This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly.
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
Pharyngula
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.
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
Kitty!
That is all.
{chases kitty}
{cleans up after kitty}
Hey! I don’t remember giving permission for this photo to be used! Gods, look at my hair. Super bedhead. :(
OK PZ been meaning to ask for ages, what ever happened to the Morris Chimes? Last we all heard you were infirectly accused of taking a hatchet to the wires. Are they up and running again? Still amusing to Google Ted Storck and your jerkwad post comes up first.
[Congratulates kitty on a successful colonisation]
No lasers today.
Hello, all. Hugs to rq and Ogvorbis and anyone else who wants them.
I had a very nice Halloween, with family, and got to see some children in original, home-made costumes; so that was nice. I hope everyone else had a good time, too.
Attencion, polyamorous folk!
I have a university classmate who is studying couples therapy, and is doing research into polyamory (and thus how would couples therapy work in that context). Is there anyone willing to offer their personal experiences? If yes, please email me at: eye zed ay enn dee ay at google’s mail service.
I may or may not have an internet survey link from her later, for those not comfortable with email contact.
Cross-posting to the T-dome.
And by “personal experiences” I mean not in couples-type therapy, but in polyamorous relationships as such.
Apparently my cats really, really like it when I’m sprawled out on the couch, coughing and blowing my nose. If they were alley cats, I’d suspect biological warfare.
http://www.wired.com/2014/10/astrophysics-interstellar-black-hole/
Great story, with great visuals in Wired. Hollywood has lots of money to throw at terabytes of data processing so physicists came up with more detailed and more accurate representations of black holes.
In reference to my comment #12, scroll down to watch the video that includes an interview that focuses mainly on Kip Thorne. That’s the best part.
It’s because yer scaring the mice, rats (not the 40 foot killer type, obviously), spiders, whales, slime-molds, something unidentifiable that might be one of The Elder Ones, and some cheese (obviously not Horace). They are all huddling in a paralyzed quavering mass of fright at the opposite end of the house, and hence are easy pickings for hungry trebuchet ammos.
Uh, no. I assume that is meant metaphorically, but… As others have presumably pointed out, too much rain in too short a time is a really really bad idea: The ground can’t absorb it all that quickly, so it spills into the (probably already) overflowing creeks and streams and rivers, causing additional flooding, and then is often washed out to the sea. In the process, there is a significant amount of erosion, very probably some (possibly quite large) mudslides, and the water flooding into the streams, etc., is laden with silt and mud (and, unfortunately, various containments, some toxic). Sewage facilities overflow, never a good thing, and… Well, shall I go on? Yes, California needs LOTS of water, but not all at once.
(I used to live in second-growth redwoods area next-ish to a deep crevice with a stream at the bottom. High winds and deluges were always a bit worrisome, since branches, or on rare occasions, entire trees, were known to come down (I have distinct memories of the road being blocked in several places only 100 metres from the house), and there was an obvious potential for a mudslide (albeit none ever happened in the immediate area, as far as I now recall). So I’m a bit touchy about the subject…)
Baloney! I would NEVER hurl a kitty! Small yappy dogs, on the other hand….
Cheese.
Or MUSHROOMS! — and moar cheese.
I could have used the help a few minutes ago. Although I’m unsure who was louder, the small yappy dog or large long pig it had on a lease who who was yelling at the it(the yappy dog) to shut up.
In the morridor (mormon corridor that stretches from northern Mexico, through Arizona, Utah, and Idaho to southern Canada — some parts of Nevada, California, Wyoming, and Montana are also included, but the mormon influence is more scattered there), we are still seeing a lot of fallout from LDS leaders finally publishing essays that acknowledge notorious Moments of Mormon Madness, namely when Joseph Smith pressured girls as young as 14 to marry him.
LDS leaders made the essays hard to find on their official site (you have to search for the exact titles), but they are there. True believing mormons are reading about Smith’s pressure tactics, the responses from the girls and women he targeted, and how Smith hid his polygamous lifestyle for years.
Some TBMs are trying to fit what is to them new information into their belief system, and they are worried.
Salt Lake Tribune link.
Some of the mormon reader response to the Salt Lake Tribune article revolves around excusing Joseph Smith’s actions because it was common for men to marry 14 year old girls at that time. It was not. Statistics from the era do not support this claim. The average for women at the time was 22.
Another excuse is that it was not against the law to marry a 14 year old girl. Maybe not, but polygamy was against the law. The manner in which Smith groomed and pressured Helen Mar Kimball was wrong from start to finish.
Most of the mormon readers brush aside the issue of Joseph Smith sending his male peers away on missions so that he could have a spiritual union with their already-married wives.
More on the role of women in the mormon church, from the New York Times.
Excerpt below:
When babies are blessed in a church ceremony, the mother is not allowed to hold the child because she is not a member of the priesthood.
This kind of shit goes on at every level of the mormon cult.
PZ is posting pictures of his kitty!
I love it!
What is the state of Horde signal for Dalillama?
PZ in a few years, as he absorbs the habits of his overlord.
PZ’s kitty looks like a minion of The Evil.
More comments from readers of the Salt Lake Tribune article about mormon leaders making some kind of effort to square church history with the facts (link in #19):
A mormon comments on the Salt Lake Tribune article:
[head, meet desk repeatedly]
The LDS church is still going after the Salt Lake Tribune:
My worry is that LDS leaders will continue to look for ways to hobble the Salt Lake Tribune financially, trying to choke it out of existence. As one ex-mormon put it:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/1767809-155/tribune-news-church-percent-lds-utah
PZ, how can a guy as smart and knowledgeable as you not realize that abusing religious folks is counter productive. I know your audience is mostly atheist students, but sometimes you have something really good to say about religion and I would like to share it with my religious friends, only to be prevented because you have some totally unnecessary insults mixed in.
Doofuses with anti-federal-government agendas are escalating their war in the western United States against Forest Service and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) officials.
This is the Cliven Bundy-like contingent of armed dunderheads who sometimes take potshots at federal workers who may be cleaning campsites, repairing trails, etc. on federal land.
Salt Lake Tribune link.
I can’t believe I just watched an anti-abortion episode of Doctor Who.
This is a controversial statement, and this line of posts should be taken to the Thunderdome. Your post wasn’t nice and polite.
Beatrice
Ongoing. Portia is collecting, for those who haven’t got my info. We’re still coming up short on the rent ~$100, and my third workday this weekend got canceled as, as I discovered this morning.
Beatrice
I haven’t watched the latest season of Doctor Who yet…. but I’m not looking forward to it as much as I was after hearing that. :(
I’ve also heard some say they don’t like the newest Doctor because he’s very paternalistic. Have you noticed that as well?
Heh heh, I am an atheist student! I did not know! Woo!
Also, mansplainin caught in photo, for a lovely visual.
Dalillama,
If you have paypal, I can send directly. What’s your email?
toska,
It looks like it’s controversial whether this was pro-choice or pro-life. Not to spoil too much, but I saw it as “pro-choice” with the (not so subtle) I know you’ll make the right choice… and we know what that is.
Yes, he’s terribly paternalistic, but that gets challenged. I like him much better than Eleven. I came to hate that guy by the end.
toska @32:
Oh GODS YES. I don’t think it’s Capaldi’s fault. And Moffatt’s now more or less openly trolling feminists in the show. And the science has gone downhill since the gravity well incident (i.e., for the uninitiated, the gravity well was a power source, somehow, and consisted of…a big hole in the ground). Viz., “oh no, the moon suddenly added a billion tons overnight! We must destroy it with nuclear weapons!” And there are still no women writing for the show, ever, in the Moffatt era. I think there has been one ep written by a woman in the last four seasons.
Moffatt leaving the show cannot happen soon enough. I want my science fantasy show back, and not this reactionary fairy-tale worshipping crap by a guy with WAY TOO MANY WEIRD HANGUPS (e.g., robots with turny heads that say inane but threatening things, and huge mouthfuls of impossible dentition, and middle-aged women in suits with catseye glasses, and and and…). Ugh.
Beatrice, I think for me the moment I realised he was trolling us was when he literally had two women characters sitting together and saying, “Well, here we are, and all we can think of to do is talk about a man,” like that was a ridiculous criticism. Just so sick of his reactionary shit, it’s such an awful comedown after RTD’s inclusiveness (flawed though it was in other ways).
Anyone remember whether there have been any other gay characters in Moffatt’s time beyond the two in Good Man Goes to War (who didn’t even get NAMES, they were such a joke; they were literally called the Fat One and the Thin One, strongly implying they were the only gay people on the base – in the 51st century!) and the fanboi porn-version of lesbians that Vashta and Jenny have become?
“This is a controversial statement, and this line of posts should be taken to the Thunderdome. Your post wasn’t nice and polite.”
Sorry, I think I have more compliments for PZ than criticism. It was meant as constructive criticism.
CaitieCat,
let me find that image I saw once…
Ah here it is: http://media.tumblr.com/c5f0fe7e2fe628120f7023a2e035bcee/tumblr_inline_nau1i0CTsJ1rcjld4.png
Exactly. And add the Mystery Woman in this season.
Anyone else wonder what his mother looked like when he was 14?
Beatrice:
It’s blaine::delancey (no punctuation) at google’s mail
Beatrice
Yes. Eleven and Clara were an especially bad mix. I don’t like how the relationship dynamic between Doctor and female companion has been a weird mix of worshipful attitudes and unrequited love toward the Doctor since, well, probably Martha and Ten (with some exceptions, of course). I was hoping Capaldi would change that. It sounds like he has, but it has been replaced with a bit of paternalistic behavior.
CaitieCat
Grooooan. I can’t wait for Moffatt to leave either. His barely veiled misogyny in Doctor Who made a lot of sense when I saw the public comments he’s made about women.
Hullo
I’m totally rupt but back
We had a very nice week in Berlin, staying at my cousin’s place a short walk away from the famous Alexanderplatz.
We spent two wonderful days with David, who simply has the coolest workplace ever.
We briefly met my cousin’s foster kid, who is totally sweet. But it also makes you hate people to think how much she had to go through in order to end up with loving parents.
David, Mr. says hello. He was totally amazed by all the things you could tell about, well, everything.
So, how was your week?
D’awwww! How can anyone hate that adorable face?!
“Kill the Moon” was the worst Doctor Who episode I’ve ever seen from the new series.
On the other hand, the one I watched last night, Flatline, was among the most exciting, right up there with Voyage of the Damned and other “I’m your only chance of staying alive” type episodes. Time Heist was fun as hell and Listen was spooky fun.
I’m a Student of Life!
I have to give points for the ending (regarding Doctor’s treatment of Clara and her reaction). And Mr. Pink. You have to love Mr Pink.
Other than that.. I still can’t believe I watched that. On Doctor Who.
Weirdest book in the world. I definitely, DEFINITELY want one.
Lynna, re: the Mormon tendency to compare non-virgin women to chewed gum, etc:
I remember reading not long ago about how one of the things that made Elizabeth Smart wait as long as she did before she fled from her kidnappers was the fact that she had been fed this line and internalized it: she honestly believed that her parents (who, to the best of my knowledge, were genuinely loving and non-abusive) would reject her and consider her “dirty” because she’d been raped.
I’ve heard similar stories from non-Mormon girls and women who got that variety of anti-sex messaging.
Esteleth @48, yes, that’s true. Elizabeth Smart has said in several public speeches, and in writing, that the mormon ideology defining used or non-virgin girls as worthless as chewed gum or as licked cupcakes, that ideology made her feel so worthless that it affected her ability to escape.
She was depressed (as one would be), but she also judged herself to be not worth saving. She could not accurately assess her situation. Elizabeth has spoken out against this mormon way of teaching about purity and chastity for women, but she is up against an ingrained, longterm attitude that pervades mormon culture.
Speaking of teaching morals badly, and of negatively affecting how teens view sexuality, Rachel Maddow recently covered Rachel Maddow the decision by an Arizona town’s school board to remove references to abortion in a high school honors biology textbook. The folks in Gilbert, (where a concentrated node of mormonism can also be found — they’ve got a mormon temple, mormon politicians, mormon school board members, etc.), voted to alter the biology textbook by tearing out the page containing the reference to abortion. Maddow thoughtfully, and with good humor, offers students an alternative. This is a great segment.
Rachel Maddow Show link.
Beatrice – are you a week behind? It sounds like you’re referencing the moon one, but the one last night was Dark Water. I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it yet, but it had its own problems of the “I can’t believe they just did that” vein.
Lynna and Esteleth
The public high school I went to taught the same “girl=gum” sex ed, along with lots of other adorably* misogynistic anti-sex lessons (this was about 10 years ago). I’d like to think it’s changed, but it still seems like a lot of communities really like slut shaming.
*definitely being snarky here, just to clarify.
All hail the Rude Beast!
Kittyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Whoop, I was so concentrating on KITTY that I missed a Dr Who conversation!
Count me in the Moffatt can’t leave soon enough crowd. I had looked forward to the new series – I didn’t care for Eleven at all and was chuffed to see an older Doctor again (Jon Pertwee is my favourite). But ye gods, the writing is awful. It’s all very well to get away from a Doctor who wanted everyone to like him all the time, but this is less a Doctor who doesn’t care what people think than one who’s actively hostile most of the time. The one line of his I recall that I like was in the bank robbery story, when he said of his outfit “I was going for minimalist but I think I got magician.”
I know nothing of Clara’s backstory, having given up on Eleven before she came in (I couldn’t abide Amy Pond, or the way River Song was written after her initial appearance in the great Silence in the Library). I thought she was okay to begin with, but her reflexive, constant lying to Danny Pink is unbearable. He’s the only character I like, actually.
I didn’t bother with last night’s story and I’m not bothering with the rest of the series. The one-hour format itself irritates me; way too manic.
Also YES to all the criticisms everyone listed above.
Count me in on the Moffat Must Go conversation. Eleven’s first season had great promise, but it’s been downhill ever since and accelerating rapidly. It’s not a family show anymore, either, and that’s a pretty sad thing.
*hunkers down and offers back of hand to Lounge kitty for sniffing, then offers pets and scratches*
Take it to the Thunderdome.
Also, you provided no evidence to make it constructive, which is why you need to change venues.
Notice, I’m not saying nobody will listen, but here it doesn’t allow for a proper reply? Or, was that your intent?
Count me as another who cringed at the anti-choice message of the DW moon episode.
carlie @50
What part are you speaking of? I didn’t see anything as glaringly awful as in the moon episode, so it must have been something subtle that I don’t key into.
My post was mainly directed at PZ. Hopefully he will listen because it is a shame that I cannot make use of his posts most of the time. Sorry I cannot give a specific example, but any one who has been following him must know what I am saying.
What is this Thunderdom all about? Seems like an awfully long thread and I could not detect a direction after a brief glance at it.
Why should he without evidence?
Unlike the Lounge, where gentle treatment and politeness is required, the Thunderdome is also an open thread where you can say anything. But then, so can we….
throwaway – tying to figure out how to do it without spoilers – there was a scream, and then a “joke” line that was basically “ha ha, don’t ever do this thing”, even though that thing is a really good thing to do. And the main idea of the horrible three words, when they’re a thing that billions of people do, and is incredibly emotional. I know it’s just fiction, and that everyone who watches it knows it’s fiction, but those two things had the potential to really hit people where it hurt.
The Thunderdome and the Lounge were created as a split from a previously entirely open thread. It was discovered that sometimes people like to just hang out and get support and love and such, and sometimes people like to all-out brawl, and it turns out that those two things aren’t very compatible to have in the same space.
you forgot NO RECIPES IN THE THUNDERDOME
imnotspecial
If you have something specific to say to PZ, send him an email.
If you continue to make this type of comment in this thread, people will probably start to suggest that you ‘have a nice day’ or worse ‘bless your heart’
If you want more informative feedback, the Thunderdome is the place.
except recipes WHERE YOU GET BURNED
My first attempt at baking bread at 5500 feet elevation turned out perfect! Damn, I’m good. Fresh whole wheat bread with fresh honey butter, available to all via your USB.
I’m watching Canada’s Smartest Person. You can play along online. I get an absurd amount of enjoyment out of this, if also a lot of frustration because there are never directions for the games and half of the time I get zero points because I can’t figure out the interface.
Our neighbors dropped by after church, so I was able to change out the static mattress for the air one with multiple chambers. The Redhead is happy. Which makes me relieved.
Nerd – does The Redhead get any extra professional personal help (like an aide), so you get an afternoon/evening of lighter/no duties once in awhile?
imnotspecial: Neither the Lounge nor Thunderdome have any particular direction: they are open threads, and anyone can talk about what they want, within a few limits. The Lounge is reserved for friendly social interactions…don’t annoy people here. Thunderdome is wide open — you can be annoying there.
Violating the mores of the Lounge can get you banned or confined to the Thunderdome, so when people tell you to not post something here, don’t argue. Pay attention. I tend to be ornerier about policing the Lounge.
Carlie @59: Aha, I think I know of what you speak, and yes, that could have triggered quite a large subset of people watching. My grandmother had that done. Had two of my dogs done that way as well. Luckily for me, I’m an atheist and don’t believe in the, well, you know.
I still have no idea what the three w’s were meant to be. Were they not revealed?
throwaway – I think we were meant to think it was “don’t (the thing) me”, but I also wondered if that was misdirection.
Well, at the moment, we have CNA’s working a private second job during the week, so I can put in a full work day. Paid by me, rather than insurance, or the state (I have too much in assets for state aid). But, the Redhead is almost healed, and her need for 24 hour care will diminish shortly as she gets stronger.
Hi… first time here in the Lounge. **ahem** OK! Here goes.
Thank you Lynna OM, for those interesting links. I grew up in SLC and have always been fascinated by the really bizarre culture. Have a bunch of the autobiographies/biographies of the polygmist women; all my cousins were raised hard-core mormon, although now two of them (out of 6) are atheist, interestingly enough. Anyway that is really fascinating and I appreciate it. I was not aware of this current development, although as a person who has read that church history I knew very well exactly what Joseph F smith was doing, and briggy too. It’s just that I also realized the members were not told about it and not aware. Sad, really.
Other than that, I raise dairy goats, get up and milk every morning so I have very strong forearms, and I’m a cheesemaker. Currently I have a sort of farmstead traditional Italian cheese aging, and I’m about to make some Cabra al Vino, a really awesome goat cheese soaked in wine. Cheers to you all, and have some cheese!
*ducks to avoid the MDP*
kestrel
Welcome in.
I ♥ goat cheese.
Thank you. :-) I think. :-)
I propose a toast. :P
I propose that hot buttered toast is one of the world’s most emotionally satisfying foods.
The Lounge is all about toast and goat cheese tonight, and now I’m quite hungry.
Morgan
Agreed on that hot buttered toast, as long as it’s buttered with some of that homemade honey butter you mentioned earlier. *drools*
Anita Sarkeesian’s appearance on The Colbert Report has uploaded to Memebase, and naturally, the infestation of Gamergaters on the site came out in full force to attack her. One of them even compares her to Sarah Palin, for chrissakes! If anyone’s up for some Pharyngulation, it’s at 263 thumbs down and 118 thumbs up.
Since I can’t figure out if the silence re: my question is a missed comment or a reply in and of itself (did I phrase it wrong?), going to try again:
“Attencion, polyamorous folk!
I have a university classmate who is studying couples therapy, and is doing research into polyamory (and thus how would couples therapy work in that context). Is there anyone willing to offer their personal experiences? If yes, please email me at: eye zed ay enn dee ay at google’s mail service.
I may or may not have an internet survey link from her later, for those not comfortable with email contact.
Cross-posting to the T-dome.”
+++
kestrel
Alloa!
Please express an opinion on the following:
1) horses
2) cheese
3) peas
For bonus points that won’t actually get you anything, you may also express an opinion on MIRACLE WHIP (not to be confused with majonēze, please).
(This is just to regulate the proper amount of confetti for your welcoming parade.)
PZ @68:
I swear, some words just don’t roll off my tongue well. I was trying to say ‘ornerier’ out loud and I kept stumbling over it.
****
kestrel @72:
Welcome to the Lounge!
As the resident barkeeper, may I offer you a tasty beverage?
Oh you’ll fit in quite nicely. There’s more than a few people who love cheese in here.
****
Morgan @77:
Oooh, that is quite the tasty treat.
****
toska @78:
OMG, honey butter is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good (if anyone is missing an ‘O’, I took them all, bwahahahahahahaha!). Honey butter on toast? Drooltastic!
****
I remember a discussion somewhere at Pharyngula about uptalk (it may have been in the Lounge a while back). Over at Gender Society, sociologist Thomas J. Linneman discusses a study he conducted on uptalk in the tv game show Jeopardy. He talks about the challenges he faced with this project:
Gonna be making some chicken under a brick tomorrow.
Everyone is invited. :)
Welcome, kestrel!
rq @80:
Should we start warning people that there is only one correct answer? I mean, given that the Horde is a bunch of mean poopyheaded thought police, femistasi, witch hunting, jackbooted thugs, I think we should let people know the dire consequences of a wrong answer.
Saad @82:
What is ‘chicken under the brick’?
(why do I think this is most likely cooking chicken under a brick, and I’m trying to make it more complicated than it sounds?)
Hey! I resent that!
I took my jackboots off, cuz I’m in bed.
Nightnight, Loviely Hoard of Loving Hordites.
Tony, #84
You have surmised correctly. Butterflied whole chicken kept pressed down on the grill/pan using a couple of bricks. Makes the skin really nice and crispy.
Example
Saad
At least it’s not Chicken on a Raft
carlie,
Yes, I’m a bit behind. The episode in question was Kill the Moon.
rq – I didn’t say anything about your polyamorous quesiton ‘cos I’m about as far from poly anything as one can get.
On the other hand, I loved that man-as-cat video you posted.
Keep your fingers, tentacles, whatevs, crossed for me, Hordelings. After much angsty searching on the net for a good vacuum cleaner that gets decent reviews and isn’t incredibly expensive (example: the Shark Rotator, which I would have liked to get, is about $260 US, but $600 here) I managed to find a Cleanstar Multivac at half price, ie. $214, and it’s being shipped now. I just hope it’s better than the rotten Vax I’ve had since my dear old Hoover gave up the ghost.
Good morning
I swear over the summer the kids grew like weed. They were in leggins/shorts/dresses for a long time and now that we’Re back to jeans they’re all too short.
+++
The problem is that while we all agree that there is only ONE correct answer, we could never agree which one it is…
Giliell, professional cynic -Ilk- @ 90
Children are amazing that way. You blink and suddenly they’re six inches taller.
All hail the evil feline!
— — — — — — — —
“Sexual fantasies: Are you normal?” http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-10-sexual-fantasies.html
-As long as I am closer to the peak of the bell curve than Quagmire, I am not concerned about it.
Giggetygiggety.
BTW fundie troll showed up in the comment section of the article.
All the talk of buttered toast has me thinking of the buttered cat array in the previous lounge thread.
— — — — — —
Me haz a massive cold :(
Overcast skies and rain :(
Monday :(
Urgh. It is 2:15am and I can’t sleep. And I ache, everywhere. My teeth hurt. And my bowels are doing some weird interpretive dance. What, O dear Maude, am I coming down with now? GrumbleGrumblePhooey.
Welcome back rq I’m pleased that you managed to make a sad occasion into a happy family get-together. Unfortunately I can’t help you with the poly study as I’m not poly. Sorry!
Welcome in Kestrel pull up a chair and settle in. I pop in when I can, but the regulars are all great company and there’s always lively conversation.
CaitieCat thank you for your post in the previous lounge incarnation. May the black dog leave you alone from now on.
Stop discussing Dr Who! I’ve had a busy weekend and haven’t caught up yet! I used to like Steven Moffat’s writing, but I’m becoming increasingly disillusioned. There have been some pretty terrible episodes in this series – Robin Hood and Kill the Moon to name but two.
On a personal note, I’ve finished my run of the show. I doubt that I’ll be doing any more shows for a few years. They take up a lot of time and it’s affecting my daughter. It’s a shame as I enjoy doing shows, but family takes priority.
Watching my daughter dance while Strictly Come Dancing was on, was a joy yesterday.
Tony! @83:
Hmm. Some of us like horses. Others realize that they are one of the most perfectest expressions of evil on earth. Some of us hate peas. Others know the many ways that peas add colour, texture and taste to dishes as diverse as spaghetti carbonara, beef stew, fried rice, and salad. Cheese seems to be nearly universal. So, erm, which are the correct answers, Tony!?
———
Hello, Kestrel. Hopefully this is not a high-speed fly-by. Hover for a while.
Wait. Kestrel in terms of the bird? Or the V-12 aircraft engine?
Here’s a petition to sign and pass on. A bullied youth tried to defend himself, was beaten by a group of bullies to the point of brain damage and broken bones and his high school is bringing charges against him for assault (and not charging the bullies). The petition doesn’t make it explicit but the comments do, Eric was bullied for appearing Queer. Please support him and his parents: https://www.change.org/p/drop-the-assault-charges-against-bullied-teen-eric-martin
Morgan!?, oh no, it sounds like how I felt a week ago. Take care, take it as easy as you can, and feel better soon.
Morgan!? I hope you feel better soon. I had a chest infection that lasted two annoying weeks so you have my sympathy.
Thank you for the very warm welcome! I am trying to de-lurk so I hope this is not a fly-by, hahaha, and yes, it is kestrel as the bird.
Let’s see, my opinions: On horses, my opinion is that I may not have enough. On cheese, my opinion is that I may not have enough. On peas, my opinion is that I may not have enough. Oh, and snow peas. So am I now doomed? Also happy to hear you don’t wear your jackboots in bed! I’ll have to try and remember to only get in trouble while everyone else is fast asleep.
Best wishes to any who are not feeling well. May you feel better soon!
kestrel
There is always somebody awake. Zees iss zeee iiinternaaashunalll komyooonittee!
So jsut don’t get into trouble, mmkay?
I’ll just take a moment to sort your seating arrangements according to your questionnaire answers; meanwhile, please feel free to take a seat at the bar and pester Tony for yummy drinks (non-alcoholics also available).
If you haven’t found the cookies yet, you’re doing something wrong. Or else Anne’s been around.
And there’s nothing wrong with jackboots in bed, provided you’re the one wearing them. ;)
Morgan
Feel better sooooon!!!!! *sterile hugs* *sterilizing hugs* There, that should take care of those viral bodies invading yours.
Anne
Glad you’re feeling better. Tea?
bassmike
I feel you on the non-show aspect. :( It gets really tough to balance the rehearsals with family life, especially approaching a concert or a larger series of shows. While I don’t manage regular performances anymore, I do beg off with the Husband for some of the more interesting things. So maybe you have a chance to do something like that? Not necessarily the giant strings of christmas concerts, but maybe occasionally you’ll be playing a particularly interesting piece of music that might grant you an exemption on the show front…?
And dancing children? *thumbs up* Mine did a very modern re-interpretation of Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus over the weekend (using some round-shaped chairs and audience participation) – I suppose it could be classified as dance? Or interpretive theatre. :P But the creativity, it boggles (in a good way!).
Brianna Wu has set up a legal defense fund for women targeted by GamerGate.
Hey! rq, I don’t eat all the cookies, I provide cookies. Besides, I haven’t been able to eat cookies for the last week, or chocolate of any kind, sniffle.
I did eat one very small chocolate-dipped cookie yesterday from the box the girls brought home from Cost Plus, and I got quite the buzz. Seriously, I got lightheaded and had to sit down for quite a while. It was weird. I don’t think I’ll be trying that again for a few more days.
rq I still have the orchestra which rehearses on Sunday mornings. We have about 7 or 8 concerts a year, so it’s not too intrusive on home life. Plus, one of the concerts is the one at Christmas for kids which means that my daughter goes along. So she gets to see what Daddy does. We dress up for the concert, so whether she think I do that for all concerts is debatable!
Kids are so creative! It’s lovely to watch them play.
A herbivore I can approve of! “Elusive Fanged Deer Spotted For First Time In 66 Years http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/02/fanged-deer-kashmir-musk-deer-afghanistan_n_6089996.html
— — — —
John Oliver on State legislators. http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/11/john-oliver-state-legislatures-alec
— — — —
Pet dogs set to test anti-ageing drug http://www.nature.com/news/pet-dogs-set-to-test-anti-ageing-drug-1.16237 Trials would study extension of lifespan in domestic setting.
— — — — —
Human spaceflight: Find asteroids to get to Mars http://www.nature.com/news/human-spaceflight-find-asteroids-to-get-to-mars-1.16216 Asteroid retrieval is a distraction, says Richard P. Binzel. -Better steps to interplanetary travel abound.
kestrel @72, welcome to the Lounge. Maybe we can use your strong forearms as a backup when the trebuchet breaks down.
Glad you enjoyed (if “enjoyed” is the right word) the posts on the shifting sands of mormon culture.
For anyone who wants to see the inside of a mormon temple, here’s a recently-built example: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/phoenix-arizona-temple-opens-for-public-tours
Infidels are not allowed in the temple after they’ve been blessed or dedicated or whatever it is they do when some old white geezer makes them holy, but there’s a public tour time before all that. Check out the photo gallery to see the dunk tank resting on the backs of oxen — you too could necrodunk dead people here if you joined the cult. Or you could baptize 8 year olds who are too young to know they’ve been brainwashed. Hormonal converts sucked in by 19 year old missionaries can also get dunked in the cattle tank.
True, but don’t let it go too far in that direction. Your daughter will benefit from knowing that Dad is cool and has Things That He Does That Are His Things and that he has a life that doesn’t revolve entirely around her. Also, if you start giving up on things you love in service to your family, it can continue little by little until one day you look around and realize you don’t quite remember who you are on your own any more, and aren’t quite sure how to get yourself back or even what the newly-reconstituted you will be like.
kestrel
A fellow horse-person! You can hang with me. I get the impression we are somewhat rare around these parts. Just keep your peas to yourself ;)
Whoops, wrong pronoun in comment #106: “Infidels are not allowed in the temple after they’ve been blessed or dedicated or whatever it is they do when some old white geezer makes them holy …. ” That should be “Infidels are not allowed in the temple after it has been blessed or dedicated or whatever it is they do when some old white geezer makes it holy …”
It’s the temple being rendered holy, not the infidels.
birgerjohansson @105, Many thanks for that John Oliver link. Wow! Tour de force. Should be mandatory viewing for, well, everyone.
….yeah.
I’ve seen, somewhere or other, video that was surreptitiously recorded during LDS temple ceremonies. They looked extremely silly.
Secret sources of money and democracy don’t mix.
New York Times link.
Dunderheaded Republican says stupid stuff, and fails to understand the word “scientific” even though he is the Science Committee chair:
Maddow Blog link.
@toska: Awesome! I’m sure we could find many topics of conversation that would bore or horrify everyone else.
@Lynna, OM, you are right, it’s not enjoy so much as somehow I never cease to be astonished. I am fascinated by the topic and want to learn more, but more as a way to combat it than anything else. Growing up, I remember my mormon aunt very proudly telling me that she had taught all my female cousins that it would be far better if they died than if they got raped, so in that type of situation they should do what they could to be killed. I was still pretty young and had been brought up to regard adults as authorities and wiser than I, and yet I still was completely astonished by this. In a sort of dumbfounded, you-have-got-to-be-shitting-me kind of way. And people tell me the mormons have “great family values”. Ummm… ??
Dunderheaded Republican says stupid stuff and alarmingly violent stuff:
New Hampshire Public Radio link.
You will be glad to know (not) that Jennifer Horn’s Republican audience cheered that bit loudly.
Here is the video of mormon temple ceremonies — note the free aprons, baker’s hats, veils for women, etc. “The sisters in the room will please cover their faces.”
Manages to be boring and awful at the same time. “Clothed in the robes of the holy priesthood …”
Mitch No-Ethics-Whatsoever McConnell is defending this campaign tactic:
McConnell said the mail piece was not intimidating, but was entirely factually accurate. Sheesh.
Daily Kos link.
‘mornin’, all.
*massive hug-dump*
I believe the utilities people have finished toying with the power lines….
Ooh! Black kitteh! My favorite!
–
Lynna:
*scrutinizing picture closely*
No resemblance to either Horses or peas is evident.
–
rq, the Codex Seraphinianus does, indeed, look to be an impressively weird book.
:)
–
Buttered toasts.
*sigh*
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Hi, kestrel; Welcome In!
Have you been given The Questionnaire, yet?
*reading further down-Thread*
Ah; I see you have. Good-good!
I’ve never tried goat’s-milk cheese. At least, not to my knowledge.
–
*offers birgerjohannson a Kleenex*
Monday :(
–
Morgan !?, my guts were doing interpretive dance last night/this morning, too, so you have my entire sympathy.
Whoever this “Maude” is that is responsible, s/he can have it back!
–
Ogvorbis, you forgot to mention those of us who hate peas and everything they stand for, but are aware of the many guises in which they can add ammo to the plates of The Bored And The Restless.
–
Smith has a point: While the details and extent of the threat revealed may be new, it is not new news that global warming is occurring and threatening the country and the world. Unfortunately, Smith doesn’t seem smart enough to get the implication that if this is nothing new it is way past time to start acting on it! China’s got a plan in place to decrease its pollution. What’s the US’s excuse?
This is not the mildly deranged penguin. It has wheels, lacks her tuxedo, moves slowly, probably runs on peas, and there is a distinct lack of cheese.
kestel @115, Yeah, I’ve heard the “better to come home in a pine box than to lose your purity” applied even to male mormon missionaries.
The whole purity/chastity/virgin thing is so far off in LaLa land within mormon culture that it derails people’s whole lives.
In other news (not really new, but worth taking a second look at this method of suppressing minority voting). Emphasis mine:
Mother Jones link.
Fox are assholes. They’ve filed a takedown for our Mal Reynolds costume that we offer, because copyright. Although they haven’t done anything about the other characters from the same show that we have, for some reason. AFAICT, the reason is that there’s now an officially licenced Mal coat (not the whole outfit, just the coat) for sale through BoingBoing or some such. Because, you know, going to the person who’s already making a better version and offering them the license would just be stupid, right?
Eww.
Do you suppose a petition asking them to do just that might help?
Azkyroth
I suppose it’s possible; I have little faith in the ability of petitions to move megacorps as a rule, though.
TRIGGER WARNING: Wanker PUA molesting women in public
Sorry, folks. Someone I know who does not like to post in these forums, but who knows I do, Skyped me and asked me to bring this to the attention of the FTB community. It may have been talked about elsewhere but I am doing maths homework and don’t have a lot of time to read. Nevertheless it needs to have some attention paid. I’m not sure where my correspondent heard about it (I think Hubski).
The damning video is here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=grV1iDns87s#t=36 Those women at the end of the video are clearly frightened and nonconsenting and trying to be “nice” to him. Grrr.
[potion of invisibility wears off] /me waves weakly at the startled communards.
Hi (again)! I just checked, and the last time I posted was episode CCCXII in March 2012. Wow I did not think it was that long. Also, just to be transparent, I’ve changed my ‘nym from my real name. Same login, but now showing a nickname. Wilbefort was my main on WoW for years and years.
Re: Lurking. I know one reason I lurk is that you’re all heroes to me. Seemingly normal people, with everyday lives, who go out to battle trolls and other evils when needed. The last time I felt I was battling these evils myself was when I was trying to maintain a safe-space guild in WoW, and I found it quite difficult, even with a guild of friendlies around me. …Fighting with strangers who are being casually cruel to your friends and trying to pass it off as humor, watching friend after friend give up on the game or give up trying to change people as the cruelty hits too close too often…. So watching all of you jump into the fray time and time and time again feels very close to watching superheroes brush themselves off and suit up once again.
Well, I think that was the last of my invisibility potions. Oh look, at the bottom of my pack, it’s an Endless Bag of Hugs! [Dumps it open on the floor.]
I WANT THIS DINOSAUR COSTUME.
badgersdaughter,
yep, Ophelia wrote about this guy:
Dude, just grab her
Women are going about their business
Artist isn’t quite the right word
Also, Tarkovsky films online for free. Mmmmm!!!
rq,
Not to forget 700 other movies online for free!!! Thank you for that link, rq!
This is a followup to comments 19, 20, 24, 25, 48, 49, 72, 106, 115, and 122.
Here’s an excerpt from the diary of Helen Mar Kimball:
So, our old friend Blunderh00f has opened his mouth and said more ridiculous things. Apparently Anita Sarkeesian turning off comments on her Youtube videos is far worse than the violent suppression of free speech in the former USSR. I’m almost feeling bad for the Gators now, because that is an epic level of disconnect from reality.
From Kansas, news to make you swear or shout or both. (I shouted, “Yikes!” and double face-palmed.)
This massive disenfranchisement of voters is taking place under Kris Kobach, who has been dubbed “the worst secretary of state in the nation.” When we vote for Secretary of State, it matters who (whom?) we choose.
The voter applications are being rejected in the name of nonexistent voter fraud.
Link.
Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty has made an important announcement:
Right Wing Watch link.
More Duck Dynasty news:
You can view the ad Here.
Birds of an evil feather flock together in Houston, and, btw, this was the meeting where the Duck Dynasty patriarch made his announcement about not taking a leak in the women’s restroom.
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/11/03/3587817/i-stand-sunday-anti-lgbt-rally/
In that list of free movies online:
…That’s got to be one of the most obscure things I’ve ever seen that folks here might actually want.
Pteryxx, you has email. :) (It’s just an thanking you update kind of thing, nothing major)
Brittany Maynard dies after taking her lethal dose in Oregon (one of the states with a Death With Dignity Act). She moved to Oregon to be able to do this and died in her bed at home.
I don’t know why her story hits me harder than most other cancer stories. :(
I think it has to do with her age and circumstances and something about brain cancer scares me compared to other cancers. It’s sad that she faced opposition about making this decision about her own life.
Senator Tom Harkin’s sexist remarks about Joni Ernst
What I find aggravating is that the news folks won’t accept this as a private decision that shouldn’t be publicized at all, except to her friends and relatives by those there.
AUGH!
I disagree, Nerd. Maynard reached out to the press to advocate that Oregon’s laws permitting her suicide be extended nationwide (she was obliged to move to Oregon to take advantage of it, her native California has no such law). People have no business discussing the merits of her decision (it was her decision to make), but the publicity she deliberately sought.
Even then, it is a private decision, but one I do believe anybody in any state should be able to make for themselves. After all, I might be in the same position someday, and I don’t want religious fanatics telling me I must suffer if I don’t want to.
The truly frustrating (hilarious?) part is that it’s safe to say a good bit of the opposition to medical suicide would be pro death penalty and pro-life.
Good luck trying to process that information.
Are there any other Canadians, Brits or other people who choose not to wear plastic “poppies” on and before November 11th? Who find the made up “offense” annoying and petulant? In some places, it’s worse than American fake offense over the choice and refusal of some to wear flag pins on their clothes. British TV presenter Charlene White wrote last year why she doesn’t wear one and received hate-filled backlash for saying it. In another article written this week, she says she does wear one off air, just not on screen. No doubt she’ll still be subjected to abuse.
http://www.newstatesman.com/media-mole/2013/11/itvs-charlene-white-gets-racist-sexist-abuse-choosing-not-wear-poppy
Choosing or refusing to wear a poppy does not make someone “anti-democratic” or mean they are “insulting the memory of soldiers who gave their lives blah blah blah….” It means practicing free speech and individual rights, things that actually were fought for in war. There are plenty of valid reasons not to wear one.
Saad (#145) –
Their hypocrisy is unsurprising. Those who call themselves “pro-life” and “pro-death penalty” are also “against the nanny state” while simultaneously demanding government control everyone’s lives.
A simpler explanation is that they are wannabe fascist dictators. They want to control everyone else’s life, and for no one to control theirs.
Esteleth is Groot (#143) –
“Seeking publicity”?
How nice of you to deride her as an attention seeker instead of someone advocating individual rights.
left0ver1under #148,
I think your tone is a little harsh for the Lounge.
Esteleth was saying Maynard deliberately sought publicity for her situation. Esteleth didn’t imply attention-seeking, which has negative connotations. Maynard was an advocate for physician assisted suicide and so deliberately made her situation public.
left0ver1under @147:
You’ve misread Esteleth. She’s not criticizing Maynard. She’s pointing out that Maynard was an advocate for assisted suicide, and sought to bring publicity to the subject.
I wear a ‘plastic’ poppy for the week or so bracketing November 11.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls wrote:
In an ideal world, it would be a private decision, and the pious would have no say in it. However, that is not our world. Right now, the pious do get to decide that people live against their will, and get laws passed to that effect, so people like Maynard are often forced to open their lives (and desired deaths) up to the world, regardless of if they want to or not.
Saad wrote:
I’ve gotta agree. Perhaps Esteleth could’ve worded that differently, but Maynard was seeking to publicize her situation and make people aware of it, and there isn’t really anything wrong with that. It’s actually a bit of a shame that we’re pretty much only left with the squishy “raising consciousness” phrase because all the other phrases have been completely poisoned by the stalwart defenders of the status quo.
Geez, that Justin Raimondo guy is a Grade A shitnuggett. He’s left *another* comment on my blog: “so what do you do to young boys in your basement?”
This dude has a serious problem. He’s racist and homophobic and I guess he enjoys harassing me. His comments aren’t going to see the light of day on my blog, and surely he knows this, so he’s deliberately trying to get under my skin. Fucking libertarian shitweasel.
Ben Stein says Obama is the most racist president we’ve ever had:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/stein-obama-most-racist-president-weve-had-351963715561
Apparently he forgot that we’ve had presidents who’ve actually owned slaves and practiced genocide against Native Americans.
Yes (#149 and #150), that was unnecessarily sarcastic and I shouldn’t have said it. I’d remove that post if I could.
Good morning
I really need to do something about my computer before it crashes in the middle of my final thesis.
According to my IT friend, my best shot is to formate the harddrive and reinstall everything, hoping that the computer will isolate the damaged part of the harddrive. As you can imagine, I’m terrified of this.
Dalillama
You should have something on your Paypal. Good luck with the other situation :(
Hello kestrel and Wilbefort
+++
I got a really nice compliment in Berlin.
I’m not a brands person when shopping for clothes. Not only do I like to spend my money on other things, but I also don’t see the point with most brands, since the cheap stuff isn’t noticably different from the expensive stuff in terms of quality, style or conditions under which it is made. The only exception is the Spanish label Desigual (warning, some really bad examples of cultural apropriation. I hadn’t seen this before). I really like their style of combining big colourful patterns with black or navy blue. Now, of course their stuff is off the limit for everyday wear, but occasionally I will indulge in a single piece. We found a very pretty dress and I tried it on over my jeans. Now, this is a pair of jeans I pimped with machine embroidery. Mr and the shop assistant took a look, we agreed that it was not only very nice, but could also be worn on top of jeans and the assistant remarked “oh, I see you’re wearing one of our jeans, too!”
Yes, I grew like an inch or two :)
Another observation on clothing: I’m heavily overweight, but over the last 6 month I lost about 10 lbs and became a bit less overweight. I’m still what most people call fat, no argument. But apparently 10 lbs less now mean that I can shop in the “nomal people” (because fat people are an abomination unto Nuggan and must be seperated from normal people) shops. That’s such a world of difference. Suddenly shop assistants notice me and have actually recommendations and such…
*waves at Giliell*
I hate that email about preparing some food to take to team building was sent only to women and I hate how my hands are still shaking after forawrding it to men in the group with the added “forwarding this to everyonewho might want to contribute”
Beatrice
*passes the chocolate*
You did the right thing and by now we all know how much courage that takes
Today’s gratuitously funny mistranslation: “killing in the sunlight” = sunbathing…
rq
Sounds kind of right….
++++
Aaaaaaaargh
Yes, this woman is going to leave the house now even though there’s a man who doesn’t approve.
I called our housing company to inform them that the wet spot in the ceiling has reappeared. Usually they make an appointment or simply climb the roof to do whatever they do that doesn’t fix the problem. this time the maintenance uy showed up 2 minutes after my call. He then went on to call the roof construction company and made an appointment. Then turned around and told me that they would come soon to look at it, because I’m at home, right?
I told him no, I’m leaving in 10 minutes and for the next 5 minutes the dialogue went like this:
He: But he needs to look at it!
Me: Yeah, but I have to leave.
He: What am I going to do now, he has to look at it!!
Me: I don’t know, I have to leave.
In the end he rolled his eyes at me because it is somehow my fault that he didn’t bother to check with me before he made an appointment that involves me….
Good for you, Beatrice.
oh, and nice one, Giliell! :-) (I have seen some of Desigual’s stuff around – I love asymmetry in clothes (and in many things) so I really like some of their designs. Don’t have any, but I know how nice they can be)
Carlie @107: I guess that this is a problem that all parent’s face: what activities that you enjoy doing do you sacrifice for your offspring? Giving up playing the show is a bit disappointing, but not a tragedy. It did affect my daughter last week when I was away, so I’ll give the show up for a while. The orchestra and other occasional musical things I won’t give up for exactly the reasons that you mention.
The added problem is that I try and encourage my wife to go out when she wants, but she chooses not to go out. This gives the appearance of me being the one going out enjoying himself at her expense, but that’s not really the case. But still, I feel a little guilty. My mind is full of all sorts of contradictory thoughts!
/personal rant
Beatrice that’s ridiculous! I know a lot of men (me included) who do all the food preparation in the house. Not only is it deeply sexist to only address women with this request, but it’s insulting to the men too! Good for you to make a stand.
Giliell to make an appointment in your home without consulting you is insulting. They should have asked when you or someone else who lives there were available. It was a very thoughtless action on their part. Also, good luck with the computer. I’m sure you know this, but I would make sure that you have back ups of everything important before you start.
I’ve deliberately never worn one.
bassmike
*hugs*
I’ve been sort of on the other side of that, because Husband gets more opportunities to get out (damn his expense-paying job!) while my schedule, due to the off-hours, limits my ability to go out (or else I have to compromise work time with entertainment time, which can, in the end, cause more scheduling stress than I relieve by heading out for an evening), but I’ve heard about Husband’s side of it (and none of it is expressly on purpose), so I can understand your plight a little, too. It’s never easy.
Do you ever have a chance to take your wife out somehow, without your daughter? Anyone who can sit with her for an afternoon or an evening? This is something Husband and I practically never get around to, but it might be nice for a change of pace for your wife. Or contacting some of her friends to take her out, so that she doesn’t feel like she’s the one initiating time off for herself. (Because she may be feeling a lot of social pressure not to go out on her own, since her duties obviously lie with the household, not in running around on the town, right, whereas husbands, as men, generally have more social freedom in not being at home. Or something – pardon my English, my mind is trapped in a French-to-English translation on the Seychelles.)
Beatrice
Good for you, that is an awesome move and totally appropriate. I hope some of the guys get the hint and at least bring something, even if it isn’t homemade. (And who knows, someone might feel inspired!)
Giliell
Ugh. I hate that. Because you are obviously the woman of the house, your time is immaterial. :P Well, *tplrplrplrplrplrplrplr*, I say to that!
Hope the leak gets looked at on your time and at your convenience.
Tell ’em the only boys in your basement are the ones he sent.
(Which is very very probably true — think about it — how many has he sent and how many are in your basement?)
rq we do very occasionally get the opportunity to go out as a couple. The problem is that the only people who are in a position to look after our daughter while we’re out are my wife’s parents and between them they spend a lot of time helping out my BIL as he has issues. MIL spends every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday looking after my younger niece with him. So my wife and I are very conscious of not burdening the In-Laws with additional child care responsibilities. I’m sure my mother would love to help, but she lives 65 miles away, doesn’t drive and is not as strong as she used to be. That is one of the problems with being an older father.
Whenever my wife is invited to a social function I always encourage her to go. But more often than not she chooses not to go for whatever reasons. I’m conscious of the social pressure that is placed on women to be the housekeeper and I try to make things as fair as possible. I’ve always had a more active social life through musics and I’ve compromised a fair amount. However, as Carlie said above: you can end up having your whole identity subsumed by childcare and then getting resentful. I don’t want that to happen and I wish there was an easy solution!
Tony! Justin Raimondo sounds like a real piece of work. Please don’t let him him stop you from blogging, as your writing is appreciated by many of us.
*Hugs* by the bucket load left for all who want them.
Good luck voting, all you Murikkanners!!!
Sorry if I came off as condescending, bassmike.
bassmike and rq – I know that when my kids were little, I never did anything for myself. Ever. I felt like a bad person if I did. Didn’t matter how many people told me it was important, including my husband, I still felt like I was being selfish and greedy if I took time to do something I wanted to at the expense of doing something for someone else in my family. For me, that was something deep-seated that it took professional counseling to get over. I doubt it’s that serious for most people, but there may be a smidgen of that there. Or, she might just not like going out, and her way of decompressing right now is to be in a nice quiet room by herself with a book. After spending a lot of time with kids, sometimes any extra stimulation is just chomping on raw nerve ends, no matter how enjoyable the activity is otherwise.
I got a place in the class I still need!!!
Happydance-kermitarms
But I kind of buried the idea of graduating in may. November looks much more doable.
Huzzah Giliell!
Hugs for those in need of same. Hot tea, ditto. There were some cookies around here, if rq and Hobbes haven’t eaten them. :)
re kids/subsuming oneself and all that minefield … so great/important to actually talk about it and try, at least, and not let it all fester while going the all-too-common route of assuming one party must and will shoulder primary responsibility. Very easy for one or even both to fall into the trap of letting too much go (because guilt because nosuchthingasperfectparent because societal expectations because unfortunately no support network etc etc etc.
Forza to all parents who are in the thick of that particular campaign right now!
Good morning, Lounge.
I had a really lovely birthday yesterday.
Hooray for getting the class you need, Giliell:D
Election day in the U.S. I voted two weeks ago so now I’m going to spend today visiting polling stations with my big authoritative Law Degree and making sure the Republicans don’t deprive voters of their rights. I don’t really know all that much about election law specifically, but I should be able to provide some help anyway. The Republicans filed two lawsuits in the last two weeks in my county, so we are on high alert. There are rumors of voter suppression, some of which seem pretty substantiated. Into batttttle.
… that may have sounded like I was sort of “aiming” the unfortunately bit at bassmike; for clarity, that bit was aimed at my own case!
carlie, I hear you loud and clear :-\
Yay for getting your class place, Giliell!
and
thank you Portia for riding into battle. I think so many of us would want to tie our colours to your lance that it would look like a maypole :-)
Now I have a mental image of Portia in full firefighter gear holding a hose that shoots §-signs at nasty Republicans
opposablethumbs:
As usual, you make me smile really big.
Giliell:
That made me laugh out loud.
Portia, you are a superhero. No question.
Re kids, mine are of course grown and in college, but that’s why I started going out on weekends – as soon as I was able to drive again after the C-section first time, Husband encouraged me to go out on Saturday mornings and leave him with the babbie. At first it was mostly to do the grocery shopping, but even after she was old enough to take with me, I kept going out on Saturdays and/or Sundays to do my own thing. Even if it was just driving around looking at yard sales.
bassmike, encourage your wife to go and sit in a coffee shop, have a snack, read a book, and let you take care of the little one. The first time she gets home and finds out all that happened is that your hair is full of barrettes, she’ll feel better about it. At least I hope so.
Tony, #153,
Uh, ask them how they got there and have their parents come pick them up?
Further to Saad’s suggestion, maybe some lemonade for the hypothetical basement boys? Video game? Til their folks get by to pick them up?
Also yes, Smokey the Advocate is an indisputable superhero. :)
Got my hearing date for the disability tribunal, May 14. Six months to go. Yikes.
I apologize for hogging the lounge with parental stuff. Feel free to ignore the following if you wish.
rq I never felt condescended to.
Thanks to Carlie & opposablethumbs for your advice. I think the whole In-Law situation is a big issue for us. Knowing that the MIL has to support the other half of the family for three days a week makes us reluctant to request childcare assistance ourselves – even though the In-Laws are our only realistic alternative. I’m torn about my BIL and his needs: He has some physical issues and some mental ones too, so I am deeply sympathetic about that. However, it does appear that he is using MIL somewhat selfishly. His partner has parents who are retired and they are never called upon to look after the grandkids. Also, one niece is in school and the other is entitled to free nursery time, but BIL/SIL don’t appear to want to use that nursery time, despite the elder sibling having done it.
I know couples who have the option to leave their kids with relatives as and when they like, and I feel we don’t have any such option. Then I feel I’m being selfish and that the BIL needs all the help he can get and I get into a self-contradictory feedback loop. At which point my head explodes!
End of parental rant 2
Giliell congratulations on getting on the course. That’s great news!
Wonderful speech by Maryam Namazie regarding the Islamic religious right and secularism.
Starts at the 1:33 mark.
Actually, I thought Tony was providing the boys with comprehensive training in how to be Social Justice Warriors. With parental permission, of course.
bassmike
Okay. :) I think I’m still being over-sensitive just with things being what they are right now, so sorry about that.
Also, I feel you on the relative absence (and absence of relatives), because boy-oh-boy does that suck. When you can’t just pick up and leave the kid(s) with Aunty X anytime you want. Sometimes I’m jealous of the couples who manage to do this and have that opportunity. Most times I just try not to care at all, because that’s an extra stress I can’t manage.
Anyway, the whole point of that was *sympathetic hugs* if you feel like accepting some.
Saad
A propos of nothing in particular, I would just like to say I love your voice and perspective on this network in all kinds of ways.
Thank you, rq. :)
I love reading posts from you and many others here as well. I can’t believe I stayed a lurker for this long.
And thanks for all you do in the Good Morning, America thread. I don’t post much in it but I take time to read the updates daily.
Giliell,
Congrats on getting into that class!
Happy birthday, Portia!
Beatrice
The men should thank you for forwarding that email. As a single man, obviously I do all my own cooking and I enjoy the rare opportunities to show off my cooking for others.
Tony!
Does Raimondo’s website have any advertising? Perhaps there are some advertisers that you could forward those emails to?
Giliell
Congrats on the class placement!
Portia
Happy! Birthday! And YES thank you for fighting for your local voters’ right. The last year or two has really been a mess with all the Repub attacks on Americans’ right to vote.
I voted, straight D ticket here in Philly. Planned Parenthood has endorsed every D candidate here, so it was easy. Everyone else here in Murica is voting, yes?
I’m not sure you’re up to date on everything, Wilberfort, but it might be that Tony would be better just ignoring the asshole as much as possible. There are trolls, and there are abusive vindictive racist assholes, and as a queer POC with fragile employment, it may not be that he can easily risk finding out which this is. Sometimes challenging this kind of person can turn them into a raging problem.
Not a criticism, particularly, rather a suggestion for further consideration later. :)
Daughters voted this morning, Husband will vote as soon as he gets home from work, Aged Mum voted absentee a while back, I think we’re covered.
Beatrice, good on you forwarding that email. At least some of the men will enjoy it, and they certainly should all have the opportunity to contribute. Husband is quite the cook. Highly experimental, as befits a developmental coatings chemist, mostly edible. He does our Ritual Sacrifice With Pie dinner every year.
I voted, though in my neck of the woods a vote for a candidate with a policy platform based on facts does little to hold back the Tea Party tide.
In other news, Catholics are joining forces with representatives from other religions to strengthen the fight against gay marriage. Mormons are included in the Colloquium on Dunderheadedness. The International Interreligious Colloquium on the Complementarity of Man and Woman, held by the Catholic Church, will take place at the Vatican Nov. 17-19. Leaders from 14 faith traditions and 23 countries will meet “to examine and propose anew the beauty of the relationship between the man and the woman, in order to support and reinvigorate marriage and family life for the flourishing of human society,” the Catholic Church said.
[…] President Eyring, a member of the First Presidency of the LDS Church, will speak as a witness testimony Tuesday, Nov. 18.
“At this time of rapidly declining moral values and the challenges to traditional family structures and relationships throughout the world, we are pleased to unite with the Catholic Church, other fellow Christian denominations and other world religions in standing firm and speaking clearly about the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman,” the LDS Church said. […]
KSL-TV and Radio link.
In multiple historically-accurate sources, mormons of old called the Catholic church the “whore of Babylon” etc.
CaitiCat,
[Almost caught up with Doctor Who]
Omg, the “here we are all alone and all we can talk about is some man” (paraphrased) line from Doctor Who! You’re right, totally trolling feminists. If they were showed talking about something else afterwards, it would have been a nod to feminist criticism, this way it looks like pure trolling.
sorry, CaitieCat, lost an ‘e’ there
Portia
Happy bday
Giliell
Yay for getting the class.
Lynna
Hardly just mormons; that’s a standby for many, many flavors of protestant. Not just ‘of old’ either, although they tend to be a little quieter about it nowadays.
Not sure why, but I really love this photo.
So going to work today, I heard [local artist]’s new song, titled Honeypot.
It is as bad as it sounds. The chorus (loosely but not badly translated!!):
Fed, embraced, I know where my honeypot is,
Tonight, tomorrow evening, it will be given to me again and again.
(Listen here.)
Then again, about a year ago this same artist came out with a mock-’80s hit A Child Will Be Born Unto You. About the spiritual joy of having children. (Listen here.)
Yeah, he has no idea.
rq
Honeypot…. as in bucket used as a toilet, right? That’s the only usage I know….
I’ve also heard it as a code word for vagina. As a guy getting a little honey on his stinger on a date.
Portia is a superhero.
rq and bassmike – oh, I hear you on the “no good relatives around” thing. We’ve lived several hours away from family ever since getting married, and when the kids were little there were no other parents of tiny ones in our social groups to trade off with. That feeling of knowing there is no respite possible can be a bit overwhelming, which is where tag-teaming can be so important. (you go to bed early tonight, I’ll go to bed early tomorrow, and then the next night we can stay up an extra hour and talk without interruption!) I remember vividly once when I was visiting my family and went out with a high school friend – her complaint was that she worked all the time (which she did), so when she was at home she wanted to spend lots of time with her kids, but, and I quote, “the problem is that my MIL always wants to babysit and it’s hard to say no to her.” I think I just stood there for a minute or two with my mouth hanging open, and all I could think was “Boy, people really have different life experiences and different kinds of problems”.
toska
What Nerd said.
Though it’s not a common euphemism in Latvian, which just makes the usage here all the weirder.
carlie
Whoa. That’s definitely a problem outside of my experience. :/ I wonder how she navigated that later in life.
But yes. At least now, with the kids just a little bit older, we have more friends with kids (and a couple closer friends) to whom we could (in theory) entrust the kids for an hour or an evening. Just have to get up the guts to ask, though – it always feels like such a huge imposition, even when people have loudly and specifically said they’d be glad to help out with babysitting.
toska
(Though your version adds a certain… interesting… twist to the song. I think I’m going to giggle on the inside about that.)
Nerd and rq
That makes SO much more sense. I couldn’t imagine that they really meant it the way I interpreted it. Hahaha
toska @196:
Don’t be silly. It’s what Winnie-the-Pooh gets his head caught in. Hence the confusion, maybe.
Wow, got a check back from the hospital for a little over half I paid them a month ago. The insurance must have forked over some more money.
It will come in handy. I’m working on rebuilding my computer desk. Which I bought back in 1989 for my Apple IIGS. I’m also beginning to look at replacing my present iMac, which I bough 5 years ago, but should replace before I retire.
I’ve run across honeypot in Regencies ( don’t know how authentic it is, or if it’s one of Heyer’s inventions). It’s used to describe a conniving woman, one who is trying to attract a rich or at least marriageable man.
Anne
In that metaphor, the men are the flies who get trapped in the honey. It doesn’t sound very flattering to either party :P
This has been another lesson in “the extent of toska’s lack of sexual slang proficiency knows no bounds.” It’s a frequent theme to my life.
Ah, have the Redhead feasting on leftovers–lamb chop, garlic potatoes, and asparagus. For leftovers, I’m hearing a lot of yums (well, compared to hospital/nursing home food, I do use some spices–at her instructions). Have to do this early tonight, as her parents will call and talk for an hour and a half or so in about an hour. At which time I can get my dinner, and get the garbage/recycling out to the curb for pick-up tomorrow.
Nerd @206:
The Redhead’s leftovers sound tasty!
****
Wilbefort @187:
He’s an editor (and second in charge, IIRC) of a strongly libertarian website so I tend to think the ads might lean libertarian (though I could be wrong, given that FtB is progressive, yet the ads here aren’t always–they use a third party for their ads and have no control over them). I don’t think forwarding them would do much good, even if I still had them (I’ve deleted the four he’s sent me).
Btw, welcome to the Lounge!
Dang, her BFF called. Maybe the call will terminate before the Redhead’s parents call. But I’m getting the feeling I will be putting dinner into the fridge for later reheating.
*sigh*
rq @183:
What an awesome idea! I don’t respond to any of the stuff Raimondo shits on my blog (and I delete all his comments), but if I was going to, this would be a good response.
Yeah, I’m so cruel, there are 3 more lamb chops, a small New York strip steak, and a couple of pork steaks I grilled for me still available.
But then, the old adage is at work. What is hers is hers and what is mine is hers.
Hello.
I managed to vote in Illinois. I still hated most everybody there. I also managed to get my father to vote the same way; he was too lazy to make his own opinions.
Also I’m relatively optimistic, yet despondent. A likely Republican senate victory would be bad, but not unduly. There’s not much difference between “gridlock” and “more gridlock”.
Whatever. This country has always been a bit behind the times.
Voting has been done.
Dreading seeing the bad news, come the morning.
–
Hi, Wilbefort! Welcome In! Or Back!
*proferring Questionnaire*:
1) Horses?
2) Peas?
3) Cheeses?
4) Miracle Whips™?
–
Justin Raimondo…why do I feel that I should recognize that name…?
At any rate, Tony, I’m sorry he’s being an asshole at you.
–
Joining the *applause* for Beatrice, and the sympathy/solidarity for/with Giliell.
–
Giliell:
Hurray!
–
Happy late-birthday to Portia!
*confetti&cake&hugs*
Get them voter-suppressing Reptilians!
–
CaitieCat:
1) *careful hugs*
2)
Word.
3)
I’m glad you’ve got a date, but am sorry that it’s so long to wait.
–
Huh. Learn something new every day.
I had no idea that some are claiming that Muslims “discovered” the Americas before Columbus—yes, even before the Vikings.
*shaking head in amazement*
–
Nerd, it’s good to hear that the insurance company is coming through for you!
–
cicely @212:
Justin Raimondo is the same guy who’s insulted me a couple of times before. He’s a homophobe and a racist. I’m sure there’s more bigotry running through his veins.
Let me guess:
There’s a sentence in the Koran or the Hadiths where there’s a word used that means, I dunno, “tree,” in a sentence where the use and meaning of “tree” makes perfect sense, but that word can also mean “to the West,” and so this PROVES the author of the Koran was aware of the new continents to the West, and thus that Islam is the true religion!
And that, my liege, is how we know the world to be banana-shaped.
Azkyroth:
On the Political and Cultural Uses of the Myth of an Ancient Muslim Discovery of America
–
Huh. Not the same pattern this time. >.>
Woman imprisoned in Iran for attempting to attend volleyball game
The privilege and position the straight Muslim male enjoys is mind-blowing.
Jameis Winston’s lawyer posts victims name on Twitter
Great job scumbag. Now the poor woman is almost certainly going to be deluged with sexist and misogynistic comments from the shittiest people out there.
The world is a very scary place.
On t’other hand, everybody is home, everybody voted but me and the cats, and we all seem to be in fairly good health.
The Husband is happily ensconced in his recliner, cat cuddled up next to him, all set for an evening of watching… election returns. I may go to bed early, especially if he keeps switching to Fixed Noise. I love him, but there are limits.
Whatever your next twelve hours bring, have a good one, Horde.*
*tee hee, autocorrect offered me Horses
Tony!,
That was probably the plan all along.
For me, that’s depooing the Redhead after she talks to her parents, then trying to get a full nights’ sleep. But then, as an old man, I need to get up every so often. irrespective of any calls from the Redhead, so it may be difficult.
Tony!:
I think that this would be the whole point.
–
Anne:
Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!
And thus we confirm the Essential Evilness of autocorrect.
–
It has been… one of those weeks where everything seems to go wrong; nothing major but a thousand tiny things until your ability to cope is just gone. As such, I now have a foster kitten for a week because the idea of this little girl being euthanised due to a lack of foster people who can bottle feed (I understand why/how this is necessary, and I’m normally ‘okay’ with it) when she’s right on the cusp of weaning would have put me into straight up emotional breakdown.
I’m glad tomorrow is my Friday.
“WHAT DO WE WANT?
A more intuitive autocorrect!
WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
New!”
—
Skin conditions suck. Especially when they prevent a person enjoying a good chilli sauce. Or a full night’s sleep.
Tony!
There should really be serious consequences for this. I hope he is disciplined by the bar.
I’m so sorry for the victim. The was a heavily reported rape trial in my town a few years ago, and the public comments were so disgusting, it was actually shocking. People were actually calling for the victim to be arrested. I’m so glad I never saw her name publicized.
Rowan vt
I’m sorry things are so sucky right now. I hope the new foster kitty’s snuggles can alleviate some of the stress of having an unplanned extra foster kitty.
*hugs* and commiserations for Rowan, and jste.
–
toska:
I agree; and…I wish.
As far as I know, Publicizing With Malicious Intent is not a thing.
–
Poor wee thing had literally hundreds of fleas and is anemic. I’m syringing her about 1 ml of formula every half hour until she perks up more. She’s already improving in that she is actually wanting to drink the formula now. It’s kind of funny how my reaction to stress is to take on something stressful. I think it might partly be because I know what I’m doing with this, and even if the anemia ends up being too great, it’s not my fault and I didn’t screw something up and it just might purr and me which is all the reward I could ever want.
Anne:
“Fixed Noise”…tee hee hee!
****
Rowan:
You have such a big heart :)
cicely
If the bar works as it’s supposed to, it should be seen as a serious ethics violation. But nothing ever seems to work as it should when misogyny is involved :(
Rowan
That totally makes sense. I have a similar reaction to stress. It’s almost stressful for me to not have a lot on my plate. I hope the “wee thing” perks up and gives you all the purrs to make it worth while and then some.
Harvard is hosting an anal sex workshop
Rowan, you are a very good person. I hope the kitten perks up and gives you all the purrs and snuggles.
*HUGS!!!*
Also, someone needs to invent clothing that grows along with children. I don’t mind feeding it some extra fibre (say, carpet lint and cat hair), but I sure mind it getting too small and too short way too soon.
Clothing …
We need Replicators.
Just tear it off at the end of the day and feed it back into the recycler.
Cat hair, snot, etc. included.
Works for adults, too.
I have a cold. It sucks.
Ewwww… drink plenty of fluids and stay warm, Dalillama.
I got my purr! Wee-flea-thing drank a few mls from the bottle and then I pet her and then she purred and now I no longer have a stressed I have a “D’AAAWWWWWW…”
Rowan vet-tech
Yay for kitty
general
Hugs all ’round
Rowan
I love this title.
And yay for kitten purrs!
Dalillama
I hope you feel better soon.
chigau
Who needs to take off clothing if you can just get in the Replicator yourself?
A new person every day!
I really don’t know what to make of this, but it looks stunning. Take a look at the short video.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2088672139/urbance
The sun rises earlier here than in Merca, so I have the election report:
The Regessivians won a majority (53 seats) in the senate, as well as in the house of representatives.
No surprises.
The Republicans are still impopular but the low voter turnout always favors the Republican segment of the public. The strategy of blocking everything in congress has succeded in making both congress and president impopular. Which was the whole idea.
Now we have to wait for 2016 before the grownups can start attending to stuff like global warming etc.
Britain: Jogger ‘stable’ after brushing against toxic amphibian prime minister. http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/jogger-stable-after-brushing-against-toxic-amphibian-2014102892163
— — —
Scandinavia and the World: Wealth is such a burden http://satwcomic.com/wealth-is-such-a-burden
— — —
Report: Slamming Boss Against Wall, Shouting ‘Cash! I Need More Cash!’ Still Leading Tactic For Securing Raise http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-slamming-boss-against-wall-shouting-cash,37265/
Wee Flea pictures!
She’s… uhm maybe a little funny looking. I shall choose to blame anemia.
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/4896/xVa7zH.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img538/2421/DMACsS.jpg
She also has a full helping of tortitude. “I want to play! I’m gonna play by BITING THE SHIT OUT OF YOU… but I won’t do it hard, but still BITING THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!”
http://imageshack.com/a/img909/6895/vPwuhM.jpg
Bramble yon cur’ved kitten got a more professional photo shoot. She’s going to have a story done about her for my work’s newsletter/facebook thingy.
http://imageshack.com/a/img909/8575/MuHocA.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9850/wK24sJ.jpg
Yay for kitty!
Boo for Dalillama’s cold!
I will look at the kitten phptos when I get home
Good morning
Hugs to all of you, especially jste and Rowan
bassmike
I hear you. I also understand your reluctancy to ask your in-laws, but, have you ever talked to them about this? Because there’s a good chance that they are feeling guilty as well about not giving you some support. Me, I personally have a very twisted perspective on this as well. If I see another set of grandparents drop off or pick up the youngsters at school or daycare, I smile and don’t even think about it. If I think about , it goes along the lines of “wonderful, family supporting each other, lucky kids, having their grandparents (or any other relative) to take care of them, yadda yadda, all happy thoughts. I myself often feel horrible for intruding on my in-laws’ time if I have to ask them to pick up the kids or babysit them once a week, even though they actually like it and even though we’re doing our best in supporting them.
When I visited my aunt (not really aunt) in Berlin we went to pick up her great-grandson (they all reproduced early, especially the kid’s father) from daycare on Friday. The kid’s mum called her on Monday or so to ask if she could take care of him over the weekend. No problem…
My “me-time” is mostly when the kids are in bed, doing some crafting, which I can fortunately do at home. But I know that once we get a house with a garden (something we postponed) I will get an archery range.
I also try to go to the swimming pool ever so often to get some exercise and while it’s a secret I keep from the kids I feel totally no guilt for not taking them with me.
+++
Us elections: Fuck
+++
I think I met one of the few people with a shred of decency yesterday, and I found out after (justifiably) yelling at him.
I admit I was in a bad mood anyway, because I was about to find out if I get into that class or not. And parking at uni is hell atm anyway since one car park is closed and for some reason the barriers to the other one are open* which means that unless you’re there by 8 am you are screwed. The best shot is to “stalk” somebody who’s walking to their car and wait for them to leave. Which I did. Of course I’m not a complete asshole so I waited at the side of the driveway so the other cars could pass, signalling with my blinker that I was waiting for that space.
Of course when the other person drove out of that space, somebody passed me and took it. I yelled at him that this was outrageous and drove off to find another place, getting more and more nervous about being on time because fuck yeah, if you need to beg for a place, being late is not your friend.
As I stood there waiting for another place, the guy who had taken “my” place approached me, apologised several times because he had simply not noticed that I was waiting there, tried to invite me for a coffee to make up for it and even offered to vacate the place again so I could park there. I thanked him for apologising and declined his offer. Of course the whole episode wrecked my nerves even more, but it was nice that somebody was:
-not being an asshole on purpose
-actually sorry about having been thoughtless.
*usually access is limited to people who work there or students who live so far away that it is not reasonable to get there by public transport
Rowan
Bramble is looking so good! How is she doing? Still improving? And the wee-flea-thing is adorable :)
Boo for colds and other virii, *hugs* for Dalillama.
Rowan
The Wee-flea-thing has funny eyes, and I wouldn’t trust anything that’s trying to bite the hand that feeds it! ;)
And Bramble is one sexy cat. Gorgeous! Love the contrasting colours (xir eyes, the fuchsia floor).
Giliell
I’ll admit that I’ve gotten more vicious with parking spots here, but passing someone in line is something that I find even more abhorrent than looming too close to an about-to-empty parking spot. (And oh, the side-eyes we give each other as two or more of us wait to see where that one space will open up… I swear, for a high adrenaline and extremely suspenseful reality show, someone needs to develop “Parking Space”.)
I’m glad Person was decent enough to apologize, though. That doesn’t happen often.
The future of Toronto. One of them, anyway.
Re parenting stuff:
People complaining about In-Laws wanting to babysit all the time is (how shall I put it mildly) annoying. If someone said that to me I might have a few choice words in reply.
I guess as children get older they are more likely to stay over at friends so there’s potential to have more couple/alone time. At the moment we have a reasonable routine going: I get up and have breakfast, get my daughter up and ready and take her to nursery on the way to work. My wife picks her up on the way home and meanwhile I have tea ready for when they arrive. This works well. However, in less than two years time daughter will start school. We still have no clue how the logistics will work then as the school hours are shorter than nursery. I know all parents face this, but everyone has to find their own solution. Also, there are more school holidays than days that we have off from work, so additional complication. Grumble grumble.
Rowan kitties are looking good. I home wee-flea-thing pulls through okay and finds a good home.
Boo for Dalillama’s cold.
Clothes replicators would make potty-training an lot less messy!
bassmike
Oh, I have another idea, something Mr. and I do occasionally: Since your daughter is in daycare, try to take a day off together and just use the morning/afternoon for a thermal bath, shopping, a nice lunch, etc.
We noticed that we can do that occasionally without needing anybody else to take care of the kids.
bassmike
Ooooh, the school hours / holidays quandary!
We’re heading slowly into that territory. This year is fine, since I’m still at home for regular work hours, so I can collect Eldest from school no problem. Next year will be an issue, since he’ll be done around 14.00, but my work is downtown and ends at (earliest) 16.00 (especially if they implement the new electronic sign-in system, boo). So either he becomes a Latchkey Kid (not a fan) or we have to figure out an alternative (again). We’ll probably try and look into some musical / sports activities on school grounds (but after school hours) to keep him occupied. *sigh*
As for holidays, well, if we alternate, I’m sure Husband and I can make it work, and schedule maybe a week of coinciding holidays in the summer – while summer itself is a holiday challenge, considering nobody’s going to let me have 12 weeks off (yeah, that much time over here!).
Giliell
I’m filing away that idea, for when Youngest is finally in daycare next year, too. :)
Giliell you’re obviously thinking the same was as us! We have taken days off to do shopping/downtime. We’re planning another day later this month.
rq when my daughter starts school, things get interesting!
Just as a trial: here’s a photo of the child in question:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3170486/2014-08-10%2010.40.17.jpg
Let me know if you can see the image. She was just about to start baking with Daddy.
rq
We’re lucky in that department: while school ends at 12:35, there’s an after school daycare that takes care of #1 until 5pm and they also offer a holiday program for about half the school holidays (and since they’re run by the city same as the little one’s daycare they even coordinate closing times so I don’t have the problem that one of them is at home during the first 3 weeks of the summer holidays and the other one during the 2nd.)
It’s one of the serious perks I’m looking forward to once I become a real real teacher: no school holiday trouble. I remember that one of my adult students once told me that he was surprised to see that the community holiday programs were often quickly filled by those they were not made for: Double income families who can and do afford two weeks of holiday in Spain. Until someone pointed out that nobody gets six weeks of holidays during the school holidays.
+++
The easiest way to make my husband despair is to buy the same pair of socks for each of the girls and me, only in different sizes *muah-ha-ha*
bassmike
I cannot see the image of the child in question. :(
Giliell
Ha, I bought the same set of socks (in different sizes) for myself and Eldest, and unfortunately, I’m the one in despair.
Also, maybe I should just become a teacher. :P
Oh rq . What happens when you try and use the link?
I suppose the correct term would be ‘aquatic sports’ not ‘water sports’, hm?
bassmike
It says the file has errors.
Sometimes this is as stupid as a .JPG ending versus a .jpg ending for my computer.
bassmike – I can see the pic fine; adorable! I love her socks. There’s something about kids’ socks that just tickles me.
Depending on where you live, some places do have after school/school holiday care. Doesn’t help on snow days, but covers things like teacher in-service days and the like. You probably would have to find out and get a slot early, though.
I just can’t even with our elections. Seriously. Ugh.
rq Ah, I guess it’s a question of whether the problem is with the my end or yours. I can open it from the link, but I created it so that makes sense. I don’t know whether anyone else has tried to take a look…….
Thanks Carlie ! She has a fine collection of socks. Much better than my drab sock drawer.
Looking like the issue is your end then rq . If you’re interested I can always email the photo.
Wha… but….. no, wait…. whaaa
Hi, bassmike – I can’t see it either :-(
getting an error message like rq
Nerd, #144
On cue
bassmike
Hmm, well, that is annoying. Feel free to email me, I would love to see it. :) Or can you DM on Twitter?
(And no fair, carlie!)
bassmike
*tee hee*
I finally saw the picture! :) Thanks, so cute!
I can see it now too – very nice! (and I like the don’t-try-to-put-anything-past-me expression :-))))) )
Saad,
It was a huge story over here when a bakery was fined for giving bread and pastries away for free after working jours… because they were working after closing time *facepalm*
@Everyone: Thankee. Wee Flea is currently screaming at me because I made her sleep through the night.
@Toska Bramble is sloooooowly progressing with her symptoms. A little more drag to that left leg, but nothing major. She is crazy hyper kitten who has no idea she has scoliosis and lets all the boycats know that SHE runs the house, thankyouverymuch.
Rowan, yay purrs! Wee Flea Thing is totally cute, too. And Bramble is beautiful.
bassmike, your daughter is adorable.
Dalillama, *sterile hugs and chicken soup and tea*
Speaking of which, need tea NOW. After which I’m going, with great trepidation and caution, to the market. It’ll be the first time I’ve left the property for over a week, let alone driven the car, except for moving it out to the street yesterday.
Rowan:
Wee-flea thing is totes adorable.
****
bassmike:
Your daughter looks like she’s ready to take charge. So cute.
****
Seattle cops sue, claiming they have a constitutional right to use excessive force. They need to change the saying from “To serve and protect” to something that more accurately reflects their current role.
Tony, #273
Wait, it’s called EXCESSIVE force for a reason. The clue is in the title. How can anyone argue they have a right to use excessive force?
Thanks to everyone for their comments on the photo of my daughter. She is becoming VERY independent!
Tony! USA has long since moved from worrying to scary. As Saad says when it comes to excessive force: ‘The clue is in the title’. And as for your election…… Finding someone decent to vote for in the UK is difficult enough, but I would truly struggle over there.
Woman in New Zealand creates her own video to document catcalling. It was nothing like the Hollaback video.
I drove to the market, I walked all around the market, I drove home again. I should add that this was during the rush hour on our main drag, so there was also bumper-to-bumper traffic both coming and going.
I did not get into or cause any accidents, I did not faint or fall down (although I did rather lean on the shopping cart), and I got everything on my list. I got the Younger Daughter to bring in the groceries, though, because the bags were heavy, and she helped put things away. I win.
@Lynna, OM
Thanks for that information on the Mormon Church. I have relatives, including nephews, who are LDS. It makes me sad to see their everyday lives so completely dominated by the church. One is just starting his mission, just a few months after graduating high school.
I saw a movie last night that I want to recommend. It’s a horror film, and very gory, but oddly empowering. (I know, I’m weird).
It’s called American Mary, and it stars Katherine Isabelle, who I love as Margot Verger in the Hannibal series. She’s the reason I initially wanted to watch it.
*Spoiler alert AND trigger warning:
Mary is a medical student. She is struggling and strapped for cash and can’t pay her bills so she applies at a strip club. But the owner asks her instead, because of her resume (yes she brought a resume), if she could stich up someone since she was training to be a surgeon. She does such a good job, word gets out to people in the extreme body modification scene, and they start calling her for work.
Trigger warning part: Mary is a great student and her professor encourages her academically. Another instructor she is doing residency for asks her if she would like come to a party with some of the top surgeons at the hospital. She’s flattered to be asked and decides to go. When she arrives she is handed a drink by her instructor. The med school professor sees her and starts chatting with her and she finishes her drink. The instructor hands her another and after a few sips she starts to see double and then becomes semi-unconscious, and the professor takes her into a bedroom and sexually assaults her. It’s disturbing, . For the assault you see her face and reaction and it’s heartbreaking, I only could stand a few seconds and, for all the extreme gore and blood, that’s the part I had to fast forward.
What is even more heartbreaking is knowing that this happens to women on campus all the time, and other places, by well-respected men (ahem). This film really brought the point home. And something amazing about this film, zero victim-blaming. Not even hinted at. Mary, like a lot of women who are sexually assaulted, drops out of school because of it. And she goes into body modification full time.
That’s all I’ll give away about the film. Like I said, it is a horror film and is bloody and gory, and there is a rape scene, but it was practically feminist in its message. Strange, I know.
Cracked doing mythbusting about sex ed.
And the awesome OhJoySexToy now has a book out.
I wouldn’t have thought that, “To watch the *insert opposing political party*s’ heads explode”, was an adequate reason to vote for someone disastrously unsuitable for a position of responsibility and authority….
–
*chikkensoop* for Dalillama.
–
Rowan, I would not say that Flea-Kitteh is funny-looking. And Bramble is a very handsome figure of a feline.
–
Tony!:
*nodding*
Something more along the lines of, “Kneel before Zod!”?
–
Very gentle skritches to Wee Flea and Bramble, and cheers for the awesomeness that is Rowanvt’s skill and care.
Tea/tisanes and non-contact transatlantic hugs to Dalillama.
Musical Interlude: City: Am Fenster
One of the greatest songs ever.
If those of you who speak some German think that your language knowledge has failed you, don’t worry, it’s very poetic language.
Also
I NEED YOUR HELP
Nothing big, nothing serious.
Remember that thesis of mine? I’m looking for short statements of women who read Tamora Pierce’s books as young adults on what the books meant for you, how they made you think, how they influenced you.
Really short, not much more than what I’ve written now.
Giliell
I can write my sister and ask for such a statement.
Dalillama
That would be great! I’d need something like her first name and age to go with it, if that’s OK?
Also, get well soon! *hands cristalized ginger*
SpaceX versus Virgin Galactic:
Those books are largely responsible for me being who I am (Along with Garth Nix, and Anne Mccaffrey). Unfortunately, I’m not a woman, but I can sling your request off to my sister and see if she’ll contribute.
cicely
Yea, the bad election news has been legion. Pennsylvania’s governor race being one of the only bright spots.
…
Oh right, the questionnaire is new since I posted last. Well. I have to say that I come in on the “everything is delicious” side of the Great Barrier Rifts. I like to eat. I’m currently going through a pot of macaroni and cheese made with cheddar and blue cheeses, and with some veggies thrown in, including peas.
Miracle Whip, I must admit, was a stretch when I first encountered it. And I’ve never eaten horse. That I know of. (Also, re horses, before any napalm is launched, please check for farriers. I would miss my little brother, and I hope the napalm would miss him too. He may be a collaborator, but he’s family.)
Anne
Yay for feeling better and getting out!
carlie, bassmike, rq, opposablethumbs, Giliell
Re: parenting. I’m single, never had kids, but I find the parenting threads here interesting, mostly for the insight into the adult relationships. Have any of you seen Are you the default parent? (Found at http://www.metafilter.com/144189/the-default-parent). I’m in the middle of reading the comments at MeFi.
Gilliel
I read Tamora Pierce’s series! Besides just being really good fantasy novels with engaging, kick-ass heroines of several different stripes, they encouraged me to think about female sexuality at a time in my life when I was in a fundamentalist christian community. The Song of the Lioness series addressed female puberty, such as the heroine getting her first period when she didn’t know what it meant. And it also included use of contraception as the heroine grew up and started having sexual relationships.
I read these books in high school, and my school taught abstinence only sex ed, and my church taught ridiculous anti-sex messages to us. These books were one of the only places in my life where discussions about contraception were taking place, and even though it was magical, not applicable in the real world contraception, it left an impact on me, and it’s a major thing that stands out when I think of those books now.
Sick. Sick as a dog. And now I have to attend our annual tenure & promotion meeting to defend a colleague. FOR FOUR HOURS. This is inhumane.
I might die.
Have some grog flavored tea. No alcohol in it.
PZ
Pass it on.
That’ll learn ’em.
PZ
chigau’s advice seems sound. Alternatively, I hope it’s just a quick, passing virus that will leave you as soon as possible.
Giliell
I only read Tamora Pierce’s books last year, so I think I don’t qualify for your survey. :) (Although if you need me to, I can write a couple of lines.)
PZ, sorry to hear that. I suppose you could always faint, gracefully and in a swanlike, sorry, squidlike manner. If you aren’t up to that, start making horking noises, like you’re about to throw up. You know, like your cat does when she has a hairball. That ought to end the meeting in short order.
Seriously, take care of yourself. The flu this season is a nasty one.
Just got my flu shot today, when I picked up another prescription. Since this was “wellness”, the insurance covered it.
PZ,
Chicken soup. Oops, you are a vegetarian, right? Then clear vege broth. Lots of it. Feel better soon.
PZ
Sympathies from a fellow sufferer.
Dalillama, you’re at a committee meeting, too?
Not that bad off, fortunately.
Double-metaphor (or double-analogy) shark. Do they mean the hammerhead?
Four hours?! How many people are under discussion??? I’ve never had a four-hour meeting on T&P. All of the legwork has always been done ahead of time, so the meeting itself is more of a formality – even with difficult cases, the twists and turns are all known about before we walk in. I can think of a couple of highly contentious ones, and even those were under two hours.
Hopes for feeling better soon, PZ – maybe you can go to bed early!
Wilbefort – interesting article. I wouldn’t say we have a default parent, but it took awhile for that situation to develop. When the kids were tiny I was definitely default parent, and there are still vestiges of that, some really weird – Spouse has always cooked about 95% of meals, but the kids still, every day, without fail, ask me what’s for dinner, and I have to tell them to go ask dad. There are some areas where I know everything – the pediatrician’s phone number by heart, who got which shots when, but Spouse knows the after-school extracurricular schedule and which teacher at taekwondo means a good night v. a difficult night for Child. Plus, we’re in a situation of having a stay at home dad, which isn’t all that common, so that plays a lot into the even split.
I got out the green beans and sweet potatoes to make a nutritious dinner. Then I got out the giant bag of homemade caramel corn my mom gave me for my birthday.
OMNOMNOM
Yaybahar. WANT! Absolutely.
rq @303:
Heeeey, you’re perusing Colossal too, I see :)
Tony
No, stealing a link from a FB friend who does. :) This time, sadly, not you!
I’m heading for bed, actually. I think I can squeeze in about an hour of sleep.
Having a bad day? Perhaps these adorable images of sea otters will help.
Here’s one for the kitty lovers–Cat town.
(yes, there are photos)
Well, fuck. Aged Mum’s regular handyman swore he could get the permits for her new roof. Turns out, no, not so much. So we need a real contractor, which BiL will do something about tomorrow, and a new estimate, and probably more money. Which means further delay getting her reverse mortgage finalised. Which means that there’s a good chance one or the other of us offspring is going to have to find a few thousand more to keep her care going, somewhere, and we’ve all pretty much drained our savings as it is. Fuckity fuck fucking fuck.
Gaaaaaaahhhhhhh.
I’m going to go admire the shiny list of usefuls I slayed today, maybe pour myself a glass of wine, and try not to think about things I can’t fix.
Anne @307:
::Mega hugs:: I’m sorry. That sounds like a whole lot of stress you certainly don’t need.
Thanks, Tony. At least I’m not the one having to find contractors – BiL is doing all that.
Anne:
I’m sorry :(
I’m glad that you at least have a team effort at helping AM.
*hugs*
Anne
* hugs*
So I’m browsing Ravelry and I see a bag that’s obviously meant to be in the Myers household …
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tentacle-bag
Thanks, everybody. There’s so much “had we but known” , and “if we’d only” in this whole mess, it’s positively nauseating. I’m going to concentrate on what I can do and try not to look any further ahead than that. At least that way I’ll be able to sleep tonight.
*hugs everybody who wants hugs*
It’s been 4½ hours so far, and we’ve got two more cases to evaluate.
Dying. Dying.
carlie
Wasn’t it a great article? I have to say also that I love Metafilter. The discussion there really helped me understand the article in ways I can’t as a single man within my own experience. It was fascinating to see men come into the discussion who wanted to talk about their own efforts to be full parenting partners, and how often that devolved into #notalldads, and the responses from women when that happened.
I would hate to be those two.
The whole committee must be baked by now.
Home at last. Dead.
Sleep well, PZ.
Shooting at a mosque in Coachella may be a hate crime:
Spencer’s gifts sells a tr*anny inflatable doll.
I just emailed them a piece of my mind.
So I’ve been feeling bitter and defensive and emotionally raw the last few months.
I mean, more than usual.
I got invited along on a thing my girlfriend’s family was doing, after a wedding reception for friends of hers, that involved a couple overnight stays in a rented house. I…wasn’t my best self, and I just feel hollow now. :(
I do have a new patient intake appointment with a highly rated psychiatrist in my area, but it’s not until early January. :/ I have some sense, at least, of what’s wrong (looked at the Atypical Depression symptom list and pretty much went “yup.”)
Not sure how to tell her without coming off like I’m just making excuses. :(
Also, money’s tight in a relative kind of way, the internal dynamics at my company make my work deeply unsatisfying and leave me with far too little to do, most of the time, to justify what I make, which is kind of horrible for taking myself seriously and assertivizing others to do the same (and yet anywhere I’d want to go would mean taking a pay cut, which would be…kind of inconvenient with the debt I have built up), and I live in a country that decided to collectively stick a fork in a toaster, and will live under the government they deserve for at least two more years. >.>
And my spawn is having horrible behavior problems lately.
I can has hibernate? :(
Azkyroth
Ugh. Hopefully things look up for you soon.
Just hit the end of my rope with the downstairs neighbors and went out and spoke sharply to them about their unwillingness to learn to close a damn door. They tried to claim that the door can’t be closed quietly (a lie, the last several tenants down there were able to manage), and then called me a homophobic slur, which just made me that much happier to have to share a building with these assholes.
Azkyroth
*hugsifyouwantthem*
I’m not an expert, so feel free to take my words with a grain of salt, but I think you make it clear that you are not making excuses because you are searching for solutions. You aren’t saying, “I looked up these Atypical Depression symptoms, and they fit, so deal with it.” I don’t think it sounds like you’re making excuses if you explain that you’re going through something but you’re trying to get help.
But really, disregard my comment if it’s not helpful or if it’s too invasive. I have problems with depression also, and nothing exacerbates it more than when I’m less than friendly with friends or coworkers and then hate myself for it later. I wish I could offer more than sympathy and hugs.
*hugs* for Dalillama and Azkyroth.
I’d love to hibernate my way to a new planet, too. Perhaps ride a comet around the sun for a while, that sounds like fun.
I’m sorry to hear about your problems Dalillama & Azkyroth I hope you both see improvements soon.
Anne I also hate having to all that sudden responsibility. I never wanted to be an adult.
Tony! that doll is…. well I don’t have the words.
Giliell @283. I like the song. I have one complaint: where’s the bass player??
rq the musical instrument is intriguing. I’m not quite sure how it would fit with an ensemble.
PZ I hope you feel un-dead soon. Hmmm maybe that could be interpreted wrongly. Get better soon.
*hugs* Azkyroth. You can tell her you’re sorry for how you acted, and that you are not happy with how you acted either, and that you’re going to see a professional about trying to change your behavior. You don’t have to tell her that you think it’s depression, or that you think that’s the cause of how you’re acting, and that way it shouldn’t sound like making excuses.
Heya
Managed to drag my sorry ass to the swimming pool this morning
I hate my monkey brain. Whenever I’m getting regular exercise I notice how much I like it and how much good it does me (sounds counter intuitive, but yes, doing more actually gives me the power I need to do things in the first place), but once I break my routine it takes me ages to start again.
jste
That would be really great
you or she can shoot me a mail at giliell ÄT yahoo DOT de
toska
Thank you, too. Would you share your first name, age and state with me in a mail? Address see above.
Azkyroth, Dalillama and PZ
hugs if you want them.
bassmike
I don’t know, maybe they’ve been sick with a cold for the last 40 years?
Anne
I keep forgetting – I have a YAY!! on hold for you for yesterday’s productivity, and also a really cool hideaway that no one will see *shifty eyes* where you can hide out for a bit, because everyone knows that if you ignore things, they will just go away. And *hugs*.
Azkyroth:
I second carlie and toska.
*hugs*
Sorry bout all the crappy things.
Dalillama:
Sheesh, what assholes. I’m sorry. *hugs*
Birth of planets revealed in astonishing detail in ALMA’s ‘best image ever’ http://phys.org/news/2014-11-birth-planets-revealed-astonishing-alma.html
Wow!
— — —
Casting light on the Internet’s shadows (and shadowing) http://phys.org/news/2014-11-internet-shadows-shadowing.html
— — —
The worst sword and sorcery film ever? (it is is available on Netflix) http://freethoughtblogs.com/almostdiamonds/2014/11/03/mock-the-movie-wizard-liotta-edition/#comments -Worse than the Conan films? Surely not?
— — —
Long-acting anti-meth treatment demonstrates protective benefits for meth addiction http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-long-acting-anti-meth-treatment-benefits-meth.html
Why Cats Are So Drawn to Boxes
http://www.slate.com/blogs/business_insider/2014/11/04/why_are_cats_so_drawn_to_boxes_dr_stephen_zawistowski_of_the_aspca_explains.html
Much needed good news to counter the general awfulness of the world:
Discovery may revolutionise diabetes treatment http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-discovery-revolutionise-diabetes-treatment.html
Thanks, everybody. Special thanks to rq for the yays and the special seekrit hiding place, where I will be shortly.
Is there any incident that doesn’t get Truthered these days? I stumbled across some Parliament Hill shooting Truther videos on YouTube this morning while looking for the old theme to CBC’s The National.
Azkyroth:
I hope things turn around for you sooner than later.
****
Dalillama:
It’s like your neighbors simply don’t care that they’re not the only ones living in that building. Such insensitive assholes.
****
Giliell @327:
I think I know how you feel. It’s been over a year and a half since I’ve worked out. I used to be a big gym goer and I really enjoyed it. Without a car or reliable transportation, I haven’t worked out at all since then. I can’t imagine how hard it’s going to be to start back up with that routine broken.
I hope Crip Dyke and Inaji are doing well. I’ve not seen them around in a while.
Inaji has been posting on her blogs, Needled and Deck Birds. She’s got a really gorgeous embroidered dragon in progress.
Dalillama @193:
Quite true. It’s just that I hear “whore of Babylon” more from the mormons.
Now every rightwing religious doofus, no matter of what stripe, is teaming up with the Catholics to condemn gay marriage. And they are spending the tithes and donations of their members to do so. Some of the members, even mormons, are slowly edging away from the condemn-the-gays agenda. Most of the leadership is still committed.
John Oliver’s stand-up show is coming to Atlanta for any fellow Georgians here interested.
Does anyone have a recipe or hints on roasting a duck that has been origamied into Klein Bottle shape?
Tonight’s dinner, despite being securely nailed, glued, stapled, and welded to a slab of British Industrial Cheddar — a much more robust worksurface than the usual ones made of Neutron Star stuff, or peas, albeit with a tendency to swallow the Universe — is quacking up a storm. It’s very irritating. I was trying to decide what to stuff the duck with, and have basically decided to stuff it with itself. Head into its arse via the nostrils and wormhole, hence the expected Klein Bottle result.
Send one of the zebrafishys. No-one will notice the difference.
(Thinks about it a bit more…)
Well, Ok, they might: The different number of tentacles, lasers, and eyestalks could be noticed…
I have a loud, soon to be 4D-folded, duck I could send you. It probably won’t make you feel any better, but it will keep yer mind whatever else ails you.
Your proposed modifications will effectively decrease both the surface area and the surface-to-volume ratio. I suggest lowering the temperature slightly and extending the cooking time.
Saad @339:
You’re in GA? Cool. Perhaps someday when my financial circumstances improve we could meet up. I’ve been stuck in Florida far too long, and I need to get out. It’s been 5 years since Micah died. Prior to his death, we were travelling freaks, and Atlanta was one of our favorite places.
@Giliell – My mother sent me one of those list books that have moulded you things a few months back, and I immediately mentioned Tamora Pierce to her. Are you looking for people from just the US or is UK relevant to you?
theoreticalgrrl @278:
You are welcome. “Dominated by the church” is not too strong a phrase. That’s exactly what it’s like. Oddly, mormons think it is sad to see people like me not being dominated by the church.
As for the boy starting his mission, that’s really bad. Worse than the usual domination. Moreover, he or his parents are paying a monthly fee (usually about $400) to the church for the whole 2 year mission. Supposedly, the kids volunteer, but the pressure to go on a mission is so great that some young men commit suicide rather than go. Others may join the armed forces (a sort of, but not really, okay excuse to skip the mission). Young men and women who come home early from a mission as a result of mental or physical issues are looked down upon by most of their mormon community.
Mormon missionaries are often treated badly during the time that they serve, and they are simultaneously trained to snitch on each other. It is godawful. Here are some reference links:
http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Missions-the-best-two-years
http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Pressured-to-go-on-mission
BTW, some mormon missionaries will tell you that they enjoyed learning a second language and traveling. So, not bad for all, but bad for most.
Good reference for a discussion of how the mormon church micromanages the lives of its members:
http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/A-Mormons-Life-is-Micro-Managed
Here’s a good discussion of present day mormon missionaries trying like hell to get out of the mission field in order to go home:
http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Currently-serving-missionary
And here:
http://exmormon.org/d6/drupal/Mormon-Mission-to-Japan-Steve-Benson
Steve Benson is an excellent writer, a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, and the grandson of a now-dead mormon prophet. He knows what he’s talking about.
Rachel Maddow injected a dose of reality into the “let’s compromise” post-election talk:
Link.
This video segment shows Republicans hosting a press conference under a large banner that reads, “Stop Obama, Fire Reid.” So, yeah, that’s the real agenda.
A great look at Jian Ghomeshi and the by-stander effect, with some specific, practical and good suggestions at the end:
In other news, how the ichthyosaur got its fins. From water to land back to water – isn’t this a cycle tortoises and turtles keep repeating?
And a Scandinavian book about death and dealing with it for children – The Flat Rabbit. I want!
Tony, #343
I’d love to start traveling too. Gets put off each time I start planning. It’d be nice to hang out if you’re ever here. Do a lot of people here know each other in meatspace?
Saad @349:
I know that some of the people here have met one another, but I think by and large the commentariat has only interacted online.
By the way, since folks like to talk about female authors and protagonists… stay far far away from S. L. Viehl’s Stardoc series. The blurbs for it say *Strong Female Characters!* but they don’t mention the rape apologia built into said strong female characters. I don’t usually refuse to finish interesting SF books, but no way in hell am I finishing these. Maybe I can donate them to a rat rescue somewhere for chewtoys.
Saad
I have met opposablethumbs, Esteleth and CaitieCat, with a near-miss with carlie. I know others have met more / more often, either via personal travel or events.
It’s pretty awesome to meet people from here in real life, too. A bit anxiety-inducing (because all the ‘what ifs?’) but totally worth it. In my admittedly-limited experience so far.
Finally caught up with Doctor Who. (Dark Water)
Well.
I don’t think I’m paranoid to think Missy is a fuck you to feminist critics.
If you’re paranoid to think that, then at least we can be so together. First thing I thought. Even Craig thought it was a bit obvious. :/
What an asshole Moff is.
It was a perfectly executed fuck you, to make us look like assholes for complaining, while giving us oh so much to complain about.
I will now be bothered by this for a while.
katybe
I think I can smuggle in the occasional Brit ;)
As my primary texts are American it shouldn’t matter that much since the topics are pretty much western world universal.
Wow, folks, I’m seriously getting started on things. Scary shit that is.
Oh, also, I think I saw the cooles double name on a door today. It was, translated literally, Ms. Fool-People
On mormons and politics — telling details concerning how the mormon church controls politics in Utah and beyond. This is a cross post from the “Just write off America …” thread.
Part of the story behind Utah’s solidly far-right conservative voting patterns: mormon bishops don’t think you can be a good mormon and a Democratic Party supporter.
That’s an interview question that bishops ask mormons seeking a “Temple Recommend,” or permission to enter a Mormon temple
Link.
Beatrice:
re: Doctor Who
I’ve only watched a few episodes, but I’m always interested in the intersectional-feminist critiques. If it’s not too much trouble, can you (with spoiler warnings?) explain how Moffat was a douchebag this time?
Portia,
There is no way to explain without spoiling the episode for you. Or were you worrying about spoiler warnings for others?
I sent Portia an email explaining.
CaitieCat,
You saved me from myself. I could go on and on when I start about something.
But hey, I apparently work better when my mind is jumping from Doctor Who to PZ’s illness to reports. I only spent three hours today figuring this thing out, and now I I got it in two minutes.
That actually makes me angry.
Also, I should really go to sleep. But I want to finish this today so that we can test it tomorrow and then maybe MAYBE have a free weekend.
Beatrice:
I meant spoiler warning for others ^_^ Thank you.
I’ll read Cait’s email now.
Giliell
Email sent. Subject is Tamora Pierce. Hope it’s useful for you!
Portia,
Ok, sorry, I’m slow today.
I’m sure CaitieCat covered everything I would say, we seem to have similar opinions on this.
Giliell
I sent you an email. Let me know if it doesn’t make it to you. I hope it helps!
Grrrr…Hulk Smash!
6th Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional.
Lovely, human rights are up for a vote. The majority gets to decide who gets rights and who doesn’t. I guess we know how these judges would have voted on women’s right to vote or interracial marriage.
Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey wrote the dissent:
And fucking goddamn Mark Regnerus testified. That fucking fuckstain. Arrggh!
At least the anti-marriage equality lot know that the trend is against them, and they will lose in the end. I’m just sorry it’s taking so long.
@Giliell (#283)
I loved the Alanna books so much as a girl, I would ask for swords and bows and arrows for birthdays/Christmas. And when I didn’t get them, I’d make my own out of aluminum tubing or curtain rods or broken off car antennas. (I’m 37 now.)
~*~*~*~*~*~
Pteryxx (#351)
I read a lot of those for some reason. They were total garbage. And the main character is just ohhh soooo speshulllll. She’s like the sci-fi version of a typical paranormal romance heroine. Gag.
Rose McGowan says “Gay men are more misogynistic than straight men.
That was an unsupported assertion. Does she have proof that gay men are more misogynistic than heterosexual men? I’d like to see that proof.
McGowan’s point also falters by casting all gay or bisexual men in a bad light, as if none of us advocates for feminist issues. Hold on a second…
….goes to check mirror…yup.
Still gay.
Still feminist.
Looks up at Dalillama, gworroll, and Thomathy, yup, they’re in the LGBT community, identify as men, and support feminism*. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the four of us aren’t the only ones. So McGowan’s comments were too extreme.
That said, I think there’s some truth to what she says. No, I don’t have any hard evidence, but it’s not unreasonable to think that a lot of gay or bisexual men are not advocating for women’s rights. And yes, with the overlap between Gay Rights and Feminism, more gay/bisexual men should be advocating for women’s rights. I mean FFS, many of the insults directed at gay/bisexual men are intended to impugn our masculinity and insinuate that we’re less than men, ergo women (or woman-like).
McGowan later apologized for her statement
She went too broad with her statement, but her point has merit.
I left some comments at the second link bc boy oh boy, she was criticized by several gay men who either seemed unable to grasp her larger point, or who played the “egalitarianism is better than feminism” argument.
*I don’t mean to imply that other gay or bisexual men at Pharyngula aren’t feminists. These were the people who immediately sprung to mind.
This is big.
Women, Action & the Media is partnering with Twitter in an effort to reduce gender based harassment.
DJ Grothe, the extent to which organizations like the Human Rights Campaign have put gay men front and center and kind of left lesbians, bi, and other queer people out, that whole ‘EWW VAGINAS ARE ICKY LOL” thing…
In nifty news, a friend from work is in a production of Die Fledermaus and has given L and I tickets for next Thusrday.
Dang, having a firewall war here at home between a program and NetBarrier. NetBarrier keeps closing an incoming port, which must remain open for a Redhead task. This cropped up after the latest “upgrades” of OS and NetBarrier, but is intermittent. Except tonight. Had to turn off the firewall to get the program to work right. Don’t have the energy to debug this at the moment.
*offers hugs to everybody* I had a pretty decent day, so I have hugs and to spare.
Mah friend’s kitteh loves water.
Army says it’s ok to use the word ‘negro’.
How many black people did they consult on this?
I know there are some Danes floating around here, so I’ll just leave a link for Gender equity in the Natural Sciences. It’s a one-day event, on December 1st, at the University of Copenhagen. Deadline for sign-up is November 25th.
Tony!
I’d imagine the answer is “zero”.
Now, I can see okaying the word negro for use in historical contexts and in general to accommodate older service records, because they’re not going to go back and review (and retcon) all the early-to-mid-twentieth-century records and reports that might contain the word, and that’s valid. (I feel that discussion of the actual word in question gets an automatic pass.)
But “negro” as an every-day used-in-casual-conversation thing? That seems really “iffy”, and that’s at absolute, most-charitable-interpretation best.
I think the safest thing to do would be to quietly shuffle “negro” into the “historic use only” bin.
I think the Latvian foreign minister just tanked his career. Seriously, he is the first Latvian politician to ever come out. We also have one openly gay journalist. No lesbians, though, sadly.
Cue homophobia and equations with pedophilia.
But he’s also about the only public figure I know so far who has publicly (even on social media) stated that he supports (or would support) legislation for marriage equality.
Girl Tips #5: Special Edition Courtesy of Guys.
Kudos to Latvian fforeign minister.
I don’t like new(ish) colleague. I tjink he’s mocking me and whatever his intentions are he sounds condescending and patronizing.
Hi everybody. Longtime pharyngula reader here, never posted before though.
I have a question that I could think of no better forum to answer than the commentariat here. Me and my wife regularly donates a little money to organisations such as Amnesty International and the WWF. Due to some happy economic circumstances I´m looking for a feminist/equlality organisation to support regularly. Some googling has only resulted in finding “Equality Now”, which seems like a serious and effective NGO that adresses a number of issues concerning gender discrimination and misogynia.
Does anyone have any knowledge of wether this is an organisation worth donating to, or the name of any other feminist/equality/LGBTQ-rights groups accepting donations and using them effectively?
Good morning
Thank you all for your replies, I got your mails, jste and toska, thank you both and thanks to your sister, too.
And now I’ll go and put everything into one file before I go looking for the stuff when I actually need it and spend 3 hours with it. I just recently spent 30 minutes of increasingly panicky searching because I had misplaced a file on my harddrive.
+++
Kudos to the Latvian foreign minister
+++
Next time a fundie claims Hell is a real place and not an analogy, tell him/her that, yes, it *was* a real place, only, the fundies are 2000 million years too late.
“Rare 2.5-billion-year-old rocks reveal hot spot of sulfur-breathing bacteria” http://phys.org/news/2014-11-rare-billion-year-old-reveal-hot-sulfur-breathing.html
The origins of multicellular life http://phys.org/news/2014-11-multicellular-life.html
Reproducing the process in the lab.
Giant pink condom rolled out in Sydney http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-giant-pink-condom-sydney.html
.
Jon Stewart describes Democratic Party’s midterm strategy as ‘D*ckless H. Chickensh*t’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/jon-stewart-describes-democratic-partys-midterm-strategy-as-dckless-h-chickensht/ “It’s like Democrats came up with this plan to produce Springtime for Hitler. But only because they really thought it was a good f*cking play.”
I have found the core to America’s political problems!
” Denying problems when we don’t like the political solutions” http://phys.org/news/2014-11-denying-problems-dont-political-solutions.html
.
Memories of 1984: the massacres of Sikhs in India http://freethoughtblogs.com/nirmukta/2014/10/31/memories-of-1984/
.
The acid test: Can you dissolve a body completely? http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22429940.900-the-acid-test-can-you-dissolve-a-body-completely.html
Goddammit! I have to go back and dispose of all those remains in a safer way.
Complete 9,000-year-old frozen bison mummy found in Siberia http://phys.org/news/2014-11-year-old-frozen-bison-mummy-siberia.html
Calling doctor Pääbo!
.
Yes! Alzheimer’s drug sneaks through blood–brain barrier http://www.nature.com/news/alzheimer-s-drug-sneaks-through-blood-brain-barrier-1.16291
.
Is your religion ready to meet ET? http://phys.org/news/2014-11-religion-ready.html Meh. The Mormons will promptly recruit Jar-Jar Binks. And tell him to donate all his money.
rq, #381
Don’t read the comments.
Don’t read the comments.
Don’t read the comments.
Don’t read the comments.
You read the comments, didn’t you? I warned you.
Tony, #378
At least as many as the number of gay people the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals did.
News from Britain:
.
“The Mash guide to Labour’s leadership challengers”:
-ED Miliband is facing challenges to his leadership for the first time since he was elected by mistake in 2010. But who are the men and women hoping to be loathed slightly less than David Cameron? http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/the-mash-guide-to-labours-leadership-challengers-2014110792551
“Best way to get pesticides banned is to claim they’re legal highs” http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/environment/best-way-to-get-pesticides-banned-is-to-claim-theyre-legal-highs-2014110792579
“Secret Santa exposed as major money laundering scheme” http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2014/11/06/secret-santa-exposed-as-major-money-laundering-scheme/
If You’re Still Upset About Midterm Elections, Here Is A Cute Video Of Pandas
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/06/rachel-maddow-pandas-midterm-election-results-msnbc_n_6113974.html
.
‘Mythbuster’ Adam Savage’s levelheaded response to #GamerGate: ‘Sh*t’s tough for girls’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/mythbuster-adam-savages-levelheaded-response-to-gamergate-shts-tough-for-girls/
Billy Joel Sings ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ On Upcoming Paul McCartney Tribute Album http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/07/billy-joel-sings-maybe-im-amazed_n_6119266.html
.
The $9 Billion Witness: Meet JPMorgan Chase’s Worst Nightmare http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-9-billion-witness-20141106
May the greedy bastards crash and burn.
Have you all seen the #readergate tweets prompted by Tauriq Moosa’s article on harassment?
Some of them are hilarious!
Oops, did I mess up by including the Twitter links? I just copied and pasted whatever showed up in the embedding option.
WMDKitty @380:
Agreed on everything you said.
****
I just stumbled upon an old article at a site called ‘Men and Feminism’. Men get a virtual taste of sexual harassment
sawbones79 @384:
I’m not familiar with very many organizations, but I do know about the Ada Initiative, which…heck, I’ll let them explain it:
They’re also an organization that PZ (and many of the commentariat) supports, as can be seen here, here, here, and here.
Welcome to the Lounge, and thanks to you and your wife for choosing to donate to charitable organizations!
Good morning – may I offer hugs to those who would like to have them?
Lynna, OM, I will now have to spend the rest of the week reading on that website… exmormon.org… sounds pretty interesting.
Has anyone ever worked with/dealt with a person who has Narcissistic Personality Disorder? We have a family member with this tentative diagnosis from the doctor, who is following up and doing more interviews with the person in question to try and nail it down even further. This person has become nearly impossible to deal with. The strategies we’ve been trying have not worked. We are not real sure what to do, we hope the doctor will have helpful suggestions but would welcome any suggestions from anyone with experience in this area.
For something happy to say, I began a batch of Cabra al Vino today, which is a type of goat cheese soaked in wine. It was first made in Spain. Smart people, those Spanish! The wine soaking makes aging this cheese less problematic as well as rendering the cheese tasty and aesthetically pleasing.
My ex hasn’t been diagnosed but appears to display some of the traits. I found this useful in making sense of her, and I think there are some good books on Amazon.
Brace yourselves, folks. Obama is about to nominate Loretta Lynch for AG. We may be hearing just a little bit about how he’s picking yet another person of color. Never mind that it would be just fine for white presidents to pick white attorney generals over and over and over.
[Insert handwringing boilerplate about how people who compulsively destroy the lives around them for no comprehensible reason are the REAL victims here.]
Saad
I actually didn’t read the comments because I didn’t have time, but NOW I won’t read them at all. Thank you for your sacrifice!
Bat Signal for the mildly deranged penguin.
In case anyone needs some soothing random noise this weekend, have some people editing things: Listen to Wikipedia (Warning, the volume’s full on by default)
Thank you so much, Azykroth Drinked the Grammar Too :) that is much appreciated! I will read that link and then look for books. We’ve been checking online sites and these have helped us see why the doctor made that diagnosis… it really does seem to fit, but this is an extreme case (we were told) and highly unusual so extra checking is being done.
*chikken™soop* for Our Squidly Overlord. Unfortunately, I have no fast-and-easy Cure for the Common Committee Meeting to offer.
(Note that “chikken™” may denote a chicken-tasting, but not-necessarily-animal-based, substance.)
(It is “organic”, however.
Lotsa carbon.)
–
*hugs* for Anne. I’m sorry about the roofing snafu.
May the undesirable side-effects be minimal.
–
Tony!:
Ya think???
*in tones of Heavy Sarcasm*
(None of this “skim” stuff.)
–
*hugs or other appropriate gestures of comfort/support/solidarity for Azkyroth*
–
*hugs* also for Dalillama; I’m sorry that your downstairs neighbors are assholes.
–
322
Birger @395:
That’s an amazing article. Reminds of me of Matt Taibbi’s work for Rolling Stone before Matt rolled into another job. Not quite as piquant in terms of prose style, but still damned good.
It’s astounding how much injustice Jamie Dimon’s money bought. He got a slap on the wrist for basically mugging almost an entire nation.
BTW, in comment #409 I wasn’t clear about Matt Taibbi: he wrote that article we are discussing. His departure from Rolling Stone either didn’t last, and/or he is still writing for them on the side.
I still think Taibbi’s style has undergone a tone adjustment. It’s as little less wild.
This interesting tidbit is from the readers comments section below the Rolling Stone article to which Birger linked (#395), and on which I commented (#409 and #410):
The Pullet Patrol™ gives it their seal of approval.
Lynna, Taibbi is still writing for Rolling Stone? The Husband will be pleased to hear that. He was sorry to see Taibbi leave.
Ah, here’s the backstory on Matt Taibbi:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/matt-taibbi-rolling-stone-jpmorgan
Matt Taibbi is one of my favorite investigative journalists. I kept an eye out for new work from him after he left Rolling Stone in February, but … nothing showed up. Another reader summarized this well:
Sounds like Taibbi was right to walk away. Would love it if Rachel Maddow would interview him again.
Anne @413, here are few phrases from the new article Matt Taibbi wrote — just some prose candy for your husband:
Less swearing, but still spicy prose style. Memorable.
Repeat of the link:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-9-billion-witness-20141106
I had planned a slow and restful day, with perhaps a preliminary attempt to start cleaning the clutter off the kitchen counters.
So far, I have cleaned up both counters, reorganised and culled all the spices including the ones in the cupboard, and done the the same with the teas. I discovered a total of four (4!) jars of ground cinnamon, counting the one in the rotating spice rack, two jars of ground white pepper, and a lot of cinnamon sticks. I may know why there are so many cinnamon sticks; the cheap ones are left over from a craft project. I don’t even use white pepper, let alone the pre-ground sort. The Husband must have bought those.
I combined where possible, tossed those that had no smell or smelt bad, and put a strip of masking tape on the long spice rack pointing out that there are more spices in the cupboard, so please check there before buying any. It’s worth a try, but all of us need to stop buying spice blends and weird spices just because they look interesting. Also I found my ticky tomato timer, which was nice.
The teas weren’t as bad, although there are two unopened boxes of peppermint tea I’m giving to Aged Mum. I put a lot of the, um, back stock into plastic baskets which can be pulled out like drawers, and labelled them leaded and unleaded. We do like our tea, and everyone has different favorites.
I’m gonna need a nap after lunch. But first I’m going to look at the teas again; I think I could organise them a bit more efficiently.
Oh, right, cleaning. I should do some more of that.
Thanks, Lynna. He subscribes to RS, so if it’s in the print edition, he’ll see it.
Kill your customers! Profit!! Nissan called on to withdraw dangerous car model from Indian market:
Heretic! Blasphemer!! Blandfoodist!!!
Dalillama:
And my mind went immediately to The Tick.
:)
Enjoy your show!
*to a distant cry of “Spoooooon!”*
–
Hi, sawbones79; Welcome In!
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Rachel Maddow hosted a segment on the rightwing doofuses in Gilbert, Arizona who are planning to tear a page out of an honors biology text. Gilbert is home to lots of mormons, so you have the usual Arizona right-wingers with the added synaptic sludge of mormonism.
Maddow link. Maddow put the offending page online, with its own domain name, and she also posted the “sperm” page that will be collateral damage when the reproductive page is torn out.
blf, it’s because I live within walking distance of a Cost Plus. I get stressed, I walk over there, sometimes with the Elder Daughter. “Ooh, look, Greek spice blend! Thai spice blend! Pink Himalayan sea salt!”. Do we need it? No, but we buy it anyway, figuring we’ll find some use for it some day. The same thing happens at TJ’s, which is why we have a grinding jar of ghost peppers. Too hot even for the Husband.
I think my body is trying to tell me I’ve done too much. I was putting away plastic storage baskets in the proper cupboard, which meant taking out everything on two shelves and reorganising all of it. Then I started to stand up from my crouch, lost my balance and went right over backwards. Landed on my shoulder. No damage done, but I’m still shaky. I think it’s time for lunch and a liedown.
That’s some article Taibbi has. As far as I know the horrible deal Chase cut with the DOJ isn’t *new* news. (Here it is anyway, for background.)
But the key to this story is Fleischmann coming forward.
She’s going public, knowing it will torpedo her own career, in hopes Chase gets held to account.
Footnote – the Chase whistleblower that Cracked wrote about in April is Linda Almonte, who caught Chase falsifying documents so they could sell debt that homeowners didn’t actually owe, and has been unemployed ever since. Separate cover-up.
*debt that credit-card holders didn’t actually owe, pardon me.
Eat the ghost peppers (bhut jolokia). They’ll perk you right up. In fact, you’ll probably be running around, flapping your arms, and making roaring noises like a jetliner about to takeoff.
Tip: Remove them from the jar first. Glass shards ruin the taste.
Stephen Colbert presented a satirical take on Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) as the probable chair of the Senate Environmental Committee. Along the way, Colbert skewers several other Republican politician.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/stephen-colbert-james-inhofe-climate-change
“Yes, everyone who denies man-made climate change has the same stirring message: We don’t know what the fuck we’re talking about!”
“Remember kids, if you get un-hooked on science early, maybe someday you could completely lack any understanding of science and then grow up to be the chairman of the Senate Environmental Committee!”
Pteryxx @425, You’re right to note that the horrible nature of the deal Chase cut with the DOJ is not a new story. Taibbi covered it well in Rolling Stone last year, and in the first two months of this year. However, yes, the info on the new whistleblower, insider witness is new.
Thanks for posting a summary.
There’s a video interview here:
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/11/7/matt_taibbi_and_bank_whistleblower_on
Testing…
em — previews Ok.
strong — previews Ok.
em(strong) — preview borked, no em, only strong.
strong(em) — preview borked, no em, only strong.
i — previews Ok.
b — previews Ok.
b(i) — preview borked, no i, only b.
i(b) — preview borked, no i, only b.
blf,, I think I’ll pass. I’m still getting over last week, and I really don’t need to challenge my digestion any farther.
Steve Benen wrote up a good summary of the latest rightwing attack on Obamacare, the one the Supreme Court has elected to hear (dafuq!?). Here’s an excerpt:
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/supreme-court-decide-whether-gut-obamacare
More on the Supreme Court deciding to hear a case that is designed to gut Obamacare:
New Republic link.
Cleaning? What’s that?
Oh right. It’s something I need to do. ::looks over at three baskets of clean clothes, a hamper full of dirty ones, and a sink full of dirty dishes. Oops. Look at the time. I have to get ready for work. Maybe the elves will get all this done by the time I get home.
Here’s what Sharia-based Islamic activism look like: YouTube video
Watch the asshat confront and harass women on the street for wearing skirts and a gay person for being gay. Then watch him insult the interviewer to her face for being a woman. Him and his buddies form “Sharia patrols” to walk the streets to spread vile shit and misogyny. I remember him from another video I saw a while back where it was a panel of British Muslims from different walk of life. He was odious on that one too.
I don’t know if this his antics should have been covered by the news at all. It seems like it gives him a platform of sorts.
I have a small hoarding problem that has managed to become useful now that I’m finally tossing some things. Recovering gold from electronics.
@Tony 372
Awesome and interesting. I’m going to be studying the responses from gamergaters. I’ve seen evidence that many gamergaters joined twitter only to “fight the war”. This will be something pay attention to because Women, Action & the Media are going to be a target themselves. I can also think of people that will pretend this is an “injustice” in other places too.
@birgerjohansson 387
I saw that and could not help wondering what might be an analogy to “cheating cells” in parts of human society. Assuming that sort of analogy works.
Tony @434, I know all too well the feeling that elves should come in and clean my house while I’m gone. They never do. I think they are spending all their time preening in front of the mirror, polishing their ears, etc. Something should be done about this.
In other news, here is a brief roundup of the growing impeach-the-president storm from the edges of the ragged rightwing.
Ah, the joys of beta testing new technology.
Com Ed recently changed their billing from the end of the month to the middle of the month. No big deal per se, but they also upgraded their meter reading entry software to include voice recognition, rather than just punching the reading in via keypad. I just had the software repeat both our phone number and account number, and say it doesn’t exist. *facepalm*
Guess I get to try tomorrow morning when I may get an actually person, and cost them much more money to obtain my meter reading.
No, no, no. You don’t want elves to do it. They’re evil.
You want the Nac Mac Feegle to do it. And it is indeed best if yer not there when they do, else you too may be scrubbed clean and possibly survive. They are particularly good at cleaning out the liquor cabinet, and will helpfully take away many items and valuables (not necessary small) for further cleaning.
In addition to not being there, you should probably see if the local witch can be there. Else they may just skip the cleaning part, although the liquor, items, and valuables will still be removed so as to no longer bother you with any need for further cleaning.
That’s what happens when you overlook removing the bhut jolokia from the glass jar before eating them. Glass doesn’t really agree with most long pig’s digestive plumbing.
So, it seems like this might be apropos around here.
2oz your favorite Tequila
1oz Kahlua
1oz Green Creme de Menthe
2 ice cubes
I mean, “Spanish Moss cocktail” is a thing already, but I think I fixed the formula. :3
@kestrel
My brother is a textbook narcissistic personality. The problem is they see nothing wrong with their behavior, so actually getting a formal diagnosis is hard, let alone helping them change. It’s a personality trait, not a mental illness, so it can be an impossible situation.
My brother is manipulative and dishonest and doesn’t care about anything that doesn’t affect him personally. He’s lied to immediate and extended family repeatedly when asking for money. I actually gave him a good sum of money and then found out he made up the “emergency” situation to play on my emotions and get me to cave in. When he became physically violent with me and then lied about it (and continues to lie about it to my family to this day), I had to make the decision to have no contact with him.
from Lynna #429, that Democracy Now interview with Taibbi and Fleischmann has a transcript: (That link again)
Anne Kingston has written an extensive article for Macleans, Canada’s equivalent of Time, on the Gian Ghomeshi mess. It seems even without the sexual misconduct allegations Ghomeshi’s behaviour was often questionable, dating as far back as his days in student politics at York University. http://tinyurl.com/oek633k
Remember how the last time I made cream of something soup it came out all flavorless? I just made this recipe for cream of broccoli and it’s fantastic. The only change was that I made the roux as a roux*; the directions there were kind of crap (although the ingredients were ok). Had buttered rye toast with it, which was even better. Perfect lunch for a cold day after a hard week. And it’s super easy – only contains milk and butter, no need to go get cream or half-and-half.
*recipe says to melt butter, then toss in flour and milk and cook all together. Better flavor develops if you melt the butter, get it to frothy stage, add the flour, then cook it together for 5-7 minutes until medium brown, then add the milk slowly and continually in a thin stream while whisking.
Saad
That was one disturbing, disturbing video… It’s like they can’t hear themselves. Good interviewer, though. Sad she got such shabby treatment.
I went out. I had my coffeeshop breakfast, did the TJ’s shopping, got more thistle seed for the goldfinches, and went to some yard sales. Finally, a normal Saturday morning out again. Then I finished reorganising the teas.
I am very tired now. I think that may be the end of my usefuls slayage for the day.
I have a query for the board: We’ve got a line on a new apartment, which looks wonderful, but there are a few things that are making us wonder if it’s a scam; the person renting it is out of town (we’d be subletting a condo), and has a story about a family illness being the reason for an extended stay elsewhere. Now they want to send the lease documents by email, and are insistent on getting the deposit (via western union due to ‘problems with our bank account due to the move’) before sending us the keys, which is both reasonable and suspicious. It feels kind of like a scam now, but if it isn’t we literally cannot afford to pass this up, especially with the neighbors downstairs now.
Sorry, I forgot to ask the actual question: How can I tell if this is potentially legit?
Dalillama, this sounds very much like a scam. The instructions to send payment via Western Union is the warning flag. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Sorry.
Hi, I hope it’s okay to promote Kickstarters here. (Not my own, but it’s close to my heart.)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1303637372/andreja
It’s a documentary about the first fashion model to transition male-to-female in the middle of a successful career. Andreja started out as Andrej Pejic, androgynous male model. She made a name for herself as the first model to do both menswear and womenswear, and was one of Jean Paul Gaultier’s muses. She transitioned this year. The documentary will show what happens next, and whether or not the fashion world will still have a place for her.
From the Kickstarter page:
Through Andreja’s life story, ‘Andrej(a)’ will explore gender issues in-depth around the globe, and the fashion industry and its attitude towards diversity will be a focal point.
From a refugee camp in the Balkans to the world’s biggest runways, from boyhood to androgyny to womanhood, from hiding to the highest level of self-acceptance, this documentary captures an individual whose biggest dream is to live an authentic, happy, and normal life. It is a public struggle by a brave person for the most basic of human needs: to be accepted and respected as the person she has always known herself to be.
Another promo video, with some of the footage that’s been already shot for the documentary.
A scene from the documentary.
The Kickstarter goal has been met, but it’s a bare-bones budget, considering that the production has already traveled to Australia and will later be visiting Serbia. Director Eric Miclette (exec producer of ‘Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word’ on Logo) is forgoing any salary for this project. So if you can spare anything (as little as a dollar), that would be great. Or if you could just pass the link on.
Mmm … why would somebody have problems with their bank account due to moving … ? Unless things are very different on the other side of the pond, of course, but don’t people normally keep the same bank account when they move?
Dalillama, the Western Union thing is a red flag for me – I think it’s most likely a scam.
Teenager cautioned for sending racist tweet (and the article says he may have had his FC season ticket revoked).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-29968520
Seems an appropriate level of response considering his age.
But this kind of response should happen more often, imo.
When are we going to see this kind of response to sexist tweets? It seems it takes a massive campaign of harassment to merit the kind of prompt response that was made to this one racist tweet (and usually – unless the victim has unusual clout – even a massive campaign including threats gets little or no response).
I’m so sad none of these are real movies. They would be the awesomest, and I would watch them. With special appearance by Gollum at #19.
Talk Saxy to Me. I’m wondering if I should put a “AVERT YOUR EYES!!” and “What has been seen, cannot be unseen!!” warning on this, but the element of surprise.. Oh wait, I jsut did. Heh. Click at your own risk!
Iron Sky to have a sequel. With DINOSAURS. O. M. G.
47 million year old pregnant horse found. Dead, of course.
Quick cake. Haven’t tried it, but I want to – apparently works gluten-free, too. Yum?
Blast, damn, and botheration. It is, indeed, a scam, which I have duly reported to as many relevant authorities as I can find, for all the good it will do, and had the ad taken off Craigslist. On the upside, I’ve not given them any money, but fucking hell we need to move, and we need a cheaper fucking place.
Pastors are endorsing candidates and the IRS is looking the other way.
Tax exempt houses of worship are not supposed to intervene in political campaigns — not for specific candidates, and not for specific political parties.
Trigger warning for sexual abuse of children, and for Catholic fuckery.
Huffington Post link.
Newly elected Republican Colorado state representative Gordon Klingenschmitt performs exorcisms of demons, including a supposed demon or demons in President Obama. This amazing rightwing candidate, and others, is exposed by Rachel Maddow for the doofuses they are.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/exorcist-elected-to-colorado-state-house-355334723513
Jerry Mitchell used a “Genius Award,” otherwise known as a MacArthur Grant to fund the time he needed to investigate the Mississippi prison system. Mitchell found corruption galore, and as a result federal charges have been filed against former prison commissioner, Christopher Epps.
This is a case of a bad guy getting what is coming to him, but after watching the Maddow video I think there was an entire prison system full of bad guys … and I don’t mean the prisoners.
More on the corrupt prison system in Mississippi here:
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/hard-look/
Gordy Klingwrap is a regular subject on Ed Brayton’s blog.
Well, this is good, sort of good. The Pope is at least putting this ass on the back bench.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/pope-francis-demotes-cardinal-raymond-burke
A Visual Introduction to Soviet Montage Theory: A Revolution in Filmmaking. Neato! I love learning little bits of history like this. I know my sister studied some of this stuff in college, about ways to suggest things in people’s minds by simply connecting the right images in the right sequence. Totally awesome (and scary) how our brains can be manipulated.
Also, Europeans intermingled 37 000 years ago already. Oh, hey, I guess we’re all human and real people after all!
This is a followup to comments 409, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, and 444.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/matt-taibbi-leaves-first-look-media
The poppies in the moat – commemorating the dead of WWI.
Relatedly, there was discussion of poppy-wearing somewhere above or previous thread. I must say, I’m far more inclined to wear a white poppy.
Dalillama, Schmott Guy @ 449,
My wife encountered a similar thing which turned out to be a scam attempt in Italy last month. She’s teaching English in Turin (I’ll be joining her in a week, yay!), and needed to find a flat for us. One was advertised, owner supposedly in Spain, wanted money put into some supposed escrow account to prove she was a serious prospective tenant, after which the owner would fly back to show her the flat. I don’t know the full story, but a colleague she was staying with warned her. I guess people looking for rented accommodation are obvious scam targets – you know you need to act quickly if a good prospect comes up.
Blogging turns out to be really hard when you’re running a fever of 102°.
That is all.
PZ@471:
Geez. Hopefully you’ll get better fast. If you can’t blog, how are you going to make all that cheddar from the blog hits?
PZ, the more you rest, the sooner you’ll get your strength back. Trust me, I know from sad experience. I hope you feel better soon.
Hey Lynna! I’ve got some Mormon news (not sure if it qualifies as an MMM though).
Mormom bishop under fire for criticism of Harry Reid
Don’t worry about us PZ, worry about resting and getting that fever down. It is impossible to do much of anything when your brain is overheating.
@Dalillama #448
That sucks. Apparently that kind of scam is popular with seasonal rentals/cottages too–renting property via Western Union that doesn’t exist or isn’t owned by the person pretending to be the landlord. Also, student housing. I remember seeing a story last year about a woman showing an apartment to a student and taking the deposit/1st &last months’ rent by hand & having her sign a lease and it turned out she was just a renter who was moving from the apt in question. Took the money and ran. The student went to move in and found the apartment was rented by the true landlord to someone else.
Hope you find a good place soon.
*458
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Remember how I said we should be okay for November with paying the whole rent on the 3rd? Well, Roomie’s tooth got infected, which made him miss work, so he was fired because of missing days so early and everything. Good news was that a job he applied to before that one called back and he started working on Tuesday the 3rd. Bad news, on Thursday his motorcycle started acting up (problems with idling, dying, and choke or something?) and how he’s been using it since he can’t go down to the last…gear?(something like that) is bad because it could flood the engine. Sorry, I don’t know anything about motorcycles, he’s currently asleep and I’m freaking out.
Then two hours ago we got the notice that the new manager took over as of Friday and the new hours, which had ended for Sat already. Great notice there. Now Little One went out to play and there was a 5 day notice stuck to the door. Guess talking with them about payment and such is not an option. Plus there will be a late fee when Previous Manager wouldn’t charge one. Joy.
So, uh, help please? I’m so, so sorry. I know we just got help from you guys and I know things suck for ya’ll and others need help but he doesn’t get paid until Friday. Do 5 day notices count weekends? Fuck. Plus he didn’t work a full week (No Monday and Tues was just half for training) and he needs his motorcycle since he has to be at work before the buses even start running.
We were so close to being okay even though he lost that job. :( What we owe now is $535 and I’ll obviously go talk with the new manager on Monday but I don’t think anything good will come of it. And even if it does, we certainly didn’t budget nor have the money for late fees and motorcycle repairs.
>.< fml
Prominent gay actor, activist, and filmmaker Stephen Fry quits Twitter while filming a new project.
JAL @478:
My sympathies.
I can’t help out right now, but hopefully the Horde will be able to pull together the money you need in time.
::Hugs::
Should I be happy with my tussle with chris61 in the Plastic Brains thread? Because it’s hard to ethically find opportunities to fight, and as complicated as it is I rather like it.
For the hell of it, the Great and Powerful Bender.
@rq 467
I liked that article. Every time I get a connection to some other group of things my perspective on just gets bigger.
@ PZ Myers 471
Rest and be well.
@ JAL
You are in my thoughts, and I will ask my wife about helping. How do I help?
Brony @481:
Typically when the Horde signal is raised (as JAL has done), people who are able to help out usually send PayPal money to a member of the Horde (it’s been Portia and Esteleth in the past), who then funnels the money to the person in need. Although people also send money to the recipient via PayPal directly. I’ve been the recipient of the Horde’s assistance a few times, and I’m eternally grateful for it. I look forward to being in a better financial position in the future so that I can contribute when people are in need.
****
Dalillama:
I just remembered that you raised the signal recently. Were you able to get all the funds you needed?
@Lynna, OM #345
Yes, they have no free time, the church keeps them so busy all the time. If you miss one day of church, your whole community will grill you on why. My nephews live less than 10 minutes away, yet I rarely see them. There’s always some extracurricular church activity they’re involved in.
I’m not surprised that they treat missionaries like salesmen with a quota. The tithing collectors came to my apartment building once and it was strange. I had gone out to get the mail and there were two teen-aged boys standing in the hallway looking lost. So I asked what was wrong, and they said they had just been in an elderly woman’s apartment on the second floor and the woman fell and hit her head. They said she seemed fine, there was a little blood, but she said she was OK. I told them maybe they should go back and call 911 just to be safe. The older boy said he didn’t know if she had insurance or not. I said just call 911 and explain the situation and ask what you should do. But they kept looking nervously around and seemed to be waiting for someone.
That’s when two older men came out of an apartment a few doors down from where we were standing. The boys ran to them and told them how they mistakenly went to the woman’s apartment, not knowing she wasn’t a member in good standing and hadn’t paid her 10% for a long time. I tried talking to the older men about her falling and hitting her head, and it was like I was invisible. They completely ignored me. They were looking at their list of people who are supposed to receive their “blessing” and she wasn’t on it. They didn’t seem concerned at all about her and kept ignoring me. I got fed up and went and told my landlady if she could check up on her.
And I keep getting stopped by missionaries, even though I live in Utah. Once I asked two missionaries who zeroed in on me in the grocery store parking lot how they knew I wasn’t Mormon and they told me it was because God sent them to me.
Ok So:
If people wish to help JAL, they can PayPal moneys to me (the email address associated with my account is my nym (not the “is Groot” part, just the single word ahead of that) at the google mail service) and I will forward them to JAL. If this does not work for you, shoot me an email (at the aforementioned address) and we can work something else out.
First, @Azykroth: WOW. Thank you very much for that link. The Partner and I have been absolutely transfixed, reading it. Suddenly so many weird things make a very weird kind of sense.
@theoreticalgrrrl: Thank you for your post. The Partner and I have come to the conclusion that we need to stop all contact: you are so right, there is really no hope of change in this particular case, and in addition the person is of quite advanced age. We both feel that this person has wrought enough damage in their wake; no need for us to continue to throw ourselves at that particular glass mountain. The doctor had already told us there really was no treatment; after reading Azykroth’s link it’s quite clear why, now.
This has been a heartbreaking but at the same time, confirming experience: we both felt that WE were not perceiving things right. Now we can see what is actually going on. Azykroth, again, *thank you*. That was incredibly helpful and has given us some tools to move forwards.
Anyone interested in SF&F, there is a report by Laura J. Mixon of the SFWA concerning a SF&F blogger known as RequiresHate aka Winterfox, pyrofennec, acrackedmoon, Valse de la Lune, darkmistress, lesifoere, here. (Trigger warning: descriptions of online abuse and online stalking, and discussion by victims, at the link.) I’ve just spent the past couple hours engrossed in the comments section. Allegedly she trolled the communities she participated in by posing as a SJW and deflecting criticism as tone policing. What has come out is a pattern of punching sideways; she’s apparently a Thai woman, but her attacks were largely aimed at other women and disproportionately at POC. She also went far beyond vicious criticism, stalking her victims online, using confederates to dogpile on them, and throwing descriptions of violence and death at them, sometimes for years.
The comments section is being moderated to provide a safe place for her victims to talk about what they experienced. This discussion is largely within a community of writers very supportive of marginalized groups, some of whom felt they agreed with RequiresHate’s blog posts at times. Many of the commenters were members of online communities that she essentially destroyed by making the community too toxic. Others were aspiring writers who ended their careers after being attacked viciously when they first ventured online for criticism and advice.
One of the interesting threads is the stories from those who encountered RequiresHate and were able to ignore her by blocking her and avoiding her, and who now say that they feel this helped her to isolate her victims.
Given the many discussions of tone that have appeared here, I found it an interesting read as the commenters try to tease out how to deal with abuse disguised as or mixed with social justice criticism.
* ** **** ** *
The aspiring writers here may also be interested in checking Pat Cadigan’s Facebook page. She’s talking about starting a mentoring program through the SFWA meant to keep marginalized writers from being isolated and shut out.
If you have a FB page and are interested you can PM her.
Oh ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicely…
don’t say I never did anything 4 u.
Grrrrrrrrrr. So I’m still tired, moody and cranky and doing my best to relax. Part of that was to involve today going to my brother’s house to make pumpkin pies with my sister-in-law and watch the recently released extended edition of The Hobbit… which is only on blul-ray (GRAAAAAUGH) and so I was going to use their PS3 to watch. I’m not very tech savvy at all and the system was pretty dismantled and divested of all wires. I don’t know what cables look like, so I asked my brother which cable to use and he pointed one out and confirmed it…. only it didn’t fit.
He was in another room, and I told him the cable didn’t fit any of the slots. He insisted it did. I repeated that there are no openings on this thing that it fits. He continued to insist, getting more snide and sarcastic in tone of voice with each repetition. His wife confirmed the cable does not fit and he finally comes out and sees he pointed me to the wrong cable.
Instead of going “oops” he then proceeded to berate me for not knowing what an HDMI cable looks like, even though I don’t own a TV and he *knows* that I’m extremely low tech. Hell, I got a cellphone that I actually keep with me for the first time just 2 weeks ago and I’m 32 years old.
Then I, being cranky and angry that I’m being blamed for him mistake, said basically ‘fuck it’ and that I would simply bake and not watch. Unfortunately, my response to extreme anger/frustration is to cry. So my brother, being a grade a asshat sometimes tells me I’m over reacting to the whole thing when HE was the one getting angry at my ignorance in the first place. …. and I had had enough. I have a very volatile temper and I straight roared “YOU CAN FUCK OFF.”
So he stormed off, and is apparently now in a completely different city and still incredibly pissed off at me and my sister-in-law (who also didn’t know what an HDMI cable looked like) some 10 hours later and not responding to phone calls or texts.
And now I feel guilty, except that I’m also fucking pissed at feeling guilty because he’s the one who made the error and then doubled down on it, basically accused me of being stupid because I didn’t know what the damn cable looked like and didn’t want to mess with cords in case something went wrong.
So now I get to start my work week angry, guilt-ridden and exhausted because the stress of this is going to keep me up all night.
GRAAAAUGH.
Rowan @488:
Sorry to hear that your brother was being an ass. I don’t understand why he (and other people like him) can’t simply say “oops, so sorry. My mistake.” It’s not the end of of the world to be wrong, especially over something relatively minor.
I feel you on not being terribly tech savvy. I sold the 42″ tv I had my living room over the summer for extra money and brought the 36″ tv out of my bedroom to replace it. Only I’ve no clue which wires go where, plus there’s a bluray player and a Playstation 3 and the AT&T Uverse box. I don’t know what goes where, nor do I know stuff like what buttons-on the 4 remotes we have-I have to use to switch between cable, blu-ray, and Playstation 3. I gave up and haven’t attempted anything since. Kinda sucks because I wanted to watch the rest of The Strain and was looking forward to watching The Flash, Gotham, and Constantine.
JAL
I’ll see what I can do, but as always, I can’t PayPal so it’ll be a while… :( (Did you get the last package, by the way?)
Rowan
*hugs* if you accept them. I’m sorry, but your brother sounds like an asshole (at least on this one issue). Hermione the Kitten has a message for you: fgvged33333333333333333333333333ikikikikikw,777777777777777777777777777777777777\
oppppppppppppppppppppppppppppptyd3333333 (I hope you can decipher that. She’s learning the art of walking on a keyboard.)
Also, I hope your brother calms down and comes home with sense enough to apologize.
Best illustrated children’s books of 2014. I haven’t heard of any of them, but a few look pretty awesome.
Came across this via a commercial-like video on FB, but I love the idea: the tutu project, in support of victims of breast cancer. (This is the original video I saw, which turns out to be a commercial for a German telecom company, but there’s more of the story in it.)
rq
Oh, I didn’t tell you? I’m so sorry. I thought I posted about getting it and our subsequent love and war over the chocolate. Waaaay better than any chocolate we’ve had here. It was a lot of fun too educating Little One when she wanted to know about where it came from. We put the packaging wrappers (not the shiny type ones the covered it but the pretty outer ones) in a lazy scrapbook (i cannot craft a thing lol) and she showed off to her friends her fancy chocolate from mommy’s far away friend. :) She wanted to share but I don’t know about their allergies or anything (okay, even I did I still didn’t want to share…bad me).
Because she’s made new friends for after school playing she took the opportunity to show her other gifts from Horde members. It makes her really happy and feel special that people away from our little circle care. Plus, she gets to learn a lot that her other friends don’t know so ya’ll are waaaay better than any Santa, lol.
Ooooh, those do look awesome. I actually googled Harlem Hellfighters and am again pissed at my American lack of education for not knowing about them before.
JAL
So awesome about the chocolate. :) It may be that I missed your post (been dealing with a series of deaths in the immediate-to-extended family for about a month, and one still pending), but I’m glad you enjoyed it and that Little One loved it. It truly is utterly awesome chocolate. I’ll try to send more soon (via Portia again), I’ll just have to find some nice wrappers that you don’t have yet. :)
So I’ve been slightly pissed off at work for a couple of weeks, because I thought Someone stole my scissors. Today I found them – in the cutlery rack. And I’m pretty sure I put them there myself.
*sigh*
As long as I put the blood samples back in the fridge instead of my purse or pocket, I’m good.
Rowan, I hope you don’t mind but I kind of feel incredibly angry with your brother right now. I am on the receiving end of not-exactly-the-same-but-to-all-intents-and-purposes-identical treatment fairly often and it’s one of the things that really burns my toast to a cinder (to mangle a metaphor). And I can’t say fuck it, because I am completely dependent on the computer for work as well as play.
Dalillama I’m so sorry about the scam. Glad you didn’t pay them any money, at least. I fucking hate people who scam those who can least afford it.
Rowan vet-tech,
*hugs*
I know you know you’re not the guilty party in this, but just in case you start doubting yourself (because that’s part of what your brother is manipulating you into with his behavior): this wasn’t your fault.
Your brother is an ass.
Blogging turns out to be really hard when you’re running a fever of 102°.
Makes it easy to boil water for a pot of tea, and reduces or even eliminates the need for home / room heating.
Oh, wait, you meant Fahrenheit…
</snark>Get better. And have some tea anyways, even if you can’t make it by putting the kettle on yer head.
Ok, that’s one of the buggers down. See how hard they are to stop? Took 47 My to stop this one, and then only because she was pregnant… (and had cooties…)
I note the article repeats the well-worn “size of a fox terrier” meme, which is not only a bit meaningless — just how big is a fox terrier? — but also wrong, as Stephen Jay Gould pointed out in The Case of the Creeping Fox Terrier Clone. However, according to Ye Pfffft! of All Knowledge, Dr Gould was talking about Eohippus, whereas the found critter is Eurohippus, apparently a different beastie.
Obvious
<borkquote>ing by me@497, First line is from poopyhead@471.Sorry if this sounds a bit puzzled or condescending, but (with exceptions) most cables have unique connectors on each end and will only fit in a corresponding socket. So whilst I do understand the frustration at not knowing how to wire things up, with a reasonable amount of modern kit it’s not supposed to be a problem. This is only one way to wire things up.
However, as any engineer will tell you, including myself, these so called “idiot-proof” connections work only until a better idiot evolves. Which seems to be the long pigs are evolving…