Subject: Stream of Consciousness: a thread that cannot be hijacked
Date: Tue Feb 9 15:51:22 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:Well, you probably wouldn't need to know about those products.
I was in Uganda about to run out to a field site and realized I left home without sunscreen. After a few absolutely futile and hopeless attempts to purchase it, I bought a hat instead. Most of the folks in the stores made a face that I am sure resembled yours when hearing "Gorilla Snot" for the first time.
Date: Thu Feb 18 23:19:51 2021
User: Klepp
Message:I think this COVID business is a rather strong argument favoring Universal Health Care; I apologize if this seems too obvious...
Date: Thu Feb 18 23:28:30 2021
User: Klepp
Message:What about a three year enlistment in the military as a path towards citizenship (expedited or not)?
Date: Thu Feb 18 23:45:13 2021
User: joeygray
Message:Ooh. Starship Troopers. In Heinlein’s late 50’s novel, military service was a requirement for, not citizenship, but for the franchise. Only people who served their country could vote or run for office. Decisions about the country were reserved for those who first gave to the country.
Date: Fri Feb 19 00:19:27 2021
User: redberet
Message:Not too sure about the military option. Something along the lines of the CC program of the New Deal. You can walk away from a program, you can't just walk away from an enlistment.
Date: Fri Feb 19 15:28:10 2021
User: Klepp
Message:I should never have waited so long to enjoy Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot"--now thoroughly savoring on YouTube app, narrated by Carl himself!
Ahhh...
Date: Sun Apr 11 10:34:46 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:Here's an interesting point of view:
From The Irish Times:
"Having a monarchy next door is a little like having a neighbour who’s really into clowns and has daubed their house with clown murals, displays clown dolls in each window and has an insatiable desire to hear about and discuss clown-related news stories. More specifically, for the Irish, it’s like having a neighbour who’s really into clowns and, also, your grandfather was murdered by a clown.
"Beyond this, it’s the stuff of children’s stories. Having a queen as head of state is like having a pirate or a mermaid or Ewok as head of state. What’s the logic? Bees have queens, but the queen bee lays all of the eggs in the hive. The queen of the Britons has laid just four British eggs, and one of those is the sweatless creep Prince Andrew, so it’s hardly deserving of applause.
"The contemporary royals have no real power. They serve entirely to enshrine classism in the British nonconstitution. They live in high luxury and low autonomy, cosplaying as their ancestors, and are the subject of constant psychosocial projection from people mourning the loss of empire. They’re basically a Rorschach test that the tabloids hold up in order to gauge what level of hysterical batsh*ttery their readers are capable of at any moment in time."
---more at the link ---
Link: The Irish Times
Date: Sun Apr 11 20:44:22 2021
User: The_Interpreter
Message:Hootie Johnson must be turning over in his grave.
Date: Mon Apr 12 01:41:58 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:Pretty fun article, Buzz. Thanks.
Date: Tue Apr 13 08:24:50 2021
User: differentDay
Message:Yes, we really should have an elected head of state with real influence.
Perhaps Nigel Farage? Jacob Rees-Mogg? Katie Hopkins? Tyson Fury? Phillip Green?
Then again, Boris Johnson might take the Putin approach.
I'd rather we concentrated on adopting a voting system based on proportional representation, but then we might end up hamstrung like Belgium, or maybe Israel.
Either way, I anticipate some form of unnatural disaster, so really not far removed from what we have now...
Date: Thu Apr 15 02:08:09 2021
User: ix
Message:
Date: Sat May 29 04:14:37 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:In case some of you all are feeing all full of yourselves for solving some a hard game or 12..............this will maybe help give you back that feeling of inadequacy.
She's two. TWO!
Link: There's gifted; and then there's GIFTED.
Date: Sat May 29 19:45:39 2021
User: Oded789
Message:Well, with such a name (first name pronounced Cash), what can you expect...
Here's a nice video on her.
Link: Youngest Mensa member
Date: Sat May 29 20:29:05 2021
User: beverley
Message:My son, at age 4, IQ tested at 148. He was enrolled in a behavioural program at our Children’s Hospital, because we were having so much “trouble” with him.....couldn’t keep a babysitter for more than two weeks, was asked to leave the professional day care centre for constantly arguing with the Director. Having a highly intelligent child - especially one who knows they’re smarter than everyone else - is a challenge. A high IQ also isn’t an indication of future success in life, although I’m happy to say my son has done very well for himself LOL
Date: Sun May 30 02:37:19 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:Being able to name the elements when presented with a card with the symbol isn't *quite* the same as "knowing the periodic table" - and she's going to be 3 next month. So...............not so impressive after all, huh? And her tennis racquet grip is pretty bad, too.
What was mildly surprising is that the story says that average IQ is now 98. I sort of thought it was 100 by definition, but I can see there's been some definite slippage (oh.....in the last 5 years, shall we say). One only need watch the news to realize that. Or read this forum about gorilla glue. In fact, 98 might be high. Somebody might want to check out things at Lake Wobegon, too - make sure all *those* kids are all still above average.
Date: Sun May 30 09:59:07 2021
User: TitanicTony
Message:Google:
List of Average IQ By Country and American States ...
brandongaille.com › list-average-iq-by-country-and, ....... Oct 10, 2013.
The United States IQ average worldwide is ranked at number 24 with an average IQ of 98.
Date: Sun May 30 10:24:44 2021
User: TitanicTony
Message:The top 22 countries (those ranked ahead of the USA):
Rank .... Country ..................... IQ ...... 2021 Population
1 ........... Hong Kong ............. 108 ...... 7,552,810
2 ........... Singapore ................ 108 ...... 5,896,686
3 ........... South Korea ............ 106 ...... 51,305,186
4 ........... China ......................... 105 ...... 1,444,216,107
5 ........... Japan ......................... 105 ...... 126,050,804
6 ........... Taiwan ....................... 104 ...... 23,855,010
7 ........... Italy ............................ 102 ...... 60,367,477
8 ........... Switzerland ............. 101 ...... 8,715,494
9 ........... Mongolia ................. 101 ...... 3,329,289
10 ......... Iceland ...................... 101 ...... 343,353
11 ......... United Kingdom ... 100 ...... 68,207,116
12 ......... Netherlands ........... 100 ...... 17,173,099
13 ......... Austria ...................... 100 ...... 9,043,070
14 ......... Norway .................... 100 ...... 5,465,630
15 ......... Luxembourg .......... 100 ...... 634,814
16 ......... Germany .................... 99 ...... 83,900,473
17 ......... Canada ....................... 99 ...... 38,067,903
18 ......... Poland ........................ 99 ...... 37,797,005
19 ......... Belgium ..................... 99 ...... 11,632,326
20 ......... Sweden ...................... 99 ...... 10,160,169
21 ......... Finland ....................... 99 ...... 5,548,360
22 ......... Estonia ....................... 99 ...... 1,325,185
Date: Sun May 30 10:26:41 2021
User: TitanicTony
Message:Sorry for the slight discrepancy. Different sources. The USA came 23rd in the above list (not 24th).
Date: Sun May 30 10:30:55 2021
User: firenzes_mother
Message:I knew it. My boy has dragged the whole country down.
Date: Sun May 30 11:09:58 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:Every time an Asian or European is stupid enough to leave their home and immigrate to the U.S., it raises the IQ of both countries.
Date: Sun May 30 13:17:58 2021
User: outskirts
Message:Straight out of google's list of clever sayings, or how to impress girls.
Date: Sun May 30 14:01:17 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:Date: Sun May 30 12:42:49 2021
User: Kumquat-of-Conciliation
Message:
^^^^ Clever conclusion right there. ^^^^
I take no credit for it (nor does any credit go to an online source).
My college roommate and I were teasing a fellow dormie about being from Oklahoma, and came back with that little ditty in the context of Oklahoma. I doubt that our friend invented it, but it was an instant class for me.
(That was 1972, a full 11 years before the internet, but why let the facts get in the way of a failed attempt at an insult?)
Date: Mon May 31 08:20:43 2021
User: sgmsgmsgm
Message:I have a new saying - All ganda is propaganda.
But seriously, the word just means information distributed by a government. Why does everyone make such a fuss? I suppose that the nazis gave it a bad rep just like they did with the swastika.
I better stop before I am accused of improperganda.
Date: Mon May 31 11:26:32 2021
User: Anon4Life
Message:My stepdaughter now insists on wearing shirts that show off her 14 year old belly. Her Mom approves. I don't. So now I'll wear shirts that show off my 60 year old gut.
Date: Mon May 31 11:32:59 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:You and your stepdaughter will both be getting a lot of attention. In all cases, she'll be delighted and you won't.
Date: Mon May 31 11:41:34 2021
User: firenzes_mother
Message:I find that it works better if you write "tickle me" on your belly.
Date: Mon May 31 11:46:33 2021
User: redberet
Message:What if he has a hairy belly, does he shave it first?
Date: Mon May 31 11:55:48 2021
User: FilthyMcNasty
Message:Use poster paint. It covers everything, include Mother's wisdom wrinkles, and washes off eventually.
Date: Mon May 31 11:58:50 2021
User: redberet
Message:clue, no permanent markers. hard to explain next day,
Date: Mon May 31 12:03:42 2021
User: firenzes_mother
Message:What's with you and that poster paint? It took me a week to get "left" and "right" off my butt.
Date: Wed Jun 2 17:05:47 2021
User: Airborne
Message:I hope he serves every last one of them years that rotten bastard. Shoulda used some of them staples on his head.
Date: Sun Jun 6 20:33:55 2021
User: 82nd_Airborne
Message:I've change my mind about Dylan. Without Bob's help, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy Come Together as in right now.
Date: Mon Jun 7 00:56:37 2021
User: ix
Message:
Date: Fri Jun 11 01:47:17 2021
User: ix
Message:
Date: Fri Jun 11 03:30:22 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:Yeah, and much mirth-making was done at his expense - and rightfully so. There were some quite funny tweets and so forth. And this guy is an elected Representative "helping run" our country.
#1: that he had to be "informed" that the orbits of heavenly spheres vary, and that "there's been significant solar flare activity" (presumably, in his mind, only since the Industrial Revolution, and ramping up dramatically in the last 40-50 years???) is pretty much ipso facto evidence that he's not qualified to be commenting on such matters. (But most knew that already - or at least I hope that's the case.)
#2: why didn't he ask NASA, or the "Space Force" about that - or maybe Captain Marvel *is* part of said group.
#3: ...........if we don't return to some reasonable level of scientific literacy, the slide of this country accelerates. But I see little evidence that that will occur.
#4: sigh.
#5: I fear many who saw the acronym "BLM" first thought of "Black Lives Matter" instead of "Bureau of Land Management".
Date: Mon Jun 14 10:10:10 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:Meh. Politicians. "Strangers to truth."
I love this quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson (on an unrelated subject): "Just because you don't know what it is doesn't mean you then know what it is." (full context below)
Ignorance is a poor substitute for knowledge, and angry stubborn ignorance is no better.
And keep in mind the pitfalls of being self-educated: what if you are a really really bad teacher?
Link: Neil deGrass Tyson: not knowing vs knowing
Date: Thu Jun 17 14:06:50 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:This is pretty amazing. The power.........
F = ma, and all that stuff.
"......15km away, close to the village of Raini, the frontal velocity was 25m/s. That's 90km/h (56 mph), the speed of fast-moving car. Even 10km beyond that, at the Tapovan hydro plant, the flow was still moving at 16m/s."
"When the mass hit the Ronti Gad valley floor, it released the energy equivalent to 15 Hiroshima atomic bombs."
[That last one seems high - but who am I to say?]
Link: mountains erode - sometimes in fast motion
Date: Wed Jul 7 03:17:25 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:What is it with wimmens and their silly hats?
There are about 11-12 pics on this link. Check 'em all out.
Link: What is she thinking?!?
Date: Mon Jul 19 18:26:10 2021
User: BuzzClik
Message:Ray Allen (basketball Hall of Famer) is walking proof of the bikers' creed: "If you were wearing a helmet during your bike accident, afterwards you will be complaining about a slew of injuries. If you weren't wearing a helmet, others will be talking about you at your funeral."
Allen had a typical biking accident, this one on the losing end of an argument with a tree branch. Yeah, he's a mess. And alive. But he'll need a new helmet.
Link: Road rash, anyone?
Date: Tue Jul 20 03:10:59 2021
User: TNmountainman
Message:Curiously, earlier today, I heard a news commentator make an analogy between with exact scenario, vs. having been vaccinated but still contracting a "breakthrough" case of COVID. I.e., you may get sick, but you aren't likely to die or be hospitalized. So now I wonder if this commentator had earlier heard this story.
Date: Tue Jul 20 06:25:59 2021
User: TitanicTony
Message:Thanks Buzz, & TN! ... Good stories! ... I told them at coffee after tennis this morning!
I guess it is similar with seat belts in cars!
It seems that there are a lot of things in life that make you "older"!
Tennis is one of those things that help keep me younger!!
Date: Thu Aug 12 20:52:38 2021
User: redberet
Message:Thoughts of NVA tanks rolling through Saigon keep crossing my mind.
Post follow-up