Speedy's Cafe - General Chat about anything you like!

[Arcadia]

Wading in late to this conversation (but what else is new lately?  ) but I think your most pertinent point is "there's more to it than that." I do think there's too much over-simplification of almost everything these days, and it makes it too easy for people to take sides. There's "more" to almost everything, but for some reason (some) people don't want to deal with that, they want everything to be simple, and (if everyone will pardon the phrase) black and white.

I think I see your point about small ethnicities and dying cultures, but I also see that existence is change, and not everything is meant to survive. Hard for the ones who are dying out, I know. No easy answers for them. But if their efforts to preserve their culture result in actual racism (and I don't know that they do) ... that's a tough one. I have to admit, even under those circumstances, I would find actual racism pretty hard to justify.

On a related topic, just a day or two ago I read that the Webster dictionary is going to change their definition of racism. Wonder what they have in mind?

[Arcadia]

On 6/7/2020 at 1:11 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

That is utterly asinine!  As long as the 40-year-old windows still work, they're WAY better than any replacement windows would be.  For one thing, they're actually part of the house structure.  The only way to remove them is to saw through the connecting lumber.  The replacements would merely be slid into the resulting hole and nailed in place, so the result wouldn't be nearly as sturdy.  Also, it sounds like you've got a nice house there, so I'm assuming the windows were pretty much state of the art 40 years ago.  As far as I know, about the only thing that's improved since then is the availability of glass that filters out certain wavelengths -- and the lack of those is NOT a defect!

Frankly, I wish we'd chosen simpler windows when our house was built 15 years ago.  These can supposedly be unlatched to tilt in so you can clean them from inside the house, but (even though they're a good brand) the only two windows we've tried that with can no longer be used normally.  In one of them, the upper sash won't stay up, and in the other one, the lower sash won't stay up, so we just leave them closed (and locked, so that the one upper sash won't come thudding down).

Are you actually able to remove the bulbs by pulling?  Unless you have unusually fluffy soil, they usually need to be dug up.  If all you're doing is pulling the tops off, they'll just resprout, so it'd be a whole lot quicker to mow.  In fact, unless the onions are listed on the inspection report, there's really no point in worrying about them.  Then you could get your temporary quarters ready a lot sooner.

If you're signed up with a large construction company, they can work almost like an assembly line.  One crew comes in and excavates, the next day another crew comes in and pours the foundation, and so on.  They don't need to wait for subcontractors to show up, the way a smaller construction company would, and a lot of the time several crews can be doing different things at the same time.  Have you spoken with any of their prior clients?

 

Actually, we have replacement windows in basement (half-basement, really) because the originals let more cold seep in in the winter than we liked. The new ones are better because the double panes are more tightly sealed, (therefore letting in less cold) and they're easier to clean, too. At least in this house, they didn't have to saw out the old ones ... they had to pull out the surrounding molding, but it wasn't that bad. Still, we're looking at a minimum of like $600 a window for 13 windows, simply because the new ones would be better. The current ones are still to code, which is good enough ... the buyer should pay for upgrades, not the seller. At any rate, that's the conclusion everyone came to, because that request was dropped.

After a rain, the onions can usually be pulled out (which is kind of fun! You can feel that little !pop! when they leave the hole.  ). But I didn't mean I was literally pulling them out, most of them had to be dug. Yesterday I got three out by pulling, and the other two just broke off, so I had to go back for the spade. Ugh.

Anyway, lately I've just been doing it because the weather's been too beautiful to stay inside all day, and I'm proud of my yard, so ... onions, here I come. I'm learning to love the smell.

Have no idea what size my construction company is, that would have been a good question! Too late, I'm already committed to them. It's okay, it will be what it will be. The most important thing to me was being able to afford it, literally everything else was of minor concern by comparison.

Weird ... it just got dark enough, apparently ... my screen is slowly turning yellow.... for a minute there I thought my eyes were going bad!

 

[Arcadia]

Oh, by the way ... welcome to the forum, Panda!  

[Carol the Dabbler]

On 6/15/2020 at 9:03 PM, Arcadia said:

After a rain, the onions can usually be pulled out (which is kind of fun! You can feel that little !pop! when they leave the hole.  ). But I didn't mean I was literally pulling them out, most of them had to be dug. Yesterday I got three out by pulling, and the other two just broke off, so I had to go back for the spade. Ugh.

Unless there's a dense cluster of them, it might be easier with a trowel.  I use a fishtail weeder for lots of deep-rooted things (such as dandelions), but not sure if that'd work for wild onions.  The main places that I bother weeding are garden beds, where the soil is looser, which makes things a lot easier.

Well, except for one corner of the lawn where we innocently let a Scotch thistle stay a few years ago (because the flowers are so pretty, and goldfinches like the seeds).  Now there are are thistle plants all over that area.  We've started mowing them, so they can't set more seed, but good grief, there are dozens!  I finally bought a pair of special thorn-resistant rose-pruning gloves to wear while digging them out, but I haven't yet gotten up the courage to try again.  After this they'll have to be content with living and blooming in our meadow.

 

[besleybean]

Don't feel any need to apologise, fellow Ben Whishaw fan here!

I was fortunate enough to see him in live theatre a couple of years ago.

He and Mark are friends I believe and from earlier than that, he and Andrew Scott are friends.

I dunno, maybe it just wasn't the right time for him?

Possibly he also doesn't have the killer instinct, not sure!

I certainly would have loved them to find him a role in Sherlock...

But that possibly isn't going to happen, now.

[Van Buren Supernova]

@linear_panda

Regarding racism, I'm glad you explained that, I do get where you are coming from.

And I also think it's very very difficult to find anyone without a level of racism. Can any of you say you are one? I certainly not, although I think, imho, mine is very harmless and in unusual circumstances.

For example, and also to explain why I get panda's post. My family experienced the bad end of racism, we just happened to be there, not at the wrong time or wrong place because we actually part of the society, but probably similar in America, it exploded and certain group are being targetted because of social problem, stereotype happens and people are being blinded.

Well, from my personal experience, individual racism alone probably wouldn't go very far, unless it's extreme, in this case is stupidity or on someone with power (normally with agenda but worse if combined with stupidity) but collectively and behind almost every major incident, I'm pretty sure it's there, provocateurs with agenda, making use of those anger, enable and facilitate them, most time by spreading fear, envy, propaganda, and escalate protest into riots, manslaughter, violence, while the puppet masters are watching in the safe of their home and reaping what they sow. If we are provoked, or one of them, we are being conned. They are making use of genuine anger and injustice, that's why it's very powerful and take a lot to step back and actually look.

I wouldn't blame myself that I'm taking extra precaution after being targetted and thinking twice, questioning good intention of people, because I need to tell if they are being genuine or if they look at me differently, and by doing that, I fit into racist category. Eventhough I see people the way they are without color, can't help to interpret and be cautious  about how they actually see me without really knowing them.

And it's inevitable that some people feel more connected to those similar to them, it's natural. Can anyone say they are not? Even the same taste in food is relatable, but It should only apply to small things and no way make people judge each other about something fundamental. I tend to, sorry maybe not sorry, avoid people with very strong religion orientation who clearly think their way is the only way, any religion, doesn't matter which. That is rasicm in term of religion yes? 

Stereotypes as well. Can any of you say that you are free of stereotype? I certainly can't. I used to commute a lot in jam packed public transport, and dread the time I was pitted against certain people because, in my experience, I found that I have strong reaction with smell associsted with them, because of their food and culture habit. I have very sensitive nose. Not all, majority, but sadly I stereotype. Is it wrong? Probably, but as said, no one is free. It's the level and how you act on it.

Not sure if it makes sense.

 

P.S. To add to that, there are a lot of racism i  professional work as well. For example, dealing with foreign clients or consultants who wants local business yet refuse to adapt or understand the way local works and insist on implementing what they know best in their origin. Is it racism? I'm not sure, but there are certainly more than one occasion that we have to deal with them based on 'what they are' and expect their kind of behavior, build strategy around it and judge them from their origin. 

[Van Buren Supernova]

@Arcadia

When I looked for a house (never has selling experience though) it's always what you see is what you get. Some houses had falling ceiling and it's up to us if we want to take it. The owner would put up the price they think it fits with the condition, and buyer will decide if they accept (if they are going to renovate anyway it's normally worth taking because of lower price), in any case we wouldn't require owner to fix anything unless they offer to do so, for example, there is problem with plumbing but they promises they would fix it (no one wants to buy house with plumbing problem anyway) but maybe we have different system.

 

Anyway, on lighter topic... say.. kitchen stuff!

Whether I cook or not, I was excited to get this little gift that proves to be very useful.

It's mostly for rice or something that requires quick stirring or scooping but I use it for soup too as well since it could stand a bit of heat. It's great because I don't need to find somewhere to put it in case the counter is not clean, the squirrel's legs ensure that the part touching the food is elevated.

 

So..

since I like soup, I want to have similar thing that is actually used for soup, so I bought this online

And I'm soooo pissed at my own stupidity, because you know what?? It doesn't work!!

I'm not sure if you can see it from the picture or you are ehm... not smarter than me,

it doesn't work because duh.. unlike the squirrel, the nessie or dinosaur legs that keep it upright goes inside the food/soup as well. Duh.. that defeats my intention to keep it hygienic. Who need a standing ladle anyway.

A little tidbit to share for your new home, go for squirrel instead of Nessie.

[Carol the Dabbler]

15 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

individual racism alone probably wouldn't go very far, unless it's extreme, in this case is stupidity or on someone with power

I think you're right about that.  Basically, there have always been jerks, regardless of whether they're racists or sexists or homophobes or just plain old-fashioned self-centered egotists.  But the majority of people are pretty decent, so the jerkiness gets watered down.  It still hurts, of course, but not as often.

 

15 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

... behind almost every major incident, I'm pretty sure it's there, provocateurs with agenda, making use of those anger, enable and facilitate them, most time by spreading fear, envy, propaganda, and escalate protest into riots, manslaughter, violence, while the puppet masters are watching in the safe of their home[....]. They are making use of genuine anger and injustice, that's why it's very powerful....

That had never really occurred to me, not as a general rule, but you may well have a point there.  Sometimes it's the Establishment, making sure they don't lose their position of power.  Sometimes it's the dissident extremists, stirring up the groups who are being wronged.  But in either case, it serves the purposes of the puppet masters far more than it helps the rioters, lynch-mobs, et al.

15 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

I'm taking extra precaution after being targetted and thinking twice, questioning good intention of people, because I need to tell if they are being genuine or if they look at me differently, and by doing that, I fit into racist category.

I wouldn't call that racism, exactly, more like statistical analysis -- but I see what you mean.

15 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

I tend to, sorry maybe not sorry, avoid people with very strong religion orientation who clearly think their way is the only way, any religion, doesn't matter which. That is rasicm in term of religion yes? 

I'd say that depends.  If you're avoiding specific individuals who have harassed you over religion in the past, then no.  But if you avoid total strangers merely because you can tell they belong to a certain religion, then I suppose you could call it something akin to racism.

15 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

I used to commute a lot in jam packed public transport, and dread the time I was pitted against certain people because, in my experience, I found that I have strong reaction with smell associsted with them, because of their food and culture habit. I have very sensitive nose. Not all, majority, but sadly I stereotype.

Again, I'd call that statistical analysis.  It's not like you're calling these people names or refusing them services, etc., you'd just rather stand next to somebody whose smell you prefer.  If it helps any, they may feel the same way about you.

15 hours ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

dealing with foreign clients or consultants who wants local business yet refuse to adapt or understand the way local works and insist on implementing what they know best in their origin. Is it racism? I'm not sure

More like unfamiliarity with other ways of doing things, I'd guess.  People have always done things a certain way and know it works just fine for them, and then a group of foreigners wants to handle things in a way they've never heard of.  Of course, if the person is *also* racist, then it could be a combination of factors.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

On 6/18/2020 at 7:44 AM, Van Buren Supernova said:

it doesn't work because duh.. unlike the squirrel, the nessie or dinosaur legs that keep it upright goes inside the food/soup as well. Duh.. that defeats my intention to keep it hygienic.

That is bizarre.  Do you happen to recall if the seller claimed any particular advantage over a regular ladle?  The first ones do indeed look better, but my main consideration would be to avoid getting soup on the counter -- do your squirrels drip?

 

[Artemis]

4 minutes ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

— do your squirrels drip?

Without context, that’s the weirdest question I’ve read in awhile, lol.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'm not so sure the Americans were basing their presentation on a stereotype of Asians.

Sounds to me like the Americans were doing their usual flashy presentation (that sort of thing is very popular nowadays), which the Japanese (being accustomed to a far more dignified style) considered over the top (at best), but were too polite to say so.

In other words, an inter-cultural misunderstanding, rather than a racist attempt to overexplain.

 

[J.P.]

On 6/18/2020 at 9:14 AM, linear_panda said:

Do y think if we petition hard enough they'll make more Sherlock?

Definitely not. If I was any of the makers I wouldn't want touch the matter any more in my entire life. There is practically no topic online posted by anyone even slightly involved in the show, without someone whining about S5. If you consider the fact that a big group of fans want S5 solely to finally get their ship done, I see it like a lost case right now. Why would they want to go trough that shitstorm valley again?
I'm afraid the TJLC part of fandom and their petitioning killed the show in first place.

[Carol the Dabbler]

3 hours ago, J.P. said:

I'm afraid the TJLC part of fandom and their petitioning killed the show in first place.

I'm sure that pressure did not encourage Moftiss to jump right back in, and it may well be a factor in the current long hiatus.  But judging by S3 and S4, they were getting bored anyhow, and so felt the need to make the show "different."

From the very beginning, though, they've said they'd like to keep doing occasional episodes till BC & MF are more the age of previous Holmes and Watson actors, and they're still well shy of that age range, so I'm not about to give up till they're well past it.  Once the Moftisses have refreshed their creativity by doing a few other things, I suspect they'll start coming up with more Sherlock ideas.

[Carol the Dabbler]

8 hours ago, linear_panda said:

I'm pretty short, so I look like a kid, and I never get any physical searches at airports even though I'm an adult because of that.

When you say "physical," do you mean you do have to go through that weird x-ray, but you don't get patted down?  Not that I condone agricultural smuggling, but here's a tip: don't wear anything long and loose, or they might make an exception.  On one trip I wore a mid-calf-length flared skirt, figuring it'd be comfortable on the plane.  I got patted down (not by hand, but using an electronic wand) on the way over, but assumed it was just a random spot check.  But it happened again on the way back, so I asked the gal why, and she said it was because I could be hiding something under my skirt.  Since then I've worn jeans.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

6 hours ago, linear_panda said:

I have an oral presentation coming up.
Does anyone know how to get out of it in a sophisticated, non-obvious way?

You could arrange to get laryngitis. 

 

[Sheerluck]

16 hours ago, linear_panda said:

I have an oral presentation coming up.
Does anyone know how to get out of it in a sophisticated, non-obvious way?

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 6/19/2020 at 11:00 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

That is bizarre.  Do you happen to recall if the seller claimed any particular advantage over a regular ladle?  The first ones do indeed look better, but my main consideration is not getting soup on the counter -- do your squirrels drip?

The first one is not for soup, I love it more for hygienic purpose, the squirrel legs enable it to sit on the counter without the part touching the food touches the counter, if it makes sense. Because sometimes in between cooking of if you are unsure that the counter is food-grade clean, you would want to rest the cooking spoon on something instead of directly at the counter.

The nessie laddle basically, perhaps, trying to copy the squirrel but it doesn't work because the legs touch the food as well. So except from being able to stand on its own, you might as well put it on the counter. Again, from hygienic POV. 

On 6/23/2020 at 7:07 AM, linear_panda said:

Does anyone know how to get out of it in a sophisticated, non-obvious way?

Offer them two bottle of pills and tell them they have to choose one to make you do your presentation. Make sure the contain is enough for everyone.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Weird, this didn't come up on my Unread Content page.  I just happened to come to this thread to post something else.  Added:  My bad.  My touchpad is becoming less touchy with age, and apparently failed to notice when I clicked the refresh button.

Anyhow, here's the gadget that VBS is referring to below:

On 6/18/2020 at 7:44 AM, Van Buren Supernova said:

 

On 7/9/2020 at 12:00 AM, Van Buren Supernova said:

... the squirrel legs enable it to sit on the counter without the part touching the food touches the counter, if it makes sense. Because sometimes in between cooking of if you are unsure that the counter is food-grade clean, you would want to rest the cooking spoon on something instead of directly at the counter.

As you mentioned earlier, that would be useful for cooking something like rice, where what ends up on the spoon would be either plain water or something too thick to drip.  Most of what I cook would drip, though, so I'd have to (or at least ought to) wipe the counter afterward -- but I suppose that's still easier than making sure the counter is truly hygienic beforehand or else using a saucer or spoon holder (which ought to be washed or at least rinsed afterward).

I tend to be a bit casual about such things.  If I'll be using a bowl to serve the food in, I'll use it for a spoon rest.  Otherwise I just set the spoon on the counter (and if it smudges the counter, I'll probably wipe that off with a sponge later).  Whatever I'm cooking is too hot for germs to live in anyhow.  If I'm cooking for guests, that's different, but it's usually just Alex and me, and we're acclimated to each other's germs already.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

What I wanted to ask:  We need a new toilet seat, so I was looking online, and came up with one called a Tet Seat (which doesn't look like what I want, but the term puzzled me).  I did an internet search on "tet seat," and it does seem to mean some kind of toilet seat, but although the word "tet" itself has quite a few meanings, none of them seem applicable to toilets.  Has anyone encountered the word in this sense?

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

If you have to replace your toilet seat don't do it halfway man

 

[Artemis]

Just found out about this global documentary project called "Life in a Day", sponsored by YouTube.

Quote

"On Saturday, July 25, 2020, film your day and upload your footage and you may become part of a historic documentary – a time capsule of the year 2020.  ...  Anyone can participate and submissions from all over the world will be woven together to create a feature film, produced by Ridley Scott, directed by Kevin Macdonald, filmed by you, and premiering at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival."

There was one previously made in 2010 (viewable on YouTube), so I presume they're planning to do this every decade.

Quote

"In July 2010, tens of thousands of people picked up their cameras and followed a simple invitation: show us what your day looks like.  ...  With over 80,000 clips submitted from 189 countries, Life in a Day became the biggest participatory film project ever made. From 4,500 hours of footage, Kevin Macdonald and his team created a 90-minute feature film that premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and on YouTube. It’s since been watched over 16 million times."

...

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Now that a lot of people can "film" by using their cell phones, there will presumably be a WHOLE lot more submissions this time!

 

[Artemis]

4 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Now that a lot of people can "film" by using their cell phones, there will presumably be a WHOLE lot more submissions this time!

I was thinking the same thing.  I’m curious to see how many more there will be.

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 7/26/2020 at 4:04 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

Now that a lot of people can "film" by using their cell phones, there will presumably be a WHOLE lot more submissions this time!

Ugh, it would be hard to differentiate a real life, and instagram life for example.

 

Meawhile,

[Carol the Dabbler]

12 minutes ago, Van Buren Supernova said:

it would be hard to differentiate a real life, and instagram life

Good point.     That "day in the life" project could start to look like our Funny Animal Pictures thread (meaning that I suspect a good many of those pet pix are staged.)