Friday Ephemera (661)
The machine uprising, day 5. (h/t, Emil) || The machine uprising, day 6. || Someone else’s dinner. || Arsehole detected. || A map of undersea cables. || A triumph of elastication. || Combat aircraft concepts. (h/t, Things) || Courtesy in odd places. || Suburban scenes. || When you need nine hours of cassette-play. || Music typewriter, circa 1950s. || Your expectations of punctuality are “white supremacy,” and sexist, and also homophobic, you bigot. || His incriminating browser history is probably worse than yours. || Hers, I dare say, is bigger than yours. || Bit snug, some chafing. || Couch glider. || Assorted German pipe organs. || Pick your champion. || The progressive retail experience, part 452. || Passenger came prepared. || When you defer to the lie, complications will ensue. || And finally, with some patience, it takes a village to park a car.
And yes, by all means, follow me on Twitter.
Your expectations of punctuality are “white supremacy,” and sexist, and also homophobic, you bigot.
is there anything good and valuable which has not been condemned as “white supremacy”?
Hers, I dare say, is bigger than yours
Didn’t Robert Silverberg write a short-short sf story in the 70’s or 80’s about a dream of a horde of giant prehistoric lobsters marching across the sea floor?
Your expectations of punctuality are “white supremacy,” and sexist, and also homophobic, you bigot.
I want to know how it’s homophobic. White supremacy or racism is a given – everything is. Sexist – maybe there’s some ditzy woman stereotype in there that women always run late because of makeup or hair or something. But gay?? What the hell does sexual preference have to do with it?
Another asshole detected.
Music typewriter, circa 1950s.
You know, “typewriter of note” was right there…
The machine uprising, day 5. || The machine uprising, day 6.
That escalated quickly.
It helps if you turn the wheel.
Morning, all.
Meanwhile, in the world of Ottawa’s elementary school teachers. The term “gender creative youth” seems a little telling.
When you defer to the lie, complications will ensue.
That.
When you defer to the lie, complications will ensue.
We took the wrong turning somewhere.
Everyone remember where we parked.
female-presenting nipples
Band name.
Busy night.
What “equity” entails.
Thank-you note of note.
WTF?
Apparently, the man was upset after his wife began divorce proceedings and filed a restraining order.
For no reason whatsoever, clearly.
Fish fight
https://twitter.com/TheFigen_/status/1613985257048444932
A good father would have retrieved the fishing rod.
In other news, it’s Tom Baker’s birthday. So there’s that.
Apparently, the man was upset after his wife began divorce proceedings
When I practiced Family Law in California, there was a judge who sat in Orange County, Nan Pollard. One of the things she would do when she granted a restraining order was she would ask the petitioner, usually a woman, to hold it up. She would then say, “See that paper. It’s not going to stop a bullet. Make sure you take other steps to protect yourself.”
Combat aircraft concepts.
Those are really batshit concepts especially the ones from Bell.
Or not.
Busy night.
He should’ve been given a year for every house he tried to rob.
A question for the ladies.
Courtesy of Iowahawk, we learn of a new sport.
Their official site.
female-presenting nipples
OFFS. Make it stop.
What “equity” entails.
I have limited sympathy for those people: All three of those Virginia counties are part of the greater Washington DC metro area, and their great prosperity is due to the proliferation of companies that make their money directly or indirectly from the federal governmen–think thanks, consulting companies, military contractors, political campaign specialists, pollsters, and other parasites (traditionally known as the “Beltway bandits”for the amoral and parasitical nature of much of their business.) So, these unhappy parents are getting what they unintentionally asked for.
Fish fight
Thanks, that really is funny. I saw that a year ago but forgot and never posted it here. Nice to see that someone retweeted it.
Courtesy of Iowahawk, we learn of a new sport.
I have read that “Irish stand down” sometimes refers to that sort of fight, where contestants take turns giving and receiving blows. So, not a new thing?
Well at least now he’ll have a fixed address.
Maybe that was his solution to being homeless in the first place.
Fish fight
Obligatory…
And in department store news.
For the DIYers, how to make Nixie tubes.
And in department store news.
There need to be consequences. Immediate consequences because that’s what crazy people understand, and long-term consequences because that’s what makes for a permanent solution.
Nothing says “trans” men are real men like scars from bad surgery and other things.
If it looks like an elaborate and expensive form of self-harm, hold that thought.
Behind ever vicious thug is a network of lowlifes. In this case, one is his mother.
Related: “immature” is now a euphemism for “thug”.
Elastication: isn’t a butt that big on a white girl “cultural appropriation”?
A bit snug: did anyone notice that she pulled on the top of the door, which would have mashed her fingers if it managed to close? Fat AND stupid.
Victory dance by the goose! hahahaha
Trans selfies in the toilets is a victory photo, that they conquered the forbidden space. No, normal women do not take selfies in the loo.
Trans selfies in the toilets is a victory photo, that they conquered the forbidden space.
That.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
fish fight: I know that the early settlers to Iceland had a custom of a fight to settle disputes. The two (even husband and wife) stood in pits up to their knees and whacked each other with big sticks (IIRC) until one gave up. They didn’t have jails.
A triumph of elastication.
And now deleted.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
“About 300 people blocked the R67 between Fort Beaufort and Alice with burning tyres and stones on Monday, demanding water… Residents’ anger erupted after criminals damaged one of the water pump stations on 11 January which left thousands of households in several wards without water.”
How intelligent: Criminals cause harm, so residents lash out at innocent people.
Anyone want to place bets on what South Africa will be like in 50 years?
“it’s Tom Baker’s birthday”
Jelley Babies, y’all…
Shockingly vicious thuggery by “teen” at East Surrey College in England.
In other news, it’s Tom Baker’s birthday.
Looks like he doesn’t have enough cats.
Related: “immature” is now a euphemism for “thug”.
Dear lord, there is so much wrong with that ‘statement’ it is hard to know where to begin. Guns are “placed”? Gangbangers are mere “immature yoots”? and Brown seems to think that focusing exclusively on an inanimate object is the way to go???
Argh.
Well at least now he’ll have a fixed address.
Maybe that was his solution to being homeless in the first place.
Theodore Dalrymple, writing about his interactions with prison inmates, says that some of them definitely prefer being in prison where their needs are taken care of and they have no responsibilities.
Punctuality: in welfare culture, of any race, you grow up surrounded by single moms, men who are unemployed and hang out and drink/do drugs, shootings. You know lots of people who have been to jail and probably more than one murdered. Lot of people live off welfare or dealing drugs or stealing. What is punctuality in this context? What is the work ethic?
To run a business, you need employees who show up.
But is NOT about sexism or homophobia.
He’s quite endearing, whether appearing as a slightly lascivious old duffer in Marple, or recounting tales of pub crawls with Francis Bacon, “tingling titties” and poisonous bottled farts.
He’s quite endearing
I confess that I know nothing of his personality and current activities, and made that cat comment only for random silliness.
If this doesn’t save the Red Sea corals, nothing will.
To run a business, you need employees who show up.
Whether in the workplace or in social life, avoid those who cannot be bothered to show up on time.
He’s quite endearing…or recounting tales…
I’m only 3 minutes in and must agree.
If this doesn’t save the Red Sea corals, nothing will.
Appropriate response.
red sea corals: watched with the sound off, is hilarious
red sea corals: watched with the sound off, is hilarious
And has been pointed out, the uniformity of opinion at Davos should set of warning bells: These people are not getting together to find answers; they already agree on essentially everything. The meetings are not about acqiring knowledge but rather wielding power (and jacking each other off with compliments about how “wise” and “enlightened” they all are.)
Heh: “Every STEM degree field has a sub-field within it for people with severe mental illnesses. Then in the Humanities you have sub-fields for people who aren’t mentally ill.”
This is hopeful, but will the Government-Academic-Corporate Complex even allow discussion of it?
…will the Government-Academic-Corporate Complex even allow discussion of it?
Probably not because that would require retooling of the universities which don’t have anyone qualified to teach that to the dimwits in the education programs, and the current crop in the schools generally don’t have the skills or experience either.
which don’t have anyone qualified to teach that to the dimwits in the education programs
which argues for getting rid of teacher “credentialing”. There are teachers with all manner of busywork certificates who can’t handle or shouldn’t be anywhere near a room full of 10-year-olds and a lot of retirees with only a high school diploma who would rock the classroom with the skills and talents honed over decades.
We need to summarily replace those purple-haired, pronoun obsessed activists with people who haven’t set foot in a classroom for decades.
which argues for getting rid of teacher “credentialing”.
Hear, hear! Schools of education only do harm.
Victor Davis Hanson, talking about his longtime involvement with Hillsdale College, said that there are a growing number of schools which reject the idea that a teaching degree or teaching certificate is necessary to teach and that it is better to have a real degree in the field that one will teach plus maybe a few classes in teaching techniques.
We need to summarily replace those purple-haired, pronoun obsessed activists with people who haven’t set foot in a classroom for decades.
First we need to yeet all the purple-haired, pronoun obsessed activists and other bozos in the hierarchy and faculty of the teaching colleges who insist on grinding out people with Ed.Ds and other pompously inflated degrees who grind out more purple-haired, pronoun obsessed activists posing as teachers, excuse me, “educators”.
It appears to be the only non-disrupted supply chain left.
Farnsworth: ed schools and schools of social work, among others, require loyalty oaths do DIE and leftist ideology. Almost impossible to go there as a conservative.
normal women do not take selfies in the loo
Kinda do.
Meanwhile, in the world of Ottawa’s elementary school teachers
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I now live in Mexico.
“Is my uterus a cultural construct? I think I should be told.”
Almost impossible to go there as a conservative.
The key word being almost. DeSantis may be successful in the “takeover” (leftist MSM, (BIRM), media term) of the New College of Florida and integrating it into the UF system.
May not be a big deal in the grand scheme initially, but The Long March begins with a single step.
DeSantis may be successful in the “takeover” (leftist MSM, (BIRM), media term) of the New College of Florida and integrating it into the UF system.
IIRC, he also is recruiting vets without credentials to become teachers and that caused massive tantrums in the teachers’ unions.
“You actually have to be nice, be non-judgmental, and have a nice personalty”, just like this fetching lass, if you want to be a sex worker.
A period is a state of mind.
Arethea Franklin causes harm to “trans” people.
This young lady discusses the work week.
Kids, this is why you actually study at school.
Conan, what is best in life?
To crush the leftists, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their pundits.
This young lady discusses the work week.
Not sure if that’s sincere or a parody. It’s hard to tell nowadays.
“You actually have to be nice, be non-judgmental, and have a nice personalty”…
It’s a niche market.
There is a lot wrong with modern education, but this is one of the biggest issues.
Problem solving is not a learned skill, and 100% certainly it is not a teachable one.
Think of the analogous situations.
How do you teach a goalkeeper situational awareness? You can’t. You can give some guiding principles, review mistakes, and after that it is practice, practice, practice. You can’t just take some random tall person, get them fit, teach them how to be situationally aware and expect them to be a good goalie. That’s not how it works.
How do you teach a budding composer to write good hooks? Would anyone seriously even try? Some people have a gift, and after that it is practice, practice, practice.
All problem solving is context dependent. It does not transfer across realms.
A brilliant engineer, able to come up with ingenious solutions, is reliant on a depth of knowledge that allows them to reason within what is possible. Take them into an area of ignorance, say writing stories, and they flounder.
Meanwhile taking a brilliant writer, showing them a few basic coding techniques, and then expecting them to solve programming problems would be an exercise in futility.
If schools want to teach “problem solving”, whatever that is, and “making good decisions” (really??) then they need to teach a topic in sufficient depth to give the students the tools and knowledge to work with. And lots and lots of practice.
You know, like traditional schooling did.
Focusing schooling on problem solving and creativity is to the detriment of actually learning anything. It is a pernicious idea, and needs to be crushed.
We have a generation of students who get into the workforce and actually believe that their ideas, based on no knowledge whatsoever, will be valued from the moment that they enter the door and that the ability to “work as a team”, as opposed to work as a functioning part of a team, is useful.
I’m on a rant now and you can’t stop me!
Who the hell employs people out of school to solve their problems?
Here fresh engineer, design an innovative bridge for me. Here brand new IT guy, design our town’s traffic light system. Here burger flipper, explain how I can improve sales. You don’t get to that level for many years, after learning the basics of the problems in the field.
I have worked for thirty years, and only in the last ten have I started to have genuine problems to solve. They are invariably very specialist and technical, because that is what I am good at. Those problems require a depth of technical knowledge, sufficient that I can’t even explain what they mean to most people. I don’t do people problems very much.
Before that I did analysis and breaking down the problems into component parts, for which my education had prepared me adequately. But I did not get to make the decisions.
My boss is a master at solving people problems, but beyond inept at technical matters. It matters not a jot. He learned how to solve problems involving people over his thirty year career too. Do you think having done “problem solving” as school would deal you with how to deal with underperforming staff?
Problem solving and making good decisions require knowledge, experience and a bit of natural ability in whatever field. I don’t do people very well. My boss doesn’t do technical at all. And no-one cares, because we each do our own thing well.
A period is a state of mind.
So if I understand this correctly a period is more than just punctuation.
Arethea Franklin causes harm to “trans” people.
The ignorance is so strong in these people. They don’t even know there are living people who actually wrote the song that they could make ridiculous charges against.
This young lady discusses the work week.
Or we could all live in mom’s/grandmom’s windowless basement and make tiktok videos.
“Hers is bigger” . About 30 years ago I was with a group lobster picking in Provincetown harbor (MA). One guy came up with a bug even bigger than this. Skipper estimated age at 75 years. He said it would make terrible eating. We took it to the town aquarium, and a week later it was put back in the harbor.
Pro tip: do not dive in 5° C water in a rented wetsuit.
@Chester Draws
I’ve been a secondary math teacher for 30 years. Your comments could not be any more spot on. The establishment math gods have written endless manifestos lauding the importance of “problem solving” and the “mathematical practices” as decreed by NCTM et al. I’ve taught classes of high school students who have no clue how to convert fractions, decimals, and percents. I’ve tutored college students who can’t state the properties of a rectangle.
On tattoos and attractiveness.
Link updated.
One more time.
On tattoos and attractiveness.
From the comments…
Right, following the trendy trends is independent and brave, got it.
Heh. Yes, even when the thing was published, in 2007, that would have made me laugh. Not a fan of tattoos myself, but whatever they do, they don’t signal that.
Meta’s Oversight Board ruled that the old policy of barring women’s breasts was discriminatory to gender-fluid people.
However, real women still cannot flash theirs unless they claim to be an LSMFT+ person, so IOW it is OK, as it always has been, for men to flash theirs.
They are going to assume gender from a quick look at at a photo? That is almost as bad as OB docs guessing a baby’s sex and gender. I am literally shaking.
TRANS KNOCKERS ARE REAL KNOCKERS.
TRANS KNOCKERS ARE REAL KNOCKERS.
ZOMG, you are right, thank you for educating me about my transphobia, I denounce myself and after regrooving, I will do better.
Meanwhile at the State Department, Times New Roman is cancelled.
San serif typefaces were developed to make large blocks of text more readable, so I am not sure how a sans makes the Department “more accessible”, though I guess the Large Type Reader’s Digest 14 point is meant to eliminate sightism against those who have to use reading glasses.
On tattoos and attractiveness.
Any similar studies of tattoos on men? I assume that the social stigma is less but not non-existent. And then there is the question of facial and neck tattoos, which seem to be most closely associated with socially undesirable characteristics. And even more so, body piercings, ear plugs, etc.
We have a generation of students who get into the workforce and actually believe that their ideas, based on no knowledge whatsoever, will be valued from the moment that they enter the door
I did once have a personal encounter with that attitude, to the detriment of my development team.
How do you teach a goalkeeper situational awareness? You can’t. You can give some guiding principles, review mistakes, and after that it is practice, practice, practice.
A lot of that learning–situational awareness, problem solving, etc–takes place at the subconscious level: Scientists and engineers and writers will tell you that, based on their own experience, much of that thinking takes place at a level which is inaccessible to conscious scrutiny. In fact, many will say that the best solution when they are stuck is to sleep on a problem and let their subconscious work more.
Meanwhile at the State Department, Times New Roman is cancelled….San serif typefaces were developed to make large blocks of text more readable, so I am not sure how a sans makes the Department “more accessible”
A two-fold justification: First, that studies show sans serif fonts to be somewhat easier to read. Second, that the problem with serifs is exacerbated for some people with visual, cognitive, or learning disabilities.
The first is what I have been hearing from Europeans for decades in response to my preference for the elegance of serifs: Sans serif fonts are the norm in Western Europe specifically because of readability.
The second is new to me, but unsurprising: Sooner or later everything becomes a DEI cause.
The change was recommended by the secretary’s office of diversity and inclusion, but the decision has already ruffled feathers among aesthetic-conscious employees who have been typing in Times New Roman for years in cables and memos from far-flung embassies and consulates around the world.
“I’ve known for my entire life that I’ve wanted children,” said Danny Wakefield, who gave birth in 2020.
Not sure that explains all the extra steps she took.
Bearing in mind her physical appearance the donor during that 2020 one night stand must have exhibited a cross between m butterfly levels of inexperience and nth degree beer goggles.
Not sure that explains all the extra steps she took.
You must say “they”, not “he” or “she”. I won’t warn you twice.
[ Glares in Maoist indignation. ]
I’ll just leave this here.
I’ll just leave this here.
Not totally unrelated, things did not go to plan.
Ah, modern wooing.
First, that studies show sans serif fonts to be somewhat easier to read.
Same typo I made, serif typefaces are easier to read, and why they were developed.
Sans serif are easier for things like captions, subtitles, display (why most display typefaces are sans), and similar non-large text blocks.
Of course with this present crop of semi-literates who can neither write nor read cursive, big block letters might be easier for someone to read to them.
Same typo I made, serif typefaces are easier to read, and why they were developed.
Well, the claim is that recent studies show that sans serif typefaces are a bit easier to read:
“Several experts said the research now leans strongly toward the conclusion that sans serif fonts are more readable, but there is a decades-long history of disagreement.”
But I suspect that much of the pressure to change is aesthetic, as also reflected in the evolution of corporate logos from complex to hyper-simplified. I’m sure that everybody reading this blog can think of examples. Right off the top of my head, I can think of a few local banks whose old logos were complex and represented their origins, but which are now so simplified as to erase all that history and mean nothing beyond “this is us”. So: A generations-long push from hyper-modern designers, which has now been joined by advocates of the learning-disabled.
“In recent years, the decorative “wings” and “feet” of serif fonts have gone out of fashion in design circles and consumer brands have opted for cleaner sans-serif fonts in their logos such as Helvetica. “Millennials Have Killed the Serif,” hailed a New York magazine headline in 2018.”
Happy Dead Communist Day: Lenin died 99 years ago.
For the State Department, Comic Sans would be more appropriate.