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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Parasaurolophus on May 17, 2019, 10:11:39 AM

Title: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 17, 2019, 10:11:39 AM
I always wanted one of these on t'other Fora, but never got around to starting it. So here we go! A thread for things you just wanna say or share that don't necessarily fit in other, dedicated threads.

For instance, the Arctic's first-ever lambeosaur (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/alaska-north-slope-lambeosaur-fossil-1.5081491) was found recently.

Also, summer grading hell begins.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2019, 12:48:18 AM
Cerium is the only element that has a solid-solid critical point (https://www.pnas.org/content/108/23/9342  an open-source article with which I have zero affiliation).
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on May 18, 2019, 12:55:59 AM
W. E. B. Du Bois has a ggplot theme: https://www.statswithmatt.com/post/ggplot2-meets-w-e-b-du-bois/ (https://www.statswithmatt.com/post/ggplot2-meets-w-e-b-du-bois/)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2019, 06:59:49 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 18, 2019, 12:55:59 AM
W. E. B. Du Bois has a ggplot theme: https://www.statswithmatt.com/post/ggplot2-meets-w-e-b-du-bois/ (https://www.statswithmatt.com/post/ggplot2-meets-w-e-b-du-bois/)

That's a really cool plot at the top of the page.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fast_and_bulbous on May 18, 2019, 07:29:43 AM
The last thing to really jazz me in the sciences was the discovery of a fossil site that most likely captures the hours during the KPg extinction event (the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs). Science article (https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/astonishment-skepticism-greet-fossils-claimed-record-dinosaur-killing-asteroid-impact),  PNAS article (https://www.pnas.org/content/116/17/8190), and an article in the New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-died). I was floating a few inches above the ground for a couple days after reading this. Imagine, finding a smoking gun that captures the violent event itself... just mindblowing, and I hope Robert DePalma has the best friggin' academic career from here on out...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2019, 08:34:38 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 18, 2019, 12:55:59 AM
W. E. B. Du Bois has a ggplot theme: https://www.statswithmatt.com/post/ggplot2-meets-w-e-b-du-bois/ (https://www.statswithmatt.com/post/ggplot2-meets-w-e-b-du-bois/)

That was really cool, thanks for sharing it! I'ma distribute it more broadly.

(Also cool was the graph for Napoleon's invasion of Russia, which I'd never seen.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hesitant on May 18, 2019, 09:41:18 AM
Listening to Innovation Hub as I browse the Fora... a species of ants in Latin America dedicates time and effort to farm a small beetle in proximity to their colony, so that they can harvest a special fungus growing in the hairy parts of its legs which then they consume because it makes them incredibly slow. Since the substance has no nutritious or other value, they dedicate time, resources and effort to growing the beetle, just so they can  slow down... super industrious ants need a drug to take a break! Fascinating!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2019, 10:37:16 AM
Quote from: hesitant on May 18, 2019, 09:41:18 AM
a species of ants in Latin America dedicates time and effort to farm a small beetle in proximity to their colony

I love the mental picture of ant farmers with a beetle.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2019, 12:30:40 PM
Quote from: hesitant on May 18, 2019, 09:41:18 AM
Listening to Innovation Hub as I browse the Fora... a species of ants in Latin America dedicates time and effort to farm a small beetle in proximity to their colony, so that they can harvest a special fungus growing in the hairy parts of its legs which then they consume because it makes them incredibly slow. Since the substance has no nutritious or other value, they dedicate time, resources and effort to growing the beetle, just so they can  slow down... super industrious ants need a drug to take a break! Fascinating!


Whooooaaaa!


For my part, today I'm grading my class' first test. So far, the results are... well, disastrous. It was a very easy test, and I even told them what one of the five questions was going to be ahead of time. I'm about 25% of the way through them all, and at this rate I'll be lucky if more than ten earn passing grades. Oof. (My department head did tell me to expect that half or more of the class would fail outright, but I cockily thought I could do much better.)

The adjustment period continues!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 18, 2019, 02:17:28 PM
So, you don't think they need help slowing down, unlike the ants, then, hunh?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hesitant on May 18, 2019, 02:42:57 PM
(I thought Mamselle's comment was addressed to me, which it wasn't...and now I can't delete my response...so here is a version of it, anyway)

The reason I posted about the ants needing to slow down is that I thought it was hilarious, coming from a culture that glorifies the industrious ant; I am not kidding: every person my age had to,  at the age of 5 or so,  memorize a poem, a version of the Aesop's tale about the grasshopper and the ant,  and  recite it on all kinds of weird occasions. To make things worse, the grasshopper is a musician in this version, so it tells you a lot about the status  of the arts and the humanities in my culture of origin...

Now, imagine me hearing this bit about ants farming beetles for the sole purpose of getting high on their foot/leg fungus!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2019, 02:43:58 PM
I can see why you really needed to share and thanks for doing so!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 18, 2019, 02:55:23 PM
Yes, I was commenting on what I thought might have been the intended but unstated connection with your post (which I also enjoyed) and the next post after it...as in, students doing that abysmally on a test, unlike the ants, probably need a pick-me-up instead!

I should have used the quote function to clarify...

Sorry if it seemed confusing!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hesitant on May 18, 2019, 03:06:52 PM
Mamselle,

Your post was crystal clear...I just read it the way I wanted to; you, see I can't really stop posting about those ants! May be I should go and finally score all these placement essays I have signed up to score! Sigh! Scoring placement essays is so much less fun than discussing hardworking ants on drugs...C'est la vie!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 18, 2019, 04:42:37 PM
C'est vrai...

;--}

If Octoprof were posting, I suspect she'd say something like, "Get going on that grading, youngster."

<stern look.>

M.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ex_mo on May 21, 2019, 06:36:47 AM
I am endlessly amused by this fact:


Dick Cheney, former Vice President of the United States, who shot his friend in the face by "accident" and then that friend went on TV and APOLOGIZED TO DICK CHENEY, doesn't have a heartbeat.

He is alive, but his heart does not beat.
https://www.livescience.com/33035-is-it-true-that-dick-cheney-has-no-heartbeat.html

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on May 21, 2019, 09:26:49 AM
We can write "class clown" without it being censored!  Will wonders never cease?!

(I was going to post this in the One-Offs thread, but there doesn't seem to be one, and given how the old one turned frequently passive-aggressively nasty -- or sometimes even aggressively nasty -- I've opted not to start one for the moment.)


In other news, I saw my first monarch of the season yesterday, and also some turkey vultures and watersnakes.  Hooray!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 21, 2019, 10:23:31 AM
QuoteIn other news, I saw my first monarch of the season yesterday,

Did you bow or curtsey properly?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on May 21, 2019, 11:59:29 AM
Quote from: mamselle on May 21, 2019, 10:23:31 AM
QuoteIn other news, I saw my first monarch of the season yesterday,
Did you bow or curtsey properly?
Mais oui!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 23, 2019, 09:05:15 PM
I just found out about tayberries--a cross between blackberries and raspberries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tayberry
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 06, 2019, 02:55:32 PM
About time Warren came out with some kind of environmental platform. Jeeze.


Also: had one of my two mandatory peer class evaluation visits today. Surprisingly, the students were entirely undaunted--which I know, given my other posts, sounds like it isn't saying much. But actually, they were much livelier today than they usually are. Maybe some of that was the topic, which I suspect is of particular interest to them. Or maybe they just knew I needed to look good today. Either way, thumbs up!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on June 07, 2019, 06:27:14 AM
Read Getting to Yes, do your research, and make a principled negotiation for new positions, even acting positions.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on June 08, 2019, 11:31:08 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on June 07, 2019, 06:27:14 AM
Read Getting to Yes, do your research, and make a principled negotiation for new positions, even acting positions.

This reminded me of something that has always stuck with me.  One of the books we were assigned during a mini-MBA course is Getting Past No.  The chapter that stood out to me is about building a golden bridge for the person you're negotiating with.  It opens with a quote from Sun Tzu: "Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across."  I sometimes find myself on the more aggressive side of negotiating, so this was a good lesson to learn and one that I have used many times since.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on June 12, 2019, 08:09:32 PM
Holy cow!  My Blues won their very first Stanley Cup!!!!!  Play Gloria! 😁😁😁
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 12, 2019, 08:16:28 PM
I pulled out the binocs and had a good look at Jupiter last night.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 18, 2019, 04:55:44 AM
How long is it still visible?

I think maybe I saw it, walking home last night...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: backatit on June 18, 2019, 09:12:30 AM
I just got my home office set up and I am gloriously happy, as are the dogs. I'd been working in the bedroom or the living room, but with TWO of the adult children moving home at once, I need a nice space to work. I have bookshelves, lots of bookshelves! And a view of the garden from my desk (just a glimpse, but it's nice!). I wasn't loving my house lately, but this could help.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: filologos on June 20, 2019, 06:49:38 PM
Quote from: ex_mo on May 21, 2019, 06:36:47 AM
I am endlessly amused by this fact:


Dick Cheney, former Vice President of the United States, who shot his friend in the face by "accident" and then that friend went on TV and APOLOGIZED TO DICK CHENEY, doesn't have a heartbeat.

He is alive, but his heart does not beat.
https://www.livescience.com/33035-is-it-true-that-dick-cheney-has-no-heartbeat.html

That article is from 2011. He had a heart transplant in 2012 (https://newsarchive.heart.org/dick-cheney-to-recount-longtime-battle-with-cardiovascular-disease/), so he no longer has the VAD.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 27, 2019, 07:46:56 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 18, 2019, 04:55:44 AM
How long is it still visible?

I think maybe I saw it, walking home last night...

M.

I dunno, but I'm pretty sure it's still visible, though less so.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on June 27, 2019, 09:16:45 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 27, 2019, 07:46:56 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 18, 2019, 04:55:44 AM
How long is it still visible?
I think maybe I saw it, walking home last night...
I dunno, but I'm pretty sure it's still visible, though less so.
Yup!

Stargazers: June 26 - July 2 (http://www.pbs.org/video/the-sky-on-the-4th-of-july-june-26-july-2-5-min-oxjb8l/)  (5min PBS video)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on June 29, 2019, 05:59:07 AM
Repeatedly, for years, people asked about the original Blue Rhinoceros Triangle post and sighed heavily over not being able to find it.  The CHE Posting Hall of Fame has it on the first page.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on June 29, 2019, 09:37:21 PM
I was looking for something else and encountered again "The Top 100 Things I'd Do if I Ever Became an Evil Overlord".

I post the link here in case anyone else needs to remember to run all plans by a small child to look for flaws that can be corrected prior to implementation.

https://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/evilovl.html
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 29, 2019, 11:06:29 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on June 29, 2019, 09:37:21 PM
I was looking for something else and encountered again "The Top 100 Things I'd Do if I Ever Became an Evil Overlord".

I post the link here in case anyone else needs to remember to run all plans by a small child to look for flaws that can be corrected prior to implementation.

https://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/evilovl.html

Oh! Yeahyeah! I'm so glad that's still available!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on July 02, 2019, 08:12:27 AM
Either one workman, or several in succession, have whistled the following tunes outside my office window this morning:

1. The sad mopey Luke theme from Star Wars
2. The Quantum Leap theme song
3. Yankee Doodle

A certain invarience in tone quality and intonation leads me to believe it is the same performer for all three tuens.

In between musical interludes we have heavy machinery.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Conjugate on July 02, 2019, 02:48:26 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 29, 2019, 11:06:29 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on June 29, 2019, 09:37:21 PM
I was looking for something else and encountered again "The Top 100 Things I'd Do if I Ever Became an Evil Overlord".

I post the link here in case anyone else needs to remember to run all plans by a small child to look for flaws that can be corrected prior to implementation.

https://www.chaosmatrix.org/library/humor/evilovl.html

Oh! Yeahyeah! I'm so glad that's still available!

It's also at the original site (though Malwarebytes warns me that it has a trojan, which I find... dubious).
http://eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html (http://eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 04, 2019, 04:27:38 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on June 29, 2019, 05:59:07 AM
Repeatedly, for years, people asked about the original Blue Rhinoceros Triangle post and sighed heavily over not being able to find it.  The CHE Posting Hall of Fame has it on the first page.

There was also a later thread, with a link to a photo album site that Pry or Voxy put up with several options, possibly to have been voted on? (I think...)

I saved each of them separately as picture files and continue to use them for greeting placards at meetups.

I also still have one done, I think, for the Paris meetup in 2009, with a classical Greek building and a small biting insect as a pun, saying "Bien venue, 'xxx' + 'guy's, but I never uploaded it.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on July 27, 2019, 05:27:01 AM
I just love this Slate article that can so easily be substituted to be "Every Conversation With A Mentally Stuck Individual".

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/low_concept/2015/10/every_conversation_between_a_parent_and_a_child_in_four_conversations.html

Around my house, the joke has become "I have new information: I need it" when we see a mentally stuck person.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 01, 2019, 07:06:27 PM
I took the path through the woods down to the ferry this morning, stumbled, my ankle rolled, and I landed right on it and then nearly tumbled the rest of the way down the hill head over heels. 'Twas rather painful, and for a few seconds I thought I'd broken it and would have to crawl back up the hill to get to the road. But then I checked my mobility, and it was fine, if painful, so I hirpled the rest of the way down to the ferry, by which point most of the pain had dissipated.

Also, the other day, the car was parked in such a way that when I opened the door, gravity assisted me and I smashed myself in the face with it. So. I'm winning this week big time.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on August 02, 2019, 02:57:00 PM
Hirple.

Thanks!

It was used not too long ago here, or one the CHE threads...glad to see it again, now that I know what it means...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 02, 2019, 03:02:17 PM
Quote from: mamselle on August 02, 2019, 02:57:00 PM
Hirple.

Thanks!

It was used not too long ago here, or one the CHE threads...glad to see it again, now that I know what it means...

M.

It may well have been me. I stole it from Robert Low's viking novels years ago.

Then again, I think it's more commonly used in the UK.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on August 02, 2019, 07:31:38 PM
Please don't "reply all."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 05:31:42 AM
Quote from: aside on August 02, 2019, 07:31:38 PM
Please don't "reply all."

I prefer the amended version of:

Please check your recipient list and compare it to the point of your message. 

A group bigger than 5 people?  Reply all is probably the wrong choice.

A group that was only a couple people and we're making plans?  Please reply all, not just the last respondent on the chain, so we're all in the loop.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on August 03, 2019, 06:22:02 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 05:31:42 AM
Quote from: aside on August 02, 2019, 07:31:38 PM
Please don't "reply all."

I prefer the amended version of:

Please check your recipient list and compare it to the point of your message. 

A group bigger than 5 people?  Reply all is probably the wrong choice.

A group that was only a couple people and we're making plans?  Please reply all, not just the last respondent on the chain, so we're all in the loop.


Amended version is agreeable, of course, though the size of the recipient list matters less to me than the purpose of the message to which one is responding.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 06:36:36 AM
Quote from: aside on August 03, 2019, 06:22:02 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 05:31:42 AM
Quote from: aside on August 02, 2019, 07:31:38 PM
Please don't "reply all."

I prefer the amended version of:

Please check your recipient list and compare it to the point of your message. 

A group bigger than 5 people?  Reply all is probably the wrong choice.

A group that was only a couple people and we're making plans?  Please reply all, not just the last respondent on the chain, so we're all in the loop.


Amended version is agreeable, of course, though the size of the recipient list matters less to me than the purpose of the message to which one is responding.

I mention size because the conversation at work recently was whether we could get an email feature that checks the size of the recipient list and pop up a "2562 recipients.  Are you really sure you want to send this message?" after someone yet again replied all with personal information to a general announcement and the personal information was not flattering to the sender--think along the lines of clearly didn't read the syllabus or the last four related announcements, but now is really concerned that this thing is happening tomorrow and it conflicts with personal, important plans.

The next most annoying aspect is the person who then replies all yet again to apologize to the big list.  No!  Just quietly complain offline to your neighbor about failing at email and let it be.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: paultuttle on August 03, 2019, 12:05:00 PM
The rabbits in our back yard are becoming bolder. They'll stay right there, nibbling on grass, while you drive up and park about 10 feet away.

(warning: 80s phrase approaching in 3, 2, 1 . . . .)

What's up with that?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on August 03, 2019, 12:21:11 PM
Quote from: paultuttle on August 03, 2019, 12:05:00 PM
The rabbits in our back yard are becoming bolder. They'll stay right there, nibbling on grass, while you drive up and park about 10 feet away.

(warning: 80s phrase approaching in 3, 2, 1 . . . .)

What's up with that?

Parking zero feet away might begin to solve that problem.  If it is a problem.  Maybe you have a yen for lagomorphs grazing nearby?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 09, 2019, 03:16:27 PM
There sure are a lot of spammer signing up today.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on August 28, 2019, 06:48:35 PM
I was two houses down from my own door when I saw the small, black-and-white furry rug-like creature trundle up my steps.

I'm hanging out under the eaves of the convenience store at the end of the block for a bit before I try again...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Thursday's_Child on August 29, 2019, 07:23:17 AM
Quote from: mamselle on August 28, 2019, 06:48:35 PM
I was two houses down from my own door when I saw the small, black-and-white furry rug-like creature trundle up my steps.

I'm hanging out under the eaves of the convenience store at the end of the block for a bit before I try again...

M.

Glad you saw it in time!  How long did you have to wait for it to trundle off?

Also, we do need a wildlife thread, don't we?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 14, 2019, 10:58:31 PM
On Monday, one of my courses starts a four-week climate change module. I'd forgotten how reviewing it, and prepping the few new additions, makes for a grim night filled with abject despair. Jeeze.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: miss jane marple on September 15, 2019, 06:43:48 AM
This is something I want to tell one specific person, in the odd event that they are reading this fora.

Background: last December a college student in my family suddenly became very ill and was hospitalized for a week undergoing diagnostic tests and treatment for the severe symptoms. It was also finals week. Because this excellent student had mostly As going into the final, all but one of the professors involved agreed to record the grade already earned. The holdout was the professor of the required course for the student's major; this professor insisted that a make-up exam be completed. The student did sit for the make-up exam in January. During spring break, the student flew to another state to undergo brain surgery by a specialist in the rare condition that had caused the illness. No class work was missed, and the student successfully finished the spring semester. Now a senior expecting to graduate in May, the student has learned that the professor who insisted on the make-up exam has STILL not recorded a grade for the course.

Dear Professor,

I have no idea what the circumstances of your life are or what private hell you may be inhabiting. Perhaps your spouse of 20 years has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Perhaps your house has burned down. Perhaps you are in the early stages of dementia. I have no way of knowing. What I do know is that you have a professional responsibility not the screw over the people you are paid to teach. Record the grade so that this young person, who has done everything possible to fulfill their responsibility as a student and member of your college community, can complete a degree in your department and enter the work force. DO IT NOW.

Thank you.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Anselm on September 15, 2019, 09:52:47 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 06:36:36 AM
Quote from: aside on August 03, 2019, 06:22:02 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 05:31:42 AM
Quote from: aside on August 02, 2019, 07:31:38 PM
Please don't "reply all."

I prefer the amended version of:

Please check your recipient list and compare it to the point of your message. 

A group bigger than 5 people?  Reply all is probably the wrong choice.

A group that was only a couple people and we're making plans?  Please reply all, not just the last respondent on the chain, so we're all in the loop.


Amended version is agreeable, of course, though the size of the recipient list matters less to me than the purpose of the message to which one is responding.

I mention size because the conversation at work recently was whether we could get an email feature that checks the size of the recipient list and pop up a "2562 recipients.  Are you really sure you want to send this message?" after someone yet again replied all with personal information to a general announcement and the personal information was not flattering to the sender--think along the lines of clearly didn't read the syllabus or the last four related announcements, but now is really concerned that this thing is happening tomorrow and it conflicts with personal, important plans.

The next most annoying aspect is the person who then replies all yet again to apologize to the big list.  No!  Just quietly complain offline to your neighbor about failing at email and let it be.

Do you folks remember what happened in the old days of 1997?  Emails would be sent out to 15,000 students and employees on campus.  Then many of the recipients would reply to all with "remove me from your email list".  Then others would reply to all to explain that replying to all was counterproductive and only making the problem worse. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Thursday's_Child on September 15, 2019, 10:52:34 AM
Quote from: Anselm on September 15, 2019, 09:52:47 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 06:36:36 AM
Quote from: aside on August 03, 2019, 06:22:02 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on August 03, 2019, 05:31:42 AM
Quote from: aside on August 02, 2019, 07:31:38 PM
Please don't "reply all."

I prefer the amended version of:

Please check your recipient list and compare it to the point of your message. 

A group bigger than 5 people?  Reply all is probably the wrong choice.

A group that was only a couple people and we're making plans?  Please reply all, not just the last respondent on the chain, so we're all in the loop.


Amended version is agreeable, of course, though the size of the recipient list matters less to me than the purpose of the message to which one is responding.

I mention size because the conversation at work recently was whether we could get an email feature that checks the size of the recipient list and pop up a "2562 recipients.  Are you really sure you want to send this message?" after someone yet again replied all with personal information to a general announcement and the personal information was not flattering to the sender--think along the lines of clearly didn't read the syllabus or the last four related announcements, but now is really concerned that this thing is happening tomorrow and it conflicts with personal, important plans.

The next most annoying aspect is the person who then replies all yet again to apologize to the big list.  No!  Just quietly complain offline to your neighbor about failing at email and let it be.

Do you folks remember what happened in the old days of 1997?  Emails would be sent out to 15,000 students and employees on campus.  Then many of the recipients would reply to all with "remove me from your email list".  Then others would reply to all to explain that replying to all was counterproductive and only making the problem worse.

I knew my uni was behind the times!  We've done that as recently as... 2015, maybe?  Possibly even more recently.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Thursday's_Child on September 15, 2019, 11:10:30 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on September 14, 2019, 10:58:31 PM
On Monday, one of my courses starts a four-week climate change module. I'd forgotten how reviewing it, and prepping the few new additions, makes for a grim night filled with abject despair. Jeeze.

+1

To make things worse, start here      https://xkcd.com/1732/    and then point out the conditions under which all of our major crops evolved.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 15, 2019, 05:37:26 PM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on September 15, 2019, 11:10:30 AM

To make things worse, start here      https://xkcd.com/1732/    and then point out the conditions under which all of our major crops evolved.

Oh! I totally forgot about that, thank you!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: kaysixteen on September 15, 2019, 06:57:20 PM
Wrt the prof who will not record the grade for the senior with the brain tumor, even after said kid completed required work whilst dealing with his condition, can't the department/ university admin just force him or override him and do it themselves?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 18, 2019, 07:28:57 AM
Sent my first report of a violation of the Elections Act to Elections Canada this morning. My first report of the election campaign, I mean. My first-ever report was when I worked at a polling station and discovered people had been called and deliberately sent to the wrong stations.


Forumites may be interested to learn that it concerns an improper use of quotation: a candidate faked a "celebrity" endorsement by quoting something he said and appending "Conservative" to his exhortation to vote--but there's only an opening quotation mark, no closing one. So: a libellous instance of personation, and yet another instance of D-C students incompeting in the world.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: miss jane marple on September 18, 2019, 11:28:27 AM
Quote from: kaysixteen on September 15, 2019, 06:57:20 PM
Wrt the prof who will not record the grade for the senior with the brain tumor, even after said kid completed required work whilst dealing with his condition, can't the department/ university admin just force him or override him and do it themselves?

I'm sure the Dean of Academic Affairs can get involved if the problem continues to that point. My vent is that this is part of the professor's ordinary responsibilities and it shouldn't take a jolt from a Dean to make them do it. On the up side (she said sarcastically) the family is not shy about insisting, and knows how to use all available resources. It just in my opinion should not be necessary to do all this just to make someone do their own job.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fishbrains on September 22, 2019, 10:34:16 AM
Quote from: miss jane marple on September 18, 2019, 11:28:27 AM
Quote from: kaysixteen on September 15, 2019, 06:57:20 PM
Wrt the prof who will not record the grade for the senior with the brain tumor, even after said kid completed required work whilst dealing with his condition, can't the department/ university admin just force him or override him and do it themselves?

I'm sure the Dean of Academic Affairs can get involved if the problem continues to that point. My vent is that this is part of the professor's ordinary responsibilities and it shouldn't take a jolt from a Dean to make them do it. On the up side (she said sarcastically) the family is not shy about insisting, and knows how to use all available resources. It just in my opinion should not be necessary to do all this just to make someone do their own job.

Huh. I had a very hostile mother yell at me once because I hadn't changed her daughter's grade. I was a bit surprised because I had turned in the paperwork to change the grade, but it had landed at the bottom of the pile on someone else's desk--and stayed there for well over a month. I emailed her the scan I had made of the grade change form (not my first time at this rodeo, bro) and sent her up the line. Apparently, she chewed some folks a few new buttholes. Anyway, sometimes you just gotta shake the monkey tree.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fishbrains on September 22, 2019, 10:51:56 AM
I could have used the same response for every email from every student last week: "Your missing my class, again, should not cause me additional work. Check the syllabus, and come to my office hours if needed."

Also, the powers-that-be must be suggesting to students that they should ask for professors' notes when they miss. I have had an unusual numbers of requests this semester. I had to show my notes to one student, who was upset at my refusal. They said the following on a sticky note: "1) Go over 'A Rose for Emily,' Homer Barron, 2) Modernism, 3) 'Journey of the Magi,' 4) Harlem Renaissance with IceT 'If We Must Die,' Hughes/Cullen, 5) Hurston/Larsen/female poets 6) Hand back graded work." I've taught this class every semester for 20 years. I told him he could take a picture on his phone if he wanted. Got an eye roll there. Fun times. 

That said, I am having a very good year with students so far.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 27, 2019, 10:51:11 AM
Off to join the protests! I have a new whistle that sounds like a train whistle
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 28, 2019, 07:02:13 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on September 27, 2019, 10:51:11 AM
Off to join the protests! I have a new whistle that sounds like a train whistle.

Not a bad turnout, in the end. Crushed Toronto's, although my native Montréal crushed us, and everyone else in the world to boot. Makes me awfully homesick, I have to say!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Thursday's_Child on September 28, 2019, 08:20:36 AM
It's too early for Halloween decorations - take them down!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on September 28, 2019, 08:24:39 AM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on September 28, 2019, 08:20:36 AM
It's too early for Halloween decorations - take them down!

So true!  It's not even October and it's hotter than hell here.  How can anyone think about Halloween?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: wareagle on September 28, 2019, 06:23:06 PM
Ha!  Local department store started with Christmas decorations today!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on September 28, 2019, 06:52:40 PM
One of the neighbors already has put up outdoor Halloween decorations!  Others have scarecrows and fall foliage wreaths.

Costco has Halloween and Christmas stuff available.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 01, 2019, 12:30:52 PM
If they don't tell you by Oct. 1 (when they said they'd tell everyone...) that your paper proposal was accepted, does that mean it was?

Or it wasn't?

Existential stuff like that is so very worrying...every year!!

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 12, 2019, 11:54:29 PM
I wish my conference friends were my everyday friends. They're just so great.

And so far away. Sigh.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: backatit on October 13, 2019, 07:12:35 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 12, 2019, 11:54:29 PM
I wish my conference friends were my everyday friends. They're just so great.

And so far away. Sigh.

I totally agree. Went to an awesome symposium a couple of weeks ago. Want to hang with those people all the time.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Wahoo Redux on October 13, 2019, 10:34:19 AM
Quote from: fast_and_bulbous on May 18, 2019, 07:29:43 AM
The last thing to really jazz me in the sciences was the discovery of a fossil site that most likely captures the hours during the KPg extinction event (the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs). Science article (https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/astonishment-skepticism-greet-fossils-claimed-record-dinosaur-killing-asteroid-impact),  PNAS article (https://www.pnas.org/content/116/17/8190), and an article in the New Yorker (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-day-the-dinosaurs-died). I was floating a few inches above the ground for a couple days after reading this. Imagine, finding a smoking gun that captures the violent event itself... just mindblowing, and I hope Robert DePalma has the best friggin' academic career from here on out...

The New Yorker piece was a great read.  Absolutely fascinating stuff.  Thank you.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 26, 2019, 07:04:05 PM
Four months ago, I got new gym shorts. One month ago, they disappeared. What gives?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fourhats on October 27, 2019, 12:35:18 PM
QuoteThe rabbits in our back yard are becoming bolder. They'll stay right there, nibbling on grass, while you drive up and park about 10 feet away.

I was thinking of this the other as I walked to my car at home, and saw a large, very healthy looking fox staring at me (I'm in the US, but when I lived in London I used to encounter scrawny, mangey looking ones). This may explain why I haven't seen any rabbits around the house lately.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 28, 2019, 10:00:57 AM
I age today.

To mark the occasion, I have interrupted my normal reading schedule to read a new viking novel, since these tend to come out around this time every year.

*contentment*
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on October 28, 2019, 01:09:49 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 28, 2019, 10:00:57 AM
I age today.

To mark the occasion, I have interrupted my normal reading schedule to read a new viking novel, since these tend to come out around this time every year.

*contentment*

Just today? Lucky you! (sorry to inflict a dad joke on you on such a day) Have a great aging day and enjoy your book! If my mother aged (which, of course, she does not), today would be one of those for her as well.  Wishing you continued contentment.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 28, 2019, 02:11:18 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on October 28, 2019, 01:09:49 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 28, 2019, 10:00:57 AM
I age today.

To mark the occasion, I have interrupted my normal reading schedule to read a new viking novel, since these tend to come out around this time every year.

*contentment*

Just today? Lucky you! (sorry to inflict a dad joke on you on such a day) Have a great aging day and enjoy your book! If my mother aged (which, of course, she does not), today would be one of those for her as well.  Wishing you continued contentment.

Hehe. I choose my days!

I'm a sucker for dad jokes. Keep 'em comining!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: wareagle on October 29, 2019, 07:07:51 PM
Apparently today is National Cat Day.

That explains a lot around my house.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 29, 2019, 07:37:12 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 26, 2019, 07:04:05 PM
Four months ago, I got new gym shorts. One month ago, they disappeared. What gives?

Did you find a green marker in their place?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on October 30, 2019, 04:38:18 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 26, 2019, 07:04:05 PM
Four months ago, I got new gym shorts. One month ago, they disappeared. What gives?

Elastic.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on October 30, 2019, 08:33:53 AM
Multiple Choice: A mass email has gone around that obviously got sent to a much larger list than intended. Do you

a) quietly notify the sender that their list is messed up?
b) hit 'reply all' and tell everyone else on the list that you shouldn't be on it?
c) hit 'reply all' and tell people not to hit 'reply all'?
c) Hit 'reply all' and take the opportunity to invite people to your Finnegan's Wake reading group?

All of these happened* today, but only one made me scream.

*I only assume (a), because I blessedly did not witness it
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Anselm on October 30, 2019, 10:05:24 AM
Most of us are here alive today reading The Fora because of this heroic man.  I just figured that I would mention him here instead of starting a new thread.  I read about him years ago but forgot his name since then. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Arkhipov_(vice_admiral)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 30, 2019, 10:07:57 AM
Quote from: mamselle on October 29, 2019, 07:37:12 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 26, 2019, 07:04:05 PM
Four months ago, I got new gym shorts. One month ago, they disappeared. What gives?

Did you find a green marker in their place?

M.

Quote from: aside on October 30, 2019, 04:38:18 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 26, 2019, 07:04:05 PM
Four months ago, I got new gym shorts. One month ago, they disappeared. What gives?

Elastic.


You guys win today! :D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on October 30, 2019, 10:54:42 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 28, 2019, 10:00:57 AM
I age today.

To mark the occasion, I have interrupted my normal reading schedule to read a new viking novel, since these tend to come out around this time every year.

*contentment*

I'd have thought, what with the obligatory raiding and pillaging, Vikings would have little time to sit down and write a novel.  Live and learn.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Anselm on October 30, 2019, 02:11:30 PM
Quote from: Juvenal on October 30, 2019, 10:54:42 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 28, 2019, 10:00:57 AM
I age today.

To mark the occasion, I have interrupted my normal reading schedule to read a new viking novel, since these tend to come out around this time every year.

*contentment*

I'd have thought, what with the obligatory raiding and pillaging, Vikings would have little time to sit down and write a novel.  Live and learn.

It's an ongoing saga with them.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 01, 2019, 06:19:58 PM
Quote from: mamselle on October 29, 2019, 07:37:12 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 26, 2019, 07:04:05 PM
Four months ago, I got new gym shorts. One month ago, they disappeared. What gives?

Did you find a green marker in their place?

M.

Sometime Wednesday or Thursday, my neon green gym shoes were taken from the gym. So... I guess that's the opposite of a green marker?

I'll scour the seas and put my low cunning to work until vengeance is mine!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 04, 2019, 08:21:10 AM
Totally unrelated to any of the above (probably)...

I found an interesting quote.

"Cash alone won't breed passion" - Brecht

May explain certain things about teaching, generally....

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 17, 2019, 08:02:25 AM
https://www.aip.org/fyi/2019/academies-panel-delve-critical-questions-facing-us-rd

Another entry in "we're really, really, really short on people who can do the research we need done in specific areas and that's contributing to a lot of foreseeable problems that will affect the average American in the next 10 years or less".
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 17, 2019, 10:32:03 AM
Quote from: Anselm on October 30, 2019, 10:05:24 AM
Most of us are here alive today reading The Fora because of this heroic man.  I just figured that I would mention him here instead of starting a new thread.  I read about him years ago but forgot his name since then. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Arkhipov_(vice_admiral)

Wow.

I missed seeing this.

Thank you for posting it.

I don't recall any references to it in the news at the time (obviously, some dimensions were unknown.

I do recall the news about the Bay of Pigs more generally, then, but as a kid, didn't understand much.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 21, 2019, 07:37:13 PM
Strikes are inconvenient, but they don't amount to extortion.

Also, they only work because they're inconvenient.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 22, 2019, 02:41:58 AM
I realized this AM....no wonder I was tired after teaching last night.

In the course of three music lessons with a 5-year-old, a 13-year-old, and a twelve-year-old, we literally discussed and wrangled with issues of epistemology, aesthetics, and jurisprudence.

These in the course of tears over insisting that she KNEW she hadn't skipped the 1st ending of the song, confusing her brother, who was singing it (she had), both of them in terms of keeping the music going instead of stopping to discuss the issue, and the middle-schooler in terms of my NOT letting him get by with uneven speed drills "because telling me not to do it makes me want to do it more."

I hope their passion, curiosity and good humor stick with them throughout their lives.

(I also hope I survive their explorations and use of me as a sounding-board!)

But it could be so much worse.

I'm...wryly...grateful.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 23, 2019, 06:45:17 PM
PSA: secretions are not super secret. To 'secret' a thing is to hide it; to 'secrete' a thing, however, is to exude it.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on December 08, 2019, 07:19:20 AM
A very readable explanation of mean, median, and mode and why they might matter to the average person reading a newspaper article: https://slate.com/technology/2019/12/starbucks-pay-equity-claim-reasons-for-skepticism.html
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2019, 10:21:43 AM
OMG THERE'S GOING TO BE A TV SERIES (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time_(TV_series)) OF THE WHEEL OF TIME!


I worry I'll find it unwatchable, though. Just like Game of Thrones, which I couldn't stand.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Wahoo Redux on December 12, 2019, 11:33:49 AM
I know it is late in the semester and grades are coming due.  I know you are hassled and stressed out.  But please, when you pick something up off the printer just do a quick scan of the documents and make sure you have not picked up something someone else has already printed.  Not a biggee, just annoying.  And we've been told to hold our printing to a reasonable quantity----when you just snatch up the 3 papers I just printed and disappear that doesn't help.  Maybe even run them back to the printer; our hallway is very short.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 12, 2019, 06:35:47 PM
Kwell. The grades are in (uuuuugh!) and I'm taking off for a week. I'll only check in intermittently, so be good!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on January 08, 2020, 04:05:13 PM
In the weird coincidence (?) category...

Many years ago (around 20?), I was good friends with a woman from VA.  She told me about a person she knew (maybe worked with) who had a rather particular and probably unique name that I thought was really neat and that I have never forgotten (not going to say what, obviously).   At the time, I lived on the east coast as well, but I moved most of the way across the country a couple years ago.  I had told my spouse and others about this person's name because it has always delighted me, and I even named one of my printers with that name as its mapping.  Today I decided to look the person up to see what the person might be up to.  Guess where the only person listed with that name lives? My current location.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: larryc on January 09, 2020, 12:03:07 AM
Honey, I love you and I love the road trips we take together. But why on Earth have you developed this habit of slowing down at the top of the entrance ramp to freeways? You slow and edge your way into traffic, forcing whatever poor sap is behind you as you enter to brake. It is dangerous, and you never used to do it. "I want to be careful," you say, but it is anything but careful.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 09, 2020, 03:27:24 AM
Eeek.

Yeah.

Tell her.

(Is it eyesight/hearing issues, maybe? If she can't see/hear clearly who's coming she might be slowing up out of fright or a sudden loss of nerve to get into the flow of traffic.....)

But, yeah, a bit scary to be in a car when people do stuff like that...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 16, 2020, 12:51:15 PM
The lounge is all out of non-knife cutlery, so I'm eating my pasta with pencil-chopsticks. Move over, Klobuchar! Combs are so last year.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on January 16, 2020, 02:33:28 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 16, 2020, 12:51:15 PM
The lounge is all out of non-knife cutlery, so I'm eating my pasta with pencil-chopsticks. Move over, Klobuchar! Combs are so last year.

You could go for the middle and use hair chopsticks! I can't figure out how they actually work to hold hair in place (probably my own lack of coordination at play), so they have to be good for something.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 16, 2020, 06:09:19 PM
It works best with long, thick hair.

First, twist the hair above your head until it's pretty tight.

Wrap around itself several times and tuck the end under the knot.

Snag some of the hair in the knot from the right, point down towards the skull, lightly scrape along the skull to get leverage, then raise the point within the knot by lowering the larger end; catch and hold with one hand while you repeat with the other.

Criss-cross the two either high on your head, if you can, or lower down , if necessary.

Repeat in about 5 min. when it all falls out and you have to do the whole thing all over again...

M.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: alto_stratus on January 24, 2020, 12:16:45 PM
Long time no see! 

I just eating my kimchi with chopsticks.  They are much more satisfying when used for eating than coiffure.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 24, 2020, 01:07:11 PM
Especially if you don't try to do the one right after the other...

;--}

M.

(Good to see you!)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 01, 2020, 03:47:39 PM
InDesign and cleaning in the morning.

Now for the dreaded referee report.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 02, 2020, 10:05:39 AM
Palindrome day!

(02/02/2020)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 02, 2020, 11:18:48 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on February 02, 2020, 10:05:39 AM
Palindrome day!

(02/02/2020)

I sent one of the articles to my sister...it's her birthday, too.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 13, 2020, 01:17:45 PM
At today's faculty-wide meeting, I learned that we're the lowest paid faculty in the country (by tens of thousands of dollars). In the most expensive city.


Yay!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 15, 2020, 11:04:24 AM
I can't recall who it was, now, but someone was interested in medieval African studies. This series is still continuing and there's an online post of a recent presesentation on the topic here:

   https://medieval.fas.harvard.edu/news/africa-medieval-world-latest-lecture-available-viewing

Enjoy!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 16, 2020, 09:31:22 PM
I took the day completely off, and now I'm bored.

I need better ways of killing time online. (And in real life, too. But especially online. Teh intarwebz just isn't as much fun as it used to be.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on February 17, 2020, 05:49:21 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on February 16, 2020, 09:31:22 PM
Teh intarwebz just isn't as much fun as it used to be.

Agreed.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 18, 2020, 06:32:38 PM
I'm so heartened to see that the Wet'suwet'en, with the help of the Mohawk and others, have managed to bring the federal and provincial governments to their knees. The shadow of Oka looms large these days, but I'm pretty optimistic that we'll get a better outcome this time--and that we'll see some real change in how governments approach resource projects. In particular, consultation can't keep being approached the way it is, with the project a fait accompli, and it certainly can't keep being offloaded onto resource companies.

(On that note, this morning's agreement between the James Bay Cree and Québec offers a powerful statement of how to go about doing these things in the era of reconciliation.)


And finally, because I need to get this off my chest: holy shit. Fuck Andrew Scheer. What a disgrace--and to think he came relatively close to being prime minister! I shudder to think.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:28:03 PM
Hand sanitizer is flammable, even with just static electricity.  (https://www.nkytribune.com/2020/05/keven-moore-when-hand-sanitizer-may-not-be-safe-what-you-should-know-to-use-it-appropriately/) Let the sanitizer dry and then go about your day.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 18, 2020, 03:40:06 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:28:03 PM
Hand sanitizer is flammable, even with just static electricity.  (https://www.nkytribune.com/2020/05/keven-moore-when-hand-sanitizer-may-not-be-safe-what-you-should-know-to-use-it-appropriately/) Let the sanitizer dry and then go about your day.

Eeek!

Who knew?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:41:24 PM
Quote from: mamselle on May 18, 2020, 03:40:06 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:28:03 PM
Hand sanitizer is flammable, even with just static electricity.  (https://www.nkytribune.com/2020/05/keven-moore-when-hand-sanitizer-may-not-be-safe-what-you-should-know-to-use-it-appropriately/) Let the sanitizer dry and then go about your day.

Eeek!

Who knew?

M.

The chemists among us knew, but it's worth sharing for those who don't know.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:46:30 PM
Oh! Oh! I wanna play that annoying FB game where everyone describes their research in one-syllable words! Me too me too! Ok, here I go:

Shrug.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:49:09 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:46:30 PM
Oh! Oh! I wanna play that annoying FB game where everyone describes their research in one-syllable words! Me too me too! Ok, here I go:

Shrug.

Is this really "The Post for Stuff You Wanna Tell People" or is this "Things You Wish You Could Say"?

Even when I use lots of one-syllable words, people tend to glaze over when I explain what I am paid to do.  However, people seem much more enthused about my hobby of watching higher education.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 18, 2020, 03:49:24 PM
Dance.

(Hmmm....should we start a new thread for this?)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:51:23 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:49:09 PM

Is this really "The Post for Stuff You Wanna Tell People" or is this "Things You Wish You Could Say"?


Good question! I'd attempt to answer, except that doing so would mean procrastinating even more on today's writing and bookshelf organizing.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:52:58 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:51:23 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:49:09 PM

Is this really "The Post for Stuff You Wanna Tell People" or is this "Things You Wish You Could Say"?


Good question! I'd attempt to answer, except that doing so would mean procrastinating even more on today's writing and bookshelf organizing.

The talk that I will give on Wednesday for an international virtual conference was officially approved for public release as of an hour ago.  I've met my quota of productivity for the day.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 18, 2020, 03:54:21 PM
Sleep well (kidding...I know it's not going to be as immediate as that!)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:55:23 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:52:58 PM

The talk that I will give on Wednesday for an international virtual conference was officially approved for public release as of an hour ago.  I've met my quota of productivity for the day.

I should take lessons. I woke up early and made a randomized quiz for one of my classes, but then rested on my laurels for a few hours and twiddled my thumbs.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:58:42 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 18, 2020, 03:55:23 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:52:58 PM

The talk that I will give on Wednesday for an international virtual conference was officially approved for public release as of an hour ago.  I've met my quota of productivity for the day.

I should take lessons. I woke up early and made a randomized quiz for one of my classes, but then rested on my laurels for a few hours and twiddled my thumbs.

Ideally, the talk would have been in the system for official approval last Monday, but I spent a good part of today hounding people on my last-minute need for the approval process to go quickly.

This particular talk is very different from the talk we discussed in January, but my funder approved it and therefore my manager is happy with a talk that has zero results.  The conference is happy that anyone is still speaking and attending, so we're all good.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 21, 2020, 02:28:05 PM
It took three hours for me to split the videos into uploadable chunks, upload them to YouTube, and then get the links up on the LMS. Whew.

Most of that time is just waiting for things, but it's hard to do real work while you're constantly being interrupted by various processes and having to start new ones. But it could have been worse! And now they're up and I can just reuse them in the fall and winter.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on May 22, 2020, 05:50:57 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on May 18, 2020, 03:28:03 PM
Hand sanitizer is flammable, even with just static electricity.  (https://www.nkytribune.com/2020/05/keven-moore-when-hand-sanitizer-may-not-be-safe-what-you-should-know-to-use-it-appropriately/) Let the sanitizer dry and then go about your day.

Hand sanitizer left in a hot car can catch fire and will be less effective (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-hand-sanitizer-left-in-hot-vehicles-can-explode-experts-warn/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=89203842). The flash point is 100 deg. F.  Store your hand sanitizer at under 75 deg. F.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 23, 2020, 04:15:58 PM
Just found a tick crawling on my laptop screen. Sigh.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 23, 2020, 04:50:51 PM
Flame me if you want.

I'm in love with Baby Yoda.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on June 05, 2020, 03:39:00 PM
A meeting on contingency planning today opened with The Mississippi Squirrel Revival official video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K16fG1sDagU (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K16fG1sDagU)

The meeting closed with another video by Ray Stevens, one my Grandma Ethel loved. Virtual cookies to the first person to identify the song.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on June 05, 2020, 04:08:17 PM
Quote from: Vkw10 on June 05, 2020, 03:39:00 PM
The meeting closed with another video by Ray Stevens, one my Grandma Ethel loved. Virtual cookies to the first person to identify the song.

The Streak with "Don't look, Ethel!"
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2020, 04:26:47 PM
You beat me!

I just started listening to try to figure it out.

I was about to guess "Blue Cyclone because of the stalwart 83-year old grandmother in part 1....

Thanks for the nuttiness!

Just what I needed at the end of a tightly-packed week.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on June 06, 2020, 01:50:04 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on June 05, 2020, 04:08:17 PM
Quote from: Vkw10 on June 05, 2020, 03:39:00 PM
The meeting closed with another video by Ray Stevens, one my Grandma Ethel loved. Virtual cookies to the first person to identify the song.

The Streak with "Don't look, Ethel!"

Virtual cookies! Pinwheels, whoopie pies, shortbread, raspberry thumbprints, gingersnaps, chocolate chip, peanut butter, cheese wafers, snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin, or pepper snaps, all baked from Grandma's recipes.  (Personally, I'd avoid the pepper snaps, but my brother loved the heat, so I made a few.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 06, 2020, 06:11:03 AM
Can we get some (interthreadual) bake sale donations, Polly?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 15, 2020, 08:13:51 PM
I got a large tax return and I've decided (unwisely) to sink a chunk of it into a mail hauberk. So there. You can't tell me what (not) to do!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 15, 2020, 08:23:47 PM
Do you need an under-kirtle to go with that?

Or a houppeland to wear over it?

;--}

You'll be the best-dressed knight at the ball!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2020, 11:23:33 AM
Tonight is the first French debate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. Two of the four know no French, and the other two... struggle. I can't wait.

(CBC is streaming it for free, btw. 19h00 EST.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: quasihumanist on June 17, 2020, 12:27:29 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2020, 11:23:33 AM
Tonight is the first French debate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. Two of the four know no French, and the other two... struggle. I can't wait.

(CBC is streaming it for free, btw. 19h00 EST.)

Well with my bad French I understand bad French better than properly spoken French...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2020, 04:17:53 PM
I tuned in 10 minutes late. The livestream features an empty stage and energetic muzak on a loop.

I think that says it all rather eloquently, really.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on June 17, 2020, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

I'm sad in the whole discussion how many people describe it as "maple syrup". Alimental appropriation?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on June 17, 2020, 05:41:55 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 17, 2020, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

I'm sad in the whole discussion how many people describe it as "maple syrup". Alimental appropriation?


Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben are next.  And the Cream of Wheat chef.

Earlier this year, the Land O'Lakes butter Native American woman was removed from the butter packages after almost 100 years.

Is Betty Crocker safe?

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on June 17, 2020, 07:11:23 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2020, 04:17:53 PM
I tuned in 10 minutes late. The livestream features an empty stage and energetic muzak on a loop.

I read this as an energetic mask on a loop, so...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 17, 2020, 07:15:22 PM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 17, 2020, 05:41:55 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 17, 2020, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

I'm sad in the whole discussion how many people describe it as "maple syrup". Alimental appropriation?


Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben are next.  And the Cream of Wheat chef.

Earlier this year, the Land O'Lakes butter Native American woman was removed from the butter packages after almost 100 years.

Is Betty Crocker safe?

Yeah, she's white....

A timely article discusses this:

    https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/04/new-racism-museum-reveals-the-ugly-truth-behind-aunt-jemima/256185/

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2020, 10:07:37 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on June 17, 2020, 07:11:23 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2020, 04:17:53 PM
I tuned in 10 minutes late. The livestream features an empty stage and energetic muzak on a loop.

I read this as an energetic mask on a loop, so...

Would have been an improvement.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 18, 2020, 07:12:52 AM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 17, 2020, 05:41:55 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 17, 2020, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

I'm sad in the whole discussion how many people describe it as "maple syrup". Alimental appropriation?


Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben are next.  And the Cream of Wheat chef.

Earlier this year, the Land O'Lakes butter Native American woman was removed from the butter packages after almost 100 years.

Is Betty Crocker safe?

To be safe, I think we had better go with plain gray packaging with the word "syrup" written on it.  Like in the Soviet Union!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on June 18, 2020, 07:41:03 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

How to tell a rooster from a hen: put some food on the ground. If he eats it, its a rooster. If she eats it, it's a hen.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on June 18, 2020, 03:07:13 PM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 17, 2020, 05:41:55 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 17, 2020, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

I'm sad in the whole discussion how many people describe it as "maple syrup". Alimental appropriation?


Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben are next.  And the Cream of Wheat chef.

Earlier this year, the Land O'Lakes butter Native American woman was removed from the butter packages after almost 100 years.

Is Betty Crocker safe?

In fact, Mrs. Butterworth, Uncle Ben and the Cream of Wheat Chef are all being removed from branding.

You do know the Cream of Wheat Chef is actually named Rastus? Just because we grew up with these images does not mean we as individuals are racist (yes, I know writingprof was being sarcastic) but they all are certainly racist images.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: dismalist on June 18, 2020, 03:50:01 PM
Apparently, Fanta has a Naziesque past.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanta)

Time to re-brand such a racist symbol. Change the name or paint it green, maybe.

There are many, many more skeletons in the closet, obviously.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 19, 2020, 07:48:59 AM
Quote from: dismalist on June 18, 2020, 03:50:01 PM
Apparently, Fanta has a Naziesque past.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanta)

Time to re-brand such a racist symbol. Change the name or paint it green, maybe.

There are many, many more skeletons in the closet, obviously.

I actually knew about Fanta, because they released an ad a year or two ago celebrating their long history, and people dunked on them for trying to present their founding during WWII as something to be proud of.

That said, there's a difference between retaining a brand with a racist past, and continuing to engage in actively racist branding in the present. Fanta does not have swastikas in it. Aunt Jemimah, on the other hand, literally uses a 'mammy' stereotype. The difference is not that hard.

Anyway, the flavored corn-syrup product is not going away, just the brand. It's not going to taste any different without the racism on the label, so people writhing in the throes of FOMO can settle down.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 19, 2020, 01:19:02 PM
Just for a fun Friday afternoon summary of life:


   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

at 4:38 is the coronavirus line of the century!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on June 20, 2020, 09:03:20 AM
My neighborhood decided to go ahead with a planned multi-family garage sale today.

I was wildly successful at "freeing" 5 old suitcases and a box filled with about 40 empty lidded tins from hot cocoa mix ("for crafts or storage!") by putting them out by the curb with a large "free -- please take!" sign.  No direct contact, no flaky Craigslist people.  Hooray!

And now I am gathering other stuff to donate / take to the e-waste recycling place.  Out with the old, in with...less clutter.  This is a big victory for me.  :)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on June 20, 2020, 09:47:34 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 18, 2020, 07:12:52 AM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 17, 2020, 05:41:55 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 17, 2020, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: writingprof on June 17, 2020, 05:24:14 PM
I have never had Aunt Jemima syrup, and now I never will.  Because I am obviously a racist, this saddens me.

I'm sad in the whole discussion how many people describe it as "maple syrup". Alimental appropriation?


Mrs. Butterworth and Uncle Ben are next.  And the Cream of Wheat chef.

Earlier this year, the Land O'Lakes butter Native American woman was removed from the butter packages after almost 100 years.

Is Betty Crocker safe?

To be safe, I think we had better go with plain gray packaging with the word "syrup" written on it.  Like in the Soviet Union!

After 100 years, Eskimo Pie ice cream bars will be re-named.

Which product is next?  Are Klondike bars safe?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 20, 2020, 10:33:13 AM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 20, 2020, 09:47:34 AM
After 100 years, Eskimo Pie ice cream bars will be re-named.

Are they renaming them Inuit Pie ice cream bars?  I'm seriously asking.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on June 20, 2020, 10:56:23 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 20, 2020, 10:33:13 AM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 20, 2020, 09:47:34 AM
After 100 years, Eskimo Pie ice cream bars will be re-named.

Are they renaming them Inuit Pie ice cream bars?  I'm seriously asking.

It seems to me "pie" is kind of Eurocentric, so that doesn't sound good. (I'm not sure if the Inuit had any pastry originally; it seems unlikely but I'd be interested to hear toherwise.)

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 20, 2020, 11:40:47 AM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 20, 2020, 10:56:23 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 20, 2020, 10:33:13 AM
Quote from: Cheerful on June 20, 2020, 09:47:34 AM
After 100 years, Eskimo Pie ice cream bars will be re-named.

Are they renaming them Inuit Pie ice cream bars?  I'm seriously asking.

It seems to me "pie" is kind of Eurocentric, so that doesn't sound good. (I'm not sure if the Inuit had any pastry originally; it seems unlikely but I'd be interested to hear toherwise.)

After a brief tour of the Inuit cuisine page in a Canadian encyclopedia, I humbly propose:

Inuit Predigested Plant Foods Found in the Stomachs of Caribou Ice Cream Bars

Was it racist of them to eat predigested plants? Or is it racist of us to know about it?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 20, 2020, 02:29:34 PM
When I arrive to a destination, turn off my vehicle, and get out, my horn makes 3 short, loud beeps. I do not know why it does this but I want to assure those that hear it that it is not a "heralding" signal.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2020, 05:09:44 PM
Not all the people who used to be referred to as 'Eskimo' are Inuit. There are also the Yupik and the Aleut, although it's basically accurate to call all of the these people in Canada 'Inuit' (but not the Innu, who are a different people in Québec and Labrador). The Yupik strongly object to being called 'Inuit', and rightly so.

In Canada and Greenland, 'Eskimo' is generally considered offensive, and should be avoided as a name to designate those peoples. It's still in fairly wide usage in Alaska, although the relevant peoples unsurprisingly tend to refer to themselves using their people's actual name.

I think that 'Eskimo pie' and its marketing is pretty offensive, actually, and entirely of a piece with Aunt Jemima and the rest. And so are the Edmonton Eskimos.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 20, 2020, 05:24:06 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2020, 05:09:44 PM
I think that 'Eskimo pie' and its marketing is pretty offensive, actually, and entirely of a piece with Aunt Jemima and the rest. And so are the Edmonton Eskimos.

Are you white? If so, you should know that it will one day be considered a form of colonialism for white people to be offended on behalf of people "of color." You have been warned.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 20, 2020, 05:25:31 PM
Is not Nunavut still around?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2020, 07:57:49 PM
Quote from: Economizer on June 20, 2020, 05:25:31 PM
Is not Nunavut still around?

Yes. And?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 21, 2020, 06:07:27 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2020, 07:57:49 PM
Quote from: Economizer on June 20, 2020, 05:25:31 PM
Is not Nunavut still around?

Yes. And?
Are the citizens of that province Inuit or, perhaps, Dutch?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on June 21, 2020, 06:15:11 PM
I heard a guy on CNN today saying 'really, do we need pictures of people to identify products?' And I thought 'do we really need somebody on the radio telling us we can't have them?' I mean, it doesn't break my heart never to see Aunt Jemima again, if it makes someone unhappy, but is this guy ready to tell them they can use Paul Newman's face on the spaghetti sauce jar, reminding you all proceeds go to charity, and maybe you'll buy that brand cause you liked old Paul?  And BTW, pretty good sauce.

apropos of:

QuoteTo be safe, I think we had better go with plain gray packaging with the word "syrup" written on it.  Like in the Soviet Union!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 21, 2020, 06:49:36 PM
Quote from: Economizer on June 21, 2020, 06:07:27 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2020, 07:57:49 PM
Quote from: Economizer on June 20, 2020, 05:25:31 PM
Is not Nunavut still around?

Yes. And?
Are the citizens of that province Inuit or, perhaps, Dutch?


Territory. Some are Inuit, yes. Others are Métis, and others non-Indigenous.

(If this is what you're asking: a white resident of Nunavut does not thereby become Inuit.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 21, 2020, 07:19:49 PM
WOW! Who knew it. I'll go away now.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 22, 2020, 03:21:27 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 20, 2020, 05:24:06 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2020, 05:09:44 PM
I think that 'Eskimo pie' and its marketing is pretty offensive, actually, and entirely of a piece with Aunt Jemima and the rest. And so are the Edmonton Eskimos.

Are you white? If so, you should know that it will one day be considered a form of colonialism for white people to be offended on behalf of people "of color." You have been warned.

Meh--I'll take my cues from the people who are actually harmed by offensive marketing. If they want me to use my privilege on their behalf, then I will. If they want me to shut up and go away, then I will. Not that hard.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: San Joaquin on June 22, 2020, 07:28:02 AM
I wanna tell people that wearing your mask draped across your chin, rather than over your mouth and nose, only makes it look like you need a drool bucket.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 22, 2020, 01:33:52 PM
Going through some other websites, I ran across this aggregated list of writing helps for humanities writers on the Louisiana State U. site for medievalists.

Some may be outdated (can't find a "last edited date" on the page,

   https://sites01.lsu.edu/faculty/jgellri/sample-page/quick-help-for-writing-essays/

but it could be useful, even so.

M.

ETA: found the date: 2017, so a bit outdated, but I'll leave it up just in case.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 23, 2020, 01:44:11 AM
Quote from: San Joaquin on June 22, 2020, 07:28:02 AM
I wanna tell people that wearing your mask draped across your chin, rather than over your mouth and nose, only makes it look like you need a drool bucket.

I want to tell people that not covering your nose with your mask is like, well  like this (https://showmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/wearing-your-mask-like-this-is-like-wearing-your-underwear-like-this.jpg). (NSFW, sort of in a cartoony way, if that even matters anymore.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 23, 2020, 07:32:00 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 23, 2020, 01:44:11 AM
Quote from: San Joaquin on June 22, 2020, 07:28:02 AM
I wanna tell people that wearing your mask draped across your chin, rather than over your mouth and nose, only makes it look like you need a drool bucket.

I want to tell people that not covering your nose with your mask is like, well  like this (https://showmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/wearing-your-mask-like-this-is-like-wearing-your-underwear-like-this.jpg). (NSFW, sort of in a cartoony way, if that even matters anymore.)

Hahahahaha! I needed a laugh.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 23, 2020, 03:16:14 PM
I want to tell people that I knew the NASCAR "noose" story was a hoax, dammit, and was too lazy to say so on Twitter.  I judge myself. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 24, 2020, 12:47:57 AM
I figured this out last week: When you 'go out for a run' you don't actually have to run the whole time! You can walk when you get tired!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on June 24, 2020, 03:10:00 PM
No doubts now. You are a troll.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on June 24, 2020, 03:41:41 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on June 24, 2020, 03:10:00 PM
No doubts now. You are a troll.

Since the word "you" in your post has no antecedent, we can only assume you're talking about the author of the previous post, Ergative.
On the merits, we must conclude that you are incorrect.  The fact that Ergative sometimes slows to a walk while jogging does not necessarily make him or her a troll.  Beings other than trolls occasionally engage in such behavior.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 25, 2020, 01:58:14 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 24, 2020, 03:41:41 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on June 24, 2020, 03:10:00 PM
No doubts now. You are a troll.

Since the word "you" in your post has no antecedent, we can only assume you're talking about the author of the previous post, Ergative.
On the merits, we must conclude that you are incorrect.  The fact that Ergative sometimes slows to a walk while jogging does not necessarily make him or her a troll.  Beings other than trolls occasionally engage in such behavior.

In principle, you are absolutely correct. In this particular case, though, it is true that I live under a bridge, and my massive, stocky, knobbled and hairy physique does sometimes interfere with lissome movement. Jimbogumbo may well be on to something.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on June 25, 2020, 09:40:52 AM
Quote from: writingprof on June 24, 2020, 03:41:41 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on June 24, 2020, 03:10:00 PM
No doubts now. You are a troll.

Since the word "you" in your post has no antecedent, we can only assume you're talking about the author of the previous post, Ergative.
On the merits, we must conclude that you are incorrect.  The fact that Ergative sometimes slows to a walk while jogging does not necessarily make him or her a troll.  Beings other than trolls occasionally engage in such behavior.


If you assumed that it is on you, and in a meaner spirit I would call you out for a logic fail. The name of this thread is "The Post For Stuff You Want To Tell People", not "The Post You Want To Tell The Poster Directly Above Your Post".

It in fact has nothing to do with ergative. I do though in want to say this to multiple people.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on June 26, 2020, 02:51:10 PM
My high school class Facebook page had a very exciting couple days of very odd rants from a very odd classmate.  But because of that, I found out that one of my friends is friends with an award-winning musical artist and actor who was very popular in the 90s.  The brouhaha started on my friend's personal page, and musical artist chimed in at some point.  Another friend replied and added "And hey, is that really [artist]?"  Artist replied "Hi, I'm [artist].  I'm [friend]'s friend." It was a high point in a rather disturbing set of circumstances. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on June 27, 2020, 07:06:44 AM
Science by press release is not reliable.  Good general audience article: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/27/health/science-by-press-release-gupta/index.html

Now, if only the rest of the outlets took the lessons to heart...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 01, 2020, 09:28:47 AM
Happy Canada Day, Fora!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on July 01, 2020, 09:32:22 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 01, 2020, 09:28:47 AM
Happy Canada Day, Fora!

Happy Canada Day to you, Parasaurolophus!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on July 01, 2020, 11:01:43 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on July 01, 2020, 09:32:22 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 01, 2020, 09:28:47 AM
Happy Canada Day, Fora!

Happy Canada Day to you, Parasaurolophus!

+1! More wishes for a Happy Canada Day, Parasaurolophus.  Do you do anything in particular to celebrate?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 01, 2020, 12:21:52 PM
Thread started here:

   http://thefora.org/index.php?topic=1507.0

Bonne journee; bonne anniversaire!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 01, 2020, 12:26:53 PM
(Unrelated)

No, cult family member, you CAN trust the FDA, CDC, WHO, etc. (basically anyone who isn't Fox News). Do not try to make my potentially sick sibling take some conspiracy-theory pushed garbage that could make them sicker!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 01, 2020, 02:43:49 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on July 01, 2020, 11:01:43 AM

+1! More wishes for a Happy Canada Day, Parasaurolophus.  Do you do anything in particular to celebrate?

Nope. When I was a kid we went to see the fireworks on St. Jean (June 24), and only occasionally went to see them on Canada Day. Since it's moving day in Québec (the day when everyone's lease ends and starts), there was a lot of moving of friends, family members, etc. for a solid chunk of my teenaged and adult years. So I never got into the habit.

I ritually moved some books from old shelves to the new one, though. So there's that!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on July 01, 2020, 03:18:09 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 01, 2020, 02:43:49 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on July 01, 2020, 11:01:43 AM

+1! More wishes for a Happy Canada Day, Parasaurolophus.  Do you do anything in particular to celebrate?

Nope. When I was a kid we went to see the fireworks on St. Jean (June 24), and only occasionally went to see them on Canada Day. Since it's moving day in Québec (the day when everyone's lease ends and starts), there was a lot of moving of friends, family members, etc. for a solid chunk of my teenaged and adult years. So I never got into the habit.

I ritually moved some books from old shelves to the new one, though. So there's that!

It is interesting to hear about those celebrations.  I feel like I know very little other than the basic outline.  Well, I hope you enjoyed the ritual! We will probably be doing something similar for July 4th this year.  Plus ritually turning the sprinklers on to try to prevent the house from burning down due to neighbor fire works during extreme fire season.  I guess that's the main ritual for us.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 02, 2020, 06:14:17 AM
I could probably just look it up, but isn't the liturgical celebration of St. John's day either June 15th (midpoint of the month) or the 21st (equinox-related date)?

So how did it shift to the 24th?

Or is it a Monday-holiday sort of thing?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 04, 2020, 08:56:29 PM
Banned my first spammer in a good long while today. I think it's been months, actually.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 04, 2020, 10:46:57 PM
May the feeling of doing such a good deed stay with you!

Thanks for all you and the other mods do.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 22, 2020, 03:50:51 PM
I recently intervened on a friend's FB feed to help him out in an argument by confirming some facts which I'm pretty well-placed to know. I've known him for almost twenty years now.

The response is hilarious, but also pretty (darkly) telling:

Friend's "Friend" (FF): "This is me throwing the bullshit flag. Look at that, she thinks anyone asked her opinion."
Friend (F): "who are you talking about? Who's "she"?"
FF: "[Parasaurolophus] is she and I was done this conversation days ago."
F: "k, first. He's a guy...so...."
FF: "First off Naaa, she not..."

*facepalm*
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: writingprof on July 22, 2020, 03:55:21 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 22, 2020, 03:50:51 PM
I recently intervened on a friend's FB feed to help him out in an argument by confirming some facts which I'm pretty well-placed to know. I've known him for almost twenty years now.

The response is hilarious, but also pretty (darkly) telling:

Friend's "Friend" (FF): "This is me throwing the bullshit flag. Look at that, she thinks anyone asked her opinion."
Friend (F): "who are you talking about? Who's "she"?"
FF: "[Parasaurolophus] is she and I was done this conversation days ago."
F: "k, first. He's a guy...so...."
FF: "First off Naaa, she not..."

*facepalm*

At least "Friend" didn't call you a Karen.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on July 22, 2020, 05:11:46 PM
An a/c unit in my apartment had been replaced. There was a bit of construction work involved and I had stayed in to monitor re security. As I sat, my eyes became focused on a single outlet appliance plug. The face of the cover was off and the plug was out of the socket. What I saw was that the socket and its generally uncovered area gave the appearance of THE GRINCH! So that must have been the inspiration for the Seuss character. So, some good is sitting alone in your room!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 22, 2020, 07:48:41 PM
For the love of all that is holy (and not)... put. all. classes. online.

Teaching ftf 1/4 of a class at a time, ONCE a week, is absolutely ludicrous.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on July 29, 2020, 08:31:11 AM
The following drink is really very good:

1. Espresso (from an Italian espresso maker)
2. Sweetened condensed milk
3. Shredded sweetened coconut (or dessicated, for less sweetness)
4. Hot foamy milk

The coconut floats to the top, so you get a sweet coffeeful mouthful and then something interesting to chew on--like boba, but without the awful squishiness.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 29, 2020, 09:47:16 AM
Quote from: Economizer on July 22, 2020, 05:11:46 PM
An a/c unit in my apartment had been replaced. There was a bit of construction work involved and I had stayed in to monitor re security. As I sat, my eyes became focused on a single outlet appliance plug. The face of the cover was off and the plug was out of the socket. What I saw was that the socket and its generally uncovered area gave the appearance of THE GRINCH! So that must have been the inspiration for the Seuss character. So, some good is sitting alone in your room!

I think the research has shown that Dr. Giesel's characters came from this strand of work:

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utrecht_Psalter

Here's a close-up:

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utrecht_Psalter#/media/File:Utrecht_Psalter_(cropped).jpg

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on July 29, 2020, 10:37:04 AM
Nothing quite like medieval art.  Some of it has a lot of energy!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 06, 2020, 09:35:03 AM
It's raining extremely hard, so I decided to try working outside on the covered porch/lanai, using the teak chairs and tables we got a few weeks ago and which I finally finished restoring last week.

It's pretty glorious, actually, even though the view of the ocean and mountains is completely obscured.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 23, 2020, 12:13:46 PM
Oh, so 2020 might bring an asteroid strike (https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-the-real-truth-about-that-election-day-asteroid) the day before the US election, too. And another (https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qs0DbJl_Wk0J:https://www.space.com/election-day-asteroid-flybys-2020.html+&cd=16&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca) (larger, but farther out) on election day itself. What a year!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on August 24, 2020, 06:04:56 PM
It's not about comfort level with risk, it's about risk.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on September 04, 2020, 01:54:50 PM
We were just sitting out on the back patio after lunch when some huge racket came from down the street.  We turned in time to watch a small dust devil throw a bunch of stuff around at a site where a house is being built.  It left before I had time to get the video going.  That was a first for me!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on September 04, 2020, 05:24:00 PM
I saw its watery equivalent on a lake at the church camp we attended as kids.

I was in Jr. Hi and about to get a canoe down off the rack when a scruffy, leafy little waterspout just blew up in front of us.

Came out of nowhere. Scared the living daylights out of us.

I don't know about my canoeing partner, but I was definitely praying.

Hard.

Then it left.

Weird.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 07, 2020, 10:39:20 AM
After a tennish-year hiatus  I've taken up juggling again. I'm a little rusty but not too bad--most of the old three-ball tricks have come back to me.

My goal is to figure out four balls by the end of the year. It always eluded me before.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 07, 2020, 11:19:49 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 07, 2020, 10:39:20 AM
After a tennish-year hiatus  I've taken up juggling again. I'm a little rusty but not too bad--most of the old three-ball tricks have come back to me.

My goal is to figure out four balls by the end of the year. It always eluded me before.

I'm sending you a PM

            ●

   ○             ●
Uuu          uuU


M.

;--》
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on October 07, 2020, 12:23:50 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 07, 2020, 10:39:20 AM
After a tennish-year hiatus  I've taken up juggling again. I'm a little rusty but not too bad--most of the old three-ball tricks have come back to me.

My goal is to figure out four balls by the end of the year. It always eluded me before.

I wanna tell you that I read that as JOGGING.  I was very confused.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on October 07, 2020, 06:59:32 PM
Your license plate is upside down.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on October 08, 2020, 06:10:55 AM
We watched the space station fly over on Tuesday evening.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 08, 2020, 09:03:43 AM
A fellow I worked for in Ohio, a long time ago, told me about seeing what he presumed was Sputnik (he was an early radio buff, and had been tracking it) fly over in the 1950s.

The comparisons boggle my mind (which is, of course, easily boggled).

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: secundem_artem on October 08, 2020, 10:14:46 AM
Yet again, both the MacArthur Foundation and the Nobel Prize Committee seem to have lost my phone number.  Hope springs eternal......
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 08, 2020, 10:19:27 AM
Why in the !@$#%@ are you replying to all? I do not need to know the specifics for your department. The person who sent the email needs to know- not me! So far, two people have done this.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 08, 2020, 10:22:15 AM
Quote from: secundem_artem on October 08, 2020, 10:14:46 AM
Yet again, both the MacArthur Foundation and the Nobel Prize Committee seem to have lost my phone number.  Hope springs eternal......

I know.

Mine, too.

They keep giving it to folks who have already done stuff and gotten awards for it.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 09, 2020, 05:46:03 PM
Kwell. I did the thing that I was supposed to have done by nine days ago and which has been weighing on me ever since, but now I don't have the energy for emails.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 09, 2020, 05:58:36 PM
Our town library is great and our chief librarian is amazing.

They arranged for us to have database access to sites you usually have to be in the library, onsite, to use (like the genealogy sites I use for my 17th-18th c. research).

It works. Just got the probated wills for a gravestone I'm writing about, without going out the door.

Whew.

M. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on October 09, 2020, 06:38:25 PM
Quote from: mamselle on October 09, 2020, 05:58:36 PM
Our town library is great and our chief librarian is amazing.

They arranged for us to have database access to sites you usually have to be in the library, onsite, to use (like the genealogy sites I use for my 17th-18th c. research).

It works. Just got the probated wills for a gravestone I'm writing about, without going out the door.

Whew.

M.
Have you written your library board and chief librarian a note about how great the library is? I've written our library board a couple of times this year, because I want them to have evidence of library's importance when fighting for budget.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on October 10, 2020, 05:36:32 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on October 09, 2020, 06:38:25 PM
Quote from: mamselle on October 09, 2020, 05:58:36 PM
Our town library is great and our chief librarian is amazing.

They arranged for us to have database access to sites you usually have to be in the library, onsite, to use (like the genealogy sites I use for my 17th-18th c. research).

It works. Just got the probated wills for a gravestone I'm writing about, without going out the door.

Whew.

M.
Have you written your library board and chief librarian a note about how great the library is? I've written our library board a couple of times this year, because I want them to have evidence of library's importance when fighting for budget.

Agreed. I've been much quicker to write notes of appreciation ever since I read Louis Sachar's book There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, in which a really important guidance counselor at a school, who helps our main character so much, loses her job because the parents who don't like her complain, while the ones who do like stay silent.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 11, 2020, 01:25:03 PM
Got my hands on some free quinces. I guess I'll be making... fruit leather? I don't much care for jams and jellies.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on October 11, 2020, 02:12:06 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 11, 2020, 01:25:03 PM
Got my hand on some free quinces. I guess I'll be making... fruit leather? I don't much care for jams and jellies.

To be eaten with a runcible spoon?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 11, 2020, 09:34:14 PM
Quote from: Larimar on October 11, 2020, 02:12:06 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 11, 2020, 01:25:03 PM
Got my hand on some free quinces. I guess I'll be making... fruit leather? I don't much care for jams and jellies.

To be eaten with a runcible spoon?

I had to look that up! How delightful!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on October 12, 2020, 06:09:11 AM
Quote from: aside on August 24, 2020, 06:04:56 PM
It's not about comfort level with risk, it's about risk.

Preach!

I work at a science place where most of us have been categorized by the state as essential workers and we do risky things for a living.  Our county has a very low infection rate.

Why is it that we are still in maximum work-from-home mode with significant permissions required to have face-to-face meetings of more than three people for more than 10 minutes and yet somehow university classes that would be good enough online are in person?

Oh, yeah, because we really believe in taking risk into account and make decisions accordingly while many academics talk a good game about critical thinking without having the necessary background to do broadly applied critical thinking when it matters.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 12, 2020, 08:07:15 AM
Quote from: ergative on October 10, 2020, 05:36:32 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on October 09, 2020, 06:38:25 PM
Quote from: mamselle on October 09, 2020, 05:58:36 PM
Our town library is great and our chief librarian is amazing.

They arranged for us to have database access to sites you usually have to be in the library, onsite, to use (like the genealogy sites I use for my 17th-18th c. research).

It works. Just got the probated wills for a gravestone I'm writing about, without going out the door.

Whew.

M.
Have you written your library board and chief librarian a note about how great the library is? I've written our library board a couple of times this year, because I want them to have evidence of library's importance when fighting for budget.

Agreed. I've been much quicker to write notes of appreciation ever since I read Louis Sachar's book There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom, in which a really important guidance counselor at a school, who helps our main character so much, loses her job because the parents who don't like her complain, while the ones who do like stay silent.

Actually, yes, twice already.

I wrote to thank her for the swift turnaround from in-person to online that the whole system did within two weeks (one main library, two small outrigger branches) back in March/April, and again, a couple months ago, just on general principles.

But another fan letter can do no harm. I'll probably do it sometime this week.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on October 14, 2020, 06:54:59 AM
I am so tired of your pronouncements. They are essentially random shit which you couch as insider knowledge but are really just your opinions.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: wareagle on October 16, 2020, 08:30:55 AM
When the heat goes on in my office, it sounds like an airplane getting ready to take off.  I can't believe the noise.

What will it be like in January, when the furnace runs constantly?  I'll need ear protection.

Oh, and maybe a pair of flashlights with cones.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 11:45:09 AM
Do I really want to take on two additional, totally asynchronous classes next semester? I've already got four, so it's a lot. On the other hand, one of them is a repeat of one I'm already teaching, and for which everything is already set up. On the other other hand, the other one is totally new.

On the other other other hand, it would increase my pay by almost twenty grand.


So... I guess I'll probably do it? The extra money would come at a pretty good time for us.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: OneMoreYear on October 22, 2020, 12:15:16 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 11:45:09 AM
Do I really want to take on two additional, totally asynchronous classes next semester? I've already got four, so it's a lot. On the other hand, one of them is a repeat of one I'm already teaching, and for which everything is already set up. On the other other hand, the other one is totally new.

On the other other other hand, it would increase my pay by almost twenty grand.


So... I guess I'll probably do it? The extra money would come at a pretty good time for us.

Whoa! Where is this magical land where teaching an overload of 2 classes earns you 20 grand? And (stupid question in a pandemic) are you hiring?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 12:44:47 PM
Quote from: OneMoreYear on October 22, 2020, 12:15:16 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 11:45:09 AM
Do I really want to take on two additional, totally asynchronous classes next semester? I've already got four, so it's a lot. On the other hand, one of them is a repeat of one I'm already teaching, and for which everything is already set up. On the other other hand, the other one is totally new.

On the other other other hand, it would increase my pay by almost twenty grand.


So... I guess I'll probably do it? The extra money would come at a pretty good time for us.

Whoa! Where is this magical land where teaching an overload of 2 classes earns you 20 grand? And (stupid question in a pandemic) are you hiring?

Canada, so in USD it's a fair bit less, though still good.

The per-course average across the country is something like $6500; this would be sessional (adjunct) work at ~$9000 per course. My regular university, where I'm the equivalent of a lecturer-ish (there's no tenure, just a union) pays ~$7500+, depending on where you fall on the pay scale.

The downside is that this is the highest COL area on the continent, second only to Hong Kong worldwide. Wages here are severely depressed, and have been for decades, while rents are sky-high and rising (to say nothing of housing prices, or even just basic groceries, for which I pay at least twice as much as I did on the other coast).
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: dismalist on October 22, 2020, 01:07:40 PM
QuoteThe per-course average across the country is something like $6500; this would be sessional (adjunct) work at ~$9000 per course. My regular university, where I'm the equivalent of a lecturer-ish (there's no tenure, just a union) pays ~$7500+, depending on where you fall on the pay scale.

Does this amount vary by field?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on October 22, 2020, 02:03:14 PM
Quote from: dismalist on October 22, 2020, 01:07:40 PM
QuoteThe per-course average across the country is something like $6500; this would be sessional (adjunct) work at ~$9000 per course. My regular university, where I'm the equivalent of a lecturer-ish (there's no tenure, just a union) pays ~$7500+, depending on where you fall on the pay scale.

Does this amount vary by field?

Probably not, here in Canada. At my university, the amount is the same (~$8000) for any course.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 02:04:38 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on October 22, 2020, 02:03:14 PM
Quote from: dismalist on October 22, 2020, 01:07:40 PM
QuoteThe per-course average across the country is something like $6500; this would be sessional (adjunct) work at ~$9000 per course. My regular university, where I'm the equivalent of a lecturer-ish (there's no tenure, just a union) pays ~$7500+, depending on where you fall on the pay scale.

Does this amount vary by field?

Probably not, here in Canada. At my university, the amount is the same (~$8000) for any course.

Yeah, everywhere I'm familiar with it's a university-wide (or: union-wide) set rate.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: dismalist on October 22, 2020, 02:27:33 PM
This is bad, really bad.

Let me get onto writing that article proving it, immediately! :-)

Thank you.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: smallcleanrat on October 22, 2020, 02:36:14 PM
If you are going to use scientific models as analogies for your "life lessons" at least get the science right!

Especially so if you spend more time on "explaining" the science than you do on the principle it's meant to analogize.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on October 22, 2020, 06:59:24 PM
Was just glancing at my google scholar profile and found my top-cited article is currently at 1111 citations. Thought I'd document the moment before it becomes less pleasingly mono-numerical.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 07:50:06 PM
Quote from: Puget on October 22, 2020, 06:59:24 PM
Was just glancing at my google scholar profile and found my top-cited article is currently at 1111 citations. Thought I'd document the moment before it becomes less pleasingly mono-numerical.

Ha!

On Scholar, mine is at 11, so something's afoot.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on October 23, 2020, 06:30:12 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 22, 2020, 07:50:06 PM
Quote from: Puget on October 22, 2020, 06:59:24 PM
Was just glancing at my google scholar profile and found my top-cited article is currently at 1111 citations. Thought I'd document the moment before it becomes less pleasingly mono-numerical.

Ha!

On Scholar, mine is at 11, so something's afoot.

I suspect citing conventions/volume are very different across our fields, and also that your's is more book focused and thus unlikely to show up in google scholar?
I really don't care about the numbers there, but it's a handy way (in addition to Research Gate) to make my papers easier to find and  to find new relevant stuff that cites me.

I should say, that highest cited paper and the others in my top 5 are all either meta-analyses or review papers-- these get cited a ton because they are topics that lots of people need a handy reference for.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 23, 2020, 08:43:30 AM
Oh yeah, they're definitely different.

Just thought it was a neat additional coincidence--like maybe Google is using citation rates to build a weird logic gate.

May your four ones last!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on October 23, 2020, 07:11:39 PM
Wishing good health to all.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on October 24, 2020, 07:01:36 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 23, 2020, 08:43:30 AM
Oh yeah, they're definitely different.

Just thought it was a neat additional coincidence--like maybe Google is using citation rates to build a weird logic gate.

May your four ones last!

Ha! Missed the binary joke there.
Anyway I got a citation alert that brought it to 1113-- hopefully the 13 is not unlucky??
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: traductio on October 25, 2020, 11:27:11 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on October 25, 2020, 12:40:11 PM
Quote from: traductio on October 25, 2020, 11:27:11 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Congratulations!

Yes, congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: smallcleanrat on October 25, 2020, 12:43:25 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Hooray! Congratulations.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: OneMoreYear on October 25, 2020, 12:53:33 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Such exciting news!  Congrats on your future hatchling! Best wishes for a smooth incubation period.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on October 25, 2020, 01:23:46 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Happy news! Congratulations and best wishes for good health and smooth sailing for all!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on October 25, 2020, 01:26:10 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Congratulations! Happy incubating!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on October 25, 2020, 02:19:53 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 25, 2020, 02:27:52 PM
Aww...will it have the same funny little nose-flute thingy at birth, or will that grow later?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on October 25, 2020, 04:12:59 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on October 25, 2020, 11:25:40 AM
S'pose I should say something, since I spend so much time here and it's bound to slip out at some point: we're brooding over a little pachycephalosaurus egg, which should hatch early next spring. It will be the only such egg.

Congratulations! Hope your nest sitting goes well, with fine weather, no predators, and just enough help in preparing for the nestling.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on October 25, 2020, 04:20:00 PM
Wonderful news!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on October 25, 2020, 04:52:24 PM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on October 25, 2020, 07:07:06 PM
Awesome news!  Congratulations!  All best wishes for this very special time.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on October 26, 2020, 07:37:36 AM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on October 26, 2020, 07:40:32 AM
Congratulations! Hope the brooding and hatching  process goes smoothly for all involved.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on October 26, 2020, 02:00:56 PM
Aww, sweet!!  This occasion calls for drinks!  :D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on October 29, 2020, 11:22:47 AM
Not as exciting, but oldest daughter is adopting a cat.  The two she looked at happen to have names that are nicknames of her name and mine.  She chose mine, and I am happy that a sweet kitty will have a forever home.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 29, 2020, 11:36:50 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on October 29, 2020, 11:22:47 AM
Not as exciting, but oldest daughter is adopting a cat.  The two she looked at happen to have names that are nicknames of her name and mine.  She chose mine, and I am happy that a sweet kitty will have a forever home.

That's more exciting! Congratulations to the eldest daughter!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 29, 2020, 02:48:42 PM
Join us on the cat thread and post pictures!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on October 30, 2020, 10:15:18 AM
Thanks, Parasaurolophus, but even I am more excited about your news! And I would be more excited about daughter's, but she and kitty will be a couple thousand miles away.  I hope to be able to go visit the cat at some point.  Daughter too, though she has now realized that she can keep the cat's name as is and just pretend it's me when she's scolding it. (kidding, I think)

Mamselle, I have been avoiding the cat thread since I don't currently have kitties myself and am too envious. I didn't realize one could post pictures on this board.  I may amble over to that thread at some point.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 30, 2020, 10:20:46 AM
People just take out a Photo bucket (or similar) account in their forum name and post to it, then include that URL in their cat thread posts.

A revived CHE forum workaround, basically.

And you'd be welcome, I, too, currently have no kitties messing up my filling my apartment now, but I really enjoy hearing of others' little furry varmints, and offering observations from time to time....

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 01, 2020, 03:01:32 PM
Chickens have earlobes and those earlobes are correlated with the color eggs the chicken lays: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know-nutrition/you-can-determine-colour-egg-looking-chickens-earlobe

Sometimes trivia games are learning opportunities.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 01, 2020, 03:55:53 PM
So, if we bred them to have, say, pink, or yellow, or blue earlobes, we wouldn't have to dye Easter eggs anymore??

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:08:36 AM
'Full time/part time' hiring dichotomy is a socialist structure. The idea is the full timer deserves health insurance, pension, other benefits because he needs them, while the part timer doesn't deserve them because he doesn't need them. Yet the inequality gets justified according to free market capitalism morality, i.e. he full timer has outcompeted the part timer for the more desirable employment.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 02, 2020, 06:25:36 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:08:36 AM
'Full time/part time' hiring dichotomy is a socialist structure. The idea is the full timer deserves health insurance, pension, other benefits because he needs them, while the part timer doesn't deserve them because he doesn't need them. Yet the inequality gets justified according to free market capitalism morality, i.e. he full timer has outcompeted the part timer for the more desirable employment.

Uh... that doesn't sound very socialist. Sounds rather capitalistic, in fact.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:39:31 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 02, 2020, 06:25:36 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:08:36 AM
'Full time/part time' hiring dichotomy is a socialist structure. The idea is the full timer deserves health insurance, pension, other benefits because he needs them, while the part timer doesn't deserve them because he doesn't need them. Yet the inequality gets justified according to free market capitalism morality, i.e. he full timer has outcompeted the part timer for the more desirable employment.

Uh... that doesn't sound very socialist. Sounds rather capitalistic, in fact.

Both.  My school purports to believe we don't need health insurance because we already have it. But I don't believe them. What they believe is you can get people to work without offering benefits. But certain people need benefits, so they must get them.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 07:28:05 AM
this is 'stuff you want to tell people.' 'arguments' is in room 12. down the hall.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 01:52:04 PM
I forgot how good it feels to use hydrocodone for my back pain. Thank God!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on November 02, 2020, 01:55:59 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 01:52:04 PM
I forgot how good it feels to use hydrocodone for my back pain. Thank God!

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling some relief!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 04:30:16 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on November 02, 2020, 01:55:59 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 01:52:04 PM
I forgot how good it feels to use hydrocodone for my back pain. Thank God!

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling some relief!
Thanks. I've been out of commission for three days. Finally seeing some improvement.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: dismalist on November 02, 2020, 04:58:56 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 04:30:16 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on November 02, 2020, 01:55:59 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 01:52:04 PM
I forgot how good it feels to use hydrocodone for my back pain. Thank God!

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling some relief!
Thanks. I've been out of commission for three days. Finally seeing some improvement.

A wonderful thing about Hydrocodone is that when you've taken it, nothing matters. When told the world will end tomorrow, my response would be: AM or PM? If in PM, my response: Great, then I can finish the book I'm reading.

Best wishes.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 02, 2020, 05:13:07 PM
It was possible to have a congenial, positive conversation with four family members on Zoom.

No blood was spilled as a result of the exercise (and no politics were discussed, to which the non-sanguinary nature of the conversation may be credited).

They even want to know when we can do it again, and could we invite a couple more people.

I said "Sure."

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 05:29:22 PM
Quote from: dismalist on November 02, 2020, 04:58:56 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 04:30:16 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on November 02, 2020, 01:55:59 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 01:52:04 PM
I forgot how good it feels to use hydrocodone for my back pain. Thank God!

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling some relief!
Thanks. I've been out of commission for three days. Finally seeing some improvement.

A wonderful thing about Hydrocodone is that when you've taken it, nothing matters. When told the world will end tomorrow, my response would be: AM or PM? If in PM, my response: Great, then I can finish the book I'm reading.

Best wishes.

Thanks. I only took a half a tablet. It was great. I have accomplished nothing today except some pain relief.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 02, 2020, 05:31:38 PM
Pain relief is exactly what you needed to accomplish today. Nothing else.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 02, 2020, 05:35:38 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 02, 2020, 05:31:38 PM
Pain relief is exactly what you needed to accomplish today. Nothing else.

<3
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on November 02, 2020, 06:01:06 PM
Quote from: mamselle on November 02, 2020, 05:13:07 PM
It was possible to have a congenial, positive conversation with four family members on Zoom.

No blood was spilled as a result of the exercise (and no politics were discussed, to which the non-sanguinary nature of the conversation may be credited).

They even want to know when we can do it again, and could we invite a couple more people.

I said "Sure."

M.

Glad to hear the family dinner went well, mamselle!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on November 03, 2020, 05:20:45 AM
I'm not going to start a new thread 'trendy new terms I like' but if I did it would include

Diversity Industrial Complex

thanks to  https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/11/03/those_blm_signs_are_here_to_stay_144584.html
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 03, 2020, 07:36:15 AM
Good luck.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 03, 2020, 08:08:34 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on November 02, 2020, 06:01:06 PM
Quote from: mamselle on November 02, 2020, 05:13:07 PM
It was possible to have a congenial, positive conversation with four family members on Zoom.

No blood was spilled as a result of the exercise (and no politics were discussed, to which the non-sanguinary nature of the conversation may be credited).

They even want to know when we can do it again, and could we invite a couple more people.

I said "Sure."

M.

Glad to hear the family dinner went well, mamselle!

Thank you. I was glad, indeed, as well.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 03, 2020, 08:10:54 AM
Quote from: mamselle on November 02, 2020, 05:13:07 PM
It was possible to have a congenial, positive conversation with four family members on Zoom.

No blood was spilled as a result of the exercise (and no politics were discussed, to which the non-sanguinary nature of the conversation may be credited).

They even want to know when we can do it again, and could we invite a couple more people.

I said "Sure."

M.

That's great!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on November 04, 2020, 07:15:29 AM
It's in the 50s and sunny here this morning, headed up to 75. I did my laundry early and just got done hanging most of it out on my folding racks in the back yard.  This always makes me happy, and it's taken the edge off a little this morning, as I'm listening to CNN's vote reporting.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 04, 2020, 09:33:22 PM
Holy poopdog, Amazon makes it hard to figure out how to cancel your free channel trials/subscriptions. I just spent fifteen minutes, doggedly looking.

I eventually figured it out, no thanks to Google or the 'help'. Bastards.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 05, 2020, 06:14:33 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 04, 2020, 09:33:22 PM
Holy poopdog, Amazon makes it hard to figure out how to cancel your free channel trials/subscriptions. I just spent fifteen minutes, doggedly looking.

I eventually figured it out, no thanks to Google or the 'help'. Bastards.

Why would anyone want to leave the family?  The whole point of the free trial is that you will then be so impressed that you will sign up for life.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on November 05, 2020, 06:17:45 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on November 05, 2020, 06:14:33 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 04, 2020, 09:33:22 PM
Holy poopdog, Amazon makes it hard to figure out how to cancel your free channel trials/subscriptions. I just spent fifteen minutes, doggedly looking.

I eventually figured it out, no thanks to Google or the 'help'. Bastards.

Why would anyone want to leave the family?  The whole point of the free trial is that you will then be so impressed that you will sign up for life.

The Hotel California principle.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 05, 2020, 06:20:02 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:39:31 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 02, 2020, 06:25:36 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:08:36 AM
'Full time/part time' hiring dichotomy is a socialist structure. The idea is the full timer deserves health insurance, pension, other benefits because he needs them, while the part timer doesn't deserve them because he doesn't need them. Yet the inequality gets justified according to free market capitalism morality, i.e. he full timer has outcompeted the part timer for the more desirable employment.

Uh... that doesn't sound very socialist. Sounds rather capitalistic, in fact.

Both.  My school purports to believe we don't need health insurance because we already have it. But I don't believe them. What they believe is you can get people to work without offering benefits. But certain people need benefits, so they must get them.

If people are working without benefits, then it looks as those the school is right.  If you need benefits, then get a job with benefits instead of a job without benefits.

Or form the union and get the contract to cover benefits for part-time people.  Years and years ago, Mr. Mer was a union officer as a part-time employee who did get benefits.  After Mr. Mer was promoted to a job where he was not allowed to be part of the union, the union negotiated away health insurance for everyone in favor of higher pay since most of the union members at that point had health insurance by being retired veterans in second careers.  That was a huge mess when the uninsured part-timers quit in favor of full-time jobs elsewhere with insurance.

Academia would change if the reality were such that part-timers wouldn't take jobs without benefits.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on November 05, 2020, 07:00:16 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on November 05, 2020, 06:20:02 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 02, 2020, 06:39:31 AM

My school purports to believe we don't need health insurance because we already have it. But I don't believe them. What they believe is you can get people to work without offering benefits. But certain people need benefits, so they must get them.

If people are working without benefits, then it looks as those the school is right.  If you need benefits, then get a job with benefits instead of a job without benefits.

Or form the union and get the contract to cover benefits for part-time people.  Years and years ago, Mr. Mer was a union officer as a part-time employee who did get benefits.  After Mr. Mer was promoted to a job where he was not allowed to be part of the union, the union negotiated away health insurance for everyone in favor of higher pay since most of the union members at that point had health insurance by being retired veterans in second careers.  That was a huge mess when the uninsured part-timers quit in favor of full-time jobs elsewhere with insurance.

Academia would change if the reality were such that part-timers wouldn't take jobs without benefits.

It ocurred to me that academia is unique, as far as I can see, in getting part-timers who include retired professionals and fully-employed professionals doing it "on the side". You don't get part-timers in food services like that. The closest I can think of is theatre and music, where retired people and otherwise emplyed people do it, but then it's typically with no pay in community theatre or musical groups.

Is there any other field where that happens?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 05, 2020, 07:22:52 AM
Source: https://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure

Quote
Tenure is a means to certain ends; specifically: (1) freedom of teaching and research and of extramural activities, and (2) a sufficient degree of economic security to make the profession attractive to men and women of ability.

The claim in the mid-twentieth century was that tenure was important to allow smart people forgo better money elsewhere for stability in the income they were getting.

The rise in contingent faculty numbers to being the numerical majority has given lie to the idea that people of ability must have "a sufficient degree of economic security" to choose being college faculty.  It turns out many people of ability will teach, sometimes at great personal cost in unstable economic conditions, instead of leaving academic employment for better money and/or more stability.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on November 05, 2020, 12:40:59 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on November 05, 2020, 06:17:45 AM

The Hotel California principle.

This made me laugh and I needed a laugh today. Thank you!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 05, 2020, 06:55:33 PM
Spotted on my morning walk: a neighbor already has decorated the exterior of the home with Christmas decorations! It made my day. :)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on November 06, 2020, 01:48:24 AM
I cooked with chillies last night. Despite washing my hands after cutting them, I ended up with burning on my left ring finger and thumb all evening. Uncomfortable, but it's a risk I willingly took. I knew going in the price that I might have to pay for flavouring my dinner that way.

However, since last night's dinner, I have had a shower, washed my hands multiple times, both with bar soap and also dish soap, and, as I have just learned, it is still not safe to rub my eyes. Ow.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 06, 2020, 02:45:29 AM
^Unrelated.

Outrage plays well to the peanut gallery, but those in the front-row seats are looking for nuance and subtlety.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on November 06, 2020, 03:31:58 AM
^ unrelated

Yes, out of necessity I am slightly involved with this academic subgroup and yes, I do handle some of their social media posting. Please note that I do not ever post anything remotely to the crazy level this group is known for nor am I truly in the group. I am interested in the good research they are producing but I did not drink their koolaid nor do I agree with everything they believe. There are quite a few of us around this group who are not so extreme.

And while we are working on labeling and/or not labeling people, unlabel me as a member of my biological family who have clearly lost their minds and are quite alarming with their past and current actions/beliefs.

Signed,
Someone who is getting splattered by the labeling paint and doesn't appreciate it.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 06, 2020, 05:47:52 AM
Quote from: mamselle on November 06, 2020, 02:45:29 AM
^Unrelated.

Outrage plays well to the peanut gallery, but those in the front-row seats are looking for nuance and subtlety.

M.

There are far fewer seats in the front row than standing room in the peanut gallery expanded to online streaming.  $100 * 20 (assuming all the seats can be filled) is a much smaller number than $5 * 5000.

Outrage happens because outrage sells. 

Far fewer people really want nuance and subtlety than want to watch the outrage from afar.  That reality is a hard lesson that many well-meaning adults seem to keep failing to learn.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on November 06, 2020, 05:59:50 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on November 06, 2020, 05:47:52 AM
Quote from: mamselle on November 06, 2020, 02:45:29 AM
^Unrelated.

Outrage plays well to the peanut gallery, but those in the front-row seats are looking for nuance and subtlety.

M.

There are far fewer seats in the front row than standing room in the peanut gallery expanded to online streaming.  $100 * 20 (assuming all the seats can be filled) is a much smaller number than $5 * 5000.

Outrage happens because outrage sells. 

Far fewer people really want nuance and subtlety than want to watch the outrage from afar.  That reality is a hard lesson that many well-meaning adults seem to keep failing to learn.

Exactly. And sadly, more and more of the media play to some part of the peanut gallery, for that reason. ( Also, to actually collect data, fact-check, and produce objective and fact-based analysis takes time, which doesn't lend itself to the attention span of the mob, which will have moved on from the story long before all of the facts are even known.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on November 06, 2020, 06:19:32 AM
Quote from: marshwiggle on November 06, 2020, 05:59:50 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on November 06, 2020, 05:47:52 AM
Quote from: mamselle on November 06, 2020, 02:45:29 AM
^Unrelated.

Outrage plays well to the peanut gallery, but those in the front-row seats are looking for nuance and subtlety.

M.

There are far fewer seats in the front row than standing room in the peanut gallery expanded to online streaming.  $100 * 20 (assuming all the seats can be filled) is a much smaller number than $5 * 5000.

Outrage happens because outrage sells. 

Far fewer people really want nuance and subtlety than want to watch the outrage from afar.  That reality is a hard lesson that many well-meaning adults seem to keep failing to learn.

Exactly. And sadly, more and more of the media play to some part of the peanut gallery, for that reason. ( Also, to actually collect data, fact-check, and produce objective and fact-based analysis takes time, which doesn't lend itself to the attention span of the mob, which will have moved on from the story long before all of the facts are even known.)

Fact checking only matters if the point is to inform so that people can make decisions that affect their lives.

For much of the news cycle , there's no decision to be made for the average person watching.  At best, the decision may be "that sounds important and I'll have to do my own research to find out how this could affect me so I can take appropriate action".

In general, though, most of what is shown on the news is about maintaining viewership numbers.  One reason it's actually safe to go on a pretty strict no-mass-media-diet is anything that is truly both urgent and important (e.g., the hurricane/tornado/fire is headed this way) is not limited to a couple minutes during the designated news time.  People may even physically come to your house to let you know to evacuate.

The people who want nuance and subtlety aren't the target audience for the fast news cycle and generally won't tune in for the breathless updates that don't mean anything.  People who want nuance and subtlety read, at most, daily outlets that put effort into good over fast, but even then are more likely to be the remaining subscribers to weekly/monthly outlets that focus on long-term important issues, not breaking news.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 06, 2020, 08:50:51 AM
Actually, I was speaking literally, of the theatre....

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 10, 2020, 05:47:10 PM
I've rejected something like 70 spambots today. Normally, it's more like 10-20ish a day. Wonder what's up?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 10, 2020, 06:48:14 PM
Trolling for votes?

Or maybe, now that the election's finished (except for the shouting) they're seeking new venues to visit?

In any case, thanks for all you (and all the mods) do. This place is so much better for your vigilance.

(Meant seriously)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 13, 2020, 07:43:26 AM
This is the time of year where we make the coming year's library budget.  Local plant closures mean that our property tax revenues will be taking a serious hit in coming years.  Though our cash reserves--and the fact that it takes time to tear down those idle plant facilities and stop paying taxes on them--mean that we're in no urgent trouble, the Board of Trustees has decided that we can't have staff raises this year.  Glad we were able to get some in recent years, so that we no longer have the lowest-paid library staff in the state.

Fortunately the Board felt that it needed to recognize the staff's loyalty in staying on the job and doing what needed to be done during a very challenging year.  So we were able to talk them into using almost $5,000 in year-end money for staff bonuses.  In the past I've lobbied for raises rather than bonuses.  This year I'm just glad for the bonuses.

The Board authorized the bonuses last night.  It was so good to have some good news to announce this morning!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 13, 2020, 09:29:21 AM
Good for you for being an advocate for your staff.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: smallcleanrat on November 15, 2020, 08:14:41 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

Thank you for sharing this, Parasaurolophus.

It's glorious!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on November 16, 2020, 06:52:47 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

What a day brightener, thanks!  Had never heard of.  Amazing and adorable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on November 16, 2020, 08:49:25 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

Oh my gosh! They are so cute!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: EdnaMode on November 16, 2020, 09:57:56 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

Awwwwwwww!!!! How freakin adorable are they?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 16, 2020, 10:21:20 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

They are very cute. I wonder if water bears hunt the leaf sheep?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 16, 2020, 01:20:27 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 16, 2020, 10:21:20 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

They are very cute. I wonder if water bears hunt the leaf sheep?

=D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 16, 2020, 01:21:15 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 16, 2020, 01:20:27 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 16, 2020, 10:21:20 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 15, 2020, 08:08:45 PM
Today I found out about leaf sheep (https://returntonow.net/2020/08/15/leaf-sheep-the-only-animal-that-can-photosynthesize/?fbclid=IwAR2vmeFfcsSHzdlCQHFRJwyPX3EySQWM5hmH_PNE7JGnvHJOHeFNE_oUjjU), which are pretty amazing.

They are very cute. I wonder if water bears hunt the leaf sheep?

=D
I mean, it's possible- right?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 18, 2020, 01:47:08 PM
We went ahead and paid out the staff bonuses today.  Lots of happy people at work today!  Some of them weren't expecting the bonuses to be as good as they were.  Most staff members netted more than a usual weekly paycheck.  A couple of senior staffers did quite a bit better than that.  Mind you, we're not talking about really high base-pay rates to start with.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 18, 2020, 06:28:50 PM
A saw-whet owl turned up in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The person who found it thought it was a baby owl because of its size. Must be the 2020 variation of the partridge in a pear tree.

Here are the details and pictures from the NY Times and NBC News:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/nyregion/christmas-tree-rockefeller.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tiny-owl-rescued-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-travelled-170-miles-n1248166
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 19, 2020, 07:14:35 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 18, 2020, 06:28:50 PM
A saw-whet owl turned up in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The person who found it thought it was a baby owl because of its size. Must be the 2020 variation of the partridge in a pear tree.

Here are the details and pictures from the NY Times and NBC News:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/nyregion/christmas-tree-rockefeller.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tiny-owl-rescued-rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-travelled-170-miles-n1248166

"And a saw-whet owl in a Norway spruce tree" is kind of a mouthful....

Glad they found him in time and were able to nurse him back to health.  That has to have been a nerve-wracking experience.  Maybe even worse than that bat that accidentally hitched a ride on a co-worker's car and rode into work with her one morning.  On the outside of the car.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 19, 2020, 07:20:50 AM
I hope the bat lived to tell the tale. I wonder how traumatized birds and animals cope with such stresses.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on November 19, 2020, 10:58:04 AM
The Rockefeller owl is now my computer background.

ALHS said he probably will go back to his home and tell all the other owls, "Guys. . . you're not going to believe this. . . . "
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 19, 2020, 12:37:07 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 19, 2020, 07:20:50 AM
I hope the bat lived to tell the tale. I wonder how traumatized birds and animals cope with such stresses.

Yes, it survived.  When the driver got out of her car at work, she thought she saw a funny-looking leaf wrapped around her car antenna.  Turned out it was that bat.  It had been clinging for dear life on the expressway, in what it probably interpreted as a really sudden and severe windstorm.  After a bit the shock wore off and it went on its way.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 19, 2020, 02:28:04 PM
The poor bat!!

Glad it got to fly away.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 25, 2020, 05:55:20 AM
Rocky, the stowaway owl, has been released in a forest with plenty of conifers.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/11/rockefeller-the-viral-stowaway-nyc-christmas-tree-owl-flies-free/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/us/rockefeller-tree-owl-released-trnd/index.html
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on November 25, 2020, 06:55:21 AM
He wasn't a stowaway. He was trafficked.

Or owlnapped.

Or something.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 25, 2020, 03:54:57 PM
I've finally been placed on the salary scale at my institution. I got placed halfway through, which means a $15 000 raise, and I'll go up a step every year I teach a full load for the next five, at which point I'll hit the maximum salary. There may well be a blip year in there somewhere, but it seems quite likely at the moment that I'll have full loads for the next while. But even if not, it's now a pretty decent salary.

Yay!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on November 25, 2020, 04:02:12 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 25, 2020, 03:54:57 PM
I've finally been placed on the salary scale at my institution. I got placed halfway through, which means a $15 000 raise, and I'll go up a step every year I teach a full load for the next five, at which point I'll hit the maximum salary. There may well be a blip year in there somewhere, but it seems quite likely at the moment that I'll have full loads for the next while. But even if not, it's now a pretty decent salary.

Yay!

Awesome! Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on November 25, 2020, 07:41:50 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on November 25, 2020, 04:02:12 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 25, 2020, 03:54:57 PM
I've finally been placed on the salary scale at my institution. I got placed halfway through, which means a $15 000 raise, and I'll go up a step every year I teach a full load for the next five, at which point I'll hit the maximum salary. There may well be a blip year in there somewhere, but it seems quite likely at the moment that I'll have full loads for the next while. But even if not, it's now a pretty decent salary.

Yay!

Awesome! Congratulations!

Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: smallcleanrat on November 25, 2020, 07:51:40 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 25, 2020, 03:54:57 PM
I've finally been placed on the salary scale at my institution. I got placed halfway through, which means a $15 000 raise, and I'll go up a step every year I teach a full load for the next five, at which point I'll hit the maximum salary. There may well be a blip year in there somewhere, but it seems quite likely at the moment that I'll have full loads for the next while. But even if not, it's now a pretty decent salary.

Yay!

Excellent news, Parasaurolophus. Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 25, 2020, 07:58:04 PM
Good for you.

From all that appears on the writing and research threads, it would seem that you very richly deserve it.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 25, 2020, 09:23:00 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 25, 2020, 03:54:57 PM
I've finally been placed on the salary scale at my institution. I got placed halfway through, which means a $15 000 raise, and I'll go up a step every year I teach a full load for the next five, at which point I'll hit the maximum salary. There may well be a blip year in there somewhere, but it seems quite likely at the moment that I'll have full loads for the next while. But even if not, it's now a pretty decent salary.

Yay!

Congrats!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on November 26, 2020, 10:44:57 AM
SO happy for you, Parasaurolophus!  Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 26, 2020, 06:33:51 PM
Thanks, everyone!

The news today is even better: they made a mistake with my placement on the salary scale. I'm actually a step higher, which means another $3k!


Well. Until I see the tax bill!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on November 27, 2020, 03:01:17 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 26, 2020, 06:33:51 PM
Thanks, everyone!

The news today is even better: they made a mistake with my placement on the salary scale. I'm actually a step higher, which means another $3k!


Well. Until I see the tax bill!

Bravo! That's an $18k bump altogether then? Fortunately, since the logic of marginal tax increases do not actually result in a lower net income when you make more money, you're coming out ahead no matter what bracket you end up in.

(I recognize that you probably know this, but it needs saying anyway.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 27, 2020, 08:09:45 AM
Quote from: ergative on November 27, 2020, 03:01:17 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 26, 2020, 06:33:51 PM
Thanks, everyone!

The news today is even better: they made a mistake with my placement on the salary scale. I'm actually a step higher, which means another $3k!


Well. Until I see the tax bill!

Bravo! That's an $18k bump altogether then? Fortunately, since the logic of marginal tax increases do not actually result in a lower net income when you make more money, you're coming out ahead no matter what bracket you end up in.

(I recognize that you probably know this, but it needs saying anyway.)

Yeahyeah!

It's also not quite as impressive a bump as it sounds, since it merely makes my salary go from paltry to decent. But it's a well-timed and welcome boost!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on November 27, 2020, 09:52:16 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 27, 2020, 08:09:45 AM
Quote from: ergative on November 27, 2020, 03:01:17 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 26, 2020, 06:33:51 PM
Thanks, everyone!

The news today is even better: they made a mistake with my placement on the salary scale. I'm actually a step higher, which means another $3k!


Well. Until I see the tax bill!

Bravo! That's an $18k bump altogether then? Fortunately, since the logic of marginal tax increases do not actually result in a lower net income when you make more money, you're coming out ahead no matter what bracket you end up in.

(I recognize that you probably know this, but it needs saying anyway.)

Yeahyeah!

It's also not quite as impressive a bump as it sounds, since it merely makes my salary go from paltry to decent. But it's a well-timed and welcome boost!

Congrats! Well timed indeed, since as I recall you are in the process of hatching an egg?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 27, 2020, 11:43:46 AM
Quote from: Puget on November 27, 2020, 09:52:16 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 27, 2020, 08:09:45 AM
Quote from: ergative on November 27, 2020, 03:01:17 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 26, 2020, 06:33:51 PM
Thanks, everyone!

The news today is even better: they made a mistake with my placement on the salary scale. I'm actually a step higher, which means another $3k!


Well. Until I see the tax bill!

Bravo! That's an $18k bump altogether then? Fortunately, since the logic of marginal tax increases do not actually result in a lower net income when you make more money, you're coming out ahead no matter what bracket you end up in.

(I recognize that you probably know this, but it needs saying anyway.)

Yeahyeah!

It's also not quite as impressive a bump as it sounds, since it merely makes my salary go from paltry to decent. But it's a well-timed and welcome boost!

Congrats! Well timed indeed, since as I recall you are in the process of hatching an egg?

Yessum!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 30, 2020, 07:57:15 AM
Belated congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on December 10, 2020, 07:05:21 AM
Probability is really fun in some ways and it's clear that many don't understand some implications.

When a specific action has a very low probability of a particular negative side effect occurring (e.g., less than 1%), but millions of people take that action every day, that particular negative side effect will happen many, many times every day, but, true, most of the people won't experience it directly every time.

Thus, much of the advice I'm seeing is along the lines of "Well, you shouldn't drive drunk.  But if you do, wear a seat belt, consider getting a helmet, and be sure your headlights are aligned so as not to blind oncoming drivers".

The reduction in the AIDS deaths is primarily due to better treatment, not doing risky things and then insisting they aren't risky.

The reduction in births to teenagers is primarily due to fewer teens having sex, not better birth control usage.

If you feel bad about violating the rules, that's the little angel on your shoulder to whom you should listen and stop violating the rules.

If you think calling out individuals for being sexist, racist, transphobic, or whatever can change behavior, then you are logically inconsistent if you don't believe that telling people to stay home to avoid overwhelming the medical system, to wait for the vaccine that's on the horizon (although a year is more realistic than a couple months), and to wait for improved treatments could change behavior in necessary ways.

Thus, it'd be nice if people who insist they teach critical thinking would actually follow the math and science in this case instead of the philosophers who refuse to admit the distinction between a physical reality and a social nicety.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 10, 2020, 07:34:12 AM
...what philosophers?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on December 10, 2020, 03:20:54 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 10, 2020, 07:34:12 AM
...what philosophers?
There's a Harvard philosopher and collaborators who are getting a lot press this week for saying that people won't follow the rules and therefore we should give into making those people's feelings instead of focusing on the physical realities.

This comes after a steady stream of advice through the year of people who are at least arm chair philosophers on the individuals' feelings instead of the realities of community spread and community risk.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 10, 2020, 04:38:20 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on December 10, 2020, 03:20:54 PM
There's a Harvard philosopher and collaborators who are getting a lot press this week for saying that people won't follow the rules and therefore we should give into making those people's feelings instead of focusing on the physical realities.



Wow, I totally missed that. Thanks for clarifying. I'll have to have a look, because I seldom miss an opportunity to adjust my view of that department downwards.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on December 11, 2020, 06:07:44 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 10, 2020, 04:38:20 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on December 10, 2020, 03:20:54 PM
There's a Harvard philosopher and collaborators who are getting a lot press this week for saying that people won't follow the rules and therefore we should give into making those people's feelings instead of focusing on the physical realities.



Wow, I totally missed that. Thanks for clarifying. I'll have to have a look, because I seldom miss an opportunity to adjust my view of that department downwards.

Valuing the elite affiliation instead of relevant expertise has been one of the interesting/sad parts of watching the pandemic unfold in the media. 

The view one gets from watching the ongoing discussions in relevant science-for-scientists (including social science) outlets (e.g., Physics Today, Chemical and Engineering News, Nature has a new Covid newsletter that is particularly good at pointing to science-for-scientists-but-not-experts-in-the-field articles in many science outlets) is very different from the one-off articles in the mass media where the goal is to tell a story that people will read to provide more eyeballs for revenue.  The science outlets tend to write for non-experts in the exact fields by delineating the known science, the current progress on open questions with a lot of discussion and hypotheses to test, and the new questions to be asked as new information rolls in.  The "overviews in not your field" science outlets have a goal of informing non-experts; the mass media outlets are selling a new article regularly to keep the money flowing instead of informing.

A few months ago on these fora, we had a discussion on why the general public doesn't value science with many forumites asserting that they value science, but then those same people would write multiple items that disprove their ability to use scientific knowledge in their daily lives appropriately.  More than once on these fora, people have asserted that they don't need math or quantitative reasoning in their daily lives.  They may not need to write equations (even I seldom write equations for non-work tasks), but they are making ignorant decisions by not having a good grasp on the implications of probability, statistics, and exponential growth (e.g., by the time the results come back as alarming to even the casual eye, it's usually too late to do anything in the short term; the time to have acted was much earlier when it was the good models that were predicting alarming results).

It's both amusing and sad to see how many academics assert that general education and critical thinking are really important, but then don't have the necessary general education knowledge and skills to be able to succeed in critical thinking that directly matters.  The pandemic has certainly highlighted a lack of those skills even among people who assert that's their career and expertise.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on December 11, 2020, 06:54:00 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on December 11, 2020, 06:07:44 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 10, 2020, 04:38:20 PM
Quote from: polly_mer on December 10, 2020, 03:20:54 PM
There's a Harvard philosopher and collaborators who are getting a lot press this week for saying that people won't follow the rules and therefore we should give into making those people's feelings instead of focusing on the physical realities.



Wow, I totally missed that. Thanks for clarifying. I'll have to have a look, because I seldom miss an opportunity to adjust my view of that department downwards.

Valuing the elite affiliation instead of relevant expertise has been one of the interesting/sad parts of watching the pandemic unfold in the media. 

The view one gets from watching the ongoing discussions in relevant science-for-scientists (including social science) outlets (e.g., Physics Today, Chemical and Engineering News, Nature has a new Covid newsletter that is particularly good at pointing to science-for-scientists-but-not-experts-in-the-field articles in many science outlets) is very different from the one-off articles in the mass media where the goal is to tell a story that people will read to provide more eyeballs for revenue.  The science outlets tend to write for non-experts in the exact fields by delineating the known science, the current progress on open questions with a lot of discussion and hypotheses to test, and the new questions to be asked as new information rolls in.  The "overviews in not your field" science outlets have a goal of informing non-experts; the mass media outlets are selling a new article regularly to keep the money flowing instead of informing.


One mind-numbingly irritating example of this is reports that in the UK, "two people had allergic reactions to the vaccine".

OUT OF HOW MANY VACCINATED????????????

What kind of morons don't think that basic information matters?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 11, 2020, 11:42:55 AM
I just noticed that mamselle's post count has overtaken polly's.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on December 11, 2020, 12:10:29 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 11, 2020, 11:42:55 AM
I just noticed that mamselle's post count has overtaken polly's.

That happened a while ago.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on December 11, 2020, 02:04:50 PM
Gee, and here I was holding back so as not to make anyone feel bad....

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 15, 2020, 09:54:00 AM
Got a referee request today from the one specialist journal that keeps on rejecting absolutely everything I send them (including some papers which were accepted, virtually unchanged, in the highest-ranking generalist journals, or the other top specialist journal in my subfield).

I know there's nothing weird about that, but it stings a little. =p
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on December 15, 2020, 10:01:03 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 15, 2020, 09:54:00 AM
Got a referee request today from the one specialist journal that keeps on rejecting absolutely everything I send them (including some papers which were accepted, virtually unchanged, in the highest-ranking generalist journals, or the other top specialist journal in my subfield).

I know there's nothing weird about that, but it stings a little. =p

Did you decline the review request?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 15, 2020, 10:25:25 AM
Quote from: Cheerful on December 15, 2020, 10:01:03 AM

Did you decline the review request?

Couldn't bring myself to, unfortunately. It's the best, least-plagiarized thing I'll read in the whole grading period. Gotta get my kicks somewhere!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 13, 2021, 04:53:58 PM
New genetic evidence (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dire-wolves-were-not-really-wolves-new-genetic-clues-reveal/?fbclid=IwAR0w82iEaswLDufA1C2f3DGl2iLzm04Z2vG7jaRlynMyL6RrprvQkuxI3wQ) suggests dire wolves weren't actually wolves!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 14, 2021, 07:25:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 13, 2021, 04:53:58 PM
New genetic evidence (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dire-wolves-were-not-really-wolves-new-genetic-clues-reveal/?fbclid=IwAR0w82iEaswLDufA1C2f3DGl2iLzm04Z2vG7jaRlynMyL6RrprvQkuxI3wQ) suggests dire wolves weren't actually wolves!

I couldn't access the link.  If they weren't actually wolves, what were they?  A previously unknown family of carnivores?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 14, 2021, 08:43:24 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 14, 2021, 07:25:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 13, 2021, 04:53:58 PM
New genetic evidence (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dire-wolves-were-not-really-wolves-new-genetic-clues-reveal/?fbclid=IwAR0w82iEaswLDufA1C2f3DGl2iLzm04Z2vG7jaRlynMyL6RrprvQkuxI3wQ) suggests dire wolves weren't actually wolves!

I couldn't access the link.  If they weren't actually wolves, what were they?  A previously unknown family of carnivores?

Just dogs + convergent evolution.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 14, 2021, 09:13:44 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 14, 2021, 08:43:24 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 14, 2021, 07:25:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 13, 2021, 04:53:58 PM
New genetic evidence (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dire-wolves-were-not-really-wolves-new-genetic-clues-reveal/?fbclid=IwAR0w82iEaswLDufA1C2f3DGl2iLzm04Z2vG7jaRlynMyL6RrprvQkuxI3wQ) suggests dire wolves weren't actually wolves!

I couldn't access the link.  If they weren't actually wolves, what were they?  A previously unknown family of carnivores?

Just dogs + convergent evolution.

Finally accessed the article after waiting a bit.  So they WERE canids, but turn out to have been a separate genus.  It's pretty amazing how they can now recover DNA from such ancient remains.  That DNA evidence has upended all kinds of taxonomic theories.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 14, 2021, 09:39:47 AM
Speaking of animal species: a new rare baby Indian rhino was just born in Wroclaw:

   https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1349756410742018050?s=21

Graphic warning: the birth is the first thing to be seen.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on January 14, 2021, 10:24:11 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 14, 2021, 09:13:44 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 14, 2021, 08:43:24 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 14, 2021, 07:25:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on January 13, 2021, 04:53:58 PM
New genetic evidence (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/dire-wolves-were-not-really-wolves-new-genetic-clues-reveal/?fbclid=IwAR0w82iEaswLDufA1C2f3DGl2iLzm04Z2vG7jaRlynMyL6RrprvQkuxI3wQ) suggests dire wolves weren't actually wolves!

I couldn't access the link.  If they weren't actually wolves, what were they?  A previously unknown family of carnivores?

Just dogs + convergent evolution.

Finally accessed the article after waiting a bit.  So they WERE canids, but turn out to have been a separate genus.  It's pretty amazing how they can now recover DNA from such ancient remains.  That DNA evidence has upended all kinds of taxonomic theories.

This reminds me of the dire wolf skull exhibit at the La Brea Tar Pits. There were probably around 500 or so dire wolves excavated from one spot where they had presumably become trapped when they went after prey that were also trapped in the tar. It's a fantastic museum, inside and out. Until my visit, decades ago, I had assumed that dire wolves were the stuff of legend and fairy tales.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: polly_mer on February 03, 2021, 07:06:17 PM
https://clairepotter.substack.com/p/why-i-wish-i-could-go-to-cpac2021

More humanities folks should act like this.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on February 04, 2021, 04:16:48 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on February 03, 2021, 07:06:17 PM
https://clairepotter.substack.com/p/why-i-wish-i-could-go-to-cpac2021

More humanities folks should act like this.

That is a great article.

Quote
It bothered me as a college teacher and an intellectual that any student would be deliberately humiliated for contrarian political views, however naive and wrong, that fall well short of hate speech. It always has. But over two days, I became persuaded that many of these young activists ended up in radical conservatism because they had been ostracized by their peers and had not been supported and thoughtfully engaged by faculty who might have encouraged them to cultivate their conservatism within more conventional political parameters. In fact, when I identified myself as a liberal professor, these students were surprised that I cared what they thought, much less had sought them out.

That's so sad, but understandable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on February 04, 2021, 04:49:08 AM
Quote from: marshwiggle on February 04, 2021, 04:16:48 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on February 03, 2021, 07:06:17 PM
https://clairepotter.substack.com/p/why-i-wish-i-could-go-to-cpac2021

More humanities folks should act like this.

That is a great article.

Quote
It bothered me as a college teacher and an intellectual that any student would be deliberately humiliated for contrarian political views, however naive and wrong, that fall well short of hate speech. It always has. But over two days, I became persuaded that many of these young activists ended up in radical conservatism because they had been ostracized by their peers and had not been supported and thoughtfully engaged by faculty who might have encouraged them to cultivate their conservatism within more conventional political parameters. In fact, when I identified myself as a liberal professor, these students were surprised that I cared what they thought, much less had sought them out.

That's so sad, but understandable.

And that is why I believe the extremely left-of-center composition of tenure track faculty today needs to be seen as a problem, our problem. An individual who has the luxury of changing his environment to get away from intolerance doesn't change the situation. Only for himself he has. Or at the very least, as the author says, liberal professors should be as a fly on the wall and listen to what the conservative-minded are saying to each other in terms of constructive directions for government policy, etc. She could even have put a finer point on it by noting that there is a growing segment of young blacks who liked Trump for the same reasons as the young whites.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: bacardiandlime on February 04, 2021, 06:48:37 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on February 03, 2021, 07:06:17 PM
https://clairepotter.substack.com/p/why-i-wish-i-could-go-to-cpac2021

More humanities folks should act like this.

Yes. Academics who say "I don't let my politics get in the way of my teaching" are often kidding themselves, or overlook the extent to which students are acutely aware that none of their profs share their views. I was a right-of-center undergrad back when Bush was Hitler, and while I don't think any of my profs treated me unfairly, walking past offices where ever door had stickers and cartoons showing a particular viewpoint, you get a very clear view of how things stand.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mahagonny on February 04, 2021, 07:33:27 AM
Quote from: bacardiandlime on February 04, 2021, 06:48:37 AM
Quote from: polly_mer on February 03, 2021, 07:06:17 PM
https://clairepotter.substack.com/p/why-i-wish-i-could-go-to-cpac2021

More humanities folks should act like this.

Yes. Academics who say "I don't let my politics get in the way of my teaching" are often kidding themselves, or overlook the extent to which students are acutely aware that none of their profs share their views. I was a right-of-center undergrad back when Bush was Hitler, and while I don't think any of my profs treated me unfairly, walking past offices where ever door had stickers and cartoons showing a particular viewpoint, you get a very clear view of how things stand.

And in fact, our state university, up until recently had 'Black Lives Matter' posted on its webpage, which I think is wrong. As an educator and as a taxpayer. Your office door should not be a billboard for your politics and the University's website should not be billboard for the political views of a subset of that community. When the B, L, M are all capitalized clearly it's an aligning with a political faction. Apparently they have already decided not to include it. I wonder how many complaints they received.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 09, 2021, 07:16:21 PM
These guys sound like they've been reading posts here on this forum:

   https://theconversation.com/graduate-students-need-a-phd-that-makes-sense-for-their-real-lives-150525

I mean, not just the points made, but some of the actual phrasing sounds spookily familiar.

Are we being cited plageriously?

M.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 15, 2021, 08:39:05 PM
I was bushwhacking in the woods the other day, and found several piles of strange scat, a fair hike apart. I wonder what it is? I guess it's probably just really weird deer scat (really quite large, in a soft tower of globules), but I've never seen it like that before (nor so big). It also seems like the wrong season for ruminant scat to look like that, but... I guess the general absence of winter means the vegetation is always kinda wet? Shrug.

I would ask on my community's FB page, but it seems kinda rude to post a picture of weird poo!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on February 15, 2021, 09:14:19 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on February 15, 2021, 08:39:05 PM
I would ask on my community's FB page, but it seems kinda rude to post a picture of weird poo!
My neighborhood FB page would be much livelier if people posted pictures of weird poo!

You can at least rule out wombats.  Continent notwithstanding, they poop cubes rather than globules.  I suspect someone (possibly even you?) probably already linked to that article here.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on February 16, 2021, 07:02:50 AM
I found an odd set of prints crossing much of the library's lot this morning.  It's something small.  Probably a varmint of some kind, or maybe a cat.  They're sunk too deep to be able to see the shape of the foot.

I've also seen what appear to be deer tracks on the edge of my yard.  That's surprising.  Although I do live near the edge of town, I had never supposed that they ventured through people's front yards in the neighborhood at night.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on February 16, 2021, 07:40:41 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on February 15, 2021, 08:39:05 PM
I was bushwhacking in the woods the other day, and found several piles of strange scat, a fair hike apart. I wonder what it is? I guess it's probably just really weird deer scat (really quite large, in a soft tower of globules), but I've never seen it like that before (nor so big). It also seems like the wrong season for ruminant scat to look like that, but... I guess the general absence of winter means the vegetation is always kinda wet? Shrug.

I would ask on my community's FB page, but it seems kinda rude to post a picture of weird poo!

Do you have elk? (I think so if you're where I think think you are). Their scat is like deer scat but larger.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 16, 2021, 08:57:12 AM
Quote from: namazu on February 15, 2021, 09:14:19 PM


You can at least rule out wombats.  Continent notwithstanding, they poop cubes rather than globules.  I suspect someone (possibly even you?) probably already linked to that article here.


Hehe, very true!

Quote from: Puget on February 16, 2021, 07:40:41 AM

Do you have elk? (I think so if you're where I think think you are). Their scat is like deer scat but larger.


Hmm, maybe. It looks kind of right for elk. I don't think I'm in their preferred habitat, but a chunk of the mainland is, so they could swim over. The occasional bear and cougar swim over, but while the scat's the right size for a bear, it doesn't look right. I don't think anyone's ever seen and elk over here (or a moose, for that matter), but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

So: the options seem to be either the biggest deer scat ever, or an elk led astray!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 16, 2021, 10:29:34 AM
Something new and of interest every day on this forum...

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 16, 2021, 10:43:15 AM
Also, apparently it's reading week this week. I thought it was next week. Sigh.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 04:28:55 PM
I just found this skating couple and I'm in awe...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCuxsRnVTQ

Of course, sounds like they're retiring/retired now, but....wow.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: wareagle on February 19, 2021, 12:08:53 PM
Quote from: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 04:28:55 PM
I just found this skating couple and I'm in awe...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCuxsRnVTQ

Of course, sounds like they're retiring/retired now, but....wow.

M.

+1, just.......wow.  Incredible.  Thanks so much for sharing the link.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on February 19, 2021, 04:05:14 PM
Quote from: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 04:28:55 PM
I just found this skating couple and I'm in awe...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCuxsRnVTQ

Of course, sounds like they're retiring/retired now, but....wow.

M.

I've watched this four times and WOW. Thank you so much for posting this. It made my day so much better.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fishbrains on February 23, 2021, 08:58:01 AM
Your "mentee" came to the interview with holes in his clothes, and he left his air-buds in the entire time the committee talked to him. And we know he has money, because he told us who his father is quite a few times (it's weird how teenagers seem to think all adults like each other).

The other interviews went really well. Just sayin' that it ain't looking good.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 25, 2021, 09:49:24 PM
Found out today about someone (local) who regularly teaches 20+ sections a semester across several institutions (most local, some online). (Bear in mind that this would be for real, decent pay; he's not stitching together $1500 gigs.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on February 26, 2021, 03:44:37 AM
Isn't it more likely that they are NOT teaching 20+ sections each semester?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on February 26, 2021, 04:00:05 AM
I recall someone who was teaching around 10 or so courses a semester in several institutions talk about how to keep the grading manageable--give only multiple-choice tests and exams. I was teaching similar courses which were most definitely not multiple-choice type assessment courses. I'm not sure how the departments/institutions viewed the assessments.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on February 26, 2021, 04:26:33 AM
I have one online course I teach every semester.  NOT counting the new lectures and updates I do in between semesters to keep it fresh and updated, I spend a lot of time (4-5) just managing the course and dealing with student issues.  Even at 2 hours a week per class (which is very low) 20+ sections seems utterly unmanageable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on February 26, 2021, 06:11:13 AM
Quote from: wareagle on February 19, 2021, 12:08:53 PM
Quote from: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 04:28:55 PM
I just found this skating couple and I'm in awe...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCuxsRnVTQ

Of course, sounds like they're retiring/retired now, but....wow.

M.

+1, just.......wow.  Incredible.  Thanks so much for sharing the link.


What a lovely way to begin the morning!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 26, 2021, 06:57:52 AM
Quote from: FishProf on February 26, 2021, 03:44:37 AM
Isn't it more likely that they are NOT teaching 20+ sections each semester?

I certainly can't imagine doing even an adequate job of it.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: cathwen on February 26, 2021, 07:42:11 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on February 26, 2021, 06:11:13 AM
Quote from: wareagle on February 19, 2021, 12:08:53 PM
Quote from: mamselle on February 17, 2021, 04:28:55 PM
I just found this skating couple and I'm in awe...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOCuxsRnVTQ

Of course, sounds like they're retiring/retired now, but....wow.

M.

+1, just.......wow.  Incredible.  Thanks so much for sharing the link.


What a lovely way to begin the morning!

Breathtaking! 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on March 17, 2021, 05:14:24 AM
So: If you want to write a row from a dataframe to an output file, updating with a new line each time an iteration in your simulation has finished running, the following commands do not work:

write(dataframeline, ncol=17, sep=',', append=TRUE) Nope! This apparently assuems that all your data is numerical, and if there is any character text, such as VITALLY IMPORTANT LABELS FOR WHICH SIMULATION JUST FINISHED, it will write them out as '1'. Of course, this only applies to the version of R on my university's computing cluster, not the version on my computer. So all my local test runs of the script were great, but the real runs are spitting out unusable data.

write.csv(dataframeline, sep=',', append=TRUE, row.names=FALSE, col.names=FALSE) NOpe! Despite the argument 'append=TRUE', write.csv() blithely ignores it, and just overwrites the results file with the new line of the dataframe each time.

write.table(dataframeline, sep=',', append-TRUE, row.names=FALSE, col.names=FALSE) That's the winner! Only took me two weeks to land upon this, and it will be another few days before I'll start seeing what the actual simulation data looks like, which means I won't know for sure that this worked properly until Friday at the earliest.

Arrgh.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on March 17, 2021, 06:06:44 AM
Quote from: ergative on March 17, 2021, 05:14:24 AM
So: If you want to write a row from a dataframe to an output file, updating with a new line each time an iteration in your simulation has finished running, the following commands do not work:

write(dataframeline, ncol=17, sep=',', append=TRUE) Nope! This apparently assuems that all your data is numerical, and if there is any character text, such as VITALLY IMPORTANT LABELS FOR WHICH SIMULATION JUST FINISHED, it will write them out as '1'. Of course, this only applies to the version of R on my university's computing cluster, not the version on my computer. So all my local test runs of the script were great, but the real runs are spitting out unusable data.

write.csv(dataframeline, sep=',', append=TRUE, row.names=FALSE, col.names=FALSE) NOpe! Despite the argument 'append=TRUE', write.csv() blithely ignores it, and just overwrites the results file with the new line of the dataframe each time.

write.table(dataframeline, sep=',', append-TRUE, row.names=FALSE, col.names=FALSE) That's the winner! Only took me two weeks to land upon this, and it will be another few days before I'll start seeing what the actual simulation data looks like, which means I won't know for sure that this worked properly until Friday at the earliest.

Arrgh.

Gotta love those poorly-documented features in software. 'Cause what else were you going to spend your time on?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on March 17, 2021, 08:15:59 AM
R is great for a lot of things and is very versatile, but I absolutely hate it for data management.  I'm sure the R gurus can keep up with the different functions and their particulars, but I feel as though I constantly have to write out to some format, then convert it to another format, read it in in some format, convert it again, etc.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on March 17, 2021, 09:07:52 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on March 17, 2021, 08:15:59 AM
R is great for a lot of things and is very versatile, but I absolutely hate it for data management.  I'm sure the R gurus can keep up with the different functions and their particulars, but I feel as though I constantly have to write out to some format, then convert it to another format, read it in in some format, convert it again, etc.

Hard same. I learned Perl--and later Python--simply because I had data in a form that wouldn't work with R, and I had to convert it.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on March 18, 2021, 08:05:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.

Congrats! Be well, both of you.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on March 18, 2021, 08:46:21 AM
Congratulations, Parasaurolophus and now-extended family! I'm sorry to hear that it was difficult, but I'm glad that you are all doing well now and wish you lots of happiness!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on March 18, 2021, 08:54:16 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.

Mazel tov! Here's to a new life in a (let's hope) better year!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: cathwen on March 18, 2021, 09:07:18 AM
Congratulations on the new life you are welcoming into your family!  All best wishes for good health and happiness.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on March 18, 2021, 09:08:50 AM
Quote from: ergative on March 18, 2021, 08:54:16 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.

Mazel tov! Here's to a new life in a (let's hope) better year!

Yes, congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on March 18, 2021, 09:22:56 AM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on March 18, 2021, 09:43:10 AM
Congratulations, Parasaurolophus, and great joy to all of you!

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: wareagle on March 18, 2021, 09:44:17 AM
Hope ParaMom is doing well.  Congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on March 18, 2021, 10:15:09 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.
Congratulations!  May you and the hatchling know good health and much joy together.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on March 18, 2021, 10:54:40 AM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on March 18, 2021, 11:40:25 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.

Congratulations! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and successful transition to life in the home nest.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 18, 2021, 01:32:43 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.

Congrats!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on March 18, 2021, 02:37:53 PM
Woohoo!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on March 18, 2021, 03:33:28 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2021, 08:03:09 AM
The hatchling hatched this morning at 00h33. It was a very difficult hatching, but ended well.

Yay, Parasaurolophus Family! Congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on March 19, 2021, 01:02:48 AM

Spring is Sprang?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on March 19, 2021, 08:36:04 AM
I got an imported dark chocolate bar from Iceland sent by one of my colleagues from another branch.  No note from the sender inside--drats! The bar is the shape of a small brick.  :)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 25, 2021, 06:37:37 PM
I just put the hatchling in a Happy Baby wrap (in the middle of a dissatisfied fuss) and he immediately fell very sound asleep, and now I can carry on posting and stuff, hands-free. It's amazing.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: traductio on March 25, 2021, 08:44:37 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 25, 2021, 06:37:37 PM
I just put the hatchling in a Happy Baby wrap (in the middle of a dissatisfied fuss) and he immediately fell very sound asleep, and now I can carry on posting and stuff, hands-free. It's amazing.

I didn't know the hatchling had hatched (although I suspected as much -- I think you had said something about early March).

Congratulations!

And congratulations on getting him to sleep. This is not a skill to be underestimated.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on March 25, 2021, 11:59:41 PM
I have had a nagging, low-level headache for much of this week, but it eased yesterday evening and I think it's completely gone now.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on March 26, 2021, 07:25:37 AM
Quote from: ergative on March 25, 2021, 11:59:41 PM
I have had a nagging, low-level headache for much of this week, but it eased yesterday evening and I think it's completely gone now.

Good!  You must feel a lot better now.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on April 04, 2021, 05:33:36 AM
Happy Easter, everyone!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 06, 2021, 09:59:03 AM
The New York Public Library just sent a cool email/link around:

You can send a message to a particular library in their system to say thanks to their workers today (It's not a special day, just a nice thing come up with!)

   https://notes.librariesmakenycstronger.org/?utm_source=eNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Advocacy2021_20210406_StickyNotesTonyMarx&utm_campaign=2021BudgetAdvocacy

They post it as a sticky and you can have it re-sent as a Tweet or a Facebook entry as well.

I just thanked the Dance Collection folks for all their great work...their help has made next week's paper more possible...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on April 06, 2021, 07:31:34 PM
Mamselle, thanks for the National Library Week shoutout!  :)

Tate's Bake Shop Limited Edition Lemon Cookies are awesome:
https://www.tatesbakeshop.com/cookies/limited-edition-lemon-cookies (https://www.tatesbakeshop.com/cookies/limited-edition-lemon-cookies)
I got a bag at Wal-Mart last night.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 06, 2021, 11:08:14 PM
You're welcome!

This article just appeared that was very interesting, too...

    https://lithub.com/how-do-writers-without-access-to-books-develop-a-craft/

And I agree, yea, Tate's! (Rich as they are...!)

Their Coconut Cookies are the Rondellos I fell in love with in the UK in 1973, and could never find an equivalent stateside.

Thump-thump....thump....thump-thump....(beating heart won't be still....)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 08, 2021, 07:36:03 PM
I only vaguely remember the children's songs and lullabies I sang as a kid.

Turns out I remember a lot of the hymns I had to sing every morning in high school, though.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 09, 2021, 04:08:39 PM
We might have bought one of the most expensive infant car seats, but man, it sure is a dream to use and adjust.

My memories of my sisters' car seats had me terrorized, but this one is fab.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on April 09, 2021, 04:21:06 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 09, 2021, 04:08:39 PM
We might have bought one of the most expensive infant car seats, but man, it sure is a dream to use and adjust.

My memories of my sisters' car seats had me terrorized, but this one is fab.

A car seat that is easy to install, use, extract, etc. is a complete treasure! Trying to wrangle a baby/child and who knows what else is going on in the environment can be a real challenge to make it through without tearing out of hair or similar (or worse).  So happy you found a great one!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on April 09, 2021, 07:04:10 PM
A librarian friend sent me a link to a blog post from McGill University library,  https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/ (https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/), with lovely medieval manuscript pages. The brief mention of Cantus: A Database for Latin Ecclesiastical Chant made me think of Mamselle, as the only person I know whose research is related to music and theology.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on April 10, 2021, 06:23:17 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on April 09, 2021, 07:04:10 PM
A librarian friend sent me a link to a blog post from McGill University library,  https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/ (https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/), with lovely medieval manuscript pages. The brief mention of Cantus: A Database for Latin Ecclesiastical Chant made me think of Mamselle, as the only person I know whose research is related to music and theology.

There's a big need for that sort of detective work to reconstruct medieval manuscripts.  In the past illuminated manuscripts were often butchered into saleable individual pages.  Sort of like how vintage magazines are plundered today to get those full-page ads you see for sale in antique places and on E-Bay.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 10, 2021, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: apl68 on April 10, 2021, 06:23:17 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on April 09, 2021, 07:04:10 PM
A librarian friend sent me a link to a blog post from McGill University library,  https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/ (https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/), with lovely medieval manuscript pages. The brief mention of Cantus: A Database for Latin Ecclesiastical Chant made me think of Mamselle, as the only person I know whose research is related to music and theology.

There's a big need for that sort of detective work to reconstruct medieval manuscripts.  In the past illuminated manuscripts were often butchered into saleable individual pages.  Sort of like how vintage magazines are plundered today to get those full-page ads you see for sale in antique places and on E-Bay.

Thanks, yes, Cantus is a significant resource, and it grew intelligently, shepherded by Ruth Steiner, from one if those "little search-engines-that-could" tiny database programs at CUA in the 80s/90s to a seriously useful program now.

I had stacks of offprints from it in the 90s (hmmm...still do, it appears...) and their "familiarity programs" at conferences like K'zoo included presentations by folks like Anonymous 4, a couple years back, now, explaining how they used the database to find the pieces they worked on for their then-latest CD, and how they'd used a couple new features to trim their search further, etc 

Then they sang one for us....

Bliss.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on April 11, 2021, 10:13:41 AM
Quote from: mamselle on April 10, 2021, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: apl68 on April 10, 2021, 06:23:17 AM
Quote from: Vkw10 on April 09, 2021, 07:04:10 PM
A librarian friend sent me a link to a blog post from McGill University library,  https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/ (https://news.library.mcgill.ca/a-giant-medieval-puzzle/), with lovely medieval manuscript pages. The brief mention of Cantus: A Database for Latin Ecclesiastical Chant made me think of Mamselle, as the only person I know whose research is related to music and theology.

There's a big need for that sort of detective work to reconstruct medieval manuscripts.  In the past illuminated manuscripts were often butchered into saleable individual pages.  Sort of like how vintage magazines are plundered today to get those full-page ads you see for sale in antique places and on E-Bay.

Thanks, yes, Cantus is a significant resource, and it grew intelligently, shepherded by Ruth Steiner, from one if those "little search-engines-that-could" tiny database programs at CUA in the 80s/90s to a seriously useful program now.

I had stacks of offprints from it in the 90s (hmmm...still do, it appears...) and their "familiarity programs" at conferences like K'zoo included presentations by folks like Anonymous 4, a couple years back, now, explaining how they used the database to find the pieces they worked on for their then-latest CD, and how they'd used a couple new features to trim their search further, etc 

Then they sang one for us....

Bliss.

M.
Thanks, apl68 and mamselle. I enjoyed the illustrations, but had never thought about manuscript fragments as a scholarly puzzle or realized that such databases would be used by familiar artists. I have CDs by Anonymous 4, but never considered how they located the music I enjoy.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 11, 2021, 12:53:24 PM
I have met more musicians who perform medieval works sitting beside them at a microfilm reader or in archival libraries....

One, a couple years ago, used exceprts from one of my transcriptions to "thread" a program's pieces together.

That was pretty cool, too.

M.

P.S. I should clarify, in most cases these are not fragments being reunited (although there are folks doing that kind of work, too...the people who study Beneventan script know where ALL the little backing pieces, originally written in Beneventan, then later cut up and used to fill in book spines, are located...)

Cantus' biggest service is making it possible to look at variants of standard chants in many different sources at once, rather than having to run all over Europe and the US to visit the libraries that have those manuscripts, and study them in place.

Of course, there's certainly something to be said for doing that, if you must, as well...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 11, 2021, 05:16:24 PM
I just beatboxed the hatchling to sleep from an all-out cry.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 11, 2021, 05:25:13 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 11, 2021, 05:16:24 PM
I just beatboxed the hatchling to sleep from an all-out cry.

Awesome.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on April 11, 2021, 07:27:20 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 11, 2021, 05:16:24 PM
I just beatboxed the hatchling to sleep from an all-out cry.
(Very quiet) High-five! 

Ours cut tooth #1 today.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 15, 2021, 03:45:09 AM
This looks like a cool opportunity for someone interested in crab parasitology:

   https://phys.org/news/2021-04-retracing-professor-replicate-fieldwork-years.html

They're replicating the northern coastal part of the study, around Seattle, but the whole southern US-to-Baja Pacific coast is still up for grabs...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Bbmaj7b5 on April 15, 2021, 04:15:59 AM
Fun fact: The fabled Texas Power Grid is not, in fact, completely isolated. There is a DC connection in Arkansas. Presumably when this sort of thing happens again, some kind soul would be able to jump the entire grid with a 9 volt battery.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Vkw10 on April 16, 2021, 06:01:17 AM
Quote from: Bbmaj7b5 on April 15, 2021, 04:15:59 AM
Fun fact: The fabled Texas Power Grid is not, in fact, completely isolated. There is a DC connection in Arkansas. Presumably when this sort of thing happens again, some kind soul would be able to jump the entire grid with a 9 volt battery.

Texans are being asked to conserve energy because damaged grid may not be able to cope with peak summer demand. Also in Texas news, should ERCOT install a batch of natural gas backup generators produced by Warren Buffett? Pretty sure Buffett isn't producing and ERCOT doesn't install, but I'll give them time to post corrections before I read past headline. Other headlines mention guns (reduce restrictions) and abortion (increase restrictions) and testing (can't skip K12 testing). And people wonder why I'm not buying a house here.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on April 16, 2021, 08:07:57 AM
Quote from: Bbmaj7b5 on April 15, 2021, 04:15:59 AM
Fun fact: The fabled Texas Power Grid is not, in fact, completely isolated. There is a DC connection in Arkansas. Presumably when this sort of thing happens again, some kind soul would be able to jump the entire grid with a 9 volt battery.

Probably somebody on the Arkansas side of Texarkana.  The Texans of Texarkana better be nice to their neighbors!

That our state's grid was NOT connected with the grid in Texas probably helps to explain why we had so few outages on this side of the line that week.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 18, 2021, 09:31:23 PM
Had our first family picnic today. It was nice, although the bread, cheese, and parks on this coast leave much to be desired.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 20, 2021, 03:17:03 PM
Moose?

---in other things to tell folks...---

Just ran across this.

Had to share.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpdCVAmt5C8

Had to watch it twice.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: wareagle on April 22, 2021, 01:26:28 PM
The facilities folks are mowing lawns today.  A low-pitched insistent hum is wafting through my office.  It grows louder as they near my window.

Two days ago, we had two inches of fresh snow on the ground.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on April 26, 2021, 06:46:42 PM
"a very unusual and uniquely Canadian turn of events" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56894828)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 27, 2021, 08:19:56 AM
Dept. Chair:

Do we really have to have a meeting in the middle of final exams? Do you really think this is a good idea?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 27, 2021, 08:49:23 AM
Quote from: namazu on April 26, 2021, 06:46:42 PM
"a very unusual and uniquely Canadian turn of events" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56894828)

Reminds me 9f the Molson ad...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: larryc on April 27, 2021, 09:04:28 AM
Colleague, you are the reason I don't come to the departmental happy hour anymore. You've always had a streak of negativity, but it has gotten so out of hand in recent years that I find socializing with you unbearable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 30, 2021, 02:19:23 PM
On the plus side, I finished reading this shitty novel early (the last 20 pages were a sneak peek at the sequel). On the minus side, I don't have anything else to read while I wait around today
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on May 07, 2021, 02:23:55 AM
We all know about the snake-fight portion of your thesis defense (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-the-snake-fight-portion-of-your-thesis-defense), right? Yes, of course we do. But did you know that there is fanfiction based on this text (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/FAQ:%20The%20%22Snake%20Fight%22%20Portion%20of%20Your%20Thesis%20Defense%20-%20Luke%20Burns/works)? Because there is. This one, in particular,  (https://archiveofourown.org/works/28299630) is brilliant, and has definitely been written by someone with personal experience in the snake-fight trenches.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: OneMoreYear on May 07, 2021, 04:44:41 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 07, 2021, 02:23:55 AM
We all know about the snake-fight portion of your thesis defense (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-the-snake-fight-portion-of-your-thesis-defense), right? Yes, of course we do. But did you know that there is fanfiction based on this text (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/FAQ:%20The%20%22Snake%20Fight%22%20Portion%20of%20Your%20Thesis%20Defense%20-%20Luke%20Burns/works)? Because there is. This one, in particular,  (https://archiveofourown.org/works/28299630) is brilliant, and has definitely been written by someone with personal experience in the snake-fight trenches.

This is so perfect! My Huggy for the win!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on May 07, 2021, 04:56:56 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 07, 2021, 02:23:55 AM
We all know about the snake-fight portion of your thesis defense (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-the-snake-fight-portion-of-your-thesis-defense), right? Yes, of course we do. But did you know that there is fanfiction based on this text (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/FAQ:%20The%20%22Snake%20Fight%22%20Portion%20of%20Your%20Thesis%20Defense%20-%20Luke%20Burns/works)? Because there is. This one, in particular,  (https://archiveofourown.org/works/28299630) is brilliant, and has definitely been written by someone with personal experience in the snake-fight trenches.

Loved every bit of this but that finale was perfection.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on May 07, 2021, 06:58:48 AM
Quote from: Charlotte on May 07, 2021, 04:56:56 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 07, 2021, 02:23:55 AM
We all know about the snake-fight portion of your thesis defense (https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-the-snake-fight-portion-of-your-thesis-defense), right? Yes, of course we do. But did you know that there is fanfiction based on this text (https://archiveofourown.org/tags/FAQ:%20The%20%22Snake%20Fight%22%20Portion%20of%20Your%20Thesis%20Defense%20-%20Luke%20Burns/works)? Because there is. This one, in particular,  (https://archiveofourown.org/works/28299630) is brilliant, and has definitely been written by someone with personal experience in the snake-fight trenches.

Loved every bit of this but that finale was perfection.

This is brilliant and perfect timing as my grad student just emailed her committee to schedule her defense. I'll have to remind her about the snake paperwork!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on May 08, 2021, 04:52:03 PM
Earlier today, by my being inexplicably drawn to world affairs programing on TV, I watched as retired General Keane was being interviewed, by a young female tele journalist. She was so attractively nearly clad that I did not grasp either her inquiries or the general's remarks. So, Spring is sprung, huh?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 17, 2021, 10:03:04 AM
Hatchling achievement unlocked: projectile poo.

Parasaurolophus achievement unlocked: timely sidestep.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on May 17, 2021, 10:07:15 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 17, 2021, 10:03:04 AM
Hatchling achievement unlocked: projectile poo.

Parasaurolophus achievement unlocked: timely sidestep.

Parents of babies become about as adept and diligent regarding handwashing as surgeons.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Liquidambar on May 17, 2021, 02:58:25 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on May 17, 2021, 10:07:15 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on May 17, 2021, 10:03:04 AM
Hatchling achievement unlocked: projectile poo.

Parasaurolophus achievement unlocked: timely sidestep.

Parents of babies become about as adept and diligent regarding handwashing as surgeons.

I've observed the opposite.  Parents who would never exit the restroom without washing their hands don't feel the need to wash hands after changing a diaper.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on May 23, 2021, 04:59:02 PM
Pop music legend Antoine "Fats" Domino, during the periods of his major successes, was 5'5" tall and weighed 200 lbs. His nickname is said to have been associated with previous entertainers, like "Fats" Waller. Only sort of related information, 2021 AMERICAN IDOL finalist, Willie
Spence, is 5'10" tall and has, quite remarkably, reduced his weight from 600 lbs. to 400 lbs. during his quest for the "IDOL" championship.



Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 10:42:55 AM
I'm growing increasingly aware of the vulnerability of large portions of our grid-regulated world to cybersecurity issues, especially ransomeware attacks.
These:

   https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-steamship-authority-ransomware-attack-upate-june-5-2021/36638170

and

   https://www.engadget.com/pipeline-ransomware-010631984.html

...prompted my most recent thoughts,, mainly because a job I worked at a VERY long time ago had the VPN arrangement described in the second article,, and when the office IT department was universally laid off after a RIF and remote takeover by the main office's IT folks, I know for a fact they never did retire al those accounts (I worked for the R/D VP who was trying to get them to, and they just wouldn't prioritize it)

Since that company has a huge presence in almost every IT software package now in use, I bet they're scrambling now to close those loopholes like crazy...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 05, 2021, 02:23:21 PM
I'm looking for some nice wool v-neck sweaters for Absolutive, and I've come across a company that has exactly the sort of thing he likes. The only problem is that whoever dressed the models made some TERRIBLE color decisions. These are nice models--good looking guys with dogs and ponies and outdoorsy style pictures, all very nice---but the colors! If you want to sell a nice soft grey vest, don't show put it on the model who has an orangey-pink shirt underneath! Or the poor fellow who has a dark blue shirt, and then has one picture in which they stuck a baby-puke 'key lime' vest on top of it, and in another picture they put a bright teal vest over it. Or garden green. (And let's not even go into the picture of the fellow wearing a saturated sea-green vest over a light green polo shirt.)

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 02:27:50 PM
But..but...but. those are perfectly good contrasting or complimentary pairings!

Oh, unless....is this catalogue perhaps European, or Brit/Canadian/Continental?

Guys there wear cool combos like that all the time.

It's the US that's out of touch.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 05, 2021, 02:39:39 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 02:27:50 PM
But..but...but. those are perfectly good contrasting or complimentary pairings!

Oh, unless....is this catalogue perhaps European, or Brit/Canadian/Continental?

Guys there wear cool combos like that all the time.

It's the US that's out of touch.

M.

You would think they are good pairings from the names of the colors. But they look terrible to my eyes. Here's the green & green vest + polo shirt. (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/organic-cotton-cashmere-slipover-eucalyptus-17519). Here's the teal + blue combination (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-turquoise-14604). On second look, the pink + grey (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-grey-11787) isn't bad on its own, but together they serve as a coolish color palette, and the background of the photo is more warmy wood tones, and so it's the model who clashes with the background. The garden-green + blue (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/lambswool-knitted-slipover-green-18162) is just incompatible, though. The colors are too close to each other, and too saturated, and they fight.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 04:29:50 PM
Oh, dear, I think it's a case of "de gustibus...." I like them all...

I recall John Nettles wearing pink & grey in a Midsomer episode.

I'd say with the red hair,  the green/green combo is aimed at their Irish clientele.

And I actually love the jewel-toned depth of the blue and green...

But my mom used to insist that blue and green didn't go together, even when I pointed out that she like seeing the sky with trees...

So it really is personal.

I hope you do find something you like!

M.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on June 06, 2021, 06:10:06 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 05, 2021, 02:39:39 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 02:27:50 PM
But..but...but. those are perfectly good contrasting or complimentary pairings!

Oh, unless....is this catalogue perhaps European, or Brit/Canadian/Continental?

Guys there wear cool combos like that all the time.

It's the US that's out of touch.

M.

You would think they are good pairings from the names of the colors. But they look terrible to my eyes. Here's the green & green vest + polo shirt. (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/organic-cotton-cashmere-slipover-eucalyptus-17519). Here's the teal + blue combination (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-turquoise-14604). On second look, the pink + grey (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-grey-11787) isn't bad on its own, but together they serve as a coolish color palette, and the background of the photo is more warmy wood tones, and so it's the model who clashes with the background. The garden-green + blue (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/lambswool-knitted-slipover-green-18162) is just incompatible, though. The colors are too close to each other, and too saturated, and they fight.

It looks like they're going for a very "white bread" look; rich white collar professional being"casual". Rather than ordinary guy dressing normally.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 06, 2021, 08:14:33 AM
Unrelated.

I really do not want to teach online again this summer. When was the last time I had a summer off? :(
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 06, 2021, 08:26:35 AM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 06, 2021, 06:10:06 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 05, 2021, 02:39:39 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 02:27:50 PM
But..but...but. those are perfectly good contrasting or complimentary pairings!

Oh, unless....is this catalogue perhaps European, or Brit/Canadian/Continental?

Guys there wear cool combos like that all the time.

It's the US that's out of touch.

M.

You would think they are good pairings from the names of the colors. But they look terrible to my eyes. Here's the green & green vest + polo shirt. (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/organic-cotton-cashmere-slipover-eucalyptus-17519). Here's the teal + blue combination (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-turquoise-14604). On second look, the pink + grey (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-grey-11787) isn't bad on its own, but together they serve as a coolish color palette, and the background of the photo is more warmy wood tones, and so it's the model who clashes with the background. The garden-green + blue (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/lambswool-knitted-slipover-green-18162) is just incompatible, though. The colors are too close to each other, and too saturated, and they fight.

It looks like they're going for a very "white bread" look; rich white collar professional being"casual". Rather than ordinary guy dressing normally.

It's true that all the models are white, I did notice that.

But those colors, especially the more vibrant ones, would work very well with other skin tones (having dressed and done makeup for onstage cast members from a number of backgrounds).

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on June 06, 2021, 09:20:19 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 06, 2021, 08:26:35 AM
Quote from: marshwiggle on June 06, 2021, 06:10:06 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 05, 2021, 02:39:39 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 05, 2021, 02:27:50 PM
But..but...but. those are perfectly good contrasting or complimentary pairings!

Oh, unless....is this catalogue perhaps European, or Brit/Canadian/Continental?

Guys there wear cool combos like that all the time.

It's the US that's out of touch.

M.

You would think they are good pairings from the names of the colors. But they look terrible to my eyes. Here's the green & green vest + polo shirt. (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/organic-cotton-cashmere-slipover-eucalyptus-17519). Here's the teal + blue combination (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-turquoise-14604). On second look, the pink + grey (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/mens-lambswool-knitted-slipover-grey-11787) isn't bad on its own, but together they serve as a coolish color palette, and the background of the photo is more warmy wood tones, and so it's the model who clashes with the background. The garden-green + blue (https://www.woolovers.com/mens/sleeveless/lambswool-knitted-slipover-green-18162) is just incompatible, though. The colors are too close to each other, and too saturated, and they fight.

It looks like they're going for a very "white bread" look; rich white collar professional being"casual". Rather than ordinary guy dressing normally.

It's true that all the models are white, I did notice that.

But those colors, especially the more vibrant ones, would work very well with other skin tones (having dressed and done makeup for onstage cast members from a number of backgrounds).

M.

But it's not just the skin tones; it's that the whole look is very "urban professional". They look like models, rather than like people who bought the clothes because they liked them.  It's like the houses in decorating magazines, or on home improvement renovation shows; the wagon wheel on the wall may be visually striking but it's not the way any normal homeowner would decorate. And the lack of any family photos, or books, magazines, etc. on the coffee table.......

Everything has an artificial look about it. It appeals to people who think that doing what the decorators tell them to is important. For people who want their environment to reflect them, it just seems phony.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 06, 2021, 10:04:54 AM
Well, after all, it was a photo shoot.

Like, Sears catalogs, and all that?

Verisimilitude might be a bit of a stretch 8n those settings...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on June 07, 2021, 08:10:01 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 06, 2021, 08:14:33 AM
Unrelated.

I really do not want to teach online again this summer. When was the last time I had a summer off? :(

For me, it was 1996 (before I started grad school the next summer). 

I'm actually OK with my 2 online classes starting today, probably because I'm coming off my first sit-on-my-ass, do nothing but the NYTimes crosswords, crochet, and play in the garden, break (without the usual added drama, stress, and worry of Mom- or ALHS-related health crises) since, well, 1996. 

A number of my friends who took the recent VSIP (or decided against doing so) have said, "I don't know what I'll do all day long if I'm not working."  Not me--I have enough writing and crocheting and gardening projects and loafing and just plain laziness on my to-do list to last me for years and years.

Even though we have to work this summer, EPW, I hope you classes go easily and well and are as stress-free as possible.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 07, 2021, 12:42:38 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on June 07, 2021, 08:10:01 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 06, 2021, 08:14:33 AM
Unrelated.

I really do not want to teach online again this summer. When was the last time I had a summer off? :(

For me, it was 1996 (before I started grad school the next summer). 

I'm actually OK with my 2 online classes starting today, probably because I'm coming off my first sit-on-my-ass, do nothing but the NYTimes crosswords, crochet, and play in the garden, break (without the usual added drama, stress, and worry of Mom- or ALHS-related health crises) since, well, 1996. 

A number of my friends who took the recent VSIP (or decided against doing so) have said, "I don't know what I'll do all day long if I'm not working."  Not me--I have enough writing and crocheting and gardening projects and loafing and just plain laziness on my to-do list to last me for years and years.

Even though we have to work this summer, EPW, I hope you classes go easily and well and are as stress-free as possible.

Thanks ALH. I 'played' in the garden today- even though it was hot as Hades. I did get a few things done. I'm trying to stay on top of these online classes and sort of proactively herd students in the 'right' direction.

Hey, the NYT xword, gardening and crocheting are great ways to exercise the mind and body. Not lazy...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on June 09, 2021, 07:04:57 AM
Yesterday morning was my Big Day Out--the first I've done solo in about a year.  It included:

--Getting my hair cut, from its raggedy past-shoulder length back to my normal short pixie-ish layers.  Much better!

--Picking up flea meds at the pharmacy for Kid #1's dog. I've never done this before and giggled when the tech asked for the name on the Rx.  I gave my daughter's name, and the woman said, "No, I need the dog's first and last name."  I guess I've never thought of a pet in those terms.

--A 3-month doctor check-up.  My diabetes has been wonky since last fall, so I went in ready to get The Talk yet again, but instead I was happily surprised:  I've lost 17 pounds over the past 3 months and my A1C dropped from 9.2 to 7.8 (7.0 is generally the goal number).  I've got lots of room to lose a lot more weight, and I'd really like to get those numbers lower and get off some of these meds, but I'll take it, especially since my ortho problems continue to worsen and further reduce my mobility, which limits how much I can do to control both.

Probably TMI and not of much general interest, but it all was kind of a big deal for me, after the past year.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 09, 2021, 07:17:19 AM
Au contraire, the weight loss and lab numbers are definitely significant!

Good for you!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 09, 2021, 07:33:32 AM
Congrats ALH. Improvement is improvement, no matter how big or small.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on June 09, 2021, 09:01:14 AM
Congratulations on your results, ALH! It sounds like a great day out.  Pets can have some very creative names, so I'm sure there are some interesting times at the vet. ;-)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on June 09, 2021, 10:49:04 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 09, 2021, 07:33:32 AM
Congrats ALH. Improvement is improvement, no matter how big or small.

And 17 pounds in three months is pretty significant.  Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 09, 2021, 10:52:16 AM
Unrelated.

Health insurance companies suck.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: downer on June 09, 2021, 12:46:54 PM
Every year I get a bill from my doctor for my "free" physical. It's only about $20, but why don't they say "it's only $20 and it's a physical, so we can forget about it."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 09, 2021, 01:25:45 PM
It could violate some terms of their agreements with insurance, Medicaid, etc., if they did that.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: downer on June 09, 2021, 02:24:09 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 09, 2021, 01:25:45 PM
It could violate some terms of their agreements with insurance, Medicaid, etc., if they did that.

M.

I'm sure. That doesn't lessen my feeling that it is a system built on bullshit. But it is the system we have, and it will probably stay like that for the rest of my life.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on June 09, 2021, 04:50:47 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on June 09, 2021, 07:04:57 AM
Yesterday morning was my Big Day Out--the first I've done solo in about a year.  It included:

--Getting my hair cut, from its raggedy past-shoulder length back to my normal short pixie-ish layers.  Much better!

--Picking up flea meds at the pharmacy for Kid #1's dog. I've never done this before and giggled when the tech asked for the name on the Rx.  I gave my daughter's name, and the woman said, "No, I need the dog's first and last name."  I guess I've never thought of a pet in those terms.

--A 3-month doctor check-up.  My diabetes has been wonky since last fall, so I went in ready to get The Talk yet again, but instead I was happily surprised:  I've lost 17 pounds over the past 3 months and my A1C dropped from 9.2 to 7.8 (7.0 is generally the goal number).  I've got lots of room to lose a lot more weight, and I'd really like to get those numbers lower and get off some of these meds, but I'll take it, especially since my ortho problems continue to worsen and further reduce my mobility, which limits how much I can do to control both.

Probably TMI and not of much general interest, but it all was kind of a big deal for me, after the past year.


Congrats, ALH!

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 10, 2021, 01:06:44 AM
AFRICAN NEWS - Photojournalist captures elephant forking truck. Tusk, tusk!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 10, 2021, 06:21:43 AM
Twenty-odd years ago, I was supposed to have a relatively large mole removed, but then my OCD kicked in and I couldn't bear to be parted from it.

Yesterday, I finally got around to having it removed.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on June 10, 2021, 07:24:38 AM
Quote from: downer on June 09, 2021, 12:46:54 PM
Every year I get a bill from my doctor for my "free" physical. It's only about $20, but why don't they say "it's only $20 and it's a physical, so we can forget about it."

A lot of people in the past year have gotten burned by eye-watering surprise bills for those "free" COVID tests that so many of us have had to take.  Including me!  I ended up not actually have to pay that shockingly high test bill, and I'm sure most people haven't either.  But it's a nasty surprise to have to deal with.  I'm sure it has contributed to reluctance to get tested.  It also reportedly contributes to vaccination reluctance in some people.  Since everybody has had those surprise medical bills, it's hard for many to believe that the vaccination shot will really and truly come free and with no strings attached.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: downer on June 10, 2021, 08:43:45 AM
Quote from: apl68 on June 10, 2021, 07:24:38 AM
Quote from: downer on June 09, 2021, 12:46:54 PM
Every year I get a bill from my doctor for my "free" physical. It's only about $20, but why don't they say "it's only $20 and it's a physical, so we can forget about it."

A lot of people in the past year have gotten burned by eye-watering surprise bills for those "free" COVID tests that so many of us have had to take.  Including me!  I ended up not actually have to pay that shockingly high test bill, and I'm sure most people haven't either.  But it's a nasty surprise to have to deal with.  I'm sure it has contributed to reluctance to get tested.  It also reportedly contributes to vaccination reluctance in some people.  Since everybody has had those surprise medical bills, it's hard for many to believe that the vaccination shot will really and truly come free and with no strings attached.

Yes. One reason health care is in the state it's in in the US is that people don't trust the system at many levels. It seems perfectly reasonable to be suspicious of whatever declarations are made.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on June 10, 2021, 04:06:27 PM
Not related.

Your choice of words is clearly intended to obfuscate and incite. You are a jackass.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 11, 2021, 12:39:04 PM
It is my understanding that the U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE is to update their delivery fleet, having ordered thousands of vehicles of a new design. May I suggest that the operation sounds of the new trucks be as like as possible to those of the previous units. To me, and many others receiving the daily mail, the motors of the P.O. vehicles arriving is a bright spot in the day.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on June 11, 2021, 04:12:47 PM
Quote from: Economizer on June 11, 2021, 12:39:04 PM
It is my understanding that the U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE is to update their delivery fleet, having ordered thousands of vehicles of a new design. May I suggest that the operation sounds of the new trucks be as like as possible to those of the previous units. To me, and many others receiving the daily mail, the motors of the P.O. vehicles arriving is a bright spot in the day.

Agree, Economizer.  I think I read, however, that the new trucks will be quieter.  They are also quite odd looking, IMHO.

More importantly, may the USPS return to its prior glory -- with a larger variety of stamps, faster delivery of first class mail, and more.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on June 11, 2021, 11:05:11 PM
Oh, yes. That certainly would be good!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 16, 2021, 04:49:10 PM
The hatchling just gave himself a hickie.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 17, 2021, 03:53:15 AM
With a fingernail? (They often do scratch themselves, those little claws are sharp!)

Or...???

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: OneMoreYear on June 17, 2021, 04:23:34 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 16, 2021, 04:49:10 PM
The hatchling just gave himself a hickie.

Aww, the the developmental milestones that are not found in the baby book--baby's first self-hickie (all perfectly normal of course)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 17, 2021, 07:48:51 AM
Quote from: mamselle on June 17, 2021, 03:53:15 AM
With a fingernail? (They often do scratch themselves, those little claws are sharp!)

Or...???

M.

Nono, by sucking too hard.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 23, 2021, 11:50:37 AM
I bought some chicken tikka masala at the farmer's market and it is f*cking amazing. It's sooooo good. Everyone should know this. Eating it has improved my mood considerably.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on June 23, 2021, 12:18:00 PM
We have a patron who has been coming by repeatedly lately.  She spotted me walking down the street earlier today trying to go home for lunch and roped me into a conversation.  It soon became apparent that she was experiencing a psychotic episode.  I eventually disentangled myself and got back to work.  She told a member of the staff that she plans to come back here this afternoon.  One of the staff thinks that she may be starting to stalk me.  Hard to tell, as today was only the second time I've spoken with her myself.  She is known locally to have a "history."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on June 23, 2021, 01:56:36 PM
Got this news alert about a local pedestrian bridge collapsing:
https://wtop.com/dc/2021/06/6-injured-after-pedestrian-bridge-collapses-in-ne-dc-closes-i-295/ (https://wtop.com/dc/2021/06/6-injured-after-pedestrian-bridge-collapses-in-ne-dc-closes-i-295/)
Details are still incoming.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 23, 2021, 02:15:52 PM
Quote from: apl68 on June 23, 2021, 12:18:00 PM
We have a patron who has been coming by repeatedly lately.  She spotted me walking down the street earlier today trying to go home for lunch and roped me into a conversation.  It soon became apparent that she was experiencing a psychotic episode.  I eventually disentangled myself and got back to work.  She told a member of the staff that she plans to come back here this afternoon.  One of the staff thinks that she may be starting to stalk me.  Hard to tell, as today was only the second time I've spoken with her myself.  She is known locally to have a "history."

Sorry to hear this apl68. Can you have someone be on the look out for her when she stops by?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on June 23, 2021, 03:15:32 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 23, 2021, 02:15:52 PM
Quote from: apl68 on June 23, 2021, 12:18:00 PM
We have a patron who has been coming by repeatedly lately.  She spotted me walking down the street earlier today trying to go home for lunch and roped me into a conversation.  It soon became apparent that she was experiencing a psychotic episode.  I eventually disentangled myself and got back to work.  She told a member of the staff that she plans to come back here this afternoon.  One of the staff thinks that she may be starting to stalk me.  Hard to tell, as today was only the second time I've spoken with her myself.  She is known locally to have a "history."

Sorry to hear this apl68. Can you have someone be on the look out for her when she stops by?

Yes, we've been on the look out.  I've notified the police that she is in the middle of a serious episode.  And is driving around--I saw her take off in her pickup truck after she talked to me.  In the state she's in, she's a potential hazard to herself.  I strongly suspect that the local police have had to deal with her before.  They'll know that she isn't likely a threat to anybody else, and will know to de-escalate if they encounter her.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 24, 2021, 03:44:08 AM
I can tell you're finishing up your big grant, because suddenly I'm getting a bunch of review requests that, judging from the abstracts, all came from your research group.

Also, Frontiers, buddy, no one's going to be able to finish a review in 10 days. Who do you think you're kidding? You bet I smashed that 'extension' button, and if I'm not done in 15 days, I'm going to smash it again. What are you going to do, find someone else? Boo hoo.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on June 24, 2021, 09:19:19 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 24, 2021, 03:44:08 AM
I can tell you're finishing up your big grant, because suddenly I'm getting a bunch of review requests that, judging from the abstracts, all came from your research group.

Also, Frontiers, buddy, no one's going to be able to finish a review in 10 days. Who do you think you're kidding? You bet I smashed that 'extension' button, and if I'm not done in 15 days, I'm going to smash it again. What are you going to do, find someone else? Boo hoo.

Ugh... Frontiers... and the 10 days is (from my recollection) regardless of manuscript length and includes weekends and holidays! I also got a re-review "request" and was told to submit it within 4 days (including a weekend and holiday).  That is especially uncool since you can't plan for when a resubmission comes in.  I don't review for them anymore.  The manuscripts I've been asked to review have not been very good anyway.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 25, 2021, 01:51:28 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on June 24, 2021, 09:19:19 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 24, 2021, 03:44:08 AM
I can tell you're finishing up your big grant, because suddenly I'm getting a bunch of review requests that, judging from the abstracts, all came from your research group.

Also, Frontiers, buddy, no one's going to be able to finish a review in 10 days. Who do you think you're kidding? You bet I smashed that 'extension' button, and if I'm not done in 15 days, I'm going to smash it again. What are you going to do, find someone else? Boo hoo.

Ugh... Frontiers... and the 10 days is (from my recollection) regardless of manuscript length and includes weekends and holidays! I also got a re-review "request" and was told to submit it within 4 days (including a weekend and holiday).  That is especially uncool since you can't plan for when a resubmission comes in.  I don't review for them anymore.  The manuscripts I've been asked to review have not been very good anyway.

Yes, I approach them with caution ever since a colleague of mine described reviewing a paper that she thought was unpublishable, which they published anyway, and then put her name on as a reviewer. But they published something of mine last year, so I've used the system and should give back. To be honest, if it had been a blind submission I might not have agreed to review it, but because I know the authors and can be pretty sure they aren't going to submit something I'm ashamed to have my name on as a reviewer, I agreed. Yes, I am part of the problem with the system.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Liquidambar on June 25, 2021, 07:23:49 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 25, 2021, 01:51:28 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on June 24, 2021, 09:19:19 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 24, 2021, 03:44:08 AM
I can tell you're finishing up your big grant, because suddenly I'm getting a bunch of review requests that, judging from the abstracts, all came from your research group.

Also, Frontiers, buddy, no one's going to be able to finish a review in 10 days. Who do you think you're kidding? You bet I smashed that 'extension' button, and if I'm not done in 15 days, I'm going to smash it again. What are you going to do, find someone else? Boo hoo.

Ugh... Frontiers... and the 10 days is (from my recollection) regardless of manuscript length and includes weekends and holidays! I also got a re-review "request" and was told to submit it within 4 days (including a weekend and holiday).  That is especially uncool since you can't plan for when a resubmission comes in.  I don't review for them anymore.  The manuscripts I've been asked to review have not been very good anyway.

Yes, I approach them with caution ever since a colleague of mine described reviewing a paper that she thought was unpublishable, which they published anyway, and then put her name on as a reviewer. But they published something of mine last year, so I've used the system and should give back. To be honest, if it had been a blind submission I might not have agreed to review it, but because I know the authors and can be pretty sure they aren't going to submit something I'm ashamed to have my name on as a reviewer, I agreed. Yes, I am part of the problem with the system.

You all are making me nervous.  We're trying to publish in a Frontiers journal that my coauthor is an associate editor for.  We certainly didn't get back reviews in 10 days--it was the usual couple months.  The reviews were helpful (well, one was overly nitpicky), and we're expected to address them.  Do the different Frontiers journals vary in quality and procedures?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on June 25, 2021, 08:58:29 AM
Quote from: Liquidambar on June 25, 2021, 07:23:49 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 25, 2021, 01:51:28 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on June 24, 2021, 09:19:19 AM
Quote from: ergative on June 24, 2021, 03:44:08 AM
I can tell you're finishing up your big grant, because suddenly I'm getting a bunch of review requests that, judging from the abstracts, all came from your research group.

Also, Frontiers, buddy, no one's going to be able to finish a review in 10 days. Who do you think you're kidding? You bet I smashed that 'extension' button, and if I'm not done in 15 days, I'm going to smash it again. What are you going to do, find someone else? Boo hoo.

Ugh... Frontiers... and the 10 days is (from my recollection) regardless of manuscript length and includes weekends and holidays! I also got a re-review "request" and was told to submit it within 4 days (including a weekend and holiday).  That is especially uncool since you can't plan for when a resubmission comes in.  I don't review for them anymore.  The manuscripts I've been asked to review have not been very good anyway.

Yes, I approach them with caution ever since a colleague of mine described reviewing a paper that she thought was unpublishable, which they published anyway, and then put her name on as a reviewer. But they published something of mine last year, so I've used the system and should give back. To be honest, if it had been a blind submission I might not have agreed to review it, but because I know the authors and can be pretty sure they aren't going to submit something I'm ashamed to have my name on as a reviewer, I agreed. Yes, I am part of the problem with the system.

You all are making me nervous.  We're trying to publish in a Frontiers journal that my coauthor is an associate editor for.  We certainly didn't get back reviews in 10 days--it was the usual couple months.  The reviews were helpful (well, one was overly nitpicky), and we're expected to address them.  Do the different Frontiers journals vary in quality and procedures?

I see plenty of researchers I respect publishing in Frontiers in their fields or subfields, so I do think the quality varies.  I'm not sure about procedure.  The ones I review for are interactive review, so you review and the other person reviews, and then there is a non-blind interactive forum between reviewers and authors to "collaborate" on revisions.  I'm not sure if that is true for all of their journals (though it seems so from their site?), but that entails even more work when the papers are of poor quality.  For one paper, the other reviewer wanted to just reject it.  I tried to help the author, but it was really a quagmire, and I should have listed to the other reviewer.  As was mentioned, reviewer names are included with the published paper, so that definitely adds some motivation to have a good final product (or cut bait).  I have never submitted to one of their journals, so I'm not sure about that side of it. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 25, 2021, 05:01:15 PM
I just taught the hatchling the commands 'open' and 'close' with respect to a light switch (and his foot, which he used to execute the commands).
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Morris Zapp on June 25, 2021, 05:31:59 PM
I need some applause. We cleaned the garage!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 25, 2021, 05:53:24 PM
Quote from: Morris Zapp on June 25, 2021, 05:31:59 PM
I need some applause. We cleaned the garage!!

Clappityclap! Enjoy it while you can!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 25, 2021, 07:03:09 PM
Quote from: Morris Zapp on June 25, 2021, 05:31:59 PM
I need some applause. We cleaned the garage!!

Good on you!

Did you find any extra cars?

...sorry...

;--》

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on June 25, 2021, 07:21:53 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 25, 2021, 05:01:15 PM
I just taught the hatchling the commands 'open' and 'close' with respect to a light switch (and his foot, which he used to execute the commands).

It's always a good idea to develop that foot dexterity early.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on June 28, 2021, 08:18:13 AM
If you've ever driven through Arkansas on Interstate 40, you may have noticed that it crosses a river named "L'Anguille."  Recent the I-40 river crossing got new signage.  A sharp-eyed driver spotted an error in one of the new signs.  It reads "L'Anquille River," not "L'Anguille River."  Which makes a lot less sense as the name of a body of water.

It goes to show what can happen when you don't mind your G's and Q's.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 30, 2021, 12:09:37 PM
Just in case any literary types need reinforcement for believing that our work is worthwhile...

   https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/26/project-cassandra-plan-to-use-novels-to-predict-next-war

Who knew?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on June 30, 2021, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 30, 2021, 12:09:37 PM
Just in case any literary types need reinforcement for believing that our work is worthwhile...

   https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jun/26/project-cassandra-plan-to-use-novels-to-predict-next-war

Who knew?

M.
I've seen this article too as recommended by Firefox so it's making the rounds.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on July 01, 2021, 09:04:53 AM
I found out last night that an amazing Olympic-qualifying athlete's parent is someone I greatly respect in my field.  I am not at all surprised that such an all-around incredible young person is related to such an all-around incredible colleague, but wow.  It must be so exciting! I can't imagine how much hard work has gone in over the years.  So wonderful to see it continue to pay off, and in bigger and bigger ways.  Just strange to see someone's name all over the news and find out about the relationship! I had no idea.  I guess every Olympic athlete is someone's kid, of course. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on July 01, 2021, 10:11:56 AM
LAB REPORT: Professor Tawdry had him to register a 9.5/10 for 12 minutes even though had been administered the placebo. (!). Test Post, [OK?].
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on July 02, 2021, 10:10:49 AM
I'm not Chair.  Ask Professor [New Chair].
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on July 07, 2021, 06:38:02 AM
Looking for ways to liven up your online meetings, but don't want to use those corny fake backgrounds that make it look like you're on the beach or wherever?  Do what somebody I know does.  When he has an online meeting, he takes his laptop and webcam outside to anywhere he can get a signal.  He's attended meetings from inside the chicken run at his house, and in a clearing in the woods.  It keeps people guessing as to where he actually is.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: arcturus on July 07, 2021, 07:25:29 AM
Quote from: apl68 on July 07, 2021, 06:38:02 AM
Looking for ways to liven up your online meetings, but don't want to use those corny fake backgrounds that make it look like you're on the beach or wherever?  Do what somebody I know does.  When he has an online meeting, he takes his laptop and webcam outside to anywhere he can get a signal.  He's attended meetings from inside the chicken run at his house, and in a clearing in the woods.  It keeps people guessing as to where he actually is.

We had someone do this during the peak of the cicada season. We could hardly hear him over the background noise. It is much better - for the other participants - to select a quiet location with a good wifi connection.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on July 08, 2021, 04:55:53 AM
I was reading a (very) popular magazine article when I suddenly, unexpectedly, saw MY NAME. They quoted a study that I had published last year!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: arcturus on July 08, 2021, 05:06:01 AM
Quote from: Charlotte on July 08, 2021, 04:55:53 AM
I was reading a (very) popular magazine article when I suddenly, unexpectedly, saw MY NAME. They quoted a study that I had published last year!
Congratulations, Charlotte! Well done!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on July 08, 2021, 08:51:03 AM
Quote from: arcturus on July 08, 2021, 05:06:01 AM
Quote from: Charlotte on July 08, 2021, 04:55:53 AM
I was reading a (very) popular magazine article when I suddenly, unexpectedly, saw MY NAME. They quoted a study that I had published last year!
Congratulations, Charlotte! Well done!

+1.  That must be such a neat feeling!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on July 08, 2021, 09:13:15 AM
Congratulations!  You know that people are paying attention!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on July 08, 2021, 10:21:22 AM
How cool is that, Charlotte!  Congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on July 08, 2021, 12:08:43 PM
Quote from: Charlotte on July 08, 2021, 04:55:53 AM
I was reading a (very) popular magazine article when I suddenly, unexpectedly, saw MY NAME. They quoted a study that I had published last year!

Awesome! Congrats!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 10, 2021, 06:42:55 AM
Good for you!

My note is less celebratory, but I seem to need to let someone know...today would have been the first day of the summer tours I won't be giving again this year, and I'm wishing that were different.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on July 11, 2021, 05:29:08 AM
Thanks, everyone! It was such a shock and an amazing feeling to see my work being read by a broader audience.

Mamselle, I'm sorry you are missing another summer of tours!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on July 11, 2021, 08:39:19 AM
Thanks.

In a sweet turn-around, though, my next-door neighbor asked when I'd next be bringing my accordion out on the front porch to play, as I did last year a couple times.

I'd sort of forgotten, so I'll have to do some extra prep for that, I guess, soon.

It was nice she remembered, and asked.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on July 11, 2021, 09:39:59 AM
Quote from: mamselle on July 11, 2021, 08:39:19 AM
Thanks.

In a sweet turn-around, though, my next-door neighbor asked when I'd next be bringing my accordion out on the front porch to play, as I did last year a couple times.

I'd sort of forgotten, so I'll have to do some extra prep for that, I guess, soon.

It was nice she remembered, and asked.

M.

Neighborhood Polka Party!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on July 11, 2021, 10:08:35 AM
Big day tomorrow and smudge on my pedicure.

I realize every time I have gone in for a successful job interview, something went wrong and I still got the job. (Boyfriend dumped me the night before, lost a button, spilled on myself...)

So will take this as a good sign.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on July 11, 2021, 10:55:49 AM
Good luck tomorrow, ciao_yall! I hope the smudge does turn out to be a good omen.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: cathwen on July 11, 2021, 11:06:37 AM
Good luck, ciao_yall!  May the smudge be your magic charm! 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on July 12, 2021, 04:17:20 PM
Fingers crossed and flinging cat hair here for you, Ciao yall!  (Do we still fling cat hair here?)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 12, 2021, 06:01:05 PM
Went to the gym for the first time since we surged in November. It was nice to move real weight, not the elastics I use at home. Happily, I've not decrepified too much.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on July 12, 2021, 07:13:43 PM
I'm seeing posted signs about coin shortages in stores again.  The local Wal-Mart in town has credit only mode at shelf-check out machines.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 13, 2021, 04:23:26 PM
Apparently I've been banned on a forum I've frequented since 2007 (I stopped going there from 2018-21, but returned a few months ago). I hadn't posted in weeks.

I guess maybe a spammer hacked my account? Sigh.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: permanent imposter on July 17, 2021, 07:43:58 AM
Not sure if this is the right thread for it, but I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this article: The Truth Behind the Amazon Mystery Seeds (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/unsolicited-seeds-china-brushing/619417/), which is about all those mysterious seed packages from China. The author seems to have done a thorough investigation and came to the tentative conclusion that either a) people ordered those seeds themselves and forgot about them, and were thus confused when they received them months later in weird packaging, or b) it's part of a "brushing" scam.

My favorite part:

QuotePeople know what to feel when you take something from them. But when you give them something they don't want, it's confusing. You could read their baffled reactions as some kind of free-form poem about consumerism:

"My husband got a package from China that had a pair of white ankle socks for women" ... "We received a shoe sole. So strange all these packages" ... "two white masks from china that I did not order ... I threw them away" ... "Got one with a golf ball inside ... threw it right away and washed hands" ... "a tiny bottle of shampoo" ... "a fidget spinner" ... "a toy camera, no joke" ... "Baby socks. I am old. I don't have babies nor baby grandchildren" ... "I didn't get seeds but I did get junky, plastic, creepy little cars" ... "it sounds funny but it was pretty creepy they were like mini ballerina socks" ... "I got mascara, trashed it" ... "Sleepy Time TEA ... I laughed and said NOT TODAY China" ... "a mysterious plastic soap dish from china" ... "a travel tooth brush i I didn't order" ... "I came back from a trip a month ago and had 6 small packages waiting for me, each containing one single hair tie" ... "I have received random things from China in the past, a marble ! a bead ! and a length of ribbon ! none of which I ordered ... I didn't have anyone to tell about my marble!!! It was blue."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on July 20, 2021, 10:53:47 AM
Wow. Stinging nettles, man. Aptly named.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on July 20, 2021, 02:53:38 PM
Today a local church is distributing 250 food boxes.  Each recipient is getting a good batch of potatoes and other mixed produce, some tomatoes, a small bag of sweet potatoes, and some miscellaneous dry goods, which include canned potatoes.  Somebody commented that people were going to be loaded up on starch. 

Also they are distributing donated books for children to any families with children as part of a regional literacy initiative.  I asked them while we were assembling the boxes this morning whether they would also be interested in distributing information on Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.  They said they would.  So I got them Imagination Library brochures.  Our children's services person said that she had also talked to a local radio DJ who said he would have to promote Imagination Library on the air next time he plays Dolly Parton.

Food for bodies, food for minds.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on July 20, 2021, 03:20:19 PM
Nice work, apl68!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on July 21, 2021, 06:44:40 AM
Quote from: namazu on July 20, 2021, 03:20:19 PM
Nice work, apl68!

Thanks, namazu!  I wasn't at the distribution.  I'm told that all 250 boxes were gone in less than an hour.  I'll be interested to see whether we get any new Imagination Library sign-ups.  The church is planning two additional distributions later this year.  Meanwhile another church continues to operate the local food pantry, as always.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on August 09, 2021, 05:10:59 PM
I'm wearing makeup for the first time in what feels like ages.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on August 25, 2021, 01:26:49 PM
This looks good:
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/mexican-street-corn-soup?utm_source=pocket-newtab (https://getpocket.com/explore/item/mexican-street-corn-soup?utm_source=pocket-newtab)
I've had the salad version from the local organic supermarket in town. It's delish!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fast_and_bulbous on August 25, 2021, 01:29:35 PM
I have eradicated the Glechoma hederacea. Pray that I do not further eradicate it. I have felt the seductive power of lawn-poison.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on August 26, 2021, 02:30:06 PM
Others may have experienced ire over this. It is about the unbridled greed of a major financial institution{s}.

For the first time in years I needed to reorder my personal checks.  The fact that I do not use personal checks very much anymore has allowed this. So, I go to the online link to accomplish this. As I start the process, I find out that the minimum order is 44 of these financial document forms. The price is about $44.00  To this is added a $13.50 shipping fee.

If the firm, a bank, had, at all, a heart it will still offer a sample or "starter" pack of 10 or 12 checks.  Many, if not most, of us would use no more than that in two years! Would allowing lesser orders be unreasonable? Maybe even the shipping charges would be reduced?

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on August 26, 2021, 02:50:27 PM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on July 12, 2021, 07:13:43 PM
I'm seeing posted signs about coin shortages in stores again.  The local Wal-Mart in town has credit only mode at shelf-check out machines.

Right away, I'm thinking Scrooge McDuck!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on August 26, 2021, 02:59:35 PM
Quote from: Economizer on August 26, 2021, 02:30:06 PM
Others may have experienced ire over this. It is about the unbridled greed of a major financial institution{s}.

For the first time in years I needed to reorder my personal checks.  The fact that I do not use personal checks very much anymore has allowed this. So, I go to the online link to accomplish this. As I start the process, I find out that the minimum order is 44 of these financial document forms. The price is about $44.00  To this is added a $13.50 shipping fee.

If the firm, a bank, had, at all, a heart it will still offer a sample or "starter" pack of 10 or 12 checks.  Many, if not most, of us would use no more than that in two years! Would allowing lesser orders be unreasonable? Maybe even the shipping charges would be reduced?

I just reordered checks online through Checks in the mail. They charged me $25.97 for 100 checks, which includes taxes and shipping. There was a 20% discount for reorders.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on August 27, 2021, 09:06:55 AM
I want to take a nap. This week has been rough.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Cheerful on August 27, 2021, 11:06:15 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on August 26, 2021, 02:59:35 PM
I just reordered checks online through Checks in the mail. They charged me $25.97 for 100 checks, which includes taxes and shipping. There was a 20% discount for reorders.

Thanks, Langue_doc!  I need to order soon and was trying to decide which vendor to use. Definitely not bank/credit union option which is pricey and poor -- as Economizer notes.  I ordered from CitM years ago and your endorsement is convincing.  Do you get a commission for this post?  😄

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on August 27, 2021, 12:55:54 PM
No commission, alas, Cheerful, but a strong endorsement. I've ordered from them before so all I had to do was to type in my email address and zip, and probably the routing number which promptly displayed my previous order. After a series of clicks, the order was complete. Today I had an email from them to let me know that the checks had been shipped. Banks are overpriced--I think it was my bank many years ago that told me to look for an outside vendor.

I didn't have to pay extra for expedited shipping as I don't need the checks right away.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on August 27, 2021, 02:47:59 PM
Bragging.

My middle-schoolers' theory class finished their 16-bar invention today.

It's goofy, sweet, has lots of faults but they got the overall structure, they worked very well together, and it definitely does not sound like something an adult wrote (which was one of my goals--they had all the final decisions).

I'm tickled--can't tell if they are or not, but I think they know I'm proud of them.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 28, 2021, 11:59:45 AM
I've been organizing a panel on a new but super-exciting topic for a big conference in 2022. Today I heard from someone I cold-emailed weeks ago that she's in--and I'm so excited! She literally wrote the book on this topic for her (other) discipline. So that's two big shots from other fields snagged for this thing--it's gonna be so, so good!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on August 31, 2021, 07:11:15 PM
Saw at the local 7-11 this morning: pumpkin spice latte
It was available as a selection for the self-service hot beverage station.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on September 01, 2021, 02:58:22 AM
Ah, the return of the pumpkin-spice migration. Nature is healing.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on September 01, 2021, 05:51:28 PM
Logged into Zoom class a bit early.

One of my students is already there. Their camera and mic are both on and I think they might be on the toilet.

I hid the video view to give them privacy because I've been doing things and they haven't reacted to my presence. Maybe they don't realize that if my camera and mic are off that I can still see/hear them?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: secundem_artem on September 01, 2021, 06:53:03 PM
Quote from: ergative on September 01, 2021, 02:58:22 AM
Ah, the return of the pumpkin-spice migration. Nature is healing.

Fall at Artem U -- North Face jacket, leggings, Uggs, pumpkin spice latté in 1 hand, iPhone in the other.  It's like the swallows returning to Capistrano or the annual migration of the wildebeests across the veld.  You can count on it happening every year.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on September 23, 2021, 09:53:04 AM
Farmer's Almanac has released its annual winter forecast prediction:
https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/09/farmers-almanac-forecasts-flip-flop-winter-weather-for-2021-2022/ (https://wtop.com/weather-news/2021/09/farmers-almanac-forecasts-flip-flop-winter-weather-for-2021-2022/)
Posted on WTOP Radio online (9/23/21)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on September 23, 2021, 11:28:16 AM
Our regional school of nursing's latest cohort has had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN.  Sounds like the school must be doing something right.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on September 23, 2021, 12:43:22 PM
Quote from: apl68 on September 23, 2021, 11:28:16 AM
Our regional school of nursing's latest cohort has had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN.  Sounds like the school must be doing something right.

They need to use that every time a student says "IT'S TOO HAAAAARD!"
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: alto_stratus on September 24, 2021, 07:39:48 AM
This is exactly how it is:

WORKING FOR YOU — POSITIVELY!
Our Chief Heart Officer will answer your questions...

https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=399caee5-d2c7-4edd-a822-1b1d70cc1cde&appid=1165 (https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=399caee5-d2c7-4edd-a822-1b1d70cc1cde&appid=1165)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on September 27, 2021, 08:46:30 AM
I do not yet know whether it is newsworthy or not; however, I am googling "oogling" as we speak.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Wahoo Redux on September 27, 2021, 04:47:21 PM
Parking is NOT that bad on this campus!!!

Quit complaining!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: filologos on September 27, 2021, 09:09:17 PM
I'm finally in a house with space for a dedicated freezer, but the pandemic has made freezers quite difficult to find, especially in my rural area. Uprights can't be had for love or money and chest freezers sell out as fast as they come in. Earlier this week, the local appliance store had told me that they had a few, but they were bigger than I needed and more expensive than I wanted. On a whim, however, I stopped by on Saturday morning and found that they had one left of exactly the size I was looking for; it had been incorrectly tagged as sold or it too would have been long gone. That freezer is now in my basement. I am delighted. It will soon be full.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on September 28, 2021, 01:38:25 AM
Quote from: Economizer on September 27, 2021, 08:46:30 AM
I do not yet know whether it is newsworthy or not; however, I am googling "oogling" as we speak.

I've heard people pronounce 'oogling' in contexts where I would say 'ogling' (with a long o, as in 'ogre').

How do y'all pronouncing 'ogling'? Do you say '<oh>-gling' or '<oo>-gling'? Or are you one of the chosen few who say '<ah>-gling'?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on September 28, 2021, 05:41:04 AM
Quote from: filologos on September 27, 2021, 09:09:17 PM
I'm finally in a house with space for a dedicated freezer, but the pandemic has made freezers quite difficult to find, especially in my rural area. Uprights can't be had for love or money and chest freezers sell out as fast as they come in. Earlier this week, the local appliance store had told me that they had a few, but they were bigger than I needed and more expensive than I wanted. On a whim, however, I stopped by on Saturday morning and found that they had one left of exactly the size I was looking for; it had been incorrectly tagged as sold or it too would have been long gone. That freezer is now in my basement. I am delighted. It will soon be full.

An appliance repair guy who came to our house said that two factories in the US were burned to the ground during the riots in 2020, so that's part of the supply chain problem.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on September 28, 2021, 07:04:29 AM
That seems dubious to me.

Fact-checking.

M.

E.T.A. The articles I'm seeing suggest it is due to more people staying home and stocking up on frozen goods to avoid having to go out shopping in unsafe environments. Several sites noted that the shortage started with Covid lockdowns, which preceded the George Floyd murder and protests.

One appliance parts store in St. Paul was damaged, and one more general factory caught fire from a neighboring apartment building, but those were the only two sites whose production or manufacturing contributions were even close.

No other cities show any related damage at all.

I'm sorry but it sounds like "fake news" designed to generate racially-motivated dislike of others; there don't seem to be any supportive facts for the narrative you were given.   

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on September 28, 2021, 08:25:08 AM
National and local media here have been oft and diligently reporting the availability of the booster vaccination. HOWEVER, they have, I think, been under reporting that its availability is only to those that had their 1st and 2nd shots via the Pfizer product. Or, maybe I missed the announcements that the booster is OK for administration to the folks who had their first shots via the Moderna (other) product as well?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on September 29, 2021, 09:11:36 AM
It's National Coffee Day!  Followed by International Coffee Day tomorrow.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on September 30, 2021, 03:40:41 PM
Taking a big step. Got an interview for a new position that I believe is more suited to me. I'm very nervous about the interview and experiencing imposter syndrome, but hoping it will result in moving on to better things. Firstly, I've got to ace this interview!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 30, 2021, 04:19:05 PM
Greetings from the new laptop. So far, I'm cautiously optimistic. Hope I can turn off this backlit keyboard, though...

Quote from: hmaria1609 on September 29, 2021, 09:11:36 AM
It's National Coffee Day!  Followed by International Coffee Day tomorrow.

Today's our national day for truth and reconciliation.


Quote from: Charlotte on September 30, 2021, 03:40:41 PM
Taking a big step. Got an interview for a new position that I believe is more suited to me. I'm very nervous about the interview and experiencing imposter syndrome, but hoping it will result in moving on to better things. Firstly, I've got to ace this interview!

Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 02, 2021, 04:11:46 PM
First pictures of Mercury! (https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/mercury-photo-space-bepicolombo-1.6197837)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: namazu on October 03, 2021, 12:38:26 AM
Quote from: Economizer on September 28, 2021, 08:25:08 AM
National and local media here have been oft and diligently reporting the availability of the booster vaccination. HOWEVER, they have, I think, been under reporting that its availability is only to those that had their 1st and 2nd shots via the Pfizer product. Or, maybe I missed the announcements that the booster is OK for administration to the folks who had their first shots via the Moderna (other) product as well?
So far, only boosters of the Pfizer vaccine have been approved (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-booster-dose-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-certain-populations).  There is an exception for people who are severely immunocompromised, who are eligible to receive boosters whether they were vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-additional-vaccine-dose-certain-immunocompromised).

The vaccine committee is meeting later this month to discuss the use of boosters for other vaccines (Moderna and J&J) in a broader population (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-hold-advisory-committee-meetings-discuss-emergency-use-authorization-booster-doses-and-covid-19). 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Charlotte on October 21, 2021, 04:44:49 PM
I want to tell people to get your medical checkups to catch issues early. Pay attention to symptoms. Don't brush things off as being insignificant. Take care of yourself. Life can change quickly.

Three weeks ago, I was excited to post here about an interview for a job I really wanted.

This week, I received devastating news about my health which may result in any career aspirations being put on hold or ended entirely.

Don't wait. Schedule your appointment.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 21, 2021, 04:50:22 PM
Very sorry to hear of your concerns. That's scary.

Here for you if you need to vent further.

There's a chronic health thread that can be revived, too.

It's here:

   http://thefora.org/index.php?topic=599.0

Or you could start another one for yourself--that's been done as well.

All good thoughts.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on October 22, 2021, 06:55:49 AM
So sorry to hear this, Charlotte. Seconding Mamselle's thread comment, which seemed helpful.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on October 22, 2021, 11:55:36 AM
Sending you all best wishes, Charlotte.  (FWIW, I too have been through those whiplash times.  Take care of yourself.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 01, 2021, 07:44:49 AM
This past Sunday was our church's 77th anniversary.  It was also the official final Sunday of our pastor, who has been very good for us over the past 22 years.  We had more special music than usual during the morning worship service.  One our best singers began to sing a solo.  She got so overcome by emotion that her voice faded.  All we could hear was the accompaniment track.

Everybody there knew why.  Her family has a had a lot of trouble over the past several years.  They've had employment issues and health problems.  Recently their young daughter had developed an autoimmune issue that is causing her hair to fall out.  Her worries and stress were just too much for her while she was trying to sing.

After the pastor had finished his sermon, the singer came back up and tried to sing the song again.  This time everybody sang it with her.  It was our way of trying to show that we were all with her in spirit.  This time she was able to complete the song.  There must not have been a dry eye in the whole house.


BTW, this was the song:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=goodness+of+God+lyrics

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Morden on November 01, 2021, 09:21:37 AM
Thank you for sharing that story, apl68.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 01, 2021, 09:39:14 AM
Wow.

The congregation's solidarity in singing with her...enacted prayer.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 05, 2021, 07:10:45 AM
From the NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/05/nyregion/ny-empire-trail.html
Quote
There's a New 750-Mile Bicycle Route in New York. Take a Look.

Couldn't find the bicycle thread.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 05, 2021, 11:07:26 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 05, 2021, 07:10:45 AM
From the NY Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/05/nyregion/ny-empire-trail.html
Quote
There's a New 750-Mile Bicycle Route in New York. Take a Look.

Couldn't find the bicycle thread.

It's here:

   http://thefora.org/index.php?topic=1921.msg56860#msg56860

I just took it out of mothballs...should be good to go now...

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 05, 2021, 07:29:49 PM
Christmas candy now available in stores plus some new chocolates to try.  :D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 05, 2021, 07:47:18 PM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on November 05, 2021, 07:29:49 PM
Christmas candy now available in stores plus some new chocolates to try.  :D

It's too early!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 05, 2021, 10:18:27 PM
The hatchling seemed to enjoy his first taste of beans a lot more than his first taste of avocado, apple banana, or thimbleberry.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 06, 2021, 08:34:49 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 05, 2021, 07:47:18 PM
It's too early!!!
I know!  With fellow library colleagues who enjoy snacking happy--we'll eat 'em! :D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 06, 2021, 10:28:35 AM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on November 06, 2021, 08:34:49 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 05, 2021, 07:47:18 PM
It's too early!!!
I know!  With fellow library colleagues who enjoy snacking happy--we'll eat 'em! :D

:)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on November 07, 2021, 04:39:21 PM
Well, we are closing in on NFL tourney time. And, it looks like several marquis players are going on the disabled list.
I have given some of my very best thoughts to addressing injury matters about this, specific to the starting quarterbacks.

Would it not enhance the fairness in lost QB situatons to have their opponents to only be able to play their 2nd and 3rd string signal callers for the rest of the their schedule, or at least until the injured starter gets off of the disabled list? It sure would make things need a good bit more consideration!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ohnoes on November 08, 2021, 06:43:41 AM
Quote from: Economizer on November 07, 2021, 04:39:21 PM
Would it not enhance the fairness in lost QB situatons to have their opponents to only be able to play their 2nd and 3rd string signal callers for the rest of the their schedule, or at least until the injured starter gets off of the disabled list? It sure would make things need a good bit more consideration!

I don't think that the NFL has ever been interested in fairness.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on November 08, 2021, 06:52:34 AM
Fairness, maybe no, but Ratings (viewer #'s), definitely yes!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on November 08, 2021, 07:15:23 AM
Quote from: ohnoes on November 08, 2021, 06:43:41 AM
Quote from: Economizer on November 07, 2021, 04:39:21 PM
Would it not enhance the fairness in lost QB situatons to have their opponents to only be able to play their 2nd and 3rd string signal callers for the rest of the their schedule, or at least until the injured starter gets off of the disabled list? It sure would make things need a good bit more consideration!

I don't think that the NFL has ever been interested in fairness.

So LOWERING the quality of play will INCREASE interest? 

Why stop at Quarterbacks? 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 08, 2021, 07:23:40 AM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on November 06, 2021, 08:34:49 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 05, 2021, 07:47:18 PM
It's too early!!!
I know!  With fellow library colleagues who enjoy snacking happy--we'll eat 'em! :D

Yes, I've not found many delicacies that a library staff won't clean up if you put it in their breakroom.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on November 08, 2021, 08:14:31 AM
Quote from: Economizer on November 07, 2021, 04:39:21 PM
Well, we are closing in on NFL tourney time. And, it looks like several marquis players are going on the disabled list.
I have given some of my very best thoughts to addressing injury matters about this, specific to the starting quarterbacks.

Would it not enhance the fairness in lost QB situatons to have their opponents to only be able to play their 2nd and 3rd string signal callers for the rest of the their schedule, or at least until the injured starter gets off of the disabled list? It sure would make things need a good bit more consideration!

Shouldn't a well-run team take good care of their best players? And have a strong, well-trained bench so that up-and-comers are ready to step in when necessary?

Why is this starting to remind me of Harrison Bergeron, the story by Kurt Vonnegut?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on November 08, 2021, 08:16:50 AM
Quote from: FishProf on November 08, 2021, 07:15:23 AM
Quote from: ohnoes on November 08, 2021, 06:43:41 AM
Quote from: Economizer on November 07, 2021, 04:39:21 PM
Would it not enhance the fairness in lost QB situatons to have their opponents to only be able to play their 2nd and 3rd string signal callers for the rest of the their schedule, or at least until the injured starter gets off of the disabled list? It sure would make things need a good bit more consideration!

I don't think that the NFL has ever been interested in fairness.

So LOWERING the quality of play will INCREASE interest? 

Why stop at Quarterbacks?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on November 08, 2021, 08:29:00 AM
Quote from: Economizer on November 08, 2021, 06:52:34 AM
Fairness, maybe no, but Ratings (viewer #'s), definitely yes!
l think my logic is better than your logic. It would make for more watchable, interesting contests.Run it up the blackboard and see if anybody salutes. Perhaps the Canadian Football League would be willing to try it out?

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 08, 2021, 03:17:15 PM
Persuaded the Board of Trustees' financial committee to put staff pay increases in next year's budget.  Now to see if we can get the Board as a whole to pass it next week.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on November 09, 2021, 03:46:17 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.

My experience is that it is urgent only in the sense that you might not wait days for an appointment, only hours. My physician's practice uses theirs as a spillover when their own appointments are all booked.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 09, 2021, 03:47:51 PM
Quote from: apl68 on November 08, 2021, 03:17:15 PM
Persuaded the Board of Trustees' financial committee to put staff pay increases in next year's budget.  Now to see if we can get the Board as a whole to pass it next week.

Yea!

Step one of the tango.

Have fun with the tangled-legs part that comes next...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:01:00 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.

If this is in the context of an urgent care center, than yes, it is not the same as an emergency room-- urgent care is meant for things that are, well, urgent but not an emergency-- e.g., flu or other non-critical illness, sprains and minor breaks, needing a few stitches, etc. The wait is likely to be shorter than an ER, and the cost substantially lower. They will transfer patients to the ER if they deem it necessary. It's actually a fairly good system to keep stuff out of the ER that doesn't need to be in the ER.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 06:04:27 PM
Quote from: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:01:00 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.

If this is in the context of an urgent care center, than yes, it is not the same as an emergency room-- urgent care is meant for things that are, well, urgent but not an emergency-- e.g., flu or other non-critical illness, sprains and minor breaks, needing a few stitches, etc. The wait is likely to be shorter than an ER, and the cost substantially lower. They will transfer patients to the ER if they deem it necessary. It's actually a fairly good system to keep stuff out of the ER that doesn't need to be in the ER.

Yeah. I'm Francophone, so 'urgence' just means 'emergency'. It was especially surprising to see 'urgent care' not tied to a hospital at all.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:11:36 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 06:04:27 PM
Quote from: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:01:00 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.

If this is in the context of an urgent care center, than yes, it is not the same as an emergency room-- urgent care is meant for things that are, well, urgent but not an emergency-- e.g., flu or other non-critical illness, sprains and minor breaks, needing a few stitches, etc. The wait is likely to be shorter than an ER, and the cost substantially lower. They will transfer patients to the ER if they deem it necessary. It's actually a fairly good system to keep stuff out of the ER that doesn't need to be in the ER.

Yeah. I'm Francophone, so 'urgence' just means 'emergency'. It was especially surprising to see 'urgent care' not tied to a hospital at all.

I can see how that would be confusing, but it does make sense in English.
Some are in hospitals but many are not. The one near me is run by the nearest hospital but about 5 miles from it. It puts urgent care more accessibly in each community.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 09, 2021, 06:37:02 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 06:04:27 PM
Quote from: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:01:00 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.

If this is in the context of an urgent care center, than yes, it is not the same as an emergency room-- urgent care is meant for things that are, well, urgent but not an emergency-- e.g., flu or other non-critical illness, sprains and minor breaks, needing a few stitches, etc. The wait is likely to be shorter than an ER, and the cost substantially lower. They will transfer patients to the ER if they deem it necessary. It's actually a fairly good system to keep stuff out of the ER that doesn't need to be in the ER.

Yeah. I'm Francophone, so 'urgence' just means 'emergency'. It was especially surprising to see 'urgent care' not tied to a hospital at all.

I had to do a quick tiny double-take as well...not Francophone as my first language but if I get used to another usage like that, I can sometimes get them mixed up...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 10, 2021, 05:47:09 AM
Quote from: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:11:36 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 06:04:27 PM
Quote from: Puget on November 09, 2021, 06:01:00 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 09, 2021, 03:26:56 PM
I learned yesyerday that 'urgent care' is not synonymous with 'emergency'--at least, not in the US, and perhaps it's more widespread in the Anglosphere?

It seems ludicrous to me.

If this is in the context of an urgent care center, than yes, it is not the same as an emergency room-- urgent care is meant for things that are, well, urgent but not an emergency-- e.g., flu or other non-critical illness, sprains and minor breaks, needing a few stitches, etc. The wait is likely to be shorter than an ER, and the cost substantially lower. They will transfer patients to the ER if they deem it necessary. It's actually a fairly good system to keep stuff out of the ER that doesn't need to be in the ER.

Yeah. I'm Francophone, so 'urgence' just means 'emergency'. It was especially surprising to see 'urgent care' not tied to a hospital at all.

I can see how that would be confusing, but it does make sense in English.
Some are in hospitals but many are not. The one near me is run by the nearest hospital but about 5 miles from it. It puts urgent care more accessibly in each community.

Here, in my neck of the woods, a hospital is where you go (or are taken) for getting immediate treatment for "emergencies" such as heart attacks, strokes, seizures, severe injuries such as gunshot and stab wounds, and other serious issues. The patients might also need to be hospitalized. An urgent care facility, on the other hand, is a place where you go (as opposed to being taken) so that you can be seen by a physician immediately, without having to wait a week or longer to be seen by your physician. Unlike your physician's office, urgent care facilities are open until 9 PM or later on weekdays, and are also open on weekends. Appointments are optional; I've never had to wait for more than 10 minutes for any of my walk-in appointments. You can get tested for the flu/Covid, get X-rays and other diagnostic tests, and prescriptions. Google CityMD for more information on urgent care facilities.

The ERs of several hospitals here are nightmares, to say the least. I once drove across the city to go to one that was recommended by a student because the "local" one is a place to avoid at all costs unless you don't have insurance. Fortunately, I was well enough to drive. Another student reported going to an ER for her child and then leaving after three hours because she and the child kept getting sicker just by being in that ER.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 10, 2021, 06:18:32 AM
Our local hospital--a rural hospital, the only one for about 40 miles around--used to have a terrible reputation for long waits.  Waits of hours unless you were clearly about to die were the norm.  I was honestly shocked years ago to learn that they were the second-largest employer in the region, since I had gotten the impression that they had scarcely any staff at all.  It was bad enough that people would drive an hour to use an out-of-town ER.  Forget any sort of "critical care" centers.  They just don't exist in our region.

In recent years a new administrative head has turned the place around.  Waits are much less, care is much better, staff morale is higher.  He has attracted a number of good-quality doctors to practice in the region.  He brings in medical imaging equipment that is as good as--or even better than--what you'll see in the state capital.  It was one of the first hospitals in the state to offer infusion treatments for COVID, which probably helps to explain why our county seems to have a higher COVID survival rate than some neighboring counties.  The right leadership can make all the difference in the world.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: cathwen on November 10, 2021, 07:35:00 AM
What I want to tell the person who gave a lecture last night on a historical figure I find interesting:  Learn to pronounce French names correctly. 

She murdered the names of people and cities, one of which came up frequently; every time she mangled it, I flinched.  This was an online lecture sponsored by a respected institution, for which I paid a fee, and while the content was fine, I found it amazing that a person could spend so much time researching someone from a certain part of the world and still be so far off the mark. In one case, I had no idea who she was talking about until in dawned on me that she was using German pronunciation rules for the person's name.  And other times I couldn't figure out if she was referencing a city or the surrounding province, whose name was somewhat similar. 

It's one thing to pronounce foreign words with an American accent, but wholesale mispronunciations are another thing entirely.  C'mon!  At least consult Wikipedia's pronunciation guide. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 10, 2021, 09:12:56 AM
Quote from: cathwen on November 10, 2021, 07:35:00 AM
What I want to tell the person who gave a lecture last night on a historical figure I find interesting:  Learn to pronounce French names correctly. 

She murdered the names of people and cities, one of which came up frequently; every time she mangled it, I flinched.  This was an online lecture sponsored by a respected institution, for which I paid a fee, and while the content was fine, I found it amazing that a person could spend so much time researching someone from a certain part of the world and still be so far off the mark. In one case, I had no idea who she was talking about until in dawned on me that she was using German pronunciation rules for the person's name.  And other times I couldn't figure out if she was referencing a city or the surrounding province, whose name was somewhat similar. 

It's one thing to pronounce foreign words with an American accent, but wholesale mispronunciations are another thing entirely.  C'mon!  At least consult Wikipedia's pronunciation guide.

I hate that!!! NAILS-ON-CHALKBOOOOOOOAAAARRRRDDDD---cringe-worthy, indeed, and very unprofessional.

One of the reasons I keep doing stuff in French like singing, putting my Wikipedia site and one of my email sites in French as a default, and listening to lots of French films, etc., is to keep my ear and my pronunciation up to par.

I had noticed at one point that getting away from it, even for a few months, made my mouth not want to form the sounds correctly, and I realized I didn't want that to be my default.

(And I want my cousin from Liege to understand me on the phone when we talk, too....)

It has come to me to seem very rude not to take the effort to pronounce non-English words and names as correctly as possible. Others try very hard to get their English right, Anglophones owe them at least that much.....

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: cathwen on November 10, 2021, 01:01:51 PM
^^^This exactly.  And "nails on chalkboard" was exactly how I described it to my husband. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 11, 2021, 12:27:29 PM
Speaking of accents, here is Kamala Harris putting on a fake French accent when talking to scientists in France:

https://www.tyla.com/news/kamala-harris-vice-president-french-accent-twitter-20211111

Headline in the NY Post:
Quote
Kamala-vous francais? VP Harris mocked for appearing to use French accent during Paris visit


Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on November 11, 2021, 12:30:15 PM
Cathwen, your post made me giggle and think of this clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHObNJV-pWU) from The Simpsons

(When someone mispronounces--especially newbies on local news here in St. Louis--"run like the wind" has been an inside joke at our house for years.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 12, 2021, 10:51:43 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 11, 2021, 12:27:29 PM
Speaking of accents, here is Kamala Harris putting on a fake French accent when talking to scientists in France:

https://www.tyla.com/news/kamala-harris-vice-president-french-accent-twitter-20211111

Headline in the NY Post:
Quote
Kamala-vous francais? VP Harris mocked for appearing to use French accent during Paris visit

Did she? "Thee" is a legitimate way of pronoucing "the" in English, usually for emphasis. I'm not sure I hear any attempt at a French accent there.


Edit: granted, it's usually about whether what follows is a vowel. But it's also used for emphasis.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: dismalist on November 12, 2021, 11:20:11 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 11, 2021, 12:27:29 PM
Speaking of accents, here is Kamala Harris putting on a fake French accent when talking to scientists in France:

https://www.tyla.com/news/kamala-harris-vice-president-french-accent-twitter-20211111

Headline in the NY Post:
Quote
Kamala-vous francais? VP Harris mocked for appearing to use French accent during Paris visit

There is definitely no French accent. [It's definitely emphasis.]

A French person speaking English with imperfect pronunciation might say "ze" for "the". Demonstrated here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ03xCX6Tdg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ03xCX6Tdg); it's the second and third examples.



Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 12, 2021, 11:39:32 AM
Or 'de', depending on where you're from.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on November 12, 2021, 01:18:06 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 12, 2021, 10:51:43 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 11, 2021, 12:27:29 PM
Speaking of accents, here is Kamala Harris putting on a fake French accent when talking to scientists in France:

https://www.tyla.com/news/kamala-harris-vice-president-french-accent-twitter-20211111

Headline in the NY Post:
Quote
Kamala-vous francais? VP Harris mocked for appearing to use French accent during Paris visit

Did she? "Thee" is a legitimate way of pronoucing "the" in English, usually for emphasis. I'm not sure I hear any attempt at a French accent there.


Edit: granted, it's usually about whether what follows is a vowel. But it's also used for emphasis.

Yah, this is a weird claim -- used all the time for emphasis in English. Also, maybe check your source Langue_doc-- I wouldn't go quoting the NY Post and expect to be taken seriously.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 12, 2021, 02:57:33 PM
Disclaimer: I posted the links without having listened to them, mea culpa. I've used up the five or six free articles in the Post, so couldn't hear for myself what the brouhaha was all about.

While the Post is biased in many respects it is far more reliable than the NYT for local news. Harris in France, however, does not fall under this category.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 12, 2021, 03:02:56 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 12, 2021, 02:57:33 PM
Disclaimer: I posted the links without having listened to them, mea culpa. I've used up the five or six free articles in the Post, so couldn't hear for myself what the brouhaha was all about.

While the Post is biased in many respects it is far more reliable than the NYT for local news. Harris in France, however, does not fall under this category.

And in fairness, she has a history of unacceptable wisecracks. It's believable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 12, 2021, 03:35:02 PM
Apologies for the double-post, but: Britney Spears is free! (https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/britney-spears-conservatorship-ruling-judge-california-pop-star-entertainment-1.6247323)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 17, 2021, 07:42:37 PM
I passed a large convoy on the interstate this morning. It was a truck carrying ornaments for the National Christmas Tree!  Quite a jolly sighting.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 17, 2021, 07:55:45 PM
Cool!

A friend (a former forumite, in fact) was one of those invited to assist with decorations one year.

Apparently you just apply and they pick a couple people from each state.

There's a plan and you carry it out, directed by the designer.

I think my friend said they were mostly tying big ribbon bows to go in the hallways.

M.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 18, 2021, 10:57:02 AM
Just FYI, we are now completely cut off from the rest of the country by land, thanks to the flooding and mudslides. The highway connecting us to the rest of the country is projected to be closed all of next year.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 18, 2021, 11:07:52 AM
What, a big dinosaur like you stopped by a little mudslide?

I should think you could just stomp right over that!!

(Seriously--sorry!!)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Morden on November 18, 2021, 12:28:14 PM
QuoteJust FYI, we are now completely cut off from the rest of the country by land, thanks to the flooding and mudslides. The highway connecting us to the rest of the country is projected to be closed all of next year.
The devastation is incredible, but I cannot imagine that it will be a whole year before the land routes are open again--even if in limited ways. Winter will undoubtedly be challenging for construction, especially on the Coquihalla (which is a miserable road in winter at the best of times).
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 18, 2021, 06:29:56 PM
Just saw this:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOjDmzk1ICU

I apologize if my earlier post seemed insensitive; I didn't realize quite how serious the flooding really was until I saw the video and heard the news.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 18, 2021, 08:52:53 PM
Quote from: mamselle on November 18, 2021, 11:07:52 AM
What, a big dinosaur like you stopped by a little mudslide?

I should think you could just stomp right over that!!

(Seriously--sorry!!)

M.

I wouldn't exactly say 'stopped', since that would imply I venture out into the world beyond my mountainous island.

Quote from: mamselle on November 18, 2021, 06:29:56 PM
Just saw this:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOjDmzk1ICU

I apologize if my earlier post seemed insensitive; I didn't realize quite how serious the flooding really was until I saw the video and heard the news.

M.

Not to worry, it wasn't at all! It's serious for other people, inland. The rest of us have nothing much to show for it yet. Our dose of disruption will come later, since the flooded bits are where all our food comes from.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 19, 2021, 11:01:58 AM
The jury has found Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts.

That's a travesty. It's also--for the free speech heroes among us--going to seriously chill protest, since it makes it clear that murdering protesters is permissible (as if all those new laws allowing you to run them over didn't already).
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on November 19, 2021, 11:10:24 AM
I am utterly burnt-out and it is all I can do to not mail it in for the rest of the semester.  I quit being Chair at the right time (except earlier would have been better) and my upcoming sabbatical can't start soon enough.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on November 19, 2021, 11:42:10 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 19, 2021, 11:01:58 AM
The jury has found Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts.

That's a travesty. It's also--for the free speech heroes among us--going to seriously chill protest, since it makes it clear that murdering protesters is permissible (as if all those new laws allowing you to run them over didn't already).

Agreed. I'm guessing the jury felt sorry for the dumb kid.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 19, 2021, 11:44:36 AM
The idiot judge's signaling moves didn't help, either.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on November 19, 2021, 12:05:42 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 19, 2021, 11:01:58 AM
The jury has found Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts.

That's a travesty. It's also--for the free speech heroes among us--going to seriously chill protest, since it makes it clear that murdering protesters is permissible (as if all those new laws allowing you to run them over didn't already).

Are you particularly sorry for the one who beat Rittenhouse over the head with a skateboard, or the one who (by his own admission on the stand) got shot after he pointed his gun at Rittenhouse?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on November 19, 2021, 01:29:52 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on November 19, 2021, 12:05:42 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on November 19, 2021, 11:01:58 AM
The jury has found Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts.

That's a travesty. It's also--for the free speech heroes among us--going to seriously chill protest, since it makes it clear that murdering protesters is permissible (as if all those new laws allowing you to run them over didn't already).

Are you particularly sorry for the one who beat Rittenhouse over the head with a skateboard, or the one who (by his own admission on the stand) got shot after he pointed his gun at Rittenhouse?

Remember that Rittenhouse had already murdered one person when someone tried to disarm him with a skateboard, and two people by the time the gun was pointed at him.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 19, 2021, 03:24:16 PM
Quote from: FishProf on November 19, 2021, 11:10:24 AM
I am utterly burnt-out and it is all I can do to not mail it in for the rest of the semester.  I quit being Chair at the right time (except earlier would have been better) and my upcoming sabbatical can't start soon enough.

Do you find aquariums soothing?

Maybe Smolt would like to meet the octopuses and watch the rock-hopper penguins cavorting...

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on November 20, 2021, 06:13:21 AM
Quote from: mamselle on November 19, 2021, 03:24:16 PM
Quote from: FishProf on November 19, 2021, 11:10:24 AM
I am utterly burnt-out and it is all I can do to not mail it in for the rest of the semester.  I quit being Chair at the right time (except earlier would have been better) and my upcoming sabbatical can't start soon enough.

Do you find aquariums soothing?

Maybe Smolt would like to meet the octopuses and watch the rock-hopper penguins cavorting...

;--}

M.

I very much do.  That trip will be the final for my Marine Bio class and it can't come soon enough.  The final is an aquarium version of my dinosaurs final at Yale.

I might just camp out in the aquarium afterwards.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 20, 2021, 10:13:16 AM
Quote from: FishProf on November 20, 2021, 06:13:21 AM
Quote from: mamselle on November 19, 2021, 03:24:16 PM
Quote from: FishProf on November 19, 2021, 11:10:24 AM
I am utterly burnt-out and it is all I can do to not mail it in for the rest of the semester.  I quit being Chair at the right time (except earlier would have been better) and my upcoming sabbatical can't start soon enough.

Do you find aquariums soothing?

Maybe Smolt would like to meet the octopuses and watch the rock-hopper penguins cavorting...

;--}

M.

I very much do.  That trip will be the final for my Marine Bio class and it can't come soon enough.  The final is an aquarium version of my dinosaurs final at Yale.

I might just camp out in the aquarium afterwards.

A friend-of-a-friend, 20 years ago, now, was an aquarium volunteer, and got to do cool stuff "backstage" with the critters.  We were allowed to visit, it was very interesting to see all the tubes, pumps, and extra fitties in spare tanks in the back (they had several jumpers).

The book "The Soul of an Octopus" reminded me of that, one of my students was reading it and loaned it to me.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on November 20, 2021, 10:36:42 AM
My FIL was one of the engineers who designed the tank and we got a deep look behind the curtain when they remodeled.  Very interesting, and a bit scary.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 20, 2021, 03:41:12 PM
Quote from: FishProf on November 20, 2021, 10:36:42 AM
My FIL was one of the engineers who designed the tank and we got a deep look behind the curtain when they remodeled.  Very interesting, and a bit scary.

Wow.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on November 23, 2021, 01:49:27 AM
Lowering gas prices? Drill more wells? Bring in more tankers, release reserves, build pipelines, fill pipelines, change engines and what powers them. Hmmm,
taxes, EUREKA! Lowering fuel taxes temporarily.  Too little? Heck, even a matter of cents would be greeted with joy by many businesses and ordinary folks!

When? Probably quickly. Our nation and its states have thousands of number crunchers who can create scenarios and compile and communicate and compare faster than you can say SNAP-CRACKLE-POP. And Re fuel prices, they've been just sitting on their tools and educations. Or, is any approach to meddling with government "Cookie Jars" a NO NO? PEOPLE, PEOPLEEEEEE!!! Not even for short term relief???
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on November 30, 2021, 04:19:54 AM
That trick where you put aluminum foil, baking soda, and tarnished silver in a pot and then poor boiling water over the top to polish it works incredibly well. Like, astonishingly well. Like, my silver was shiny and polished in seconds. I'm left wondering the following things:

1. Why oh why was polishing silver plate such a chore back in the ye olden dayes? Was it because aluminum foil wasn't widely available?
2. How does it work? I presume there's some chemical reaction going on that strips off the tarnish. Does that reaction also strip off un-tarnished silver? Is my silver going to dissolve to nothing if I use the trick too much? Or does the reaction only apply to tarnished silver, and untarnished silver remains unaffected?

Update! Based on this website (https://www.thespruce.com/frugal-silver-cleaner-1388736), it seems like it's not going to damage my silver, because it turns the tarnish back into silver?! Can this possibly be right? Are there any chemists to confirm?

When salt, baking soda, aluminum foil, and water are combined, they create a chemical reaction known as ion exchange. During this process, the tarnish on the silver (silver sulfide) is converted back into silver, and the sulfide becomes aluminum sulfide on the foil. If your silver is tarnished enough, you'll see brown or yellowish tarnish flakes on the aluminum foil. Though this process works well, the chemical reaction doesn't smell very good, so make sure there's plenty of ventilation. You may need to soak badly tarnished silver a second time.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 30, 2021, 07:22:52 PM
I had a small cup of Thanksgiving Blend coffee from Starbucks. It was good--I'm content.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on December 03, 2021, 12:44:09 PM
There's one more reason not to move to Maryland!

Quote
Overwhelming numbers of snakes in Maryland homes are not unheard of. One Annapolis couple sued after finding numerous snakes, including one that was 7 feet long, in their new home, News4 reported.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/homeowner-fighting-snake-infestation-burns-down-maryland-house-officials/3067242/
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on December 03, 2021, 01:20:10 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on December 03, 2021, 12:44:09 PM
There's one more reason not to move to Maryland!

Quote
Overwhelming numbers of snakes in Maryland homes are not unheard of. One Annapolis couple sued after finding numerous snakes, including one that was 7 feet long, in their new home, News4 reported.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/homeowner-fighting-snake-infestation-burns-down-maryland-house-officials/3067242/

The irony here will no doubt create a good deal of amusement in some quarters, but people lost their home here.  Glad no people were hurt.

Didn't know that Maryland was notorious for snakes.  They were awfully common where I grew up.  One evening about five or six feet worth of snake got into the kitchen of my parents' house.  Dad grabbed it behind the head and somewhere back toward the tail, ran outside and down the driveway with it, and hurled it as hard as he could across the road into the woods beyond.  He said it was one of the hardest things he ever made himself do.  The snake was evidently scared too, since it wet all over Dad.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: dismalist on December 03, 2021, 01:28:56 PM
Quote from: apl68 on December 03, 2021, 01:20:10 PM
Quote from: ab_grp on December 03, 2021, 12:44:09 PM
There's one more reason not to move to Maryland!

Quote
Overwhelming numbers of snakes in Maryland homes are not unheard of. One Annapolis couple sued after finding numerous snakes, including one that was 7 feet long, in their new home, News4 reported.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/homeowner-fighting-snake-infestation-burns-down-maryland-house-officials/3067242/

The irony here will no doubt create a good deal of amusement in some quarters, but people lost their home here.  Glad no people were hurt.

Didn't know that Maryland was notorious for snakes.  They were awfully common where I grew up.  One evening about five or six feet worth of snake got into the kitchen of my parents' house.  Dad grabbed it behind the head and somewhere back toward the tail, ran outside and down the driveway with it, and hurled it as hard as he could across the road into the woods beyond.  He said it was one of the hardest things he ever made himself do.  The snake was evidently scared too, since it wet all over Dad.

Because house prices are made public and snakes affect all houses in a certain area, the snake pest is in the price of the house. The inhabitants have nothing to complain about.

Remember, if the knowledge is public, it's all in the price! :-)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 08:52:01 AM
What is the cube (https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/rover-moon-cube-1.6277567) on the far side of the moon?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on December 08, 2021, 10:05:29 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 08:52:01 AM
What is the cube (https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/rover-moon-cube-1.6277567) on the far side of the moon?

Interesting! I am curious.  "Our Space" reminds me a bit too much of "Myspace", though. ;-)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on December 08, 2021, 10:25:11 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 08:52:01 AM
What is the cube (https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/rover-moon-cube-1.6277567) on the far side of the moon?

Hmmm, maybe Einstein was wrong about God playing dice with the universe...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 11:04:37 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on December 08, 2021, 10:05:29 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 08, 2021, 08:52:01 AM
What is the cube (https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/rover-moon-cube-1.6277567) on the far side of the moon?

Interesting! I am curious.  "Our Space" reminds me a bit too much of "Myspace", though. ;-)

rofl!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 08, 2021, 04:48:54 PM
Unrelated.

Leave me the f*ck alone so that I can finish compiling grades. We just finished the damn exam. It takes me TIME to grade things.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on December 09, 2021, 10:33:51 AM
We don't finish for 10 more days.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 18, 2021, 08:24:06 AM
With this post, I have surpassed polly.

Mamselle in untouchable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on December 18, 2021, 02:37:43 PM
I only surpassed Poly after she stopped posting, though....

We're becoming a nation of e-jabberwocks...!

;--}

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on December 22, 2021, 03:02:13 PM
Merry Christmas, everybody!  See you in a few days.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on December 22, 2021, 03:16:07 PM
Quote from: apl68 on December 22, 2021, 03:02:13 PM
Merry Christmas, everybody!  See you in a few days.

Joyeuse Noel!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on December 22, 2021, 03:16:28 PM
Quote from: apl68 on December 22, 2021, 03:02:13 PM
Merry Christmas, everybody!  See you in a few days.

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Merry Christmas to those of you who observe the holiday. If you don't observe Christmas, Happy Relaxing!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 22, 2021, 07:12:24 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on December 22, 2021, 03:16:28 PM
Quote from: apl68 on December 22, 2021, 03:02:13 PM
Merry Christmas, everybody!  See you in a few days.

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Merry Christmas to those of you who observe the holiday. If you don't observe Christmas, Happy Relaxing!
We'll be closed for a 3 day Christmas weekend so I'm looking forward to it too.  Got myself a bottle of rose.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on December 22, 2021, 08:13:20 PM
A) Those silly little games in the J. Lawson Advent calendar will steal your brain cells away and leave you mush in return.

Must stop now.

Will stop now.

B) Saturday is going to be as much Zoom-work as a usual teaching day (again). However, in this case, a couple of those participating really do need the connectivity (a recent death in one family, some returning prodigals in another, possibly) so I'm not minding as much as I have sometimes.

However, it will be nice to have only one online thing to do on Sunday, and it will be something I don't have to prep or organize...grace a Dieu. (literally).

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 22, 2021, 08:29:07 PM
Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to you all. SO and I will be hibernating for a bit so we can recharge our emotional batteries. :)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on December 23, 2021, 03:26:46 AM
As a "man about town" I am (and others to may be) curious about the effects of Covid and Covid vaccinations on VD (venereal disease) rates among urban singles, huh! I've seen some seemingly telltale pimples about.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on December 23, 2021, 05:38:37 AM
too [it was late]
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on December 23, 2021, 09:23:19 AM
Quote from: Economizer on December 23, 2021, 03:26:46 AM
As a "man about town" I am (and others to may be) curious about the effects of Covid and Covid vaccinations on VD (venereal disease) rates among urban singles, huh! I've seen some seemingly telltale pimples about.

Where, pray tell, are you seeing all these naked urban singles? Or do I really want to know....
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 23, 2021, 12:56:11 PM
It's the big travel day!  Monday was the start:
https://wtop.com/christmas-news/2021/12/people-are-already-hitting-the-roads-and-airports-for-the-holidays/ (https://wtop.com/christmas-news/2021/12/people-are-already-hitting-the-roads-and-airports-for-the-holidays/)
Safe and smooth travels whenever you head out.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on December 23, 2021, 07:48:01 PM
Quote from: ciao_yall on December 23, 2021, 09:23:19 AM
Quote from: Economizer on December 23, 2021, 03:26:46 AM
As a "man about town" I am (and others to may be) curious about the effects of Covid and Covid vaccinations on VD (venereal disease) rates among urban singles, huh! I've seen some seemingly telltale pimples about.

Where, pray tell, are you seeing all these naked urban singles? Or do I really want to know....
Doesn't sound like it. Although dressing styles can run to the scant and skimpy here, the pimples I refer to are facial.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on December 26, 2021, 08:13:09 AM
[^ unrelated]

Today is my birthday!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on December 26, 2021, 08:15:38 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on December 26, 2021, 08:13:09 AM
[^ unrelated]

Today is my birthday!

Joyeuse Anniversaire!

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l04BpnlteSY
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: notmycircus on December 26, 2021, 08:15:54 AM
Happy Birthday!  Tomorrow is mine.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on December 26, 2021, 08:18:26 AM
Quote from: notmycircus on December 26, 2021, 08:15:54 AM
Happy Birthday!  Tomorrow is mine.

Happy birthday!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: notmycircus on December 26, 2021, 08:28:20 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 26, 2021, 09:28:04 AM
Happy Birthday, ALH and nmc.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on December 26, 2021, 10:18:50 AM
More happy birthday wishes to ALH and notmycircus!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 26, 2021, 10:23:53 AM
And more! Congratulations on two jobs well done!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on December 26, 2021, 02:37:29 PM
Birthday greetings, ALH and NMC!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on December 27, 2021, 06:49:53 AM
Thank you all!  And happy day today, NotMyCircus!  :-)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: notmycircus on December 27, 2021, 09:56:00 AM
Thank you to those who wished me well.  And to the others, I will drown my sorrows in pistachio ice cream. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on December 27, 2021, 10:00:32 AM
Quote from: notmycircus on December 27, 2021, 09:56:00 AM
Thank you to those who wished me well.  And to the others, I will drown my sorrows in pistachio ice cream.

Only if you share some of that ice-cream with the rest of us...!!!!!

(Hmmmm....where IS the key to the clubhouse, by the way? Don't we need to have at least a monthly birthday celebration around here?)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 28, 2021, 09:43:52 AM
Light traffic on the roads during my commute to the library. Yay!

Mince pies are delish. :D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on December 28, 2021, 07:32:27 PM
I was driving through one of the numerous ethnic neighborhoods when I saw a long line of people waiting in front of what I thought was a street cart selling authentic ethnic food. As I was looking for a parking spot so that I could stand in line to get whatever everybody else was having I realized that it was a Covid testing site. There were similar sites and lines at every intersection in that neighborhood and presumably in other neighborhoods as well.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on December 29, 2021, 10:58:11 AM
Jesus once healed 10 lepers of their disease.  Only one of them went back to thank Jesus for it.  He was a Samaritan--a member of a group that Jesus' fellow Jews held in contempt, and vice versa.  Jesus said, "Where are the other nine?  Was this foreigner the only one who gave glory to God?"  Then Jesus told the Samaritan leper, "Go on your way.  Your faith has healed you."

People are often ungrateful for what others try to do for them.  But there are still "Samaritan lepers" out there.  Remember to be glad for them.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on December 29, 2021, 08:01:55 PM
Found out that LL Bean is closing its Tyson's Corner Mall location in Mc Lean, VA:
https://wtop.com/business-finance/2021/12/l-l-bean-is-closing-tysons-store/ (https://wtop.com/business-finance/2021/12/l-l-bean-is-closing-tysons-store/)
It was the company's 1st store outside of Maine, and it made regional headlines at the time. (A second location in Columbia, MD followed) We shopped in this store often--it has 2 floors. It once featured an oversized tank with live fish!
Too bad about the rising lease at the mall.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 30, 2021, 01:15:34 PM
SO is baking something (a cake?- cookies?) and I'm not sure what it is. I'm too lazy to get up off the couch and look.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: secundem_artem on December 30, 2021, 02:36:28 PM
We got our first snow of the season which gave me a chance to try out my new electric snow blower.  It's as close as I'll ever get to owning a Tesla.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Economizer on December 30, 2021, 09:49:21 PM
Sometimes, mostly when I make small purchases with my debit card, cashiers seem irritated when they ask if I want my receipts and I reply that I do. I wonder why? Well to answer that puzzlement, I ask all the shoppers and purchasers of our nation to "keep their receipts". That way we might surely find out if anything is "going on" with these documents when discarded. Of course the kept records will need to be forwarded to IRS for analysis and matching actions, etc. so that its, those, activities have any worth might be determined, maybe.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 25, 2022, 07:31:25 AM
I think I speak for many when I say that I'm tired of playing a bit part in a bad science fiction story entitled The Omicron Variant.  Ready to roll the end credits on this one and get out of the theater.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 25, 2022, 07:42:52 AM
Likewise the "Dupes for Trump" campaign that's been going for the past decade.

Someone just indict him, please...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkbe3RQowqk

And the little dogs that came in with him....

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhDxjogSx-4

What would have happened to Newt the Flute if the Dems had responded likewise to his persecution of Clinton?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: bacardiandlime on January 25, 2022, 07:59:22 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 25, 2022, 07:31:25 AM
I think I speak for many when I say that I'm tired of playing a bit part in a bad science fiction story entitled The Omicron Variant.  Ready to roll the end credits on this one and get out of the theater.

Yeah, I signed up for the 30 day free trial of "pandemic" but can't seem to cancel.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 25, 2022, 10:20:08 AM
Quote from: bacardiandlime on January 25, 2022, 07:59:22 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 25, 2022, 07:31:25 AM
I think I speak for many when I say that I'm tired of playing a bit part in a bad science fiction story entitled The Omicron Variant.  Ready to roll the end credits on this one and get out of the theater.

Yeah, I signed up for the 30 day free trial of "pandemic" but can't seem to cancel.

I didn't even sign up for it, and ended up with it!  I've found you sometimes find yourself stuck with stuff you didn't actually want when you order on Amazon.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 26, 2022, 11:54:04 AM
Barnes & Noble is offering a limited time 25% off on preorders.  If they've done before, it's been awhile!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 26, 2022, 05:58:42 PM
I said 'no' to a referee invitation today. Can't be doing anythig until the book is done and delivered.

It sure is nice, though! I didn't wanna read that paper.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: arcturus on January 27, 2022, 04:48:17 PM
I discovered a dark chocolate + orange + almond bar that is both tasty and affordable.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 27, 2022, 09:37:43 PM
Quote from: arcturus on January 27, 2022, 04:48:17 PM
I discovered a dark chocolate + orange + almond bar that is both tasty and affordable.

Do tell!!!

What maker?

Inquiring taste buds want to know....

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: arcturus on January 28, 2022, 05:54:24 AM
Moser Roth privat chocolatiers. Available at my local Aldi. I had been craving orange+chocolate after receiving a chocolate orange as a holiday gift. I saw it mixed in with their other European chocolates.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 28, 2022, 08:30:34 AM
Quote from: arcturus on January 28, 2022, 05:54:24 AM
Moser Roth privat chocolatiers. Available at my local Aldi. I had been craving orange+chocolate after receiving a chocolate orange as a holiday gift. I saw it mixed in with their other European chocolates.

Ah, bon.

Merci bien!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on January 28, 2022, 09:20:33 AM
I shouldn't have let that physical therapy student practice on me yesterday.  May have set me back a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 30, 2022, 03:04:36 PM
Confirmed: orcas kill blue whales. (https://montrealgazette.com/news/orcas-recorded-killing-and-eating-worlds-largest-animal-the-blue-whale-for-the-first-time?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0rpYAJJxdes8McnctbtNxgcPoQAE7xyJ2xIhjnX6AI6BE8FQE-Aw_mSqE#Echobox=1643460955)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 31, 2022, 07:33:38 AM
Jesus loves you.  Whoever you are, right now.  He isn't prepared to let you STAY just like you are, but which of us can honestly say we need to stay just like we are in the first place?

It's not necessary to live without hope in a world so full of hopelessness.  Careers fail, families fail, politics fails, churches and any other organization you care to name fail.  Jesus doesn't fail.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on January 31, 2022, 10:59:12 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 31, 2022, 07:33:38 AM
Jesus loves you.  Whoever you are, right now.  He isn't prepared to let you STAY just like you are, but which of us can honestly say we need to stay just like we are in the first place?

It's not necessary to live without hope in a world so full of hopelessness.  Careers fail, families fail, politics fails, churches and any other organization you care to name fail.  Jesus doesn't fail.

Chime.

The ways I try to say that to people have to vary sometimes, depending on how they understand things and what languages they speak.

Sometimes it's just in how one interacts with them.

But, overall, +1

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 31, 2022, 07:36:44 PM
Coming home from the library...
Walking in an unlit section of a busy thoroughfare in the evening and drivers can't see you until the last second.*  You're lucky that driver in the next lane saw you and you're not a body on the ground.

*No crosswalk at this intersection
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: The Future on February 01, 2022, 08:49:40 AM
Quote from: apl68 on January 31, 2022, 07:33:38 AM
Jesus loves you.  Whoever you are, right now.  He isn't prepared to let you STAY just like you are, but which of us can honestly say we need to stay just like we are in the first place?

It's not necessary to live without hope in a world so full of hopelessness.  Careers fail, families fail, politics fails, churches and any other organization you care to name fail.  Jesus doesn't fail.
I saw this yesterday and came back to read it again today.  Thank you for posting.  Needed reminder.  Have a lovely week, Everyone :)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: FishProf on February 01, 2022, 09:02:55 AM
I have strung together 2 days in a row of working out and eating right.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 01, 2022, 09:49:05 AM
Good for you--keep it up!

We might want to re-start the "fluffy faculty" thread...

In other news, the GA DA has filed a criminal case against you-know-who, and requested FBI protection in case of violent backlash.

   https://youtu.be/2xSTk7xkLD4

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on February 01, 2022, 11:10:05 AM
In our state, it's the Democrats who are behaving badly by redrawing the borders (see the map in the article):
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/nyregion/nyc-congressional-district-nadler.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 01, 2022, 09:46:49 PM
I hate "memes" and meme "culture". Hate it hate it hate it.


(I also don't get it.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on February 02, 2022, 06:32:38 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on February 01, 2022, 09:46:49 PM
I hate "memes" and meme "culture". Hate it hate it hate it.


(I also don't get it.)

Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

(Ducks and runs)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 02, 2022, 01:02:39 PM
CNN CEO Jeff Zucker has just resigned over non-disclosure of a close relationship with another upper-level CNN staff member.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ-xS_kyBjs

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on February 02, 2022, 03:00:49 PM
My book is in hand! I am officially a book author now!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: smallcleanrat on February 02, 2022, 03:06:47 PM
Quote from: Larimar on February 02, 2022, 03:00:49 PM
My book is in hand! I am officially a book author now!

That's awesome! Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on February 02, 2022, 03:31:10 PM
Thanks!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 02, 2022, 04:43:09 PM
Felicitations!

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCPL5-Gcgx8

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on February 03, 2022, 02:32:15 AM
Thank you!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Harlow2 on February 03, 2022, 06:41:18 AM
Quote from: Larimar on February 02, 2022, 03:00:49 PM
My book is in hand! I am officially a book author now!

That's great, larimar! 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 03, 2022, 07:12:10 AM
Quote from: Larimar on February 02, 2022, 03:00:49 PM
My book is in hand! I am officially a book author now!

Congrats!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on February 03, 2022, 07:44:37 AM
Congratulations, Larimar!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on February 03, 2022, 08:35:01 AM
That has got to be so exciting, Larimar! Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 03, 2022, 09:53:00 AM
Maybe this is just a 'random musing,' but...

I just realized one of the reasons I like teaching geeky middle-schoolers might be because I identify with them.

I just had the image of my 3rd-grade self correcting our music teacher, who had substituted a regular triad for a 7th chord, even though the 7th chord was marked in the music we were singing/she was playing from.

She didn't take it badly, explaining it was allowed to omit the 7th, it was an 'extra' or 'color' tone, not required to establish the chord per se...so I learned something, for all that.

And I don't think I did it rudely, I remember raising my hand when she asked for questions after we'd finished singing and asking politely...

But I chuckle now, because last night one of my students corrected my analysis of a chord they'd just played and the scene came back to me...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on February 03, 2022, 03:19:36 PM
Thank you, everyone!

And Mamselle, your 'random musing' is sweet.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on February 03, 2022, 06:02:25 PM
Congrats, Larimar.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 03, 2022, 06:06:41 PM
Quote from: Larimar on February 02, 2022, 03:00:49 PM
My book is in hand! I am officially a book author now!

Well done!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on February 09, 2022, 12:49:16 PM
This is just kind of crazy to think about, a radio station broadcast being able to completely brick the "infotainment" systems of Mazdas from particular years: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/02/radio-station-snafu-in-seattle-bricks-some-mazda-infotainment-systems/  I appreciate the comments on the article for the extra explanation added.  Remote interference with vehicles has been a plot point in several crime shows I've seen over the years, but it often seems farfetched.  Stories like this make me wonder about the possibilities, although in this case it seems like poor coding practices occurred that probably shouldn't be expected to occur in this context.

ETA: Meant to include this article from a few weeks ago about a teen who was able to hack Teslas (through user error, not a security vulnerability inherent in the cars themselves, though it seems like a fine line to me): https://www.pcmag.com/news/teenage-hacker-gains-remote-control-of-25-teslas-in-13-countries
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 09, 2022, 01:18:28 PM
Like I keep saying, computers make our lives easier...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 11, 2022, 04:46:44 PM
Looks like I was invited to do some ranking for the THE survey. I wonder what they scoured to get my email address.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 11, 2022, 08:05:04 PM
Unrelated.

So, you don't 'believe' in Black History Month? You don't think it's a good thing? Hmm. Every time we talk, some vile, narrow minded utterance falls from your lips and rests heavily at my feet. I mourn the relationship that we will never have since you have so much hatred in your heart.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on February 12, 2022, 09:19:26 AM
"If every time I email a certain person with a quick question... and they blind copy you with a response... and you get all huffy thinking I'm going behind your back...

"We're never gonna get any good work done."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 14, 2022, 05:20:17 AM
Whole gaggle o' ganders,  complainin' 'bout they goose-sauce t'day....

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on February 14, 2022, 04:02:13 PM
My expense claim was approved by the dean, which is nice. Especially since it's for a new crackpot research project.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on February 14, 2022, 04:18:32 PM
The emperor's tailor has pulled a seam thread on his royal robes...

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzake6VFaY8

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on February 14, 2022, 07:50:43 PM
Unrelated.

You don't pay me enough for this shit.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 03, 2022, 05:00:23 PM
In case anyone was wondering, writing an annotated bibliography for 500 sources is a bit of work.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Liquidambar on March 09, 2022, 10:43:32 AM
Everyone at my school is getting a small bonus--even our adjuncts.  Good news!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 29, 2022, 08:26:16 AM
A little humor...

The choice of music in the OBGYN's office (I know it's probably random) was appropriate  today- "Sexual Healing."

:D
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on April 29, 2022, 01:12:17 PM
(De gustibus....I've never liked that song....it's not invitatory; he sounds like an invasive, intrusive baby wanting mommy NOW!)

It's supposed to be nice outside. I'm getting more work done. I have students to teach. Life could be much worse!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on April 29, 2022, 03:54:51 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 29, 2022, 08:26:16 AM
A little humor...

The choice of music in the OBGYN's office (I know it's probably random) was appropriate  today- "Sexual Healing."

:D

Not "The Bolero"?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 01, 2022, 08:51:55 AM
We just went to sign up the hatchling for another round of swimming lessons, only to discover that his picture (from when he was ~4 months adorns the ad!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 01, 2022, 09:14:51 AM
Awwww!

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 01, 2022, 09:51:34 AM
Quote from: mamselle on May 01, 2022, 09:14:51 AM
Awwww!

M.

Double awwwww! :)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on May 01, 2022, 10:05:17 AM
Might as well add a +1 to the awws! And I hope he loves swimming!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 17, 2022, 08:43:07 AM
Children's books routinely conflate alligators and crocodiles. Also camels and dromedaries. And French ones conflate penguins and great auks.

That is all. (But it drives me to distraction.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on May 17, 2022, 07:10:11 PM
Loved Mount Rainier and Olympic. two days is enough at Rainier if you aren't a mountaneerer, but not NEARLY enough at Olympic. I could have stayed there a week.

Also, just finished a lovely day in downtown Seattle. Contrary to what Tucker/Laura/Sean say it is not a dystopian nightmare.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on May 17, 2022, 07:26:11 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on May 17, 2022, 07:10:11 PM
Loved Mount Rainier and Olympic. two days is enough at Rainier if you aren't a mountaneerer, but not NEARLY enough at Olympic. I could have stayed there a week.

Also, just finished a lovely day in downtown Seattle. Contrary to what Tucker/Laura/Sean say it is not a dystopian nightmare.

As you may have guessed from my moniker I grew up in that neck of the woods.

Two days is not nearly enough for Rainier (or "the mountain" as we call it)! There is so much beyond just the Paradise area most tourists go to (though that is certainly a fine area). You should go back in August when the wildflowers are blooming.

Olympic is also very special-- did you do coast, rainforest or both?

At any rate glad you enjoyed your visit. And really locals are fine with those sorts of people thinking it is a dystopian nightmare and staying away.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on May 17, 2022, 08:47:07 PM
Quote from: Puget on May 17, 2022, 07:26:11 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on May 17, 2022, 07:10:11 PM
Loved Mount Rainier and Olympic. two days is enough at Rainier if you aren't a mountaneerer, but not NEARLY enough at Olympic. I could have stayed there a week.

Also, just finished a lovely day in downtown Seattle. Contrary to what Tucker/Laura/Sean say it is not a dystopian nightmare.

As you may have guessed from my moniker I grew up in that neck of the woods.

Two days is not nearly enough for Rainier (or "the mountain" as we call it)! There is so much beyond just the Paradise area most tourists go to (though that is certainly a fine area). You should go back in August when the wildflowers are blooming.

Olympic is also very special-- did you do coast, rainforest or both?

At any rate glad you enjoyed your visit. And really locals are fine with those sorts of people thinking it is a dystopian nightmare and staying away.

I figured:) Mostly rainforest. Went to Rialto, but by the time we got there it was really cold and rainy. I can'T really do tons of hiking. At Rainier we did a 7.5 mile at Rampart Ridge and that wipe me out.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on May 18, 2022, 06:17:58 AM
Sounds like a great time!  I'd love to go see that region, but I live so very far away that I doubt I'll ever make it.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on May 19, 2022, 12:24:09 PM
Quote from: Puget on May 17, 2022, 07:26:11 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on May 17, 2022, 07:10:11 PM
Loved Mount Rainier and Olympic. two days is enough at Rainier if you aren't a mountaneerer, but not NEARLY enough at Olympic. I could have stayed there a week.

Also, just finished a lovely day in downtown Seattle. Contrary to what Tucker/Laura/Sean say it is not a dystopian nightmare.

As you may have guessed from my moniker I grew up in that neck of the woods.

Two days is not nearly enough for Rainier (or "the mountain" as we call it)! There is so much beyond just the Paradise area most tourists go to (though that is certainly a fine area). You should go back in August when the wildflowers are blooming.

Olympic is also very special-- did you do coast, rainforest or both?

At any rate glad you enjoyed your visit. And really locals are fine with those sorts of people thinking it is a dystopian nightmare and staying away.

I agree that four days would have been much better:) I absolutely want to go to the northern side to hike.

Any tips on North Cascades or Crater Lake?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on May 19, 2022, 12:37:34 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on May 19, 2022, 12:24:09 PM
Quote from: Puget on May 17, 2022, 07:26:11 PM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on May 17, 2022, 07:10:11 PM
Loved Mount Rainier and Olympic. two days is enough at Rainier if you aren't a mountaneerer, but not NEARLY enough at Olympic. I could have stayed there a week.

Also, just finished a lovely day in downtown Seattle. Contrary to what Tucker/Laura/Sean say it is not a dystopian nightmare.

As you may have guessed from my moniker I grew up in that neck of the woods.

Two days is not nearly enough for Rainier (or "the mountain" as we call it)! There is so much beyond just the Paradise area most tourists go to (though that is certainly a fine area). You should go back in August when the wildflowers are blooming.

Olympic is also very special-- did you do coast, rainforest or both?

At any rate glad you enjoyed your visit. And really locals are fine with those sorts of people thinking it is a dystopian nightmare and staying away.

I agree that four days would have been much better:) I absolutely want to go to the northern side to hike.

Any tips on North Cascades or Crater Lake?

North Cascades is beautiful but very remote-- you would definitely need a longer trip, and it is more a backpacking destination. I haven't spent time at Crater Lake, though I really should some time (I no longer live nearby, so mostly just get back once or twice a year to visit my parents).

If you go again, I'd recommend the Sunrise area on the east side of Rainier (there are some shorter hikes that will still get you spectacular views), St. Helens (which blew 42 years ago yesterday), and more time in the coastal devision of Olympic NP (either Third Bleach or Cape Alva/Ozette). Port Townsend is also a great place to spend a day or two.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 19, 2022, 01:28:22 PM
The YouTube channel GeoHub has a good post on Mt. St. Helens (and some other recent updates, too, I think...).

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on May 19, 2022, 11:36:17 PM
I was reading a fluffy bit of historical fiction, and a character mentions leaving a bit on his plate for Miss Manners, and, Author Cat Sebastian, Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, is alive and well, still writing her column with a child or grandchild. Was this poor research, or are you throwing a careless time-traveler into your book? Or is there something about Judith Martin that you know that we don't?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on May 20, 2022, 07:23:11 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 19, 2022, 11:36:17 PM
I was reading a fluffy bit of historical fiction, and a character mentions leaving a bit on his plate for Miss Manners, and, Author Cat Sebastian, Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, is alive and well, still writing her column with a child or grandchild. Was this poor research, or are you throwing a careless time-traveler into your book? Or is there something about Judith Martin that you know that we don't?

I've heard that in some families it was once considered polite not to devour one's entire meal, but to leave a leftover bit "for Mr. Manners/Miss Manners."  As opposed to the more common injunction to clean one's plate completely.  Maybe in some social backgrounds eating too heartily was considered a faux pas. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: glendower on May 20, 2022, 07:31:20 AM
If you consult Judith Martin's first Miss Manners book, you will see that she cites that leaving-food custom as the reason for choosing her pen name.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 20, 2022, 07:56:42 AM
There's a place near me paying 90 cents/lb. for aluminum cans. Wow! We have bags and bags of them in the garage. Maybe it's time to cash in?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on May 20, 2022, 03:21:01 PM
Quote from: glendower on May 20, 2022, 07:31:20 AM
If you consult Judith Martin's first Miss Manners book, you will see that she cites that leaving-food custom as the reason for choosing her pen name.

Hurrah! Excellent news--historical accuracy restored!

But, I must admit, I'm having difficulty giving up the idea of a time-traveling etiquette maven. This is a book I suddenly need in my life. Desperately.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on May 20, 2022, 03:53:19 PM
Quote from: glendower on May 20, 2022, 07:31:20 AM
If you consult Judith Martin's first Miss Manners book, you will see that she cites that leaving-food custom as the reason for choosing her pen name.

Soooo...does mean that Judith Martin was something of a chow hound?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: onthefringe on May 20, 2022, 04:21:55 PM
Quote from: ergative on May 20, 2022, 03:21:01 PM
Quote from: glendower on May 20, 2022, 07:31:20 AM
If you consult Judith Martin's first Miss Manners book, you will see that she cites that leaving-food custom as the reason for choosing her pen name.

Hurrah! Excellent news--historical accuracy restored!

But, I must admit, I'm having difficulty giving up the idea of a time-traveling etiquette maven. This is a book I suddenly need in my life. Desperately.

Great example of what Jo Walton calls the Tiffany problem (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/RealityIsUnrealistic/Literature) using the example that Tiffany is a legitimate medieval name (a variant of Theophania) that you could never get away with using in historical fiction.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on May 21, 2022, 06:17:25 AM
Quote from: onthefringe on May 20, 2022, 04:21:55 PM
Quote from: ergative on May 20, 2022, 03:21:01 PM
Quote from: glendower on May 20, 2022, 07:31:20 AM
If you consult Judith Martin's first Miss Manners book, you will see that she cites that leaving-food custom as the reason for choosing her pen name.

Hurrah! Excellent news--historical accuracy restored!

But, I must admit, I'm having difficulty giving up the idea of a time-traveling etiquette maven. This is a book I suddenly need in my life. Desperately.

Great example of what Jo Walton calls the Tiffany problem (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/RealityIsUnrealistic/Literature) using the example that Tiffany is a legitimate medieval name (a variant of Theophania) that you could never get away with using in historical fiction.

I didn't know that!

Re names from earlier eras--I've noticed that writers of westerns have long tended to exaggerate the prevalence of obscure biblical names and other archaic-sounding names in 19th-century America.  Actually from what I've seen in Civil War muster records there were probably half a dozen simple Toms and Bills and Johns for every Azariah or Ephraim.  The odd-to-us names were a thing back then, but western writers' tendency to latch onto them as a shorthand for establishing period detail makes them sound more common than they really were.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 21, 2022, 06:47:46 AM
Yes, that practice was 2 centuries earlier (East coast/US and some UK gravestones have several examples) in the more immediate post-Reformation era, not later.

However, Catherine Marshall's book on her teaching work in the Appalachians* in the 1940s-50s notes the prevalence of Elizabethan names like "Fairlight," persisting into the early decades of the 20th c., along with speech patterned judged by some to have been practically Shakespearean...the area was that isolated.

M.

*I'll have to look it up, it escapes me at the moment...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on May 21, 2022, 07:04:29 AM
Quote from: mamselle on May 21, 2022, 06:47:46 AM
Yes, that practice was 2 centuries earlier (East coast/US and some UK gravestones have several examples) in the more immediate post-Reformation era, not later.

However, Catherine Marshall's book on her teaching work in the Appalachians* in the 1940s-50s notes the prevalence of Elizabethan names like "Fairlight," persisting into the early decades of the 20th c., along with speech patterned judged by some to have been practically Shakespearean...the area was that isolated.

M.

*I'll have to look it up, it escapes me at the moment...

I remember that book! Read it when I was a kid. I so wanted to grow up and star as her in the movie and cast Shaun Cassidy as David.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: glendower on May 21, 2022, 10:03:04 AM
Quote from: ergative on May 20, 2022, 03:21:01 PM
Quote from: glendower on May 20, 2022, 07:31:20 AM
If you consult Judith Martin's first Miss Manners book, you will see that she cites that leaving-food custom as the reason for choosing her pen name.

Hurrah! Excellent news--historical accuracy restored!

But, I must admit, I'm having difficulty giving up the idea of a time-traveling etiquette maven. This is a book I suddenly need in my life. Desperately.

I want to read that too! A bit like the Chrestomanci books, maybe? If someone says "Miss Manners, Miss Manners, Miss Manners," she comes whooshing in to save the situation!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 26, 2022, 05:08:47 PM
My remaining grandmother made it to 100 today.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on May 26, 2022, 05:18:18 PM
Wow.

Did she get a card from the White House?

What are her most memorable stories?

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on May 26, 2022, 08:00:23 PM
Quote from: mamselle on May 26, 2022, 05:18:18 PM
Wow.

Did she get a card from the White House?

What are her most memorable stories?

M.

Canada, so nope. You can request a letter from the Queen, though.

She was a mean one before she started doddering, however, and I seldom saw her, so I'm afraid that all I remember are the cutting things she's said to or about my father and my siblings (never me, though).

My other grandmother was a saint, though. I lived with her, in fact. So plenty of memorable stories there!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 23, 2022, 04:38:13 PM
A very important item I only just discovered:

Wilkinson, D., Nisbet, E., & Ruxton, G. (2012). Could methane produced by sauropod dinosaurs have helped drive Mesozoic climate warmth? Current Biology, 22 (9), R292–R293.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 23, 2022, 04:45:06 PM
It was all your fault, Para...

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on June 23, 2022, 04:58:11 PM
Quote from: mamselle on June 23, 2022, 04:45:06 PM
It was all your fault, Para...

M.

Amma ornithopod, not a sauropod! My contributions are more modest!

(Judging from his contributions, however, the hatchling may well be a sauropod.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on June 24, 2022, 06:55:41 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 23, 2022, 04:38:13 PM
A very important item I only just discovered:

Wilkinson, D., Nisbet, E., & Ruxton, G. (2012). Could methane produced by sauropod dinosaurs have helped drive Mesozoic climate warmth? Current Biology, 22 (9), R292–R293.

Same old song--blame the reptiles.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on June 26, 2022, 07:52:52 PM
This
QuoteRudy Giuliani heckled, slapped on back while campaigning with son on Staten Island
is probably behind a paywall, so here's the article.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-rudy-giuliani-slapped-staten-island-20220626-d5452ntmbrbohp6xfo73mixu4u-story.html

Quote
Rudy Giuliani was heckled and slapped on the back in a Staten Island grocery store Sunday while campaigning with his son ahead of Tuesday's gubernatorial primaries, police sources said.

The former mayor — who has been traveling across the state to help promote his son to voters ahead of the GOP primary — accompanied Andrew Giuliani, 36, through the five boroughs Sunday, the sources said.

At a stop at a ShopRite location in the Charleston section of Staten Island, sources said a 39-year-old employee approached Giuliani from behind, slapped him on the back and said, "What's up, scumbag?"

Guiliani was not injured and the employee was taken into custody at the store, cops said.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Antiphon1 on June 26, 2022, 08:15:37 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on June 26, 2022, 07:52:52 PM
This
QuoteRudy Giuliani heckled, slapped on back while campaigning with son on Staten Island
is probably behind a paywall, so here's the article.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-rudy-giuliani-slapped-staten-island-20220626-d5452ntmbrbohp6xfo73mixu4u-story.html

Quote
Rudy Giuliani was heckled and slapped on the back in a Staten Island grocery store Sunday while campaigning with his son ahead of Tuesday's gubernatorial primaries, police sources said.

The former mayor — who has been traveling across the state to help promote his son to voters ahead of the GOP primary — accompanied Andrew Giuliani, 36, through the five boroughs Sunday, the sources said.

At a stop at a ShopRite location in the Charleston section of Staten Island, sources said a 39-year-old employee approached Giuliani from behind, slapped him on the back and said, "What's up, scumbag?"

Guiliani was not injured and the employee was taken into custody at the store, cops said.

Damn. I thought the incident was a in front of a landscaping company's offices and next door to a porn shop.  Works better with the scumbag designation. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: onthefringe on June 27, 2022, 12:36:03 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on June 26, 2022, 07:52:52 PM
This
QuoteRudy Giuliani heckled, slapped on back while campaigning with son on Staten Island
is probably behind a paywall, so here's the article.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-rudy-giuliani-slapped-staten-island-20220626-d5452ntmbrbohp6xfo73mixu4u-story.html

Quote
Rudy Giuliani was heckled and slapped on the back in a Staten Island grocery store Sunday while campaigning with his son ahead of Tuesday's gubernatorial primaries, police sources said.

The former mayor — who has been traveling across the state to help promote his son to voters ahead of the GOP primary — accompanied Andrew Giuliani, 36, through the five boroughs Sunday, the sources said.

At a stop at a ShopRite location in the Charleston section of Staten Island, sources said a 39-year-old employee approached Giuliani from behind, slapped him on the back and said, "What's up, scumbag?"

Guiliani was not injured and the employee was taken into custody at the store, cops said.

While acknowledging that legal definitions of assault may apply, describing this (https://twitter.com/BNNBreaking/status/1541205110784593920) as as a slap or attack seems a mite excessive. One assumes that when Giuliani said "I got hit as if a boulder hit me," he was unaware the exchange was on video?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on June 27, 2022, 02:18:29 PM
Trust Giuliani to exaggerate what clearly looks like a slap. The "What's up scumbag?" line is a classic.

Charges have been downgraded https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-giuliani-assault-arraignment-charged-downgraded-supermarket-worker-20220627-sieb7c6nqjhuje76zzug5yleky-story.html

Quote
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani says the slap he received from a pro-choice supermarket worker shows New York City has turned into the "Wild, Wild West" — but the charges against his assailant have been downgraded, with the suspect's lawyer describing the 'assault' as more like a tap.

"He hit me to knock me down," the 78-year-old Giuliani said Monday of suspect James Gill. "If that doesn't merit jail time in New York, we're in the Wild, Wild West."

Giuliani stressed that he could have fallen and died, adding that an elderly uncle died from a fall.

"I got hit on the back as if a boulder hit me,"Giuliani claimed. "It hurt tremendously. I did not know what it was. I had no idea what it was. And all of a sudden I heard someone yell something at me, dirty curse words and some more dirty curse words as he retreated, ran away. Then he turned around and said I was a woman-killer."

But Daniel Gill's lawyer Susan Platis told a judge in Staten Island Criminal Court the slap "appears to be a tap on the back" and that the only threat came afterwards when someone with Giuliani followed Gill, poked him in the chest and threatened him.

Gill, who at 39 is half Giuliani's age, was initially charged by police with felony assault because the victim is older than 65.

But the Staten Island District Attorney's office decided instead on misdemeanor assault plus two other misdemeanors, for menacing and harassment.

The former mayor was campaigning with his son Andrew, a Republican candidate for governor, when he used the bathroom in a ShopRite in the Charleston section of Staten Island Sunday. That's when Gill struck the elder Giuliani across the back and allegedly said "What's up, scumbag?"

Gill told Giuliani his pro-life stance kills women, an apparent reference to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade.

"He kept cursing, he wouldn't stop," Giuliani said. "He kept menacing and threatening me. So I said let's get him arrested, let's make an example out of him because this is going on too much all around the country."

[photo here]

Assistant District Attorney Darren Albanese said Giuliani complained of "substantial pain" in his back, "took a step forward losing his balance" and might need to see a doctor.

Albanese questioned, given he accosted the former mayor in front of many witnesses, if Gill "would use the good judgement required to return to court when told to do so by the court."

But Gill's lawyer noted Gill has no prior arrests and argued he should not be subject even to supervised released.

Plus, she said, video of the encounter "is actually not helpful to the prosecution."

"I think it actually shows a tap on the back, which is not criminal conduct," Platis said in court. "There's no intent here to harm anyone. [Giuliani] may have been surprised and stunned being touched in the back...but he's a public figure, your honor. Being spoken to and things being said to him should be of no surprise and should be anticipated."

Judge Gerianne Abriano released Gill without bail but issued an order of protection prohibiting Gill from going near the former federal prosecutor.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on June 27, 2022, 02:24:56 PM
Quote from: onthefringe on June 27, 2022, 12:36:03 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on June 26, 2022, 07:52:52 PM
This
QuoteRudy Giuliani heckled, slapped on back while campaigning with son on Staten Island
is probably behind a paywall, so here's the article.
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-rudy-giuliani-slapped-staten-island-20220626-d5452ntmbrbohp6xfo73mixu4u-story.html

Quote
Rudy Giuliani was heckled and slapped on the back in a Staten Island grocery store Sunday while campaigning with his son ahead of Tuesday's gubernatorial primaries, police sources said.

The former mayor — who has been traveling across the state to help promote his son to voters ahead of the GOP primary — accompanied Andrew Giuliani, 36, through the five boroughs Sunday, the sources said.

At a stop at a ShopRite location in the Charleston section of Staten Island, sources said a 39-year-old employee approached Giuliani from behind, slapped him on the back and said, "What's up, scumbag?"

Guiliani was not injured and the employee was taken into custody at the store, cops said.

While acknowledging that legal definitions of assault may apply, describing this (https://twitter.com/BNNBreaking/status/1541205110784593920) as as a slap or attack seems a mite excessive. One assumes that when Giuliani said "I got hit as if a boulder hit me," he was unaware the exchange was on video?

Rock on!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on June 30, 2022, 05:09:26 AM
I absently clicked 'like' on some pictures of beautiful home libraries on instagram, and now the algorithm has decided to sprinkle my feed--hitherto ruthlessly trained to show me only calligraphy and Islamic geometric art---with lots and lots of pictures of beautiful home-libraries and other book-adjacent pictures. I can't say I'm upset at this adjustment.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on June 30, 2022, 09:49:39 AM
Several years back, on the old Fora, a poster broached a sensitive subject that resulted in the poster being subjected to the ugliest pile-on I've ever personally witnessed on a message board.  I felt like I should say something at the time, but did not for fear of being piled-upon myself.  I've since regretted not having the courage of my convictions at that time.  In recent days the subject has been raised at the Fora again.  This time I've decided not to let myself be intimidated into silence.

I am unapologetically pro-life.  It is not because I have ambitions to police anybody's bodies, affirm tribal loyalties, usher in a theocracy, etc.  I am pro-life because I believe that ALL human lives are created in the image of God, and are therefore sacred.  Their right to live does not begin at birth.  There is no way that I can in good conscience support public policies that do not recognize this right to live.

I'm not much of a fan of the current Supreme Court, which seems in most recent rulings to be guided by a concern for big business interests.  I also know that overturning a longstanding court precedent is a grave matter.  But sometimes we have a precedent--Plessy v. Ferguson comes to mind--that never should have been made in the first place.

That a majority of our nation's citizens now seem in polls to have no regard for the lives of infants who have not had a chance to draw even a single breath seems to me in a league with terrorism, the Ukraine war, gun violence, etc. as evidence of the fundamental sinfulness and lostness of humanity.  ALL of us have clearly sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  All of us deserve God's punishment for making a society in which such things happen.  This is why Jesus had to come to serve as a sacrifice in our place.  This is why only following Jesus can save us, instead of us somehow saving ourselves.  Jesus died to give us ALL a chance at being redeemed from this world, if we will take it.

This is why I am pro-life.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on June 30, 2022, 10:52:10 AM
I do disagree with your conclusions but I respect your right to make them as you see fit and I understand and agree with the underlying tenets that have led you there.

You have respectfully and clearly articulated your determinations, and that in turn deserves respect.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on August 29, 2022, 07:36:26 AM
Awhile back we received a book donation that included an old high school literature textbook from the 1960s.  I've always liked leafing through reading anthologies like that, so I took it home for the weekend.  It was from far enough back that it had the names of students to whom it was issued each year in the front.

The last student had evidently felt free to write in it.  Some of the writing looked like study notes.  There were also a lot of names and notes that looked like the sort of thing you might find in a high school yearbook.  The student had written dozens of declarations of love for her boyfriend throughout the book.  There were names of fellow schoolgirls, and their boyfriends.  There was a date from early 1970, with the observation that graduation would be in only a few months.

Then I saw the name of a classmate who appeared several times with a note that she had died on a certain date in the spring of 1970.  Another note elsewhere said that she had died in a car crash.  Another time her name appeared with the words "I'm sorry."

Since I've only lived in this county since the 2000s, I don't have the deep local knowledge of somebody who grew up here and stayed here.  I did some checking with those who do.  It turns out the the deceased student did indeed die in a car accident in 1970.  It took place on the outskirts of town, a short way from where I now live.  I've bicycled by the spot countless times.  There's a hairpin turn there that would have had a gravel surface back then.  The student reportedly had a pretty fancy car.  Evidently she liked seeing what it could do.  And as so often happens, a young life ended before it could get fully under way.

I also learned that the owner of the textbook was still alive and living locally.  She has a different surname now, but the given name was pretty distinctive.  I asked the library staff to get in touch with her and see whether she wanted the book.  She did.  Evidently it used to be pretty common for local students to turn old textbooks that they knew they wouldn't have to turn back in into memory books.

It's amazing how many stories there are all around us.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on October 10, 2022, 10:29:16 AM
Some months ago I mentioned a fellow church member with a seriously ill young daughter who became so overcome with emotion that she couldn't sing while singing in front of everybody on Sunday morning.  The congregation sang with her.  This weekend I saw her sing the same song in public at our local festival.  She also sang at church this Sunday.  Her daughter, after a lot more trouble, has been doing better recently.  It has all been good to see.

If I'd known she was to sing in church yesterday, I think I might have sat farther back than usual.  She is a pro-quality singer, with a fantastically powerful voice!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 11, 2022, 07:35:40 PM
I did not need to eat any of those cookies, but I did eat them all.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 12, 2022, 05:20:24 AM
Not even one to the hatchling?

(Or are they not yet at the cookie-snarfing stage?)

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 12, 2022, 07:08:42 AM
They are forbidden to him. Which is just as well, since now there are none.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on October 12, 2022, 10:36:30 AM
We had a small earthquake here late last night:
https://wtop.com/maryland/2022/10/small-earthquake-rumbles-parts-of-central-maryland/ (https://wtop.com/maryland/2022/10/small-earthquake-rumbles-parts-of-central-maryland/)

Here's a historical perspective on earthquakes in Maryland:
https://wtop.com/maryland/2022/10/marylands-extensive-earthquake-history/ (https://wtop.com/maryland/2022/10/marylands-extensive-earthquake-history/)
Posted on WTOP Radio 10/12/22
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on October 17, 2022, 01:38:12 PM
A postcard came from the "Washington Post" informing home delivery subscribers that the print editions will be delivered by postal couriers. Sunday editions will be delivered on Monday. The new delivery change will start next Monday (10/24). Currently locally based contractors are doing the job.
At the library, we get the newspapers in the book drop in the morning. If the newspaper courier guy comes inside to hand the bundle of papers directly to us at the reference desk, we know he's running behind. However it's been awhile since we've seen him come.
*Sigh*
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on October 24, 2022, 06:44:17 AM
Just got email and phone alerts:  one of our campuses (not mine) is on shelter-in-place lockdown.  (NOT a drill.) 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on October 24, 2022, 07:04:37 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on October 24, 2022, 06:44:17 AM
Just got email and phone alerts:  one of our campuses (not mine) is on shelter-in-place lockdown.  (NOT a drill.)

In Canada, we don't have those drills. We just have fire drills.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on October 24, 2022, 07:58:02 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on October 24, 2022, 06:44:17 AM
Just got email and phone alerts:  one of our campuses (not mine) is on shelter-in-place lockdown.  (NOT a drill.)

Yikes. Sorry to hear that.

Be safe.

M.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on October 30, 2022, 01:35:39 PM
Already?!
https://wtop.com/health-fitness/2022/10/soon-youll-turn-back-your-clocks-how-to-help-your-kids-adjust/ (https://wtop.com/health-fitness/2022/10/soon-youll-turn-back-your-clocks-how-to-help-your-kids-adjust/)
Guess I'll be posting a sign for my coworkers at the library.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 07, 2022, 08:11:51 AM
Local radio station announced it'll be playing Christmas music starting this Friday evening (11/12) as I was driving to the library this morning.  I howled like Kevin in the 1st "Home Alone" movie--I wanna get through Thanksgiving!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 18, 2022, 07:21:10 AM
Now and then my mother keeps me up with people she used to know while teaching.  Among them was a woman whose husband was diagnosed several years ago with a severe aneurysm in his aorta.  At one point they looked at performing some major, high-risk surgery.  Then they decided he wouldn't survive it.  Then they essentially sent him home to die.

A year and a half later, he was both still alive and doing a good deal better.  He contacted his heart doctor.  The doctor was shocked to learn that he still lived.  He persuaded the doctor to scan his heart.  His aorta no longer shows evidence of having an aneurysm.  They credit divine intervention.  Certainly it was the answer to many prayers.  We don't know why sometimes these are answered and sometimes they aren't.  We're just glad when they are.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on November 18, 2022, 04:26:24 PM
It's the time to play various Holiday turkeys.  Nominate your least favorite.  My Mother's was, "The Little Drummer Boy," as saccharine as a candy cane.  Where's Rudolph when you need him?"


Quote from: hmaria1609 on November 07, 2022, 08:11:51 AM
Local radio station announced it'll be playing Christmas music starting this Friday evening (11/12) as I was driving to the library this morning.  I howled like Kevin in the 1st "Home Alone" movie--I wanna get through Thanksgiving!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 18, 2022, 06:07:36 PM
As a strolling musician in the 70s-90s in Ohio and elsewhere, I had them all memorized, had my vocals worked out, and delighted in playing any one of about 50 on request.

Then, suddenly, I got tired of all of them. I also started working in more interfaith and ecumenical settings in other aspects of my work, and became bothered by the univocal blanketing of the airwaves by one faith perspective in a place where (especially in my second home) many others existed.

I'm Christian, so I also don't object to those undergirded by a well-considered theology or narrative that's consistent with the season overall, but some became outliers to me on those grounds as well.

Now, my favorite is the lovely 13th c. chant, Conditor Alme Sidarum (1st hymn of Advent) "Creator of the Stars of Night," and for jolllity, "Branle L'Officiel," from Arbeau's 1571 dance-tune from《Orchesographie》which was later, in the 19th c., set to to words of "Ding, Dong, Merrily We Sing."

ETA, ...and all the beautiful hymns, classical works, and chants meant to be heard in worship, or that I choose to listen to myself, at those times and places where I am choosing to be present.

Maybe it's just the banal, Muzak imposition on my soundscape that I mind the most.

M.

Now, I
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: cathwen on November 19, 2022, 05:28:32 AM
I make a distinction between secular holiday songs (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc.) and Advent hymns and Christmas carols and hymns.  I don't much care for most of the holiday songs.

My preferences run along the lines of Mamselle's.  "Creator of the Stars at Night" is gorgeous! And I love the Sundays in Advent when we get to sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," among others.

In the church I attended where I used to live, the rector would give his annual diatribe against "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." The idea of having to be good to get presents is, he always claimed, counter to the Christian message: Grace is given freely.



Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: mamselle on November 19, 2022, 08:20:41 AM
Agreed.

Two more favorites to add: Mozart's "Laudate Dominum"

   https://youtu.be/AaEGwph2Qr4

and this series from a concert at Oxford, long ago: (lasts c. an hour)
   
   https://youtu.be/fhXLG5Bwd_8

M.

   
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on December 02, 2022, 02:36:42 PM
For the first time ever, I got an invitation in my email to join the Oxford Round Table.

Clearly, I have finally arrived (far later than others here, but considering I'm just at a CC and ABD, I'm shocked they ever got around to me).

I'm in my 3-year faculty eval cycle this year; I'm tempted to include this in my packet and see if any of The Powers Nimrods That Be would notice it.  My luck, I'd probably be honored at a BoT meeting.  (No, I really don't work with the sharpest crayons in the box.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AvidReader on December 02, 2022, 03:08:09 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on December 02, 2022, 02:36:42 PM
For the first time ever, I got an invitation in my email to join the Oxford Round Table.

Clearly, I have finally arrived (far later than others here, but considering I'm just at a CC and ABD, I'm shocked they ever got around to me).

This is clearly an occasion for celebration! Congratulations!

AR.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on December 02, 2022, 03:23:13 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on December 02, 2022, 02:36:42 PM
For the first time ever, I got an invitation in my email to join the Oxford Round Table.



Wow, congratulations! =D



For my part, I have sourced some children's Tylenol online, so I won't have to ration my remaining stock quite so carefully.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: secundem_artem on December 08, 2022, 02:22:20 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 02, 2022, 03:23:13 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on December 02, 2022, 02:36:42 PM
For the first time ever, I got an invitation in my email to join the Oxford Round Table.



Wow, congratulations! =D



For my part, I have sourced some children's Tylenol online, so I won't have to ration my remaining stock quite so carefully.

Children's Motrin is a very viable alternative and has a longer duration of action than APAP (acetyl para amino phenol) AKA Tylenol.. Assuming that's not sold out too.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: fishbrains on December 14, 2022, 01:24:56 PM
I have the announcement of a major medical breakthrough: The cure for a bad cough? A raging case of the green apple splatters.

Someone please shoot me.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 22, 2022, 10:20:12 AM
Lord, Allah, Osiris, Bastet, Krishna, Visha, Zeus, Hera, Odin, Modjadji, Buddah, Mother Theresa, the current (and past) Pope(s), and all other deities, the Universe, etc.- have mercy on me for this family trip I am about to take. Please let me have the strength to endure the bigotry, weight comments and other bullshit that will come my way!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Dismal on December 22, 2022, 07:50:58 PM
I'm reading the PhD applications that don't mention any faculty the student has an interest in just in case I can think of someone for who this student might be a good fit. Otherwise these apps don't get forwarded to the committee. One mediocre applicant submits a writing sample that is oddly detailed but lacks an intro or conclusion. One search for a particular sentence on google scholar reveals that the entire submission is the middle four pages of a 2020 journal article written by someone on another continent. The whole writing sample was plagiarized.

I wish there were a job where I could get paid well for this skill!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on December 23, 2022, 11:49:08 AM
Quote from: Dismal on December 22, 2022, 07:50:58 PM
I'm reading the PhD applications that don't mention any faculty the student has an interest in just in case I can think of someone for who this student might be a good fit. Otherwise these apps don't get forwarded to the committee. One mediocre applicant submits a writing sample that is oddly detailed but lacks an intro or conclusion. One search for a particular sentence on google scholar reveals that the entire submission is the middle four pages of a 2020 journal article written by someone on another continent. The whole writing sample was plagiarized.

I wish there were a job where I could get paid well for this skill!

But think of your chuckle with the "gotcha!"
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 23, 2022, 11:54:55 AM
Quote from: Juvenal on December 23, 2022, 11:49:08 AM
Quote from: Dismal on December 22, 2022, 07:50:58 PM
I'm reading the PhD applications that don't mention any faculty the student has an interest in just in case I can think of someone for who this student might be a good fit. Otherwise these apps don't get forwarded to the committee. One mediocre applicant submits a writing sample that is oddly detailed but lacks an intro or conclusion. One search for a particular sentence on google scholar reveals that the entire submission is the middle four pages of a 2020 journal article written by someone on another continent. The whole writing sample was plagiarized.

I wish there were a job where I could get paid well for this skill!

But think of your chuckle with the "gotcha!"

Ever think of letting the applicant know? You could say something along the lines of, "I was really impressed with your application until I discovered the blatant plagiarism..."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Dismal on December 23, 2022, 10:16:44 PM
I forwarded it to the Graduate School to see what they will do, but yes, I'll probably send the journal article to the applicant with my observations.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on December 24, 2022, 04:50:21 AM
I once had a prospective student--let's call them Cheat--send me a PhD project proposal that was so good I got in touch to ask for a zoom meeting. But the direct communication with Cheat revealed such appalling English skills that I found myself wondering how Cheat could have written the project proposal. So I googled around. Eventually I found a match at the program for some conference--or, like, some departmental events listing boasting about a student--let's call them Goodkins--presenting at that conference. It was very indirect, but the key point was that Goodkins was presenting a project with the same title and similar description as the proposal that I got offered from Cheat.

Because this wasn't a full program with author contact information, but instead some departmental listing, and because Goodkins did not have a student profile on the department web page, I had to  get in touch with the department admin team at Goodkins's university and ask them to pass along a message. At length, though, I managed to get in touch with the Goodkins's supervisor, and sent her the proposal, and said 'does this look familiar?'

Long story short, Cheat had done a summer program at Goodkins's university, and Goodkins had shared their PhD proposal to help Cheat draft their own. Except Cheat stole it and sent it to me.

Naturally, I informed Cheat that I had no interest in working with someone who had stolen a proposal from another student. Cheat tried to say that they had misunderstood, they were willing to change the proposal, etc. etc., but I stopped responding.

Gosh, I'm still angry about this. Poor Goodkins. I should look up where they are now; it was an excellent proposal, and their advisor is a very well respected person in their field. I hope they're doing well.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Dismal on December 24, 2022, 01:55:04 PM
Oh my!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Dismal on December 24, 2022, 07:03:50 PM
But I still think higher ups in the grad school office should issue some type of Grand Banishment from ever applying to the U and maybe any other U if that were possible. Maybe tell the applicant they are on "a list," like a no fly list but a no apply list.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Dismal on January 10, 2023, 01:22:58 PM
Quote from: Dismal on December 22, 2022, 07:50:58 PM
I'm reading the PhD applications that don't mention any faculty the student has an interest in just in case I can think of someone for who this student might be a good fit. Otherwise these apps don't get forwarded to the committee. One mediocre applicant submits a writing sample that is oddly detailed but lacks an intro or conclusion. One search for a particular sentence on google scholar reveals that the entire submission is the middle four pages of a 2020 journal article written by someone on another continent. The whole writing sample was plagiarized.

I wish there were a job where I could get paid well for this skill!

Unpleasant update on this PhD applicant plagiarism issue.
The graduate school office sought the advice of the University's legal team and the advice to our program was to just reject the student but not say why. They don't want to get involved since the applicant is not a current student.  Attorneys, you are very weak.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on January 11, 2023, 04:58:05 AM
Quote from: Dismal on January 10, 2023, 01:22:58 PM
Quote from: Dismal on December 22, 2022, 07:50:58 PM
I'm reading the PhD applications that don't mention any faculty the student has an interest in just in case I can think of someone for who this student might be a good fit. Otherwise these apps don't get forwarded to the committee. One mediocre applicant submits a writing sample that is oddly detailed but lacks an intro or conclusion. One search for a particular sentence on google scholar reveals that the entire submission is the middle four pages of a 2020 journal article written by someone on another continent. The whole writing sample was plagiarized.

I wish there were a job where I could get paid well for this skill!

Unpleasant update on this PhD applicant plagiarism issue.
The graduate school office sought the advice of the University's legal team and the advice to our program was to just reject the student but not say why. They don't want to get involved since the applicant is not a current student.  Attorneys, you are very weak.

However, it also doesn't tip off the student that the plagiarism was detected, so they can't get smart and try to hide it better next time.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on January 12, 2023, 12:19:22 PM
Unrelated.

You are a real tool.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 14, 2023, 07:42:07 AM
Amazon, you really blew it with that book order we made that you let disappear and pretended never happened.  We had ordered that book at the request of a new patron.  Now we've finally got it in, on a re-order, two months or so late.  The patron's furious at us for letting him down.  You're making us look bad.  This is just one reason why we use a wholesaler instead of you whenever we possibly can.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: sinenomine on January 26, 2023, 02:18:53 PM
The (small) town where I live has one traffic light, and it's solar-powered. We've been socked in with heavy clouds for a couple weeks, so it's been a long time since the light has worked. There's a possibility of a few hours of sun tomorrow. It'll be an exciting moment when the light illuminates.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on March 20, 2023, 12:54:58 PM
If you buy a house abandoned by a hoarder, and while cleaning it out find a dozen boxes filled with ancient, filthy, damp abandoned books, there's really no need to bring all that by the library first before dumping it.  While we appreciate people letting us go through batches of donations, surely common sense would suggest that material in that condition doesn't meet anybody's minimum standards.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 20, 2023, 03:40:36 PM
A very short hair has made its way under a fingernail. Ouch. Extraction is proving difficult.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on March 30, 2023, 04:57:47 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-america-anandi-joshi-came-081535481.html

Scroll down to see the photograph, dated October 10, 1885, of the three women doctors from India, Japan, and Syria who got their medical degrees from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on March 31, 2023, 08:24:17 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on March 30, 2023, 04:57:47 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-america-anandi-joshi-came-081535481.html

Scroll down to see the photograph, dated October 10, 1885, of the three women doctors from India, Japan, and Syria who got their medical degrees from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Of note, there's a PBS documentary titled "Daring Women Doctors: Physicians in the 19th Century" on Kanopy. The international students at the Women's Medical College of PA are mentioned.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ergative on April 01, 2023, 02:53:14 AM
I bought a used coffee table from the local facebook marketplace equivalent, and I love it with all my heart. It seems to me that, except for things with upholstery, the best furniture is the used stuff.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on April 01, 2023, 06:51:03 AM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on March 31, 2023, 08:24:17 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on March 30, 2023, 04:57:47 AM
https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-america-anandi-joshi-came-081535481.html

Scroll down to see the photograph, dated October 10, 1885, of the three women doctors from India, Japan, and Syria who got their medical degrees from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Of note, there's a PBS documentary titled "Daring Women Doctors: Physicians in the 19th Century" on Kanopy. The international students at the Women's Medical College of PA are mentioned.

Thanks for the info, hmaria!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on April 15, 2023, 02:12:57 PM
Y'know, I'm kinda tired. Globally, like.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 30, 2023, 08:06:48 AM
Everyone in the house now his his/her own heating pad, well, except for one of the cats. Elder evil cat has his own pad and I think he really likes it!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: sinenomine on May 01, 2023, 07:43:00 AM
One student didn't show up for the final -- on the last day of exams, with grades due tomorrow. I really wanted to submit them today, but now I'm waiting on a response to my outreach.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: onthefringe on May 01, 2023, 08:54:27 AM
Quote from: sinenomine on May 01, 2023, 07:43:00 AM
One student didn't show up for the final -- on the last day of exams, with grades due tomorrow. I really wanted to submit them today, but now I'm waiting on a response to my outreach.

Can you do partial submissions? If not, I would probably do an incomplete in this case on the off chance the student was hopitalized/in jail/anducted by aliens. But I know not all places give that option...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: sinenomine on May 01, 2023, 12:43:25 PM
Quote from: onthefringe on May 01, 2023, 08:54:27 AM
Quote from: sinenomine on May 01, 2023, 07:43:00 AM
One student didn't show up for the final -- on the last day of exams, with grades due tomorrow. I really wanted to submit them today, but now I'm waiting on a response to my outreach.

Can you do partial submissions? If not, I would probably do an incomplete in this case on the off chance the student was hopitalized/in jail/anducted by aliens. But I know not all places give that option...

Students need to sign off on requests for Incompletes. If I don't hear from him by tomorrow, I'll post the grade and he can appeal.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on May 05, 2023, 08:08:54 PM
Psst. Tomorrow's 'Free Comic Book Day.'

https://www.freecomicbookday.com/ (https://www.freecomicbookday.com/)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: sinenomine on May 08, 2023, 03:58:50 AM
I'm really tired from a long weekend of Commencement and personal obligations, and now I have to go to a mandatory, 8 hour long meeting, followed by a pretty much mandatory social event on campus. What I really want to do is zonk out on the couch.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on May 08, 2023, 10:36:15 AM
That stinks, Sinenomine.  I think the last truly useful 8-hour meetings I went to were our new faculty orientation week, way back in 2004--and even those weren't all truly necessary to be full-day meetings. The whole week could probably just as well have been cleaned up and condensed into 2.5-3 days.

Wishing you the endurance to get through the day, and then get some rest!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Antiphon1 on May 08, 2023, 01:09:58 PM
Why in the world admin thinks meetings/professional development after the semester is either necessary or productive escapes me.  Hang in there, sinenomine.  This too will pass. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on May 11, 2023, 07:14:00 AM
In response to a challenge to tell a novel-type story in the form of a haiku:

Once again the leaves
Fall on the rows of white stones
Bearing soldiers' names
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Scout on May 11, 2023, 12:31:47 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on May 08, 2023, 10:36:15 AM
That stinks, Sinenomine.  I think the last truly useful 8-hour meetings I went to were our new faculty orientation week, way back in 2004--and even those weren't all truly necessary to be full-day meetings. The whole week could probably just as well have been cleaned up and condensed into 2.5-3 days.

Wishing you the endurance to get through the day, and then get some rest!

I'm an admin and that would have been a hard "no" and veto from me (and my other academic deans). A very hard "no".
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: sinenomine on May 11, 2023, 01:42:09 PM
Quote from: Scout on May 11, 2023, 12:31:47 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on May 08, 2023, 10:36:15 AM
That stinks, Sinenomine.  I think the last truly useful 8-hour meetings I went to were our new faculty orientation week, way back in 2004--and even those weren't all truly necessary to be full-day meetings. The whole week could probably just as well have been cleaned up and condensed into 2.5-3 days.

Wishing you the endurance to get through the day, and then get some rest!

I'm an admin and that would have been a hard "no" and veto from me (and my other academic deans). A very hard "no".

I'm a dean, and my dean colleagues and I argued up one side and down the other against the grueling schedule of meetings this week, to no avail. But the good news is, we're finished now — time to pour myself an adult beverage and recharge.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Antiphon1 on May 11, 2023, 01:44:39 PM
Quote from: sinenomine on May 11, 2023, 01:42:09 PM
Quote from: Scout on May 11, 2023, 12:31:47 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on May 08, 2023, 10:36:15 AM
That stinks, Sinenomine.  I think the last truly useful 8-hour meetings I went to were our new faculty orientation week, way back in 2004--and even those weren't all truly necessary to be full-day meetings. The whole week could probably just as well have been cleaned up and condensed into 2.5-3 days.

Wishing you the endurance to get through the day, and then get some rest!

I'm an admin and that would have been a hard "no" and veto from me (and my other academic deans). A very hard "no".

I raises my glass to you.  It's that time here, too. 

I'm a dean, and my dean colleagues and I argued up one side and down the other against the grueling schedule of meetings this week, to no avail. But the good news is, we're finished now — time to pour myself an adult beverage and recharge.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on July 25, 2023, 02:09:22 PM
Has anyone ever used a measuring app? I decided to try one when measuring my countertop today.  I used my measuring tape first and then used the Measure app that has apparently been on my iPhone this whole time.  I think I am sold on the app! Very easy to use (at least for a rectangular space, and I only did line by line).  I saw something like this on the home selling site that a friend was using.  You can virtually measure items or areas of the house.  I thought that was so neat but never considered that there could be such a thing available for phones, let alone already on the phone.  I am probably more excited about the ability to measure anything anywhere than I should be.  Being a spatially challenged person, though, this could be very helpful.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on July 26, 2023, 02:47:18 PM
My partner got a job at my rinkydink institution today. This is good news! Except that we're now both at RinkdinkU's mercy, of course.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: onthefringe on July 26, 2023, 03:31:59 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on July 26, 2023, 02:47:18 PMMy partner got a job at my rinkydink institution today. This is good news! Except that we're now both at RinkdinkU's mercy, of course.

Yay!!! And Hmmm...

However you feel, I feel that way for you!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: sinenomine on August 04, 2023, 05:45:09 AM
Today I choose to believe in horoscopes, because mine says to take a mental health day and relax.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 05, 2023, 09:25:47 AM
Hokule'a moored here overnight, so we got to see it cast off in the morning. That was fun.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on August 18, 2023, 08:02:47 PM
Well, my share of the moving is done (since I'm out of time) and my mum is almost entirely moved out. Whew!

I also managed to grade one set of exams today. So I have three days to do one more, and two classes' worth of essays.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Antiphon1 on August 26, 2023, 03:03:42 PM
As a matter of fact, no, I don't miss the old work place.  Why?  Where to start?  The very abridged answer is pay and respect would have gone a long way to soothing my dissatisfaction.  So you monkeys keep doing you, and I'll pay my respects in my rearview mirror.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on August 27, 2023, 05:56:07 AM
Good for you, Antiphon! Enjoy your new place!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on August 28, 2023, 08:01:52 AM
I didn't want to resurrect the Covid thread, so here's the information on the uptick in Covid cases. Last week I was surprised to see that most of the employees at the MET were wearing masks. The website also strongly recommended that visitors be masked as well.

In the NYT a week ago, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/22/nyregion/covid-nyc-explainer.html?searchResultPosition=1

QuoteWhat to Know About the Latest Covid Wave in New York City
Is the city in another Covid wave? Where can you get a test? Should you be wearing a mask? And what if you end up sick?

QuoteThis summer has seen a rise in cases, but it has not been as bad as the previous two summers.

New coronavirus cases have been steadily rising since July, according to data from the New York City Health Department. The seven-day average of total cases, which includes confirmed and probable cases, was 672 on Aug. 14, compared to 289 on May 16.

Hospitalizations in the city have remained relatively low, however. About 40 people on average were hospitalized with Covid each day in mid-August, and more than 400 people were in the hospital with Covid at that point. Deaths have also remained relatively low, at about one a day, on average.

In today's NYT, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/28/us/covid-cases-hospitalizations.html
QuoteNot Over Yet: Late-Summer Covid Wave Brings Warning of More to Come
Hospitalizations are still low but are on the rise in recent weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Morden on August 30, 2023, 03:05:12 PM
Well, that's depressing. I think Covid is with us forever. In other, and not completely unrelated, news, I have retired.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on August 30, 2023, 05:30:33 PM
There's a blue super moon tonight! The peak will be at 9:36pm Eastern time (East Coast U.S.).
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on August 31, 2023, 09:22:34 AM
I already have 4 students out sick:  one with Influenza B (per the lab report she sent me, despite my requests not to send them); one with strep; one with Covid; and one in the hospital with pneumonia.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on August 31, 2023, 04:36:54 PM
Expect extra company if you're heading out for the Labor Day weekend:
https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2023/08/travelers-hoping-to-enjoy-one-last-summer-fling-over-labor-day-weekend-should-expect-lots-of-company/ (https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2023/08/travelers-hoping-to-enjoy-one-last-summer-fling-over-labor-day-weekend-should-expect-lots-of-company/)
Posted on WTOP online 8/31/23
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on August 31, 2023, 05:47:13 PM
Just came home from a faculty bazar for new grad students choosing rotations to hear short talks from labs across all the life science departments. Bless all my colleagues who I'm sure are talented scientists, but boy oh boy do cell and molecular biology and biochemistry seem to select for folks who would much rather look at stuff on their lab bench than talk to other humans. Apparently I hadn't quite realized how much psychology selects for people who are interested in people ;-)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Antiphon1 on September 01, 2023, 07:24:23 PM
Quote from: AmLitHist on August 27, 2023, 05:56:07 AMGood for you, Antiphon! Enjoy your new place!

Thanks!  This change was the best (if a bit impetuous) decision I've made in a while.  And involves a significant raise.  Score.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on September 05, 2023, 09:10:06 AM
For the last week my morning weight has been the Exact. Same. Number. Every day!

No, the scale isn't broken because I check it in the afternoons and it does show different numbers.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Juvenal on September 05, 2023, 09:40:02 AM
Quote from: ciao_yall on September 05, 2023, 09:10:06 AMFor the last week my morning weight has been the Exact. Same. Number. Every day!

No, the scale isn't broken because I check it in the afternoons and it does show different numbers.
Mine has done that for years.  It's always exactly the same: less than one metric ton.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 05, 2023, 09:45:24 PM
Quote from: Juvenal on September 05, 2023, 09:40:02 AM
Quote from: ciao_yall on September 05, 2023, 09:10:06 AMFor the last week my morning weight has been the Exact. Same. Number. Every day!

No, the scale isn't broken because I check it in the afternoons and it does show different numbers.
Mine has done that for years.  It's always exactly the same: less than one metric ton.

Do you even lift?
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: RatGuy on September 06, 2023, 06:10:27 AM
Speaking of rabbits (on a different thread), I've learned that a very chonky cottontail has taken up residence in my backyard. Is it the same one who used to live in my frontyard? Maybe. But I'm still going to call them Daisy.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on September 09, 2023, 08:07:45 PM
Apple released a significant security update on Thursday:
https://wtop.com/national/2023/09/update-your-iphone-apple-just-pushed-out-a-significant-security-update/ (https://wtop.com/national/2023/09/update-your-iphone-apple-just-pushed-out-a-significant-security-update/)
Posted on WTOP 9/8/23.
When I checked the Apple Watch app on my iPhone, there was a security update for it too.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on September 11, 2023, 09:32:45 AM
I thought I lost a favorite earring. Turns out it was tangled up in a necklace with similar stones.

Hope this is an omen for a good day!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on September 11, 2023, 01:45:15 PM
Into the newsroom: Updated covid vaccines have been approved
https://wtop.com/national/2023/09/us-approves-updated-covid-vaccines-to-rev-up-protection-this-fall/ (https://wtop.com/national/2023/09/us-approves-updated-covid-vaccines-to-rev-up-protection-this-fall/)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on September 27, 2023, 09:11:42 PM
The sales figures are in, and my book has netted me $232 USD!

My author's copies appear to account for 11% of the copies currently in circulation. =P
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on September 28, 2023, 07:14:01 AM
Congratulations, Para!  By academic publishing standards, that's probably not bad.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 12, 2023, 10:16:34 PM
Every once in a while I check the internet for a book I want very much, but which is very out of print and just never around. Today I happened to check, and saw two copies! One for $125, and one for... $25!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on October 24, 2023, 10:43:52 AM
That feeling when you finally track down a historical document which should have been easy to find online but is actually kind of impossible.

VICTORY!


(It didn't take very long in the scheme of things, but it did take hours. And really, it's the sort of thing I should have been able to find in ten minutes max. Basically, something in the Is got shuffled in after the Js.)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on October 24, 2023, 12:29:53 PM
Any librarian can understand your feeling of triumph, Para.  Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on November 10, 2023, 05:15:03 PM
In my spam folder:
From: Mrs Aishia Al gaddafi
Subject line: HI beloved One, i need your assistance,

So many liberties with capitalization and punctuation!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 13, 2023, 03:06:29 PM
To some neighbors: Couldn't wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas?!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 13, 2023, 05:10:58 PM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on November 13, 2023, 03:06:29 PMTo some neighbors: Couldn't wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas?!

Same here!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on November 14, 2023, 01:52:25 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 13, 2023, 05:10:58 PM
Quote from: hmaria1609 on November 13, 2023, 03:06:29 PMTo some neighbors: Couldn't wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas?!

Same here!

I thought that this morning when I saw that the city has begun putting up decorations on Main Street.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: RatGuy on November 16, 2023, 08:10:34 AM
I wish I could say "blow your damned nose."
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Antiphon1 on November 18, 2023, 12:36:21 PM
To my generally pleasant but clueless neighbors - Either corral the yard apes or have the hard conversation. My boys were generally stains on good behavior certificates ergo I have long and deep experience with miscreants.  If it couldn't be smashed, enflamed, or exploded, those three savages weren't interested.  Just because the schools have temporarily released your feral children into the wild for a week doesn't mean you have permission to go 1950s housewife.  I don't have time to village up and look after the children roaming across my front lawn, on my drive and front porch, and down the alley.  If you want an extra relative, I'll happily put them to work cleaning and hauling off trash without pay.  That's how ad-hoc childcare worked back in the day.  However, you don't really want an extra auntie.  Y'all want an unpaid babysitter. Screwww that. 
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on December 21, 2023, 09:02:03 AM
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
Oh, hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
Oh, rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hast'ning on,
By prophet seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When Christ shall come and all shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And saints shall meet Him in the air,
And with the angels sing.

Edmund H. Sears, "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: AmLitHist on December 22, 2023, 11:02:28 AM
The house directly across the street from us burned this morning. It's an old house, with a small upstairs apartment and downstairs flat; the grown daughter downstairs got up and went to the bathroom around 9:15 to find it filled with smoke. She threw on clothes, got the dog out, jumped in her car and drove up the block to call her dad at work; he called the fire department. (Don't know if the little boy downstairs was home or not.) Upstairs, a man, wife, and their son moved in only a month ago. They were all gone, and their two small dogs died from the smoke.

It seemed to be under control by about 10:30, but then flames came through the roof of the second story.  All told, it went to 7 alarms, with departments from every town and fire district within 20 miles of here, along with 2 ambulances, a rescue truck, multiple city cops, and several state cops as well. No idea of the cause yet; the trucks are still here at 1 p.m. It's the biggest fire I can remember since coming to college here 40+ years ago; even barn fires/combine fires/field fires only bring out 3, maybe 4, departments.

Luckily the wind laid from the 35-40 mph we had Wednesday, or this whole old neighborhood could have gone up in a flash. The fire crews were here in a flash--all volunteers in this very rural small town in the middle of farm country.

Very, very sad, especially with the loss of the dogs, and the two little boys (one upstairs, one downstairs, both about 6 years old) having this happen right at Christmas time, not to mention both families having lost literally everything they own.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Larimar on December 23, 2023, 09:37:53 AM
Oh, my gosh, that is horrific. So sorry to hear it!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on December 26, 2023, 08:49:50 AM
But all the people got out?  That's the main thing.

We have multiple house fires in our town every year about this time--two in the last few weeks.  The flip side of having enough old, inexpensive housing that nobody has to get squeezed out into the streets is that many of these old houses are terrible firetraps.  Since fires are more likely to happen right when it gets cold enough to need to turn up the home heating, having to mobilize the community to help fire victims has gotten to be a normal part of our holiday season.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on January 02, 2024, 02:40:03 PM
We got off to a shaky start to the work week overnight here in Maryland:
https://wtop.com/local/2024/01/very-scary-windows-shook-dc-maryland-residents-experience-reported-earthquake/ (https://wtop.com/local/2024/01/very-scary-windows-shook-dc-maryland-residents-experience-reported-earthquake/)
Scroll past ad breaks to read full article. Posted on WTOP Radio 1/2/24
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: RatGuy on January 02, 2024, 06:53:12 PM
I just lost the game
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on January 03, 2024, 08:08:44 PM
So you know how when you would call, they would play hold music so you knew you were still connected?

Now, when you are online chatting with customer service, it makes small talk while the real person is doing their thing, juggling multiple calls, whatever. How's your day going? How's the weather? Look for our new app on Google Play or Apple Store...

And it responds. Glad to hear. I'm sorry it's cold. Etc, etc, etc.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on January 26, 2024, 10:23:25 AM
Just got the email from the dean's office that I've been recommended for tenure!  (still goes to provost and board, but I've never heard of them reversing here)

But I can't take a break to celebrate because have to go back to doing grant reviews due Monday, which doesn't seem quite fair somehow. Before tenure, chop wood, carry water. After tenure, chop wood, carry water.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on January 26, 2024, 12:33:12 PM
Quote from: Puget on January 26, 2024, 10:23:25 AMJust got the email from the dean's office that I've been recommended for tenure!  (still goes to provost and board, but I've never heard of them reversing here)

But I can't take a break to celebrate because have to go back to doing grant reviews due Monday, which doesn't seem quite fair somehow. Before tenure, chop wood, carry water. After tenure, chop wood, carry water.

Congrats, Puget. Chop wood, carry water, indeed!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on January 26, 2024, 02:05:57 PM
Congratulations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on January 26, 2024, 05:19:06 PM
Quote from: Puget on January 26, 2024, 10:23:25 AMJust got the email from the dean's office that I've been recommended for tenure!  (still goes to provost and board, but I've never heard of them reversing here)

But I can't take a break to celebrate because have to go back to doing grant reviews due Monday, which doesn't seem quite fair somehow. Before tenure, chop wood, carry water. After tenure, chop wood, carry water.

Félicitations!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on January 26, 2024, 05:23:45 PM
Quote from: Puget on January 26, 2024, 10:23:25 AMJust got the email from the dean's office that I've been recommended for tenure!  (still goes to provost and board, but I've never heard of them reversing here)

But I can't take a break to celebrate because have to go back to doing grant reviews due Monday, which doesn't seem quite fair somehow. Before tenure, chop wood, carry water. After tenure, chop wood, carry water.

Congrats!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on January 26, 2024, 06:04:17 PM
Thanks everyone!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: RatGuy on January 26, 2024, 07:12:57 PM
That definately gets a huzzah, Puget!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ab_grp on January 27, 2024, 10:25:32 AM
Congratulations, Puget!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: EdnaMode on January 27, 2024, 10:36:18 AM
Congratulations Puget!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: clean on January 27, 2024, 03:50:32 PM
Good for you! 
In the other thread you posted, I suggested a small celebration.  Maybe Spring Break you can add a 2 or 3 day 'vacation' of sorts.

but as you posted above, life will not be much different!  Keep chopping and toting the wood!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: hmaria1609 on February 02, 2024, 07:39:32 PM
Ah, another Groundhog Day!
After Punxsutawney Phil made his prediction, DC's Potomac Phil (https://wtop.com/funny-weird-news/2024/02/d-c-s-potomac-phil-did-not-see-his-shadow-predicting-an-early-spring-and-more-political-gridlock/) made his at DuPont Circle. Early spring and political gridlock.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on February 06, 2024, 06:57:49 AM
Quote from: Myword on February 05, 2024, 09:08:21 AMA female professor in England recently wore nothing. She lectured naked. Wasn't fired. No kidding.

This one?

Apparently prof stripped to get the attention of her male peers (https://apicciano.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2019/05/22/economics-professor-strips-naked-to-gain-the-attention-of-her-male-peers/).

Prof must be really messed up if she thought that this was the only way to get her colleagues/peers's attention.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: marshwiggle on February 06, 2024, 07:15:05 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 06, 2024, 06:57:49 AM
Quote from: Myword on February 05, 2024, 09:08:21 AMA female professor in England recently wore nothing. She lectured naked. Wasn't fired. No kidding.

This one?

Apparently prof stripped to get the attention of her male peers (https://apicciano.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2019/05/22/economics-professor-strips-naked-to-gain-the-attention-of-her-male-peers/).

Prof must be really messed up if she thought that this was the only way to get her colleagues/peers's attention.


Clearly, that's going to make people focus on her ideas. As if.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on February 07, 2024, 06:43:59 AM
Quote from: marshwiggle on February 06, 2024, 07:15:05 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 06, 2024, 06:57:49 AM
Quote from: Myword on February 05, 2024, 09:08:21 AMA female professor in England recently wore nothing. She lectured naked. Wasn't fired. No kidding.

This one?

Apparently prof stripped to get the attention of her male peers (https://apicciano.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2019/05/22/economics-professor-strips-naked-to-gain-the-attention-of-her-male-peers/).

Prof must be really messed up if she thought that this was the only way to get her colleagues/peers's attention.


Clearly, that's going to make people focus on her ideas. As if.

I suspect she has bigger problems. (https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/nation-world/2012/05/31/why-do-psychotic-people-go/49611810007/)
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on February 07, 2024, 12:32:32 PM
By coincidence I saw this discussion on the same day that a woman in our state was sentenced for a psychotic attack in which she assaulted three people and knifed a family dog.  While unclothed.  She was out of her mind on drugs at the time.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: poiuy on February 08, 2024, 05:34:33 PM
Quote from: Puget on January 26, 2024, 10:23:25 AMJust got the email from the dean's office that I've been recommended for tenure!  (still goes to provost and board, but I've never heard of them reversing here)

But I can't take a break to celebrate because have to go back to doing grant reviews due Monday, which doesn't seem quite fair somehow. Before tenure, chop wood, carry water. After tenure, chop wood, carry water.

I missed seeing this earlier.  Congratulations Puget! Chop wood and carry water with job security and hopefully a good raise!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: jimbogumbo on February 09, 2024, 02:51:26 PM
Yesterday I had a very weird puzzle day. Connections was a snap. Despite making fine guesses in World, nope. Quordle? Killed it. Octordle? Efficient guesses every one, didn't get two of them.

BTW, my Wordle-Quordle-Octordle strategy is designed to maximize success, and means I'll never be in the got it in fewest tries group.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Puget on February 09, 2024, 05:04:50 PM
Quote from: poiuy on February 08, 2024, 05:34:33 PM
Quote from: Puget on January 26, 2024, 10:23:25 AMJust got the email from the dean's office that I've been recommended for tenure!  (still goes to provost and board, but I've never heard of them reversing here)

But I can't take a break to celebrate because have to go back to doing grant reviews due Monday, which doesn't seem quite fair somehow. Before tenure, chop wood, carry water. After tenure, chop wood, carry water.

I missed seeing this earlier.  Congratulations Puget! Chop wood and carry water with job security and hopefully a good raise!

Thanks!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on February 10, 2024, 08:07:47 AM
Quote from: jimbogumbo on February 09, 2024, 02:51:26 PMYesterday I had a very weird puzzle day. Connections was a snap. Despite making fine guesses in World, nope. Quordle? Killed it. Octordle? Efficient guesses every one, didn't get two of them.

BTW, my Wordle-Quordle-Octordle strategy is designed to maximize success, and means I'll never be in the got it in fewest tries group.

Join us on the daily Spelling Bee thread! We also give updates for Wordle and Letter Boxed. I do connections but don't usually report out on that thread.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Myword on February 19, 2024, 02:15:49 PM

 Prof. Bateman may be a nudist in her free time, which is fine, but this is ridiculous. And funny.
The lack of women in Economics is not really the issue here.
I wonder if she is single (or her husband knows?)  She is diminutive and needs sexual attention. Takes a lot of courage.
 Unprofessional, silly and yet cute. They will not look at her the same way again and she knows it.
 Would you ask her to leave the office or stay? As long as you're here...
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on February 19, 2024, 03:18:40 PM
Had a dream last night about $1,000 sweatpants. Woke up thinking "no way those exist" and not only do they exist, there is news about them. (https://www.cnn.com/style/article/balenciaga-boxer-sweatpants-racism-tiktok-cultural-appropriation/index.html)

In fact, one can spend a lot more than $1,000 for sweatpants. Is the market that big for people willing to pay that much? I have a pair from Sweaty Betty  (https://www.sweatybetty.com/us) I thought were stupid expensive but... they are flattering. And comfortable. They are my nice sweatpants.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: aside on February 19, 2024, 03:37:24 PM
While searching for a new laptop case last night I found prices ranging from $30 to $1400.  I wanna tell people not to buy a $1400 laptop case; buy a computer instead.
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2024, 03:52:43 PM
The hatchling is three. Three!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 18, 2024, 05:24:40 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 18, 2024, 03:52:43 PMThe hatchling is three. Three!

Yay!!!
Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: Langue_doc on March 19, 2024, 09:30:10 AM
I didn't realize that Ben & Jerry's (https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/business/unilever-ben-jerrys-job-cuts.html) was owned by Unilever
QuoteUnilever to Cut 7,500 Jobs and Spin Off Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Unit
The consumer goods giant said the moves would make for a "simpler, more focused company" as consumers trade down to cheaper brands amid high inflation.

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: ciao_yall on March 26, 2024, 08:44:19 AM
I bought a car online over dinner with my phone. Signing the paperwork on my phone and picking it up today.

Price and mileage were right and it's a cute color!

(Okay, slight exaggeration. Truth is I picked it out, then had to save the purchase while I moved some money around.)

Title: Re: The Post For Stuff You Wanna Tell People
Post by: apl68 on March 26, 2024, 10:24:23 AM
Congratulations on the new vehicle, ciao_yall!