Comments

  2. says

    Folks… The Borowicz Report IS a parody. :)

    That doesn’t change the fact that right-wing goons will use ANYTHING as a weapon against Obama. I mean, I don’t even know why anyone is talking about this.

  4. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    *the Orkin peeps put out peanut butter to entice the rats

    Mice love peanut butter too. The cheap sub-generic government suplus stuff worked wonders in a couple of days…

  5. says

    I have a ticket for WIS2. Now I need to figure out where to sleep (especially given that it’s on a holiday weekend, so many hostels are already fully booked), and how to get there.

    Am I the only Pharyngulite going, btw? I don’t remember anyone else mentioning it, but I miss a lot of what goes on in the lounge and on thunderdome

  6. The Mellow Monkey says

    When I was a kid and had pet rats, they would run around the house freely and hide under the fridge, which deeply upset my mother. I trained them so that if I put my hand under the fridge with a peanut butter smeared cracker on it, they would come to me and get rewarded with PB and scritches after returning to their cages.

    Looking back on it, I’m astounded at how easily I was able to train them to come and return to their cages when they were bothering my mom. Those were some very well-behaved little ratty friends.

  8. says

    I live near DC. I might go if I can.

    oh, that would be fun. Hope it works out. And if I can’t find some reasonable sleeping arrangement in DC, I might take you up on the offer of sleeping space. So, I’ll keep the offer in mind :-)

  10. says

    I’ll make sure to keep kitties out of the bedroom

    heh. I have 3 cats, and we don’t close the bedroom door. So, I get trampled over on a nightly basis, and woken up regularly to dispense bellyrubs/food/warmth at need :-p

    Anyway, thanks for the offer :-)

  12. says

    I really hope my financial situation improves enough to attend one of these conferences/conventions. WIS2 would be great to aim for. I really want to meet some of the Horde. Of course precious few of these conventions are anywhere in the Southeast United States…No Love :(

  13. John Morales says

    Tony, it’s the Poe effect.

    (Too easy to believe that at least some of his supporters would go along with it)

  14. athyco says

    “Republicans Praise Obama for Offering Bold Vision to Thwart” is the blog entry preceding the Beyoncé lip-sync story. Yeah.

    The last paragraphs of the linked story relate that Rand Paul is sure that everyone recognizes Hillary Clinton answering every question at her Senate Benghazi hearing “didn’t fool anyone.”

    Sometimes I wonder what will happen that goes over the line so that it’s impossible to parody or satirize because they’ve tested that line often.

  15. carlie says

    I wish I could go to WIS!
    Tony, if I could get to the southeast, you’d be my first stop for a visit. :)

  16. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    Caine:
    Started reading Manhood in America. First impression is that someone who checked the book out before me has an odd sense of humor. Or something.

    From the introduction, I give you quotes from the book (highlighted by a reader) and the associated margin comment (in italics):

    Manhood is less about the drive for domination and more about the fear of others dominating us, having power or control over us. Throughout American history American men have been afraid that others will see us as less manly, weak, timid, frightened.

    King’s Speech

    Masculinity is largely a homosocial enactment

    file sharing

    American men try to control themselves; they project their fears onto others; and when feeling too pressured, they attempt an escape. These three themes recur frequently in the following pages, as men return to self-control, exclusion, and escape in their efforts to ground a secure sense of themselves as men.

    thesis: sexual offending

    I am BAFFLED.

  19. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    Anyone who highlights a library book should be severely punished.

    QFT!!!

  25. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    Anyone who highlights a library book should be severely punished.

    Flogging sounds good…

  26. carlie says

    Happy birthday to Kat,
    Happy birthday to Kat,
    You’re so cool
    You’re where it’s at,
    Happy birthday to Kat!
    *confetti*

  27. David Marjanović says

    Am I the only Pharyngulite going, btw?

    …I arrived in NYC at the same time as Sandy. When the subway and then the museum reopened, I was told a wall next to the collection had been damaged (or something), and it was going to take months till they’d even know when they could let people in again. Still no news. If the collection is reopened in May…

    …file sharing?

    Is that what they call it these days?

  28. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    Happy Birthday Katherine!

    Uhm, I have a confession. There’s a book in the EPL system that I wrote in chigau . I’m sorry, I really, really am. I was young. I was stupid. I did it in pencil.

    What was I suppose to do? I’d let slide having one space ship going into orbit around another, neither of which were even moon sized let alone planet sized. I let slide characters floating weightless while the ship was accelerating. But when one character was described as having come from the town of Alberta Canada I wrote in the margin “Oh come ON!”

    I shall now go face* the books at my local library as penance.

    *As in line the spines up neatly with the edge of the shelf. Which honestly isn’t much of a penance because that’s what I do anyway if I’m not paying attention. Years and years in abookstore has left their mark.

  29. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    As in line the spines up neatly with the edge of the shelf. Which honestly isn’t much of a penance because that’s what I do anyway if I’m not paying attention. Years and years in abookstore has left their mark.

    *here’s your punishment, some seven-day-old grog, and a Lilac Beret escort to make sure no mischief occurs without your permission (godbots made to apologize free of charge). Hands fuming tankard over*

  30. chigau (無味ない) says

    FossilFishy
    When ever I have a library book, I erase the pencil marks.
    So I may have fixed yours already.

  36. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    The Catholic Church is disgusting, I’m sorry. They are the most evil organization on the planet.

    I think that is well established fact by now. Even the Lilac Berets™ are afraid to take them on.

  42. says

    Yeah, the Catholic Church is pretty much the worst… I wonder why all those slymepitters give the Catholics a pass, and come after feminists instead? Not that I would approve of them targeting ANYONE the way they do, but I could understand it if it were people who are actually guilty of things.

    In other news, BossNurse’s crisis at work has been averted. She called me again this afternoon from work, still in a pretty bad place, and then had to go to a meeting and hung up. At said meeting, her boss started by thanking her for being there and praising all the good work she’s doing. Talk about saying the right thing at the right time!

  43. says

    Katherine
    Happy Birthday!

    Also, I don’t know which dresses ideeli was advertising earlier, but L has looked at their site, and he says he can make anything he saw on there for you, and beat their price by a good margin.

  45. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    Caine:

    Uh…okay. I think I might actually grok that,

    Do tell? Because I am baffled.

  47. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    Uhm , Nerd? [Holds tankard at arm’s length] I’m pretty sure libations are not suppose to have eyes.

  49. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    Esteleth

    Are you still in need of replacement funds?

  51. carlie says

    I’m pretty sure libations are not suppose to have eyes.

    That’s what the beer goggles are for.

  52. says

    Manhood is less about the drive for domination and more about the fear of others dominating us, having power or control over us. Throughout American history American men have been afraid that others will see us as less manly, weak, timid, frightened.

    King’s Speech

    This is the one I’m not sure about – can anyone who saw the movie tell me if it dealt with British / American relations in any way? Basically, the note taker felt that whatever the content of The King’s Speech, it was relevant to post-colonial feelings toward the UK and their impact on masculinity. So, the movie was an easy way for them to understand this.

    Masculinity is largely a homosocial enactment

    file sharing

    The new homosocial ground, the new men’s club, properly techified, it brought homosocial relations back to their proper place – no nasty feminizing influences. (Ooops.) Also, different kinds of men’s clubs through technology – from stuffy to rabid all the way to the classic and traditional escape valves for men feeling not masculine enough – escape (games) and expansion (hacking, pirating, inventing).

    American men try to control themselves; they project their fears onto others; and when feeling too pressured, they attempt an escape. These three themes recur frequently in the following pages, as men return to self-control, exclusion, and escape in their efforts to ground a secure sense of themselves as men.

    thesis: sexual offending

    *Sigh* The old “men bottle things up, they are forced to, they become fearful and blocked from escape, retreat to an easy power grab: rape.”

  53. says

    Carlie:
    We made it up to 9° today! Woo hoo!

    Right now, it’s 6° and our low for tonight is -6°. We’re having trouble getting the temperature in our apartment above 65°†. It was a struggle to get the Darkling down– despite wearing a “sleep sack” and being loosely swaddled in a thick blanket, she is not pleased.

    Kat:
    Happy happy happy!
    Joy joy joy!

    †There’s a small pocket of warmth in the living room were we have a space heater set up. If all else fails, I’ll bring the baby down here and run it all night. She can sleep in her portable crib (or fuck it, the swing) and I’ll take the couch.

  54. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    I see, I see. Sound policy that, can’t be too careful after all.

    [places beer goggles on grog]

    Er, now what?

  55. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    Hmm. Sure, I guess that makes sense.

    And no, The King’s Speech did not feature British/American relations. There were lots of jokes about Australians, and the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia is a plot point, but no. No Americans. Maybe something could be said about how Bertie’s stammer makes him feel less of a man (it does make others bully him, and makes him feel very awkward)?

  56. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    FossilFishy:

    Are you still in need of replacement funds?

    I am good. Thanks!

  58. carlie says

    Audley – we’re at -8F now. Urgh. I was only half kidding when I suggested to the family that we all sleep in the basement around the wood stove and take shifts keeping it fed all night. This is ridiculous!

    Poor DarkBaby, all confined like that. :) We’ve often run space heaters all night – doing so tonight in child 2 ‘s bedroom, the one furthest from the furnace.

  59. carlie says

    Also we are at almost 70% humidity, so it’s a wet cold. Ok, all the Canadians can laugh at me now.

  60. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    And now a chunk of that molar has broken off…
     
    …mere hours after I made an appointment for Monday.
     
    Maybe, if I’m lucky, they might be able to get me in earlier? And maybe they can rebuild it?? ‘Cause a root canal just ain’t happenin’. Not until after we finish buying my MRSA-less ass back from the hospital.
     
    In July.
    –
    Happy birthday, Katherine Lorraine!
    –
    *pouncehug* for David Marjanović.
    –

    piece of evidence #4085764385 that it’s not about Teh Babeeeez: In malpractice case, Catholic hospital argues fetuses aren’t people:

    *blinkblink*
    Wow. That is some breathtaking hypocrisy.
    –

    In other news, BossNurse’s crisis at work has been averted.

    Hurrah!
    –

  61. says

    Esteleth:

    Maybe something could be said about how Bertie’s stammer makes him feel less of a man (it does make others bully him, and makes him feel very awkward)?

    Hmmm. Only the note taker knows! This one remains mysterious. I don’t see how the movie could possibly relate to what Kimmel is referring to there.

  63. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    Son is in Sioux Falls. I suspect that it is beastly cold.
     
    Sure hope he took a heavy coat.
    –

  64. Azkyroth Drinked the Grammar Too :) says

    It’s been getting down to 32 at night around here. It’s refreshing.

    Unfortunately, it’s now raining, and since it’s been more than three days of sunshine and 90% of California drivers’ frontal lobes are water soluble, we’re now deeply entrenched in “OH MAH GAWERD THERE’S WAW-DER COM’N’OUDDA SKAH! WH-WHUHS IT MEAN, MAN?! AH BETTER SLAM ON THE BRAKES!”

  66. says

    Carlie,
    -8°?? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you do live like an hour away from me and didn’t move to Maine or something, right?

    I don’t know if I’m unjustly paranoid about space heaters or what, but I hate running them at night when I’m asleep. Like the house WILL BURN DOWN if I’m not on top of the damned thing whenever it’s on.

  68. Hekuni Cat, MQG says

    cicely:

    And now a chunk of that molar has broken off…

    I’m so sorry. *hugs

    Caine:

    Misogyny: The World’s Oldest Prejudice, by Jack Holland. Good stuff so far, and it’s only 287 pages.

    I’ve added this one to my list too, but I don’t have it yet.

  69. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    When the Small Fry was a bub in arms we had a clock in her room that also measured temperature. On a cold winter’s morning it was often 6c, inside. Gotta say we loved the sleep sack. We put an electric space heater in her room but found that it made no difference to her sleep so stopped bothering. Bubbies are full of brown fat generating heat like a boss and ours must have had more than most.

    Mind you, now that it’s 30c in her room at bedtime she insists on her “sleep sack”, a flannel pillow case to put her feet in, her warmed in the microwave rice bag and to have the duvet pulled up to go to sleep. We give her a couple of minutes to get to sleep and then strip off all the layers. In those few minutes she ends up glowing like a horseshoe ready for shaping.

  70. says

    Hekuni Cat:

    I’ve added this one to my list too, but I don’t have it yet.

    If you have a tablet, it’s available as an e-book. This one is particularly helpful in regard to clear, concise language about misogyny, a valuable tool for future arguments.

  71. Nutmeg says

    carlie:

    Ok, all the Canadians can laugh at me now.

    Ooh, is this my chance to compete in the I’m-colder-than-you contest? It’s currently -30C/-22F, no windchill. The coldest temperature in the 5-day forecast is -31C/-24F, or -40C/-40F with windchill.

    The coldest temperature I have ever personally experienced (without windchill) is, I think, -44C/-47F. With windchill, I distinctly remember a day that was -52C/-62F. And I still had to go to school and write an exam. (Uphill both ways in paper shoes, etc.)

    And yes, it’s a dry cold.

    (Do I win? Do I want to know what the prize is?)

  73. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    Now I’m worried about whether I dare brush it tonight or not…or what I dare eat…or drink….
    :( :( :(
    –

  76. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    So…let’s say, hypothetically, that enough more of this tooth breaks off in the night that the filling pops out. Tips, suggestions, pointers?
     
    And I just can’t make my tongue let it alone.
    –

  77. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    Huh. It just now occurs to me—I don’t recall anyone here admitting to the practice of dentistry. We may want to acquire one, sometime before we set up the Commune.
    –

  84. Azkyroth Drinked the Grammar Too :) says

    I am not terribly familiar with Big Think. Why is it a bad platform?

    A combination of random, finicky formatting that takes forever to load and bugs out somewhat regularly, hosting the likes of Satoshi Kanazawa, and being a veritable fucking flytrap of

    shallow, privilege-blind, conceit-addled drive-by pearl-clutchers who fancy them selves “big thinkers” and seem to have made it their personal mission to confirm every negative “ivory tower” stereotype ever.

  87. Hekuni Cat, MQG says

    Caine:

    This one is particularly helpful in regard to clear, concise language about misogyny, a valuable tool for future arguments.

    Good to know. Unfortunately, I don’t have a tablet, so unless that unexpectedly changes in the immediate future, I’ll be getting a hard copy.

  89. Tethys says

    cicely,

    IANAD but I am a trained dental ceramist. I do know my way around a dental handpiece, if somebody can do the novacaine part. Sorry to hear about the tooth breaking. (another design flaw IMO) Is it painful or sensitive? If you only broke a cusp tip, or a proximal ridge*, it can be fixed easily with light cured bonding.

    Brush them as normal if it doesn’t hurt. A dental irrigation syringe can be very helpful, and warm salt water rinses are good for sensitivity and oral hygiene in general.

    *ridge at the contact point between posterior teeth

  90. Hekuni Cat, MQG says

    Caine – Even though I haven’t read the book as yet, Culture of contempt does sound “[a]ccurate and descriptive” to me too. I hope it will help with me with presenting arguments during future MRA incursions. At least that’s my goal.

  91. says

    Morning
    I feel like shit. Looks like the little one’s belly bug rubbed of (she is already running around again since Monday). I know somebody who’s staying at home today…

    Hapy Birthday, Katherine

    cicely
    Comiserations.
    I used beeswax in the past to temporarily fill a hole or cover a sharp edge.

  92. says

    Has anyone given their cats wine? I just poured a glass of Cabernet and Kayta was intrigued by it. She brought her nose into the glass as if she were going to try some. I dipped my finger in the wine and presented it to her. She licked my finger a bit! I did not do it again, on the off chance that wine is not good for cats.

  93. Menyambal --- son of a son of a bachelor says

    cicely, if your tooth is hurting, a clove from your spice rack might help. Clove oil is a common numbing agent, and I keep a bottle of cloves around just for teeth, sometimes. They do take the pain down a notch, for sure. Shove one in the broken bit, and you might be able to leave it alone.

  94. Lofty says

    Tony, my cats eat whatever they can steal. I’m sure if I spilt wine there’d be a cat tasting it. The only trouble with the grey cat is he gets the runs sometimes from what goes down the hatch (tofu, lemon syrup cake, asparagus, broccoli, and of course anything vaguely meaty. And he’s now 15. And disgustingly healthy.) I’m sure their digestive system can handle most things.

  95. says

    Tony, Lofty

    Hate to be the one to break it to you guys, but cats cannot process alcohol and it is very very bad for them. I’m sure a tiny taste won’t do any harm, but don’t let your fur-babies (of any species!) get used to it, regardless of their current health.

  97. Lofty says

    WMDKitty, good reminder for me to google search before I post! How about this snippet:

    Some manufacturers of cat and dog dental care products actually add 25% or more straight grain alcohol (aka ethyl alcohol) to their formula, which can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system over time. Either way, alcohol isn’t good for canines or felines. Dogs and cats can even get alcohol toxicity by ingesting fermented foods if they eat enough of them.

    The things that can kill us and our pets are legion. Luckily I only have around 1 glass of wine a year and don’t spill any.

  98. Janine: Hallucinating Liar says

    Back in my college days, one night, we spiked the cat’s water with a little vodka. The cat got drunk. For the next few hours, while we were partying, we watched the cat’s antics.

    But the cat really did not like getting drunk. We tried again on other nights to spike the cat’s water. He would not touch the water.

  101. Beatrice says

    Happy birthday, Katherine!

    —
    Still worrying about how to get a couple of hours off work to go to that interview. Faking an illness could cause problems if I have to go to another round of interviews in a couple of days and have to take a day off again, or by some misfortune it gets out. Saying the truth… I dunno. I don’t want problems.
    I mean, I’m working for financial aid, not real pay and I could get a real job. People should understand me, right?

  105. Beatrice says

    Thanks, WMDKitty.
    It’s a bit of a… situation, this whole thing. I don’t want to fuck up possible staying at this place once this training period is done (unless I get a paying job in the meantime (if I find a way to attend interviews (without fucking up chances for staying if I don’t get…))). You get it. I’m in a recursive loop.

    And I’m a panicky person.

  107. says

    So. It’s 0°F outside. No idea how cold it is in my apartment.

    The Darkling and I have moved downstairs and we’re snuggling on the couch. The space heater is cranked up to 11, but there’s a weird (new) draft coming from the kitchen.

    *sigh* What I would give for storm windows.

  108. John Morales says

    Datum on the current Australian political climate: Katter candidates fall over anti-gay remarks

    A Katter’s Australian Party candidate for the federal election has stood down and a Senate nominee has been suspended after they both made anti-gay comments.

    The candidate for the Victorian seat of Wannon, Tess Corbett, has withdrawn her nomination after causing controversy for comparing gay people with paedophiles.

    Queensland Senate nominee Bernard Gaynor, meanwhile, has had his party membership suspended and nomination deemed invalid after making other homophobic comments.

  110. carlie says

    Audley – we don’t have the big city warming effect out here. :) But I have noticed that there are a huge number of microclimates because of all the hills; even with the official weather, right now my Windows weather gadget says it’s -11, wunderground says -20, and weather channel says -16. I have a thermometer stuck on the outside of my kitchen window, but it mainly measures how much heat my stupid bad window lets through.

    Top Chef – FINALLY.

  111. carlie says

    On windows – we gave up a few years ago and instead of the thin see-through shrink plastic, went to 4 mil plastic (construction sheeting) taped on with weatherproofing tape. Can’t see out of them now, but it does help more. I’ve seen that you can now get see through plastic up to that thick, but it costs more.

  112. carlie says

    We are right now 50 degrees F colder than McMurdo base in Antarctica. Just sayin’.

    (shhh – none of that “it’s summer there now” crap)

  113. birgerjohansson says

    The More Republicans Know About Politics, The More They Believe Conspiracy Theories http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/conspiracy-theory-partisan-bias
    Regarding the photo…is this a “reptilian” thing???
    .
    What Was the NRA Like in 1905? http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/01/nra-corporate-members-leadership-1905 But in 1905, Norway quit the union with Sweden, which started a lot of butterflies flapping until sixty years later the crazies took over NRA. It’s all the Norwegians’ fault!
    .
    LGBT youth know to look ‘straight’ ahead http://phys.org/news/2013-01-lgbt-youth-straight.html
    .
    Vaccinating children against rotavirus may indirectly protect adults too, study finds http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-vaccinating-children-rotavirus-indirectly-adults.html But don’t they know vaccines are Ehvil?
    .
    Right target, but missing the bulls-eye for Alzheimer’s http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-bulls-eye-alzheimer.html
    .
    E-books show kids the colour of Cree language http://phys.org/news/2013-01-e-books-kids-colour-cree-language.html
    .
    Novel methods to support decision making processes http://phys.org/news/2013-01-methods-decision.html “New approaches to efficiency analyses”.

  114. opposablethumbs says

    Merry-Go-Round-the-Sun day, Katherine! Hope you have a good day, and that there may be cake!
    .
    Totally sympathise with the dilemma, Beatrice. I guess you could think out beforehand how to put it to them all nice and calm and “sensibly” and just ask …is your boss decent(-ish) or a bit of an arse?
    .

  115. Ogvorbis says

    Good morning.

    Threadrupt.

    Spent yesterday home with a godsawful headache and vomiting. Feeling a little better.
    The snow is disappearing. Even though the high today should be about 12F. I just love watching snow evaporate in cold weather. It is sublime, mate.

  118. says

    John @608:
    Nice. There is justice in the world. Oh if only the situation were the same in the U.S. I would love to see Bachman or Santorum or Limbaugh dropped by their party and ostracized for the many hateful things they say.

    ****
    In other news, what the heck am I doing up so early???!!!

  119. carlie says

    Audley – awesome. :) Weatherseal tape is fantastic. Yes, it will probably take paint off when you remove it, but it really does work. It looks like packing tape but is cold-resistant. like this. I use it to put the heavy plastic up, and also sometimes just to seal small gaps that the foam strips won’t fit into.

  120. Ogvorbis says

    So the norovirus got you Og ? Glad you are feeling better.

    I was only really sick for about 12 hours so I doubt it was a norovirus. Anyway, feeling better.

    Weird ass dreams, though. Seriously. I dreamt about discussing gender politics with a donkey.

  122. says

    I don’t think North Korean officials have thought this through. How potent is the U.S. military arsenal again?

    ” North Korea has dramatically stepped up its threats against the United States, saying it would carry out further rocket launches and a nuclear test that would target America.

    The announcement by the country’s top military body comes after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) yesterday agreed on a US-backed resolution to censure and sanction North Korea for a rocket launch in December that breached UN rules.

    “We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are targeted at the United States,” North Korea’s National Defence Commission said, according to state news agency KCNA.”

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-24/n-korea-to-target-us-with-nuclear-test/4482760

    Hell, how do the neighboring countries feel about talk like that?

  129. dianne says

    I dreamt about discussing gender politics with a donkey.

    Very Jungian. Did you get the donkey to agree that gender politics were not a settled issue and that the donkey needed to include abortion rights in its platform?

  130. Ogvorbis says

    Very Jungian.

    No, not really. The donkey wasn’t all that young. More of a middle-aged ass.

    Did you get the donkey to agree that gender politics were not a settled issue and that the donkey needed to include abortion rights in its platform?

    Nope. The donkey was quite upset that the burros and hinneys were threatening his happiness by demanding the same rights as donkeys. It was weird. Seriously weird.

  132. Ogvorbis says

    Really?

    Yes. Really.

    Weird _ass_ dreams? With a _donkey_? Tee hee. Too funny.

    And I had no medications in me at the time (well, other than my bp meds).

  134. birgerjohansson says

    ‘Population Bomb’ scientist: ‘Nobody’ has the right to ‘as many children as they want’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/22/population-bomb-scientist-nobody-has-the-right-to-as-many-children-as-they-want/
    — — — — — — —
    Catholic leaders call on ‘pro-life’ lawmakers to ‘stand up to the NRA’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/23/catholic-leaders-call-on-pro-life-lawmakers-to-stand-up-to-the-nra/
    (faints from shock of RCC standing for something positive)
    — — —
    Novel methods to support decision making processes http://phys.org/news/2013-01-methods-decision.html “New approaches to efficiency analyses”.

  135. mildlymagnificent says

    Weather wise? It’s 1 am and just went below 27C here (that’s 80.6 in old money).

    I think the predicted 25C maximum is now history for today. With any luck it will get to the predicted 19C minimum in 5 or 6 hours time.

    Happy Birthday Katherine. Cake anyone?

  136. Ogvorbis says

    Weather wise? It’s 1 am and just went below 27C here (that’s 80.6 in old money).

    2F at 7:00am. Heading for a high of about 15F.

    Bite me!

  137. birgerjohansson says

    Posting seven links means comment held for moderation. Tries again.
    — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
    The More Republicans Know About Politics, The More They Believe Conspiracy Theories http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/conspiracy-theory-partisan-bias
    Regarding the photo…is this a “reptilian” thing???
    .
    What Was the NRA Like in 1905? http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/01/nra-corporate-members-leadership-1905 But in 1905, Norway quit the union with Sweden, which started a lot of butterflies flapping until sixty years later the crazies took over NRA. It’s all the Norwegians’ fault!
    .
    LGBT youth know to look ‘straight’ ahead http://phys.org/news/2013-01-lgbt-youth-straight.html
    .
    Vaccinating children against rotavirus may indirectly protect adults too, study finds http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-vaccinating-children-rotavirus-indirectly-adults.html But don’t they know vaccines are Ehvil?
    .
    Right target, but missing the bulls-eye for Alzheimer’s http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-bulls-eye-alzheimer.html
    .
    E-books show kids the colour of Cree language http://phys.org/news/2013-01-e-books-kids-colour-cree-language.html

  138. birgerjohansson says

    The More Republicans Know About Politics, The More They Believe Conspiracy Theories http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/conspiracy-theory-partisan-bias
    Regarding the photo…is this a “reptilian” thing???
    .
    What Was the NRA Like in 1905? http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/01/nra-corporate-members-leadership-1905 But in 1905, Norway quit the union with Sweden, which started a lot of butterflies flapping until sixty years later the crazies took over NRA. It’s all the Norwegians’ fault!
    .
    LGBT youth know to look ‘straight’ ahead http://phys.org/news/2013-01-lgbt-youth-straight.html
    .
    Vaccinating children against rotavirus may indirectly protect adults too, study finds http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-vaccinating-children-rotavirus-indirectly-adults.html But don’t they know vaccines are Ehvil?
    .
    Right target, but missing the bulls-eye for Alzheimer’s http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-bulls-eye-alzheimer.html

  140. says

    birgerjohanssen:
    I think the fainting couch is big enough for us both. Wow, the RCC doing right for once??!! Is it opposite day?
    Speaking of the raping children church, Patrick Hoffman, of catholic answers live recently said the world is UNDERpopulated. Damn moron.

    ****
    In the Shermer thread md just said getting rid of the Dept of Education would be a good thing. Wow…

  141. says

    @ Ogvobis

    Arguing with an ass? That is good! (You are interacting with your dream.)

    @ Audley

    I’ll make sure he gets a silicone gun!

    Your second ammendment right – use it or lose it!

  143. says

    Son of a… it is cold where many of you are, so I’m emailing out a ton of fuel pellets, split up as needed. It is not that cold here, relatively. I sort of miss Florida though, I never saw single-digit weather there. It is warming up, but it is also supposed to rain this weekend. I was going to take BossNurse to see the state monument/historical site thingy up the road, pack a picnic lunch and take the dog with us. Now I guess not.

    I had the strangest dream last night. Have you ever seen that thing in a movie where people can’t leave a room/building, they exit a door and find themselves walking right back in? I had that as a dream, except I was on a spaceship trying to get away from Darth Vader. Yeah, THAT Darth Vader.

  144. Ogvorbis says

    Arguing with an ass? That is good! (You are interacting with your dream.)

    Oh, I interact in my dreams all the time. Conversations, even conversations with my abuser, are quite common in my dreams. I have no control over what is actually happening, but I (the I in the dream) and conversing with others. So, not sure if that is the interaction you mean. It’s more like I am a puppet than an actual free agency.

  145. UnknownEric says

    Some mild amusement for a chilly Thursday morning:

    On my way to work this morning, I noticed a little commercial operation I had never noticed before. The name? Jesus Christ Bail Bonds.

    The mixture of the “sacred” and profane just tickled my funny bone for some reason.

  146. Ogvorbis says

    Have you ever seen that thing in a movie where people can’t leave a room/building, they exit a door and find themselves walking right back in?

    A frequent dream for me is to wake up, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, get dressed, pack my lunch, go out the door, land in bed, wake up, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, get dressed, pack my lunch, go out the door, land in bed, wake up, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, get dressed, pack my lunch, go out the door, land in bed, wake up, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, get dressed, pack my lunch, go out the door, land in bed, wake up, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, get dressed, pack my lunch, go out the door, and wonder, am I really awake this time?

    I had that as a dream, except I was on a spaceship trying to get away from Darth Vader. Yeah, THAT Darth Vader.

    So I was arguing with an ass and you were trying to escape Darth Vader.

    Paging Dr. Freud, line 3. Dr. Freud, line 3.

  147. Ogvorbis says

    The name? Jesus Christ Bail Bonds.

    Just flashed on Bill Cosby:

    “Goddamnit, get in here!”

    “No, Dad, I’m Jesus Christ!”

  149. Azkyroth Drinked the Grammar Too :) says

    Oh, well I can see what Katherine meant now. Damn. Although isn’t Patheos full of theist bloggers along with the Atheist ones? I suppose if Patheos loads easier than Big Think, that is one incremental advance.

    So far, there’s been quite a bit of masturBOTHSIDESation in the comments, but the medium doesn’t lend itself to “HEY! This is supposed to be ‘BIG THINK!’ What do you think you’re doing challenging my preconceptions and making me uncomfortable?!”

  150. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    Yesterday, I had the following conversation with Boss:

    Boss: Did you do the experiment we outlined?
    Me: Yes. But the data are odd. I think something went wrong. I’m going to repeat it. In fact, I started earlier today, I’ll have the new data early next week.
    Boss: Show me.
    Me: [shows data]
    Boss: These data don’t make sense. Redo it.
    Me: Already started. It’ll be done early next week.
    Boss: Why didn’t you say so? And why are you showing me data you know to be crap?
    Me: [internal facepalm]

    Today, I:
    1) Looked out my window and observed a buttload of snow.
    2) Remembered that my snow boots were in my car.
    3) Facepalmed.
    4) Wore non-boots to my car and put my boots on in my car
    5) Observed the pain of putting feet in frozen boots.
    6) Finally got my goddamn W-2.
    7) Filed my taxes. Refund of $1300 FTW!

    And now, to call my doctor. This goddamn sebaceous cyst is pissing me off.

  152. says

    It’s more like I am a puppet than an actual free agency.

    :(

    I meant the free agent bit.

    (Changing major parts of the dream, turn the donkey into a frog, fly, move from desert to jungle… anything that creates the idea (epiphany!) that it is your dream, under your control.)

    …

    Having said that, mine have been rather mundane of late. Perhaps from having broken sleep.

  153. Ogvorbis says

    Hey Oggie, let’s please not page Dr. Freud. Ugh.

    That was attempted sarcasm, iJoe. Note the ‘attempted’ part. I was just wondering what Freud’s dream symbolism would have made of Darth Vader and doors that you go in as you come out.

    I meant the free agent bit.

    I have never been a free agent in my dreams. The ones that don’t involve 9/11 or my abuse are almost always me trying to do something, get something, find something and roadblock after roadblock are tossed up in my face.

    Last night, one donkey dream, two abuse dreams, one 9/11 dream, and one looking-for-a-bathroom-while-everyone-and-everything-tries-to-stop-me dream.

  154. dianne says

    I’m distinctly not a free agent in my dreams. I’m especially fond of the dreams in which I realize that I’m dreaming and that therefore physics doesn’t apply and literally anything I can imagine can happen. Unfortunately, it’s my subconscious that decides what can happen. Fortunately, my subconscious is sarcastic against self so the monsters usually end up being fatally flawed and ridiculous after their initial looming horror. Usually.

  156. The Mellow Monkey says

    Holy shit, Josh. I got as far as him misrepresenting Schrödinger’s rapist. I hadn’t noticed that part. :facepalm:

  157. says

    Sometimes in my dreams, I’m a superhero and I can fly and shoot frickin laser beams out of my hands… and then sometimes I accidentally fly too far from Earth and I realize that the distances between planets are really really far, at which point the dream turns into a minor nightmare of me being lost in vacuum.

  158. dontpanic says

    Esteleth,
    Facepalm indeed. Sounds too similar to many conversations I have each week (w/ a multitude of colleagues).

    …
    5) Observed the pain of putting feet in frozen boots.
    6) Finally got my goddamn W-2.
    7) Filed my taxes. Refund of $1300 FTW!

    Thanks, for the reminder that my boots are out in the car (8F); luckily no significant snow (yet).

    Hmm. Haven’t gotten a single (expect 3) W2 yet. If I remember right one of the colleges my wife teaches at never gets around to mailing us one; each year we have to track someone down to get a copy. I think they distribute it “online” in some obscure manner. Probably won’t get a refund though. Having the wife as an part-time “adjunct” at two colleges means that they each pretend that that’s all her income and under deduct — great for monthly bill paying, but the sticker shock of the “tax due” kills me every year. And yes I bumped my own withholding to try to account for this.

  159. Beatrice says

    opposablethumbs,

    I decided to ask, and just go with the truth. What happens, happens.
    Boss is nice, has a lot of ideas about my staying there after this year. The problem is that this is government office, so boss can’t really decide whether they will be employing someone for my place next year or not. It would be a big risk for me to decide not to search anywhere else (not to mention the whole not getting real pay, but financial assistance for a year).
    But I kinda like the place and the colleagues. I got pretty comfortable here and besides, change scares me.

  160. Janine: Hallucinating Liar says

    On my way to work this morning, I noticed a little commercial operation I had never noticed before. The name? Jesus Christ Bail Bonds.

    SC linked to one of their commercials a few years ago.

    Bail out!
    Bail out!
    Bail out!
    Bail out!
    Bail out!

    Bail out!

  161. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    My nightmares were full of Mormon missionaries and disintegrating teeth.
     
    Bring back the big, wobbly purple Things!
    –
    Pteryxx: Thanks! Somehow it just never occurred to me to google it.
     
    The dentist’s office has me in for any cancellations, but there are no other openings to plug me into that are any sooner than my Monday morning appointment; but no additional bits came off in the night, there’s no swelling or pain, and I plan to chew very carefully. I am cautiously optimistic that a lot of crap isn’t getting in under the filling, on the basis that when I rinsed with Lysterine last night, my mouth didn’t catch fire. Maybe it can avoid abscessing.
    *fingers crossed*
    –
    Tethys: No pain or sensitivity (though I haven’t chewed anything harder than a slice of bread, since the thing broke). The break is on the inside-back of the tooth, there are no teeth in nearby contact, and it appears to dip down more-or-less tangent to the gum, at the lowest point. (The broken-out bit is approximately ‘U’ shaped, judging by what my tongue says.) It doesn’t act as if chewed glop is getting under the filling—would there be an advantage to getting something to seal the missing patch against the filling, or (and here’s my overactive imagination at work), would that just trap Unknown Things underneath, to fester? I don’t know enough to decide….
    –
    *hugs* for Giliell. I’ve seen (maybe even here, who knows?) kids described as “little petri dishes with legs”.
    –
    *hugs* and sympathy for Ogvorbis as well.
    –

  162. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    Have you ever seen that thing in a movie where people can’t leave a room/building, they exit a door and find themselves walking right back in? I had that as a dream, except I was on a spaceship trying to get away from Darth Vader. Yeah, THAT Darth Vader.

    I know this one, only subbing a dungeon-crawl setting for the spaceship, and a vampire for Darth Vader.
     
    The Husband has a thing for teleportation points in his dungeons. You generally figure it out when the mapping becomes obviously impossible.
    –

    The name? Jesus Christ Bail Bonds.

    Just flashed on Bill Cosby:
    “Goddamnit, get in here!”
    “No, Dad, I’m Jesus Christ!”

    Right there with you!
    :D
    –

  163. Ogvorbis says

    The Husband has a thing for teleportation points in his dungeons. You generally figure it out when the mapping becomes obviously impossible.

    Back when I DM’d (way back in the AD&D days (and even out of the White Box books (which I still have!))), I’d routinely set up long straight passages with 92 or 93 degree bends and a 1/2% up or down grade. When the mapper showed that they were back into a large room, it’d be a different room that looked remarkably similar. Of course, they still had a chance to spot it with a saving throw, but they hit that about 5% of the time. Fun times.

  166. katenrala says

    2 weeks ago I found lumps on my left and right waist. I showed them to my docs and they wanted to watch them. The lumps have grown and now hurt all the time, and hurt enough to wake me up if I roll over them while sleeping. I learned the hard way when I first found them to never, ever squeeze them.

    The docs told me today what I suspected,the lumps are more tumors but they aren’t restricted to my lungs or ribs like the rest.

    They’re going to get blasted with beta rays right after my lungs are finished being blasted by gamma rays.

    I’m so numbed by my experiences I don’t care much about my treatment and failing body so long as I can remain comfortable.

    I’ve also lost even more weight, I’m at 115 lbs even though I try really hard to be at 135 lbs. Doesn’t seem to matter what I eat, I just keep going down.

    Aw well. Our time all comes.

  168. says

    America*! Fuck yeah!

    My wife texted me to tell me she’s having an awesome day at work, our conversation last night really helped. I got an email telling me that some of my digital guitar effects pedals will soon be opened up for software-based editing to go along with beaming preset changes from my phone, which is AWESOME(won’t be released until March, NOT AWESOME). With any luck I’ll have my amplifier sold on Sunday, and I’m going to use some of the money to take my wife out for the day… lunch, and a movie, and walking around town sightseeing. I’ve lost an additional 6 pounds since starting the diet/exercise thing two weeks ago, putting my total for the last 6 months at around 30 pounds.

    *actually mostly Denmark, but I don’t know a song about Denmark that includes the words “fuck yeah!”

  169. Josh, Official SpokesGay says

    Katenrala, I am so, so sorry to hear this. Jesus.

    Have you tried smoking weed for your appetite? I’ve seen it really work well for folks with AIDS and cancer. If you don’t like smoking, it can be vaporized or eaten, too.

  171. Josh, Official SpokesGay says

    Also from the unsolicited advice corner: If you haven’t already, please don’t wait to enroll for hospice care. Most people spend only their last few agonizing days in hospice because they can’t bring themselves to acknowledge they’re dying. So they suffer exquisitely when they don’t need to. I’ve seen it up close and personal.

    You are clear-headed about what’s going on, and I hope you demand the very best, most comfortable environment to do whatever the hell you want in.

  173. Pteryxx says

    *offers anklehugs to katenrala* I dunno how you like to do things, but if you want I’ll hide under your bed like a slipper. <_<

    Are you anywhere that some of us could visit if you wished?

  176. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    In the cold/flu season The Small Fry is often called “My beloved disease vector.”

    5am here. I woke to the sound of a hard wind slamming the hall door shut. The nearest fire is about 40k away and it’s still out of control. I’m nervous, well, that goes without saying really; I’m nervous about everything. Getting up, I find that damn wind is blowing from the direction of the fire hard enough to rattle the tin on the chook shed. The CFA website has no change of the fire’s status, no warnings. The Yarrwonga weather radar’s doppler wind shows the opposite direction to what’s on the ground here. There’s no smoke that I can detect. I fucking hate this shit. I need to sleep and going to bed is probably futile. It’s been a half an hour of obsessively refreshing those two websites with no change. Did I mention I hate this shit.

  177. Ogvorbis says

    Damn, FossilFishy. Those kinds of conditions for a wildfire? 40k is a little on the close side. Be safe.

  179. Josh, Official SpokesGay says

    From the “Fuck is wrong with his head?” file:

    I dreamt last night that the TV spectrum was infested with “Carol Spinneys.” Carrol Spinney being the actor who plays Big Bird on Sesame Street. In SpokesDreamLand, however, “Carrol Spinneys” are wee Pac-Man ghosts with Big Bird’s face on them. They come only in pastel shades like those you find on Jordan almonds, and they appear more or less Pac-Man-y or Big-Bird-y depending on how fast they’re moving.

    Also went grave robbing with Sally Strange in Syracuse, New York.

  181. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    Gentle hugs from an internet stranger katenrala.

    And thank you for the reminder that obsessing about possibilities does nothing to change actualities. I’m going to go gently kiss my sleeping daughter and snuggle up to Mrs Fishy; I’ve done all I can for the moment.

  184. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    Back when I DM’d (way back in the AD&D days (and even out of the White Box books (which I still have!))), I’d routinely set up long straight passages with 92 or 93 degree bends and a 1/2% up or down grade. When the mapper showed that they were back into a large room, it’d be a different room that looked remarkably similar. Of course, they still had a chance to spot it with a saving throw, but they hit that about 5% of the time. Fun times.

    :)
    Fun times, indeed! We still play AD&D (mostly 1st ed., with some 2nd, and house rules), and The Husband still has the White Box stuff (though not the box itself; erosion got that long ago) that he got way back when. And those up or down grades are why Every Party Needs A Dwarf. Racial inclusiveness FTW!
    –
    Temp patching has been deployed, though the location is unfavorable. We shall see.
    –
    *big, but gentle hugs* for katenrala.
    –
    FossilFishy: A hope for safety for you and yours.
    –

  186. opposablethumbs says

    katenrala, fuck. Hugs from an internet stranger, if I may. I hope there are effective measures for reducing your pain.
    .
    FossilFishy, wet and windless thoughts coming your way. Be safe, mate.

  187. UnknownEric says

    Hugs to katenrala.

    My dreams tend to be ridiculously complex. Like last night, I dreamt it was 1983 and I was back in my old neighborhood, except I was my current age, and the school I went to was actually the headquarters for an AM station that I ran. Then when I went to go home, I found that all the homes on my street were replaced by lockers, so I stood outside and watched a parade of babies walk by.

  188. says

    Katenrala
    *hugs*

    Regarding the commune, is appears we need formal permission to put the comments directly into the wiki. This means CC BY-SA 3.0 licensing of those two comments, as that’s what Wikia requires. So, portia,Beatrice,Mellow Monkey,Ogvorbis,AJ Milne,Azkyroth,Dianne,andcarlie for starters, also others but I haven’t had time to compile a full list.

  190. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    Katrenala, I’m another person who is going to echo what Josh said.

    :( :(

    *hugs*

  191. Azkyroth Drinked the Grammar Too :) says

    Yes. I don’t want a world without you in it though. Much love and hugs. If there is *anything*, no matter how little, I could do – please let me know.

    Seconded.

  192. dianne says

    I dreamt it was 1983 and I was back in my old neighborhood, except I was my current age,

    At least you know which companies to invest in from your experience in 2013.

  193. dianne says

    Hugs to Katrenala. Cancer. Yuck!

    I third or whatever number Josh’s comment about hospice, but make sure it’s a good hospice that isn’t going to limit your access to palliative radiation and chemo, if either is helping ease the pain or other symptoms.

  194. Tethys says

    katenrala

    more gentle internet hugs from a stranger

    cicely

    No pain or sensitivity (though I haven’t chewed anything harder than a slice of bread, since the thing broke). The break is on the inside-back of the tooth, there are no teeth in nearby contact, and it appears to dip down more-or-less tangent to the gum, at the lowest point. (The broken-out bit is approximately ‘U’ shaped, judging by what my tongue says.) It doesn’t act as if chewed glop is getting under the filling—would there be an advantage to getting something to seal the missing patch against the filling, or (and here’s my overactive imagination at work), would that just trap Unknown Things underneath, to fester? I don’t know enough to decide….

    There are so many nerve endings in your mouth that tiny irregularities feel like mountains. If the tooth had broken down to the pulp you would be in intense pain, so no pain is very good. It sounds like the cusp developed a fracture around the filling and broke away. It takes time for bacteria to erode the enamel, so no worries about stuff getting under the filling if you have a Monday appointment. They may remove the filling if it is breaking down, or no longer has sufficient supportive tooth structure, and then refill and rebuild the broken part as one. An x-ray will reveal the proper course of treatment. Tentacles crossed that you can get it fixed with the least invasive option.

  195. cicely (Mostly Harmless) says

    Tethys: Good to know.
    :)
    At the very least, the temp patch seems to be sticking well enough that I’m not shredding my tongue on it.
    –

  198. Ogvorbis says

    WMDKitty:

    Hugs (with full containment hazmat clothing).

    Wife and I have both gone through a 12-14 hour something with severe headache, vomiting, and rather quick recover. No sinus shit, though. I hope you get more weller more quicklier.

  199. The Mellow Monkey says

    katenrala, my sympathy and whatever internet hugs/thoughts you deem appropriate from a stranger. I hope you can stay as comfortable as possible.

    —

    The ear infection I’ve been dealing with for the past week or so has proven to be something far more interesting. I went to floss after lunch today and discovered that I have a new tooth. Yes, the ear infection seems to have been triggered by a wisdom tooth erupting. Well. I was worrying it was something more when I noticed the pain extended into the joint of my jaw on that side.

  202. says

    Good news of an escape from ten long years of Moments of Mormon Madness for Ruby Jessop.

    A woman who was finally able to leave an FLDS-controlled polygamous community escaped thanks to beefed up law enforcement in the area, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which pleaded Tuesday for more funding.

    In a news conference, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced that Ruby Jessop had managed to leave Colorado City earlier this month. According to a news release, Jessop was held against her will for more than 10 years after being forced to marry her second-cousin, Haven Barlow, in 2001. Ruby, now 26, has been granted temporary custody of her six children, according to the release….

  203. says

    Conversation between me and my wife just now:

    me- Any idea when you’ll be home? I have food/wine money

    her- Leaving in 30, where did you get $?

    me- Sold a couple of pedals like I said I was gonna last night. Cheese nips here we come!

    her- Yay cheese nips!

    me- Hook you up with a burrito if you play your cards right

    her- I’ll be home soon, fuck it I’m leaving!
    ————

    … it is the simple things in life, isn’t it? :)

  204. Esteleth, Ultra-PC Feminist Harpy Out To Destroy Secularism says

    This afternoon went like this:

    Me: [stares at data that make no sense] [lightbulb!] [runs to tell Boss]
    Boss: Busy. Come back in 10.
    Me: [Sits in comfy chairs outside office]
    Coworker: So, what’s up?
    Me: [Explains lightbulb! moment]
    Coworker: [pokes holes]
    Me: Oh. Right.
    Boss: Hey, I’m ready. What’s up?
    Me: [Comes up with an innocuous question]

    And it was such a good lightbulb! moment. :(

  206. says

    Condolences to all suffering various viral maladies.

    I am so far having a mostly pretty good year, cold and flu-wise. Apart from one really pretty painful and sorta self-induced boarding related thing mentioned here many weeks back, it’s been just a few short sniffly things…

    Could be dumb luck. Could be the seasonal flu vaccine I got this year, but I often do. Could be that I’ve finally become very disciplined (since that really bad one) about keeping my ears covered in the hardcore cold (got some of those ear pocket things, even wear them under hats and helmet, so if I’m sweating up there I can peel the rest of it of off and still have ears covered). Or could be some combination…

    Anyway: all that’s cautiously recommended without guarantee. And meanwhile: lemon and ginger tea spiked with honey via USB all ’round.

    Oh: and I’m fine with my commune comments going to wiki. Dunno if you need more formal permission.

  207. FossilFishy(Anti-Vulcanist, with anit to pick) says

    This is the fire that’s 40k away. No smoke here as the winds are still blowing towards it. I envy the guy in this story in a really minor sort of way. He has access to someone who is on the ground there and is an expert in these things, I could have used that last night.

  208. opposablethumbs says

    Lemon and ginger tea? That whole USB thing must be working a treat; I just had some – thank you AJ Milne! (mate chai never seems to be available any more, so lemon and ginger is my new litres-and-litres-all-the-time drink)