No drunken revelry here. I have some beer in front of me that I forgot to drink during DDO, so it’s a bit flat. I’ll finish it anyway, it’s not every day I get Harp.
——————————————–
Hoping my state will be able to withstand the onslaught of anti-women bills. The fundier parts might get swayed, but they don’t seem to have a hell of a lot of influence that I can see. I’m terrified that people can be so disconnected from reality (and even more terrified that I could’ve passed for one of them when I still identified as Catholic.)
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
I’m doing great on my paper! *cheers for herself and throws confetti*
(I’m not, really. But I’m actually working on it, which is a little achievment.)
Rey Foxsays
Well, you’re all free to join me at the Value Place hotel in St Charles if you want to avoid the revelry.
Actually, no you’re not. I have to go to bed soon.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
It’s raining so much! *runs around all happy*
juliansays
Going to bed.
Fuck Patty’s day and fuck all the douchebags who want to be Irish for a night. Fuck you, some of us don’t like Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly enough to listen to them for 6 fucking hours. There are a lot of Celtic rock/metal bands that aren’t them. Go find some.
Now for a couple shots of Bacardi and a trip to dream land.
Spent the better part of my Saturday in the ER with my kid, who vomited or tried to vomit on an empty stomach for over 12 hours straight, ran a high fever and then reported pain on the right side of her lower belly.
The good news is the ER is a lovely new building, very attractive and pleasant to spend time in. Oh, and the kid doesn’t have appendicitis. Most likely “just” a stomach bug, and after observation she was packed home and now I’m catching up on the Saturday chores and bread baking I missed.
Send some this way, looks like we’ll be facing a drought this year, what with no snowmelt.
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, purveyor of candy and liessays
Caine:
Send some this way, looks like we’ll be facing a drought this year, what with no snowmelt.
Same here. We had one snowstorm and that was it. We haven’t had any rain to speak of, either.
*shakes head* It’s been a weird, weird winter.
kristinc,
Jesus! I hope your kid feels better soon!
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
Operation Corned Beef was a success. The sandwich and fries arrived warm, and the sandwich was made with real corned beef. You know, the type that actually looks a certain color of pink when found in Delis. The 36 oz. mint shake was cold and reasonably unmelted (and was too much). (I had an Italian beef with melted cheese and peppers, plus a pineapple shake. Gave the peppers to the Redhead, who has been deprived of anything remotely spicy for a while. This was our second time eating together since her stroke.) Turns out the menu for the day had an offering to Tpyos, as “Chile con carne” really was “corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes”. Then I took a good look at the alleged “corned beef”. Resembled the pink of medium roast beef in color, lacking the proper pink from the nitrite “pickle” solution (which I have actually made, but not to treat meat with). Made the real sandwich even more appreciated.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
Spent the better part of my Saturday in the ER with my kid, who vomited or tried to vomit on an empty stomach for over 12 hours straight, ran a high fever and then reported pain on the right side of her lower belly.
Oh jeez :( That sounds just miserable. “Just” a stomach bug, right…
Send some this way, looks like we’ll be facing a drought this year, what with no snowmelt.
*runs to the window and shouts at the rain very dramatically*
Rev. BigDumbChimpsays
spondee sorry I’m not sure. But having lived in Wyoming for about 8 years or so I can tell you that they are serious about drug arrests. Wish i had more factual data for you.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
I was holding the babby earlier, and I farted really loudly. She immediately looked at me and started saying “Poop? Poop?”
She’s a lot more chipper — they gave her an antiemetic that made a world of difference, and now she’s pissed that we’ll only let her eat bland food for at least 24 hours.
Also! going to the hospital provided empirical confirmation that my piercings actually literally set off metal detectors now. O.o
spondeesays
Thank you Rev. I wish I had more facts too. I have no idea what he was caught with or why he was there. As I mentioned, google has convinced me that this is a very serious problem, first offense or not.
I am just struggling for real information.
Thanks again.
spondee
Nutmegsays
Glad your daughter’s feeling somewhat better, kristinc.
I have no idea what he was caught with or why he was there.
I’d say the best thing you can do is to get your friend a good lawyer. A lot depends on what he was caught with and how much. If it was meth…well, that wouldn’t be good.
There’s info out there, except PZ’s link filter won’t allow me to post the three helpful links I found. Search Wyoming Drug Laws and you’ll find info on penalties, including first offense, how drugs are scheduled and there’s a page on finding a criminal drug lawyer in whatever area of WY he’s in.
spondeesays
Copy that, Caine. Thank you.
spondee
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
spondee
I’m sorry, I have to get this out of my system.*
You’re two longs!
That is all. Thank you.
*I’ve been studying meter.
spondeesays
Cassandra- I once had a three-legged shepard named trochee. Best dog ever.
Nutmegsays
spondee:
I once had a three-legged shepard named trochee.
You are my new favourite person.
(I actually picked my name because my dad mentioned that he had met a nice Golden Retriever named Nutmeg. I thought that was a good name for a Golden.)
Esme is happily stealing dog food from one of the monster dog’s dishes. A couple of days ago, I realized that if you put Chas, Esme and Rubin together, you get chase me Rubin. Heh.
magistramarlasays
We had a civilized (and very rainy) St. Patrick’s Day here at our house. I cooked corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and fresh-baked Irish Soda Bread with real Irish butter for dinner.
We’re now relaxing with a glass of Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Slainte!
The monster dogs still freak Esme out, so that’s a huge thing for her to do. Chas, on the other hand, is shameless. He runs right over and sits on the food in the middle of one of the dishes, and one of the dogs gets stuck trying to eat around him. :D
Rev. BigDumbChimpsays
Internet out at the house, but my new fancy work iPad has cell data. Win.
Aberlour A’bundah also for the win.
Nutmegsays
Caine:
He runs right over and sits on the food in the middle of one of the dishes, and one of the dogs gets stuck trying to eat around him.
Squee! Cute overload.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
*stomps around*
I QUIT my paper.
No more paper.
Rawr.
I doubt they’d be safe around any Huskie. Jayne has a very strong prey drive, but he did learn that the rats are off limits. Doll has a strong drive as well, but she actually likes the rats.
chigau (√-1)says
It’s raining.
I cannot go out side to catch-up.
but I must go outside to smoke.
****
you guessed right
spondeesays
chigau-
3
9
8?
It’s raining.
No exit, no hope.
Yet, I smoke.
spondee
chigau (√-1)says
spondee
I wasn’t even trying but I do like yours.
spondeesays
chigau- My apologies, that was arrogant and weird.
spondee
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
It’s okay to take a break. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.
It’s true. I just wish that I didn’t need to take a break. But unfortunately, I’m trying to organize/edit, and it’s really really discouraging to watch my paper get shorter and shorter when I have a still-unmet page minimum…
spondeesays
Damn it! While I felt guilty and compsed my apology, you chimed in with your appreciation. Thank you.
spondee
RahXephon, Giant Feminist Mecha Robotsays
I’m part Irish and part Native American, so St. Patrick’s Day is one of the two days of the year where I get to gripe about cultural appropriation. However, I don’t think I’ll be doing any of that here. :P
At least I do fit the stereotype on one vector: I loooooove whiskey. Unfortunately my house is devoid of liquor other than tequila, which is about as far from whiskey as you can get, in my opinion. Between my cash-flow problems and my tee-totaling friends I find my life is entirely too sober.
Speaking of whiskey, I’m partial to Crown but 1. it’s expensive and 2. I’m looking to branch out. Anyone have any suggestions? I considered Maker’s Mark, I like the red wax seals on the bottles, but buying booze based on the packaging is so disgustingly consumerist!
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
All right! Going through and typing out and translating the Greek quotes I’m going to use in my paper definitely constitutes working. It’s also kinda fun because you have to figure out how to make the keyboard write the letters with the right diacritical marks (and since I haven’t gotten that to be automatic yet, it’s still a puzzle).
I hope it’s okay that I’m doing this in the same way I learned in my other class. I type the Greek, then open parenthesis, then put the translation in quotation marks right after, then put the page numbers, then close parenthesis. Like so: πᾶσα χθὼν Ἀσιῆτις / θρέψασα πόθῳ στένεται μαλερῷ (“the whole Asian earth, having nursed them, groans with fiery longing,” 61-62).
Also, interestingly enough, I really LIKE my paper. I hate writing it, but I like the topic and the argument. So I guess that’s a good, anyway. I hope my professor feels the same way.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
Except I don’t mean page numbers, I mean line numbers. *rolleyes*
Oh, I had forgotten the Irish thing today. Liked the dark mood and the singing was OK but in a language I completely can’t understand it’s too distracting.
I was goign to go watch a Seventh Day Adventist talk about the end of the world, but my phone crashed and my alarm didn’t go off and I slept through most of it.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
I was goign to go watch a Seventh Day Adventist talk about the end of the world, but my phone crashed and my alarm didn’t go off and I slept through most of it.
Hehehehe. Seventh Day Adventists. I doubt you were missing much.
What the hell is wrong with my fellow local whities? Everyone seems to know exactly what black people’s problem is and is will to tell them what to do, but not to try listening to black people or doing anything useful.
On the topic of St. P’s Day. Neil DGT had a few witty tweets on the topic of “GREEN” earlier, I liked these 2 :
@neiltyson
Curiously, light-loving GREEN plants reject the Sun’s GREEN light, reflecting it back at you, which is why they look GREEN.
10h Neil deGrasse Tyson Neil deGrasse Tyson
@neiltyson
The laws of physics conspire to prevent GREEN stars in the universe. They basically come in three colors: Red, White, & Blue.
John Moralessays
rorschach, it’s as true to say it’s our eyes as it is to say it’s the laws of physics, and (I think) more meaningful.
kristinc
Oh, I’m sorry for your daughter. Ah I know these trips too well. What I was told to do was to give them tea with pure glucose since that is absorbed quickly and gets them some energy again. And it’s sweet and makes therefore up for not being allowed to have any “real food”.
CC
Chocolate is coming to xou. You can do it.
opposable thumbs
Thanks, the hugs are appreciated.
I think the worst part is actually over, because I drew the line. Now we’ll have to see how things develop. I’m at the point where having her in my life is optional. I wrote her that and what she’ll do with that information is her decission and not my fucking responsibility.
And it feels good.
++++++
Two men kiss at a Santoum-For-Brains speech. It is roughly at the 3:30 mark. Before that time, SFB is explaining how he truly believes in American Exceptionaliam while Obama is just routing for the home team.
By the look of it, one of the guys was there with his girlfriend.
Your squirrels are so much cutter than our. We just have these.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
The plan:
Listen to a couple episodes of Buffy, work on the paper til bedtime, look over German, then go to sleep.
Wake up tomorrow, eat, go to campus, get the commentaries and articles there that I need to look at for my paper. Look up anything absolutely crucial. Make bibliography. Work til dinner, eat on campus, finish up. Print paper but don’t look at it at all. Grab some groceries for Monday if there’s still time, come home, study German, go to bed.
Look at paper in the morning, fix errors or weird stuff. Look at German. Turn in paper. Take exam. Get A+ on everything forever.
Watch Big Bang Theory season 5, drink too much red wine.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
Also, Giliell, thank you! I took that as a suggestion and ate some immediately.
—
Rorschach, I wish that were my plan :(
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
I’m genuinely excited about my argument O.o It has been a really long time since I felt this way about anything academic.
I’m terrified that it’s based on an illusion in some way.
PZ and JT get an honorary mention. I wrote a post on it, but fighting the de Botton madness seems more and more like trying to stop a glacier by licking it.
The last few weeks I’ve immersed myself so much in all the gross bullshit that goes on in the world re womens rights, religion, racism, LGBTQ rights… Gah. I had a crying fit and the boyfriend was super afraid I’d get a depression relapse.
I might need to restrict myself a bit, avoid the news on these topics and focus on studying for a while. I’ve had issues with keeping up the studies and keep dreaming disturbing stuff. I’m still on medication but I do fear I might get a relapse.
I feel quite bad about it, though… I feel like letting people down if I avoid being exposed to this. I feel like my privilege is showing. :(
How do you people deal with this shit?
———-
Giliell,
keep it up. People who love us should not want to hurt us. Hopefully she’ll get over it and you can be reunited, but if she can’t or won’t, don’t let her drag you down.
Take care.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Fuck you, some of us don’t like Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly enough to listen to them for 6 fucking hours. There are a lot of Celtic rock/metal bands that aren’t them. Go find some.
Back when I was in college, I spent some time as a DJ on the campus radio station. I played quite a few pieces by a band called (I think) The Waterboy who did some really good (for the late 1980s) Celtic rock.
The good news is the ER is a lovely new building, very attractive and pleasant to spend time in. Oh, and the kid doesn’t have appendicitis. Most likely “just” a stomach bug, and after observation she was packed home and now I’m catching up on the Saturday chores and bread baking I missed.
Good news. A sick kid, once it goes past ‘normal’ sick, can be scary.
And, incidentally, a case of ‘stomach bug’ is the reason Wife and I have not had New England Boiled Dinner (like corned beef and cabbage, but with carrots, rutabagas, potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, and lots of garlic) for about five years (well, until yesterday when I made a batch). Son, after eating a large helping of NEBD, was violently ill. Did you know vomit can bounce? Of course you do. We had to clean some corned beef off the ceiling.
Sorry for the overshare.
Also! going to the hospital provided empirical confirmation that my piercings actually literally set off metal detectors now. O.o
Sister wore an underwire bra while flying to Europe on a wine-buying trip. She set off Spain.
*stomps around*
I QUIT my paper.
No more paper.
I remamber a few like that from college. And high school.
Just hit the paper with a rolled up thesis to make it behave.
these instabilities can’t possibly be good for agriculture…
Not to mention what it’ll do to the migratory waterfowl, the few natural areas on the prairie, and the five or so trees in ND.
I love what this winter has done for my heating bill (I have been averaging less than $60 a month for gas; my budgeted amount is double that. I am very worried about what will happen this summer and fall as the warmer than average temps and lower than average rainfall continue. For a look at how bad it can get, think of Maine in 1948.
it’s really really discouraging to watch my paper get shorter and shorter when I have a still-unmet page minimum…
In college, that was the time to search for more, preferably paragraph-length, blockquotable quotes.
I’m part Irish and part Native American, so St. Patrick’s Day is one of the two days of the year where I get to gripe about cultural appropriation.
I celebrated 1/128 of my heritage and wore orange.
I was goign to go watch a Seventh Day Adventist talk about the end of the world, but my phone crashed and my alarm didn’t go off and I slept through most of it.
This sounds like a win for you.
tell them what to do, but not to try listening to black people or doing anything useful.
It is like prayer. It lets them not do anything while feeling like they are doing something.
BTW, here are two of the fotos I took yesterday, of the local and not so local wildlife.
When I was up in Maine, the red squirrels were in full mating frenzy. They are quite energetic about it.
more like trying to stop a glacier by licking it.
I seem to remember a Far Side cartoon along those lines.
I might need to restrict myself a bit, avoid the news on these topics and focus on studying for a while.
I understand. I completely avoid network and cable news. The combination of anger and derpression it engenders is frightening.
Baboons in Saudi Arabia kidnap feral dog puppies and raise them as pets. They groom them (which means they consider them like members of their family), play with them and the dogs guard the baboon herd from attack by animals and other dogs.
I am amazed by how much the inter species co-operation we see in the natural world. And it seems that domestication may go back further into human history than we thought.
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, purveyor of candy and liessays
keenacat:
How do you people deal with this shit?
Honestly, when it gets to be too much for me, I take a break. I just stop so I can recalibrate, catch my breath, and be refreshed for the next time.
There’s no shame in not fighting every battle– look at people who make their living as activists. They’re not involved in every cause that they believe in. They pick the one that’s most important to them and roll with that.
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, purveyor of candy and liessays
keenacat:
What I’m saying is, if you’re worried about triggering your depression, stop. You have to be healthy too, you know.
Anger generally works for me. However, there are times I simply walk away, literally. I disappear and do other stuff. Do whatever you have to do to keep yourself together. ‘S okay, we understand.
Others have already given you good advice, so let me just reinforce:
I feel quite bad about it, though… I feel like letting people down if I avoid being exposed to this. I feel like my privilege is showing. :(
How do you people deal with this shit?
The world becomes a better place when each of us pays attention to what’s wrong with it, and tries to make it better… but nobody expects you to kill yourself, or cripple yourself with depression, in the process. Your ability to be a positive in the world depends critically on staying healthy and, at some level, happy in your own person.
It’s like the safety instructions they give at the beginning of airline flights[1]: Put the oxygen mask on yourself first; then worry about assisting your kids and other passengers.
That doesn’t mean the bad stuff isn’t well and truly horrible, of course, but getting away from the bad stuff for a while can remind you of why this benighted world is still worth fighting for… why we should (and you obviously do) take “the world just sucks!” as a call to arms rather than a plaintive surrender.
***
[1] It strikes me that picking an air travel metaphor means a bit of my privilege is showing. Sorry.
Argh
Some people really don’t have two braincells to huddle together for warmth.
I just walked through our little park with playground where there’s currently some construction work going on (don’t ask me what they’re exactly doing, nobody thought it necessary to inform people).
And I found some tools lying around openly on a fucking playground.
The shovel was bad enough, but the second one was a kind of long-handled axe.
In a fucking playground!
I took them, carried them to their little storage wagon and hurled them as far underneath as I could. I don’t give a shit if they have to crawl on their stomachs through the mud to retrieve them, at least no kid will use them to play Indiana Jones and accidentially crack another’s skull.
keenancat
If you notice that it’s hurting you, stop.
The internet can do very well for a while without you.
The world will not become better if you go past your limits and get hurt on the way.
Take care.
I also find that shouting at my washing machine really helps ;)
+++++
BTW, my official thanks to the Pharyngula Horde for making me understand that if you’re angry, there’s probably a good reason why you are.
Given my upbringing, I had this angry = wrong deeply ingrained into myself.
But I also that it’s important to turn that anger around.
I used to get angry, calm down, forget about it (anger is not a very sustainable emotion, IMO. You can be hurt for days and hours, or happy, or sad, but angry usually only works for a short time. Don’t let the reason you were angry evaporate with the anger)
Sorten Muld! Quelle coincidence – I just burned a cd for a pal of my favorite Scandi folk-rock. For while there ’round the turn of the century that region was a hotbed of uber-cool music. Garmarna (“the Hellhounds”)! Hedningarna (“the Heathens”)! Gjallarhorn (“the Roaring Trumpet”)! I led the disc off with Sorten Muld’s ‘The Man and the Elf Girl’, which until I bought the disc with English titles and lyrics I would call the anthem of the Holger Danske Memorial Space Patrol…
Silisays
Soooo …
Are we gonna see today’s Oglaf here, or is it too NSFW?
Also, though, The Golden Peach is a perfect name for a bordello.
janinesays
James And The Golden Peach, a charming fantasy about a teen’s first first to a floating bordello.
keenacatsays
Thanks everyone for giving me your opinions. It is, for lack of a better word, relieving to have you guys give me a pass for taking a break. I guess I’ll try to go easy on the shittyness of the world for a while and focus on the good things. And I’ll try not to feel bad about it.
While I’ve certainly learned a lot about recognizing when I’m being an asshole (and when others are being assholes), I might need to learn a bit about when I need to go easy on myself.
Interestingly, I’ve never had issues with taking hospital stuff home. Even when working at the hematooncology unit (lots of very young, very sick people) or at the palliative care unit I was able to maintain empathy and care without actually hurting myself.
There is probably something to learn from this. I shall analyze what works for me in the hospital setting and try to employ those techniques when podering the various -isms in a broader setting.
There’s no shame in not fighting every battle– look at people who make their living as activists. They’re not involved in every cause that they believe in. They pick the one that’s most important to them and roll with that.
Sometimes it just gets so overwhelming. You take interest in a certain issue and it just starts to branch out, intersectionally (is that even a word?), into a whole host of other issues. Sometimes, for me at least, it gets hard to compartmentalize stuff.
Also, stepping back from news about how badly the world sucks might help you appreciate how much of it really doesn’t suck.
I think enjoying whats good in this world is indeed part of the fight for good. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be much to fight for, right?
I also find that shouting at my washing machine really helps ;)
Mine is usually behaving, but my laptop tends to provide ample occassions for shouting at inanimate objects.
I will cook Pasta puttanesca tonight. I’ve been craving it for about two weeks now and I’ll pamper myself a bit.
Except every single news outlet didn’t quite get the story right. They completely missed the reason we did this. Here’s the press release for the event:
FLORIDA ATHEISTS WELCOME ALL INTO POLK COUNTY
This Saturday, atheists are gathering on the Polk County line. The atheists will perform a counter-ritual in opposition to a ritual performed previously by the Polk Under Prayer campaign. In early 2010, Polk Under Prayer (also called “PUP”) – a group of Christian religious and political leaders in Polk County – ritually anointed all roads entering Polk County with a strip of oil.
According to Pastor Frank Smith of Frank Smith Ministries in Winter Haven, the oil ritual was intended to bring those in Polk County to a “full knowledge of Jesus Christ” and to ask “God to have angels inspect every vehicle that travels into or out of this county” and “if they will not submit to God’s way of living, then the prayer is to have them incarcerated or removed from the county.”
Atheist and Mark Palmer, Executive Director of the Humanists of Florida Association, said, “To spread oil on the roads of Polk County and pray for the incarceration of all non-Christians is dangerous, bigoted, and un-American.” Secular leaders from the Humanists of Florida Association, the Atheists of Florida, the Tallahassee Atheists, the Freethinkers FSU, and more will gather at State Road 35 on the north border of Polk County. There they will anoint the road with pure water, because as Palmer said wryly, “oil and water don’t mix.” Palmer called the ritual a “symbolic gesture with two goals. The first is to welcome all people, regardless of their beliefs, to travel in and through Polk County, as is their legal right. And the second is to make Floridians aware of what religiously motivated political machines are doing in some rural counties. PUP is not just some fringe group of religious zealots, but is the major political force in Polk County.”
On March 1, 2011, PUP held an event at which Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields, Polk County Schools Superintendant Sherrie Nickell, and Polk County Sherriff Grady Judd were the guests of honor. PUP Organizer, Richard Geringswald declared that these three “are coming on board with enthusiasm. Each representative touches three major factors in our county: Government, Education and Law Enforcement.” Below is pictured a billboard whereon these leaders endorse PUP with their names and their government offices.
Two days after this March 1st event, Sherriff Grady Judd arranged for the arrest and incarceration of EllenBeth Wachs, an atheist activist, after she made public records requests investigating Judd’s allegedly illegal transfers of county property to local churches. (Wachs now serves as President of the Humanists of Florida Association.)
This Saturday, Florida’s secular leaders intend to “condemn the bigoted actions of PUP and call on the good citizens of Polk County and its government leaders to remember that they are elected to support and represent all citizens of Polk county, not just the Christians.” Palmer continued, “We are Americans. We are Floridians. We must oppose religious favoritism and remember that we stand for liberty and justice for all.”
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
There is probably something to learn from this. I shall analyze what works for me in the hospital setting and try to employ those techniques when podering the various -isms in a broader setting.
Keep in mind that your empathetic detachment (not sure if that is the right phrasing) is something that you have been taught or learned. When I am at work, I find dealing with (non-co-employee) idiotic and/or dangerous situations easier as I know that my options are seriously circumscribed. Off duty, I have far more difficulty dealing with idiocy because I have so many more options. For instance, the guy who was just here (at an NP) with the Ron Paul sticker, talking about how much he loves national parks, I treated with the normal respect I give all visitors. Had I been off duty, the stress created as I tried to stifle my anger, my amusement, and my view of his hypocrisy would have left me tongue-tied, while at the same time giving my brain something to chew on, angrily and uselessly, at three in the morning.
Fighting the good fight is good (how’s that for circular?) but staying safe on a personal level is also very important. I tune out frequently just because, outside of work, I do not have an automatic non-stress reaction. Which leads to stress, anger, throwing things at the tele, and screaming at newzpimples.
Anyway, be safe. Sometimes taking a break is necessary.
Keencat: It does get overwhelming, so a break is needed once in a while, whatever that consists of to someone. The problem with me is that my mind can’t really let go except when I’m asleep or deeply involved with helping the students. Usually listening to music helps, but sometimes it’s just the soundtrack as I fight the feeling of drowning. Even a simple run can turn into a session of “Must get stronger, must get faster, they’re after me.” Being hyper-aware of just how at risk you are or can become is an awful feeling, and sometimes I wish I didn’t have it. OTOH, if I wasn’t aware, I wouldn’t be able to fight to try and protect what is precious to me.
I don’t talk to my family about any this – I’m not sure if they’d understand.
————————————————
Starstuff: Ugh. Disgusting. And of course they use the excuse of Gawd as a cover for their unbridled desire to control everyone around them.
————————————————
Gilell: Don’t get taken in. Any attempts by her to reel you back into that hellhole of an existence should be stomped on. It’s time for you to put yourself back together.
Makes me think of that old JOY thing I used to hear: Jesus first, Others second, yourself third. Fuck that! If you’re not strong and healthy enough to help others to the full extent of your ability, then they miss out and you’re left feeling even worse because you can’t do anything.
———————————————–
Happier news: I now have a new array of scents to enjoy. Burning some Desert Sage incense, it smells nice. I’d forgotten how much fun I used to have watching the smoke twist itself into curlicues, loops, and other shapes. and All I need to get now is orange or lemon oil and eucalyptus.
A. Rsays
Threadrupt. So I saw three drunken teenagers crash their golf cart into a telephone pole last night. Does that count as celebrating St. Patrick’s day?
Happier news: I now have a new array of scents to enjoy. Burning some Desert Sage incense, it smells nice. I’d forgotten how much fun I used to have watching the smoke twist itself into curlicues, loops, and other shapes. and All I need to get now is orange or lemon oil and eucalyptus.
Oddly enough, ‘playing’ with the smoke and watching it move and twist is one of the (MANY) things I love about smoking pot. Heehee.
They actually make ‘weed scented’ incense, believe it or not, but I think that’s one of the dumbest products ever invented: Make your room smell like you’ve been hotboxing it, without actually smoking anything at all… all sizzle and no steak. And in places where drug laws are harsher… potentially dangerous. Besides, burnt pot doesn’t smell all that great.
There’s this one kind of flower that grows along the railroad tracks in high summer… I WANT to call it impatiens but I think I may be off. The smell of it does something to the primitive parts of my brain. I just want to roll in it. Actually, I want to do other stuff in it too, but lacking a willing partner…
Sadly I don’t think that particular smell would translate to incense.
janinesays
I have no use for Frank Black and was not at all excited by the reunion a couple of years ago, it helps me to forget how much I love this band.
TLC, get a picture of that flower if you can. As for the scent, well, that might be more a matter of personal taste, whether it would make good incense or not. Weed-scented incense, however, would not be one of my choices.
For some reason, on a mix tape I made years ago (Remember those?) I placed the last song after Harry Dead Stanton’s monologue from Paris, Texas.
otramesays
@98
When I am at work, I find dealing with (non-co-employee) idiotic and/or dangerous situations easier as I know that my options are seriously circumscribed.
In terms of actions, I agree. In terms of how annoying it is when I can’t tell people what I really think (something I am somewhat famous for in my own social circle) I found being constrained by representing my employer added to the stress.
When I was working in an archaeology lab, I was often the one tabbed to deal with people coming in to show us their “petrified brain” or similar. It was because I had a reputation for being absolutely honest, but pleasant even when the person in question was 1) a blithering idiot and 2) someone with an agenda. I am not talking about people who were simply ignorant. I dealt with such as gently as possible, especially the ones who had been duped into buying something. I am also not talking about people who were (in my completely non-professional but not completely inexperienced opinion) clinically mentally ill.
However, there were those that were there to try to get me to say that, for instance, those depressions in that limestone slab were human footprints. They never took my “No that is a piece of limestone and where you say you found it means it is probably Cretaceous limestone and there were no people around here in the Cretaceous” for an answer and argued and argued and argued. In that particular case, I pointed out the fact that the “big toe” depression was on the same side of the “foot” as the linear depression that supposedly represented the lateral side of the foot. He said, “but maybe that is the way they walked in those days”.
I used to get quite angry. I never actually said anything my employers were distressed about, however. That was a win for my self-control, but a loss for my stress levels.
Next time, I’ll pay closer attention to the flower and stem anatomy, instead of just that maddening (in a good way) smell.
Pteryxxsays
Backing what everyone else said about keeping oneself in the fight by taking breaks. Nothing living fights all the time, not even sharks, tigers or moose. Besides, love and joy, tolerance, learning, exploring and helping each other are all worth fighting for.
It’s also easier sometimes to frontline for a cause that’s not THE most personal to oneself. It’s much easier emotionally for me to talk about animal cruelty, rape and abortion, but Libby Anne’s blog is often too much for me.
It’s like the safety instructions they give at the beginning of airline flights[1]: Put the oxygen mask on yourself first; then worry about assisting your kids and other passengers.
For what it’s worth, that’s not just a rule for people wealthy enough to afford airline travel, though it’s a convenient and oft-repeated sound bite. Industrial and bluecollar workers and rescue personnel have the same rule: always secure your own gas mask, your own safety line, your own grounding wire, your own escape route, even your own backup partner, before going to the aid of a fallen colleague. They teach real-life cases where one worker succumbed to toxic fumes in a tank or mine, and a whole string of would-be rescuers followed one by one, and were overcome one by one. So each rescuer had a bigger problem to deal with. (Honestly, I’d like to see movie and TV dramas pay more attention to this.)
Another good metaphor’s actually team sports: you’re all trying to win, but it’ll only work if everyone attends to their own area of responsibility first and helps others as much as they can without sacrificing their own duty. When you’re not the ball carrier, your job is support; and when it’s someone else’s turn, your job is to rest and get ready for your next shift. Preparing yourself is really damn important. Good coaches and leaders will directly order a player to chill when xe’s burning xirself out. Solo athletes, such as marathon runners, have to learn to find their own optimal pace and discipline themselves not to overreach out of enthusiasm or adrenaline.
Anyway, so those are other viewpoints and metaphors if y’all want.
Pteryxxsays
TLC: maybe not incense, but you already brew things, right? Maybe you could distill perfume from those flowers.
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, purveyor of candy and liessays
keenacat:
Sometimes it just gets so overwhelming. You take interest in a certain issue and it just starts to branch out, intersectionally (is that even a word?), into a whole host of other issues. Sometimes, for me at least, it gets hard to compartmentalize stuff.
I totally understand that. But, if you’re willing to take a (guilt free!) breather, that should help you feel better, even if you’re having a hard time compartmentalizing.
janine:
… a mix tape I made years ago (Remember those?) …
Yes! My first boyfriend made me a mix tape*– I don’t remember everything on it, but I know that it was my introduction to Bjork (Army of Me).
I’m sure it’s still kicking around here somewhere, but I don’t have any way to play it. :(
*How 90s high school!
Mattirsays
Beyond adorable: kaessa, SonSpawn, and 2 teen boy buddies are building a gaming computer, with kaessa consulting via Skype from 1000 miles away. I’m sure PZ didn’t mean to create extended family/community when he started this blog, but it’s worked great. And next weekend, we have about a dozen Horde members descending on Chez Mattir for a giant air mattress sleepover and Reason Rally. Spouse, being about as social as Tom Travers from the Bertie & Jeeves novels, has borrowed a friend’s beach house to run away for the weekend, which will make everyone’s weekend easier.
Also, listening to SonSpawn explain to one of his friends that kaessa knew about computers and even was a GAMER, despite being a GRANDMOTHER was adorable. Apparently after the first of their skype calls with kaessa to plan the build, friend got over his sexist ideas…
Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan
Thanx
I’ll definetly not go back
Makes me think of that old JOY thing I used to hear: Jesus first, Others second, yourself third.
What I got was more MOY: Mum’s right, Others are important, You’re such a stubborn child, what’s wrong with you?
Our troubles aren’t based on religion.
I don’t even think that they’re mainly based on gender expectations.
They are, I think, mostly grounded in her own screwed ideas and perceptions about herself and me.
She worriesabout me a lot. Genuinely.
That’s because she doesn’t think I can actually live on my own or make responsible decissions on my own. Like what jacket to put on the kids.
Her memory really changes to fit her narrative of the troublesome child. The scary thing is that so far she managed to manipulate my memories, too.
She honestly doesn’t remember last Saturday as I do and several witnesses do. She wonders what’s up with me that I don’t come home because in her version of the story she never kicked me out.
keenacatsays
I don’t talk to my family about any this – I’m not sure if they’d understand.
I feel you.
I love my family, and I avoid burdening them. They wouldn’t understand, but they’d worry. We’ve got a few intrafamilial issues and I feel the need to represent a strong support foundation. It can be exhausting to carry on like this and I find I avoid too much contact with my family. That makes me sad on a regular basis. I love them, but I often feel I can’t handle their issues on top of mine.
The boyfriend has a hard time getting me as well, even though we’ve been together for over 5 years and he has fought my depression alongside me.
But how I feel about the state of the world is pretty alien to him. This is part privilege and part avoidance, I guess…
I don’t have many close friends either, and while some get parts of it none of them is as involved as I am.
My one close friend is an atheist as well and he gets my gripes about church and religion, but feminism, or rather feminist activism, is something he does not grasp fully.
My other close friend doesn’t get my deep involvement in general. While I do enjoy her company a lot and she shares stuff like relationship and work issues, she’s just not the right person to unload my baggage re The World(tm) on.
While I socialize easily, I have a hard time opening up to people, which makes it all the more important for me to be able to come here and share with people who understand what I’m going through.
I might just be a person on the interwebs, but you guys made a world of difference, ever since I started reading Pharygula some 5 years ago. Now I even feel I can dump my baggage here and I want to thank you for supporting me.
You made me feel better today.
janinesays
More songs in heavy rotation in the summer of 1988. Try to guess what this could be.
The scary thing is that so far she managed to manipulate my memories, too.
Those we love and who have authority over us can do a frightening amount of manipulation. This is especially serious with parents and children.
I bet you know this already, but still… You have a right to your experiences. Your emotions and feelings have value and deserve notice. Others do not get to control your perception of reality, even if they are your mom.
Gah. Screw it.
For the first time in 30 years, I’m not watching the NCAA basketball tournament. I’m just fucking fed up.
Frequent, long commercial breaks are bad enough–I’ve lost a lot of my tolerance for those over the years–but much worse are the types of commercials they keep running.
We’ve got Wall Street investment firms trying to scare me over my lack of retirement funding, as if I don’t have more immediately pressing financial problems–thanks a lot, Wall Street. Just let us know when you need another fucking bailout.
Then a bunch of ex-jocks get on to tell me how great they’re doing thanks to the athletic scholarships they rode through college on. And how they’re all going pro in things other than sports, and I’m a doofus for thinking jocks are dumb.
Very few things piss me off worse than being told what I think and then being berated for being so horribly wrong. Then, of course, I flash back about 20 years to the day I dropped out of college due to lack of money and food and stuff like that. I suppose I could have made it through, if only I was eight feet tall like those fuckers.
Then Enterprise car rentals comes on and brags about all the recently graduated college jocks they hire. Groovy. So I guess they wouldn’t hire somebody my age in a billion years. Thanks.
Fuck basketball.
Sorry, I needed to rant.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
I also wish to throw my support to Giliell. We can pick our friends (to an extent), we can pick our noses, but we can’t pick our families.
Stand strong.
chigau (√-1)says
Ogvorbis
When I am at work, I find dealing with (non-co-employee) idiotic and/or dangerous situations easier as I know that my options are seriously circumscribed. Off duty, I have far more difficulty dealing with idiocy because I have so many more options.
I’ve noticed myself doing this.
Until reading it in your comment, however, I never realized how strangely multiple-personality-ish it is.
John Moralessays
feralboy12, invest in a digital video recorder, watch the game(s), zap the rest.
Hey, Giliell, I’m thinking of you too. I haven’t spoken to my mother in over 10 years. For me it also means not having contact with any of her large extended family. Sometimes I miss them terribly, but my mother will never accept that she was abusive to me or take responsibility for her behavior and she will never be a healthy person for me to have in my life.
President Hamid Karzai has endorsed an oppressive “code of conduct” that will ban Afghan women from traveling without a male guardian and from mingling with men in public areas such as schools, markets and offices.
The code, developed by the 150 clerics of the Ulema Council, was released with the statement that, “Men are fundamental and women are secondary.”
Abuse of one’s wife is still prohibited, however, men are given full right to physical assault of their spouse if it with “Shariah-compliant-reason.”
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, purveyor of candy and liessays
feralboy:
We’ve got Wall Street investment firms trying to scare me over my lack of retirement funding, as if I don’t have more immediately pressing financial problems–thanks a lot, Wall Street. Just let us know when you need another fucking bailout.
I fucking hate hate hate this. No, I don’t want to “talk to Chuck”, I don’t trust that smarmy fucker as far as I can throw him.
Gah. Anyway.
I’m with John Morales– if you can get a DVR/Tivo/whatever, I highly suggest it. I rarely watch live teevee anymore and life without commercials is pretty sweet.
Then a bunch of ex-jocks get on to tell me how great they’re doing thanks to the athletic scholarships they rode through college on. And how they’re all going pro in things other than sports,
Really? It bothers you that people can parlay a particular talent in a sport like fencing or rowing into degrees in fields like astrophysics or English literature or pre-med biology? Would it bother you less if the particular talent were in acting or playing the violin or maybe just doing math? Because, you know, students get merit-based financial aid for an assload of different reasons, not just for being “jocks.”
If this is really the first time in 30 years that you haven’t watched the NCAA basketball tournament, you evidently believe college athletics has some social value; I’m not sure why those ads, specifically, trouble you.
…and I’m a doofus for thinking jocks are dumb.
Very few things piss me off worse than being told what I think and then being berated for being so horribly wrong.
If you’re not one of those people who assume all “jocks” are dumb, then they’re not talking to you, are they? Surely you don’t deny the prejudice those ads are calling out exists? And while it’s awfully hard to feel sorry for the few who go on to be millionaire professional athletes, the vast majority of high school and college athletes are not in that category; those ads are just the NCAA reminding an increasingly cynical public that almost all “student athletes” are really just that, and don’t need the scare quotes. I’m not sure why that should tick you off.
cicely ("Intriguingly Odd")says
Gang, I need you to help me out, here.
I desperately need a new earworm.
I have spent the last…four…frickin’…days with Bruno Mars’ whiny-ass voice on a loop in my head. It’s there when I (finally) fall asleep. It’s there when I wake up.
Narwhals don’t help.
Fish-heads don’t help.
Even P.D.Q. Bach doesn’t help. *whimper*
–
The Plan:
Have The Husband attack my right shoulderblade/neck junction with the meat mallet.
–
Did you know vomit can bounce? Of course you do. We had to clean some corned beef off the ceiling.
I found this out ‘way back in my pre-teens. The experiment involved a whole bag of chocolate chips and a good-sized box of jaw breakers. With a large Slurpee. I was able to (inadvertently) achieve a really large Area of Effect, including the edge of the toilet (targetting was insufficiently precise), the front aproximate 2/3 of the bath tub, the space between toilet and tub, the wall up to about chest height, and a certain amount of celing. My mother was (justifiably) less than amused.
–
I used to get angry, calm down, forget about it (anger is not a very sustainable emotion, IMO. You can be hurt for days and hours, or happy, or sad, but angry usually only works for a short time. Don’t let the reason you were angry evaporate with the anger)
I dunno about that; in my experience, angry can work really, really, really well for months at a time, poisoning everything as it goes. I…don’t do that, any more.
–
New dryer! *dance, dance, dance* And I was able to make a (small) donation to Planned Parenthood!
Happy Federal Income Tax Refund Day, everybody!
.
.
(Is so a holiday!)
–
Giliell, *hugs* and sympathy. My mother rewrites history that way all the time. Sometimes, the dissonance is breathtaking.
–
And a big *hug* for keenacat, too. I love this community Our Squidly Overlord has (possibly inadvertantly, but hey, credit where it belongs!) created. It/You/We rock hard.
–
Both looking forward to and dreading tomorrow. The kindergarten teacher is returning, but 1) who knows how she’ll be, since this is the first time she’ll be away from her newborn son for a whole workday, and 2) no more reason to put off talking to the principal about taking my leave. Really should have done it earlier, but I could never get up the nerve to. I doubt he’ll be happy, but I figure if I offer to stay on until I find a job that looks good and might be something I’ll enjoy, he can’t really complain. Teachers . . . well, not sure on that front.
The totally Celtic-inflected Waterboy’s album is “Fisherman’s Blues” which IIRC was recorded in Spiddal, Ireland. Mike Scott, who essentially IS the Waterboys, hails from Scotland. His solo record “Bring ‘Em All In” is acoustic folkie stuff, but has a great tribute in song to Dublin called ‘City of Ghosts’. I really like his work, for all its giddy Christian-inflected pantheism.
carliesays
Ok, has anyone heard of an allergic reaction developing from nothing to anaphylactic levels in less than a week? Yeah, me neither. But we’re not sure what else it could have been.
Spouse was going happily about his day, had a handful of peanuts, within 10 minutes had severe stomach cramps, and another 10 minutes later was telling me to call 911 because he couldn’t breathe. But it wasn’t throat tightening/lung wheezing breathing problems, it was muscular chest tightening with abdominal pain. Profuse sweating, flushed skin, the works. The paramedics immediately hooked him up to a portable EKG and said it wasn’t a heart attack, and the injected Benadryl and steroids did seem to help (although the albuterol didn’t). Took close to two hours for the symptoms to go away altogether. At the ER, did some mystery bloodwork and had an x-ray (still not sure why on that one), and the doctor said whatever, nothing seems to be wrong now, don’t eat peanuts anymore. Our child is allergic to peanuts, but Spouse has never had a single problem including up to last week when he last ate some.
My only thought is that possibly that batch had some kind of contaminant in it, maybe a peanut pathogen, that he reacted to. I haven’t seen anything about aflatoxin allergies, but who knows what it could have been. In any case, even if it was a contaminant he’ll still have to avoid them now in case it’s a common thing. He has a big sad.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Hot Damn Carlie, that must have been scary! Glad it wasn’t worse and he’s still around, peanut-free or not.
cicely ("Intriguingly Odd")says
carlie, too much Jim Carrey is a terrible, terrible thing; I will have none of it.
Think I’ll try the Lamb Chops. With thanks.
–
carliesays
Thanks, TLC. It wasn’t actually that scary while it was happening, because I just couldn’t believe it. At first I thought he just had a bug and was trying to throw up, then when he didn’t come back from the bathroom I went to check and found him standing there trying to get up the energy to yell for me, and I had barely had the time to work up getting upset when the ambulance arrived, and then I hadn’t even thought of a heart attack until they pulled the leads out and then that got resolved quickly. I think it was trainee day – we had three vehicles and 8 people show up, most of whom were watching and listening to the others tell them what was going on. But that also meant by the time I had the delayed worried reaction I could already see there were more than enough people and equipment to handle it.
The funny thing was that I kept thinking I recognized the guy in charge, and it wasn’t until after they all left that child 1 said “That was (person in his class)’s dad.” Oh, yeah. Could have said that while he was here.
chigau (√-1)says
carlie
*hugs* for you and Spouse.
The last time we did this the SO had pneumonia.
I developed a sudden-onset hives reaction to a combination of an antibiotic and eating shrimp.
keenacat, I could have written your post! The advice people gave here was great. I learned a long time ago that you just have to turn it all off for a while when things just get to be too much. Then, you can recharge and come back to do what you can a little at a time.
starstuff: that was amazing! I thought you were going to post about the interview. But that story is fascinating and also too freaky for words. I had read about that sheriff persecuting that lawyer somewhere recently – but had no idea that there was also this crazy “annointing” thing going on! What is going on in Florida? Isn’t Florida where that minister who wanted an atheist registry lived, too? Good gravy!
carlie; that must have been frightening to think your spouse could have developed a serious allergy almost overnight!
kristinec – glad to hear your child is doing better – but Oh I remember that bottomed out feeling when your child is sick and not getting better! I am glad it turned out to be a flu – though it sounded like a severe bout!
Nerd – hooray for the corned beef and milkshake dinner! How did you do it after? (cold-cold: warm-warm)
cassandra: keep up the good work! You know – even if a paper is a little shy of the word count, if it is a good paper, many profs will give you a break on that. You are enjoying the subject of the paper, so run with that and just write. In the end, you will have a great paper (and probably wind up with the necessary word count too) Good luck!
Dr. Audley Z. Darkheart, purveyor of candy and liessays
What is going on in Florida? Isn’t Florida where that minister who wanted an atheist registry lived, too?
Yeah… Florida is a fucking crazy state. It’s got a large population, with many different groups. Basically, if you see a weird or fucked up news story, there’s a good bet that it’s from Florida.
Oh, and for that blog post, I actually sent it to EllenBeth Wachs before I published it so I could make sure my story is correct.
Very wise! I also think the links your included were a good idea. I liked your blog!
Good Night, Dr Audley Darkheart!
ChasCPetersonsays
Oh my goodness, this may be the best thing I’ve ever seen.
fuckin awesome; thanks, carlie
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
[Today, with my brain.]
“The restaurant you were going to go to is closed? Everything is ruined. You should just stay home. And forget about finishing your paper today. You’re screwed. You might as well just turn it in as is because you’re not going to get anything above a failing grade anyway. And by the way, your friends are only pretending to like you. And you’re stupid. You ought to go to bed and cry.”
“I need to go to campus anyway. I have to get groceries. And there are like twenty-four hours left before my paper is due, and I only have three pages left to write. Please calm down.”
“LOOK! TREES! FLOWERS! SUN! This is the best song ever! Aren’t you excited to write your paper? You’re a paper-writing GOD! Your professor’s probably going to read your paper and realize you’ve been a SUPERGENIUS DEITY all quarter and give you five A+s and call all the journals and tell them to publish your paper immediately! It’ll revolutionize the field of classics! THIS SONG IS GREAT!”
“I’m glad to be excited about writing my paper, but these expectations are unrealistic. Please calm down.”
“OH NO GUESS WHAT. YOU PROBABLY LEFT THE OVEN ON. RUN. THE HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN AS WE SPEAK.”
“…No, I didn’t leave the oven on. I remember pushing the button to turn it off.”
“THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BURN DOWN AND IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT.”
“I’m like halfway to campus already. I remember turning the oven off.”
“OKAY BUT THEN IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT IF THE HOUSE BURNS DOWN BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T WANT TO WALK A FEW BLOCKS. I BET IT’S BURNING DOWN RIGHT NOW. YOU SHOULD RUN!”
“…Okay, if it’ll make you shut up about it, I’ll go back. But I’m not going to run anywhere. Even if I had left it on, it probably wouldn’t even be preheated yet, let alone burning the house down. Calm down.”
“Guess what? You’re stupid. And nobody likes you. Your life is horrible and you should cry about it.”
“Shut up, I’m trying to go back to the house to see if the oven is on. Okay. Look. The oven is off. I went and checked all the locks. Everything is fine. Now chill.”
*a block and a half from home* “YOU LEFT THE DOOR OPEN AND UNLOCKED. EVERYONE IS ROBBING THE HOUSE NOW.”
“No, I did not. I remember locking both doors and checking them. They are locked. Stop it. Calm down.”
“THE HOUSE IS GOING TO GET ROBBED. And you’re a moron. And I bet when you get to campus everything will be closed anyway. And your paper is stupid. You’re probably going to get the paper totally finished and then discover that a paper has already been written completely disproving everything you said. And also you don’t have any real friends… OH LOOK AT THOSE FLOWERS! WE SHOULD TOTALLY GO TO IN N OUT! Aren’t you excited for when we get to campus? You’ll finish your paper in no time! Won’t it be nice to just hang out on campus? Then you can walk home and play Skyrim! I bet you’re going to do great on your German final tomorrow! Yay!”
“…I’m just going to pretend you’re not talking.”
[curtain]
Antiochus Epiphanessays
carlie: What Chas said. Great vid. I’ll watch it he next time I have to psyche myself up for something scary like climbing into the attic. Or opening bills. Or watching some helmet angle video of a 4th grader ski-jumping on YouTube.
Re: your spouse.
That must have been scary as fuck. I had a scare today…I turned around to put something in the trash at a crowded city park and when I turned back, my five-year old was just gone. Turns out that she had left her hair clip on a picnic table–she must have bolted for it the second my eye was off her. She came sprinting back at exactly the moment that panic was setting in. I had not a fucking clue as to what to do and was about to begin running in ever widening circles screaming her name.
chigau (√-1)says
CC(C),OM
Your brain is very articulate.
Mine is more
“herp”
*silence*
“durp”
*silence*
“My back hurts.”
*silence*
“Beer!”
cassandra – that was lol funny – although if it is real (ie. if your mind jumps around like that for real), I can imagine that can be pretty exhausting sometimes – the constant telling yourself to “calm down”! I hope you were able to soak up a little of that sunshine and breathe in the flowers and get your second wind to finish your awesome paper!
AUUG no, don’t remind me – I go through that almost all the time. There’s a reason I’m seldom without a book – it’s because if I have something to read, my brain doesn’t yammer at me nearly so much.
chigau (√-1)says
StarStuff
Thanks!
I have also just discovered that I can simply copypaste such images into a file on my “computer”.
A. Rsays
The image appears to have been there since November. Hopefully this the first instance of Pharyngulation of the Pfft. Now to convince them to replace that horrible ball thingy with a the Pharyngula octopus.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
A.R: I’m not sure how PZ is supposed to take it, but I for one think he’s a fine specimen of an upright-walking tool using hominid.
A. Rsays
TLC: Exactly. It’s also a great way to scare the shit out of creationists trying to vandalize the Pfft. Imagine what one of them would do if they saw that picture when they went to replace the article with some bullshit about Adan and Eve!
chigau (√-1)says
PZ
have a look at the anti-caturday thread.
Menyambal -- damned dirty apesays
chigau,
If you want to do a screen capture, look in the upper right of your keyboard for a PrintScreen key. My laptop has it as PrtSc. It doesn’t print the screen anymore, but it copies it as an image to your clipboard that you can paste into an open Paint program, work with, then save as a file. If you hold down the Alt key as you hit the PrintScreen key, you get only the active Windows window, not the whole screen, but you still must paste the image into something, then save.
If you just want to save a picture out of a web page (such as the one with PZ mentioned above), you can usually right-click your mouse while your cursor is on the picture, and select Save Image out of the menu that pops up. You can also just left-click on the image and drag it to your desktop on most browsers–that’s fastest–or even into an open folder window.
I’m not sure what you were asking for, but I hope that helps.
chigau (√-1)says
Menyambal
That is all good to know. Thanks.
ambleburysays
Woodsmanone?
Methinks he has been alone in the woods a lit-tle too long.
Good morning
Hmmm, looks like I forgot to actually post my last post last night….
TLC
I also wish to throw my support to Giliell. We can pick our friends (to an extent), we can pick our noses, but we can’t pick our families.
LOL
I think I need to make a shirt with this
Thank you all, I definetly appreciate it. This is an intense time for me, not uncomplicated, I feel a lot of tension, but I also feel surprisingly good. I’m breathing again, I’m thinking again.
kristinc
Thanx.
The one thing that still keeps me hoping is my gran. I’ll never abandon her, I couldn’t do that. She’s one of the most important persons from my childhoos and youth, she cared for me often, and I’m not going to leave her now that she’s old, disabled and suffering from dementia (the stage where she still realizes she’s forgetting).
But it was hard to realize that this may mean that I’ll be “cast out” from lots of things because nobody will understand. I told my husband so last week and he was looking with a bit of disbelief. Then he saw the reaction of his own mother (oh but there’s always two sides and people have to pull themselves together) and I think she’s a good indicator.
There will always be my sister.
carlie
Oh shit that’s scary.
From my own experience, such things can develop quickly. Yeah, I’m allergic to lots of things. Mother nature condemmed me to eating exotic fruit and apple pie.
If he reacted via the stomach he maybe had some light symptoms before and just didn’t realize that they were in connection with peanuts?
++++++ Tom Martin
I amused myself reading the comments over at manboobz. He’s still as hilarious as he was when Ophelia Benson banned him.
If you just want to amuse yourself without reading 400+ comments, here are the highlights:
Women owe men five years pension.
Women owe men some National Service.
Women owe men some inventions.
Women owe men positive discrimination in university curricula.
Women owe men some child access.
It’s women’s round at the bar too.
Muslim men are a lot less in love with macho than we give them credit for. They do not want to live the traditional male gender role, because they have been living it, and know how shit it is. Muslim women on the other hand are grubby little whores by and large, and they know it.
I would be standing on a street corner in some Muslim land explaining it, but that would be too risky for my personal safety, or any man’s personal safety. It is easier for women to rise up without getting shot than for men, on gender politics issues.
Nevertheless, I will be translating my experiments’ findings and book into Arabic.
In many ways, Saudi Arabian men are probably the most discriminated against men in the world.
Secondly, Saudi Arabian women are the laziest whores in the world, with just 22% of them in even a part-time job (and that 22% figure bolstered by the foreign women shipped in to do certain work).
Before you start trying to categorize housework as proper work on any level, ….
His rigorous scientific background:
Come on people. Admit, you didn’t know half this stuff. Whenever one of you says “citation please” its clear you’ve never heard it before. It is an indication to me of of how indoctrinated you all are. I have learnt little from these comments. Where are your citations to disprove my hypothesis?
And here’s his long list why prostitutes are the worst people on planet earth, to blame for all the misery and misandry.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
Knowing your arguments here, I doubt that.
Ee thanks :D
Ah, yes. Mr. handed my mum the letter and without having even read it she told him it doesn’t work that way *sigh*
*rolleyes of sympathy*
—
keenacat, I’m seconding what everyone else said: one of the best things being here taught me was to take a break when I needed to. It’s hard, but we all need it once in a while.
Even a simple run can turn into a session of “Must get stronger, must get faster, they’re after me.” Being hyper-aware of just how at risk you are or can become is an awful feeling, and sometimes I wish I didn’t have it.
God yes. I don’t even exercise above a walk and I still recognize that “must get stronger, must get faster, they’re after me” feeling. I’ve found that the only thing worse than becoming aware of how at risk I am is becoming aware of the risks to people I love – not because they’re so much more important or anything self-sacrificing like that, but because I can do absolutely nothing to protect them.
Her memory really changes to fit her narrative of the troublesome child. The scary thing is that so far she managed to manipulate my memories, too.
She honestly doesn’t remember last Saturday as I do and several witnesses do. She wonders what’s up with me that I don’t come home because in her version of the story she never kicked me out.
Fuck, I’m sorry. That sounds so fucking familiar it hurts, and it’s probably so much harder when it’s your mother. I’m so glad you’re working to shut some of her negativity and manipulation out. *hugs*
Your brain is very articulate.
Also extremely loud.
Mine is more
“herp”
*silence*
“durp”
*silence*
“My back hurts.”
*silence*
“Beer!”
I can barely conceive of what it would be like to have actual silence in my brain while I’m awake.
cassandra – that was lol funny – although if it is real (ie. if your mind jumps around like that for real), I can imagine that can be pretty exhausting sometimes – the constant telling yourself to “calm down”!
You have nooo idea. It is incredibly exhausting. My brain isn’t usually that extreme/intense with its mood swings, luckily, but it never ever shuts up. After rereading it back to myself it just reminds me of the GLaDOS personality cores…
I hope you were able to soak up a little of that sunshine and breathe in the flowers and get your second wind to finish your awesome paper!
Well, not really, but… Thanks! Thanks! *bounce hug*
AUUG no, don’t remind me – I go through that almost all the time. There’s a reason I’m seldom without a book – it’s because if I have something to read, my brain doesn’t yammer at me nearly so much.
It’s why I listen to everything when I work! Worst is trying to go to bed. SHUT UP BRAIN. OMG.
Menyambal -- damned dirty apesays
I can barely conceive of what it would be like to have actual silence in my brain while I’m awake.
Worst is trying to go to bed. SHUT UP BRAIN. OMG.
I’ve the same problem, and have mentioned my solution, “Sleepyphone” before. But for you ….
Go to your library or online, and get good audiobooks as MP3s (Media Player will rip CDs.)
Get an old cellphone with a music player/speakerphone ability, and an easy way to get MP3s into it. (A MicroSD chip is best–the port is easy to spot if you are rooting through garage sale phones, and is a good indicator. Try to avoid phones that require building a playlist, but it can be dealt with.)
Put the audiobooks into the cellphone. Put the MP3 player function on speaker. Put the phone under your pillow. Listen. Sleep.
There are pillow speakers you can buy, but that’s the way I do it.
I find that a comfortable volume is a level that my wife can’t hear as long as my head is on the pillow–I put it on Pause if I get up for a few.
P. G. Wodehouse books read by Frederick Davidson are my favorite, available from Blackstone Audiobooks.
My sleepyphone got me through a time when lying down to sleep would put me into a circle of despair and rage.
I also find it helps me relax into sleep to try to compose letters or articles in my head. Trying to describe The Big Bang Theory TV show to my mom is one trick, imagining explanatory posts here is another.
And now I can sleep. Thank you.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
So, um, about woodsmanone… I genuinely don’t know how to engage with the fact that he seriously appears to think people only don’t like him killing cats because they’re under the control of brain-parasites.
Menyambal, thanks for the suggestion! That might help. Some of the time I have some success trying to force my brain onto a storytelling track, but lately it’s just derailed and gotten worse.
Wooo-hoo
Campsite just confirmed our reservation for easter. I was a bit anxious because it’s in three weeks already and the Alsace is really popular at that time.
*happydance*
Somebody…anybody…is there a Pharyngula table for the dinner at the global Atheist Conference?
I have a feeling I may have missed something due to my workaholism of the last couple of months.
Gen Fury, Still Desolate and Deviant #1says
Giliell LOL @ Tom Martin. Thanks, that was grate.
I don’t know what else to say other than “Good grief that sucks!” and strongs (although I love your MOY thingie – I can identify with that, only for me it was my step dad, not mom).
Enjoy your vaycay, too!
Carlie That is really, really freaky shit. I’m so glad that nothing serious followed and that everyone is OK. I’m sorry that I can’t answer your questions – it does sound slightly bizarre to me, but IANAD and many things in human biology and physiology are quite bizarre sometimes.
Keenacat Just confirming what everyone said – if it gets too much, focus on the stuff that make you laugh/feel good. I like My little pony sometimes, playing Sims some other times, or losing myself in one of my favourite books – it’s essential that it be a book that I already know and love to bitsk, that’s a surefire last resort one for those niggly, can’t shut out the damn fucked-uppedness of the world and I don’t want to live on this planet anymore days.
We only have certain amounts of energy available, and fighting ALL the fights is just not possible. For ANYONE.
It was a hard lesson for me too, and one which I must still sometimes force myself to remember.
StarStuff Just wanted to say that I really, really admire you. In a (hopefully) non-creepy, non-stalkerish kind of way. You’re awesome.
CC (Cassandra Caligaria) OMG my brain does this too! And also loudly and HYPER EXCITEDLY. I, too, imagine the Voices in my head talking in ALL CAPS sometimes.
And is my brain ever subversive! As soon as I’ve figured out a new technique to try and rein it in and maybe get some quiet or even some sleep, it goes like “Heh. Yeah, good luck with that. I’ll figure it out and work against it soon!”.
Also, o.O at that thread. I’m at a loss for words. Which is pretty damn rare.
Menyambal Thanks for the suggestion! I’m going to try that sleepyphone thing. I used the story telling technique for a while, but my subversive brain soon took whatever I was busy with and ran with it at 200 mph, making it even MOAR EXITED because this is either the BEST IDEA EVAR or the WORST IDEA EVAR. Sometimes both at the same time.
The Cat Thread Uhm, I really don’t know how to respond to that either. Even my brain goes quiet when faced with shit like that. I’m like O.O
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
I was a bit anxious because it’s in three weeks already and the Alsace is really popular at that time.
Heh, coincidences. Just today, I picked Alsace for my exposition in French class.
beatrice
You need to make them a Gugelhupf.
I wanted to link you a recipe but for some reason or other, FTB doesn’t like the cooking sire it’s lockated on.
If you’re interested I’ll type one
If you want ideas, just drop me a line. I’ve been going ther over easter like forever.
tielserrath
I think rohrschach is coordinating that
+++++
Ah yeah. 30 min phonetalk with my mum. I don’t think she understood a thing I told her.
So I beat Mass Effect 3, and I can see what the kerfluffle is about the ending. I’m not angry and demanding my money back… but I am disappointed. I switched off to playing Bayonetta for now, and holy Christmas is that game rough! Normal mode is kicking my arse, over and over again. I’ve gone back to the earlier levels just to practice more, that’s how hard it is.
Meanwhile in Reason Rally news, I’m plotting a cute long skirt to wear, but at the same time I’m frustrated cause I ordered some nice breast forms but they’ve not arrived despite a 3-5 day shipping period, neither have I received a shipping or order confirmation… I’m calling up the place and I’m seeing what’s up. If they don’t arrive by the end of this week, I’ll be angry cause I’ll look like a dude in a skirt :(
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
Giliell,
That’s kuglof! I think we’re going to make it for Easter anyway, so I can consider that one practice for the one for class. Unless you recommend something even better. :)
Could you just copy the address in plain text if the link won’t work? No need to go to the trouble of typing the recipe, but I never say no to a new recipe site/blog.
NuMadsays
Cassandra Caligaria,
So, um, about woodsmanone… I genuinely don’t know how to engage with the fact that he seriously appears to think people only don’t like him killing cats because they’re under the control of brain-parasites.
If he had talked about dogs the same way instead, I suspect that his rantings would have gotten about as warm a reception as they did. Without the benefit of blaming it on mind control parasites.
beatrice
chefkoch.ADD internet ending for Germany here/
rezepte/
203181085744970/
Gugelhupf.ADD four letters here
Remove linebreak
That’s a German site, though, but I think google translate will suffice for the ingredients if you know how to make a decent yeast dough.
Something even better?
Hmm, Flammekuche is delicious, but you’d need an oven in class (only tasty when hot), so is a good choucroutte (Sauerkraut with sausages and meat) or a Bäckerofe (same stuff with bread on top). A good Riesling or Pinot Noir is never wrong, although with the Gugelhupf a Gewürtztraminer would go well.
So, for a classroom presentation, I’d stick with the Gugelhupf *gg*
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
Giliell,
Yeah, I think I’ll go with the Gugelhupf.
Thanks for the recipe. It’s pretty standard, so there shouldn’t be problems. I have never made it before (used to be grandmother’s specialty, now mum makes it), so I’ll practice with the one for home.
The only thing I didn’t understand was Würfel Hefe, but knowing all the rest, I could guess that one.
I think I will have to try those other recipes at home. In the interest of proper research, of course.
Flammekuche looks like something I would murder for.
Oh, a Würfel Hefe is 42g, standard size of yeast in Germany
keenacatsays
Good morning horde.
The sun is shining, I have pasta left over that is calling for me, I already ran errands this morning and I feel reasonably good. My depression did not rear its ugly head just yet.
Minor complaint: my uterus is trying to kill me again. I’ll probably need to go back on long cycle with my hormonal contraception.
Katherine,
did you get somebody by phone already? You should probably check if you can get boobage elsewhere, maybe you’ll get it in time for RR.
Beatrice,
I want to recommend the “smitten kitchen” if you are into cooking/baking blogs. It’s the bestest! You’ll find it at smittenkitchenDOTcom.
The cat rant
Ummm… Yeah. I didn’t think anyboy would take the cat-world domination meme seriously. I was wrong.
keenacatsays
Beatrice,
Flammkuchen is TEH ORSUM(R). Try it.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Good morning. A wonderful Tuesday it is, too.
On the drive to work, I spotted a car covered in Ron Paul stickers. It was an early-1980s Ford Escort. With bodywork reminiscent of smoothed out used tin foil. And my thought was, ‘there is someone who really doesn’t understand Libertarianism.’
On another car, some really scary bumper stickers: “We Have No President!”, “Kill the Nigger Usurper!”, “Obama: Begging for a 2nd Ammendment Solution!” All of this on a pickup, with Vermont plates, and a gun rack in the back window.
I don’t remember the right being this totally unhinged and disconnected with reality in, say, the 80s. Or the 90s. And they scare me.
Until reading it in your comment, however, I never realized how strangely multiple-personality-ish it is.
Eithers that, or we are just really good at compartmentalizing.
@Ogvorbis, The Waterboys:
The Whole of the Moon
Thanks.
Sorry about the ‘s’. I wonder what I did with it?
I desperately need a new earworm.
This is the song that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends.
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was.
They’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends.
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was.
They’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends.
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was.
They’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends,
(Repeat. All the way from Northeast Pennsylvania to Southwest Harbour, Maine.* It’ll infest your mind for years.)
* Yes, the Kids did that to Wife and I once.
Once.
I was able to (inadvertently) achieve a really large Area of Effect,
I managed that in college. I ran into our dorm bathroom (my dorm was an old farmhouse) and was unable to get to the toilet. So I hit the sink. With enough velocity for the vomit to do a nice bank turn and spray the walls. Boy, with this episode, managed to hit the ceiling.
I really like his work, for all its giddy Christian-inflected pantheism.
Never noticed that. Of course, at the time, I was a Christian-influenced pantheist, so it seemed to fit right in.
Ok, has anyone heard of an allergic reaction developing from nothing to anaphylactic levels in less than a week?
I have known two people who have developed new allergies out of nowhere in a very short time. Anecdote, but, well, there you are.
I’m glad Spouse is okay. Those are scary.
Think I’ll try the Lamb Chops. With thanks.
With Charley Horse?
Basically, if you see a weird or fucked up news story, there’s a good bet that it’s from Florida.
Pennsylvania has Florida beat, though. We gave the world Santorum.
—–
Cassandra:
Cyber hugs. I visit that place occasionally.
I can barely conceive of what it would be like to have actual silence in my brain while I’m awake.
Mine just tells me, at great length, everything that can go wrong. And that the people who are being nice to me are just setting me up for a pratfall.
I HAVE boobage right now, the problem is that I have to wear it with a pocket bra, and said bra is uncomfortable and doesn’t look right. I have a pile of extremely nice non-pocket bras that require the breastforms to be stuck to my skin, which this new set will be able to without tape and/or medical adhesive (the former I don’t have, the latter – well I’m not spraying medical adhesive onto my breastforms in the bathroom…)
But yea, when I get home from work I’ll call them up – they’re in California so I’ll definitely reach them.
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
Our standard is 40g, so no problems there either.
I would just like to note how much I hate US/Canadian recipes with their cups. I had some… problems until I’ve realized that their cup is not my cup of 200ml.
keenacatsays
Katherine
ah, that sucks. I hope you get them via phone and they can send them today. Hopefully you’ll be able to get them in time.
How do the new boobs stick, by the way? I did come across a few strapless bras that had sticky silicone cups, is this similar?
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
There being bad blood between me an US/Canadian measuring units doesn’t of course mean I don’t look at those recipes.
I do curse them sometimes.
keenacat ,
Oooh, nice. New food bloggy with pretty pictures. The amazing photography is something I love about food blogs.
My favorite ones:
cookincanuckDOTcom
gggiraffe.blogspotDOTcom
pinchmysaltDOTcom
closetcookingDOTcom
healthygreenkitchenDOTcom
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
Forgot this one and I shouldn’t because I could live just on food from here:
fortheloveofcookingDOTnet
keenacatsays
Awesome. I lurve foodie blogs and I’ll add those to my feeds.
Something like that I’d assume. A sticky permanent (probably not so much) backing. I’ll assume it gets stickier through body heat. What I’d really like would be permanent breasts… but that’s gonna be a while, yay body chemistry *grumblegrumble*
carliesays
Thanks for the kind words.
AE, that is terrifying. The scariest moments of my life have been the losing kids moments. One went on for close to 10 minutes before we found him, and were in an unfamiliar place with a beach on one side and a highway on the other. Uuuuuuugh.
I had some… problems until I’ve realized that their cup is not my cup
Can I mention how much I love that there are two completely unrelated discussions about entirely different kinds of cups going on at the same time? It’s like synergy.
Oh and I’ve decided what I’m gonna do. Forms in a bag, carry the bag to the restaurant for breakfasts, slip the forms in, put on a skirt, go to the rally. Cause my bag is gonna have to hold a lot of other stuff too.
I barely slept yesterday, then passed out half an hour or so abotu 2 am. Now, I can’t get back to sleep. I think it’s a combination of me being angry about the Trayvon Martin situation and it being kind of hot. It’s still winter for a couple days. July will be killer.
What do you think of this article? I think she is addressing a real problem (trivializing real problems for sake of plot, which is hardly limited to urban fantasy), but has such a wide definition of appropriation that her critique gets ridiculous. For instance, a gay man using gay metaphors on his show is appropriating the gay civil rights struggle. Putting a fictional character in the French Resistance is appropriating their oppression by the Nazis. I’m unsure how the urban fiction genre is supposed to work under these conditions. Her one positive example is hypothetical and kind of vague.
Gen Fury, Still Desolate and Deviant #1says
Anyone for betting that Kacyray returns to the Documentary thread with something to the effect of “Feminism is a movement to establish female supremacy” with a possible side of “the world is already a Gynocracy/Matriarchy” or something to that effect?
Or is that too easy?
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
How did you do it after? (cold-cold: warm-warm)
The cold was a cooler in the hatch with some ice. Made sure the shakes were well seated on the bottom of the cooler without ice underneath, and drove carefully so they wouldn’t tip over. The warm was just stick the sack on the floor of the car out of the AC circulation (we have been setting temperature records for March here in Chiwaukee), and let the sandwich wrapping do its job.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Anyone for betting that Kacyray returns to the Documentary thread with something to the effect of “Feminism is a movement to establish female supremacy” with a possible side of “the world is already a Gynocracy/Matriarchy” or something to that effect?
No bet. And my Troll Bingo Card (evidence that I am of the Hive Mind) is damn near full blackout.
President Hamid Karzai has endorsed an oppressive “code of conduct” that will ban Afghan women from traveling without a male guardian and from mingling with men in public areas such as schools, markets and offices.
Indeed. Just like those women revolutionaries in Egypt who helped to remove Mubarak are now walking around in veils, and being prohibited from taking any part in the political decision making.
Isn’t Islam great when you’re male and heterosexual.
beatrice
*nomnomnom*
Tasty
And now I need to prepare the dough for the pizza tonight
keenancat
My sympathies.
Ever since I had the kids I don’t have as much a period than an irregular, but I’m not getting back on the Pill.
One thing I found out though is that cramps are significantly lighter if I use a Mens Cup or Diva Cup instead of tampons.
(For Germany try MeLuna. Don’t look at the washable tampons, though ;) )
+++++
OK, pizza dough stil woefully unprepared (only step 1 done). Had a visit from my sister and am angry. Not at her. My mother is spreading the story of me fightig with her at the expense of my children to people who are strangers (the woman who does grannysitting 4 times a week).
So, she wants to talk? Yeah, I’ve got something to talk about…
Oh, decided to make a Gugelhupf, too.
Katherine
Something that might work, too, is Mastix, that’s the glue they use in theatre to glue on masks. Although I don’t know how it would feel with something that constantly moves, I only ever tried it with Elven ears.
On that note, I seem to remember a German song from the 80s, that goes something like “No quantity of alcohol would be sufficient for the amount you want to vomit”.
So I beat Mass Effect 3, and I can see what the kerfluffle is about the ending. I’m not angry and demanding my money back… but I am disappointed.
Finished it yesterday and yeah no kidding. WTF? Why does my copy not have an ending in it? I actually hope the outcry causes them to release new endings as DLC…holy crap was that a Shamylan. Also pissed that I chose the wrong ending accidentally and it saves right before that POS interactive shooting cut scene. Goddamn it game designers. NEVER do that. Never put in an obstacle that is entirely plot related and artificially hard and is pretty much just one big hurdle to moving on. It’s not challenging, it’s just frustrating.
I’ve already just ignored that and written my own ending(s) which are better :-p.
I really think the writers were too dedicated into giving everyone an ending they didn’t see coming that they wound up writing an ending almost no one could accept. It’s not even about wanting a happy ending. I’d be fine with some bitter sweet but this ending was sweet/sour. To avoid spoiler I’ll maybe put up my more detailed thoughts on why the ending failed epically on a blog post.
The ride there was fun though, and if you can block out the ending and write your own I’d still recommend a buy/rent.
I hope they come up with a better one, maybe ride the “Indoctrination” coattails that fans came up with XD
What’s baffling about that is how they actually thought anyone could see that scene and not immediately think “Indoctrination”. I haven’t heard what the fan theory is and I instantly know what it is. Plus it would have been a perfect time for a friendship scene montage to tie the threads together and how how Shep could recognize the deception.
Also SPOILERS
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With the amount of retirony they invoked it actually would have been a better twist to have a happy ending
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The anchor woman on the news just said this:
“Should kids as young as 12 be able to get condoms from their school nurse?”
Well, of course they should. If they’re seeking out condoms, that means that they might have sex. And if they want to have sex, they’re going to have sex, with or without a condom. Why would anyone even be against this (other than societies strange idea that young people don’t have sex unless you teach them about it)?
I’m really annoyed with the whole “Ooo, this is controversial!” shit. It’s so stupid. You know, most things that people say are controversial aren’t controversial if you actually fucking think about it for two seconds.
re silence of the brain
I learned as an undergrad in the mid1970s due to exposure to all the TM/eck/Castenada in the atmosphere.
“shutting off the internal dialog” seemed like a really good idea.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
The anchor woman on the news just said this:
“Should kids as young as 12 be able to get condoms from their school nurse?”
Well, of course they should.
No, no, no. We should punish the little sluts by forcing them to bear gods’ most precious gift. And the boy will get a pat on the head and be told what a little man he is.
(The above is intended as humour. It doesn’t work as humour because there are some who think this way. Hypocrisy and all.)
Spoilers
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The Indoctrination theory suggests that Shepard is undergoing some kind of hallucinatory indoctrination by Harbinger since the moment after they were hit by the beam. There are very weird things going on in the following scenes.
Why is the angle all skewed? Where are the bodies of the squadmates? What is this magic unlimited ammunition gun she gets? Where is her armor? What is this weird place in the Citadel she’s gone to? What are all the dead bodies that look like dolls lying around? Why does this place look nothing like the Citadel or Citadel technology? Why does it almost look Reaperish? What is Anderson doing here? What is the Illusive Man doing here? Why is the “control” choice pushed as the only viable option by both TIM and the starchild? What are those black “veins” on the screen? Why is Sehpard bloody one moment then clean the last? Why is she so accepting of the Starchild’s explanations? Why is the Starchild identical to the dreams she’s been having? Speaking of which, WTF was up with that last one?
I spent three games more or less shouting at authority, using Shepard to speak for unity and cooperation. There’s absolutely no way my Shepard would accept any of the Starchild’s choices. My Shepard would walk to the edge of that platform and just sit and watch. She’d tell Starchild about the Geth – point out their ships fighting alongside those of the biologicals. The fact she so readily accepts that Devil’s Dilemma is so odd, and which is why people think that Shepard at the end is not really in control of herself.
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Spoilers over.
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
Giliell,
No advice, unfortunately. Just a hug if you want it.
Spoilers
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Yup exactly waht I thought. Plus it would work better if it was Harbinger. He is the voice of the Reapers and they have unfinished business with him. The fact that they missed the potential for Shepard to give an ironic echo back to Harbinger is a damn head desk.
Though the odd Reaper area of the Crucible was supposed to be one of the unaccessable parts of it and presumably the control center the Reapers made. Possibly where the Keepers come from. TIM was there because he hijacked the Citadel to ‘control’ the Reapers. I actually would be fine with everything until right after TIM, because we see that he (or probably Harbinger through him) is indoctrinating Shepard and Anderson.
Plus the theme of synthetic vs organic did kind of come from no where…it doesn’t match the reality we see. The Geth didn’t rebel, they defended themselves. EDI didn’t rebel. We havn’t seen any actual AI or synthetic life that DID a rebellion. The Geth gained sentience and only protected themselves when genocide was attempted, EDI gained sentience and stayed with her crew. The whole problem the star child made a ‘solution’ for makes no sense. If it was a say a solution that at a certain point civilized races wage enough war that they put all life at risk so the Reapers sterilize the advanced ones so that life can continue into the next cycle with the primitives that might make sense.
Or you know…give no motivation to the Reapers. We really wern’t all that curious. We got it. Lovecraft abomination, frankly it’s better/scarier NOT to know.
This link’s been making the anti-GMO rounds on Facebook. I suspect bad science here, but can anyone with some biotech experience help explain exactly what’s wrong? Upfront, I’m seeing a major category error in that they never define what makes something genetically modified. My understanding is that all of our food crops are highly derived, at best, compared to anything in nature. A few criticisms (like 2 &3) sound plausible, but need a lot of elaboration.
I used to manage the time and attendance system for my last company, so I’m actually still friends with a lot of the HR department that worked there (most have left for other places).
I just forwarded that to the woman who was the HR director for like 25 years. I assume she’ll love it.
Menyambal -- damned dirty apesays
Up there a ways I described playing an audiobook under my pillow to keep my brain from going in futile circles all night. My best trick for daytime use is to sing aloud–I have to focus on the words and the physical act of singing, and it stops the frustrated thoughts.
I can still do most tasks, of course, and anything requiring full focus is distracting in itself. My only good song is “Amazing Grace”, but I am working on “Danny Boy”.
If folks are around I just mentally run over the songs I am learning to pick out on my ukulele. (In case you are wondering, the tab version of “Ode to Joy” goes “oh, oh, one, three, three, one, oh, oh, three, one ….”)
And yes, these tricks don’t work for ever.
waltonsays
Dropping in to make an announcement: for those of you in the Boston area, please come to the vigil/protest against SB 2061 at the Massachusetts State House tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 6 pm. This is a really big deal. SB 2061 would introduce Arizona-style racial profiling in Massachusetts, and deny undocumented immigrants and their families access to many public services, including public housing. It absolutely has to be stopped.
carliesays
Ace – MANY THINGS.
You’re right about the category error. It’s pretty egregious, because not only did they not define what kinds of genetic modifications count and which don’t, they include things like hormonal treatments which are NOT GENETIC.
I don’t have time to tear the entire thing apart, but I can make a start that shows how bad their argumentation is.
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients.
Who is this? I’ve never heard of this organization before. It is not the AMA, and could just be a guy in his basement for all anybody knows.
They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility.
What studies? Published where? Which genes?
Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems.
What kind of material? What kind of problems? Again, what studies in what peer-reviewed journals?
Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us,
Which genes, causing what to happen?
and that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses.
It’s not toxic to us, and how quickly did it break down once it was eaten? And what studies where?
Numerous health problems increased after GMOs were introduced in 1996.
And the number of pirates decreased. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.
The whole thing is just smoke and mirrors scare language. There are a few good points in there, but those are points about very specific genes and specific about the regulatory process; that there are problems in those areas does not justify a blanket condemnation of the entire concept of moving genes around to achieve desired traits.
Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems.
This was my favorite part. Isn’t leaving material behind inside of kind of the idea of eating food? If we eat a lot, it leaves a lot of material behind inside us, which can lead to heart disease and knee problems.
Richard Austinsays
carlie:
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients.
Who is this? I’ve never heard of this organization before. It is not the AMA, and could just be a guy in his basement for all anybody knows.
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine is based on something heavily criticized as junk science – namely, clinical ecology. So, other than concern about bovine growth hormone (which is a legit concern but isn’t GMO unless taking steroids is genetically modifying yourself), you can toss out #1.
I liked the language that was carbon-copy from anti-vaxxer language:
“The instances of diseases like autism have increased while GMO has increased!”
“The instances of diseases like autism have increased while childhood vaccines have increased!”
Good day, everybody! I’m loving the sunshine and fresh air today. Just popping in to wish everyone a good Monday (Ogvorbis, do you have a head start on the rest of us? ;)). Also, ditto on the scary bumper-stickers phenomenon/right wing mania today vs 80s and even 90s. Whew, it is unnerving.
Starstuff – well done!!
Giliell – (hug) if you’d like one, and my sympathies. Parental issues are so painful.
Carlie, that was an impressive brief takedown and I totally agree. One problem with increased communication via internet and self-publishing etc is that there is so much utter garbage out there that gets spread around and people still believe everything they read. The upside, of course, is that with increased communication and the internet etc, sensible voices can keep speaking up to point out the garbage wherever it is. You just did that, I think.
Gen Fury re kacyray….I am waiting, 3..2..1… The amusing thing about guys like that is the way they think they are so fresh and full of undiscovered insight. Wow, we just have never heard of those thoughts before!
Gotta go prepare for my SIL visit (yay!) and try to round up the youngsters (lol they are 16, but hey I still wield that evil power differential dontcha know!)
This ferocious fuck-knuckle has come to my attention on a daily trawl through my news feeds. What a truly lovely human being. Makes me wish my proposed invention of a machine that lets me slap people through the internet was not still on the drawing board.
Wooo-hooo
Last year’s heating bill arrived today and instead of paying rent next month, we’re getting money back
*happydance*
That means that the holiday is more than financed
I also swear that the balcony keeps getting smaller every year. I mean, I only planted 6 different herbs, 5 different flowers, strawberries, radishes and tomatoes and can you blieve that it’s full?
*sigh* Called the place I ordered from, shipment was “probably” Friday but they’ll check.
This is after I paid $25 for fast shipping…
I’ll have my crappy forms on Saturday most likely :(
carliesays
Katherine – can you get the shipping money back at least? Because that was not the fast shipping! There should be time for them to overnight a set to you and then for you to return the others once they arrive, with them eating the shipping costs because it didn’t come as promised.
Are there any stores in the area of the rally that you could stop in at for a quick purchase? I’m thinking prosthetic/medical supply stores, maybe? That just really stinks.
cicely ("Intriguingly Odd")says
The earworm transplant was a success! And in its wake, I was able to restore Normal Service, i.e., teh brainz supplying a continuous but varied soundtrack to supply cover for whatevertheheck it does in its spare time, and from which to mug me with oddball projects, imminent-disaster projections, and D&Dables.
–
Think I’ll try the Lamb Chops. With thanks.
With Charley Horse?
I think you know better than that! I do not allow Horses, whether they are named Charley or are Horses with No Name, into my mind.
Mine just tells me, at great length, everything that can go wrong. And that the people who are being nice to me are just setting me up for a pratfall.
As I said, imminent-disaster projections.
–
Makes me wish my proposed invention of a machine that lets me slap people through the internet was not still on the drawing board.
An obvious development from the technology that allows one to yank idiots through the telephone lines and slap ’em ’til their stupid all falls out.
Well, I just got a tracking number and it departed the sorting facility yesterday, which means… it’s being delivered to my local post office I think. So maybe I’ll get it tomorrow or Wednesday with some hope.
Annoying though, since 4-5 business day delivery should be, at the most, today.
Like I said upwards, I do have a pair of forms, but they need medical adhesive (not gonna happen) or tape (don’t have any) to stick on. I have a pocket bra, but it’s itchy and uncomfortable and I’d rather wear the fancy nice ones I got which are super-comfy and (although no one will see) very sexy.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Speaking of what our minds tell us all day long… I have something similar in my head, except sometimes the voice is more like a smarter, stronger, older, wiser version of myself telling me what to do.
Stuff like “Watch yourself, this is survivable but potentially dangerous” Or “Don’t do that you idiot, you wanna mess it all up?” And of course the oft repeated “Are you sure? Did you double-check?”
The thing is, this mental voice that seems to beat everyone down and destroy their self confidence, in me does the opposite: Helps me avoid potential failures a lot of the time and makes me feel like I got a fair shot at many things, if I just listen to the voice.
That voice (slurred by alcohol and muted a bit by bravado, granted,) is how I survived my terrifying experience in that crappy little plastic kayak on Stave Lake. “Watch it Cale, this is how people die… keep steady, DO NOT rock this thing, fight that giant fish to land, you know that it’s only three feet deep once you get past those logs…”
Then the line snapped. Ah well. At least I’m alive.
According to the cert petition, “The 9th Circuit has essentially rewritten the [appointment of counsel] statute to impliedly create two additional rights: to be competent to assist counsel during a capital federal habeas proceeding and to obtain a stay of the proceedings if the petitioner was incompetent.”
Gen Fury, Still Desolate and Deviant #1says
Starstuff
You’ve hit the big times noo, lass!
Congrats.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
I’m kinda pissed off with woodsmanone now. I’ve fucking had it with the ‘Causes autism’ or its weaselly pants-pissing little brother, ‘studies have linked it to autism’.
I think next time I hear someone blabbering about that IRL, I’m gonna risk the assault charges and take a pop at them.
keenacatsays
Canis sativa,
I suggest you just fart in their general direction. Those brain slushies do not deserve you being charged with assault.
Katherine,
hooray for likely getting the boobies in time! I would suggest you try to get the monies back you paid for priority shipping, though.
I also second the motion to try Mastix if you want to keep using your old boobage. It is usually sold with brushes, so no spraying issues.
StarStuff,
you are full of win.
Nutmegsays
TLC:
I have something similar in my head, except sometimes the voice is more like a smarter, stronger, older, wiser version of myself telling me what to do
Me too. Although when I have to think fast, I don’t usually think in words, so that voice is only useful in the kind of emergency where I have a bit of time.
My inner voice specializes in creative use of snark to remind me that I’m being an idiot.
Gen Fury, Still Desolate and Deviant #1says
Katherine Lorraine
That’s pretty sucky. I hope that it still arrives in time – I’m imagining a last-minute emergency boob delivery. Which would be pretty awesome in just about every way.
TLC
o.O
That sounds pretty scary and intense.
Esteleth, Who is Totally Not a Dog or Ferretsays
So…
Apparently the Frothy One made a visit to the podunk little town that spawned me, where he was greeted to rapturous applause.
And people in the town ask my parents (with more than a bit of incredulity in their voices) when I’m going to “move back home.”
___
In other news, I visited my grandma this weekend! I had a good time. I walked in the door of her house and she greeted me by saying that she was reading the paper, and they had a story about that “awful man” Limbaugh, wasn’t he just an utterly vile misogynist and isn’t that nice Sandra Fluke girl totally a good role model for young ladies?
She took me shopping for housewares (I have PLATES now) and gave me a silver tea set that her grandmother brought over from the Old Country. She did take me to church, where about 50 people said variants of, “Oh yes! Esteleth! Your grandmother talks about you a lot. She’s so proud of you!”
I ♥ my grandma.
When I was getting ready to head home, I loaded my car up and realized that Morgan (who I’d brought with me) had vanished. Cue 2 hours of trying to look in every nook and cranny of a 1840-ish Victorian. We gave up, I reluctantly realized that I had to get on the road, so I left, sans Morgan. I left behind her things (food, bowls, litter pan). I was about 45 minutes away when she called me – Morgan had appeared, utterly filthy. Best guess is that she found a crawlspace. So I turned around, collected the kitty, and got home just before midnight.
___
Katherine, hooray for boobies! I hope they’re as nice and boob-y as you like.
I am staying out of the anti-Caturday thread for the sake of my own mental health.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Gen Fury:
That sounds pretty scary and intense.
What in particular are you referring to?
If Stave Lake… yeah, but only after I was sober. I’ve talked about it before… I still think about that deep black mirror-still water and the tug on my line late at night and freak myself out a bit. Though, less since I’ve talked about it here. (thanks, Horde)
The shadow of the reaper passed over me that night, but found me too pitiful to really bother with. ;)
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Esteleth:
In other news, I visited my grandma this weekend! I had a good time. I walked in the door of her house and she greeted me by saying that she was reading the paper, and they had a story about that “awful man” Limbaugh, wasn’t he just an utterly vile misogynist and isn’t that nice Sandra Fluke girl totally a good role model for young ladies?
Just found out cause of death for my friend who died December 23rd: Atherosclerosis. She smoked and mostly sat around playing video games and was diagnosed with depression, but she was a healthy weight, not diabetic and ate a vegetarian diet without a lot of trans fat. She was only 29. This shit isn’t supposed to happen. She quit smoking for my birthday a few years ago because she had no money to get me a real present and I was worried about her health, but she took it back up. Still, she didn’t have money, so only smoked about 2 cigs a day. She shouldn’t have died from something like that so soon. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or disappointed that it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
Gen Fury, Still Desolate and Deviant #1says
TLC
Yeah, the almost dying bit was what I was referring to.
I should maybe mention she had an angiogram two years ago when she had a bilateral dissection of her vertebral arteries. Apparently, it wasn’t advanced enough to see yet, then.
A. Rsays
Ace of Sevens: I’m not sure to be honest with you. Some (such as familial hypercholesterolemia) can be, but others, I’m not so sure about. I’ll look into it. With the history of issues with arterial integrity, I’ll focus on genes associated with components of the vessel wall.
Nutmegsays
AR: If you find anything interesting about familial hypercholesterolemia, I’d appreciate a link. My cholesterol is consistently about a 6, even though I’m 23, active, and in the lower half of the healthy weight range. I’d like to be able to blame my genes for this, instead of blaming my sweet tooth.
I can always do my own research later, though.
Gen Fury, Still Desolate and Deviant #1says
Ace of Sevens
I lost someone very, very dear to me over December too so all sympathies.
To answer your question about genetic causes to screen for, a couple of possibilities. First, hypercholesterolemia, as has been suggested. It has to be a pretty bad hypercholesterolemia to give atherosclerosis at 29, even in a smoker, but it’s not unknown. Second, what about blood pressure problems? Hypertension can kill at a young age, if it’s bad enough. Third, hemoglobinopathies. Is there any chance she had sickle cell or sickle thalassemia? It’s more usual to see stroke with the hemoglobinopathies, but heart disease isn’t out of the question. Finally, hypercoaguable states. There are several of these and some do have a genetic cause, i.e. factor V leiden, prothrombin mutation, MTHFR mutation.
If there are any at risk family members alive, it might be good to screen for all of the above. Twenty nine is very young to die of arterial vascular disease, even with smoking and low physical activity.
A. Rsays
dianne: I’m thinking about possible genetic factors involving the arterial wall, as per the paper linked above. What do you think?
Richard Austinsays
Re: hypercholesterolemia
My mother has high cholesterol. She quite literally measures every meal on scales, tracks what she eats when, only allows herself specific treats, etc., all with the guidance approval of her doctor. Yet, even with the meds, she’s still on the high end and always has been.
She was very worried she’d passed it on to me, especially worrying given that I spent most of my teens and 20s eating out of a McDonald’s (or other fast food) bag. My numbers, however, are damned near perfect (I still don’t eat “well” necessarily, but I eat far a more balanced diet than I used to).
Ironically, my step-dad had a kidney removed and his remaining one is about 24%-ish functional, so he had to watch his diet too – though mainly things like potassium. This means that he can’t eat a lot of the “healthy” stuff my mom eats (most fruits are no-nos, for example) but instead can have all the steaks and ice cream he wants.
It’s kind of “Jack Spratt could eat no fat/ his wife could eat no lean” but in reverse. My mother is amazing in that she still manages to prepare meals for both of them.
diannesays
A.R. Good points. Seems plausible. Now that you mention it, I wonder about Ehlers-Danlos, which is a genetic defect in collagen (actually, an umbrella term for at least 4 variants of collagen defects) and can lead to aortic dissection at quite a young age. The history of vertebral artery dissection is suspicious.
Mildly off topic, but EDS is another fun “hypothetical” to play with with anti-abortion types: People with severe EDS will essentially all die during delivery (they push, their aortas fall apart, killing them) and have nasty complications of c-sections (poor collagen=poor healing). A successful pregnancy can be completed, but it’s hard and dangerous at best. So, medical exception or no?
A. Rsays
dianne: I was thinking along the same lines. There are some other interesting possibilities mentioned in that paper. And I think that that would not be a medical exemption. Remember their thought process is “who cares about the woman, just deliver that baby.”
Ace: Do you remember your friend being double jointed, or having very stretchy skin?
They came today, and… they’re perfect. They’re super light, they stick nicely, aside from a bit of aesthetical readjustment (still not exactly at the right level) they look… really real. Totally worth the money to make me feel like me!
The other pair are really freakin’ heavy. Like almost three times the weight of the new ones.
Rey Foxsays
Hehe. Peyton Manning to Denver.
Which means God hates Tebow.
Nah, what it probably means is that Manning is going to mentor Tebow until his (Manning’s) neck gives out, at which point, Tebow will step back in presumably knowing how to throw a ball, and Manning will then get wrapped up in the whole terrible Messianic narrative.
Just popping back in after several days of tablet internetting which is rather inadequate for FTB. (or the other way around)
… I’m wearing a bra, they don’t jiggle too much XD
keenacatsays
:D
Really, I am happy for you. Feeling at home in your body is so important and sometimes a decent substitute for whatever feels missing makes a world of difference.
They came today, and… they’re perfect. They’re super light, they stick nicely, aside from a bit of aesthetical readjustment (still not exactly at the right level) they look… really real. Totally worth the money to make me feel like me!
The other pair are really freakin’ heavy. Like almost three times the weight of the new ones.
Going off our ME discussion: So in other words your cool down period has been significantly reduced?
Congratulations on the boobs, Katherine. I’m glad you’re happy.
Alas, I have a feeling they won’t come out with (FUNCTIONAL) prosthetic saberteeth or retractable claws any time soon.
A. Rsays
TLC: You know saberteeth might be more of a disadvantage, right?
keenacatsays
TLC: You know saberteeth might be more of a disadvantage, right?
Seconded. TLC, you’d drool all over the place for starters. :P
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
A.R: Depends on the size of them, I take it.
I just don’t like the flat, dull, weak teeth nature has given the human species. Hell, gorillas are peaceful vegans and they have a more respectable set than me. That’s just sad.
And my ‘claws’ are worse than useless, owing to a bad nail-biting habit I have.
So happy for you, Katherine Lorraine! That is great news indeed, and I’m glad that they lived up to your expectations!
*CONFETTI TIEMS!*
A. Rsays
TLC: I carry a rather old penknife that rather resembles this one in the same pocket as my pocket watch, or Double Albert style with my watch if I’m wearing a waistcoat. That is, or course, in situations that allow the carry of a small knife.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Very nice, A.R. Classy piece.
I like the beavertail because it feels like (I imagine) a neolithic flint blade would feel like in certain skinning grips. It was a christmas present from my dad, one I didn’t even specifically ask for. I took right to it though. And now, I go nowhere without it. No one’s made an issue of it yet.
I get emotionally attached to knives and axes. Because if you have a good cutting tool, you can make almost anything else you need. A well made blade can be a lifesaver, and nevermind all the cowards who’d call it a ‘concealed weapon’.
To be fair though, I don’t go many places in life where small knives are prohibited.
As an aside, I wonder how many murders are committed with knives like mine, versus how many are committed with things that just happen to be to hand, like clawhammers or kitchen knives.
Browniansays
Yay boobs!!!
I second that! Yay boobs!!! Yay Katherine!
I just don’t like the flat, dull, weak teeth nature has given the human species.
You’re not gnawing on the right things. I used to keep a few rawhide sticks next to my ‘puter for to help keep me feral—I’m prone to such idiosyncrasies). They’re inexpensive and delicious, and once you’ve got them all soggy and gummy, you just let them dry out and they get hard again (those of us with a taste for the hooch will know what that’s like). So that takes care of strong.
As for sharp, well, if your wit won’t do, I suppose you could do worse than a good knife.
A. Rsays
TLC: Thanks, I inherited the piece from my Grandfather. I believe you can actually buy neolithic-style flint blades online. I happen to own a few that were given to me by an Iroquois friend who took up flint knapping as a hobby. I’ve always wanted to use one to skin out a deer, but I’m deathly afraid of breaking one. Regarding murders involving knives, as I understand, they were quite a problem in the UK after the gun ban, and still are I believe. Which is why Policemen in the UK wear stab vests. I don’t have any statistics for the US though.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
You can buy them A.R, but like you said… many are too beautiful to use. I’m learning a touch of flint-knapping myself (I’ve found a good kind of rock for it, I just can’t find big enough and relatively unflawed pieces so far).
The beavertail blade is shaped like one, but obviously, made of steel. I didn’t get to skin the deer with it, but I did use it to butcher the meat off a hind leg and cut it thin for deer jerky, and it worked well. Held its edge well too whenever I hit bone.
A. Rsays
TLC: Acquiring flint for working can be quite difficult depending on where you live. In postglacial areas, like where I live, they would probably be quite common.
Pteryxxsays
YAY BOOBS! Now I have visions of a Pharyngula detachment at Reason Rally all marching with YAY BOOBS signs. (No need to say whose!)
“This small creature is one of a warrior sect and those are tusks with which to smash the enemy.” /WhatIsThisThingCalledLove
Richard Austin, your cholesterol goes down for several hours after you exercise.
Catherine Lorraine, yay for nice boobs! *does happy dance* I’d love to see you in them.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
A.R: I keep finding little chunks of a red hard rock (I think it’s a type of jasper) that ‘knaps’. I just need to find a big chunk that isn’t full of those little cracks that make it impossible to flake properly.
Richard Austinsays
…the only tools a dwarfTLC needed were his axeknife and some means of making fire. That’d eventually get him a forge, and with that he could make simple tools, and with those he could make complex tools, and with complex tools a dwarfTLC could make more or less anything.
Terry Pratchett, The Truth, with apologies.
A. Rsays
TLC: Jasper is no good for knapping IIRC.
chigau (√-1)says
Yay boobies!
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Richard Austin: Hahahaha, it may be fantasy, but you pounded that nail. Right on.
Browniansays
…the only tools a dwarfTLC needed were his axeknife and some means of making fire. That’d eventually get him a forge, and with that he could make simple tools, and with those he could make complex tools, and with complex tools a dwarfTLC could make more or less anything.
A.R: Really? I heard the opposite. Wikipedia says it’s a type of chert, and chert IIRC is a good flint substitute.
Whether the weird red rocks I find are jasper or not, they certainly have the smooth surface texture, glassy ring, and sharp edge fractures of a good knapping rock. They’re just too small and flawed to do anything with. I’m gonna keep my eyes out for a big one now, see what I can do with it.
A. Rsays
oops, confused jasper with jade. Yeah, jasper should work if you get a piece with few hairline fractures.
David Marjanovićsays
Heh. PZ got comment 666 and promptly gave us more thread! Isn’t that the first time this happens on schedule? :-)
On the present subthread, I’ve only caught up till comment 50. *dumps load of hugs on floor* Serve yourselves. Or just jump on the heap, it’s soft (if you jump slowly enough). *runs*
…I didn’t know even Ceauşescu was quite that bad. As I just commented over there, it’s beyond parody – and beyond the Nazis.
I once had a three-legged shepard named trochee. Best dog ever.
:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
if you put Chas, Esme and Rubin together, you get chase me Rubin
No, you get chases me Rubin… or rather Rubin chases me. :-)
chigau (√-1)says
Flint is a British and American term.
We have chert and chacedony in Canada, eh.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
I just spent a half-hour on the phone with my brother in law down in Florida. He walked me through resetting my internet connection.
See, when I was up in Maine at my parents house, I was on their wireless. When I got home, I could hook up through my wireless but none of the browsers would actually connect through the connection. After more than a week, with no internet at home, I finally talked to my BiL who is, conveniently, an IT spec at a college in Florida.
The person I was going to get a ride with to the Reason Rally can’t go :(
Now I have to try to find the money to rent a car or something. I can’t even afford to pay my phone bill D:
A. Rsays
Just found the weirdest Wiki. Pharwrongula? Apparently it’s a Pharyngula hate-wiki?
Deinonychus’s “terrible claw” was used to climb trees, maybe, in the Garden of Eden. . .
Or how about:
Ok people It is now 2012 and we are awaiting the Transformation of his body to an immortal as it is written in 1 cor 15:52 and on. The ultimate promise of God is the immortal body. He will rule the world with the True gospel written by the great apostle Paul. There is only 103 days or less for this to happen. We will also se before this the destruction of the vatican and the dominoe effect this will cause in the world political and financial arenas. The prophecies have been fufilled with Jose Luis De Jesus and all that is left is the transformation. And all eyes will see his transformed immortal body reigning all the nations with justice and equity and all his beloved first fruits the true isrealites with transformed bodies as well! Don’t say we didn’t tell you! Blessed! :)
chigau (√-1)says
Owlmirror
Showoff!
A. Rsays
Owlmirror: Feel the POWER!
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
I actually don’t see anything wrong with the idea of maniraptorans using their ‘killer claws’ as climbing crampons… just ditch the fucking ‘garden of eden’ shit.
The KONY 2012 people are connected to Martin Ssempa, the viciously anti-GLBT Ugandan pastor (the “Eat da poo-poo” guy).
And I’m still rubbing my jaw from where it hit the desk when I read this: In the 1950s, the Dutch Roman Catholic Church castrated boys in their care. The one confirmed case is of a boy who had reported having been sexually abused by priests. “After giving evidence, he was placed in a Catholic-run psychiatric institution where he was then castrated because of his ‘homosexual behaviour’.” But at least 10 other boys were also likely castrated.
cicely ("Intriguingly Odd")says
*hug* for Kitty. May you and your new boobs be very happy together!
:)
–
Half hour later, I HAZ INTERTOOBS!
I swear, I first thought that said I HAS INTERBOOBS!
Me, too!
:D
–
@307:
O.O
carliesays
May you and your new boobs be very happy together!
I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but boobs,
for all my life,
When you’re with me baby my chest will have boobs,
for all my life,
A and B, and C and D,
No matter how they stick them on,
they had to be
The only ones for me is boobs, and boobs for me,
So happy together….
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
Ah, the joys of living near a large body of water. The weather station near the lake shows 58 degrees, the weather station 3 miles inland shows 73 degrees. I see 59 on the upstairs thermometer.
I gt on a waitlist for an ENG101 class. This means I’m committed to attending at least the first day of Spring quarter (to beg the instructor to add me to the class even if it’s full). Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.
My mother has high cholesterol. She quite literally measures every meal on scales, tracks what she eats when, only allows herself specific treats, etc., all with the guidance approval of her doctor. Yet, even with the meds, she’s still on the high end and always has been.
People tend to be unaware that only 1/3 of our cholesterol is aquired from eating food, the other 2/3 are made by the body itself, and that’s the genetic bit that is hard to influence.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
Rorschach: Interesting, I had no idea about that. *stores in brain vault for later*
A. Rsays
Catholic castrations: At this point, there is almost nothing the RCC can do, or has done that will surprise me.
I don’t think she had high blood pressure. She’d just a a check-up with an MRI a few weeks earlier to make sure her arterial stents weren’t causing problems and they presumably would have caught that.
carliesays
Oh no – comic sans has been released.
I repeat, comic sans has been released.
I have to go make sure all the peas are safe.
diannesays
the other 2/3 are made by the body itself, and that’s the genetic bit that is hard to influence.
Hard to influence with lifestyle changes. Cholesterol lowering drugs bring the LDL down nicely in most people. Bringing HDL up, OTOH, is still fairly hard. Last best guess I heard was exercise plus moderate alcohol intake. (Ahem, I said moderate. Put the keg down slowly…) Beware of the HDL raising drugs currently out there: a previous drug with a similar mechanism raised HDL but also raised risk of heart attacks.
My HDL is high, for some reason. It bumps my cholesterol up just over the upper end of normal, but my LDL is in the low end of the normal range. My doc seemed to think that eating nuts was relevant.
Also I has a sad that the Comic Sans is not for everyone. Nice at home; not working at work. No doubt it’s something to do with my addons.
Richard Austinsays
Yeah, she’s on meds to lower the LDL; IIRC, her HDL is fine.
Then again, this is also the woman who has a fast heart rate and low blood pressure, so they can’t give her meds to lower her heart rate without her passing out, and they can’t give her meds to raise her blood pressure without her heart racing.
Rent a car to drive from FL to DC and back? Surely by the time you figure in gas, road food, and accommodations (do not try to drive that in one go by yourself), it’d be cheaper to take a train or a bus? Look up the cost and let the Horde know; we have the technology….
@ Bill
Well, I’m going with three other people and I already have a place to stay for free. If the boyfriend and I pay for the rental (about $200) then the other two can pay for gas. One round trip Greyhound ticket would be $286 (and the trip would take a whole day each way).
A. Rsays
Oh, how I would love to be able to leave the tiny part of my state to which I’m confined. But that’s what you get for working with flies.
You’d think that if the Polk County Sheriff’s Office could put angels to work inspecting vehicles, they’d get the angels to pull over unsafe vehicles at the next garage.
Oh, well, that’s very different then; never mind! </EmilyLitella>
I thought you were saying you’d lost your (one and only) traveling companion, and were going to have to make the trip on your own, which had me quite concerned. I’m glad I was mistaken.
***
All:
This triggered me to wonder if we should think about establishing a standing emergency fund, for the kind of things we’ve responded to on an ad hoc basis in the past. I, for one, would be happy to make a modest donation on a continuing monthly basis to a Save the Brains, Butts, Meals, Rents, and Stuff® fund. Thoughts?
In the photo at your blog post, there’s a bearded fellow in shorts and flip-flops standing next to you (that is you, isn’t it?) who made me do a double-take: He’s a dead ringer for a longtime friend of mine, who also lives in FL.
Can’t be him (I think; his name isn’t Andy, is it?): My friend lives in the Tampa Bay area, and while he is an atheist, I think if he’d gotten involved in organized atheist activism, he would’ve told me. Still, it did give me pause.
Richard Austinsays
Bill:
I think it’s a nice idea, but there are complex factors. Like, someone has to manage the money, and someone has to determine who gets it and who doesn’t. It could get very icky.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
A line has been crossed on the Anti-Caturday post.
The Poopyhead appears to be readying the banhammer on the Anti-caturday thread. Wonder if the troll flounces, or gets banned.
chigau (√-1)says
A. R
I don’t think the Weird Cat Guy is a troll.
I think he believes that stuff.
Richard Austinsays
Bill:
More complex things have happened. I’m not opposed to the idea; I just know enough to know there are challenges and not enough to know how to address them effectively.
Hell, I’ve always dreamed of winning the lottery, buying a big apartment complex, and just letting people I know who are down on their luck or need a place to stay move in. But even in my imagination, I have to deal with politics and drama and hard decisions. At least two of those I suck at.
The Laughing Coyote (Canis Sativa)says
By the by, thanks A.R :)
A. Rsays
chigau (√-1): Yeah, I’m starting to think that too. And I’m a dedicated dog person.
StarStuff, well done on the Polk story, I read this from some news outlet earlier and was thoroughly confused at first. Sending all 4 of my horde your way stat.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
My ear buds broke. My heavy-duty, kevlar-reinforced, special birthday ear buds.
:(
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
Presumably they’re still broken, but… suddenly they are making the right sound again!
chigau (√-1)says
CC(C),OM
Get those things away from your head!
Don’t you know zombies when you see hear them?‽!?
Good morning
Since the little one wakes up when it gets light I’m almost looking forward to DST next week
Ace of Sevens
I’m sorry to hear about your friend
Katherine
Yay for new boobs
Catholic church
Oh, but that was in the Middle Ages, eh in the 15th century, no, I mean in the 1800s, eh in the 1950’s, I mean It was in the damn last millenium, they have totally changed how can you still hold a grudge against something that has been done long ago so nobody really remembers and everybody is dead anyway and also what about that blood libel?
Pteryxxsays
More random war-on-women news. Let’s play another round of outraged-email-whackamole!
Tennessee introduces law to require publication of the names of abortion providers (who must be locals to boot) and potentially identifying demographic information of patients who receive abortions:
(So now we’re closing in on a Let Doctors Die Act.)
Komen was pressured for years by the Catholic Church’s health care arm to defund Planned Parenthood:
Internal Komen documents reviewed by Reuters reveal the complicated relationship between the Komen Foundation and the Catholic church, which simultaneously contributes to the breast cancer charity and receives grants from it. In recent years, Komen has allocated at least $17.6 million of the donations it receives to U.S. Catholic universities, hospitals and charities.
This is going directly to our Federal Government, so it has real meaning (and yes, they know polls get hit hard by various lobby groups, but at least there’s writing stuff down room, so it’s not just a tick and flick cookie exercise).
I’m used to being religiously ignored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia, but hey, Amanda, youre posting this on TET in the middle of the night in the US ? Why ? I would have been happy to give it some coverage, you could even have contacted that famous blogger pribble who is oh so influential, but TET, in the middle of the night ? I don’t get it tbh. Good luck with that kind of lobbying.
John Moralessays
rorschach, I suspect the govt is more interested in the views of citizens than those of foreigners, and it ain’t the middle of the night here.
AmandaSsays
Rorschach: Because PZ is asleep (I presume) and this at least gets the message somewhere. And just as most Australians are getting home from work and maybe logging on to Pharyngula.
I shall be e-mailing PZ directly, but I do not presume that he will include the poll on his blog. He may, but again – at least I have it somewhere on Pharyngula. TET also tends to attract the most passionate, committed and articulate of the Pharyngulites, who may be able to assist via their eloquence.
And just as most Australians are getting home from work and maybe logging on to Pharyngula.
Huh ? All 23 of them you mean ?
Actually, never mind.
AmandaSsays
Rorschach: you appear to have some experience in internet-based lobbying. If you have useful suggestions for ways I can get this message to people who may be of assistance, I am happy to take them on board and use them where I can (I have some constraints due to where I work). I have no idea who that blogger pribble is, so more details in your responses may be helpful.
If you are just taking the opportunity to be rude and dismissive to someone you do not know because that’s the way you roll, then I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as it should be.
Look, Amanda, I’ve done it now anyway, but what I was suggesting is that there might be better ways to lobby for this very worthy cause than to put it at the bottom of the social thread of an American blog. I didn’t want to upset you in any way.
John Moralessays
As far as the survey, here was my response to the two questions at the end:
3. Can you explain your reasons to the above questions? (Please limit your response to 250 words)
I think the title says it all: it’s about equality. The only difference between same sex marriages and opposite sex marriages is the sex; the only practical difference is in the genetic material of any children they raise.
4. Do you have any further comments on the legal implications of these Bills? (Please limit your response to 250 words)
I am not a lawyer, but I can’t see any problems if religious celebrants aren’t compelled to perform such ceremonies.
John Moralessays
PS Please note that the closing date for responses to this survey is Friday 20 April 2012.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaate the commenters at Greta’s.
I mean, obviously, not all of them. But holy shit holy SHIT how fucking infuriating is it that EVERY SINGLE TIME she posts a #mencallmethings like five different fucking people show up to go “YEAH BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S MISOGYNISTIC MAYBE HE JUST TELLS EVERYBODY THEY’RE TOO UGLY TO HAVE AN OPINION ON BIRTH CONTROL”
*hulksmash*
John Moralessays
CC,
But holy shit holy SHIT how fucking infuriating is it that EVERY SINGLE TIME she posts a #mencallmethings like five different fucking people show up to go [yelling elided]
She has a comment policy that discourages calling-out.
<shrug>
(Reaping of the sowing, that is)
juliansays
@John Morales
No she doesn’t. She has a policy that discourages 1)being a raging douchebag and 2)derailment. It was a policy I wish more people had (even if it would put me on thin ice) and she’s entirely within her rights (and arguably right considering the type of site she runs) to do so.
No she doesn’t. She has a policy that discourages 1)being a raging douchebag and 2)derailment.
A policy that extends to anything you say and do on other blogs that she might consider offensive too, which kind of makes her blog Freethoughtblogs’ little Saudi-Arabia. But I just don’t comment there, it’s a simple solution.
John Moralessays
julian, as Dr. Phil would put it, “How’s it working out for you?”
(For me, it means I now ignore it)
keenacatsays
Good morning horde.
I will set out to make these babies: http://smittenkitchen.com/2012/03/carrot-cake-pancakes/ and report back how they turned out. I have a cup of maple cream cheese frosting left…
I’m totes not eating cake for breakfast, am I?
keenacatsays
Forgive me, Lawd, for I have sinned.
I totally ate cake for breakfast. You should, too.
Erm, I just want to wave at Giliell for a sec. Hi there!
I’ve recently been spending a lot of time reading http://www.daughtersofnarcissisticmothers.com – which I stumbled on via links out from http://captainawkward.com who is awesome. Anyway, I’m not sure if you and I have the same kind of mother problems, and also I think some of the proposed therapies on there are a bunch of daffy woo, but in terms of just identifying and describing a problem, it seems scarily solid to me. You might find it helpful. Maybe. Anyway, I want to send you some fellowship e-hugs; from another one out there who has a problem with her mother.
Ever have one of those nights where you swear you’ve been asleep for like… eight hours and you wake up bright and fully aware, and then glance at a clock and see you’ve only been asleep for 2?
That happened to me last night. Plus it got real hot. Not fun.
Alethea
Thanx for the link. I’ll be reading it immediately
So, my dad has a solution for the whole problem:
I go to my mum, hug her and tell her that we should start anew.
To the woman who told me yesterday, when I told her that she has to accept and respect that I’m a grown adult person with my own opinions, likes and hobbies that she can’t do that.
Yes, that really is a basis for a healthy relationship.
At the same time he’s mounting pressure like putting a real lock on the apartment door (the house is a 2 storey, 2 family home. Since my grandparents live(d) downstairs, there never were serious doors, just normal “room doors” whose keys have long been lost.)
He also managed to ignore his grandchildren for 2.5 hours and said hello at a time when we would actually have been gone already hadn’t the little one insisted on sharing gran’s lunch.
Yeah, but I’m driving this at the expense of the kids….
*vomit*
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
I go to my mum, hug her and tell her that we should start anew.
Ouch. That’s barely a step from expecting you to say you are sorry.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Good morning. A lovely Wednesday.
Lets see.
My agency credit card and travel are being audited.
My internet service will be spotty today as a contractor hit a power pole.
I am working on the reskin for our CMS and have achieved blank screen on the work page.
My speaker battery died and, until it recharges, I have no music.
I get to babysit 20 photographers in our loco shop for two hours (which also means I either eat lunch at 10:30 or at 2:00).
I left my rice cracker mix at home.
Wife’s computer at home is doing battle with a virus.
It is cloudy, grey, overcast, gray, and yucky outside.
It is cold inside.
I plan to have a fun day.
Won’t be today, though.
Matt Penfoldsays
The Trayvon Martin killing is now getting worldwide attention. I heard a report on the BBC World Service about the killing, and the growing outrage at how the police have handled the situation.
The Guardian is reporting that the US Justice Department is to investigate the killing along with the FBI.
Here’s hoping Zimmerman is held accountable.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
Dang Ogvorbis, that is one shit storm of woe.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Dang Ogvorbis, that is one shit storm of woe.
I appreciate the commiseration. I still can’t believe I left my rice crackers at home. :(
A. Rsays
Ogvorbis: Compared to that, my day is looking cheerful!
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Ogvorbis: Compared to that, my day is looking cheerful!
Glad to help.
A. Rsays
Does anyone have any professional presentation-worthy lines of snark about anti-vaxxers that I can use? I need one for a presentation I’m giving where I expect some anti-vaxxers to be in the audience.
I’ve recently been spending a lot of time reading http://www.daughtersofnarcissisticmothers.com – which I stumbled on via links out from http://captainawkward.com who is awesome. Anyway, I’m not sure if you and I have the same kind of mother problems, and also I think some of the proposed therapies on there are a bunch of daffy woo, but in terms of just identifying and describing a problem, it seems scarily solid to me.
Oh Hesinde, goddess of wisdom, shit that’s me.
Not everything, but some of those things are almost verbatim of what I’ve written here over the last weeks.
That’s scary.
Yes, and the therapies are obviously woo.
Ogvorbis
please press lips to USB port, Gugelhupf is on the way.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
please press lips to USB port, Gugelhupf is on the way.
And as soon as I do that, my boss walks in.
Have you ever tried to explain to your boss why it looks like you are kissing the backside of a Dell desktop? Dose the word ‘awkward’ ring a bell?
I’ll have you know my day has started off well. I guesstimated the amount of water to boil in the kettle, and it was exactly the right amount for my tea and instant oatmeal.
Gah. I’m getting old. And there was a half-full bottle of Johnny Walker Black right there in the kitchen. I could…
Crap. I’ve got to go teach in an hour, and I’m not going to emerge from the classroom responsibilities until after 1.
A. Rsays
PZ: I’m envious of your ability to take time to eat breakfast. What tea do you usually drink?
Oh my god, those are beautiful boobies! So perky and delightful!
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
Gah. I’m getting old. And there was a half-full bottle of Johnny Walker Black right there in the kitchen. I could…
One of my lit profs kept a bottle of Patron in his desk. And he was not the least bit surreptitious about drinking it.
When I went for my oral exam to get my degree, we sat around on couches in the Manor House, each with the drink of choice. They history profs knew I was a Scotch drinker and had a bottle of Johnny Walker Black for me. The exam and the Scotch went smoothly.
Hugs to everyone having a crappy day right now. I started mine off by rushing to an early morning meeting, arriving just on time, to find it had been moved to another building. Bah.
And what is wrong with starting the day with a drink might I ask? I have started every day for years with a pint of rum and my view from this park bench is perfectly fine thank you very much. I even washed recently. Okay so it was in my own urine, but beggars can’t be choosers. Literally in this case.
Alcoholicist puritans the lot of you. No respect for the differently sober.
Louis
P.S. You’re all my best friendsh you are. Want a kebab?
This Geroge Zimmerman really reminds me of Ronnie in Observe and Report. Unfortunately, guys like him see that movie and think Ronnie is awesome.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
My day had me waking up early (after going to sleep early) so I can get to work early, and then leave early to visit the Redhead. At work I needed to do a reaction quench/precipation, followed by filtration. The filtration can be painfully slow at times, and could interfere with leaving early. So far, it isn’t too bad.
Meanwhile, I need to find time to vote in the primary election. The remapped congressional district stands a reasonable chance of going democratic, and there are even a couple of good progressive candidates running.
A. Rsays
Nerd, how good are you at synthesis of carbohydrate-like compounds?
Ugh hyper depressed today…just feels like all systems shutting down. And feels like as usual really stupid things act like a catyst that set it off
birgerjohanssonsays
Cute pic. “Infant joins queue for senior flat in Stockholm” http://www.thelocal.se/39782/20120320/
But why is it climbing into the Jeffries tubes?
— — — — — —
Re. Ms. Daisy Cutter @ 301
Darn. I live in Umeå and I haden’t heard that song before! I’m not very observant.
And I still haven’t got any Hugo Boss uniform. Are there none for us ehvil Pharyngulistas?
— — —
Ing, I hope you get better.
A new Slate article blames the overly broad self-defense statutes in many states on attempts to protect women who kill domestic abusers. It looks like there is a rhetorical connection to me, but it would have been quite possible to expand the protections for domestic violence victims without changing the laws about self defense in public places. Also, I don’t think giving victims carte blanche to kill their abusers is a good legal goal, even assuming we could find a way to keep it from being abused to kill people who hadn’t actually done anything.
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
… Christ promised the resurrection of the dead, I just already had something a little different in mind.
By Hershel in The Walking Dead
He, he
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
Nerd, how good are you at synthesis of carbohydrate-like compounds?I’ve done some carbohydrate chemistry over the years. Carbohydrate like? Need a better definition.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
Gack, blockquote fail#397. First sentence is the question, the rest my answer.
chigau (√-1)says
Would “cleaned the litter box once too often” make a good meme for people with dangerously anti-social ideas?
life is like a pitbull with lipstick ॐsays
no, because T. gondii isn’t consistent like that. It apparently causes hypersociality in many people.
I know how you feel. Sucks to be aware enough of those tiny privileges and realize that the better thing is to make life slightly harder for yourself.
Though I still think we should be able to use Mad as a Hatter, due to the lack of mercury use in haberdashery now a days.
Pteryxxsays
re sending knitted uteri to legislators: Awesome. I don’t know knitting, but I was tossing around the idea of knitted or sewn plushie uterus hoodies, with Fallopian tubes and ovaries instead of the usual critter ears. Great for humor-filled protesting.
Though I still think we should be able to use Mad as a Hatter, due to the lack of mercury use in haberdashery now a days.
The referent is still mental illness, therefore the insult is still that “you are mentally ill”, albeit “you are mentally ill in a way that’s considered exotic today”.
The referent is still mental illness, therefore the insult is still that “you are mentally ill”, albeit “you are mentally ill in a way that’s considered exotic today”.
Fair enough.
keenacatsays
Daisy Cutter,
thanks for asking. I am indeed feeling better.
I attempted to read a roundup of anti-women legislation earlier, but it went straight to my stomach producing a knot of sadness/fright and I stopped.
I guess I’ll take more time with this particular issue.
life is like a pitbull with lipstick ॐsays
Anyway.
Behold the Gumby!
Nature’s most wondrous creation! Such grace! Such beauty!
And what is wrong with starting the day with a drink might I ask?
What kind of wine goes with Weetabix?
Ing: Hugs if you want ’em.
AoS, #395: Ugh, Emily Bazelon. I know this is ad hom (in the true sense), but after her vigorous (and unethical) concern-trolling on behalf of the kids who bullied Phoebe Prince to death — Bazelon is friends with the mother of one of the bullies — I don’t trust her on anything involving a victim.
On another note, I emailed a friend of mine in Boston about the anti-SB 2061 vigil mentioned by Walton at #214. She said she’d drop in on that, then proceed to the Boston Common march in solidarity with CecilyMcMillan.
Cecily, in case you hadn’t heard the details, is the female OWS protester who had a seizure in cuffs, then had her ribs broken, was denied her lawyer or contact with her parents while in the ER, then forcibly sent to Bellevue for psych hold, and whose bail is now set at $20K.
None of the men arrested at Occupy protests are ever forced into psych units. This keeps happening to women dissidents worldwide.
Women in Occupations nationwide are marching tonight.
And what is wrong with starting the day with a drink might I ask?
What kind of wine goes with Weetabix?
Well depending on what other things one might be having for breakfast I find the oak tones of New World Sauvignon Blancs to be most complimentary to the subtle nuttiness of Weetabix. However, traditionalists and members of the landed gentry like myself drink nothing but claret. I have a cellar full of Pomerol that compliments all but the most chocolatey of breakfast cereals well.
Of course the true gentleman of the road can never go wrong with a Mad Dog 20/20* or Thunderbird Red.
Louis
*Lime is my preference. It helps to be citrus fresh when swearing at passers-by and talking to one’s dog.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
Nerd: The compound is BCX 2798. Here’s a link to an article with an image.
Image ws behind a paywall, but Google found a free paper. Such compounds are difficult to make. I don’t have time to look into this more today, as a meeting I thought was Thursday is today.
cicely ("Intriguingly Odd")says
I have to go make sure all the peas are safe.
Can’t be done, as peas are toxic by nature.
Oh, yes; and Eeeeeevil.
–
keenacat, it’s totally okay to eat cake for breakfast—especially chocolate cake. Eggs, milk, wheat…nutrition!
–
Ever have one of those nights where you swear you’ve been asleep for like… eight hours and you wake up bright and fully aware, and then glance at a clock and see you’ve only been asleep for 2?
Yes. Then, you go back to sleep and wake up again 6 hours later, tired and brain-dead. ‘Tain’t fair.
–
Giliell, *hugs*, sympathy, and courage.
–
BroOg, I would send you *rice crackers*, but I suspect that being eFood, it wouldn’t help. You have my sympathy for the suckage in general, though.
–
Here’s hoping Zimmerman is held accountable.
*nods vigorously*
And wouldn’t it be nice if, somehow, it provoked reconsideration of putting guns in the hands of just everyone, alla the time, everywhere. Won’t happen in an election year, though. </cynicism>
– *hug* for Ing. There are times to avoid the contentious threads full of catalizing stupidity; this may be one of them. Kick back. Have some *booze* and *chocolate* and take care of yourself.
–
Nerd: Thanks! I’m planning on screening the compound against a melanogaster model of mumps virus HN binding to cell surface proteins. Should do nicely as a proof of concept for publication.
I’m not sure why, but the Pharyngula Wiki appears to have been blacklisted FTB-wide.
Anyway, I just got done documenting the history of the Scarlet A there (as a subsection of the New Atheists article) based on an interesting blog post by Josh Timonen. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it turns out that PZ’s writing was the inspiration for it!
Lol, Fox news did a report about the “response” to our unanointing. I’d post it here, but I have a feeling that fox news links aren’t allowed.
Crip Dyke, Right Reverend Feminist FuckToy of Death & Her Handmaidensays
I know last time I gave warning of a major quake it turned out that it was too far underground to do any damage.
This time, my US GS notice isn’t my only source: 45 minutes ago, on the southern Mexican coast almost due south of Mexico City, but better located as 1/2 way between Oaxaca city and Acapulco. It was shallow and in the mid-7s. Water isn’t out in Mexico City, but communications are down in both Oaxaca and Guerrero, and there are significant telephone interruptions as far away as Mexico City. This one was big for a land quake and is going to impact a lot of people. If you know people on the South Coast of Mexico, they’re likely to be having a hard time just now.
Hope all your loved ones are well and that the impact is as small as can be. I’m a bit afraid of the building codes in Oaxaca and the potential for falling structures, tho.
I think this suit has very little chance of succeeding, and I really don’t think it should; that legal concept opens up a real Pandora’s box of bad outcomes.~Ed
Yes it would be horrible for the Ugandan gays to get any victory at all. WTF is wrong with you? When we already have proposed state murder squads what possible bad outcome are we afraid of here?
I think this suit has very little chance of succeeding, and I really don’t think it should; that legal concept opens up a real Pandora’s box of bad outcomes.
Yes it would be horrible for the Ugandan gays to get any victory at all. WTF is wrong with you? When we already have proposed state murder squads what possible bad outcome are we afraid of here?
Beatrice, anormalement indécentesays
Ing,
I’m assuming it’s about free speech!!!!11!eleven!!
Abby Normal also gets a “WTF is wrong with you?!”
A. Rsays
sixdays is by far the best chew toy we’ve had here in awhile. My fangs are so sniny they’re reflecting sunlight.
Who’s this Nicole Murray who’s lambasting everybody for getting the Terry England story “wrong”?
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
sixdays is by far the best chew toy we’ve had here in awhile. My fangs are so sniny they’re reflecting sunlight.
Both sixdays and Porco are rather interesting trolls. sixdays is, at least, honest about hir beliefs (bronze-age as they are). Porco just keeps lying and flinging accusations.
I think I prefer sixdays.
And I can’t fucking believe DanielHaven showed up. If we can get them all in the same thread we would achieve tritrollitis.
Ogvorbis: Now With 98% Less Intellectual Curiousity!says
I realized that in the wake of so much other Utah legislative bullshit I haven’t even talked about the newest anti-abortion measures. Since the only abortion providers are in Salt Lake City (and Utah is a decently large state), waiting periods such as these help discourage abortions by making it even more out of reach for many. Utah’s conservative legislature would gladly make abortion totally illegal if they though a personhood bill would pass, I have no doubt. It’s not as if we care about women in Utah (we earn less compared to men than even the national average, have been victims of sexual violence at higher than national rates for two decades, and only 16.3% of our state legislators are women, women are illegally asked about marital status by employers, etc).
Thankfully, it’s not gone unnoticed, although you won’t see it in the more conservative news here.
A. Rsays
RE: New troll: He is weird and incoherent.
slignot: I assume the Mormons are behind this latest effort in Utah?
A. Rsays
PZ: danielhaven over on the Christianity is scary thread is getting rather creepy. You might want to pop over and take a look.
janinesays
A. R. PZ is aware of danielhaven. Danielhaven’s incoherent ramblings and other people’s futile attempts to decipher him is the reason for the alternative undead thread.
Checkout KILL IT WITH FIRE under the quick link to the unending thread.
Therrinsays
Regarding the International Citizen on the other thread, this has an oblique reference to country of origin.
A. Rsays
janine: Oh, ok. I took a Pharyngubreak for a month to catch up on some work, so I missed some of that.
@A. R, Saying mormons are behind basically anything newsworthy in Utah is sadly like saying water is wet.
The church controls everything here. Public schools are effectively mormon schools. Years ago, a cousin was sent home with an scolding note from the school because she had “upset” fellow students by honestly saying her family didn’t believe in god when they brought the subject up! They chastised a seven year old for her family being atheists.
I was ostracized because I wasn’t part of the ward in public grade school. By contrast, my private catholic high school was incredibly diverse and accepting; my friends were: atheists, protestants, jewish (practicing and non), muslim, ethnically diverse (saying something here), included openly gay kids, etc.
A. Rsays
slignot: I suppose the overbearing presence of a religion even crazier than the Catholics forced those groups into Private Schools?
waltonsays
On another note, I emailed a friend of mine in Boston about the anti-SB 2061 vigil mentioned by Walton at #214. She said she’d drop in on that, then proceed to the Boston Common march in solidarity with Cecily McMillan.
Thank you.
And I hadn’t heard about Cecily McMillan’s case. That’s terrifying.
===
Yes it would be horrible for the Ugandan gays to get any victory at all. WTF is wrong with you? When we already have proposed state murder squads what possible bad outcome are we afraid of here?
For general information, the text of the complaint can be found here. It’s an action under the Alien Tort Statute, which allows, in some circumstances, civil actions to be brought in federal district courts in respect of violations of certain norms of international law committed outside the United States. They’re arguing that Lively was responsible for the human rights violations that the plaintiff suffered in Uganda.
I’ll be able to say more when I’ve had time to read the complaint in depth (I don’t have time now, since I’m about to head to the rally). Tentatively, I think it was probably a good move to bring a civil lawsuit, and I’d like them to succeed, though it’s very difficult to bring a successful action under the ATS as the law currently stands. (It’s not my field of expertise, so I won’t offer a definite prediction as to their chances of success on the merits.)
waltonsays
(I should clarify, as an addendum to #443, that I’m not arguing with Ing, nor am I defending Ed Brayton’s view. Rather, I’ll express a firmer opinion about the lawsuit when I’ve had a chance to read the complaint in full.)
I suppose the overbearing presence of a religion even crazier than the Catholics forced those groups into Private Schools?
This combined with the poor state of Utah’s public schooling. If you can afford to send your kids to a better school, many do. My old high school is largely regarded as a college prep school for anyone here. It was definitely the reason most of my classmates were there.
I received truly exemplary education there. I’m still marveling at how well constructed our biology curriculum was, and my sex education was actually comprehensive. I’m grateful for pragmatic catholic school administrators.
A. Rsays
I’m very concerned about danielhaven. His writing is consistent with that of an individual with certain types of mental disorder, particularly the way he latches onto words and phrases.
Esteleth, Who is Totally Not a Dog or Ferretsays
Okay, I have made a decision.
No matter how cute my apartment is, or how convenient it is to work, etc, and how great the rent is, I am MOVING once my lease is up.
I am fucking shaking with rage now. My landlord is a racist, ableist asshole. I’m sorry that I have to give him money for the next eight months.
Seriously, WTF. I was standing on my porch, chatting with a neighbor. Said neighbor appears to have some sort of mental/psychological impairment/illness, seemed very vague and out of it. Whatever. Landlord CALLED ME ON MY CELL, said that it looked like I “needed a rescue” and proceeded to opine that said neighbor is “messed up.” Caught more than a little bit of a hint of derision on the topic of fat black women from him.
W.T.F.
Ogvorbis: shameless AND impudent!says
Walton:
Good to see(?) you again. Enjoying the bitter cold of a Boston winter?
Good luck with the rally. For a country built on immigration and genocide of the natives, we sure have a mean streak when it comes to immigrants.
(I should clarify, as an addendum to #443, that I’m not arguing with Ing, nor am I defending Ed Brayton’s view. Rather, I’ll express a firmer opinion about the lawsuit when I’ve had a chance to read the complaint in full.)
It didn’t read that way to me. It read as you explaining it. Which yes, if there is some problem I would like it explained. But Ed just wrote out “Wow hope that doesn’t succeed” due to unstated “consequences”. Like what? White people actually being held liable for using Africa as their own personal toilet?
Walton: You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re feeling better these days.
Ogvorbis: It has been freakishly warm in New England. It is in the eighties Fahrenheit here in southern New Hampshire. It does not bode well in many ways.
Good evening
Does a slightly past middle age man who uses too much aftershave who wants to learn Spanish for his frequent trips to the Dominican Republic become less frequent if he has a girlfriend there with whom he can’t communicate?
SG
Ah I remember.
I also remember why I’m not actually buying your point:
The synchronic usage of those words seem to be pretty much removed from actual mental illness, like idiot.
I actually find it much worse to play armchair psychologist and throw around words that have a current clinical and diagnostic meaning.
Can’t post this publicly or I’ll be accused of Christian-bashing…but there was a male-on-male sexual assault at the seminary here (the one where [Self-Righteous, Annoying, and Profoundly Stupid Co-worker] is a student) the other day. “Alleged” assaulter is 45 years old, his victim was his 25-year-old roommate, who was asleep at the time.
More on the story here, including lots of comments from fellow [seminary] students about how unfaaaaiiiir the reporting was.
And I just love (not) how so many of the commenters say that they’ll be praying for everyone, and particularly that one comment who was all about praying for the assaulter and only at the end did the person say something about oh, feeling bad for the victim too maybe.
The latter thread takes Facebook comments, in case anyone feels the need to snine up their fangs off FTB.
janinesays
Ms Daisy Cutter, when I worked as a bike messenger, on the first day of spring, I would sing that song when I made my pick ups and deliveries. This was in the days before September 11, 2001 and it was easier to get into buildings.
The same friend writes that Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has covered up the sexual crimes of two other students in the past five years. (Note: Blogger is an xtian pastor.) The victim in the current case was “mentally incapacitated and physically helpless” — i.e. drugged.
[Walton, are you e]njoying the bitter cold of a Boston winter?
I do hope Walton’s enjoying his time in Boston, but bitter cold has been in damn short supply throughout New England this year. It’s kinda’ freakin’ me out, TBH.
So, not that I would ever do this, of course, but if someone wanted to host a photo online for sharing in certain parts of the interwebs without having that photo attached to their own personal name in other parts of the interwebs, what would a good place be to do that? Throwaway photobucket account?
life is like a pitbull with lipstick ॐsays
Giliell, I’ll respond to the rest of your comment shortly, but
I actually find it much worse to play armchair psychologist and throw around words that have a current clinical and diagnostic meaning.
Would you mind talking to A.R about that? I get exhausted after a while.
I actually find it much worse to play armchair psychologist and throw around words that have a current clinical and diagnostic meaning.
Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in the comment I linked to earlier, though I hope that at the time when that whole thread was in recent memory it was clearer in context.
I emphatically do not believe that people should consider themselves qualified as armchair psychologists. This is what I was hoping to communicate by giving examples of actually-insane ideas. They are a lot more extravagant than what usually gets too-enthusiastically parsed for an armchair diagnosis.
My point in making that contrast was not to say “you should feel comfortable calling people psychotic over the internet”, but to draw out the various nuances of meaning in the word “crazy”, and point people toward those that are actually useful. Very, very rarely, we’re really talking about someone who is displaying psychotic symptoms.
Much more often, we’re talking about someone who we could describe much more specifically: irrational, stupid, ignorant, anti-social, harmful, biased, fallacious, bigoted, et cetera.
Those are all much better words than “crazy” because they are more specific about exactly what’s objectionable, and they aren’t synonyms for mental illness per se, so demonizing a person for these more specific traits causes less collateral damage to innocent mentally ill people.
The synchronic usage of those words seem to be pretty much removed from actual mental illness, like idiot.
That’s simply not in evidence.
Lots of mentally ill people self-describe as crazy. It’s a synonym right now, today. And every attentive adult is aware of the synonym. You can head on over to JT’s blog right here on FTB, and read a couple weeks of posts to confirm the existence of this self-identification.
With regard to “idiot, moron, imbecile” and such, many adults really aren’t aware of the historical use. So the parallel you propose isn’t strong. And “crazy” isn’t likely to lose its meaning as long as it’s a self-decriptor among activists for mental health issues.
I’m not really sure how it could lose its specific meaning, either. With “idiot, moron, and imbecile”, they came to mean sub-clinical stupidity; someone who does act like they have a low IQ but not so low as to be diagnosed by modern psychiatrists as mentally retarded, since it is generally considered impolite to mock mentally retarded people.
I don’t see any momentum at all regarding “crazy”. It does have a derived form closer to “wild”, but this is a positive appellation. That form is hardly used insultingly, and one can sense the envy in condemning “those crazy kids with their wild parties.”
About the insulting forms, though, we should ask, crazy like what? We know the answer to idiotic like what? Idiotic like someone who has a sub-clinical but low IQ. There isn’t another negative kind of crazy which is not also a referent for mental illness.
Finally, I should point out that there aren’t a bunch of advocates for mentally retarded people who are these days asking us not to use “idiot, moron and imbecile” as insults. If they were, then we ought to take them seriously, but they just aren’t.
Contrary, there are plenty of advocates for mental health issues who are asking us not to use crazy as an insult. If you care about signaling respect to them, that requires signalling it in a way they recognize as respect. I don’t think that determinedly looking for an insult which is synonymous with madness signals much respect, especially when there are such better, more specific words for objectionable characteristics that we might want to call attention to.
I just crocheted my first letter onto a crocheted item. It looks really good :D
(I’m crocheting things with atheist ‘A’s on them for people; I need the money and this is my only marketable skill.)
waltonsays
The rally went well. The Senate Judiciary Committee is due to vote on SB 2061 tomorrow; all I can do now is call and email my state senator tomorrow morning as a last-ditch effort. I’m really hoping that this bill won’t pass. Apparently similar bills have been introduced and have failed the last two years running, so hopefully this one will get defeated too.
Good luck with the rally. For a country built on immigration and genocide of the natives, we sure have a mean streak when it comes to immigrants.
Indeed. SB 2061 is horrific. Among other things, it would require state and local police to check the immigration status of anyone arrested or detained and to turn over undocumented people to ICE – thus leading to more racial profiling, and to immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes being afraid to contact the police. It would exclude families from public housing if any member of the family is undocumented, even if (as is very common) some members of the family are citizens or permanent residents. And it would bar undocumented immigrants from getting in-state tuition rates at public universities – which, combined with the more widespread use of e-Verify in employment, would make it basically impossible for undocumented kids to go to college. It’s a purely punitive bill, and it’s completely grounded in racism and xenophobia.
This is a country of immigrants. And immigrants, documented and undocumented, are human beings with human rights. Yet there is a growing movement to enact these kinds of Arizona-style punitive laws – hurting undocumented people who came to this country as children and have lived here all their lives, and undocumented people who arrived in this country fleeing persecution, oppression and poverty. What is really needed is comprehensive immigration reform and a path to legalization for the undocumented; that’s not going to happen any time soon, unfortunately, but in the meantime we can at least try to stop these vicious state bills from passing.
====
I do hope Walton’s enjoying his time in Boston, but bitter cold has been in damn short supply throughout New England this year. It’s kinda’ freakin’ me out, TBH.
Indeed; I’ve been told by several people here that it’s been the warmest winter in Boston in decades. We didn’t even get much snow.
=====
I’m inclined to agree with strange gods: I’ve come to the view that labelling foolish political ideas, or the people who hold them, “crazy” or “insane” is something which should be avoided. I used to use these epithets regularly, but of late I’ve tried to cure myself of the habit. I really don’t think words like “crazy” and “insane” have lost their explicit association with mental illness, in ordinary usage. (Indeed, in common-law countries “insane” continues to be a legal term, albeit that it’s a term of art that differs somewhat from the everyday use of the word.) I think there are serious dangers with falling into a habit of using slang terms for mental illness as pejorative epithets; mentally-ill people are already stigmatized in society generally, and the worst thing is when the views of mentally-ill people are dismissed on the assumption that they can’t be thinking rationally, something which I find demeaning and infantilizing. Not that I think anyone here was doing that, by any means, but I think there is a danger that these kinds of insult – even when used in a purely metaphorical sense – contribute to that stigma.
(Sorry if I’m not communicating very clearly… for some reason I’m really sleepy suddenly. And I’ve had a cough and a sore throat all week, which doesn’t help.)
waltonsays
Not that I think anyone here was doing that, by any means, but I think there is a danger that these kinds of insult – even when used in a purely metaphorical sense – contribute to that stigma.
Just to reiterate that I certainly don’t think anyone here, or most people who use the terms, are deliberately contributing to that stigma, and I really didn’t mean to imply anything of that kind. (Indeed, this is generally a very caring and supportive environment when it comes to understanding mental illness and the problems faced by those of us who suffer from it, and I really appreciate that.)
But I think the stigma exists nonetheless, and I tend to think that calling people “crazy” and “insane”, even when (as it usually is) it’s meant in a completely metaphorical sense and isn’t intended to imply actual mental illness, tends unintentionally to contribute to the stigma associated with mental illness. I didn’t recognize this for a long time, and a couple of years ago I’d happily have called Santorum or Bachmann “crazy”, but I find I’m not inclined to do so now.
John Moralessays
walton:
I’ve come to the view that labelling foolish political ideas, or the people who hold them, “crazy” or “insane” is something which should be avoided. I used to use these epithets regularly, but of late I’ve tried to cure myself of the habit. I really don’t think words like “crazy” and “insane” have lost their explicit association with mental illness, in ordinary usage.
Sigh.
Of course they haven’t lost their “explicit association” — that’s what they mean.
(Go get some rest, you need it)
Pteryxxsays
walton, good to see you.
—-
Latest forced-ultrasound bill turns up in Rhode Island, thanks to JohnnieCanuck in the Piling on a poll thread:
I was telling my mom about the Reason Rally and asking if I could borrow her car (my truck’s tires are rather bald and should be replaced before doing another long trip). Well, she hemmed and hawed and then she said she wanted to come along!
She’s super cool, I’m looking forward to introducing her to the Horde.
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trollssays
My day got a little hectic when the Redhead called a little after 11:00 am, and said the family care conference I thought was Thursday was today. So I checked the letter: March 20 2:00 pm, Thursday. We had a good laugh at the mixup, and I got my reaction to a quiet place, told my boss of the mixup (his attitude was why hadn’t I left yet, very supportive, which helps), finally left about noon. Stopped off to vote (the skinny guy with the big ears for POTUS as it was a democratic ballot), and headed out, making a stop to get more thank-you notes/envelopes. Arrived in plenty of time for the conference. Essentially slow but good progress, but more progress needed to come home. DUH.
The Redhead returned to rehab, and I tried to nap. Couldn’t fall asleep. Eventually she returned to her room, I helped put on her dynamic splints, and then took out the braids in her hair, and brushed and combed it so it could be washed. She later decided to do a “dry shampoo and conditioner” on it, so all she needs is a rinse with the morning shower. Then one of the techs will braid her hair again. Then dinner, and after dinner took off her splints, and waited while she was changed for the evening, and then came home, needing to walk back to the Redhead’s room from the parking for some forgotten bottles. Soup and some ice cream for dinner when I arrived back.
John Moralessays
[meta]
Nerd, sorry if this embarrasses you, but your devotion to the Redhead warms the cockles of my blood-pump and makes me admire you.
Partner found this site through a call for publication. Let’s read along.
Vicki Sapp: “Here’s your chance to submit your tales of white people doing trashy things. Or trashy people doing white things (it being commonly–pun intended–presumed that any respectable white trash party includes lots of booze, vomit, violence, and at least one report of what might be called rape in some circles (William Byrd II of Westover). However, WT has its more constructive pastimes as well: the phrase ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ was coined by a wordsmith hanging out at the trailer park. So we are calling for your truths, told in the inimitable WT way. If you are not sure that your submission is about “white trash,” or you don’t know what “trashy” means, you should probably submit elsewhere now and revisit us after cultural enlightenment via the forthcoming volume. Words of advice for submissions: No Tobacco Road tragedies as we mean to keep it both real and fun. Also none of that Tucker Max xtreme stuff; we run a relatively clean trailer around here. And finally, submissions from advanced degree holders are welcome; paper might cover rock–but sheepskin don’t cover trash.”
waltonsays
*hugs* for Nerd. And I’ll second what John said.
====
I am intending to come to the Reason Rally. Which will entail travelling overnight by bus on Friday night, but that should be ok. (I travelled by bus from Boston to DC last weekend, and it was actually much more pleasant than I was expecting.)
And now, the Walton is tired and should get some sleep.
Giliell, it’s very tough. I have a close friend who is in a similar boat; we commiserate at our Mums’ latest antics. It’s just taken as given, somehow, that mothers MUST love their children, and any problem has just got to be some mistake, a miscommunication, something fixable… The biggest thing we have to do is to accept that no, really, it’s not fixable. Both BFF and I have chosen the “low contact” rather than “no contact” options; probably because our Mums are not completely 100% destructive. It’s a spectrum; some people are so toxic that you just have to get away; others you can maintain a connection if you treat them like children and humour them. But there can never be a normal adult relationship, and trying to make one can only end in tears.
I was in one of those moods, so I decided to look up the etymology of various shit.
Firstly, “cockle” (as in “warms the cockles of the heart”) is a kind of mollusk, specifically the genus Cardiidae. The phrase comes from the fact that cockle shells are vaguely heart-shaped (their scientfic name comes from the Greek καρδιά, “heart”).
Intriguing.
I also discovered that my given name comes from the Hebrew (I knew this part) אֱלִישֶׁבַע, “God is my oath.”
Uh.
(1) Holy grammar wreckage, Batman!
(1)(a) Maybe that makes grammatical sense in Hebrew.
(2) God ain’t jack shit, much less an oath, much less mine.
___
Nerd, someday I hope to be loved as much as you love the Redhead.
I also hope to one day be worthy of such love and devotion.
John Moralessays
Esteleth, re my name:
This Greek name is a form of the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן, Yôḥanan, which means “Yahweh is generous”.
(From the pfft — I think ‘gracious’ is a better version, but hey — it is a Christian name! ;) )
A. Rsays
ॐ: I’m not sure what my comment has to do with using the words you mentioned inappropriately. I was just mentioning that his prose looked a great deal like that of individuals with certain disorders (don’t remember which, it’s been too long since I took abnormal psychology).
Esteleth, Who is Totally Not a Dog or Ferretsays
I once got in a debate with a d00d who had a major LotR stiffie and who liked to rant about purity (of the text, that is) and shit like that. I told him that my ‘nym (yes the one I still use, here and like everywhere else) is my name, translated into Elvish (Sindarin, specifically). He said, “No it’s not – there’s no way you can translate names.”
So…
(1) Major character in LotR is a dude, who was known as Estel as a kid. The meaning of “Estel” is explicitly given, and explicitly stated to have this meaning in Quenya, Sindarin, and several other languages.
(2) Said meaning is the exact same meaning of my given name.
(3) “-eth” is explicitly established as a feminine suffix in Sindarin and its associated languages.
(4) I am female.
But
(5) I cannot possibly translate my given name into Sindarin?
Lolwut.
chigau (√-1)says
Hi Everybody!
Hugs for all who need and for those who don’t.
If any sees the slime who stole my briefcase and laptop, please kick them into a DNA smear, OK?
I’m going go talk to danielhaven.
That should cheer me up.
A. Rsays
chigau: Do you mean smear as in genomic DNA digested by restriction endonucleases, then SDS-PAGed and SYBR Safe stained? (I don’t use EtBr, I like my DNA the way it is, thank you)
Nerd, sorry if this embarrasses you, but your devotion to the Redhead warms the cockles of my blood-pump and makes me admire you.
(Seriously)
Mine too. When I read your story about the successfully delivery of the corned beef sandwich and mint shake, I smiled. And got a bit teary. (It happens a lot when I’m very happy about something.) Thank you for sharing.
chigau (√-1)says
Any kind of smear and DNA is fine, as long as there is kicking.
Everything is replacable.
Except privacy.
A. Rsays
I suppose I could use the old thermocycler in the basement that occasionally required a technical tap to turn on. A swift kick should substitute nicely.
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OMsays
chigau, :( I remember how heartbreaking it is to have your laptop stolen. I’m sorry that happened to you. I will stomp them with my polka-dotted spiked caligaria-waders if I happen to run into them.
—
Well, I massively lost it in the Village today. I knew it wasn’t going to be a good idea to go, knew I wasn’t equipped today, but I had to go because I was out of important things that I needed and I had to hand something in on campus anyhow. I was very right about it not being a good idea. Burst into tears twice in the street, panicked in Whole Foods and wasted a bunch of time doing the walking-in-circles-not-being-able-to-see-or-think thing that I usually only do when I’ve lost something I really need. (As I’ve posted about here before, Whole Foods is especially hard for me, but since I lost my debit card a while ago and only had one method of payment available, I had to go where they’d take it. Also meant I couldn’t get the medication I wanted (luckily not needed) because Whole Foods basically only has homeopathic shit. Yaaay.)
However, I had one of those fresh salads from their salad bar thingy. It was lovely and delicious. Yay salad.
Therrinsays
Esteleth,
(2) God ain’t jack shit, much less an oath, much less mine.
At least yours is just an oath, I have to be hir right hand.
SG
I grant the point about crazy and insane, yet I don’t see this holding automatically true for mad or nutty.
A quick google search seemed to indicate that activists don’t object to those words like they do to crazy and insane and frankly, language doesn’t work like that, since words develop independently.
Alethea
Thanx.
It definetly is a spectrum and I think that my mum is not on the malicious side. She does love me, she does care, but she actually is incapable of doing so in an adult way.
Yes, I think that low contact may be a way.
What adds to this is that her brain is most likely already too damaged from booze.
I am expecting to lose my mum within the next years. Her pancreas was already badly damaged 25 years ago and I don’t know how longer her liver will take it.
I think that the next step will be that she has to stop working. A lab worker in a hospital who keeps forgetting crucial things is a danger to everybody.
ambleburysays
Giliell, I second Alethea’s book recommendation. It’s good, and many others on the subject aren’t.
I ended up going the no-contact route, which suits my mother just fine – she’s on the malicious end of the spectrum. While I have some sympathy for how she got to be that way, some people simply are too toxic to engage with at all.
If you keep your contact to a level you can deal with, when she does die, you will have at least had a few years of relative calm.
theophontes 777says
@ chigau
I’m going go talk to danielhaven.
Hey! You been hiding him away from the rest of us?
(sorry to hear about the robbery though)
Louissays
Just watched a lecture by Germaine Greer. I really enjoy her work the more I am exposed to it. I thought the answer to the question asked at ~1:10:58 was pretty damned enlightening.
What annoys me about the feminism I have encountered/read is how fucking obvious it is and how fucking dull I was for n years for NOT FUCKING GETTING IT!!!!!! ARGH!
Why? Why isn’t this sort of stuff rammed into education earlier.* Greer talks about the kinds of education I love with great passion, exposes the kind of inequalities that simply go unquestioned (unless dullards like me are whacked over the head with the Privilege Clue Stick) with simple wit. I love it. I want MOAR!
Ah for a world that truly valued the type of education of which she speaks. That would be a liberated world.
Louis
*Don’t worry, I know why. I’m just ranting.
Louissays
Oh and before anyone mentions it, obviously I don’t agree with everything Greer has said. Her comments on transsexuals for example haven’t been the best (understatement of the year).
Oh, good old Germs. She’s awesome in a curmudgeonly Christopher Hitchens kind of way. Sometimes utterly bug-fucked-up wrong, but so good in other ways.
Louissays
Alethea, #499,
Sometimes utterly bug-fucked-up wrong
Absolutely! And good on her, and all of us who are bug-fucked-up-wrong on occasion! Being wrong is good, it’s how you get to being less wrong.
There is one* attitude above all others I cannot stand and it is the age old problem that infests the political left.** Call it the People’s Front of Judea/Judean People’s Front problem, call it the narcissism of minor differences, call it an obsession with ideological purity or an inability to be wrong or tolerate deviation from party lines. It’s the grand irony, for example, of the accommodationist argument, of the valuing of apparent civility over the real consideration of honest, blunt engagement. It’s being “nice” at the expense of being pluralist. But I digress…
Greer is wrong about so much, she has her blinkers, her prejudices, her biases. So do I. So do you (plural!). Whether or not she/I/you realise(s) this is a different question. Or whether we realise this in a meaningful way I should say, lip service to the idea is easy. But it is trivially easy to look at the arguments she presents and read the good bit, the cohesive bits, the well evidenced or coherent bits. Those don’t stop being good because she said some batshittery about something else.
That’s not to say that individuals don’t exist for whom that connection has been stretched to maximum tension! I’m guessing that Ken Ham and I are not going to have a great deal of common ground to engage in dialogue on. Perhaps I’m wrong, there’s always hope! Forgive me though if I don’t hold my breath whilst exploring ideas with Ham, searching for the points of unity with which to form a foundation of meaningful discourse.
Louis
* One, Louis? Yeah, right. You’re really only ranty about one thing.
** Why don’t we have a revolution? Because we’re too busy arguing with each other.
O hai.
Can I tell you how much I fucking hate St. Patty’s Day?
GO BE DRUNKEN ASSHOLES SOMEWHERE ELSE, ASSHOLES.
Oh…today’s St. Patrick’s day. No wonder there’s a bunch of drunk bikers being annoying. Bleargh.
St. Patrick’s Day = amateur day
Seriously, Rev.
I’m already sick of these goddamned lightweights and it’s only 10 o’clock!
You know what’s lame? Beer bar switching to 10oz pours of “high gravity” beers.
Blatant money grab. Fuck this place.
Uh, didn’t Banco De Gaia do this already? *prepares to be educated*
*Reminds American commenters, it’s 02:05 and the 18th here* ;)
Hello all.
I don’t often comment, but a friend of mine is in a jam, and I am trying to determine the scale of it.
I ask here because it is full of random smart people, and I take all my internets with salt. Google has been freaking me out.
My friend was arrested in Wyoming and charged with 3 counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Neither of us live in WY. I know no other details.
Is Wyoming a zero tolerance state, ie- is there minimum sentancing? And is that minimum sentance 5 years per count?
Does Wyoming Scheadule controlled substances by amount? I couldn’t tell.
Can anyone recommend an experienced drug crimes lawyer licensed in WY?
thank you,
spondee
ps, and yes, St Patricks Day really messed up my commute.
No drunken revelry here. I have some beer in front of me that I forgot to drink during DDO, so it’s a bit flat. I’ll finish it anyway, it’s not every day I get Harp.
——————————————–
Hoping my state will be able to withstand the onslaught of anti-women bills. The fundier parts might get swayed, but they don’t seem to have a hell of a lot of influence that I can see. I’m terrified that people can be so disconnected from reality (and even more terrified that I could’ve passed for one of them when I still identified as Catholic.)
I’m doing great on my paper! *cheers for herself and throws confetti*
(I’m not, really. But I’m actually working on it, which is a little achievment.)
Well, you’re all free to join me at the Value Place hotel in St Charles if you want to avoid the revelry.
Actually, no you’re not. I have to go to bed soon.
It’s raining so much! *runs around all happy*
Going to bed.
Fuck Patty’s day and fuck all the douchebags who want to be Irish for a night. Fuck you, some of us don’t like Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly enough to listen to them for 6 fucking hours. There are a lot of Celtic rock/metal bands that aren’t them. Go find some.
Now for a couple shots of Bacardi and a trip to dream land.
Spent the better part of my Saturday in the ER with my kid, who vomited or tried to vomit on an empty stomach for over 12 hours straight, ran a high fever and then reported pain on the right side of her lower belly.
The good news is the ER is a lovely new building, very attractive and pleasant to spend time in. Oh, and the kid doesn’t have appendicitis. Most likely “just” a stomach bug, and after observation she was packed home and now I’m catching up on the Saturday chores and bread baking I missed.
CC:
Send some this way, looks like we’ll be facing a drought this year, what with no snowmelt.
Caine:
Same here. We had one snowstorm and that was it. We haven’t had any rain to speak of, either.
*shakes head* It’s been a weird, weird winter.
kristinc,
Jesus! I hope your kid feels better soon!
Operation Corned Beef was a success. The sandwich and fries arrived warm, and the sandwich was made with real corned beef. You know, the type that actually looks a certain color of pink when found in Delis. The 36 oz. mint shake was cold and reasonably unmelted (and was too much). (I had an Italian beef with melted cheese and peppers, plus a pineapple shake. Gave the peppers to the Redhead, who has been deprived of anything remotely spicy for a while. This was our second time eating together since her stroke.) Turns out the menu for the day had an offering to Tpyos, as “Chile con carne” really was “corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes”. Then I took a good look at the alleged “corned beef”. Resembled the pink of medium roast beef in color, lacking the proper pink from the nitrite “pickle” solution (which I have actually made, but not to treat meat with). Made the real sandwich even more appreciated.
Oh jeez :( That sounds just miserable. “Just” a stomach bug, right…
*runs to the window and shouts at the rain very dramatically*
spondee sorry I’m not sure. But having lived in Wyoming for about 8 years or so I can tell you that they are serious about drug arrests. Wish i had more factual data for you.
I was holding the babby earlier, and I farted really loudly. She immediately looked at me and started saying “Poop? Poop?”
So I taught her how to say ‘fart’. *snickers*
She’s a lot more chipper — they gave her an antiemetic that made a world of difference, and now she’s pissed that we’ll only let her eat bland food for at least 24 hours.
For anyone else playing ME3, no real spoilers but dear god did the Protheans ever turn out to be major assholes.
Also! going to the hospital provided empirical confirmation that my piercings actually literally set off metal detectors now. O.o
Thank you Rev. I wish I had more facts too. I have no idea what he was caught with or why he was there. As I mentioned, google has convinced me that this is a very serious problem, first offense or not.
I am just struggling for real information.
Thanks again.
spondee
Glad your daughter’s feeling somewhat better, kristinc.
Have some of this chocolate cake in a mug to help you recover from the ER visit!
Nerd, TLC, congratz. (Drive-by)
—
Rage fuel and a warning: this is how much worse it could get for women.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/zingularity/2012/03/17/stalinists-at-the-gates/
spondee:
I’d say the best thing you can do is to get your friend a good lawyer. A lot depends on what he was caught with and how much. If it was meth…well, that wouldn’t be good.
There’s info out there, except PZ’s link filter won’t allow me to post the three helpful links I found. Search Wyoming Drug Laws and you’ll find info on penalties, including first offense, how drugs are scheduled and there’s a page on finding a criminal drug lawyer in whatever area of WY he’s in.
Copy that, Caine. Thank you.
spondee
I’m sorry, I have to get this out of my system.*
You’re two longs!
That is all. Thank you.
*I’ve been studying meter.
Cassandra- I once had a three-legged shepard named trochee. Best dog ever.
spondee:
You are my new favourite person.
(I actually picked my name because my dad mentioned that he had met a nice Golden Retriever named Nutmeg. I thought that was a good name for a Golden.)
Esme is happily stealing dog food from one of the monster dog’s dishes. A couple of days ago, I realized that if you put Chas, Esme and Rubin together, you get chase me Rubin. Heh.
We had a civilized (and very rainy) St. Patrick’s Day here at our house. I cooked corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and fresh-baked Irish Soda Bread with real Irish butter for dinner.
We’re now relaxing with a glass of Bailey’s Irish Cream.
Slainte!
Caine: Aaaww, Cute!
TLC:
The monster dogs still freak Esme out, so that’s a huge thing for her to do. Chas, on the other hand, is shameless. He runs right over and sits on the food in the middle of one of the dishes, and one of the dogs gets stuck trying to eat around him. :D
Internet out at the house, but my new fancy work iPad has cell data. Win.
Aberlour A’bundah also for the win.
Caine:
Squee! Cute overload.
*stomps around*
I QUIT my paper.
No more paper.
Rawr.
Nutmeg:
I has pics, too! One, two.
last year all of ND flooded; this year, most of it will be extremely short in water. these instabilities can’t possibly be good for agriculture…
Nutmeg- thank you. trochee taught me so much about being a person, and he was a freaking dog.
CC:
It’s okay to take a break. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.
Jadehawk:
No, they aren’t. This is going to be a tough year.
Not sure my huskies would be so nice to the rats. My big lab maybe, huskies doubtful.
Rev. BDC:
I doubt they’d be safe around any Huskie. Jayne has a very strong prey drive, but he did learn that the rats are off limits. Doll has a strong drive as well, but she actually likes the rats.
It’s raining.
I cannot go out side to catch-up.
but I must go outside to smoke.
****
you guessed right
chigau-
3
9
8?
It’s raining.
No exit, no hope.
Yet, I smoke.
spondee
spondee
I wasn’t even trying but I do like yours.
chigau- My apologies, that was arrogant and weird.
spondee
It’s true. I just wish that I didn’t need to take a break. But unfortunately, I’m trying to organize/edit, and it’s really really discouraging to watch my paper get shorter and shorter when I have a still-unmet page minimum…
Damn it! While I felt guilty and compsed my apology, you chimed in with your appreciation. Thank you.
spondee
I’m part Irish and part Native American, so St. Patrick’s Day is one of the two days of the year where I get to gripe about cultural appropriation. However, I don’t think I’ll be doing any of that here. :P
At least I do fit the stereotype on one vector: I loooooove whiskey. Unfortunately my house is devoid of liquor other than tequila, which is about as far from whiskey as you can get, in my opinion. Between my cash-flow problems and my tee-totaling friends I find my life is entirely too sober.
Speaking of whiskey, I’m partial to Crown but 1. it’s expensive and 2. I’m looking to branch out. Anyone have any suggestions? I considered Maker’s Mark, I like the red wax seals on the bottles, but buying booze based on the packaging is so disgustingly consumerist!
All right! Going through and typing out and translating the Greek quotes I’m going to use in my paper definitely constitutes working. It’s also kinda fun because you have to figure out how to make the keyboard write the letters with the right diacritical marks (and since I haven’t gotten that to be automatic yet, it’s still a puzzle).
I hope it’s okay that I’m doing this in the same way I learned in my other class. I type the Greek, then open parenthesis, then put the translation in quotation marks right after, then put the page numbers, then close parenthesis. Like so: πᾶσα χθὼν Ἀσιῆτις / θρέψασα πόθῳ στένεται μαλερῷ (“the whole Asian earth, having nursed them, groans with fiery longing,” 61-62).
Also, interestingly enough, I really LIKE my paper. I hate writing it, but I like the topic and the argument. So I guess that’s a good, anyway. I hope my professor feels the same way.
Except I don’t mean page numbers, I mean line numbers. *rolleyes*
I like Maker’s Mark. But I’m no connaisseur.
Oh, I had forgotten the Irish thing today. Liked the dark mood and the singing was OK but in a language I completely can’t understand it’s too distracting.
But it did suggest some other kinda/sorta modernized ethnic music I think our host might appreciate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XbctRM2mvg
— TWZ
I was goign to go watch a Seventh Day Adventist talk about the end of the world, but my phone crashed and my alarm didn’t go off and I slept through most of it.
Hehehehe. Seventh Day Adventists. I doubt you were missing much.
Lyle Albrecht. He seems to be fairly well-known, but the skeptisphere has thusfar ignored him.
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Forum-Focuses-on-Problems-and-Solutions-for-African-Americans-in-Cedar-Rapids-143063275.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150741330211468_22977087_10150742145511468
What the hell is wrong with my fellow local whities? Everyone seems to know exactly what black people’s problem is and is will to tell them what to do, but not to try listening to black people or doing anything useful.
On the topic of St. P’s Day. Neil DGT had a few witty tweets on the topic of “GREEN” earlier, I liked these 2 :
@neiltyson
Curiously, light-loving GREEN plants reject the Sun’s GREEN light, reflecting it back at you, which is why they look GREEN.
10h Neil deGrasse Tyson Neil deGrasse Tyson
@neiltyson
The laws of physics conspire to prevent GREEN stars in the universe. They basically come in three colors: Red, White, & Blue.
rorschach, it’s as true to say it’s our eyes as it is to say it’s the laws of physics, and (I think) more meaningful.
Good morning
kristinc
Oh, I’m sorry for your daughter. Ah I know these trips too well. What I was told to do was to give them tea with pure glucose since that is absorbed quickly and gets them some energy again. And it’s sweet and makes therefore up for not being allowed to have any “real food”.
CC
Chocolate is coming to xou. You can do it.
opposable thumbs
Thanks, the hugs are appreciated.
I think the worst part is actually over, because I drew the line. Now we’ll have to see how things develop. I’m at the point where having her in my life is optional. I wrote her that and what she’ll do with that information is her decission and not my fucking responsibility.
And it feels good.
++++++
By the look of it, one of the guys was there with his girlfriend.
BTW, here are two of the fotos I took yesterday, of the local and not so local wildlife.
Your squirrels are so much cutter than our. We just have these.
The plan:
Listen to a couple episodes of Buffy, work on the paper til bedtime, look over German, then go to sleep.
Wake up tomorrow, eat, go to campus, get the commentaries and articles there that I need to look at for my paper. Look up anything absolutely crucial. Make bibliography. Work til dinner, eat on campus, finish up. Print paper but don’t look at it at all. Grab some groceries for Monday if there’s still time, come home, study German, go to bed.
Look at paper in the morning, fix errors or weird stuff. Look at German. Turn in paper. Take exam. Get A+ on everything forever.
Watch Big Bang Theory season 5, drink too much red wine.
Also, Giliell, thank you! I took that as a suggestion and ate some immediately.
—
Rorschach, I wish that were my plan :(
I’m genuinely excited about my argument O.o It has been a really long time since I felt this way about anything academic.
I’m terrified that it’s based on an illusion in some way.
CC
Knowing your arguments here, I doubt that.
Ah, yes. Mr. handed my mum the letter and without having even read it she told him it doesn’t work that way *sigh*
I don’t even…
PZ and JT get an honorary mention. I wrote a post on it, but fighting the de Botton madness seems more and more like trying to stop a glacier by licking it.
Good morning horde.
Yesterday I had a breakdown over how much the world sucks. It was triggered by the story of a little baby bunny that was accidentally crushed to death, but this was just the last straw that broke the camels back.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/03/earless-bunny-crushed-by-cameraman/
The last few weeks I’ve immersed myself so much in all the gross bullshit that goes on in the world re womens rights, religion, racism, LGBTQ rights… Gah. I had a crying fit and the boyfriend was super afraid I’d get a depression relapse.
I might need to restrict myself a bit, avoid the news on these topics and focus on studying for a while. I’ve had issues with keeping up the studies and keep dreaming disturbing stuff. I’m still on medication but I do fear I might get a relapse.
I feel quite bad about it, though… I feel like letting people down if I avoid being exposed to this. I feel like my privilege is showing. :(
How do you people deal with this shit?
———-
Giliell,
keep it up. People who love us should not want to hurt us. Hopefully she’ll get over it and you can be reunited, but if she can’t or won’t, don’t let her drag you down.
Take care.
Back when I was in college, I spent some time as a DJ on the campus radio station. I played quite a few pieces by a band called (I think) The Waterboy who did some really good (for the late 1980s) Celtic rock.
Good news. A sick kid, once it goes past ‘normal’ sick, can be scary.
And, incidentally, a case of ‘stomach bug’ is the reason Wife and I have not had New England Boiled Dinner (like corned beef and cabbage, but with carrots, rutabagas, potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, and lots of garlic) for about five years (well, until yesterday when I made a batch). Son, after eating a large helping of NEBD, was violently ill. Did you know vomit can bounce? Of course you do. We had to clean some corned beef off the ceiling.
Sorry for the overshare.
Sister wore an underwire bra while flying to Europe on a wine-buying trip. She set off Spain.
I remamber a few like that from college. And high school.
Just hit the paper with a rolled up thesis to make it behave.
Not to mention what it’ll do to the migratory waterfowl, the few natural areas on the prairie, and the five or so trees in ND.
I love what this winter has done for my heating bill (I have been averaging less than $60 a month for gas; my budgeted amount is double that. I am very worried about what will happen this summer and fall as the warmer than average temps and lower than average rainfall continue. For a look at how bad it can get, think of Maine in 1948.
In college, that was the time to search for more, preferably paragraph-length, blockquotable quotes.
I celebrated 1/128 of my heritage and wore orange.
This sounds like a win for you.
It is like prayer. It lets them not do anything while feeling like they are doing something.
When I was up in Maine, the red squirrels were in full mating frenzy. They are quite energetic about it.
I seem to remember a Far Side cartoon along those lines.
I understand. I completely avoid network and cable news. The combination of anger and derpression it engenders is frightening.
This is the most fascinating video I saw on the Daily What yesterday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lSZPTa3ho
Baboons in Saudi Arabia kidnap feral dog puppies and raise them as pets. They groom them (which means they consider them like members of their family), play with them and the dogs guard the baboon herd from attack by animals and other dogs.
I am amazed by how much the inter species co-operation we see in the natural world. And it seems that domestication may go back further into human history than we thought.
keenacat:
Honestly, when it gets to be too much for me, I take a break. I just stop so I can recalibrate, catch my breath, and be refreshed for the next time.
There’s no shame in not fighting every battle– look at people who make their living as activists. They’re not involved in every cause that they believe in. They pick the one that’s most important to them and roll with that.
keenacat:
What I’m saying is, if you’re worried about triggering your depression, stop. You have to be healthy too, you know.
Keenacat:
Anger generally works for me. However, there are times I simply walk away, literally. I disappear and do other stuff. Do whatever you have to do to keep yourself together. ‘S okay, we understand.
Rorschach:
He’s a philosophy PhD candidate. Enough said.
keenacat:
Others have already given you good advice, so let me just reinforce:
The world becomes a better place when each of us pays attention to what’s wrong with it, and tries to make it better… but nobody expects you to kill yourself, or cripple yourself with depression, in the process. Your ability to be a positive in the world depends critically on staying healthy and, at some level, happy in your own person.
It’s like the safety instructions they give at the beginning of airline flights[1]: Put the oxygen mask on yourself first; then worry about assisting your kids and other passengers.
Also, stepping back from news about how badly the world sucks might help you appreciate how much of it really doesn’t suck. I’ve read several books recently that all circle around more or less the same theme: We humans are cognitively predisposed to notice, and give weight to, Bad Stuff© disproportionately more acutely than Good Stuff®.
That doesn’t mean the bad stuff isn’t well and truly horrible, of course, but getting away from the bad stuff for a while can remind you of why this benighted world is still worth fighting for… why we should (and you obviously do) take “the world just sucks!” as a call to arms rather than a plaintive surrender.
***
[1] It strikes me that picking an air travel metaphor means a bit of my privilege is showing. Sorry.
Argh
Some people really don’t have two braincells to huddle together for warmth.
I just walked through our little park with playground where there’s currently some construction work going on (don’t ask me what they’re exactly doing, nobody thought it necessary to inform people).
And I found some tools lying around openly on a fucking playground.
The shovel was bad enough, but the second one was a kind of long-handled axe.
In a fucking playground!
I took them, carried them to their little storage wagon and hurled them as far underneath as I could. I don’t give a shit if they have to crawl on their stomachs through the mud to retrieve them, at least no kid will use them to play Indiana Jones and accidentially crack another’s skull.
keenancat
If you notice that it’s hurting you, stop.
The internet can do very well for a while without you.
The world will not become better if you go past your limits and get hurt on the way.
Take care.
I also find that shouting at my washing machine really helps ;)
+++++
BTW, my official thanks to the Pharyngula Horde for making me understand that if you’re angry, there’s probably a good reason why you are.
Given my upbringing, I had this angry = wrong deeply ingrained into myself.
But I also that it’s important to turn that anger around.
I used to get angry, calm down, forget about it (anger is not a very sustainable emotion, IMO. You can be hurt for days and hours, or happy, or sad, but angry usually only works for a short time. Don’t let the reason you were angry evaporate with the anger)
Not for nothin’, but howcome the snazzy new logo FtB is using on Facebook[1] hasn’t made the transition to FtB itself?
***
[1] Dunno if that link will work for non-FB members; dunno how to test that.
We’ve got a couple of good designers working on a redesign of the site template; the new logo will go up with that.
Sorten Muld! Quelle coincidence – I just burned a cd for a pal of my favorite Scandi folk-rock. For while there ’round the turn of the century that region was a hotbed of uber-cool music. Garmarna (“the Hellhounds”)! Hedningarna (“the Heathens”)! Gjallarhorn (“the Roaring Trumpet”)! I led the disc off with Sorten Muld’s ‘The Man and the Elf Girl’, which until I bought the disc with English titles and lyrics I would call the anthem of the Holger Danske Memorial Space Patrol…
Soooo …
Are we gonna see today’s Oglaf here, or is it too NSFW?
OMG. Trudy Cooper is pandering to my fantasies.
No, I can’t post that.
Also, though, The Golden Peach is a perfect name for a bordello.
James And The Golden Peach, a charming fantasy about a teen’s first first to a floating bordello.
Thanks everyone for giving me your opinions. It is, for lack of a better word, relieving to have you guys give me a pass for taking a break. I guess I’ll try to go easy on the shittyness of the world for a while and focus on the good things. And I’ll try not to feel bad about it.
While I’ve certainly learned a lot about recognizing when I’m being an asshole (and when others are being assholes), I might need to learn a bit about when I need to go easy on myself.
Interestingly, I’ve never had issues with taking hospital stuff home. Even when working at the hematooncology unit (lots of very young, very sick people) or at the palliative care unit I was able to maintain empathy and care without actually hurting myself.
There is probably something to learn from this. I shall analyze what works for me in the hospital setting and try to employ those techniques when podering the various -isms in a broader setting.
Sometimes it just gets so overwhelming. You take interest in a certain issue and it just starts to branch out, intersectionally (is that even a word?), into a whole host of other issues. Sometimes, for me at least, it gets hard to compartmentalize stuff.
I think enjoying whats good in this world is indeed part of the fight for good. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be much to fight for, right?
Mine is usually behaving, but my laptop tends to provide ample occassions for shouting at inanimate objects.
I will cook Pasta puttanesca tonight. I’ve been craving it for about two weeks now and I’ll pamper myself a bit.
Look what I did this weekend!
Except every single news outlet didn’t quite get the story right. They completely missed the reason we did this. Here’s the press release for the event:
This explains more about the situation: http://free2think.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1458
I feel like skylarking today.
The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul
Ballet For A Rainy Day/1000 Umbrellas
The Meeting Place
Earn Enough For Us
Keep in mind that your empathetic detachment (not sure if that is the right phrasing) is something that you have been taught or learned. When I am at work, I find dealing with (non-co-employee) idiotic and/or dangerous situations easier as I know that my options are seriously circumscribed. Off duty, I have far more difficulty dealing with idiocy because I have so many more options. For instance, the guy who was just here (at an NP) with the Ron Paul sticker, talking about how much he loves national parks, I treated with the normal respect I give all visitors. Had I been off duty, the stress created as I tried to stifle my anger, my amusement, and my view of his hypocrisy would have left me tongue-tied, while at the same time giving my brain something to chew on, angrily and uselessly, at three in the morning.
Fighting the good fight is good (how’s that for circular?) but staying safe on a personal level is also very important. I tune out frequently just because, outside of work, I do not have an automatic non-stress reaction. Which leads to stress, anger, throwing things at the tele, and screaming at newzpimples.
Anyway, be safe. Sometimes taking a break is necessary.
Off on a tangent.
Open My Eyes
Broke Down And Busted
Bleeding
Couldn’t I Just Tell You
An other tangent.
Don’t Cha Stop
Bye Bye Love
Moving In Stereo/All Mixed Up
Yeah, I love power pop.
What of it?
Keencat: It does get overwhelming, so a break is needed once in a while, whatever that consists of to someone. The problem with me is that my mind can’t really let go except when I’m asleep or deeply involved with helping the students. Usually listening to music helps, but sometimes it’s just the soundtrack as I fight the feeling of drowning. Even a simple run can turn into a session of “Must get stronger, must get faster, they’re after me.” Being hyper-aware of just how at risk you are or can become is an awful feeling, and sometimes I wish I didn’t have it. OTOH, if I wasn’t aware, I wouldn’t be able to fight to try and protect what is precious to me.
I don’t talk to my family about any this – I’m not sure if they’d understand.
————————————————
Starstuff: Ugh. Disgusting. And of course they use the excuse of Gawd as a cover for their unbridled desire to control everyone around them.
————————————————
Gilell: Don’t get taken in. Any attempts by her to reel you back into that hellhole of an existence should be stomped on. It’s time for you to put yourself back together.
Makes me think of that old JOY thing I used to hear: Jesus first, Others second, yourself third. Fuck that! If you’re not strong and healthy enough to help others to the full extent of your ability, then they miss out and you’re left feeling even worse because you can’t do anything.
———————————————–
Happier news: I now have a new array of scents to enjoy. Burning some Desert Sage incense, it smells nice. I’d forgotten how much fun I used to have watching the smoke twist itself into curlicues, loops, and other shapes. and All I need to get now is orange or lemon oil and eucalyptus.
Threadrupt. So I saw three drunken teenagers crash their golf cart into a telephone pole last night. Does that count as celebrating St. Patrick’s day?
Let’s breed!
Doe
When I Was A Painter
Iris
Only In 3’s
Oddly enough, ‘playing’ with the smoke and watching it move and twist is one of the (MANY) things I love about smoking pot. Heehee.
They actually make ‘weed scented’ incense, believe it or not, but I think that’s one of the dumbest products ever invented: Make your room smell like you’ve been hotboxing it, without actually smoking anything at all… all sizzle and no steak. And in places where drug laws are harsher… potentially dangerous. Besides, burnt pot doesn’t smell all that great.
There’s this one kind of flower that grows along the railroad tracks in high summer… I WANT to call it impatiens but I think I may be off. The smell of it does something to the primitive parts of my brain. I just want to roll in it. Actually, I want to do other stuff in it too, but lacking a willing partner…
Sadly I don’t think that particular smell would translate to incense.
I have no use for Frank Black and was not at all excited by the reunion a couple of years ago, it helps me to forget how much I love this band.
Alec Eiffel
Space (I Believe In)
Cactus
Something Against You
TLC, get a picture of that flower if you can. As for the scent, well, that might be more a matter of personal taste, whether it would make good incense or not. Weed-scented incense, however, would not be one of my choices.
Oh, this is black and big.
Kasimir S. Pulaski Day
Dead Billy
He’s A Whore
Kerosene
For some reason, on a mix tape I made years ago (Remember those?) I placed the last song after Harry Dead Stanton’s monologue from Paris, Texas.
@98
In terms of actions, I agree. In terms of how annoying it is when I can’t tell people what I really think (something I am somewhat famous for in my own social circle) I found being constrained by representing my employer added to the stress.
When I was working in an archaeology lab, I was often the one tabbed to deal with people coming in to show us their “petrified brain” or similar. It was because I had a reputation for being absolutely honest, but pleasant even when the person in question was 1) a blithering idiot and 2) someone with an agenda. I am not talking about people who were simply ignorant. I dealt with such as gently as possible, especially the ones who had been duped into buying something. I am also not talking about people who were (in my completely non-professional but not completely inexperienced opinion) clinically mentally ill.
However, there were those that were there to try to get me to say that, for instance, those depressions in that limestone slab were human footprints. They never took my “No that is a piece of limestone and where you say you found it means it is probably Cretaceous limestone and there were no people around here in the Cretaceous” for an answer and argued and argued and argued. In that particular case, I pointed out the fact that the “big toe” depression was on the same side of the “foot” as the linear depression that supposedly represented the lateral side of the foot. He said, “but maybe that is the way they walked in those days”.
I used to get quite angry. I never actually said anything my employers were distressed about, however. That was a win for my self-control, but a loss for my stress levels.
PTI: Will do, but it’ll be a few months. In the meantime, Himalayan Balsam http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Erlenbach_TS_Springkraut.jpg shown here on wikipedia seems a pretty close fit.
Next time, I’ll pay closer attention to the flower and stem anatomy, instead of just that maddening (in a good way) smell.
Backing what everyone else said about keeping oneself in the fight by taking breaks. Nothing living fights all the time, not even sharks, tigers or moose. Besides, love and joy, tolerance, learning, exploring and helping each other are all worth fighting for.
It’s also easier sometimes to frontline for a cause that’s not THE most personal to oneself. It’s much easier emotionally for me to talk about animal cruelty, rape and abortion, but Libby Anne’s blog is often too much for me.
For what it’s worth, that’s not just a rule for people wealthy enough to afford airline travel, though it’s a convenient and oft-repeated sound bite. Industrial and bluecollar workers and rescue personnel have the same rule: always secure your own gas mask, your own safety line, your own grounding wire, your own escape route, even your own backup partner, before going to the aid of a fallen colleague. They teach real-life cases where one worker succumbed to toxic fumes in a tank or mine, and a whole string of would-be rescuers followed one by one, and were overcome one by one. So each rescuer had a bigger problem to deal with. (Honestly, I’d like to see movie and TV dramas pay more attention to this.)
Another good metaphor’s actually team sports: you’re all trying to win, but it’ll only work if everyone attends to their own area of responsibility first and helps others as much as they can without sacrificing their own duty. When you’re not the ball carrier, your job is support; and when it’s someone else’s turn, your job is to rest and get ready for your next shift. Preparing yourself is really damn important. Good coaches and leaders will directly order a player to chill when xe’s burning xirself out. Solo athletes, such as marathon runners, have to learn to find their own optimal pace and discipline themselves not to overreach out of enthusiasm or adrenaline.
Anyway, so those are other viewpoints and metaphors if y’all want.
TLC: maybe not incense, but you already brew things, right? Maybe you could distill perfume from those flowers.
keenacat:
I totally understand that. But, if you’re willing to take a (guilt free!) breather, that should help you feel better, even if you’re having a hard time compartmentalizing.
janine:
Yes! My first boyfriend made me a mix tape*– I don’t remember everything on it, but I know that it was my introduction to Bjork (Army of Me).
I’m sure it’s still kicking around here somewhere, but I don’t have any way to play it. :(
*How 90s high school!
Beyond adorable: kaessa, SonSpawn, and 2 teen boy buddies are building a gaming computer, with kaessa consulting via Skype from 1000 miles away. I’m sure PZ didn’t mean to create extended family/community when he started this blog, but it’s worked great. And next weekend, we have about a dozen Horde members descending on Chez Mattir for a giant air mattress sleepover and Reason Rally. Spouse, being about as social as Tom Travers from the Bertie & Jeeves novels, has borrowed a friend’s beach house to run away for the weekend, which will make everyone’s weekend easier.
Also, listening to SonSpawn explain to one of his friends that kaessa knew about computers and even was a GAMER, despite being a GRANDMOTHER was adorable. Apparently after the first of their skype calls with kaessa to plan the build, friend got over his sexist ideas…
I did a blog post about the whole situation in Polk County.
Darkheart, you are a youngster. This was my introduction to Björk.
Birthday
Fucking In Rhythm And Sorrow
Mama
Traitor
Life’s Too Good was in heavy rotation for me in the summer and fall of 1988.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=M9TFXZ78LD4#t=573s
The interfaith movement according to a modern day Buddhist teacher
*yawn*
I’m terribly tired for half past nine
Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan
Thanx
I’ll definetly not go back
What I got was more MOY: Mum’s right, Others are important, You’re such a stubborn child, what’s wrong with you?
Our troubles aren’t based on religion.
I don’t even think that they’re mainly based on gender expectations.
They are, I think, mostly grounded in her own screwed ideas and perceptions about herself and me.
She worriesabout me a lot. Genuinely.
That’s because she doesn’t think I can actually live on my own or make responsible decissions on my own. Like what jacket to put on the kids.
Her memory really changes to fit her narrative of the troublesome child. The scary thing is that so far she managed to manipulate my memories, too.
She honestly doesn’t remember last Saturday as I do and several witnesses do. She wonders what’s up with me that I don’t come home because in her version of the story she never kicked me out.
I feel you.
I love my family, and I avoid burdening them. They wouldn’t understand, but they’d worry. We’ve got a few intrafamilial issues and I feel the need to represent a strong support foundation. It can be exhausting to carry on like this and I find I avoid too much contact with my family. That makes me sad on a regular basis. I love them, but I often feel I can’t handle their issues on top of mine.
The boyfriend has a hard time getting me as well, even though we’ve been together for over 5 years and he has fought my depression alongside me.
But how I feel about the state of the world is pretty alien to him. This is part privilege and part avoidance, I guess…
I don’t have many close friends either, and while some get parts of it none of them is as involved as I am.
My one close friend is an atheist as well and he gets my gripes about church and religion, but feminism, or rather feminist activism, is something he does not grasp fully.
My other close friend doesn’t get my deep involvement in general. While I do enjoy her company a lot and she shares stuff like relationship and work issues, she’s just not the right person to unload my baggage re The World(tm) on.
While I socialize easily, I have a hard time opening up to people, which makes it all the more important for me to be able to come here and share with people who understand what I’m going through.
I might just be a person on the interwebs, but you guys made a world of difference, ever since I started reading Pharygula some 5 years ago. Now I even feel I can dump my baggage here and I want to thank you for supporting me.
You made me feel better today.
More songs in heavy rotation in the summer of 1988. Try to guess what this could be.
Bottle Of Smoke
Turkish Song Of The Damned
Fiesta
Lullaby Of London
Those we love and who have authority over us can do a frightening amount of manipulation. This is especially serious with parents and children.
I bet you know this already, but still… You have a right to your experiences. Your emotions and feelings have value and deserve notice. Others do not get to control your perception of reality, even if they are your mom.
Gah. Screw it.
For the first time in 30 years, I’m not watching the NCAA basketball tournament. I’m just fucking fed up.
Frequent, long commercial breaks are bad enough–I’ve lost a lot of my tolerance for those over the years–but much worse are the types of commercials they keep running.
We’ve got Wall Street investment firms trying to scare me over my lack of retirement funding, as if I don’t have more immediately pressing financial problems–thanks a lot, Wall Street. Just let us know when you need another fucking bailout.
Then a bunch of ex-jocks get on to tell me how great they’re doing thanks to the athletic scholarships they rode through college on. And how they’re all going pro in things other than sports, and I’m a doofus for thinking jocks are dumb.
Very few things piss me off worse than being told what I think and then being berated for being so horribly wrong. Then, of course, I flash back about 20 years to the day I dropped out of college due to lack of money and food and stuff like that. I suppose I could have made it through, if only I was eight feet tall like those fuckers.
Then Enterprise car rentals comes on and brags about all the recently graduated college jocks they hire. Groovy. So I guess they wouldn’t hire somebody my age in a billion years. Thanks.
Fuck basketball.
Sorry, I needed to rant.
I also wish to throw my support to Giliell. We can pick our friends (to an extent), we can pick our noses, but we can’t pick our families.
Stand strong.
Ogvorbis
I’ve noticed myself doing this.
Until reading it in your comment, however, I never realized how strangely multiple-personality-ish it is.
feralboy12, invest in a digital video recorder, watch the game(s), zap the rest.
Hey, Giliell, I’m thinking of you too. I haven’t spoken to my mother in over 10 years. For me it also means not having contact with any of her large extended family. Sometimes I miss them terribly, but my mother will never accept that she was abusive to me or take responsibility for her behavior and she will never be a healthy person for me to have in my life.
@Ogvorbis, The Waterboys:
The Whole of the Moon
janine: “Harry Dead Stanton’s monologue from Paris, Texas”.
That made me smile. Then again, nostalgically. Paris, Texas is a great film.
Has anyone ever seen Tom Martin and Frank Miller in the same room together?
Another petition.
feralboy:
I fucking hate hate hate this. No, I don’t want to “talk to Chuck”, I don’t trust that smarmy fucker as far as I can throw him.
Gah. Anyway.
I’m with John Morales– if you can get a DVR/Tivo/whatever, I highly suggest it. I rarely watch live teevee anymore and life without commercials is pretty sweet.
feralboy12:
Really? It bothers you that people can parlay a particular talent in a sport like fencing or rowing into degrees in fields like astrophysics or English literature or pre-med biology? Would it bother you less if the particular talent were in acting or playing the violin or maybe just doing math? Because, you know, students get merit-based financial aid for an assload of different reasons, not just for being “jocks.”
If this is really the first time in 30 years that you haven’t watched the NCAA basketball tournament, you evidently believe college athletics has some social value; I’m not sure why those ads, specifically, trouble you.
If you’re not one of those people who assume all “jocks” are dumb, then they’re not talking to you, are they? Surely you don’t deny the prejudice those ads are calling out exists? And while it’s awfully hard to feel sorry for the few who go on to be millionaire professional athletes, the vast majority of high school and college athletes are not in that category; those ads are just the NCAA reminding an increasingly cynical public that almost all “student athletes” are really just that, and don’t need the scare quotes. I’m not sure why that should tick you off.
Gang, I need you to help me out, here.
I desperately need a new earworm.
I have spent the last…four…frickin’…days with Bruno Mars’ whiny-ass voice on a loop in my head. It’s there when I (finally) fall asleep. It’s there when I wake up.
Narwhals don’t help.
Fish-heads don’t help.
Even P.D.Q. Bach doesn’t help.
*whimper*
–
The Plan:
Have The Husband attack my right shoulderblade/neck junction with the meat mallet.
–
I found this out ‘way back in my pre-teens. The experiment involved a whole bag of chocolate chips and a good-sized box of jaw breakers. With a large Slurpee. I was able to (inadvertently) achieve a really large Area of Effect, including the edge of the toilet (targetting was insufficiently precise), the front aproximate 2/3 of the bath tub, the space between toilet and tub, the wall up to about chest height, and a certain amount of celing. My mother was (justifiably) less than amused.
–
I dunno about that; in my experience, angry can work really, really, really well for months at a time, poisoning everything as it goes. I…don’t do that, any more.
–
New dryer!
*dance, dance, dance*
And I was able to make a (small) donation to Planned Parenthood!
Happy Federal Income Tax Refund Day, everybody!
.
.
(Is so a holiday!)
–
Giliell, *hugs* and sympathy. My mother rewrites history that way all the time. Sometimes, the dissonance is breathtaking.
–
And a big *hug* for keenacat, too. I love this community Our Squidly Overlord has (possibly inadvertantly, but hey, credit where it belongs!) created. It/You/We rock hard.
–
janine – requisite mix tape song from Avenue Q
cicely:
Woo hoo!
We were going to do our taxes tonight after having dinner with Mr Darkheart’s parents, but after we got home, he promptly fell asleep on the couch.
Another night, then. :)
Vanilla bean ice cream + crumbled-up Thin Mints = Yum!
Both looking forward to and dreading tomorrow. The kindergarten teacher is returning, but 1) who knows how she’ll be, since this is the first time she’ll be away from her newborn son for a whole workday, and 2) no more reason to put off talking to the principal about taking my leave. Really should have done it earlier, but I could never get up the nerve to. I doubt he’ll be happy, but I figure if I offer to stay on until I find a job that looks good and might be something I’ll enjoy, he can’t really complain. Teachers . . . well, not sure on that front.
cicely – here you go.
Or if it’s a really bad case.
@cm’s changeable moniker & @Ogvorbis
The totally Celtic-inflected Waterboy’s album is “Fisherman’s Blues” which IIRC was recorded in Spiddal, Ireland. Mike Scott, who essentially IS the Waterboys, hails from Scotland. His solo record “Bring ‘Em All In” is acoustic folkie stuff, but has a great tribute in song to Dublin called ‘City of Ghosts’. I really like his work, for all its giddy Christian-inflected pantheism.
Ok, has anyone heard of an allergic reaction developing from nothing to anaphylactic levels in less than a week? Yeah, me neither. But we’re not sure what else it could have been.
Spouse was going happily about his day, had a handful of peanuts, within 10 minutes had severe stomach cramps, and another 10 minutes later was telling me to call 911 because he couldn’t breathe. But it wasn’t throat tightening/lung wheezing breathing problems, it was muscular chest tightening with abdominal pain. Profuse sweating, flushed skin, the works. The paramedics immediately hooked him up to a portable EKG and said it wasn’t a heart attack, and the injected Benadryl and steroids did seem to help (although the albuterol didn’t). Took close to two hours for the symptoms to go away altogether. At the ER, did some mystery bloodwork and had an x-ray (still not sure why on that one), and the doctor said whatever, nothing seems to be wrong now, don’t eat peanuts anymore. Our child is allergic to peanuts, but Spouse has never had a single problem including up to last week when he last ate some.
My only thought is that possibly that batch had some kind of contaminant in it, maybe a peanut pathogen, that he reacted to. I haven’t seen anything about aflatoxin allergies, but who knows what it could have been. In any case, even if it was a contaminant he’ll still have to avoid them now in case it’s a common thing. He has a big sad.
Hot Damn Carlie, that must have been scary! Glad it wasn’t worse and he’s still around, peanut-free or not.
carlie, too much Jim Carrey is a terrible, terrible thing; I will have none of it.
Think I’ll try the Lamb Chops. With thanks.
–
Thanks, TLC. It wasn’t actually that scary while it was happening, because I just couldn’t believe it. At first I thought he just had a bug and was trying to throw up, then when he didn’t come back from the bathroom I went to check and found him standing there trying to get up the energy to yell for me, and I had barely had the time to work up getting upset when the ambulance arrived, and then I hadn’t even thought of a heart attack until they pulled the leads out and then that got resolved quickly. I think it was trainee day – we had three vehicles and 8 people show up, most of whom were watching and listening to the others tell them what was going on. But that also meant by the time I had the delayed worried reaction I could already see there were more than enough people and equipment to handle it.
The funny thing was that I kept thinking I recognized the guy in charge, and it wasn’t until after they all left that child 1 said “That was (person in his class)’s dad.” Oh, yeah. Could have said that while he was here.
carlie
*hugs* for you and Spouse.
The last time we did this the SO had pneumonia.
I developed a sudden-onset hives reaction to a combination of an antibiotic and eating shrimp.
Oh my goodness, this may be the best thing I’ve ever seen.
4th grader psychs herself up for big ski jump.
keenacat, I could have written your post! The advice people gave here was great. I learned a long time ago that you just have to turn it all off for a while when things just get to be too much. Then, you can recharge and come back to do what you can a little at a time.
starstuff: that was amazing! I thought you were going to post about the interview. But that story is fascinating and also too freaky for words. I had read about that sheriff persecuting that lawyer somewhere recently – but had no idea that there was also this crazy “annointing” thing going on! What is going on in Florida? Isn’t Florida where that minister who wanted an atheist registry lived, too? Good gravy!
carlie; that must have been frightening to think your spouse could have developed a serious allergy almost overnight!
kristinec – glad to hear your child is doing better – but Oh I remember that bottomed out feeling when your child is sick and not getting better! I am glad it turned out to be a flu – though it sounded like a severe bout!
Nerd – hooray for the corned beef and milkshake dinner! How did you do it after? (cold-cold: warm-warm)
cassandra: keep up the good work! You know – even if a paper is a little shy of the word count, if it is a good paper, many profs will give you a break on that. You are enjoying the subject of the paper, so run with that and just write. In the end, you will have a great paper (and probably wind up with the necessary word count too) Good luck!
Sweet dreams, all!
Yeah… Florida is a fucking crazy state. It’s got a large population, with many different groups. Basically, if you see a weird or fucked up news story, there’s a good bet that it’s from Florida.
Oh, and for that blog post, I actually sent it to EllenBeth Wachs before I published it so I could make sure my story is correct.
Or Texas. (Sorry Petryxx)
Very wise! I also think the links your included were a good idea. I liked your blog!
Good Night, Dr Audley Darkheart!
fuckin awesome; thanks, carlie
[Today, with my brain.]
“The restaurant you were going to go to is closed? Everything is ruined. You should just stay home. And forget about finishing your paper today. You’re screwed. You might as well just turn it in as is because you’re not going to get anything above a failing grade anyway. And by the way, your friends are only pretending to like you. And you’re stupid. You ought to go to bed and cry.”
“I need to go to campus anyway. I have to get groceries. And there are like twenty-four hours left before my paper is due, and I only have three pages left to write. Please calm down.”
“LOOK! TREES! FLOWERS! SUN! This is the best song ever! Aren’t you excited to write your paper? You’re a paper-writing GOD! Your professor’s probably going to read your paper and realize you’ve been a SUPERGENIUS DEITY all quarter and give you five A+s and call all the journals and tell them to publish your paper immediately! It’ll revolutionize the field of classics! THIS SONG IS GREAT!”
“I’m glad to be excited about writing my paper, but these expectations are unrealistic. Please calm down.”
“OH NO GUESS WHAT. YOU PROBABLY LEFT THE OVEN ON. RUN. THE HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN AS WE SPEAK.”
“…No, I didn’t leave the oven on. I remember pushing the button to turn it off.”
“THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BURN DOWN AND IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT.”
“I’m like halfway to campus already. I remember turning the oven off.”
“OKAY BUT THEN IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT IF THE HOUSE BURNS DOWN BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T WANT TO WALK A FEW BLOCKS. I BET IT’S BURNING DOWN RIGHT NOW. YOU SHOULD RUN!”
“…Okay, if it’ll make you shut up about it, I’ll go back. But I’m not going to run anywhere. Even if I had left it on, it probably wouldn’t even be preheated yet, let alone burning the house down. Calm down.”
“Guess what? You’re stupid. And nobody likes you. Your life is horrible and you should cry about it.”
“Shut up, I’m trying to go back to the house to see if the oven is on. Okay. Look. The oven is off. I went and checked all the locks. Everything is fine. Now chill.”
*a block and a half from home* “YOU LEFT THE DOOR OPEN AND UNLOCKED. EVERYONE IS ROBBING THE HOUSE NOW.”
“No, I did not. I remember locking both doors and checking them. They are locked. Stop it. Calm down.”
“THE HOUSE IS GOING TO GET ROBBED. And you’re a moron. And I bet when you get to campus everything will be closed anyway. And your paper is stupid. You’re probably going to get the paper totally finished and then discover that a paper has already been written completely disproving everything you said. And also you don’t have any real friends… OH LOOK AT THOSE FLOWERS! WE SHOULD TOTALLY GO TO IN N OUT! Aren’t you excited for when we get to campus? You’ll finish your paper in no time! Won’t it be nice to just hang out on campus? Then you can walk home and play Skyrim! I bet you’re going to do great on your German final tomorrow! Yay!”
“…I’m just going to pretend you’re not talking.”
[curtain]
carlie: What Chas said. Great vid. I’ll watch it he next time I have to psyche myself up for something scary like climbing into the attic. Or opening bills. Or watching some helmet angle video of a 4th grader ski-jumping on YouTube.
Re: your spouse.
That must have been scary as fuck. I had a scare today…I turned around to put something in the trash at a crowded city park and when I turned back, my five-year old was just gone. Turns out that she had left her hair clip on a picnic table–she must have bolted for it the second my eye was off her. She came sprinting back at exactly the moment that panic was setting in. I had not a fucking clue as to what to do and was about to begin running in ever widening circles screaming her name.
CC(C),OM
Your brain is very articulate.
Mine is more
“herp”
*silence*
“durp”
*silence*
“My back hurts.”
*silence*
“Beer!”
cassandra – that was lol funny – although if it is real (ie. if your mind jumps around like that for real), I can imagine that can be pretty exhausting sometimes – the constant telling yourself to “calm down”! I hope you were able to soak up a little of that sunshine and breathe in the flowers and get your second wind to finish your awesome paper!
chigau: Thank you, I now have a fresh wine stain (SPRAY, you understand) on our new rug! But lol that was worth it. :)
Good Night All!
People are so fucking stupid. I’m looking at all the news articles and the comments on them about our unanointing. So… much… stupid D:
PZ: Wikipedia is using you as a representative of the subfamily Homininae. Look at the image collage at right.
A. R #151
I don’t know how to do a screen-capture.
But someone should do that before Wikipfft fixes the page.
@ chigau
Here you go: http://tinypic.com/r/21diz9j/5
Cassandra Caligaria (Cipher), OM
AUUG no, don’t remind me – I go through that almost all the time. There’s a reason I’m seldom without a book – it’s because if I have something to read, my brain doesn’t yammer at me nearly so much.
StarStuff
Thanks!
I have also just discovered that I can simply copypaste such images into a file on my “computer”.
The image appears to have been there since November. Hopefully this the first instance of Pharyngulation of the Pfft. Now to convince them to replace that horrible ball thingy with a the Pharyngula octopus.
A.R: I’m not sure how PZ is supposed to take it, but I for one think he’s a fine specimen of an upright-walking tool using hominid.
TLC: Exactly. It’s also a great way to scare the shit out of creationists trying to vandalize the Pfft. Imagine what one of them would do if they saw that picture when they went to replace the article with some bullshit about Adan and Eve!
PZ
have a look at the anti-caturday thread.
chigau,
If you want to do a screen capture, look in the upper right of your keyboard for a PrintScreen key. My laptop has it as PrtSc. It doesn’t print the screen anymore, but it copies it as an image to your clipboard that you can paste into an open Paint program, work with, then save as a file. If you hold down the Alt key as you hit the PrintScreen key, you get only the active Windows window, not the whole screen, but you still must paste the image into something, then save.
If you just want to save a picture out of a web page (such as the one with PZ mentioned above), you can usually right-click your mouse while your cursor is on the picture, and select Save Image out of the menu that pops up. You can also just left-click on the image and drag it to your desktop on most browsers–that’s fastest–or even into an open folder window.
I’m not sure what you were asking for, but I hope that helps.
Menyambal
That is all good to know. Thanks.
Woodsmanone?
Methinks he has been alone in the woods a lit-tle too long.
Good morning
Hmmm, looks like I forgot to actually post my last post last night….
TLC
LOL
I think I need to make a shirt with this
Thank you all, I definetly appreciate it. This is an intense time for me, not uncomplicated, I feel a lot of tension, but I also feel surprisingly good. I’m breathing again, I’m thinking again.
kristinc
Thanx.
The one thing that still keeps me hoping is my gran. I’ll never abandon her, I couldn’t do that. She’s one of the most important persons from my childhoos and youth, she cared for me often, and I’m not going to leave her now that she’s old, disabled and suffering from dementia (the stage where she still realizes she’s forgetting).
But it was hard to realize that this may mean that I’ll be “cast out” from lots of things because nobody will understand. I told my husband so last week and he was looking with a bit of disbelief. Then he saw the reaction of his own mother (oh but there’s always two sides and people have to pull themselves together) and I think she’s a good indicator.
There will always be my sister.
carlie
Oh shit that’s scary.
From my own experience, such things can develop quickly. Yeah, I’m allergic to lots of things. Mother nature condemmed me to eating exotic fruit and apple pie.
If he reacted via the stomach he maybe had some light symptoms before and just didn’t realize that they were in connection with peanuts?
++++++
Tom Martin
I amused myself reading the comments over at manboobz. He’s still as hilarious as he was when Ophelia Benson banned him.
If you just want to amuse yourself without reading 400+ comments, here are the highlights:
His rigorous scientific background:
And here’s his long list why prostitutes are the worst people on planet earth, to blame for all the misery and misandry.
Ee thanks :D
*rolleyes of sympathy*
—
keenacat, I’m seconding what everyone else said: one of the best things being here taught me was to take a break when I needed to. It’s hard, but we all need it once in a while.
God yes. I don’t even exercise above a walk and I still recognize that “must get stronger, must get faster, they’re after me” feeling. I’ve found that the only thing worse than becoming aware of how at risk I am is becoming aware of the risks to people I love – not because they’re so much more important or anything self-sacrificing like that, but because I can do absolutely nothing to protect them.
Fuck, I’m sorry. That sounds so fucking familiar it hurts, and it’s probably so much harder when it’s your mother. I’m so glad you’re working to shut some of her negativity and manipulation out. *hugs*
Also extremely loud.
I can barely conceive of what it would be like to have actual silence in my brain while I’m awake.
You have nooo idea. It is incredibly exhausting. My brain isn’t usually that extreme/intense with its mood swings, luckily, but it never ever shuts up. After rereading it back to myself it just reminds me of the GLaDOS personality cores…
Well, not really, but… Thanks! Thanks! *bounce hug*
It’s why I listen to everything when I work! Worst is trying to go to bed. SHUT UP BRAIN. OMG.
I’ve the same problem, and have mentioned my solution, “Sleepyphone” before. But for you ….
Go to your library or online, and get good audiobooks as MP3s (Media Player will rip CDs.)
Get an old cellphone with a music player/speakerphone ability, and an easy way to get MP3s into it. (A MicroSD chip is best–the port is easy to spot if you are rooting through garage sale phones, and is a good indicator. Try to avoid phones that require building a playlist, but it can be dealt with.)
Put the audiobooks into the cellphone. Put the MP3 player function on speaker. Put the phone under your pillow. Listen. Sleep.
There are pillow speakers you can buy, but that’s the way I do it.
I find that a comfortable volume is a level that my wife can’t hear as long as my head is on the pillow–I put it on Pause if I get up for a few.
P. G. Wodehouse books read by Frederick Davidson are my favorite, available from Blackstone Audiobooks.
My sleepyphone got me through a time when lying down to sleep would put me into a circle of despair and rage.
I also find it helps me relax into sleep to try to compose letters or articles in my head. Trying to describe The Big Bang Theory TV show to my mom is one trick, imagining explanatory posts here is another.
And now I can sleep. Thank you.
So, um, about woodsmanone… I genuinely don’t know how to engage with the fact that he seriously appears to think people only don’t like him killing cats because they’re under the control of brain-parasites.
Menyambal, thanks for the suggestion! That might help. Some of the time I have some success trying to force my brain onto a storytelling track, but lately it’s just derailed and gotten worse.
Wooo-hoo
Campsite just confirmed our reservation for easter. I was a bit anxious because it’s in three weeks already and the Alsace is really popular at that time.
*happydance*
Somebody…anybody…is there a Pharyngula table for the dinner at the global Atheist Conference?
I have a feeling I may have missed something due to my workaholism of the last couple of months.
Giliell LOL @ Tom Martin. Thanks, that was grate.
I don’t know what else to say other than “Good grief that sucks!” and strongs (although I love your MOY thingie – I can identify with that, only for me it was my step dad, not mom).
Enjoy your vaycay, too!
Carlie That is really, really freaky shit. I’m so glad that nothing serious followed and that everyone is OK. I’m sorry that I can’t answer your questions – it does sound slightly bizarre to me, but IANAD and many things in human biology and physiology are quite bizarre sometimes.
Keenacat Just confirming what everyone said – if it gets too much, focus on the stuff that make you laugh/feel good. I like My little pony sometimes, playing Sims some other times, or losing myself in one of my favourite books – it’s essential that it be a book that I already know and love to bitsk, that’s a surefire last resort one for those niggly, can’t shut out the damn fucked-uppedness of the world and I don’t want to live on this planet anymore days.
We only have certain amounts of energy available, and fighting ALL the fights is just not possible. For ANYONE.
It was a hard lesson for me too, and one which I must still sometimes force myself to remember.
StarStuff Just wanted to say that I really, really admire you. In a (hopefully) non-creepy, non-stalkerish kind of way. You’re awesome.
CC (Cassandra Caligaria) OMG my brain does this too! And also loudly and HYPER EXCITEDLY. I, too, imagine the Voices in my head talking in ALL CAPS sometimes.
And is my brain ever subversive! As soon as I’ve figured out a new technique to try and rein it in and maybe get some quiet or even some sleep, it goes like “Heh. Yeah, good luck with that. I’ll figure it out and work against it soon!”.
Also, o.O at that thread. I’m at a loss for words. Which is pretty damn rare.
Menyambal Thanks for the suggestion! I’m going to try that sleepyphone thing. I used the story telling technique for a while, but my subversive brain soon took whatever I was busy with and ran with it at 200 mph, making it even MOAR EXITED because this is either the BEST IDEA EVAR or the WORST IDEA EVAR. Sometimes both at the same time.
The Cat Thread Uhm, I really don’t know how to respond to that either. Even my brain goes quiet when faced with shit like that. I’m like O.O
Heh, coincidences. Just today, I picked Alsace for my exposition in French class.
beatrice
You need to make them a Gugelhupf.
I wanted to link you a recipe but for some reason or other, FTB doesn’t like the cooking sire it’s lockated on.
If you’re interested I’ll type one
If you want ideas, just drop me a line. I’ve been going ther over easter like forever.
tielserrath
I think rohrschach is coordinating that
+++++
Ah yeah. 30 min phonetalk with my mum. I don’t think she understood a thing I told her.
So I beat Mass Effect 3, and I can see what the kerfluffle is about the ending. I’m not angry and demanding my money back… but I am disappointed. I switched off to playing Bayonetta for now, and holy Christmas is that game rough! Normal mode is kicking my arse, over and over again. I’ve gone back to the earlier levels just to practice more, that’s how hard it is.
Meanwhile in Reason Rally news, I’m plotting a cute long skirt to wear, but at the same time I’m frustrated cause I ordered some nice breast forms but they’ve not arrived despite a 3-5 day shipping period, neither have I received a shipping or order confirmation… I’m calling up the place and I’m seeing what’s up. If they don’t arrive by the end of this week, I’ll be angry cause I’ll look like a dude in a skirt :(
Giliell,
That’s kuglof! I think we’re going to make it for Easter anyway, so I can consider that one practice for the one for class. Unless you recommend something even better. :)
Could you just copy the address in plain text if the link won’t work? No need to go to the trouble of typing the recipe, but I never say no to a new recipe site/blog.
Cassandra Caligaria,
If he had talked about dogs the same way instead, I suspect that his rantings would have gotten about as warm a reception as they did. Without the benefit of blaming it on mind control parasites.
Katherine
Fingers are crossed for timely shipping
beatrice
chefkoch.ADD internet ending for Germany here/
rezepte/
203181085744970/
Gugelhupf.ADD four letters here
Remove linebreak
That’s a German site, though, but I think google translate will suffice for the ingredients if you know how to make a decent yeast dough.
Something even better?
Hmm, Flammekuche is delicious, but you’d need an oven in class (only tasty when hot), so is a good choucroutte (Sauerkraut with sausages and meat) or a Bäckerofe (same stuff with bread on top). A good Riesling or Pinot Noir is never wrong, although with the Gugelhupf a Gewürtztraminer would go well.
So, for a classroom presentation, I’d stick with the Gugelhupf *gg*
Giliell,
Yeah, I think I’ll go with the Gugelhupf.
Thanks for the recipe. It’s pretty standard, so there shouldn’t be problems. I have never made it before (used to be grandmother’s specialty, now mum makes it), so I’ll practice with the one for home.
The only thing I didn’t understand was Würfel Hefe, but knowing all the rest, I could guess that one.
I think I will have to try those other recipes at home. In the interest of proper research, of course.
Flammekuche looks like something I would murder for.
Oh, a Würfel Hefe is 42g, standard size of yeast in Germany
Good morning horde.
The sun is shining, I have pasta left over that is calling for me, I already ran errands this morning and I feel reasonably good. My depression did not rear its ugly head just yet.
Minor complaint: my uterus is trying to kill me again. I’ll probably need to go back on long cycle with my hormonal contraception.
Katherine,
did you get somebody by phone already? You should probably check if you can get boobage elsewhere, maybe you’ll get it in time for RR.
Beatrice,
I want to recommend the “smitten kitchen” if you are into cooking/baking blogs. It’s the bestest! You’ll find it at smittenkitchenDOTcom.
The cat rant
Ummm… Yeah. I didn’t think anyboy would take the cat-world domination meme seriously. I was wrong.
Beatrice,
Flammkuchen is TEH ORSUM(R). Try it.
Good morning. A wonderful Tuesday it is, too.
On the drive to work, I spotted a car covered in Ron Paul stickers. It was an early-1980s Ford Escort. With bodywork reminiscent of smoothed out used tin foil. And my thought was, ‘there is someone who really doesn’t understand Libertarianism.’
On another car, some really scary bumper stickers: “We Have No President!”, “Kill the Nigger Usurper!”, “Obama: Begging for a 2nd Ammendment Solution!” All of this on a pickup, with Vermont plates, and a gun rack in the back window.
I don’t remember the right being this totally unhinged and disconnected with reality in, say, the 80s. Or the 90s. And they scare me.
Eithers that, or we are just really good at compartmentalizing.
Thanks.
Sorry about the ‘s’. I wonder what I did with it?
This is the song that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends.
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was.
They’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends.
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was.
They’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends,
It just goes on and on my friends.
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was.
They’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends,
(Repeat. All the way from Northeast Pennsylvania to Southwest Harbour, Maine.* It’ll infest your mind for years.)
* Yes, the Kids did that to Wife and I once.
Once.
I managed that in college. I ran into our dorm bathroom (my dorm was an old farmhouse) and was unable to get to the toilet. So I hit the sink. With enough velocity for the vomit to do a nice bank turn and spray the walls. Boy, with this episode, managed to hit the ceiling.
Never noticed that. Of course, at the time, I was a Christian-influenced pantheist, so it seemed to fit right in.
I have known two people who have developed new allergies out of nowhere in a very short time. Anecdote, but, well, there you are.
I’m glad Spouse is okay. Those are scary.
With Charley Horse?
Pennsylvania has Florida beat, though. We gave the world Santorum.
—–
Cassandra:
Cyber hugs. I visit that place occasionally.
Mine just tells me, at great length, everything that can go wrong. And that the people who are being nice to me are just setting me up for a pratfall.
@Keenacat:
I HAVE boobage right now, the problem is that I have to wear it with a pocket bra, and said bra is uncomfortable and doesn’t look right. I have a pile of extremely nice non-pocket bras that require the breastforms to be stuck to my skin, which this new set will be able to without tape and/or medical adhesive (the former I don’t have, the latter – well I’m not spraying medical adhesive onto my breastforms in the bathroom…)
But yea, when I get home from work I’ll call them up – they’re in California so I’ll definitely reach them.
Our standard is 40g, so no problems there either.
I would just like to note how much I hate US/Canadian recipes with their cups. I had some… problems until I’ve realized that their cup is not my cup of 200ml.
Katherine
ah, that sucks. I hope you get them via phone and they can send them today. Hopefully you’ll be able to get them in time.
How do the new boobs stick, by the way? I did come across a few strapless bras that had sticky silicone cups, is this similar?
There being bad blood between me an US/Canadian measuring units doesn’t of course mean I don’t look at those recipes.
I do curse them sometimes.
keenacat ,
Oooh, nice. New food bloggy with pretty pictures. The amazing photography is something I love about food blogs.
My favorite ones:
cookincanuckDOTcom
gggiraffe.blogspotDOTcom
pinchmysaltDOTcom
closetcookingDOTcom
healthygreenkitchenDOTcom
Forgot this one and I shouldn’t because I could live just on food from here:
fortheloveofcookingDOTnet
Awesome. I lurve foodie blogs and I’ll add those to my feeds.
@Keenacat:
Something like that I’d assume. A sticky permanent (probably not so much) backing. I’ll assume it gets stickier through body heat. What I’d really like would be permanent breasts… but that’s gonna be a while, yay body chemistry *grumblegrumble*
Thanks for the kind words.
AE, that is terrifying. The scariest moments of my life have been the losing kids moments. One went on for close to 10 minutes before we found him, and were in an unfamiliar place with a beach on one side and a highway on the other. Uuuuuuugh.
Can I mention how much I love that there are two completely unrelated discussions about entirely different kinds of cups going on at the same time? It’s like synergy.
@Carlie:
Ehee, now that you mention it, that’s just silly.
Oh and I’ve decided what I’m gonna do. Forms in a bag, carry the bag to the restaurant for breakfasts, slip the forms in, put on a skirt, go to the rally. Cause my bag is gonna have to hold a lot of other stuff too.
I barely slept yesterday, then passed out half an hour or so abotu 2 am. Now, I can’t get back to sleep. I think it’s a combination of me being angry about the Trayvon Martin situation and it being kind of hot. It’s still winter for a couple days. July will be killer.
http://www.fangsforthefantasy.com/2012/03/appropriation-in-urban-fantasy-should.html
What do you think of this article? I think she is addressing a real problem (trivializing real problems for sake of plot, which is hardly limited to urban fantasy), but has such a wide definition of appropriation that her critique gets ridiculous. For instance, a gay man using gay metaphors on his show is appropriating the gay civil rights struggle. Putting a fictional character in the French Resistance is appropriating their oppression by the Nazis. I’m unsure how the urban fiction genre is supposed to work under these conditions. Her one positive example is hypothetical and kind of vague.
Anyone for betting that Kacyray returns to the Documentary thread with something to the effect of “Feminism is a movement to establish female supremacy” with a possible side of “the world is already a Gynocracy/Matriarchy” or something to that effect?
Or is that too easy?
The cold was a cooler in the hatch with some ice. Made sure the shakes were well seated on the bottom of the cooler without ice underneath, and drove carefully so they wouldn’t tip over. The warm was just stick the sack on the floor of the car out of the AC circulation (we have been setting temperature records for March here in Chiwaukee), and let the sandwich wrapping do its job.
No bet. And my Troll Bingo Card (evidence that I am of the Hive Mind) is damn near full blackout.
I haz a lulz and want to share.
It has penises. No pictures, though, so sorta safe for work. If you work in Human Resources, you might want to print it.
http://thebloggess.com/2012/03/excerpt-of-lets-pretend-this-never-happened-a-mostly-true-memoir/
Indeed. Just like those women revolutionaries in Egypt who helped to remove Mubarak are now walking around in veils, and being prohibited from taking any part in the political decision making.
Isn’t Islam great when you’re male and heterosexual.
beatrice
*nomnomnom*
Tasty
And now I need to prepare the dough for the pizza tonight
keenancat
My sympathies.
Ever since I had the kids I don’t have as much a period than an irregular, but I’m not getting back on the Pill.
One thing I found out though is that cramps are significantly lighter if I use a Mens Cup or Diva Cup instead of tampons.
(For Germany try MeLuna. Don’t look at the washable tampons, though ;) )
+++++
OK, pizza dough stil woefully unprepared (only step 1 done). Had a visit from my sister and am angry. Not at her. My mother is spreading the story of me fightig with her at the expense of my children to people who are strangers (the woman who does grannysitting 4 times a week).
So, she wants to talk? Yeah, I’ve got something to talk about…
Oh, decided to make a Gugelhupf, too.
Katherine
Something that might work, too, is Mastix, that’s the glue they use in theatre to glue on masks. Although I don’t know how it would feel with something that constantly moves, I only ever tried it with Elven ears.
On that note, I seem to remember a German song from the 80s, that goes something like “No quantity of alcohol would be sufficient for the amount you want to vomit”.
Finished it yesterday and yeah no kidding. WTF? Why does my copy not have an ending in it? I actually hope the outcry causes them to release new endings as DLC…holy crap was that a Shamylan. Also pissed that I chose the wrong ending accidentally and it saves right before that POS interactive shooting cut scene. Goddamn it game designers. NEVER do that. Never put in an obstacle that is entirely plot related and artificially hard and is pretty much just one big hurdle to moving on. It’s not challenging, it’s just frustrating.
I’ve already just ignored that and written my own ending(s) which are better :-p.
I really think the writers were too dedicated into giving everyone an ending they didn’t see coming that they wound up writing an ending almost no one could accept. It’s not even about wanting a happy ending. I’d be fine with some bitter sweet but this ending was sweet/sour. To avoid spoiler I’ll maybe put up my more detailed thoughts on why the ending failed epically on a blog post.
The ride there was fun though, and if you can block out the ending and write your own I’d still recommend a buy/rent.
@Ing:
My biggest problem with the ending was the departure from already canon information (Mass Relays – for the biggest one.)
I hope they come up with a better one, maybe ride the “Indoctrination” coattails that fans came up with XD
And also the whole “we won’t give you ending A, B, or C” issue… when that’s exactly what they did.
What’s baffling about that is how they actually thought anyone could see that scene and not immediately think “Indoctrination”. I haven’t heard what the fan theory is and I instantly know what it is. Plus it would have been a perfect time for a friendship scene montage to tie the threads together and how how Shep could recognize the deception.
Also SPOILERS
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With the amount of retirony they invoked it actually would have been a better twist to have a happy ending
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The anchor woman on the news just said this:
“Should kids as young as 12 be able to get condoms from their school nurse?”
Well, of course they should. If they’re seeking out condoms, that means that they might have sex. And if they want to have sex, they’re going to have sex, with or without a condom. Why would anyone even be against this (other than societies strange idea that young people don’t have sex unless you teach them about it)?
I’m really annoyed with the whole “Ooo, this is controversial!” shit. It’s so stupid. You know, most things that people say are controversial aren’t controversial if you actually fucking think about it for two seconds.
woodsmanone and amoeba strike me as using misogynistic tactics.
re silence of the brain
I learned as an undergrad in the mid1970s due to exposure to all the TM/eck/Castenada in the atmosphere.
“shutting off the internal dialog” seemed like a really good idea.
No, no, no. We should punish the little sluts by forcing them to bear gods’ most precious gift. And the boy will get a pat on the head and be told what a little man he is.
(The above is intended as humour. It doesn’t work as humour because there are some who think this way. Hypocrisy and all.)
@Ing:
Spoilers
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The Indoctrination theory suggests that Shepard is undergoing some kind of hallucinatory indoctrination by Harbinger since the moment after they were hit by the beam. There are very weird things going on in the following scenes.
Why is the angle all skewed? Where are the bodies of the squadmates? What is this magic unlimited ammunition gun she gets? Where is her armor? What is this weird place in the Citadel she’s gone to? What are all the dead bodies that look like dolls lying around? Why does this place look nothing like the Citadel or Citadel technology? Why does it almost look Reaperish? What is Anderson doing here? What is the Illusive Man doing here? Why is the “control” choice pushed as the only viable option by both TIM and the starchild? What are those black “veins” on the screen? Why is Sehpard bloody one moment then clean the last? Why is she so accepting of the Starchild’s explanations? Why is the Starchild identical to the dreams she’s been having? Speaking of which, WTF was up with that last one?
I spent three games more or less shouting at authority, using Shepard to speak for unity and cooperation. There’s absolutely no way my Shepard would accept any of the Starchild’s choices. My Shepard would walk to the edge of that platform and just sit and watch. She’d tell Starchild about the Geth – point out their ships fighting alongside those of the biologicals. The fact she so readily accepts that Devil’s Dilemma is so odd, and which is why people think that Shepard at the end is not really in control of herself.
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Spoilers over.
Giliell,
No advice, unfortunately. Just a hug if you want it.
I got a 60.5 on my animal development exam… the class average was 51.3 :D
Spoilers
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Yup exactly waht I thought. Plus it would work better if it was Harbinger. He is the voice of the Reapers and they have unfinished business with him. The fact that they missed the potential for Shepard to give an ironic echo back to Harbinger is a damn head desk.
Though the odd Reaper area of the Crucible was supposed to be one of the unaccessable parts of it and presumably the control center the Reapers made. Possibly where the Keepers come from. TIM was there because he hijacked the Citadel to ‘control’ the Reapers. I actually would be fine with everything until right after TIM, because we see that he (or probably Harbinger through him) is indoctrinating Shepard and Anderson.
Plus the theme of synthetic vs organic did kind of come from no where…it doesn’t match the reality we see. The Geth didn’t rebel, they defended themselves. EDI didn’t rebel. We havn’t seen any actual AI or synthetic life that DID a rebellion. The Geth gained sentience and only protected themselves when genocide was attempted, EDI gained sentience and stayed with her crew. The whole problem the star child made a ‘solution’ for makes no sense. If it was a say a solution that at a certain point civilized races wage enough war that they put all life at risk so the Reapers sterilize the advanced ones so that life can continue into the next cycle with the primitives that might make sense.
Or you know…give no motivation to the Reapers. We really wern’t all that curious. We got it. Lovecraft abomination, frankly it’s better/scarier NOT to know.
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StarStuff: Nice!
chigau (√-1)@ 159 (19 March 2012 at 12:12 am)
I’m only about 1/2 thru, but so far I want to make teal deers extinct.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-win-a-gmo-debate-top-10-facts-why-gm-food-is-bad.html
This link’s been making the anti-GMO rounds on Facebook. I suspect bad science here, but can anyone with some biotech experience help explain exactly what’s wrong? Upfront, I’m seeing a major category error in that they never define what makes something genetically modified. My understanding is that all of our food crops are highly derived, at best, compared to anything in nature. A few criticisms (like 2 &3) sound plausible, but need a lot of elaboration.
keenacat:
I used to manage the time and attendance system for my last company, so I’m actually still friends with a lot of the HR department that worked there (most have left for other places).
I just forwarded that to the woman who was the HR director for like 25 years. I assume she’ll love it.
Up there a ways I described playing an audiobook under my pillow to keep my brain from going in futile circles all night. My best trick for daytime use is to sing aloud–I have to focus on the words and the physical act of singing, and it stops the frustrated thoughts.
I can still do most tasks, of course, and anything requiring full focus is distracting in itself. My only good song is “Amazing Grace”, but I am working on “Danny Boy”.
If folks are around I just mentally run over the songs I am learning to pick out on my ukulele. (In case you are wondering, the tab version of “Ode to Joy” goes “oh, oh, one, three, three, one, oh, oh, three, one ….”)
And yes, these tricks don’t work for ever.
Dropping in to make an announcement: for those of you in the Boston area, please come to the vigil/protest against SB 2061 at the Massachusetts State House tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 6 pm. This is a really big deal. SB 2061 would introduce Arizona-style racial profiling in Massachusetts, and deny undocumented immigrants and their families access to many public services, including public housing. It absolutely has to be stopped.
Ace – MANY THINGS.
You’re right about the category error. It’s pretty egregious, because not only did they not define what kinds of genetic modifications count and which don’t, they include things like hormonal treatments which are NOT GENETIC.
I don’t have time to tear the entire thing apart, but I can make a start that shows how bad their argumentation is.
Who is this? I’ve never heard of this organization before. It is not the AMA, and could just be a guy in his basement for all anybody knows.
What studies? Published where? Which genes?
What kind of material? What kind of problems? Again, what studies in what peer-reviewed journals?
Which genes, causing what to happen?
It’s not toxic to us, and how quickly did it break down once it was eaten? And what studies where?
And the number of pirates decreased. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.
The whole thing is just smoke and mirrors scare language. There are a few good points in there, but those are points about very specific genes and specific about the regulatory process; that there are problems in those areas does not justify a blanket condemnation of the entire concept of moving genes around to achieve desired traits.
This was my favorite part. Isn’t leaving material behind inside of kind of the idea of eating food? If we eat a lot, it leaves a lot of material behind inside us, which can lead to heart disease and knee problems.
carlie:
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine is based on something heavily criticized as junk science – namely, clinical ecology. So, other than concern about bovine growth hormone (which is a legit concern but isn’t GMO unless taking steroids is genetically modifying yourself), you can toss out #1.
I agree, though, most of it is F/U/D.
:O
…
My blog… linked in Huffington Post article… that’s so awesome :D
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/florida-atheists-oil_n_1363262.html
@Ace of Sevens:
I liked the language that was carbon-copy from anti-vaxxer language:
“The instances of diseases like autism have increased while GMO has increased!”
“The instances of diseases like autism have increased while childhood vaccines have increased!”
I’m not anti-vaccine, I’m pro-safe-GMO.
Good day, everybody! I’m loving the sunshine and fresh air today. Just popping in to wish everyone a good Monday (Ogvorbis, do you have a head start on the rest of us? ;)). Also, ditto on the scary bumper-stickers phenomenon/right wing mania today vs 80s and even 90s. Whew, it is unnerving.
Starstuff – well done!!
Giliell – (hug) if you’d like one, and my sympathies. Parental issues are so painful.
Carlie, that was an impressive brief takedown and I totally agree. One problem with increased communication via internet and self-publishing etc is that there is so much utter garbage out there that gets spread around and people still believe everything they read. The upside, of course, is that with increased communication and the internet etc, sensible voices can keep speaking up to point out the garbage wherever it is. You just did that, I think.
Gen Fury re kacyray….I am waiting, 3..2..1… The amusing thing about guys like that is the way they think they are so fresh and full of undiscovered insight. Wow, we just have never heard of those thoughts before!
Gotta go prepare for my SIL visit (yay!) and try to round up the youngsters (lol they are 16, but hey I still wield that evil power differential dontcha know!)
Cheers everyone!
Oh P.S. Katherine, I hope your boob shipment arrives in time!
Oh, and for anyone who has completed Portal… it looks like she’s taking over lasers next.
This ferocious fuck-knuckle has come to my attention on a daily trawl through my news feeds. What a truly lovely human being. Makes me wish my proposed invention of a machine that lets me slap people through the internet was not still on the drawing board.
Louis
Wooo-hooo
Last year’s heating bill arrived today and instead of paying rent next month, we’re getting money back
*happydance*
That means that the holiday is more than financed
I also swear that the balcony keeps getting smaller every year. I mean, I only planted 6 different herbs, 5 different flowers, strawberries, radishes and tomatoes and can you blieve that it’s full?
Starstuff
Yay!
Hehe. Peyton Manning to Denver.
Which means God hates Tebow.
*sigh* Called the place I ordered from, shipment was “probably” Friday but they’ll check.
This is after I paid $25 for fast shipping…
I’ll have my crappy forms on Saturday most likely :(
Katherine – can you get the shipping money back at least? Because that was not the fast shipping! There should be time for them to overnight a set to you and then for you to return the others once they arrive, with them eating the shipping costs because it didn’t come as promised.
Are there any stores in the area of the rally that you could stop in at for a quick purchase? I’m thinking prosthetic/medical supply stores, maybe? That just really stinks.
The earworm transplant was a success! And in its wake, I was able to restore Normal Service, i.e., teh brainz supplying a continuous but varied soundtrack to supply cover for whatevertheheck it does in its spare time, and from which to mug me with oddball projects, imminent-disaster projections, and D&Dables.
–
I think you know better than that! I do not allow Horses, whether they are named Charley or are Horses with No Name, into my mind.
As I said, imminent-disaster projections.
–
An obvious development from the technology that allows one to yank idiots through the telephone lines and slap ’em ’til their stupid all falls out.
Which could take a long time.
–
Well, I just got a tracking number and it departed the sorting facility yesterday, which means… it’s being delivered to my local post office I think. So maybe I’ll get it tomorrow or Wednesday with some hope.
Annoying though, since 4-5 business day delivery should be, at the most, today.
Like I said upwards, I do have a pair of forms, but they need medical adhesive (not gonna happen) or tape (don’t have any) to stick on. I have a pocket bra, but it’s itchy and uncomfortable and I’d rather wear the fancy nice ones I got which are super-comfy and (although no one will see) very sexy.
Speaking of what our minds tell us all day long… I have something similar in my head, except sometimes the voice is more like a smarter, stronger, older, wiser version of myself telling me what to do.
Stuff like “Watch yourself, this is survivable but potentially dangerous” Or “Don’t do that you idiot, you wanna mess it all up?” And of course the oft repeated “Are you sure? Did you double-check?”
The thing is, this mental voice that seems to beat everyone down and destroy their self confidence, in me does the opposite: Helps me avoid potential failures a lot of the time and makes me feel like I got a fair shot at many things, if I just listen to the voice.
That voice (slurred by alcohol and muted a bit by bravado, granted,) is how I survived my terrifying experience in that crappy little plastic kayak on Stave Lake. “Watch it Cale, this is how people die… keep steady, DO NOT rock this thing, fight that giant fish to land, you know that it’s only three feet deep once you get past those logs…”
Then the line snapped. Ah well. At least I’m alive.
Starstuff
You’ve hit the big times noo, lass!
Congrats.
I’m kinda pissed off with woodsmanone now. I’ve fucking had it with the ‘Causes autism’ or its weaselly pants-pissing little brother, ‘studies have linked it to autism’.
I think next time I hear someone blabbering about that IRL, I’m gonna risk the assault charges and take a pop at them.
Canis sativa,
I suggest you just fart in their general direction. Those brain slushies do not deserve you being charged with assault.
Katherine,
hooray for likely getting the boobies in time! I would suggest you try to get the monies back you paid for priority shipping, though.
I also second the motion to try Mastix if you want to keep using your old boobage. It is usually sold with brushes, so no spraying issues.
StarStuff,
you are full of win.
TLC:
Me too. Although when I have to think fast, I don’t usually think in words, so that voice is only useful in the kind of emergency where I have a bit of time.
My inner voice specializes in creative use of snark to remind me that I’m being an idiot.
Katherine Lorraine
That’s pretty sucky. I hope that it still arrives in time – I’m imagining a last-minute emergency boob delivery. Which would be pretty awesome in just about every way.
TLC
o.O
That sounds pretty scary and intense.
So…
Apparently the Frothy One made a visit to the podunk little town that spawned me, where he was greeted to rapturous applause.
And people in the town ask my parents (with more than a bit of incredulity in their voices) when I’m going to “move back home.”
___
In other news, I visited my grandma this weekend! I had a good time. I walked in the door of her house and she greeted me by saying that she was reading the paper, and they had a story about that “awful man” Limbaugh, wasn’t he just an utterly vile misogynist and isn’t that nice Sandra Fluke girl totally a good role model for young ladies?
She took me shopping for housewares (I have PLATES now) and gave me a silver tea set that her grandmother brought over from the Old Country. She did take me to church, where about 50 people said variants of, “Oh yes! Esteleth! Your grandmother talks about you a lot. She’s so proud of you!”
I ♥ my grandma.
When I was getting ready to head home, I loaded my car up and realized that Morgan (who I’d brought with me) had vanished. Cue 2 hours of trying to look in every nook and cranny of a 1840-ish Victorian. We gave up, I reluctantly realized that I had to get on the road, so I left, sans Morgan. I left behind her things (food, bowls, litter pan). I was about 45 minutes away when she called me – Morgan had appeared, utterly filthy. Best guess is that she found a crawlspace. So I turned around, collected the kitty, and got home just before midnight.
___
Katherine, hooray for boobies! I hope they’re as nice and boob-y as you like.
I am staying out of the anti-Caturday thread for the sake of my own mental health.
Gen Fury:
What in particular are you referring to?
If Stave Lake… yeah, but only after I was sober. I’ve talked about it before… I still think about that deep black mirror-still water and the tug on my line late at night and freak myself out a bit. Though, less since I’ve talked about it here. (thanks, Horde)
The shadow of the reaper passed over me that night, but found me too pitiful to really bother with. ;)
Esteleth:
:D
I think I heart your grandma a bit right now too.
Just found out cause of death for my friend who died December 23rd: Atherosclerosis. She smoked and mostly sat around playing video games and was diagnosed with depression, but she was a healthy weight, not diabetic and ate a vegetarian diet without a lot of trans fat. She was only 29. This shit isn’t supposed to happen. She quit smoking for my birthday a few years ago because she had no money to get me a real present and I was worried about her health, but she took it back up. Still, she didn’t have money, so only smoked about 2 cigs a day. She shouldn’t have died from something like that so soon. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or disappointed that it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
TLC
Yeah, the almost dying bit was what I was referring to.
I was reading up on it on Wikipedia and there’s some Linus Pauling vitamin C bullshit under treatment, which makes me especially pissed off.
Ace of Sevens: Not sure if this helps, but IIRC, atherosclerosis has several genetic components that may have contributed to your friend’s condition.
Are these genetic components something we can screen for?
I should maybe mention she had an angiogram two years ago when she had a bilateral dissection of her vertebral arteries. Apparently, it wasn’t advanced enough to see yet, then.
Ace of Sevens: I’m not sure to be honest with you. Some (such as familial hypercholesterolemia) can be, but others, I’m not so sure about. I’ll look into it. With the history of issues with arterial integrity, I’ll focus on genes associated with components of the vessel wall.
AR: If you find anything interesting about familial hypercholesterolemia, I’d appreciate a link. My cholesterol is consistently about a 6, even though I’m 23, active, and in the lower half of the healthy weight range. I’d like to be able to blame my genes for this, instead of blaming my sweet tooth.
I can always do my own research later, though.
Ace of Sevens
I lost someone very, very dear to me over December too so all sympathies.
My condolences, Ace of Sevens.
Paper on Genetics of arterial wall stiffness and other neat stuff, Pfft on Familial hyperchole.. If anyone wants the paper and can’t get a copy, I can probably e-mail a PDF.
Ace of Sevens: My condolences on your loss.
To answer your question about genetic causes to screen for, a couple of possibilities. First, hypercholesterolemia, as has been suggested. It has to be a pretty bad hypercholesterolemia to give atherosclerosis at 29, even in a smoker, but it’s not unknown. Second, what about blood pressure problems? Hypertension can kill at a young age, if it’s bad enough. Third, hemoglobinopathies. Is there any chance she had sickle cell or sickle thalassemia? It’s more usual to see stroke with the hemoglobinopathies, but heart disease isn’t out of the question. Finally, hypercoaguable states. There are several of these and some do have a genetic cause, i.e. factor V leiden, prothrombin mutation, MTHFR mutation.
If there are any at risk family members alive, it might be good to screen for all of the above. Twenty nine is very young to die of arterial vascular disease, even with smoking and low physical activity.
dianne: I’m thinking about possible genetic factors involving the arterial wall, as per the paper linked above. What do you think?
Re: hypercholesterolemia
My mother has high cholesterol. She quite literally measures every meal on scales, tracks what she eats when, only allows herself specific treats, etc., all with the guidance approval of her doctor. Yet, even with the meds, she’s still on the high end and always has been.
She was very worried she’d passed it on to me, especially worrying given that I spent most of my teens and 20s eating out of a McDonald’s (or other fast food) bag. My numbers, however, are damned near perfect (I still don’t eat “well” necessarily, but I eat far a more balanced diet than I used to).
Ironically, my step-dad had a kidney removed and his remaining one is about 24%-ish functional, so he had to watch his diet too – though mainly things like potassium. This means that he can’t eat a lot of the “healthy” stuff my mom eats (most fruits are no-nos, for example) but instead can have all the steaks and ice cream he wants.
It’s kind of “Jack Spratt could eat no fat/ his wife could eat no lean” but in reverse. My mother is amazing in that she still manages to prepare meals for both of them.
A.R. Good points. Seems plausible. Now that you mention it, I wonder about Ehlers-Danlos, which is a genetic defect in collagen (actually, an umbrella term for at least 4 variants of collagen defects) and can lead to aortic dissection at quite a young age. The history of vertebral artery dissection is suspicious.
Mildly off topic, but EDS is another fun “hypothetical” to play with with anti-abortion types: People with severe EDS will essentially all die during delivery (they push, their aortas fall apart, killing them) and have nasty complications of c-sections (poor collagen=poor healing). A successful pregnancy can be completed, but it’s hard and dangerous at best. So, medical exception or no?
dianne: I was thinking along the same lines. There are some other interesting possibilities mentioned in that paper. And I think that that would not be a medical exemption. Remember their thought process is “who cares about the woman, just deliver that baby.”
Ace: Do you remember your friend being double jointed, or having very stretchy skin?
Kitty’s gonna happy cry T^T
They came today, and… they’re perfect. They’re super light, they stick nicely, aside from a bit of aesthetical readjustment (still not exactly at the right level) they look… really real. Totally worth the money to make me feel like me!
The other pair are really freakin’ heavy. Like almost three times the weight of the new ones.
Nah, what it probably means is that Manning is going to mentor Tebow until his (Manning’s) neck gives out, at which point, Tebow will step back in presumably knowing how to throw a ball, and Manning will then get wrapped up in the whole terrible Messianic narrative.
Just popping back in after several days of tablet internetting which is rather inadequate for FTB. (or the other way around)
I’m crazy thread bankrupt, but I offer hugs for Aces if he wants them and happy dances for Kitty and her new boobs.
Hooray for boobies! :D
*toasts Kitty*
*makes the happy boob jiggle*
Jiggle with me!
@keenacat:
… I’m wearing a bra, they don’t jiggle too much XD
:D
Really, I am happy for you. Feeling at home in your body is so important and sometimes a decent substitute for whatever feels missing makes a world of difference.
Hi Rey!
Going off our ME discussion: So in other words your cool down period has been significantly reduced?
@Ing:
Yes. I can use skills at 150% of the time now :D
Congratulations on the boobs, Katherine. I’m glad you’re happy.
Alas, I have a feeling they won’t come out with (FUNCTIONAL) prosthetic saberteeth or retractable claws any time soon.
TLC: You know saberteeth might be more of a disadvantage, right?
Seconded. TLC, you’d drool all over the place for starters. :P
A.R: Depends on the size of them, I take it.
I just don’t like the flat, dull, weak teeth nature has given the human species. Hell, gorillas are peaceful vegans and they have a more respectable set than me. That’s just sad.
And my ‘claws’ are worse than useless, owing to a bad nail-biting habit I have.
TLC’s claws and teeth would come in handy when it comes to nomming on trolls.
That’s the spirit, Katherine!
TLC: That’s because we’re supposed to chase after stuff with spears and knives and axes. Imagine trying to use a bow (or a shotgun) with giant claws!
I recall PZ wishing for a retractable face-spear once.
A.R: I said ‘retractable’ though, as in, out of the way when I don’t need ’em.
You do have a point though, one could argue that I carry my saber-fang in a sheath on my belt ( http://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS49HB/cold-steel-mini-tac-beaver-tail this little cutie sleeps with me every night and travels everywhere with me. It’s a very functional tool.)
But it’s just not the same.
Yay boobs!!!
So happy for you, Katherine Lorraine! That is great news indeed, and I’m glad that they lived up to your expectations!
*CONFETTI TIEMS!*
TLC: I carry a rather old penknife that rather resembles this one in the same pocket as my pocket watch, or Double Albert style with my watch if I’m wearing a waistcoat. That is, or course, in situations that allow the carry of a small knife.
Very nice, A.R. Classy piece.
I like the beavertail because it feels like (I imagine) a neolithic flint blade would feel like in certain skinning grips. It was a christmas present from my dad, one I didn’t even specifically ask for. I took right to it though. And now, I go nowhere without it. No one’s made an issue of it yet.
I get emotionally attached to knives and axes. Because if you have a good cutting tool, you can make almost anything else you need. A well made blade can be a lifesaver, and nevermind all the cowards who’d call it a ‘concealed weapon’.
To be fair though, I don’t go many places in life where small knives are prohibited.
As an aside, I wonder how many murders are committed with knives like mine, versus how many are committed with things that just happen to be to hand, like clawhammers or kitchen knives.
I second that! Yay boobs!!! Yay Katherine!
You’re not gnawing on the right things. I used to keep a few rawhide sticks next to my ‘puter for to help keep me feral—I’m prone to such idio
syncrasies). They’re inexpensive and delicious, and once you’ve got them all soggy and gummy, you just let them dry out and they get hard again (those of us with a taste for the hooch will know what that’s like). So that takes care of strong.As for sharp, well, if your wit won’t do, I suppose you could do worse than a good knife.
TLC: Thanks, I inherited the piece from my Grandfather. I believe you can actually buy neolithic-style flint blades online. I happen to own a few that were given to me by an Iroquois friend who took up flint knapping as a hobby. I’ve always wanted to use one to skin out a deer, but I’m deathly afraid of breaking one. Regarding murders involving knives, as I understand, they were quite a problem in the UK after the gun ban, and still are I believe. Which is why Policemen in the UK wear stab vests. I don’t have any statistics for the US though.
You can buy them A.R, but like you said… many are too beautiful to use. I’m learning a touch of flint-knapping myself (I’ve found a good kind of rock for it, I just can’t find big enough and relatively unflawed pieces so far).
The beavertail blade is shaped like one, but obviously, made of steel. I didn’t get to skin the deer with it, but I did use it to butcher the meat off a hind leg and cut it thin for deer jerky, and it worked well. Held its edge well too whenever I hit bone.
TLC: Acquiring flint for working can be quite difficult depending on where you live. In postglacial areas, like where I live, they would probably be quite common.
YAY BOOBS! Now I have visions of a Pharyngula detachment at Reason Rally all marching with YAY BOOBS signs. (No need to say whose!)
“This small creature is one of a warrior sect and those are tusks with which to smash the enemy.” /WhatIsThisThingCalledLove
Katherine: But what are you going to name them?
(MLP ref) *flees*
I wish I could make it to Reason Rally. Unfortunately, I’m going to be in my lab that day.
Richard Austin, your cholesterol goes down for several hours after you exercise.
Catherine Lorraine, yay for nice boobs! *does happy dance* I’d love to see you in them.
A.R: I keep finding little chunks of a red hard rock (I think it’s a type of jasper) that ‘knaps’. I just need to find a big chunk that isn’t full of those little cracks that make it impossible to flake properly.
Terry Pratchett, The Truth, with apologies.
TLC: Jasper is no good for knapping IIRC.
Yay boobies!
Richard Austin: Hahahaha, it may be fantasy, but you pounded that nail. Right on.
This book can help with everything after “some means of making fire”. The writer, a sculptor and print-maker among other things, would fire up his forge whenever his work called for a new chisel.
A.R: Really? I heard the opposite. Wikipedia says it’s a type of chert, and chert IIRC is a good flint substitute.
Whether the weird red rocks I find are jasper or not, they certainly have the smooth surface texture, glassy ring, and sharp edge fractures of a good knapping rock. They’re just too small and flawed to do anything with. I’m gonna keep my eyes out for a big one now, see what I can do with it.
oops, confused jasper with jade. Yeah, jasper should work if you get a piece with few hairline fractures.
Heh. PZ got comment 666 and promptly gave us more thread! Isn’t that the first time this happens on schedule? :-)
On the present subthread, I’ve only caught up till comment 50. *dumps load of hugs on floor* Serve yourselves. Or just jump on the heap, it’s soft (if you jump slowly enough). *runs*
Oh, that kind of thing. Impressive.
Awesome.
…just… awesome.
I feel somewhat paranoid about translating literally from English.
(Often enough, translating literally from German would actually work better.)
Yep, Greek has been in Times New Roman (and Arial and many others) for quite some time.
||: Quand il pleut, pleut, pleut, :||
mon canard est tout heureux…
Heh. We once made some to annihilate urea (and itself). It all turns into water and air :-)
(“We” = first-year chemistry students. After that year, I gave up because of the math, not because of the experiments.)
:-)
*trying not to include any triggers*
…I didn’t know even Ceauşescu was quite that bad. As I just commented over there, it’s beyond parody – and beyond the Nazis.
:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
No, you get chases me Rubin… or rather Rubin chases me. :-)
Flint is a British and American term.
We have chert and chacedony in Canada, eh.
I just spent a half-hour on the phone with my brother in law down in Florida. He walked me through resetting my internet connection.
See, when I was up in Maine at my parents house, I was on their wireless. When I got home, I could hook up through my wireless but none of the browsers would actually connect through the connection. After more than a week, with no internet at home, I finally talked to my BiL who is, conveniently, an IT spec at a college in Florida.
Half hour later, I HAZ INTERTOOBS!
The person I was going to get a ride with to the Reason Rally can’t go :(
Now I have to try to find the money to rent a car or something. I can’t even afford to pay my phone bill D:
Just found the weirdest Wiki. Pharwrongula? Apparently it’s a Pharyngula hate-wiki?
@ A.R
Lol! I’ve seen that before. It’s creepy.
It’s run by the ERV slime. Honestly it really upsets me that it even exists, but Hoggles gotta hoggle.
I swear, I first thought that said I HAS INTERBOOBS!
Common People of Umeå: I Fucked the Pope
Well.
Well, well, well.
Or how about:
Showoff!
Owlmirror: Feel the POWER!
I actually don’t see anything wrong with the idea of maniraptorans using their ‘killer claws’ as climbing crampons… just ditch the fucking ‘garden of eden’ shit.
How did you do that? Oooooooh!
Thanks PZ!
Too tired to catch up with this thread. I have some depressing links tho.
The pastor who introduced Frothymixture to a Baton Rouge audience the other night said that liberals and non-xtians should GTFO of the United States.
Frothy himself said in Illinois today that living outside the “moral bounds” of xtianity will somehow lead to both anarchy and big government.
The KONY 2012 people are connected to Martin Ssempa, the viciously anti-GLBT Ugandan pastor (the “Eat da poo-poo” guy).
And I’m still rubbing my jaw from where it hit the desk when I read this: In the 1950s, the Dutch Roman Catholic Church castrated boys in their care. The one confirmed case is of a boy who had reported having been sexually abused by priests. “After giving evidence, he was placed in a Catholic-run psychiatric institution where he was then castrated because of his ‘homosexual behaviour’.” But at least 10 other boys were also likely castrated.
*hug* for Kitty. May you and your new boobs be very happy together!
:)
–
Me, too!
:D
–
@307:
O.O
I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but boobs,
for all my life,
When you’re with me baby my chest will have boobs,
for all my life,
A and B, and C and D,
No matter how they stick them on,
they had to be
The only ones for me is boobs, and boobs for me,
So happy together….
Ah, the joys of living near a large body of water. The weather station near the lake shows 58 degrees, the weather station 3 miles inland shows 73 degrees. I see 59 on the upstairs thermometer.
I gt on a waitlist for an ENG101 class. This means I’m committed to attending at least the first day of Spring quarter (to beg the instructor to add me to the class even if it’s full). Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.
My mother finally looked at some of the articles about the unanointing. I think she read the comments, because now she’s worried that I’ll get killed.
It would appear that they knew about this in 2010 or earlier, and it was kept out of a commission report after lobbying from a catholic politician.
I just watched that. It’s like he was trying to set a new non sequitur record or something.
People tend to be unaware that only 1/3 of our cholesterol is aquired from eating food, the other 2/3 are made by the body itself, and that’s the genetic bit that is hard to influence.
Rorschach: Interesting, I had no idea about that. *stores in brain vault for later*
Catholic castrations: At this point, there is almost nothing the RCC can do, or has done that will surprise me.
I don’t think she had high blood pressure. She’d just a a check-up with an MRI a few weeks earlier to make sure her arterial stents weren’t causing problems and they presumably would have caught that.
Oh no – comic sans has been released.
I repeat, comic sans has been released.
I have to go make sure all the peas are safe.
the other 2/3 are made by the body itself, and that’s the genetic bit that is hard to influence.
Hard to influence with lifestyle changes. Cholesterol lowering drugs bring the LDL down nicely in most people. Bringing HDL up, OTOH, is still fairly hard. Last best guess I heard was exercise plus moderate alcohol intake. (Ahem, I said moderate. Put the keg down slowly…) Beware of the HDL raising drugs currently out there: a previous drug with a similar mechanism raised HDL but also raised risk of heart attacks.
My HDL is high, for some reason. It bumps my cholesterol up just over the upper end of normal, but my LDL is in the low end of the normal range. My doc seemed to think that eating nuts was relevant.
Also I has a sad that the Comic Sans is not for everyone. Nice at home; not working at work. No doubt it’s something to do with my addons.
Yeah, she’s on meds to lower the LDL; IIRC, her HDL is fine.
Then again, this is also the woman who has a fast heart rate and low blood pressure, so they can’t give her meds to lower her heart rate without her passing out, and they can’t give her meds to raise her blood pressure without her heart racing.
Wait, what? not there, reload, there? Somebody’s messing with us.
dianne: Wasn’t niacin recently shown to have less effect than expected?
This is not.
StarStuff:
Rent a car to drive from FL to DC and back? Surely by the time you figure in gas, road food, and accommodations (do not try to drive that in one go by yourself), it’d be cheaper to take a train or a bus? Look up the cost and let the Horde know; we have the technology….
@ Bill
Well, I’m going with three other people and I already have a place to stay for free. If the boyfriend and I pay for the rental (about $200) then the other two can pay for gas. One round trip Greyhound ticket would be $286 (and the trip would take a whole day each way).
Oh, how I would love to be able to leave the tiny part of my state to which I’m confined. But that’s what you get for working with flies.
Yay, StarStuff @88!
You’d think that if the Polk County Sheriff’s Office could put angels to work inspecting vehicles, they’d get the angels to pull over unsafe vehicles at the next garage.
StarStuff:
Oh, well, that’s very different then; never mind! </EmilyLitella>
I thought you were saying you’d lost your (one and only) traveling companion, and were going to have to make the trip on your own, which had me quite concerned. I’m glad I was mistaken.
***
All:
This triggered me to wonder if we should think about establishing a standing emergency fund, for the kind of things we’ve responded to on an ad hoc basis in the past. I, for one, would be happy to make a modest donation on a continuing monthly basis to a Save the Brains, Butts, Meals, Rents, and Stuff® fund. Thoughts?
BTW, StarStuff:
In the photo at your blog post, there’s a bearded fellow in shorts and flip-flops standing next to you (that is you, isn’t it?) who made me do a double-take: He’s a dead ringer for a longtime friend of mine, who also lives in FL.
Can’t be him (I think; his name isn’t Andy, is it?): My friend lives in the Tampa Bay area, and while he is an atheist, I think if he’d gotten involved in organized atheist activism, he would’ve told me. Still, it did give me pause.
Bill:
I think it’s a nice idea, but there are complex factors. Like, someone has to manage the money, and someone has to determine who gets it and who doesn’t. It could get very icky.
A line has been crossed on the Anti-Caturday post.
I’m gonna (metaphorically) gut this fucker.
On another topic entirely… leave it to This American Life to a retraction into an awesome story in its own right. This is riveting and important radio.
@ Bill
Yeah, that’s me in the picture. And they guy next to me lives in Tallahassee and isn’t named Andy.
TLC
It might be better to let him rant on his own, he is bound to do something bannable.
Richard Austin:
You’re probably right… but I can dream, can’t I?
The Poopyhead appears to be readying the banhammer on the Anti-caturday thread. Wonder if the troll flounces, or gets banned.
A. R
I don’t think the Weird Cat Guy is a troll.
I think he believes that stuff.
Bill:
More complex things have happened. I’m not opposed to the idea; I just know enough to know there are challenges and not enough to know how to address them effectively.
Hell, I’ve always dreamed of winning the lottery, buying a big apartment complex, and just letting people I know who are down on their luck or need a place to stay move in. But even in my imagination, I have to deal with politics and drama and hard decisions. At least two of those I suck at.
By the by, thanks A.R :)
chigau (√-1): Yeah, I’m starting to think that too. And I’m a dedicated dog person.
StarStuff, well done on the Polk story, I read this from some news outlet earlier and was thoroughly confused at first. Sending all 4 of my horde your way stat.
My ear buds broke. My heavy-duty, kevlar-reinforced, special birthday ear buds.
:(
Presumably they’re still broken, but… suddenly they are making the right sound again!
CC(C),OM
Get those things away from your head!
Don’t you know zombies when you
seehear them?‽!?Good morning
Since the little one wakes up when it gets light I’m almost looking forward to DST next week
Ace of Sevens
I’m sorry to hear about your friend
Katherine
Yay for new boobs
Catholic church
Oh, but that was in the
Middle Ages, eh inthe 15th century, no, I meanin the 1800s, eh in the 1950’s, I mean It was in the damn last millenium, they have totally changed how can you still hold a grudge against something that has been done long ago so nobody really remembers and everybody is dead anyway and also what about that blood libel?More random war-on-women news. Let’s play another round of outraged-email-whackamole!
—
Utah introduces 72-hour wait law:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/03/19/utah-72-hour-wait-law-has-no-exception-fetal-abnormality
Tennessee introduces law to require publication of the names of abortion providers (who must be locals to boot) and potentially identifying demographic information of patients who receive abortions:
http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?id=13531
(So now we’re closing in on a Let Doctors Die Act.)
Komen was pressured for years by the Catholic Church’s health care arm to defund Planned Parenthood:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46752259/ns/us_news-life/#.T2gxBunWcsp
And this snappy, fiery call-to-arms actually cheered me up quite a bit:
http://open.salon.com/blog/ramonas_voices/2012/03/13/its_settled_then_women_were_at_war
————-
Seriously, I’ve started actually writing “make outraged calls and emails” into my schedule and budget.
Hi all
For those who can help, could you please go here: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=spla/bill%20marriage/index.htm and explain how you feel about same-sex marriage. The Australian Christian Lobby have been hitting it hard – it would be nice to hit it back.
This is going directly to our Federal Government, so it has real meaning (and yes, they know polls get hit hard by various lobby groups, but at least there’s writing stuff down room, so it’s not just a tick and flick cookie exercise).
A
I’m used to being religiously ignored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia, but hey, Amanda, youre posting this on TET in the middle of the night in the US ? Why ? I would have been happy to give it some coverage, you could even have contacted that famous blogger pribble who is oh so influential, but TET, in the middle of the night ? I don’t get it tbh. Good luck with that kind of lobbying.
rorschach, I suspect the govt is more interested in the views of citizens than those of foreigners, and it ain’t the middle of the night here.
Rorschach: Because PZ is asleep (I presume) and this at least gets the message somewhere. And just as most Australians are getting home from work and maybe logging on to Pharyngula.
I shall be e-mailing PZ directly, but I do not presume that he will include the poll on his blog. He may, but again – at least I have it somewhere on Pharyngula. TET also tends to attract the most passionate, committed and articulate of the Pharyngulites, who may be able to assist via their eloquence.
A
Huh ? All 23 of them you mean ?
Actually, never mind.
Rorschach: you appear to have some experience in internet-based lobbying. If you have useful suggestions for ways I can get this message to people who may be of assistance, I am happy to take them on board and use them where I can (I have some constraints due to where I work). I have no idea who that blogger pribble is, so more details in your responses may be helpful.
If you are just taking the opportunity to be rude and dismissive to someone you do not know because that’s the way you roll, then I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as it should be.
Look, Amanda, I’ve done it now anyway, but what I was suggesting is that there might be better ways to lobby for this very worthy cause than to put it at the bottom of the social thread of an American blog. I didn’t want to upset you in any way.
As far as the survey, here was my response to the two questions at the end:
3. Can you explain your reasons to the above questions? (Please limit your response to 250 words)I think the title says it all: it’s about equality. The only difference between same sex marriages and opposite sex marriages is the sex; the only practical difference is in the genetic material of any children they raise.
4. Do you have any further comments on the legal implications of these Bills? (Please limit your response to 250 words)I am not a lawyer, but I can’t see any problems if religious celebrants aren’t compelled to perform such ceremonies.
PS
Please note that the closing date for responses to this survey is Friday 20 April 2012.I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaate the commenters at Greta’s.
I mean, obviously, not all of them. But holy shit holy SHIT how fucking infuriating is it that EVERY SINGLE TIME she posts a #mencallmethings like five different fucking people show up to go “YEAH BUT HOW DO WE KNOW IT’S MISOGYNISTIC MAYBE HE JUST TELLS EVERYBODY THEY’RE TOO UGLY TO HAVE AN OPINION ON BIRTH CONTROL”
*hulksmash*
CC,
She has a comment policy that discourages calling-out.
<shrug>
(Reaping of the sowing, that is)
@John Morales
No she doesn’t. She has a policy that discourages 1)being a raging douchebag and 2)derailment. It was a policy I wish more people had (even if it would put me on thin ice) and she’s entirely within her rights (and arguably right considering the type of site she runs) to do so.
A policy that extends to anything you say and do on other blogs that she might consider offensive too, which kind of makes her blog Freethoughtblogs’ little Saudi-Arabia. But I just don’t comment there, it’s a simple solution.
julian, as Dr. Phil would put it, “How’s it working out for you?”
(For me, it means I now ignore it)
Good morning horde.
I will set out to make these babies: http://smittenkitchen.com/2012/03/carrot-cake-pancakes/ and report back how they turned out. I have a cup of maple cream cheese frosting left…
I’m totes not eating cake for breakfast, am I?
Forgive me, Lawd, for I have sinned.
I totally ate cake for breakfast. You should, too.
This is pretty damn good, unless youre a dentist : Christy Moore and Shane Mcgowan—A pair of brown eyes
re: carrot cake pancakes
Mmm, I think I know what I’ll eat tomorrow morning.
We are adults, we are absolutely allowed to eat cake for breakfast without feeling guilty.
Erm, I just want to wave at Giliell for a sec. Hi there!
I’ve recently been spending a lot of time reading http://www.daughtersofnarcissisticmothers.com – which I stumbled on via links out from http://captainawkward.com who is awesome. Anyway, I’m not sure if you and I have the same kind of mother problems, and also I think some of the proposed therapies on there are a bunch of daffy woo, but in terms of just identifying and describing a problem, it seems scarily solid to me. You might find it helpful. Maybe. Anyway, I want to send you some fellowship e-hugs; from another one out there who has a problem with her mother.
Ever have one of those nights where you swear you’ve been asleep for like… eight hours and you wake up bright and fully aware, and then glance at a clock and see you’ve only been asleep for 2?
That happened to me last night. Plus it got real hot. Not fun.
Hi there
Alethea
Thanx for the link. I’ll be reading it immediately
So, my dad has a solution for the whole problem:
I go to my mum, hug her and tell her that we should start anew.
To the woman who told me yesterday, when I told her that she has to accept and respect that I’m a grown adult person with my own opinions, likes and hobbies that she can’t do that.
Yes, that really is a basis for a healthy relationship.
At the same time he’s mounting pressure like putting a real lock on the apartment door (the house is a 2 storey, 2 family home. Since my grandparents live(d) downstairs, there never were serious doors, just normal “room doors” whose keys have long been lost.)
He also managed to ignore his grandchildren for 2.5 hours and said hello at a time when we would actually have been gone already hadn’t the little one insisted on sharing gran’s lunch.
Yeah, but I’m driving this at the expense of the kids….
*vomit*
Ouch. That’s barely a step from expecting you to say you are sorry.
Good morning. A lovely Wednesday.
Lets see.
My agency credit card and travel are being audited.
My internet service will be spotty today as a contractor hit a power pole.
I am working on the reskin for our CMS and have achieved blank screen on the work page.
My speaker battery died and, until it recharges, I have no music.
I get to babysit 20 photographers in our loco shop for two hours (which also means I either eat lunch at 10:30 or at 2:00).
I left my rice cracker mix at home.
Wife’s computer at home is doing battle with a virus.
It is cloudy, grey, overcast, gray, and yucky outside.
It is cold inside.
I plan to have a fun day.
Won’t be today, though.
The Trayvon Martin killing is now getting worldwide attention. I heard a report on the BBC World Service about the killing, and the growing outrage at how the police have handled the situation.
The Guardian is reporting that the US Justice Department is to investigate the killing along with the FBI.
Here’s hoping Zimmerman is held accountable.
Dang Ogvorbis, that is one shit storm of woe.
I appreciate the commiseration. I still can’t believe I left my rice crackers at home. :(
Ogvorbis: Compared to that, my day is looking cheerful!
Glad to help.
Does anyone have any professional presentation-worthy lines of snark about anti-vaxxers that I can use? I need one for a presentation I’m giving where I expect some anti-vaxxers to be in the audience.
Oh Hesinde, goddess of wisdom, shit that’s me.
Not everything, but some of those things are almost verbatim of what I’ve written here over the last weeks.
That’s scary.
Yes, and the therapies are obviously woo.
Ogvorbis
please press lips to USB port, Gugelhupf is on the way.
And as soon as I do that, my boss walks in.
Have you ever tried to explain to your boss why it looks like you are kissing the backside of a Dell desktop? Dose the word ‘awkward’ ring a bell?
Giliell: Ugh. Stay strong.
Og: Ah, shit. And, what’s worse, it’s only Tuesday, not Wednesday.
Kitty: Hooray for boobies!
AoS: I’m really sorry about your friend. That’s far too young.
StarStuff: You rock.
Esteleth: Your grandma rocks. I’m glad you had a good time.
KristinC: Glad your daughter is doing better.
Carlie: Glad your spouse is OK.
Keenacat: Hope you’re feeling better by now.
@Daisy Cutter:
Yay for boobies! :D
Writes Ms. Daisy Cutter down in the book of EVIL OPPRESSIVE CALENDARISTS! It IS Wednesday!
For me, anyway.
Kitty:
(.)(.)
I miss W00t.
Og: Okay, it’s Wednesday. :)
I’ll have you know my day has started off well. I guesstimated the amount of water to boil in the kettle, and it was exactly the right amount for my tea and instant oatmeal.
Gah. I’m getting old. And there was a half-full bottle of Johnny Walker Black right there in the kitchen. I could…
Crap. I’ve got to go teach in an hour, and I’m not going to emerge from the classroom responsibilities until after 1.
PZ: I’m envious of your ability to take time to eat breakfast. What tea do you usually drink?
@Daisy Cutter:
Oh my god, those are beautiful boobies! So perky and delightful!
One of my lit profs kept a bottle of Patron in his desk. And he was not the least bit surreptitious about drinking it.
When I went for my oral exam to get my degree, we sat around on couches in the Manor House, each with the drink of choice. They history profs knew I was a Scotch drinker and had a bottle of Johnny Walker Black for me. The exam and the Scotch went smoothly.
We can all has uteri!
Ok, it’s for a protest, but they’re so cute.
Hugs to everyone having a crappy day right now. I started mine off by rushing to an early morning meeting, arriving just on time, to find it had been moved to another building. Bah.
Click warning – I forgot that was a Patheos page; here’s another version of the same story
And what is wrong with starting the day with a drink might I ask? I have started every day for years with a pint of rum and my view from this park bench is perfectly fine thank you very much. I even washed recently. Okay so it was in my own urine, but beggars can’t be choosers. Literally in this case.
Alcoholicist puritans the lot of you. No respect for the differently sober.
Louis
P.S. You’re all my best friendsh you are. Want a kebab?
This Geroge Zimmerman really reminds me of Ronnie in Observe and Report. Unfortunately, guys like him see that movie and think Ronnie is awesome.
My day had me waking up early (after going to sleep early) so I can get to work early, and then leave early to visit the Redhead. At work I needed to do a reaction quench/precipation, followed by filtration. The filtration can be painfully slow at times, and could interfere with leaving early. So far, it isn’t too bad.
Meanwhile, I need to find time to vote in the primary election. The remapped congressional district stands a reasonable chance of going democratic, and there are even a couple of good progressive candidates running.
Nerd, how good are you at synthesis of carbohydrate-like compounds?
Ugh hyper depressed today…just feels like all systems shutting down. And feels like as usual really stupid things act like a catyst that set it off
Cute pic. “Infant joins queue for senior flat in Stockholm” http://www.thelocal.se/39782/20120320/
But why is it climbing into the Jeffries tubes?
— — — — — —
Re. Ms. Daisy Cutter @ 301
Darn. I live in Umeå and I haden’t heard that song before! I’m not very observant.
And I still haven’t got any Hugo Boss uniform. Are there none for us ehvil Pharyngulistas?
— — —
Ing, I hope you get better.
A new Slate article blames the overly broad self-defense statutes in many states on attempts to protect women who kill domestic abusers. It looks like there is a rhetorical connection to me, but it would have been quite possible to expand the protections for domestic violence victims without changing the laws about self defense in public places. Also, I don’t think giving victims carte blanche to kill their abusers is a good legal goal, even assuming we could find a way to keep it from being abused to kill people who hadn’t actually done anything.
By Hershel in The Walking Dead
He, he
Nerd, how good are you at synthesis of carbohydrate-like compounds?I’ve done some carbohydrate chemistry over the years. Carbohydrate like? Need a better definition.
Gack, blockquote fail#397. First sentence is the question, the rest my answer.
Would “cleaned the litter box once too often” make a good meme for people with dangerously anti-social ideas?
no, because T. gondii isn’t consistent like that. It apparently causes hypersociality in many people.
Shit.
Not what I was going for as an insult.
@chigau. Seeks to mock people with parasitic infections? Id say no. Ableist
“Spring Arrives With Equinox Tuesday, Earliest in Over a Century” http://www.space.com/14951-spring-equinox-early-arrival-2012.html
— — — — —
Some of these articles are from HuffPo, but try reading them anyway. I want others to share my misery :)
“Our Muddled China Policy”(or NAFTA on steroids)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-kuttner/trans-pacific-partnership_b_1359116.html
“ …This is supposed to be a period of bitter bipartisan deadlock, in which Republicans and Democrats can agree on nothing. But when it comes to trade deals that serve corporate but not the national interest, bipartisanship is all too alive and well. Like NAFTA before it, which was cooked up under Bush I and completed by Clinton, the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership was conceived by a Republican administration and is being carried forward by a Democratic one. The TPP has a much lower profile, but its economic effects would be at least as damaging”
—
How Obama Tried to Sell Out Liberalism in 2011 http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/how-obama-tried-to-sell-out-liberalism-in-2011.html
—
America Needs to Open Up the Debate on Decriminalization http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-branson/post_3125_b_1364298.html
—
“Fiscal Affairs: A Colossal Mistake of Historic Proportions: The “JOBS” Bill” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/simon-johnson/fiscal-affairs-a-colossal_b_1362060.html
Nerd: The compound is BCX 2798. Here’s a link to an article with an image.
*sigh*
It’s getting so hard to insult people.
We will soon be reduced to,
“I beg to differ, Old Bean…”
while sharing a pot of tea.
@Chigau
I know how you feel. Sucks to be aware enough of those tiny privileges and realize that the better thing is to make life slightly harder for yourself.
Though I still think we should be able to use Mad as a Hatter, due to the lack of mercury use in haberdashery now a days.
re sending knitted uteri to legislators: Awesome. I don’t know knitting, but I was tossing around the idea of knitted or sewn plushie uterus hoodies, with Fallopian tubes and ovaries instead of the usual critter ears. Great for humor-filled protesting.
There’s also the IHeartGuts uterus plush: Link
The referent is still mental illness, therefore the insult is still that “you are mentally ill”, albeit “you are mentally ill in a way that’s considered exotic today”.
Is “nutty as squirrel poo” OK?
Fair enough.
Daisy Cutter,
thanks for asking. I am indeed feeling better.
I attempted to read a roundup of anti-women legislation earlier, but it went straight to my stomach producing a knot of sadness/fright and I stopped.
I guess I’ll take more time with this particular issue.
Kitty:
They look bouncy, too!
Carlie: A friend of mine has a userpic of an angry uterus. :D
Louis:
What kind of wine goes with Weetabix?
Ing: Hugs if you want ’em.
AoS, #395: Ugh, Emily Bazelon. I know this is ad hom (in the true sense), but after her vigorous (and unethical) concern-trolling on behalf of the kids who bullied Phoebe Prince to death — Bazelon is friends with the mother of one of the bullies — I don’t trust her on anything involving a victim.
On another note, I emailed a friend of mine in Boston about the anti-SB 2061 vigil mentioned by Walton at #214. She said she’d drop in on that, then proceed to the Boston Common march in solidarity with Cecily McMillan.
Again.
Ms Daisy Cutter,
Well depending on what other things one might be having for breakfast I find the oak tones of New World Sauvignon Blancs to be most complimentary to the subtle nuttiness of Weetabix. However, traditionalists and members of the landed gentry like myself drink nothing but claret. I have a cellar full of Pomerol that compliments all but the most chocolatey of breakfast cereals well.
Of course the true gentleman of the road can never go wrong with a Mad Dog 20/20* or Thunderbird Red.
Louis
*Lime is my preference. It helps to be citrus fresh when swearing at passers-by and talking to one’s dog.
Image ws behind a paywall, but Google found a free paper. Such compounds are difficult to make. I don’t have time to look into this more today, as a meeting I thought was Thursday is today.
Can’t be done, as peas are toxic by nature.
Oh, yes; and Eeeeeevil.
–
keenacat, it’s totally okay to eat cake for breakfast—especially chocolate cake. Eggs, milk, wheat…nutrition!
–
Yes. Then, you go back to sleep and wake up again 6 hours later, tired and brain-dead. ‘Tain’t fair.
–
Giliell, *hugs*, sympathy, and courage.
–
BroOg, I would send you *rice crackers*, but I suspect that being eFood, it wouldn’t help. You have my sympathy for the suckage in general, though.
–
*nods vigorously*
And wouldn’t it be nice if, somehow, it provoked reconsideration of putting guns in the hands of just everyone, alla the time, everywhere. Won’t happen in an election year, though. </cynicism>
–
*hug* for Ing. There are times to avoid the contentious threads full of catalizing stupidity; this may be one of them. Kick back. Have some *booze* and *chocolate* and take care of yourself.
–
Ugh. I’m sick of shit like that, too.
Nerd: Thanks! I’m planning on screening the compound against a melanogaster model of mumps virus HN binding to cell surface proteins. Should do nicely as a proof of concept for publication.
I’m not sure why, but the Pharyngula Wiki appears to have been blacklisted FTB-wide.
Anyway, I just got done documenting the history of the Scarlet A there (as a subsection of the New Atheists article) based on an interesting blog post by Josh Timonen. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it turns out that PZ’s writing was the inspiration for it!
Lol, Fox news did a report about the “response” to our unanointing. I’d post it here, but I have a feeling that fox news links aren’t allowed.
I know last time I gave warning of a major quake it turned out that it was too far underground to do any damage.
This time, my US GS notice isn’t my only source: 45 minutes ago, on the southern Mexican coast almost due south of Mexico City, but better located as 1/2 way between Oaxaca city and Acapulco. It was shallow and in the mid-7s. Water isn’t out in Mexico City, but communications are down in both Oaxaca and Guerrero, and there are significant telephone interruptions as far away as Mexico City. This one was big for a land quake and is going to impact a lot of people. If you know people on the South Coast of Mexico, they’re likely to be having a hard time just now.
Hope all your loved ones are well and that the impact is as small as can be. I’m a bit afraid of the building codes in Oaxaca and the potential for falling structures, tho.
StarStuff, how about a link to a link?
Yeah, it is Joe.My.God.
I eagerly await the answer to this comment over on Dispatches because it made my jaw drop. Maybe someone here can help clear it up as well?
http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2012/03/20/uganda-lgbt-group-sues-lively/#comment-81128
I think this suit has very little chance of succeeding, and I really don’t think it should; that legal concept opens up a real Pandora’s box of bad outcomes.~Ed
Yes it would be horrible for the Ugandan gays to get any victory at all. WTF is wrong with you? When we already have proposed state murder squads what possible bad outcome are we afraid of here?
fucking block quotes
Ing,
I’m assuming it’s about free speech!!!!11!eleven!!
Abby Normal also gets a “WTF is wrong with you?!”
sixdays is by far the best chew toy we’ve had here in awhile. My fangs are so sniny they’re reflecting sunlight.
Who’s this Nicole Murray who’s lambasting everybody for getting the Terry England story “wrong”?
And I borkquoted. Yay! My day is complete.
Where is DanielHaven?
Here is danielhaven.
Found him.
A.R.:
Xe’s on Christianity is scary stuff. Gunning for Nerd. Weird and incoherant.
I realized that in the wake of so much other Utah legislative bullshit I haven’t even talked about the newest anti-abortion measures. Since the only abortion providers are in Salt Lake City (and Utah is a decently large state), waiting periods such as these help discourage abortions by making it even more out of reach for many. Utah’s conservative legislature would gladly make abortion totally illegal if they though a personhood bill would pass, I have no doubt. It’s not as if we care about women in Utah (we earn less compared to men than even the national average, have been victims of sexual violence at higher than national rates for two decades, and only 16.3% of our state legislators are women, women are illegally asked about marital status by employers, etc).
Thankfully, it’s not gone unnoticed, although you won’t see it in the more conservative news here.
RE: New troll: He is weird and incoherent.
slignot: I assume the Mormons are behind this latest effort in Utah?
PZ: danielhaven over on the Christianity is scary thread is getting rather creepy. You might want to pop over and take a look.
A. R. PZ is aware of danielhaven. Danielhaven’s incoherent ramblings and other people’s futile attempts to decipher him is the reason for the alternative undead thread.
Checkout KILL IT WITH FIRE under the quick link to the unending thread.
Regarding the International Citizen on the other thread, this has an oblique reference to country of origin.
janine: Oh, ok. I took a Pharyngubreak for a month to catch up on some work, so I missed some of that.
@A. R, Saying mormons are behind basically anything newsworthy in Utah is sadly like saying water is wet.
The church controls everything here. Public schools are effectively mormon schools. Years ago, a cousin was sent home with an scolding note from the school because she had “upset” fellow students by honestly saying her family didn’t believe in god when they brought the subject up! They chastised a seven year old for her family being atheists.
I was ostracized because I wasn’t part of the ward in public grade school. By contrast, my private catholic high school was incredibly diverse and accepting; my friends were: atheists, protestants, jewish (practicing and non), muslim, ethnically diverse (saying something here), included openly gay kids, etc.
slignot: I suppose the overbearing presence of a religion even crazier than the Catholics forced those groups into Private Schools?
Thank you.
And I hadn’t heard about Cecily McMillan’s case. That’s terrifying.
===
For general information, the text of the complaint can be found here. It’s an action under the Alien Tort Statute, which allows, in some circumstances, civil actions to be brought in federal district courts in respect of violations of certain norms of international law committed outside the United States. They’re arguing that Lively was responsible for the human rights violations that the plaintiff suffered in Uganda.
I’ll be able to say more when I’ve had time to read the complaint in depth (I don’t have time now, since I’m about to head to the rally). Tentatively, I think it was probably a good move to bring a civil lawsuit, and I’d like them to succeed, though it’s very difficult to bring a successful action under the ATS as the law currently stands. (It’s not my field of expertise, so I won’t offer a definite prediction as to their chances of success on the merits.)
(I should clarify, as an addendum to #443, that I’m not arguing with Ing, nor am I defending Ed Brayton’s view. Rather, I’ll express a firmer opinion about the lawsuit when I’ve had a chance to read the complaint in full.)
This combined with the poor state of Utah’s public schooling. If you can afford to send your kids to a better school, many do. My old high school is largely regarded as a college prep school for anyone here. It was definitely the reason most of my classmates were there.
I received truly exemplary education there. I’m still marveling at how well constructed our biology curriculum was, and my sex education was actually comprehensive. I’m grateful for pragmatic catholic school administrators.
I’m very concerned about danielhaven. His writing is consistent with that of an individual with certain types of mental disorder, particularly the way he latches onto words and phrases.
Okay, I have made a decision.
No matter how cute my apartment is, or how convenient it is to work, etc, and how great the rent is, I am MOVING once my lease is up.
I am fucking shaking with rage now. My landlord is a racist, ableist asshole. I’m sorry that I have to give him money for the next eight months.
Seriously, WTF. I was standing on my porch, chatting with a neighbor. Said neighbor appears to have some sort of mental/psychological impairment/illness, seemed very vague and out of it. Whatever. Landlord CALLED ME ON MY CELL, said that it looked like I “needed a rescue” and proceeded to opine that said neighbor is “messed up.” Caught more than a little bit of a hint of derision on the topic of fat black women from him.
W.T.F.
Walton:
Good to see(?) you again. Enjoying the bitter cold of a Boston winter?
Good luck with the rally. For a country built on immigration and genocide of the natives, we sure have a mean streak when it comes to immigrants.
It didn’t read that way to me. It read as you explaining it. Which yes, if there is some problem I would like it explained. But Ed just wrote out “Wow hope that doesn’t succeed” due to unstated “consequences”. Like what? White people actually being held liable for using Africa as their own personal toilet?
Spring is here!
Ah, suh-pur-ring is here,
Life is skittles,
And life is beer….
Walton: You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re feeling better these days.
Ogvorbis: It has been freakishly warm in New England. It is in the eighties Fahrenheit here in southern New Hampshire. It does not bode well in many ways.
Good evening
Does a slightly past middle age man who uses too much aftershave who wants to learn Spanish for his frequent trips to the Dominican Republic become less frequent if he has a girlfriend there with whom he can’t communicate?
SG
Ah I remember.
I also remember why I’m not actually buying your point:
The synchronic usage of those words seem to be pretty much removed from actual mental illness, like idiot.
I actually find it much worse to play armchair psychologist and throw around words that have a current clinical and diagnostic meaning.
A friend writes:
The latter thread takes Facebook comments, in case anyone feels the need to snine up their fangs off FTB.
Ms Daisy Cutter, when I worked as a bike messenger, on the first day of spring, I would sing that song when I made my pick ups and deliveries. This was in the days before September 11, 2001 and it was easier to get into buildings.
The unanointing got the Onion’s attention :D
http://www.theonion.com/articles/atheists-unbless-florida-road,27706/
The same friend writes that Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has covered up the sexual crimes of two other students in the past five years. (Note: Blogger is an xtian pastor.) The victim in the current case was “mentally incapacitated and physically helpless” — i.e. drugged.
Relatedly, Southern Baptists have their own branch of SNAP. I’d rather they all just up and left religion altogether, but at least someone’s calling attention to this shit.
Janine: Hee!
Brother Ogvorbis:
I do hope Walton’s enjoying his time in Boston, but bitter cold has been in damn short supply throughout New England this year. It’s kinda’ freakin’ me out, TBH.
@Esteleth, I share your anger. WTF indeed.
woodsmanonem is back on the anti-caturday post. Stupid as ever.
So, not that I would ever do this, of course, but if someone wanted to host a photo online for sharing in certain parts of the interwebs without having that photo attached to their own personal name in other parts of the interwebs, what would a good place be to do that? Throwaway photobucket account?
Giliell, I’ll respond to the rest of your comment shortly, but
Would you mind talking to A.R about that? I get exhausted after a while.
@kristinc
Try tinypic.com
ॐ:
That’s no revelation. :)
invading the TET to say Hi Folks
Hi James!
Hello Cipher
Giliell,
Maybe I wasn’t clear enough in the comment I linked to earlier, though I hope that at the time when that whole thread was in recent memory it was clearer in context.
I emphatically do not believe that people should consider themselves qualified as armchair psychologists. This is what I was hoping to communicate by giving examples of actually-insane ideas. They are a lot more extravagant than what usually gets too-enthusiastically parsed for an armchair diagnosis.
My point in making that contrast was not to say “you should feel comfortable calling people psychotic over the internet”, but to draw out the various nuances of meaning in the word “crazy”, and point people toward those that are actually useful. Very, very rarely, we’re really talking about someone who is displaying psychotic symptoms.
Much more often, we’re talking about someone who we could describe much more specifically: irrational, stupid, ignorant, anti-social, harmful, biased, fallacious, bigoted, et cetera.
Those are all much better words than “crazy” because they are more specific about exactly what’s objectionable, and they aren’t synonyms for mental illness per se, so demonizing a person for these more specific traits causes less collateral damage to innocent mentally ill people.
That’s simply not in evidence.
Lots of mentally ill people self-describe as crazy. It’s a synonym right now, today. And every attentive adult is aware of the synonym. You can head on over to JT’s blog right here on FTB, and read a couple weeks of posts to confirm the existence of this self-identification.
With regard to “idiot, moron, imbecile” and such, many adults really aren’t aware of the historical use. So the parallel you propose isn’t strong. And “crazy” isn’t likely to lose its meaning as long as it’s a self-decriptor among activists for mental health issues.
I’m not really sure how it could lose its specific meaning, either. With “idiot, moron, and imbecile”, they came to mean sub-clinical stupidity; someone who does act like they have a low IQ but not so low as to be diagnosed by modern psychiatrists as mentally retarded, since it is generally considered impolite to mock mentally retarded people.
I don’t see any momentum at all regarding “crazy”. It does have a derived form closer to “wild”, but this is a positive appellation. That form is hardly used insultingly, and one can sense the envy in condemning “those crazy kids with their wild parties.”
About the insulting forms, though, we should ask, crazy like what? We know the answer to idiotic like what? Idiotic like someone who has a sub-clinical but low IQ. There isn’t another negative kind of crazy which is not also a referent for mental illness.
Finally, I should point out that there aren’t a bunch of advocates for mentally retarded people who are these days asking us not to use “idiot, moron and imbecile” as insults. If they were, then we ought to take them seriously, but they just aren’t.
Contrary, there are plenty of advocates for mental health issues who are asking us not to use crazy as an insult. If you care about signaling respect to them, that requires signalling it in a way they recognize as respect. I don’t think that determinedly looking for an insult which is synonymous with madness signals much respect, especially when there are such better, more specific words for objectionable characteristics that we might want to call attention to.
I just crocheted my first letter onto a crocheted item. It looks really good :D
(I’m crocheting things with atheist ‘A’s on them for people; I need the money and this is my only marketable skill.)
The rally went well. The Senate Judiciary Committee is due to vote on SB 2061 tomorrow; all I can do now is call and email my state senator tomorrow morning as a last-ditch effort. I’m really hoping that this bill won’t pass. Apparently similar bills have been introduced and have failed the last two years running, so hopefully this one will get defeated too.
Indeed. SB 2061 is horrific. Among other things, it would require state and local police to check the immigration status of anyone arrested or detained and to turn over undocumented people to ICE – thus leading to more racial profiling, and to immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes being afraid to contact the police. It would exclude families from public housing if any member of the family is undocumented, even if (as is very common) some members of the family are citizens or permanent residents. And it would bar undocumented immigrants from getting in-state tuition rates at public universities – which, combined with the more widespread use of e-Verify in employment, would make it basically impossible for undocumented kids to go to college. It’s a purely punitive bill, and it’s completely grounded in racism and xenophobia.
This is a country of immigrants. And immigrants, documented and undocumented, are human beings with human rights. Yet there is a growing movement to enact these kinds of Arizona-style punitive laws – hurting undocumented people who came to this country as children and have lived here all their lives, and undocumented people who arrived in this country fleeing persecution, oppression and poverty. What is really needed is comprehensive immigration reform and a path to legalization for the undocumented; that’s not going to happen any time soon, unfortunately, but in the meantime we can at least try to stop these vicious state bills from passing.
====
Indeed; I’ve been told by several people here that it’s been the warmest winter in Boston in decades. We didn’t even get much snow.
=====
I’m inclined to agree with strange gods: I’ve come to the view that labelling foolish political ideas, or the people who hold them, “crazy” or “insane” is something which should be avoided. I used to use these epithets regularly, but of late I’ve tried to cure myself of the habit. I really don’t think words like “crazy” and “insane” have lost their explicit association with mental illness, in ordinary usage. (Indeed, in common-law countries “insane” continues to be a legal term, albeit that it’s a term of art that differs somewhat from the everyday use of the word.) I think there are serious dangers with falling into a habit of using slang terms for mental illness as pejorative epithets; mentally-ill people are already stigmatized in society generally, and the worst thing is when the views of mentally-ill people are dismissed on the assumption that they can’t be thinking rationally, something which I find demeaning and infantilizing. Not that I think anyone here was doing that, by any means, but I think there is a danger that these kinds of insult – even when used in a purely metaphorical sense – contribute to that stigma.
(Sorry if I’m not communicating very clearly… for some reason I’m really sleepy suddenly. And I’ve had a cough and a sore throat all week, which doesn’t help.)
Just to reiterate that I certainly don’t think anyone here, or most people who use the terms, are deliberately contributing to that stigma, and I really didn’t mean to imply anything of that kind. (Indeed, this is generally a very caring and supportive environment when it comes to understanding mental illness and the problems faced by those of us who suffer from it, and I really appreciate that.)
But I think the stigma exists nonetheless, and I tend to think that calling people “crazy” and “insane”, even when (as it usually is) it’s meant in a completely metaphorical sense and isn’t intended to imply actual mental illness, tends unintentionally to contribute to the stigma associated with mental illness. I didn’t recognize this for a long time, and a couple of years ago I’d happily have called Santorum or Bachmann “crazy”, but I find I’m not inclined to do so now.
walton:
Sigh.
Of course they haven’t lost their “explicit association” — that’s what they mean.
(Go get some rest, you need it)
walton, good to see you.
—-
Latest forced-ultrasound bill turns up in Rhode Island, thanks to JohnnieCanuck in the Piling on a poll thread:
http://cranston.patch.com/articles/poll-should-the-state-require-ultrasounds-before-abortion
Howdy, jamescasterlin; welcome in.
–
Good news, everyone!
I was telling my mom about the Reason Rally and asking if I could borrow her car (my truck’s tires are rather bald and should be replaced before doing another long trip). Well, she hemmed and hawed and then she said she wanted to come along!
She’s super cool, I’m looking forward to introducing her to the Horde.
My day got a little hectic when the Redhead called a little after 11:00 am, and said the family care conference I thought was Thursday was today. So I checked the letter: March 20 2:00 pm, Thursday. We had a good laugh at the mixup, and I got my reaction to a quiet place, told my boss of the mixup (his attitude was why hadn’t I left yet, very supportive, which helps), finally left about noon. Stopped off to vote (the skinny guy with the big ears for POTUS as it was a democratic ballot), and headed out, making a stop to get more thank-you notes/envelopes. Arrived in plenty of time for the conference. Essentially slow but good progress, but more progress needed to come home. DUH.
The Redhead returned to rehab, and I tried to nap. Couldn’t fall asleep. Eventually she returned to her room, I helped put on her dynamic splints, and then took out the braids in her hair, and brushed and combed it so it could be washed. She later decided to do a “dry shampoo and conditioner” on it, so all she needs is a rinse with the morning shower. Then one of the techs will braid her hair again. Then dinner, and after dinner took off her splints, and waited while she was changed for the evening, and then came home, needing to walk back to the Redhead’s room from the parking for some forgotten bottles. Soup and some ice cream for dinner when I arrived back.
[meta]
Nerd, sorry if this embarrasses you, but your devotion to the Redhead warms the cockles of my blood-pump and makes me admire you.
(Seriously)
Oh Pharyngulites. I come baring meat for the chewing.
Trigger Warning.
http://sites.google.com/site/fatdaddyfarm/home/trash-told-tales
Partner found this site through a call for publication. Let’s read along.
*hugs* for Nerd. And I’ll second what John said.
====
I am intending to come to the Reason Rally. Which will entail travelling overnight by bus on Friday night, but that should be ok. (I travelled by bus from Boston to DC last weekend, and it was actually much more pleasant than I was expecting.)
And now, the Walton is tired and should get some sleep.
Hi James, nice to see you!
Giliell, it’s very tough. I have a close friend who is in a similar boat; we commiserate at our Mums’ latest antics. It’s just taken as given, somehow, that mothers MUST love their children, and any problem has just got to be some mistake, a miscommunication, something fixable… The biggest thing we have to do is to accept that no, really, it’s not fixable. Both BFF and I have chosen the “low contact” rather than “no contact” options; probably because our Mums are not completely 100% destructive. It’s a spectrum; some people are so toxic that you just have to get away; others you can maintain a connection if you treat them like children and humour them. But there can never be a normal adult relationship, and trying to make one can only end in tears.
I’ve found this book quite good.
I was in one of those moods, so I decided to look up the etymology of various shit.
Firstly, “cockle” (as in “warms the cockles of the heart”) is a kind of mollusk, specifically the genus Cardiidae. The phrase comes from the fact that cockle shells are vaguely heart-shaped (their scientfic name comes from the Greek καρδιά, “heart”).
Intriguing.
I also discovered that my given name comes from the Hebrew (I knew this part) אֱלִישֶׁבַע, “God is my oath.”
Uh.
(1) Holy grammar wreckage, Batman!
(1)(a) Maybe that makes grammatical sense in Hebrew.
(2) God ain’t jack shit, much less an oath, much less mine.
___
Nerd, someday I hope to be loved as much as you love the Redhead.
I also hope to one day be worthy of such love and devotion.
Esteleth, re my name:
(From the pfft — I think ‘gracious’ is a better version, but hey — it is a Christian name! ;) )
ॐ: I’m not sure what my comment has to do with using the words you mentioned inappropriately. I was just mentioning that his prose looked a great deal like that of individuals with certain disorders (don’t remember which, it’s been too long since I took abnormal psychology).
I once got in a debate with a d00d who had a major LotR stiffie and who liked to rant about purity (of the text, that is) and shit like that. I told him that my ‘nym (yes the one I still use, here and like everywhere else) is my name, translated into Elvish (Sindarin, specifically). He said, “No it’s not – there’s no way you can translate names.”
So…
(1) Major character in LotR is a dude, who was known as Estel as a kid. The meaning of “Estel” is explicitly given, and explicitly stated to have this meaning in Quenya, Sindarin, and several other languages.
(2) Said meaning is the exact same meaning of my given name.
(3) “-eth” is explicitly established as a feminine suffix in Sindarin and its associated languages.
(4) I am female.
But
(5) I cannot possibly translate my given name into Sindarin?
Lolwut.
Hi Everybody!
Hugs for all who need and for those who don’t.
If any sees the slime who stole my briefcase and laptop, please kick them into a DNA smear, OK?
I’m going go talk to danielhaven.
That should cheer me up.
chigau: Do you mean smear as in genomic DNA digested by restriction endonucleases, then SDS-PAGed and SYBR Safe stained? (I don’t use EtBr, I like my DNA the way it is, thank you)
Damn chigau, that sucks.
chigau: That’s awful, I hope there was nothing irreplaceable stolen.
I’ll make a smear of DNA from incompletely optimized primers just for you.
A.R.: You’re missing all the fun of EtBr! (I wish my lab had money, I wish my lab had money…)
What John Morales said.
My internet connection has been shit all day. I hope this isn’t an ongoing thing for me.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/tokenskeptic/2012/03/21/john-scalzi-lends-blog-to-doctors-guest-post-on-texas-transvaginal-ultrasounds/
FUCK YEAH DOCTORS
Mine too. When I read your story about the successfully delivery of the corned beef sandwich and mint shake, I smiled. And got a bit teary. (It happens a lot when I’m very happy about something.) Thank you for sharing.
Any kind of smear and DNA is fine, as long as there is kicking.
Everything is replacable.
Except privacy.
I suppose I could use the old thermocycler in the basement that occasionally required a technical tap to turn on. A swift kick should substitute nicely.
chigau, :( I remember how heartbreaking it is to have your laptop stolen. I’m sorry that happened to you. I will stomp them with my polka-dotted spiked caligaria-waders if I happen to run into them.
—
Well, I massively lost it in the Village today. I knew it wasn’t going to be a good idea to go, knew I wasn’t equipped today, but I had to go because I was out of important things that I needed and I had to hand something in on campus anyhow. I was very right about it not being a good idea. Burst into tears twice in the street, panicked in Whole Foods and wasted a bunch of time doing the walking-in-circles-not-being-able-to-see-or-think thing that I usually only do when I’ve lost something I really need. (As I’ve posted about here before, Whole Foods is especially hard for me, but since I lost my debit card a while ago and only had one method of payment available, I had to go where they’d take it. Also meant I couldn’t get the medication I wanted (luckily not needed) because Whole Foods basically only has homeopathic shit. Yaaay.)
However, I had one of those fresh salads from their salad bar thingy. It was lovely and delicious. Yay salad.
Esteleth,
At least yours is just an oath, I have to be hir right hand.
Good morning
chigau
Urgh, that sucks
SG
I grant the point about crazy and insane, yet I don’t see this holding automatically true for mad or nutty.
A quick google search seemed to indicate that activists don’t object to those words like they do to crazy and insane and frankly, language doesn’t work like that, since words develop independently.
Alethea
Thanx.
It definetly is a spectrum and I think that my mum is not on the malicious side. She does love me, she does care, but she actually is incapable of doing so in an adult way.
Yes, I think that low contact may be a way.
What adds to this is that her brain is most likely already too damaged from booze.
I am expecting to lose my mum within the next years. Her pancreas was already badly damaged 25 years ago and I don’t know how longer her liver will take it.
I think that the next step will be that she has to stop working. A lab worker in a hospital who keeps forgetting crucial things is a danger to everybody.
Giliell, I second Alethea’s book recommendation. It’s good, and many others on the subject aren’t.
I ended up going the no-contact route, which suits my mother just fine – she’s on the malicious end of the spectrum. While I have some sympathy for how she got to be that way, some people simply are too toxic to engage with at all.
If you keep your contact to a level you can deal with, when she does die, you will have at least had a few years of relative calm.
@ chigau
Hey! You been hiding him away from the rest of us?
(sorry to hear about the robbery though)
Just watched a lecture by Germaine Greer. I really enjoy her work the more I am exposed to it. I thought the answer to the question asked at ~1:10:58 was pretty damned enlightening.
What annoys me about the feminism I have encountered/read is how fucking obvious it is and how fucking dull I was for n years for NOT FUCKING GETTING IT!!!!!! ARGH!
Why? Why isn’t this sort of stuff rammed into education earlier.* Greer talks about the kinds of education I love with great passion, exposes the kind of inequalities that simply go unquestioned (unless dullards like me are whacked over the head with the Privilege Clue Stick) with simple wit. I love it. I want MOAR!
Ah for a world that truly valued the type of education of which she speaks. That would be a liberated world.
Louis
*Don’t worry, I know why. I’m just ranting.
Oh and before anyone mentions it, obviously I don’t agree with everything Greer has said. Her comments on transsexuals for example haven’t been the best (understatement of the year).
Louis
Oh, good old Germs. She’s awesome in a curmudgeonly Christopher Hitchens kind of way. Sometimes utterly bug-fucked-up wrong, but so good in other ways.
Alethea, #499,
Absolutely! And good on her, and all of us who are bug-fucked-up-wrong on occasion! Being wrong is good, it’s how you get to being less wrong.
There is one* attitude above all others I cannot stand and it is the age old problem that infests the political left.** Call it the People’s Front of Judea/Judean People’s Front problem, call it the narcissism of minor differences, call it an obsession with ideological purity or an inability to be wrong or tolerate deviation from party lines. It’s the grand irony, for example, of the accommodationist argument, of the valuing of apparent civility over the real consideration of honest, blunt engagement. It’s being “nice” at the expense of being pluralist. But I digress…
Greer is wrong about so much, she has her blinkers, her prejudices, her biases. So do I. So do you (plural!). Whether or not she/I/you realise(s) this is a different question. Or whether we realise this in a meaningful way I should say, lip service to the idea is easy. But it is trivially easy to look at the arguments she presents and read the good bit, the cohesive bits, the well evidenced or coherent bits. Those don’t stop being good because she said some batshittery about something else.
That’s not to say that individuals don’t exist for whom that connection has been stretched to maximum tension! I’m guessing that Ken Ham and I are not going to have a great deal of common ground to engage in dialogue on. Perhaps I’m wrong, there’s always hope! Forgive me though if I don’t hold my breath whilst exploring ideas with Ham, searching for the points of unity with which to form a foundation of meaningful discourse.
Louis
* One, Louis? Yeah, right. You’re really only ranty about one thing.
** Why don’t we have a revolution? Because we’re too busy arguing with each other.