European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

I was doing a sponsored walk for my charity today. It always, always rains. We did brave a walk around the park - usually we cheat and walk around the museum. The best bit was by all 30 or so of us piling into the pub afterwards for lunch.
But the weather is fairly atrocious. It even hailed on the way home.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:00:26 AM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

The best bit was by all 30 or so of us piling into the pub ...

Paging Helen.

I love the smell of roast chicken in the morning!

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:03:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

although there are some good pubs in Cardiff, I doubt that the one they picked would be one I'd endorse.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:12:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Wetherspoons. cough

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 02:01:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hmm, some good, some bad and a lot so-so

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 02:19:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We were only there for the food.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 02:32:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Ales well that ends well?

There's no such thing as original sin - Elvis Costello

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 02:33:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

A friend wrote a long article about Transgender Day of Remembrance and how certain "Christian" communities had coincidentally chosen this day of all days to to announce how their freedom of conscience is more important than our rights.

It is clear that they regard as part of that freedom of conscience the right to hate speech against LGBT people and discrimination against us in employment, housing and other areas. They regard us as intrinsically inferior and to be treated - compassionately of course - as such. Any attempt to oblige them to treat us as equal is claimed, explicitly, in this manifesto as an abridgement of their freedom of conscience.

however, I was very struck by something she wrote towards the end of the essay;-

One of the reasons why I progressively detest the institution of organized religion as opposed to the simple faith of many actual believers is that endless talking about God and sacred scriptures and what they demand so often leads to mistreatment of actual human beings in the name of righteousness.

and it struck me that you could substitute "freedom and democracy" (Freeman Moxy h/t Steve Bell) for organised religion and end up with a similar sentiment.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:17:46 AM EST

the future (none / 0)

Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell. Frank Borman

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:26:27 AM EST

Re: the future (none / 1)

I'm unclear on the novelty of this. People have been dynamically overlaying video onto 3d models for a decade or more. Indeed it is not too hard to interpolate between sufficiently close videos to change the vantage point (rather than the clumsy cross fade used in this). And the idea of adding live video to google earth is something that my mother has thought of (we like to joke 'I can't see you on google earth dear, can you wave?').

3 or so years ago people were automatically generating the 3d montages directly from the photo data off flickr or whatever.

A nice video, but hardly ground breaking.

by njh on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:46:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Earth Destroyed By Large Hadron Collider; Martian Questioned | GeekDad | Wired.com

In a stunning piece of astronomical news, the planet Sol III -- better known as "Earth" -- has been completely obliterated. In connection with this sudden catastrophe, authorities have questioned a resident of neighboring planet Sol IV (Mars), who is known to have made threats against Earth in the past. This questioning is thought by many to be a formality, as most sources indicate that the destruction was caused by a foolhardy group of scientists in central Europe.

Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell. Frank Borman

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:27:22 AM EST

Cheney is a martian !!?? Whodda thunkit ? I thought he was from Uranus.

and the punditocracy must be from Sirius.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:45:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

When Wingnuts Attack (none / 0)

Apparently the Magic Space Daddy is punishing Notre Dame's football team for having had Obama speak at the school.

Forgetting, of course, that the Fighting Irish -- none of whom are actually Irish, 70% of whom are black Protestants -- haven't played a decent season of football in 20 years.

God is also apparently not aware that likely-National Champion Texas Longhorns did the same thing:

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:38:26 AM EST

Re: When Wingnuts Attack (none / 1)

Further: Since Brigham Young had a better record than Notre Dame, does that mean Albany Jesus trumps Bethlehem Jesus?

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:58:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Is it the Longhorns that have the cowshit-coloured jerseys?

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 03:12:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When Wingnuts Attack (4.00 / 3)

It's "burnt orange."

Karen in Austin, soon to be Traunwalchen

Thence comes our true nobility by grace, It was not willed us with our rank and place. Chaucer

by Wife of Bath (priceluda at grandecom dot net) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 05:37:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I have a suit that colour

Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell. Frank Borman

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:46:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

From the '80s?

If sanity be culturally normative, then by the norms of this culture I claim insanity.

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 08:52:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When Wingnuts Attack (4.00 / 3)

No from 2006. its a bit tight round the waist now, but I went into an end of line store to find a suit, and spotted it while walking round. A £600 Italian suit for £50. decided that I really couldnt buy it, that I should buy something sensible instead so left it.

Two weeks later on my next shopping trip, while still looking for a suit, I popped into the same shop, to find it marked down to £10. and at that price I just had to have it

It was always good for when management were being insistant on Suits for work. A couple of days of my suit and they would go back to allowing us to wear what we wished.

Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without hell. Frank Borman

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 07:47:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When Wingnuts Attack (4.00 / 2)

LOL! Just for such situations one should also have a striped jacket and plaid pants. A four or five inch wide tie wouldn't hurt either.

If sanity be culturally normative, then by the norms of this culture I claim insanity.

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 10:32:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I just knew I'd offend somebody with that! ;)

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 05:02:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

does this mean you're moving to europe ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 06:49:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When Wingnuts Attack (none / 1)

What kinda malnourished cows do y'all have there? ;)

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:15:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mad ones?

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 05:02:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I thought that was the Brits?

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 06:12:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 04:40:52 PM EST

How cool! Where can we get some?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 23rd, 2009 at 03:18:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Great News, people !!! (none / 0)

Please forgive my stupidity, but what the hell, it's 1971 and I'm just a sophomore in college.

Ready ?!!!

This is all a hallucinogenic dream I'm having after I just had my first "experience" with pot (I'll be told later that it was "laced" with something).

You'd think "the polar caps are melting", in true Twilight Zone fashion, would have tipped me off but I'm kind of slow and this is ONLY A DREAM !!!

What just tipped me off? Watching the end of the Kansas City Chiefs/Steelers football game and the winning field goal in overtime came from ... get this ... a dude named Ryan Succop (pronounced Suck Up !!).

And "blogging" with people in Europe over "the internet" ??? Where did my subconscious come up with that one? Too much comic books, I guess.

Oh yeah. And a tranny named Helen. What does THAT tell you about how my brain functions?

That did it. I've heard/seen enough. How do I wake up? Somebody slap me!! Pour a bucket of water on me. I don't care. End this weird improbable dream.

I love the smell of roast chicken in the morning!

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 04:47:19 PM EST

Re: Great News, people !!! (4.00 / 10)

Umm, hate to be picky but tranny isn't a good way to describe me. Tranny is kind of the 'N' word, used by those who deride us. Trans is the catch all that's preferred.

Yes, I have referred to myself as a tranny in the past. But there was a certain irony involved in that that I could do but which has darker connotations from others. However, I do not use that word anymore, I've had my nose rubbed in it by too many people for me to be amused by it.

And certainly NOT today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, where trans people all around the world remember those who were murdered in the last year simply because they were trans or who committed suicide because they could no longer bear the rejection and isolation from the rest of society, both straight and, sadly too often, gay.

I'm sure you were being light hearted. I appreciate the intent. But please don't use that again.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 05:10:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Great News, people !!! (none / 0)

I just got through taking a shower and I find my "computer" (right out of Star Trek. Surprised it doesn't talk to me in Gene Roddenbury's wife's voice) is chastising me over my verbiage.

Yup, it's a dream all right. Although, during my shower, I figured out that this "dream" is the "powers that be"'s (whatever the hell that is) way of warning me about what MIGHT happen to this planet if I don't do something. And the Viet Nam war is still on. And get this. My subconscious comes up with a new Viet Nam in a place call Afghanistan. How unoriginal of me. You'd think I could come up with Invaders From Mars or something.

Slap me. Slap me. Slap me.

(P.S. If this ISN"T a dream, sorry Helen. My bad.)

I love the smell of roast chicken in the morning!

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 05:40:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Rah, rah, rah. Very funny. (Tonight I am going to kill you.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

By popular request ... Madness takes it's toll. Have exact change ready.

by ATinNM on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 05:47:02 PM EST

I never would've figured you for a Bungles fan. A rare good time to be one this year, especially since the Yinzers lost today.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:16:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm not. I just liked the expression on the cat's face.

By popular request ... Madness takes it's toll. Have exact change ready.

by ATinNM on Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 at 06:21:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]