Randall Munroe (xkcd) Explains: What Would a Magnitude 15 Earthquake Be Like?

ScienceDecember 2023 • Views: 14,580

Since we usually hear about earthquakes with ratings somewhere between 3 and 9, a lot of people probably think of 10 as the top of the scale and 0 as the bottom. In fact, there is no top or bottom to the scale!

Randall Munroe is the author of the New York Times bestsellers What If? 2, How To, What If?, and Thing Explainer; the science question-and-answer blog What If?; and the popular web comic xkcd (xkcd.com). A former NASA roboticist, he left the agency in 2006 to draw comics on the internet full time.

Henry Reich is the creator of MinutePhysics and executive producer of MinuteEarth and MinuteFood and founder of Neptune Studios (the parent company for all three youtube channels).

Credits
Narrated by and based on “What If?” by Randall Munroe
Written & Directed by Henry Reich
Illustration and Video Editing by Lizah van der Aart
Illustration and Animation by Ever Salazar
Music & Sound Effects by Know Art Studios

What If? The Video Series is the official adaptation of the What If? books by Randall Munroe and is produced by Neptune Studios LLC.

Get a copy of What If? 2 and Randall’s other books at: xkcd.com
More serious answers to absurd questions at: what-if.xkcd.com

©2023 xkcd, inc.

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139 comments

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 2:42:40pm

Jack Smith tells judge: Nothing in Trump’s appeal stops the Jan. 6 trial

Special counsel Jack Smith filed a short response to Donald Trump’s demand to delay his trial about the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attacks. According to Smith, there’s no good reason to delay pending appeal.

“The Court should not assume at this juncture that no issue can arise that is not involved in the appeal,” wrote the Justice Department team. “Likewise, nothing about the defendant’s appeal prevents the Court from continuing to enforce— including, if necessary, by ordering briefing or holding hearings—the protective orders governing discovery … and the order imposing conditions of release on the defendant. … In addition, while the appeal is pending, the Court can make headway on the motions already before it, including the defendant’s motions to dismiss based on statutory grounds and selective and vindictive prosecution.”

Smith goes on to say that since the public is so interested, they intend to meet every deadline required to keep the case on track.

“Accordingly, the Government will provide the defendant and the Court with any notice required by the pretrial schedule, and more—including, depending on the length of the appellate process, the Government’s exhibit list, motions in limine, and other pleadings pertaining to the Government’s trial presentation,” the DOJ promises. “Any filings the Government makes according to this Court’s schedule while the appeal is pending can then be promptly litigated if the Court’s order is affirmed and the mandate is returned.”

jeffreyw Dec 10, 2023 • 2:43:30pm

Anybody? Hello?

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 2:49:54pm

see below 👇

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 2:52:27pm

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 2:53:45pm

Biden invites Zelensky to White House this week amid Ukraine funding fight

The president will host Ukraine’s leader at the White House on Tuesday to demonstrate U.S. support, as Congress looks increasingly unlikely to pass additional funding for Ukraine. Biden officials have warned that Ukraine will run out of money by the end of the year to fight against Russia’s invasion.

washingtonpost.com

PhillyPretzel ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 2:55:23pm

re: #5 Joe Bacon ✅

I hope it works.

jeffreyw Dec 10, 2023 • 2:58:45pm

I’ve been using the Edge browser for a good while but today it started an odd behavior, the right click context menu will not show any way to save an image to disc. I right click on images in post.news and it offers to save as a web page. When I click an image to enbiggen it the right click save as might be there and might not. If I click on reader view the image save will be there. Chrome and Firefox work as expected. I tried to delete and reinstall Edge but the only option in Programs and Features is repair. Edge offers a reset to default settings but that did not resolve the problem.
I downloaded Edge Canary and it works like I want it to.

GlutenFreeJesus Dec 10, 2023 • 2:58:47pm

Well. Fuckhead Alex Jones is back on Twatter.

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 3:10:43pm

re: #8 GlutenFreeJesus

Well. Fuckhead Alex Jones is back on Twatter.

Not only that, Musk apparently opened a Xitter space with him, Andrew Tate, and Vivek Ramalamadingdong. Talk about a bunch of fuckwits all in the same room.

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 3:12:19pm

re: #9 Nerdy Fish

Did you go see anyone today?

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 3:13:09pm

re: #10 William Lewis

Did you go see anyone today?

I did not. I will try to make sure my tooth gets looked at, at least.

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 3:14:44pm

re: #11 Nerdy Fish

I did not. I will try to make sure my tooth gets looked at, at least.

< drums fingers on desktop > take care of yourself, ok?

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 3:17:12pm

re: #7 jeffreyw

I’ve been using the Edge browser for a good while but today it started an odd behavior, the right click context menu will not show any way to save an image to disc. I right click on images in post.news and it offers to save as a web page. When I click an image to enbiggen it the right click save as might be there and might not. If I click on reader view the image save will be there. Chrome and Firefox work as expected. I tried to delete and reinstall Edge but the only option in Programs and Features is repair. Edge offers a reset to default settings but that did not resolve the problem.
I downloaded Edge Canary and it works like I want it to.

I’ve had that happen with it. Then it’ll suddenly start working properly again later. It’s silly stuff like that (and other issues) that has me using Firefucked as my primary browser right now even though I really don’t like it much. Don’t really like any browser available right now…

Dangerman Dec 10, 2023 • 3:28:00pm

Donald Trump says he will not testify in civil fraud trial on Monday

Link CBS

Anyone surprised Habba was full of shit?

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 3:29:12pm

re: #14 Dangerman

Donald Trump says he will not testify in civil fraud trial on Monday

Link CBS

Anyone surprised Habba was full of shit?

I don’t think she was full of shit. I think he fully intended on testifying, probably until he learned Letitia James would get a chance to cross-examine him and that it wouldn’t just be a free publicity/campaign event for him.

Decatur Deb Dec 10, 2023 • 3:30:37pm

Only Miami and the keys are US locations where the Betelgeuse occultation will be visible. This Italian telescope will carry it live online at 8PM EST tomorrow.

virtualtelescope.eu

Dave In Austin Dec 10, 2023 • 3:35:37pm

Freeze warning in Centex tonight. We’re prepared.

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 3:40:21pm

re: #8 GlutenFreeJesus

Well. Fuckhead Alex Jones is back on Twatter.

Vicious Babushka is still banned.

Decatur Deb Dec 10, 2023 • 3:42:36pm

re: #18 Vicious Babushka

That’s like failing the blood test to join the klan.

PhillyPretzel ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 3:43:57pm

re: #8 GlutenFreeJesus

re: #18 Vicious Babushka

This was to be expected with Musk in charge.

Charles Johnson Dec 10, 2023 • 3:45:09pm

re: #15 Nerdy Fish

I don’t think she was full of shit. I think he fully intended on testifying, probably until he learned Letitia James would get a chance to cross-examine him and that it wouldn’t just be a free publicity/campaign event for him.

When I heard he wasn’t going to testify, my first thought was that his lawyers told him not to. Because let’s face it, no lawyer in the US would want to let this jackass get on the stand. But then I thought, when has he ever paid attention to his lawyers’ advice?

More likely he’s scared of Letitia James.

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 3:48:41pm

re: #21 Charles Johnson

When I heard he wasn’t going to testify, my first thought was that his lawyers told him not to. Because let’s face it, no lawyer in the US would want to let this jackass get on the stand. But then I thought, when has he ever paid attention to his lawyers’ advice?

More likely he’s scared of Letitia James.

His lawyers probably told him not to. This only hardened his resolve, because nobody tells Donald J. Trump what to do. That forced Alina Habba (who is a willing participant in all this, by the way - she’s a true believer) to come up with some excuse for why they would let him commit this act of unspeakable stupidity. What little is left of the actual lawyer that used to occupy her brain is probably heaving a big sigh of relief into her nightly bottle of wine.

coin operated Dec 10, 2023 • 3:56:41pm

re: #22 Nerdy Fish

What little is left of the actual lawyer that used to occupy her brain is probably heaving a big sigh of relief into her nightly bottle of wine.

You misspelled Everclear…

Colère Tueur de Lapin ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 3:59:29pm

re: #22 Nerdy Fish

…What little is left of the actual lawyer that used to occupy her brain is probably heaving a big sigh of relief into her nightly ~~bottle of wine.~~ handle of vodka.

Colère Tueur de Lapin ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 4:00:12pm

re: #23 coin operated

GMTA

coin operated Dec 10, 2023 • 4:01:54pm

re: #21 Charles Johnson

But then I thought, when has he ever paid attention to his lawyers’ advice?

More likely he’s scared of Letitia James.

QFT…for all his mocking (PeekabooJames) he knows she’d eviscerate him on the stand.

Edited…spelling

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 4:05:21pm

Mastodon

Unabogie Dec 10, 2023 • 4:09:32pm

re: #27 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Jesus christ, there ought to be a way for MM to sue the shit out of him for using his money to crush dissent like this.

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 4:12:08pm

re: #28 Unabogie

Jesus christ, there ought to be a way for MM to sue the shit out of him for using his money to crush dissent like this.

It’s because Ireland does not have anti-SLAPP laws. But EU does have stringent rules about social media that X won’t follow.

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 4:13:25pm

Backwoods Sleuth Dec 10, 2023 • 4:13:33pm

re: #27 Vicious Babushka

explains his stop in Ireland after his little photo op confab with bibi

🐈 Crush White Nationalism 🐈 Dec 10, 2023 • 4:14:51pm

re: #28 Unabogie

Jesus christ, there ought to be a way for MM to sue the shit out of him for using his money to crush dissent like this.

Crushing MM won’t stop people from hearing about the Nazi problem on Elon’s hellsite.

Barbra Streisand - Memory (Official Video)

TedStriker Dec 10, 2023 • 4:15:42pm

re: #23 coin operated

You misspelled Everclear…

You misspelled laudanum…

Backwoods Sleuth Dec 10, 2023 • 4:15:57pm

Mastodon

jeffreyw Dec 10, 2023 • 4:16:44pm

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 4:17:01pm

re: #30 darthstar
KEEP THE CHAN IN CHANUKAH

Also apropos

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 4:17:53pm

Mastodon

Unabogie Dec 10, 2023 • 4:18:41pm

re: #32 🐈 Crush White Nationalism 🐈

Crushing MM won’t stop people from hearing about the Nazi problem on Elon’s hellsite.

[Embedded content]

Yes, but it may succeed in putting MM out of business and thereby making other media critics scared to call out extremism amongst the oligarch class.

Unabogie Dec 10, 2023 • 4:20:37pm

re: #37 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

I wonder if this is tied to political party? I’d love to think this is just the MAGA crowd but I’m not convinced of that.

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 4:21:10pm

re: #37 Vicious Babushka

Depressing…

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 4:23:31pm

re: #39 Unabogie

I wonder if this is tied to political party? I’d love to think this is just the MAGA crowd but I’m not convinced of that.

The link provides no information on political leaning, just that the youngest age cohort is more likely than older Americans to deny the Holocaust.

goddamnedfrank Dec 10, 2023 • 4:23:42pm

Welp, fuck, took a corner just a hair too hot during tonight’s ride and hit something like maybe a small rock, laid the road bike down. Nothing broken in me, just a nice contusion on my right hip, swelling under my left ass cheek from where I assume the seat dug in, skinned up my right knee and knuckles on both hands. Rear derailleur hanger on the bike is bent, frame looks fine but we’ll see, if not I can afford it. Could be worse.

Gonna be sore in the mornin’. Will post tasteful nudes in a week or so when the inevitable bruising is at maximum ugliness.

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 4:24:24pm

re: #42 goddamnedfrank

We’re all beaten and banged up this weekend, aren’t we?

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 4:27:25pm

re: #41 Vicious Babushka

The link provides no information on political leaning, just that the youngest age cohort is more likely than older Americans to deny the Holocaust.

Given what I’ve seen of younger Americans, I’d like to see the polling methodology. Something is wrong with these numbers - the same kids coming out in record numbers over abortion rights and school shootings don’t believe in the holocaust? I find _that_ hard to believe.

PhillyPretzel ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 4:29:58pm

re: #44 William Lewis

And who is doing the polling.

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 4:30:04pm

re: #41 Vicious Babushka

The link provides no information on political leaning, just that the youngest age cohort is more likely than older Americans to deny the Holocaust.

And the hate continues. When I walk to the gym the Kidnapped posters continue to be torn down. Garbage continues to be spray painted on building walls calling for the extermination of Jews.

I never thought this hate would be mainstreamed in the US but the Republican Party has enabled it every step of the way.

PhillyPretzel ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 4:44:24pm

re: #46 Joe Bacon ✅

One positive note from Philly.
whyy.org

Eclectic Cyborg Dec 10, 2023 • 4:46:29pm

re: #39 Unabogie

I wonder if this is tied to political party? I’d love to think this is just the MAGA crowd but I’m not convinced of that.

Conspiracy theories cut both ways, sadly.

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 4:47:03pm

re: #48 Eclectic Cyborg

Conspiracy theories cut both ways, sadly.

People are STUPID. Regardless of political affiliation.

EstebanTornado1963 Dec 10, 2023 • 4:51:43pm

A fool and his money something something..

Trump supporter lost entire life savings while investing in TRUTH Social. $516,000. pic.twitter.com/v8QJy29oFr

— The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) December 11, 2023

silverdolphin Dec 10, 2023 • 4:54:42pm

re: #44 William Lewis

Given what I’ve seen of younger Americans, I’d like to see the polling methodology. Something is wrong with these numbers - the same kids coming out in record numbers over abortion rights and school shootings don’t believe in the holocaust? I find _that_ hard to believe.

They polled only 1500 people. So when breaking it up into demographic groups, the error rises a lot because of the smaller group. And if they really did not have have many youngsters, then the polling would not be truly random and could easily be skewed.

This might explain why some of the youth polling was all over the place. SOmetimes seemingly anti-semitic. Other times the opposite.

I’d trust it a lot more if they polled 1500 people between 18-35.

Unabogie Dec 10, 2023 • 4:55:23pm

I found the full crosstabs.

It’s not just conservatives. From these results, basically a large portion of people under 25 are holocaust deniers. That’s horrifying.

Unabogie Dec 10, 2023 • 4:57:04pm

re: #52 Unabogie

I found the full crosstabs.

It’s not just conservatives. From these results, basically a large portion of people under 25 are holocaust deniers. That’s horrifying.

[Embedded content]

Also, nifty work by Charles to make this PDF automagically display on the site. Mark me as impressed!

silverdolphin Dec 10, 2023 • 5:01:52pm

re: #49 Nerdy Fish

People are STUPID. Regardless of political affiliation.

Part of the problem was that the size of the overall poll was 1500, so when demographic cohorts are looked at, they will be much smaller in size. So who knows how large the 18-34 cohort was, where they lived and just how representative they were. If it was not large enough, they could have margin of errors as large as ±10%.

Even as it is, most of the problem comes from lack of education than anything else. They were more cogniscent of anti-Muslim since it has happened in their lifetimes. In a lot of the questions, the percentage that did not know or have an answer was much higher in tis group than any other.

I hitnk the poll got the headline it wanted but I think it is likely to not represent reality.

jeffreyw Dec 10, 2023 • 5:15:38pm

Mastodon

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 5:16:11pm

re: #50 EstebanTornado1963

A fool and his money something something..

[Embedded content]

which is why I refuse to play the Wall Street Casino and keep my meager savings in US Savings Bonds or Treasury Bills.

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 5:16:36pm

re: #55 jeffreyw

[Embedded content]

mmmmmmmmmm

EstebanTornado1963 Dec 10, 2023 • 5:21:04pm

re: #56 Joe Bacon ✅

which is why I refuse to play the Wall Street Casino and keep my meager savings in US Savings Bonds or Treasury Bills.

I sell stock options at a conservative level and am able to make good money from other people trying to win the lotto in the stock market.

silverdolphin Dec 10, 2023 • 5:22:53pm

re: #52 Unabogie

I found the full crosstabs.

It’s not just conservatives. From these results, basically a large portion of people under 25 are holocaust deniers. That’s horrifying.

[Embedded content]

First, because only 200 18-29 year olds took part in the poll (1/3 the number of those in the 45-65 group) the margin of error increases to over 7%. With only 200 people in that age group to represent 80 million of that age in the US, I think it is likely the numbers are off. I mean we are allowing 40 people (20% of 200) in the US to speak for 80,000,000 of that age. This low number may explain why some of their answers are all over the place. We need a larger poll of that group.

What is more horrifying to me is that 30% of that age group did not know if the Holocaust was a myth or not. Higher than any other group, although it is also high in the next youngest cohort. That indicates, to me, a failure of the education system. I think most people under 35 have never been effectively taught about WW2 and the Holocaust. They likely learn about it from online sources with lots of misinformation.

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 5:23:14pm

Thinking … strange thoughts for tomorrow’s supper.

What if… Mango curry with canned smoked kippers? Over rice and served with tortillas since I don’t have any naan?

(Yeah, I’m being seriously American here… 😈)

A hollow voice says: Abort SCOTUS Dec 10, 2023 • 5:30:12pm

re: #58 EstebanTornado1963

I sell stock options at a conservative level and am able to make good money from other people trying to win the lotto in the stock market.

Aside from one stock (for the perqs it gets me, and because it dropped by 70% during the lockdown), I have most of my money in mutual funds. One little bit (no longer so little) aggressive, most pretty conservative. No options, no futures, no other way out stuff.

A hollow voice says: Abort SCOTUS Dec 10, 2023 • 5:31:41pm

re: #60 William Lewis

Thinking … strange thoughts for tomorrow’s supper.

What if… Mango curry with canned smoked kippers? Over rice and served with tortillas since I don’t have any naan?

(Yeah, I’m being seriously American here… 😈)

Around here, we call it fusion.

silverdolphin Dec 10, 2023 • 5:34:57pm

Chanukah Checklist

Sent to me by a Jewish friend.

silverdolphin Dec 10, 2023 • 5:36:34pm

re: #62 A hollow voice says: Abort SCOTUS

Around here, we call it fusion.

I think only America has the diversity in cultures and access to such diverse foodstuffs to make such a fusion possible. And it makes my mouth water. Good luck.

Unabogie Dec 10, 2023 • 5:37:13pm

re: #59 silverdolphin

First, because only 200 18-29 year olds took part in the poll (1/3 the number of those in the 45-65 group) the margin of error increases to over 7%. With only 200 people in that age group to represent 80 million of that age in the US, I think it is likely the numbers are off. I mean we are allowing 40 people (20% of 200) in the US to speak for 80,000,000 of that age. This low number may explain why some of their answers are all over the place. We need a larger poll of that group.

What is more horrifying to me is that 30% of that age group did not know if the Holocaust was a myth or not. Higher than any other group, although it is also high in the next youngest cohort. That indicates, to me, a failure of the education system. I think most people under 35 have never been effectively taught about WW2 and the Holocaust. They likely learn about it from online sources with lots of misinformation.

Thank you, that makes sense.

goddamnedfrank Dec 10, 2023 • 5:39:26pm

Kinda regretting quitting weed three years ago tbh, ‘cuz, like, some weed would be pretty welcome right about now.

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 5:40:37pm

Mastodon

goddamnedfrank Dec 10, 2023 • 5:41:54pm

re: #66 goddamnedfrank

Kinda regretting quitting weed three years ago tbh, ‘cuz, like, some weed would be pretty welcome right about now.

Not that anybody needs a defense for weed but I was only using for like six months during 2020 after 10 years off ‘cuz the early pandemic was dogshit mental health wise.

Just sayin’ that right now, yeah, I could definitely go for some.

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 5:42:31pm

nines09 Dec 10, 2023 • 5:50:01pm

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

PhillyPretzel ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 5:51:41pm

re: #70 nines09

S0dXQ2NZbHJJc2xJZ05LOGNHVExmZTdVREZPa081SGtTekRkUEluYnhLWT06OiamE5YU4n0YYnQ+v6Mcg5Y=

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 5:52:42pm

re: #70 nines09

[Embedded content]

OWlRTG1wWitubStkVEkyMnh1dGtOUFBGNE4zbDVMZ0lXLzIzVXlJUWdEUnZYczFncDJWOTArdkpiNk1kTFpZZjo6zyJAyhdnjv5FHqiTM20xIw==

nines09 Dec 10, 2023 • 5:53:21pm

re: #71 PhillyPretzel ✅

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

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 5:54:15pm

re: #67 Vicious Babushka

Mastodon is a better home for them. Nobody should profit off of information meant to protect others from harm.

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 5:54:29pm

re: #5 Joe Bacon ✅

Not a funding fight.

A fight for democracy, and the GQP is fighting for the bad guys.

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 5:54:51pm

re: #73 nines09
My favorite version.

Atlantic City - The Band

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 5:58:44pm

Put the lights on the tree tonight. Will start putting ornaments on tomorrow night while we listen to our traditional Xmas album, El Corazon by Steve Earle (first song is Christmas in Washington). We’ll listen to it three times in a row while we put up the lights. ..though Taneytown isn’t exactly a holiday themed song.

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 5:59:11pm

I’d also posit that part of that poll result has to do with the cultural diffusion that has gone on with time, as every generation is further away from the reality of the Holocaust due not only to generational die-off but also lack of proper education. I mentioned this the other night, but when I was in high school in the late-90s/early-00s, more time was spent obsessing about events 100+ years ago than there was within the past century. We’d spend weeks being immersed in the Colonial Period, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and then a few days spent towards the end of the semester on all the events between 1890 and 2000. I learned more about the horrors of WWII by watching Saving Private Ryan than I did in the last days of my senior-level US/VA history class.

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 6:01:15pm

re: #49 Nerdy Fish

People are STUPID. Regardless of political affiliation.

We are not thinking machines that feel but rather feeling machines that think. - Antonio DiMasio.

And our society is set up to make sure the thinking never starts and the feeling never stops.

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 6:03:37pm

re: #56 Joe Bacon ✅

which is why I refuse to play the Wall Street Casino and keep my meager savings in US Savings Bonds or Treasury Bills.

The difference between Wall Street and Vegas is in Vegas you know how much the house takes.

silverdolphin Dec 10, 2023 • 6:04:39pm

...

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 6:06:41pm

re: #70 nines09

YVpSU1RubHMxRFFrL0lHRnFvMGRjYzdTb0lvMG0rTFBBVUwrQVR2Rkpraz06Oj9+S+FVmmKfuJz2O1QVsAI=

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 6:23:00pm

Forward progress is bullshit. They should mark the ball where it is when they blow the whistle.

Florida Panhandler Dec 10, 2023 • 6:23:15pm

re: #39 Unabogie

I wonder if this is tied to political party? I’d love to think this is just the MAGA crowd but I’m not convinced of that.

It is closely tied to the Venn Diagram confederation of general Incels,, Black nationalists and misogynists, Latino misogynists, various conspiracy theorists and the portion of culturally-tribal Muslims (the smallest demo in this group).

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 6:23:34pm

Make the NFL justify the body armor again.

goddamnedfrank Dec 10, 2023 • 6:23:44pm

re: #44 William Lewis

Given what I’ve seen of younger Americans, I’d like to see the polling methodology. Something is wrong with these numbers - the same kids coming out in record numbers over abortion rights and school shootings don’t believe in the holocaust? I find _that_ hard to believe.

OK so deep breath but I’mma weigh in and say I’m not sure there’s very much wrong with the numbers for several reasons. First is just temporal distance from the event, let’s call that awareness decay. Second is the rise of homeschooling, the far right attacks on public education, the deemphasis of history and the bullshit scorn for non-STEM “soft” sciences. The shit just isn’t being taught the way it used to. If you’re a far right christian homeschooling parent then at best the version you’re likely to teach is one that shoehorns the Holocaust into Premillenialist theology.

But third is that young people just naturally tend to have a visceral reaction to hypocrisy, which is a big part of why they trend leftist politically. They aren’t being radicalized by teachers and professors, they’re being radicalized by each other, and the kind of rank cynical shit that they see older generations condone. And this is another reason why the extremely lazy conflation between anti-Zionism and antisemitism is so utterly toxic, because it causes young people to erroneously think that if what hard right Christian zionists and the Israeli government are saying about the material conditions in the West Bank isn’t true then maybe they should start questioning other official narratives. In other words it turns the conflation into a kind of self-reifying engine whereby young people react to hypocrisy like young people will, then work backwards from the conflation to decide the people making it can’t be trusted to tell the truth about anything.

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 6:23:47pm

re: #70 nines09

ZHhNQ1pzeE1aYXR0RHU4OGlOVzkzVU9DREsyVWo3dTQrVS9WVG5jNXRRTDZyRWJObG1jUUEwQWk2QXpidGhhSXJvKzEwaGVkN3hWbk1BWE1qT3pwWmc9PTo6k6f6Vwj6uNlDfX/5dUpcIQ==

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 6:29:11pm

re: #76 darthstar

My favorite version.

[Embedded content]

Video

Oh. My…

Now, that’s a cover. Not quite as amazing as Johnny’s version of Hurt or Jimmy’s version of Watchtower but it’s not that far off.

jaunte Dec 10, 2023 • 6:29:22pm

re: #70 nines09

aDd0YnQvd0V2TlJxUSsyM1h2WUJxbU8xTjNNOVFiUHdNTC9PZUpwU1VUNzhDOGozZjBmOXBVdC9teENJVXNMYWswNHA4RjRna3AyRDdSc1lkcU1pTXMvZ2xPQkJDVmIrK1RMSEc5YmZJWjQ9Ojog/60V301ko0ntmVNSAzCE

mmmirele Dec 10, 2023 • 6:32:09pm

I am still yacking up a lung, so the four food groups have turned into yogurt, English muffins, pizza and diet Coke. And that’s if I remember to eat. One of my friends is trying to get me to add in toaster waffles.

Other news behind the button.

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

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 6:32:42pm

re: #80 Romantic Heretic

The difference between Wall Street and Vegas is in Vegas you know how much the house takes.

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 6:37:49pm

re: #78 Targetpractice

I’d also posit that part of that poll result has to do with the cultural diffusion that has gone on with time, as every generation is further away from the reality of the Holocaust due not only to generational die-off but also lack of proper education. I mentioned this the other night, but when I was in high school in the late-90s/early-00s, more time was spent obsessing about events 100+ years ago than there was within the past century. We’d spend weeks being immersed in the Colonial Period, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and then a few days spent towards the end of the semester on all the events between 1890 and 2000. I learned more about the horrors of WWII by watching Saving Private Ryan than I did in the last days of my senior-level US/VA history class.

Interesting. SPR made it visual but I knew it very deep down and, unlike my ex, I didn’t have immediate family who fought in the European theater. Perhaps it’s the schools? I graduated in 1982 and was a peace-nick. Marched and spoke at many rallies. And then volunteered because, in the end, a military with honest people in it is the only defense of a free people.

I remember getting serious current events even in my middle school (my history teacher joked “as Nixon was walking to the helicopter, he sneezed and said “pardon me” and Ford said “OK”. I damn near busted a gut, though it went over several heads… And I do mean “heads”… 😈) so we were up to speed on even the most recent things.

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 6:39:00pm

re: #88 William Lewis

Oh. My…

Now, that’s a cover. Not quite as amazing as Johnny’s version of Hurt or Jimmy’s version of Watchtower but it’s not that far off.

Yeah…The Band killed it. Used to think it was their song.

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 6:49:11pm

re: #92 William Lewis

Interesting. SPR made it visual but I knew it very deep down and, unlike my ex, I didn’t have immediate family who fought in the European theater. Perhaps it’s the schools? I graduated in 1982 and was a peace-nick. Marched and spoke at many rallies. And then volunteered because, in the end, a military with honest people in it is the only defense of a free people.

I remember getting serious current events even in my middle school (my history teacher joked “as Nixon was walking to the helicopter, he sneezed and said “pardon me” and Ford said “OK”. I damn near busted a gut, though it went over several heads… And I do mean “heads”… 😈) so we were up to speed on even the most recent things.

Yeah, I largely grew up in the post-Cold War era, that time in American history where we were too busy jerking each other off about “winning” against the Soviets and high on the afterglow from the First Gulf War somehow wiping away the shame of Vietnam. “Current events” were listening to the latest chapter in the “Great Penis Hunt” or about yet another regional conflict where we were “helping” by bombing the local militia types into pink paste.

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 6:52:19pm

So there is this Nikon zoom lens that is legendary for how bad it is supposed to be. The Zoom-Nikkor 43-86/3.5:

A little beer, a little rum and a $20 BIN price tag… well, I’ll get a chance to find out if it’s really as bad as the stories say 😉 Looks like it’ll need some cleaning, but, heck, for that price? I’ve spent more for bad restaurant meals…

Dangerman Dec 10, 2023 • 6:53:21pm

re: #21 Charles Johnson

re: #22 Nerdy Fish

without putting too fine a point on it, she said in her original statement that he was going to testify against his lawyer’s advice

then she threw in the gag order idiocy

that’s why im not buying any of this nonsense

he was *never* going to testify
her ‘announcement’ was a lie from the start

A hollow voice says: Abort SCOTUS Dec 10, 2023 • 6:54:15pm

re: #70 nines09

MndxaE0vVEJsVFBRV2NCcUNsa1l6Q3B5YmtRZEJRSElFcndkYXhtSHRtQT06OihdYMQMEdmx0alkq5twwiE=

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 6:57:48pm

re: #96 Dangerman

without putting too fine a point on it, she said in her original statement that he was going to testify against his lawyer’s advice

then she threw in the gag order idiocy

that’s why im not buying any of this nonsense

he was *never* going to testify
her ‘announcement’ was a lie from the start

The verdict is already in. There is no jury. They are at the penalty phase. There is nothing the defendant can say to change that.

jaunte Dec 10, 2023 • 6:58:27pm

The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress (Joe Cocker feat. Jimmy Webb)

100

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 7:07:07pm

re: #96 Dangerman

without putting too fine a point on it, she said in her original statement that he was going to testify against his lawyer’s advice

then she threw in the gag order idiocy

that’s why im not buying any of this nonsense

he was *never* going to testify
her ‘announcement’ was a lie from the start

I suspect somebody finally got it through his fat-encrusted skull that there’s nothing he could say on the stand tomorrow that would matter. That his first and only appearance last month was treated in the press not as a defiant and confident defendant but a whiny little shit who could only talk about how “mean” the court was being to him. He can bluster all his likes on his personal echo chamber, but his ego was bruised by the way he was portrayed in the media after his “day in court” and he did not like it at all.

101

Eclectic Cyborg Dec 10, 2023 • 7:19:19pm

102

Vicious Babushka Dec 10, 2023 • 7:27:34pm

Mastodon

103

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 7:32:33pm

re: #96 Dangerman

Oh, did Trump chicken out on testifying? Did his lawyers finally mention to him that the prosecution gets to do a cross after he answers his lawyer’s questions? What a cowardly criminal piece of shit he is.

104

Dangerman Dec 10, 2023 • 7:34:36pm

re: #50 EstebanTornado1963

No matter who you are or what asininity you choose to believe in, you don’t “invest” all your money in any one thing. No matter what it is or promises

105

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 7:34:44pm

Courtesy of Fark:

Attorneys: You’ll be questioned by Letitia James.
Trump: So what?
Attorneys: You’ll have to answer every question she asks.
Trump: So what?
Attorneys: You can’t take the 5th.
Trump: I’m not going and you can’t make me.

106

Nerdy Fish Dec 10, 2023 • 7:35:29pm

re: #105 Targetpractice

Courtesy of Fark:

I mean, he can take the Fifth, if he wants. The judge then gets to go, “Welp, that means I get to assume the worst of your non-answers, douchebag.”

107

Dangerman Dec 10, 2023 • 7:39:51pm

Niece #1 graduated UF Gainesville

#2 went to FSU Tallahassee

Discussing what happened to FSU, one quipped that bowl participants weren’t chosen by popular wins but by the electoral college.

108

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 7:40:25pm

re: #106 Nerdy Fish

I mean, he can take the Fifth, if he wants. The judge then gets to go, “Welp, that means I get to assume the worst of your non-answers, douchebag.”

Which is really the point, he can’t play the same bullshit game twice of getting up one the stand and acting a grumpy child in the vague hope that the judge will get upset and say/do something that his lawyers can pounce on. Hell, knowing his total lack of understanding of the relevant laws, they may have convinced him that they got all they needed that first time to “win” on appeal and so he doesn’t need to stage a repeat performance.

109

Captain Ron Dec 10, 2023 • 7:41:51pm

Brandon Clay Dotson, 43, died on Nov. 16 at Ventress, the same day he was up for parole, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court by his estate.
- Brief History

— cocomo (@SultanM45488238) December 9, 2023

110

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 7:53:05pm

I see I took over Bottom Comments for the day. It happens.

I assure you, friends, I was just bored and restless in a slopeside condo in Snowmass Village, CO, about to wake up around 8 AM to check out of the condo then ski the rest of the day, and, y’konw, I posted. I saw something that just floored me, “THIS SHOULD NOT BE HERE!” my brain is saying to me, and I guess I flew off the handle, went crazy, got ugly, the equivalent of a gigantic rock being tossed in a lake, I suppose.

In the end, we’re still friends. At least in my mind.

The skiing was fucking fantastic this weekend. Exceeded my expectations, especially seeing as how the snows have been a little slow to come. This weekend storm cycle was a good’un. 10-20 inches at most ski areas in Colorado.

111

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 7:54:56pm

Been playing Civ V for years but never gone for a domination victory. Finally decide to go for one…and the game dumps me on an island by myself with no way to even start searching for a rival power before mid-game. Meanwhile, I’m getting notices that the Ottomans are knocking off rival powers left and right.

I think my computer suddenly developed a sense of humor at my expense.

112

darthstar Dec 10, 2023 • 7:55:40pm

re: #109 Captain Ron

I smell an organ harvesting plot.

113

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 7:56:27pm

re: #110 teleskiguy

Two runs I took I was the second person to ski it this winter. It was… difficult.

114

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 8:00:15pm

QVUyREhpK2J0U1luTm9LNlBMbU5BcFY3VVFIYm5BZVRHdGZZUDdHVnRrOGFkSkV5aThlUS9MemxJQVZQMUtRNE9qak1rb01UNC8zY1VoTUNRa1lVdU1ocUdOeU5MK1VnWTJaZ2NmYUhwcGNIZHNGUzdpazFHYm1oVk9LTXRGUzk5S0p2TG0vOWZjamJuaXUxbVJaQVlRQWZBKzlVcEIyN0xpbUpuMVNhaTBkMm1ySGFZbDNQV3lhc0pwNnRDKytVWUdpYmt3SXlmaFJwbW43bWV0YUQveWh3Tlh4VlBVSzVOVU5lMVdyTS82V1FPbXE2UEVRcUZsMlJybjlmRWVTeHJaWjlCaStMLzl0ZHZZSnY0amZTcmZyWlB2a01VeFFSN0Q5TStvL0JJUlNMWEhVN2JVaVRDZms2MVhPcVpJaVZ4TkxHYmFjM1VqUUlUTWIwS2w3blVnPT06OtFcsOfmggYKlnXNm0JkB10=

115

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 8:03:09pm

Mastodon

116

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 8:03:12pm

re: #113 teleskiguy

Two runs I took I was the second person to ski it this winter. It was… difficult.

We have very different ideas of what is difficult in life. May I offer a look at what I think of as it? From earlier today, gloomy, grey but a fresh dusting of snow on the banks of the creek near where my grandmother’s shack (long story but literally true) was…

117

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 8:04:45pm

re: #116 William Lewis

There’s a word… hell, there’s a mountain southwest of my house, that describes that existence. Hardscrabble.

118

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 8:08:32pm

re: #115 teleskiguy

Really sucks that Steve Silberman’s Mastodon posts don’t show up in full here. Some instances don’t play nice with Charles’s code and Steve’s in one of them. Which is a shame. Steve is a wonderful human, a great head.

119

BeenHereAwhile Dec 10, 2023 • 8:10:13pm

This is my favorite XKCD

Randel Monroe: A timeline of Earth’s Avenge Temperature

Timeline starts @ -4.3C, 22,000 BCE

xkcd.com

120

Sherlock Hound Dec 10, 2023 • 8:11:40pm

I have my own theory as to why the Holocaust is no longer on the fore of American culture:

In the 1970’s, popular culture was limited to three commercial networks and PBS. During that time, the Holocaust, and everything surrounding it, was a very popular subject for made-for-TV movies that were burgeoning at that time. It seemed like once or twice a season, there was a Holocaust movie.

Then the miniseries was invented. I don’t remember exactly which miniseries covered the death camps, but I know we discussed this in middle school. Then PBS showed the film footage which most regular viewers had not seen. It made the point.

By the end of the eighties, no one but cranks disbelieved that the Holocaust happened.
It would have shocked people if I told them then what people believe now.

P.S.
I had (and still have) a shortwave radio. Just before 9/11, I heard and recorded pirate broadcasts from a station called United Patriot Radio run by “Colonel” Steve Anderson. They were scary. I played one of my recordings to a room full of ham radio operators. They told me it was the scariest thing they’d heard.

“Colonel” Steve Anderson ran for it after doing one last broadcast on the evening of 9/11 (“A false flag”, he called it.) He was caught and convicted, not for the broadcast, but for the numerous death threats he issued to various people. He’s out now, but he served at least 20-25 years.

The kicker?

What Colonel Steve did, isn’t even exceptional nowadays. You can readily see and hear as much hate as you want. It used to be that the archived film, The Eternal Jew, that vile original Nazi propaganda film, was carefully restricted to academic viewing.

It’s on YouTube now.

(One of my recordings of United Patriot Radio is on SoundCloud somewhere, but I don’t remember the URL.)

121

BlueSpotinAL ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 8:12:00pm

So about that poll and young people and holocaust denial.

The question was NOT “Do you think the holocaust happened?”
but “Do you think it is antisemitic to deny that the holocaust happened”

I doubt people that young have enough experience to realize that ALL holocaust deniers
1) just happen to think Hitler wasn’t so bad and 2) believe hating Jews is not so bad.

Surely 1) and 2) are not related to each other in spite of the fact that group 1) is completely within group 2) ////

122

BlueSpotinAL ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 8:13:41pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Really sucks that Steve Silberman’s Mastodon posts don’t show up in full here. Some instances don’t play nice with Charles’s code and Steve’s in one of them. Which is a shame. Steve is a wonderful human, a great head.

In spy mode they do render. Above my pay grade.

123

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 8:18:11pm

re: #119 BeenHereAwhile

This is my favorite XKCD

Randel Monroe: A timeline of Earth’s Avenge Temperature

Timeline starts @ -4.3C, 22,000 BCE

xkcd.com

[Embedded content]

The guys over at Kurzgetsagt have this to offer:

4.5 Billion Years in 1 Hour

124

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 8:18:31pm

re: #109 Captain Ron

My wife mentioned this to me the other day.

It appears the private prison system has discovered another income stream. This isn’t the first time this has happened.

125

jaunte Dec 10, 2023 • 8:20:36pm

re: #110 teleskiguy

I didn’t mind it. Occasionally it’s good to be reminded that my own murderous ideation is a bad thing to express.

126

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 8:23:53pm

re: #111 Targetpractice

I’ve always found the Civ games are like being in Monty Python’s Cheese Shop skit.

Me: Can I get some horses?
Game: I’m afraid we’re out of stock with that product.
Me: How about iron?
Game: The last one just wen out the door, sir.
Me: Coal?
Game: Not available in this region.
Me: Oil?
Game: Another excuse.
Me: I’m going to lose because the best units I can build are Crossbowman and I can’t run an industry because I have no power.
Game: I’m afraid so, sir.

Frustrating to say the least.

127

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 8:29:37pm

re: #121 BlueSpotinAL ✅

So about that poll and young people and holocaust denial.

The question was NOT “Do you think the holocaust happened?”
but “Do you think it is antisemitic to deny that the holocaust happened”

I doubt people that young have enough experience to realize that ALL holocaust deniers
1) just happen to think Hitler wasn’t so bad and 2) believe hating Jews is not so bad.

Surely 1) and 2) are not related to each other in spite of the fact that group 1) is completely within group 2) ////

If that was the question asked, then it makes a bit more sense. In my lifetime alone, I’ve seen things go from joking that Israelis respond to any criticism by invoking the Holocaust…to actually watching an Israeli government spokeswoman scream at a BBC reporter asking if her government’s response to Oct 7th was going too far that she was “no different” than those who’d sat aside during the Holocaust. Think of it in the same vein as everybody who questioned the “War on Terror” as being a “terrorist sympathizer,” eventually you go from simply being fed up to being actively hostile.

128

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 8:31:38pm

I’m admitting an enormous privilege with the human race.

I’m a skier. A serious one. I’ve skied so much it’s all I think about. One winter I skied 137 days.

It’s the most fun. Time is suspended. Everything’s right. Maximum fun is being had. I experienced these thing skiing at Snowmass this weekend.

It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a privilege among the humans on Earth.

It’s an extraordinarily good stroke of luck…

129

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 8:34:51pm

re: #126 Romantic Heretic

I’ve always found the Civ games are like being in Monty Python’s Cheese Shop skit.

Me: Can I get some horses?
Game: I’m afraid we’re out of stock with that product.
Me: How about iron?
Game: The last one just wen out the door, sir.
Me: Coal?
Game: Not available in this region.
Me: Oil?
Game: Another excuse.
Me: I’m going to lose because the best units I can build are Crossbowman and I can’t run an industry because I have no power.
Game: I’m afraid so, sir.

Frustrating to say the least.

Yeah, I’ve tried three times to start a domination run in the last couple days:

First game:

Me: “Alright, I’ll play as Rome and overrun the world with hordes of Legionnaires!”
*10 turns later*
Me: “Hey Siri, play ‘Gilligan’s Island’ theme.”

Second game:

Me: “Okay, this time I’ll play as the Aztecs and go for an early victory.”
Computer: “Sounds good, here’s your neighbors: The Huns, the Zulus, and the Greeks. And look, here’s Shaka with a welcoming party…”
Me: “Ffffffffffff….”

Third game:

Me: “Alright, we’ll try Rome again, and hey this looks like a good map. I’ll wallop the first guy who settles near me.”
Napoleon: “Bonjour, my bestest friend in the world.”
Me: “OH COME ON!”

130

William Lewis Dec 10, 2023 • 8:52:55pm

re: #128 teleskiguy

I’m admitting an enormous privilege with the human race.

I’m a skier. A serious one. I’ve skied so much it’s all I think about. One winter I skied 137 days.

It’s the most fun. Time is suspended. Everything’s right. Maximum fun is being had. I experienced these thing skiing at Snowmass this weekend.

It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a privilege among the humans on Earth.

It’s an extraordinarily good stroke of luck…

I think this is probably where we understand each other the most.

I am a serious photographer. When I am standing there looking through the viewfinder, time is also suspended. There is nothing more enjoyable to me. When the image comes out _right_ the joy I feel is, seriously, better than sex.

When I look at the landscape and sky and see in my mind a certain _thing_ and then I manage to make a lens and either film or sensor capture that fancy? That is the moment that is a second of life I can not explain to anyone else. If you can not imagine stealing the instant when that shutter clicks? Then I can not give you any tomorrow. I am a time traveller; for a tiny moment I am The Doctor as I grab that infinitesimal moment in time when that place looked like that.

131

Joe Bacon ✅ Dec 10, 2023 • 8:54:17pm

Pommes de Terre Fondantes (Fondant Potatoes)

For the best French melting potatoes, cook them like meat.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups homemade chicken or beef stock, or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth, plus extra as needed
1/4 ounce (2 1/2 teaspoons; 1 packet; 7g) unflavored gelatin, such as Knox
2 1/2 pounds (1.1kg) Yukon Gold potatoes, about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long each, peeled
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil, beef fat, schmaltz, or duck fat (see note)
4 tablespoons (55g) unsalted butter
3 medium garlic cloves (15g), peeled and smashed
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon, for finishing (optional)

Directions
Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Place stock in a liquid measuring cup or small bowl and sprinkle gelatin over top. Set aside.

Using a sharp knife, cut off ends of potatoes to give them flat sides, then halve potatoes crosswise. Pat dry with paper towels.

In a 12-inch stainless steel straight-sided sauté pan or skillet, or cast iron skillet, heat oil or fat over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke. Season potatoes with salt and pepper and add to skillet, broad side down, in a single layer with space between each piece. Cook, without moving, until potatoes begin to brown around edges, 4 to 5 minutes. Continue to cook, rotating and swirling pan gently to promote even browning and prevent sticking, until potatoes are deeply browned on bottom side, 3 to 4 minutes longer, adjusting heat as needed if some of the pieces brown too quickly.

Using a thin metal spatula, flip potatoes onto second flat side. Add butter and cook, swirling constantly, until butter is melted and begins to foam, about 1 minute. Add garlic and thyme, and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add stock and bring to a boil.

Transfer skillet to oven and roast until potatoes are completely tender, offering little to no resistance when poked with a paring knife, and liquid is reduced to a saucy consistency, 25 to 30 minutes.

Return skillet to stovetop. Using a thin metal spatula or tongs, transfer potatoes to a serving platter, broad side up, leaving sauce in the skillet; discard garlic. Bring sauce to a simmer over medium heat and cook, swirling and stirring constantly, until sauce is emulsified, 30 seconds to 1 minute. If emulsion appears broken or sauce is too thick, add more stock or water, 1 tablespoon (15ml) at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper and pour sauce over and around potatoes. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt (if using, otherwise season with a little more kosher salt), and serve.

If you happen to have any schmaltz, rendered beef, or duck fat available, we recommend using it for browning the potatoes in place of vegetable oil in step 3.

132

TedStriker Dec 10, 2023 • 9:08:38pm

re: #129 Targetpractice

Yeah, I’ve tried three times to start a domination run in the last couple days:

First game:

Me: “Alright, I’ll play as Rome and overrun the world with hordes of Legionnaires!”
*10 turns later*
Me: “Hey Siri, play ‘Gilligan’s Island’ theme.”

Second game:

Me: “Okay, this time I’ll play as the Aztecs and go for an early victory.”
Computer: “Sounds good, here’s your neighbors: The Huns, the Zulus, and the Greeks. And look, here’s Shaka with a welcoming party…”
Me: “Ffffffffffff….”

Third game:

Me: “Alright, we’ll try Rome again, and hey this looks like a good map. I’ll wallop the first guy who settles near me.”
Napoleon: “Bonjour, my bestest friend in the world.”
Me: “OH COME ON!”

133

teleskiguy Dec 10, 2023 • 9:13:42pm

re: #130 William Lewis

better than sex.

Skiing deep powder has often been described thus, including by yours truly.

134

Romantic Heretic Dec 10, 2023 • 9:15:18pm

re: #129 Targetpractice

Okay. That made me laugh.

135

Targetpractice Dec 10, 2023 • 9:22:02pm

re: #134 Romantic Heretic

Okay. That made me laugh.

*bows*

136

austin_blue Dec 10, 2023 • 9:48:29pm

re: #63 silverdolphin

[Embedded content]

Sent to me by a Jewish friend.

I’ve seen this before. Laura Rosenberg sent it and tells me it’s funny because it’s true-ish.

137

Dangerman Dec 11, 2023 • 3:32:18am

re: #128 teleskiguy

re: #130 William Lewis

Sounds to me like your both describing actualizing the present. Being in the here and now, as aware as possible. No past or future. No shopping list or parking lots. No anything except this. And not even thinking about “this’ because I’ve become so good at it I don’t have to. Just humming, rapt absorption.

When, if, for whom it happens, it’s a great gift.

138

FFL (GOP Delenda Est) Dec 11, 2023 • 4:03:09am

re: #116 William Lewis

We have very different ideas of what is difficult in life. May I offer a look at what I think of as it? From earlier today, gloomy, grey but a fresh dusting of snow on the banks of the creek near where my grandmother’s shack (long story but literally true) was…

[Embedded content]

That looks like the terrain near the hunting camp my friend’s father has. Rural Pennsylvania north of Cresson. Along the creek you can see the foundations of the small houses/shacks that used to be there. The road/path along the creek is former Conrail right-of-way. At one point we rebuilt a footbridge over the creek using old foundations for a bridge that were already there.

The area in general is (now inactive) strip mining for coal. The “hill” to the north is remediated with some trees regrowing amidst the spill piles. The creek itself is green colored with acid runoff, but luckily not bad enough to be dead and just supporting yellow algae (bacteria?) growth. (A creek running through the town my father was from was like that.)

139

FFL (GOP Delenda Est) Dec 11, 2023 • 4:11:35am

re: #137 Dangerman

Sounds to me like your both describing actualizing the present. Being in the here and now, as aware as possible. No past or future. No shopping list or parking lots. No anything except this. And not even thinking about “this’ because I’ve become so good at it I don’t have to. Just humming, rapt absorption.

When, if, for whom it happens, it’s a great gift.

It’s pretty key to be able to catch the here and now from time to time. Just be walking or standing somewhere and just noticing a sight/sound whatever that stands out in that place. A composition of the moment worthy of a photo, or simply contemplating and appreciating it in your mind if the camera is not there.

Spy Auto

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