’t rely on the Ferengi being too repulsive or annoying to be funny.
Magnificent Ferengi recreated a lot of that too. False Prophets and Profit and Lace were in the other extreme of utter shit.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 6th, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Yes.
-
Once upon a time while attending high school, my brother had two friends, one male (J), one female (R). They were about equally close to him; but when, shortly after graduation, J and R got married, the unanimous expectation of the parental age group was that suddenly, Brother would no longer be friends with R. It was such an “of course, goes without saying” thing that the Parentals were shocked that J didn’t object to Brother continuing to be her friend…even when he wasn’t there to chaperone. It was as if, even though, somehow, Brother had managed to restrain himself from jumping R’s bones before she was married, he would presumably no longer be capable of exercising the same self-restraint afterwards.
-
:)
-
:) :) :)
-
mildlymagnificent:
January 6th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Wallabies, kangaroos.
We had the occasional demented koala turn up in the street we used to live in. a) all koalas are fairly demented most of the time b) the 10 years of drought drove them further down from the hills into real suburbia. Down here on the other side of town, haven’t seen any koalas, but ….
a kangaroo hopping along the road beside our house – and I missed it. Brings back memories of the kids returning from USA trips bragging about how they fooled all the school kids they met that Yes, we do ride to school on kangaroos.
LykeX:
January 6th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
On a completely unrelated note: yesterday, I saw The Wicker Man for the first time. No, not the Nick Cage version.
It was awesome. A classic movie that didn’t let me down.
Lofty:
January 6th, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Koalas, AKA Dropping Bears.
I know which gum tree the Koala was last in by the scatter of 1 inch light green, eycalyptus scented droppings on the path. When a small plane flies by the koala thinks it’s a challenger and calls out to it. Visitors claim the noise is like pigs, but I disagree. It’s more like a basso profundo donkey with a sore throat.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 9:37 pm
Just for shits and giggles, here is olivercrangle, yet again, showing off what a terrible human he is.
PZ Myers:
January 6th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
After seeing Crangles’s performance on that thread, yeah, he’s now BANNED. We don’t need his kind ’round here. Hendricks, of course, is long banished. Also don’t need petty Libertarian assholes like her.
ckitching:
January 6th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
I can’t decide if olivercrangle is just trolling to get a rise out of people or if he honestly believes what he says. The controversy around Greta Christina’s new shoes is entirely manufactured by those who dislike her anyway, but there is this sick ongoing idea that you should get some kind of veto over someone’s finances because they received charity from you. Quality working shoes is hardly a frivolous expense, though, and like any clothing, the slightly more expensive items can last longer and fit better (sometimes significantly).
It’s a bitter irony of poverty. You’ll end up spending more money on clothing/footwear/etc. when you can only afford the cheapest items, simply because the cheap ones don’t last. So, you get the cheap Walmart shirt for $20 that develops holes in it after 6 months because you can’t afford the $40 shirt that would easily last several years.
Lofty:
January 6th, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Greta’s being punished for being an Outspoken Woman, what else is there? You’re only allowed to be an Outspoken Woman if you are filthy rich.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 6th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Of all the ridiculous, non-skeptical arguments the pitters have made, this one is darned near the most incomprehensible to me. She bought shoes fer crissakes. There’s no way to know if the money for them was from donations or her own…and it doesn’t matter. If I donate money to someone, it becomes theirs. They have the only say in its use.
Not to mention after Wooly Bumblebee withdrew her support, I question if any of them even donated.
Hey, I wonder if the pitters would stalk all of you who have blogs if they were aware. I know many Pharyngulites have blogs (some updated more than others).
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 6th, 2013 at 10:50 pm
Tony
Oh, geez, I’m sure those wastes of space would troll anyone if they thought it was “helping” their “cause”. (And yes, I haz a blog. I think you can get to it by clicking on my name.)
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 6th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Ahhh, crap. tag-fail. Can someone on the inside please close my “bold” tag in #245?
Thank you!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:04 pm
It is now a double banning for Oliver.
I can see the beginnings of a new internet sport, synchronized banhammering.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Tony:
So far they’ve avoided my blog… but then again, so do people who claim to be my friends, so who’s counting? You don’t read my blog Tony… do you? DO YOU?!?! *Telepathic fire in your general direction*
:) Some idiot DID make a YouTube video with my name in the title, because I said something nice to Jen McCreight when she made her “taking a break from blogging” blog entry.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:22 pm
The thread at Daylight Atheism where Oliver also got himself banned.
Just remember, he gets banned because people do not like what he says but cannot refute him.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:26 pm
Janine:
Never for their disgusting behavior, but always for “not agreeing” or “opposing the dogma” or whatever other nonsense they can think up.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:29 pm
and I’m having a nice relaxing evening with GITS, my cuddly cat at my side and the latest thunderf00t video I’m responding to….. ok some parts are more relaxing then others, why am I such a masochist.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:31 pm
michaeld,
You’re some sort of hero… how do you watch that crap?
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Wait, I thought milk CAME FROM…
…oh.
^.^
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:33 pm
@Improbable Joe
Surrounded by less aggravating stimuli I can distract my self with.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
Only the BLUE milk, Azkyroth… hahaha!
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
ThunderingFool has a new video?
Who is he making up stories about this time around?
ckitching:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:37 pm
Wow, Janine. The way he repeated that “bitch” line over and over, really makes it clear what kind of person he is. The only reason to repeat something like that repeatedly is if you want to say it, but want to appear as if you’re not saying it so you can still look reasonable. Very trollish behaviour.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Ckitching, that is not even the worst behavior he has shown off online. That would be when he was moaning about his child support payments.
(Sorry, I really do not feel like digging that up.)
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:45 pm
@janine
I’m about to call it a night and I’ve only worked 9min out of 13min through the video but so far Rebecca, Amy and Monica Harmsen the president of an SSA branch. I’ll finish it up in the morning and post a link in thunderdome when it’s done for anyone who’s interested in reading it. Probably intellectual masochists only there isn’t anything really new so far, PZ can rest safe knowing he’s not missing anything important.
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:45 pm
michaeld
I’d think that almost everything would qualify as “less aggravating stimuli”…
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:49 pm
I am grateful that I stopped using “bitch” in my ever changing moniker when I did. I was getting tired of the random trolls using as an excuse to use it on this blog. I can see the slymepitters and people like olivercrandle using it as just an other reason to continue their bullshit.
michaeld:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:54 pm
@ Improbable Joe
They are, Syl (aka Sylvie) especially. This time of night is when she’s most awake and sociable so I have this purring, rubbing, cuddly 16 year old cat to keep my spirits up ^.^
Improbable Joe:
January 6th, 2013 at 11:58 pm
michaeld
I’ve got 4 cats, and this is the one time of day that they all leave me alone.
michaeld:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:01 am
Improbably Joe
aww Syl is all over me right as I want to go to bed. I end up having to go to bed with her big eyes staring at me all upset that I’m leaving her and even then she sometimes tries to get me out of bed again.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:04 am
goodnight
and y
Improbable Joe:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:07 am
michaeld my cats are the opposite, they all want me to go to bed with them, they are desperate for me to get into bed so they can curl up with me. Sometimes I wake up and there’s me and my wife and the dog and 3-4 cats in the bed, all of us tucked in tight.
michaeld:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:08 am
Improbable Joe
Hehe awww. ^.^
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:13 am
Well, I can’t add much to the talk of TV shows and movies since I haven’t watched what you guys are talking about. I can say though I’m totally the kind to stop a movie and start talking about it. I frequently yell at the TV when shit just doesn’t make any sense. Which as lead to me not watching things with other people since it tends to bother them.
—–
OMFG. Yes. I hate when stories don’t follow their own laws. Makes me all rant-y. It can and has ruined otherwise fine books. Or just make a bad book absolutely terrible.
strange gods before me ॐ:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:21 am
Of course that is a false claim.
michaeld:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:22 am
Canada goose? Sky vermin I say! ;P
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:28 am
Trying to keep up working backwards kind of and randomly:
Caine: Oh, no Vasco! Poor ratty. =( I hope he’s okay.
Tony: Congrats on the new job!! And I’m so sorry about M. That really sucks. =( *more hugs* if you want them.
————
Ohhhh, pet update: Told Step-dad hell fucking no to getting their cat pregnant. Seriously, neither are fixed so they are not allowed in same house. Told him that it isn’t going to make the cat all mother-y and cuddle-y. He of course spouts off about how it’s worked before and I don’t know nothing blah blah blah. So I told him I wouldn’t help him take care of or find home for the kittens. Little One would not get a kitten and HE’d be the one to break her heart for being an inconsiderate jackass because we can’t afford it. It’s just so mean. Then I really reality checked him and told him I wouldn’t help transport him or his cat(s) when we move soon and that he can kiss my ass, stupid inconsiderate jerkface. There are too many cats killed every year because stupid asses like him not giving a shit. Pisses me the fuck off.
Yeah, that was a productive family meeting. UGH. I want to leave him behind but he’s the only physically able bodies income earning person who can take care of mom all the time, while I look for work.
I think I’ll take the suggestion and get my teeth fixed with your donations and hope once that’s taken care of I can resolve some family shit before moving.
Also, I’m torn because Roomie is also being a jackass lately so I have plenty of reasons to want to move (and want to so badly) yet the situation just ain’t working out to move.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:29 am
Insofar as the comment reports a person’s impression there is no evidence here that it is a “false claim.” They are perfectly likely to have that impression. What you presumably mean to say is “it may seem that way, but it’s not the case.” Or, I suppose, if you prefer, “that impression is erroneous.”
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:31 am
Oh good; I had a comment composed nagging you about it and was debating whether to post it.
(This month I should be able to contribute, too. x.x)
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:34 am
Joe
Oh, I am so fucking jealous of that cuddle-puddle you described.
Am I the only one here that still just wants their mum when they feel ill? I’m 31. I should be, like, all grown up and self-sufficient, and shit. But if I’m feeling less than 100%, I want Mum. When I get anxious and panicky, I want to cling to Mum. What is it about being less than well that reverts me back to a cub?
Come to think of it, I’ve been feeling a bit anxious and clingy and out of sorts today. And I don’t know why — I have no reason to be feeling this way, all is well, life is good, what the fuck is wrong with me?
strange gods before me ॐ:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:41 am
Wrong.
It is said: “The things I know about geese:”
Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology
robertbaty:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:41 am
The FFRF has filed suit in federal district court challenging the constitutionality of IRC 107 that allows ONLY “ministers” unlimited income tax free income as long as it is spent on housing costs.
In conjunction therewith, I have recently initiated a White House sponsored petition asking Obama to ask Congress to repeal IRC 107; so we won’t have to wait years and years for the Supreme Court to rule in the FFRF suit.
Here’s a link to the petition and it has a January 24, 2013 deadline to get the 25,000 signatures needed to obligate Obama to address the matter:
http://wh.gov/QQOh
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:43 am
The explicit wording was “seems.” I don’t see how epistemology is relevant.
Nepenthe:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:44 am
WMDKitty
No. As much as they irk me and as unresponsive as they actually turn out to be, I’m glad to live close to my parents so that I can call them when I’m having a suicidal crisis or go home for a few days when I feel shitty. When I have panic attacks at night, I literally bolt out of bed to run up the stairs to my parent’s bedroom, even though I haven’t lived in that house in years.
When I went to the hospital recently, I kept thinking “how do people without family or close friends nearby deal”. I mean, I don’t have any close meatspace friends that live within 700 miles; who would come and drive me home when I’m all drugged out and make sure I have Gatorade and stuff?
strange gods before me ॐ:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:56 am
Compare
“Things I know about O₂:
It seems to contain argon.”
Epistemology is relevant because a person cannot “know” something that is not true.
But if you like your wording, feel free to substitute it in your head; it’s not terribly important to me.
rorschach:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:16 am
@103,
Dog have mercy, I agree with Ing! Not only was the character ludicrous, the depicted “medical” stories were outright laughable every single time.
rorschach:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:23 am
My pick is Star Maidens.
It led to interesting scenes among the pupils in my 6th grade class, the series featured ladies with paralysing pistols you see, and strictly adhering to the rules, quite a few of us ended up being late for class, because we got “paralysed” by mates on the way to school, roleplaying what we saw on TV. Good times.
Xanthë:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:25 am
If any of the monitors are around, there’s some excrement from the angry atheist known as Reap fouling the Americans have an amazing capacity for self-delusion thread.
Improbable Joe:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:27 am
WMDKitty:
Sometimes it is a pure nightmare, like when most of them decide to take up one side of the bed, and you really need to pee and you don’t want to disturb the kids… especially when they are likely to start fighting the moment that they all wake up. Or when one of them (ELLIE!) follows you around the house shouting at you in Cat-Speak to get in bed so you can cuddle with her already, starting at 3 in the afternoon.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:30 am
Not a monitor but I already sent an e-mail.
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 7th, 2013 at 1:36 am
Joe
Like this?
Improbable Joe:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:43 am
WMDKitty
Hah! That’s funny and cute, but the reality is that you as a human get into bed, and my cats decide that where they need to be is “where you are plus a half-inch” and then they press against you until you move…. and then they need ANOTHER half inch. And then one or two more cats. Eventually you get to sleep, and then a couple of hours later you shift, a cat jumps off the bed, and then the dog DIVES ACROSS EVERYONE TO CHASE THE CAT!
Improbable Joe:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:44 am
… at least none of these asshole furry kids is going to ask for a car.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:46 am
Remember the “your best friend’s wife” trope?
Or the idea that a guy only is friends with a woman because she wouldn’t let him be her lover?
Yeah, kill that stuff with fire.
+++
And I doubt that any of the people complaining about how Greta used her money actually contibuted to it in the first place.
John Morales:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:56 am
Basically a soap-opera, but I did like The Doctor.
(Oddly-enough, later I came to like the character of Seven of Nine.
(No, not the costume :) — though you have to admire the aplomb with which the actor wore it)
birgerjohansson:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:57 am
Cicely @ 203:
Here is the link to the novel.
Sensation http://www.amazon.com/Sensation-Spectacular-Fiction-Nick-Mamatas/dp/1604863544/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357544583&sr=1-1&keywords=sensation
A slim little gem, reminds me of Charles Stross in a playful mood.
— — — — — — —
The nadir of Star Trek; Voyager was when they had to duck giant viral particles.
— — — — — — —
My neutered tom is so possessive, he cannot tolerate me closing the door on him when I get up to pee..
— — — — — — —
“The Wicker Man”
A very odd film… not bad.
Another oddity: “The Hunger”. Flaw: (spoiler) the part at the end when the ex-lovers suddenly get back their energy, without explanation.
John Morales:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:12 am
PS Ing, are you gonna tell me Species 8472 didn’t tickle your fancy? :)
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:23 am
Good morning!
Anyone else know the superstition about putting underwear on inside-out? I think it has something to do with coming into money, but I can’t remember… I’m wondering if I should take it as a good sign that I spent all of yesterday like that.
+++
Looks like Babylon 5 will be a go.
I do recommend Battlestar Galactica, if only for the intro mini-series and the first couple of seasons, because yes, it does get bogged down in a whole lot of strange strangeness.
+++
Expecting news very soon.
John Morales:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:25 am
rq: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+superstition+about+putting+underwear+on+inside-out
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:52 am
Ah, I see the beliefs are consistent, as usual. Thanks.
John Morales:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:57 am
rq, I showed you how to fish as well as giving you a fish. ;)
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:36 am
Sgbm:
An interesting statement. I’m not saying it’s wrong. It is in one aspect right. The problem is that it’s not very useful except in a rather specialised setting.
You’re aware the word know is not unambiguous, right?
In the strict sense you use here, a single person can not know much at all. Personally I favour Gilbert Ryle: (it’s been a long time since I last read it, so this is not verbatim): All we can know is that we’re beings, made of flesh.
Outside that, what is known is always a negotiated temporary consensus. With science we have attained a powerful tool to both for negotiating consensus and bringing consensus as close to objective reality as possible. As knowledge is a temporary consens, it’s perfectly possible for knowledge to be faulty. And since a unit of one offers little in they way of correction, it’s very common for a single person’s knowledge to be faulty. Faulty knowledge is still knowledge in a lot of senses of the word.
Further, “seem” is always, unambiguously about appearance. All jugdements about appearance have a subjective element. To use the strictest sense of “know” on a statement of appearance is therefore an error of category.
What’s very correct though is that my comment was a bit too flippant. I know there are animal rights activists that genuinely care about all animals, not just the cute ones. I’ve never seen them protest Canada Goose specifically, but this is more about my perceptions than their activities. Or they have just other fish to fry.
John Morales:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:48 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_justification
(More of a topic for Thunderdome, I reckon)
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:52 am
So, back to college.
No, new term hasn’t started here yet (different schedules, very annoying if you do some study abroad. You might lose a full year at home for effectively spending 3 months in a foreign country) and I’m a little bit fucked because I didn’t pick up anything since I left my bag in teh corner the Friday before christmas. I had planned to catch up last week, but somehow that didn’t work out.
JAL
Since we were already discussing that in relation to Greta’s new shoes (for the narrative imperative to be pleased they should be red.): That money is yours and you are the only person who can know how to spend it best. So, if you say that getting your teeth fixed is the one important thing right now: Go for it!
+++
Ahhh, the woo that is salad.
On Mondays and Thursdays I do the shopping before college and usually pick up a sandwich for me for lunch. I usually pick either chicken and feta or turkey and egg because they’re relatively light meals. Today they were out so I went for a salad bowl. Now, while still being lighter than the cheese and ham sandwich, this salad has about 100 calories more than my usual sandwich and an abominable 20g of pure, saturated fat.
Still, when I eat my sandwich I get The Looks™. Guess when I eat the salad I’ll get the approving “finally the fattie got it” nod…
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:05 am
And fuck administrations that make me jump through 7 administrative hoops to sign up for an exam when I’m still struggeling with any fucking hoop I encounter and want to hide under my blanket snuggeling a giant Hippo.
You’re not being helpfull!
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:18 am
*comes back from a walk across the campus*
So, they currently disabled the hoops.
“You can do that from home”
Yeah, thank you, in case you didn’t notice, I’m not at home right now.
Sorry for the ranting, but I really needed to get that off my chest.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:21 am
Sorry! I didn’t intend to trample on the borders of the lounge. My piece in retrospect ended up a bit more defensive than I had planned when I started to read it. It was more a impulse of “oooh! This is interesting” than “sgbm is wrong” I started writing. I’m sorry it came out perhaps a bit more towards the latter than I had intended.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:28 am
I see I’m accused of making up stories about Paden. Huh. News to me.
strange gods before me ॐ:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:30 am
Gnumann,
John’s point might be more that overt, blatant, shameless discussion of philosophy is traditionally the purview of TZT/Thunderdome. ;)
I am vaguely interested in whether you consider yourself an anti-foundationalist, but it is the last paragraph of your 296 I was really looking for; I haven’t time to discuss the heavy stuff, though I’ll read it.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:30 am
Caine
Like they stole the return on his keyboard back in 1986 and never gave it back?
Link? I need something amusing…
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:37 am
Giliell, it’s right here.
I’m honestly confused. He sez:
The most I’ve said about that asshole is for people to ignore him when he’s trolling here as ‘dpitman’, because alerts will be sent and he’ll be re-banned. I have no idea of what he’s on about.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:47 am
Caine
I guess he owes you several Es. Or did they nick that key alongside the Return?
So, the professor hasn’t put up the files for today yet. Let’s see if he’s here at all…
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:49 am
Giliell:
Fuck if I know. He’s not exactly the sharpest crayon.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:52 am
If he’s a crayon then he’s the one that melted behind the radiator…
Lofty:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:56 am
Giant squid!!!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-07/giant-squid-filmed-in-pacific-depths/4455716
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:14 am
John Morales
Yes, I saw what you did there.
But sometimes when I want to talk to someone and maybe start a conversation, I forgo the ‘just google it’ way, and see if there’s any interaction possible instead, to see other people’s points of view. Perhaps I phrased it wrong for the morning. But if I wanted to google things all the time, which is what I usually do, I wouldn’t bother trying to socialize here.
But thanks anyway. :)
SQB:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:04 am
Thanks for the welcomes back.
====
Useless action figures? How about a compacted Leland Turbo from Cars 2?
====
Seher geehrter Herr Ogvorbis, Dampf- und Feuerkönig, last Saturday we rode this cute little steam train. I thought you’d like to know.
Pteryxx:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:56 am
Shoes for Women! Step in time!
http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/11/27/douche-defends-douching/comment-page-2/#comment-530252
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:11 am
SQB:
Looks at photo.
Is that the O&K (Orenstine & Kopel (?)) from back around 1910 or 1911?
Googles it.
Damn. I really need a life. From Wiki: “Aagje (1911): The first train bought, ‘Aagje’ an Orenstein & Koppel, was, at that time, still in operation at the IJsseloord Brickworks in Arnhem. Aagje started her ‘fairy duty’ in 1969.”
I sort of got the year right and murdered the manufacturer’s name.
I’m slipping.
Lack of sleep.
SQB:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:45 am
They have three operational steam locomotives, along with one diesel. One steam locomotive has been retired in front of one of the two stations, for the children to play on. That is “Neefje” (“little cousin”, after Kees Neve, who transformed it from a fireless steam locomotive into a regular one).
The steam locomotives are “Aagje” (pictured), “Moortje” (“little Moor”), another Orenstein & Koppel, named for the Moors since it is black(!)*, and “Trijntje” (which is a women’s name that sounds like ‘treintje’, which in turn means ‘little train’), built in 1991 by Alan Keef (you’ll probably know who that is).
*”Moortje” is still a common name for black cats over here.
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:47 am
@13.SQB 6 January 2013 at 2:34 pm (UTC -6)
Ahem, it actually used to be even more explicit than that. Anyone else recall the other old (still occasionally used term for a rooster .. cock?
@178. Caine, Fleur du mal +
6 January 2013 at 6:04 pm (UTC -6)
Funny you should say that.
Rot13′ed for SPOILERS – BE WARNED
Pbafvqrevat gung Zvaonev naq uhznaf ghea bhg gb or “fcvevghnyyl” vqragvpny qbja gb gurve fbhyrf.
http://www.rot13.com/index.php
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:51 am
D’oh! Make that :
(still occasionally used?)
In farms? Outside of Aesop’s fables? Maybe?
Cannot believe I’m the first to point that out here!
@309. Lofty : You just beat me to it with posting that one.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:08 am
SQB:
What scares me is that I knew the approximate age and even got the manufacturer right (well, except for the spelling). Damn, I need a life.
SQB:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:18 am
I trusted you would know.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:26 am
Yup. Railroading is one of the very few things I’m actually useful for.
Luckily, I can use it professionally.
birgerjohansson:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:34 am
I checked out the online reviews of Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” and found a gem I must share with you:
.
“I really liked Django Unchained, or as I like to call it:
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence right through the eyeball and then the bullet continued through about 7 other torsos, shot out from a guy’s belly button bringing a plume of intestines with it, ricocheted off someone’s jugular vein, then snapped the cord holding up a chandelier causing said chandelier to plummet like a lead balloon, crushing the skulls of various evil varmints and polecats and then plunging into an occupied outhouse where the dynamite was also stored, causing the outhouse to explode in a crimson rain of blood, guts and offal.”
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:53 am
Looks like we have a house*.
*Contingent on the signing of the contract, of course, but all parties (ourselves, the seller, the bank) involved have confirmed (as of today) that this will occur within the week.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 8:58 am
rq:
AWESOME!
::the shoop is doing a happy dance for you::
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:58 am
Birger:
I think that probably removes any need I had to see it. I really can’t abide that much silliness.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:06 am
rq:
Wonderful.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Thanks, Tony
This means we will be able to host travellers and guests. *hint* ;) Champagne?
By the way, as a bartender, can you recommend any good champagne cocktails?
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:09 am
the depicted “medical” stories were outright laughable every single time.
My personal “favorite” of the ones I’ve seen was a case where this youngish woman was having GI bleeding. One of the characters said, “It’s either a coagulopathy or a tumor.” So many problems with that statement…even for a television show it’s just…bad.
I suppose the problem is that real life is either less dramatic or completely depressing.Patients who have multiple failing organs are probably going to die of it, except in a few, rare circumstances. And even then, there’s not that much drama. Case in point, with changes to protect the HIPAA protected: Patient comes in with a seizure and a platelet count of practically nothing, obviously about to die if nothing is done. ER doctor looks at him and says, “This could be TTP. Call hematology.” The hematologist looks at the patient and the smear and says, “Yep. TTP. Start plasmapheresis.” The patient gets better. A dying person eventually walks out of the hospital in reasonably good health…great, but where’s the drama?
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:12 am
Caine
Agreed.
I just don’t like Quentin Tarantino movies. It may just be the gratuitous violence, but I just don’t like them. After all the amazingly rave reviews I heard from friends about Kill Bill, I was terribly disappointed in the movie, when I finally did see it.
Champagne?
Ogvorbis
Champagne?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:13 am
Dianne:
Not there. Which is fine with me, ’cause when you actually need a doctor, you aren’t looking for drama.
Matt Penfold:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:14 am
Most medicine is dealing with horses, whereas medical dramas deal with zebras.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:15 am
dianne
Champagne?
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:17 am
Can’t stand the stuff. Scotch?
michaeld:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:18 am
@Stevor
OO rot13 interesting. Well I’ll point out: Rkprcg jryy lbh xabj gung gur thl jvgu gur vqragvpny fbhy unq na vqragvpny fbhy pnhfr gurl jrer gur fnzr crefba. Xvaq bs n jubbcf grzcbeny cnenqbk guvat :C Abg fher vs nalbar ryfr unq gur fnzr fbhyf.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:20 am
Ogvorbis
Bottles and bottles of the stuff. Apparently we ordered too much for our wedding, now several years past. Here, have a bottle.
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:20 am
Not there. Which is fine with me, ’cause when you actually need a doctor, you aren’t looking for drama.
I prefer that my doctor yawns when she sees me coming. And that I’m just a number to her. Specifically, a very high number as in the 12,437th person that she’s dealt with having condition X. Nothing quite so reassuring as a bored, highly experienced practitioner.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:21 am
Of Scotch? Where is this house?
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:23 am
rq: Sorry. Poor alcohol tolerance, possibly mutant alcohol dehydrogenase. You can have the champagne, I’ll play designated driver. Er…actually, I don’t have a driver’s license either. I’ll be the person sober enough to hail a cab without falling into the street.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:25 am
Dianne:
Seconded. When I landed in the ER with acute pancreatitis, after determining that’s what it was, my doc looked at me and said “the good news is you aren’t going to die. The great news is that you get 3 to 5 days on morphine.”
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:28 am
When I was in the ER having what I thought was a heart attack, the doctor came in at one point and said, “Congratulations. You’ve confused all of us. You have none of the heart attack markers in your blood, but the monitor tape keeps showing a wave that is classic for a heart attack.” It disappeared and we still have no idea what actually happened.
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:35 am
It disappeared and we still have no idea what actually happened.
Acute angina without damage to the cardiac muscle? A bad lead on the EKG? Heck if I know either, but glad it went away.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:35 am
Ogvorbis
Well, it’s not yet in the house, see, it’s sitting in our apartment, in that cupboard over there, on the shelf. It will be in the house in a month or two.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:36 am
dianne
Ah, sorry… Fruit juice, then, or sparkling water*?
*Fresh from the tap
Matt Penfold:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:38 am
If you are going to mix champagne with anything, I don’t think you can beat adding a little fruit puree to a glass and topping up with champagne. The classic is white peaches, but I have had a version made with raspberry puree that was totally delicious.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:39 am
Ah. That would explain why they changed the EKG leads four times in less than 90 minutes.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 9:39 am
rq:
Kir Royale- champagne with a floater of chambord (raspberry liquor)
Poinsetta- champagne with a floater of cranberry
Champagne cocktail- champagne and orange juice pineapple juice cranberry juice and peach schnapps
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:41 am
rq:
The ultimate Champagne Cocktail.
Pour the champagne in a glass. Give it to someone. Pour some Scotch in a glass. Drink it. Heaven.
Yeah, I know I’m not helping, but being uselessly amusing? that I can do.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:42 am
How about a plain old Mimosa? (Orange juice & champagne.)
Matt Penfold:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:46 am
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Nope, Matt Penfold, that’s a mimosa!
Ogvorbis
You do a fine job. A fine job. ;) Have another bottle. Somebody’s got to drink the stuff.
Tony
I see nobody has bothered being any more creative with champagne – champagne+(sweet)fruit of some kind seems to be the rule. Although I don’t know how else it could be done.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Matt:
No, a BF is mostly orange juice, with just a taste of champagne.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 9:54 am
rq:
Also, BELLINI- champagne+peach schnapps+peach puree
Matt Penfold:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:55 am
I just Googled.
It seems the difference between a Mimosa and a Buck’s Fizz is that the former is mixed 1 part fizz to 1 part juice, whereas the latter is one part fizz to two juice.
I think the Mimosa sounds the better!
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:58 am
No idea if it an actual drink or not, but how about 1 part champagne, 1 part peach schnapps, and one part orange juice? Sort of a fizzy fuzzy navel?
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:15 am
So no sour champagne drinks (unless the fruit is sour itself)?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 7th, 2013 at 10:27 am
jm
I liked them better at first when they where unknowable alien and killing Harry
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:29 am
HA-HA!
Martin Ssempa is tweeting pleas to Rick Warren to show support for Scott Lively.
Yes, I do think that Scott Lively is guilty of crimes against humanity.
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:42 am
Fruit juice, then, or sparkling water*?
Both, please. I’ve always had a fondness for Apfelsaftschorle.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:57 am
dianne
Here you go!
Louis:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:58 am
Champagne + Elderflower cordial + vodka = Twinkle.*
Bloody lovely.
Louis
* I thought this was a quaint euphemism for a ladygarden…until I discovered Smirnoff.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:17 am
Well I’m at work right now, so perhaps I will play around with some new champagne cocktails…
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:20 am
Champagne+Creme de Menthe (either light or dark)–thumbs down.
****
Big Beady Eyes of Deliciousness!
Caine, you might like this one:
Champagne + Solerno (blood orange liquor) + Orange Juice= 2 thumbs up!
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:21 am
Oggie:
Scotch sucks!
::runs away fast::
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 11:22 am
Louis
Ooooh, that does sound bloody lovely. And hard-hitting, in a subtle, oh-look-fruit-juice sort of way.
Also, I’ve never heard of elderflower cordial (which is why the above sounds lovely – unheard of! exotic! etc.!).
Needs something, though. Ah, here we are:
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star*!
*Can be replaced by a magical star.
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 11:26 am
Some do.
On the other hand, you are not supposed to drink it with a straw.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Tony:
Sounds delish!
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 11:38 am
Tony
Is it actually called Big Beady Eyes of Deliciousness? Because if it is, it is my new favourite drink. For the name.
I’m curious to know what else you come up with. :)
Champagne + ginger ale?
Champagne + Jamaica rum + slice of pineapple?
(This is me randomly searching the ‘drinks’ file in my head.)
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Um, Oggie:
I meant that Scotch is a blight unto humanity. It is a pox worse than a Zombie Plague.
Scotch poisons everything. Hey, that reminds me of something else that poisons everything. What is it? It’s on the tip of my tongue…
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 11:50 am
rq,
Congrats on the house!
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:53 am
Yes! Please do!
-
Joe—When The Husband and I married, we each had a cat. His cat, unlike mine, was one of the “”where you are plus a half-inch” and then they press against you until you move” types, so I’d often suddenly wake up to find that she had half-inched me right up on the edge of the bed, and gravity was starting to take notice. The Husband thought it was no end funny that I could be pushed out of bed by a 12 pound cat.
:)
-
birgerjohannson, I have bookmarked that for future acquisition. “Charles Stross in a playful mood” sounds very agreeable.
-
Fishing for underwear???
-
*high five* for rq!
-
Like…selling your soul to Them?
1) Watch out for the exact wording on any contract.
2) Always check the fine print. If you don’t see any fine print, check again…it’s there. Somewhere.
3) Horses cheat. Always.
-
My sister has a bottle of something called Talisker (or something very much like that, anyway). Is this a good thing to have? I ask, because she’s offering to bring it with her when she visits.
-
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Peas. And Horses.
Horses poison everything…with peas.
-
opposablethumbs:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Argh I’m so behind – this thread is getting away from me as fast as the last one did.
But hugs to Tony. I remember, I think, the first time you mentioned M here – I’m glad if it’s getting any easier to bear, and I hope that the good memories will gradually come more and more to outweigh everything else {{hugs}}
Congrats to rq re the whole house thing!
btw Tony, as a professional expert in the field, how can you hate whisky? (I mean proper whisky, obviously, unblended and made in proper bits of Scotland and drunk properly neat :-) ). Though those champagne cocktails do sound delicious … and dangerous; when something tastes that good, how do you stop drinking too much of it?
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:16 pm
opposablethumbs:
Thanks for the hugs. Yes, it is easier for me with distance from his death. I got a little teary eyed earlier-out of nowhere, I might add-but other than that, I’ve been trying to focus on the good memories we shared.
__
As for scotch, I just don’t like it. I don’t like single malt or blended and I don’t like any sort of bourbons. I’m a rum or vodka guy. I also love a good Shiraz or Syrah. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a good Pinot Noir or Cabernet. I dislike Merlot and most white wines.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
cicely:
Nope. I wasn’t quite thinking of horses or peas. Something else…more inorganic and conceptual.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:24 pm
John Morales and everyone else whose first and usually only response to a question is “Google it”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_to_noise_ratio
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Heh. Something I learned today. According to Noelplum99 (Jim), my defining feature is my stupidity.
I am so relieved that he revealed this truth about me.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Religions base on Horse worship?
-
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Those are two of my favourite eats :( Am I poisoning myself?
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Janine
Ah, that explains all your fantastic music video postage here. :P
cicely, Beatrice, opposablethumbs, everyone else -
Champagne? Or other drink of choice? (Currently we are only lacking rum and tequila. We have gin; that error has been corrected.)
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Gnumann+
cicely would say you’re ridding the world of All that is Evil, so good on you! ;)
opposablethumbs:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
doesnotcomputedoesnotcomputedoesnotcomputedoesnotcompute aaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!1!11!!!111!!! ::blows fuses, emits sparks and acrid smoke::
I love good rum, though. One of my siblings lives in the Caribbean and brings some most visits – FSM but it’s delicious! So smooth …. ::checks calendar, no sibling visits scheduled. Sulks:: But I’m afraid my life has been devoid of good vodka, so I’ve probably never formed a properly informed opinion as I’ve only ever encountered the kind of stuff that’s fit for nothing but disguising.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Janine:
I got called a moron by Reap Paden today, along with accusations of telling stories about him. Must be one of those Mondays.
opposablethumbs:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Champagne? – oh, thank you rq, most kind! Don’t mind if I do …
right, off to assist the cook for a bit, I think
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Caine, I saw that. But I do not think it was about you. It was about cain.
Reap must really hate that old television show.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Janine:
And which thread can we find his knowledge of your character?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Janine:
A distinct possibility. He is an idiot.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Here you go, Tony.
Watch how Jim takes a thread about Greta defending herself against charges of e-begging and turns it to being all about him fighting sexism and ending as a martyr.
I really do not like him.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Yes.
I’m afraid that it’s always fatal. No exceptions. You haven’t got more than, oh, 70 to 100 years left. Max.
-
rq, I don’t like champagne, but if you have vodka and orange juice…..
:)
-
“Taking one for the team.”
“Falling on that grenade.”
“The needs of the many….”
:)
-
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I don’t know if it counts as one of those Mondays, but my shoes fell apart on my way out this morning. Admittedly, it was an old pair, but I didn’t expect the soles to suddenly crumble.
Bought a pair of ankle boots during lunch break.
Then I got a call from one of the banks I applied to for training. Since I already am in training, I don’t know whether it’s possible to transfer (complicated rules), and I wasn’t even chosen yet just one of the candidates who passed the first circle.
Got annoyed because working in a bank would be much better for my resume, and if they decided to take me on later it would be much better than staying where I am now (government, IT).
Of course, now I am doubting myself (as usually) and worrying that I have made wrong choices.
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
rq,
I’ll take some Scotch, thanks
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
I’m afraid that it’s always fatal. No exceptions. You haven’t got more than, oh, 70 to 100 years left. Max.
Only because people are stupid. We could have much better life extension technology than we do if we had any interest in developing it.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 1:06 pm
rq:
if you get some vodka, triple sec, sweet n sour, and chambord, you can add the rum, gin and tequila to that (1/2 ounce of each except the chambord), pour over ice, drizzle the chambord, squeeze a lemon and you have a Grateful Dead (basically a Raspberry Long Island Tea).
or substitute Cranberry Juice for coke in a Long Island Tea and you get a Long Beach Tea.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
But, dianne, Gnumann+ has apparently already eaten The Meat. And is doomed.
Doooooooomed!!!
-
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
ogvorbis
A drinker after my own heart.
cicely
They exist.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Beatrice:
In honor of our discussion of all things that are masculine or feminine, I’m sorry to tell you, no scotch for you :)
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Tony,
I’ll give up the scotch (which is rq’s not yours, btw) only if you make me a kir royale.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
I know.
*shudder*
Filthy preverts.
-
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Who mourns for noelplum99?
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
cicely
A screwdriver for you.
Beatrice
What will it be, then? The kir, or the scotch? Damn banks always late. :/
Anyone else for drinks?
Tony
I am totally bookmarking that mixture. And adding champagne, to dilute. ;) Once we have tequila and rum in the house, that is.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Good evening
Yeah home fucking boo-hoo home.
To be honest, my mum doesn’t look good. Her belly seems to get bigger and bigger instead of slimmer. 9 months pregnant with twins I’d say for the size. They started some infusion therapy to help out the liver today but I still don’t know anything concrete about this whole shit.
+++
Congratulations to the house, rq
I think your tales inspired my dream last night in which we bought a hous in which somebody had built the toilets on the stairs. And I mean really on the stairs so you’d have to walk around the bowl.
And I was like Nooooooooooo, we can’t buy that house but still somehow everything happened.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
rq:
lately, I’ve been loving a little fizz in my drinks. I found I like a little carbonated water added to any fruity rum drink (Mai Tai, Hurricane, Planter’s Punch, Bahama Mama, Rum Punch). Or substitute some sparkling juice in place of the regular juices.
One recipe:
Rum Punch (single drink):
2 ounces of rum (I like it stiff)
1/2 ounce of pineapple juice
1/2 ounce of cranberry juice
1/2 ounce of orange juice
3/4 ounce of sparkling grape or apple juice
Serve over ice. Garnish with whatever the heck you want (typically the same types of fruits you find in the drink)
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
rq,
Make it scotch. Merci
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
rq:
we can add some
Galliano
to cicely’s screwdriver, to make a Harvey Wallbanger.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Tony
I’m signing up for some bartending courses from you. This could be fun!
And yeah, sometimes a touch of *sparkle* is all that’s needed to make an ordinary drink totally fabulous. ;)
And I finally know what Galliano is. That looks like an interesting touch for many a drink!
Ogvorbis: ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຫັກ, ຕົກຕໍ່າ, ແລະມູນຄ່າ.:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Dalillama:
That was Opposable Thumbs, not me. Easy to tell the difference: OT’s comment made sense.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
It looks like I’ll pass on the Galliano. I don’t care at all for anise.
Or annis, either.
:)
-
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
ogvorbis
So it was, my apologies to you both. I still like your champagne cocktail recipe, though.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Oggie:
What’s the significance of all those symbols after your nym?
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Tony
I’m guessing at least one of those symbol strings means broken.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Belatedly,
Giliell
*hugs* for the mother situation. :( This can’t be easy, at all. Drink?
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Tony:
Broken and feeling useless googletranslated into Lao.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Eh, and I was close on the language guess, too.
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Ogvorbis,
Going from Lao to English, google translate gives me “Nothing broken, prices, and value” :D
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Beatrice:
Yeah. I know. That’s why I went back to English. Don’t want to misrepresent.
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Also, *hugs* for Giliell and Ogvorbis
Louis:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Oggie,
You are not broken and useless. NORTY OGGIE. Now come over here and sit on my knee whilst I tell you a story and make you drink really rather unfortunate cocktails.
In other news, I understand that the latest scandal is someone bought some shoes and some other people have lost their shit about it.
I bought some shoes once.
Louis
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Louise,
Unless you buy women’s shoes, you’re fine. You see, women’s shoes are by definition frivolous and an indulgence.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Well, Mr. bought a pair of red high-heeled pumps once.
What’s the suggested punishment?
++
Damn, the people under us just complained about the noise of the stepper. I guess I need to find something to put it onto. But it’s amazing that Mr. and Mrs shout all night (now with the kids) feel ok to complain about noise…
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Giliell,
You two can get a joint session in the spanking parlour, if Patricia approves?
——
Steppers aren’t loud. I think.
rq:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Beatrice
And you called him Louise. *tsk tsk*
Ogvorbis
I definitely liked ‘nothing broken, prices and value’ much better. *hugs*
Giliell
Make him wear them 24/7, especially to professional business meetings?
+++
*hugs* all around. And good night. *more drinks*
[exeunt]
dianne:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Well, Mr. bought a pair of red high-heeled pumps once.
What’s the suggested punishment?
He has to wear them. At least once. You taking pictures is optional.
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
The couple above us occasionally has some kids over. And possibly dogs. The noise. I am tempted to donate them a carpet or three. I am almost sure they don’t have them. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, it sounds like someone in high heels is walking across the room, over and over again. And then they drag some heavy furniture around.
Beatrice:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Sorry Louis and anyone who might think I was making a bad joke by changing Louis’ name into a feminine version while talking about him buying women’s shoes. I wasn’t. It was an accident.
Sorry.
Thanks for mentioning that, rq.
I didn’t do it on purpose.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Sgbm:
I certainly haven’t, since I’m not generally in the habit of defining myself on the landscape of philosophical schools.
I’m vaguely interested in whether I ought to. From a quick read at Wikipedia I see that I definitely ought to give Foucault a read.
I’m definitely anti-essentialist in most respects when it comes to human concepts and human interactions. At the same time I am in no way denying the effects of underlying reality on either society, social interactions or ethics.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
As is waxing.
-
feralboy12:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Hello, everyone. I’m back, at least temporarily (I’m forced to use the library computer these days).
That’s assuming anyone here remembers me. I’ve been dealing with a condition known as sciatica, a nerve problem in my back that caused my right leg to go haywire for a few months. I’ve reached the point where I can walk a few blocks without too much pain or difficulty.
But my bank account is dry, my credit card no good, and my home internet is gone for the time being.
Damn, but I’ve missed everybody. And it’s good to be back on the net, even if I have nothing terribly constructive to do or say.
Cheers to the horde and lurkers. I won’t stay away so long again.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
He did. he pulled off a credible Nana Mouskuri one carnival.
Louis:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Louise? I’m flattered.
I was buying women’s shoes. You have no idea how hard they are to get in a size 13. And they were definitely frivolous…
…but enough about my personal life.
Louis
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
feralboy12:
Of course we remember you. Welcome back.
I’m sorry to hear about the sciatica. Is this a condition you’re going to have indefinitely, or can anything be done to eliminate it?
As for internet, I’m right there with you. I’m currently using my laptop at my job (I bartend, and it is slooooow in the AM) because my home internet is cut off.
(If you’re bored and want a _fun_ thread to read, check out Why do you despise Feminism?)
Vicki:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Azkyroth @373:
Once in a while I think “let me google that for you,” do so, and report back if I find anything useful. It means I get a few minutes poking around and maybe learning something interesting, and the stressed person who was wondering about something gets an answer. It’s not just that phrasing questions is a skill: it’s that someone who is stressing about something may not think that five years ago, someone asked the same question, and put the result online as a feature article.
It helps that I find all sorts of odd facts amusing. I won’t pursue questions I find boring, but any number of things that I wouldn’t make a long study of are interesting for 15 minutes of web searching.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
January 7th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Other champagne cocktails:
Classic: sugar cube with dash of bitters, 1/2 nip cognac, top up with champagne. This one has many variants including other spirits or liqueurs – cointreau, vodka, you name it. (NOT scotch!*) If you use absinthe it’s “Death in the Afternoon”.
The Aussie: a rosella flower preserved in syrup. Use more or less syrup to taste. http://www.bushtuckershop.com/prod1.htm
Black Velvet: half and half with stout. Guinness, commonly.
* Properly, whisky. Save the single malt for sipping. Tip the cheap shit down the sink. The decent end of blended is OK to mix with coffee or to make a cake.
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Seconded, although I personally find it wasteful with a good champagne istead of for example a decent cava.
But I happen to be found of good, dry champagne.
A. Noyd:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Ignore this, just testing to see if I can post from my main home network again…
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
feralboy12
Welcome back.
Have a single malt malt.
(scotch and ice cream)
A. Noyd:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Woohoo! No more writing up posts on my laptop and emailing them to my iPad to submit them!
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
I dunno. I’m really partial to watching the bartenders eyes bulge while I order an Ardbegh-and-soda. (I really like it too, it’s not pure spite, but the spite is good too).
Or a smoky martini (no actual vermouth is used):
Gently tip the gin bottle in the general direction of France to honour the orgins, then in a shaker combine ice, 60 ml good gin (Tanquray or Bombay for me) and 15 ml cast strength whisky. Shake, them strain and a dash of Angoustura on the top.
feralboy12:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
Ah, good. I haven’t been fogotten.
Of course, I wouldn’t have been away had my wonderful Acer Aspire One netbook actually been able to make a Wifi connection. It says “Wifi certified” on it and has an antenna that you can turn on and off, yet it never finds a network, even here in the library. I checked some online advice–maybe I can get that to work.
As for my sciatica, it’s a condition that may improve on its own, or not. I have made a lot of progress over the last three-plus months, from not being able to stand without severe cramping and pain to being able to walk and ride bike short distances. Pain killers are mostly no longer required, but discomfort still makes sleeping too long an issue. It’s also played hell with my sense of humor, and my blog may be dying for lack of attention.
Of course, in any other first-world nation I’d be getting health care. Here in the US it’s one trip to the doctor on the credit card, no MRI, and instructions to “take these pain killers and hope it gets better.”
From online study, sometimes not much can be done. But light exercise most days and lots of rest afterward has gotten me a lot better since October.
And I have a library card now, and can use the computers here, but the library is still a bit out of my riding range. Good Gawd, the bus now costs $1.75 one way! It’s almost like prices have gone up in the last 20 years.
Anyway, good on everybody, and hope to be back again soon!
Gnumann+, Radfem shotgunner of inhuman concepts:
January 7th, 2013 at 4:36 pm
I’m so sorry to hear that Feralboy.
I’d like to work towards socialising the US, but ATM I’m busy fighting those who want to import the US health “care” “system” into my neck of the woods… :(
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
re women’s shoes.
The last two pairs of shoes (well, boots actually) have both been high heels. And I wear them to work. Does that count?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:14 pm
Feralboy! So good to see you back. I missed you. My last “bout” of sciatica lasted two years. Here’s hoping you see a much quicker recovery.
On the bod front, I have completely fucked up my left wrist. It’s bound in a
torture instrumentbrace for now and if it swells up or I keep wanting to scream, I’ll go back into town and see if I fractured it.As to Vasco – we’re back from seeing Dr. Angie. His eye is bad, looks like he might be getting a pus build up in there now. So, he still has his eye, and I get to put antiobiotic drops in it 3 times a day along with 2 doses of baytril a day for the next 10 days. Chester went with Vasco for moral support and both boys are seriously glad to be back home. Everyone has been treated with fresh Spring mix salad and 4 different types of granola, pumpkin flax (a major fave!) and exciting new pasta (Pantacci Tricolore.)
Hekuni Cat, MQG:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
rq – Congratulations!
Gilliel – I’m so sorry about your mother. *hugs*
feralboy12 – *pouncehug* You are definitely remembered and very much missed. I’m very happy to hear that your sciatica is getting better and hope the rest of your recovery is speedy.
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Welcome back, feralboy12.
I wish you and your sciatica a quick divorce.
Josh, Official SpokesGay:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Feralboy! Forget you? Please. I was just wondering why there was so little of you in my Twitter timeline lately. Welcome back!
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls:
January 7th, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Have some grog, if you meds allow for it…
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Oooh, race and class at the forefront of a TV show. Eh, not so much–
” Going into the Television Critics Association press tour, one of the shows I was most excited to see shake out was a procedural called Deception, about an African-American police officer, played by Meagan Good, who returns to the white, wealthy family she grew up with because her mother worked for them as a housekeeper to investigate the murder of her childhood best friend. It wasn’t that the show was revolutionary, in fact the reverse: it’s a mashup of ABC soaps like Revenge and Scandal,with a hint of Damages, thanks to the presence of Tate Donovan as the murder victim’s older brother.
But the show operated at the intersection of race and class at a way I thought was fascinating and promising. Good’s Detective Joanna Locasto, only the second woman of color to be the main character on a currently-airing television show, was returning to a setting where she’d grown up on the wrong side of the class divide, not with more money, but with the power of the state on her side. And she and her boss, Will Moreno (Laz Alonso) were in a position that strikes me as almost unprecedented in popular culture: as people of color with substantive power, and particularly police power, who were tasked with investigating and—and personally judging—a decadent and corrupted white family, and with whom the audience is intended to sympathize with absolutely.
[...]
“Meagan’s character, the character of Joanna, was completely accepted into this family and became the best friend of Vivian,” she argued. “So those traditional lines of upstairs/downstairs were crossed when that friendship was made.” It’s a wouldn’t-it-be-pretty-to-think-so scenario. But it’s also one that leaves an enormous amount of history—and potential for rich drama and character development—on the table. It’s difficult for me to believe that an exceedingly WASPY family, scions of extreme wealth, would accept the social integration of their African-American housekeeper’s daughter into the family as not just the best friend of their daughter, but as one of their son’s lovers, in a way that was totally uninfluenced by class or race. That is not to say that the characters need to be irredeemably virulent racists. But it seems naive and boring to insist that such friction wouldn’t exist.”
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
feralboy12
Hello again. Sorry to hear about your sciatica, etc. On the sciatica, though, I can offer some advice, possibly,from my time as a massage therapist. Unfortunately, a fair amount of that advice is ‘go see a massage therapist’ but I realize that that’s not helpful, due to the costs and all. (Sciatica is often, though not always, caused by a knot, trigger point, or other soft-tissue problem impinging on the nerve, which is why massage often, but not always, helps). I assume that you’re already doing such stretches as you reasonably can; make sure that you stretch your leg as well as the back, as sometimes that’s where the impingement is actually occurring. Beyond that, all I can offer from a distance is best wishes, though.
ednaz:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Ogvorbis @ 317 –
A person who knows many many answers (and is helpful with them) could justifiably be proud of that.
rorschach:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Not pleased to read that Pascal Boyer doesn’t reckon that humans use religion to find explanations for stuff. At least not general stuff. Maybe some particular stuff. Will keep you updated, off to the newly opened home improvement store now. Kid in a candy store, and all that…
ImaginesABeach:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Totally threadrupt, but just have to say that we had Caine’s Indian Butter Chicken for dinner and it was excellent.
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
A person who knows many many answers (and is helpful with them) could justifiably be proud of that.
True, but the stuff that I know is absolutely useless in the real world.
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Try again, with the borkquote, you idiot!
True, but the stuff that I know is absolutely useless in the real world.
Pteryxx:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Hardware Store – Pony Style
—
*anklehugs feralboy12 and Giliell and Tony and JAL’s teeth (what, the bones are all connected)*
opposablethumbs:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Hi feralboy12 – good to see you, but shitty news about the sciatica and the no-internet :( Here’s hoping you get to switch that to internet and no-sciatica soon.
.
re proper whisky, I may (occasionally) make sense but Ogvorbis is funny and way more interesting. Dalillama, no worries – I only wish I had a drop in which to indulge though …
.
Sounds pretty difficult for Vasco … :( Even if he keeps the eye, Caine, will he lost the sight on that side? But I’m guessing he could still have a very good and active life even so, in the rich environment that you provide?
.
Quarter to one, dammit I was so going to have an early night tonight. Failed again. Goodnight Horde (and this thread will be several nautical miles longer by the time I next get a chance to check in. Why do I have to work again?)
birgerjohansson:
January 7th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
“Also, *hugs* for Giliell and Ogvorbis”
Seconded.
— — — — — —
High heels seem odd, anatomically. Aren’t the feet optimised for putting the weight on the heel? And will not high heels put a lot of wear on parts of the foot where the ligaments were not “designed” for it? Altering the angle would shift the load around. Having slightly flat feet I am well aware of the consequences of departing from a design tried and tested by evolution only a little (it hurts).
— — — —
I am told Kepler has found another load of planetary candidates, but so far not many details.
— — — —
Train geese to keep horses away? Fight evil with evil.
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
It is a little odd anatomically, but low high heels (my lumber boots and my cowboy boots have about a 1.75 inch heel) take a lot of stress off of my MCL. They are also very good at prevent one from locking the knee (my left one has a tendency to hyperextend, to so the high heels help lots).
Sister, who has worked all her life in the food an beverage industry (she is now a second level samoyed, distributing wines) and, after decades in high heels, had to have surgery to lengthen her achilles tendon.
So yes. And no. Maybe?
ednaz:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:09 pm
I am done trying to compliment people I admire here.
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
I am currently sipping a glass of The Balvenie Doublewood single malt. Boy traded me some for a Gurkha Elite cigar.
birgerjohansson:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:16 pm
Hahaha! I guess some Fox News watchers would not understand this is satire.
“Obama Unveils New American Flag” http://dailycurrant.com/2012/11/12/obama-unveils-american-flag/
— — — — — — — —
Feet and good shoes are sooo much more important than most people think…until they get medical problems walking.
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:16 pm
ednaz:
I appreciate the complement. I just feel so down right now that my automatic reaction is to reject it. Sorry.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Opposablethumbs:
.
There’s no reason to think he’ll lose his sight in the eye at this point, but nothing is certain. As it stands, he certainly can’t see much out of it and he’s getting along fine. We were warned it will get worse before it gets better (lots of pus, blood, drainage, etc.) We’ll get him through the next 10 days and go from there. Even if he does lose his sight (or the eye), he’ll be fine. He’s the picture of health otherwise.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Ednaz:
No, don’t say that. Og has some deep issues which are getting him down. Do what I do and tell him “stop that, right fucking now!” He’ll say okay, then apologize about 50 times. It’s just his way, and we love him.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:35 pm
The Gallifreycrumb Tinies
A is for Aldric who blew up in space
B is for Brigadier who died at the base
C is for Cassandra who tore from her spring
D is for Dave who can’t see a thing
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:41 pm
I have an other fan.
Crip Dyke, MQ, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden:
January 7th, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Oh, my.
My primary artistic outlet is painting small metal figures for role playing games. Sometimes I cut off some bits and replace them with other bits. Frequently I do a little sculpting of the base to give a miniature a context. But it’s really all about making tiny bits of metal give rise to the impression of someone real.
Which leads me to today’s link.
Oh, my goodness, Caine. What haven’t you been telling us?
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 7:58 pm
“In its annual list of the year’s worst abuses against science, the Sense About Science (SAS) campaign also named former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney for spreading misinformation about windows on planes, and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps for false justifications for peeing in the pool.
To help set the record straight, SAS, a charity dedicated to helping people make sense of science and evidence, invited qualified scientists to respond to some of the wilder pseudo-scientific claims put about by the rich and famous.”
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre8br002-us-celebrities/
****
In other news, when are we getting comic sans back? Oh, and I really don’t like how using the html tags is jacked up.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Janine:
Oh, Julian. I don’t know wtf happened with him. He was okay when he used to post here, then *poof*, he got all milquetoast and accommodationist. He’s been leaning MRA more than once recently, too.
Crip Dyke:
Um…that I’m really a cyber-troll? :D I haven’t done a Reaper in a while. I love painting miniatures. Here are a few I’ve done: http://moblog.net/tag/Caine/warhammer
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Oh, wait. The link showed up correctly. So it must be _preview_ that is acting up.
Bad _preview_ ! No soup for you. Just cicely’s horse infused peas.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
“…is jacked up”????
Sheesh. Who learned me English?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Tony:
We have it, sort of. You need to have secret comic sans installed in greasemonkey. To use it in a post, you need:
<blockquote cite= “creationist”> </blockquote> that way, you’ll get
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
High heels were forged in and from the Damnable Doctrine that women’s only worth or need is the degree to which their appearance pleases men.
cicely (The Stressor of Two Easels)(HA!):
January 7th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
*waving*
Hi, feralboy. I remember you!
:)
Sciatica is no joke…but it is yet another piece of evidence against the existence of a Perfect and Benevolent Creator, Who made us in Its Image.
(Because if we are created in Its image, and have (among other malfunctionskneesI’mtalkingaboutyou) sciatica in the interests of Accuracy in Copy/Pasting, then 1) It ain’t Perfect, and 2) It sure as hell ain’t Benevolent.)
-
Careful *scritches* for Vasco. Poor boy!
-
Ah, birgen, you’re looking at this all wrong! High heels have nothing to do with optimisation for putting weight anywhere, or movement, or going with what is anatomically sensible! They’re about making women’s legs look longer and slimmer, and bringing the Bumpy Regions into prominence (i.e., “shifting the load around”). I also suspect that they’re about making free movement (specifically, running away, as from an attacker) more difficult—Foot-Binding for the Western Woman, as it were.
Do try to get with The Program!
-
Ogvorbis: Broken and feeling worthless:
January 7th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Sorry, Caine. Sorry ednaz. Sorry.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
ImaginesABeach
If you and GirlChild would like to share a virtual rattie, Amelia and I are willing.
Crip Dyke, MQ, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaiden:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:25 pm
@Caine
I like the blending/highlighting work on the Inquisitor & the water effects on the water dragon. Very nice stuff.
BTW: I’m going to forever picture you with ibex horns and a hand-held auto cannon whenever you blast lost creationists and sexists here.
ednaz:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Thank You, Caine. I love Ogvorbis, too.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Has anyone sighted FossilFishy recently? The fires in Victoria aren’t too close to where I think he is (somewhere near Wangaratta, Beechworth & Bright) at this point, but it would be nice to know that all the Fishies are safe.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Crip Dyke:
Hahahaha, oh, that’s just fine. :D
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 7th, 2013 at 9:45 pm
Hey, feralboy! I’m so sorry about your sciatica and loss of internet but I am glad to see you again. =)
—————–
—————–
Caine: I’m glad Vasco is going to be okay! Eye issues are scary and I hope the next 10 days go well. Or as well as they can. The ratties are lucky to have you as a servant. =)
And I can offer sharing Chas II as well for ImaginesABeach and GirlChild. We’ve been unfortunately extremely neglectful of him. =( My own Little Own has been wrapped up in trying to retrain the Babysitting Kitty to lay down with us for petting and cuddles. Oddly, it hasn’t worked for her but he’ll lay next to me every time even when I don’t pet him. He’s really become my cat, since he’s attached to me mostly, which frustrates the Little One because she doesn’t get it. I don’t either. I’ve had nightmares that he’s laying next to me like the cats in nursing homes when they know someone is going to die soon.
——————
——————
On Shoes:
Louis
Oh, I know allllll about that one. I’m 12w (no, really) + no budget = I HATE SHOES.
birgerjohansson
Oh, I know that too.
My feet are so messed up. My shoes actually wear really, really unevenly. Like completely one side it will be worn down to where there’s a hole and the other side is scuffed up but fine. It’s on the very long list of “WTF is wrong with me”.
————
—————
Painting miniatures is one of those things I find really cool but doubt I’d be able to do myself. I love looking at all the pictures of them. Wonderful artwork. There’s a lot of amazing pieces out there.
—————-
————–
Any one like sci-fi monster thrillers? Like genetically altered creatures taking over cities? Or ants?
I can suggest The Colony by A.J. Colucci. I just finished it and really enjoyed it. Even with stopping to wiki the ant facts to make sure the author didn’t pull a fast one on this layman. I think the science part was well researched and well done. There’s suspension of disbelief of course, but nothing that pushed me to the edge. Though I’m not a scientist. It’d be interesting to hear a scientists thoughts on it.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 9:53 pm
Hang on.
Caine is a delikat, frajil flower who needs to be protekted from words [like rape].
That critter does not look delikat.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
chigau:
Is that your way of saying jacksul is back?
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Anyone looking for a good laugh? Go read comment #12 in the snark/Tina Fey thread.
Tee hee. I’m giggling so much right now.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Tony
Nah.
I’m in a bit of a catch-up time-lag.
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:18 pm
Ugh. Shoez. Hates them we does. Heels are of the devil, or the patriarchy. They should only be worn when you don’t need to use your feet for, like, walking or standing.
I am currently wearing Birkenstock sandals. They fit my wide feet. I wish my feet were long enough for men’s shoes, which are on the whole a bit wider, but no, they’re too small for that. Men’s size 5 is very hard to find – I swear boys go barefoot when they get to my size.
Xanthë:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
I know, Tony! I have to confess, I LOL’d. PZ is such an #FTBully.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Time lag?
You mean you aren’t in a similar time zone as everyone else? You ain’t in ‘Mericah? /snark
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
Alethea, I feel your pain. I’m a size 6 wide. It is such a pain in the ass to find shoes I like that actually fit.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 7th, 2013 at 10:34 pm
OHHHH! Today has been busy with Little One’s first day back to school. But I have some hopeful news!
I’ve been calling dentist places. While there’s the obvious wait times, they need the money up front for the first appointment and after that payment arrangements can be made. I’m a bit worried about if they want verification of employment/income but that’s a worry for later. I did find a place that does $35 dollar emergency appointment in the evening. (Subject to waiting only if they have line or the cases take awhile.) Which at least gets the exam and all that done so I’d at least get the necessary meds (since I’m sure it’s infected) and such.
I’ve emailed Esteleh to transfer the funds, which takes a few days so that way I can get things rolling once I get that.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Re: shoes-
I have size 12 feet, which are wide and flat. I have come across many shoes I like, but they are too narrow. I have been thinking I need to start getting size 13 in sneakers, bc my current (& only) pair are really tight on my feet.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:36 pm
My feet are (with bunions) 8 or 8½ or 9.
I haven’t bought girl-shoes for years.
Work boots aren’t a problem.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:44 pm
JAL
good for you and your teeth
Fixing the teeth won’t solve the rest of your problems but you will be astonished at how your outlook changes when you don’t start each day wanting to rip your own face off.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:54 pm
rq Congrats! So now it’s a race between construction work and paper work. Now, normally I’d say that you’ll be in your house before I’m in mine, but well, listen to this:
We bought our block of land over two years ago. We searched for maybe four months for a builder who wasn’t just greenwashing when they talked about sustainable building. I knew we had found a winner after Mrs. Fishy’s first meeting with our builders.
[phone rings]
“Hey honey, how did the meeting go?”
“Uhm, good. Look I need to tell you something.”
“Oh no, what is it? They’re another bullshit fake eco company, right?”
“No, no, nothing like that. It went really well. [long pause] After we were done I said: I feel like I should give you guys a hug.”
“Okaaaay, what did they say?”
“They said, ‘We like hugs’ and we had a group hug.”
[laughing] “So I guess we’ve found a builder then….”
So that’s how it started. They did a design, we liked it, very funky and modern and actually sustainable. Then we applied for permissions. And it all went walloon shaped.
We’re 4K from town water and sewage and our block is within 50m of a creek. This means the the lovely administrative body Golburn/Murray Water (henceforth GMW) has a say in our sewage disposal system. Fair enough, we wouldn’t do an old-fashioned septic even if we were allowed to.
The first hint of trouble was when they demanded a land capability assessment. This is a test to determine how much treated outflow from our septic system could be absorbed by the land without running off into the creek. Fair enough.
The results came back saying that 10 people could live on that land. Now, our block is zoned for two dwellings, it’s one of the reasons we bought it. The plan is for this tiny, modest house to be our home for a few years and then we’ll owner build a larger straw bale place and this house will become a nanna flat or rental accommodation. The way that they count it is bedrooms plus one. Land capable of absorbing the waste water from ten people can have a nine bedroom home built on it. Or in our case, two homes with a total of eight bedrooms between them.
GMW came back telling us that we could only build 3 bedrooms on that land, regardless of the number of structures those bedrooms are contained in. We were gobsmacked. What the fuck was the point of getting that assessment if they weren’t going to rule based on it?
The shire employee responsible for our building permit was great. He claimed he didn’t understand this ruling either and told us to let it go for a time while he talked to GMW. He came back having talked them into an extra bedroom for a total of four.
We looked into challenging the ruling and our lawyer told us that Vcat, the judiciary normally responsible for these sorts of things always sides with GMW. The cost and time of taking it to a higher court was completely prohibitive. We were forced to redesign the house. Some creative work with a false wall in my daughter’s bedroom made our plans feasible again.
That redesign took time and money. By the time it was done our pre-approval for financing had expired so we had to re-apply. We were re-approved for a lesser amount. The financial instability in the EU was making lenders nervous and the word h ad come down to tighten up. That plus the increase in material costs since our initial design forced us into yet another redesign. Which cost us more money.
In the end Mrs. Fishy calculated that with material cost rises and redesign costs and legal fees GMW cost us $10,000. Why?
Mrs. Fishy is an engineer and she’s on the board of an engineer’s social group. Through them we ended up having a lovely dinner with a couple of town planners from the next big town down the valley. They told us that GMW has a policy of stopping new building in their watershed at every opportunity. Because they have no control over permits or zoning outside of inundation areas all they can do is make it as hard as possible for folks to get septic permits. And that’s what they did to us. Almost two years of delays and $10,000 would have sunk most folk. Fortunately we have modest desires and Mrs. Fishy qualified for a $26,000 first home builder grant from the government. so we got through. Barely.
So, let’s see, it’s a race between the builders and the bureaucrats rq, hmmmm, I think it might be close, though if it is you’ll h ave my sympathies.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
January 7th, 2013 at 10:58 pm
JAL I am really, really glad to hear that.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:07 pm
JAL:
Awesome!
I hope you’re able to get your teeth taken care of.
chigau (無味ない):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:07 pm
FossilFishy
So you aren’t burning?
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
January 7th, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Not yet chigau. Here in Victoria it’s not as bad as in New South Wales or Tasmania. But you can be sure that I have the Country Fire Authority’s warning page up and am checking it regularly as well as watching the sky for smoke and the weather radar for thunderstorms. Our bushfire survival plan involves running like hell, and that only works if you know about a threatening fire before the smoke and embers get to you. I won’t be able to relax until it rains for a week or more.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:19 am
Tony, mixed drink question: do you know if the specific gravity of liqueurs varies much? I just made a drink with butterscotch schnapps, caramel vodka, and creme de menthe and I’m wondering if there’s any hope at all for getting distinct green and gold layers in a version of it. O.o
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:20 am
Azkyroth:
I can’t help you there. My knowledge doesn’t extend that far.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:24 am
Also, it occurred to me today: bureaucracy can basically be summarized as “Petty Crimes Against Humanity.” Fishy’s experience confirms that.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:24 am
Actually, while I know nothing about specific gravity of liquors (I really should have read your entire comment before responding, rather than the first sentence. My apologies.), I do know that the liquors you’ve chosen aren’t likely to layer (I just don’t know the science behind it).
A drink/shot such as a B-52-Kahlua, Bailey’s, and Grand Marnier–only works because of the Bailey’s. It is so much thicker in consistency (the specific gravity you spoke of, I suppose), that it is able to rest atop the Kahlua, while the Grand Marnier is able to sit atop it.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:29 am
Drat.
…what does everyone think of that combination? O.o
Pteryxx:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:30 am
quite a few liqueurs will layer, but they have to be poured in the right order and gently, so the layers don’t mix. (I had a friend who practiced layering drinks along a glass stirring rod – yay lab surplus.)
http://www.drinknation.com/bartending/how-to-layer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layered_drink
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:31 am
Damn. More gun deaths. In Aurora, CO.
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/bre90408w-us-usa-shooting-colorado/
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:31 am
Yup, Azkyroth. GMW justifies it to themselves by saying that they’re protecting the watershed, and maybe they have a case for such. But if that’s true then they should show their evidence and state their intentions outright rather than stuffing people around they way they have been. Our story is only unique in that we manged to get it done in the end.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:32 am
Took a trip to the pit. I do not know what their old banner was but they do have a new one.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:32 am
I’m sitting in a gay bar suffering through one of the insipid Austin Powers movies so that I can comment with Internet access on my laptop.
Yes, I value this place that much :)
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:43 am
Perfect. Caramel Bailey’s is a thing, it’s just $18/750ml instead of ~$6 like the creme de menthe and butterscotch schnapps (I used a mini of the caramel vodka).
Bailey’s has a relatively low specific gravity (proportional to density), from my subsequent braving of googling, but it has a pretty high viscosity from what I remember of the period between when I curiously got some and when my ex guzzled the bottle in one of her relapses, so that might work to stabilize the non-mixture for a bit. Actually, that could be a pretty dramatic effect…from the charts it seems like the creme de menthe (sg 1.1) would cascade down through the Bailey’s (1.05) and mix with the butterscotch schnapps (1.12)). …or premix the creme de menthe with the vodka, which is generally about .94 or so…
Well, this appears to have become an engineering problem. :D
I SO call naming rights on this. :D
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:45 am
…and, damn, that was REALLY good and I’m out of caramel vodka :(
(I have the vague impression the caramel-mint combination probably SOUNDS horrifying, but… ^.^)
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:50 am
Janine:
Not only did I follow your lead and venture into the ‘Pit…it was my first time there. I think it will be my last. And I need a shower. Or two.
Janine: Hallucinating Liar:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:53 am
Understandable.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:11 am
Pteryxx:
Layering can also be done with a cherry (provided it still has a stem).
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:16 am
I want to sharpen my out of use fangs but there’s only jackshit on the Matt Dillahunty thread. =(
Also, Tony I’m glad you can withstand Austin Powers for us.
I’m loopy. Medicine + No Sleep = Not Good. But I’ve been up so long, if I go to sleep I won’t get up in time to get Little One to school. So staying up is the only option.
And I need to stop reading ARC copies of books because I can’t talk with anyone about them since nobody else has read them. =(
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:17 am
If people haven’t already watched this doco on what was done to the Chagossians :
http://johnpilger.com/videos/stealing-a-nation
Please do. Bloody hell that is horrendous, moving and powerful stuff.
Thanks again to mikeconley (my original source here : http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/01/06/i-dont-knowamericans-have-an-amazing-capacity-for-self-delusion/comment-page-1/#comment-530282 ) & Maureen Brian for informing me of this.
More people – everyone – should know. And justice and restititution as much as it can be done now should be done too. Bloody hell.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:19 am
Well, that happened faster than I thought.
I *literally* just got an email from Jim.
It reads:
“Good evening sir.
I was having a hard time with some loneliness over the holidays, and was really reaching out for some companionship. I am sorry for being so awkward. Would you mind if I asked you some questions about your life and experiences? nothing too personal I promise. If you want me to stop talking, just don’t respond and this will be the last you hear from me.”
I told him I didn’t mind and to ask away.
Aaaaand he followed up pretty quickly.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:30 am
JAL:
I am suffering. Thankfully it *just* ended.
I found *nothing* funny about the movie.
Why do people like Mike Myers?
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:31 am
And now they’re playing “Dennis the Menace” the movie.
I.
Am.
In.
Hell.
Someone save me.
Please.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:32 am
Tony, I haven’t a clue. Though I did like him as Shrek because it wasn’t really him, just his voice.
Nepenthe:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:00 am
You’ve seen “Wayne’s World”, right?
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 2:07 am
Nepenthe:
No, I haven’t.
opposablethumbs:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:23 am
Glad to hear the better tooth news, JAL. If this first assessment-and-meds appointment goes as it should, would you be able to stay with the same people for the treatment you need?
.
Good to know that the Fishy family is safe – stay that way!
.
Tony, yay for hearing from Jim – especially after the way he rather desperately burned his bridges before by deleting the email account, which suggests he was really trying to stop himself from “giving in to the temptation” of talking with you (I’m only guessing, obviously, but it sounds like that). Hope he doesn’t decide to close his eyes and put his hands over his ears again later – from your account he must be pretty conflicted – but talking with someone as compassionate and honest as you can only help him.
Nepenthe:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:37 am
Tony, that film should explain why some people like(d) Mike Meyers.
athyco:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:03 am
Today was a good day. My son had a seizure six months and one day ago, and this morning his neurologist did the final EEG and faxed to the state his clearance to drive. Woooohoooooo, I’m freeeeee from chauffeur-itude!
Of course, he drove me home after the appointment and has been gone all day watching Alabama win the championship and celebrating with his buds. He did call me a couple of times with the greeting we’d agreed upon when he was sixteen, even with this six-month haitus. “Hi, mom. I’m fine; car’s fine.”
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 3:16 am
Athyco:
Awesome. Glad your son is doing much better. If i may, what brought on the seizures?
****
I have never encountered someone as incapable of apologizing as jacksul.
Nepenthe:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:30 am
@athyco
Wonderful news. Maybe you could have a chauffeur for a bit; turnabout’s fair play.
—
@Tony
Given his speaking style, it seems that jacksul has never encountered someone, let alone apologized to them. Maybe we should give them a break; it must be unsettling talking to human beings for the first time.
… Nah.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:44 am
athyco, I’m so happy for you and your son. That’s great news!
————–
————-
Yes. Not my kind of movie, though it has it’s moments. It is totally lost on me since I didn’t see it when it was a big thing and now I just can’t do it. I am a youngin’ and all.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:47 am
I’m a loss to how anyone can stand the jackass. So. Annoying.
opposablethumbs:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:21 am
Just in case anyone hasn’t seen this yet – an Avaaz petition to the government of India re the treatment of women.
It says “48 hours” but is still up, so I suppose it may still be accepting signatures.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_indias_war_on_women/?bRagLbb&v=20665
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:25 am
Hi there
Oh ya gods I need a nap.
At 4am the little one decided that her bed was way too far away from me and came over and I tell you that kid snores like she’s trying to become the next Granny Weatherwax. And that when I only went to bed at 12 and had to get up at 6.
+++
censorship
People really don’t know what that word means. I just went to a guest lecture about problems of translations from English into different varieties of Spanish and from Spanish into German.
And he called one of his points “traducción con sabor a censura” (translation that tastes of censorship).
What was his point? That different translations deal differently with stereotypes and taboos. His first example was from House where the original is “some Mexican guy” where Mexican alone says “incompetent criminal”, which is translated as “criminal mexicano” in the Spanish version and as “carnicero” (butcher) in the Latin American one. Or that you can’t just translate a humerous Nazi allusion in English into German. While it might work in English to answer “Ja mein Führer” if somebody bosses you around, in German that would be such a shock and taboo that the effect isn’t the one you want.
That’s not fucking censorhip.
+++
Also, the human mind is fascinating. Last night I took care of gran cause my sister needed a day off. And the later the evening the more gran’s dementia gets her. What is striking is that she doesn’t so much lose memory, but the emotional connection. She recognizes that this is her kitchen cupboard, and that this really looks like her TV, and her living room, but insists that it isn’t and that she wants to go home.
+++
JAL
Yay for getting teeth done. Hope they can help you quickly.
Do you think we should ask Renee if that’s OK?
Welcome back feralboy
I’m glad to hear your health is better, I’m sad to hear the financial situation isn’t :(
athyco
Yay for your son’s health.
athyco:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:30 am
Tony:
From what we can figure, anti-depressants. He had a seizure at 17 after five weeks on Welbutrin. He had this seizure at 21 after six weeks on Prozac. Yeah, I know. Weird.
Nepenthe:
LOL….the turnabout will have to wait. Both of us are very happy that we don’t HAVE to be in the car with each other for at least an hour every workday. He said that at red lights, he’d lean over and do a drumbeat on the empty passenger seat.
JAL:
I really don’t like the “it’s funny because it’s stupid” movies. Did you ever see The Groove Tube? The park bench “puppet” doing a PSA about VD cracked me the hell up, especially when there could be such great arguments afterwards. Did the laughter of women in the audience start first (as it so obviously did) because the guys didn’t recognize a penis with attached googly eyes and testicles in clothing? Or were they shellshocked wondering if their dates would recognize it?
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:32 am
Yay for getting fixed teeth, and for not being on fire.
I am rooted to buggery(*) and am off to bed.
*I’m sure someone here can translate.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:42 am
Same here. Part of it is I feel other people’s embarrassment – even when they don’t feel embarrassed and people are making fun of them without them knowing. Watching someone get laughed at while they are oblivious to the slight is so depressing, and annoying.
I also just can’t buy into the outrageous situations in these kind of movies. Like Pineapple Express, Dumb and Dumber, and um…..I can’t think of any but I know there’s more.
athyco:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:57 am
My son loves such movies. He and his girlfriend will sometimes quote them if they’re in the kitchen cooking dinner. If I ask them what they’re talking about, they explain, but I don’t find it funny unless there’s something to pick at and riff on. They still like the easy level of it, but they’re beginning to agree with me that it’s more fun to take it to the next level or to stand it on its head so that punching down becomes punching up.
Too many people just want to repeat and haw haw at the quote for the eleventy first time, until it seems that every bit of funny is just a catchphrase.
Tony got a dose of it with Austin Powers at work tonight. ¡Pobrecito!
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:13 am
Good morning!
Handshakes, welcomes, hugs, and various greetings and well wishes to those requiring, wanting, or simply lying in the path of.
FossilFishy
Thank you for the kind words and that description of… well, I’m not sure what to call it, except bureaucracy. That seems insult enough.
We are (or at least, were) in a race between the bank and paperwork. But I have good news: Today this potential house issue was resolved – dates have been appropriately shuffled and nobody is screaming about the changes.
See, the current owner is trying to GTHOOTC AFAP and had originally stipulated that the down-payment should be made this week (by Wednesday), all other paperwork to follow within the week, and final transfer of funds sometime next week. Well.
Getting the money from the bank, as such, wasn’t the issue – the issue was timing. Last Friday, when we were still in the maaaaaaybe phase of thought, Husband told the bank to transfer the cash in the savings account to his regular account for use – this process takes a week, meaning earliest access = this coming Friday.
Oops! That was the first run-in. Then, seeing as we were threatened with a second set of buyers (classic, I know) and we started exploring all other associated paperwork (valuing the house, legal transfer documents, submission to bank for money, etc.), we realized there was no way in hell we were going to make the week deadline.
Thankfully, most of that paperwork applies to everyone, so we eventually figured out that the other buyers wouldn’t be any faster than we would be (ah, bank committee, how I love thee sometimes!). That being said, we were still under a requirement to have the down payment transferred by Wednesday. But today, due to all other paperwork needing a few more days than the current owners would like (although I suspect they’re secretly pleased in not needing to be in such a rush to get all their stuff out of the house), all paperwork and down payment transfers will be made on Friday, when everything is accessible. In the meantime, we’d been scrambling for a way to get a two-week (equivalent of) $4000 loan from friends or relatives, just to have the down payment in and transferred and the house ours. Some disappointment was imminent, since we have no relations or friends with that kind of ready cash.
As it stands, we’re still (theoretically) in potential-house territory, but since all parties have signed intent-to-buy/sell contracts in advance of signing the actual contracts, I think we’re good… Oh, this is what the first floor will look like in about 3 – 5 years. The current floorplan looks like this. Sorry the angles are different. But I think it’s obvious we have a big plan for the house. If this week ends well, nothing can stop us! Except a lot of bureaucracy. ;)
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:23 am
Vicki
re: lmgtfy and the quest for information
Sometimes I just want the information, which is when I do google it for myself. Sometimes I want a human opinion/experience on something, or the dominant version within my group of acquaintances, etc., which is when I ask the question. Because I’ve probably googled it myself, but want to know what other people think of it, while phrasing the question slightly differently than ‘What does everybody think of [insert topic du jour here]?’
Which is why, sometimes, when somebody just points in the direction of google, I find that my point has been missed completely, and my question considered inconsequential and not worth the attention.
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:51 am
@524. opposablethumbs : Cheers. Signed. It worked so still ok obviously.
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:55 am
@513. Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism)
You realise there’s an “off” switch and a outside world right? Surely?
Not sure how else I can do that.
Also, how did you end up in a lunar crater named for a Hungarian Jesuit priest again?
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_(crater) )
ImaginesABeach:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:21 am
Thanks, JAL and chigau for the offers to share a virtual rat (should that be “virtually share a rat?”). I don’t think I’m well suited for rat virtual-parenting. When Zoe died, I cried on and off for 2 days, and if I scroll too far down on Rattitude, I still get weepy.
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:42 am
http://freethoughtblogs.com/greta/2013/01/08/rape-prevention-aimed-at-rapists-does-work/
^ This. Greta Christina sums it up brilliantly again.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:51 am
StevoR
[context] Tony was typing from a bar with internet access in order to communicate with the rest of us. Not so easy to hit the Off switch, in that case.
Tony
Your sacrifices are admirable, o persistent one! I’m with you on the stupid-funny movies. Can’t stand them. I never enjoyed Home Alone (or any of its sequels), and had a difficult time finding the humour in Austin Powers. I have not seen Dennis the Menace, and I don’t intend to.
+++
Warning, movie review for The Hobbit!!!
Overall, it was decent. Way too long for the book, mainly for two reasons: (1) unnecessary addition of a minor story-line for increased conflict and violence (you know the kinds, the final one-on-one stand-off between long-time enemies, because there is none originally in the book); and (2) unnecessary addition of a minor story-line for increased fear and ghosts (too much anticipatory prequelling for the LotR, esp. in relation to Saruman and his protagonist/antagonist roles).
Things I enjoyed: (1) the scenery; (2) Radagast had his moments; (3) Gandalf; (4) the rock giant fight (the only part in the movie that more than did justice to the book, and which was deservedly extended for awesome viewing pleasure); (5) the dwarf songs; (6) the goblin king was a special kind of terrible, ugly, and dastardly; (7) opening sequence with dragon, excepting colour tonality (as mentioned below).
Things I did not enjoy: (1) colour scheme (Mano Singham had a great post about the teal-orange dichotomy of movie colour schemes these days, and it really stuck out in these movies – I was hoping for colourful, lush, green-red-yellow-blue-violet-black-silver-gold-white tones, and instead got mainly teal-orange); (2) to my mind, Rivendell was never that fancy in the book, but… ok, fine; (3) from this movie, one can guess that Saruman will turn out evil, which isn’t hinted at in the beginning of LotR until Gandalf’s fateful journey to see him; (4) the way Bildo found the ring (admittedly plausible, but completely without any of the random accidental-ness of the book); (5) all parts involving Azog (just unnecessary attempts to make a children’s story into an adult one, with obligatory good-evil dichotomy); (6) Galadriel and her reasons for being in the movie, besides standing serenely and looking beautiful (I know, I know, women and all that, but they could have left all women out of it, and be spared the shoddy attempts at inclusion that just stick women right back into the role of looking pretty because pretty).
In conclusion, they could have made it a delightful children’s movie that adults can enjoy by sticking to a great story about greed and friendship and the ability to do more than one believes of oneself if given the opportunity. They have chosen to make it a formula-blockbuster with only some of the charm and humour the book holds. They made it too long, too serious, too weighty. Much of the dead-pan, subtle humour of the book is lost in the movie, which made me sad (quite a few of Gandalf’s lines and his exchanges with Thorin and Bilbo spring to mind).
I no longer have high hopes for the other movies, but they can’t get any worse. And once all movies are out, my sister promised to cut them to pieces and stick all the good parts into a glorious, unified single Hobbit movie for private use (and sharing among friends).
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:52 am
On the topic of teal and orange: The Strange Case of Disappearing Color in Films. These sorts of things make me sad.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:06 am
Holy fucking shit Alex Jones is a WAY bigger wingnut than I remembered.
And this is but a small taste of the torrent of dumbfuckerry he unleashed on Piers Morgan’s show.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:20 am
You could build a city on the bedrock of paranoia he’s putting out.
Infowars link, so be forewarned.
The paranoia is so intense it makes me bring up the Rush Limbaugh question
how much of this does he really believe and how much is pure pandering to his audience for more clicks, books sold and other promotion.
StevoR, fallible human being:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:33 am
@536. rq
Ah, ok, didn’t know that. Fair enough then.
opposablethumbs:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:50 am
StevoR #535
Yes – and the campaign’s own website: http://www.savedmonton.com/about-our-campaigns.html
- is great because they invite others to use their material.
So I just emailed the NUS (of course they probably already know about this, but why not, just in case?) to ask if they’d consider encouraging students unions and unis in the UK to look at using the same campaign. This campaign SHOULD BE EVERYWHERE. And if it already is somewhere, then they should run it AGAIN.
This is only the second time I can remember ever seeing anti-rape campaign material targeted at the potential perpetrator rather than the potential victim. No victim-blaming. Almost unheard-of.
FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker):
January 8th, 2013 at 7:53 am
rq
I like the look of your plans. I’m having trouble with the units on the existing plan, are those in meters? If so your ground floor a fair bit bigger than our whole house. Ours will be a single story 9.6 x 10.6 meters. It’s tiny. Every contractor who’s worked on the slab has asked “Is this the shed?” and on being informed that it is in fact the house, they then say “Oh, it’s two stories.” No, no it’s not.
Mrs. Fishy has been worrying about this and so have I. Or I did until I watched a doco on India, specifically the working poor in India. One person who had been sleeping in parks finds a flat for rent. The thing appeared slightly larger than our master bedroom. It’s prime decoration was mouldy walls and the previous tenants rubbish, yet you can see the guy trying not to show his excitement at maybe getting this space.
After the haggling was done and his new landlord leaves he turns to his friend and starts exclaiming how great it is: “We can put a couch here.”, “We can cook here.”, “Just a quick clean and it’ll be great.” and so on. They cut to another scene after he looks around in satisfaction and says “We could have five, maybe six people in here.”
I’ve always answered the questions about how I find Canada as compared to Australia with snark and humour. But if I’m pushed into answering seriously I say that no matter where you go there are people, good, bad and indifferent. No matter where you go your needs are going to be pretty much the same, employment, food, shelter and on up the hierarchy of needs.
Unless I lived in one of the desperate parts of the world where a struggle to survive is the daily lot, or I’m separated from those who love me and whom I love in turn, with the resources I have it should be possible to live a healthy, happy life just about anywhere. If I’m not happy, it’s pretty damn likely that the source of that is internal. But I sometimes forget that.
I am lucky.
I am so fucking lucky that most of the time I’m blind to it.
And then one day I’m lounging in my lounge room, watching the biggest TV I’ve ever owned, digesting a fantastically yummy meal made of fresh, varied ingredients as my wife tapped away at our computer in the kitchen and my healthy child slept soundly in her own room, and then suddenly my evening’s free entertainment smacked me right between the eyes with the reality of my situation.
A man was filled with joy before my eyes, and the source of his joy just seconds before had made me cringe.
That night I walked over to the new slab and stood in the centre, feeling the day’s heat rise off it around me. I visualised the rooms as they will be so very soon. And a quiet, joyful voice in my head told me in a musical accent that over there five, maybe six people could live and be happy, and over there another five, and over there another six, and over there…..
And in that quiet Australian night, under more stars than this big city North American kid ever dreamed of, the world shifted, just slightly, towards the better.
AJ Milne:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:09 am
I have to confess I found the Austin Powers movies pretty funny.
Correction: I found them in part very funny. The satire on genre stuff and satire on form stuff is generally pretty funny, pretty sharp. A lot of the rest was just ho hum.
But: Basil Exposition, we already know that? That’s funny. Mustafa having to answer any question you ask three times with sufficient vehemence? Strangely clever. Mustafa breaking up the melodramatic tableau of presumed horror after his typically cold-blooded and grisly Evil Villian™ brand dispatching with ‘Actually… I’m alive but just horribly burned’? Pretty much brilliant…
That last gag, that one was really good. I want someone to make an original series Star Trek, too, in which, after Mr. Random Red Shirt is gruesomely murdered to ratchet up tension at the beginning of the episode, you hear him from off-camera saying: ‘Yeah, okay… I was wearing the red shirt. What the hell was I thinking? Everyone fucking warned me… Anyway… I’m not dead. Geez, but that stung, tho’… Bactine? Does any of you bastards not wearing red have some Bactine?’
Powers expecting the toothpaste and floss to be some diabolically clever 60s-esque spy gadget and just being told ‘Umm… No… It’s just that dental hygiene’s made some advances since you were frozen’? That’s just annoyingly stupid… Until he winds up actually using the toothpaste, several scenes later, on a typically klutzy disposable genre guard. And Dr. Evil telling his son, ‘No, kid, you don’t get it… I have to leave them in an easily escapable situation and just assume everything goes to plan’? The Bond films deserve this. They really do.
The ongoing visual gag with the near nudity, that’s also pretty good, if you know the films of the time and the general shooting cliché they’re lampooning, though I’d say they overuse it. And there’s some cute throwaway reference stuff I think works. ‘They’re all after me Lucky Charms’ is funny just for the absurd setup that gets you there.
That ‘overused’ thing, I think that’s the real problem. And see also athyco’s observation. They were funny the first time, and then they became chestnuts. It’s the same thing that happened to Airplane! and Top Secret! and most of Monty Python. It was funny until idiots started memorizing it and busting it out on every damned occasion and you started wanting to hit them. Tho’ the makers themselves are hardly innocent either… insofar as I think they really didn’t need to make three of the Austin Powers things. Quitting at two would have been quitting while they were ahead. But then, they already paid for this sin at the box office, if I recall correctly.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:18 am
FossilFishy
Sometimes I feel ashamed of being happy for what I have and for wanting what I do want. What you wrote is exactly right – and I’ve been realizing it more and more, lately – I am absurdly lucky, and sometimes I forget. Sometimes I forget that, while on an absolute scale, we are rather low, but, on a relative scale (this country, this time), we are able to afford a house, dammit, which is a hell of a lot more than most people around us. Sometimes I forget that, while we have three rooms and three loud children, we have three rooms, while around us, we have families of more members trying to live in even smaller spaces. In the past year, we have gone from just-beyond scrambling to having a house, in the past two – from having no car and a lot of debt, to having a house and no debt (well, soon-to-have-debt, but…). I am absurdly lucky, and sometimes I forget. Yes. Thank you for writing the above.
And yes, it’s in metres. It’s a large house. And it’s being sold for half its market value, which is the only way we can afford it (see: current owners wanting to GTHOOTC).
It’s wood-heated, though, which is why we’re pretty sure the heating costs won’t run us under. I hope.
I’m glad your house is moving forward, too. Hooray for a roof over the head, of any size, of any shape. And for the happiness inside.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:21 am
Fossil Fishy
Well, your tiny house is about 25% larger than our flat ;)
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:21 am
AJ Milne
I agree that many of the jokes (in the beginning) and gags (in the beginning) had humour, but you hit it – overuse. And also, to my mind, sometimes poor presentation, in combination with some actually tasteless jokes (Fat Bastard?) did not Austin Powers appealing make to me. :)
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:26 am
PS Our current apartment is 63sq.m., so we’re more than doubling our area (there’s a second floor) but cutting expenses… Weird, I know, but this whole paying for other people’s water use and water heating due to the fact of them having inaccurate and/or sabotaged water meters is annoying. Also the absurd price of heating in these apartment buildings, which is split evenly and cannot be calibrated due to the unified system.
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:32 am
Lard help me, I have discovered another Historical British Show™and I cannot get enough of of it: Call the Midwife. It is quite entertaining, even if credulity-straining.
—–
JAL, I, uh, have not received an email? Try again plz?
—-
Others: I really hate to be a nag, but I could use a bit more help covering the “Keep Dalilama’s Lights On Fund.” Pweeze?
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:32 am
Ok. Tom Cruise annoys me as much as anyone, but Oblivion looks pretty sweet. Don’t know anything about the Graphic Novel, but the movie looks like it could be good.
AJ Milne:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:40 am
rq/#546
Yeah re Fat Bastard. And past the actual nastiness of stuff like that, there’s the toilet humour I just wasn’t getting at all funny.
And y’know, seriously, I don’t think I ever have. My little guy went through this strange ‘saying poo is somehow funny all on its own’ thing a little while ago… Mercifully he seems mostly out of it, now… And through the whole thing I was just: this is like null reaction. It’s mildly annoying to me you’re wasting my time with this; that’s pretty much it. Yes, yes, I know you’re six, and maybe this is a thing just sometimes happens when you’re six, but why is it even funny? I’m not even offended, actually; I just don’t even get it… And I think I vaguely recall being six and having other six year olds doing this and my not getting it then either…
I actually wonder why, a bit, come to think of it. Come to think of it, a very similar situation I can remember: I had a Québecois friend who used to think it would be funny to hassle his Anglo friend about his loyalty to the Queen or something (I think this was supposed to be the basis of the gags… Honestly, again, when you’re in that total null reaction space, sometimes it’s hard even to work out), and trying to explain to him, listen, the thing is, okay, but I’m really not particularly loyal to any queen. Off the old bat, for all I care; I’d really be pretty okay with that; she and her whole inbred, noisy lot are a sideshow at best and an annoying anachronism with overtones of an ugly old authoritarianism I wouldn’t miss in the least at worst…
Maybe the poo stuff is the same problem. It’s like it’s supposed to be breaking some taboo, but it’s really not that much of a taboo anymore. Yes, we all do excrete smelly things; we’ve noticed. We’re kinda over this, this being 2013, now. You think maybe you’re being shocking? You’re going to have work at little harder for shocking, in the current context, I’m afraid. Like, say, have you got anything that plays with the ‘logic’ of extraordinary rendition? For that, maybe I could give you some kind of meaningful appraisal.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:54 am
Esteleth
I have an envelope via snail-mail bookmarked for you, to be sent off hopefully by next week (sorry for delays). We’ve just had some immediate pressing distractions in the past week and a bit that sent my regular scheduling awry.
AJ Milne
Well, it does seem to be humour aimed at that particular age-group (eldest – 5 y.o. – is currently enjoying saying ‘poo’ as well). But it’s not particularly funny. It’s just… an exploration of all kinds of things, what he can/cannot say, testing reactions, societal pressures, etc. And yeah, I don’t get it either – why it is funny. I think it’s the risk, since he’s probably not allowed to say it in kindergarten, or gets a heated reaction to it (or his friends do). So he tries it at home to no effect at all… The less reaction, the shorter this phase will last, I suppose! But – To put that into a movie as a huge giant joke, well… Blase, at best.
I think it’s hard to see the funny in a joke if you have no investment (emotional or otherwise) in the joke’s premise on its own. I suppose if you think poo is gross and something worth a giggle in everyday life, Fat Bastard might make you laugh a lot in the Austin Powers context. *shrug* Don’t plan on watching the movies anytime soon, don’t particularly care!
Pteryxx:
January 8th, 2013 at 8:56 am
via BB again:
http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/african-sf-anthology.html
Ebook available here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00AEUH112/downandoutint-20
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:03 am
Pteryxx
Thank you for this book link and also the previous one (about Muslim SF)!
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Heh. German calendar with barely-dressed men posing with old cars as a mock-up of scantily clad women with cars. These are some of the photos. (Good for a giggle!)
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:30 am
*hee hoo hee hoo hee hoo*
I have been rushing to catch up with you folks for days now, and I’ve finally arrived! Breathless, but I’m here. Forgive the omni-comment, some of my responses of from comments long ago:
Ing
I watched a lot of Trek with my dad as a kid. (Not that my dad was a kid…you get it). This made me guffaw.
rq
HOORAY!!!!
:D
Champagne indeed! *goes to da googol to search transnational flights, comes away disappointed*
Matt Penfold
*drool* Raspberries are one of my favorite things.
Tony
…actually made my nose wrinkle up a bit just thinking about it.
All your other concoctions sound lovely though. I especially love sparkling juice : )
Beatrice
Best of luck, I hope it works out for you.
feralboy
So sorry about your health troubles. Hope it’s better soon.
Caine
Yikes! I broke both wrists when I was 11. Hope yours gives you some relief soon.
Glad Vasco is home. Poor little guy
JAL
So glad you are making moves towards dental intervention. Fingers crossed you can get it all taken care of asap.
FossilFishy
Wow. That’s such crap. Kudos to you and Mrs. Fishy for persevering.
athyco
Awesome!
rq
I am still trying to figure out a delicate way to determine if I’m paying my downstairs neighbor’s utilities along with my own…
`-`-`-`-`-`
Last week the heat went out on the old junker and it keeps overheating (Because of course it has to contradict itself). So it’s finally the kick in the ass I need to get up the nerve to apply for a car loan. Wish me luck!
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:35 am
And as I’m perusing car listings on craigslist, of *course* I find a 1980 Porsche in my pricerange. :D
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:42 am
Portia
If the champagne does not quench your thirst, I can get you a really expensive glass of tap-water. ;)
Good luck with the car loan! Will it be anything like this? (The car, I mean.) ;)
Also you have about 3 – 5 years for that transatlantic flight; there’s no use coming to visit until we have the guestroom all fixed up! :)
+++
Also, I realize I’ve been selfish and have forgotten to wish speedy health recoveries to all those ill or in pain!!! So, I now do so!
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:48 am
rq
Re: Porsche…*swoon* If only! That’s a shiny pretty thingy :)
Thanks for the well wishes. Somehow I’m inordinately nervous about such a relatively small loan about (I’m shooting for around $3000 USD).
And I’ll start saving for the flight now ;)
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Portia
Probably first-time nerves! :) I’m sure you’ll be fine!
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 9:55 am
Thanks rq. You always know just what to say : ) How’s your day going? Have you bitten your nails down to the quick yet?
Ogvorbis: failure:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:01 am
Don’t do it. Don’t do it. A thirty year old car, meant to be driven hard, will most likely be a huge money suck.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:04 am
Og,
Oh, no, I have no desire for the one I saw. I meant the one rq linked to. I am looking more at early aughts Aleros right now.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:04 am
Portia
No, not yet! But things have been more or less settled (see: my post to FossilFishy above), so now it’s just anticipating the actual signing of everything and settling of documentation (I think Friday for some signage (more champagne) and then the week after for other finalization (even more champagne!)). And then figuring out how to move all this stuff.
The taxes have been shelved while all of that finishes up, but that’s looking good, too. As long as I register a company in the Husband’s name. :P
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:06 am
So. Um.
Reading the “Matt Dillahunty” thread. Does jaksul ever get a clue?!
My brain hurts.
Matt Penfold:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:07 am
And parts for Porches (and other top-end cars) do not come cheap. I know someone who has just been quoted over £3000 to replace the engine management computer in their BMW. The labour will only be a couple of hours, it is the part itself that is costing so much.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Ok, found a reasonably priced Alero at a nearby dealership and applied for financing. Gonna swig some ginger ale since I have too much work to do to drink this early.
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:39 am
Random:
athyco,
Yay for your son’s good health… and the two of you not being forced to spend time in a car together every day ;)
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:45 am
That makes perfect sense, actually – the climate control heater uses heat from the engine to warm the air (though some cars, like mine, seem to have a supplementary electric heater). It sounds like a generalized problem with the cooling system – the heat isn’t getting efficiently from the engine to where it would be dissipated, including to the air flowing to the interior.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Ah, thanks for the explanation. I have a very generalized understanding of engines. SO spent three days last winter replacing the thermostat. He thinks it may have gone out again. He says it’s time for a new car if that’s the case, ha. Not that it hasn’t been time for a “new” car for a long time.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Ogvorbis:
I do not think you are a failure. The addition to your nym is simply not true. You are a caring, thoughtful, insightful human being and it pains me to see you so down on yourself.
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:53 am
rq,
I haven’t seen The Hobbit yet, but your review was interesting. I see some of my fears were proven correct. Meh, I’ll probably watch it eventually, but not in the cinema.
Ogvorbis: failure:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:55 am
Just the way I feel. I have failed at being a human being so many times in the past that it makes it hard to be one now.
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 10:58 am
Ogvorbis,
I agree with Tony.
*hugs*
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 10:58 am
Speaking of cars, I recently got a new battery and ever since, my car sputters and darn nearly shuts off when I come to a full stop. So annoying and bc I am broke, I cannot do anything about it.
numenaster:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:00 am
New topic! I just watched a video from 60 Minutes that was mostly about the Steve Kelly, the founder of Ideo, the design house that Steve Jobs used for a lot of Apple’s most influential products. The skeptical part is this: Jobs and Kelly were good friends, and Kelly came down with cancer while Jobs was being treated for his own. And Kelly said that as soon as he was diagnosed, Jobs called him to say don’t try any alternative medicine or herbs, go directly to western medicine. The interviewer asked why Kelly thought Jobs said that, and Kelly said Jobs thought he had made a mistake taking that route with his own treatment.
It’s at 8:45 in the video, here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50138327
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:03 am
*hugs* and US(cotch)B for Ogvorbis.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:08 am
Ogvorbis:
Even if I were to accept that you have failed multiple times in the past, those failures are not the sum total of who you are. They are a part, and they shape you, but the people around you-your family and friends-value you as a person. Do not let the failures of your past define who you are. Especially when you give no equal time to your successes. For instance, I have great respect for you. I have read your comments about how much you have changed…how you have grown. You recognized your privilege and the fact that you have subconscious biases. That you saw this within you and work every day to overcome those tendencies…that you speak up for the downtrodden…that you give voice to those who cannot…that you see the value of skepticism, science, logic and reason–
There is no doubt what a good person you are.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:13 am
Dating related-sorta-question-
Over the years, I have come across many profiles where people describe themselves as “down to earth”. I was talking with my roomie, E, the other day about this. What does “down to earth” actually mean? If you aren’t down to earth, what are you?
Thoughts?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 11:15 am
Ok can someone help me troubleshoot my outrage? Am I just being a knee jerk ideologue or is this
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=wisdom-from-psychopaths
As infuriatingly bullshit as I think?
I’m tempted to think so since we’re literally sliding into fiction http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=dexter-talks-psychopath-stress-mana-13-01-08
I hate HATE HATE Dexter as a show because of the “Romantic Sociopath” trope.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 11:16 am
It means practical. Thought at this point over exposure of it has probably rendered it a nonsense term
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:17 am
Tony: maybe people are trying to convey that they aren’t flakey? Or maybe that they are dependable? I’m not sure either, that’s a good question though. I haven’t thought about it before.
Matt Penfold:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:18 am
I’ve always thought of it as being the opposite of pretentious. But given no one is going to describe themselves as pretentious (even if they are), it is a description of a person better given by someone who knows the person, and not the person themselves. Used to describe yourself it is pretty useless.
Ogvorbis: failure:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:20 am
Agreed. For someone to describe him- or herself as ‘down to earth’ comes across as pretentious. Sort of self defeating.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:23 am
Esteleth,
Could you repost paypal account details? Small contribution will be forthcoming.
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:24 am
Side rant: I ordered something from Amazon.
They said it would be delivered on the 7th of January (i.e., yesterday). It did not arrive. So I went into the package-tracking page, and looked up my package.
Here is what it says: Expected date of delivery: January 7, 2013.
Then, below that, it says that as of right now (i.e. the 8th) it is on a delivery truck in my city.
Erm. Quantum packages?
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:25 am
Nick, the PayPal is through my nym at the google mail service.
(and thank you!)
Dhorvath, OM:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:26 am
Down to earth, as opposed to a dreamer with an eye on the sky or a snoot with their nose raised high. Oddly, most people think of themselves as down to earth regardless of how others might describe them, rendering the descripion basically meaningless.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:26 am
Matt @582:
Yes!
That is exactly what I was thinking.
chigau (無味ない):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:28 am
Ing
The SO is currently reading The Wisdom of Psychopaths.
He hasn’t condemned it, yet.
I’ll read it soon and offer an opinion.
Rev. BigDumbChimp:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:30 am
That’s what Brown can do for you!
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 11:32 am
@Chigau
From my take it seems like a lot of controversy baiting and humpty dumptying of words to make an argument fit the headline catching EXXXTREME psychology.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 11:34 am
I also strongly disagree with the premise that non-violent psychopaths are ‘beneficial’. That behavior in government and business, even if not being illegal is horrendously harmful and unethical.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:34 am
Tony
It means sensible, practical, no-nonsense, not prone to change, steady, reliable. At least, from my huge phase in horoscopology back in the late 90s, that’s what it meant back then. It’s a catch-all for ‘I am not a flake’ (as Ing mentioned) and ‘You can trust me because I’m not weird’. Something like that.
Ogvorbis
Is this the point where I say Stop that? You are not a failure. Exactly what Tony said at 577. The comments that I have read from you in other threads speak of someone exactly the opposite of how you seem to see yourself, and I am glad I have the chance to get to know (of) you here and elsewhere around FtB. *hugs* and have another bottle. Seriously, we have too much of the stuff.
Beatrice
I’m glad I was of service. The kids loved the movie, even though in parts I more or less decided we were mistaken in bringing them, because orcs, violence, and imcomprehensible adult-type archetypal story-lines with text. I was (still, vainly) hoping for a bunch of dwarves and a hobbit having an adventure. Ah well!
Ogvorbis: failure:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:35 am
I ordered a used copy of Gaining Ground: The Origin and Evolution of Tetrapods (Clack, 2012) through Amazon. On Monday, it was delivered. On Wednesday, I got an email saying it had been shipped.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:36 am
Yeah, DtE is used by people so often to describe themselves, it has lost any meaning
****
michaeld:
I was inspired by how you sat through Thunderf00t’s videos, so I decided to click on the FtB ad for ‘shocking 2013 horoscopes’. I am waiting for the email response to my free reading. No, I don’t believe in astrology. I’m just doing this for shits n giggles (need to find out where THAT phrase comes from).
Ogvorbis: failure:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:38 am
I see myself as a failure who is really good at pretending to be a good person. Or I do right now. The dreams are really getting me down. If they keep up for 3 or 4 more nights, it is professional help time. When I get a little down, my past failures become so fucking huge that they kind of overpower who I pretend to be.
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:39 am
!!!
I know why the package is doing this!
That package contains one of these!
Ducks are quantum. Everyone knows that.
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:41 am
Oggie, I am not being hyperbolic when I say that not only are you one of my favorite people, I see you as a very positive role model.
You are a good person.
Ogvorbis: failure:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:42 am
Esteleth:
That is cute.
Of course, I have only ever used bagged tea, so I have no use for it, but damn, that’s cute.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 11:45 am
A very suspiciously specific denial ;)
Ing: Most definitely not eating with chop sticks right now
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:46 am
Unrelated: can this be accurately described as “chutzpah”? Or just “asshattedness” and “entitled shits”?
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:47 am
I’d rather convey “You can trust me and I’m weird.” Just so there are no surprises.
michaeld:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:48 am
@ Tony
Awww people are sitting through stupidity because of me. ^.^
@caine/beatrice I think that’s who it was it might be my bad memory sorry if I missed someone
I liked the models posted here last night very good job.
@Ogvorbis
Tasty pastries, delicious beverages, cute animals and anything else that would make you feel better because you’re not a failure.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Gosh, my horoscope was so informative. It was spot on. She really knew me through my date of birth, sex, and name. /where my snark hat is?
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:50 am
Tony:
Did the psychic get the purple hippopotamus right at least?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 11:52 am
It can as of now accurately be described as a borked link
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 11:55 am
Oggie:
That would be a negative.
She spoke in such generalities, such that if I didn’t know better, I would think it was mass produced bulldoodoo that can apply to anyone.
But I do know better. I am the sharpest crayon!
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:58 am
Last night (or the other night (not sure right now)) I said something really stupid and Boy informed me that I was not the sharpest knife blade in the chandelier. Wife then pointed out that I was also not the brightest bulb in the knife drawer. So as long as you are not the sharpest crayon behind the radiator, all is good.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 8th, 2013 at 11:59 am
AJ Milne
I pretty much agree with this regarding the first movie. There never should have been any more, though. That style of comedy has a really hard time sustaining sequels.
Ogvorbis
You kick ass, dude. Seriously, you rock.
Hugs, congratulations, and sympathies all round, as appropriate.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
All:
Thanks for the self-esteem boost. I needed it. Right now, my self-esteem has less worth than a Suzuki Esteem.
dianne:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Ogvorbis, describing you as a “failure” would mean setting the bar to call someone a “success” high. Unrealistically high. Not met by 99.9% of the population high.
Matt Penfold:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Joining in the Pharyngula echo chamber. Ogvorbis, you ain’t a failure. You come across as an intelligent, caring, compassionate person. And I am beginning to realise, such people are not a common as I would like. Plus you are my goto person if I ever have a question about railways!
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Oh. Sorry. here.
chigau (無味ない):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:04 pm
“sharpest knife blade in the chandelier”
“brightest bulb in the knife drawer”
Uummm, Oggie.
There are a few things you and your family should know about household management.
This sort of thing is the thin edge of the slippery slope.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Esteleth:
So AIG was effectively bankrupt (shareholders are screwed totally). The US Government bailed out the company and helped it to become profitable again (shareholders benefit). So the shareholders (and possibly AIG) are suing the US Government because the cost of bailing out the company meant there was less profit during the bailout? Colour me gobsmacked (whatever colour that is).
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:12 pm
@Ogvorbis
It’s that good psychopathic fearlessness that we should all learn!
Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Yep!
Because they can, I think. And because they smell an opportunity for a payday.
(The fact that they would have almost certainly made less money had the company gone under seems to have eluded them).
Matt Penfold:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:14 pm
I suspect that the shareholders in questions are ones that bought shares once it became clear AIG might be in trouble and need a bail-out.
The UK had a similar problem with the shareholders of Northern Rock (a UK bank than went bust, so the UK Government took it over to prevent the banking system from collapsing). Some, who gambled on the UK Government taking over Northern Rock sued the Government. Sad to say the Government settled rather than go to court.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Failure to grok in fullness. Huh?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:16 pm
@Ogvorbis
I was talking earlier about “Wisdom of the Psychopath” which Scientific America is pushing HEAVILY lately. It’s thesis is that Psychopath (it uses a really really use sense of the term) posses a natural fearlessness and lack of shame that leads them to success and that the criminal ones are just one aspect and there are many businessmen and heroes that are psychopaths and that we would all benefit from learning their methods of dealing with stress and motivation.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Shermer wrote a positive review of the book (a libertarian idealizing sociopathy!? NO!?), which intrinsically biases me against it now.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Portia
I’m with you on that one (trust me and weird). On a slightly related note: At my and Husband’s wedding, my godmother (best ever!) got up to make a speech about me and my wonderfulness (don’t worry, that’s what weddings are for) and how I’ve always had a different way of thinking about things, and I see Husband’s family exchanging glances Yeah I knew she was weird!, until she got to the bit where my godmother said how she also knew that the Husband must have a different way of looking at things, otherwise he would not be becoming Husband-of-rq. Some wide eyes from Husband’s family – You mean to say he’s weird too? How dare you! Yeah, we had that kind of a wedding. ;)
Tony
*passes snark hat*
Now tell me more about the truthiness of that horoscope!
+++
*brings out Ogvorbis-boosting pom-poms and does a little dance*
Does that help, too? :)
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
ImaginesABeach:
Aye, me too. I have more photos, I need to get them up.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Ing
While it does sound like an interesting book to read for interest’s (not agreement’s) sake, Shermer endorsement is slightly off-putting – as is the idea that any kind of shameless action (by which I understand action that does not consider the consequences, even (especially?) those potentially affecting other people around you) being a positive sort of action. A reason for success, as it were. I do not believe that that is the way to go. While it might be true (ostensibly), I don’t think that it is a strategy that pays off in the long run.
And I have a hard time believing that all those psychopathic businessmen and heroes deal with stress in emotionally healthy ways.
I have no evidence to back up this opinion, which is why this is merely an opinion. :)
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
@rq
My view as well.
One critique of it I read brought up the quote “Do you ever feel sad? of course you’re human”
Plus it’s my stance that doubt is good. Doubt should be the breaks we put on our ambition that makes us stop and try to think whether what we’re doing is a good idea.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Oh and I apologize for being the reason jacksul will not leave. I have now told him I’m not interested in an apology, however, given how he seems to translate my words (when he manages to see them), I doubt it will get through. We’ll see, I suppose.
I did tell him Dawkins isn’t going about in tights and cape, maybe that will drive him away.
Matt Penfold:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
I have heard the suggestion that criminal psychopaths and successful business people share similar psychological traits. It if is true is has always struck me as an argument for being even more wary of successful business people.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
@Matt Penfold
That author seems to make a similar argument, though he seems to think this is beneficial for the world rather than proof we live in Orwell’s “jackboot history” nightmare
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Ing
Doubt is what lets you look at your automatic reactions and gauge whether you’re actually doing things right. Doubt is a very valuable asset, if used the right way. If we all functioned according to our first impulses, well, I think the world would be a very sorry place. Like you said – the brakes on our ambition to see if what we’re doing is a good idea.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Just based on observation and interaction with them, I advise caution. : p
rq
I love that wedding story! Good for your godmother. : ) Make ‘em squirm!
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Good Friend has agreed to accompany me so I don’t buy a lemon this afternoon. Woohoo! (Yeah, I’m performing femininity: I don’t know anything about cars and am taking along a man to help out my widdle lady brain. But I like to think I know the limits of my own skill sets :)
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Ing
Seriously? Beneficial? A world of psychopaths? Because psychopathic businessmen will improve the rest of society by trickle-down effect?
Or what?
Blah. Libertarians. I raspberry them.
Also probably why successful businessmen scare me. That’s a lot of entitlement in one ironed suit.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Headstrong drive without doubt also leads you towards bulldozing over people and ignoring better solutions that may arise as you work. Yes doubt can feel bad but if it’s over something like “will people die or be harmed?” we should have that. We should be MORE stressed over more important decisions…it’s the incentive to be careful. There are times we need quick and aggressive decision making, but TBH most of us in the developed world will not find ourselves in that many emergency situations.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Portia
Better that than buying it yourself and later driving a horrible Thing of a car with everyone laughing at you for being such a girl and picking the wrong car. ;) Good luck!
(Actually, I’d laugh at you for this if you knew everything about cars and still took a friend; then again, a second opinion, even for experts, is never a bad thing!)
Matt Penfold:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
Ing @633
Perhaps we should cultivate a few libertarians on special libertarian farms, as a way of assuring people of quick, thoughtless action in case of emergency… Although for which emergency exactly, I have no idea…
And here I thought thinking over important decisions was a good thing. That book seems to say that any extra thought on a topic is detrimental because success. But… Isn’t a skeptic supposed to think things through and not just rush through without judgment? And Shermer endorses this book?
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
now to be fair the book is seemingly (IMHO) using a very very lose term of psychopath to include a wider set of characteristics than most of us would consider. And it does that for a lot of other terms (for example it argues that Sociopaths are MORE empathetic rather than less because they’re better at seeing subtle emotional cues).
Now for most of us we wouldn’t consider that actually empathy as it’s missing the cruel concept of ‘giving a damn’ portion.
I think there might be some good points in the book but to me it feels so much like controversy bait combined with the “heroic sociopath” trope that it feels like it’s working backwards to justify it’s premise and gleeful in the naughtiness of it all.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Ing:
Got it.,
Portia:
If you have a mechanic who is trusted, pay the extra your mechanic to take a look at it. Or an independent mechanic.
Also, if the car ‘feels’ wrong, in other words, if if seems like a good deal but something you can’t quite put your finger on is a little off, don’t be afraid to walk away. The two times I have bought a car while overriding a ‘not right’ feeling, I have ended up putting far more into the car than it was worth in the first place. Even if you can’t verbalize what is wrong, don’t be afraid to just say, ‘I think I’ll keep shopping. Let me know if you get something else in that is in this price range.’
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
It’s not the extra thought, it’s the lack of shame. It lets you succeed by saying “damn the costs/risks!”
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Portia:
The unsolicited advice comes from experience. I used to sell cars. And was good at it (but I hated doing it).
Check on line (Kelly Bluebook has a free website) and find out what the car is actually worth retail. I routinely quoted prices 50% above actual retail value to customers so that when they talked me down to only 15% over retail value they felt like they had won.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Caine:
No need for apologies. I think I am done trying to get through to Nice Guy.
****
” An Indiana hospital has fired eight employees, including at least three veteran nurses, after they refused mandatory flu shots, stirring up controversy over which should come first: employee rights or patient safety. The hospital imposed mandatory vaccines, responding to rising concerns about the spread of influenza.”
http://news.yahoo.com/nurses-fired-refusing-flu-shot-224637902–abc-news-health.html
I wonder how this will pan out in court. The right to religious belief vs the health of hospital patients.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Advice gratefully received, Ogvorbis.
And I’m not just saying this out of gratitude, but I also think you are awesome.
Improbable Joe:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Fucking libertarians are active or aspiring psychopaths/sociopaths… and the Randian variety explicitly so. Ick.
Ignoring the human element in life might get you further, but only at the expense of other people. And if enough people do it, it eventually creates a toxic environment that is detrimental to everyone. Look at how many of the problems in the world really boil down to “if only a very few people were willing to settle for less than everything, there would be enough for everyone.”
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Tony:
Fuck religious belief. This is not like refusing to fill contraception scrips or refusing to do abortions on religious grounds (which are both fucking wrong anyway.) Exposing patients to influenza is a clear and present danger, the antithesis of what medical care is supposed to be about. If they aren’t willing to do their job, the hell with ‘em.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Aauuuuugh!
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
That is why I stopped selling cars and went into the Army (plan at that time was to work for State as an embassy code geek) as a step toward doing something more useful with my life than just grubbing after money.
cicely (Distressing Unto Eagles):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
athyco: Congrats on your freedom chauffeur-itude! And congrats to your son, as well.
-
Is jacksul back, then? Do I want to go and see? Decisions, decisions….
-
Portia: Good luck with the car loan.
-
Ogvorbis: What Tony said.
*hugs&kittens*
-
All tied up with String Theory!
:D
-
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Ogvorbis: I had a friend direct me to a more accurate version of Kelly Blue Book once. I can’t remember the name now. Do you have any idea of another site of that type?
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
tony
Patient safety, of course. Why the hell is this even a matter for discussion? If your beliefs endanger others, they fucking lose! That’s it, no questions, no discussion, no nothing; if you want to be a nurse, you get every goddamn vaccination there is, an if you don’t, you can go find a different fucking profession.
Joe(and others discussing the ‘benefits’ of sociopathy)
Psychopathic behaviour is really good for getting your way and getting a whole bunch of shit for yourself. The idea that people doing this benefits society in some fashion is an article of libertarian faith, which they’ve been insisting is not just true but obviously true for decades now. They have yet to provide any evidence for it though.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Holy crap. KBB.com says that the dealership is offering this car for less than half its value.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Thanks cicely!
Pteryxx:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
nah, jacksul’s not back since pleading for an explanation a handful of hours ago. As usual I’ve been far too polite and patient with this latest one. I’m following Caine’s lead … I’m done unless he shows some serious daylight; it’s not worth annoying everyone else by encouraging him.
Ing:Intellectual Terrorist "Starting Tonight, People will Whine":
January 8th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Part of the argument about the wisdom of sociopaths that bothers me is that it’s saying “well yes these people stomp over you…but if you were more like them you could reap the benefits to”, ignoring the obvious problem that no even if everyone was a sociopath there would still be the weakest sociopath who would get shafted.
athyco:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Oh, we had good times, and some of his coworkers got rides–but there was some teasing because theirs were not from mom, ya know? And his girlfriend thanked me about a month ago. He had this habit of unilaterally hitting pause or stop on the car radio/CD player when he had something to say. Now he reaches out, hand poised over the appropriate button until he receives a nod. At the beginning, I almost despaired of breaking him of the self-centered mindset, but he’s no jacksul. *does happy chair dance*
I’m a lurker just recently become active. Forgive my presumption. Once upon a time, Ogvorbis, I read “When will you know everything and never make any mistakes?” Doesn’t sound like much, but it put me on the floor sobbing–something I could not remember doing for years. It illuminated in my mind that not only at that moment would I have said “never,” but I would always before have said “never” while thinking “I *should* have known and I *shouldn’t* have made that mistake!” followed by “Everyone would say the same if they knew!”
No, they wouldn’t. You are not pretending to be. My thoughts are bent toward your success in banishing the dreams.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Portia:
edmunds.com seems to be right on. I just ran through four vehicles that I have a pretty good grasp of — and it seems accurate. Plus it give approximate trade in and retail values. Just make sure you click for used, rather than new. I’ve used edmunds in the past and it was within $500 every time.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:23 pm
There is also a vehicle history report available (I assume for a price). Which is always good to have.
Keep in mind though that if a repair was done through a smaller, non-chain shop, it may not show up on a vehicle history report (such as CarFaxx).
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
I think that’s exactly the one, thanks Og. (So much for useless knowledge :D )
It’s a bit lower than KBB, but looks like either way I’ll be getting a deal if this car isn’t a total piece of crap. And if it’s only partly a piece of crap, it’ll be a step up for me!
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Which religion doesn’t allow flu vaccinations?
__
I totally agree that the right to life that everyone in a hospital setting has, most especially those for whom the flu could be lethal, trumps any religious beliefs.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Be suspicious (not accusitive suspicious, but suspicious). If you feel comfortable with the sales person, ask about that. “Why is your asking price half of KBB?”
Also, did you check for options, mileage and condition when you were at KBB?
cicely (Distressing Unto Eagles):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
This.
-
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
Yes, I filled in those options on both websites. KBB “assumes” excellent condition if you saying you’re buying from a dealer. Which seems weird. That’s a great idea, to just ask why it’s going for so far under “value.” (What does value mean but what someone will pay?) I’m hoping that it’s just been on the lot for a while, and that’s why it’s lowered. Thanks so much for all your input, Og.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Mistakes I can handle. That’s normal. Its my failure, in the past, to be an actual human being that I have a problem with. (Yes, I know that I was young. Yes, I know that I was coerced. Yes, I understand my bodies pleasurable betrayal. And yes, I still think I failed at humanity.) But I am trying to be human. Or at least pretend I am.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
*hugs* I’ll repeat again that I think you’re great, just for good measure. I’m willing to keep telling you things your brain knows til your lizard brain stops shouting it down.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Ing
It’s more than that. The ways that sociopaths get ahead rely on taking advantage of the empathy of non-sociopaths. If everyone were a sociopath, it wouldn’t work anymore, because they’d all be expecting you to try to screw you over, and be trying to do it to you first, which rapidly renders cooperation impossible, and everything dissolves into an orgy of (literal) backstabbing. You can’t have a society of sociopaths; they simply can’t sustain it.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
That is a very real possibility. And if that is the answer, go for it (if it ‘feels’ good (and I wish I could come up with a better way of explaining that (talking about ‘feel’ just sounds so wooist))).
I just had a (microscopic) epiphany. I will go out of my way to help people when I can (helping people makes me feel good!). Maybe that is my way of shouting down my loud, annoying, negative lizard brain?
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I’m pretty good at trusting my “gut”, whatever that is. It does sound funny because there’s no evidence to back it up all the time, but if you’re losing nothing and hurting no one by trusting it, then it can be really helpful.
I like your theory. Helping other people when I can makes me feel good too. That happy feeling you get could be a great way of counteracting the emotional beating-up you give yourself. But, I should note, your worth does not fully depend on what you can do for other people. It’s also in your humor, your empathy, and your strong sense of right and wrong.
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Ogvorbis,
Really horrible people appear in comments on Pharyngula every day. And we don’t dehumanize them. I’m pretty sure you expressed dislike of dehumanizing assholes, no matter what kind of vile hateful bigotry they write.
Please, don’t dehumanize yourself. You are worth thousands of those assholes I mention above. Even if you weren’t I still wouldn’t want to read you call yourself names like that. You are human.. You reacted as a human boy confronted with horrible abuse. You are now reacting as a human man who lived through horrible abuse and is now trying to live with the memories, dreams and traumas. But thinking you fail(ed) as a human being has to go. I believe a lot of us sometimes think we fail as humans for far more benign reasons than you, but I’m afraid you are just hurting yourself further with this. So we’ll all just have to keep repeating to you that you are human and not only that, you are a great person.
Listen to the Horde. We tell The Truth.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Oggie:
Still disagree with the nym change. You want to see a failure as a human being? Go look in the slymepit. Not the mirror.
And nope, you aren’t pretending either. You are self aware, no? You can feel pain, no? You have all the qualities of personhood. So you are a human. You are a person. The empathy you show, the live you show, the capacity to recognize when you have done wrong and work to not make that mistake again, your ability to accept your less desirable traits, all the while striving to be bettdr, with each passing day–
I say again, you are a good person.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
But I enjoyed hurting someone else. That is the big stumbling block for me forgiving me.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
But you know, in reality, that you did not enjoy it. You know cognitively that your body betrayed you, and that you now feel guilt for it. Coping takes many forms, often unpleasant ones. You are not to blame for surviving a horrific experience.
You are not to blame for surviving a horrific experience.
You are not to blame for surviving a horrific experience.
You are not to blame for surviving a horrific experience.
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Portia:
Yeah. I did survive. Thanks.
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Ogvorbis,
You were a child who has been abused, coerced and forced into acting as a proxy for the real abuser. He was acting through you so that he could simultaneously hurt both you and that girl. It’s possible that making you feel guilty and thus less likely to report was also something your rapist considered when forcing you on that girl. Manipulation is part of the abuse.
You already acknowledged that your body’s reactions were not something you could help, but I wish you really believed that.
I could swear someone here linked to a page about men and women who orgasm during rape and how that just can’t be helped and it doesn’t make them any less unwilling and raped, but I don’t have it bookmarked (or just can’t find it in the mess that are my bookmarks).
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
Ogvorbis:
Yes, you did. That would not have happened if it weren’t for being hurt yourself, first, and finding yourself in a position of trying to cope with the trauma. What you did is not at all unusual, Og. It’s a fairly typical response and action.
I know it seems an immense obstacle. However, you stopped, didn’t you? You figured it out. As you said to me, you got the shit end of the stick. You realize that, so I think you can forgive yourself. Not easy, however, it can be done. I know, I had to do it myself.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Beatrice, it’s called body betrayal. It’s a terrible thing to deal with, male or female.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I’m sorry if I said something wrong, Ogvorbis.
Anklehugs?
Ogvorbis: Good at pretending?:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Beatrice:
I figured out the body betrayal about six or eight months ago. And, thinking about this now, I think that a possible reason I enjoyed abusing her was that I was not being abused. In a world of pain, absence of pain could be considered pleasure. That would certainly explain my, well, not eagerness, but something close. Damn. This is a day for looking at things from a different angle. Thanks.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Ogvorbis
deriving pleasure =/= enjoying
And isn’t failure a collection of mistakes? Which means – if every discrete part of that failure would be ok to deal with, how is the collection thereof somehow exempt from dealing with?
And everything Beatrice said (which is why Beatrice is on my list of Horde Heroes).
And if helping others is the way to kick yourself out of feeling worthless, go! But remember that you have worth besides that of helping others, that you yourself have a value, especially in those helpful little nuggets of information that may at times seem useless… But could prove valuable at some point in time.
And what Portia said:
And then what Tony said.
Yeah, I’m just jumping on the bandwagon right now.
Improbable Joe
re: libertarians as sociopaths
Yes. That is all.
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Portia:
No. No, no, no.
I never know when and where triggers will come from. The thing is, when I do get triggered, it usually means things will be all whahoonie-shaped for a week or two and then when I realize that particular chunk of depression has passed, I’ve actually advanced things in my brain.
I never thought that my willingness to abuse could be a way to avoid pain. Oh, shit, I am so sorry, but what choice did I really have? I didn’t do it willingly! and I never did it willingly! Oh, thank you all!
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Ogvorbis,
That makes a lot of sense.
If my fumbling attempts at help end up being more hurtful than helpful, just tell me to shut up.
(Or Caine or someone else who knows what they are talking about when it comes to topics like this should tell me to shut up)
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Ogvorbis:
You did not have a choice. You were not willing. You are a good person who had someone do terrible things to them. We love you, Og.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
I’m glad for you that you feel like you’re making progress making sense of things. Very very glad. Does that usually mean the nightmares let up for a while?
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Ogvorbis
Perhaps you could reclassify ‘enjoyed abusing her’ as ‘felt relieved I was not being abused’?
Anyway I’m here good for some hugs and scotch, but I’ll watch the rest of this moment from the sidelines.
Oh and Tony I don’t know how the Jehovah’s Witnesses are about vaccines, but I know they don’t allow vaccinations. And Muslims during Ramadan won’t get vaccinated (at least, not while the sun is up! :P).
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Beatrice:
There is no need for you to shut up, you’re doing fine. You do need to stop this shit, though. NOW. You are a good person who deal with others just fine. You are compassionate and empathetic and there is nothing at all wrong with how you express yourself. We love you too.
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Caine, ok.
Yeah, ♥ everyone here.
opposablethumbs:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
What many above have said, Ogvorbis. You were coerced as a child into doing something horrible – and the key word there is coerced. As a child, by a physically and psychologically powerful adult. You are not a failure at all or a horrible person now, in fact I think you’re a hell of a lot better person than most and I’d rather have you around than any number of people I’ve met (not to mention some I’m related to) (still less to mention people like the denizens of the slymepit; seriously, that’s what I call a failure at being human – slymepitters or Donald Trump; people who knowingly and willingly, as relatively powerful adults, set out to harm others).
.
Hey, FossilFishy! Great news on the house – and rq great house news also! (eh, those dimensions you mentioned for three Fishies? Slightly smaller here, four of us, and no wide open spaces either – inner city – and yes to everything you said about being lucky. Sure I’d love more space, but I know we are incredibly lucky! :-) )
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
I did have a choice, but that choice was a magicians choice — either way I lost. I could hurt or be hurt. I took the choice that preserved me. So I had a choice and it was a choice between two horrible things.
I’m in tears right now but i”m smiling. This actually makes sense.
It does. Usually, the nightmares have been flashes of things not remembered. Triggers with flashbacks of memory in the day, nightmares at night, as the memories escape whatever hole I had put them in for self-preservation. The latest thing I remember was another man who would come up from Flagstaff. I wasn’t his favourite, so it didn’t affect me as much, but he was still someone I had forgotten. The dreams usually fade after a week or two. Until the next memory wants to surface.
I think I’m in good shape right now. That voice in the back of my head is really, really quiet. I’m sure it’ll be back, but it’s getting easier and easier to ignore.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Wonderful, wonderful news. I’m so glad.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Ogvorbis
Magician’s choice is not a real choice for anyone not a magician, which is, like, all of us.
I love you, too.
And I love you, too, Beatrice.
And like everyone else here.
Thanks, opposablethumbs. :) Champagne? Or did you get your share yesterday? ;)
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
ogvorbis
Yup. That’s what folks have been trying to tell you here. I came here to add my voice to theirs. This is one of the really ugly things about the whole meme of ‘free will’ as it exists now. People get convinced that they should have simply exercised their ‘free will’ in a situation where none of the choices were good to somehow make up a new choice. You were trapped in a place where there were no good choices to make, only a choice between horrors, and maybe not even that; just the choice to acquiesce in hopes of reducing the pain, or hurting even more until you did. That’s no choice at all, and even an adult in such a situation can’t really be blamed for what they do in it, let alone a child.
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
I know! That’s why I’m crying and smiling.
carlie:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
I ♥ Ogvorbis.
That is all.
Improbable Joe:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Oggie my friend, from what I understand about the history of your abuse… there were things that were done TO you and then things that were done THROUGH you. In neither case are you responsible or guilty of any wrongdoing, and you weren’t and aren’t a bad person. Everyone who knows you even a little bit knows that you’re full of love and empathy and compassion for other people. Maybe you can find it in your heart to extend those things to the little kid that you used to be? That kid deserves it, and so does the adult that the child grew into.
cicely (Distressing Unto Eagles):
January 8th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
I would be surprised if something along these same lines isn’t involved in why otherwise-decent people sometimes fall willingly, even eagerly, into becoming accessories to genocide-level atrocities; “See, I’m helping you! Don’t hurt me!”
And maybe it bundles naturally and well with Stockholm Syndrome.
-
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Ogvorbis
See Improbable Joe above.
Can I invite everyone for a group hug*? Or is that too much for the [Lounge]?
*Participation optional, of course, for those who aren’t into that sort of thing.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
*queues up for rq’s group hug*
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
The “Don’t Be That Guy” Campaign. We need this everywhere, stat. People need to be soaking in this message.
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
One of the reasons I look at myself as a failure as a human being was that I could not understand how I could have made that choice — the choice to hurt someone else. Looking at it as a magician’s choice, though, means that choice was not even mine to make. I didn’t make that decision. Which means that beating myself up for making that decision is contraindicated.
Thanks for listening and prodding and yelling. Really. I mean that.
athyco:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Yay, group hug!
Do you mind, Ogvorbis, that I’m happy that Beatrice got you to cry/smile?
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
NO. Why the fuck would I mind?
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
You really didn’t have a choice, Ogvorbis. We all avoid physical and psychic pain, especially when we’re children. When the pain is such that you’ll do anything to avoid it, that’s not much of choice, is it? An adult might be able to think this through and decide to take on abuse and pain to spare another, but that’s asking a hell of a lot from a child.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
This seems like a humongous breakthrough from where I’m sitting and I’m super happy to have been here while it happened, Og. :D
Dalillama, Schmott Guy:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Group hugs are good.
cicely
Robert Anton Wilson described something the called the SNAFU principle, explaining why situation normal is all fucked up. He held that in hierarchical organizations, where superiors can punish those below them (be it through firing or firing squad), people will tell those above them in the hierarchy whatever they think will result in them not getting punished. Thus, as information goes up the hierarchy, it becomes more and more slanted, until the people at the top are making decisions based on complete delusion, which decisions look totally insane to those at the bottom. The relevant part of this to your comment occurs when you work for a group whose job is to ferret out Communists/Jews/counter-revolutionaries/witches/whatever; the person at the top believes that this is a big threat, and everyone below them is feeding them info slanted to support that belief (because they don’t want to be punished). So, the higher ups know that the country is infested with undesirables, who are up to all kinds of nastiness. So, if you’re a low level agent, you had better identify a lot of them, because otherwise people might start to think that you’re one of them…
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Considering perhaps that Og would cause less harm to the other child than the adult would cause to Ogvorbis, there’s a situation in which it could have been the utilitarian option. Least harm overall. Especially if the other child would have been hurt regardless.
Improbable Joe:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
*big hugs all around*
Beatrice:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
*joins group hug*
I’m happy for you, Ogvorbis.
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Considering that I was about ten and she was four or five, what I did hurt her less than when it was done by one of the adults. Which really doesn’t matter all that much. I didn’t make the (non) decision to save Su (I remember her name, whoshi is, oh, I’m so sorry.
Tears flowing. Sorry.
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
*hugs* Ogvorbis.
athyco:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
I’m sorry, Ogvorbis. Was I leaning too flippant too soon?
Cry/smile is good; it’s lancing a boil.
Ogvorbis:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Has anyone ever had a nervous breakdown in the middle of a thread before? Well, actually, whatever the opposite of a nervous breakdown is?
I need to take some time out. Talk to you tomorrow.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
See you tomorrow, Og.
Improbable Joe:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Be well and take care Og.
cicely (Distressing Unto Eagles):
January 8th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I’m in! *hugs*
:)
-
Dalillama: That would also lend itself well to “confirmation” of the biases of the people at the top of the organisation.
-
Take whatever time you need!
*extrahugs*
:)
-
ednaz:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Many hugs and much love for Ogvorbis.
ednaz:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
I can join group hug? : )
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
Take care, Og.
carlie:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
We need one gigantic fluffy platform with loads of down comforters and pillows so there can be a big giant pile of cozy snuggles and hug space.
cicely (Distressing Unto Eagles):
January 8th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
ednaz: Of course.
:)
-
feralboy12:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
I’m certainly up for a group hug, having just fixed my wifi problem this morning. I haz internetz!
As far as I can tell, the driver was disabled, for no reason I can think of. Seems to be how it was set at the factory. I would have thought the troubleshoot program would have figured that out, but no.
Anyway, once again I can sit in my room, fool around on the internet and watch hours & days go by while my life turns further to shit. Yay!
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:27 pm
feralboy12:
YAY! for internetz access.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Oggie:
It sounds like you made a breakthrough. Awesome.
Though you are offline now, I am joining in the hugs in your honor.
Also, am I misremembering, or were you unable to remember her name? And it seems now you can?
I hope you are able to forgive yourself and begin healing.
Giliell, professional cynic:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Hi folks
I just want a group hug, can I have?
I started constructing a comment in my head.
It didn’t have a good thing in it.
So I didn’t waste my time.
Off to take a shower.
JAL: Snark, Sarcasm & Bitterness:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Drat. I saved it as draft instead of sent. *grumble* Stupid Google changes. I’ll send it now, it’s just me asking for the money so I can go to the dentist.
—–
—–
Ogvorbis, I’m sorry for what you went though. I know I’m late to the conversation but I agree with everyone else here and am SO glad we could help feel better. *hugs* if you want them.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 3:56 pm
Tony:
Yes. It was another splinter of guilt, not being able to remember. Now he does.
Pteryxx:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
*queues up to fluffyhug all the ankles*
Congratz, Ogvorbis. I’m so glad you finally remembered her name after how the not knowing has plagued you.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Ogvorbis
I’m so terribly happy for you, big group hugs, and all that – and I’m glad you remember her name now, because I know that will be a smidgeon of relief to you. And… and… and… Talk to you tomorrow, hopefully!
I feel like the Horde has done a magical, wonderful thing here tonight (from my end). This is what I signed up for.
+++
I want a teensy bit of that group hug for myself, too. I think my dad’s about to deliver some bad news on the (return of) cancer. :/
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Oh rq, lots of hugs for you. What makes you think so?
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 8th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Ogvorbis
*BIGHUGS*
dianne:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Hugs all around!
Something bothering me: Og and other decent people like him take the blame for things that they couldn’t help while the real abusers probably never feel a second’s guilt. What is wrong with society that the people incapable of guilt and regret at harming others always seem to come out on top?
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
Portia
Just the email he said that a bunch of news is imminent and that he has to go for another biopsy. He never talks about medical details unless they’re to the negative. It took him forever to tell the (immediate) family about his leukemia, and the only reason he did was because I’d vaguely remembered mum mentioning something about something blood leukocyte levels something, and we were looking into the feasibility of storing stem cells for possible future use and such and I asked for more info. And then he told the rest of the siblings, even though it had been going on for years. So the fact that he’s mentioning that some of his indicators aren’t too good and he has to go in for a biopsy, well… It’s a bit of an indicator in and of itself (and the fact that he recently had a growth removed from his vocal chords – not sure if that was ever checked or just removed).
(We never did the stem cells, either, because after looking into it and talking to a few people I know, it seemed like a bit of a scam for money. I don’t doubt the usefulness of stem cells; I doubt the conditions allowing for an appropriate-for-storage stem cell sample to be taken be a random nurse in the delivery room.)
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
dianne
It’s just wrong with the values society seems to hold dear… Because I can’t for the life of me understand it, either.
(I think also something to do with the glorification of the psychopathic characteristics in materially successful people mentioned above…)
Portia, sporty and glam, pelted with pastries:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
I have to run to the car dealership, but I really hope you’re not right about your dad. : ( Sounds like you know his tells pretty well though. Lots of hugs either way, and take care.
MikeG:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
This place is amazing. This afternoon was amazing with extra gravy.
Hogs to Ogvorbis, Gilliel, rq and everyone else who needs/wants them.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Dianne:
I can’t speak for anyone else, but in my case, it was cold inculcation, that it was all me. Every single bit of abuse, from being locked up to being raped for 6 years, was my fault.
As for how they don’t feel guilt? Some do. Some don’t. As for “coming out on top”, well, we can look to societal and cultural attitudes for all that. Women have been considered to be property, sub-human property, for a very long time. The same applies to children. Deep rooted attitudes tend to dismiss what people do with their own property.
Look at cases where a woman is a child abuser, rapist or murderer. There’s still a reluctance on the part of authorities, juries and everyone else to believe a woman is capable of such acts. Deep roots.
MikeG:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Hugs to all above, not hogs.
Hogs to Rev. BDC. I think he would know what to do with them.
rq:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Thanks, Portia, MikeG.
In other random news, I think by tomorrow (I’ll give it to the end of the week) I may have the Pharyngula Commune information (with the absolutely irreplaceable help of Portia and Socio-gen) up and postable. Who do I contact to have it added to the Pharyngula wiki (or how to do it myself)?
Also, I’d like to post it for those interested to look over, and for anyone not on the list to be able to be added/add themselves.
Going through the commune thread, I have to say – this is one well-rounded, talented bunch that will definitely not be zombie fodder, come whatever apocalypse or high water.
It would be great, though, to get a list of all known languages in the information.
I know it was all just for laughs, but in a sense it’s a great collection of what we, as a group, know. A reminder of our various and interesting talents and abilities and collected knowledge. Sort of a light-hearted piece of self-affirmation for those times when we may be feeling a bit down – we can look at this document (two, actually) and say, Hey, at least the zombies won’t get us!
Alethea H. "Crocoduck" Kuiper-Belt:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
I very much enjoyed the first Austin Powers movie, as a Bond spoof. So many genre-skewering gags. I agree they got worse, and I hated the Fat Bastard.
Big *hugs* to Og Vorbis. You are most definitely not a failure. Maybe “struggling”, if you must acknowledge your problems in your nym. I’m not good at the praise and encouragement thing, but I always appreciate your posts and you come across to me as a compassionate, thoughtful and intelligent person. And, you know, if you really were a bad person then this would not hurt you so much as it does. What would you care about having (been used to) hurt another person? But you *do* care, so there you are, not so evil after all. QED.
Oddly, your posts make me see the point of the sociopath article better. Yeah, I agree that it’s being stupidly overhyped and is annoying, but there is one underlying point. If depression is “malignant sadness” (a book title) then sociopathy might be “malignant confidence”? Too much of a good thing becomes a cancer. Seems like our Oggy could use some more of it, even though a fuckload of people out there need a fuckload less of it.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Some combination of pretentious, ambitious, and circumspect, I suppose?
I had that problem with the company-owned car I was driving for a while and it turned out to be the fuel pump. Which I was pretty damn sure it was, but the generally honest mechanics I had come to depend on couldn’t find anything wrong via engine diagnostics, which seems to have become their “when all you have is a hammer” at some point in the past. My coworker, to whom the car was eventually sold, was able to fix it himself. I’d check and tighten all the accessible battery leads, though, and check for corrosion around them.
MikeG:
January 8th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Tony,
Could it be a bad connection on the battery? I had that happen on the motorcycle. I don’t know enough about car electrical systems to know if that’ll matter.
Markita Lynda—threadrupt:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:09 pm
News flash! A giant squid has been filmed, live and unharmed, by researchers “using lights invisible to squid, bioluminescent lures, and “secret squid attractants.” This will be on the Discovery Channel’s new series “Monster Squid,” which starts January 27th. The article cleverly did not say if the giant squid will be on the first episode or saved for later. There’s a preview here, which shows their first glimpse of the squid. You’ll like it.
Nick Gotts (formerly KG):
January 8th, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Because I’m currently* working part-time in a secondhand-bookshop-cum-restaurant-cum-internet-cafe, I am able to explain this. Every evening, the bookshop catalogue is uploaded to Amazon, and a couple of other online retailers. If someone buys one of our books through Amazon, they email us with the buyer’s address, I post it to the buyer, then tell Amazon I’ve done so. Two separate operations – so if the second gets left undone for a while, the book can arrive before Amazon even know it’s been posted.
*Not for long – minimum wage is not enough to compensate for the time, stress and disruption when you don’t absolutely need the money.
mildlymagnificent:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Esteleth
I know this is a coupla hundred posts ago – but I had to sleep ‘n’ stuff. What do you find strains credulity? Starting the NHS or life in the slums or how the midwives lived? I won’t ask any more ‘cos I don’t know where you’re up to so I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Pteryxx:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
More good news – Chris Kluwe (the football player who took down an anti-gay bigot with cusses like ‘beautifully unique sparklepony’) will be on Colbert tonight, and he’s given an interview to MoJo:
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/01/chris-kluwe-nfl-vikings-gay-marriage-interview-colbert
cicely (ummm...Digressing Onto Beagles?):
January 8th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
rq, take as many *hugs* as you need. Here’s hoping that the news is less grim than you fear.
-
Why, dianne—once Jesus Has Forgiven Them, it’s all water under the bridge, and they have a societally-approved excuse not to feel guilt for their abuses. Clearly, the Real Problem is that Og doesn’t believe in Jesus. If only he would believe…then, fault or no fault, red-handed or undiscovered, it would all be washed away.
</snark>
-
Speak for yourself! The zombies will have me and my tasssty brainzzz on a silver platter faster than you can say “serious structural flaws”.
-
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Nick:
Huh. I don’t deal with Amazon, I use B&N and I never get fucked up notices. It’s always the receipt and expected ship date first, then ‘we’ve shipped x’ notice.
mildlymagnificent:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Oggie
Take care of yourself.
Take care of that little boy you’re still carrying with you. Treat him as a kind adult should have done way back then.
birgerjohansson:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
When I read this book I was reminded of the Tea Party:
Excerpt from “Sensation” by Nick Mamatas on the topic of “penis panic”
— — — — — — — —
Raymond: “Ever heard of penis panic?”
Smith: “Let’s pretend I have not, professor. Enlighten me.”
Raymond: “It’s a culturally bound mental disorder, a psychosis.
Common… well not common, but present in Southeast Asia and Africa. Men believe thast their penises are shrinking, melting or retracting back into their abdomens due to a curse, or, in some cases, propaganda enemies. cell phones, Zionists, chemical warfare. It’s a social disorder, too. Once a man decides that his penis is withering thanks to a sorceress or Israel, he cannot help but complain about it. Then other men start thinking that their penises are shrinking too. Hysteria breaks out. They get together in the streets, these men, and go on rampages, smashing store windows, running through marketplaces, attacking elderly women. It starts local but becomes regional. Sometimes thousands of men fly into penis panics over the course of a few weeks, especially if the local media picks up the story.”
“Anyway, patriarchal, phallocentric, hierarchal, shame-based societies all the ingredients are there. The penis is infused with immense personal and social power. Men at or near the bottom of the hierarchy are especially anxious because there are no social safety nets, and there is immense pressure to succeed and substantial entrenched corruption that keeps them at the bottom of the heap.”
Improbable Joe:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
rq:
Commune files? Make a note that I’m currently unarmed as far as firearms are concerned… I still have knives and a really large sword. I may secure another firearm at some point, but at the moment I feel pretty safe and zombie-free. :)
WMDKitty (Always growing and learning):
January 8th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
*snuggles into the group hug*
carlie:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
I can do you one better – I’ve discovered Korean drama. Lard help me is right. I mainlined 17 episodes of “I Miss You” this weekend.
Very sound advice. I don’t know if you have the opportunity to do so, but back when I was going through some crap related to interpreting things that happened when I was young, I coincidentally came down with an illness that left me completely fatigued and sleeping most of the time for about 4 days. However, during that time I was able to work through a whole lot of said crap, because I was lying in bed doing absolutely nothing else. If you have any chance to just take a day or two off and do nothing but be alone with your thoughts, might that do some good? Disclaimer: I know nothing of psychology.
rq, I’m holding my breath for you too.
birgerjohansson:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Ing
“I hate HATE HATE Dexter as a show because of the “Romantic Sociopath” trope.”
Antway, sociopaths and the other kind, narcissistic something, would not have the level of introspection and awareness of his flaws that Dexter exhibits. Dexter is a sick puppy but not a realistic psychopath.
And vigilantes should not be seen as romantic. The only vigilantes I can feel a trace of symphaty for are the ones in South Africa, dirt poor people stuck in slums and without effective support by the police they have very few choices other than try chasing off the gangs on their own.
Pteryxx:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
for all with an interest in (laughing at) science: #overlyhonestmethods
http://io9.com/5974256/overlyhonestmethods-is-the-postsecret-of-the-science-world-and-it-is-amazing
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Birger:
That’s why the Dexter character’s “introspection” comes from outside, from his “father”.
strange gods before me ॐ:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Problem with this interpretation:
koro happens to women too, who believe that their vulva or nipples are receding into their bodies.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Thevonly kind of penis panic I ever have is when I don’t have an additional one-attached to a cute guy-to ‘color’ with.
strange gods before me ॐ:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Whenever I look up koro, I always accidentally look up kuru first.
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 6:33 pm
Blue font? I thought only PZ got cool colors.
Caine, Fleur du mal +:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Tony, it’s a link. Links are always coloured differently.
opposablethumbs:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Ogvorbis, I hope you sleep well and that if you dream your dreams are good ones. You must be shattered. (UK shattered, that is – not sure if it translates the same). I’m really hoping this turns out to have been a positive day for you – and have another bit of that group hug {{hugs Horde}}
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rq, {{more group hug}} to you too. Tentacles crossed that your father’s news is not too bad.
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Commune files, yay!
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Good night Horde {{hugs Horde a bit more}}
Tony the Queer Shoop (proud supporter of Radical Feminism):
January 8th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Doh! Brain fart.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
Hmm. I need to take a full swig before I decide, but I may have increased the number of IPAs I can stand to 3. O.o (All of them are “Black IPAs” though, and I don’t really LIKE any of them all that much.)
Markita Lynda—threadrupt:
January 8th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Ogvorbis, you’re one of my favourite people on Pharyngula. I always look for your posts. And please, forgive yourself. If necessary, try reverse psychology: “Yes, I should have known better. Even though I was only six and overwhelmed…” With any luck, your inner voice will start yelling, “Bullshit!” *sending some love*
Improbable Joe:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Azkyroth,
Sam Adams just launched an “IPL” called “Double Agent” that you might find interesting.
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
I’ll take a look.
Just realized; Dubhe tastes vaguely like stilton O.o
(I swear it was labeled on the shelf as “Imperial Black Ale,” and I was mildly distressed at noticing the “IPA” label when I got home with it. x.x)
Azkyroth, Former Growing Toaster Oven:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:14 pm
Although, I buy from Sam Adams sporadically. I realized recently that I reflexively think less of a brewery if it makes a “light beer,” and I’m not sure why. O.o
PZ Myers:
January 8th, 2013 at 7:29 pm
NEW THREAD.