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
Rather gloomy picture for the Lounge.
Sisyphus, is that you?
Well, at least all that work keep his arse in a nice shape…
Tapetum
My BFF is in a situation I call “being an only child with 2 siblings” (who both live in the same town as she and her mum)
She’s also the horrible daughter who never has time for her mother (3 times a week) and who constantly changes her mobile number to spite her mum (never).
Her favourite routine is the medical alarm. Her mum has a medical alarm system. It’s a button you can push in case of emergency. She also has to push a second button in the morning and at night to tell the system “yes, I’m still alive”. If she doesn’t push the button they’ll call her. If she doesn’t answer the phone they call my friend. Who really appreciates finding out that her mother fell asleep in front of the TV with the headphones on after she drove through town like mad, being afraid that something had happened…
rq:
I love how complex and involved your curse casting is.
(from the previous incarnation of the thread) Thanks for the hugs, Giliell.
rq, why does the short version of your curse include STBEH’s favorite drink? I never understood why he liked drinking something that tasted like pine needles smell, but I digress. That forces me into the long version of the curse. I’ll gather some of STBEH’s hair from an old hairbrush. Or maybe one of his hats. I’m sure he left at least one behind. How much is shipping and handling for a small pipe organ?
Is it just me or are the denizens of Fox Nation really as ignorant, racist and sociopathic as they seem to be? It can’t be just me right?
Giliell
Ouch. Your poor BFF. My two brothers have long vacated – one to the other side of the country, and the other to another country altogether – but at least I still live a good long ways away. She will probably get here eventually, but much of my efforts in her direction are geared toward keeping her with Dad as long as humanly possible (highly ironic, given that most of my efforts up until the dementia started kicking in were trying to get her to take the plunge and divorce him already.)
Between cranky people, SNAFUs, and my own fuck-ups, I am SO ready for this day to be over. Unluckily, I have a monthly meeting to attend after the office day is over. Sigh. At least SO promises to give me a shoulder massage at the end of the day.
*disappears in a cloud of harrumps*
I am curious to know how rq dresses whilst conducting a curse.
I forgot to ask: do scented candles work better for the curse? I’ve got plenty of scented candles that I’ve made. (I’m giving some of them as solstice gifts.) Let’s see… chocolate? tea? cherry? lime? grapefruit? “rain”? vanilla? cinnamon spice? Hmm… none of these seem right for conducting a curse. Maybe if I take all my leftover bits of wax and mix them together into a nauseating combination of scents. Yeah, that sounds appropriate for a curse!
Yellow Thursday
It’s long been agreed upon that scented candles are misandry, so I’d say “yes”.
Yellow Thursday
Scented candles? As many conflicting scents as possible, actually. That is, all of them. At once.
I’ll have to look up the S&H for the small pipe organ, but I think it’s somewhere in the vicinity of Quite-A-Lot.
Well, it has to be STBEH’s favourite drink, because after all, first I have to attract his essence before I can curse and banish it forever, eh? It is obvious that you know nothing about real cursing. *haughty sniff*
chigau
Dress? For cursing? Don’t be ridiculous.
Bodypaint.
Tony
It’s no use making curse-casting easy and simple, then everyone would do it, and where would my millions be? Among the proletariat, that’s where, and this is unacceptable.
Casting isn’t too hard, especially if you use the knit-on method.
Wait, what?
Carlie, you knit your curses? How effective is that method?
Well, *my* knitting often involves curses. It seems very effective at it.
Cursed knitting. Hmmmmm… *takes notes*
Yes, I also notice I slip a few curses in here and there while knitting. ;)
*nodnod*
Usually cursing dropped stitches.
There was a dark period where I knit instead of killing myself.
Don’t dis knitting.
You folk are making me giggle at work, in front of customers. I’m not sure if that means your curses are working or not….
chigau In light of your #20 I am in all seriousness very grateful to knitting. A chigauless world would be a poorer one indeed.
Sweet. Dr. Vivek Murthy has been confirmed as surgeon general despite all the whining from the NRA.
That the NRA’s views were even considered regarding a surgeon general appointment is sort of a defeat for the country though.
FossilFishy SOMEBODY
Thank you.
Have a hug.
Thanks chigau, gratefully accepted and sincerely reciprocated.
Now, has anyone seen where I put my 2.5mm allen wrench? If one of you sorcererer types has hexed it away I’m going to be very. cross. indeed.
I might even write a strongly worded letter….
Chigau
Hobbies are wonderful things. Hobbies that create things are even more wonderful. Hobbies that help people through tough times, well, I have some experience with how important that can be. Apologies if I offended.
Hrm. All this talk of knitting is making me want to dig my loom out again.
—
FossilFishy, I think I saw an allen wrench scurrying into some hard to reach corner over there…
chigau
I would never dis knitting. Anymore than I would dis reading fantasy, which holds a similar place in my life. Mostly I poke fun at my own knitting habits – there being many curses involved with my knitting because I keep doing things like knitting an adult-sized fisherman’s sweater in sock yarn, or knitting a piece in dark blue mohair on my dark blue needles. Not knitting’s fault, but my own tendencies. There’s a reason that my last knitting group dubbed me “The Masochistic Knitter”.
I’m very glad knitting was what you needed, when you needed it.
*snicker*
Sen. Cruz, teabagger, tried to have a vote on Obama’s executive order on immigration, and ended up with egg on his face as all the held up Obama appointments were approved, due to his stupidity about senate rules. The Rethuglicans are mad at him.
FossilFishy
Your 2.5mm allen wrench is
a) beside the microwave
b) in the freezer
c) right next to my back-up eye-glasses.
jste
I have two. They appear to be sexually dimorphic, one possessing colourful cladding and the other being much more plain, though no fruitful mating has occurred so far. I usually use a second one to lure the first out of hiding, but this time they’re both missing. I guess if I find myself in possession of a bunch of 0.5mm littlies I’ll know why they went missing.
jste
Hugs for you, too.
You have a loom?
I’m at work so: no microwave, no freezer. Hmmm, by Homesian elimination I deduce that your back-up glasses have run off with my tools. Here’s hoping they’re not on some kinda cross-country crime spree.
Tapetum
hugs
I have done that wrong color yarn thing.
I also knit a number of child-size sweaters by scaling-down adult patterns.
(oops)
(kids have really big heads)
chigau
A knitting loom, not a real one. Looks a lot like this. Exactly like, actually, which is always fun when the family see it… “You’re knitting? And it’s pink???“.
I want a longer one, at some point. The number of pegs does limit what you can do with it. I’ve really only successfully made scarves, so far.
chigau
hugs right back atcha
I managed the child-sweater thing by knitting my niece a lovely sweater from a kids’ sweater pattern, that I changed from wool yarn to cotton yarn, without taking into account that cotton yarn doesn’t stretch. It was a lovely, but completely useless sweater.
jste
What sort of loom? I have some frame looms of assorted sizes, but have never screwed up my courage to get a heddle loom.
Hexed your Allen wrench? I see what you did there, FossilFishy. Half a dozen (ahem) cane strokes, young man, and don’t let me catch you letting off stinky sneaky puns in the Lounge again. ;)
HA! I was beginning to think that I got away with it CaitieCat. Fair warning: I shall never apologise, never repent, punish me though you will…
at work…
hmmm….
the missing allen wrench is on the desk, under the pile of free 2015 calendars
That got an honest out-loud laugh of the barking sort chigau. I have, in fact, a pile of free 2015 event guides (close enough) on my desk.
No allen key though. :( I’m beginning to doubt your
psycicnesssighkiknessnesssidekickness…I’ve deleted that draft email to Randi.Knitting loom is spool knitting!
I gave up spool knitting when They™ gave up wooden spools.
The plastic ones break after a few hours.
I have an on-going spool-knit ball … somewhere…
Portia@8,
*turns on happy fan to dissipate cloud of harrumps* Hi, Hope your day gets better.
Yellow Thursday@10,
Burning tire scent seems appropriate.
FossilFishy@25,
I’ve got several at home and more at work, I’ll try to port one to you through usb… INCOMING!
FossilFishy@33,
Probably drove off a cliff in a convertible together.
Well, I’m having fun today — a half-assed migraine that can’t muster up the “oomph” to knock me over. But somehow, it’s still giving me full-blown “migraine brain”.
*hides in a dark corner*
I always thought of spool knitting as those useless tubes of wool you can make when you tape some paddle pop sticks to an empty toilet paper roll. I can’t believe I didn’t make that connection before now. I like the knitting loom though, because the motions are nice and simple for my clumsy hands, and the hardest part is remembering to count out the patterns.
I know what you mean – I’ve had to super glue a couple of pegs back on. You can get fairly sturdy wooden looms online though. When I can justify the expense, or if I can find them locally without exhorbitant shipping, I think I want one of these. It’s adjustable and everything!
FossilFishy
*sigh*
ohwell
It’snot a Science™.
(I left the ‘snot’ because it’s funny to my inner 12-year-old)
FossilFishy@38,
Hex.. Allen… *heartfelt groan* I missed that pun, that’ll teach me to update before posting.
Speaking of tools, I’m currently trying to make a tool for work, a funky kind of slotted screwdriver out of a 11mm 1/4 drive hex socket. I wonder if they’ll end up cursed? I’m sure there will be cursing involved in the fabrication process, maybe I should light a candle?
I believe widdershins circling is required Ray. That’s what I do as I curse and throw things because I stuffed up the fabrication.
That said, does the thing you need look something like this?
Sorry you’re feeling crappy WMDKitty. Gentle hugs if you want them.
Student protests school taking ten commandments down
I wonder if he would really be ok with material from other religions in school.
You know you’re a vet tech when…
You reach the point when you have so much disgusting stuff on you, your clothes, and your hair, that you just cease to care about it. It’s like popping through reality into another dimension where the disgusting reaches such epic proportions that it no longer seems real, and ceases to bother you (mostly).
We had a major demodex mange + skin infection + yeast in the ears puppy come in today that I had to bathe. She shook during the bath and flung scab-filled soap all over my face, hair (because of course I forgot a hair tie today), and arms. Then she tried to leap out of the tub and rubbed her scabby infected skin all down my left side and across my chest.
Then we sedated a dog that turned out to have congestive heart failure and while moving him to and from x-ray, he peed all down me.
And finally, at the very end of the day, I go to triage a cat that’s been here for 5 days already (very unusual, but we’re super understaffed right now) and Lo! she has fragging ringworm! D:< Which I discovered AFTER snuggling her because she's such a little sweetie.
And that was the point where I looked at myself and went "Welp. Yeah, that's definitely on me. Hmmn." and then wandered off to buy a bag of mini-oreos from the pet supply store we have here.
[Looks at his greasy hands]
Reads Rowan’s #51
[Scratches petrochemical induced contact dermatitis]
Re-reads #51
Yeah, no. I’ll stick to bicycles thanks. :)
Rowan
Have a *totally NONCONTACT* hug.
Thank you for what you do.
Virtual hugs for all in need of same. The pillow fort is always open; just watch out for Hobbes, he doesn’t like being woken up during his nap time.
My Monday conversation with Aged Mum went as well as might be expected. I’ve calmed down a bit since yesterday but I’m still snappish and too prone to losing my temper. Do not meddle in the affairs of hellgoddess, for they are prone to smiteage and not subtle about it either.
Testing 123 Testing
I seem to have lost 2 comments so far.
testing
?
Well, isn’t that special, none of the last bunch of tries at commenting has shown up, guess I broke the internet. Past my bedtime anyway. I give up for now.
Good Night, one and all!
That worked? What the… OK, one last try tonight
Here are two comments that didn’t seem to post before:
*Favor request*
If any of the USA based members of The Horde™ use the U.S. Postal Service, or want to keep the 220 plus year old institution around, I would ask if you could contact all the federal & state representatives you have and ask them to support keeping the current service standards for first class mail and support a moratorium on postal processing plant closings and consolidations. At least until congress can pull it’s collective thumb out and pass legislation to fix the problems it created back in 2006 with the Postal accountability and enhancement act. This mess is due to hit the fan in January and will affect 82 processing plants in 37 states and impact thousands of postal workers, yours truly included.
Many thanks to any who can help.
FossilFishy@48,
Something like this but
customhomemade to fit a round shaft, slotted end hold down on a postal sorting machine.Rowan vet-tech@51,
Yikes, I’ll stick to my machines, but thanks for doing what you do.
Now good night, really. I promise this time.
Psychic hugs to Rowan.
****
Does the Commune have a carpenter? I think we’ll need to add a new room to the Lounge for the knitters in the group. Oh, and an additional room for rq’s magick rituals.
We don’t need no stinkin’ carpenters!
We’ll knit/crochet/tat/fingerweave an extension!
—
Carpenter are good, though.
I ♥ carpenters.
Hmmm, knitting an extension to the Lounge…chigau are you having some rum?
Tony!
geez
is it that obvious?
—
nighty-night
Hi all. Reporting back on my 24 hour Twitter adventure to twitter storm for Barrett Brown #FreeBB @FreeBarrett_
His sentencing is at 9 a.m. in Dallas tomorrow.
We need people to help with the twittering.
I never did this before and considering I started this with 0 real followers aside from one of my sisters, I didn’t expect to be of much use. But I was of use!
Biggest success of the day: I looked at all the accounts associated with a hashtag, chose ones that had lots of followers and started tailoring tweets to them. One of those tweets rebounded hundreds of times through retweets of different accounts. I’m not explaining this very well.
I discovered that I could reach lots of people by parasiting conversations about other things. For instance, join the conversation about Cheney on torture to say he should be in prison rather than Barrett Brown, furnish info about Brown, and thus reach people far and wide.
Also, met lots of people. Followed some and also gained lots of real followers (i.e. people with interests in common). Which is nice because means my future tweets won’t just be a waste of all kinds of energy. Twitter activism, yay!
Rowan, Wow, you’re a hero. Get cleaned up!
Ray, Rude Ass,
I am so pro post office, I’ll do anything you say.
But could you be more specific? Is there a bill number to support? Who’s calling for a moratorium? Do I need to know this to make those telephone calls?
Say, what do you think about Ebay’s new Global Post system thingy? I have the feeling it’s a rip-off, scam and conspiracy against the public post office. Know anything?
Kind of ‘rupt, was able to arrange to get keys to new place tomorrow morning, so we can do some beginning moving while horrible neighbors are at work.
On this day (12/16) 39 years ago a Shoop was born.
Tony
Well, this is what came up when I googled “birthday shoop”: a whole lot of reaction gifs, which I hope is exactly how you will spend your birthday!
Congratulations on another turn around the sun, and I hope you have a decent day for yourself.
I’m so happy to know you. ♥
*cake&fireworks&drinksmixedforyou*
chigau (earlieR)
Was I dissing knitting? I wasn’t aware I was dissing knitting. I’m sorry. I cannot do it to save my life, but I also cannot diss anyone who can, seeing the masterpieces my mum comes up with sometimes. And I’m very glad it saved your life. ♥
Tony!
Happy birthday! May all the best things happen to you today.
Happy Birthday, most favourite of all shoops
+++
Yes, arts and crafts (I think the distinction is silly and also sexist) have a serious curse-inducing potential. But just like chigau I also know that they have a huge “keeping you alive” potential.
+++
Rovan
*hands glittery strawberry scented shower gel*
I also have “warm cinnamon nights” body lotion. Want some?
+++
*sigh*
#1’s BFF has moved away and will change school after the holidays. Damn. I was so happy that she had a real BFF, not just friends, and so was the girl’s mum. I suspect she split up with her husband cause she never mentioned plans about moving away, they had quite a nice house and recently renovated the girl’s room. :(
The Horde will be familiar with the prestigious Stuyvesant high school. Well, look what those kids have been up to now:
You could get a lot of Leica rangefinders with $72m.
I must admit I’m a bit shocked to learn that competitive high school investment clubs are a thing. Would schools grant approval to gambling clubs?
PZ Myers: I’d like for you to remove my buddy Justin’s personal info. Why? I’m happy to bargain for it. Name your terms; upon your removal I’ll delivar.
And before you ask, no I am not Justin. Nor can you dox me. Well, I mean you could try but you’d look immensely stupid. I’m just some nobody, buzzing around and seeing what’s up.
And PS, when I say I’d like for you to remove it, I mean that you will remove it. It’s sort of my non-negotiable term in this deal. Name your price for it, and hurry up about it; I’m not particularly in the mood to play the taunting game with you.
[One million dollars. –pzm]
Green-white guy is mooning us!
— — — — — —
Dispatches from the culture wars -Ed Brayton’s blog- has some fun comments of Ted Cruz screwing up stuff for his own party. The quixotic Quisling from Quebe c?
Eh? Dresses?! Curse? Curses are, I understand, usually cast in full birthday suit, at midnight on a moonless (ideally new moon) night, with some stotting orkers and other unmentionable thinygs lurking in the shadows.
Oh, quite easy! Remember, the pipe organ is a TARDIS in disguise. So the dimensions, metrics, time, and space itself are all quite variable. Hence, simply adjust the size, shape, density, location, et al. of the victim until its easy to snuff her, it, him, or they with a piccolo, choir, or other musical instrument of your (or Colonel Mustrad’s, or whoever’s) choice.
The hard bit is consoling the distraught Dalek who was sneaking up on the scene… I mean, it’s already rather quite shocked by an inadvertent glimpse of your curse conducting (enough to put anyone off exterminating), and now you’ve gone and snuffed someone with a musical instrument right in front of it.
Well, the Vogons did get there in time, but the captain decided to read some poetry at the expectant mother rather than simply demolishing the planet. This is widely rumored to be the reason the dinosaurs went extinct and it took the shoop 65My to finally be coaxed out.
Depends where you put them, and how and when you light them.
I suggest in a teabugger’s arse, with a flamethrower, after insertion. It doesn’t alter the curse’s effectiveness any, but serves as pre-cursing entertainment to get you into the right mood. The awkward bit is you first have to pull their head out so you can get the candle in…
Greetings!
Possible change in policy question:
For as long as I can recall, Pharyngula policy towards trollkin has been “Feed them ’til they explode” (in other words, argue with them until they flounce). Recently, however, policy appears to be taking a strong swing towards “Send an alert and get them banned.” Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with either policy – it’s PZ’s blog and he gets to run it the way he sees fit. I’m just wondering if I should bother engaging with someone who’s just going to be banned… it seems like a waste of time.
I guess my question is: is it my imagination, or do trolls have a much shorter half-life than in times past?
Anri
It mostly depends on the kind of troll, though I haven’t been following all threads.
The outright racist / homophobic / transphobic /misogynist trolls do get a shorter lifespan because someone’s humanity should not be a matter for debate (i.e. recently there were some who denied the legitimate existence of trans* people and were rightfully smited).
Couldn’t really say for other kinds of trolls, though.
And I suppose engaging is always a good thing, even if they are going to get banned- that shit needs to be addressed while PZ’s off-watch.
Happy Birthday Tony! may you continue to shoop for years to come!
Dalilama I hope you’re able to move soon and safely.
I was wondering if any of you musical types can help me. I took my lute down from the loft last night. It’s been there for a good few years. Unfortunately the string tension was too much and the neck has come away from the body (but is still attached), giving the instrument a V shape. I don’t need to be able to play it, just make it look okay for the moment. I am trying very gentle pressure to straighten it out slowly, as I don’t want to try and force it and break it completely. If anyone has any ideas how I can do this it would be great……in the long run, does anyone want a knackered/possibly repaired lute?
Irish farmers get half-naked with animals for calendar.
bassmike
I’d need lessons, but I think it would be awesome to have a lute. If it survives straightening.
No violin repair and/or luthier nearby? At least in the pages, to call up for info?
Tony!
*happy happy happiest of birthdays!*
:D
–
Tony! Happy Birthday, Dear Shoop!
Tony,
Happy Birthday!
I suppose this is as good a time as any to inquire about the meaning of Shoop.
Oh! Dalillama! How’s the move going so far??
Bassmike;
“Happy Birthday Tony! may you continue to shoop for years to come!
Dalilama I hope you’re able to move soon and safely.”
.
Seconded.
— — — —
Is green putrefying Sisyphus a zombie ?
Happy birthday, Tony! – here’s wishing you a very fine day. Transatlantic virtual hugs, and thank you for all the presents your presence gives the Horde.
.
.
.
.
.
Just read the headline from Pakistan. Oh those poor kids, teachers, families … heartbreaking.
birgerjohansson,
Speaking of curses, that’d make a good one. Even better, “Green putrefying zombie Sisyphus!”
Urgh. I think I just made myself queasy.
rq there is a violin repair shop nearby. Once this weekend is over (Orchestra Kid’s concert where I’m hoping to use the lute as a prop) then I’ll see if I can get it repaired, or if it’s too expensive, (shudder) scrapped. If it’s repaired I’ll probably sell it. I haven’t played it for years and can’t ever see myself taking that particular instrument back up again.
As soon as we entered the hall, firing started behind us in the hall. Our teacher said close the doors. We closed the doors and suddenly they entered, breaking the doors… As soon as we hid under tables, they fired bullets at our legs and our heads and then they burned our madam. They burned our madam. The firing continued but we didn’t move because whoever moved got shot at.
126 dead so far.
Check it out, her leg glows.
Is she really the first?
Moggie,
Horrific news. The Pakistani government is so corrupt and the politics is so entrenched in theocracy that this is unlikely to change anytime soon. Being born and raised there, I would love for the people to wake up and reform soon, but there’s optimism and then there’s delusion.
Typical Irish calendar. It has 15 months in it. Weirdly, however, no stouts, other beers, whiskey, or other essential liquids (including a mysterious lack of rain).
Joe Strummer has deep sea snail named after him:
I never thought I would quote (however indirectly) the Santa Cruz Senile!
(Non-use of italics when giving species names as in the original.)
San Jose [goon] placed on leave after threatening protest tweets: “Phillip White sidelined after threatening comments about demonstrators who protested over the deaths of unarmed black men”.
The alleged “sidelining” by the goon tribe surprises me. Other than LA’s goon tribe, San Jose’s is one of the most vicious and racist in California (or at least it was when I lived in the general area many yonks ago).
For those reprobates who prefer their orkers cooked, this seems rather good, Nigel Slater’s warm beef tartare recipe:
It is, I suppose, the anchovy fillets which intrigue me. That, plus, of course, the cooking, makes this a bit different to other recipes I’ve seen. (I’ve never made steak tartare at home due to not having the appropriate serious cold store, plus a general suspicion of minced raw meats, and hence concerns about safety, when not served by a high-quality restaurant.)
Insensitive bystanders pose for selfies during the Sydney siege
I’m making crockpot coq au vin for dinner tonight. It’s all assembled and the crockpot is turned on, and it seems to be heating up properly. In a few hours, the house is going to smell really good.
The crockpot in question was a wedding present, and we’ve been married for 31 years, so it’s getting on a bit. But it still works.
The crockpot, the marrige, or the coq au vin (though cooking the later for over 30 years seems a bit hasty)?
Happy Birthday, Tony!!
bassmike
Well, hopefully it won’t be too much $$ to get it fixed up!
+++
Yes, the news today and last night has been, again, horrible. :(
And horrouble.
Must be winter in the northern hemisphere.
Tony darling! Happy birthday! I hope this year is loads better than the last. I know you make ours better just by being here. :)
Glue it to a stuffed hedgehog, cover the result in vin bottle labels, and then shoot it a few times with a bow-and-arrow. Explain that it’s a surrealist interpretation of the evils of the CIA as monitored by the NSA, and has nothing to do with peas.
bassmike – you might contact the director of the school district music program regarding the violin. They may be interested in getting one that they could get repaired for student use.
Here’s my contribution of the day – I made these boozy fruit tartlets for a work party today. I just ate one. They are great.
…except that instead of the fruit listed, I used cranberries, currants, raisins, and syruped orange peel (the kind you buy in a little tub for fruitcakes).
blf @101, yes.
Carlie I’m afraid that it’s a lute not a violin. Still, I would much prefer it went to a someone who would use it than do nothing with it.
That’s another 5 cents from the washing machine. I don’t see why it couldn’t just spit out a full million euros one time. Just once. That would pretty much set us up for life, at least take care of all debts, mortgages, renovations, home appliances and some travel plans.
*mumblemumbleconservationofmoneymumblemumble*
bassmike
The school music department might still be interested, it’s a neat and comparatively rare instrument to show students and have them learn medieval-type music – or someone at the nearest university faculty of music?
Carlie & rq : You’re both right. I’m sure there will be someone interested in the instrument. I will investigate once this weekend end is done!
Ignore the additional end in @113
Happy Birthday, Tony!
How many years have you been 39?
======
rq:
You could past the letter “F” on it and make it a flute?
=========
(Sorry. At this point, it is make bad jokes or, well, bad things.)
Happiest of birthdays dear Tony!
I just wanted to add that lutes are pretty awesome and so was John Dowland.
And Sting has nearly single-handedly revived interest in the lute in the last ten years.
Happy Birthday, Tony!
Pardon me if it’s been posted elsewhere on the blahg,
but
SCOTUS just decided that unlike the rest of the population, cops can claim ignorance of the law as an excuse. But I guess we already knew the law didn’t apply to them.
Opinion.
Analysis.
–
TW gun violence against women, other people.
–
–
A Pennsylvania man is currently on the run after shooting to death his ex-wife and five members of her family. Including a 14 year old niece. He’s ex-military, surprisingly.
rq @82,
Ha! I loved those photos. Noted that: they all kept their hats and their wellies on; the guy in bed with all the rabbits looked a little too happy; the two guys who put a couch on a front end loader and wheeled it to the stream so they’d have a nice place to sit while fishing are awesome; some of them keep chickens in the kitchen, which could be handy when you think about it. All in all, a good-humored and noble lot.
Giliell, your BFF has my deepest sympathies.
(Later)
*snortlerofl*
–
mccowan:
It’s not just you.
The ignorance is carefully cultivated, the racism (and indeed, an entire suite of bigotries) come of their mental/social stagnation in The ’50s That Never Were, and the sociopathy is the result of both.
IMO.
No Warranty Implied.
This opinion was manufactured in a facility that also processes sarcasm, cynicism, and deep, rich, chocolatey snark. Persons with a sensitivity to any or all of these substances are cordially invited to Fuck The Hell Off.
–
I have been known to curse while using the Evil Sewing Machine….
–
FossilFishy:
Indeed, and agreed!
–
*scritches* and sympathies for WMDKitty.
–
*hugs* for Rowan.
At least the pee was (probably) not contagious….
–
Tony!, The Husband carpents.
:)
Also, Happy Birthday!
*cake&ice cream&confetti*
–
*hugs* for Ogvorbis, on general principles.
:)
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That is the best kind. ^_^
Link dump.
“Dick Cheney Lied About Torture“. In other news, the sun rose this morning, and experts predict it’ll set this evening – actually in the middle of today’s afternoon, which was four hours ago, but I digress.
In a source quotedhere: “The committee reviewed 20 of the most frequent and prominent examples of purported ‘successes’ that the CIA has attributed to the use of its enhanced interrogation techniques. Each of those examples was found to be wrong.”
“Fox News host on torture report: ‘We are awesome’”
McCain’s speech on this is actually good, or at least this excerpt is – I haven’t read the rest.
In German: reactions of the press in the US and elsewhere. NYT is cynical, expecting no prosecutions; Washington Post says all arguments against publication of the report were false and there is no right moment to publish embarrassing information; Chicago Tribune just waffles; The Independent says the most important lesson is that torture is counterproductive, mentions Vietnam and is sad that America hasn’t learned from mistakes like that; Aljazeera is like “shocking”, “ugly” and “never again”; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung calls it “especially sobering” that all that torture didn’t even work; Der Spiegel says it’s America’s own fault that its reputation in the world is at a historical low, before pointing at Bush & Cheney; Bild (Germany’s biggest and worst newspaper by far) praises Obama, calls his “confession of guilt” “a sign of national greatness”, and says “we will despise the torturers” (all in chopped sentences).
Also in German: UN and Amnesty International want prosecutions.
Happy Birthday, Tony!
—–
WRT arts and crafts and their mood-altering capabilities, I have also used candle-making as a way to avoid bringing harm to myself or others. I even told STBEH once that making candles was cheaper than therapy.
Tony
You have the same birthday as Chelsea Manning, I hear! She’s in excellent company, I must say.
Ogvorbis
I could put an F on it, but where do I blow??
So, the guys whose job it is to enforce the law are the only ones who don’t have to know it? Great.
Oggie – there’s always a cabinet full of hugs for whenever you need some.
Forgot to wish Tony a Happy Birthday. Keep on Shoopin’ Tony, Keep on keeping’ on.
Tony! is a Shoopy Frood.
*running away fast*
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rq:
There’s no hole in a lute?
Alternatively, you could always soak it in lye and have yourself some lutefisk.
carlie:
Sorry. Feeling really down. Suicidal ideas and easy access to large quantities of oxycodone and diazepam aren’t a good combination. Haven’t gone there and I’m almost sure I won’t, but, bad jokes help to put a barrier up between me and the world.
I am totally ‘rupt.
Happy birthday to Tony! .. and that’s all I caught while skimming.
Made cauliflower and carrot soup with cheese to take to work tomorrow. It’s excellent, if I may say so myself. I love spur of the moment cooking.
Phi Delta Theta brothers managed to offend blacks and to make a really icky sexual reference at the same time. Nope, not funny guys.
Daily Kos link.
:O Wisconsin jails pregnant woman and denies her prenatal care to “protect” her fetus. It’s that bad? It’s that bad.
Good evening
*hugs* to Ogvorbis
Whatever helps you, do it. You know we’Re here. There’s always somebody in the Lounge kitchen ;)
Salon link.
MSNBC link.
This is bad news. A Bush-appointed judge has ruled President Obama’s immigration action unconstitutional.
Salon link.
Think Progress link.
In other news, I love Ogvorbis’s bad jokes. They always make me laugh. I consider those jokes to be my therapy too.
*hugs* to Ogvorbis
Beatrice!
*pouncehug*
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Which will be cold comfort to your friends and family, when you’re dead despite doing what you’re told….
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FFS, Ann Coulter seems to be trying to be Most Evil of All, which takes some doing considering what Dick Cheney has been saying lately. Maybe we’ll have to give Coulter a Most Evil Woman ranking and Dick gets the Most Evil Man.
Right Wing Watch link.
Exactly. That’s a point that that Michael Eric Dyson made in a recent essay:
Democracy Now link. You can’t “build trust” when there is no right action a black man can take to insure he is not shot.
See also:
http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/does-following-the-law-keep-black-men-safe–373080643615
There’s been no change in policy. There has been a change in the kinds of trolls who come by.
I can stomach a creationist for quite some time: they’re stupid and wrong, but sometimes they aren’t hateful.
Lately we’ve been getting racists and misogynists, people who are defined by their hate. They get axed fast.
Interesting, Ireland will hold a vote to allow gay marriage. Cue the RCC having a temper tantrum.
The offices for the company I work for are quite literally basement rooms with absolutely no windows or natural light or evidence that the big blue room exists at all, which is oddly appropriate, given that I spend my days keeping the internet running. It’s nice to listen to waves and birds chirping while I work. It’s almost like having a window.
I want a window. :(
—
Tony! I hope you have a very merry birthday!
I wonder if PZ has any thoughts on being cited here.
Eh, Iceland is Protestant anyway. I’m pretty sure the Catholic Church doesn’t care what exactly happens there.
Sorry to our host and all y’all for all my comments up at 55 – 60. Previous comments showed up right away, no problem, but for a period of 40 minutes or so none of them showed up or showed any indication of being held in moderation. 2 tries completely vanished and 55/56/57 hadn’t shown up until I checked back today. Weird, maybe I was doing something wrong? Again, sorry.
chimera@67,
No bill that I know of right now, but a bunch (50+) Senators and a group in the House wrote a letter to the Postmaster General, calling on him to maintain first class standards and stop the closings & consolidations for at least 1 year. I think just asking the representatives to contact the PMG and make their displeasure with his actions known may help. Bernie Sanders was involved in proposing several bills to help fix the problems, but as far as I know they are defunct.
Haven’t heard of the Ebay thing & can’t check it out right now. I’ll see what I can find next chance I get.
Tony! @69, Happy Birthday!
Ran across this neat gif on a biological subject today, showing the development of a fertilized egg to a baby. A major flaw is that it is not anywhere linear size-wise nor time-wise, as it is optimized to show the more dramatic visual changes in the shape and form of the embryo, but I find it fascinating. It is oddly portrayed almost as a moving factory assembly line, so misogynistic right wing nutters will probably think it represents the full purpose of womanhood, But anyone with an interest in embryo development should at least find it mildly interesting, so I figured I’d post it here. Also, it is completely chime free.
http://tabletopwhale.com/img/posts/12-16-14.gif
Happy Birthday Tony!
jste
Just requisition the biggest flatscreen you can hang on the office wall, then wire it to a webcam on the roof.
Reportedly Denmark has privatized fire departments, which I didn’t know. Anyone have any experience with their efficacy, or a source other than Reason Magazine describing them?
xkcd launches horses
http://xkcd.com/1461/large/
Bassmike,
I have a friend in the San Jose area that might really like your lute. If he can’t offer you what you want for it, try the Ren Faire circuit close to you. Even if it isn’t fixable to play well someone might want it as part of their costume.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/clinical-psychologist-explains-how-ayn-rand-helped-turn-the-us-into-a-selfish-and-greedy-nation/
(excerpt)
Move over Professor Myers, there’s a new biology professor poking fun at creationism:
Grewgills @151, I think that was thoughtful of you; bassmike is not in USAnianland, though.
I wonder if a luthier would take it in exchange for a small amount, or for a promise that if they are able to fix and sell it they’ll donate part of the proceeds to a music-related cause … if you come across a repairer of stringed instruments who works regularly for the uni or for schools, they could knock part of any proceeds off their next bill to the uni/schools … (just thinking aloud wrt people I’ve come across locally (though in wind instruments rather than stringed), so probably nothing helpful).
Thanks for all your helpful suggestions about the lute…. and the not-so-helpful-but amusing ones. I think I’ll take stock after X-Mas and decide what to do.
Ogvorvis keep up the bad jokes, they’re funny and they help you. Stay safe.
Family rant warning:
I had a skype meeting with my brother last night and ended up terminating the call as he annoyed me. He’s driving over from France on Saturday/Sunday to see my mum over X-Mas. He wants to meet up, but we have a full weekend and both my wife and I are at work on Monday and Tuesday. I’m off on X-Mas Eve to look after my daughter as nursery is shut, but driving my daughter any distance without another adult to keep her occupied is not something I’m comfortable with. He won’t drive over on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day as he has the long drive back to France on the Saturday so he wants us to go to them on Boxing Day. After entertaining the In-Laws on X-Mas Day we would like a quiet Boxing Day. We left that with no decision. We’re planning to go to see my mum at New Year and stay over to spend longer with her. So the only reason to meet up earlier is for my brother to see my daughter (His wife has never shown any interest in my daughter at all)
Then he starts going on about us going to see Mum on X-Mas Day one year. That’s not something that I have a problem with obviously. But then he starts on a guilt trip saying that the impression he gets is that mum would really like us to do that, but that she’s too polite to say anything. This is a popular riff of my brother’s. I told him to stop the guilt trip and he just laughed. I then terminated the call. Now I feel guilty and don’t know what to do next: whether I should apologize or wait till he gets in touch. After all the worry of my daughter’s latest hospital stay, and all the X-Mas crap, this is the last thing I need.
Plus I feel pretty useless at the moment.
/family rant off
I really need a break before #1 and I kill each other….
But at least I got to see the day David misreads something. I thought that was virtually impossible. It gives me hope. ;)
bassmike
*hugs*
Just do whatever feels good for you and your immediate family. I’m no longer doing the monkey dance to keep each and every person happy for christmas at the expense of us not having any fun at all and the kids breaking down with too much input and too little quite time.
+++
Well, while I said that the distinction between craft and art is silly and sexist, I will not claim that each and every design I stich out is a piece of art. Sometimes I just follow the instructions and limit creativity to about 0. But sometimes I’ll take a design and run with it and it turns into art.
In other words, I’ve finished Mr’s christmas present. If he doesn’t like it, I’ll wear it myself.
Saw The Hobbit. Underwhelmed. Insufficient Smaug. Where did the sheep come from? Eff you stupid shoe-horned in love story.
*pouts*
Mind, I wasn’t particularly expecting much aside from awesome special effects and a bit of dwarf eye-candy. But some events that could have had an incredible emotional impact if they played out as in the book were done a different way that made the result ‘meh’. And that annoys me greatly.
bassmike
Good for you for not falling for the guilt trip. You still don’t need to feel guilty. You have made plans with your mother, and since she doesn’t seem to be complaining, your brother has no right to start interpreting her actions. I think it’s a grand idea if you both go see her for christmas some year, but obviously it won’t be this one, and it’s your brother’s responsibility to realize that. Perhaps as an antidote, it is possible for you to mention, say after new year’s, or on Boxing day (should you call each other), that you could plan for next year to be the year, provided you’re both in touch on the subject sufficiently well in advance.
Anyway, *hugs*, Family is tough because you’re supposed to have these obligatory relationships with them, when many times, it would be preferable to have nothing to do with them at all. Weddings and funerals, perhaps.
Rowan
Well, now I’m not looking forward to that movie at all anymore (I HATE shoe-horned love stories).
Then again, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it in the first place.
+++
In other news, today and tomorrow are the elder kids’ christmas concerts. Today is a big day because it’s Middle Child’s debut as a poet (he gets to declaim his own little piece).
Tomorrow is a big day because Eldest gets his first report card. (He did get an invite to the Special Reception with the Director for the Best Kids in the class, though since I know the teacher doesn’t like sorting kids into Best or Less Best, she probably chose those kids whose parents have been especially supportive and helpful with materials and assistance in the class.)
And I am running behind on cookie-making.
You should see it simply to watch Galadriel have a moment of pure “holy shit, scary!”
Can someone explain how I’m a “raging asshole” for pointing out ableism and bigotry?
People are doing so in that thread.
Taking it to the Lounge is not acceptable
Giliell — accusations and name-calling isn’t “explanation”. Calling me out where I’m wrong is fine, so long as there’s an actual explanation attached. (And yes, you were right to call me out. I was being unreasonable.)
And now I’m dropping it. Or trying to.
Difficult, considering my obsessive tendencies, but I’m seriously trying to just drop it and walk away without having to have the last word or make some snarky comment or whatever.
Walking away. Just… walking away.
And going to bed.
My mental and physical health is (are?) more important than arguing on the internet.
bassmike:
Ugh – I’m sorry you feel crappy about the way your conversation with your brother ended. On the one hand, you might feel better not having that feeling hanging over your head, on the other hand, does he care if he hurt your feelings? I dunno. Do what makes you feel good and right, and like Giliell said, remember you can’t please everyone.
*hugs*
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I accidentally didn’t set out the Oggie-hugs I’d brought with me earlier. Here they are, hope you’re doing ok, friend.
Today’s word; “Narkhazak”.
In Sarah Bolton’s detective novel “A Dark and Twisted Tide” I first came across the women sometimes called narkhazak, a strange custom in Khost province, Afghanistan. More below:
From book review of ” Dear Zari” about the fates of several women in Afghanistan.
http://hummingwords.blogspot.se/2012_06_01_archive.html
-The girl Bhaktawara, in the eight section from top, illustrates the strange custom in Khost province, Afghanistan, of raising some girs as sons if there is no son in the family. They fill the empty niche of “son”, tend the fields and protect the family from relatives trying to get ownership of the farm in absence of a male offspring. These women can never marry and are often called “narkhazak”, meaning eunuch.
The Hobbit: Interviewing Smaug the dragon – the last of the great fire-drakes of the Third Age. https://proxy.freethought.online/singham/2014/12/15/how-did-they-do-that/#more-28131
.
And for getting around national boundary restrictions of video content:
https://proxy.freethought.online/singham/2012/01/25/watching-the-daily-show-and-the-colbert-report-clips-in-other-countries/
I’m reading Guy Gavriel Kay’s River of Stars. I was kind of indifferent to it: “Not his best.” I thought. But now, with a bare fifth left to read I sit here with tears drying. A death, a victory, written in such an affecting manner that somehow I found myself looking down at the centre of my world as she lay asleep in her bed, nested as always in the rubble of her previously oh-so-carefully arranged plush toys.
Fucking hell, to be so lucky: to be alive, to be aware, to be capable of empathy, or whatever the hell it is that turns dots on a page arranged just so into an upwelling of completely unrelated love… it beggars my imagination. All I can say is thank you Mr. Kay, thank you for reminding me that being alive is sometimes wondrously beautiful too.
Witness #40, the one Fox News keeps quoting to exonerate officer Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown, should have never testified before the Grand Jury.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/16/1352210/-How-Sandy-McElroy-and-Prosecutor-Bob-McCulloch-colluded-to-destroy-the-case-against-Darren-Wilson
More anti-abortion crap from Republicans:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/12/republican-wants-women-get-permission-father-having-abortion
Just stopping by real quick to say thank you ajb47 for your generous gift and Portia for being the go between.
Sorry for being rupt and dashing off but today’s the day we go back to the library to get Little One’s full card benefits and check out a stack to read through the holidays (yay!) and then grocery shopping (ugh).
There’s still cleaning to do (more ugh) and I’m trying to figure out how to get the library e-book system to work on my old Nook for Little One. It seems simple enough but I get errors. Oy. If I get it working and she likes it, it’d be a nice way to deal with not having money to get to the library all the time.
Lynna, #170
My favorite part:
What a POS. Trying to act like he his position has nuances to it, when it’s nothing more than man tells woman what to do with her body.
chigau:
I noticed that.
Well, it’s a start.
;)
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*hugs* and solidarity for/with bassmike.
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For the crafters amongst us: Christmas crafting
Yes, I’m not quote finished either.
I also wished I knew where I have the three un-adorned star backsides…
Brattin apparently doesn’t have a clue how the justice system anyplace works. Even if a woman goes immediately to the cops after being raped, and they are able to immediately arrest her rapist, there is no way a rape prosecution will be resolved until after the baby is born. Of course it’s just as likely he does know the rape provision of his proposal is ridiculous, and doesn’t care.
timguenguen
That’s not a bug, that’s a feature
I am loving the expressions in this photo.
It was a ruddy good day. So why do I feel so bloody depressed about it?
rq
Because you used up all the available emotion?
+++
Uff.
Finished my sister’s gift. Now that I did it, I remembered that putting the bagpack back together again was already a big pita when I did it with mine….
Now to the kids’ sweaters…
Actual thing I said recently: “Your ancestors invented democracy, math, theater, and buttsex. Be proud. All my ancestors did was steal stuff and drink.”
(The person I was addressing is of Greek descent. My ancestry is a mix of British, German, and Swede.)
Giliell @174, all I can say is, it’s a good thing I had a couple of my Japanese journals left over from last year, or I’d be frantically cutting and pasting and stitching right now trying to get them done in time to mail. Then there’s the recipient’s reaction to the gift you so lovingly crafted, in one case learning a whole new skill set just to make the things. “Oh. You made it. Yourself.” *tosses gift aside* That was years ago, but it still stings.
rq, hugs.
Me, I did the necessary errands, came home and slayed a few more usefuls, and went back to bed. At 10AM. I just want this year over with.
Why are right-wing political cartoonists neither funny nor accurate?
Esteleth
I always found that Swedes make a wonderful stew ;)
Anne
One of the most time consuming gifts I ever made was a tablecloth for my mother. It involved about 1 million stiches and 500 colour changes. She hasn’t used it once…
But those people who really like your stuff totally make up for the jerks. I recently gave a friend a necklace and when I met her by chance this week she was wearing it :)
She said that with that necklace people who never paid her any attention were suddenly looking at her. That in turn made me feel like Mommy Fortuna in The Last Unicorn: It needs a fake horn to make people spot the unicorn.
+++
But I’m almost done for tonight. All I’ll do is pack the parcel for my cousin. Less a christmas gift than a belated “thank you for letting us use your flat” gift.
Cause tomorrow will be a complete fuckety-fuck-fuck day.
I have to drive to college to get a book. Then I have to go to Ikea so I can hopefully get the armchair we want because they’re no longer making that model, but according to the internet they still have 2 of them in that store. Then I have to drive to the red cross near the refugee centre to drop off our stuff. Not because it’s christmas, but because it’s humane and because apparently Germany is too poor to give refugee kids winter coats and toothbrushes.
No, seriously, kids under 14 don’t get toothbrushes while their asylum claims are being processed. They also don’t get to see the dentist for repairs, but they will get the teeth pulled out if they’re in severe pain.
I hate my government.
Giliell, are you referring to stew prepared by Swedes (the people), or stew containing Swedes (the veggie)?
Oh, and Giliell, if you don’t mind, I was curious of your opinion on something. A recent issue of the New Yorker has a long profile of Angela Merkel, which also includes a certain amount of psychoanalyzing of Germany as a whole. My inclination is that the author mixes some salient facts with some colossal overreaching.
I’m surprised no one here is talking about Cuba yet. At the very least Obama has unleashed yet another concept for the right wing crank crowd to incorporate into their conspiracy theories. I predict within the next 72 hours one of them will claim this is evidence Obama is a Cuban agent.
And I borked the quote. The article is here: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/01/quiet-german
A poll.
My parentals are coming to town (point of fact, according to the relevant website, they just landed). We are going to dinner. Should we have:
(1) Mexican
(2) Cambodian
(3) BBQ
(4) Burgers
(5) English Pub
(6) Korean
or
(7) Indian?
Esteleth:
Appetizers at each restaurant!
esteleth
That was my feeble attempt at a pun ;)
I’ll give you my feedback tomorrow, it’s time I went to bed.
Also, Indian. Because I always choose Indian when i get the chance, which is unfortunately only once in a blue moon.
Esteleth @188, I am jealous of all the options you have. I live in a community rife with varieties of mormon jello. Even the supposedly ethnic restaurants tune their menus toward “bland” to please the populace. There are a few exceptions, but I’d like to see more.
On the Cuban rapprochement, I see that Marco Rubio called out the Pope for helping to broker the deal. Can’t see that Rubio dissing the Pope is going to help with his political career.
Well, the Redhead would go for the exotic, probably one of the Asians, BBQ sounds good to me, but what are their tastes? Some people aren’t very adventuresome food wise. Keep that in mind.
And Tony has very sage advice. The Redhead often finds appetizers more interesting than the main meal.
An actual headline I saw, re: Cuba
Ay-yi-yi
Oh dear, brace yourselves for more Moments of Mormon Madness as Utah Tea Partier Jason Chaffetz, über mormon, takes over the job of investigating and harassing President Obama. If there’s anything worse that rightwing conspiracy theories it is mormon-flavored rightwing conspiracy theories. One step further into LaLa Land. Sign.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/1961040-155/chaffetz-oversight-will-actively-probe-obama
BTW, this guy Chaffetz doesn’t believe the CIA torture report.
Saad (#172)
Even if he’s going to ignore the woman being forced to bear an unwanted child, how can he not see that having an abusive parent would have everything to do with the child’s life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lynna (#191)
That reminds me, I was trying to remember the name for coriander without going to the spice rack, so I googled spices starting with “c” and also came across the description of “Chinese five spice” from Vanns Spices. They claim their blend “contains less star anise than most five-spice blends, thus is more tailored to the American palate.” Pretty sure they mean “the white people palate” not “the American palate.”
I’m making chickpeas and roasted eggplant in berberé sauce for a school potluck tomorrow, which is definitely not going to be for the euphemistic “American” palate.
Taste is inborn, but can be learned. I was the ONLY kid in my grammar school who would enthusiastically eat sauerkraut when it was rarely served. I was also one of the very few that refused to eat American Cheese food product.
Already posted a link to The Conversation over in the Later this morning in America thread, but I figured I’d drop a link to the site here too.
From their About page:
I liked reading their commenting rules too (I can just hear the whines of people who are anti-moderation).
US officials link North Korea to Sony hacks.
Plus, in the wake of terror threats against theaters showing The Interview, Sony has cancelled the movie.
Trigger Warning
The article has pictures of blood from the school in Peshawar, as well as descriptions of horrible violence.
Brave young teacher acts heroically:
Her actions may have saved some of her students. It’s so unspeakably sad that the world lost someone like Afsha Amed. http://pulse.ng/student/pakistan-school-massacre-taliban-jihadists-burn-24-year-old-teacher-alive-for-protecting-pupils-id3354689.html
A woman in Indiana is being charged with feticide and “neglect of a dependent” because she had a stillbirth.
There’s a petition here, for those who’d like to sign.
Tony,
Ethics in cinema journalism?
11 days?!
mildly rupt
I finished the hat for SO’s xmas present for when he goes for a cold, dark, run on a winter evening. without flash, with flash, reflective yarn is NEAT.
Nice, Portia!
Portia @203:
Nice work!
Been a strange day here at Casa la Pelirroja. I had to attend mandatory cGMP training to today, even though I was on vacation, where the main topic was documentation practices. I made sure to sign the training record. ;) It’s been a problem, as I sign the deviations as the R&D signature. Meanwhile, the Redhead got her sleep, going about 5 hours instead of the normal 2-3 before being cleaned up.
The next door neighbor came over to do her hair, which allowed me to fix the rails on the bed to suit my preference. Which is, they don’t lock when down, and a simple pull raises them. This changed when the bed was changed for the low level bed. One of the hired help had no idea of what I meant, and made matters worse by trying to fix it. I don’t think she took things apart and put them them back together in working order like I did when young,
The Redhead is now fed, and my dinner is in the microwave.
I gotta get me some of that yarn.
Lucky Portia SO.
Nerd
.
.
.
*hug*
Thanks, Tony, Anne, and chigau :D
I’m very excited.
chigau:
yarn
Portia
Thanks.
There are a mess of crafty yarny stores here in my town.
I bet I can find some.
Protip: add the Valsalva maneuver to your list of excellent things, and the knowledge of how to do one to your list of essential life skills.
I went to the mall tonight (for the first time since I’ve had my meds adjusted) and managed to get through the entire shopping experience without major anxiety or wanting to just cave.
Jingle Bells: Not the sober, dignified holiday ditty you thought it was.
Good morning
Quickly checking stuff before heading off
Portia
Neat! Your SO is lucky.
Hugs to the Horde. I have rageing flu; no sleep at all last night (though plenty of dozing, so not all bad). Thank FSM and pharmaceuticals developments for the pseudo-ephedrine that let me breathe, thankyouthankyouthankou. Hoping the worst is over. Now my childish side wants to say “if pseudo-ephedrine can be that great, what would the real thing be like?!”
Possibly impertinent: if so, please disregard? Giliell, obviously I don’t know your mother – and I do know from your posts that she has issues upon issues – but sometimes I have a special lovely thing I never ever use because they are too good and one single stain or scratch or whatever would (drama drama!!!) ruin them forever (my brain does stupid stuff). Is there any little chance at all that she does something like this?
I hope you get better soon opposablethumbs . It’s not a good time to come down with flu…not that there’s ever a good time.
Portia that hat looks great! I could do with something like that for my winter runs.
Spoke to mum last night But haven’t resolved anything. Still not happy.
opposablethumbs
Sending lots of warm ginger-lemon tea and salty chicken broth your way, with lightly buttered slices of toasted white bread, all served up in warm comfy blankets in front of a blazing hot fireplace! Also, proper medications to take the fevers down and to beat the virus. Science rocks!
Get well soon!
*hugs* for bassmike, just *hugs*
+++
I hate planning for christmas. Such a tangle of who is where when and for how long. Just realized last night we have to start on this. Ugh. (But yes, we have a promising plan in the works, one that shouldn’t be too hectic or eat up too many of our free days with unwanted relatives and running around pointlessly. Yay for that, I suppose!)
Also bassmike, for reflective wear, they deliver worldwide. They used to have a large selection of reflective hats (and mittens), but I can’t seem to find it. :( They may be out for the holidays, though, it’s a popular product. I had a hat like that, but lost it in a shopping mall a couple of years ago. Was very sad.
(And if you buy Portia chocolate, she may consent to knit you one herself, but I hear her knit-wait-list is rather long. :) )
bassmike;
*hugs* and thanks.
(rq’s right, my list is long, but that’s because I love knitting things to keep people cozy, so I’ll keep you in mind)
rq:
I only have about two people to coordinate for Christmas, and I can’t get it done, so…I can only imagine, and good luck.
opposablethumbs:
*tea and hugs* the only that worked for me last week when I couldn’t breathe at night was nasal spray. Hope you feel better soon.
Giliell:
Thanks : D
And thanks for reminding me to go back up and look at the site you posted for us crafters. I agree with you about the arts/crafts thing. Sometimes I do something to be quick and boring, just to get it done. And other times (most times) I alter the pattern to my purposes and throw in a lace design or something.
Tony I meant to post happy birthday wishes, but didn’t, so now you get some belated happy birthday wishes.
JAL No problem.
Portia Nice hat. It does look quite cozy.
opposablethumbs Get well soon, or else. I don’t know or else what, I just hope it scares off the virus.
A tragedy in the neighborhood yesterday – high school student hit by car that ignored bus lights. My son’s elementary school is at the intersection where this happened. I despise it when people speed through school zones, and people ignoring stopped buses with flashing lights is worse.
Thank you for the thought Portia .
Thank you, rq, bassmike,Portia, ajb47 – much appreciated. There is no open fireplace in this flat (though you can see where there used to be one, long gone) and no chikkensoop but plenty of lemon-and-ginger tea in front of the … well, in front of the computer monitor, now that I have finally got out of bed again. I think the worst bit may be over now, with a bit of luck – a quite nasty 24h and now starting to feel more human again. I’m very lucky, I haven’t been knocked out like that by a virus for a very long time – could be a couple of years, even! (maybe the “or else” is working, ajb47 :-) in tandem with the definitely rocking science. Boots own-brand decongestant tablets 60 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, out of date but apparently still working. I also have some out-of-date cough syrup; I’m going on the assumption that out-of-date over-the-counter products will if anything work less well but not poison me)
Sorry about your seasonal brother-complications, bassmike. That kind of sounds rather like what a certain couple of siblings of mine might have pulled in similar circs. I hope you find a way of doing things that doesn’t spoil your holiday; fwiw I think your original idea of not coinciding with your brother could actually be better for your mum, as that way she would have two visits to enjoy and more company-time with less chaos and the chance to focus more on those who are there each time (including more focus on your mum, of course).
Good luck with your planning, logistics and mobilisation, rq!
People who actually make things that other people can actually use/wear etc. have my somewhat bewildered admiration. It’s like … arcane magic or something.
Georgia Pastor Declares ‘Santa is Satan’ https://proxy.freethought.online/dispatches/2014/12/18/georgia-pastor-declares-santa-is-satan/
Oh no! We are all going to burn (swoons).
—
18 Times Taylor Swift Was Right About Everything http://www.timetobreak.com/149711/18-times-taylor-swift-right-everything/
—
Cats vs. Christmas Trees Shows Felines At Their Yuletide Worst http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/16/cats-vs-christmas-trees_n_6337836.html
BWAHAHAHA!
—
Re. keeping extreme-right groups from sequestering old Norse symbols; -have you ever tried a Nithstang? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nithstang_Pole
“Some neo-pagans have used the nithing pole as a curse against white supremacists, to reclaim pagan symbolism”
Oh what a day
In the end, probably very successful.
First I got rid of the kids (humanely, of course, school and preschool) then did the grocery shopping, then went to the place where they collect donations for the refugee centre. What a depressing place. And I haven’t even seen the centre, but the estate with social housing that’s next to it. Fuck, I mean, I live in an estate with social housing as well, and I know the poorer social housing estates in my town, too, but nothing comparable to this. Neglect and decay wherever you look.
Then, for better news, I got the LAST armchair. And I got the triumph of NOT having to ask any of the three guys who were standing around waiting for me to fail for help. I also got it into the flat, though with some difficulties.
Then my internet and phone were dead. Because some time ago I’d asked for having my access data sent to me again (I couldn’t find the old one anymore). What they didn’t tell me was that those were NEW data and that I would have to change them or everything would go black when the router disconnects >.<
And now the soup is cooking.
I still need to make brownies for #1's school christmas basar because when I promised them I didn't know today would be busy-busy.
HOOOOOOORDE
I have missed you. ♥
—
Yellow Thursday, for curses utilizing scented candles you always want to mix food and floral. Chocolate and gardenia, cinnamon and lilac. Combinations that you can taste on the back of your tongue and make you gag a little.
—
chigau, knitting is good stuff. Especially because it’s kept you around.
—
Rowan re: disgusting stuff on you as a vet tech. That sounds pretty similar to what I’ve encountered with the various vets around here specializing in livestock. They seem incapable of ridding themselves entirely of the combined scents of shit and blood while working.
At least critters are benefiting from the gross work. Thank you for all you do for ’em.
—
Belated happy birthday, Tony!!
—
bassmike – *hugs* or other appropriate gestures. That stuff with your brother sounds really aggravating on top of everything else. I second Giliell. Do what you need to for you and your immediate family.
—
Giliell, ugh. I hope the fuckety-fuck-fuck day isn’t too rough. Thank you for trying to make the world a slightly less cruel place. I’m sure everything you’re dropping off today will be greatly appreciated by those kids.
—
Portia, awesome hat! Lucky SO. :)
—
opposablethumbs, sorry to hear about the flu. I hope you recover quickly and with as little suffering as possible. Ick.
—
Got some scary business going on here with the Monkey troop. An MRI on my mom’s knee found a chondroid lesion on her femur. The ortho assures her that a malignant tumor in this spot is incredibly, incredibly rare, but we’re not going to be able to breathe easy until we hear from the oncologist…and possibly not even then, depending.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/18/1352689/-Bill-Nye-explains-evolution-with-emojis
Pretty much what the link says. Nice video.
Some good news:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/senate-nuclear-option-seals-obama-judicial-legacy
Bill O’Reilly says stupid stuff … again.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/oreilly-black-dont-get-pregnant-shirts
*pops head out of pillow fort, reaches over and refills basket of hugs, disappears back into pillow fort*
Moments of Mormon Madness, Utah liquor laws category:
Accidentally cross-posted this to the Later This Morning thread, but sometimes even Santa needs a lesson in icebreakers. That is, ‘how to talk to little girls’.
More bad news courtesy of Texas State Board of Education. They should change their name to “Texas State Board of Misinformation”:
Right Wing Watch link.
Michele Bachmann is still talking:
Right Wing Watch link.
Rightwing Christmas cards are getting worse. This is not parody, unfortunately.
http://christiannewswire.com/news/8467975271.html
Lynna, #234
Holy shit. That is some Crusades times stuff.
It’s also laughably ignorant (as right-wing attempts at humor and creativity often are). An Islamist terrorist will most certainly not attack Jesus or even say anything insulting about him.
I think I just caught up on my emails and messages.
rq, I liked this quote you posted in the Later this Morning thread:
BTW, I think it is unacceptable to catch up on emails and messages. You may have altered earth’s orbit.
Yes, yes it is. And I live in a place where some acquaintances think it is funny, think it is great to send me that kind of shit.
OMG, we might have a non-mormon on the Utah Supreme Court soon. Oh, you didn’t know that all of the judges serving on the Utah Supreme Court are mormons, and have been for some time? Of course they are mormons. No one else is fit to judge anyone. /sarcasm.
Greek Orthodox, eh? Well, I suppose that still counts as progress in Utah.
Salt Lake Tribune link.
At least on the booze front
Lynna
No, I found two that I haven’t caught up with and don’t have the energy for tonight. :) So all is well!!!
Also, cats.
Worse and worse.
Think Progress link.
Emphasis mine:
And our
esteemedcowardly legislators in the USA just voted to allow the biggest banks to gamble on questionable derivatives with taxpayer-insured funds. The possibilities for funneling more money to the top 0.1 percent have increased.Support women-developed games.
Sounds deliciously creepy! About the developer:
Link.
Well, that makes me even more pleased to know that the Senate recently confirmed more Obama appointees as judges.
Anybody want some Glögg? Swedish mulled wine. I bought a bottle to make mulled wine truffles, and it needs testing *hicks*
WMDKitty:
Yay!
:) :) :)
–
*hazmat-suited hugs & chikkensoop* for opposablethumbs.
Get well soonest.
–
Mellow Monkey!
*pouncehug*
–
Lynna:
*blinkblink*
So…when did Islam go polytheistic? I mean, I don’t think they even loophole it with a Mysterious Trinity (with Virgin Mother side-order) that ….
Or am I misinformed?
–
Saad:
Don’t they categorize him as a prophet?
Yup; apparently so.
–
cicely,
Yup. One of the main prophets and one of the only four (out of 124,000* total messengers) to whom a holy book was revealed. Both Jesus and Mary are highly revered in Islam. The return of Jesus to save the world is a central doctrine in Islam too.
* This figure may differ from denomination to denomination, but it’s what’s believed in the Pakistani Sunni Islam that I grew up in. All of the specified prophets were sent to a small area in the Middle East though, of course.
Thank you cicely! Looks like I spoke too soon when I thought I was over the hump – spent most of the day dozing (which is actually very unlike me, honest!) and feeling achey and sorry for myself – and looking forward to my next dose of useful little drugs. Expect to be back to what passes for normal in a couple of days. (Having no appetite is really unlike me; that’s how the family know I’m not just making it up :-) ). Funny how a common-or-garden bout of flu can knock you out so effectively for a little while.
SonSpawn has been most helpful; he went and picked up the few groceries needed for his and OH’s supper, and has volunteered to meet DaughterSpawn off the train tomorrow to give her a hand with her luggage (as she is also a bit ill, apparently. Now we get to see two batches of viri battle it out for Meanest Virus in the Flat, yay)
Virtual and guaranteed totally non-contagious hugs to the Horde.
Nope, Christmas parties at work don’t have to be crap. They can be pretty awesome. But, I did a stupid and scheduled my first driving lesson for tomorrow morning so I’m off to bed, mostly sober (I do not want a hangover tomorrow morning, the whole thing is going to be stressful enough as it is).
George Zimmerman tells pro-gun radio show host that gun owners should get insurance before they shoot and kill someone in self-defense.
Here’s an idea: how about you just not shoot anyone, and then you won’t have a problem.
Beatrice, you’re learning to drive? You’ll be fine. I didn’t learn to drive until I was, um, thirty-four. I had two lessons from a professional driving instructor (husband tried to teach me first, did not work out well), and passed my test on the first attempt. If even I could do it, I’m sure you’ll be magnificent.
Well, DUH. But how about not aggressively following unarmed POC in the first place too.
Zimmerman had no business following anybody after the police told him to desist. First degree murder in my book.
I was told by law-enforcement, if you initiate the contact — even in a nonviolent nonthreatening manner — you can’t claim self-defense. Yep, because reacting violently to someone asking if there’s any tobacco left is totally justified, and it’s my fault for even asking, and if I pressed charges, they’d “have to” press charges against me because he “felt threatened” by me and had a teeny little scratch on his chest from where I tried to get him to let go of me. (I had asked for the tobacco, he got angry, I went to grab it myself, and he grabbed me and pushed me, but that “isn’t assault” because a wheelchair “isn’t part of your body”. Never mind the fact that my wheels are my legs…)
I am safely returned from my graduation from nursing school.
Swill and bacon sammiches being transported to your coordinates.
Congratulations, Esteleth!
There may be light at the end of my family tunnel – Aged Mum has an appointment with a notary to sign the final paperwork, on Tuesday. Appendages crossed that all goes well…
A Esteleth Gilthoniel! Congratulations, bringer of healing for great justice! :)
Esteleth @254:
Woo-hoo!
Congratulations on graduating!
Champagne (or sparkling juice) for everyone!
Esteleth
Mega-congrats! :D :D WOooooo
–
Beatrice:
Good luck with the lessons, hope you wake up feeling refreshed and energetic :)
Esteleth, I’m so happy for you! May you always have nice patients who do not expel fluids during your shifts. :)
The one thing Zimmerman didn’t mention about self defense in the interview was not to do it while being black. After all I’ve never seen any of the “stand your ground” types argue that Zimmerman was guilty, and that any violence Trayvon Martin supposedly inflicted on Zimmerman was Martin standing his ground against an armed man he thought was going to kill him.
Esteleth
Congrats! I have several friends and a mother-in-law who are nurses and I have great respect for the profession. I wish you the best.
Here’s another case of women being harmed by Ireland’s anti-abortion laws.
Clinically dead woman on life support kept alive because she is pregnant:
Peter Ferguson on Ireland’s anti-abortion laws
From the FB page for vactruth:
My contribution to the topic- “NICE! Anti-science plus homophobia based fear mongering for the win!”
Meninism on the rise. It would be funny if it weren’t so serious.
Well done, Saruman, very appropriate.
Well, this wasn’t nearly as offensive as it could have been: short cultural study comparing Canada, the US and the UK.
Congratulations Esteleth!
Forgive me for a moment, but OH MY GOD THE ENDING OF KORRA WAS SO GOOD AND AMAZING. Wow. What a show.
10/10 would recommend drinking a few more sips of coffee before making your morning smoothie. Otherwise you might top off your coffee cup with that smoothie. Remaking coffee cup….
Yes, I have officially threatened the kids to cancel christmas.
And I’m in the mood for punching people in the face who go on about “quiet, contemplative holidays” at events that meant a hell lot of work in preparation and where being there means you are neither getting shit done nor are you getting sleep.
#1’s school christmas party happened. A rich display in cultural insensitivity and christian privilege (at a school with about 15% muslim students, not to mention atheists) and shitty organisation (they had about 50 cakes for about as many adults and 200 kids, which meant that most cakes didn’t even make it to the table and fuck no, I’m not going to stay up for another hour to make a cake AGAIN. That’s how you turn a huge base of volunteers into a small one…)
Yes, I’m grumpy.
For a lighter mood (if you’re wishing for a light saber right now) Star Wars snowflakes
rq, #266
That sounds like an obscure branch of Christianity from the medieval era.
Giliell I’m sorry you’re having a shitty time. I hope things improve for next week.
I have a busy weekend. Then the rush to X-Mas. My brother’s been in touch, so hopefully we can come to some mutually acceptable solution. *Hugs* to everyone.
The support that the horde supplies is immeasurable and I for one really appreciate it. I’ll be back next week.
TW for discussion of rape law.
I have mixed feelings about this. Law professors saying students are oversensitive for wanting warnings about class sessions on rape. If the discussion is handled sensitively, it would be fine, but then it isn’t always handled properly.
(bolding mine) There’s your fucking problem right there – academic “intellectual discussion” about something that’s incredibly personal and distressing for lots of people. I don’t know how i made it through a whole semester of Sex Crimes class, I really don’t. That academic discussion nearly made me have a breakdown in class once. So I guess I do know how I feel about these professors who say they’re scared of offending people. Maybe just don’t penalize people for missing that class, and shut down the victim-blaming assholes? What’s so hard about that?
oh I forgot to say: great news Esteleth !
Giliell – oh, yes. There can be quiet time, or there can be events, but there cannot be both. The only people who don’t understand this are the ones who never contribute. Some of us had a similar discussion after the office party earlier this week – there are the people who stay and clean up, and the people who never do, and as it turns out the only people who make a big mess at the party are the same ones who never stay…
Linkdump:
Quantum physics just got less complicated http://phys.org/news/2014-12-quantum-physics-complicated.html
Asteroid that wiped out dinosaurs may have nearly knocked off mammals, too http://phys.org/news/2014-12-asteroid-dinosaurs-mammals.html
Fear artificial stupidity, not artificial intelligence http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26716-fear-artificial-stupidity-not-artificial-intelligence.html – I like the illustration.
Thermoelectric power plants (at sea) could offer economically competitive renewable energy http://phys.org/news/2014-12-thermoelectric-power-economically-competitive-renewable.html
Miss World Pageant Axes Swimsuit Portion. Personally I think the decision is good, and I have to disagree with the author’s statement: “This is an odd strategy, because nearly every other garment traditionally worn in pageants (gowns; tiaras; sashes) is much easier to criticize with an argument that cites purposelessness.” Less naked women-flesh on display somehow doesn’t fit a definition of purposelessness? Okay.
Anyway, sorry for totally not participating in any conversations. I’m trying to follow along.
*hugs* and *[gestures of support]* for all those ill, celebrating, or jsut in need of a gesture of some kind!!!
Also what bassmike said about the Horde.
bad news:
The Return of ‘Legitimate Rape’ in Missouri https://proxy.freethought.online/dispatches/2014/12/18/the-return-of-legitimate-rape-in-missouri/#more-32203
good news:
“Plant extract (Cytisine) trumps nicotine patches to quit smoking http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26717-plant-extract-trumps-nicotine-patches-to-quit-smoking.html
Could ibuprofen be an anti-aging medicine? Popular over-the counter drug extends lifespan in yeast, worms and flies http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-ibuprofen-anti-aging-medicine-popular-over-the.html
Something for the T-100 series ?
“Newest computer neural networks can identify visual objects as well as the primate brain” http://phys.org/news/2014-12-neural-networks-visual-primate-brain.html
“”Deep neural networks”. Yum.
carlie
I think the two actions are linked – if you’ve never cleaned up after anybody, you don’t feel the need to curb your own mess because you just don’t understand the effort required to unmess it.
I assume this means the slaves being auctioned will now be naked, instead of hidden beneath scraps of cloth. The bids / prices will probably increase, as will the charges for the available advertisement breaks.
For the past-ish month-ish I been sans credit cards due to confusions with getting the replacements sent to me. Admittedly, some of the confusions are my fault.
Anyways, the problem is now partly resolved. So today, a new card in hand, I goes out and buys some nice alcohols — vintage port, nice vins, Trappist biers, … — for the next day. And some artisan chocolates. Cheeses to follow later.
Next week. I mean weeks. Not day. Well, at least my liver says “not in one day!”
*hugs* to everyone, I’m almost totally ‘rupt as I spent the last couple days moving, and only just got a computer up and working again.
Indeed, I first ran across this proposal in the early 90s.
Dalillama, it’s great to see you back – and to know that you have moved! Yay!!!!!! I will celebrate by drinking more tea and pointedly not sending you my current batch of live-in microbes.
Dalillama
Yay! I hope the move is going about as smoothly as can be expected.
And that the neighbours are excellent this time around.
Dalillama
Yay for moving!
carlie
Something along those lines.
Well, as for the kids, I’ve already removed the advent calendar. Next step will be giving away the tree. Step 3, no christmas…
+++
Now, quick before he sees it: Mr’s Christmas present
The original designs are this one and this
As you can see, the first one is mostly one colour in the original, so I sat there and closely watched the machine, swapping different shades of brown in and out. The feathers are taken from the second one, to give the design a bit of size…
Dalillama – Yay! You’re moved! And you’re back on-line!
Giliell Sympathies. What you’re describing sounds like Sprog2’s Choir party. Seventy kids in the choir, two had baked goods, one brought cheese and crackers, and two sent bags of chips. There were three bottles of soda. Pretty much everything had been vacuumed up before all the kids had even arrived. Sprog2 only got some cookies because I was one of the parents who sent baked goods.
Good news everyone! This is the last day of the semester, and Sprog2 will NOT be failing anything, nor getting booted from his advanced classes! He understood his math class all this week, and didn’t need any help in getting his homework completed (I did look it over before and after) – and the “do one problem in four” is now a permanent addition to his algebra homework, which makes it possible to do in less than two hours.
Language arts he caught up on nearly all by himself (which is good, because I didn’t have a lot more to give). Once the pressure in math was reduced, his writing block in LA eased up almost immediately, so all it took was a couple of brainstorming sessions with his teacher, and some reduction in the sheer amount of work he had to make up for him to start cranking out the essays, and catch back up.
Giliel – You went and posted while I was posting! Lovely work on the owl. I never have gotten the hang of machine embroidery. Hand embroidery, I can do, but machines and I never seem to develop that sort of relationship.
Dalillama, yay, I’m so glad to read that you’re moved!
Giliell, that is a most wonderful owl. I agree, if he doesn’t properly appreciate it, you should wear it.
Tapetum, I’m glad things are improving for you and your Sprog. I hope you can both relax now.
Having returned from a job interview that I think went well, I am sipping a beer.
Skål!
Esteleth
Priekā! (I’m not drinking, but I sure wish I was.)
Giliell
I love how you can look at those embroidered pictures and replicate them. I consider that an Amazing Talent. :) Beautiful owl.
Tapetum
Hoorays for Sprog2! :) I hope the pride in Sprog2’s accomplishments (from everyone involved) is palpable in your household. :)
Tapetum
Oh, I think I wasn’t clear. The problem was too much cake. I took all my brownies home again. Their loss, because I make the best brownies on this side of the big pond and they turned out just the right kind of moist.
I can hand embroider as well, but machine embroidery and I have really taken to each other. I also love sewing, but I don’t have time to actually make dresses as I used to.
Yay for younger sprog!
+++
Moar christmas stuff:
Loop scarf
This used to be a pareo with a paisley pattern. Now it’s two loops with added designs, one for me, one for my sister.
Winter sweater
Mine!
Bagpack
I was so glad I found that bagpack again in late summer so I could make my sister one as well.
Christmas dress
Those were not planned. But then I found those dresses on offer and just couldn’t resist. This is the little one’s dress, #1 gets one with a slightly different design
Unicorn sweaters!
These were planned. Identical ones for both of them. The colour is a weird mixture of red and pink, impossible to catch with a flash
Yay! Esteleth
I completely forgot to congratulate you. I’m sorry. Have some Glögg, it’s pretty good.
rq
Ehm, just to clear things up: Machine embroidery means I buy a digital design and the file tells my machine what to do. That doesn’t mean it’s just pushing buttons, though.
Giliell
It’s still awesome. :)
Also, I challenge you to a brownie cook-off this-side-of-the-pond sometime. Name your time and location!
Everyone’s invited for the sweet eats afterwards, of course.
Colbert Report ends. But Stephen Colbert will soldier on.
Finally getting around, after much preliminary work (i.e. creating storage space by removing a lot of old crap), to starting my Squidmas present to myself, rebuilding my computer desk.
Poor desk was bought back when I bought my Apple IIGS back in ’89, and is cheap particle board. It had a design flaw with the footing that became obvious when the foot support broke, causing it to lean. The years have taken their toll, and other parts have also broken or are becoming corroded. Meanwhile, my computing capability increased, and the need for disk storage increased *glares through the floor at the Redhead for her Knitting shows*. It also has a hole in the top for the old tractor feed paper that was used back then.
I couldn’t find a commercial replacement that would work given some the problems with the necessary design. Like the wall sconce for the room light above the hutch (1920 build, not a surprise). So rebuilding became the only option. The hutch and the privacy panel/lower storage space will be recycled to the new desk. The back of the privacy panel can be used for power strips and velcroed AC/DC converter boxes so nothing dangles down to the floor. I will engineer the legs and desk top (3/4″ birch plywood) so that no backwards tipping will result. Except for the tipping of the floor, given the almost hundred year old house.
One upgrade is of the TV interface to HD, and bringing in the upstairs DVR cablebox to replace the VCR from olden days. The HD interface will even be able to change the channel of the cablebox for good use. All those knitting shows that went away when Comcast scrambled their lower channels while the Redhead was recovering from her stroke are now back in play.
Now to get back to the delicate disassembly work, while asking myself the rhetorical question, “why did I ever do that stupid alteration in the first place”. Answer, of course, is that it seemed like a good idea at the time, which is now unknown.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uRmoowIN8aY
Derby the dog: Running on 3D Printed Prosthetics
Wow, Nerd, that sounds like quite the project (and present for yourself)! Good luck, and I hope all the pieces come together just right.
Giliell – That is some stunning embroidery work. I has a jealous. The only embroidery for Christmas presents this year is a pair of peacock pillow cases for my mother. The husbeast gets a sweater and socks (the second sock will be late), and I’m keeping my first woven scarf.
Esteleth Kampai! Congratulations on a good interview.
I bake good, but not stellar brownies. Perfectly willing to opine on a brownie-off, though. Now, if you want lemon cake, I’ll pit mine versus anyone…
Hi all, sorry I’m threadrupt.
I’ll leave this big box of A Christmas Story-themed treats here. Help yourselves.
Also, for my fellow knitters, a nice octopus pattern.
Since the knitters are here in the lounge, I have a *complete* set of Vickie Howell’s Knitty Gritty. It went through the VCR and A/D conversion to DVD, so it might not be grade A quality. I just checked, it isn’t out on DVD. Is there any interest from the horde Knitsters for a personal set? We might be able to arrange something, that doesn’t involve any transfer of monies to me.
That sounds shiny, Nerd.
Can’t argue with that. DIY channel hasn’t expressed any interest in posting on-line or DVD sales since the show ended. So, what are people to do, that might be interested?
Also consider, I have a large number of shows from a couple of other presenters, and those will not be available from me, due to their being available by alternate means.
Jesus fucking Christ!
Massive trigger warning.
Children raped at Abu Ghraib, on tape
rq/#268:
(Bob Newhart blink…)
There are ‘Maple moose’ flavoured potato chips?
Well, I’m not gonna knock it, not having tried it, I guess…
(But I’m also probably not gonna try it.)
AJ
First I’ve heard of them, too.
Kinda curious. I’ve had moose. But then, maple syrup on everything always did turn my stomach a bit. Unless they mean maple tree? (Do moose eat maple?)
More police brutality: Think Progress link.
Video at the link.
The White House reminds people that there are great women-past and present-in STEM fields.
You can also share your experiences at the above link.
Good reasons to avoid giving your time or money to the Salvation Army:
Think Progress link.
Tony @307: That story is 10 years old. Is this the first you heard of it?
BTW: Hersh is the journalist who broke the story of the 1968 My Lai massacre. And a lot of other stuff, including a shitload on Iraq, from 2002 on. Worth reading, all of it, if you have a strong stomach.
rq/#319:
Well, in my quick effort to find out if moose eat maple, I did discover the chips have been discontinued due to low sales…
(… seems it was some contest thing: come up with a new flavour. And someone came up with that. And the company briefly tried it. And it didn’t quite fly, go fig…)
… but, getting past this, apparently, yes, moose are fond of striped maple.
(The more you know. Or something.)
Aj
Huh. Thanks for that piece of info. I’m sure it will come in handy someday!!! :) One never knows.
+++
*happy dance*
I’m still going to go home and watch the race, because (a) men in spandex and (b) how did Korea get third?
Also, you can apparently scroll through for some sexy model instagram pics (men models), but the work computer is cutting out the actual instagram footage. *HARRUMPH*
… related to Abu Ghraib (is this a Lounge topic? apologies for triggers) I recently got ’round to Glenn Carle’s The Interrogator. Memoir of a CIA intelligence officer assigned to interrogate one Pacha Wazir, a ‘high value target’ ‘rendered’ because they figured he was ‘Osama bin Laden’s banker’…
I recommend it. It’s a bit otherworldly, reading it, though. Imagine a few hundred pages of civil service-flavoured acronyms, heavy black redaction from the CIA censors, all portraying a bureaucratic, Kafkaesque netherworld of cases carrying along under the momentum of questionable assumptions…
(Oh. Right. And torture.)
True – it’s like a magical house-elf theory. This is why we have to make children clean up after themselves.
Yay, Tapetum!!!
Esteleth, I hope you get the job!
Rob Grigjanis @313:
Yeah, I realized that after I hit submit.
****
I’m sure Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has a case of the sadz because her stay was denied. Same-sex couples in Florida will be able to marry beginning January 6.
Woo-Hoo!
Pizza world champion makes a 99 cheese pizza
Wow. That’s a lot of cheese. I’d try it.
I feel my arteries hardening just thinking about it. But what a way to go.
hello. I am sad and moderately lonely.
Being at home is boring, but not unusually so. I just don’t have that many people to talk to.
In delightful news, the worst of my concerns are my continued inability to accept myself and the fact that still have terrible taste in music. :/ Nothing’s going wrong, for once!
Hi, thunk.
*hugs*
Everyone has terrible taste in music.
Welcome to the club.
Yeah, but most people don’t eat music so they fail to notice.
────────────────────────────────
That sounds like a “bat signal” for the mildly deranged penguin.
No Death by Choconuclear Fusion Brownies?!!!1!
Good morning
Nerd
Good luck with your project. I’m glad to hear you’re doing something for yourself.
thunk
Hugs.
Seconding chigau
rq
Ah, I’ve watched enough creationists to know how this goes.
Time: Next Thursday, 7am
Place: My kitchen
If you don’t show up it means that you’re admitting defeat, of course.
:)
BTW, I use the Brown-Eyed Baker’s recipe for New York baked brownies. I also add chocolate chunks. Squishy, soft, chocolaty, with crust.
Basically they’re chocolate bars pretending to be cake.
+++
Just reserved tickets for the Hobbit tonight. I don’t care if it’s crap. It’s my one cinema night a year.
For yonks I’ve been using a wireless laser mouse, a rather unusual model with a rechargeable battery and a recharging “docking station”. It’s very comfortable, and the only time I run out of squeaks is if I forget to return the mouse to the station for some more cheese. It’s at least a decade old now, and so has also slowly broken down, the first to go was the middle button (the scroll wheel was Ok but the button was kaput), and recently, the scroll wheel itself has started to stick.
Coincidently, at work I finally got fed up with the wired laser mouse and switched to a wireless USB mouse with replaceable batteries (boo, hiss! …but I didn’t have any choice per se). It’s also very comfortable and made me realize just how much my mouse at home had deteriorated.
So yesterday, en route to the vin shoppe, I also got myself more-or-less the same mouse as I’m using at work, after checking it could use the rechargeable NiMH batteries I use at home for hand torches and so on.
And it works! Whee!! I haz nice little squeaky thing again.
Only annoyance (so far) is it seems to require a powered USB port, so now I’m a bit short of USB ports on the front of the machine…
Giliell
Have fun at the cinema, enjoy the scenery!! :)
re: the cookoff
No, if I don’t show up, it simply means I’m better than you and I don’t even need to show up to prove it, so there!
I use a triple-chocolate brownie recipe I got from the Toronto Star ages ago, though I use walnuts instead of chocolate chunks. But yes, it’s a chocolate bar with a few eggs and a bit of flour thrown in for show. And a lovely smooth, creamy chocolate topping.
+++
Weeding and trimming the roses in December. Something is Not Right with this picture.
Wife and I went to see La importanza di chiamarsi Ernesto at Teatro Carignano in Turin last night. Since we’ve both seen the original* at least twice, and mugged up on the plot beforehand, we managed to follow quite well with our limited (in my case, very limited) Italian. The crucial pun in the title, which also motivates the play’s last line, is lost in Italian, since “chiamarsi X” means “calling yourself X” but never “having the property of X-ness”. The company putting on the production is very small and apparently lacks young male actors, as the two male leads, both supposed to be in their 20s or at most 30s, were played by a young woman (appearance quite convincing, voice and movement much less so) and a 60-ish man (appearance entirly unconvicing, since the two turn out to be brothers). But the performance was enjoyable, and certainly much appreciated by the audience, if conventions about the normal length of applause at the end are similar to those in Britain.
*In case anyone is unfamiliar with it – I don’t know how well-known it is outside Britain – The importance of being Ernest by Oscar Wilde.
Nick
There was a rather decent movie based on that play from a few years ago, I’ve seen that.
@rq:
The early worm gets the potato.
The early rq, however, loses out on potato. Must make do with e-mail.
Crip Dyke
Considering it’s December, I’m more inclined to believe that rq has missed potato due to extreme lateness. No fermented potato juice this winter!
rq misses the potato, at any rate.
In other words, Christians approve torture.
http://religiondispatches.org/christians-more-supportive-of-torture-than-non-religious-americans/
Uh, whoops. This Christian politician failed to make friends.
Washington Post link.
Don’t worry, there’s a few zillion following. An occasional miss, early in the season, whilst inexplicable and absurd, has been rumored to happen, last in the Precambrian Era.
The theocrats continue to bring polio back in Pakistan.
(Saad@337 triggered me…) Thank you, CIA, with your fake “polio vaccination” campaign (part of the plot to uncover Mr bin Laden’s location (and then quite conveniently extrajudicially executing him)) for reinforcing the feckwits’s conviction that vaccinations is an evil plot.
That deliberate sabotage is on par with your use of torture — absolutely pointless, completely immoral, and can only be compared with the actions of Pol Pot, apartheid S.Africa, Israel, and xians (plus too many other atrocious monsters).
Uhhhhgggg, Loungers. Being sick sucks. I had a cold that started last weekend, but I never got a fever so I just powered through with work and stuff. Now it seems to have migrated into my right sinus. The last two days my teeth hurt. If mucus was a valuable commodity, I’d be very wealthy now.
–
Aaaannnnddd, here is how people get lured into woo. I don’t have health insurance (fucking USA). So I’m not wanting to go to the doctor. And then the internet beckons with its promises of ‘natural remedies’ like neti-pots and herbal concoctions. And it would be so great if something like that worked! So, anyways. I get how people buy into it. My plan right now is to rest all day, stay super hydrated and eat healthy. Still no fever and my face hurts less today so I’m hopeful this is on its way out.
yazikus, all my sympathy – I’m just starting to feel better now after about 3 days laid low (didn’t leave the flat at all, spent most of the time in bed not even wanting to read – that kind of thing). Your plan sounds excellent! Have you got any over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen handy? Helped me a lot. As for the mucus (ergh I hate that) I was very happy with our chainstore chemist’s own-brand decongestant with pseudoephedrine as the active ingredient. (I remember trying a different active ingredient once and it was not nearly as effective – barely put a dent in the Great Grossness Production Factory of Ergh – but pseudoephedrine was the business). Don’t know how you’re placed wrt getting some of these to your bedside, of course, in terms of money and convenience?
I know what you mean about the woo, though – they always target the vulnerable/at vulnerable moments. That’s almost the defining characteristic of parasitic scum, isn’t it. Kind of like the way religion fades away so much more when people have decent social security and stability.
Hope you feel better soon!
(sorry if this double-posts; my computer is also somewhat unwell)
opposablethumbs,
I’mm glad you are feeling better. I ventured out to nearby National Grocery Chain for supplies. I was pleasantly surprised to find they are now carrying garlic naan (you loungers are always going on about your excellent garlic naan, and I haven’t been able to find any until now).
–
I don’t know if it is the old woo-friendly me, but I am always cautious with otc cold medication. I have a belief that suppressing the symptoms will make them last long and be worse in the long run. I have no idea if this is true, except for my own experience of having a cold during tax season (like two months) and using pseudoephed & 5 hour energy’s to power through and ending up with pneumonia. (Not a health plan I recommend).
–
Thanks for the kind words and thoughts!
–
And you are totally right about religion. That is why the political arm of the religious right is so hell bent on destroying anything that remotely resembles a social safety net or a living wage with access to health care.
Got started on my desk rebuild project by dismantling the old desk, saving the hutch and security panel/lower shelves for recycling into the new desk. I think I need to call an archeologist in to help with the excavation and identification of the miscellaneous debris that was exposed.
Oh, needed a new mouse pad (obtained from Target) to use with the temporary table while building occurs, to replace the old one that was delaminating. The picture looks like PZ’s devil kitten.
Ending up with pneumonia – definitely to be avoided, no question! I wonder if it was more because you weren’t able to take any respite, though (I assume you mean you had to keep working?) and were exhausted? I was between jobs just now when I got the lurgi so the silver lining (of sorts) of being short of work was that at least I had the time to be ill :-\
I usually mostly take things like anti-congestants at night just so as to be able to sleep better; I expect it’s the sleep that actually helps.
Yes – and of course our right wing is hell-bent on copying all the worst examples from the US that they can. Our social security system is far from good enough but I know it’s still a hell of a lot better than the situation in the US from what I can see :-(
Two choices for a mousepad picture. Earth rise, from Apollo 8, delaminating,, or a kitten. *sigh*
My work laptop uses a picture for the desktop of sunset taken by the Mars rover Spirit, where NASA superimposed Spirit onto an outcropping in front of the camera. RIP Spirit.
Nerd, is there one where the kitten is taking the picture of the Earth rise? That would be neat. My mousepad (which is nearing the end of its life) is a black and white picture of a shore, with clouds and water. I love it.
Nerd:
Good luck with the desk project. Very impressive.
–
SO and I are making dinner tonight: steak diane, roasted brussel sprouts with bacon, mashed potatoes, spinach salad, garlic soup. I’m contemplating dessert.
Like yazikus I wonder if there’s a picture out there of a cat taking a pic of the Earth rising.
More police brutality:
The victim was driving a dealer car with dealer plates. The officer stopped him for an expired inspection sticker, but dealer cars do not require inspection stickers. The victim tried to explain about the sticker, so the cop got rough. No good excuse for that kind of treatment.
http://abc13.com/news/video-victoria-police-officer-caught-tasering-elderly-man/438334/
Video at the link.
TW racism, rsexism
Anonymous responds to racism with misogyny, seems to think that’s a great fucking idea.
My mousepad has an image of the VLA in New Mexico, rather surprisingly given to me by a fundie-leaning relative. I assume she had no idea of the irony.
Hello again.
Chigau:
I almost want to be despondent about that, but if that’s the worst thing I’m worrying about, my life is pretty much awesome right now. Of course, it would be better if I wasn’t up until 5 am worrying about liking brostep. I should probably do something productive then.
*Hugs* to anyone who wants them, may all those ill get better soon, and have a very happy holiday(s) of choice!
More of thunk’s unimportant worry questions:
I witness a lot of Belarusian nationalism from my father, most of which consists of trying to claim that Belarus is a great country, home of the real Lithuanians, and that the area now known as Lithuania was merely historically a backwater province that was unimportant. Some of the more moderate variety of this belief is shown in this youtube video: http://tinyurl.com/n7qkkpd
My question is: how much of this is reality and how much is revisionist hogwash? (It’s still true that we like potatoes just as much as Latvians, though)
So, Wednesday morning I was informed that a work visit to Long Beach had been scheduled…for Thursday morning…and asked to accompany my boss, with the promise of finally getting some meaningful training in operating our sampling equipment, beyond the “change filters and push the button” level I’d achieved. Due to other responsibilities and me being draggy, we got on the road until about 18:30 Wednesday. The company truck developed engine trouble on the way down, which combined with getting pulled off at the weigh station for a complete vehicle inspection where we were informed that our vehicle didn’t meet the statutory requirements for being operated as Transportation For Hire, but let off with a warning. This may perhaps be due to the absurdity of the law defining the operation of a company’s own vehicle, by an employee of the company acting in official capacity to transport that company’s property, as “For Hire,” which is not what the word fucking means.* Or white privilege. Blech.
We arrived at the staging area for the job site about 3:30 Thursday, and decided not to bother renting a room and sleeping for three hours, got our equipment staged out to the job site, and finished work and got our stuff unloaded and back in the truck by about 17:30. I was able to get about 2-3 hours of broken dozing in the break room at the job site. Getting to a hotel, getting situated and showered, and getting dinner took until about 20:00; I slept from 21:00 to 08:00 Friday and got up about 08:30.
Due to waiting around for the people we’d done the work for to get things straightened out with the on-the-spot check we’d been promised and the continuing engine problems, we didn’t arrive back in Sacramento until 20:30 and I was home by 21;00. Upon which my cat, who had been tended to on a stopping-by-daily basis by my mother and my daughter, was quite happy to see me, and when I put on my swimsuit and sandals to go out to the hot tub for a bit, around 21:30, because everything hurt, she saw me applying footwear and immediately crawled into her car carrier and looked up at me plaintively. D:
*I suppose there may be an obscure branch of academic discourse somewhere which uses the word exclusively this way…
Azkyroth @353:
Your cat likes taking trips?
Tony!:
But ya see, that takes away the part where you get to shoot somebody!
You’re just suckin’ the fun outta the whole thing!
and
Nerd:
How can ya shoot ’em if you can’t track ’em down???
</Heavy Sarcasm>
–
Esteleth:
Congratulations!
*confetti&champagne&hugs*
–
Anne: My tentacles are all crossed on your behalf.
:)
–
Dalillama, I’m glad to know that you’ve got moved!
:) :) :) :)
–
Giliell, Mr’s present is lovely!
As are the other garments you linked to.
–
Tapetum:
Good news indeed! Huzzah!
–
awakeinmo!
*pouncehug*
I don’t understand.
Surely Opus is a penguin….
–
Tony!:
Just when I think we’ve finally scraped the bottom of the barrel, it turns out that there’s more under the barrel.
:( :( :( :( :(
–
thunk!
*hugs*
–
Lynna:
Why am I not surprised?
After all, their holy symbol is a torture device.
–
*hazmat-suited hugs* and a wish for a speedy recovery for yazikus.
Yeah…if the woo treatment is cheaper than an office visit—never mind the cost of any prescribed medication!—it’s easy to think, “Can’t hurt, might help, and at least I can think I’m doing something.”
Like prayer, only with Added Material Components.
–
Azkyroth @353:
Your cat missed you, and doesn’t want to be left behind next time?
That inanity in the “Sarah got an abortion” thread makes no sense to me.
I’m going to drink brandy and eggnog until either A) it starts making sense or B) I run out of brandy.
*shakes brandy bottle* B seems the most likely.
So, this late in the month, I have finally decided on watching, “Kelly’s Heroes”. There are stories about my parents’ late night watching of this movie while my dad was in college. A western set in WWII with hippies. My mom loved it, so I am watching it in her memory.
Mellow Monkey @357:
Oh hell. B for sure.
ISS crew gets a new ratchet … by email
Researchers ‘Averaged’ The Faces Of 400 CEOs — And The Results Say A Lot About Race In Business
Click the link to see the faces.
ajb47
I ♥ed Kelly’s Heroes back in the day.
Good luck.
chigau
It was great. It was one of the first DVD’s I ever bought. I have watched it more times than I can count.
Enough to invite me to put her in a box and carry her, which she tolerates but doesn’t seem to *like* (and which has previously only been used to take her home from the adoption display, and to the vet). Also, her means of communicating it/trying to avoid it suggests at least a proto-theory of mind and some possible insight into human psychology. I’m not sure cats are supposed to be that smart. O.o
I’m sure many of you will agree with the idea of the following essay: Not having female characters in your story is a choice.
http://feministfiction.com/2014/12/16/a-lack-of-female-characters-is-always-a-choice/
We went out and got ourselves a nice spruce from the local forest for the winter solstice.
And right on schedule, what with the official school holiday and the many upcoming family-and-friend gatherings, Eldest has been taken with a fever and general flu-like symptoms. Ebola? Meningitis? Pneumonia? Who knows? I just hope it ends soon and doesn’t get passed on to the siblings or myself and Husband.
Highly likely, though. :(
rq:
Oh, how fun for the boys.
I hope Eldest feels better soon. *hugs*
–
I should work on this file I brought home with me…it’s sitting there taunting me.
I’m going to drink more coffee and read the Sarah thread instead.
–
Fun little story about SO grokking things:
Me: “So then they had the newbie drive the engine back from the call, which no officer has ever done with me, even though I’ve gone and gotten my truck permit 4 times and each time it’s been allowed to expire without anyone taking the time to train me on the engine.”
Him: “Jesus.”
Me: “One of my friends told me it’s because I drive ‘crazy’, which I don’t know if I do or not, but that’s why I’ve been asking you how my driving is all the time.”
Him: “Well, ‘crazy driver’ is probably code for them for ‘woman driver’ and it’s really just because you’re a woman.”
Wherein Portia is so entrenched in this shitty culture that she falls victim to the trap of needing a man to validate what she suspected before she has the confidence in her own abilities to call bullshit.
Sigh. But yay. But sigh.
Hullo
Had a really good night out last night.
I obviously had a blind spot in my English knowledge ’cause I never thought that a “battle ram” would look like that.
I hate how the Tauriel character was handled. Seriously.
Nice: we reserved our tickets online so we could pick them up before we go to the nearby Döner Kebap restaurant before the movie. On our way from the cinema to the Döner we met my aunt and uncle who were on their way to pick up their tickets. We went for a drink together afterwards.
Bad: Because nothing goes unpunished I’m sitting here with a bad belly bug now. 3 days before christmas. Double-unfair: there’s a nice tiny christmas market right in fron of my door right now and I’m curled up here with a blanket and a hot pack monster being completely miserable.
Portia
It’s always good to know that it’s not just us imagining things.
Ah, the joys of keeping my software up to date. I had a little device was a a/d converter/tuner for TV/VCR conversions . Its usefulness died when Comcast scrambled the lower band that was previously clear. Its last use was taping some knitting shows off the local PBR channels.
The company had an HD converter for satellite/cable boxes using component feed, with a neat IR device to change the channel on the box. I bought it. I had the dreaded uninstall old software paranoia setting in, so I checked the program in the install disk. It appeared to be an older version of the program on my computer. Had to check it out. Plugged the device into the USB system, and I could see it, and program on my computer could see it with the set-up function. Gee, was that hard work….
I’ll see if I can get the Yule log WGN does every Xmas eve as a test of the system.
Portia
rE: your 349, the good news counterpart:
one, two and three. Includes other Anons in that, too.
rq, oh no! Ugh, I’m really sorry :-( and I hope Eldest feels better really soon (withoutwithoutwithout passing it on … ). What perfect timing …. argh! We’re just getting over our collective Flu Bug Jamboree here, and I’m crossing tentacles that the Spawn don’t get it at all. I really really hope you don’t all have a FluBugFest now.
And also, avaunt! @ Giliell‘s evil stomach bug. Sorry about the timing for you too; hope it’s short-lived so you can maybe have a look at the market tomorrow?
Moments of Mormon Madness, pseudo Egyptian antiquities category, inexpert archaeology category.
Joseph Smith supposedly “translated” the Book of Abraham, one of mormonism’s sacred texts, from an Egyptian scroll. As it turns out, the scroll in question had nothing to do with Joe’s fantasies. Even today, mormons continue to make a “reformed Egyptian” connection to their religion.
Recently, BYU Professor Kerry Muhlestein was caught in a lie, or at least in an unprofessional exaggeration. Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities revoked BYU’s permission to work on a dig. Serves those deluded mormons right. Luxor Times link.
Here is a sample of Professor Muhlestein’s blather, enough to show you that he is an addlepated religious doofus, and that it is his religion that has lowered his IQ:
Link.
Here are some excerpts from Muhlestein’s series of videos defending the Book of Abraham being at least partially demolished. (That’s a YouTube link.)
The mormon diggers claimed to have found a skeleton representing a “giant,” also, conveniently, a detail from mormon mythology. Huffington Post link.
Happy Solstice–especially to Northern Hemisphere+Northern Latitude peeps.
I know, shortest day/longest night (N Hemisphere) was actually a few days back, but I find there’s something about having an official day on which to say “well, thank goodness _that’s_ over!”.
rq, Giliell, oh dear! Bad bugs begone!
I finished the grocery shopping for ours and Aged Mum’s households. I have one more thing to do, write the cards to go with the TJ’s gift cards and poinsettias for AM’s caregivers, and I’m done for the day.
I have decided that major housecleaning, i.e., vacuuming and washing of floors, can wait until after Christmas, because I am already tired and feeling rather bah humbug about the whole damn season. I did, however, wear something seasonal today – my sweatshirt with the people dancing around Stonehenge and “Give me that old time religion” printed on it. Happy Solstice, Everyone.
Happy solstice, Horde!
Chocolate crinkles turned out wonderful, rugelach pinwheels a mess.
I have a pre-cold headache.
*sterile hugs* to everyone who isn’t feeling well.
Yesterday was gloomy here, with rain and snow alternating all day. I went outside for a walk along the river anyway. Got myself muddy. Got my truck muddy. Hurried home as the early dusk descended. Nothing like a day that messy to make one appreciate central heating and a leak-proof roof.
Today, Winter Solstice, is not looking much better. It started with so much ice on my walkway and driveway that it wasn’t safe for me to venture out. The ice melted, but now we have ferocious winds whipping everything in sight into submission. Okay, come the darkness I will be inside sipping tea. Sheesh.
Anne, in my experience holiday guests will trash your floors anyway, so you might as well put off cleaning them. Label the decision “efficiency.”
No holiday guests at our house, fortunately. Also no point in washing the kitchen floor until after the holidays, because the Husband wants to do a turkey dinner sometime during his time off, and he’s a very messy cook. Unless something really gross gets spilled, it can all wait.
When the war on women meets the war on drugs.
A horrifying read. It brings together all the ways in which women in the USA face discrimination, unequal pay, increased incarceration for minor offenses, etc.
Yah, I suppose a temperature of 39.4 is a bit excessive.
Don’t touch them; your hand will freeze solid instantly. D:
Hello everyone.
So, I felt myself thinking back at the year that’s coming to an end and it made me want to write something here. It’s been a while since I posted, so a quick recap:
I had some severe anxiety issues that basically crippled me for a while. I sought help from a public program and got the therapy I needed. That meant that this summer I was back on my feet enough to pick up my education again and I’m currently enrolled in a biology master’s program and doing well.
There were a few times in the past year and a half where I felt a bit insecure and I needed to unload som stuff. Really, I just needed to actually tell someone about what was going on and I didn’t feel comfortable doing that with anyone I knew in real life. So, I did it here.
I just want to say that I appreciate this as a safe place where I could spill my guts and not be too worried about a negative reaction. Big hugs to all of you and I hope you have a great christmas and new year.
In some small, weird way, you’ve made a difference to me.
I just have to say that I’m fed up with the camo Santa fad that seems to have taken over my neck of the woods. Santa wearing camo on holiday cards, 7 foot tall blow-up Santas in people’s yards, knickknack Santas wearing hunters camouflage clothing, Santa in camouflage gear guarding baby jesus. I’ve had enough.
LykeX, that’s wonderful news and a hell of an achievement – congratulations! And I agree totally wrt the Horde; I don’t presume to speak for what it’s been like in your shoes, I don’t mean that, but this place makes a difference to me too.
Lynna,
That just makes me think of the Santa from Futurama, which is not a santa I would recommend invoking.
Lynna
That just makes Santa even creepier. A stalker, and now a military nut, too? *shudder*
Glad to hear things are looking up, Lykex!
Yay Tapetum, if I haven’t said that yet.
It’s FOUR DAYS until Christmas, I haven’t decorated. I haven’t bought things, not even the ones that have to be mailed. I feel no sense of impending doom about this; I’m reading novels instead (and oh my gosh, any academic here needs to go read “Dear Committee Members” by Julie Schumacher RIGHT NOW). I feel nothing about the holiday or holiday season. Nada. I don’t know if this is due to the buildup of stress and business at work, or if it’s because the kids are teenagers now and (being an atheist) I don’t attach as much importance to it any more, or if it’s a worrying symptom. I’ve had subclinical on-and-off depression for years, and I know full well that it’s exploded in the last six months. Still up and down, but the entire graph is several levels above usual, if that makes any sense. It still doesn’t feel to me that it’s bad enough to go start spending time and money and effort in therapy, but now I wonder if I’m far gone enough not to realize how bad off I am. But on the other hand, I think I’m paranoid and melodramatic and overreacting. Sigh. Life is hard.
I did, however, make 30 mini-burritos for Child 2’s holiday tae kwon do party today. I asked if I could go to the party with him this year and he told me NO. I think he wants to do the karaoke without me being there. ;)
Yay LykeX, I’m glad you’re doing well and good luck with the degree!!
Funny, Azkyroth, he feels pretty hot to me. In that this-is-not-normal-human-temp way.
Units of measurement are important. 39.4 is on the warm side, for some of us. rq I hope your eldest is feeling better soon (and doesn’t spread it to the others).
This year, mine and my wife’s families are a little more scattered than usual, we’re both working right up til christmas, and the new nephew is in hospital, potentially with kawasaki disease, or maybe a bad response to all the antibiotics, or otherwise the doctors are nearly out of ideas. I don’t think Christmas has ever been this stressful. :/
thunk @352
I’m not an expert, but I don’t think Belorussia was ever Lithuanians per se – there used to be a tribe (?) of Balts that lived in the territory that have been russified to the point of losing their language, is how I’ve learned that.
Also, Lithuania a backwater? :D The Polish-Lithuanian empire was kind of impressive in its day.
So I think the nationalism may be a little displaced? But I’m no authority on this. :P
Also, *highfive*! Potatoes win!
Also, carlie, *hugs*
I’m not sure what to say, except this particular holiday season has been pretty blah for me, too, and I’m not worrying about it. Is that a good thing? I don’t know. :( I hope you manage to find someone to talk to to sort things out, at least!
And had a laugh at Child 2’s response. ;)
Thanks, jste, and I extend the same wishes of quick return to health to your nephew!!
Christmas kind of sucks this year.
Have yourself a merry little squidmas,
Let your heart be light;
Octopus and cuttlefish swim into sight.
Have yourself a merry little squidmas,
Make the ocean gay;
Tentacles will wave our troubles miles away.
Haddock, flounder and monkfish, salmon, angler fish and cod
Simply pale in comparison to the great cephalopod.
Through the years we all will be together
If the tides allow;
Oyster, whelk and barnacle will turn and bow,
And have yourself a merry little squidmas now.
WALTON!!! *hugs* *confetti*
rq – you’ve had a pretty tough time; I could see where holidays wouldn’t be too much fun right now.
@Gilliel:
Usually, when someone talks about the use of a “ram” in battle, they’re referring to battering rams, which are big clublike things used to knock down doors/gates. Not sheep. Still.
I did enjoy Dain’s battlepig. As absurd as it was.
I also was disgruntled by Tauriel and how she was used. I’m all for increasing the appearance of women, but she was badly used. I appreciated the women of Lake-Town arming themselves to fight next to the men much more (though the “LOL crossdressing” jokes re: Alfred were utterly unnecessary). I also kept rolling my eyes at Thranduil. Yes, he’s an obnoxious prat. We GET it.
rq: Wishing a speedy recovery for Eldest, and a complete failure of the whateveritis to propagate throughout your family.
–
*fizzywater* for Giliell‘s tummy bug, with an option on *chikkensoop*.
Battlesheep.
–
Also wishing a speedy demise to Beatrice‘s on-coming cold.
–
Glad to hear things are going well for you, LykeX,/b>.
:)
–
*hugs* for carlie.
If it’s any comfort, we haven’t decorated for Xmas since back when Son still lived with us…ten years plus change.
I find it to be a great relief.
–
*hugs* and sympathy for jste. And, perhaps, a *soothing beverage*, alcohol added to personal taste.
–
Walton!
*stack of saved-up pouncehugs*, and Merry Squidmas to you!
–
Hi, thunk, LykeX, Walton
*hugs* all round, and hot tea for the sickened among us.
rq, jste
Best wishes for your family members.
We has no holiday decorations, or plans. We were going to have a small dinner get together, but since I haven’t got my food stamps this month (due to some obnoxious bureaucratic bullshit), our food budget is very tight, and we won’t be doing that. I’ll be working Christmas Eve, as my employer puts on a turkey dinner for the local homeless population. There’s apparently a staff party afterwards, so I guess that’s my plans in a nutshell.
There are days when I love Youtube. The Met broadcast was Nozze this Saturday, and I remembered seeing this version on the telly yonks ago. Bit edited in places, but the soap format is perfect for light opera buffo.
Something posted on Daily Beast a couple of days ago that had me sobbing in bed for hours, and it’s still getting me incredibly down. Tears welling up typing. I’m sorry I can’t link to it as I’m too scared to go find it again. Dealt with some British high-ups (MPs and the like) and just insanely evil abuse in the early 80s. (Obv. trigger alert for anyone that is curious and goes to look). It makes my heart so heavy knowing that people willingly, and sometimes gleefully, hurt others. I feel like vomiting even now.
Not that it makes any abuse any better or worse, but fuck, these people were elected to enforce law, to lead a nation, to make adult decisions… and they DID THAT. Fucking sociopaths, everywhere in politics, everywhere in life………… the weight of that, oh….
Curling up in a corner now. Not happy to be human.
WaltonWaltonWalton!!!
*huggeses*
How are you?
Good morning
Feeling better, like my body is actually processing nutritients and energy again (not eating for half a day is NOT something that puts me in danger of becoming severely underweight. Still, Saturday I was thinking “hmmm, I need to cut back on chocolate after the holidays because the jeans are getting tight”. This was NOT how I planned to do it.)
Lyke X
Yay! and hugs! I know what you mean.
Esteleth
I liked the rams, but they could have introduced them before, like showing some dwarves riding them. And yeah, I know what a battering ram actually is. Same compound in German, Rammbock (counterintuitively, Bock = ram)
And yeah, everthing else you said. Thranduil is the person you wished got killed in the battle.
rq
Ouch. Hope he’s better this morning. Nobody wants to have to take them to the doc 2 days before christmas.
carlie
*hugs*
Take care. You know that part of depression is that you don’t realise anymore that it’s gone out of control.
Walton!
*hugs* and a very merry Squidmas to you, too!
Walton, hello! That’s my new favourite holiday song. Very well done, good person!
Giliell
He SEEMS to be better, though I can’t tell – we’re drugging him regularly every 3 hours, which seems excessive (I believe it should be 4), so I called the doctor and – yes, socialized medicine (or something like it) wins – the doctor is coming to US, free of charge because he’s under 18.
So far so good, nobody else is catching. *crossing all thumbs with tentacles and holding them tight*
mishcakes
Warm drink? A cookie, perhaps? :( Fluffy bunny?
Also, to go back to the women of Esgaroth picking up weapons, they must have heard me shouting in my mind. Because, when you’re up against a force where defeat means 100% anihilation of your population, the only sensible recourse is that everybody who can make a net positive contribution fights. It was a bit like Helm’s Deep again: They’re up against the Uruk Hai, they complain about having to put boys on the wall and they lock Eowyn in the fucking caves.
jste, my sympathies and well-wishes for new nephew. That must be horrible for him and his parents and of course all the family – I hope he recovers soon :-(
Any change in Eldest’s condition, rq? (sorry, posting without refreshing yet because there’s so much to keep up with). I hope that at the very, very least you and your OH don’t coincide on any illness. Stretching at a real stretch for any conceivable silver lining – if the kids are unwell over squidmass itself, does that allow you to wriggle out of big family things you’d find less than stellar anyway, and you and the kids could have your own delayed celebration a little later when they’re well again? Crossing tentacles for you all.
Walton sighting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Squidly season’s salutations, Walton, it’s great to see you!
Hugs to carlie and cicely. Haven’t decorated in years either; just going to shop (tonight, probably) for a bit of fancy(ish) food and drink, and that’s it.
opposablethumbs
Well, it gets us out of everything, even the stuff I wanted to do. :( Also, Colleague said her son has scarlatina, so now I’m on the lookout for that (and strep throat) too. Urgh.
At least our schedule is rather mutable, as if we miss the actual christmas eve day, we can head over to the country on the weekend (actually, this does get me out of the obligation to make cookies and bacon rolls out in the country, as I usually avoid this by doing it all at home and then lazing about over there, but this year Husband was all ‘we must keep traditions alive!’ and was all ‘we’re going to make everything THERE just to make sure things are still happening over THERE!’ and it’s no use getting into a discussion about traditions etc. THIS year).
Plus Brother from London is here for a decent amount of time, and we’re making plans for New Year’s, because I am NOT going out to the country for the new year, pretty much ever again.
Now Youngest is showing signs of impending fever, and I have a residual headache-y feel that is most likely hypochondriac me being all ‘YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS TOO’, so I’m suppressing that for now. And Eldest is still on fever suppressants, too, and I’m still waiting for the doctor (but she only finishes office hours around 2). I suppose that makes it naptime for everyone.
*sigh*
I am glad, op.th., that you and yours are on the mend and mostly returning to health. :P
At least our christmas decorating is never excessive (the tree) and most presents have been bought.
rq
My sympathies. The good thing about scarlatina is that it’s easily treatable. I know those phantom illnesses. Whenever I hear “lice” my skull starts to itch…
Well, I decorated back at the start of the month. The tree gets put up on the 24th. We need to clean. I have to finish some last gifts, but everything looks doable…
Well, it’s strep throat. Or angīna, as they like to call it here. Hooray, House of Contagion!!!
But antibiotics are on their way, and here’s to a close-knit family celebration of the season (eating ice cream on doctor’s orders – I think the boys will go for that).
rq, I’m sorry your family is plagued. I hope the offspring, and you, and the Mr, are still able to enjoy your family celebration.
To the best of
knowledgeinvention, strep throat has no effect on zombies, potatoes, or peas. Not sure about horses. So be sure you have a good supply of napalm laid in.Professional tip: Napalm is the stuff which goes BOOM! and burns brightly. Ice cream is the stuff which then melts. This is a very useful distinction, which helps avoid confusing the two.
It looks like some sort of plague has hit the Horde! I hope all is well soon in the rq, Giliell and Yazikus housholds and anyone else who is suffering.
Great to hear from Walton though he had stopped commenting before I started.
The orchestra kid’s concerts went well on Saturday. It makes a long tiring day for the last Saturday before Christmas, but we have sell-out audiences and the kids seem to love it. My daughter was a little over-awed by the whole thing; at the moment she doesn’t do crowds. Maybe she’ll grow into it. We’ve moved her to a bed instead of a cot and she’s taken to that pretty well. She helped decorate the tree which was fun.
For some reason she doesn’t like going to nursery at the moment. We’ll have her at home for the majority of the festive period, so maybe that will help.
rq
My sympathies. It’s called Angina in German, too. But with antibiotics they should be out and about again, soon.
bassmike
Sometimes we all need a break. I swear if school had gone one for another day #1 and I would have killed each other…
+++
That’s probably me…
Udo Jürgens is dead. Here is his breakthough song Merci Cherie 1966 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bec7AUwA9js
And Muhammed Ali is in hospital.
I have not offered anything to the lounge lately because being nice is hard at the moment. Nevertheless, hugs for everyone that needs them!
Here is something I thought people would find interesting. Are boys even meaner than ‘mean girls’?. It’s interesting what gets posted to the Toruette’s forum that I frequent.
rq
Glad the medicine is on the way, or maybe there now. Strep throat is bad. I used to think my yearly tonsilitis as a kid was bad, then I got strep throat. I think my fever was a bit worse with tonsilitis, but throat pain and overall feeling was far worse with strep.
Indulging in too much new orbital seasonal holiday munchies, drinks, and debauchery a bit too soon?
Or, taking the example of the mildly deranged penguin, who has been on an full orbit bender, not enough and far too late.
Ed points out Obama’s All-Woman Press Conference. That’s not quite accurate, what actually happened is Mr Obama only called on female reporters (whether or by coincidence or design I do not know (and don’t care)). Cue freakouts from multiple types of wingnuts…
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping, and Gives You Nightmares.
Hello everyone!
I am just over my own sickness, so I am available to pass out cups of tea and chicken soup in rounds to everyone feeling poopy.
Also, I’ll chime in on decorating: I don’t. I never have since I moved to this house. Also, I don’t buy gifts for anyone except the two small children in the family. Everyone else gets baked goods.
Anyway, Hope everyone has some time to relax and enjoy the season.
I’m not a lounge regular, so please excuse me if I break any rules. Let me know what I did wrong.
First, a belated Happy Solstice to you all, and a Happy Crimble to those who want it. (That sounds like a dessert, now that I think about it).
Second, I was wondering if anyone here has attended the “Brighter Than Today” Secular Solstice event in New York City, either last Saturday or last year. I went to the one this year, and it was generally pretty good. But I had some mixed feelings about it. I thought I should seek out other people’s opinions, to bounce against my own.
Is this something anyone would like to talk about?
rq, so sorry to hear about the strep! I had it years ago and DO NOT WANT is putting it mildly. God I thought I was dying, it felt like swallowing razor blades and battery acid.
I can commiserate for real, to a point anyway. I have a very sore throat right now, and it’s crept into my tonsils, so that’s not a lot of fun. Although I think I’m past the very worst of it, I’m still going to whine like a white Christian social conservative at a gay rights convention. :-)
Except for the sociopaths with machine guns, I suspect they are rather silent and leave early for fear of catching Teh Gay (apparently worse than strep throat, eviluation, and sobriety, albeit not peas).
In the realm of threadrupt and TMI….
I’ve either regrown my appendix, and it’s infected again, or if I decided to try to get pregnant, I’d be able to tell that offspring which ovary it came from.
Ovarian cysts suck. The fact that my appendicitis didn’t hurt worse than a bad ovulation is amusing. This one is on par with the appendicitis, which sucks, because it hurts to walk.
Stupid uterus and ovaries.
mishcakes, I’m sorry.
*hugs, or other appropriate-and-non-intrusive gestures of comfort and support*
I find that it helps to remind myself that there is also a sizable number of people who abhor torture and abuse.
Otherwise, I would despair.
–
*hazmat-suited hugs* for rq. Strep throat…ugh.
Speedy recovery to all.
–
Brony!
*pouncehug*
–
*sterile hugs* for the ill and a pain pill for Rowan vet-tech
I drove a car! And I didn’t kill or maim anyone!
Admittedly, I only went 5-7 km/h , in circles.
@cicely
*Hugs back*
*hugs* and *beverage* for Rowan.
Indeed.
Not Good and Un-Cool, either way.
–
Beatrice:
Hurray!
:)
–
I hope it’s ok to talk about this here :S
I’m trying to get a bloody avatar, but for some reason when i try to log in on WordPress, it doesn’t recognise my account….What on earth am i doing wrong? Is not the username/password i use to log in here the same as what i should be using for WordPress? Could anybody help this technologically impaired moron?
There’s an error in comparison here somewhere, but I like this.
This is good news:
You must us gravatar, with the same e-mail login you use for FTB.
rq, #427
Yeah, the point about the sexism is valid, but the comparison is like the Catholic Church criticizing atheists for covering up rape. Having a female leader doesn’t say much about sexism in a society.
Here’s another clue to what Republicans are planning to do with their newly won majority in the Senate (they now control both houses). The kind of people they are hiring tells you something.
Thank you Nerd, i keep trying but it doesn’t work…
Ayn Rand Christmas cards:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/22/1353470/-21-Ayn-Rand-Christmas-Cards
Good parody.
Joe Cocker has died.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/joe-cocker-british-singer-dies
I see lots of agreement up-thread that Camo Santa is an abomination. I kind of like Yoda Santa. Link.
Joe Cocker died :(
Moments of Mormon Madness, gay men pressured to marry women category.
Raw Story link.
Comments from ex-mormons regarding the upcoming TLC special that features gay mormon men who marry women:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1465212
Some pretty damning details about the Knights of Columbus:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/12/22/3604140/knights-of-columbus-bankroll-social-conservative-movement/
This Is the Stupidest Anti-Science Bullshit of 2014
Lots more examples at the link, including everything Donald Trump said, Texas schoolbooks, Senators denying climate science, anti-vaxxers, Hobby Lobby ruling, etc.
I really enjoyed watching the last episode of The Colbert Report. Love that show.
Some people at Fox News started their coverage of the last episode with compliments:
Holy crap! Truth, sort of, from Faux News. Amazing. Of course “gaffes” is not exactly the right word for misinformation, lies, racism, misogyny, and other aspects of Fox News’s modus operandi.
I looked back at the old threads with the information to set up the accounts to work together, but the comments have disappeared or are inaccessible.
I seem to recall you must sign out of FTB, then sign back in after setting up the gravatar account, with the avatar picture. You may have already done that. Others who have set up avatars recently may be able to help.
*pops in*
*hugs & chocolate for cicely and mishcakes and Giliell*
Giliell, that link is full of win!
*pops out*
Oh argh rq I’m so, so sorry. Sick kids = hard hard times all round; sick kids + major holiday = just too bloody awful and exhausting for words. I hope something at least proves salvageable and/or can be postponed until people are well again. All my sympathies.
Such a picture painted in a few words :-) – great expression, jrfdeux!
Scr… Archivist
Welcome in.
Jump into any conversation, just be nice.
If it was not a zero-emissions car, then you are. In a slow and antagonizing fashion. (And if it was a zero-emissions car, then you may still be doing so.)
rq,
Sorry to hear that the bugs have got your family. I’m hoping the antibiotics are already there and the worst will soon be over. Take care and, yay! ice cream.
Jesus Blue-Balled Christ, I think I’ve unsubscribed from 20 different email lists containing the words “laser,” “focus,” and usually “world” by now, on top of informing the phone sales critter I wasn’t interested, and hanging up when they kept pushing.
All I have to say is, if anyone from Pennwell Publishing shows up in my yard with a boombox, I’m calling the cops.
(The trend of “newsletters” that are thinly veiled advertisements is annoying enough as it is, but the clinginess of this particular advertiser is getting creepy. >.> )
That was uncalled for.
*hugs* & *chocolate* & a truck-load of *Horsebane* & *antipeas* for David Marjanović.
;)
–
*pouncehug* for Maureen Brian.
Been a while since I’ve seen your ‘nym in these h’yar parts.
:)
–
I gotta agree.
It’d be nice to have a choice—to bike to work, to walk to work, to teleport to work—but many of us don’t.
(btw, if any of you know how to do that teleporting-to-work thing—I have a moderate amount of butter toffee peanuts I’d be willing to share.)
Well, the pattern doesn’t call for it, but I think the holes I knit into this sock give it a certain joie de vivre.
Plus, SO’s other thick socks mostly have holes in them, so, it’s just going to fit in.
Hello.
Today was boring. That wasn’t a bad thing. I checked out some random cool music genres, some of which I liked.
Also I’m mildly disappointed as to the lack of snow in my general area right now.
Good morning
Welcome in Scr… Archivist
I think your contribution is totally Loungy, I just can’t help you any further on accounts of being on the other side of ye olde pond.
beatrice
Yay for driving lesson!
+++
I also have a rather persistent (as in twice so far) caller from India who claims to be from Microsoft and I’ll lose my laptop AND my computer if I don’t… (probably send him money).
Now, let’s check:
1. I only own one of the two decives I’m going to lose.
2. Number supressed. Illegal for comercial callers in Germany
3. Don’t get me wrong, I love Indian English, it’s one of my most favourite varieties of English, but I doubt that 0.5% of the German population is able to understand it.
4. They have my phone number but are unable to send me a mail or a letter?
Yeah, that totally really makes sense in case Microsoft actually really wanted to contact me and urgently needed to communicate with me.
+++
Now off to making profiteroles for the 25th. For 14 people, some of whom are my FIL. Thankfully they take well to baking in advance and just toasting them again before serving.
Yay for Beatrice driving.
Welcome in Scr… Archivist . I’m sure rq will be round with the quiz, if you haven’t taken it already and rq’s not too laid low with illness.
Get well everyone!
Giliell I too have had that call. Even when I put the phone down on them, they phoned back to harangue me again! I wasn’t impressed.
I’m off after today. Probably until next year…depending on access to the lounge. I hope everyone has what they want over the festive period and a Happy New Year to you all.
I leave you with this: I think my daughter is messing with my mind. I had the following conversation at the weekend:
(looking through a book about colour)
Me: What’s that?
Daughter: A caterpillow (sic).
Me: What colour is it?
Daughter: Orange.
Me: It’s green.
Me: What’s that?
Daughter: A leaf.
Me: What colour is it?
Daughter: Orange.
Me: It’s green.
Me: What’s that?
Daughter: An apple.
Me: What colour is it?
Daughter: Orange.
Me: It’s red.
Me: What’s that?
Daughter: A strawberry.
Me: What colour is it?
Daughter: Orange.
Me: It’s red.
Me: What’s that?
Daughter: An orange.
Me: What colour is it?
Daughter: pink.
Me: *sigh*
bassmike
Either your daughter is actually colourblind (in which case you’d be, too) OR, congratulations, she’s discovered lying. The congratulations are sincere, because that’s a huge step. She’s a smart girl!
+++
*sigh*
Whatever calculations you’re doing, use a piece of paper.
I doubled the recipe for the profiteroles, and I doubled the liquid. Then the kids came into the kitchen and wanted something, and then I went with the number in my head and doubled it yet again. Now I have a probably very nutritious (milk, butter, flour) pot of totally useless goo.
I also had enough stuff left to make it again, this time with the right amount of liquid…
++++
RowanVT
My sympathies. I’m suffering from my regular reminder that I have this version of the reproductive system, too.
My sister complained that her OB/Gyn had told her that if they don’t get some troubles under control she’d recommend a hysterektomie (my sis is somewhere between childfree and childless and doesn’t have any use for a uterus anymore either) and she doesn’t want surgery and I was like “where can I sign up for one?” No more periods? No more contraception? Lower risk of old age incontinence? Sounds totally great to me! If we ever win the lottery I’m going to find somebody who does one for cash.
The medicine is working. Energy levels rather high. In the children, that is.
Thanks to everyone with the good wishes! We’re still on hold for major plans due to possible contagion in others, but most of the disease-stress has receded. Now it’s just cleaning stress. :P
But I made delicious cookies last night.
*hugs* for everyone, commiserrations and congratulations where and as necessary, please accept my sincerest good wishes – sorry I’m not particularly caught up, they’re still from the heart – though I noticed someone needs to fill out the questionnaire. Scr…Archivist? Please have a pen handy, and provide an opinion on the following (in 500 words or less, or more, or even in incomplete sentences, your choice):
1) horses
2) peas
3) cheese
BONUS) Miracle Whip
Thank you in advance! (This is vital paperwork for our files, so if you wouldn’t mind…)
Oh and thunk re: bad taste in music, well, I always feel a little ashamed of myself when I rock out to Dashboard Confessional in the car. But not ashamed enough not to do it. ;)
Scandinavia and the World:
EVIL CHRISTMAS KITTEN! http://satwcomic.com/christmas-kitten
-The Yule Cat is a monster from Icelandic folklore, a huge and vicious cat said to lurk about the snowy countryside during Christmastime and eat people who have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve. [1] The Yule Cat has become associated with other figures from Icelandic folklore as the house pet of the giantess Grýla and her sons, the Yule Lads.
Original Evil Christmas Cat illustrated: http://johannes.is/sida/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/jolakottur02.jpg
The number of the Yule Lads has varied throughout the ages, but currently they are considered to be thirteen.[1] They put rewards or punishments into shoes placed by children in window sills during the last thirteen nights before Christmas Eve. Every night, one Yuletide lad visits each child, leaving gifts or rotting potatoes,[2] depending on the child’s behavior throughout the year.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_Cat
Stuff Monsters Like http://www.stuffmonsterslike.com/
Is that Kang and Kodos at the top?
Want to watch ‘Outfoxed’?
Documentary that exposed Fox News released online in its entirety
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P74oHhU5MDk&feature=player_embedded
If ‘Black Lives Matter’ killed NYPD officers, Tea Party killed Las Vegas police http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/if-black-lives-matter-killed-nypd-officers-tea-party-killed-las-vegas-police/
— — —
Genetic study: ‘White’ Southerners have more African ancestry than they know http://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7431391/guess-where-white-americans-have-the-most-african-ancestry (and Southern whites have more black DNA than whites in the rest of US)
— — —
Turkey’s President Says Birth Control Is A Form Of Treason http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/22/erdogan-birth-control-treason_n_6366446.html Interestingly, in the original Turkish, the statement is an anagram of “I am an idiot, and my father’s sister is my mother”
— — —
A conservative judge sticks up for medical ethics and the First Amendment, removing ultrasound requirement for abortion
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/12/north_carolina_abortion_ultrasound_decision_quotes_from_judge_wilkinson.html
Russia successfully test-launches new Angara rocket http://phys.org/news/2014-12-russia-successfully-test-launches-rocket.html
— — —
Mysteries of ‘molecular machines’ revealed http://phys.org/news/2014-12-mysteries-molecular-machines-revealed.html , ..such as the bacterial “cascade”.
— — —
New non-invasive method can detect Alzheimer’s disease early http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-12-non-invasive-method-alzheimer-disease-early.html
That’s some really weird scam – it’s pretty common. We looked it up when we were being bombarded with it. We were getting called at least once a day for a few months. I usually feel a bit sorry for telemarketers, but scammers? I got to the point where I was yelling at them in my hardest threatening tone of voice to never call our number again, not that it helped. Finally the calls stopped, but I don’t know what made them finally get the hint.
bassmike – your daughter has discovered joking! :) Awesome! That was one of my favorite ages, when my kids were puzzling out the structure of what makes a good joke. I had to hear a lot of bad jokes in the process, but I loved how I could see them figuring out how wordplay works.
Here’s what happened when those Microsoft scammers happened to call a senior security researcher at a company that makes anti-virus software.
Why does Husband wanting to make gingerbread (that is, christmas spice cookies) with me always end up being another version of re-inventing the wheel?
He’s all, “Let’s do it this way, it will be faster!”
And I’m like, “No, it really won’t” as I think through the logistics of his Fantastic Idea.
Then we try it, and it takes longer than my usual method, and he’s all, “Well, this kind of sucks”.
This is not to say that his method couldn’t be faster if we worked on it and ironed out the wrinkles, so to speak. But that’s the part where he expects me to work things out, as I’ve had more practice at the cookie-making, and I’m rather stubborn about ME making MY cookies MY way, and if he wants to do it differently, then HE must work it out for HIMself. So me telling him to learn how to roll out smooth, even dough for himself that doesn’t stick to the board by practicing gets comments about how I should be more proprietary about my skills, and not so quick to teach them to other people (this includes sharing recipes).
I told him I’d rather other people did it for themselves than having to slave away for the entire country, because christmas spice cookies might be my tour de force, but it’s definitely not my life’s only goal. (Personally, I think my bacon rolls are that much better, but okay.)
I don’t think he believed me. But that’s his problem. :)
(Note: this is a mild complaint mostly in the spirit of ‘you have strange, annoying ideas’ rather than an honest ‘I’m feeling put-upon’ type of thing.)
And now I would like to complain on behalf of Husband. Who is showing signs of a stomach bug. Though he says it could be a stress-related thing, but… still. Eeek!!
(The strep has, so far, not reared its head in any other children. Or adults. *thumbs*)
bassmike
Prepare for a future of poorly constructed, extremely obscure (to the point of opacity) jokes where it will be your duty to laugh.
Your child: “See, and then the pig is green!” *delighted giggles*
You: “Uuuhhh, heh, heh, heh, heh…”
It gets better over time. :)
*hugs* to all of you.
I’m slowly getting into something resembling not quite a christmas spirit, but looking forward to the lack of obligate duties for the day tomorrow, such as making mroe spice cookies, waffle cones for the kids’ ice cream, and bacon rolls. And assorted other foods. And I can work on them all day at my own leisure. <- This being the key point – if there's no specific timeline, I'm okay with big projects and labour-intensive cooking.
Mmm, pīrāgi. I’ll be having some this afternoon.
Rob
Do you make your own, or do you get them someplace nearby?
Hiya thunk, forgot to wave at you earlier. Good to see you!
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I’m about to hit the road for Michigan. I have all my knitting and my books and my mental resolve to deal with my family’s quirks/infuriating qualities without SO to be a buffer. It will be good. I’ve decided that it will be good, so it will be good. Got the podcasts loaded up, the presents wrapped, and I am good to go.
rq:
I’m with you about Husband and the cookie methods. The term “filthy casual” comes to mind. ;)
Today is Signing Day. At approximately 10AM PST, a notary will show up at Aged Mum’s with the final documents for her to sign for her reverse mortgage. I won’t really be able to relax until she’s got the first installment of funds, but this is the last step to getting them. Except for the remaining repairs, but we’ve got a while to complete those. Still, I’m going to be nervous and worried all day, because there’s always another shoe.
Anne
Here’s to the Other Shoe being happily lost in the mail (or the washing machine, with all the lonesome socks). And may the signing go as planned, with nary a hitch in right!
Portia
Drive safe, and hope the family isn’t nearly as bad as it could be. :) Also, I am unsure about the meaning of the term ‘filthy casual’, but there’s a nice ring to it. (Is this something like ‘semi-formal’ but the opposite? :D)
rq @466: We make our own. Well, I lend a hand stirring the flour into the dough, but the real work’s being done by my sister, who’s been learning mum’s recipe. The niece makes very nice ones as well.
rq
YAY for improved health.
Your husband is a gingerbread mansplainer?
Mr occasionally starts to argue with items on my shopping list. Not “I’d prefer X over Y” but “You need X for that dish, not Y”. We’re talking about somebody who’s so bad at cooking that he killed the microwave the last time he tried to thaw bolognese sauce and whose cooking when I’d broken my foot was legendary
+++
Took the kids to the cinema. I’d expected #1 to freak out (she’s a movie cryer), but it was the little one who was overwhelmed. Mr took her outside and while he was taking the coats the wallet must have slipped out of the pocket. Yeah, I found it after searching through about a week’s worth of spilled popcorn….
+++
Also, trust your competence.
I’m currently making profiteroles #3. Ok, ok, I fucked up the first batch. Then, when I properly calculated the ingredients, it seemed to me that this was rather a lot of butter. And very low temperatures. But I haven’t made profiterles in about 10 years, so I went with it. After all, it was an Original French Recipe! From an Original French Star Cook! I should have gone with my experience and look it up in my German cooking book. Yeah, way too much butter… Completely fell down again after baking because egg and flour couldn’t properly form a stable wall. *sigh*
Rob
Do they manage to keep them shut while baking? This is a skill I have not mastered yet; mine always come out laughing and spilling their guts.
Giliell
“Gingerbread mansplainer” <- :D :D :D
Just seems funny right now.
Generally he's really good at cooking, but there are some things he does less often than I do, while still managing to have an authoritative opinion on it.
Also, those French and their butter. :P Hope the third batch turns out well!
rq: Yeah, they stay shut. The secret seems to be careful pinching, and moistening the edges if the dough is a bit dry. My expertise is now exhausted.
Rob
That trick never seems to work for me, but I think it’s because I put too much bacon in. Oh well, I thought maybe they had a special method. :)
I’m ‘rupt again (I’ll catch up in a bit), but I just wanted to say that, if it’s the first holiday season since your spouse left, and your spouse designed and programmed the dancing lights for the giant Christmas tree for a local festival of lights display, it’s probably not a good idea to go to that festival of lights. Especially not alone.
I was supposed to go with a group of friends, but they stood me up. I had already driven an hour to go to this thing, and the fellow who organized the trip didn’t return my text (still hasn’t). So I went by myself. It was a huge mistake. I left crying.
It’s been hard enough for me to try to make new friends, since almost everybody I knew was through my ex, but having this experience has enhanced my feelings of abandonment and loneliness.
rq: I’ll ask if there are any spells or incantations before baking, but I vaguely remember that over-baconing can be a problem.
BIG HUGS for Yellow Thursday
That really sucks. Those friends did bad by you, they should have been a bit* more empathic.
*Like a megaton
Yellow Thursday, I’m really sorry. And I’d like to give those friends – or at least the person who didn’t return your text – a friendly and very emphatic kick in the arse. That’s a shitty thing to do.
Hope you’re OK. {{{hugs}} if you’d care for ’em.
Linky stuff!
29 Bizzaro Xmas Cartoons
Astronomically Correct Twinkle Twinkle
Script Notes on the Birth of Jesus, by John Scalzi
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Scr… Archivist, Welcome In!
1) Horses?
2) Peas?…
Ah.
I see that rq has already given you the Questionnaire.
Goodgood.
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Sister envies me my Hysterectomy With All The Trimmings.
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Hurrah for high energy levels, rq! Glad to hear that The Plague has apparently been curtailed in its spread.
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birgerjohansson:
Reminds me of that one KKK doofus who was trying to put together his All White Paradise town.
:D
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*hugs* for Yellow Thursday.
May I wish a moderate-sized Pox upon the houses of your up-standing ‘friends’?
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Thanks for the hugs, Giliell, opposablethumbs, and cicely. I’m certainly not going to go out of my way to spend time with those friends, especially the guy who organized the trip, until I get a heartfelt apology from each of them. And maybe not even then.
Yellow Thursday,
*hugs*
Even in ordinary circumstances, standing someone out and not even acknowledging it is doing friendship badly. With the situation like yours, it’s extra assholish.
Yellow Thursday
That is a horrible thing to do to you (or anyone), and I hope you get some apologies.
*hugs* if desired. :( Hope your day got better from there!
Rob
Well, I’m pretty good at incantations, so maybe I’ll try a few tomorrow.
Yellow Thursday, so sorry to hear it. I’m in a similar-ish boat.
FWIW, this stranger on the Wet Coast of Canada sends you hugs of support if you want ’em.
Portia
*hugs* Best of luck with the family.
Yellow Thursday
*hugs*
Giliell
Yup, that’s a pretty common scam. I’ve gotten that call too, despite the fact that both of our computers run linux.
birgerjohansson
The latter portion is true regardless of the inaccuracy of the former.
Only stands to reason, that being where the great majority of the black population has been located for most of U.S. history.
*many hugs for everyone*. Merry Squidmas and Happy Holidays.
And a Happy New Beer!
:D
Thanks for the hugs, rq, jrfdeux, and Dalillama.
@rq
To be honest, it was the (very) bottom of an emotional rollercoaster of a day. It started good when I helped a couple buy a lake lot on which they intend to build a house to retire in. They even brought some
champagnesparkling wine to toast their purchase and sent half the bottle home with me. Then I had the episode I described previously, so I drove home and complained to a friend who I only know online while I finished off the bottle of sparkling wine. We ended up having a wonderful evening together (in the cyberspace sense of “together).rq, thanks for reminding me that there were good portions of my Friday, the later portion of which might not have happened if I hadn’t needed a shoulder to cry on.
Moments of Mormon Madness, controlling the way women dress category: a vendetta against patterned tights.
YouTube link.
Lynna
Does that mean solid-coloured tights are okay, as long as they’re not too tight?
Giliell @453,
Thank you, and that is fine. In fact, I am a bit jealous of you since you are in the general habitat of the Krampus.
rq @456,
Uh-oh. A questionnaire.
1.) horses — I haven’t listened to the entire thing, but Patti Smith is generally good. If I was stranded in New York City in the mid-1970’s I would definitely want to catch one of her shows. As for non-vinyl horses, I have never ridden one, but I have worked with a few. They certainly have individual personalities!
2.) peas — They are good. They make a fine addition to turkey soup. But one can even eat them plain! Or with butter! (I just don’t recommend eating them with a knife.)
3.) cheese — This cannot be generalized as either “good” or “bad”. Have you ever had American cheese? Have you ever had processed American cheese in individually-wrapped slices? Either way, I do not recommend it. Instead I favor such varieties as a sharp cheddar or a Comté. Goat cheese with dill makes a wonderful spread on bagels.
Bonus question.) Miracle Whip — My answer is “no”. Even though it is something I grew up with, just no. I also grew up with Wonder Bread, and you know what they say about that. One could say the same thing about Miracle Whip. Cue a variation on Linda Richman’s discussion icebreaker.
I hope that helps with your files. Please give my regards to Mrs. Robinson and all the ships at sea. And best wishes to you and your household.
I haz gifts wrapped.
About what feels like 300. Probably 20.
I know, it’s kind of a useless exercise, but when I was a kid the gifts were never wrapped and I kinda missed it. No, not something I actually blame anybody for. Just, you know.
Scr… Archivist
Only the general direction. It’s a tradition in the South of Germany, not where I am. We do have Knecht Ruprecht, St. Nick’s helper who beats the naughty children.
rq @491, the mormon mansplainer from on high said that plain black or plain white tights are okay for adult women (and teenagers, I think) as long as you keep an eye on your hemline and make sure your skirt is long.
The mormon manly doofus also allowed pink tights with pink dresses for little girls.
Polka dots were highlighted as offensive, “drawing attention to the legs” and so forth. Stripes, likewise. Other than that, the general pronouncement was that “patterned tights” are not acceptable. This important announcement was prefaced with the claim that the new dress code rules came from “The First Presidency,” which is the Prophet and his two closest advisors. There is no higher authority on earth.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-interview-back
So, the movie “The Interview” is back, sort of.
Merry Happy to Walton!
Ugh, didn’t get much done on my project, but then I had to wait for the two nurses looking after the Redhead to come an do their stuff. There may even be a new wheelchair in the works (a high-backed recliner that will work with the Hoyer lift). Then, real physical therapy can be done to get her back onto her feet at least long enough for transfers, which means getting her out of the house.
Meanwhile, killing time by playing with my TV video downloader, showing it needs a steady picture of the same size prior to a channel change, or nothing but noise is seen after the conversion to a new frame size with fast exporting…and sometime not even with slow exporting. Also working on the logistics of capturing/viewing as much of the Rose Parade as possible as per The Ginger Mandate.
There was a slight hitch in the production of Aged Mum’s paperwork. Signing is now scheduled for 6PM. At least we didn’t drive up there this morning to build her hand while she signed…
Hugs offered to all and sundry, and Bah Humbug Everybody!
Giliell 493
I am terrible at wrapping gifts. They come out lumpy in some spots, almost torn in others. And that’s the stuff that’s the right shape for wrapping — generally cubical. I am sooo glad my wife doesn’t mind wrapping.
We usually had a mixture of wrapped and not wrapped. Bikes were not wrapped. Neither was my street hockey net or sticks. And those kinds of things might make sense.
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We are 4 days from 19+ adults and 9+ kids descending on our house for our 35th+ goose dinner (this is only the 9th my wife and I will have hosted). Kitchen, family room, and bar need to be straightened and cleaned, but the rest of the house is good. We’ll spend part of tomorrow and most of Thursday doing the cleaning, then start kitchen prep on Friday.
I’ve been putting most gifts into festive bags. It’s easier than wrapping.