Small Talk: Out of Genoa

[pearlite]

16 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Cupid, your news amalgams are more illuminating that many professional site. Thanks!

Can any of our lovely Canadian Preverts tell me if "ever neat" is an actual expression that Canadian kids say? I read For Better or Worse by Lynn Johnson (who I believe is one of y'all) and the kids in the strip say "ever neat" the way American kids used to say awesome or rad.

Nope, never heard it used, and never used it. Mind you, I don't say "eh" at the end of sentences either.

[peacheslatour]

13 hours ago, lovemesomejoolery said:

I finally figured it out........they changed the "themes" section.  On another forum here it was listed at the top of the page, it's not like I figured it out on my own!!  You can easily change it back - I have, since I had my screen set to large print.

Here's the message the site posted - hope it helps!

Due to some some backend changes, we've updated how themes work on the site. If your old theme was lost, not to worry -- it can be recreated in two easy steps:

1) To change the theme color, scroll to the bottom of the page, click "themes" and choose your theme color (light or dark). The page will refresh

2) To change the font size and screen width, click "change font-size." (The large and X-Large font sizes expand the page width.)

Please let us know if you run into any issues.

Worked like a charm. Thank you!

[Cupid Stunt]

• Reuters Photos -- Autumn beauty

• Caller leads LA police to $800,000 in stolen artwork

• Spanx founder buys Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Grease’ pants

• George Orwell New Mexico exhibit bares ‘doublespeak’ legacy

• White nationalists caught trying to record video in front of Emmett Till memorial -- The Emmett Till Memorial Commission executive director said the group, carrying a neo-Confederate flag, appeared to be making a propaganda video.

• These Machines Can Put You in Jail. Don’t Trust Them.

• After the U.S. outlawed polygamy, thousands of Mormons fled to Mexico. Nine just died there.

• How Cannibal Ants Escaped from a Nuclear Bunker -- We'd see that movie.

• Bringing the world’s buried wetlands back from the dead

• Doctors try CRISPR gene editing for cancer, a 1st in the US

• US health officials link childhood trauma to adult illness

• ‘Goodness and humor’ celebrated as ‘Sesame Street’ turns 50

• Nike’s high-tech Vaporfly sneakers help athletes run 4 percent faster. Should they be banned for providing an unfair advantage? -- Strap in Sportos! Run faster and jump higher.

• $166 Water Could Dictate International Iceberg Law -- High-end start-ups and far-flung tycoons are rushing to cash in on the Arctic’s frozen treasures. Regulators are struggling to keep up.

• A new study shows that even the poorest immigrants lift themselves up within a generation -- It appears that the idea of the “American Dream” has some truth.

• Help the homeless or criminalize them? Las Vegas debates a public sleeping ban -- "There are not enough shelters,” a homeless man in Las Vegas said. “This is going to give you a fine you can’t pay, and then they’ll lock you up.”

• A new study on measles reveals a scary side effect: “immune-system amnesia” -- It’s another reason to get the measles vaccine.

• Former therapist: VA is hurting mental health care for combat veterans at its Vet Centers -- A former VA therapist says productivity pressure on counselors who treat veterans for mental health issues like PTSD is hurting the quality of care.

• It's full-blown winter somewhere -- Exploring Japan's spectacular 'snow monsters'

• Drones Used in Crime Fly Under the Law’s Radar

• She Fought for Muslim Women. Then She Was Found Dead.

• An Alaskan moose hunter beat the odds at the Supreme Court. It cost $1.5 million.

• Norway's Ugland says nine crew kidnapped from vessel off Benin

• Why do memes matter? -- Glad You Asked looks at how meme culture took over the internet.

• He needed a gender-affirming procedure. The hospital said no.-- As rural hospitals shutter, and faith-based care grows, “religious refusals” are leaving some patients without options.

Edited November 6, 2019 by Cupid Stunt

[Cupid Stunt]

• Pink Christmas trees are this year's holiday decorating trend -- Gramma called to inform me that her 1950s pink aluminum Christmas tree is back in vogue.

• LA firefighter banked $360,010 in overtime pay in one year, city audit finds -- If you can tolerate the hours.

• Italy Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre under guard amid death threats -- Liliana Segre, who was sent to the notorious Auschwitz death camp at 13, has been subjected to a barrage of anti-Semitic messages in recent days. It comes after Ms Segre, an Italian life senator, called for parliament to establish a committee to combat hate.

• Why the alt-right loves ancient Rome -- Fascist historic revisionism returns with a social media vengeance.

• A man dies in Hawaii after falling into a lava tube in his yard -- Not surprising since much of Big Island is a large active lava field.

• Why Apple and other blue-chip companies are starting to spend their cash -- To benefit their employees?

• Gates tries to split the difference in the conversation around Big Philanthropy and Big Government.

• Standing tall: Scientists find oldest example of upright ape

• People love Trader Joe’s so much there are now professional Trader Joe’s influencers -- Of course there are … Where ever there's Instagram, there's a mob of influencers touting the latest thing and being paid for it.

• I treat teens who attempted suicide. Here’s what they told me. -- Suicide deaths have been rising in recent years. Thoughtful treatment is necessary.

• Blade of glory: The mystery around a late president’s sword

• US veteran ‘feeling whole’ year after penis transplant -- And at attention.

• Study: Russia’s web-censoring tool sets pace for imitators

• Tetris: The Soviet 'mind game' that took over the world

• A teacher wore blackface to school and rapped on Halloween. He's now been suspended 

• Federal judge blocks HHS 'conscience rule' for health care workers

• Ethiopia is aiming to plant 4 billion trees to help fight climate change. Such efforts are an increasingly important part of the global effort to limit warming. -- Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images

• Why restoring nature is so important to limiting climate change -- Countries have pooled billions of dollars to preserve rainforests and wetlands in developing nations. But they pose thorny political challenges.

• High-tech chestnuts: US to consider genetically altered tree

• A 25-year-old politician got heckled during a climate crisis speech. Her deadpan retort: 'OK, boomer' -- Give the Boomers hell Chloe. 

• See Dolphins Punt Fish Out Of Water To Stun And Eat Them -- New video shows wild bottlenose dolphins kicking fish into the air before eating them, just one trick in their arsenal of feeding tactics.

• Kashmiri women struggle during Indian lockdown

• Keanu Reeves is dating a woman close to his own age. Why is that so shocking? -- Keanu Reeves’s new relationship with artist Alexandra Grant has sparked a debate over ageism.

• Chris Brown draws a crowd for his yard sale -- Rap stars are just like us.

• Sharon Stone Sues Rapper Chanel West Coast Over "Sharon Stoned" Track ***Caution: The LOL Cartel has a limited vocabulary and says naughty words***

[jpagan05]

RE: The holidaze, the most important one, Halloween, is over. I don't really look forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas anymore. I live so far away from my family and Mom was the big Christmas person who loved to decorate and get everyone together. 

I do try to have a Friendsgiving here at our tiny house. Hubs gets a free turkey and I love to cook. @Petunia13 I don't eat meat either but I make a lot of sides including a vegan pot pie. Many folks here work in hospitality, are far from home and have random days off so it's nice to try to wrangle some friends together, eat and talk story. The last few years I've had my turkey cooked on the beach in an imu oven. It's usually a fundraiser for something ($20 or so) and you drop it off at night, wrapped heavily in foil with your name on it, and pick it up in the morning. It's great because it gives me my oven for the day plus apparently it tastes good.

Hubs next to imu....

This year my little brother is coming for Christmas. He's special needs and the light of my life. He's arriving on the 15th of December and staying until the middle of January. I'm so excited that I cry every time I think of it. We only have one bedroom but my sweet landlord is building a bed frame so we'll just have to get a mattress. He'll sleep on the enclosed lanai (with the geckos) but he won't mind. We'll make it nice for him and he'll be able to close the sliding doors and curtains and have some privacy. This is the first year I've looked forward to Christmas since my mom passed.

[peacheslatour]

Quote

This year my little brother is coming for Christmas. He's special needs and the light of my life. He's arriving on the 15th of December and staying until the middle of January. I'm so excited that I cry every time I think of it. We only have one bedroom but my sweet landlord is building a bed frame so we'll just have to get a mattress. He'll sleep on the enclosed lanai (with the geckos) but he won't mind. We'll make it nice for him and he'll be able to close the sliding doors and curtains and have some privacy. This is the first year I've looked forward to Christmas since my mom passed.

That is so great! I'm sure the gecko's will be happy to share their lanai with your sweet brother.

[Cupid Stunt]

How lovely and joyful for you to have your brother for the holidays, jpagan. In college I would bring friends, that didn't return home for Thanksgiving, to my parents -- The more the merrier.

Mr.Stunt calls the holiday creep ThanksChristmas. He loves a holiday and is disappointed Thanksgiving is run over by the Black Friday Christmas consumer credit binge. The Stunt in-laws leave for Hawaii the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so we celebrate ThanksChristmas at our house; Too much food, Tom and Jerry's, Secret Santa for presents, Christmas stockings, kid gifts, carols and games. 

Alice helped us take down and pack away Halloween, then proceeded to drag out the  Christmas decorations. Melvin had to be caged and sedated during the main upheaval. We're eating breakfast off of Waechtersbach Christmas dishes and dinner on Nana's Spode Christmas Rose. The living room is totally decorated, which is confusing; maybe I need to join Melvin in the laundry room and take a kitty Valium.

Nana and Alice have been back to Nana's house (no fire damage, but the air quality is awful from the inland burn areas). They're staying on with us until the air improves or Alice and Nana finish decorating the house -- Which ever comes first.

[jpagan05]

Which island do Stunt in-laws spend the holidays? They can come to my Friendsgiving....

[Cupid Stunt]

52 minutes ago, jpagan05 said:

Which island do Stunt in-laws spend the holidays? They can come to my Friendsgiving....

They're on Oʻahu. 

[jpagan05]

Awww, I'm on Maui. That would have been so fun.

[lovemesomejoolery]

10 hours ago, jpagan05 said:

This year my little brother is coming for Christmas. He's special needs and the light of my life. He's arriving on the 15th of December and staying until the middle of January. I'm so excited that I cry every time I think of it. We only have one bedroom but my sweet landlord is building a bed frame so we'll just have to get a mattress. He'll sleep on the enclosed lanai (with the geckos) but he won't mind. We'll make it nice for him and he'll be able to close the sliding doors and curtains and have some privacy. This is the first year I've looked forward to Christmas since my mom passed.

This made my day!  How lovely that your brother will be with you for Christmas and staying with you for a good long while! 

Family is everything.......

Edited November 8, 2019 by lovemesomejoolery

[Petunia13]

I’m going on an interview tomorrow morning. 

[Cupid Stunt]

That's great news, Petunia.

The holiday season is when you can pick up extra hours and cash as a server.

What's the news on your car repair?

[peacheslatour]

4 hours ago, Petunia13 said:

I’m going on an interview tomorrow morning. 

I bet you aced it!

[Petunia13]

Ha I meant Saturday morning since it was early AM when I posted. I got my car fixed and it was very expensive. 

[Cupid Stunt]

• 100 Years Ago, Albert Einstein Became a Legend -- On November 6, 1919, Arthur Eddington's presentation to the Royal Society and Royal Astronomical Society about a solar eclipse confirmed Einstein's theories, skyrocketing the theoretical physicist to fame.

• Scientists at Abbott discover first new HIV strain since 2000: ‘We’re working to stay a step ahead of the virus.’

• Why Are Uterine Cancer Rates Rising So Drastically in Black Women?

• 10 hospitalized after insulin administered instead of flu shots

• Young Iraqis and Lebanese aren't just demanding better societies. They're creating them at protest sites

• California Enjoys Respite From Fires, but More Danger Looms

• Christian Comedian John Crist apologizes after sexual misconduct allegations -- And he'll get complete forgiveness from his Fundagelical fans.

• Netflix Puts John Crist Stand-up Special On Hold After Sexual Misconduct Allegations Surface -- Oh well … Make your choice and pay the price.

• Gwyneth Paltrow says her feelings about Harvey Weinstein are complicated -- I'll bet; money, fame, Oscar vs decades of despicable behavior against women … Decisions are hard.

• Ohio High School Runner Disqualified for Wearing Hijab at District Meet -- According to the athletic association’s rules, a waiver must be granted beforehand in order to compete in religious headwear. -- Bastards.

• Nike hit with another damning op-ed: ‘I was emotionally and physically abused’ -- An op-ed in The New York Times by Mary Cain calls attention to Nike’s Oregon Project, coached by Alberto Salazar, previously the best track team in the world. Salazar was banned from the sport for doping code violations, but not for breaking down athletes and ruining their careers with his Nike training program. -- Fuckers.

• Here are the new income tax brackets for 2020

• As L.A. ports automate, some workers are cheering on the robots

• Why Do We Associate Love With The Heart --  And why does the heart symbol look nothing like the real thing?

• Kanye says he may change his name to Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West. Then again, he says a lot of things

Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West's Holy Consort Kardashia goes shopping for body stockings at Balmain.

• Weaving and fiber arts get the new MoMA treatment

• 'The Little Mermaid Live!': TV Review -- Part glitzy musical production, part tribute to the animated film, this 2-hour live celebratory event was touted as a revolutionary "hybrid format" meant to both capture the magic of the original and highlight the joy of new artistry. But reader, this was no "hybrid format" — this was a classic bait-and-switch.

• Helen Mirren was flattered you thought she was dating Keanu Reeves -- Mirren talked about the case of mistaken identity to "Entertainment Tonight" Wednesday while on the red carpet for the premiere of her new movie "The Good Liar" in New York City. "I saw that," Mirren said. "That was very flattering on me, you know, because she's obviously lovely." 

• For the first time, a man has been sentenced for sexual slavery by the International Criminal Court. He got 30 years. -- And that's still not long enough for the lives he stole.

• A white restaurant owner admitted to enslaving a black man. He got 10 years in prison. -- Another asshole got off easy.

• Iowan convicted of murder claims his life-sentence was served once he died, was revived in medical emergency. The court disagrees.

• Homeland Security Theater will soon have biometric data on nearly 260 million people -- Feel secure yet?

• The last home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright sells for $1.67 million

[lovemesomejoolery]

31 minutes ago, Cupid Stunt said:

Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West's Holy Consort Kardashia goes shopping for body stockings at Balmain.

Where's the puke emoji to be found on this site, again? 

[PatsyandEddie]

Right here 🤮

Money can’t buy taste or class. 👎

[Cupid Stunt]

2 hours ago, lovemesomejoolery said:

Where's the puke emoji to be found on this site, again? 

I don't care what schmatta the Kardashian's wear or take off. I don't care how many basketball players/musicians/junkies they boink/marry/separate/divorce. I don't care how many windmills they charge at or prisoners they vouch for. I don't care how much money they waste on dross or magazine covers they pollute. I don't care how many companies they slap their name on or overpriced lip sticks they sell.

The entire benighted family, and adjacent ex's/husbands/boyfriends/children, are a mind-numbing bore.

Edited November 9, 2019 by Cupid Stunt

[lovemesomejoolery]

24 minutes ago, Cupid Stunt said:

I don't care what schmatta the Kardashian's wear or take off. I don't care how many basketball players/musicians/junkies they boink/marry/separate/divorce. I don't care how many windmills they charge at or prisoners they vouch for. I don't care how much money they waste on dross or magazine covers they grace. I don't care how many companies the slap their name on or overpriced lip sticks they sell.

The entire benighted family, and adjacent ex's/husbands/boyfriends/children, are a mind-numbing bore.

(I love this guy^^ and I love you @Cupid Stunt for your comments above!)

Edited November 9, 2019 by lovemesomejoolery

[peacheslatour]

2 hours ago, Cupid Stunt said:

I don't care what schmatta the Kardashian's wear or take off. I don't care how many basketball players/musicians/junkies they boink/marry/separate/divorce. I don't care how many windmills they charge at or prisoners they vouch for. I don't care how much money they waste on dross or magazine covers they pollute. I don't care how many companies they slap their name on or overpriced lip sticks they sell.

The entire benighted family, and adjacent ex's/husbands/boyfriends/children, are a mind-numbing bore.

And yet, here we are. This is what passes for "culture" now. Sad. 

[Snaporaz]

Good luck tomorrow, @Petunia13!  

[crowsworks]

Stiltz hides behind 20 pounds of Max as Grace tries to look adorable about the whole upsetting the recycle bin.

[Cupid Stunt]

AP PHOTOS: The Berlin Wall, and the city 30 years later

Associated Press’ story on the day the Wall fell

30 years after Berlin Wall fell, East-West divides remain

Fall of the Berlin Wall -- The 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is on Nov. 9, 2019. The Associated Press is documenting stories of those who were there and the events leading up to it.

The mistake that toppled the Berlin Wall  -- One of the Cold War’s biggest moments began at a routine press conference.

His World Collapsed the Night the Berlin Wall Fell. Then Came the Hard Part.

In Berlin, quirky reminders linger from East-West divide

[Cupid Stunt]

A crystal chandelier hangs beneath a nineteen meter dome weighing more than nine tonnes in Yugoslavia saloon inside the The Palata Srbija building.

• Yugoslavia's Brutalist relcis fascinate the Instagram generation

• The X-rated marketing campaign increasing tourism to this little visited country -- "Vilnius, the G-spot of Europe,"

• 100+ Funny White Elephant Gifts That'll Leave Everyone Laughing Hard This Holiday Season

• The Oprah's Favorite Things 2019 List Is Here! -- 79 perfect presents—and one bonus pick—just in time for the holidays.

• Simple can be gorgeous when setting a holiday table

• Wisconsin governor returns ‘holiday tree’ name to evergreen

• The government keeps its use of facial recognition tech secret. The ACLU is suing.-- The ACLU is suing the FBI to find out what the government is doing with facial recognition technology. Dive in with this Reset podcast episode.

• Russia Raided a Physics Institute. Kremlin Watchers Are Mystified. -- Vladimir cleaning house?

• CNN honors 10 men and women for making the world a better place

• A Yale grad and ex-banker ended up homeless in Los Angeles. Then a fellow alum made an unexpected offer

• Bill proposed by NY state senator would ban medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children

• Wrestling referee warned coaches about Ohio State doctor’s sex misconduct, new lawsuit says

• Climate change could end mortgages as we know them

• Here’s what WeWork is giving laid-off employees who aren’t named Adam Neumann -- WeWork’s CEO walked away with $1.7 billion and left the company in shambles. His former employees say they are getting shafted.

• State Trooper Stops Banana Car Driver, Gives Him $20 Instead of a Ticket -- Is it a crime to be this ridiculous? Not in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where a 1993 Ford F-150 4x4 was turned into . . . this.

• Life in One of the Whitest Towns in America -- Anna, Illinois, has a long history of excluding black people. Where does that leave it today?

• “Keep Marysville a white community as much as possible.”

• Her sister was murdered in 1980. New DNA methods could crack the case, but NY won't allow it. -- "It’s not going to bring her back,” Irene Wilkowitz said of using genetic genealogy to search for her sister's killer. “But it will help other people."

• Mexico killing highlights confusion over Mormon groups -- After nine people belonging to a Mormon offshoot community were killed in Mexico this week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a short statement expressing sympathy for the victims while clarifying that they didn’t belong to the mainstream church.

• After Mormon Family’s Terror in Mexico, a Message Emerges: No One Is Safe -- Odd lesson to learn living in the middle of a drug and smuggling cartel zone.

• Billionaires' wealth falls for first time since 2015 -- Huh.

Edited November 10, 2019 by Cupid Stunt

[Cupid Stunt]

Along came a spider and picked up a rider ...

• CGI James Dean is cast in 'Finding Jack,' sparking an outcry

• Tech Giants Pledge Billions for Housing, but Will It Matter?

• What happens in your body when you sneeze?

• A Texas woman was legally declared dead while still alive

• Ronan Farrow Is Still Hunting for the Truth

• Rape victim refuses judge’s suggestion of money from rapist

• Her boyfriend admitted child abuse but didn't go to prison. She spent 15 years in prison for not reporting him

• Women in Japan were told not to wear glasses to work. Their response has been fiery.

• The Hidden Cost of Gold: Birth Defects and Brain Damage

• The environmental toll of cremation

• Original 'Marlboro Man' Robert 'Bob' Norris has died

• In Divided Hong Kong, Apps Help to Avoid Eating With the Enemy

• Brain scans don't lie: The minds of girls and boys are equal in math

• Uncle Ruckus of 'The Boondocks' was replaced with a photo of Kanye West

• Why do reusable grocery bags drive people crazy?

• What are superfoods & which ones will be trendy in 2020?

• What's fueling the boom in food technology?

• We tasted this plant-based ice cream and can happily report it's delicious

• A Good Place: This is not a dildo -- Adult Arts and Crafts is an Instagram page where dildos are art, and therefore, refreshingly normal.

• America’s First Banned Book Really Ticked Off the Plymouth Puritans -- The author, known as the “Lord of Misrule,” had the audacity to erect a maypole in Massachusetts.

• Please stop telling me which good books are actually bad.

• Ancient traps containing remains of 14 mammoths discovered in Mexican city

• Indian court gives disputed religious site to Hindus in landmark ruling

Edited November 11, 2019 by Cupid Stunt

[jpagan05]

On 11/9/2019 at 2:32 PM, Cupid Stunt said:

Yugoslavia's Brutalist relcis fascinate the Instagram generation

I luuuurve brutalist architecture! 

We went to see Black Flag last night and it was wicked fun. Here's bit of  "Drinking and Driving" and "Gimme Gimme Gimme". I don't know how to attach videos here. I hope these actually open. The downloads were too big.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QxxVnD8vRg4PMLZc7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/smurHuGpsRLr8W41A

[jpagan05]

@Petunia13 How was your interview? Is it a different serving job?

[Petunia13]

36 minutes ago, jpagan05 said:

@Petunia13 How was your interview? Is it a different serving job?

Yes. I interviewed early Saturday morning at the top restaurant in Illinois. It was very long and two parts and they said if they liked me they’d call me by Wednesday. Later, in the afternoon I had a brief informal interview with the owner of a different high end busy AF restaurant and they also said if they wanted to proceed they’d call me by Wednesday. Both places have a lot of servers, the 1st has 100 so I won’t stand out, at least hopefully if hired. The other I think a lot maybe 50? Both places the servers make a lot but close out their credit card tips in weekly paychecks. The first interviewer liked I gave them copies of my Food Handlers Safety Certificate and Basset License and knew a lot about wine and alcohol vendors and purchasing. 

I have to leave my current place soon. That woman manager has increased her behavior. A lot of the reason she’s belittling me and seating me poorly and bad shifts and calling me when I’m off is because of something regarding my appearance, the owner my first day said to her I’m “the skinny girl on the staff” while I was in earshot and looked back and that I think upset her. When I’m alone and I think of her making fun of me or fucking me over financially I rationalize it like it wasn’t as bad as what I went through with my carjacking in August ... then I think of that and get overwhelmed. She was pretty aggressive when she called me Friday in her comments and I’d be an idiot to stay at a place where someone in leadership admits they will humiliate you and hinder your chances for making money. 

[peacheslatour]

Quote

Shewas pretty aggressive when she called me Friday in her comments and I’d be an idiot to stay at a place where someone in leadership admits they will humiliate you and hinder your chances for making money. 

Jesus, she sounds like a sociopath. I can't wait until you're out of there.

[Cupid Stunt]

"Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" by artist Paul Cummins, in the moat of the Tower of London on September 10, 2014. Each of the 888,246 ceramic poppies represents an allied victim of the First World War. 

Poppy "Wave" by Paul Cummins sculpture installation at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Plymouth Naval Memorial.

• 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' -- 2019 marks the 105th anniversary of the start of World War I in 1914. On this year's Armistice Day in London, a massive work of art dedicated to commonwealth servicemen and women lost a century ago reached its conclusion. The evolving installation, titled "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red", began back on July 17, with the placing of a single ceramic poppy in the moat of the Tower of London. In the months since, another 888,245 poppies were added, each representing a military fatality from World War I. The poppies were arranged to appear as a flowing sea of blood pouring from the Tower's "Weeping Window". -- This is one of the most stunning art installations commemorating the honored dead of World War I in recent memory.

• In Minneapolis there's a parkway called Victory Memorial Drive Historic District, a gracious boulevard lined with tees and embedded memorial plaques of the fallen World War I soldiers from Hennepin County -- Victory Memorial Drive Historic District

• Wikipedia -- Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red -- Wave and Weeping Window, would tour venues around the UK until 2018.

• How two "Forrest Gump" actors served their country

• "We, the People": Mary Whyte's portraits of 50 veterans from 50 states

Edited November 11, 2019 by Cupid Stunt

[Anna Yolei]

On 11/5/2019 at 3:36 PM, jewel21 said:

Anyway, I came here to rant. I hope you will indulge me, friends. 

One of the physiotherapists at work seems to think there's something wrong with me because I don't want to get married or have kids. It's constantly, but who will take care of you when you're old? Look at Mrs. SoandSo, she never had kids and now she's old and in poor health and has no kids and has to rely on strangers to help her. 

Like, just because you have kids, does not guarantee they will care for you in your old age. Nor should they feel obligated to do so. And having kids just to have someone wash your butt when you're old is stupid. There are a lot of people out there who should not have kids because they suck. I think if more people were aware they have no parental genes whatsoever and abstained from procreating, the world would be a much better place. 

And end rant. 

Yeah. I'm nearly 34 and due to a combination of scarring experiences, poor social skills and choosing to.stay in my birthstate of California rather that move elsewhere where I could theoretically "save more" at the expense of having nothing to do (and I'll be honest, I'm black and what I know of certain areas from my Navy sailors who grew up in other areas scares me), biological children won't be in the cards for me. It's abhorrent to have kids for the purpose of caretaking.

Funnily enough, the parents who have children and raise them to be individuals  and respect their children as people don't seem to have problems with their kids coming back to take care of them. 

As a kid, my mom preached about she "listened to my mother, and I turned out fine, unlike my whore sisters" (a paraphrase) but the older I get, the more I realize my grandmother just saw her as a doll to pet up until the one time she "fell" off her pedestal to be a single mom, at age 25....which for pre-gentrification 80s SF Bay Area/Oakland may as well have qualified for geriatric pregnancy status. To this day, she still uses that to shame me when I don't take her advice at face value, but honestly? She shouldn't cut Granny out of her life at 18 when she refused to hold a job and forced her to quit college to keep a roof over her head.

The older I get, the clearer it is why her "whore sisters" turned out like they did and why my aunt my marriage blatantly refused to even pretend to have nice words about her, even around me as a ten year old. Birth control was next to.impossible to find for my grandmother's generation, but my fellow millennials have no such excuses. Luckily, more and more of us recognize our ineptitude and fewer of us are shamed about abortion in the event that everything else fails.

[peacheslatour]

32 minutes ago, Anna Yolei said:

Yeah. I'm nearly 34 and due to a combination of scarring experiences, poor social skills and choosing to.stay in my birthstate of California rather that move elsewhere where I could theoretically "save more" at the expense of having nothing to do (and I'll be honest, I'm black and what I know of certain areas from my Navy sailors who grew up in other areas scares me), biological children won't be in the cards for me. It's abhorrent to have kids for the purpose of caretaking.

Funnily enough, the parents who have children and raise them to be individuals  and respect their children as people don't seem to have problems with their kids coming back to take care of them. 

As a kid, my mom preached about she "listened to my mother, and I turned out fine, unlike my whore sisters" (a paraphrase) but the older I get, the more I realize my grandmother just saw her as a doll to pet up until the one time she "fell" off her pedestal to be a single mom, at age 25....which for pre-gentrification 80s SF Bay Area/Oakland may as well have qualified for geriatric pregnancy status. To this day, she still uses that to shame me when I don't take her advice at face value, but honestly? She shouldn't cut Granny out of her life at 18 when she refused to hold a job and forced her to quit college to keep a roof over her head.

The older I get, the clearer it is why her "whore sisters" turned out like they did and why my aunt my marriage blatantly refused to even pretend to have nice words about her, even around me as a ten year old. Birth control was next to.impossible to find for my grandmother's generation, but my fellow millennials have no such excuses. Luckily, more and more of us recognize our ineptitude and fewer of us are shamed about abortion in the event that everything else fails.

My son is your age and although he is engaged to be married, they have no plans to have children. They feel the world is just too messed up to bring a child into it. Doesn't bother me in the least.

[deirdra]

If you don't spend all of our money on kids, you can hire people to help out when you're old. And they can be replaced if they don't treat you like you want to be treated.

[jpagan05]

We don't have children and have zero regrets. I never wanted to be a mom, only a grandmother. I loved my grandparents. I enjoy babysitting my boss's kids. They are 5 and 8, gorgeous, funny and well-behaved but I'm glad when they go home. Watch "Euphoria" on HBO and you'll be relieved you don't have young kids.

[peacheslatour]

27 minutes ago, jpagan05 said:

We don't have children and have zero regrets. I never wanted to be a mom, only a grandmother. I loved my grandparents. I enjoy babysitting my boss's kids. They are 5 and 8, gorgeous, funny and well-behaved but I'm glad when they go home. Watch "Euphoria" on HBO and you'll be relieved you don't have young kids.

Lol, I'm the opposite. I wanted a kid and I never wanted grand kids. Before I had my son I never wanted children at all but then at around 27-28 it hit me like a freight train. I wanted a kid in the worst way. But the very idea of grand kids makes me tired.

[lovemesomejoolery]

16 hours ago, Petunia13 said:

Yes. I interviewed early Saturday morning at the top restaurant in Illinois. It was very long and two parts and they said if they liked me they’d call me by Wednesday. Later, in the afternoon I had a brief informal interview with the owner of a different high end busy AF restaurant and they also said if they wanted to proceed they’d call me by Wednesday. Both places have a lot of servers, the 1st has 100 so I won’t stand out, at least hopefully if hired. The other I think a lot maybe 50? Both places the servers make a lot but close out their credit card tips in weekly paychecks. The first interviewer liked I gave them copies of my Food Handlers Safety Certificate and Basset License and knew a lot about wine and alcohol vendors and purchasing. 

I have to leave my current place soon. That woman manager has increased her behavior. A lot of the reason she’s belittling me and seating me poorly and bad shifts and calling me when I’m off is because of something regarding my appearance, the owner my first day said to her I’m “the skinny girl on the staff” while I was in earshot and looked back and that I think upset her. When I’m alone and I think of her making fun of me or fucking me over financially I rationalize it like it wasn’t as bad as what I went through with my carjacking in August ... then I think of that and get overwhelmed. She was pretty aggressive when she called me Friday in her comments and I’d be an idiot to stay at a place where someone in leadership admits they will humiliate you and hinder your chances for making money. 

I'll be sending positive energy your way! 

[jewel21]

Can I bitch again?

I feel like nothing is going right at both my jobs these days. Like there's a little black cloud over my head. 

One job, I have my manager bugging me because I didn't charge an old patient for an evaluation and it had been their first visit in two years. HOWEVER, the patient is an old patient of her father's and has been coming to the clinic on and off for 40 years and she told me he never charged her for an eval. I confirmed with him and he agreed saying that she has been coming for years and years and it's not fair to charge her. His daughter, my manager, is all "but how did my dad get involved? Don't discuss these things with him, he's never been a business man, etc." 

I'm sorry but sometimes you have to decide what is more important, losing $10 but having a client come back for more appointments, or risk angering them over $10 and have them not come back. This actually happened recently. A long time client bitched and stopped coming and her dad had to call and apologize to her and she agreed to come back after he told her he wouldn't increase the price for her. And this client has a son who owns a yacht and a private plane so it's not like she can't afford to pay $10 extra dollars. 

Then at my other job, a new patient was waiting when I came back from lunch. Not being on the clock yet, I went to put my jacket and purse away and pee. I come back and now she's playing with her kid. Five minutes before we officially start, I ask if she's here to see the doctor. She goes to get her referral and at this point, two families come in and stand in line, so I start taking their medicare cards while she's still getting her things. The doctor comes out wanting a file so I give him one in my hand, while I'm still taking people in. The new patient starts bitching that she was there first, I saw her there, and I let someone go in before her. I tried telling her that I need to open her file and take down information like her address, phone #, medicare info, and in the meantime the doctor wanted a patient and I gave him one. She's not happy. She was here first and keeps insisting. I lose my cool and tell her I can't have 3 patients lined up while I'm imputing her kid's info into the computer while the doctor stands behind me wanting to start the afternoon rush because we're already filling up. And she's going to be seen next. I put her file so that it was next up. Plus, he had another patient anyway at one o'clock as well. He double books his appointments. She's still pissy, the doctor calls her in after about 6 minutes, and then she leaves without making another appointment. The doctor saw her leaving and told me I should tell her to make an appointment but I just kind of ignored him because I was steaming. Thank god he likes me because I felt bad.

Anyway, people suck. 

[Cupid Stunt]

• Australia bushfires: State of emergency -- A record number of emergency-level bushfires have been raging across two Australian states, forcing residents to flee and towns to be evacuated.

• Australian state declares emergency due to wildfires

• Wildfires are getting worse. Can new technology make us safer? -- What is it like to spend months living in a fire lookout tower. 

• Severe drought threatens honey bees in Chile -- A decade-long drought is making life difficult for honey bees in the country’s central region. That could mean problems for Chile’s $34 billion food

• The world's worst air -- India’s latest pollution crisis in perspective

• The law that’s helping fuel Delhi’s deadly air pollution -- A policy to conserve water resources led to the rise of a major source of air pollution, making breathing Delhi’s air as bad as smoking 50 cigarettes.

• Human extinction would be a uniquely awful tragedy. Why don’t we act like it? -- How pessimism about the future affects how we think about humanity and extinction.

• The world’s largest trade deal could be signed in 2020 and the US isn’t in it -- A group of 15 Asia-Pacific countries is aiming to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, in 2020.

• China’s pork crisis is bigger than you think -- African swine fever in world’s second largest economy has shaken global meat markets

• Alibaba's Singles' Day sales hit record $38 billion; growth slows

• Officials Charged A California Woman With Murder After They Found Meth In Her Stillborn Fetus's System -- It's not the first time in the US a pregnant woman has been charged with a crime, including murder, for behavior that prosecutors allege endangered a fetus.

• Postmodernism predicted our post-truth hellscape. Everyone still hates it.

• Pop culture unites us as Americans. Will streaming services change that?

• Stay safe & save time with these microwave tips & tricks

• Car Crashes Into New Jersey Building's Second Floor, Killing Two People

• Bashing Bill Gates lets the rest of the billionaire class off the hook -- Bashing Bill Gates lets the rest of the billionaire class off the hook

• She used to drive for Uber and Lyft. Now she delivers legal weed. -- For one delivery person, driving around with a car full of pot feels a lot safer than the gig economy.

• The media’s biggest bias is its centrism -- A dean of DC reporting admits an uncomfortable truth about the press.

• In praise of Diana Wynne Jones, the fairy godmother of children’s fantasy

• Colorado’s cleanest energy options are also its cheapest -- New modeling shows the state can decarbonize at a savings.

• The case for spoilers -- Some people avoid them at all costs. I seek them out and I’m not alone.

• Why protests around the world often involve public transportation -- In Hong Kong, Santiago, and New York City, protesters have disrupted, delayed, or even boycotted subways.

• Why are there so many bullshit jobs: why they exist and why you might have one -- And why this professor thinks we need a revolution.

• Sandra the orangutan, freed from a zoo after being granted 'personhood,' settles into her new home

Edited November 12, 2019 by Cupid Stunt

[Cupid Stunt]

Quote

Jewel said, One of the physiotherapists at work seems to think there's something wrong with me because I don't want to get married or have kids. 

People can be so thoughtless and crude with their opinions about personal decisions. Many of those decisions are completely out of their hands or are still in negotiations. Nevertheless, those decisions should only be made by the people involved and no one else.

[PatsyandEddie]

Can’t people just mind their own damn business? No one has the right to express their opinion on someone else’s status unless asked. 

[pearlite]

Time for my annual statement on weather, and winter in general:

I hate snow.

[jewel21]

I just fell on my ass in front of the bus driver and a bunch of passengers. And then I almost fell again. My ass hurts and is wet. FML. 

[peacheslatour]

9 minutes ago, jewel21 said:

I just fell on my ass in front of the bus driver and a bunch of passengers. And then I almost fell again. My ass hurts and is wet. FML. 

Ow! Do you have a lot of snow and ice there?

[jewel21]

14 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Ow! Do you have a lot of snow and ice there?

Yeah, we had 15-20 cm of snow. I was running for the bus and there was a slippery patch and my legs just slipped out from under me. And then there was like slush and semi melted snow when you stepped on the bus by the doors and I slipped on that too but a passenger steadied me and told me to be careful because it's slippery.

[peacheslatour]

6 minutes ago, jewel21 said:

Yeah, we had 15-20 cm of snow. I was running for the bus and there was a slippery patch and my legs just slipped out from under me. And then there was like slush and semi melted snow when you stepped on the bus by the doors and I slipped on that too but a passenger steadied me and told me to be careful because it's slippery.

Jeez, please be careful. We don't want anything to happen to Steve Stunning's mom.

[jpagan05]

Holy guacamole!

https://www.tmz.com/2019/11/12/days-of-our-lives-cast-fired-nbc-soap-opera/

[PatsyandEddie]

Whoa! 😱

[Snaporaz]

10 hours ago, pearlite said:

Time for my annual statement on weather, and winter in general:

I hate snow.

I feel like I'm being cheated out of my beloved autumn.  It's too early to be this freaking cold.  

[crowsworks]

 I have this old shin lenth down coat I use when I walk down my steep drive (Really turns into a bobsled run) I'm like the tire man - I fall and bounce back up.