Friday Ephemera
The thrill of twins (a drama of expansion) || Anything you can do, I can do better. || An ode to preserves. || A project for the weekend. || Seattle public schools, you say. || The progressive retail experience, parts 408, 409 and 410. || Repair job, watched closely. || At last, lamps made from croissants and leftover bread. || Absurdle, adversarial Wordle. || One of these objects is not like the others. || Public-information billboards of note. || Being “anti-racist,” she doesn’t depict them. || Touchdown. || At last, lab-grown hair. || His and hers, a comparison. || Heh. || Cold sorcery. || It’s a consolation, I suppose. || Fondling scenes. || Insert finger, please. || And finally, remember, your cat is trying to kill you.
I am so much happier photographing weddings now. I mean, there’s cake, I never got cake when I went to court.
Delightful comment of the day.
But I do recommend a balanced diet: Start photographing academic seminars. You’ll get wine and cheese. Granted, it will be supermarket cheddar, and cheap wine in plastic glasses, but one mustn’t be too picky.
Meanwhile in the famously hot and sunny UK, want a sun room addition or on your new construction ?
Fuggedaboudit, “The change is part of a raft of measures aimed at future-proofing homes against summers where temperatures are predicted to reach 40C (104F).”
Seeing as how no one is dying here in Dixie where sun rooms/Florida rooms are as common as high 90F temps, I am predicting with the same scientific certainty as the when it gets to 104F in Blighty prediction, the sun having expanded to vaporize both Mercury and Venus will be a bigger problem.
when it gets to 104F in Blighty… the sun having expanded to vaporize both Mercury and Venus will be a bigger problem.
[ Rummages for extra layers before venturing out to local chip shop. ]
[ Rummages for extra layers before venturing out to local chip shop. ]
Don’t forget the SPF90 sunscreen.
Holy frijoles, what the hell has happened to Canada?
Meanwhile in California…
Out: Gangs.
In: Organized Groups of Folks.
Out: Gangs.
In: Organized Groups of Folks.
One more time. Wokeness is corrupting. It eats away at realism and honesty.
One more time. Wokeness is corrupting. It eats away at realism and honesty.
Realism and honesty are raacist.
Isn’t it funny how Unitarians, as they scold us, promote themselves as the most loving and tolerant people on the planet, and yet in reality are deeply hateful creatures who defame and wish harm upon people whose only “crime” is to not share their communist yearnings? (Found via here.)
Great, I think a movie started this way, but just in time for the midterms.
just in time for the midterms
They will, of course, head for the nearest atomic power plant or radioactive waste storage facility. There will be a fierce storm, an improbable mishap…
There will be a fierce storm, an improbable mishap…
when it gets to 104F in Blighty
I might even consider moving back… However the story is from that bastion of truth, honesty, accuracy and empathy* the Daily Mail (spit).
* Yes I have had unfortunate personal encounters with that rag and it’s sister Sunday rag.
But I do recommend a balanced diet: Start photographing academic seminars. You’ll get wine and cheese.
Hahaha – yes! Granted my sample number is small, but engineering seminars didn’t have wine, sadly. Did have the supermarket cheese platter, sometimes a veg platter too. Supermarket bakery cookie sample and coffee was also common. You could almost make a balanced meal out of the more flush departments’ seminar snacks. I used to attend other departments’ seminars sometimes, although still in the engineering college or science departments – I instinctively knew to stay away from the more radical side of campus, even if they did have wine and cheese.
“where she is listed as studying psychology as well as education and English.”
“lots of people go to kolledge for 7 years. They’re called Doctors” /snort
“state approved forms where a judge could just tick off boxes”
A trend greatly boosted by Mothers Against everything (MADD) and their anti alcohol (except for box wines, you see) idiocy. “Alcohol present” became a check box item on reports, thus the incredible numbers of “alcohol related accidents” – even where the only alcohol was in a grocery bag…
Meanwhile also in Pennsylvania, celebrity spouse spotted.
…head for the nearest atomic power plant or radioactive waste storage facility.
Yikes, the crash was about one county up from Three Mile Island…
A trend greatly boosted by Mothers Against everything (MADD) and their anti alcohol (except for box wines, you see) idiocy. “Alcohol present” became a check box item on reports, thus the incredible numbers of “alcohol related accidents” – even where the only alcohol was in a grocery bag…
The hours lost and damage to my reputation taken for trying to explain this to smart…”smart” people decades ago. Sigh.
Out: Gangs.
In: Organized Groups of Folks.
Cuz Gavin Newscum was worried that he might be misunderstood using “gangs” as a pejorative. Against train robbers.
I think I’m all out of serenity.
“Trans man” goes online to learn how to be masculine, decides the best way is to be feminine.
“I think I’m all out of serenity.”
ISWYDT
🙂
Coming to terms with my anger at being intimidated, at being groped, for so much of my life…
Ah, a clue.
A trend greatly boosted by Mothers Against everything (MADD) and their anti alcohol (except for box wines, you see) idiocy.
Don’t forget ASH and other anti-smoking fanatics who are and were happy to lie to achieve their goal of total outlawing of tobacco. I personally loathe tobacco and don’t like being anywhere near the smoke, but I hate liars and power-mad zealots much more.
Tesla the Silent Cat Killer
https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1351018771679481858
Out: Gangs.
Let’s call them Reavers or Reivers.
Let’s call them Reavers or Reivers
The Grand Admiral Thrawn series is an allegory for being black in the US military post-Vietnam.
“Let’s call them Reavers”
According to Serenity (which I just got around to watching over Christmas), the Reavers were the unintended result of a drug that was supposed to perfect humanity.
Movies are so far-fetched.
According to Serenity (which I just got around to watching over Christmas), the Reavers were the unintended result of a drug that was supposed to perfect humanity.
Our urban reavers are in large part the unintended result of a drug (leftist policy) that was supposed to perfect the Great Society.
Out: Gangs.
In: Organized Groups of Folks.
To update what I tweeted about San Fran and looting, they’ll police the language, but they won’t police the city.
Finally got around to watching all of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It’s The Force Awakens of the Ghostbusters franchise in just about every aspect. Halfway through even my non-cinephile friends were starting to roll their eyes.
‘How do you eat yours?’
as the Creme Egg campaign might say…
‘How do you eat yours?’
Technically and anatomically that would not be a vulva-nut, but a cloaca-nut.
American History 101 circa 2030.
I’m so old I remember when this used to be a joke.
a biological male who identifies as a lesbian
Fully equipped with a built-in dildo.
As I told a good friend one night back in ’99, “Everyone’s a lesbian when they’re drunk, Tim. Even me.”
“Our urban reavers are in large part the unintended result of a drug (leftist policy) that was supposed to perfect the Great Society.”
Yep. And the thing is, as I was watching Serenity, I could see that, at the time it was made, it was probably intended as a ham-fisted commentary on neoconservatism and American policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or something. But it beggars belief that Joss Whedon couldn’t see that it works much better as an allegory for what’s been going on in his own back yard, with his approval, for decades.
And watching it for the first time in 2021 was a very interesting experience. It’s a brilliant indictment of the political culture that’s sprung up in the years since it was made: the managerial attempts to perfect society, “cancel culture”, deference to “experts” endorsed by the state; hell, it even fits with the whole Covid panic and the dangers of mandatory medication. I had to keep reminding myself that it was fifteen years old.
Fully equipped with a built-in dildo.
[ Portentous music ] Bionic dildo.
…at the time it was made, it was probably intended as a ham-fisted commentary on neoconservatism and American policy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or something. But it beggars belief that Joss Whedon couldn’t see that it works much better as an allegory for what’s been going on in his own back yard, with his approval, for decades.
It would be interesting to read/view Joss Whedon’s comments made at that time. I have mostly ignored what he and other entertainers have been saying unless it comes up in a forum such as this.
With-it headmistress throws out dress code so that students can express their individuality – by dressing for a madrassa.
What a surprise that her students of colour, at least the Muslim ones, don’t have modern ideas on dress. When it’s left to them, they dress in their ethnic and religious uniform.
The themes of Fame and Footloose and Dead Poets’ Society – the ongoing negotiation within Western culture between tradition and creativity, social cohesion and individual flourishing – become irrelevant once non-Western cultures take a serious foothold.
Relax the dress code in the interests of “modernity” and “acceptance”, expect the kids to turn up like Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink, but surprise surprise they turn up in hijabs. They might use the Western language of individual expression to get the nose of the camel in the tent, but it’s group expression and group territory marking.
Within a Western culture, enforcing a school uniform or grooming code places you somewhere within the Western negotiation of group vs individual. But in a multicultural school, enforcing a uniform or grooming code is a necessity for assimilation. What these students are doing is rejecting assimilation, or assimilating back to the culture of their grandparents.
The “raving leftist accidentally makes a searing satire of leftism” genre is pretty well-established. Sam Simon and “The Wire” comes to mind.
…by dressing for a madrassa.
Right, absurd hair cuts, earrings, and thobes are “religious”, says the “headteacher” (because we can’t say headmaster anymore) who hasn’t heard of Indonesia, you go with that.
Smart money goes with everything to her targets POCs and Alphabet People.
Nothing says “professional appearance” like a head that looks like you are wearing a stuffed lobster.
The “raving leftist accidentally makes a searing satire of leftism” genre is pretty well-established.
My first experience with this was catching All the Rage (1999) on television, part way through, and not fully deciding it was meant to be an anti gun propaganda piece until the Cheryl Wheeler song that played over the closing credits.
a ham-fisted commentary on neoconservatism and American policy in Iraq and Afghanistan
No, that would be Rogue One.
@ Mr. Duncan
“ham-fisted commentary on neoconservatism and American policy in Iraq and Afghanistan”
I watched it when released, and I didn’t get that at all. My gob was smacked with the very idea the a Hollywood production would go anywhere *near* criticizing the welfare state.
“Bionic dildo”
Who is going to say it first?
Barbarella’s favorite lover?
Commander Data?
Toys controlled via cell phone apps?
Not sad or insane or even lunacy …
Evil
Not sad or insane or even lunacy … Evil
Roger Scruton once wrote: “Leftwing people find it very hard to get on with rightwing people, because they believe that they are evil. Whereas I have no problem getting on with leftwing people, because I simply believe that they are mistaken.”
I think it is past time to recognize that leftwing people are indeed evil.
Toys controlled via cell phone apps?
It is rumored that David briefly considered replacing the Correction Booth with “behavior nudges” delivered by a cell phone app, but abandoned the idea when certain legal obstacles were pointed out. 😐
“When are you going to grow up?”
“When are you going to trust the human dignity?”
Two questions from a chap lacks any sense of introspection.
sonny wayz: I did say “ham-fisted”. And I don’t know; maybe it wasn’t Iraq he was getting at. I’m just trying to recall what chips were on Hollywood’s shoulders back then. However I’m not surprised that others would get exactly what I did from it, even at the time.
Two questions from a chap lacks any sense of introspection.
Can you imagine if your employer hired that nut, and you were required to take him seriously in your daily interactions?
Can you imagine if your employer hired that nut, and you were required to take him seriously in your daily interactions?
And you know it would seek out those most uncomfortable with its ways and torment the hell out of them face-to-face and through HR.
Irony can be pretty ironic.
WTF? Do the British Isles have “Irish Man…” stories the way America has “Florida Man…” stories? Police inquiry after ‘dead man’ taken into post office by men attempting to collect his pension.
This is totally normal behavior and not insane at all.
A highly specialized taste, but at least it is SFW.
We need to talk about the cat.
…not insane at all.
So the Alphabet People are a race – who knew?
Canuck “journalist” flees The Great White North coof insanity for Florida which puts the zap on his mind.
Of course.
Of course.
Typical Canadian suffering from “Good Boy” syndrome as in “What a good boy”, “Who’s mama’s good boy.” Not sure why so many of my countrymen are so desperate for approval. This wanker puts on his morally superior tone and says “you can tell the Canadians, we’re the ones wearing our masks properly.” You have no idea what it’s like living among such smugness. Oh and you’ll notice the little prick didn’t leave Florida when he discovered this “cowboy” behaviour. No he just showed everyone his new pair of judgy-pants.
No he just showed everyone his new pair of judgy-pants.
Plot twist: he tries this on the wrong Florida Man and becomes a new pair of pants.
Within a Western culture, enforcing a school uniform or grooming code places you somewhere within the Western negotiation of group vs individual.
My niece got married yesterday and in the wedding invite they specifically requested formal attire as in coat and/or tie, etc. I was very impressed not only by that request but by the higher percentage of 30 yo’s and such dressing as requested, relative to older generations who gosh darn it just could not bring themselves to put a tie on.
Canuck “journalist” flees The Great White North coof insanity for Florida which puts the zap on his mind.
While here in Ft. Lauderdale the last two weeks my wife commented on the unusual number of Quebec license plates. To me it wasn’t terribly unusual as when living here we had snow bird Quebeci neighbors but it did seem even rather out of the old ordinary. As for this journalist? Yeah…GTFO.
when living here we had snow bird Quebeci neighbors but it did seem even rather out of the old ordinary.
Hallandale Beach and Hollywood have long been favourites for Quebecois. The local variety stores would go as far as stocking Canadian cigarettes and Quebec Newspapers. Of course, no one reads a paper newspaper anymore. Even the French Canadians.
It’s my impression that the Quebecois a bit more snooty than the rest of Canada. Am I wrong?
18 (!) years ago, Conan went to Montreal and included Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. The reaction of the man at 2:19 is funny. https://classic.teamcoco.com/late-night-with-conan-obrien/season-11/episode-61/triumph-the-insult-comic-dog-triumph-in-quebec?playlist=x%3BeyJ0eXBlIjoicmVjb3JkIiwicnQiOiJwbGF5bGlzdCIsImlkIjoxMDcyODh9
I was very impressed not only by that request but by the higher percentage of 30 yo’s and such dressing as requested, relative to older generations who gosh darn it just could not bring themselves to put a tie on.
I’m not sure about the under-30’s, but my experience with the 50-70 crowd is that they are indeed slobs. They don’t bother with suits and ties even for weddings and funerals where you’d think the seriousness of the occasion would impinge on their consciousness.
On reflection, that was carelessly over-generalized: I know people in the 50-70 age range who dress properly. Probably depends in large part on what subcultures they inhabited in their youth.
“It’s my impression that the Quebecois a bit more snooty than the rest of Canada. Am I wrong?”
When I was deployed in Afghanistan, the Canadian company we were partnered with was on their way out. One of their sergeants thanked us, said they loved working with us, and then with an apologetic tone said, “I’m just letting you know there will be a new Canadian team coming in to replace us. Unfortunately they’re French Canadian, so I’m just giving you a heads up.”
We flew out of Kandahar on a Canadian C-17 and after one of the attendants gave the safety instructions in English, he took an audible sigh of contempt and repeated them in half-assed “why do I have to do this?” French.
We flew out of Kandahar on a Canadian C-17 and after one of the attendants gave the safety instructions in English, he took an audible sigh of contempt and repeated them in half-assed “why do I have to do this?” French.
I hear that many French Canadians will pretend to not understand English.
“Probably depends in large part on what subcultures they inhabited in their youth.”
Absolutely. My wife and I, being early 60s (in age), we are not Boomers. We were 9 when Woodstock hit, so we grew up with what the Boomers inflicted on us. No thanks. I’ll wear a suit and tie.
In Montreal my experience has been that people will start in French but switch to English if your reply in English. But in Quebec City, they will refuse and pretend they don’t understand you. Even a policemen we asked for directions.
Unfortunately they’re French Canadian, so I’m just giving you a heads up.
My mother worked as a civilian at Baden air base. Apparently some of the best deals for military from any country were at the CANEX store on base. I visited her for a couple of weeks during the early 80s. It was delightful to see the contempt the French (France) military had for the French Canadians. They mocked them for their “backward” use of the French Language.
It’s my impression that the Quebecois a bit more snooty than the rest of Canada. Am I wrong?
No you’re not. It comes from the special status which Quebec has been afforded. They tend to think themselves superior to the ROC (rest of Canada). Having said that, there are good people every where. If you can cut through the crap they can be very warm and generous. I had overall responsibility for a Montreal sales office and formed many strong friendships that still exist today.
Someone above pointed out the difference between Quebec City and Montreal. That is very real. Montreal is a cosmopolitain city and French Canadians their are far more “tolerant” of English speakers because they have to be. In Quebec City their far more likely to be intolerant pure laine.
We were 9 when Woodstock hit, so we grew up with what the Boomers inflicted on us.
Hello Boomer! I hate to tell you this but if you were 9 during Woodstock you’re a Boomer. Tailend Boomer, but a Boomer nontheless.
Having said that, there are good people every where. If you can cut through the crap they can be very warm and generous. I had overall responsibility for a Montreal sales office and formed many strong friendships that still exist today.
Counterexample: American company had a consulting contract with a Montreal company, doing IT work that the Canadians could not do or could not do nearly as quickly and efficiently. During meetings the Montreal clients often spoke insultingly about the Americans–in French, of course, thinking the Americans would not understand. The Americans carefully did not let on that they understood. Instead, they padded the consulting bills as much as they could get away with. Remember this scene in All Creatures Great and Small when an obnoxious and aggressive client is charged 10 pounds for a procedure that normally costs a few shillings?
I hear that many French Canadians will pretend to not understand English
Having listened to a clip of Canadian French on here a few days ago, I’m surprised they even understand French.
Having listened to a clip of Canadian French on here a few days ago, I’m surprised they even understand French.
Not being fluent in that language, it’s all Greek to me.
I’m surprised they even understand French.
They don’t. If you speak with parisian pronunciation they look at you funny. I had to mangle most of my carefully learned french vowel sounds to be understood. A good example is the word yes, oui in french, sounds like Burgess Meredith’s Penguin character clucking in the Batman TV series.
A good example is the word yes, oui in french, sounds like Burgess Meredith’s Penguin character clucking in the Batman TV series.
Merde! Strongly worded protest to follow.
I hope you die in a fire, you fool. The other thing that separates “us” from the “hicks and bumpkins” is that you’ll starve before said “hicks and bumpkins” when there’s any disruptions in the supply chain.
“Crossing the street is one of the essential skills of urban life.” but following the laws is not. Noted.
I’m almost 63.
I used to be a commissioned US Army officer. If you tell me to show up in formal dress, I know to wear a formal suit.
You should hang around better people.
Having worked for…
1. Bell Northern Research
2. Northern Telecom
3. Nortel Networks
…in Richardson, Texas, for a while, I nonetheless found this clip rather funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDGkQiwh_qg
You should hang around better people.
Indeed, I am so old that shorts, flip flops*, and a wife beater were for mowing the lawn, not getting on a damn plane – and unless you are under arms, take your damn hat off indoors.
*(not recommended footwear for this activity, kids)
You should hang around better people.
Yeah, too many geeks, nerds, and dorks in the past.
I used to be a commissioned US Army officer. If you tell me to show up in formal dress, I know to wear a formal suit.
At the Heinlein Centennial in Kansas City, the classy looking ones were the Heinlein extended family, the men all in Navy uniforms. Not a wrinkle to be seen, just perfect rows of ribbons. And perfect manners, too.
You should hang around better people.
I used to. They’re all mostly dead now. Just because you and whatever army dress well has little bearing on the general population. The finest restaurants in the vast majority of towns have little to no dress codes. I’ve even been in a few that had published dress codes but they let people in dressed as they were anyway. And mostly boomers and genx. Before the pandemic the speakeasy concept was making a comeback among the younger set and in the two that I visited the only people even marginally poorly dressed were in their 40’s and 50’s.
the speakeasy concept was making a comeback
Intriguing. Can you elaborate?