Random Post

[Michael]

One of the very first forums I was a member of way back many years ago, there was a Random Post thread. It turned out to be consistently one of the most popular and interesting threads at the forum. Since then, I've created a similar thread in various other forums over the years and sure enough, these Random Post threads always seem to be popular.

So, here it is... the official and always popular Random Post thread!

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, this thread has no actual topic. Please feel free to use this thread for comments or posts that don't need their own thread (or don't fit anywhere else) or just to post anything you like, or something you think others might find funny or interesting or whatever.

Post away...

[partofme]

I wonder how long it will take for those Yahoo and Google spiders to start showing up again.

[Michael]

Google spiders have been here already. :)

And our links posted at various directories will still work now.

Yes this will be a set back, but 'shit happens' sometimes. We will recover and grow better, stronger and larger than before!

We just wanted to get the forum back up as soon as possible. There may still be some 'bugs' hanging around so let us know if you see anything odd. We rebuilt this place from scratch!

[partofme]

When I click on the Homepage link under site navigation I get a 404.

[partofme]

I must say I'm very happy the site is back up. Spending time at other forums was bad for my blood pressure.

[Michael]

I must say I'm very happy the site is back up. Spending time at other forums was bad for my blood pressure.
We're glad to be back up and very glad to have you back! :)

Life just wasn't the same without my daily dose of DWF! :D

Besides, you guys might even be able to catch up with my post count now!

[Dominick]

When I click on the Homepage link under site navigation I get a 404.
Fixed. Thanks for pointing that out.

[Donkey]

I tried to log in three times before I realized my account no longer existed. :p

[Dominick]

I tried to log in three times before I realized my account no longer existed. :p
Yeah, gonna put up a notice about that.
Nice to see ya, compañero

[partofme]

I tried to log in three times before I realized my account no longer existed. :p

I did the same thing. My name and password where still saved so I kept trying different passwords I use instead until I hit the limit and had to wait 15 minutes. Luckily I figured it out before then.

[Michael]

Its good to see our membership coming back... :)

And a Google spider arrived about an hour after we went online!

I'm of course waiting for infamous 'Spider 38' to arrive. He's the slowpoke who reads the site at about one thread per 4 hours and visits for days at a time.

[partofme]

Damn I can't wait until election day. Now that the debates are over it's just tit for tat between the campaigns and poll watching. I care about how it goes but I'm just tired and burnt out on the whole thing. I started keeping up with this thing way back when they had the first democrat and republican debates long before the first primaries even. Other than following who the winning picks in his cabinet I think I'm going to disengage from politics until the inauguration.

[Michael]

Damn I can't wait until election day. Now that the debates are over it's just tit for tat between the campaigns and poll watching. I care about how it goes but I'm just tired and burnt out on the whole thing. I started keeping up with this thing way back when they had the first democrat and republican debates long before the first primaries even. Other than following who the winning picks in his cabinet I think I'm going to disengage from politics until the inauguration.
So true. And you know what happens right after January 30th?

The 2010 midterm election cycle begins!

You Americans are weird with your elections. Non-stop permanent election mode with multi-year campaigns. Mind-boggling. No wonder you have low voter turn out. Looks like voter burnout.

[partofme]

So true. And you know what happens right after January 30th?

The 2010 midterm election cycle begins!

You Americans are weird with your elections. Non-stop permanent election mode with multi-year campaigns. Mind-boggling. No wonder you have low voter turn out. Looks like voter burnout.

True. The one good thing about that is at least it isn't given so much focus that all other international news isn't put on the back burner. I'm glad the election is given the attention it is but so instead of it cutting into the time of feel good/sensationalist/entertainment news it cuts out other stories that are also important. I actually would like to focus on state and local races in those times but here we have a severe lack of coverage really. Even in most of the congressional races this year nobody seems to be having debates here in Kentucky and barely anything is posted on the candidate's websites about policy. The only thing I really have to go on is the record of the incumbents and the television ads which are not worth paying attention to. I would say that the presidential elections drowned out the coverage of other races but they do not get enough attention during mid term elections. Very frustrating.

[Michael]

True. The one good thing about that is at least it isn't given so much focus that all other international news isn't put on the back burner. I'm glad the election is given the attention it is but so instead of it cutting into the time of feel good/sensationalist/entertainment news it cuts out other stories that are also important. I actually would like to focus on state and local races in those times but here we have a severe lack of coverage really. Even in most of the congressional races this year nobody seems to be having debates here in Kentucky and barely anything is posted on the candidate's websites about policy. The only thing I really have to go on is the record of the incumbents and the television ads which are not worth paying attention to. I would say that the presidential elections drowned out the coverage of other races but they do not get enough attention during mid term elections. Very frustrating.
Yes, the idea that one votes for President, Senator, Congress Rep, Governor, State Senators, State Legislature Rep and County officials (not to mention any ballot initiatives) all on the same ballot on the same day seems rather bizarre and not very effective.

[partofme]

Yes, the idea that one votes for President, Senator, Congress Rep, Governor, State Senators, State Legislature Rep and County officials (not to mention any ballot initiatives) all on the same ballot on the same day seems rather bizarre and not very effective.

I would say the majority vote down a party line. I decided two races based on which candidate refused to take part in a televised debate. Another was easy because one candidate had been caught in a scandal in a previous office. Then there is the presidential race. Other than that I'm probably going to abstain from the others.

[Michael]

Just as a random reminder, that we do have a small library of avatars available on the system if anyone wants to use them. There's quite a range there - lots of funny/silly type avatars as well as some cartoon characters to choose from. :)

[Michael]

A couple of new forums added. :)

It is our goal here to have a well-rounded general discussion forum with lots of topic variety (not just politics and philosophy that I love so much).

[The Sister]

Yes, the idea that one votes for President, Senator, Congress Rep, Governor, State Senators, State Legislature Rep and County officials (not to mention any ballot initiatives) all on the same ballot on the same day seems rather bizarre and not very effective.
Is this why there seems to be so much problem with voting?

I have never heard of the problems voting here in Canada that seems to be common in the US - but usually our ballots are really simple, we make an x with a pencil and fold the paper and put it in a box!

[Michael]

Is this why there seems to be so much problem with voting?
You got it.

It is also the meaning of the term "straight ticket voter" (one who just chooses one party and votes that party all the way down the ballot). This is also why they use voting machines instead of a little piece of paper with an x.

[Helene]

I just bought a house and it looks like I'm getting the job I applied for too (getting the offer in the mail this Monday). Amsterdam, here I come!

[Michael]

I just bought a house and it looks like I'm getting the job I applied for too (getting the offer in the mail this Monday). Amsterdam, here I come!
Sounds like wonderful news. Congrats on becoming a member of the bourgeois capitalist property owning class. :D

[Helene]

Sounds like wonderful news. Congrats on becoming a member of the bourgeois capitalist property owning class. :D

Yes. I am recanting all my former beliefs regarding the redistribution of wealth ;).

[Michael]

Yes. I am recanting all my former beliefs regarding the redistribution of wealth ;).
:rofl:

Btw, I've set the 'thumbnail' display fairly large so that anyone can 'attach' pictures and they will be displayed in thread (without them having to be linked from outside).

[partofme]

Ted Stevens guilty on all counts. Fuck yeah!!!

[Michael]

Ted Stevens guilty on all counts. Fuck yeah!!!
Sweet! (I love it when political veterans finally have to pay a price after decades of corruption - they always act so 'shocked', figuring that they got away with it so long there's nothing wrong with doing things that way - or that they are 'special').

And since he's on the ballot in Alaska, I'm wondering if he'll be re-elected?

And what's the Alaska State Constitution say about appointing a replacement for a Senator who is unable to fulfill electoral office due to jail?

[Michael]

Weird... I've just scanned through a dozen 'leftwing' blogs this morning.

NOT ONE WORD about Obama's prime time (and World Series delaying) infomercial last night.

This is strikingly unusual given that every one of these blogs 'live-blogged' for every debate making hundreds of comments.

But Obama's informercial? A radical direct appeal to the electorate in the closing days of the campaign and not a single word even acknowledging that it happened?

Weird. You'd think they were all embarrassed about it or something. Did Obama fuck it up?

CNN is carrying McCain's (negative) comments about Obama's infomercial...

Very odd...

[Michael]

And more weirdness this morning...

All the Toronto newspapers (3 of the 4 largest newspapers in the country) all have the headline of "Government moves to protect private pension funds" (or some variant upon that).

This is pure bullshit. The Canadian Government has done no such thing. They have, at the behest of intense corporate lobbying, have relaxed the requirement for corporations to make up funding shortfalls in these pension funds - that may be due to the crashing markets. That action helps corporate balance sheets. It does NOTHING for any private pension fund at all - indeed, it legally allows them to degenerate.

Now I don't object to this action specifically as it is an accounting necessity due to the market problems. My objection is the 'pro-corporate' propaganda being spewed out in newspaper headlines.

Looks like Canadian media is becoming as disfunctional as US media now...

[partofme]

Weird... I've just scanned through a dozen 'leftwing' blogs this morning.

NOT ONE WORD about Obama's prime time (and World Series delaying) infomercial last night.

This is strikingly unusual given that every one of these blogs 'live-blogged' for every debate making hundreds of comments.

But Obama's informercial? A radical direct appeal to the electorate in the closing days of the campaign and not a single word even acknowledging that it happened?

Weird. You'd think they were all embarrassed about it or something. Did Obama fuck it up?

CNN is carrying McCain's (negative) comments about Obama's infomercial...

Very odd...

It did not have much to offer. It was a 30 minute version of his positive ads.

[Donkey]

Model UN starts today!

For the next few days I will be Syria on the LAS.

Inshallah.

[Michael]

Model UN starts today!

For the next few days I will be Syria on the LAS.

Inshallah.
No doubt you will be ranting against the US for their 'criminal violations' of Syrian sovereignty! ;)

[Donkey]

No doubt you will be ranting against the US for their 'criminal violations' of Syrian sovereignty! ;)
No doubt. :D

So I was thinking about the nationalization of banks and whatnot and decided that Democrats flirt with socialism all night long, but Republicans get totally smashed and then don't recognize socialism when they wake up in bed with it the next morning.

[Michael]

So I was thinking about the nationalization of banks and whatnot and decided that Democrats flirt with socialism all night long, but Republicans get totally smashed and then don't recognize socialism when they wake up in bed with it the next morning.
Good one! :rofl:

However, when Republicans do it, its not socialism.

For clarification of this point, please see Sarah Palin's explanation of why "communal ownership of resources" in Alaska is not socialism. ;)

[SMadsen]

No doubt. :D

So I was thinking about the nationalization of banks and whatnot and decided that Democrats flirt with socialism all night long, but Republicans get totally smashed and then don't recognize socialism when they wake up in bed with it the next morning.
:lol::lol:

Excellent!

[Helene]

I'm going to quit my job today... :eek:

[Michael]

I'm going to quit my job today... :eek:
Is that the "new" job you mentioned the other day?

Or is that the "old" job you have to give up for the new one? :ummm:

[Michael]

Okay... so who is all dressed up for Halloween?

Our receptionist is dressed as a witch and we have girl in bindery department wearing a bunny suit. :rofl:

Anyone got a costume for a party tonight?

[Donkey]

My costume is for the Model UN conference Halloween party tomorrow. I'm going as Juan Valdez.

[Helene]

Is that the "new" job you mentioned the other day?

Or is that the "old" job you have to give up for the new one? :ummm:

The old job so I can start the new job. Not going to quit my new one :D!

[Michael]

The old job so I can start the new job. Not going to quit my new one :D!
Glad to hear it! And good luck with the new job! :)

Btw, I just bought a new car this week. 2006 Cobalt SS (Chevrolet) - I got a very, very good deal on it buying it through my company - one of our sales-droids had it on lease and the company bought out the car at the end of the lease and sold it to me at cost so I paid about half of what the car is worth. :D

I really don't care much about cars - as long as it is a 2-door, 5-speed with a punchy 4 cylinder engine, sunroof and a kick-ass stereo, I'm happy. Makes a good combination of 'speed-power' along with good fuel efficiency. :)

[partofme]

For some reason I can't access this site without going through a proxy. All other sites seem to work except for The Atlantic and this one. Strange.

[Michael]

For some reason I can't access this site without going through a proxy. All other sites seem to work except for The Atlantic and this one. Strange.
I made a note for our favorite forum techie to look into this matter. :)

Speaking of which, he's presently down with a case of the sniffles... ;)

[partofme]

I made a note for our favorite forum techie to look into this matter. :)

Speaking of which, he's presently down with a case of the sniffles... ;)

I appreciate it but I'm not sure he will be able to do anything since I'm the only one experiencing it. I'm having the same problem with theatlantic.com which works fine with a proxy but not otherwise. I called my I.S.P. and they couldn't really help me but they seem to think it has something to do with a lawsuit involving Sprint. Hope Dominick gets to feeling better. :)

[Donkey]

I'm a beast at model UN!

[Greendruid]

Did well did you?

[Donkey]

Did well did you?
Yeah. Superior delegate award for representing Syria on the League of Arab States. We also got 3rd place school award.

I guess I'm not terribly modest about this, but if there's anything that I'm willing to say that I'm definitely really good at, it's Model UN.

I think I'll reward myself with an overdue nap.

[partofme]

This site and The Atlantic are now coming up which is great because using a proxy sucks.

[Donkey]

This site and The Atlantic are now coming up which is great because using a proxy sucks.
How do you do proxies?

Did anyone else do Halloween this year?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/camilosmurf/328588412_1123854411_0.jpg

[partofme]

How do you do proxies?

Did anyone else do Halloween this year?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/camilosmurf/328588412_1123854411_0.jpg

Just Google proxy servers. There are many. It just allows you to browse sites through another server so you remain anonymous. The one I was using was pretty fast but I had to view ads at every site I went to. Some charge money.

[Michael]

Yeah. Superior delegate award for representing Syria on the League of Arab States. We also got 3rd place school award.
Congrats! :)

I guess I'm not terribly modest about this, but if there's anything that I'm willing to say that I'm definitely really good at, it's Model UN.
Yeah, well, you can be thankful someone like me wasn't representing Russia, Iran or China eh? :D

Us Machiavellians can be devious in such games.

I think I'll reward myself with an overdue nap.
That's appropriately 'Arabesque'. ;)

[Dominick]

This site and The Atlantic are now coming up which is great because using a proxy sucks.
Good ! Especially since I hadn't a clue what caused that in the first place :angel:

[Michael]

20 C or 70 F is a mighty weird temperature to have in Toronto in November...

As politically incorrect as it is, I sure like this global warming trend... :D

[Donkey]

20 C or 70 F is a mighty weird temperature to have in Toronto in November...

As politically incorrect as it is, I sure like this global warming trend... :D
Sha... Actually, it's so pretty and odd I was going to take pictures of the lake before the sun starts to set. Should get dressed...

[Michael]

:banana:

We have our Google PR ranking back. Only "1" (out of possible 10) but that's WAY better than "unranked".

We had gotten that PR just before the 'big crash' so its nice to see this back. :)

Our Alexa ranking is in the 6 million zone right now. Again, a slight improvement but not quite back where we were yet. We should be in the 3 million zone.

[partofme]

Does Alexa go by unique hits or just hits in general?

[Michael]

Does Alexa go by unique hits or just hits in general?
Alexa ranks millions of websites by traffic (hits in general plus pageviews - AFAIK). Lower number the better. Google.com probably has a single digit Alexa ranking. When we first went online, we were in the 16-18 million range.

[Michael]

The weather has returned to normal November stuff ... dull, dreary, damp and dismal. :erm:

(Americano may like this stuff, but I don't!)

[Donkey]

It's 33 degrees outside. I just took a shower and am afraid to go outside because my hair feels like it's freezing! :p

[partofme]

Did everybody see the clip of Joe Scarbrough say fuck you on Morning Joe? The reactions are priceless.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155201977/bctid1912001506

[Michael]

World War 1 ended 90 years ago today - on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Lest we forget.

* * *

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

[Dominick]

^^
That's still a big deal around here. Far more in fact than the end of WWII.
There's parades, speeches, heaps of documentaries on TV, radio and in the papers and magazines. The cemeteries of WWI victims are still in impeccable shape too.

Did one know that to this day it's not unfrequent for farmers in Flanders to dig up remains of soldiers of WWI ? Occasionally they get identified too (with contemporary DNA techniques and/or through the happenstance of some personal item of jewelry or some such).

[Michael]

^^
That's still a big deal around here. Far more in fact than the end of WWII.
There's parades, speeches, heaps of documentaries on TV, radio and in the papers and magazines. The cemeteries of WWI victims are still in impeccable shape too.

Did one know that to this day it's not unfrequent for farmers in Flanders to dig up remains of soldiers of WWI ? Occasionally they get identified too (with contemporary DNA techniques and/or through the happenstance of some personal item of jewelry or some such).
Glad to hear it.

This is always big here in Canada. Canada sacrificed almost 1% of the national population to die in that war. We have monuments to WW1 soldiers in almost every town square in the nation. There are dozen in Toronto alone - each one lists the names of those who died from that neighborhood.

There just is no comparision with the end of WW2 which is rarely ever noticed as an anniversary at all.

[Americano]

The weather has returned to normal November stuff ... dull, dreary, damp and dismal. :erm:

(Americano may like this stuff, but I don't!)

I don't mind as long as it stays down in the valleys. I like snow.

[Michael]

I hope Oregon has a record amount of snowfall this winter. :D

[Michael]

Btw, by the look of the massive advertising barrage for the new James Bond movie - starting 3-4 weeks before the opening, that's a long-standing sign that the movie sucks and test-audiences hated it.

If you see two dozen billboards for a movie three weeks before the movie opens, that's a guarenteed sign that they expect the movie to bomb - and thus are banking on getting as many people in the door as possible before word of mouth from those who've seen it kills it.

Word of mouth is the overwhelmingly important marketing tool for movie success. It is also free. If you have a good movie, you don't need much of a marketing budget at all because it will sell itself. Big marketing budgets are only used to promote bombs.

According to this tried and true pattern, we can expect this Bond move to be available on DVD in time for Christmas season.

[Americano]

I hope Oregon has a record amount of snowfall this winter. :D

That's dreary fog down below from the rivers and tributaries, but I also hope we get record snowfall.

[Americano]

Btw, by the look of the massive advertising barrage for the new James Bond movie - starting 3-4 weeks before the opening, that's a long-standing sign that the movie sucks and test-audiences hated it.

If you see two dozen billboards for a movie three weeks before the movie opens, that's a guarenteed sign that they expect the movie to bomb - and thus are banking on getting as many people in the door as possible before word of mouth from those who've seen it kills it.

Word of mouth is the overwhelmingly important marketing tool for movie success. It is also free. If you have a good movie, you don't need much of a marketing budget at all because it will sell itself. Big marketing budgets are only used to promote bombs.

According to this tried and true pattern, we can expect this Bond move to be available on DVD in time for Christmas season.

I haven't seen a Bond film in many years. Still the same tired formula?

[Michael]

That's dreary fog down below from the rivers and tributaries, but I also hope we get record snowfall.
In which case I will hope you get record cold. You need some nostril-freezing type temperatures to teach you what real winter is like.

Bottom line is if you wish for winter, you don't really don't know what real winter is. :D

I was driving up through Muskoka last weekend (an hour north of Toronto) and the fire hydrants all have their orange 'antennae' up already. These communities have to install 10' long flourescent orange plastic rods to all fire hydrants so they can be located even when the ground is covered with 6-8 feet of snow.

[Americano]

In which case I will hope you get record cold. You need some nostril-freezing type temperatures to teach you what real winter is like.

Bottom line is if you wish for winter, you don't really don't know what real winter is. :D

I was driving up through Muskoka last weekend (an hour north of Toronto) and the fire hydrants all have their orange 'antennae' up already. These communities have to install 10' long flourescent orange plastic rods to all fire hydrants so they can be located even when the ground is covered with 6-8 feet of snow.

I had a place in Northern Idaho near the Canadian border for years where -40° F was not unknown. Cold here is zero or -5°, pleasant.

[Michael]

I had a place in Northern Idaho near the Canadian border for years where -40° F was not unknown. Cold here is zero or -5°, pleasant.
-40 (same in either Farenheit or Celsius) is definitely pretty cold. That's the coldest Toronto ever gets (though we do hit that regularly).

Keep in mind that Toronto has the mildest winter in Canada except for the southwest corner of BC (which is probably similar to Oregon).

Most real Canadians would call us wimps for bitching about -40 temperatures. Serious cold starts at -40! :eek:

That's the kind of temperature that can easily freeze the gas lines in your car, or freeze up door locks. Lots of engines have trouble starting at that temperature.

[Americano]

-40 (same in either Farenheit or Celsius) is definitely pretty cold. That's the coldest Toronto ever gets (though we do hit that regularly).

Keep in mind that Toronto has the mildest winter in Canada except for the southwest corner of BC (which is probably similar to Oregon).

Most real Canadians would call us wimps for bitching about -40 temperatures. Serious cold starts at -40! :eek:

That's the kind of temperature that can easily freeze the gas lines in your car, or freeze up door locks. Lots of engines have trouble starting at that temperature.

In those temperatures field equipment runs 24/7. I had electric block heaters on the vehicles I used in Idaho. Every winter there was always at least one casualty from unprepared people having vehicle breakdowns in remote areas. I always carried full winter gear in vehicles when I was there, including a rated sleeping bag. I had enough of that adventure to sate me. I'll take Oregon's mild, four distinct seasons climate.

[partofme]

Here in Kentucky below zero Fahrenheit isn't that common. It happens maybe once or twice every other year.

[Michael]

I'm thinking that some people don't have avatars... might need some help!

(hint: Kermit!) :D

[Americano]

I'm thinking that some people don't have avatars... might need some help!

(hint: Kermit!) :D

Maybe a stock, embarrassing avatar that comes with registration to 'encourage' them to put one up?

[Michael]

Maybe a stock, embarrassing avatar that comes with registration to 'encourage' them to put one up?
Well, I was thinking of just a few of the notable avatar-free members whom it would amuse me to give a humorous avatar to. :D

I don't want to scare away any prospective newbies! :)

Edited to add: Looks like my threats worked! I notice a new avatar! I guess he didn't like Kermit! ;)

[Michael]

And in case anyone is interested, this Sunday will be the Santa Claus parade in Toronto.

This will be Toronto's 104rd consecutive parade - apparently the oldest and largest Santa Claus parades on the planet (established in 1905).

This is a local institution that I grew up with. It came as quite a surprise recently when I discovered that this particular parade gets broadcast in dozens of countries around the globe.

[Americano]

It's about perfect for me. The damp doesn't bother me and you couldn't ask for better temperatures. Beautiful up there.

I've always liked Vancouver. Michigan, nah.

[Dominick]

I hope eveyone's aware this is a public thread. Just wondering.

[Michael]

For the FIRST time since we've opened this forum, every thread listed in the Discussion Forum section shows a "last posted by" someone other than me! :)

[SonofaHun]

Here in Kentucky below zero Fahrenheit isn't that common. It happens maybe once or twice every other year.

Up in this part of the state, we usually see about 5 below zero days during a normal winter. The past couple have been warmer, though. I don't think we dropped below 10 degress Fahrenheit at all last winter.

But it's pretty f***ing cold today--mid 30s and snowing. The good news is that I'm leaving for a Caribbean cruise in four days.:)

[partofme]

Up in this part of the state, we usually see about 5 below zero days during a normal winter. The past couple have been warmer, though. I don't think we dropped below 10 degress Fahrenheit at all last winter.

But it's pretty f***ing cold today--mid 30s and snowing. The good news is that I'm leaving for a Caribbean cruise in four days.:)

I surprised it's that different. Here it has been in the 40s today and got down in the upper 20s last night.

[Donkey]

It's snowing here. Makes riding ye olde bicycle a bore.

[partofme]

I love snow but we do not get too much of it. I remember in my childhood having pretty big snows but now they are a novelty. Usually we have one or two snow days a year and by the next day or so it's pretty much clear.

[Americano]

We don't get any serious snow, last year we couldn't get out four times, each for three days, but that's because our home has a long 12° slope drive off the county road. Getting up in low-range 4x4 is no problem but going down is an entirely different game. I have a 4x4 quad, so unless it's a volunteer day we don't worry about it and the quad eventually breaks it down to where I'm not scared shitless of going off a cliff.

It is beautiful (if one doesn't have to go anywhere).

[Michael]

Yes, winter can be very beautiful when viewed from a warm and cozy bay-window with no need to leave the house. ;)

In the city, winter is just plain ugly - there is no room to put the piled up snow anywhere and all the building-heat makes it melt during the day - and freeze overnight. Sidewalks turn to slush, roads are narrowed to one lane (with snow-drift-packed parked cars on the side). And two days after the snow falls, it is all just a grey and icy mess. Nothing pretty about it.

Btw, one of our sales people arrive at work this morning with snow on his car. Toronto still has green grass, but way out there in suburban-commuter-land, they had some snow last night.

[Michael]

The good news is that I'm leaving for a Caribbean cruise in four days.:)
Bastard! :erm:

[Americano]

Yes, winter can be very beautiful when viewed from a warm and cozy bay-window with no need to leave the house. ;)

In the city, winter is just plain ugly - there is no room to put the piled up snow anywhere and all the building-heat makes it melt during the day - and freeze overnight. Sidewalks turn to slush, roads are narrowed to one lane (with snow-drift-packed parked cars on the side). And two days after the snow falls, it is all just a grey and icy mess. Nothing pretty about it.

I well remember the misery of extreme winter weather cities, and avoid them. Nothing pleasant about it.

Btw, one of our sales people arrive at work this morning with snow on his car. Toronto still has green grass, but way out there in suburban-commuter-land, they had some snow last night.

We're still about a month out.

[Michael]

Here's one for Sucre... :D

Why do so many women study psychology? (http://zizekstudies.org/index.php/ijzs/article/view/48/151)

[Michael]

We're still about a month out.
The ground is covered in few inches of snow here - apparently there's been some huge snowfalls & whiteout conditions in Southern Ontario (Niagara region - southwest of Toronto).

[Americano]

The ground is covered in few inches of snow here - apparently there's been some huge snowfalls & whiteout conditions in Southern Ontario (Niagara region - southwest of Toronto).

We've had depressing fog. I need to go to the store and lay in a larger supply of beer to get me through it.

[Multiplum]

We've got snow.

Usually not much snow this far west. Looking at a webcam from my home town, I'm surprised to see that there's nothing. And it's almost December. I'll be going home for Christmas after my last exam, and I'm hoping for snow. The alternative is ice, which sucks.

[Sucre]

We have snow today :)

[Donkey]

We do too. My bike is out of commission at the moment (bah!) so my roommate gave me a ride to class. I forgot my belt. :-/

[partofme]

I would really like for it to snow really good this year so my oldest son could get a chance to play in it. We didn't have any real good snow last year.

[Americano]

Until I blew a knee downhill skiing was my #1 winter pursuit. I still like snow (as long as I don't have to be in a commercial city with it).

[Michael]

We do too. My bike is out of commission at the moment (bah!) so my roommate gave me a ride to class. I forgot my belt. :-/
Donkey takes up the 'sagger' style. ;)

[Michael]

I suppose today is the beginning of the biggest US holiday season of the year... The US is essentially closed till Monday...

[bug]

Everywhere except my place of employment. I have to work tomm. It's alright because not only am I a vegetarian, but I dont belive in the celebration of the hypocritical pre-massacre of Indians. :D

[bug]

Oops. And the hypocritical racist way I didn't say Native Americans

[partofme]

One thing I never liked about Thanksgiving is that the food is overrated. Turkey is a less juicy version of chicken which I would much rather have and all the sides are pretty much the same old stuff I eat from time to time anyway. Really the desserts are the only real special part of it for me. I have to go with my wife to her family's get together and eat and then leave and go to mine and eat again and the food is pretty much the same. Give me a good steak or some Italian food any day. Spending time with the people is alright but the ones I like I see most of the time anyway and the others I just chit chat with.

[Donkey]

Donkey takes up the 'sagger' style. ;)
Actually, those pants are one of the pairs that I have that I don't need a belt to keep them up at all. I just feel a little naked without a belt.

Which is ironic considering how I love to be naked.

[Michael]

Thanks for sharing that Donkey... :ummm:

Top of the Turkey Day to our American friends and cousins.

Btw, that thing about the Presidents and various Governors pardoning a turkey just before everyone eats a whole bunch of turkeys seems weird. :shrug:

[partofme]

Thanks for sharing that Donkey... :ummm:

Top of the Turkey Day to our American friends and cousins.

Btw, that thing about the Presidents and various Governors pardoning a turkey just before everyone eats a whole bunch of turkeys seems weird. :shrug:

Sometimes it serves it's purpose.

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/in_thanksgiving_tradition_bush

[Americano]

My wife can't believe the wild turkeys around our place haven't been harvested for turkey day dinners. I explained to her that a majority of Americans firmly believe turkeys are hatched fully frozen in shrink-wrap printed with colorful, wild claims of succulence.

[Michael]

Sometimes it serves it's purpose.

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/in_thanksgiving_tradition_bush
That's hilarious! :lol:

Though, I did notice that the Onion's intro on that video sure looks like it was 'inspired' by the 'intro' used for Rick Mercer Report (who was/is probably a great inspiration to the Onion and Jon Stewart for political satire news reports).

Rick Mercer rocks! ;)

If anyone wants to know real Canadian culture, you can't get much better than the Rick Mercer Report.

[The Drunk Guy]

I've had heartburn all goddamn day! Just now getting to drink, too. Lame.

[Michael]

And today is Black Friday (hopefully) for US retailers - traditionally the busiest retail sales day in America.

Given the economy, not likely, but you never know...

[Americano]

And today is Black Friday (hopefully) for US retailers - traditionally the busiest retail sales day in America.

Given the economy, not likely, but you never know...

From what I've been reading about US retailers financial plight this holiday shopping season is going to be do or die for many. Panasonic, one of the world's largest consumer electronics manufacturers, is in the news stating it cut its net profit forecast for the current business year on Thursday by 90%. And Macy's is looking for someone to refinance its massive acquisition debt for survival purposes in an economy where all investors with half a brain are liquid. It's not a happy time in the world of retailers.

[Americano]

I've had heartburn all goddamn day! Just now getting to drink, too. Lame.

Start drinking earlier?

[partofme]

People never cease to amaze me.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html

[Michael]

People never cease to amaze me.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html

Fucking wow! :eek:

[partofme]

Fucking wow! :eek:

According to other articles a woman at the same store lost her baby because of it.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20081128/UPDATES01/81128005

I hope those people think about that when their kids are opening the presents they rushed to get that day.

[Americano]

According to other articles a woman at the same store lost her baby because of it.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20081128/UPDATES01/81128005

I hope those people think about that when their kids are opening the presents they rushed to get that day.

Their thoughts will probably be anger from having tripped on a body and missing one of the 'deals'.

[The Drunk Guy]

Fucking wow! :eek:
Funny how this does not at all bring back memories of Election Day.

[Donkey]

One of my friends sent me a text saying she's been shopping since 5:30.

Frankly I can't imagine why anyone would leave their house/bunker today at all.

I mean, I'll probably do something tonight, but no shopping!

[Americano]

As long as I have an Internet connection and UPS is delivering it would be difficult for me to even think about facing a mall or big box store crowd.

[Malvolio]

Very exotic. ;)

Do they give stuff away for free on "Black Friday" .... or why all the fuss?

[Americano]

Very exotic. ;)

Do they give stuff away for free on "Black Friday" .... or why all the fuss?

People buying things they don't need at low prices.

[Michael]

Very exotic. ;)

Do they give stuff away for free on "Black Friday" .... or why all the fuss?
North American retail tradition is to offer 'doorcrasher-specials' to ONLY the first 50 or 100 people in the door in the morning. This produces the lineup frenzy.

[Michael]

Frankly I can't imagine why anyone would leave their house/bunker today at all.
I can go to a grocery store, 2 variety stores, a dollar store, dry cleaners, drug store, submarine sandwich place and even an internet cafe without having to go outside (tiny little mall connected to the groundfloor of my building). This is really great on those cold winter weekends when one has no lemon juice for the eggs benedict on a Sunday morning! :)

Btw, by going through the common underground parking garage, you can get to within about 100 feet (30 meters) of the entrance to a subway station without going outside as well.

[partofme]

I can go to a grocery store, 2 variety stores, a dollar store, dry cleaners, drug store, submarine sandwich place and even an internet cafe without having to go outside (tiny little mall connected to the groundfloor of my building). This is really great on those cold winter weekends when one has no lemon juice for the eggs benedict on a Sunday morning! :)

Btw, by going through the common underground parking garage, you can get to within about 100 feet (30 meters) of the entrance to a subway station without going outside as well.

That is just convenient as hell!!!

[Donkey]

I can go to a grocery store, 2 variety stores, a dollar store, dry cleaners, drug store, submarine sandwich place and even an internet cafe without having to go outside (tiny little mall connected to the groundfloor of my building). This is really great on those cold winter weekends when one has no lemon juice for the eggs benedict on a Sunday morning! :)

Btw, by going through the common underground parking garage, you can get to within about 100 feet (30 meters) of the entrance to a subway station without going outside as well.
Damn. Those are some of the advantages of urban dwelling!

[Americano]

I can go to a grocery store, 2 variety stores, a dollar store, dry cleaners, drug store, submarine sandwich place and even an internet cafe without having to go outside (tiny little mall connected to the groundfloor of my building). This is really great on those cold winter weekends when one has no lemon juice for the eggs benedict on a Sunday morning! :)

Btw, by going through the common underground parking garage, you can get to within about 100 feet (30 meters) of the entrance to a subway station without going outside as well.

I still miss pay by the pound crisp, folded laundry services available only in cities.

[The Drunk Guy]

I can go to a grocery store, 2 variety stores, a dollar store, dry cleaners, drug store, submarine sandwich place and even an internet cafe without having to go outside (tiny little mall connected to the groundfloor of my building). This is really great on those cold winter weekends when one has no lemon juice for the eggs benedict on a Sunday morning! :)

Btw, by going through the common underground parking garage, you can get to within about 100 feet (30 meters) of the entrance to a subway station without going outside as well.
So where's the bar? What the fuck, man! I wouldn't live in that shithole.

:D

[Michael]

So where's the bar? What the fuck, man! I wouldn't live in that shithole.

:D
This is the city silly. There are two small neighborhood bars between my building and the subway station. There's also a patio-restaurant across the street that does great wings. And its about a ten minute walk to three different theater complexes and a couple dozen restaurants.

Crack dealers are down the alleyway behind my building. Prostitutes are available two blocks down the street. ;)

[Michael]

Poetic justice has scored a major victory - or proof that God does in fact exist...

Ann Coulter has had her jaw wired shut! (tis true!)

[Americano]

Poetic justice has scored a major victory - or proof that God does in fact exist...

Ann Coulter has had her jaw wired shut! (tis true!)

Let's hope the recovery is long term.

[The Drunk Guy]

This is the city silly. There are two small neighborhood bars between my building and the subway station. There's also a patio-restaurant across the street that does great wings. And its about a ten minute walk to three different theater complexes and a couple dozen restaurants.

Crack dealers are down the alleyway behind my building. Prostitutes are available two blocks down the street. ;)
Throw in some hobos for random killings and I'm moving.

[Americano]

Today's sunset. The white stuff is fog.

[Multiplum]

Nice picture.

Ok, THAT'S IT. I'm leaving. Mol200 exam starts in one hour.

I can't believe I didn't read more. I'm the worst student ever.

[wphelan]

I can't believe I didn't read more. I'm the worst student ever.

Ha, no, that can't be true because once upon I time I was in university myself!

[drgoodtrips]

I don't have a lot of time for posting this week and next week, so this is a bit of a drive-by, but I saw it earlier, and thought it might definitely interest some here as a discussion piece:

http://paulgraham.com/artistsship.html

It talks about the cost, in addition to opportunity cost, of institutions having checks on procedures designed to prevent problems or disasters.

[Michael]

I don't have a lot of time for posting this week and next week, so this is a bit of a drive-by, but I saw it earlier, and thought it might definitely interest some here as a discussion piece:

http://paulgraham.com/artistsship.html

It talks about the cost, in addition to opportunity cost, of institutions having checks on procedures designed to prevent problems or disasters.
Indeed, a very interesting article. There are some issues there I'd like to address.

[Dominick]

I'm taking this here not to mess up the Google Trivia Search thread.

The OED, at least the Compact Edition goes a lot further than merely taking newpapers as sources. Just an example : the lemma hate references a line of text from 897, viz. Doð þæm wel þe eow ær hatedon, ascribed to Ælfrēd, a king of Wessex.
Generally it's always the oldest known reference in English or even Old English, regardless of the source.

Oh, and hat-trick is a single lemma, considered a single word (hence the hyphen).

[Multiplum]

I'm taking this here not to mess up the Google Trivia Search thread.

The OED, at least the Compact Edition goes a lot further than merely taking newpapers as sources. Just an example : the lemma hate references a line of text from 897, viz. Doð þæm wel þe eow ær hatedon, ascribed to Ælfrēd, a king of Wessex.
Generally it's always the oldest known reference in English or even Old English, regardless of the source.

Oh, and hat-trick is a single lemma, considered a single word (hence the hyphen).

Looks just like Old Norwegian. We still use the æ, by the way. As in "ærlig" (honest), for instance. ÆØÅ!
I think Norwegian is quite simple to learn for English-speaking people. Easier than, say, German, which is also closely related.

Digression, sorry.

[Michael]

Since the USA is seeking to re-define marriage according to the Bible definition, it is only appropriate that they get it right!

Here's the bible's defintion of marriage:

A. Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women. (Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5)

B. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)

C. A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed. (Deut 22:13-21)

D. Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden. (Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30)

E. Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any State, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9)

F. If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10)

G. In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your town, it is required that you get your dad drunk and have sex with him (even if he had previously offered you up as a sex toy to men young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of course, this rule applies only if you are female. (Gen 19:31-36)

[partofme]

Since the USA is seeking to re-define marriage according to the Bible definition, it is only appropriate that they get it right!

Here's the bible's defintion of marriage:

If you don't mind the next time I'm in a discussion about the subject I would like to use those examples.

[The Drunk Guy]

B. Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron 11:21)
Yeah, I'm going to look those up and run them by the girlfriend. Maybe I'll have a Christian marriage afterall. :D

[Americano]

Yeah, I'm going to look those up and run them by the girlfriend. Maybe I'll have a Christian marriage afterall. :D

You could manage the extra wives with public assistance and religious dogma enforcement as exampled by contemporary Mormon fundamentalists. But, the concubine deal could, without take one's breath away high personal income, be an issue. It's almost like some of those rules to live by were influenced by special interests. Or could everyone afford multiple wives and concubines in that era?

[partofme]

As a business administration student in college I especially appreciate this one.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/manager_achieves_full_mastery_of

[Michael]

As a business administration student in college I especially appreciate this one.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/manager_achieves_full_mastery_of
:rofl:

Brilliant!

[partofme]

:rofl:

Brilliant!

You should use some of the quotes in that article at work just to see if people follow it or not.

[Americano]

As a business administration student in college I especially appreciate this one.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/manager_achieves_full_mastery_of


A Dilbert moment.

[Americano]

A must see:

http://genxfiles.com/2008/12/08/congressional-motors-announces-the-first-car-for-2012-the-pelosi/

[wphelan]

A must see:

http://genxfiles.com/2008/12/08/congressional-motors-announces-the-first-car-for-2012-the-pelosi/

At last! Mandatory helmets!

[Americano]

I liked the '22.5 thumping, carbon-neutral ponies of Detroit muscle'.

[The Drunk Guy]

I now own a chinchilla. Not once in my 27 years did I imagine owning such a creature, but one is now in my possession. And it's so fucking cute I can hardly stand it. His name is Che and he is currently exploring my apartment in his exercise ball.

If anyone else has one, care to share some tips to get him to be more touch-friendly. I plan on training him some with treats, but I would like to hear more suggestions. PM so we don't clog the Random board with a particular subject.

[partofme]

I now own a chinchilla. Not once in my 27 years did I imagine owning such a creature, but one is now in my possession. And it's so fucking cute I can hardly stand it. His name is Che and he is currently exploring my apartment in his exercise ball.

If anyone else has one, care to share some tips to get him to be more touch-friendly. I plan on training him some with treats, but I would like to hear more suggestions. PM so we don't clog the Random board with a particular subject.

Do they live long?

[Americano]

Is there an ultimate attire goal?

[The Drunk Guy]

Do they live long?
15 to 20 years is average. Sounds like the perfect pet for the lonely marijuana-possession-convict. ;)

[The Drunk Guy]

Is there an ultimate attire goal?Potentially, but I want to taste-test first. Waste not what-not. :D

[Americano]

15 to 20 years is average. Sounds like the perfect pet for the lonely marijuana-possession-convict. ;)

I wish you the best of fortune and happiness with your new pet. I live in my home at the whim of two cats, both spoiled to a point of dominance. I had black labs for pets over a 30-year period, one outlasted a couple of good women, but I became dissatisfied with their relatively short lifespans and the emotional loss. 15-20 years is good.

[partofme]

Looks like the evangelical movement isn't going to be slowing down any time soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/nyregion/14churches.html?hp

[Americano]

Looks like the evangelical movement isn't going to be slowing down any time soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/nyregion/14churches.html?hp

They're all looking for a savior from their problems without looking in the mirror.

[Michael]

They're all looking for a savior from their problems without looking in the mirror.
Too true.

The markets failed to produce 'magic pony' profits so now they turn to God - looking for the same thing.

I suppose the irony of a failure of 'faith in the financial markets' tending to resurface as 'faith in the religious market' escapes most commentators and observers. Do you think misplaced faith might have something to do with the market failures? Americans seem to have a lot of faith in faith - whether that is in the financial markets or in religion.

Btw, this also might be a fairly unique American cultural phenomenom... I'm looking around to see if this 'religious revival' pattern shows up outside the USA - the dearth of data suggests that it doesn't.

[Americano]

Too true.

The markets failed to produce 'magic pony' profits so now they turn to God - looking for the same thing.

I suppose the irony of a failure of 'faith in the financial markets' tending to resurface as 'faith in the religious market' escapes most commentators and observers. Do you think misplaced faith might have something to do with the market failures? Americans seem to have a lot of faith in faith - whether that is in the financial markets or in religion.

Btw, this also might be a fairly unique American cultural phenomenom... I'm looking around to see if this 'religious revival' pattern shows up outside the USA - the dearth of data suggests that it doesn't.

Their faith certainly benefits church leadership in a significant manner but I somehow doubt there's much 'trickle down' to the flock.

[partofme]

Too true.

The markets failed to produce 'magic pony' profits so now they turn to God - looking for the same thing.

I suppose the irony of a failure of 'faith in the financial markets' tending to resurface as 'faith in the religious market' escapes most commentators and observers. Do you think misplaced faith might have something to do with the market failures? Americans seem to have a lot of faith in faith - whether that is in the financial markets or in religion.

Btw, this also might be a fairly unique American cultural phenomenom... I'm looking around to see if this 'religious revival' pattern shows up outside the USA - the dearth of data suggests that it doesn't.

Faith is a common buzz word here. People do not worry nearly as much about what church you go to or even what your religion is so long as you have faith in something.

[Americano]

Faith is a common buzz word here. People do not worry nearly as much about what church you go to or even what your religion is so long as you have faith in something.

No faith = godless commie?

[partofme]

No faith = godless commie?

I guess so. I would argue that atheism is less tolerated here than homosexuality. While it's mostly the evangelicals and the rednecks that have a problem with homosexuality I would say almost everybody has a negative view of atheists.

[Americano]

I guess so. I would argue that atheism is less tolerated here than homosexuality. While it's mostly the evangelicals and the rednecks that have a problem with homosexuality I would say almost everybody has a negative view of atheists.

Elementary education in line with those views?

[The Drunk Guy]

I guess so. I would argue that atheism is less tolerated here than homosexuality. While it's mostly the evangelicals and the rednecks that have a problem with homosexuality I would say almost everybody has a negative view of atheists.
And rightly so. Atheists, to believers, are a threat to their entire outlook on life. The idea of challenging the one belief that they have to be brainwashed to except is like tinkering with a cornerstone in their aqueduct. Once a cornerstone is removed, the flow of all the bullshit stops and they are forced to wake up to the cold, hard truth of life. So, yeah, I see why we're looked at negatively.

But fuck them anyway. :D

[Multiplum]

But fuck them anyway. :D

Skål!

(Cheers!)

[Michael]

And rightly so. Atheists, to believers, are a threat to their entire outlook on life. The idea of challenging the one belief that they have to be brainwashed to except is like tinkering with a cornerstone in their aqueduct. Once a cornerstone is removed, the flow of all the bullshit stops and they are forced to wake up to the cold, hard truth of life. So, yeah, I see why we're looked at negatively.

But fuck them anyway. :D
:lol: Indeed, atheists do pose an 'inherent threat' to theists religions of all varieties and colors.

However, if you'd care to discuss this particular issue further, may I direct you this thread... here (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23). :)

[SMadsen]

It's a special day today here! The most severe earthquake in at least 23 years and quite possibly the strongest ever measured around here threw me and probably everyone else in the area out of bed this morning. A whopping 4.7 on the Richter scale!! :D

[SMadsen]

Americans seem to have a lot of faith in faith - whether that is in the financial markets or in religion.
Or in Startrek.

[Michael]

The price we receive for recycle paper stock has dropped in half over the last six months.

The price is so low now that it is cheaper to just throw it away than it is to sort it and package it up for the recycling people.

[Michael]

One wonders if Malvolio has ever read the Smilie Requests (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137) thread... :ummm:

[Greendruid]

The price we receive for recycle paper stock has dropped in half over the last six months.

The price is so low now that it is cheaper to just throw it away than it is to sort it and package it up for the recycling people.

Capitalist benchmarks for what is "cheaper" is the reason our species will extinguish itself. Nonetheless, the ramifications of this are fascinating. The reasons behind it are intriguing as well - archaeologists that study modern garbage (termed garbology) have consistently found that households waste more during times of economic hardship than in times of economic ease. I'm wondering if this is not an innate feature of markets and household that is somehow linked since both are governed by people and their perceptions of value.

[Michael]

On the deluge of xmas advertising on tv...

I think I'd like to have Avril Lavigne for xmas. Fuck the canon camera's she's supposedly hawking...

[partofme]

On the deluge of xmas advertising on tv...

I think I'd like to have Avril Lavigne for xmas. Fuck the canon camera's she's supposedly hawking...

You want to be her skater boy?

[Donkey]

Every time people talk about Christmas advertising I'm reminded why I don't have a TV. :D

[Americano]

Every time people talk about Christmas advertising I'm reminded why I don't have a TV. :D

Considering the advertising messages are directed at demographics used for programming content you have two reasons.

[Michael]

You want to be her skater boy?
She's hot - even if she is hawking some silly pink camera.

Advertising question here - is Avril a better sales pitch for products aimed at teenaged girls or for guys over 30? :D

There are several guys at work who have mentioned Avril's ad today. I'm not sure if the ad is running in the US since Avril is a Canadian and might be used only in the Canadian-version ads for Canon.

[partofme]

She's hot - even if she is hawking some silly pink camera.

Advertising question here - is Avril a better sales pitch for products aimed at teenaged girls or for guys over 30? :D

There are several guys at work who have mentioned Avril's ad today. I'm not sure if the ad is running in the US since Avril is a Canadian and might be used only in the Canadian-version ads for Canon.

I haven't seen it but I'm going to look for it. :D

[Americano]

She's hot - even if she is hawking some silly pink camera.

Advertising question here - is Avril a better sales pitch for products aimed at teenaged girls or for guys over 30? :D

Would depend on the products. A pink point/shoot camera is pretty much teen girls.

There are several guys at work who have mentioned Avril's ad today. I'm not sure if the ad is running in the US since Avril is a Canadian and might be used only in the Canadian-version ads for Canon.

[Michael]

Would depend on the products. A pink point/shoot camera is pretty much teen girls.
My point is that for a commercial clearly targetting teen girls, there sure are a lot of adult men talking about it.

I'm thinking Avril could be good for car commercials or shaving cream. She seems to appeal to the adult male demographic rather well... ;)

[Americano]

My point is that for a commercial clearly targetting teen girls, there sure are a lot of adult men talking about it.

I'm thinking Avril could be good for car commercials or shaving cream. She seems to appeal to the adult male demographic rather well... ;)

Envy usually sells consumer products better than admiration. In this instance the men may not even notice the product?

[Michael]

Envy usually sells consumer products better than admiration. In this instance the men may not even notice the product?
Yes, good point. I was only one who knew it was a Canon commercial... :D

[drgoodtrips]

Does anyone else use gmail and get targeted advertising related to SPAM, the meat-type-product, every time you empty your SPAM folder?

Every time I do that, I get increasingly appalling recipes for using SPAM in the preparation of various dishes. Some favorites so far are:

- SPAM Breakfast Burritos
- SPAM Pasta
- SPAM Veggie Pita Pockets
- Vineyard SPAM Salad

[partofme]

Does anyone else use gmail and get targeted advertising related to SPAM, the meat-type-product, every time you empty your SPAM folder?

Every time I do that, I get increasingly appalling recipes for using SPAM in the preparation of various dishes. Some favorites so far are:

- SPAM Breakfast Burritos
- SPAM Pasta
- SPAM Veggie Pita Pockets
- Vineyard SPAM Salad

I don't have a gmail account but I would imagine that SPAM has the extra money in this economic climate. I saw a report that said their sales are up 40%.

[drgoodtrips]

I don't have a gmail account but I would imagine that SPAM has the extra money in this economic climate. I saw a report that said their sales are up 40%.

I'm not a picky eater, and I shouldn't knock it without trying it, but it just always seems revolting to me. I'll eat pretty much anything, though I do usually prefer going to a butcher for buying meat - I like to cook a lot, so I put stock in buying ingredients that seem to work best for my purposes.

[partofme]

I'm not a picky eater, and I shouldn't knock it without trying it, but it just always seems revolting to me. I'll eat pretty much anything, though I do usually prefer going to a butcher for buying meat - I like to cook a lot, so I put stock in buying ingredients that seem to work best for my purposes.

I'm not picky but I love good food. I'll go all week eating hamburger helper and pasta in exchange for a good gourmet meal a week. My wife and I never eat at mediocre restaurants but we don't eat out all that often either. I guess that's because we have kids. We don't feel like all going out but when the kids are with her parents the two of us splurge.

[Americano]

Does anyone else use gmail and get targeted advertising related to SPAM, the meat-type-product, every time you empty your SPAM folder?

Every time I do that, I get increasingly appalling recipes for using SPAM in the preparation of various dishes. Some favorites so far are:

- SPAM Breakfast Burritos
- SPAM Pasta
- SPAM Veggie Pita Pockets
- Vineyard SPAM Salad

I use gmail but my spam is more pedestrian, the bulk being Viagra, Rolex copies and sex ads.

[Americano]

I'm not picky but I love good food. I'll go all week eating hamburger helper and pasta in exchange for a good gourmet meal a week. My wife and I never eat at mediocre restaurants but we don't eat out all that often either. I guess that's because we have kids. We don't feel like all going out but when the kids are with her parents the two of us splurge.

I'm very fortunate in that my wife is hooked on the Food Network and loves to cook. She's fortunate in that I'm known as the food leftover king. I actually prefer most pasta and starch based dishes the second (and third) day after they've had a chance to marinate.

[partofme]

I'm very fortunate in that my wife is hooked on the Food Network and loves to cook. She's fortunate in that I'm known as the food leftover king. I actually prefer most pasta and starch based dishes the second (and third) day after they've had a chance to marinate.

I'm horrible when it comes to leftovers. They will just sit in the fridge and start growing things.

[Americano]

I'm horrible when it comes to leftovers. They will just sit in the fridge and start growing things.

My favorite part of steak, turkey, ham and meatloaf are the leftover sandwiches.

[drgoodtrips]

I use gmail but my spam is more pedestrian, the bulk being Viagra, Rolex copies and sex ads.

Not the SPAM mail itself. Check the bar right above the "Archive", "Report SPAM", "DELETE", etc buttons. There's always a link there that is targeted to you based on the contents of your emails. When you empty the SPAM folder, it switches to SPAM recipes.

[Michael]

I'm very fortunate in that my wife is hooked on the Food Network and loves to cook. She's fortunate in that I'm known as the food leftover king. I actually prefer most pasta and starch based dishes the second (and third) day after they've had a chance to marinate.
My minestrone soup requires three days to make for this reason. It just doesn't have the real flavor until the 3rd day. Cooking is an art that I do enjoy.

Personally, I don't care much for food, I can eat the same thing every day, but I still enjoy making fine dinners - I'm pretty good with omelettes (I make several varieties) and also quite proficient with a wok. :)

I'm rather unadventurous as a cook though - I prefer to just make a few things really well - with the best ingredients possible, always striving to make it perfect.

[partofme]

My minestrone soup requires three days to make for this reason. It just doesn't have the real flavor until the 3rd day. Cooking is an art that I do enjoy.

Personally, I don't care much for food, I can eat the same thing every day, but I still enjoy making fine dinners - I'm pretty good with omelettes (I make several varieties) and also quite proficient with a wok. :)

I'm rather unadventurous as a cook though - I prefer to just make a few things really well - with the best ingredients possible, always striving to make it perfect.

You don't really like music that much and you don't really like food either. Is the pleasure center of your brain missing?

[Americano]

Not the SPAM mail itself. Check the bar right above the "Archive", "Report SPAM", "DELETE", etc buttons. There's always a link there that is targeted to you based on the contents of your emails. When you empty the SPAM folder, it switches to SPAM recipes.

I knew their advertising is well-targeted, but never noticed that. I've trained myself to overlook all advertising at Gmail and Yahoo. I use them for email, search (Google on both) and bookmarks.

You're in the biz. Were you impressed?

On the advertising side, they're all using the image repetition successfully developed for TV with technology far, far in front of TV. The number of repeated visual impressions to lodge in the average mind's memory is very low, 8-12 comes to mind. They utilize top talent.

A friend owns and operates a very successful specialty web shopping site and his highest single overhead is Google advertising. He doesn't bother with anyone else.

[Americano]

Good news here today, the weather forecast is saying we won't be trapped for Xmas Day. My wife plays Santa (in full costume) at both the soup kitchen and battered woman's shelter, handing out wrapped presents she obtained from local merchants. Her largest donor was, surprise, Wal-Mart, one of the few profitable US mass merchandisers. No special connections, our Wal-Mart superstore is very active in and can afford to be generous with community assistance.

I prayed long and hard to the snow gods for a break in our winter weather, the alternative being parking the 4x4 truck on the county road and shuttling Santa from the house to the truck and back on the quad, not a fun ride this time of year.

[drgoodtrips]

I knew their advertising is well-targeted, but never noticed that. I've trained myself to overlook all advertising at Gmail and Yahoo. I use them for email, search (Google on both) and bookmarks.

You're in the biz. Were you impressed?

Not really. I actually just wrapped up this semester's graduate course, in which we studied web crawling and information retrieval, both of which are directly relevant here. Google's automated targetting advertising wouldn't be particularly hard to do with them having all of your text based information from emails in their database. In fact, the engine seems remarkably stupid if it thinks that emptying your "SPAM" folder means you have an interest in faux-pork.

In general, the longer things go on with google, the more I'm coming to think of them and Microsoft as "meet the new boss - same as the old boss." Their Chrome browser's built in spying, their recent booking away from net neutrality. The fact that the search engine is not pure relevance anymore. The mercurial "page ranking" and the cottage industry of charlatanery and guessing it creates... sigh.

/end rant.

On the advertising side, they're all using the image repetition successfully developed for TV with technology far, far in front of TV. The number of repeated visual impressions to lodge in the average mind's memory is very low, 8-12 comes to mind. They utilize top talent.

A friend owns and operates a very successful specialty web shopping site and his highest single overhead is Google advertising. He doesn't bother with anyone else.

It might be better from a marketing and planning standpoint. I'll have to take your word on that since my knowledge of advertising strategy is limited to a class I took in 7th grade or thereabouts where we learned about "Plain Folks Appeal" and "Snob Appeal" and whatnot.

[Michael]

Snow day! :)

Conveniently, I have the day booked off. Looks nasty out there. Visibility is about 100 yards at most.

[partofme]

Snow day! :)

Conveniently, I have the day booked off. Looks nasty out there. Visibility is about 100 yards at most.

While we had some icy weather we haven't had any good snow. :mad:

[Michael]

While we had some icy weather we haven't had any good snow. :mad:
Oh yeah, this will be 'kid-paradise' this weekend - snowmen, tobaggans, snowforts and snowball fights. Its supposed to snow all day today and again on Sunday.

When I was a kid, we used a neighbor's ditch between two driveways and with the addition of a couple of sheets of 4' x 8' plywood, we used to make a two storey snowfort. The lower level was accessed by tunnel that you could 'slide' into from the upper part of the lawn and then crawl out of through another lower-level tunnel at ditch level. The top part would be open with walls and battlements (and a wooden floor). It was impressive. With the handy use of the garden hose to turn it into ice, something like this could last several weeks.

We don't get even half as much snow now as we did when I was a kid. Back then, we would have 'snow days' when schools were closed and that was fairly common. Now it is really rare. Even today the schools are all still open and everything is running. You need 10 inches of snow at least to shut everything down and we don't have that yet.

[partofme]

Oh yeah, this will be 'kid-paradise' this weekend - snowmen, tobaggans, snowforts and snowball fights. Its supposed to snow all day today and again on Sunday.

When I was a kid, we used a neighbor's ditch between two driveways and with the addition of a couple of sheets of 4' x 8' plywood, we used to make a two storey snowfort. The lower level was accessed by tunnel that you could 'slide' into from the upper part of the lawn and then crawl out of through another lower-level tunnel at ditch level. The top part would be open with walls and battlements (and a wooden floor). It was impressive. With the handy use of the garden hose to turn it into ice, something like this could last several weeks.

We don't get even half as much snow now as we did when I was a kid. Back then, we would have 'snow days' when schools were closed and that was fairly common. Now it is really rare. Even today the schools are all still open and everything is running. You need 10 inches of snow at least to shut everything down and we don't have that yet.

Same here on a different level. When I was a kid every other year we would get a really bad snow storm and we had some snow days every single year. I would say in the last five we have had a total of maybe a week of snow days for the schools and usually it is because of a little ice that makes the country roads bad.

[Dominick]

My wife plays Santa (in full costume) [...]
I can't help it but every time I read that sentence my thoughts do not exactly turn to Christian things ;):o:lol:

[Americano]

I can't help it but every time I read that sentence my thoughts do not exactly turn to Christian things ;):o:lol:

The beard, wig and stomach pillow will turn your thoughts in a different direction:

[Donkey]

Not the SPAM mail itself. Check the bar right above the "Archive", "Report SPAM", "DELETE", etc buttons. There's always a link there that is targeted to you based on the contents of your emails. When you empty the SPAM folder, it switches to SPAM recipes.
Heh, yeah I noticed that, though for the most part I've trained myself to "not see" advertisements.
Snow day! :)

Conveniently, I have the day booked off. Looks nasty out there. Visibility is about 100 yards at most.
Here too. Though probably more of an ice day. It was icy last night, and I guess there was a freezing rain earlier. It was nice though, because it meant we didn't have to get out of bed until one because my friend didn't need to pick up her semi-adopted little brother.
Oh yeah, this will be 'kid-paradise' this weekend - snowmen, tobaggans, snowforts and snowball fights. Its supposed to snow all day today and again on Sunday.

When I was a kid, we used a neighbor's ditch between two driveways and with the addition of a couple of sheets of 4' x 8' plywood, we used to make a two storey snowfort. The lower level was accessed by tunnel that you could 'slide' into from the upper part of the lawn and then crawl out of through another lower-level tunnel at ditch level. The top part would be open with walls and battlements (and a wooden floor). It was impressive. With the handy use of the garden hose to turn it into ice, something like this could last several weeks.

We don't get even half as much snow now as we did when I was a kid. Back then, we would have 'snow days' when schools were closed and that was fairly common. Now it is really rare. Even today the schools are all still open and everything is running. You need 10 inches of snow at least to shut everything down and we don't have that yet.
Oh man. It's been a long time since I've built a really good snow fort.

[Michael]

Capitalism at its finest!

Dec. 19 (Bloomberg) -- The shoe hurled at President George W. Bush has sent sales soaring at the Turkish maker as orders pour in from Iraq, the U.S. and Iran.

The brown, thick-soled “Model 271” may soon be renamed “The Bush Shoe” or “Bye-Bye Bush,” Ramazan Baydan, who owns the Istanbul-based producer Baydan Ayakkabicilik San. & Tic., said in a telephone interview today.

“We’ve been selling these shoes for years but, thanks to Bush, orders are flying in like crazy,” he said. “We’ve even hired an agency to look at television advertising.”

Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi hurled a pair at Bush at a news conference in Baghdad on Dec. 14. Both shoes missed the president after he ducked. The journalist was jailed and is seeking a pardon from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Baydan has received orders for 300,000 pairs of the shoes since the attack, more than four times the number his company sold each year since the model was introduced in 1999. The company plans to employ 100 more staff to meet demand, he said.

“Model 271” is exported to markets including Iraq, Iran, Syria and Egypt. Customers in Iraq ordered 120,000 pairs this week and some Iraqis offered to set up distribution companies for the shoe, Baydan said.

Baydan has received a request for 4,000 pairs from a company called Davidson, based in Maryland. He declined to provide further details.
Source (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=auI050ptHyPg)

[partofme]

Christmas wouldn't be so annoying if it didn't have to be in my face at all times. I can't drive anywhere without seeing decorations everywhere, can't go shopping without Christmas displays even in grocery stores, all television is in reruns for weeks, my favorite classical and jazz radio programs are all Christmas themed, etc.....

[Michael]

Christmas wouldn't be so annoying if it didn't have to be in my face at all times. I can't drive anywhere without seeing decorations everywhere, can't go shopping without Christmas displays even in grocery stores, all television is in reruns for weeks, my favorite classical and jazz radio programs are all Christmas themed, etc.....
I find Christmas is easy to avoid since Christmas is entirely a commericial phenomena. All big corporate things are flooded with Christmas shit.

If you ignore the shopping malls, tv and radio, there isn't any Christmas at all out there.

If one ignores commerical & government sites decorated, there really isn't much Christmas decoration out there at all.

I conclude that Christmas is a corporate marketing event and nothing more.

Avoid corporate world and you will avoid Christmas.

[partofme]

I find Christmas is easy to avoid since Christmas is entirely a commericial phenomena. All big corporate things are flooded with Christmas shit.

If you ignore the shopping malls, tv and radio, there isn't any Christmas at all out there.

If one ignores commerical & government sites decorated, there really isn't much Christmas decoration out there at all.

I conclude that Christmas is a corporate marketing event and nothing more.

Avoid corporate world and you will avoid Christmas.

You haven't seen my neighborhood. Driving down the road at night is like a Merry version of the Las Vegas Strip.

[Americano]

I feel very fortunate that my wife considers lighted outdoor holiday decorations tacky. Some of the home decorations I've seen in town have serious labor involvement. One stalwart celebrator featured in the local newspaper is proud of the fact that his outdoor lights cost him $400/mo in electric costs. I thought his place looked more like an over lighted, foundering tramp steamer.

[partofme]

I feel very fortunate that my wife considers lighted outdoor holiday decorations tacky. Some of the home decorations I've seen in town have serious labor involvement. One stalwart celebrator featured in the local newspaper is proud of the fact that his outdoor lights cost him $400/mo in electric costs. I thought his place looked more like an over lighted, foundering tramp steamer.

I hate those huge blow up displays that are cheap at Wal-Mart now. They are everywhere.

[Donkey]

Capitalism at its finest!


Source (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=auI050ptHyPg)Aw nuts. I usually only wear black shoes. :p

Christmas wouldn't be so annoying if it didn't have to be in my face at all times. I can't drive anywhere without seeing decorations everywhere, can't go shopping without Christmas displays even in grocery stores, all television is in reruns for weeks, my favorite classical and jazz radio programs are all Christmas themed, etc.....
I hate Christmas too. Well, that side of Christmas.

I still very much enjoy the religious side with candles and creches and shit, but you can take your jingle bells and... well, you know.

[partofme]

Aw nuts. I usually only wear black shoes. :p


I hate Christmas too. Well, that side of Christmas.

I still very much enjoy the religious side with candles and creches and shit, but you can take your jingle bells and... well, you know.

I enjoy it because my kids do and it makes for quite a bit of fun with them. I just hate being bombarded with it every time I leave the house.

[partofme]

CNN's website has the headline:
JonBenet: After 12 years, still a mystery (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/23/grace.coldcase.jonbenet.ramsey/index.html)


When the hell is this shit going to go away? At some point the media is going to have to get over this unless there is a development and even then I personally am not going to care. Maybe that seems harsh but how many kids have been killed since then exactly and not gotten this much damn attention?

[Michael]

CNN's website has the headline:
JonBenet: After 12 years, still a mystery (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/23/grace.coldcase.jonbenet.ramsey/index.html)


When the hell is this shit going to go away? At some point the media is going to have to get over this unless there is a development and even then I personally am not going to care. Maybe that seems harsh but how many kids have been killed since then exactly and not gotten this much damn attention?
Yes, that's a weird obsession of US media. Seems like the media are pedophiles the way they obsess over any story involving pretty little girls - for years (I'm probably the one person in the company who knows the least about that case).

Though, to be honest, if I ask around my company, I'm sure 95% of our employees will know who Jon Bennet is and at least one of our employees will be able to give me all the details on the case.

I'll be damned if I could get any employee to name the President of France or Chancellor of Germany, or even the US Secretary of the Treasury. They would treat a question like this as if I'm from Mars and look at me quizically.

[Michael]

Seems like the forum is rather quiet this week... number of posts, threads, visitors, everything is down this last week or so.

No doubt the holiday season has people busy... news seems fairly quiet too. No doubt Wednesday night and/or Thursday this week will set a record here for the 'least posts in a single day'. Though, New Year's Eve is another possibility...

Hopefully 2009 will be a big year for this forum. :)

[partofme]

Seems like the forum is rather quiet this week... number of posts, threads, visitors, everything is down this last week or so.

No doubt the holiday season has people busy... news seems fairly quiet too. No doubt Wednesday night and/or Thursday this week will set a record here for the 'least posts in a single day'. Though, New Year's Eve is another possibility...

Hopefully 2009 will be a big year for this forum. :)

Things are usually quiet at other forums during the holidays. I'm sort or surprised really. Nothing new on television, radio plays nothing but Christmas tunes, people are off of work, and I wouldn't expect people to be doing anything until Christmas Eve and Day. But somehow it usually keeps people occupied. I would like to see some new members though. :)

[The Drunk Guy]

Things are usually quiet at other forums during the holidays. I'm sort or surprised really. Nothing new on television, radio plays nothing but Christmas tunes, people are off of work, and I wouldn't expect people to be doing anything until Christmas Eve and Day. But somehow it usually keeps people occupied. I would like to see some new members though. :)
Then get your ass to work, bitch. This ain't the goddamn '80's. You gotta work for your rations now.

[Michael]

Then get your ass to work, bitch. This ain't the goddamn '80's. You gotta work for your rations now.
If he's not sucking on the government teat, he's entitled to sit on his ass as long as he likes (or as long as he can get away with it).

[partofme]

If he's not sucking on the government teat, he's entitled to sit on his ass as long as he likes (or as long as he can get away with it).

Actually I am drawing unemployment. I could have settled and taken a shitty job by now I'm sure but my goal is to take the opportunity to really look for something I will like and keep doing for a long time. Unfortunately the job market sucks even worse than normal in my area. If too much time goes by I will take something I rather wouldn't though.

[The Drunk Guy]

Actually I am drawing unemployment. I could have settled and taken a shitty job by now I'm sure but my goal is to take the opportunity to really look for something I will like and keep doing for a long time. Unfortunately the job market sucks even worse than normal in my area. If too much time goes by I will take something I rather wouldn't though.
Ever thought about AmeriCorps? Plenty of programs that would allow you to work from home. That could give you a year or two of work while you're waiting on the economy to reboot. It doesn't pay much, but it looks good on a resume and they give you money for student loans. Plus, you get to get your hands dirty by helping out your community. Helped me to learn that I fucking hate my hometown and all the parasites that live there.

[partofme]

Ever thought about AmeriCorps? Plenty of programs that would allow you to work from home. That could give you a year or two of work while you're waiting on the economy to reboot. It doesn't pay much, but it looks good on a resume and they give you money for student loans. Plus, you get to get your hands dirty by helping out your community. Helped me to learn that I fucking hate my hometown and all the parasites that live there.

It's a thought. I have several ideas for things I will do if time is running out and I haven't landed something.

[Americano]

It's a thought. I have several ideas for things I will do if time is running out and I haven't landed something.

Done with the restaurant industry?

[partofme]

Done with the restaurant industry?

Definitely. At least with the style of restaurant I did. Being on call 24 hours isn't possible with a family.

[partofme]

As most of you know I'm not a Christian but I do celebrate Christmas mainly because it is fun and I have two young children and getting to enjoy it with them is a blast. I thought this article pretty much matches how I feel about the whole thing and really enjoyed it.

http://www.slate.com/id/2207374/

[Michael]

I just made the forum a bit garish in honor of the festive season. :D

[Donkey]

I just made the forum a bit garish in honor of the festive season. :D
And I changed my avatar... ;)

[dilettante]

Merry Christmas, everyone.
Peace on earth, good will toward men, and all that jazz...

[Americano]

I just made the forum a bit garish in honor of the festive season. :D

Garish is perhaps an understatement?

[Americano]

And I changed my avatar... ;)

Too bad we don't have some fundies on the board; I'd be able to hear their blood boiling.

[Michael]

And I changed my avatar... ;)
Wow! That's priceless! :rofl:

Garish is perhaps an understatement?
Yes, rather. Gone now!

And now, after what I consider to be one of the worst holidays of the year (xmas), comes what I consider to be the BEST holiday of the year! Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is the perfect holiday. It stands for nothing and you are not required to do anything. Can't get holidays much better than that! :)

[Sucre]

And I changed my avatar... ;)
Excellent.

[Donkey]

Anybody else here play Risk?

I do enjoy a little world domination from time to time, but I rarely seem to be able to pull of a victory. Arg. Got my army handed to me piece by piece again tonight.

[Michael]

Anybody else here play Risk?

I do enjoy a little world domination from time to time, but I rarely seem to be able to pull of a victory. Arg. Got my army handed to me piece by piece again tonight.
I love the game. Been playing it since I was a kid. Still play it. I've even invented a two-player version of the game that works really well. :)

That game does depend on some luck, so don't feel bad.

[dilettante]

Anybody else here play Risk?

I do enjoy a little world domination from time to time, but I rarely seem to be able to pull of a victory. Arg. Got my army handed to me piece by piece again tonight.

I like the game and used to play; lately it's been hard to get enough people together who are up for lengthy attempts at world domination.

[Sucre]

It is one of the few games I like (or Diplomacy, which is similar, and Trivial Pursuit)

[The Drunk Guy]

Anybody else here play Risk?

I do enjoy a little world domination from time to time, but I rarely seem to be able to pull of a victory. Arg. Got my army handed to me piece by piece again tonight.
Always start in Australia. Just scirmish for cards for the first 10 turns or so. When you cash in your second round of cards, roll with the dice and kick ass.

It is one of the few games I like (or Diplomacy, which is similar, and Trivial Pursuit)I love Trivial Pursuit, but I have more trouble finding someone to play it than I do Risk. Weird.

[Donkey]

Always start in Australia. Just scirmish for cards for the first 10 turns or so. When you cash in your second round of cards, roll with the dice and kick ass.

I love Trivial Pursuit, but I have more trouble finding someone to play it than I do Risk. Weird.
My brother and a friend love to start in Australia (when possible). I like South America (better outlets, imho). Arg. I need to buy my own board.

[Michael]

My company is running on 'skeleton staff' over the holidays. I drew the short straw.

[Michael]

Btw, did a 'taste-test' yesterday. I'm a tea-drinker and I've always disliked drinking tea out of anything but a proper mug (glass, ceramic or china).

Anyway, I made a pot of tea and poured into a glass mug, ceramic mug, plastic car mug, metal car mug and a regular styrofoam cup and had a couple of my friends test all of them.

Both of my friends ended up agreeing with me that tea tastes perfect in glass, ceramic or china cups. The tea in the plastic mug tasted kinda like plastic, the one in the metal mug tasted kinda like metal and the styrofoam cup was just nasty.

Just thought I'd share this.

(I've previously done similar tests to show that tea made in a pot is way superior to tea made in a cup, and also to show that stirring the teabag in the tea ruins the flavor of the tea by making it harsh).

[Michael]

Here's a classic example of a high profile US media organization engaging in publishing lies - or permitting lies to be printed.

First, from the Wall Street Journal...
Bush Is a Book Lover
A glimpse of what the president has been reading.
by Karl Rove
...
Mr. Bush's 2006 reading list shows his literary tastes. The nonfiction ran from biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Carnegie, Mark Twain, Babe Ruth, King Leopold, William Jennings Bryan, Huey Long, LBJ and Genghis Khan to Andrew Roberts's "A History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900," James L. Swanson's "Manhunt," and Nathaniel Philbrick's "Mayflower." Besides eight Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald, Mr. Bush tackled Michael Crichton's "Next," Vince Flynn's "Executive Power," Stephen Hunter's "Point of Impact," and Albert Camus's "The Stranger," among others.

Here's the counterpoint...

Turning to the Bush clan, we learn in Kitty Kelley's book The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty that New Yorker writer Brendan Gill was once a guest of George H.W. and Barbara Bush at their summer house in Kennebunkport, Maine. Stumbling through the place late at night in search of something to read, the only volume he could find was The Fart Book.

Obviously, one of these two publications is full of lies. I wonder which one is true and which one is just bullshit?

[The Drunk Guy]

Here's a classic example of a high profile US media organization engaging in publishing lies - or permitting lies to be printed.

First, from the Wall Street Journal...


Here's the counterpoint...



Obviously, one of these two publications is full of lies. I wonder which one is true and which one is just bullshit?The list of books in the first segment aren't exactly tough reads. I know the guy is stupid, but surely he can read a fucking Crichton novel.

[The Drunk Guy]

My brother and a friend love to start in Australia (when possible). I like South America (better outlets, imho). Arg. I need to buy my own board.
Yeah, weren't you just complaining about losing? Your "better outlets" are also big gaping holes for other people to tear that ass up. That's the whole point of Australia. You can hole up from the world until you're ready to kick ass.

That reminds me...anyone remember an old board where South America connected to Australia?

[Michael]

The list of books in the first segment aren't exactly tough reads. I know the guy is stupid, but surely he can read a fucking Crichton novel.
I'm sure he can read if he were so inclined.

The point is that over the years, there have been multiple comments made about the fact that no one has ever seen any actual books in any of Bush's houses and back in 2000 when Bush was asked the title of the last fiction book he'd read he named a Hardy Boys novel. Clearly Bush doesn't read for pleasure - that's obvious.

Thus, the point about Rove's blatant lies and the Wall Street Journal publishing obvious lies about Bush's reading list. Crichton maybe, but Albert Camus? Or a history book? No way.

In other words, the Wall Street Journal routinely lets 'columnists' publish lies of fact in their pages and are proud of it. That's the real point here. They are nothing more than a propaganda rag.

[Americano]

Here's a classic example of a high profile US media organization engaging in publishing lies - or permitting lies to be printed.

First, from the Wall Street Journal...


Here's the counterpoint...



Obviously, one of these two publications is full of lies. I wonder which one is true and which one is just bullshit?

The John D. McDonald series ended in 1985. I haven't seen one of those books in many years. Sounds like more Rove refocus.

[SonofaHun]

My company is running on 'skeleton staff' over the holidays. I drew the short straw.

Somehow I managed to burn up all my time off for 2008 without leaving extra days to cover yesterday and today (our office was closed most of last week and will close again tomorrow through the end of the week). So I ended up being one of only about five people who had to work. Of course, in the spirit of the holidays, I'm procrastinating instead of actually working.;)

By the way, I know it's a few weeks late, but happy belated birthday!:)

[Michael]

By the way, I know it's a few weeks late, but happy belated birthday!:)
And a happy birthday to a fellow Sagittarian. You missed the festivities with Greendruid, myself and bug all celebrating birthdays a couple of weeks ago! ;)

[drgoodtrips]

Thought I'd drop by and say a quick hello. I had some time off of work and thought I'd be around posting more, but it wasn't to be. Between visiting family over Christmas and remodeling my bedroom, my vacation has come and gone without much spare time. Actually, the last week I was off I was putting in 8-12 hour days on my room, so that I'd have somewhere to sleep by the time I went back to work... I made it with half a day to spare :smoke:

(Wow, I really like the variety of smiley options! Compliments)

[The Drunk Guy]

Thought I'd drop by and say a quick hello. I had some time off of work and thought I'd be around posting more, but it wasn't to be. Between visiting family over Christmas and remodeling my bedroom, my vacation has come and gone without much spare time. Actually, the last week I was off I was putting in 8-12 hour days on my room, so that I'd have somewhere to sleep by the time I went back to work... I made it with half a day to spare :smoke:

(Wow, I really like the variety of smiley options! Compliments)
They were created to lure you to the dark side.:lightsabers:

[Michael]

They were created to lure you to the dark side.:lightsabers:
Speak careful you now will. :yoda:

[The Drunk Guy]

Speak careful you now will. :yoda:
:hatoff: Well done, sir. Well done.

[Michael]

:hatoff: Well done, sir. Well done.
Thanks :)

Scary part is that I'm told I do a rather good voice impression of the little green fella and I just love doing 'Yoda-speak'.

(my other 'good' voice impression is Marvin the Martian)

[The Drunk Guy]

Thanks :)

Scary part is that I'm told I do a rather good voice impression of the little green fella and I just love doing 'Yoda-speak'.

(my other 'good' voice impression is Marvin the Martian)
I could see were those relate. I do a fair Wimpy.

[wphelan]

I do a pretty decent John Wayne and Howard Cosell. I attempt all the presidents back to Nixon, but they need some serious work.

[Donkey]

I'm ok at Yoda, but I'm much better at Forrest Gump and Zoolander.

Which is not entirely comforting.

[Michael]

Happy Friday! (its been a long week after the holiday schedule of the last couple weeks)