This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly.
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly.
Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread
RIP. Black lives should matter.
Black lives…3/5 of white lives? It sucks.
Oklahoma students walk out of classes to protest bullying of suspected rape victims at school http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/oklahoma-students-walk-out-of-classes-to-protest-bullying-of-suspected-rape-victims-at-school/
— — — —
It Took 12 Trucks to Haul Away All the Cash This Corrupt Chinese General Hid in His Home http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/11/21/corrupt_chinese_general_it_took_12_trucks_to_haul_away_all_the_cash_he_hid.html
— — — —
Searching for alien worlds and gravitational lenses from the Arctic (Ellesmere island) http://phys.org/news/2014-11-alien-worlds-gravitational-lenses-arctic.html
I felt the need to add some thing cheerful:
8 Signs Your Cat is Trying to Kill You!. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KpY-RTnC2A
All is not well in the state of USA. It’s been in the open for a long time that we are oblivious of it, came out in the open 109 days back, and it’s made a nasty statement yesterday night. We do plenty of nice things, learning is not one of them.
http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/hirsi-ali-slams-feminisms-trivial-bs/article/2556419
Ehhh… and here’s Hirsi Ali taking Dawkins’ side. Granted, she is better equipped to speak on the Islam issue.
Hugs, and shared outrage, for everyone with respect to the lack of indictment of Wilson.
@ Giliell
I’m sorry about blundering into your taunting and disagreement with ‘pit persons at Avicenna’s place.
Shared outrage seconded.
— — —
ShoKo is NOT happy about the stethoscope! Very grumpy cat face. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKbrkahJkfs
— — —
If you ever find a japapnese-themed board game, you can play this song in the background.
South Park samurai song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT3H1plJvbc
Suba-ra-shi chin chin mono *
Kintama no kame aru
Sore no oto saru bo bo
Lie! Ninja ga imasuuuu
Hey hey let’s go kenka suru
Taisetsu na mono, Protect my balls!
Boku ga warui so let’s fighting love!
Let’s fighting love!
*Translation: wonderful penis thing
There are hairs at balls
That’s sound of monkey-like c*nt
No! Ninjas are here!
Hey hey let’s! Let’s fight!
This is important: Protect my balls!
So let’s fighting…
Let’s fighting love!
Can’t say the cops didn’t learn anything from the Rodney King incident – always arrest anyone videoing your illegal activities & confiscate the video for destruction and make sure the victim dies so they can’t testify in their own defense.
Toilets are basically immobile and cannot get to the sink (or mirror or lightswitch or outer starboard engine or whatever), and so are very frustrated. But all these long pigs keep visiting, and well, they are remarkably open to all sorts of kinky suggestions…
Yes, its been that way for a long time, it was like that when I was in USAlienstani many yonks ago in the previous century. Nothing(?) new per se. (No idea about the fines, however.)
WHAT!???!?
When and for how long (e.g., just in the morning, “all day”, …)?
I was at the mall today and some of the stores have big signs up announcing their sales that will be on Thanksgiving day and Black Friday only!!!! so come on in and get the great deals!!!
Esteleth,
I’m so glad that stopped working retail in a time when Black Friday was only one day a year. Shopping on Thanksgiving day is no less than support for oppression of working class people, and I will openly judge anyone who admits to doing so.
They missed the most obvious one: The cat gives you a cat suit costume and informs the mildly deranged penguin there’s a really large and stoooopid cat just dying for a flying lesson, trebuchet-launched.
I’m in a field where it is simply understood that someone must work all the holidays, because of course hospitals must be staffed 24/7. We do get holiday pay (double usual rate), though. It’s done fairly too: all employees must work 2 holidays a year (there are 7 holidays in the HR calendar). A lottery determines which 2 you’re on.
FUCK
</tones of weary complete-lack-of-surprise>
And also.
*enormous, individually-wrapped bundles of hugs and/or other acceptable-and-non-intrusive gestures of comfort/solidarity/comradeship*, with *choice of refreshing-or-numbing beverage*, all ’round.
–
[hugs cicely]
[refills hugs basket for anyone else who wants/needs some]
The world is horrible, people are horrible, it’s all horrible.
But on the other hand, I’ve been emailing back and forth with a friend who’s working on a freeway project – she said she’d lost the San Bernardino county border on the online map. I suggested that perhaps it was migrating, and had she looked for Canada geese? Was that honking irate drivers, or was it geese? Silly helps, at least for a moment.
Shakespeare First Folio found in French library:
*hugs* for anyone who is upset for reasons related or unrelated to the travesty that is US justice system
Seconded. :-(
Two petitions to overturn Citizens United. They look very different, but both were announced to me in e-mails (purportedly from Nancy Pelosi and Al Franken…) that consistently wrote O instead of 0.
“Tell Secretary Arne Duncan: Reform student loan debt collection
If a student who took out a loan to go to school defaults on the loan, the government can garnish their wages and Social Security benefits — resulting in poor credit which can follow them for years.
But if a private debt collection agency breaks the law, misleads students about their options, and hounds the struggling with high-pressure scare tactics? According to recent reports and government investigations, the Department of Education (DOE) will reward them for successfully collecting more money.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan doesn’t need approval from Congress to begin making changes. But with private debt collectors organizing to protect their profits, we will need to speak out to make it happen.”
That grand jury decision is one of those that is *more* infuriating because it was probably the correct decision by the jurors, given the law and the prosecutors presentation.
There’s more than one reason to call it the criminal justice system.
Crip Dyke
The prosecutor seems to have a history of siding with cops, and he possibly had a conflict of interests in this case. There’s no chance that he actually tried for an indictment :(
Good to see you commenting, by the way! Even on such a terrible and sad subject.
Brony
Don’t worry. I don’t actually argue with them, I just use them occasionally as horrible examples.
CD?
CD!!!!
We’ve been worried about you
*soft pouncehugs*
+++
Gah what a day.
I’m off to bed early
I hate Tuesdays
Good news is good news, especially after such bad news yesterday.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/jian-ghomeshi-s-55m-lawsuit-against-cbc-being-withdrawn-1.2849523
I guess his lawyer advised him that he wouldn’t want the sexual assault testimony aired in a civil court.
Drove past a protest on my way home. All the signs we’ve seen: “Hands up don’t shoot,” “RIP Michael Brown,” “Black lives matter.”
Nearby, a gaggle of cops. They were openly contemptuous of the protestors in body language and gesture.
Around the corner in a hotel parking lot, a group of idling squad cars.
One bright spot: didn’t see any riot gear or paddy wagons.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-30191100
In the kind of great, kind of shitty, kind of yay kind of slimy category:
The shitty – Tesco’s had signs up labelling some superhero toys as “gifts for boys”.
The great – a 7-year-old girl who likes superheros complained to them.
The yay – Tesco’s took the sign down.
(and the slimy – Tesco’s notapologised “if they caused any confusion” rather than apologising for shitty gender stereotyping. But good for Maggie Cole for setting them right)
So, mood swings triggered so hard today that I went to the doctor as soon as I was able. In the waiting room some dumb white guy started going on about Darren Wilson’s innocence blah, blah while on the overhead TV Doctor Phil did his smarmy thing while a woman opened up about being molested as a child. I had to wait in the car until it was my turn. I was either going to lose it on the dumb white guy or just start sobbing in public. Maybe both. No way to be sure, because I got out of there and kept having to remind myself that wanting to go home, lock myself in my room, climb under the quilt and never come out was why I needed to be there.
Straw. Camel. Back.
My daughter put her headphones in at school when the kids started in about Ferguson. My husband heard the same “What sort of idiots burn down their own neighborhood” bullshit at work. That won’t let up for a while and the narrative of innocent cop and bad black people won’t change, just like the narrative of evil feminazis and the poor men whose lives they ruin with rape accusations won’t change. I could not spend the holidays with my in-laws at this point if I wanted to because I think I’d drink myself to death after listening to them talk about that and how President Obama is the Antichrist because gays, God and guns. My liver doesn’t deserve that sort of abuse.
I need a mental health break from anything that isn’t a kid or a cute fuzzy critter. I think my online activities should be restricted to Pintrest and videos of kittens playing with string. I should have stopped before I snapped. I know better. But, I can do the right thing now.
Hugs and Toodles.
Jackie, hugs and furry purry kittens and whatever else will make you feel better.
Jackie,
I hope your break from all non-cuddly critters is helpful. You’re a rock star and you deserve the rest. Take care of yourself as much as possible.
Hmm, which of these is worse to read?
The actual news
… or the top-rated comment?
So I have a science question I was hoping someone on here could help me with. The other day at work I was reading water meters and had to pump the rainwater out of one so I could see the numbers. I drop our little electric pump in and plug it into a nearby outlet, but got called off to do something else shortly after. Not wanting it to run dry and burn out I unplug it before going. When I came back 20-30 minutes later though water was still coming out of the hose. It was only pumping about a third of what it would do plugged in, but it was still coming out consistently. It was only after I fiddled with it a bit trying to figure out what was going on that it stopped pumping.
Any ideas what was going on? The pump was down a few feet in a hole and the hose was going up roughly 90 degrees, curving over the concrete rim of the meter, and running down a gentle slope. All I could think of is that maybe the water was running downhill with enough force to create a vacuum behind it pulling up more, but for all I know that’s nonsense.
I’m reposting this from the Thunderdrome, after it was suggested that the Lounge may be a better venue.
—
Question for the many wiser than me.
I have a friend who is in a possibly abusive relationship.
I say “possibly” because I have no reason to think he’s physically violent with her and I am not qualified to judge the situation otherwise.
He’s a hardcore libertarian self-absorbed fool who lacks the empathy to have any friend and consistently burns the social ground around her. He abandoned her for a couple of months to have sex with other four women, impenetrable to the fact that it made her feel completely neglected, at which point she had sex with another guy.
The boyfriend got back, met the guy at her birthday and assaulted him, and you can imagine how well this worked for the mood of a party she’d been planning for months.
He doesn’t give a shit, he sees no wrong on his part ever, and she’s in love with him and is convinced that he loves her.
She is otherwise an intelligent and independent woman, intellectually and financially.
I’m rather naive when it comes to this kind of things. How “normal” is this?
Most importantly, how much of this is my business?
I don’t doubt that she loves him, it’s her choice and I respect it.
She is one of my best friends, she knows and I made it clear that she can count on me if she needs help.
Is this all I can/should do?
We just had an earthquake about five minutes ago. 2.6, about 1km from my house. According to Google maps the epicenter is just down the street from a big cemetery. I guess we’re about to find out if a magnitude 2.6 is enough to wake the dead. It’s the zombie apocalypse, run away, run away! Or it could be bunnies…
Sami, the effect you’re describing is discussed here. They work because of the incompressibility of water, so it stopping when you were fiddling with it is presumably either to you introducing air into the line, or to the level in the meter fell below the elevation of the outlet.
F.O, that is extremely, overwhelmingly un-normal and very much abuse-like. While her handling of the comment space makes me very unhappy, Captain Awkward has some excellent posts on similar situations. I suggest the categories of Abuse and Darth Vader Boyfriend (as I recall it’s broadly gender neutral despite the title), maybe starting with this one though there are others, I think.
Jackie
*hugs* Also, here’s L’s Pinterest feed for our dachshund .
F.O.
Definitely some red flags there.
We’ve got a protest downtown that’s apparently about 2,000 strong at this point. No trouble so far, but the cops have brought in their usual vanloads of troublemakers, so I suspect that trouble will start soon.
I’m so rupt.
My grandpa is in the hospital again – two hours away from me. Found out yesterday he was in there, and took off from work after court today. Turns out Uncle didn’t tell him I was coming, so he was surprised when I showed up at his hospital room. He was so happy and touched he got a little teary that I made the trip just to see him. He does a remarkable job of being gracious and appreciative of what little I can do for him, and for what amazing LOT of things my aunt and uncle do for him. His heart is not good, and he has internal bleeding that they hope is slowing. I spent five hours at the hospital and then headed home in time for bed. I’m so tired but so glad I made the trip. He’s just the sweetest old guy. I haven’t had him in my life much throughout the years, lots of family issues. But I realized a couple years ago that i have to be an adult and maintain the relationships I want in my life. So, I’m glad. I’m glad that if his heart gives out overnight, he knows I love him and I care and that I got to spend some quality time with him.
–
*hugs* all around as needed.
There are so many racists everywhere…it’s so sad-making. I don’t have eloquent words, just very strong feelings.
[hugs] Portia.
I has a not happy. A biiiiiig not happy. And I’m losing faith in humanity, here.
What the hell kind of world do we live in, man? When a white man guns down a black kid for little more than existing and isn’t even charged….
Ffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu….
Jackie
You just take all the kittens you need.
(your doctor’s office has “Dr.” Phil on the TV??L!?)
The news is truly depressing, so to echo the sentiments above, [hugs] all around. Especially for Jackie. Jackie, you really are spot on with your long posts and I loved that Thunderdome follow-up addressed to Akira about homeschooling. All the best to you, seriously.
Personally, I want to maintain hope that the lousy, damaging narratives you mentioned can and will be changed on a large scale, but it’s true that I possess basically all the privileges one can have and don’t need to face the realities you do day to day. It’s… sort of a hobby of mine to learn from sites like this, at least so far.
Below, I’d like to post my introduction because the thread for that appears to have been deactivated a couple years ago. Hope that’s ok, even in light of the Ferguson ruling news…
Hello, I’m brand new here! Actually, I’ve lurked FtB for years now and been deeply grateful for its existence, but it was not until last night that I worked up the… something, not courage… to join.
Anyway, thank you PZ and thank you Horde for doing what you do. Haven’t familiarized myself with you guys as individual users yet but I hope to do so.
Full disclosure, my life has been somewhat in shambles (academically and romantically, anyways) for a while now, and I absolutely did fit the profile for an MRA going into the Era of Elevatorgate. Had it not been for my joining a university atheist group with some really sharp, gracious lefty types and following this blog in particular, I very well could have… taken the red pill.
The sole upside of that disturbing fact is that I have sort of a ‘simulation’ of an MRA’s likely objections to feminist and left-leaning arguments running as I read one. This means I can automatically apply the ‘principle of charity’ to the right-wing’s case, and yes, even with that, they are just. plain. wrong. Repeatedly. This has been my heuristic, and it has led me to identify with you all in the Horde more than ever before.
Honestly, I was quite wary for a time of the ferocity and speed with which “dissenting opinions” can get pounced on in these parts. “Isn’t that bad for FreezePeach? Aren’t you risking the creation of an echo chamber?”, I would wonder.
I’m over it now, though; it’s a rude blog, this shit is WORTH getting mad about, and the users doing the “pouncing” have repeatedly, consistently shown the ability to think clearly and accurately when called upon to do so by the “pouncees”, if you catch my drift. Case in point, Jackie re: homeschooling earlier today, and many others re:h the property damage from riots.
So I’m in. Looking forward to it!
demiurge
Welcome in.
There’s probably grog and cheese and cookies … somewhere.
I have a wee bit of rum but you’ll need to act fast…
Allo, demiurge!
Please, your opinion on:
1) horses;
2) cheese;
3) peas;
BONUS) Miracle Whip.
We will analyze these answers very deeply, and they are absolutely vital to your participation in this thread.
Not.
Ask Tony about drinks.
Jackie
You are amazing in all kinds of ways, and I hope the cuddly animal treatment does you wonders. I hope you manage to avoid the in-laws and all other offensive folk for the holidays, and that you start feeling better very soon. ♥
I’m gonna go find that baby otter I had saved a couple weeks ago.
I could produce moar Umbriel-pictures if needed…
Hi demiurge,
I used to be big on “civilized discourse” before lots of lurking and commenting here, but this way is more fun, and often more productive, too. My blood pressure goes up either way, so why not use a bit of that passion and fury?
Welcome, and I hope you learn and enjoy it here :)
Morning
Big hugs, especially for Jackie and Portia
Welcome demiurge
I see you already got the questionaire. Tip: there’s only ONE correct answer but we cannot agree on what it is.
Also, where is Tony?
+++
And in other fucked up news: There have been multiple drone flights over the nearby French nuklear reaktor that is a dangerous piece of major accident waiting to happen anyway (more than 800 serious problems since it was built and conveniently built in a location where that accident will be mostly the problem of Germany and Luxemburg). And the French authorities have no clue who is responsible for them nor how to stop them. Charming, isn’t it?
Also, Crip Dyke, it is fantastic to see you!!! *hugs*
chigau: Thanks, but you’re wrong! Wait, that’s just your name, har har. :P Did I miss out on the rum?
rq:
1) They’re cool, I’ve ridden a few and those were some good times with family. Such power!
2) Pretty nice in small quantities, (much like cheesy movies and such, hence the name) and on nice crackers. I’m working in a cheese-making plant for a few months at the moment, and sadly the persistent smell is… not exactly conducive to expanding one’s love of cheese. Ah well.
3) Love ’em.
BONUS) Ehh… I’ve got a weird aversion to soft foods and spreads, like yogurt, hummus, really thick soup, etc. Maybe I’ll get over it someday.
I remember reading some great posts by Tony, he’s clearly a cool dude. So he’s the one to approach in the Lounge for (imaginary) drinks, good to know…
toska: Ha, my thoughts exactly! This much-maligned (by Slyme pitters anyway) blog network manages to both get basically everything right (via angry, thorough discussions) and act as a safe space when needed. On the other hand, the guys (and some gals, I guess) who stress civility above seemingly all else manage to pigeonhole and profile themselves into the same worn-out, lazy, point-missing, status-quo-supporting and fucking BORING positions on any given discussion. It took me about two embarrassing instances of being “that guy” who mansplained on Facebook and got cussed out for me to start ‘growing up’ in this regard, and I wish they’d do the same.
Unrelated to all that, and apologies in advance if this is summed up elsewhere already, but could anyone briefly explain how I can get my WordPress account to allow uploaded profile pics? I’ve tried the gravatar.com method but it’s not accepting my credentials right now. Is there another way?
(Oversharing maybe, but I’m hoping to use that cool picture of the Demiurge from Shin Megami Tensei at the bottom of this page: http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Demiurge
Chie Satonaka knows what I’m talking about. Those games are great.)
Kitten therapy. May have already been posted, but is needed again.
demiurge
Imaginary drinks? IMAGINARY??? You have no idea what a good USB can do, apparently. *pffft*
demiurge
I have the tiniest bit of sympathy for tone trollers because I think that some of them have never been called on their shit before. They’ve never had people talk back to them and get angry before (a privilege often reserved for white people, who expect a disproportionate amount of respect for their uninformed opinions), and they’re shocked. But that’s why I benefited from lurking first. Lurking and learning the style of discourse and even the culture of the space will do wonders for all of the privileged tone trollers out there! :D
I don’t know about the gravatar thing. I have the same problem with my normal credentials not working. :P
They kept it a secret: two tiger cubs born in the Riga Zoo! They have been named Thor and Odin, and are the second set of cubs from this tiger-mom, most of whose first cubs died because she was too afraid of the surrounding noise (the tiger pen is right beside the tram tracks and a fairly major street). So they’re three months old but the zoo never told anyone for fear of too much hype. *squee*
Hi all.
Still feeling very down, but showing signs of coming out of it. Reading Pharyngula at the moment isn’t really helping.
Just dropped in to say hi and welcome to Demiurge and leave more *hugs*.
I shall now disappear back into the pillow fort. Sorry to be a downer.
Back from running errands all morning long.
WTF?…
+++
You know what is really a big advantage of living in Europe this week? I don’t have to listen to all the racist fuckfaces in meatspace while not being able to tell them that they’re racist fuckfaces ’cause thy could fire me.
It’s okay, bassmike. Whenever you’re ready! *hugs* on standby for immediate (or whenever) pickup, as you please.
Giliell
*high-five*
Europe rocks, amirite???
(I did tell Husband about the GJ decision, and he called it ‘fucked up’. But I doubt I’ll have to engage anyone in the street, shop or any kind of office anytime soon about it.)
rq
Call it the cherry on my privilege sundae
‘Huge breakthrough’ in understanding how the immune system recognises cancer http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-huge-breakthrough-immune-recognises-cancer.html
— — — —
Biological circuits: “Synthetic biology, genetic engineering and you: Two-component signaling pathways as elements in synthetic circuit design” http://phys.org/news/2014-11-synthetic-biology-genetic-two-component-pathways.html
There is a rumor that “At the Mountains of Madness” will be made into a film by Guillermo del Toro. The project has been “under development” since 2008, so don’t hold your breath.
Meanwhile, del Toro will not only make the last Hobbit film, but “Hellboy 3” as well.
Here are some del Toro references.
“Treehouse of Horror XXIV (Guillermo del Toro Intro – All References) “ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HkuVoUNddY
Gilliell @53… that thing about living in Europe? FFS yes. I am now living in Ireland with my irish husband, and when I went down to the village this morning to buy fresh bread and milk, the locals expressed concern about “what was going on over there”. I told them that I was very grateful that they were concerned, and wished everyone in the US was equally concerned about the inadequate response to such manifest injustice. Lovely people, really. They have stopped asking me whether I think I’d be uncomfortable with the sectarianism and stalled economy here, though, because they now realize what I left and where it’s going.
Portia: (((big hug darling))).
F.O.: Speaking as a former abused and battered ex of a libertarian wanker… there are two main themes that I can see here. The first is that libertarians, tea-partiers, and such people are “us against the world” types and they really mess with your worldview. They’re likely to have got you to believe that the government will never help you, society will never help you, people will generally look down on your and mistreat you for being a failure in life because you couldn’t hold your life and family together, that it’s safer to be with someone who understands what the world is really like, and that you can’t expect someone not to pursue the “highest ideal” in the form of sexual partners better than you. At the same time they don’t seem to think anything is wrong with using your money as they see fit for the “common good of the family” and so they can quit jobs where they are “unfairly treated”. The second is that decent, functional people have a certain amount of stubborn pride and loyalty. By now she is frantically trying to gather such rags of love as she can to cover herself and in the hope that they’ll magically transform themselves back into the finery she thought she had when she got together with the wretch. In the process she has assigned herself 110 percent of the responsibility for holding the relationship together and functioning, and is heavily invested in fighting a losing battle. I broke out of mine when I was so exhausted and depressed one day I couldn’t fight back like I normally did when my ex said, “You aren’t making me happy”. I asked him in a flash of clarity, “You know, that’s been true for a long time, hasn’t it? Can you be out of here by the end of the month?” Fortunately we were not actually married, due to the libtard’s insistence that he didn’t believe in “state contract marriage”, ha.
Yes, be there to catch her when she jumps. Please.
badgersdaughter
*hugs* ♥
I’m glad you made it out of that situation. And that the Irish people seem to have some sense re: you and Ferguson.
(Also, ‘libtard’ would be classified as an ablist slur, just so you know.)
Ugh, I don’t follow these threads enough lol….
Demiurge, welcome to the fray, here’s your spear and magic helmet ————–> *^*
Note to self and others: After handling no more than four dried Naga Jolokia peppers for just long enough to transfer them from a small plastic bag to another small plastic bag, and washing my hands with soap at least once, I can still feel a slight burn where I touched the inside of my nose while blowing it. Be careful out there, chiliheads.
What did I come here in the first place to say? I lost my train of thought.
Oh, I know. I’m an American expat in Ireland. Despite being an IT professional who has taught classes internationally for my former company for more than ten years, I have been having trouble finding a job (this part of Ireland has lagged the rest economically, sad to say). I’m sure I’ll find one eventually, but in the meantime my husband, a citizen, just had his hours cut at work, and he only was making minimum wage in the first place. We’re having trouble applying for assistance for various reasons, but I’m not complaining about that. I have been reading that the EU has been looking at cutting benefits for migrants, and the UK wants to cut them even more and exclude non-working migrants “to encourage migrants to make a positive contribution” because, naturally, only working constitutes a “positive contribution”. it’s like that asshole in the US who thinks that lack of benefits “ennobles the poor”. They seem honestly to believe that there is an appropriate job out there for every soul who wants one and every soul who doesn’t. If I could find an appropriate job tomorrow, I’d tell the dole to snack on the terminal end of my digestive tract, but it’s just not that easy for me, for my husband, or for thousands of migrants. OK, frustration vented, thanks.
Everyone, please accept my apologies for “libtard”. Thanks for bringing that up, rq.
FO
What I wanted to add:
Yes, big red flags, but she’s unlikely to see them the way you do and she’ll probably not appreciate you pointing them out. Remember, abusers keep a firm grip on their victims.
What you can do?
Spoil the gaslighting. Even small “I-messages” can be really helpful. If she tells you something and you say “I wouldn’t like that”, it can help imensely, because abusers will always paint the healthy reaction of the victim as unreasonable (I was raised by the queen of gaslighting). Be her memory. Abusers change the stories afterwards and make you believe them.
And yes, be there to catch her, even though she might not be the nicest person towards you before that moment. Abusers isolate their victims. Having somebody who is there nevertheless breaks their spell.
Also, always close your tags
Further to Giliell’s 62, FO, sometimes just being a pair of eyes for an abused person can be enough. Getting a chance to see the behaviours they’ve come to accept as normal can point out how far from normal things are. Meaning that even if your friend can’t hear you just yet, being there to provide that outside point of view can still help lead to a good end.
When I’m trying to help someone escape this kind of problem, something I’ve had happen three times to partners of mine (poly partners, whose other partners were behaving badly), I focus on being a good friend, there to listen, and as Giliell notes, helping them to get outside the epistemological closure that abuse generally creates and thrives on. Actively trying to break them up can backfire, triggering the controlling type to defend against your presence, and ending your chance at positive influence.
Good luck.
Demiurge, welcome, always nice to have more anime/manga fans around. :)
Just learned that there’s more than one way in which Peter King is a fucking piece of shit:
F.O.
Because I have nothing useful to add, what badgersdaughter and Giliell just said.
Also, badgersdaughter, is this the first time you’re in the Lounge??
If so, you must be subjected to the QUESTIONNAIRE! As Giliell rightly points out, it only has one right answer, but we can’t decide which one it is.
In any case, please express an opinion on:
1) peas;
2) cheese;
3) horses;
BONUS) Miracle Whip.
I’ll be back for your answers, and please find Tony for your complementary New-Lounger drink from Tony (non-alcoholic selections are also available).
In the meantime, you have to split the comfy chair with demiurge.
Speaking of Tony, this one’s for you!
Saad
Wait, Obama was talking shit about the police this whole time? All that no-violence and stay-calm bit was for the police? *shakes head* Uh, wow. Peter King lives in a different world, then.
If Obama invites that shithead officer to the White House… well, I’m going to be damn sad I’m not an American because I would write a lot of angry letters and swear loudly in public at racists.
Second time, but I have never answered the Questionnaire, so here goes :)
1. Peas: Whirled. (Favorite recipe, matar pulao with leeks in place of the onion)
2. Cheese: (hides from the camera flash) THOUGHT YOU GOT ME HUH HUH NICE TRY SUCKERS :P (also, had some Cashel Blue for the first time this morning, very lovely cheese when cold but smells like an Irish cow flop when you heat it on toast. Held my nose and ate it anyway, because, you know, blue cheese.)
3. Horses: Deliciou… oh, wait, you fooled me; thought you were still talking about food. I like horsies but I’m not sure where I’d put one.
4. Miracle Whip: I really did think you were talking about food for a while there, you know.
Super bonus: My husband just called and said he lost his job. it might work out better in the long run because he wasn’t able to look for a better job while he worked there, and my employment agency just said the job market around here is looking up. Well I certainly hope so. Wish us… well, not luck, more to the point, wish us good jobs.
badgersdaughter, #68
Cool :)
Are you Indian/Pakistani?
I like potatoes in pulao.
badgersdaughter
Oh shit, *hugs* and all the other non-practically-helpful internet stuff.
I hope the situation resolves for the two of you soon, with minor setbacks only!
Saad, I moved here from Houston, where I lived just north of the “Mahatma Gandhi District” and between two biryani restaurants so close I could stand in my kitchen and tell what each one’s special was that day. I worked for an oil tools broker from Mumbai. I taught myself to chant mantras to defeat anxiety though I am not one bit religious. I had four salwar kameez outfits because they make sense to wear when you live where it is hot and humid and you work in IT anyway so it’s accepted office wear. I use tindora in place of zucchini in Italian recipes, and besan flour to bread catfish. I used to have friends with whom I celebrated Diwali; in return they wished me a happy Hanukkah. However, I am a standard mongrel first/second generation American of European descent. I hereby apologize to anyone who is offended by my cultural appropriativeness, but it honestly just kind of rubs off on you if you live in Houston.
badgersdaughter,
Offended? I think that’s pretty cool. I love mixing foods and creating new things. For me it goes the other way: I’m always recommending to my mother (the cooking genius in her entire family) of subbing other culture’s ingredients in Pakistani/Indian cuisine to see what happens.
Hah! I haven’t worn shalwar-kameez in more than a decade. I don’t think I could go back to wearing them, though I do like how decorative the more formal versions look (like you’d see people wear at weddings and valimas, etc).
Oh, and where are my manners? I forgot to welcome you. As long as you like peas, you and I are cool. :P
Jackie
I’ve been watching Dr. Phil lately (I hate myself), and yeah-it can add ruination to your day. Sorry you’ve been having a hard time.
Portia
Sorry about your grandpa. It was a really good thing to go visit him. When my brother died suddenly (years ago), there were some things unsaid, and…grr. To this day. Urk. Sorry. Again, yay for you visiting gramps.
Welcomes to demiurge and badgersdaughter.
The nice thing about living alone is there is nobody around to judge me if I decide to sit in bed and watch old MST episodes all day. I’ve been watching too much local news (Ferguson), and I really need a happy-time fun break.
Anyhoo, hugs to all, and hoping all your thanksgivings (if you celebrate) are not awful.
badgersdaughter
There’s appreciating and sharing and there’s appropriating. I think as long as you’re not trying to become “The Indian Expert in Donnegal” you’re fine.
Which makes me think of Butler’s Chocolate. nomnpm. How I miss that. I saw soem when I was in Berlin, but it was prohibitively expensive. *sigh*
And the cheap and delicious lamb.
Good luck for you and your husband on the employment market.
*hugs* for Jackie and Portia
Portia,
“I’m glad that if his heart gives out overnight, he knows I love him and I care and that I got to spend some quality time with him.”
(safe hugs)
— — — —
I’m cracking the future of food – no chickens required http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22429960.300-im-cracking-the-future-of-food–no-chickens-required.html
— — — —
Lazard’s numbers show cost-competitive gains for wind, solar http://phys.org/news/2014-11-lazard-cost-competitive-gains-solar.html
— — — —
The Guardian;
The “precision” strikes are crap: “-41 men targeted but 1, 147 people killed: US drone strikes – the facts on the ground” http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/24/-sp-us-drone-strikes-kill-1147
Jian Ghomeshi has been arrested on charges of sexual assault!
Trigger warning: Major douchebags!
Florida college president: Drink less and be ‘virtuous’ and campus sex assaults will stop http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/florida-college-president-drink-less-and-be-virtuous-and-campus-sex-assaults-will-stop/
— — — — —
Britain and Sharia: “Inspired Bigotry: Meet the Salafists Behind the Law Society”
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/chris-moos/inspired-bigotry-meet-the_b_5185592.html
(excerpt) “Yet, the Law Society is clear about the intellectual basis of its guidance. One of its main references is a book on Islamic inheritance rules by Dr. Muhammad al-Jibaly, a hardline salafi and former President of the notorious Qur’an and Sunnah Society of North America.”
(quote by al-Jibaly): “What is sad to see, for many parents they send their children to the kuffar school, they allow them to mix with the kuffar, play with them […] so that the lifestyle and the beliefs of the kuffar become deep-rooted in the hearts of the kids. […] Command your children to pray when they are seven years old and hit them if they do not pray, or they don’t pray right. […] A girl she should start hijab from the age of seven. By the age of ten it becomes an obligation on us to force her to wear hijab. And if she doesn’t wear hijab we hit her.”
Dammit, Giliell, I jsut saw that, too!!!
At least there’s no grand jury process to go through. :P
Some good news for a change:
Surprise!: Magician gives disabled veteran new car and free rent for a year http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/surprise-magician-gives-disabled-veteran-new-car-and-free-rent-for-a-year/
— — — —
New documentary about Scientology http://freethoughtblogs.com/singham/2014/11/25/new-documentary-about-scientology/
Re. 78;
The British Law Society has since retracted the letter providing guidance for Sharia law.
But relying on a salafist uber-kook for an interpretation of Sharia is a bit like relying on David Duke to get an interpretaion of the civil rights issue.
Addendum re. 78;
…and I am bloody proud to be a kuffar!
That was then and this is now.
Trigger warning: Slavery.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/butterfliesandwheels/2014/11/what-frederick-douglass-saw/
I have made an attempt to find less grim links before I go home.
The great cultural treasures of Ireland http://wpcomics.washingtonpost.com/client/wpc/pb/2014/11/26/
— — — —
Thanksgiving parade
http://www.gocomics.com/richards-poor-almanac/2014/11/24
This is actually pretty standard for my dreams http://www.gocomics.com/richards-poor-almanac/2014/11/20
A useful compilation of easy-to-digest numbers.
Race inequality between US Whites and African-Americans by the Numbers (Again)
–
Crip Dyke!
*pouncehug-of-adjustable-force-of-impact*
–
*hugs or other appropriate-and-non-intrusive gestures of sympathy and support* for Jackie.
–
F.O., I’m no expert, nor do I play one on television, but that all sounds like the emotionally-abusive pre-game to a future physically-abusive relationship, to me.
In my opinion, your friend should Run Like The Wind.
–
*hugs* and sympathy for Portia. I’m sorry about your grandpa.
–
*scritches&catnip&big-ball-of-fuzzy-yarn* for WMDKitty.
–
Hi, demiurge; Welcome In.
Unfortunately, you aren’t catching us at our peppiest.
Because of stuff. And things.
Congratulations on rescuing yourself from the culturally-endemic Creeping MRAism. Once upon a time, I was terribly worried about Tone, feeling that, if rough language was used in pointing out Teh Stoopid, the audience would just ignore the actual substance of the pointed-out.
I got better.
While some people will react just exactly that way, others respond better to a fish-upside-the-head approach. Different Clue-Bats for Different People.
(Later)
And I see that rq has already given you the Questionnaire.
I cannot approve of your answers.
Clearly, the Horses have gotten to you.
–
*hugs* for bassmike.
These are depressing days, that’s for sure.
But, we do have each other.
Sanity does exist.
–
53
New Brunswick gets rid of patriarchal, infantalising, unconstitutional abortion regulations!
Next steps: allowing and paying for abortions outside of hospitals.
These are depressing days, indeed. But yes Cicely, sanity does exist, and it can be found here in abundance. My gratitude knows no bounds.
Speaking of Teh Stoopid….. I picked a really bad time to go off my brain meds, just to see who I am underneath it all. What I discovered is that I’m exactly the same, just to differing degrees. Off the meds, I RAGE, RAGE, RAGE at this fucking world and I am truly Out-Of-Control. On the meds, I have sustained anger which is nevertheless handle-able. At least people can bear being near me. I went back on the meds. Constant, ambient RAGE is not a condition that is rewarding to inhabit.
I wish happy good times for all of you, and if that isn’t possible, I hope for fewer bad times.
Here’s some good news:
Raw Story link.
*hugs* for badgersdaughter.
Venting Is Good.
A little Whirled Peas would be good, right about now.
And the place to put Horses is right back in hell where They come from.
With *napalm!*
Miracle Whip™—awesome as it is—is not so much Food, as Condiment; in the same way that ketchup is not a Vegetable.
Wishing you and your husband the best of Good Jobs.
–
*hugs* for Morgan!?.
I did constant, ambient RAGE for a couple of years, back in the day, and it is, indeed, an unrewarding environment. I am not eager to do that again, evar.
*moar hugs*
–
because why defy stereotypes all the time when you can instead break down crying in front of the senior partners?
at least I have an office to hole up in til I have to be in court in an hour.
–
uuuuuuuuuuuuugh
–
thanks for the hugs everyone. means a lot to have friends who care.
–
*hugs* bassmike. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Come hang out whenever you feel like it.
More good (or at least non-terrible) news!
http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b493e6c4d31beda32fdaf8e2d&id=73514e334b
I’m not qualified to even guess whether something could come of this, but we can hope, right?
Also happy about Ghomeshi. I’m feeling some pride for my hometown of Toronto, which is a pretty great place all things considered (afaik).
cicely: Thanks, and you’re exactly right. One of the lefty friends from that atheist club I joined was also brusque and did not suffer fools lightly, but he gave me a chance to keep challenging his positions and basically Socratic Method-ed me into fixing the gaping flaws in my own. I owe him big time. Same goes to the women in the group who saw Elevatorgate for what it came to represent and spoke on it superbly right as the Deep Rifts were forming.
… I think I’m content to letting the Meaning of the Questionnaire remain a strange and wonderful mystery to me for now. Thanks to everyone for welcoming me.
But back to the serious shit that’s going down.
Portia,
*hugs*
and solidarity .. although I’m breaking down in a hotel room by myself
Beatrice:
*hugs* backatcha. I hope virtual hugs take the edge off the aloneness. I’m sorry for the breakdown on your end. Ugh. Sucks.
Belated delivery of assorted hugs, greetings, respects and it’s-been-too-long-alreadys, with chocolate, kittens, big blankets for wrapping oneself in, hot toddies (for those in the northern hemisphere) and iced ones (for those in the southern), and above all my enduring appreciation and gratitude for the existence of the Lounge and all who sail in her.
Hope you are all all right – I know that many of you currently have extra heavy loads to carry (glad you got to spend time with your grandfather, Portia. hugs to bassmike. hugs and death-ray-to-the-neighbours to Dalillama. happy greetings to our new Loungers. Glad to see you got some more responses, FO. wishing good health of every kind to those of us who could do with some. hugs-of-awesomeness to rq.)
Hope Tony! is OK?
I don’t. I do have quite a bit of sympathy for people with the opposite problem, though: due to bullying, they’re extremely familiar with being “called out” but never before for an actual good reason, as opposed to for, say, being gender-nonconforming, getting good grades, having “uncool” hobbies, having undiagnosed disabilities that complicate social interaction, or talking like they’d ever opened a book in their lives.
I’ve always been pro-equality, but my understanding and appreciating the way privilege works and other nuances was delayed for months if not yers because the only people I saw discussing it were, especially when the discussion was directed at me, doing so in a fashion indistinguishable from, in some cases the bullying I’d received and in others, and in particular, the rhetoric used by lazy and/or bigoted school employees to dismiss and excuse the bullying I was desperately pleading with them to do something, anything, about.
(The solution, of course, was for there to be people who weren’t discussing it that way (Jen McCreight and Greta, then later on Miri and Adam Lee’s gradually increasing awareness) and for me to encounter them.)
Tony! commented in the bible belt thread a hour or so aho.
*hugs* to Portia, Beatrice, badgersdaughter, Morgan?!. WMDKitty et al.
Morgan, I know the constant RAGE feeling too. You have my sympathies.
Going to view another apartment today; it’s not a huge savings, but if the electrical system isn’t as fucked as our current place, we’ll have a considerable savings on power. And we’ll be away from the assholes downstairs. We’ve got our application filed and all, we’re just waiting on the final decision.
Tony has been active on FB, too – I’m assuming it’s mostly work and his blog that are keeping him busy?
*hugs-of-awesomeness* to you too, opposablethumbs :)
Dalillama
Sorry for engaging David Wilford on that other thread. And for doing it wrong, too. :P
*throws random hugs into the crowd that automatically avoid those who do not desire hugs at this time or ever*
Dalillama
Good luck with that apartment! *sets out yet another jar of thumbs for DL and company*
Don’t worry, I have an endless supply of those.
(And no, I’m not telling.)
ERGGGHHHH and *hugs* for Beatrice, because (a) breakdowns in (b) hotel rooms are no fun at all, and I wish there was some way to make it better for you!!!
Wow, everything went sideways. Literally. Everything is in italics!
*hugs* for everyone breaking down and tired of it all. It seems like everyone’s having an especially rough time lately, whether from meatspace life or from the racist bs on so many of the threads (and all over the interwebs). :(
@toska, giliell, rq & cicely:
thanks for the welcomes and pouncehugs, etc.
@my favorite social justice WIZZARD:
Don’t forget that when Dr Phil’s smarm feels like gastropod slime and racist know-it-alls raise your bile to 11 that you’re the sane one. Patronizing survivors of molestation and portraying as rational decision makers cops who see demons and super villains running around the streets of Ferguson are behaviors that should enrage us. It’s damn good that you can still feel the keen tragedy in those events.
@badgersdaughter:
I wish you good work, and a spouse-unit with good work as well. And a spice-unit with a safe nasal-insertion mode.
And your own spear and magic helmet. B/c spear and magic helmet!!!
rq
No worries, you do your thing your way and I’ll do mine. I’m just personally stressed out and sick of people trying to endlessly reparse dead radicals to try to support the status quo.
Dalillama,
best of luck with the apartment.
—
break down was due to being tired, lonely and having to do stuff no one explained to me even though it’s urgent andn they know I work all day so can only finish it in the evenings. (No, really, that X and Y hashed that out during lunch break reeally isn’t helpfull since I wasn’t there and no one told me what the conclusion was!!!!)
Something’s been smelling-up, in an unpleasant way, my refrigerator for the past mumble days. I fink I found the main culprit mumbles days ago, some Corsican dried ham (similar to Italian Prosciutto) purchased from one of the regular Sunday morning outdoor market stalls many mumbling months ago. I’d used most of it in salads and the like, but there was just this tiny bit left… and forgotten… which developed a Emerald City-like (i.e., very green), and excessively smelly, civilization.
That excavation found other artifacts, which I left in situ then. I just now got around to chiseling them out, after bringing in the heavy equipment, including some napalm if things got a bit hairy. I found A fossilized space-suited unidentified vegetable; Some tabbouleh who, fortunately, hadn’t yet mastered hand-axes and so where still stuck inside the container; Various unidentifiable olive and sun-dried tomato collections intent on doing the “China syndrome” thing (they’d melted and were intent on leaking out); Something quite lively wrapped in butcher’s paper and hopping around vigorously (almost stotting); and A thriving sentient sausage population on the verge of motorized flight, probably to get the upper shelves.
The napalm wasn’t needed, but I did have to use the tunnel-boring machine a few times.
So I was enjoying my pistachios until a desiccated maggot popped out of that last one.
Ew.
*hugs* for Morgan and *USB cheesecake*
Thanks, everyone. Just the privilege of mentioning my husband’s job loss here took away a lot of the sting. We should do OK; we still have a couple months of savings and I’m pretty sure we’ll straighten something out soon.
Saad, the wackiest thing I ever did that worked was to thinly slice karela and fry it with olive oil, caramelized sweet onion, and a drop of balsamic vinegar, and serve it with Parmesan cheese. Still reminded me of dandelions and zucchini marinated in two-day-old espresso, but I could happily choke down a large enough portion that I hope it did something for my blood sugar levels.
beatrice
*hugs*
Portia
*big hugs*
I wanted to write something about how being able to cry when it hurts is actually a good feminine trait and it’s something boys and men should be allowed to do, too, but in th end I perfectly understand that any feminine trait like that still has a hefty price tag attached :(
Dalillama
tentacles crossed on the flat.
Something nice?
#1 went to a birthday party today. Not only am I always happy to see her having fun with other kids her age, but I also admit that I was slightly worried. They went to a Build-a-Bear workshop and the kid can seriously freak out when things don’t go according to plan and can be seriously unfriendly when somebody offers her help, but everything went fine, they had a wonderful day, she has a cute teddy bear (I thought it was her friend’s birthday? Maybe they’re tall Hobbits?)
Also going to make Cantuccini naw, so there should be fresh cookies for all in about an hour
Oh god, karela is something I have a very hard time getting down. Even when they’re cooked whole stuffed with ground beef, it isn’t enough to take that ridiculous bitterness off. Hey, that method doesn’t sound bad though. The parmesan may be able to overpower it a bit.
Today at Big DumbieCo…
Pointy hair manager: “How easy is it for you to do vaguely-described thing X?”
Me: “Do you mean X1, which is trivial for me to do; or X2, which is not easy for me to do?”
Pointy haired: “X2.”
Me: “Big DumbieCo already provides that.”
Pointy haired: “It won’t work. How long will it take you to do it?”
Me: “Why won’t it work? X2 is exactly what it is set up to do.”
Pointy haired: “Why does it matter? We need X2.”
It’s left there for the moment… I’ve currently no intention of doing X2, if that really is what pointy-haired wants. At the moment I don’t know anything about what is driving this (it’s completely unexpected and pointy-haired was unilluminating), and so have no rational basis for judging whether or not X2 really is the need. It would not surprise me if it isn’t; but then if it is, what the feck is “wrong” with Big DumbieCo’s already-existing X2?
</rant>Err, Morgan, do you mind if I ask which meds?
Will the maggot be Ok? It sounds like it’s rather ill.
As a lover of literature, this little girl brightened my day :)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/11/26/the-world-needs-books-watch-the-worlds-most-adorable-8-year-old-literary-ambassador/
Looks good for the apartment. Just waiting on final confirmation after they’ve finished the background checking. There’s no reason they should have a problem there, so yay.
Crip Dyke
Well, I don’t have a helmet, magical or otherwise, or indeed armor of any sort ( I wanted some, but scaleshirts for people nearly 2.5 meters tall are fecking expensive, as are supplies for a ship and crew for a month at sea, and the latter had priority), but I got a chance to use my magic spear in game yesterday. :) I thoroughly impaled something called a swampgaunt, before my comrade took its legs off with a horse-cutter. I also impaled the one that jumped us in the hold, but I used my knife for that one. The hold of a small fishing vessel is no place to use a spear.
I have no idea what that is, but it sounds useful for those occasions where the buggers surprise you and you haven’t got, or are unable to ignite, your horse-incinerator.
I want to say one word to you. Just one word… Are you listening?… Harpoons.
There are now 666 pages of Pharyngula content to peruse!
OMG, why U guise never point me to The Saucy Scholar before?!
(Thanks to Frogkisser who linked to her guest post at Lawyers, Guns & Money, “‘Riots’ is Racist” in the What would MLK Say? thread.)
Oh, and to all you Hordelings doing heavy lifting in that thread, you rock so hard (so hard, it’s a good thing you don’t waste ur hard-earned on chiropractic!). I heart you all. Here, have all teh hugz or other welcome/appropriate expressions of gratitude and affection.
fuck it all, I’m going to bed
At least I’ll be a bit more rested tomorrow
blf
A big blade on a stick. The European equivalent is called a lochaber axe.
are a)shorter, and b) used from the deck.
Some awesome kitten therapy – 20 mins worth. For those who need it.
I am full of so much hate for society right now. On multiple levels and multiple issures. Keeping it focused properly is challenging.
@ demiurge 40
Welcome.
You sound like me. We got programmed with the same software these fuckers are using right now.
The way I think about it is that we often treat creationists, new age types, peddlers of crap alternative medicine and more in similar ways. Why should we go easy on one another and avoid the same treatment? I HATE finding out that I’m a hypocrite.
Just be ready to get smacked around from time to time. It SUCKS the first time you feel that rush of “betrayal” (that is what it is and the quotes indicate that it is misplaced), especially for white males who were shaped into the more traditional type. But that part of ourselves is rather immature and the exaggerated response is probably a means of maintaining dominance. Sometimes I wonder if those like us should ritually get yelled at by one of the folks we want to help just to get used to the sensation XD
Fuck. That center portion in 123 should look like this.
You sound like me. We got programmed with the same software these fuckers are using right now. Our heads are full of horrible, vicious, violent ugly shit that is part of us and wants to be used (I’m probably projecting a bit here). We know the moves and counter-moves. That is an advantage and a powerful one, and one that is impossible to develop without constant input from and observation of the people we want to help.
The way I think about it is that we often treat creationists, new age types, peddlers of crap alternative medicine and more in similar ways. Why should we go easy on one another and avoid the same treatment? I HATE finding out that I’m a hypocrite.
The way I think about it is that we often treat creationists, new age types, peddlers of crap alternative medicine and more in similar ways. Why should we go easy on one another and avoid the same treatment? I HATE finding out that I’m a hypocrite.
Funny Diva
I dunno, but nobody ever pointed me at the Saucy Scholar, either, so thank you for that! (And to frogkisser.)
Happy (USAnian) Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy family, friends, peace and joy.
*pouncehugs* Oggie Hi! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
I guess I just had to get that out.
Oggie!
My day has just become much better for seeing you!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Hugs to you and your, Oggie.
Hello, Ogvorbis! :) *hugs*
Hey, it’s Og! *pouncehug*
Hey, Ogvorbis! It’s great to see you – here’s wishing you and yours a great day! Also, *hugs*!
Oggie, have a grog *slaps down a tankard the size of a “big gulp”*
Yup, Happy Turkey Time to all.
Brony: Thanks for the advice, and no, you’re not just projecting. I really like how you framed it.
With me, the little ‘simulation’ is not enraged or indignant anymore; it’s just something I can’t shake (probably because humans can’t just switch beliefs/knowledge on and off) and which at least consoles me that I’m not an outright hypocrite (as you alluded to).
Specifically, I mean that if I’m going to tangle with adversaries and make a measured effort to sway them, I’d better be apply the principle of charity and make sure they’re not actually correct… But after 6 or so years of moderate research and debate, the ‘best’ apologetics for religious faith and right-wing ideologies are still sad, sad jokes.
A number of things, like “Women are people.”, are just fucking true and non-negotiable. Can’t stand the weaselly, contrarian bullshit artists who argue otherwise to be edgy.
I’m braced for it, and welcome it. If/when I’m wrong, people in the Horde will call it out and I’ll go learn why. That’s part of adulthood.
The anger at society, I get it. Realizing the sheer scope of this, well, culture war that’s spreading across the web and actual society, from laws and dogma right down to the families ripped apart, has been stunning and devastating. Economic and social unrest pretty much always kicks up a reactionary fervor in history though, no? I want to think it will be overturned through the efforts of moral people.
/me update—Tuesday my oral surgeon took the wires off my jaw! Yay! I’m still on a soft food diet and ow ow ow my jaw is stiff and sore from being immobilized, but it’s so much better than having it shut. Also I brushed my teeth. FINALLY.
FO
Your friend absolutely has an abusive SO. Giliell and CatieCat are giving great advice. I haven’t been in your friend’s position, but I have been in yours. Best advice for you I can give is be good to yourself and remember you can’t “save” your friend, all you can do is be as available and supportive as possible. In my case my friend’s SO threatened me to her before she dumped him, and it’s quite possible your friend’s SO may to try to separate the two of you before this is over.
badgersdaughter
Ugh, unemployment. Crossing fingers and toes for you. Also, yay for more peas-loving folk!
Portia
Your grandpa sounds lovely. [reads on] Crying is Okay (even when observed by the Patriarchy). I have cried in front of my bosses too.
Beatrice
Oof. Poor communication at work is amazingly stressful. No way to call someone and ask to have it explained?
Dalillama
Crossing everything for a positive home environment outcome, one way or another.
Sigh. Ferguson.
Brings out the Endless Bag of Hugs and dumps it the Lounge. Please help yourselves as needed and desired.
I got fed up with my friends and posted a bunch of Ferguson 101 links on my Facebook page. Now waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Ogvorbis
Happy Thanksgiving!
birgerjohansson
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is public domain in the US and freely available. I recommend it if you found the quotes interesting. (The link is to a PDF of the book, which I found more enjoyable to read than the Project Gutenberg versions.)
@Azkyroth Drinked the Grammar Too :) #34:
Thanks.
@Portia (aka Smokey the Advocate) #36:
*hugs*.
@badgersdaughter #58:
Thanks a lot for sharing that.
It does give me some insight I’d never thought of.
I’ll do my very best to be there when she’ll need.
@Giliell, professional cynic -Ilk- #62:
Thank you, it’s a very good and practical suggestion.
@CaitieCat, Harridan of Social Justice #64:
Yes, she has to leave the relationship without my influence.
Thanks.
@rq: Haha, thanks. =)
Really, thanks a lot for the help.
It makes a difference to me, and hopefully will for her.
Most importantly, I’m realizing how clueless I have been towards what she’s being through and that I am leaving her much more alone than I thought, entirely for my own petty ego.
I’m fixing this. Now.
This one in particular seems appropos.
Scene: talking to Spouse, say that I’m glad we’re not going home for thanksgiving this year because I don’t want to sit through my family being racist. He asks what I mean. I say that of course Ferguson will come up, and they don’t think they’re racist, but somebody’s going to say something about what “those black people” should be doing and how if you just act right you’ll be fine and everyone will be all racist racist racist blah blah blah. He says surely they would not.
Scene, an hour later: I’m talking to my mom on the phone. She mentions that my brother has “gotten himself into trouble on facebook this week”. Then she elaborates that he’s “outspoken and says what he thinks about things”, and something something Ferguson, and now a couple of black women on facebook are calling him a racist.
*headdesk*headdesk*headdesk*headdesk* Siiiggghhhhhhhhh….
Oggie!!!! hugs and love and more love
Wilbefort
Yay for your face!
Did you run some turkey through a blender?
Beatrice:
hope you’re feeling a little bettter.
Oggie
Best wishes backatcha. *hugs*
–
I’m sitting at home, in my jammies, avoidng the packing and cleaning I should be doing. Maybe I’ll break out the wine and buckle down…but watching tv and browsing the internet is so much more…unexerting.
Or whatever.
Completely silly and arbitrary milestone for the Pharyngula blog on FTB.
http://s26.postimg.org/52dt0t1rt/2014_11_25_22_33_35.png
Enjoy, if you will, while it stands.
On Gravatars
– Choose an image. I discovered quite by accident that PNG files with transparency are supported, if you are interested in an avatar that isn’t square. Look at my avatar on the white and grey message backgrounds to see what I mean.
– Go to your WordPress profile. You can do that by logging in here and clicking on your name above the Leave a Reply box at the bottom of the page. (You don’t need a WordPress account to log in here. I can log in here with my Gmail account just fine.)
– Note the email that is listed in your profile. This email (I believe) must be the same here and at Gravatar.com.
– Go to Gravatar.com and login. Gravatar.com requires a WordPress login, so you may need to create a new account.
– When asked for an email, you must use the email address you use in your profile here. Gravatars are attached to specific email addresses. I log in here with my Gmail account and created a new WordPress account at Gravatar.com. The only thing they have in common is the email address, and my avatar works okay, so I think that’s how it works.
– It will take a bit of time for your avatar to appear. Maybe half an hour?
This is how it works for me! Good luck!
Wilbefort
Congrats on getting the wires out! That’s got to be a relief, even with all the jaw pain/stiffness.
F.O.
Good luck and *hugs* to you and your friend.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow USAliens (and anyone else who wants to celebrate. Just because FOOD.)!
Wibefort, great to hear your jaw is now released from confinement. Free grog or swill or your choice with soft bacon sammiches. We soak the bacon in grog for five minutes, and then keep it downwind for ten minutes on a bun half, to make sure it is soft enough to melt in your mouth (along with the bun).
Finally got the Redhead to commit to Turkey Day dinner being tomorrow (her family did it on Saturday, to avoid conflicts with the other half of the families). Except, it is just her, me, the turkey, with some real smashed potatoes, real gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, and apple pie ala mode. And a ton of planovers even with the small turkey….*why does this turkey have four legs? Oh, right, orders from the Redhead.*
Nerd:
That sounds like a perfectly delicious dinner, and i hope the two of you really enjoy it.
–
Mine will probably be me, mom, stepdad, and SO. At least SO and i have agreed in advance not to drink while we’re there, and to leave if stepmonster is racist or otherwise awful.
So, for anyone else who’s thinking about getting a cat, this might be a good time to mention that apparently crawling into seemingly inaccessible spaces in the furniture and remaining silent and motionless for hours, even when you’re in the room shaking their food bag and calling their name, is something that cats do, and therefore your pet may not necessarily have been stolen out of/escaped from a locked apartment and having a sobbing breakdown is probably premature.
Azkyroth:
At first I thought it was a funny anecdote then I realized it was really really not, and I’m sorry your kitty gave you such a scare.
*safehugs*
Wish I wasn’t ‘rupt, but it happens.
Portia @90 Maybe late, but my wife (the attorney) has dealt with the same thing. I have a hug or two if you are still interested.
carlie re brother/Ferguson — Sorry. I have more hugs available if they are needed.
Wilbefort – Turkey being probably my favorite food, I am glad your jaw is free.
Azkyroth
When I moved this summer, my kitten was still pretty little. He climbed into one of the moving boxes waiting to be unpacked, and he got stuck. He didn’t meow for help at all, and we were searching everywhere for hours. Cats have a way of scaring the crap out of us like that. :/
I’m glad your kitty was found and your fears were unfounded.
ajb47, thanks, I’ll take a hug. That makes me feel better – thank you
Azkyroth
Oh man. I know a lady, she was packing up her chalet (yeah, I know…) and she couldn’t find one of her cats. She looked everywhere, tried all the tricks, and finally decided he was outside, and possibly eaten by a fox (this is the Laurentians in Canada). So she left.
And came back two weeks later to hear pitiful and weak mewling from somewhere.
Found Cat in a sweater drawer from which he could not escape.
So… yes, cats do weird shit like that all the time.
*hugs*
Wilbefort
HOORAY! *passes over a tray of cookies* These work well dipped in tea. :)
ajb47
Hullo, *hugs*
F.O
Good luck!
Azkyroth
My cat got out once, for 3 days. I missed her so much those few days. I’m glad your cat is okay.
Nerd
Thank you for the grog and the sammich! I have to giggle at the juxtaposition with your Thanksgiving plans though—your menu for the Redhead sounds delicious.
* ** *
Ugh, I’ve just read through the MLK thread and collected more links for ammo in case I get any “nibbles” to my FB post. Nothing but 1 favorite at the moment though, which is a little disappointing, yanno?
Buggrit
Buggrit
Buggrit
I had a job interview today at a place I would LOVE working at – customer support for a womenswear line I like. The two people interviewing me were just so good, we were laughing about so many things (one of them lurks at WHTM and knew my nym there!) and I really liked the feel I got for the culture of the place.
But.
But.
It’s a 9 – 5.30 job. Even if I could walk to work, that would be a hell of a change; I haven’t worked full-time in fifteen years. But it would take a minimum of two hours each way, on two train lines, to get there. I wouldn’t be getting home much before 8pm and I’d be getting up at 6am. I just can’t do that.
I will just hope, HOPE, that eventually – the company is expanding – job-sharing will become available. They wanted me back for a second interview (hell, they rang me two hours after I applied for the job) but we all knew it just wasn’t going to be possible.
FuckingstupidrailwaysurbansprawlrentalpricesARGH.
/rant
(No need for hugs, a nice cup of tea will do very well. Possibly with a Bex and a good lie down.)
@2kittehs #155 is bicycle an option?
‘Fraid no, F.O – as I said, it’s a minimum of two hours, each way (ie four hours total) by train. I live over 60 km from the city, and would have to go in there and out on a different train.
Just blocked a friend on FB – not because of his views on Ferguson, but because of his ‘impartiality’ and the fucking racist, ignorant comments of a friend of his (who has previously been equally right-wing conservative). Apparently you can unfollow a conversation, but it still shows up on your timeline every time someone adds a comment. And I don’t need to see that Darren-Wilson-sympathizing bullshit, not in my personal space.
Also, fucking security guard last night. Locked me out (kind of ‘in’ but because I have to go through the main building to the courtyard for the entrance to the lab, he locked me out of the main building) when I wanted to go home, and forgot about me. Luckily our lab now has the number for the front security desk, which I bothered to check… eventually.
In slightly funnier news, the kids are growing up. Saw Youngest fishing in his nose, and he saw me lookin’ – so he pulled out a giant booger, stuck it in his mouth and ate it – and commented, ‘Mmmm, tastyyyy!!’
And Eldest won’t hold my hand in public, anymore. Well, he’s all fine in the street, but as soon as we get into the school hallway, nope. That makes me kind of happy/sad.
Middle Child just needs more Lego. Now if only he remembered to pick it all up at the end of the evening………
I made popcorn.
Because I like popcorn.
I have lots, I’ll share.
2kittehs
Aaawwwwww that just sucks. It sounds like an amazing opportunity for you – but yeah, those long commutes can be a killer. :( I hope they do expand – no ride-sharing from your end of civilization, by the way, no? Is that even an option?
Wilbefort
For more tasty links for FB pages, check out the Later This Morning thread. Lots of yum-yums there, and another stack about to go up!
chigau, you are kindness itself
::nom nom nom::
rq
After all of your work on the Later this Morning thread and dealing with those same exact attitudes in the MLK thread, you definitely deserve an online space free from all of that garbage.
rq – sadly no, I don’t know anyone who drives into town. Even if I did, the drive in on our congested freeways takes as long as the train – longer, sometimes. I could deal with the commute if it was short hours; I travelled 4.5 – 5 hours daily for eight years in my old job, but that was 9 to 3, so it wasn’t bad at all; I could get home before 5 most nights. Still a long day, I was getting up at 5 am, but it balanced. I don’t think I’d have the stamina for working till 5.30pm at all, and adding the travel … gah, I’d be burned out in a month.
I’m just gonna keep my fingers crossed that as the company expands job sharing will become a possibility, and in the meantime, focus on looking for part-time work!
Well, when not focussing on the kitties, of course. One has to have priorities.
I’m sorry about your facebook ex-friend, too. Fence sitters on this sort of issue, ugh. Let ’em have splinters.
Morning
Ahhh, the painful reminder that though sex is a social construct, bodies are still real.
Wilbefort
Yay for progress
+++
2kittehs
I’d love to work for a women swear line, too! I’m very good at swearing!
Tebtacles crossed that something will show up in the future
+++
beatrice
I see your popcorn and I raise some Cantuccini
+++
rq
That’s one of the reasons I’m not touching FB with a 10 foot pole. My Twitter is a carefully cultivated space of sensible people.
+++
carlie
*hugs*
One of the good things about my parents is that while they’re assholes, they’re not racist assholes. My in laws, OTOH, are thankfully not politically aware enough to spread much stupid and I think by now they know that I don’t tolerate shit.
+++
Have a happy day today, all you who celebrate something.
Giliell
ROFL and I’d have had cool cow orkers, too!
::ponders::
My last job was definitely a women swear and men swear shop. Especially when the boss was having computer trouble. :P
rq
Arg I’m reading Good Morning, America! for the first time. I have Later this Morning tabbed for later. Yes, so many links to follow, but I must also sleep some time soon. I did get a bite on my FB post, we went back and forth for awhile, then he wished me a happy thanksgiving. (childhood acquaintance who has really repugnant opinions. sigh.)
* ** *
So. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet about how my jaw was broken: It looks like it was racially motivated. The kids who attacked me were black; they were yelling derogatory things as they beat me up; the police told me, after they were arrested, that the kids said they were looking for vulnerable white people to beat up.
It makes me sad. I find it quite believable that the kids who beat me up might have good reasons to be angry. I also am relieved that they were caught and will be punished; what they were doing was really hurtful. But the juxtaposition leaves me confused and unhappy. I don’t know where I’m going with this. I want to do something, I think it’s obvious there’s a huge need for it. And I don’t know what to do.
Anyway, the whole Ferguson thing has a lot more meaning to me now than it would have before I was attacked, I think. I don’t know if my attack was related to what’s happened in Ferguson. It may well be related. Michael Brown died in August; I was attacked in October. I am glad y’all are here and I can talk about it. But I want something to do that can make a difference for the community those kids are growing up in, which is kinda why I came back to Pharyngula after I was attacked, I think? It’s hard to think of another place that would understand.
* ** *
Also thanks for the 20 minutes kittens video. I needed it.
Just dropping in to tell that Finnish parliament is voting on gay marriage tomorrow.
But it’s not final vote. Now they are voting whether the drafts for the new laws will be made. And when the drafts are ready they will have another vote on accepting them. The tomorrow’s result could go either way, but it looks like the odds are slightly in favor of the new marriage laws.
@2kittehs: Too bad for the job, but at least it means that you can enjoy more free time. Having a stable 9-to-5 job is a privilege, but does take a toll on your life. I hope you have the financial stability you need.
@Wilbefort: That is disheartening. =(
Fuck… Do you think you could help them? Even if they broke your jaw.
Bring them books? Talk with them? Tell them you are sorry? It all feels so useless.
Take the streets. Join the other protesters. “Black lives count.” “Not in my name.”
I really don’t know.
F.O., thank you for the kind thoughts! Yeah, the money side is not too bad, between my mother’s and my welfare payments, but I’m going to need a job sooner or later, if possible. I’d much rather work part-time than full-time anyway. Well, no, in truth I’d rather be one of the idle rich. I’m really good at the idle part, it’s just being rich that eludes me. :P
I called her and… Jesus fucking Christ.
First of all, I have to come clean.
I am the one she slept with and got assaulted by her bf.
I didn’t say it before because I guess I wanted to appear more selfless than I am.
I am a fucking coward and I hate myself for this.
But we were best friends.
And I was so fucking angry at him and I felt betrayed by her, because she let him trample our friendship, he told her she couldn’t see me anymore and she obeyed.
I failed her.
I fucking failed her.
I left her alone because of my damn fucking stupid ego.
I called her, and she was very happy to hear from me.
She’s here on his visa and he just lost it.
He wants to go back overseas, and wants her to follow him.
I did my very best not to nudge her in any direction, to just let herself speak freely.
She started to fiddle and circle around about whether she wants to go or not.
We changed argument, then we spoke about the things she is doing here and doesn’t know whether she can continue.
I told her that she wants to stay here.
“Yes, I want to stay here” she agreed with me immediately and enthusiastically.
I connected it with the gaslightning thing only hours later.
Giliell’s words popped in my minds and… How do I write this?
I have a friend in an abusive relationship and I let her alone for my stupid fucking ego.
I want to fucking cry.
I’m having another tantrum again, I’m not controlling myself.
I’m sorry, I didn’t want to lie to you.
For what is worth, I am grateful as ever that you allowed me to see this.
I’m not going to fail her again.
Jesus fucking Christ I’m not.
I’ll do everything I can to get her the fucking visa and let her stay here, I’m fucking marrying her if necessary.
Jesus fucking Christ I hate myself.
Sorry. Thanks.
Wilbefort
Good luck with the monster that is Good Morning America, it’s less the number of comments as the number of links. Definitely going to last you a while! (Also, if you spot anything interesting or come to any conclusions in retrospect, that would be great to hear, because you might have some perspective that we, in the midst of it, didn’t have at the time.)
As for the youths who beat you up, it’s hard to say… I guess you haven’t talked to the police about it yet. Is there any chance you can not press charges, and ask to meet with them? Just to say what you want to say? If it’s possible not to press charges. Or if there will be charges, showing up in court or writing for a more lenient sentence, because the NEGs know they won’t be getting much lenience as is.
Also, I’m sure there’s ways to get involved in the community, either mentoring (maybe not them, but other youth), donating time and/or money, or just showing up in support whenever the black community expresses a grievance.
As F.O. says, bring them books or tutor them – assist in coaching them in some sort of after-school sports, find a community center and volunteer.
Just throwing out suggestions.
2kittehs
I’d love to be a cow orker of yours, too, since I’m good in women swear lines, too!! And the bit about your previous job made me laugh. :D
carlie
*hugs* And I hope you have an awesome, awesome holiday with the family, with as few relatives calling in to be bigots as possible. And a delicious turkey and sides. And all the rest.
And Nerd, your plans sound utterly delicious, and may the leftovers be worth all the effort. And additional holiday *hugs* for you for your dedication and love and just general awesomeness. ♥
Also, cats fishing for bread. They’re funny.
+++
F.O.
Suggestion: don’t marry her just for the visa. It seems like a good idea now, but those things are costly (in all kinds of ways) to sort out later.
Be there for her, call her again, if she lets you. Remind her that she’s allowed to make her own choices in going or staying, since she is not married to that other guy, too.
I wonder if she might have to go back, if only to apply for a visa on her own? I don’t know much about immigration law, but I think you have to apply for a visa outside of the country (for certain countries, that is – I know some can be got on arrival).
If she has a job, maybe she can apply for a visa through them, at least talk to them about the possibility of being allowed to stay.
*hugs*
FO: I’m going to talk about this as though you are in the US. If you aren’t, you may be able to find equivalent programs. Here in Ireland, for instance, any non-EEA citizen in the country legally can get permission to stay if they are the spouse of an Irish citizen (that’s what I’m here as) and any EU citizen can exercise right of free movement to live here. Some such arrangement may be possible for you.
As someone who brought my husband over to the US on a green card, I remember a few things about that process. First, it may look suspect to marry your friend for a green card, especially since she came over as a partner on someone else’s visa. I’m not saying that Immigration will infer this, only that you and she will have to show a genuine and subsisting relationship both before and after marriage (photos together, e-mails, receipts for trips and things you bought together, and so forth). She will have to return to her home country and then the green card process can take a further six to twelve months or longer, depending on backlog. This is the fastest way to a green card for the spouse of an American citizen, unless you are both resident overseas in the country of origin together (which is sometimes faster).
More practical might be a quick consult with an immigration lawyer (make sure it is a qualified lawyer, not a consultant or facilitator or someone who helps fill out forms) to see if your friend can benefit from various provisions available to abused partners. She does not have to be battered if she can show a pattern of habitual mistreatment, like his neglect, sleeping around, violent behavior (you did file a police report?), mental and emotional abuse, and possible taking advantage of her financial resources. Please be cautious and do your research.
To clarify, I did not mention a police report because I think the police will do anything. I only mentioned it because it might be helpful documentation. If you are determined to marry, it might help clear up the question of why she entered as someone’s partner and married someone else. Do not delay the lawyer consultation, because everything is made infinitely more difficult if she overstays her visa (and he could return at any time). If cost is an issue, try anyway; especially under these circumstances you might find a lawyer willing to give you good advice in the first consultation and a negotiated rate afterward.
Poked his head out of the pillow fort. “Is the world a better place?” he asks. Maybe not, but I feel that maybe it could be. Which is as positive as I’ve been in a while.
Portia I see nothing wrong with showing your feelings. I never understand why it has such negative connotations.
F.O. I hope the situation resolves itself sooner rather than later. All I can offer is my support as I know nothing of the laws involved in getting Visas.
2Kittehs It sucks to find a job that you’d love to do, but it’s untenable. Sorry. I hope something appropriate appears soon.
Thanks to everyone for their *hugs* and support. Life doesn’t suck quite so much thanks to you all!
F.O., fwiw dealing with an abusive relationship is pretty much guaranteed to be a mental melt-down even when you yourself are not the primary person involved – gaslighting casts a long shadow. The important thing is you’re there for her now; don’t beat yourself up – her abuser bloody well should, but won’t – but save your energy, inasmuch as you can, for helping.
I hope you are able to help her stay, and (also fwiw) I agree with rq – making this an actual marriage could be legally/personally difficult to deal with later. Only you know all the circs, but it might be well to consider and not rushing when dealing with feelings of guilt? Crossing my fingers for her and for you helping her. Also, hugs.
Also, FO, as no one else has said it, probably best to back-burner the sex unless/until a resolution is reached. For the safety of you and her both, and because the kind of abusive arsehole you’ve described often has a very “sex is a nonrenewable resource, stop stealing sex from me!” attitude. Evoking his “defence of my property” trait will not enhance his willingness to compromise or be reasonable; one reliable assertion you can make about liberturdians is that they go cuckoo for property rights.
Also, adding sex and some fairly powerful chemicals to your brains isn’t going to make rationality any easier to maintain. Plus, coming out of an abusive relationship can be a very vulnerable time, when she might make decisions on a decidedly short-focus basis that would then be hard to cope with later.
If the relationship between you and her is a good one, it will wait until she’s in a more stable place, and be much more likely at that point to be sustainable.
Good luck
The Riga Zoo baby tigers. They’re cute, if you ignore the surrounding cage.
Also, KLM lost-and-found dog.
bassmike:
thank you. My bosses were pretty nice about it, but what else do you do when someone’s crying in front of you? : P
My jerkbrain is in full swing. Hopefully soon I can take both bosses advice and just forget all of it until Monday.
:)
2kittehs:
I’m sorry bout the job thing. That’s a huge bummer. I’ve just brewed a pot of coffee, but I also have tea, so open up your USB port in about 3 minutes if you’re still interested.
–
SO will be here soon to help me lug my stuff to his car and then we’re heading to Michigan to visit my family for the holiday. There’s some snow blowing around but it doesn’t look serious.
Oh, and by way of an update, S and I got back together a couple months ago. We broke up because he didn’t want to commit, and luckily for him (and me) when he worked up the nerve to tell me he had gotten ready to commit, I hadn’t quite moved on yet. So, here we are, and he’s walking the walk and I’m holding to my new boundaries for what’s acceptable and as a result we’re doing pretty darn well.
And thankfully, he is very patient and helpful, which will come in handy when he gets here and I’m not ready to hit the road yet because I’m cleaning my kitchen and packing my knitting. : p
“A Thanksgiving Guide to Talking to Your Relatives About Women’s Issues in the News” http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/11/26/a_thanksgiving_guide_to_talking_to_your_relatives_about_bill_cosby_affirmative.html
— — — — —
Re. The British seals killing porpoises at the North Sea coast
“Killer seals playing pretentious mind games with polic”e http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/environment/killer-seals-playing-pretentious-mind-games-with-police-2014112793206
KILLER seals are attempting to engage police in pseudo-intellectual cat-and-mouse games. The seals, thought to be responsible for killing several porpoises, have sent officers a series of ‘cryptic’ messages.
Detective inspector Tom Logan said: “I suspected the seals were attempting to contact us when I received a soggy envelope covered in seaweed.
“Inside was a message implying the killings were connected to signs of the zodiac, but I don’t think they’d thought it through properly because it was too vague to lead to a proper battle of wits.
Then I got one with a nursery rhyme and some extremely easy anagrams, which I immediately worked out as ‘Jack and Jill went up the hill to catch a tail of porpoise’.
“That was poor too because it doesn’t quite make sense and they obviously got the idea from Die Hard with a Vengeance.”
Logan added that he would not be following instructions to deliver a crate of fish to a location in the North Sea because it was obviously an attempt to toy with him and seals cannot be charged with crimes anyway.
Grey seal Roy Hobbs said: “The police can work out the date of my next murder by cross-referencing verse numbers from the Bible with Catcher in the Rye, but only if they’ve got exactly the right editions.”
Portia I must admit that I was curious about the mention of a SO! I was too polite and British to ask. I hope everything works out well for you.
Off to the train to see family for the holiday. I’ll get back in tomorrow afternoon about 2 hours before work, and I have a shift Sunday as well, so I won’t be posting much the next few days.
Also kind of ‘rupt. *hugs* to everyone who needs ’em.
Best wishes to F.O.. I’ve been in similar situations, although without the visa complications.
bassmike:
Thanks ^_^
–
I just discovered that ravelry has a “mature content” filter. Hhehehehehe there are so many ways to knit a penis.
Hugs here, apply as needed. Whatever you and yours are doing today, I hope it’s a good day for you.
We’re off to Aged Mum’s in a couple of hours. She has a long list of things she wants done, and I doubt we’ll get through even the half of it. Too bad, so sad… *raspberries*
Portia
… A fitted penis-warmer. For those times when winter catches you with your pants down. Or something. :D
Dalillama
Hope you ahve a good holiday!
bassmike *hugS*
We jsut re-enacted Jurassic World at home: I had to drive the wooden block train while Youngest personned the spinosaurus that came and ate everyone. Done.
What gauge needles would you need? O.O (I’m thinking penises tend to be quite a bit thicker than knitting yarn … unless one were to knit the penises of very tiny animals; and on the other hand unless it were a blue whale’s one’s knitting project would be hard pressed for length … OK, shutting up now.)
Very best wishes for SO-type developments to go well, Portia.
Safe travels to all of you Horders who are travelling for this furrin’ holiday o’ yourn, and may all your respective families behave themselves.
re Jurassic World re-enactment: sounds like a good job very well done.
Two pairs of jeans on a couch.
One the old pair to cut up for a school project, the other the child’s favorite pair that were on the more expensive side.
Guess which one got cut into before realizing it?
fuck
Oh, carlie :-(((((( I’m so sorry, that’s just AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH :-((((((
Are the good jeans salvageable at all?
carlie
Oh no! :( Time for some creative sewing…?
+++
The Oatmeal compares Thanksgiving as a child and as an adult. (Did the Oatmeal always have problematic language and I just didn’t notice?)
Given that the entire leg was cut in half? Probably not. I swear, it was right out of a sitcom: I was sitting there happily cutting away, when Child 1 said “Where are my jeans” and I looked down and there was a broken record scratch sound as all eyes swiveled directly to me. *sigh*
We could order exact replacement jeans; luckily, they are on sale right now so it won’t be as bad as full price, but we can’t order online because otherwise he only has one pair for the next week and a half until they would get here. That means we have to be two of those awful people out at 6pm this evening at the store to try and find a pair in his size before they all sell out. And I’m really going to have to let him get any pair he wants to salvage it – it was no Ordinary Pair of Jeans, they fit just right and looked awesome and were comfortable and yadda yadda. I will be able to partly cover the cost by not going to the choral concert next week that I was planning on. It’s not going to break us or anything, just makes things tighter, especially in this paycheck. Blech. I just can’t believe I was that ridiculous.
Portia – good luck with S, I hope things work well now.
FO – remember, you weren’t being a terrible person by pulling away when you didn’t know what was going on with her. Your hurt feelings were valid hurt feelings. That was exactly what anyone would suggest when you’re in a relationship that hurts, protect yourself and try to completely move away. Help as much as you can now, but don’t beat yourself up over your own feelings.
Hugs to everybody, especially those who are having Family or Lack Of Family issues today.
A short conversation:
Me: I think next year I’ll book a trip somewhere for Thanksgiving. Get away from everyone.
Mom: We’ll go with you.
:|
Also, the MST3K Turkey Day Marathon is on now!
carlie,
good luck with finding the right jeans and I’m sorry about the concert.
FO,
no advice, just sympathy
awakeinmo,
Did you get that shocked look on your face that made it totally obvious she wasn’t welcome? Because I would and then mum wuold backpeddal and then I would feel bad and then I would backpeddal and then everyone would feel bad. (and no one would book that trip) :)
Beatrice
I’m so used to silliness from my mom like that. I don’t think I did much more than look at my dad, who then mercifully changed the subject.
Shrimp on a treadmill!!! When you thought you’ve seen it all.
(Via Mano Singham.)
Stay with the yarn, please. Besides, a garment (or whatever) that periodically goes stiff and limp, and perhaps changes apparent size too, is not something you’d want to wear in pubic.
Shrimp on a treadmill, Yakety Sax version.
Hey carlie. Can I treat you to the concert as an early Christmas present to one of my fave commenters? I can send you the $ via paypal.
Hi all! Sorry for my uncharacteristic silence the last few days. Life gets in the way sometimes.
Happy Turkey Day to those celebrating. I’m happy I don’t have to work on Thanksgiving, as it gives me time to cook. I’m not preparing much, just a turkey, ham, some mashed potatoes and broccoli (I’m just cooking for myself). Not even going to try the garlic bread which I burned twice last year (the second time it was on fire).
Now to catch up.
****
Esteleth @15:
That seems fair. Not every place needs to be open on holidays, but a hospital definitely does.
****
And I share all the feelings of anger, resentment, frustration, and outrage over the grand jury’s decision not to indict Darren Wilson. Even though I don’t condone violence, the civil unrest that has erupted was totally predictable. Black people have been told to let the justice system handle their problems, but we’ve heard once more than the justice system won’t hear our problems. What the fuck recourse is left when people don’t listen?
****
Crip Dyke @21:
Good to see you round these parts!
****
Jackie @27:
Hugs to you my friend.
****
Saad @30:
That top rated quote makes me want to puke. Yeah, I’m glad I’m not put to death for consensual sexual activities, but fuck, that’s a pretty low bar. No one should be put to death for that. I, like many LGBT people, demand far more than simply “allowing us to live”.
****
Anne @33:
It could be a zombie bunny apocalypse.
I wonder how horrified Anya would be at that…
****
Portia @36:
Sorry to hear about your granfather. I hope his health improves. Hugs to you.
****
demiurge @40:
Welcome to the Lounge!
Glad you chose to delurk, and I hope you enjoy your time here.
****
As I’m completely ‘rupt, can someone point me toward the comments by Jackie about homeschooling?
Hey Tony! Good to see you. Re queer rights, I’m with you. “We have slightly more rights than vermin, woohoo!” said no one, ever.
One might knit it in rib. Room to expand, with added pleasure.
Someone in my knitting group regularly knits toys which are stuffed to such a state of rigidity that they could be used as—er. Never mind. Oh, and there’s someone else who just knitted a banana. I have no idea why.
I used to knit at rehearsals—my first sock was born during “The Winter’s Tale”, and was fascinating to our Leontes. I start from the toe, see, and I think he thought I was trying to produce a penis warmer. Possibly for a donkey. Actually, when you think about it, donkeys, being unclothed and frequently outside, would be appropriate recipients for such gifts.
F.O.
I don’t think you’re a bad person. I’m glad you’re trying to be there for her. I wish I had useful advice for you. :(
Hugs to all who want them.
Tony!
Good to see you back :)
Jackie wrote a righteous rant in the TDome (#97), and the rest of the discussion is in the Smug and Stupid thread.
toska, demiurge:
I’ll never forget that my first comment at Pharyngula was a tone trolling comment. It was a ‘tsk tsk’-ing of the use of profanity. So I do have some itsy bitsy teensy weensy amount of sympathy for *some* tone trollers. Not enough to let the tone trolling slide, bc that shit distracts from a discussion.
****
bassmike @52:
I’m sorry you’re still feeling down.
****
reads Saad’s #65 and wants to smash something…
I mean seriously, what the FUCK does King want the President to say?
“Great job killing a black kid”?
****
rq @67:
:)
****
badgersdaughter @68:
Sorry to hear about the job-related problems you and your husband are having. I hope things turn around for you both soon.
****
Saad @72:
::wonders where I fall on the cool-o-meter since I despise peas::
****
Morgan @87:
It sounds like you made the best choice for yourself. Supportive hugs :)
****
reads rq’s #108, and thinks “I’ll never eat a pistachio again” sounds reasonable (even though it’s not).
****
Giliell:
glad the little one had a good time at the birthday party. It’s nice to have your concerns not come true I imagine.
****
Dalillama @116:
I’m catching up now, but I hope there’s a comment from you saying “We got the apartment”. Fingers crossed for you and L.
****
nich @118:
Did you count all the pages?
****
Ogvorbis @126:
Oggie sighting!
::waves::
****
Wilbefort @136:
Good to hear the braces are off. I hope you’re able to enjoy a wider array of food now.
Good evening
Hugs to Tony and Carlie
Carlie, I swear that could have been me. I hope you find a good replacement
F.O.
Don’t feel bad about having retreated somewhat. Remember it’s the modus operandi of abusers to isolate their victims. You wouldn’t blame her for it, so don’t blame yourself either.
Nice things
Little one had her daycare Christmas party tonight and they did a theatrical performance of the Gruffalo. She was the snake and a very good one. She remembered all her lines and spoke them clearly with some actual acting. Proud parent moment.
Afterwards we chatted with another mum who has some stupid ideas. Her son and the little one are friends and she remarked that this was better than him being friends with all the girls (because boys and girls can’t be friends so we must pretend that he’s her boyfriend or something like that even though they’re just 5yo).
A few moments later, Mr and I saw the little one playing with a bunch of boys and I remarked that I am glad the little one apparently didn’t get that memo.
Ibis3 – thank you so much, that is the nicest thing. :) I would feel even more guilt that way, though, because we do have more cushion than I usually think about. Me not going is in a little way a bit of a hair shirt, I guess, for messing up? My mental exchanges in bookkeeping is kind of my own security blanket/need for control kind of thing – if it was any other time of year I might not even do it, I just get freaked out at times like Christmas when I know we’ll be spending money on gifts and such. I would love it if you donated a bit for me the next time someone sends up the Horde signal for rent or car repairs or such, though. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. :)
Ok, I recovered from the freak out.
Again, I’m sorry.
We’re not in the US.
I hope we’ll find a way to get her a visa, and an employer that sponsors her would be the best thing.
There are a few more options, and she’s actively considering them.
We’ll likely meet in a few days at a social event.
Up to a point, she’s been defying him which is awesome.
Failing the visa, I just hope she doesn’t follow him and goes somewhere else.
Failing that, and this is really a desperate case, I will offer her a partner sponsorship. Hopefully we won’t even get there.
@CaitieCat, Harridan of Social Justice, #177
We barely met in the last year since the assault. Sex hasn’t and won’t happen.
Knowing that I help her stay will be enough to make him angry.
When he assaulted me I really didn’t expect him to resort to violence. And nope, no witnesses. This is a mistake I won’t do again.
He’s a dangerous fool and I’m keeping my distance from both of them until he’s out of the country.
Still, for now the situation is under control.
I’ll just ensure that I call her regularly so that she feels comfortable in asking my help should she need.
Thanks heaps. Really.
@Tony: nice to see you back. I was missing your ugly gravatar from the threads.
@carlie
Sure, I can do that (donate on your behalf next time the Horde signal goes up). I just didn’t want you to miss out on something for pure enjoyment that you were looking forward to just because you made one of those “oh fuck, did I just do that?” mistakes that can happen to anyone. Please no hair shirts.
Wilbefort:
I just sent you a friend request on Facebook.
****
carlie @139:
Ugh. Knowing that your family members have racist opinions is bad enough. Having to sit through a holiday dinner dreading the moment when a subject like Ferguson comes up does NOT sound like a pleasant time. Glad you don’t have to sit through that.
****
Speaking of reactions to Ferguson, I got to hear bullshit from co-workers over the last few days as they criticized the people who engaged in unlawful civil unrest. I actually heard someone say the police should just shoot them. This was from one of the managers, so I didn’t say anything. Had it been from a fellow employee, I would have. It’s also aggravating because the owners are Republicans, so they had FOX fucking news on Monday-Wed. When we’re busy and I don’t have time to pay attention to the lies they spew, it’s tolerable. But when we’re slow, and I’ve got a fucking 46″ tv behind me with FOX news being shown? Oh. My. Fucking. God.
****
toska @151:
How did you find your kitty? Did he eventually meow? Or did you all just start unpacking everything?
****
2kittehs @155:
Damn. Sorry to hear about the complications with the job.
Cup o’ tea?
****
::wonders if chigau’s popcorn is still good…::
****
Wilbefort @166:
I hate that those kids beat you up. That shit is intolerable.
I also want to say that I respect you for your desire to help the community those kids were raised in.
****
F.O.:
I wanted to mention that I’m glad you didn’t stop commenting. I know that some of my comments towards you were harsh, and I know that some people are driven away because of the tone at Pharyngula. Many times the people who whine about the tone don’t take the time to understand why people respond the way they do. It seems like you may have adjusted your opinion of the harsh tone around here (or at least you’ve become tolerant of it). In any case, no matter why you’ve chosen to stay, I’m glad you have.
I don’t have any advice with regard to your friend and her abusive ex, but it looks like rq and CaitieCat have given some helpful advice.
****
Nerd @146:
Sounds like a lovely dinner. I hope you and the Redhead enjoy it.
****
Portia @179:
When I read about you having an SO, I was all like “woo hoo, go Portia”, but I thought it might be intrusive to ask. I hope things work out between you and S. You deserve
THIS much happiness. Plus some.
****
carlie:
Ooooh, cutting up the wrong pair of jeans. Ouch. Given their cost, they much have been a brand-name pair of jeans.
I remember several years ago I went to a Lucky Brand store for the first time and was shocked to see how expensive their jeans were. I don’t buy jeans on the cheapest end of the spectrum, but I also don’t buy ones on the most expensive end (well, that’s when I go shopping. I haven’t done that in years). I think the most I’ve spend on jeans was ~$80, and I felt that was a bit too high.
****
awakeinmo @194:
I think your mother might need a clue or two :)
Tony!
I searched through every box while cursing my other cat for not having a Lassie moment and just showing me (He had to have smelled the kitten, but he sat around uselessly instead of helping). He never meowed at all, but when I finally got him out he had wet himself and was quite grouchy for the rest of the day. It definitely could have been worse though!
*hugs* for Tony. Can I finally get my Campari and cranberry? :)
rq @213:
Sorry, the Lounge bar is out of Campari. I think it was used to make this (scroll down to the sixth picture).
Ridley Scott amde a movie about Moses, and it is racist. Read also his response (linked at the bottom of that link).
Tony
I’ll have all of that sorbet then, please. All of it.
rq:
Thank you for saying this.
It brought tears to my eyes. It was passionate and so very well stated.
You are so many different kinds of awesome.
That is one weird turkey in the oven. Five legs….
(OK, I did a package of turkey legs, which I thought had two, but had three, to supplement the dark meat for the Redhead).
Hugs all ’round.
carlie, screwups happen. To quote a wise friend, don’t beat yourself with the guilty stick. [extra hugs]
Ritual Sacrifice With Pie luncheon at Aged Mum’s was a great success. Caregiver M did the cooking, and we brought drinks and a couple of side dishes, baked pears in pomegranate sauce and cranberry cherry relish. I did not quite completely lose my temper with AM, although it was close – she keeps the TV at full blast, talks in a little wee mumbly voice, and doesn’t get why I can’t understand her. Sigh. The freeways going east towards San Bernardino were all stop-and-go, at 2pm, which makes no sense at all, but we eventually made it home, and here we will stay.
Hugs, commiserations, congratulations all round, as appropriate. And kitties, of course, because kitties.
Wilbefort, so glad you’re getting those wires out!
Portia and Tony! – cup o’ tea, lovely. Cups, plural, even better! :)
F.O, damn, I wish I had something helpful to say, but have some extra hugs if you want them.
rq, you should have heard the things my boss used to say should be done to Bill Gates! (This is a man who still uses Windows 95 at home.)
Thanks for the sympathy, all! I told my former boss this morning, and he said “Good, now I don’t have to tell them what you’re really like.” (You can see why I liked working with this guy: been a smartarse since forever.)
Turkey done, “setting” before carving. Everything but the gravy made. Butterball included a gravy starter with their bird. Now to get the list of herbs from the Redhead to include with the gravy. I think she gets a turkey leg tonight…
Tony, #206
Your coolness is independent of culinary preferences.
rq, #215
Christian Bale as Moses. Hahahaha!!!!
The Redhead is stuffed, and so is the fridge with planovers. Only mistake was we both forget the cranberry relish for her plate. The dishes can wait until tomorrow for cleaning. Apparently the house elves are on strike.
Dropping in to mention that L is having a 20% off sale tomorrow. /shameless self promotion
So I hope everyone had a lovely day, and those that were celebrating a certain harvesty feasty day enjoyed that too! I was invited to a lovely dinner with some in-laws and friends. They were all lovely people. I was chatting with one of them. a quiet and kind seeming woman when talking about the moon turned awry. I mentioned I have an app on my phone that tracks the moon and what it is doing and she mentioned that as women, moon energy is especially important for us. I asked if she meant moonlight, on the skin? And she said yes, it had to be direct and women need a lot of it. Because of the vitamin it gives us. I paused, and said something to the effect of, “Oh, that is interesting”.
–
Could I, should I have handled that better or differently?
yazikus
I don’t think you (or anyone) has a responsibility to have a conversation you don’t want to have, particularly on the holidays. So if you would rather dodge a possible argument, that is totally acceptable. You had a nice dinner, and there was nothing wrong with the way you handled it :)
If I were going to respond to her claim though, I would probably ask why moonlight is so special, since it is reflected sunlight, and what vitamin does it give that women need but men do not?
Nerd
The house elves always seem to go on strike when the most dishes have been used. I think they have some sort of union / no-overtime thing going. :P
Glad it was delicious!
Anne
Glad it went as well as can be, the baked pears in pomegranate sauce and cranberry cherry relish sound especially delicious.
Tony
rE: that comment
Well, I was a bit fired up at that point (b/c OMG that thread, you know?) but that’s exactly how I feel.
yazikus
You should have asked which vitamin and what it was good for. :D Get all relevant info!
yazikus
I think you did just right.
Although, further to rq, you could have asked her to define ‘vitamin’.
“Oh, you mean vitamin BS?”
Eh, forget relevant info, rq (Hi!),
I’m going to go lay out in the moon light in the hopes I’ll wake up as a super person tomorrow. Can’t hurt, right???? I’ll get all of the vitaminz/energeez!
Azkyroth
Well, she may not have picked up on it until she was at home. :)
yazikus
Please keep us updated on any beneficial results or emerging superpoers. :D
*ahem* Superpowers.
Emergency Bengals!
I’d do that ‘laying in moonlight’ thing but it’s snowing and the temperature is -20°C and the moon is only about 1/3 full.
I’ll drink rum until She’s full.
chigau
The Daily Rum Ritual always gets the moon full. For a while, at least. Funny how it needs to be repeated every month.
rq
*sigh*
So true.
Still, I am willing to take the … shots… for the good of all.
chigau
Your sacrifices in maintaining world order are duly noted.
Good morning
yazikus
Just in case, I think you handled that exactly right. A party, especially someone else’s party is not the place for telling somebody that they’re a gullible idiot (although I must say that my homeopathic wine was a huge success one christmas ;) ), but you don’t have to let them ruin your evening either.
Tony!
I’ll simply stick to a strawberry daiquiri, if that’s ok
+++
It’s a small world
Last night at the christmas party I looked around and saw a teenage girl among the family. “Ah, E.”, I thought. Next thought was “wait, she’s E., but who is E.?” Then I remembered that she was one of the students during my last internship. Turns out her little sister is in the little one’s group…
+++
And talking about much younger siblings…
Mr. and I talked about
Ebeneezer Scroogehis younger brother again. He would like to see exactly what his parents are spending their money on before he’s willing to spend money on them. Yes, he would make his parents declare bankruptcy in front of him and judge them if they’re deserving according to his standards.I think Mr. is very disappointed in his little brother. From the day om Mr. had finished his training and was earning a regular salary he had given his little brother 50 bucks a month so he would have an allowance and could have nice things. He did so until #1 was born 7 years ago, even though for the last year or two his brother was already earning some money on his PhD grant. This means that through all those years he got several thousand bucks. As a gift. No strings attached. No questions asked. No judgement, no “I’m not giving you that money so you can spend it on things I don’t like/approve of”.
I think “ungrateful selfish brat” is putting it mildly.
+++
Wish me luck, I’ll try to repair my laptop today. If usual formatting is missing and posts are short the next days it’s because I failed and have only the tablet
Thanks for the hugs. =)
@Tony #211
I’m not entirely sold on the tone thing, but I will keep my mouth shout and listen.
I feel like I have been living in a hole, there are many here who have much more experience than me and I can learn a lot.
I become aware of a few huge blind spots, and that’s precious.
Also, I have been an ass and I can’t accept this from myself.
I still can’t believe I completely ignored Tethys’ post.
It was humbling, worrysome (I never know what is normal and what is damage due to my mental issues) but ultimately cathartic.
It forced me to face ugly parts of myself that I didn’t want to see.
I feel much lighter and confident and a bit less at the mercy of my ego. I hope this won’t make me complacent.
Further, I need to grow a thicker skin.
@yazikus #224
I’d laugh at the idea, refusing to take it seriously and at the same time refusing any confrontation.
If she insists, you let her do all the work unless she genuinely wants a two-way conversation.
“Haha, no look, really, if it works for you it’s fine!” Because it’s true.
It’s thanksgiving. I’d expect supperpowers.
Real Life Disney Princes Would Be Horrible People.
Tony! it’s great to see you round these parts.
yazikus I think you did the right thing. Once I did have an argument at someone’s birthday meal as they insisted that the moon landings were a hoax. They were also inclined toward homeopathy.
Wilbefort I admire your attitude to those who hurt you. It needs a systemic change in society to fully solve the problem with disaffected youth. Sadly, I can’t see that happening any time soon. In full disclosure: many years ago, when I worked in London, I used to travel by tube. On one occasion I watched someone in my carriage get mugged by three POC. It shocked me at the time and for years afterwards I had an instinctive fear of young men of colour. Fortunately, since then, I have worked with many people of difference ethnic origins and I have worked hard to overcome my prejudice. I can’t say I’m entirely over the problem. But it is my problem, not anyone else’s.
I had an argument with someone at work yesterday about the situation in Ferguson. He is a firm supporter of the police and was adamant that the police officer did all he could. Naturally I disagreed. I tried to get over the point that all the people wanted was for a trial to take place and that the Grand Jury was a sham. Sadly, I didn’t success. I need to work harder.
On any entirely different subject, that may be of interest to rq : we had a strong smell of rotting fish in the kitchen and I eventually located the culprit which was a rotting potato! What has to happen to a potato that it smells of fish?! I think the MDP is involved. I’m sure some of my cheese is missing……
Well, I think I managed to turn a barely functioning computer into a non-functioning one…
Any ideas on how to convince it that it does indeed have a wlan function?
This 9-Year-Old Collected 400 Pounds Of Food For The Needy For Thanksgiving http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/27/gunner-robinson-food-drive_n_6185252.html
Changing the way we talk about sex: “Laci Green On Her New MTV Series And Dealing With Backlash As A Feminist On The Internet” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/laci-green-mtv-braless-youtube_n_6214632.html
Bollywood star Veena Malik handed 26 year sentence for ‘blasphemous’ wedding scene http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/nov/27/bollywood-veena-malik-sentenced-26-years-jail-religious-blasphemy-wedding TV and film actor issued the jail term in Pakistan, alongside husband and owner of a media conglomerate for ‘malicious acts’ of blasphemy against Islam
Oof. I’ve only made it to the middle of the second Good Morning, America! page. Taking my time; it’s a lot to absorb. I wish I’d paid more attention while it was happening. So many good comments, so much to think about. So many, many links. It’s a bit overwhelming and I’m going to take a break.
I’m feeling my way to some ideas, but I want to discover where the conversations are happening around me now—I’ll be making a Twitter account and following a lot of people, especially the black internet. I have a lot to learn, a lot of listening to do. I’ve found some groups on Twitter and Facebook that are local to Philly, too, and that should lead me to more concrete action. Baby steps….
Lemme get a bit less threadrupt here….
[Waves at Tony!] Thanks for the FB friend request. Let me know if you still need help with your TV. =) Can I have a Tanqueray and tonic please?
Dalillama
A sale? Ooooh.
Yazikus
Hah. Sooo many of my friends have strange ideas like that. It has been my experience that when people tell me about their strange beliefs, they’re ready to explain them in the face of my skepticism, as long as I’m not rude about it. She may have been disappointed that you didn’t challenge her, which would have given her a reason to enlighten you in detail.
Giliell
This is a long shot, but many laptops have an external physical switch that can turn the Wi-Fi radio on and off. Could that have been accidentally switched?
Long day ahead of me. I have cookies to bake—hazelnut butter cookies—and then I’m taking a bus out of town to visit my family for Thanksgiving. We were supposed to have a major snowstorm Wednesday, so we arranged to get together tomorrow instead.
Circuits on demand: Engineer prints electrical components on paper http://phys.org/news/2014-11-circuits-demand-electrical-components-paper.html
— — — —
Limestone ‘Venus’ 23,000 years old dug up in France http://phys.org/news/2014-11-limestone-venus-years-dug-france.html
(Those features were not “exaggerated”. The figurine correctly depicts a nephilim. Unfortunately, they were all wiped out in the Flood…)
— — — —
Thanks for the massacre help, big guy! 4 quotes thanking god for killing ‘Indians’ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/thanks-for-the-massacre-help-big-guy-4-quotes-thanking-god-for-killing-indians/ Gott mit uns!
Giliell, #243
Have you tried getting the latest WLAN drivers?
bassmike
Rotting potatoes that smell of fish? Feed it to the zombies. :)
Wilbefort
The thread has some good examples of people to follow. I don’t follow all of them, but many retweet themselves. And be careful, as I found myself adding more men than women, and it took a conscious effort to say, yes, follow this person, too, she’s saying a lot of good things!
I think near the beginning of the continuing thread there’s another list of people to follow on twitter. Hey. I just realized, you’re on twitter. I retweet stuff pretty much all the time, but I’m there, too! My @ is andtheunicorn, in case you’re interested.
Good luck with the computer, Giliell. Unfortunately, in this case I fall into the ‘stereotypical woman’ category. :P
Well, it’s the drivers, so if that was your guess, get a cookie.
Against all sense that particular driver is NOT on the disk labeled “drivers”
I hooked it up to the net with a cable
Right now it STILL can’t find the driver.
Grrrrrrrrr
Giliell, #251
Do you have access to another computer you can use to go online and get the driver from the manufacturer or vendor’s website? Unless the computer is very old, they will still have the latest drivers available (usually under the support section).
Saad
That’s what I’m trying now.
A tablet may be able to do it too. You can download the driver and transfer it via USB to your laptop.
birgerjohansson, #246
Good luck to her. I knew it was only a matter of time before this happened to her. They had been looking for ways to do this to her long ago. There had been plenty of derision and shaming directed towards her already.
Saar
Oh, the computer is online via good old cable. But I need to restart it first for the anti virus programme
Replacement jeans obtained, sort of. We broke the “no shopping on Thanskgiving” rule and went went to the Store From Whence They Came at their early opening. Didn’t find the same jeans, but found a suitable (and cheaper) substitute on sale. Spouse found a couple of reusable coupons that stacked and significantly reduced the price more, so the “I need jeans right now because I only have one pair for the next two weeks otherwise” ended up being more than reasonable. We then went home and looked up online what we *think* is the exact same brand/style as the gone jeans and used the coupons to order one of those too, so child will have 2 pairs for about the same as what the original pair would have cost regular price. Sheesh. We are lucky it happened during “please buy from us please please” weekend! Ended up getting a much better deal than I thought we would, so even though we still spent the same we got twice as much out of it, which totally soothes the accounting part of my brain.
Hugs to everybody, thanks for being here. :)
Yes, I have w-lan again.
If I could only now figure out wtf is up with my screen display I’d be happy
Giliell, Yay! Good to hear.
What is the screen doing?
Ahhhh, this looks better
I needed another driver. Or something. Honestly, I’ve been downloading half-random drivers, hoping they’d fix the problem.
So, let’s see if the computer still runs when I add some software…
carlie
Yay for the jeans!
And hope the rest of your holiday is happily shopping-free (though I must say your comments on twitter were quite revealing, re: who was doing what shopping and why… :( ).
OK, and as a reward for working all day to get the computer working, I get so see my parents. Yay…
New research to address how to successfully end wars http://phys.org/news/2014-11-successfully-wars.html
— — — —
Japanese newspaper retracts term ‘sex slaves’ from wartime coverage http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/28/japan-newspaper-sex-slaves-wartime-coverage-yomiuri-shimbun
(next step: Hitler to be rebranded “controversial” instead of as “murderous monster”)
The Daily Mash (Britain)
“UKIP demands vetting of cathedral architect”s http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/ukip-demands-vetting-of-cathedral-architects-2014112893302
Cathedral architects must be vetted so they do not design buildings that look Turkish, UKIP has demanded. Farage: “I know I speak for everyone when I say I’m sick of having cathedral designs foisted on me by trendy Muslim Eurocrats.”
(satire)
I’ve been wearing bifocals for three years, since I came up with the usual mid-40s eyesight stuff. A few months ago I dropped my only pair of designer glasses in the street and a taxi ran over them. Great. My eyesight wasn’t terrible anyway, except for needing to hold reading material out to HERE, so I loafed around until I felt like I needed glasses again (and my husband said, if you don’t get them now, who knows when you will).
So today, the optician used a few fancy Zeiss diagnostic machines I had never seen in the US. At the end of the exam, she said, “Everything looks good. Are you sure you had bifocals?” Yeah, I totally had them, why? “Well, look at this.” She turned her notes around to me and showed where she had written “Plano” (no correction) for distance vision in both eyes. Hmm. Near vision correction, I totally need, but I can get away with cheaper single-vision lenses, hooray. Is it possible for eyesight to improve?
So sorry to be getting this recipe to the USA Pharyngulites too late for them to add it to their Thanksgiving feast. This is a mormon dish, shrimp jello:
1 pkg lemon jello
1 1/2 c water
2 T vinegar
1/2 t salt
Mix together and let thicken. Then mix in
1 can of shrimp
3/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
2 T pimiento
1 t onion juice
::hands Giliell a Strawberry Daquiri::
::hand F.O. a Tanqueray and tonic::
::hands rq all 3 gallons of Campari Sorbet::
::returns to kitchen to finish preparing biscuits, croissants, donuts, baklava, cannoli, eclairs, and assorted pastries for Lounge denizens::
I’ll be back for those goodies, Tony!!
Do you use glue, staples, tape, or a welding torch?
Thanks all. What gets me about some people invested in woo (especially the moon-lady-energy type stuff), is how nice they are. Seriously some really genuinely kind and thoughtful people buy into all of that. I can think back to when I believed some pretty wacky things, it was people who were consistent but not mean who eventually got through to me.
–
Lynna, that sounds positively disgusting. Blegh.
–
Tony, that sounds absolutely amazing.
–
Well, yesterday morning I played a game of hand-egg with the family, and now I feel like I’ve…. I am really sore, ya’ll. Seriously sore! So the little dude tells me that I need some plant medicine, maybe a lavender oil to rub on my muscles but if I really want something good I should just take some Ibuprofen (“Real medicine is much stronger than plant medicine” he says). I’ll be addressing this after I drink a little more coffee.
Whilst that is indeed satire, Ukip mistakes Westminster Cathedral for mosque, which happened earlier this week, is not.
blf, #271
Good Jesus…
(not to be confused with Muhammad, Mr. Farage)
Shrimp jello ?
Even the idea sounds horrid, but then a look at the ingredients — canned shrimp, celery, and Miracle Whip! — That not only needs a Trigger Warning, a BioHazard / Moon Suit, and is deserving of the “nuke from orbit” approach to problem-solving, it very possibly is what peas eat that makes them so vicious, nasty, and tasteless. I’m not too sure if a vault made from British Industrial Cheddar and embedded inside the event horizon of a supermassive black hole would prevent the multiverses from violently exploding just to Get Away from it.
But it does sound a lot like typical Ingerlish “cooking”. They’d probably consider it spicy.
I’ve got limited time and a deadline on Monday, but I’m eating pie and reading Pharyngula and missing the Horde so much.
…also listening to Burn Your Village to the Ground by A Tribe Called Red.
Lynna
Ew.
yazikus
:D I’m smiling all over from your story.
badgersdaughter
Eyesight can definitely improve, pretty much at any age – mine supposedly improved in my 20s never mind all the lab microscopes and computer eye strain, and my mum (who just hit 60) was surprised to see a reduction in her (distance) prescription last time she went to the eye doctor, too, apparently not a particularly small one. Still needs those reading glasses, though!
So yay on reduced expenses for you!
Tony!
Now I get to tease you for giving my drink to F.O. =P
The orbiting vault should be locked up tight. So the light yer seeing isn’t from the cheeses within that make up much of the moon, but from the navigation beacons, running lights, and anti-Vogan-poetry shields. The most that will happen is the Vogans, frustrated at not being able to read poetry to the cheese, will instead strap you into a Poetry Appreciation Chair and read it at you all night. I hope yer teeth are sharp so you can gnaw off yer legs and arms and escape.
*waves* at The Mellow Monkey – what kind of pie?
Wilbefort
I think you should complain to the management! Of which we have none!! HAHAHAHA!!
I don’t know why that seemed so funny just now.
But it did.
They like to play in the sink, and you keep dropping plates and knives and stuff on them, eventually burying them under the large and heavy pile. They’re trapped, unable to help.
Tony, “wonders where I fall on the cool-o-meter since I despise peas”.
Yer so cool you don’t need a meter to check.
Dammit, someone-not-me has been eating my cookies at work again. *miffed*
rq
I’m pretty sure the Management is around. If you look closely at the pipes in the walls you’ll see them… wiggle… occasionally. I’m just doubtful I want to catch their attention. The plumbing shouldn’t have suckers.
… And then I dropped cake on the paperwork. *fuming*
[Hands rq some fresh hazelnut butter cookies.]
So you can feed it to the dog and quite correctly claim “The dog ate the paperwork.”
Ah, that explains it. Shortly after I loaded the dishwasher with the eating plates/utensils, the clean cooking pots/pans/utensils started to appear on the drying towels.
Bake a special batch with LOTS of chilli powder in the dough, bring it in, and wait…
Just remember not to eat any yerself. Although yer first bite, should you forget, will remind you.
That old decoy? I thought everyone knew about that trick nowadays.
Nerd
Sounds like some truly muscle-powered magic at work.
blf
I’ve made cookies with chilli in them. Chocolate ones. They were delicious and would not be a deterrent to my colleagues. Unfortunately.
Wilbefort
What, are you trying to get crumbs in my keyboard??
rq
For the cookie thief, I suggest ex-lax chip cookies.
Never mind, Wilbefort, thsoe were some yummy cookies, despite the crumbs. What’s your recipe?
chigau
It’s a tactic I’m willing to resort to. Suitably evil.
And then nobody will ever eat my cokies again.
Cookies.
Hmm…Xmas season is coming, Somewhere I have a couple of yule log DVD’s I record off a local TV station one Xmas eve. Need to covert them from mp2 to mp4 for the Apple TV, so the Redhead can have some background noise. Oh, found the HD archive, and it mounts!!!!
There’s several ways I could read that right now…
Remember the straight man gets top billing.
Image files for the DL DVDs now on the iMac. They are at my mercy. Bwahahahaha.
You’re having way too much fun with that, Nerd.
One two three, one two three… *taps the mic* Is this thing on?
About to head out to catch the bus up to my family. Here’s the recipe. Everyone have a good evening!
* ** *
The hazelnut butter cookies were the result of my trying to make homemade Nutella. It tastes good, but not really like real Nutella. But it does make a good replacement for peanut butter in a peanut butter cookie recipe.
Nutella from scratch.
You will need a decent food processor for this.
2 cups whole raw hazelnuts [I buy blanched.]
1/2 cup – 1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
up to 1/4 cup vegetable, corn or nut oil (such as sunflower) [I don’t add any vegetable oil. It gets pretty runny even without any.]
1. Roast hazelnuts on a flat sheet at 350 degrees in oven for approx. 10 min or until golden and fragrant. Be careful not to burn them, they go from toasted to burnt quickly.
2. [These are the instruction for blanching them. I buy them skinless and skip this step.] remove from oven and wrap in a damp, textured towel. Twist towel and let nuts steam for a few minutes, then rub nuts in the towel to remove any loosened skin. Don’t worry if there’s still skin left on the nuts after you do this, you’re just trying to remove what you can since the skin lends a bitter taste to the nuts. Let cool.
3. Put nuts into food processor and process until oils are released and you get hazelnut butter. The butter will go from chopped nuts, to chunky balls, and then finally to butter as the oils release.
4. Add unsweetened cocoa and powdered sugar. [I like my nutella on the nuttier but not too sweet side, so I use 1/2 cup.] Process until blended.
5. Add oil to obtain desired texture – start out with 2 tblsps worth of oil and go from there. More oil = more liquidy butter. Store in an airtight jar in the fridge for several weeks. The oils will separate, so you’ll need to stir to remix, same as with fresh peanut butter. This recipe will net you 1 container approx. the size of a small jar of commercial peanut butter. [Makes a little more than a cup.]
Peanut butter cookies
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter [Nutella goes here. =P]
1 egg
1 1/4 cup flour [~163 g]
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Beat the butter until creamy, 2 minutes.
Add the sugars, beat for 2 more minutes.
Mix in the peanut butter and egg.
Mix together the dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar butter mixture.
Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten in crisscross pattern with a fork. Bake until light brown, 9 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for a minute; transfer to rack to cool completely.
For chewier cookies, bake at 300°F for 15 minutes.
[I hate trying to flatten dough balls with a fork. I just chill the dough in logs and slice off cookie dough from the log.]
* ** *
There are a lot of peanut butter cookie recipes. The hazelnut butter is sweeter and wetter than peanut butter, so the cookies end up spreading more and then collapsing as they cool, forming large wafers. The cocoa and hazelnuts are more fragrant and less forward than peanut butter; the cookies have a delicate, almost candy-like flavor.
Odd. I don’t seem to be able to comment even though I’m logged in. Has Finland been cut off the rest of the world because of our most recent display of utter depravity?
(Unless this comment appears, which would make it rather redundant.)
Okay… so up at the top of the Pharyngula page there’s a short list of ads for other sites, and this one just cracked me up:
Finally, his PR team has got the attitude right.
Thanks for the recipe, Wilbefort, mostly for the Nutella-substitute!
Do you roast the already-blanched hazelnuts, too?
Safe travels!
MinnieMinnieMinnieMinnieMinnie
*hugs*
*chocolate*
*rum*
How are you?
We had 30cm of snow yesterday.
Minnie
I see you now, between comments!
And you’ll never have that recipe again, oh nooooooooo……
Cookie thief at work? Do you live in Our Gang and work with the Little Rascals?
Hi Minnie!
Sign up now for your chance to lock me out – I need one more to make it a perfect three for a true conspiracy of the universe. First it was at work (Wednes.), second Husband at home (just now), need one more. Any takers?
Yes, and it’s cold outside.
rq
I really don’t grok your #307
but have some*rumhugs*
chigau
I’ll take the rum. I got locked out at work Wednesday (well, locked into the courtyard, out of the main building, so no go-y home-y until the security guard realized I was banging on the door), and out of my house just now (because Husband didn’t hear the fucking landline phone (which is loud) ringing for 20 minutes as I stood outside). And in a perfect universe conspiracy (aka karma), things come in threes. Just trying to complete the set as soon as possible. ;)
But I’ll settle for the rum.
Dropping in with a load of *hugs* before I run back out to work. Damn train was late (again). Wilbefort, there ‘s a link in my ‘nym if you’re unaware :).
*hugs and tea and trail mix cookies for rq*
rq
If something screws-up at work, I can’t do nothin’ about doors.
At home … I can get into the shed and find an axe and a sledge-hammer.
I can get into the house.
rq
*stonedheadbonks*
Given the number of times I’ve managed to lock myself out, I can sympathise. At least you have someone to blame…
Powerful piece by Jacqueline Woodson:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/29/opinion/the-pain-of-the-watermelon-joke.html?_r=0
On the topic of getting locked out,
My office at work has a self locking door because it has some sensitive equipment that needs to be secure. I’m really good about keeping my keys on my person . . . except on the busiest days when I do not have time to find the only other person with a key. So I can totally relate. *sigh*
toska @314:
Thanks for linking to that article. Her closing paragraph was quite powerful (the whole column was, but this part really stuck out to me):
Oh, and toska, I think you ought to post that link in the Later this morning in America thread.
fuck you internal clock for waking me at half past 6. Tried to fall asleep again but no luck, at least I caught up with new threads.
‘morning all.
/need coffee
Morning, Beatrice. :)
I’m still up, me. But for a good reason: I had physio yesterday, and the “deep heat” machine seems to have finally knocked out the knot that’s been messing with my breathing so much for the last few months. I walked a kilometre to the grocery today, and did some busing and errands into the bargain.
Hope your day goes better than it’s started, B.
Tony!
I loved the entire article, but one part that stood out to me was when she described the history of the watermelon jokes near the beginning. A lot of people see watermelon jokes as fairly benign racial stereotypes (I’ve heard it compared to the white women and starbucks stereotypes), but Jacqueline Woodson really laid out why it is so hurtful. I actually didn’t know about the history with watermelons and lynching. I’m not sure I’ll ever stop being shocked at the depravity of racist people. It took my breath away.
toska @319:
‘Black people love watermelons’ is one component of the picanniny, one of several racist caricatures that exist in the U.S. I knew it was a racist stereotype, but didn’t know its origins until I started reading about racist stereotypes.
CaitieCat,
It’s good to hear you were able to take a nice long walk.
If this day doesn’t get better, I’m in just the right mood to find a way to make it get better. If I make that discovery, you can threaten all those nasty Mondays (and Tuesdays and….) with me coming over for a “chat” if they don’t behave.
(the solution might turn out to be a couple of beers, but don’t tell them that… let them fear)
Thanks, Tony!
I’ve been missing everyone. With no consistent computer access, I’m likely to have reduced pharyngula commenting until I get a new computer, but I should be around more than I have been in the last few weeks.
Funny Thanksgiving photo that highlights how incompetent Congress is
Hee hee. A polyhammerous relationship.
I’m happy to lock you into the rum barrel.
…
I’ll just have to finish drinksing eht rruHICmmmmsie forst, ah, forest, frequentallyyaly, HICfirrst!!1
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Snorfle!
Snicker!
Tee hee!!
Cards Against Humanity sold 30,000 boxes of bull shit as a Black Friday sale.
And apparently they sold out of the shit.
People were seriously willing to shell out $6 for bull shit.
I assume rq purchased one of those bull shite gift boxes… now we know what the special cookies being made for the Cookie Borrower will be made of…
(A slightly safer alternative would to simply label the box “cookies”…)
This is what I got myself involved in on Facebook. Friend posted:
People responded:
It’s nighttime over there. Trying to figure out how to respond to that, if at all. *sigh*
Dark days, indeed. :P
That’s probably to its advantage. However, it won’t be perfect until the taste has absolutely no resemblance to Nutella’s taste.
However, not-tasting-like-Nutella does not mean it will be edible. That’s just a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition. For instance, peas don’t taste like… well, in fact, they have no taste at all, besides being vicious monsters and related to horses.
Good morning
*grrrr* working with cotton thread on the embroidery machine can be lots of fun. It can also be a pain in the ass when there’s some unripe cotton in the mix.
+++
TW violence against women
Yesterday, a young woman died in Germany.
She died on her 23rd birthday, as the doctors turned off the life support after she’d been declared brain dead the day before.
She had tried to help to girls who were being harassed by two guys and got beaten to dead for her efforts.
Something I find interesting is the charges they’Re bringing against the assailant: bodily harm that resulted in death (German system doesn’t translate 1:1 to other systems). Such crimes have happened before. They happen about once a year: somebody beats somebody else to death for trivial reasons, often because the other person tried to intervene in a fight. But usually victim and accused are guys. And usually they’re trying to get him fixed for murder. Maybe there is some significant difference in this case, but pardon my cynism when I think it’s got something to do with the fact that a woman died.
Terry Pratchett rethought as a philosopher in new study: “Two professional philosophers — and Discworld fans — have produced a volume of essays examining the author’s epistemological, moral and existential implications”.
Rq, Chigau, Carlie _o/
And then it was morning, and my comments show, just like that O_o. Lessee if this one travels in a more timely manner through the intertubes.
Thanks for asking, we’re doing fine this wonderful winter(ish) day. There’s a little bit of white stuff on the ground but nowhere near the amount other parts of the world have been receiving lately.
Mentally, the country’s rather rainbow-colored today, as the motion for gender neutral marriage law has finally been passed. It’s still technically possible that the next government will torpedo it, since we have elections coming up in March, but in practice I don’t see that happening.
And since the Xmas party time is approaching (here, it is pretty much the entire month of December), have some gingerbread cookies and glögi (spicy mulled wine with a dash of vodka)! Kippis!
Hey all,
Apparently, The Imitation Game released yesterday in the US. Naturally, I can’t find a theater in my area showing it. I would have thought St. Louis was just big enough to have one showing at least.
Oh, there was one showing…at a film festival that I missed two weeks ago.
Bugger.
To everyone who responded to the recipe @266 with a resounding “EW!” — I agree. Mormons pride themselves on their traditional cuisine, but much of it is awful. It makes me wonder if addling one’s brain with Joseph Smith/God dogma also negatively affects one’s taste buds. I know that mormon “art” is also mostly awful. Something is going on, just not sure what.
In other news, I’m not a fan of churches in general, but the burning of this church has me hot under the collar:
Daily Kos link.
Wow, today is Mr and my 15th anniversary of kissing under the mistletoe. Yes, our relationship really started like that.
There’s a bottle of St. Emillion, 2003 that has been waiting for a moment like this
Giliell @335:
Congratulations. Here’s to many more years of happiness for you and Mr.
Been wondering why Firefox was getting sluggish and being a memory hog lately. Cleaned out the over six months history file (with 32,000+ entries). Took what seemed forever for the delete script to run, which ran faster as more memory got freed up. Huge difference.
Giliell
That is sickeningly romantic. :) Congratulations!!! :D ♥
+++
HAHAHA so Exodus cast is too white… except for Rupert Murdoch!! Rupert Murdoch Defends Exodus Cast: ‘Since When Are Egyptians Not White?’
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…. *ahem* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahaaaa…. Anyway.
Nerd
It sounds like I need to do the same.
Concerning elves and washing dishes (in reference to comments up-thread), I have one close relative who always does the dishes if I cook the meal. Count him … one. And no more.
Glad to have him around, of course, but why, when you have a big crowd over for a meal is only one person reliable when it comes to doing dishes?
I do have one other relative who will sweep floors and pick up after her children. That’s nice. Since my house is a one-woman, one-person household, it takes about 2.5 days for me to prepare the house and the food. It’s a lot of work. Not complaining about the work, I volunteer for the event. But am wondering why some people think the blessing of their presence is sufficient. Sit on the couch and pontificate — maybe that’s a job too.
The police who shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice did not give him first aid.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/police-tamir-rice-no-first-aid
Uppity women (well, mostly women, but some uppity men as well) have been protesting many of the irritating rules to which the mormon church subjects them. This may look petty, or pathetic to non-mormons, but it takes some courage for mormon women to take even these baby steps toward individuality and autonomy.
http://pantstochurch.com
Comments from mormons (definitely exposing Moments of Mormon Madness):
Lynna
When I was a child and we had houseparties, there were two whole families (count ’em, two!) who would not even loudly volunteer for the dishes, they would just do them, either together or whoever got to them first, and it was always awesome.
The eldest daughter of one of them (she’s older than me) stayed with us as family representative for my father’s funeral just last month, and things haven’t changed… We hosted close family and some close family friends for an evening, and at the end of the night, she was doing all the dishes, quietly, without asking.
I love and really appreciate people like that.
You haven’t missed anything. Apparently, it is mostly fiction, a hatchet-job, The Imitation Game: inventing a new slander to insult Alan Turing: “The wartime codebreaker and computing genius was pursued for homosexuality, but nobody — until film-makers came along — accused him of being a traitor …
“Historically, The Imitation Game is as much of a garbled mess as a heap of unbroken code. For its appalling suggestion that Alan Turing might have covered up for a Soviet spy, it must be sent straight to the bottom of the class.”
Do you ever surface for cheese, air, or other conventional necessities?
rq:
Some people are just raised right, I guess. My one reliable dish-washing relative also just does the job without asking, and without anyone having asked him to do so. I don’t have a dishwashing machine, so that job can take a while.
blf
Thanks for the link. I still want to see it, but it’s good to know the (big ol’) flaws going in.
Need to reignite your faith in humanity? Here are 34 examples of heartwarming humanity.
There are a couple I don’t agree with (#31 and 32), but the majority are really good tales that show how kind we can be to one another.
Moments of Mormon Madness — more news on mormon grooming standards.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/1883463-155/kirby-not-a-hair-shall-be
From Lynna’s #342:
This is so foreign to me. I mean I know that women in the Mormon church are expected to listen to their husbands, but damn! Her husband forbid her from wearing them, like he was her lord and master. Fuck that noise!
Didn’t want me to email boss with a question? Should have given me an answer when I was asking you and others. For two weeks. Until I asked boss one day before deadline.
*repeats like mantra:*
I’m not going to be upset about coworker possibly being upset at me. There were misunderstandings on all sides.
There have been several attempts to get rid of, replace, decertify, etc. the fundamentalist mormon marshals in polygamist colonies. So far we’ve seen no real success on that front.
Sheesh.
http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/1861465-155/despite-years-of-complaints-polygamous-towns
A few comments from readers of the Salt Lake Tribune article:
Beatrice
Well, I’d say, be upset – but not about, at. Righteous anger, yo.
Tony @350:
Agreed. There are way more mormon women in relationships like this than anyone wants to admit. Probably a huge step for that woman to even post a comment.
Yes, mormon men are lord and master, and penishood holder (Priesthood holder). This makes for a godawful culture throughout the morridor.
Lynna, rq re: dishwashing
I’m the opposite. When I offer to host a dinner, I feel weird if someone else starts doing the dishes. I’m the host, it’s my responsibility, I’ll take care of it. Your job is to relax and have fun.
(I admit I am terrible about volunteering, too. Happy to help if you need it, but if you don’t ask, then I assume you don’t need it. Probably from my dad saying, “If you need help , ask,” one too many times.)
Maybe I read too much of the guest-host relationship in my Greek Mythology (and drama) classes.
Inbreeding (and the negative social results)?
Lack of exposure — indeed, hostility to — “foreign” or “outsider” ideas, works, and accomplishments (perhaps with excessive focus on the perceived “foreign” / “outsider” “failures”)?
It’s where the UFOs dump the rejected abductees?
rq,
With that yo in the end you reminded me of a friend I haven’t heard from for a couple of years. Admittedly, I haven’t really tried to contact her either.
She had this strange habit of occasionally inserting yo in her sentences.
The more time passes, the harder it is – just contacting someone out of nowhere.
Beatrice
But the results can be surprisingly rewarding. :)
ajb47
Dunno, I suppose it depends on the crowd, because our family friends were all part of the same close-knit small Latvian-exile community, so there was a definitely different dynamic than with, say, more Canadian friends.
And it’s not so much that I expect people to help out, there are just some people who will, and it’s nice. :)
The Yo Faeries should yo about that, as yo can’t yo effectively without yo, yo, and yo (except when there are peas about, in which case you should yo fecking yo, quickly (napalm helps)).
However, never yo cheese, unless it has been orking first.
Ohio Republicans push law to keep all details of executions secret:
If we can’t have certain drugs to murder people, you can’t have any medicine.
I’m just gonna say this… Why does my husband’s LAPSED Jewish family have to embody all the fucking Jewish stereotypes? They dislike me… fine… then don’t fucking complain if I don’t show up. When I show up and honestly try to be friendly and helpful, don’t either ignore or outright insult me. Even if I had converted when we married 24 years ago I’m sure it wouldn’t have been enough. You’d think by now I’d be used to it.
Fuck ’em all.
Morgan @361:
I’m sorry your in-laws are being assholes. ::Hugs::
Oh, btw, since I think of you as Ruler of All Soup, I was curious if you have any soup recipes for leftover turkey.
Morgan
*hugs*
Hope the rest of your time passes quickly, and that your husband lets you two get the hell out of there ASAP. :(
Hi Mr. Tony! my friend,
Hugs appreciated. One last in-law complaint… They dislike my cooking. Their cooking is horrid. Sigh.
Yes indeedy I do have a good leftover turkey soup recipe. This assumes that you made some typical sage dressing to go with the bird.
So do the usual: Remove all the meat. Cook the carcass in plenty of water for a good long time, until it falls apart. Strain it and discard the carcass. Let the broth cool overnight in the fridge so you can skim off the fat.
Saute chopped onions, carrots, celery and garlic and add to broth. Add pearled barley (1 cup barley equals about 3 1/2 cups cooked). Simmer for about an hour. Then add leftover sage dressing to thicken and season. Add chopped meat. Cook for a bit until bread has dissolved, then taste. Will probably need more seasoning… salt, pepper, sage, garlic and whatever other herbs you like. Simmer a bit more then eat. I guarantee you will be soothed citizen. Enjoy.
Whoosh! That’s the sound of the point going over Giuliani’s head.
Because white people and black people are uniformly mingled together across this land. :rolleyes:
On second thought, I’m being too generous. He didn’t miss the point. He’s racist.
Thanks for the hugs, rq. We bailed out of the family manse yesterday afternoon. Our move up the mountain is only about a 2 hour drive from the in-laws, but it is long enough that we don’t have to see them as often. The Matriarch was much miffed when we moved. ‘Ya can’t win. I made some lovely pumpkin tarts with spiced butter-pecan crust. The only comment was a complaint that I didn’t also make some “regular” ones. Pfft!
Morgan @364:
They don’t like your cooking? Their loss. The food recipes you’ve shared here before sound *delightful*.
Sadly I did not make any gravy. When I was deciding what to cook, I initially wanted to have mashed potatoes with gravy, but changed my mind to baked potatoes. Sadly I don’t have any sage in the house either. Do you think the soup would still be good without it?
blf @356:
Good theories, all. I like it.
There’s also a bone-deep cheapness in the mix. That may be one result of paying a 10% tithe to the so-called church, thus busting most of the sheeple down a notch in earning/buying power. Couple that with endless demands to provide food for church-related get-togethers and you end up with the cheapest possible ingredients — you make bad dishes worse. Buy canned shrimp in bulk from Sam’s Club when it is on sale, ditto for jello.
Lack of time (church takes Big-Time time) prompts time-saving measures like using cake mixes as a base for several recipes. Lack of money prompts bulk buys of the cheapest cake mixes at CostCo. Everything tastes like hydrogenated corn oil.
It’s never stated, but excellence seems to be some kind of sin. As if you are not humble enough, or perhaps not bland enough to fit it. (Excellence in ripping off other people to make money is an exception, that is admired.)
Um, Morgan, the way they’re treating you is actually not okay and you’d be entirely within your rights to refuse to be around them….
Of course the soup will still be good without it. Soup is the most forgiving thing you can cook. It is all about melding flavors. You could throw in a few bay leaves. Tarragon and Rosemary are good in just about anything. You could turn it Italian and add oregano, basil and marjoram. You could eliminate the barley and use canned beans and add savory (the perfect herb for beans.) You could add egg noodles at the very end and turn it into Turkey/Noodle/Veggie soup. The variations are endless. Just don’t forget the garlic. A little bit of garlic really puts the polish on turkey soup.
Ah, is it leftover recipe sharing time? I made a pumpkin curry this morning.
–
I whole steamed pumpkin
Chopped carrots
Chopped celery
Chopped onion & garlic
Sautee that stuff in coconut oil and bacon drippings
add curry powder, chili paste, other spices
deglaze with rice wine vinegar
add some fish sauce & tahini/peanut butter
add pumpkin & stir for a bit
add can of coconut milk and reduce
Serve over whatever
–
I think it turned out pretty delicious!
As a side note, my spellchecker wanted to change tahini into tannin, which made me think of Mormons! Lynna, did I ever tell you about the time I was schooled on the whole ‘hot drinks’ issue, about how it isn’t caffeine they have to avoid, but tannins, because “who would want the same stuff used to cure leather in their stomach???” (from tea and coffee).
Does anyone have the link to the recent article about why the word ‘riot’ is racist?
yazikus, what kind of pumpkin do you use? I’ve cooked with the ones we get in markets here in the US and they really aren’t flavorful. More for decoration than eating. Your recipe sounds wonderful. I imagine any kind of winter squash would work, yes?
Morgan
I don’t do pumpkin, but those sound delicious – mostly for the crust!!! Do you have a recipe? Also, have you ever made butter tarts? I’m scared of trying a random recipe for fear they won’t turn out, because they have to be just right.
Also, what is sage dressing for a turkey, do you mean the stuffing?
And I’m with Tony, if they don’t like your cooking, they’re missing out. Especially if theirs is of the horrid shrimp jello type (see Lynna’s recipe above *shudder*).
Saad
Apparently it’s not the first time he’s put his foot in his mouth and then shoved it out his ass over race / racism. :P
Morgan
The one I used was from my CSA box, it was dark green on the outside and roundish and stout, about the size of pie pumpkins you see in the store. It had beautiful orange flesh. I think this recipe would work great with any winter squash. My cooking is totally shaped by what I have in the kitchen, so I mix and match a lot.
–
rq
Is it a texture thing, with pumpkin? Or flavor?
yazikus, @373, I’ve heard the tannins argument made by mormons before. I don’t think I’ve ever heard your experience.
First it’s the heat, (no HOT drinks); then it’s the caffeine, (so thank goodness hot chocolate is okay); and then it’s the tannins. Sheesh.
But somehow “mormon tea” was okay during pioneer days when mormons made tea from ephedra plants. This was so common that many people in the western USA still identify Ephedra cutleri as mormon tea or Brigham tea. I find it makes a good temporary broom.
And somehow Pepsi is less of a sin because the current prophet Thomas S. Monson was caught with a case of empty Pepsi bottles on his back step a few decades ago, and now there are suspicious empty cans all over the morridor.
Basically, it’s a test of obedience to the prophets. Some mormons even admit that to OBEY is the all-important lesson here. If you obey in small things, you can be counted on to obey the important mythical crap as well.
Lots of mormons in my area think “appearance of sin” is almost as bad as the sin. Therefore, you should never be seen in a Starbucks, even if the drink in your hand is not coffee or tea.
It’s a mind fuck.
rq,
Yes, the shrimp jello sounds just noxious. And yes, that is about their level of cooking. We even get the canned sugared sweet potatoes, mashed with more brown sugar and baked in the oven with a very thick layer of marshmallow. Gag.
I’ve never made butter tarts. They are on the endless list of things to try.
Here is the spiced butter pecan crust recipe. (Of my own devising *brag*)
– About 10-12 ounces shelled pecans, ground semi-fine in a food processor, makes about 2 1/2 to 3 cups (If you grind it too much you will get pecan butter)
– Four tablespoons white sugar (or if you go sugar free, I use Splenda sugar substitute aka sucralose)
– Four tablespoons melted unsalted butter (I use something I get here called “European” butter, It is much better than the local stuff)
– 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg (depends on how spicy you like it) You can even add a bit of black pepper. Folks never guess it is there, but it really adds to the flavor. Cardamom is also good. Experiment.
-1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon fine grind kosher salt (experiment with this, it can end up too salty, but the salt is essential)
Add the spices and salt in increments and taste as you proceed.
Add everything to the food processor. Don’t over process. Should resemble coarse damp sand. Divide equally between 8 oversized cupcake cups. I use the paper liners. Makes it much easier to remove from tins. Press nut mixture firmly into bottom of cups. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 – 12 minutes. Remove from oven to cool. Fill cooled cups with pumpkin or any other custard filling that has been made slightly thicker than you would for a pie. It needs to be able to stand up on its own. Bake at 425 F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350F for about 45 minutes. Cool for about 2 hours. Remove paper liners just before serving with whipped cream or ice cream. Or, they are great served warm. Enjoy!
rq! wait! stop!
I forgot the most important step. You need to toast the pecans in the oven at 350 F for ten minutes before you grind them. Let them cool a bit then proceed.
yazikus
re: pumpkin
A bit of both, I think.
Morgan
I have jsut the right cheesecake addition for that crust, I think. Thank you!
And I did make a pumpkin cheesecake once, one that I enjoyed. But the pumpkin flavour was very downplayed due to the cream cheese part, so that helped.
yazikus 377:
My guess would be acorn squash, since we just got two in our CSA box. They roast very nicely.
chigau… Stay warm!
And another note… Yes, sage dressing is the same as sage stuffing for a roasted dinosaur (turkey). Whether it is called dressing or stuffing seems to be a regional thing. Or maybe a class thing.
rq
Yeah.
I hafta put on boots and a coat just to take the garbage to the alley.
@Tony!;
I don’t, but there were a number of good ones after Katrina. Often more focused on “loot” than “riot” but covering both words. I’d be interested in reading he more recent one.
Let’s go ogle a few articles, shall we?
This gives a good historical perspective.
Here’s one you should read though it’s not about the use of the word “riot”. It’s about much more obvious linguistic racism. Ugh.
For us “can I help you find something?” means something very specific. This one only touches on the topics, but has a few good moments.
This won’t be what you’re looking for, but with quotes like:
You have to admire the beautiful understatement.
When you come up with the article you were remembering, let me know…
chigau,
Do you have much snow? Ours started this morning. Yesterday it was 66 F, and today we now have about 2 in. and it is still coming down.
yazikus
We had (in my yard) a bit more than 30cm (1 foot).
Then the clouds cleared, the sun came out and it’s -20°C (-2°C).
Not much wind so I won’t freeze between the house and the compost bin.
chigau
I hear it’s warmer in the house, not between it and the compost bin.
Yay for the Victorian election results – the Liberals have been booted out, first one-term government here in 60 years! I bet they’re cursing Abbott & co. right now, because they sure as hell played a part in this. Fingers crossed that it’s One Term Tony come the Federal election.
Tony!
From LG&M
rq
Yeah, I toast the blanched hazelnuts. Smells wonderful.
Giliell
Yay for wine and smooches.
FUCK THIS Mother’s just done the cremated bread thing AGAIN. Doesn’t even look at the sign I put on the microwave – bread 30 seconds. “I thought it was three minutes to do this!” when she does bread every goddamn day. House full of smoke again, having to open the doors and windows on a boiling hot day, microwave will stink for weeks again after finally losing the stench it’d had (which wouldn’t wash out) and how long before she burns the goddamn thing out and we have to spend hundreds of bucks on a new one? I am so sick of this.
GOP staffer bullies Sasha and Malia Obama and tries to police their outfits and facial expressions:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30265373
It’s almost funny (in that not funny way). Elizabeth Lauten tells the Obama girls to “show some class,” but an adult making degrading comments about teenagers is the OPPOSITE of classy.
2kittehs
That must be frustrating, especially the lingering smell (I can’t stand smells like that). I must confess though, your story makes me feel a little bit better about my almost non-existent cooking skills.
2kittehs, I’ve had some luck deodorizing my microwave by cooking a lemon in it – I put a big wedge of a fresh lemon into a deep microwaveable container like a Pyrex measuring cup, fill the container about halfway with water, and nuke it until the wager boils. Then let it sit and steam the microwave for a few minutes.
You could also try wiping out the microwave with a water and baking soda solution. *hugs*
I’m sure your mother is thrilled, too.
I’m really sorry, 2kittehs. When a friend of mine’s dad was going downhill, they had to unplug the stove and the microwave altogether. Usually by the time he figured out to plug it in, someone noticed he was in the kitchen and managed to supervise so things like that wouldn’t happen. I wish I knew what to say.
Does anyone happen to have handy the links to any of the studies that show that black people aren’t any more likely to use drugs than white people – they just get arrested more often?
Azkyroth
This literally just popped up on my twitter. Is tht what you’re looking for?
toska,
LOL mine are almost nonexistent, too. Mum’s actually a perfectly capable cook, or was. Between crappy short-term memory and just not paying attention, though …
Anne,
hugs gratefully accepted! I tried the lemon juice in water thing last time, and sadly it didn’t work at all. I might try it your way, with the actual lemon. Mum’s scrubbed the microwave out, so we’ll see how bad it is next time we have to use it. Damn smell lingered weeks last time.
chigau, oh, I know, but she’s not thrilled enough to try paying attention to what she’s doing. Being the 24/7 mop-up squad is wearing.
carlie, thank you. Just saying what you did helps! I’m hoping, just so hoping, that she doesn’t get to point your friend’s dad did. It’s not dementia, just short-term memory crappiness of age and damage from mini-strokes a couple of years ago. I don’t know what the hell I’ll do if she needs institutional care, because it takes both our incomes – her pension and my unemployment – to keep a roof over our heads. Even when I was working, it took both.
http://www.newnownext.com/straight-people-support-marriage-equality-but-not-gay-pda-study-shows/11/2014/
Good morning
2kittehs
*hugs*
Try lemmon water with cloves
Maybe get her a toaster for warming bread?
morgan
You surely don’t need me to tell you this, but remember that life is too short for spending it voluntarily with people who don’t like you.
*hugs*
Your pies sound delicious
+++
Soups? I love soups. Best thing about autumn and winter: savoury soups
+++
recipe time?
I made the first batch of christmess (pun intended) cookies
Salted Caramel Cookies
They are delicious, sound posh and are dead quick and easy to make
130g butter
100g brown sugar
2 eggs
->beat fluffy
100g walnuts
100g soft caramel toffees. You could also use fudge
chop both coarsly
200g flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
->add to butter-mixture
->add nuts and caramels
Scoop small heaps (this is for about 50 cookies) onto baking tray lined with paper. Leave some space, as they’ll run.
Sprinkle fleur de sel or another flaky salt on top.
Bake for ca.12 min at 200°C (180 if you have an oven with air circulation)
Enjoy!
+++
I’m also getting christmas presents done, currently working on my sister’s backpack, since she liked my dia de los muertos themed one so much. Next will be the kids’ christmas sweaters, then a sweater for me and then Urban Threads put ous this design. I needed to order some golden hotfic crystals on the spot to add them to the mix. Can you already see it? Creme-coloured star with golden bling? Want to make one for Mr’s aunt who’s hosting this year’s family christmas dinner.
I started in on the christmas cookie-making yesterday, too. Ye Olde Traditionalle family recipe, which requires about 2 days before it’s actually done.
Never done it this early – why now? *sigh* At the parents’ meeting for Eldest’s class on Friday, I volunteered to make some for the class so they can make cookies on Thursday. I need to know by tomorrow whether this will be a Success!ful batch or a Terrible one (either is possible), just in case they need to buy some. I’ll find out tomorrow!
Also, taking the kids to the indoor water park today after work. I’ve been mentally preparing myself for this for about a week, and we’re only going because the Choir gave me a family gift certificate as thanks for the Canada trip. The concept sounds fun, the boys are excited, and I am… apprehensive. :) Which means it will either go better than I expect, or a lot worse.
We’ll see.
+++
2kittehs
*hugs*
Does she wear glasses? Or been to the eye doctor lately? If she’s seeing 3 minutes in place of 30 seconds, it almost sounds as if she’s seeing double, or having trouble seeing, rather than any mental decline. My granny started seeing all kinds of weird numbers when her cataracts started in, and it was a mostly fixable thing.
Good luck deodorizing!
Giliell
Delicious cookies – they have two of my favourite things: cookies, and more cookies. :)
rq – hugs back!
Mum does wear glasses, she has for decades. I think her prescription is up to date, but it’s a while since she’s been to the opthamologist, so I don’t know if the beginning cataracts she had then are significantly worse. She’s fine reading – reads the newspaper every day. It’s that she specifically said she thought bread went in for three minutes that makes me think it’s not seeing the numbers that’s the problem.
I now have STOP! LOOK! written in large fluoro letters on the microwave how-to sign I made. Though one would hope that after doing this twice, it may all sink in!
Surreal in translation: Matt Lindley and Marcus Oakley’s foreign proverbs — in pictures:
At first glance, I find Mr Oakley’s illustrations a bit meh, but the translations are, as Mr Lindley says, “a bit ‘other'”. Rather a lot other, actually. For instance, the Polish Nie mój cyrk, nie moje malpy, which is translated as “Not my circus, not my monkeys” (Not my problem). Or the Finnish Päästää sammakko suusta, translated as “To let a Frog out of your mouth” (To say the wrong thing), albeit with that many ä‘s it perhaps sounds like a frog as well (I have no idea how to pronounce it).
The other half is “to buy the cat in the bag”, which means to buy something without inspecting it (and getting cheated). And then the cat is out of the bag and you see the nonsense you got.
rq
Have fun!
On Thursday we’ll do the megalomanic cinamon waffer baking. Me and my friends, with about 8kg of dough.
Giliell
I’m pretty sure the Latvians stole that proverb from you Germans. It’s a common one here, too. (The one about buying a cat in the bag, that is).
As for ‘Not my circus, not my monkeys’ – we have the similar ‘Not my pig, not my grainfield’, which can be taken as either (a) two separate things (so, not my pig, and not my field) or (b) as a connected issue (not my pig which has gotten into not-my-field). I guess monkeys have been rare in the wilds of Latvia.
English National Opera’s unlikely star revealed to be US street dancer:
The ENO’s teaser video of Banks in action, Banks: The flex dancing enigma of #ENOGospel.
As an aside, when I was living in London yonks ago, one of the theatrical companies I always keep a loose eye on the ENO. In addition to doing operas in English (as a matter of policy), they tended to host interesting guest companies — the one I specifically recall now is the Dance Theatre of Harlem and put on non-classical / experimental, and new-ish, works. I assume The Gospel According to the Other Mary (about which I know nothing) is an example of the later case.
Fecking Sarkoführer is back, Nicolas Sarkozy elected to head French opposition party in comeback bid.
“…Announcing his change of heart and return to the political fray in September, Sarkozy told French television it was his duty to make a comeback: ‘It’s not about what I want, it’s that I don’t have the choice.'” No, liar, it is in part because you are “officially under investigation as part of a corruption and misuse of power inquiry”, and need the presidential immunity (very similar to Silvio Berlusconi).
Aha, I knew it. I just caught Patches in the act of snarfing down her sister’s breakfast while her own dish was still almost full. While Shadow watched, yet. They’re back to their old tricks – Patches eats Shadow’s food, then her own, then Shadow comes crying to me because Some Bad Cat Ate Her Food and she’s starving and she needs more or she’ll diiiiieeeee. Cats.
I stayed up way too late last night reading the last of Dana Stabenow’s sf novels, and I couldn’t get back to sleep this morning after I fed the cats. I think I got maybe four or five hours sleep. It’s going to be a long day. An afternoon nap will probably be needed.
The German equivalent to the “monkeys and circus” one is very German: That’s not my beer.
I always find it funny when people use those idioms and proverbs that come from literature and assorted mythology and while they know what they mean, don’t know the original context.
For example, everybody in Germany knows what “Gretchen’s question” is: a decisive question where the person asked has to own up and say what they mean/want/plan, but few people know what Gretchen’s actual question is in “Faust”: Say, Heinrich, how do you keep it with religion?
*waves to horde* Random article via BoingBoing:Chicago schools lost $100M by letting Wall Street engineer their finances
More in a write-up at Naked Capitalism:
Given that some on the other side of the Deep Rifts dont treat harassment, rape, or death threats seriously (how many times have we heard ‘its just a joke’ or ‘develop thicker skin’?) I thought this article was interesting:http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6243246
This is really discouraging.
Salon link.
Another excerpt from the article:
In further reference to the article discussing the lack of change around sexual activity and consent in Steubenville, Ohio (see comment #415):
Daily Kos link.
Children’s logic:
“Mum, we should have named NewCat ‘Dementor’, because they suck the joy out of people’s lives, and she sucks the joy out of OldCat’s life!”
And yes, we had a fun but exhausting time. Everyone is alive and not afraid of the water.
Germans pay tribute to student, 23, killed for trying to help harassed girls:
Glad the watery day went well, rq :-)
I tale it you didn’t run into any Circumfences or Sea Trolls then…
Giliell
For you. ‘Nudelmesse’. I love it.
Anne @411
Maddie comes to us with that tale after she’s eaten her own food.
rq
Now that you are home and safe.
Disinfect everything.
The West Edmonton Mall waterpark gets health violation citations on a regular basis.
It’s a fun time but shower with lots of soap and wash the bathing suits and towels.
Oh this is just fucking ridiculous!
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/star-wars-actor-mocks-ridiculous-controversy-over-black-stormtroopers/
So…what? All stormtroopers must, forever and always, be clones of Jango Fett? They can’t clone them from someone else? They can’t get non-clones as stormtroopers? This can’t be an undercover mission? There’s a wealth of possibilities, but these fucknuggetts think it’s bc of “political correctness”.
I despair of the world sometimes.
chigau
The bathing suits are getting the disinfectant today.
As for the children, they’ve swallowed enough of that water that I believe it’s too late to do anything for them.
It’s raining. It’s been raining since late morning, off and on. There is a danger of flooding and mudslides up in the burn areas, and this week I have a lot of driving to do, and more if it’s raining when the daughters have buses to take. I still remember having to walk to school in the rain and spending the day soaked and shivering, so if I can drive them, I will.
But right now, I can curl up in bed with a book, listen to the rain, smell the nice smell of wet green growing things, and try not to think about all the worry. It’s raining in So Cal, and that’s a good thing.
Tony!
I seem to recall Mark Hamil and Harrison Ford wearing storm trooper uniforms to disguise themselves. Apparently it is possible for the uniforms to fit on people who are not clones of Jango Fett.
But there is that old rule. All characters in films and television series must be white and male unless there is and express purpose for them to be non white or non male. Cuz reasons. /s
Ah but Tony, if I understand right from white people’s reactions to the Exodus casting, it’s just a movie, it’s not about race!!!! :P [/heavy snark]
And the whole “political correctness run amok” thing is so tired. Oh no, we might have to see a black main character, everybody panic. What the fuck are these people’s problems?
toska
A black main character, obviously.
Which I don’t get, because the black sidekicks are often either as awesome or even awesomer then the whiteboy pastries they’re supposed to be so impressed with. Time they had their own movies.
Uuuuuggghhh, I hate raising issues of payment and absent money with the people who provide me with translation work. What if they get mad at me and never give me work again?
However, they once again owe me 1000+ euros via China, plus October’s regular work locally. And since I got the receipt on Friday, now they owe me for November, too. This is worrying.
The number of women to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault is now 19
Good morning
rq
i first thought it was a “pasta fair”, since the words for “fair” and “mass” are the same in German. Yep, we can get weird sometimes :)
As for the money issues, I usually for such questions by pushing the fault on a third party (maybe there was a banking mistake) to give everybody a chance to resolve it gracefully without having to apologise. Though I value a sincere apology I also learned that some people will rather ruin everything by doubling and trippling down before they say “sorry”
Tony
I recently read a very good statement in a German article: “Political Correctness” is the term people use for basic human decency when they want to behave like assholes”
+++
Ranting
Now you’ve all hear about Tugce, the young woman who was beaten to death for helping to girls who were being harassed. Germany is shocked, I tell you, shocked. And I hate their crocodile tears. Becaise tomorrow they will all go back to telling us that we should just “fight back” or “stop making such a fuss” and Richard Dawkins will write another article how he gets impatient with western women who complain about sexism and they will cheer him on.
+++
Horde Questions
Since my repair attempts semm to have been in vain:
Any tips for buying a sensible, not too expensive laptop? Doesn’t have to be high end. Durability would be a definite plus.
“Homosexuality evolved In Humans Because It Helps Us Bond, Scientists Say” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/26/homosexuality-evolution-social-bonding_n_6218406.html
-But does everything really need an evolutionary explanation?
Giliell
Well, after I’ve asked politely, with the implication that maybe they’ve had a busy time with things, I think I’m allowed to tell them I can’t accept this next job they need done until they tell me what’s going on (note: I said I want to be informed about why I haven’t been paid over the last two months, not that they should pay me NOW – though that would be nice, as christmas is coming up…).
Anyway, I’m rather heartened that there at least are memorials for Tugce; I doubt this country would even go that far. But I agree, crocodile tears.
I think I want an ice cream maker for christmas.
Not that I’ll ever use it.
rq @437…I want a good food mixer… I WOULD use it, but I have nowhere to put it.
Life is so unfair!
I’m rather tired from a busy weekend and getting up to my daughter at 5.30. I need an early night.
Why am I always in the lounge when everyone else isn’t? I beginning to get a little paranoid. What was that strange sound I just heard….probably nothing.
Don’t worry, that noise was just Hobbes. Or maybe the monsters under the bed.
bassmike
It’s the mouse circus in rehearsal, don’t worry about it!
I see we have conflicting theories.
Or it might be bunnies, because bunnies aren’t just cute like everybody supposes.
I beg to differ. Bunnies are exactly as cute as everybody supposes. They’re also merciless bloodthirsty killers, but that’s another story.
You know, the same way grizlies look like you’d want to invite them into your tent to keep you warm.
Anya would agree with you on the subject of bunnies.
A roundup of 100 distressing accidents involving guns, children, spouses, and gun instructors:
How do you shoot a little girl named Liberty?
Ben Carson tied the unrest in Ferguson to the “women’s lib movement”:
Right Wing Watch link.
More asinine blather from the far right about the unrest in Ferguson:
Link.
I think this fits into the “it’s worse than you thought” category.
Salon link.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 81 years old. A few days ago she had a stent implanted to clear a blocked artery. Now she’s back on the bench.
Go, Ruth Bader Ginsburg! She’s my hero.
Lynna @449:
I hope RBG is hale & hearty for years to come. We need her on SCOTUS.
Tony @450, I heard a news report that the Notorious RBG is “asking as many questions as she usually asks” from the bench, and that her mind is sharp.
Notorious RBG video.
Also worth a look: http://notoriousrbg.tumblr.com This is Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Tumbler.
<rant part=2 previous=@112>Recap: Pointy-haired wants me to do X2, which is already provided by Big DumbieCo, claiming Big DumbieCo’s X2 “doesn’t work”. The alternative is a much simpler X1, which it is trivial for me do.
And now: I deduced that Ms G was involved — a really good and competent person — and asked what is going on. Ms G explained the situation, which made clear pointy-haired had omitted some critical details. The alternative X1 is not feasible, albeit variant X3 might be. But Ms G pointed out another party involved is not competent to use X3, and therefore X2 seems to be the only solution.
Ok… Thanks for making me waste time (admittedly not much) on X1, pointy-haired.
Ms G had no idea why pointy-hair thinks Big DumbieCo’s X2 “doesn’t work”. Ms G agrees it looks like what it needed.
Pointy-hair then stops me as I am leaving for the weekend on Friday, and asks again. I insist on knowing why pointy-hair thinks Big DumbieCo’s X2 “doesn’t work”. And I really do have to insist. At first he won’t tell me, basically saying he’d decided on me doing X2 and so the issue was closed.
Fecker, that is not good management in any sense!
Eventually I am told it is because Mr H says so. Mr H is another good person, and I doubt he’d misinform pointy-hair. But the reasons pointy-hair said Mr H said it “doesn’t work” make no sense at all, such as Big DumbieCo’s X2 does not actually exist. (Why pointy-hair said “doesn’t work” when “doesn’t exist” is a big reason is beyond me.)
Mr H is on vacation so I can’t check with him. But as far as I can tell, Big DumbieCo’s X2 does exist (it’s a bit ambiguous for reasons not germane to this rant). After thinking about it over the weekend (fuming, actually), I suspect Mr H was talking about a very old idea, X4, which is superficially similar to X2. Pointy-hair could easily confuse the two, and possibly “thought” Mr H was talking about Big DumbieCo’s X2. One of pointy-hair’s many annoyances is being a very poor communicator who (as examples) never checks assumptions or that the other party understands. And can be poor listener.
Basically, I suspect pointy-haired garbled the question about Big DumbieCo’s X2, and Mr H guessed he was talking about the old X4. Pointy-haired would not have noticed, and Mr H is unlikely to be an expert on (or, maybe, even aware of) Big DumbieCo’s X2. So the possibilities for massive miscommunication seem very good.
Anyways, that old X4 indeed “does not exist”, and hopefully never will, as Big DumbieCo’s X2 supersedes it. Mr H returns very soon, so I will check just what he was talking about…
</rant>The lead example in the article How restaurants cut corners: embalmed shrimp and headless beer has me puzzled: “Olive Garden [restaurants are] not salting their pasta when cooking it to make their pots last longer.”
Um, so what? I never salt my pasta (or the cooking water). What the feck is “wrong” with “not salting their pasta when cooking it”? The given reason, “to make their pots last longer”, sounds reasonable, albeit I do have to wonder what the pots are made of.
Link.
So, how do billionaires and their philanthropic efforts compare? The far-rightwing owners of Walmart are the least generous. Figures. .04% for the Walton heirs, compared to 32.2% for Bill Gates, and 26.9% for Warren Buffet.
Naturally, Alice Walton wants to get rid of the estate tax altogether so that she can keep even more of her money.
Why MPs aren’t cock-a-hoop about Penny Mordaunt’s foul language:
Goon-on-goon feckwittery, White police officers involved in black couple’s death sue Cleveland for racial discrimination:
This is the same tribe of goons who shoot children with fake guns dead for sport.
Successfully made it through Eating Day festivities without in any way tilting any part of my g.i. tract or its affiliates.
I’m calling that an unqualified WIN.
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Belated *hugs* for Portia.
Being Constantly Awesome is a heavy burden for you to bear.
Something about Great Powder and Grape Responsibilities.
I think you can be forgiven for the occasional lapse.
;)
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*hugs* and encouragement for Beatrice.
(Later)
Consider it all well and truly fucked.
:)
I hope you got some decently-restful sleep.
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blf: Pics of the ” fossilized space-suited unidentified vegetable”?
Anything there we can usefully reverse-engineer?
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Dalillama, best wishes for a swift change in your living accommodations.
(Later)
Hmmm….
*stroking chin thoughtfully*
(blf:
)
Especially since Horses ignite poorly, because
1) They are quite squashy and moist inside, and
2) They hail from the Plane of Elementally Fiery Nastiness.
At best you may induce in Them a brief nostalgic homesickness…without any assurance that They will then be impelled to go home. More often, you’ll only make Them cranky.
-Er.
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*nodding vigorously*
Or a polearm of any kind.
Also dicey: grappling arrows, the firing of.
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Ogvorbis!
*hugs&turkey*
*cranberry sauce* optional.
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Congratulations, Wilbefort, on your successful Brushing Of The Teeth.
:)
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[gallowshumor]Would it be better if they ate what they killed?[/gallowshumor]
(Shit, I shouldn’t give them ideas… .>.>)
The other day, I shared a story about Elizabeth Lauten, GOP staffer, slut-shaming Sasha and Malia Obama on facebook. I’m happy to see that Lauten said she has resigned:
http://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ar-critic-of-sasha-and-malia-resigns-20141201-story.html
Hi Minnie!
Tony!
Sorry, I wasn’t clear when I posted before, I believe it’s the link you wanted: It’s a guest post by The Saucy Scholar.
* ** *
Back home after my Thanksgiving weekend at my sister’s house. The cookies were a hit, they always are.
Still not back at work because my oral surgeon’s office was closed from last Tuesday through this afternoon, so they didn’t do my paperwork. Looks like I get to start work Wednesday morning.
* ** *
Woohoo more recipes!
* ** *
Chris Rock talks about Ferguson in today’s New York Magazine interview. He talks about imagining going to Ferguson and doing a story about race:
* ** *
Re: dishwashing as a guest
I like doing dishes when I’m at a family thing. Family dinners are different from other social dinners, and when I was little the dishes were always done by my Mom, her mom, and any other women around. At my sister’s house I’ve learned I have to ask her to empty the drying rack if I’m going to do dishes, since I don’t know where anything goes and her family leaves the dishes in the rack.
* ** *
Giliell
Bwahahahahahahhhhhh…. I’m going to have to remember that one.
Well well well. If this isn’t a telling detail, I don’t know what is. In St. Louis police officers are segregated into white and black groups when it comes to Police Officer Associations.
Link.
Lynna 461
Ah. I saw the headline in my FB “Trending” sidebar and searched for the story and saw only the statement. There was nothing about segregated POAs in that article. I was thinking on a blog post about that statement, so it’s good to know there are two separate organizations. I also like that the one not protesting the Rams has “Ethical” in its name.
Lynna
One of the commenters to that article wonders how many other police departments have segregated associations. The National Black Police Association is headquartered in Dallas TX, and Dallas has a local chapter. Philadelphia has the Guardian Civic League.
*sigh*
So I’m dealing with this asshole who’s seriously trying to convince people that psychiatry is some kind of scam to “take away people’s rights”. She’s even gone so far as to say — regarding my abuser — (and here I quote her words exactly) she said: “If I were a man living with a woman who wanted to drug me, I might find myself becoming dangerously physical.” (screencapped just in case)
I’m feeling some rather non-pacifistic urges right now, and I’m kinda not happy about that.
I made a fascinating discovery this weekend.
I am, generally speaking, not a fan of apple pie. The texture is just wrong and the flavor baffling.
This year at Thanksgiving, there was an apple pie. As it was being cut, I observed that the baker had apparently puréed the apples before mixing them with the other aspects of the filling, so the filling was of a smooth consistency. Curious, I ate a piece.
IT. WAS. AWESOME.
I am hereby converted wholeheartedly to the Church of Apple Pie, but subscribe to the scripture of Yea, It Shall Be Smooth.
Esteleth, oooh, that sounds delicious. And I like apple pie anyway. But puréed … oh, yes please.
Does anyone here follow Where’s The Cat At? on Tumblr? One of our Mammotheers (huzzah huzzah) photoshops kitties into unlikely situations. She doesn’t pinch pics of cats, it’s all ones people send of their own furry overlords. She’s also started one for dogs. (Be warned, the cuteness levels are dangerous in both.)
Anyways my very own Katiekins has helped the blog go viral! Do take a look, the photoshopping is gorgeous.
where spotted tabbies come from
Thanksgiving also saw this:
*my grandmother presents me with a plate heaped with food*
“Eat up!”
five minutes later, the plate is still covered in food
“You know, Esteleth, you need to lose weight.”
*facepalm*
Okay, Lounge- I have a million dollar idea. My days of toiling as a wage slave may soon be over. Inspired by the following conversation I just had:
Me: So what is up with your dad?
Partner (who just got off the phone with his dad): He is really busy I guess.
Me: Oh yeah? With what?
Partner: He needs to get a bigger refrigerator.
Me: You are shitting me. Why does he need a bigger fridge? It is just him and your mom!
Partner: I guess theirs is so small that they only eat stuff in the front and everything else goes bad.
we both break into giggles.
Me: Seriously? Is that what he said? He needs like a huge single depth fridge. Like a flat-screen, but for a fridge.
Partner: No shit! Why not have a flat-screen that is also a fridge!
Me: It will toggle to whatever door you don’t have open!
Partner: Never again will you have to pause your show while you make a sandwich!
***We can retire with this amazing idea!***
Now, who can make me a prototype one of these? Payment will have to be in the form of internet hugz. Or cat GIFs.
Esteleth, I don’t know where grandmothers think they get off in the weight sniping department! My late grandmother in law was always super mean to some of my sisters-in-law, griping about whatever they ate telling them they didn’t need it and that they were too fat. Everyone gave her a pass because of her advanced age, but I never thought it was cool.
Yazikus:
That…actually wouldn’t be too difficult.
You’d lose some efficiency with the greater surface area, granted, and the prototype WOULD be a bit expensive to make…but the target audience is expecting to pay a fair amount anyway, and is showing off as much as anything.
Were it marketed specifically for holding a row of beer cans. Maybe make it a six pack or a 12 pack deep…..
One of my students made me soup to take home today. It’s some kind of slightly spicy split pea noodle soup. Most of my students, including her, are refugees on food assistance, so it’s super generous of her to make me something to eat. A few weeks ago she also brought in dolmas for all the teachers. They were wrapped in chard rather than grape leaves, which was awesome because I’m very not fond of grape leaves. Another teacher was given a large container of spicy couscous and meat ragout by a student from Africa,¹ and yet another teacher routinely gets fed sambusas by her Somali students. And over Diwali we got absolute mounds of roti. Even if they don’t cook for us, many students bring in apples, candy, packaged cookies, or chips, too.
If only I could somehow infect white conservatives with the generosity of my students. (They’d probably be more afraid of that than ebola, though.)
At least us teachers got to return the favor a little bit by throwing all of the students a pumpkin pie party before Thanksgiving vacation.
……….
¹ I know it’s bad form to refer to Africa as a whole when talking about a specific person or group or place, but because my students are refugees, I’m leery about giving away too many potentially identifying details about them where anyone can read it.
A. Noyd: Would “a particular African nation” work?
@Azkyroth (#473)
In some contexts, I think that might work. In this one, it could still come off like I never bothered to learn which particular nation she’s from, which would be about as inconsiderate. At least, that’s the sort of language I tend to use when I can’t remember stuff. Which is a lot because my memory is shit. Heh.
And I suppose I should mention that a huge percentage of the students are from Somalia, so naming that particular African nation doesn’t carry the same risks.
Yazikus
Make it half as deep and twice as wide as a regular fridge, with a lot of small sections, each with a clear glass door so I know what’s inside. I want one of those.
* ** *
I have a book I bought years ago, Sisterhood is Powerful, an anthology edited by Robin Morgan. I picked it up and started to read her introduction and came to this passage:
It rings true today, and she wrote it in 1970.
She also wrote a few more words:
Which tells me that if I want to be a good ally, perhaps I should start by standing up on my own feet for the injustices I live with, which for me is mostly being an atheist. Come out, learn from that experience, and maybe I’ll understand more what I need to, to be an ally of others.
Fucking hell, the fucking neighbors. They were making loud thumps and screams and cries of “give up”, which led us to conclude that an argument had escalated to physical violence, so we called the police ( I know, but I don’t know what else to do). The police arrived, were apparently told that it was a game, and left. The neighbors then spent half an hour pounding on our door, yelling threats, and beating on the door, walls, and ceiling. I think they just came up and egged our door, but hell if I’m going out to check tonight. L is having a panic attack, and I’m barely staving one off. A report of that led to a call from the officer who threatened to arrest all of us if he came back. So that’s charming. We literally cannot get out of here soon enough, but unfortunately it looks like the 12th is the absolute earliest we’ll be able to move into the new place. Fuck everything.
Also ‘rupt, and completely without spoons to comment on anything substantive.
Dalillama
Stay safe. . .
Fuck your neighbors and fuck the police for refusing to help when you’re being harassed at the very least and in immediate danger at the worst.
*hugs* to you and L. I wish there was something I could do.
Dallilama
What the fuck are the police paid for? Eating donuts?
Dammit, I am sorry I cannot help.
“Mice with half-human brains four times smarter than their peers: scientists” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/mice-with-half-human-brains-four-times-smarter-than-their-peers-scientists/
(visions of rank after rank of transgenic rodents goose-stepping down the center of Washington, while the primates are running away in their millions)
Dalillama
*big hugs*
The 12th cannot come soon enough
Dalillama
The 12th can’t come fast enough…
And fuck the cops, couldn’t they at least tell the neighbours to make less noise? Better yet, take your concerns seriously instead of threatening arrest? I guess not. *spits*
Shit, Dalillama. That police response sounds worse than useless. Roll on the 12th! And I hope things are quieter ’till then.
Dalilama The 12th can’t come quickly enough. I’m just glad for you that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
BTW I did PZ’s narcissistic test and I’m no where near. However, I took the depression test and, how shall I put it: passed with flying colours. Does anyone know of any treatment that I can take, but only when the depression hits? I’m pretty clueless on these things.
A. Noyd:
That’s really heartwarming.
Dalillama:
I’m so sorry. I hope you both stay as safe as possible in the next ten days.
bassmike
*hugs*
Is there anyone you can talk to about this in real life who might be able to direct you towards help?
bassmike, you may be able to get a GP referral to iCope, if they operate in your vicinity (or to some equivalent organisation). They do an initial assessment (or two) and discuss with you what kind of sessions might be more useful – quite a few very different options – e.g. CBT is only one among several … and can be great at helping you work out what you need. (and three more cheers for the NHS, meaning that at least some possibilities are free of charge)
bassmike
*hugs*
Seconding the others: Go get professional help. I know how hard it is to make that call.
Not because we don’t want to hold your hand through this, we’ll happily do that, but because we’Re not qualified to help you.
Remember this is not failure any more than breaking your leg, having diabetes or catching cold is a failure. You have a medical problem and it deserves to be treated by medical professionals.
NB! “Economist: I’ve crunched the numbers, and the American Dream is dead” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/economist-ive-crunched-the-numbers-and-the-american-dream-is-dead/
(Excerpt) “America has no higher rate of social mobility than medieval England or pre-industrial Sweden,” Clark said. “That’s the most difficult part of talking about social mobility, is because it is shattering people’s dreams.”
NASA launching new Orion spacecraft on test flight http://phys.org/news/2014-12-nasa-orion-spacecraft-flight.html
Indian women beat their male harassers with belts in viral video http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/indian-women-beat-their-male-harassers-with-belts-in-viral-video/
LEGO Stop-Motion Animated Re-Creation of the ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’ http://laughingsquid.com/lego-stop-motion-animated-re-creation-of-the-star-wars-episode-vii-the-force-awakens-teaser-trailer/
Dalillama, I’m so sorry your neighbors are such shits. I’m glad you at least have a new place to look forward to.
bassmike, yes, go look for medical help. There’s no shame in admitting you need it. Do you have a regular doctor? You might ask her/him for a referral.
It’s just started raining here, so I guess I’ll be driving the Younger Daughter to campus in an hour or so. Maybe I can think of something else to do on the way home.
All: thanks for your advice. I need to make an appointment with the GP. It’s all a bit scary.
bassmike, speaking as someone who’s been there and may be slowly climbing out thanks to treatment, if it’s the right thing, you’ll be glad you did. Depression lies – I find thinking of it as a leaden figure on my shoulder, called Misery (and we all know what Misery loves, no?), whispering awful things about and to me, to be helpful in trying to avoid listening to it. Misery will tell you nothing can help, but it lies.
Good luck and rock steady, bassman.
bassmike
If you find it too difficult to make the appointment yourself (seriously, phones can be scary as fuck, looming in the dark corner of the flat, eyeballing you because you still haven’t made that call), ask your wife to do it for you. Don’t be ashamed, just ask her. She loves you and she’ll be glad to do that for you.
So I got in the car to go to work, and decided to put on a mix CD I made ages ago, called Random Acts of Music. No idea what was on it, as I didn’t label it with any additional information, like I usually do. First song on the playlist: Ani Difranco’s Hello, Birmingham.
I nearly cried.
Thanks to Pharyngulites up-thread who sussed out the other black police officer associations. I really had no idea. Seems really weird to segregate police officers that way. (See comments #461, 462, and 463.)
In other news, Rachel Maddow covered the latest moves by “The Sunshine State,” Florida, to cutt solar energy incentives and to set lower (much lower) goals for clean energy. The state also took measures to let power companies escape from previous agreements involving clean energy. Awfulness abounds.
Link.
Here’s some feel-good news, and it involves Obamacare.
Link.
Link.
Additional coverage in USA Today.
Jon Stewart produced a good segment mocking Fox News hosts, especially Hannity, for blaming violence in Fergusson on Al Sharpton, Eric Holder and the President.
Scroll down for video. Talking Points memo.
In response to PZ’s dissing evo-psych in an article today, the Toronto Star delves into our evolutionary desire to imbibe alcohol: Human ancestors’ taste for alcohol began 10 million years ago: Study. Which would mean most primates should share a ‘taste for alcohol’. We should teach chimps to distinguish good Merlots from bad ones, among other things.
Okay, so the article has nothing to do with psychology. But it does have to do with evolution, and this is exactly the kind of tenuous but mostly absent connection evopsych rests upon. So there!
The Husband has got me The Skeptic’s Annotated Bible for Xmas!
*dancedancedance*
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2kittehs, condolences for the Job That Just Is Not To Be.
*hug*
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Portia, *hugs* and best wishes for you and SO, this time around.
:)
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carlie:
Oh dear.
*hugs*
I have done this sort of things so many times….
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Minnie-Finn!
*pouncehugs-with-accumulated-interest*
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