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Well, GothBard is persistent: She called the contractor yesterday during lunch and he profusely apologized for flaking, then when he wasn't here by 6:30 pm last night called him again and he was stuck in traffic.
And he's pretty much exactly the guy I want doing the job: Originally dragged into construction in his teens by his girlfriend's father because, "If you're going to be dating MY daughter you need to be making a decent living," by total coincidence worked on Global Megacorporation's headquarters when it was being built, spent 20 years in the homebuilding business, then found his niche in building fireplaces and does 200-250 fireplaces a year.
Not a bad gig, and exactly the kind of experience I'm looking for.
So, from the sound of things we'll have a fireplace by mid-December. Let's see whether he actually shows.
EDIT: Speaking of showing...
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No matter how much quick and dirty googling I do, I can't seem to find how the fact natives can use mescaline legally and I can't isn't a form of racism. I have religious experiences when I trip, too, you know!
Native American reservations are still technically separate countries with their own laws, and not part of the U.S. It's why they can run casinos in states where gambling is illegal.
There are all kinds of treaties and legal nonsense, but in short they can apply for exemptions to U.S. law and frequently get it. So it's not racism; it's that they're from a "different country".
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I have three degrees in 'theater', or as we actually call them, "Degrees in getting S#!% done, no matter what" ;P
I love musicals.
My wife loves them MORE, (and she is not a performer)
My Daughter has all the new ones I wasn't even aware of memorized already.
My son couldn't care less. 'Not his thing'.
DON'T get me STARTED on how Disney-addicted my wife and daughter are.
Good, bad, or indifferent, we will be seeing the Cats movie.
Whether we fork out the money to see it on the big screen, or wait until it is affordably rentable from the box on the corner is yet to be determined.
But I learned long ago, I don't fight FATE. ;)
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Took Finn, one of my rats to the vet yesterday to have his foot checked.
I read this sentence a few times trying to understand where is the verb. I needed a few more seconds before it got through to my brain that Took is not a part of Finn's name.
Finn was weighed. Finn is a whooping 920 gram.
Ratzzilla?
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I got curious about the whole "reservation" thing, and they are technically "Domestic Dependent Nations", but the key clause (from Wikipedia, but about what I thought) is, "The tribal council, not the local government or the United States federal government, often has jurisdiction over reservations."
It's a lot of interesting legal mumbo-jumbo, because the Feds *do* have final say about what's legal and not on the reservations (for example, the tribal council cannot legalize human sacrifice), but in general the Supreme Court has had a strong tendency to side with the tribes over the last 80-100 years, so the Feds don't fight them too much on stuff they consider "trivial"; for example, drug laws.
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O.o
It seemed like a Nyarlathotoep appeard and then vanished without trace...
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O.o
It seemed like a Nyarlathotoep appeard and then vanished without trace...
Yeah, I decided it was a bit TOO political. Not sure it added much to discussion.
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I'm building a wall instead, but there's six different sizes, so even more fun than the stairs.
Which also explains why co-worker was so gung ho to do the stairs (intricacy is my forte).
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I got curious about the whole "reservation" thing, and they are technically "Domestic Dependent Nations", but the key clause (from Wikipedia, but about what I thought) is, "The tribal council, not the local government or the United States federal government, often has jurisdiction over reservations."
It's a lot of interesting legal mumbo-jumbo, because the Feds *do* have final say about what's legal and not on the reservations (for example, the tribal council cannot legalize human sacrifice), but in general the Supreme Court has had a strong tendency to side with the tribes over the last 80-100 years, so the Feds don't fight them too much on stuff they consider "trivial"; for example, drug laws.
I listened to a podcast on the subject, and it's a religious thing, and not reservation limited. Members of the Native American Church can apply for licenses to grow and distribute peyote, regardless of whether they are physically reservation located.
Apparently it is NOT race specific, due to a SCOTUS decision in the 1990s, when a white member of the church sued for the right to grow peyote.
Still, allowing rights to one specific religion and not ANY others seems highly illegal and in violation of the first ammendment.
I am just spiteful enough to form my own church to take this to the courts. I did the research for such a thing years ago when I considered going into ministry. It's not that hard. (I know I have foul language, strong opinions, liberal views, and so many other traits not associated with such a career, which is exactly why I felt called to do it - reach the niche, baby! I didn't for many reasons - but I got free weekends to pursue this, heh...)
Church of the Tripping Spiteful Bastard to open 2020.
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Preparing for Gatsby with presentations (chosen from a list of 1920s topics):
Student A: How can we depict organized crime?
Me, not looking up from grading: File cabinet with a gun.
Student B: YES.
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I'm building a wall instead, but there's six different sizes, so even more fun than the stairs.
Which also explains why co-worker was so gung ho to do the stairs (intricacy is my forte).
Oh,... OHHhhhh,...
Took me a read through (or two) to get what you meant.There are six different sizes of brick!(stone?)
OK, Intricacy is cool and all, but that just sounds like a pain.
O_o
;P
YOU have fun though! :)
(Now I KNOW who call when I finally get around to building my castle!)
:D
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Three different lengths for two different heights.
It looks super nice when we're done and I'm really good at putting it in (the more intricate the better I say).
But then you're talking to the guy that uses Incan building techniques, so...
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I've sat here for about five straight minutes while two teenage girls scream the word "milk" at each other across the room, and a chorus of online dictionaries read the word with them. This is apparently going to give them the information they need about the Jazz Age.
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Odd Laws with which NobodysHome Agrees:
One of the few parking laws our police department consistently enforces is cars parking the wrong way on streets. I always thought it was really petty and trivial. Until the first time one such parked car didn't notice me coming and we nearly had a head-on collision.
Because when you first pull out, your nose goes out first. If you're pointing with the flow of traffic the driver in the street has your full car length to react. If you're facing against traffic that driver is S.O.L.
It's the closest I've ever come to a head-on, and all of a sudden I don't mind seeing the cops ticketing the wrong-way parkers any more.
Yep. The one across the street right now made me think of it.
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I am SUCH a terrible employee.
Manager: Were you supposed to get some badge for working on the certification - did you ever get it?
NobodysHome: Badges? I don't need no steenking badges!
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(And that's seriously the problem with being a grognard. Any semi-competent person interviewing me would say, "Holy s***. We need to hire this guy NOW!"
So the notion that I need some kind of badge to prove that I know what I'm talking about is a wee bit insulting and demeaning. Kind of like MS Certification.)
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"Did these kobolds serve in 'Nam?!"
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Took Finn, one of my rats to the vet yesterday to have his foot checked.I read this sentence a few times trying to understand where is the verb. I needed a few more seconds before it got through to my brain that Took is not a part of Finn's name.
Damn you, Tolkien.
(Yes, I did the same thing.)
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Took Finn, one of my rats to the vet yesterday to have his foot checked.I read this sentence a few times trying to understand where is the verb. I needed a few more seconds before it got through to my brain that Took is not a part of Finn's name.
Damn you, Tolkien.
(Yes, I did the same thing.)
I just started rereading (after many-many years) of Return Of The Kings. Doesn't help.
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Took Finn, one of my rats to the vet yesterday to have his foot checked.I read this sentence a few times trying to understand where is the verb. I needed a few more seconds before it got through to my brain that Took is not a part of Finn's name.
Finn was weighed. Finn is a whooping 920 gram.Ratzzilla?
I was under the impression that 'took' is past tense of taking?
so 'I took Finn to the vet' because I was already home when I posted?
Am I mangling my english so badly?
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No, it is Tolkien that has managed to mangle English in that he used the word "took" as a name sometimes.
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Woran, you're fine. We just have a lot of people who've read/watched Lord of the Rings, which has a major character whose surname is Took, so collective nerd consciousness reared up before English did.
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I understood what you were saying.
It should be noted I dislike Tolkien (don't get me started on The Hobbit!) so his verbiage doesn't register as much with me.
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Scintillae, PM.
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Physics is an odd duck.
My "comfort zone" where I can sit at my desk in my jammies for an hour or two is 62˚F (16.7˚C). So far this Autumn, even when it's been in the low 40s at night, the living room has stayed at or above 63˚F.
However, the days have been getting cooler, dropping from the low-to-mid 70s to the low-to-mid 60s. And all of a sudden it's 61˚F in the living room this morning, even though the last few nights have been unusually "warm" (49-51˚F).
On the one hand, I know that it's the heat retention of the house that's been keeping it warm inside (sun-warmed stucco walls keep the house warm at night). On the other hand, it's just bizarre psychologically seeing it be warmer at night outside, but colder inside.
Ah, well. Physics!
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I like Tolkien. His stories at least,
His style, meh.
To be fair, he was a HISTORIAN, (to start) and his writing style very much reflects that. Very dry to me.
Heh, recalling a character in a book (a Leprechaun) who meets a boy from our world. The kid had fallen asleep in what used to be a magic woods while reading The Hobbit. The Leprechaun made so much fun of Tolkien the entire book. Until towards the end when the boy asks 'how bad are dragons, really?'
The Leprechaun replied; "Read your Tolkien lad. THAT part he got right!"
:)
(Dangit! NOW I have to go home and find that trilogy on my shelf! I cant recall the title of the first book!) :(
I heartily enjoyed Tolkien, style, stories and all!
I understood what Woran meant, but was amused by the dragons’ required rereads as that sort of thing happens to me all the time.
Shakespeare though? Boo! Boo- never mind, I’ve made this rant before, and far be it from me to steal Rant Raptor’s schtick (even though I do all the time).
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(Shakespeare is not a bad author and I want to be clear that I mean no disrespect; his style and presentation are not ideal for easy reading for enjoyment in many cases, however, and I just don’t like reading them. Also, tragedies suck: there, I said it.)
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(Shakespeare is not a bad author and I want to be clear that I mean no disrespect; his style and presentation are not ideal for easy reading for enjoyment in many cases, however, and I just don’t like reading them. Also, tragedies suck: there, I said it.)
Tragedies DO suck, I dont care HOW well written they are. That's why they are called TRAGEDIES.
(If I wanted a tragedy, I'd just watch the news!) ;PBUuuut, Shakey's COMEDIES, when performed by actors with a modicum of talent and interpretation (as opposed to, say, high schoolers just reading the lines) Are FUUUUNNY! ;)
Just IMHO, ;P
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Physics is an odd duck.
Looks like its duck season.
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I love Macbeth.
That's about it.
I love watching a good Shakespeare play American Player's Theater is an hour or so away) but he's super hard to just sit down and read through.
(Shakespeare is not a bad author and I want to be clear that I mean no disrespect; his style and presentation are not ideal for easy reading for enjoyment in many cases, however, and I just don’t like reading them. Also, tragedies suck: there, I said it.)
Tragedies DO suck, I dont care HOW well written they are. That's why they are called TRAGEDIES.
(If I wanted a tragedy, I'd just watch the news!) ;PBUuuut, Shakey's COMEDIES, when performed by actors with a modicum of talent and interpretation (as opposed to, say, high schoolers just reading the lines) Are FUUUUNNY! ;)
Just IMHO, ;P
Oh, I agree. I actually rather enjoy his comedies... though even then the endings often feel a bit like rushed hatchet jobs that seem to be made by someone pointing an epee at Willy's throat and demanding he finish it now, and it better conform (at least somewhat) to then-current social mores, if he knows what's good for him.
But they never let you read his really good stuff in school (or at least they didn't let me read it in school): it was all "WAH, WAH, I'M A DUMB TEEN AND/OR OVERLY AMBITIOUS (or both)! I THINK I SHALL WHINE FOREVER, PROB'LY NEG SOMEONE TO DEATH, AND ONLY THEN GO KILL SOMEONE AND/OR MYSELF (or be stabbed by a really lame loophole) AND THUS FINALLY DIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
... not that I'm bitter.
Dang it, School, why you no let me read The Merchant of Venice?!
I love Macbeth.
That's about it.
Ugh, the "Scottish Play."
I mean, come on, dude, yeah, you were a stupid freakin' murderer and also totes evil, but get over yourself, stop whining, and actually, you know, do something positive for a change- oh, wait, no, too late, you're dead, you blithering moron.
>:I
(I mean, it's better than, say, Othello, but only because MacBeth doesn't actually murder his loving wife. Also, it showed up in Gargoyles, so it gets some solid redemption points, there.)
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I was under the impression that 'took' is past tense of taking?Took Finn, one of my rats to the vet yesterday to have his foot checked.I read this sentence a few times trying to understand where is the verb. I needed a few more seconds before it got through to my brain that Took is not a part of Finn's name.
Finn was weighed. Finn is a whooping 920 gram.Ratzzilla?
Yup. It's just that the capital letter made it look like a part of the name and once my brain took it for name, it was desperately looking for a verb...
On the other hand, if that sentence was translated to Polish it would be almost acceptable (as an instruction/order sentence substitute).
Am I mangling my english so badly?
Only when you miss capitalizing name of nation/ethnicity/language :P
Poles (and many other nationalities) make that error often too, as we don't capitalize names of adjectives in our native language. It tends to change once we learn the magnitude of difference between polish and Polish.
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I should really polish my Polish, as it really doesn't shine when I do try to show it off (not that I have much lingwitsichney lingwistyczny* skill, especially anymore), but I lack (though I'd like) the mettle to be metal enough this rok to rock my linguistics and to polerować* my Polskie**.
Alas.
(But not "a lass," nor "a lasso;" and, "Alasso," isn't a thing, though, "Alyssa," is a name for a girl; and, no, I really, really don't know what I'm doing with this post anymore, either - maybe I never did.)
*
**
EDIT: My English skills are the best, you guys. The best. For sure.
>.>
cough
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It turns out I didn't give any of my brothers my phone number after I had my last phone run over by a dump truck.
So, Crookshanks and the General are getting texts about holiday plans but I'm not.
This, is a good thing.
Also, it's super annoying when my family insists on having holiday gatherings on a different day.
How is having Thanksgiving on black Friday any better?
It's not.
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It turns out I didn't give any of my brothers my phone number after I had my last phone run over by a dump truck.
So, Crookshanks and the General are getting texts about holiday plans but I'm not.
This, is a good thing.
Also, it's super annoying when my family insists on having holiday gatherings on a different day.
How is having Thanksgiving on black Friday any better?
It's not.
So, Devil's Advocate (though it doesn't sound like it's your case): When we (the kids) were still in our 20s and 30s, we had dual obligations: Thanksgiving with our wives' families, and Thanksgiving with our own family.
My parents moved their gathering to Saturday. They did the same thing for Christmas.
So we had "Homegiving" (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) and "Homemas" (the first weekend day after Christmas) so that all the kids could fulfill their familial obligations to both sides.
Worked well, other than having to eat two Thanksgiving meals in 3 days.
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Yeah, I can totally understand that, but my brothers wives families all celebrate on different days too.
How they frame it every year is it's less stressful or something but then that's why you do potluck style (which is how we've always done it, until mom passed away) rather than one household make all the food for thirty people.
But whatever, arguing with them is how long angry email chains are born.
And Captain don't play that.
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Student A: He does! He totally does!
Student B: MS. SCINT WE HAVE A QUESTION. Tell her Al Capone doesn't look like Shrek!
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I was under the impression that 'took' is past tense of taking?Took Finn, one of my rats to the vet yesterday to have his foot checked.I read this sentence a few times trying to understand where is the verb. I needed a few more seconds before it got through to my brain that Took is not a part of Finn's name.
Finn was weighed. Finn is a whooping 920 gram.Ratzzilla?Yup. It's just that the capital letter made it look like a part of the name and once my brain took it for name, it was desperately looking for a verb...
On the other hand, if that sentence was translated to Polish it would be almost acceptable (as an instruction/order sentence substitute).
Am I mangling my english so badly?Only when you miss capitalizing name of nation/ethnicity/language :P
Poles (and many other nationalities) make that error often too, as we don't capitalize names of adjectives in our native language. It tends to change once we learn the magnitude of difference between polish and Polish.
We dont do all that silly capitalization in dutch. English probably wants me to do Dutch, but we just leave that D uncapitalized. Just like capitalizing the months. That is weird as well.
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Bring a little piece of Skullport home with you. 'Tis the season!
We read 'The Merchant of Venice' at school.
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For me, forcing kids to read Shakespeare is akin to making them read the music sheets from a Beethoven symphony: Too much is lost in translation to make it worthwhile.
Watching Shakespeare is frequently tolerable. Reading Shakepeare is sadism.
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I have a theory as to how drug companies name their products. They dump the letter tiles from a complete Scrabble(tm) into a bag, roll 3d6 to determine how many tiles to draw, then try to make a word out of them.
Scint accuses me of doing the same thing to name dragons.
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I have a theory as to how drug companies name their products. They dump the letter tiles from a complete Scrabble(tm) into a bag, roll 3d6 to determine how many tiles to draw, then try to make a word out of them.Scint accuses me of doing the same thing to name dragons.
Burden of proof, friend. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and has more J's, K's, and/or X's than vowels...
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For me, forcing kids to read Shakespeare is akin to making them read the music sheets from a Beethoven symphony: Too much is lost in translation to make it worthwhile.
Watching Shakespeare is frequently tolerable. Reading Shakepeare is sadism.
My school had the No Fear! editions where they have the Elizabethan English on the left and the modern translation on the right. Which helped a fair bit.
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So, maybe Freehold can shed some light on this whole "car salesman selling process", but I swear, I'm coming close to pulling the plug on this whole fireplace project and choosing a company that will, y'know, just tell me the ******* price!!!
(1) Ignoring the whole, "I don't talk to women," aspect of the salesman, he also didn't try to sell us anything. He just told us to take a couple of catalogs, choose a fireplace, talk to the contractor, and then we'd talk.
(2) Contractor recommended a fireplace, we OK'ed it, he put in the bid, and it was a couple thousand short. I looked it over, and, sure enough, the fireplace itself wasn't included.
(3) Salesman called us and said, "Come on in and let's talk about price!"
No. No, let's not. Tell me the ******* price and I'll tell you whether or not I'll pay it. It's a simple transaction.
These price games just incense me, because I always end up feeling used, humiliated, and ripped off.
(My favorite ever was when I was trying to buy the Prius, and all I wanted to do was pay the fricking price on the sticker and leave. And he kept "going to the manager" again and again and I was getting angrier and angrier and he ended up giving us nearly $4000 off. Because he wouldn't just sell me the ******* car for ******* sticker price. Soooo aggravating!)