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Lots of things are fun. Some of them are even good for you. The most fun things though...not so much.
Holy s++$, this thread is still going...
~screams like a little girl~ Don't sneak up on me like that!
Lots of things are fun. Some of them are even good for you. The most fun things though...not so much.
So we see.
Put a teatowel over them, there's a good chap.
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Day 4 of new running routine. I want to get in better general shape and lose some of this Office Work/Covid Lockdown fat. School has been great, just tearing through these modules and rocking the tests.
...And a classmate of mine got me back into Yugioh which...remains to be seen whether that's a good thing.
I like BIG DRAGON decks that just smash whatever silly obstacles stand in my way.
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Marvel Movie Timeline #9: Iron Man 3:
On the one hand, they use the tried-and-true trope that I love so much of, "Take away the hero's invulnerability and show their psychological and emotional side." I would guess that Tony Stark is in his Iron Man suit for less than 30 of the movie's 132 minutes. Most of the movie focuses on him dealing with both emotional and physical breakdowns.
But they really didn't do it very well.
His PTSD is nothing more than, "I occasionally hyperventilate when the plot demands it." His constant suit breakdowns are forced and artificial. With literally several dozen Iron Man suits available, the fact that he can't get two running at the same time, then later has over 30 running, is a glaring plot hole.
It was a reasonable overall idea, marred by poor execution and writing. I'd definitely call this one a "Meh".
I don't regret watching it, but even if the kids got together and decided to watch it again in a big social event, I wouldn't join them.
Marvel Movie Timeline #9: Iron Man 3:
On the one hand, they use the tried-and-true trope that I love so much of, "Take away the hero's invulnerability and show their psychological and emotional side." I would guess that Tony Stark is in his Iron Man suit for less than 30 of the movie's 132 minutes. Most of the movie focuses on him dealing with both emotional and physical breakdowns.
But they really didn't do it very well.
His PTSD is nothing more than, "I occasionally hyperventilate when the plot demands it." His constant suit breakdowns are forced and artificial. With literally several dozen Iron Man suits available, the fact that he can't get two running at the same time, then later has over 30 running, is a glaring plot hole.
It was a reasonable overall idea, marred by poor execution and writing. I'd definitely call this one a "Meh".
I don't regret watching it, but even if the kids got together and decided to watch it again in a big social event, I wouldn't join them.
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Pitch Meeting!Marvel Movie Timeline #9: Iron Man 3:
On the one hand, they use the tried-and-true trope that I love so much of, "Take away the hero's invulnerability and show their psychological and emotional side." I would guess that Tony Stark is in his Iron Man suit for less than 30 of the movie's 132 minutes. Most of the movie focuses on him dealing with both emotional and physical breakdowns.
But they really didn't do it very well.
His PTSD is nothing more than, "I occasionally hyperventilate when the plot demands it." His constant suit breakdowns are forced and artificial. With literally several dozen Iron Man suits available, the fact that he can't get two running at the same time, then later has over 30 running, is a glaring plot hole.
It was a reasonable overall idea, marred by poor execution and writing. I'd definitely call this one a "Meh".
I don't regret watching it, but even if the kids got together and decided to watch it again in a big social event, I wouldn't join them.
I always laugh at how disturbingly accurate Pitch Meeting is, and then you're right -- this one matches almost everything I said far too uncannily...
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Tip-toeing as carefully as I can around politics, but ooh how I hate, "It's a perfectly valid question!"
As I mentioned, co-worker posted about vaccination invalidating life insurance, and I responded with the Snopes link.
At which point someone read me the riot act about how it was a "perfectly valid question" and what about long-term disability, short-term disability, etc., etc.?
And yet reality disavows that statement:
- Insurers are increasing insurance rates for people who don't get vaccinated.
- There isn't a single verified case Google can find of anyone, anywhere in the world being denied coverage because they were vaccinated. (In fact, my Google search fu only brought back results where people were being denied various coverages for being unvaccinated.)
So someone's making up "what if?" scenarios to encourage people not to get vaccinated, or to fear vaccination.
So exhausting and depressing.
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This is the time in a long time where I have gotten up and signed in to work where I wasn't actively looking forward to clocking out as soon as I clocked in.
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Interesting note on COVID testing now that I'm heavily involved:
Antigen Test (aka 15-minute take-home test): Checks for proteins on the virus' surface.
- Advantage: If you test positive, you're definitely positive and infectious, so isolate yourself.
- Disadvantage: Strong possibility of false negatives, especially among the vaccinated since they carry a reduced viral load. You can test negative and still be infectious.
PCR Test (aka 48-hour "do it at a testing facility" test): Replicates any viral RNA found in your system trillions of times.
- Advantage: Can detect even tiny amounts of COVID in your system. False negatives are pretty much relegated to poor testing technique.
- Disadvantage: Just because you test positive doesn't mean you're infectious. As mentioned, the virus can linger in your body for weeks or months after you've recovered, and the test will detect even those tiny lingering amounts. Just because you test positive doesn't mean you're infectious, or even sick at the moment.
Kind of explains the mass of confusion around testing.
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Impus Major: Sometimes all it takes to turn an ordinary day into a great day is a Push Pop.
Hey John.
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Last night I got scientific confirmation that I cannot breathe chicken. Still not sure about ham, so I may try that tonight.
Marvel Movie Timeline #9: Iron Man 3:
On the one hand, they use the tried-and-true trope that I love so much of, "Take away the hero's invulnerability and show their psychological and emotional side." I would guess that Tony Stark is in his Iron Man suit for less than 30 of the movie's 132 minutes. Most of the movie focuses on him dealing with both emotional and physical breakdowns.
But they really didn't do it very well.
His PTSD is nothing more than, "I occasionally hyperventilate when the plot demands it." His constant suit breakdowns are forced and artificial. With literally several dozen Iron Man suits available, the fact that he can't get two running at the same time, then later has over 30 running, is a glaring plot hole.
It was a reasonable overall idea, marred by poor execution and writing. I'd definitely call this one a "Meh".
I don't regret watching it, but even if the kids got together and decided to watch it again in a big social event, I wouldn't join them.
I am not sure if was about #3 or previous movie, but I ready that supposedly, the writers and director wanted to spend more time dwelling on Tony's issues with alcohol (I guess it would closer to comics, I haven't read them), but Robert Downey Jr., being recovered alcoholic himself was feeling deeply uncomfortable with playing that - and was afraid that immersing in the role could lead to the relapse and steered the story away from alcoholism.
Of course I noticed an error in what I wrote a quarter past the editing window...
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Why have I been woken up at a ridiculous hour in the morning over the last couple of days by very loud, intense blasts of Bhangra music, of around 10-20 seconds' duration?
Could it be someone getting out of a taxi after a very late journey home?
Pfft. Unlikely!
The answer is obviously DISCO DJINN.
Last night I got scientific confirmation that I cannot breathe chicken. Still not sure about ham, so I may try that tonight.
Breathe in, or breathe out?
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Why have I been woken up at a ridiculous hour in the morning over the last couple of days by very loud, intense blasts of Bhangra music, of around 10-20 seconds' duration?
Could it be someone getting out of a taxi after a very late journey home?
Pfft. Unlikely!
The answer is obviously DISCO DJINN.
Because I've been watching too many of Gurdeep Pandher's daily videos on Facebook and you're picking it up telepathically?
If y'all don't know him, Mr. Pandher is a Sikh Canadian who lives in a little cabin in the Yukon and has been posting daily bhangra videos online throughout the pandemic to "spread joy and positivity throughout the world".
You can't not love an attitude like that.
Also, bhangra in the snowy Canadian wilderness is just cool.
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Last night I got scientific confirmation that I cannot breathe chicken. Still not sure about ham, so I may try that tonight.Breathe in, or breathe out?
Once I breathed it in, breathing out was ruled out until I could de-chicken myself.
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Once I breathed it in, breathing out was ruled out until I could de-chicken myself.Last night I got scientific confirmation that I cannot breathe chicken. Still not sure about ham, so I may try that tonight.Breathe in, or breathe out?
man.
Now I could really go for some chicken.
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Once I breathed it in, breathing out was ruled out until I could de-chicken myself.Last night I got scientific confirmation that I cannot breathe chicken. Still not sure about ham, so I may try that tonight.Breathe in, or breathe out?
The desire to make a lengthy string of quotations and references to the old "Chickenman" radio show (which no one other than me will ever understand) is almost overwhelming.
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I found out tonight that, if you substitute dehydrated potato flakes for the breadcrumbs in falafel batter (not sure if that is the right term, but whatever), the end result is a much softer, almost pillowy falafel.
But it still crisps on the outside.
And pairs well with homemade garlic naan.
Now that the kids are in bed, I'm going to attempt to finally finish the library book I checked out in August. I never have time to read.
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My concern with people 'down-selling' the pandemic that someone is going to have Delta (or worse), assume it's Omicron, and then spread the far worse variant around because people let their guard down.
We've gotten lucky despite a significant chunk of people feeling it isn't necessary to protect themselves and others from the spread of a bug.
I found out tonight that, if you substitute dehydrated potato flakes for the breadcrumbs in falafel batter (not sure if that is the right term, but whatever), the end result is a much softer, almost pillowy falafel.
But it still crisps on the outside.
And pairs well with homemade garlic naan.
That is well worth trying.
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Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.
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Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.
Woo hoo! Welcome back! How are you and Orthos?
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Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.
What poem?
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Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.Woo hoo! Welcome back! How are you and Orthos?
Surviving. I've been too overwhelmed to do much.
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Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.What poem?
"Harlem" by Langston Hughes.
Specifically, they did not appreciate my use of the words "pus" and "weeping ulcer."
Surviving. I've been too overwhelmed to do much.Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.Woo hoo! Welcome back! How are you and Orthos?
*Hugs*
You and Orthos have been missed.
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Surviving. I've been too overwhelmed to do much.Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.Woo hoo! Welcome back! How are you and Orthos?*Hugs*
You and Orthos have been missed.
It is okay, we can...
Oh, it is not what you meant by missed?
Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.What poem?
"Harlem" by Langston Hughes.
** spoiler omitted **
There is something immensely satisfying about doing that sorta things with words.
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Always a good day when I can gross out an entire room full of teenagers simply by discussing a poem.What poem?
"Harlem" by Langston Hughes.
** spoiler omitted **
Damn, I've missed you!
For precisely this reason.Hugs/cookies/etc.
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Really want to shake parents and administrators sometimes.
TWICE this week, I filled out our Student Symptom Report Google Form for the same child, because he was complaining of severe headaches and unusual fatigue. He fell asleep in the book chair for almost an hour yesterday. I know my students. He was sick.
The Director decided, based on his usual attitude toward schoolwork, that he was faking and told him to "drink more water". His parents said, "he's doing too much Kumon and sports after school; we'll dial it back."
This afternoon, he started to fall asleep, then woke up and started sobbing loudly, then threw up his entire stomach into the bathroom sink.
Then he hugged me.
I feel vindicated. And angry. And a little nervous.
I will be shocked if my classroom is open next week.
Did nobody take his temperature?
:O
I did the first two days. It was normal.
Tiny T-Rex had a headache the other day, that went away almost immediately after taking an ibuprofen and drinking water. Covid tests can't be found for people younger than 15.
The General came down with something yesterday, a headache and nausea. She was able to get tested, came back negative.
She's feeling better now but I've set up a little living area in the pantry/office. It's a lonely existence.
I pretty much emerge when someone needs something to eat or drink and then it's back to my fortress of solitude. Fortunately I have a few movies I haven't seen yet and I had the forethought to find a place for the PS 4 and I have a whole bunch of games I've barely even cracked.
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It's good to see you, Scint.
I'm sorry so many people have been under the weather. But I'm damn glad it doesn't seem to be covid.
A winter storm is supposedly approaching, but I doubt we will see much.
I am doing a lot of training.
We are still working from home on the new job. I go in next Friday to pick up the work vitae- keys for getting onto building, keys for office, actually meet my boss in person, etc. I am also picking up my last check from my former job, along with the other monies I am owed next week. I am also potentially being paid from the new job next week.
The major dietary changes I made are showing some results, at least in the way I feel. I go to the doctor week after next and I hope my insurance is still good so I can actually, you know, pay him for a follow up visit.
Things are looking up. Really up.
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DISCLAIMER: -- If there is even the slightest chance that you might have a strong negative emotional reaction to some frustrated rhetoric salted with a minimum of research and seasoned with some anecdotal outrage . . . .
Based upon what i'm seeing from the WHO, MERS has been responsible for 858 confirmed deaths, out of 2578 confirmed cases. That's a mortality rate of 33.2% (another source cited a mortality rate of 32.7%).
Wikipedia (yes, yes, i know) indicates 5.53 million deaths out of 324 million confirmed CoViD-19 cases. That math breaks down to a mortality rate of 1.7% (some sources call it 3.+%, at least one says 2.7%).
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No one i've known personally has been killed by MERS, though I've known a few people who were in the Middle East when it produced its scare.
But even in the raging radio silence generated by this pandemic, I >>KNOW<< I've lost three friends to COVID. And those are just the ones I know about.
Oddly enough -- one of those friends in the Mid-East MERS scare? One of my buddies offed by this COVID bug. How unusual.
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We didn't dodge a bullet. Nobody did.
MERS burns too quickly for it to yield this kind of result *unless* it's weaponized and released on a major metropolitan area. And that isn't what happened. If that *were* what happened, it likely would have been more contained and only taken a handful of weeks or months to carve its swath through us.
COVID has been an issue since 2019. It's been **the** issue in the States since February of 2020. And even if it has killed less than one tenth of one percent of the world's population, in terms of scale alone, MERS can't even touch it.
Five. Million. Dead.
Five MILLION.
That's enough to kill my home region of West Tennessee -- down to the last child! -- almost FOUR times over.
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Could it have been worse? Yes.
Might worse still be out there? Certainly.
Will something like this happen again? There is no doubt.
But the statistics neither lie, nor equivocate. Percentages matter, but so do big numbers.
MERS is a murderous bastard of supreme efficiency. COVID, on the other hand, is an inept punk of a killer who has, nonetheless, offed nearly ten thousand times as many of us as his ruthless cousin.
How is that better, again?