I know some of you don’t bother to watch the videos on TET, but watch this one. You won’t regret it.
You hear me? WATCH IT. It’s the atheist message, and it’ll be a good 12 minutes, I promise.
(Episode CCCXIII: We’ve known we’ve been warming for a long time.)
Weird. I’ve noticed over the years that my students are extremely predictable — after the first few days, they’ve settled into their chosen places, and they don’t budge thereafter. I sometimes try to shake them up with assigned groups that force them to move around.
I think (hope?) the problem is that it’s still the first few days in this particular class :) I just feel like it’s not, because of having the same room last quarter.
You really are an evil overlord!
PZ:
Gah! I hated it when teachers would do that.
Re emergency fund: One of the things I noticed when looking at Modest Needs is that donations there are tax deductible for USAnians (sorry furriners!), and potentially eligible for matching-gifts programs if your employer has such.
If I’m reading it right, you can direct your MN donations into an account, and then designate them to applications you choose. I don’t know how long funds can sit in your account before you have to designate them, but it seems like some of us could build up a nontrivial floating fund in a collection of individual MN accounts, ready to designate to any Horde-ist’s grant application. (MN accepts direct-debit EFT from your bank, which is to say the equivalent of a debit card, BTW.) No need for administration or coordination: Just light the bat-signal that the application is ready for funding. And the application might well also draw funding/votes from The Kindness of Strangers™, to boot.
Of course, the downside is that the Horde-ist in need would have to go through the MN application process, which might make true rapid-response impossible. It should work for things than can be anticipated and scheduled (like brain scans, f’rinstance); for “OMG, I’m about to be evicted tomorrow,” not so much. So we’d still need to ad hoc the truly urgent shit.
Also, let me just chime in on the “no donation is too small” bandwagon… and that includes internet hugz, USB sweets, and other well-wishes from those who can’t do cash. It is, quite literally, all good.
Aside: I think “Jesus Christ on a stingray!” will now become my favorite blasphemous exclamation.
I’m sure I hated it, too, but I find it makes for a better working environment.
Kids are not always good at finding the people they work with the best. Mixing it up can make for less gossip and more studying in my experience.
When it works …
Why? Do you just generally hate meeting new people, or did you just hate specifically all the other people in your classes?
I don’t mind small group discussions and the like, but I dislike group projects most of the time specifically because I always end up being one of two or three that do the actual work.
Some professors have been better, finding ways to incorporate individual contributions to the group grading score that don’t unfairly punish those in groups with non-contributors. But I admit I find group activities in classes more hindrance than help.
PZ:
No, it had nothing to do with the people, it had to do with being moved out of ‘my spot’, where I was comfortable and at ease. I didn’t mind this sort of thing near as much in college, however, the HS I attended was seriously over-crowded, and I’d always get shuffled to the opposite end of where I was normally seated.
Do you just generally hate meeting new people, or did you just hate specifically all the other people in your classes?
For me, the answer was “both”, but then again, I went to school in Texas.
This. One of the disability accommodations for aspies and ADD folks is being allowed to choose and keep a certain spot in a classroom. I noticed I do better at exams if I’m in a familiar place, to the point where I scout beforehand the strange rooms that finals will be in.
Weed Monkey:
Surprised me too! Normally, we’d still be buried in snow. We really didn’t have a winter this year, only a couple of snowfalls and very warm temps. It does look like we’ll be facing a drought as a consequence.
With respect to the Pharyngula Fund, I looked into setting something up back when Cicely’s ass and then Jadehawk’s teeth needed help. I thought it might be a way for me to set money aside for when people needed help. It turned out to be a lot of work if multiple people are going to contribute, you either need someone to accept the possible tax consequences or you need to be a non-profit. And to be a non-profit, you need to have standards as to who you can give money to, and have record keeping and file tax returns and comply with various other bureaucratic requirements. Of course, I’m not a lawyer or an accountant, so I might be completely wrong
I can’t find it now, but there was some sad, hilarious trolling on Manboobz that claimed this type of teaching was misandrist because it unfairly advantages girls (who are totes more social, duh!).
Are the chairs in your classroom hard, PZ?
Jules:
Heh. Get a job on Wall Street* and you have the trifecta!
Don’t we all? ;)
(*Jobs also available in Salt Lake City if you can’t afford Manhattan rents.)
1. My seat! (You can read that with an edge of pre-tantrum agitation and/or panic, if you so choose.)
2. I hate meeting any people. I usually choose to sit by a wall and make a point of putting things in the seat next to me so that other people can’t sit there unless it’s crowded and they have to. If I have to do group work, it’s always miserable, but being able to work with the same people over and over again is slightly less miserable than having to change around.
In one of my career paths–technical writer–the lessons I learned about working in groups were absolutely invaluable.
But I’m a bossy little motherfucker anyway, so I was sort of suited to group work once I got the hang of it. Not that I took over; just that I would kick someone’s ass if they slacked off. I recognize this is Not For Everyone™
I actually could handle moving to different spots if the room was fairly small, but I’m a creature of habit and need things like “my spot” to be maintained in order to maximize my productivity.
I think this has to do somewhat with my weird neurological-visual issues. A different side of a room looks like a completely different room. So I have to get used to it.
CC:
Yep. I’m Sheldonesque in the matter of my spot.
Get a job on Wall Street* and you have the trifecta!
Maybe…but it’s by no means a comprehensive tour of the industries of evil. You’d have to work for a tobacco company and a health insurance company too to get the full pentad.
Hmm, I’m thinking Goldman, then Haliburton, then Phillip Morris, then Raytheon, then Aetna?
You know, I hadn’t thought about the importance of my spot being tied to ADHD, but that is almost certainly part of it as well. I find a seat I like in the room and I stay there whenever possible. I do feel much more relaxed and focused when my routine goes smoothly.
dianne:
Industries of Evil = Band name!! ;^)
FTFY.
Surely there’s an evo-devo explanation?
Rorschach!
You around? I’m gonna write about this, but I don’t know how to attribute you and I would like to.
Also: Time zones, how the fuck do they work?
Are there html tags that work here for line breaks, indents and such? I’ve tried but no such luck. I couldn’t find anything on the Wiki either. I’m sure you guys are tired of answering this but I promise to copy them and keep them forever and ever to use.
I also want to thank everyone again for the help. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. =)
Audley: Magnets, probably
PZ: You might want to go check out the latest abortion thread. “Looking for An Applicable Political Name” is getting a bit too misogynistic and derailly.
Fucking magnets, man.
Rorschach, Emrysmyrddin, this is the direct link you might want. “Networked blogs” can be annoying. Seems to have some connection with facebook. http://www.thetwentyfirstfloor.com/?p=3655
Just_a_lurker: makes a forced space. (NonBreaking SPace)
Four makes a 4-char forced indent!
It’s just basic HTML, so you can learn by googling for beginner HTML, or lists of HTML tags, or HTML special characters. There’s nothing special about the tags here except for the q (which has been repurposed to comic sans). And as with most blogs, almost all of the more complex stuff has been disabled.
Special characters like & all start with “&” and end with “;”. For example, “™” = “™” and to make an ampersand you have to type in &
Tags live in angle brackets < > – any given markup like italic (i) or
strikethrough (strike)is enclosed in a pair of tags like this <markup>your text</markup>Guys, I don’t think we need to make this so complicated. We’re talking a total sum between this time and last of less than $2,000. I have a hard time thinking this has any real tax implications.
As for accountability, I’ll tell anyone exactly how much came in and how many donated. I’ve been keeping people anonymous because they may not all want others to know who they are or how much they donated. As those of you who donated the last time know, I give a total when all is said and done and I pass along the recipient’s response email so donors know they got the money. Of course, there’s no way to prove I’m not skimming the till so you just have to trust me.
If it gets any more complicated than it is already. . .well I hope it doesn’t. I see this as good people and friends taking up a collection for emergencies to help each other out (think of the jars at grocery stores for victims of a housefire, etc.).
Josh, fwiw, I think it’s fine to leave things alone until a situation comes up where someone requires a little help. It doesn’t take much time to get money to someone and you’ve been a good expediter the last two times, so I say leave things as they are.
Caine, I agree.
I have a fancy new French-y drag name.
I was speaking a little earlier to someone who was at the New Hampshire State House today for a hearing on whether to defund Planned Parenthood.
A member of PP was up at the podium along with a nurse practitioner. They were telling the story of a 20-year-old woman who got birth control via PP and was exceedingly happy and grateful for it.
The person who told me the story was seated in front of a bunch of old women… real Serena Joy types. One of them whispered angrily in response to the anecdote being told at the podium, “That’s disgusting.”
Between that story (in current local context) and FAAP’N on the newest abortion thread (glad his ass is gone — all hail the Squidly First Penis!), I have steam coming out of my ears.
All this talk about evil industries and no mention of marketing?
Holy fucking shit, you guys are awesome. I just got the email regarding the deposit to my PayPal account, definitely enough for this month and some to cover next month. Hell, its almost enough for next months rent too. My landlord gave me paperwork for next month so I can literally file for rent help before its late.
I love you guys so much! Happy tears for once. You guys so saved us!
—-
As far as Facebook goes, I double check that I wasn’t searchable and all that privacy jazz before I disabled it. It was just the shock of seeing his face again, plus my mother running into him coincidence. I panicked. Last time I saw him I was in court begging for jail time and restraining order. He saw crying, begging blubbering apologies and finding God bullshit. The Judge was sympathetic. My restraining order didn’t cover my child. I didn’t bother renewing it, just moved since I had a different job and everything by then and didn’t want him knowing where we were. He would have just tried the “I just want to see my baby!” bullshit again and the cops would be sympathetic again. Yeah, making me bleed from my skull is totally just a part of seeing the Little One. /snort.
——-
Regarding, tags. Damn, that worked like a charm! Funny, the things I tried didn’t. Hmm, I must be doing something wrong then.I will just have to experiment with preview. I was being lazy about it. I hate how most of my post are just big wall of text. I shall find a style that works for me like everybody else has. All things considered, my nym, is looking majorly weak now too.
I was helped in the past by Pharyngulites. When illness hit me hard and I didn’t have a dime to put towards my own health care this online community helped. Some people sent $5 via paypal, and some sent more. The total amount was not a lot. No tax implications. Saving me turned out to be relatively cheap, but when a person has no money for healthcare bills, small amounts loom large, and gifts from friends made a world of difference. And that’s not hyperbole.
I’m now in a position to donate a small sum each month to the ass-saving fund.
Let me know what you work out.
J_A_L, I’m glad you got away, but I’m sorry you had such a horrible time with it. And I’m sorry it keeps haunting you. Just know that you’ve got folks looking out for you.
Completely off topic (even for here): I am, with Wife and Boy, currently watching Animal Planet’s puppy show. Portuguese Water Dog puppies and Bull Mastiff puppies.
Awwwwwww.
Too bad they grow up into dogs.
Oh dear.
Two hours of Penn & Teller Fool Us on youtube and a bag of crisps. And now I eating half a tub of icecream out of the tub at half two in the morning.
And I’ve antagonised Jerry Coyne again.
J_A_L:
Yay! Hopefully, that will go a ways in bringing down your stress and anxiety levels as well as giving you a bit of breathing room.
And more’s on the way to JAL, Caine. Lots of folks are sending checks by mail.
HEALTHCARE TRIGGER WARNING.
If you can bear to read it, read to the end. I just … I …
(source: Brad DeLong)
And we know who to blame for that, don’t we?
Slumber party at Sili’s!
@Josh:
Well, having a pool of already collected money could help for quick responses. We just fear the tax man seeing “income” – that hasn’t had taxes paid on it – for the person who’s holding the purse strings.
For no more than we’d likely have, it probably won’t be a big deal, though. It’d have to be significant before they’d even bother with it.
Still. My apparent income has seen a rise, and I’m no longer under water, and wouldn’t mind donating a bit each month for an emergency ‘insurance’ fund, and monthly donating would be easier for me than saving up and donating during emergency periods (that and I don’t always monitor TET, and thus might miss such a thing).
leighshryock:
Pardon me asking, but who are you? I don’t recall seeing you post at all outside of this incarnation of TET. Unless you’re a regular with a nym change that I missed…
@Caine: I usually lurk, I sometimes post something random that caught my interest in whatever the current TET is.
Josh:
Aaaaaaw. Group hugses for the Evil Horde™. And an extra hug for you, for taking on the expediting again.
Y’know, so many folks are emailing Josh (this round) maybe we could have a Horde emergency alert email list? I don’t always catch TET either.
Best evil horde evar!
I’m a constant reader, and infrequent commenter, but I love this place.
Y’all rock.
(i’ll be back in my corner, reading. In case anyone needs me.)
I missed that particular incident, and it’s been mentioned several times. What exactly happened?
leighshryock:
Okay, thanks.
Pteryxx:
Well, you have mine, right? Josh has mine and a number of other Horde e-addresses. So do I, for that matter.
Oh, and something I forgot that I was also told about the State House meeting. Some asshole got up and started ranting about how Planned Parenthood should be prosecuted as a criminal organization.
This is why my own activism consists of behind-the-scenes activities only. I would have stood up, asked the guy if he were Catholic, and then asked him why the world’s largest pedophile protection organization shouldn’t be prosecuted under the RICO act.
I’ve got the Horde collected in various groups in my contacts.
Hey, MikeG! Good to see you. :)
Anyone here know anything about police protocol for what to do with your weapon when visiting your girlfriend at the local Panera?
Because I was all, what’s that clanking sound over there? And it was all, I’m a motherfucking gun hitting the back of dude’s chair as he sits down.
You may or may not be on duty. You are certainly still decked out in uniform.
I dunno. I guess if you’re on duty you can’t just leave it in your glove box. What if you’re off-duty?
It’s just weird seeing a gun in a cheesy cafe. This is a place for drinking crappy tea and listening to muzak.
“How did I get here?”
“You followed the bouncing balls.”
Hi Caine! *waves*
I comment so infrequently, I feel like I should introduce myself every time. Stupid work net filters.
J_A_L: *hugs* and *happy dancing*. I’m just frustrated that your need came at a time when I can’t help. Next time, The Can will be ready, even if I can only use it to catch the odd dollar whenever.
–
Caine: IIRC I only have your email from your blog, or from that incident with Rorschach or something. At any rate, I didn’t mean *me* so much as, just collect the emails of whoever donated or offered donations, add to that whoever emails to say ‘call on me when someone needs help’, and then send out a link to the relevant TET post when bad things happen. Just, make sure it’s a BCC. >_>
Ms. Daisy Cutter: YES! I’ve been wanting the Feds to go after the RCC with the RICO act for years!
There’s isn’t much slumbering to being awake at fuck o’clock in the morning.
I’ll grant it’s a misnomer.
depends on the state. I live in the state of confusion, we don’t allow guns here. Or maybe we do. what was the question?
Jules: Can’t help you there. If it was a legal right, I’d never go anywhere without my short sword and one of my two tomahawks (Depending on the occasion).
Of course, given the choice, I’d also never go anywhere huge knives and axes weren’t 100 percent appropriate and lifesaving.
TLC: I live in the US. I wonder if I could get away with carrying one of these on a regular basis…
The Sailor:
“I suffer from a very sexy learning disability. What did I call it, Kiff?”
“Ugh… sexlexia.”
(Are we quoting Futurama now? ‘Cos I can do this all night.)
Where did the list of freethought blogs on the right hand side go????? That’s how I navigated from blog to blog!!
leighshryock, I appreciate your concern about us chipping in to help our friends.
Except for your timely tax advice we would never have figured that out.
++++++++++++++++
Hi MikeG! Welcome back! It’s always nice to see a familiar face. If Patricia’s isn’t open, and the estimable Nerd of Redhead isn’t available, I still maintain a grotto at the Space Bar.
It’s a little seedy, but then it’s springtime.
Carlie,
Holy shit, you’re right! Where is the list?
Hey, did you catch Community tonight? ‘Cos it was AWESOME.
A.R: A smallsword? *snicker*
Just kidding, they were absolutely lethal.
That’s kinda what I don’t like about them though. My tomahawks and short sword cut firewood as easily as flesh, and I’ve diffused more fights in my life by being smart, bold, and diplomatic than ever by severing limbs or piercing body parts.
I’m also developing a skill for rough woodcarving with a tomahawk (my norse hawk excells at it). I shaped down the piece of black locust from which I carved that deer with the norse hawk.
A smallsword or rapier does one thing extremely well: Put holes in people.
Tis a beautiful example though.
I have a love-on for the Horde right now.
That is all.
Carry on. I have copy-editing to do and baking to prepare (I’m making focaccia rolls tomorrow, to go with the chili-lime pork loin and sauteed brussels sprouts).
Yep. And the 2nd Amendment and Justice Scalia guarantee me the right to carry one wherever I want to! /snark
I might just have to actually carry mine to make fun of the gun nuts sometime.
Sally: Chance of getting the sauteed Brussels sprouts recipe? I have a flat bread recipe to exchange.
“They got a lot of brains, and they got a lot of chutzpah.”
Seems like your question has better legal precedent than his.
There’s a flier up on the bulletin board in my building advertising the university’s anti-choice group and making noise about “saving this generation” (because if you were born after 1973, you’re tootally lucky to be alive). I added a post-it note that says:
Forgot to check if it was still up when I left this evening.
Audley – it was so great! And the end tag was perfect.
Dr. Audley, you know that growth in your belly isn’t going away any time soon?
(Woo hoo!)
And I’ll trade you Futurama quotes any time you want. I have the advantage of the internet, with less puke-age. (OK, more age, less puke;-)
++++++++++++++++++++++
A. R.
I was going to wing it. But I’ve seen several variations. One which I made for Thanksgiving last year called for sauteeing the sprouts in a skillet with some butter, then adding some brown sugar, pecans, and dried cranberries as they were getting tender. Delicious! Tomorrow I’ll probably go for a more savory thing, with olive oil (to complement the rolls), onions (probably start them at the same time or before the sprouts to make sure they caramelize nicely), and some sliced radishes added after the sprouts. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Ooh, and I was just googling recipes and I came across this one, which calls for adding a bit of water and chicken stock as the sprouts are finishing up. Sounds good, I might try it. I happen to have some nicely spiced stock/spice mixture from Brooks’ Chicken BBQ, probably the best thing to ever come out of Oneonta NY (excepting myself of course).
zomfg! I talked in class!
Whoops forgot the link: http://www.cooksister.com/2008/11/garlicky-sauteed-brussels-sprouts.html
SallyStrange said “I was going to wing it.”
Now that’s just cruel.
Sally: That sounds wonderful! Anyway, my flat bread recipe is fairly simple: Mix flour, water, salt, and olive oil to make a moist (but not sticky) workable dough. Roll the dough out, fold in half, roll lightly again, fold in half. Roll one final time to about 1/4″, then cut out 8″ circles of dough, making a 1/2″ hole in the center of each (helps to ensure even cooking). Cook on a well-oiled baking sheet under the broiler until one side is lightly browned, repeat in the other side. I often brush the bread with oil before baking. I got the recipe from a Greek friend, which explains all of the olive oil, and the fact that it’s great with feta.
What? Cruel? Why? I don’t get it.
Carlie:
I know!! Oh god, fund drives.
If the narrator (Keith David*) hasn’t done any honest-to-goodness documentaries, he really should start. He was awesome.
The Sailor:
End of October! Halloween baby, fuck yeah!
(And having very nearly made it to the end of the first trimester, I am so incredibly relieved. I mean, shit can still go wrong, but the threat of miscarriage is diminishing week-by-week.)
*Anderson from Mass Effect. Because everything eventually links back to BioWare games.
Sally: In bird hunting, if you deliberately shoot a bird in the wing to cripple it, it’s called “winging.”
Nee! *hugs to kristinc with confetti*
@The Sailor:
It broke my heart when I heard about J_A_L’s situation. But, at the time (and even currently), the money’s just not there, but will be in the next few months, as I pay back what I owe with the extra income coming in.
Changes may be imminent. There’s going to be a site-wide redesign (it’s much prettier!), and we’ve also got a bunch of new blogs going in.
“Death… By snu-snu!”
Mmmm, feta. Sounds good, I’ll have to try that.
A.R: Why would someone intentionally wound instead of kill a gamebird?
Leaving aside the obvious cruelty of such a practice, wounded gamebirds are masters at hiding away.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. In case you don’t want to click through: “Racism happens to white people, too!!”
[warning: hunting discussion]
TLC: Winging is unintentional. It usually happens when someone is taking a shot that they probably shouldn’t, one at the edge of their effective range. Or when they’re using a shot-shell load that’s too light for the species they’re hunting. A winged bird can often be retrieved by a well-trained dog, but it’s obviously better to make a clean kill.
I use a 20-gauge, so I have a fairly short effective range. Nothing beyond 30 yards, and I prefer to keep it in the 20-25 yard range. #4 size shot before (Canadian) Thanksgiving, when the birds are mostly teal and shovellers. #2 shot on Thanksgiving weekend and after, when there are more mallards and gadwalls. I never take a shot at a goose unless it’s within 15 yards, which almost never happens.
It takes thought and experience to do this stuff right, but it’s worth it.
[/hunting discussion]
Easter 2008 was the last time I set foot in a church for anything other than weddings and funerals. Tomorrow, instead of observing Jesus-on-a-stick Day, I’m going birding/geocaching/photographing. On Sunday, I’m working on my thesis, eating chocolate, and putting the baseboards back on in my room.
Life as an atheist is SO much better.
My agenda for Good Friday includes escorting at Planned Parenthood. Then I’m gonna make a St. Louis slinger.
[hunting stuff] TLC: What Nutmeg said. I tend to say deliberately, as anyone who knows their limitations would never take a shot like that. [/hunting stuff]
My Jeebus-On-A-Stick day plans include meetings, delivering a lecture, working on my review paper, making food for Zombie Jeebus Day, Golf, and bar. Zombie Jeebus Day festivities will include a family dinner, egg hunting with my more diminutive relatives, more Golf, and working on my review paper. I’m actually thinking of going to the local fundie church with my copy of The Origin (it’s bound like a Bible), and The God Delusion. I will then dissect the bullshit discussed with the aid of SAB, and post a digest here on TET. Anyone interested?
A.R and Nutmeg: Oh, that’s good to know.
It’s like one guy I talked to once from the southern US told me about traditional ‘coon hunting’ down there: “The objective isn’t to actually kill the raccoon when you shoot at it, just to knock it out of the tree so the dogs can kill it.”
Absolutely shameful.
(FTR he was against it himself)
TLC: Kind of like traditional English fox hunting. I’ve actually participated in the no-kill American form. It’s great fun if you like horses.
Weather’s lookin good. Plan to spend this weekend trying out our new used travel trailer. Woohoo. Hopefully the only humans I see for the next three days (that is not my wife and little girl) will be flying by at 30,000 feet.
Up late. I thought I’d just be sleeping late, but nope. Ah well, one very late night can’t hurt much.
————————————
Easter will be spent with family in NYC. We’re going to some Persian place my brother found. As for Saturday, shopping most likely. Monday, more sleeping. It’s nice to have a four-day weekend.
Ye Olde Blacksmith: I’d envy you to hell and back, except it seems we’re planning our own springtime camping trip in the next few days.
I spoke with my mother-the-accountant about the standing emergency fund. We’re fine. Gifts aren’t income, so long as its stays under the 13k amount of a single gift we’re fine.
@Muse:
Well then, there we go. The fund can be a go, if we get a volunteer treasurer.
So cold. Must get warm. Bed.
Weekend plans! I actually have some!
I was going to help my mom clear brush and burn shit (“Burning shit is fun!” she says) but there’s a burn ban so it’s going to be the wood-chipper instead. Then we might go see The Hunger Games, which I’m excited about, or go eat Indian food at a friend’s 50th birthday potluck dinner. There’ll probably be jam sessions as well.
Yay!
I’m making a finger-lime cheesecake.
Nah, I just reposted some person’s link from further upthread, attribute them !
The most healthy person on the planet will have lipemic blood an hour or 2 after a fatty meal. It means absolutely nothing. If it looks like condensed milk after 12 hours of fasting, that’s another matter…
Good morning
TET fund
OK, this became complicated fast and I’ll have to take myself out of the discussion now because of YAY, holiday!
I was actually thinking more of the TET equivalent of my local whiskey tin-boxes where I put the odd coin or fiver. (never missed but great when you notice there’s 100 bucks to spend on fun without worrying)
kristinc
Congratulations!
JAL
I’m glad we could help
(hugs)
students in classrooms
The most stupid behaviour is crowding in the back for an exam. Every single one of the fellows who are supposed to make sure you don’t cheat will be there watching you.
I remember writing an exam as group work in a generously spaced out group in the front of the lecture hall.
Audley
Make it October 22nd and I’ll never forget the birthday. Reminds me that easter 3 years ago was when we disclosed the existence of the little one to the world. Ow.
(There are 3 kids I know who share my birthday. Strangest case is two sisters who are born apart 2 years on my birthday)
++++++
Holidays: I’m packing
How come the kiddies underwear is about as much as my entire fucking clothing for the week?
Horde: I love you. But we really suck at this evil hedonistic moral-free thingy. Please, everybody kick a puppy.
Giliell,
True story: my mom’s birthday is Oct 22, too. :)
Rorschach.
Oh, I missed the original linkage. Thanks!
Weekend plans: Oof, I don’t even want to think about it. Between Passover and Easter, my weekend is booked.
Giliell: Agreed. We might get kicked out of the Atheist club if we get too moral.
I know it wasn’t addressed to me, but . . . .
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
1 pound Brussels Sprouts, quartered or halved (depends on the size)
1 onion, coarsely chopped
10 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary (or 1 tablespoons dried and re-hydrated)
1/4 cup really good olive oil
course ground black pepper to taste
course salt to taste
Toss all ingredients together. Place in a roasting pan and back at 400F until the sprouts begin to char around the edges.
A minor gunshot wound is referred to, in many old westerns, as “Oh, it’s okay, doc. He just winged me.”
Of course, only old people would know this. Like Sailor.
=====
Holiday weekend:
Wife has Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday off. I am switching my lieu days back to the summer schedule, so I have Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday off.
Whoot! We get shared days off!
So I am going to see my doctor this morning for a physical. When I went to have my knee looked at, my bp was 141 over 75. And that can’t be good.
Of course, I was also sick with a virus at the time, but still.
I disagree. I think that atheists are actually more likely to be ‘moral’ (for a certain value of moral, of course). Christians are ‘moral’ because they feel they have no choice so they will become literalists, obeying the letter of morality even when it causes harm. Atheists (well, me, anyway) view morality as a community exercise that we participate in because we want to build something better and not hurt people. Which means we understand that morality is not an absolute. Which means it doesn’t become a political and social hammer used to beat down diversity.
Good morning.
Oggie, those sprouts sound awesome. Except I would drizzle them with some good balsamic to finish. Vinegar and brassicas just go together naturally to me. Oh and some bacon wouldn’t hurt, either.
No, no and no. The moral prescriptions in the Bible are from the Bronze Age, there is no reason at all to be applying desert nomad poetry to people’s lifes in the 21st century. No moral imperatives can usefully be deduced from a 2000 year old compilation of Middle Eastern literature, it just does not follow.
Old joke for today.
Why did Jesus die on the cross?
He forgot his safeword.
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I will be spending the weekend scraping, sanding, and plastering the previously mentioned wall to get it ready for painting. Also cleaning, cooking, and doing various errands. Which is fine, as my downstairs currently looks like a tornado hit it, and I will feel more comfortable once I am able to set it to rights.
Good news, everybody.
You get to send a birthday message to Michele Bachmann and in return, you get to be on her e-mail list.
Oh dear lord, this is fantastic.
Texts from Hillary Clinton
Carlie, I do not understand that. But I also am a advocate for anti-social media.
Ms. Daisy Cutter, I hadn’t heard that one, it was funny!
You know how he got his name, right?
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When they stuck the crown of thorns on his head he exclaimed “Jesus Christ!”
+++++++++++++++++++
BTW, it’s a couple of days early, but I wanted to share my Easter photoshop and caption from my former blog.
I’ve got a whole bunch of travelin’ to do today, and this thread is approaching the threshold for cutoff…so just a warning, I’ll close it at 11am (my time, in about an hour) no matter what the comment count might be.
Premeditated portcullis.
PZ: We need a new TZT too, the loading times are getting to be a bit much.
Alethea H. Claw
I don’t know what fingerlimes are, but I have strawberries, so recipe, please.
Isn’t that a bit pointless? You’ll just have to go back Sunday?
Jon Stweart and Larry Wilmore on the effects of privilege on the Trayvon case. Worth watching, even more valuable for explaining how privilege works to stupid people.
The Sailor, actually I heard that when the Three Wise Men were bringing gifts into the manger, one of them bumped his head on the doorframe and yelled, “Jesus Christ!”, and Mary said, “Hey, Joey, that’s a much better name than Irving!”
In other news, “petting the moray”: not a euphemism.
…not getting your joke here.
Zombie… fetuses?
We really need to retake the word “moral” and start driving home the point that obedience =/= morality. Morality is the state of caring about your actions and their consequences; it is not following the decrees of some authority either because of respect for that authority or because you hope to gain a reward.
Totally showed up in a D&D game.
Janine – mostly it’s just about showing Hillary as a badass. The top one the last time I looked was pretty recursive in its memeness – it’s Ryan Gosling, who himself is the subject of a photo meme, in which pictures of him are captioned with “hey girl, (complimentary comment)”, attempting to do the meme and then getting cut off.
And so on.
GOTTA GET IN BEFORE THE PORTCULLIS!!!!!!
Louis
NEW THREAD!