The DnD Sanctuary

General => DnD Central => Topic started by: string on 2013-11-25, 10:27:01

Title: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2013-11-25, 10:27:01
Have you noticed that we usually debate only the bad things in life.

In this thread anyone can put down current news that they think is good (can be on any subject but not nasty, please, or so controversial that it provokes arguments). We can debate it and then move on when someone else posts some more happiness!

So I’ll start with this gem, which will brings tears of joy to many, I am sure.

Chocolate is Good for you (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4032585.stm)

Yes – it’s official
Dark chocolate may be healthier (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3185363.stm)

It’s good for a cough and it’s good for your heart. (http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-NG.asp?n=56266-chocolate-ingredient-counters)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Syav on 2013-11-25, 21:26:13

Now you're making me craving for chocolate. :P Is hot chocolate drink included?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2013-11-25, 23:43:45
(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/busted.gif)


Ok......Now you've done it....you've found my Achilles Heel!  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chocolatebunny.gif)



(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/sprint.gif)



Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2013-11-25, 23:55:32
The "good news"? string provided the first substantial thread here! Hear! Hear! and Hip-hip hooray!

It bodes well…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jimbro37 on 2013-12-03, 09:42:55
Love chocolate but it does unhappy things to my body, so very little of it goes into my mouth.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2013-12-06, 23:41:05
I love chocolate. I just don't like dark chocolate. I told my boss, post evaluation, that if we didn't receive raises this year then I wanted to be paid extra in Snickers.  :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2013-12-09, 15:26:35
So it's good news for the ladies
Microsoft working on a smart bra to measure mood (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25197917)

Unfortunately for the men "Efforts to create a similar piece of underwear for men worked less well, largely because the sensors were located too far away from the heart."

Oh I don't know, there could be some uses. ::)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2013-12-19, 09:32:35
Unfortunately for the men "Efforts to create a similar piece of underwear for men worked less well, largely because the sensors were located too far away from the heart."

Oh, I don't know. Doesn't it depend on the size....never mind.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2013-12-20, 19:34:07
Rwanda sends peacekeeping forces to Central African Republic (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/20/uk-centralafrican-french-idUKBRE9BJ0FY20131220)
Quote
Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said on her Twitter feed that Rwanda's armed forces were preparing to send troops after the African Union asked her country to participate.


I have to admit that in my mind, Rwanda still lingered as one of the most war-torn countries on earth. Clearly a lot has changed and improved.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2013-12-20, 20:06:04
It's raining. Right now, here, that's good news. My van gets a free "wash" such as it is, and just a few miles to the North of my location the news isn't so wonderful. They're having an ice storm in the "Land of the Cheeseheads" and that's a good place for it.

Note: This is one time I can't help Josh with a quick explanation. Cheeseheads are--- something else. There is no adequate explanation for a Cheesehead-- you have to be "Behind the Cheddar Curtain" to really understand.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2013-12-20, 20:25:08
Dutch people are also cheeseheads. ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2013-12-20, 20:38:29

Dutch people are also cheeseheads. ;)


Different kind of Cheesehead. Wisconsin is home to the Green Bay Packers, who wear funny hats amongst other things. The hat is shaped like a slice of cheese, hence the name.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2013-12-20, 20:43:56
I didn't know they adopted hats that looked like cheese, but I imagine the nickname came before the hat? For Wisconsinites in general, that is.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2013-12-20, 21:32:12
By the prophet's beard:

http://www.thirdage.com/files/originals/green-bay-fan-wears-cheesehead-hat-at-game.jpg
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2013-12-21, 05:36:41


Dutch people are also cheeseheads. ;)


Different kind of Cheesehead. Wisconsin is home to the Green Bay Packers, who wear funny hats amongst other things. The hat is shaped like a slice of cheese, hence the name.



I hate to correct you but I feel the need. The name Green Bay Packer has nothing to do with cheese. They wear those funny (weird) hats because Wisconsin is the dairy state. Not only are they known for their love of cheese but some big named breweries are in Milwaukee. Cheese and beer!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2013-12-21, 09:40:43
You can correct me all you want, this is one time I'm on fairly solid ground. Wisconsin is the Cheese State, but the wearing of the funny hat is mainly a Packer's thing more than anything else. If you wear that hat, anybody and everybody will assume you're a Packers fan. Especially around my neck of the woods, in Bear country.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2013-12-21, 10:15:32
I'm fully aware that they wear those weird hats. It's because the Packer's are from the cheese state. I lived there for 12+ years so I know more than you think. They may have started the weird hats but the name was around prior to the Packers.  ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2013-12-26, 22:18:24
Using Google Earth, an Indian man managed to find his home town.

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/11/india-orphan-google-earth-journey
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2013-12-27, 07:49:53

Using Google Earth, an Indian man managed to find his home town.

Either good news or a nice Poe-ian tale :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-01-05, 12:46:26
Social media stimulate small languages (http://datanews.knack.be/ict/nieuws/sociale-media-wekken-dode-talen-weer-tot-leven/article-4000489477109.htm). I'm sure every migrant can affirm this in some way, although personally I'm probably more in contact with Netherlandic Dutch through traditional media like books and newspaper articles (although the latter mostly online) than through anything new to this era. But I suppose that's part of the difference between a widely spoken living language like Dutch and a minority Indian language with few speakers. Even YouTube videos are helping to preserve languages linguists didn't even know existed until recently because they were spoken only in some far-off places in India (Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koro_language_(India)))—and without a linguist having to go into the field with a tape recorder.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Macallan on 2014-01-05, 12:53:37

Dutch people are also cheeseheads. ;)

Germans from the baltic and north sea coast are fishheads :right:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Macallan on 2014-01-05, 12:57:39

I didn't know they adopted hats that looked like cheese, but I imagine the nickname came before the hat? For Wisconsinites in general, that is.

Whenever I read 'wisconsin' anywhere I hear it in Alan Rickman's voice (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120655/quotes) in my head :insane:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-01-05, 13:13:27
Germans from the baltic and north sea coast are fishheads :right:
Long live fish heads wherever they hail from.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F1%2F19%2FFish_Head.jpg%2F120px-Fish_Head.jpg&hash=e49cc08a4f6a49ae0d65935f5641a1c0" rel="cached" data-hash="e49cc08a4f6a49ae0d65935f5641a1c0" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Fish_Head.jpg/120px-Fish_Head.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-01-16, 20:37:44

Microsoft extends virus warnings for Windows XP to 2015 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25758308)

Good news to some of us I think.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-01-16, 22:08:10


Microsoft extends virus warnings for Windows XP to 2015 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25758308)

Good news to some of us I think.


Being I dual boot ..... (https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhuWSrhp.png&hash=c4ecf66400a71dd71883016307af2d88" rel="cached" data-hash="c4ecf66400a71dd71883016307af2d88" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/huWSrhp.png)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-01-17, 14:40:28
Today's good news is that it's snowing again and the roads are slippery, as is my driveway, up which I have to roll two trash containers. Almost forgot...yesterday I slipped and fell while attempting to fill the bird feeder. The local squirrels rolled on their little backs and laughed to see such a human misfortune.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-01-27, 09:29:26
I'm not sure how good this news is, but it's certainly interesting.

Rob Ford the mayor of Toronto, Canada, is an admitted drunk and crack cocaine user.

In a recent poll Ford's popularity rating is at 45%, just one point lower than that of President Obama.

I have nothing more to say.  :-X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXpwflzSF4M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXpwflzSF4M)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-01-28, 07:05:36
I have to admit that in my mind, Rwanda still lingered as one of the most war-torn countries on earth. Clearly a lot has changed and improved.

In this sense it is good news. War breaks out, frontline news. Peace breaks out, nobody notices. That gives the impression that the world is a more violent place that it is.

It isn't all yay! though, the bloody conflict in Eastern Congo is partially fuelled by spillovers from Rwanda (and other states). However, I see improvements rather than attaining perfection as good news, so this is good news (maybe not for CAR needing AU peacekeepers though).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-01-31, 12:37:30
It's not really news, but I always thought this was really sad: http://xkcd.com/695/

But then today, I saw this: http://imgs.xkcd.com/blag/spirit_rewrite_unknown_author.png

It isn't all yay! though, the bloody conflict in Eastern Congo is partially fuelled by spillovers from Rwanda (and other states). However, I see improvements rather than attaining perfection as good news, so this is good news (maybe not for CAR needing AU peacekeepers though).

Yup. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-01-31, 17:31:32
South Korea will publish a guideline on the correct translations for 200 popular dishes. So no more fresh crap (http://cheezburger.com/3895279872).* ;)

http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Food/Features/2014/01/28/Korea-to-standardise-food-translations/

* That's from the US, not Asia? Hush!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-01-31, 18:42:05
Want some nice fresh Korean crap...kimchee! It'll take the rust off the hinges of your outhouse.

Don't forget that Kim jong Jimbro recommended it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-01-31, 19:11:53
Kim jong Jimbro

In my ignorance that sounds remarkably authentic.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-02-01, 09:42:25
In Romanian, and I think in a couple more languages, the word for carp is crap. Rather fitting, especially based on the way that bottom feeder is usually cooked in Europe.

Slate had an entry on kimchi in China (http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2014/01/09/mandarin_the_chinese_word_for_kimchi_means_pickled_vegetables_and_korea.html). It seems to have missed that Han refers to both the Han river, running through Seoul, and to the Han dynasty that later gave the name to the Chinese ethnicity (particularly default non-minority Chinese). Han refers to anything and everything Chinese, except when it refers to Korea and everything Korean. That is pretty confusing.

As far as I can trace it the Han river for unknown reasons gave name to an area near Xi'an, Hanzhong (Central Han), far away from Seoul, and the first Han emperor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Bang) claimed it as his origin, and hence the dynasty was named for it. During this dynasty much of what is known today as Chinese culture was disseminated and created, so Han became synonymous with Chinese culture and ethnicity. Meanwhile, back in Korea, the Han river became a metonym to refer to Korea itself.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-02, 16:05:59
In my ignorance that sounds remarkably authentic.

It is. I worked in S. Korea for two years. That's what my Korean friends called me.

Interesting story. I worked with a Korean Air Force captain who had been to the states with his wife for training. She had picked up some recipes that she wanted to inflict on me. A traditional Korean meal consist of many dishes, so she combined US and Korean kitchen practices and came up with beef stew and chili and hamburger steak.
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJ83K3ABb1SQiGpEMGVepEgvdkyYzqcbytVEVPabcPlfXqbe01)
Obviously not me, but you get the idea. One of the dishes on that table is kimchi, the killer cabbage dish.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-02, 17:15:01
That's an awful lot of food for just four people!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2014-02-03, 09:14:23

In Romanian, and I think in a couple more languages, the word for carp is crap.


Barbate, stii si romaneste? Incepi sa ma uimesti  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-05, 14:43:33
That's an awful lot of food for just four people!

I'm sure that they didn't eat it all. I ate out frequently with Korean friends who ran midsize to tiny and packed away quite a bit. However, it wasn't heavy in carbs overall...a little bit of rice and lots of veggies.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-05, 14:53:26
Go veggies! :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-05, 16:19:58
Go veggies!

Are you a vegetarian? I like veggies, but also a bloody steak.

Yesterday we had some white asparagus, and the cooking instructions I found were conflicting. In spite of that, it turned out well because I ignored all the help I found.

And I'm a grain person, too. Sadly, my very recent bout with brown rice was a drastic fail. The instructions on the package were woefully wrong, and the dish turned out bitey, so I turned to the internet for assistance and came up with over a dozen conflicting instructions.

I'm in need of help...in more than one way.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-05, 18:26:44
Are you a vegetarian?

If a vegetarian were a person who loves vegetables, sure. But sicne a vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, no. I ate some smoked trout just a few days ago.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2014-02-05, 18:33:33
just a few days ago

:o If you don't eat meat every day, somehow you are vegetarian...  ???
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-05, 18:45:13
I think real vegetarians would beg to differ. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-05, 18:58:16
And here I always thought that Vegans were aliens from the planet Vega.
:-[
Quote
The difference between a vegan and a vegetarian is that vegans eliminate all animal products from their diet, including dairy and eggs. Those following a vegan lifestyle generally do not wear leather and avoid products made from animals such as wool, silk and down. Vegans' tremendous compassion for animals is an abiding, overriding conviction in their lives.
Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry but they tend to consume dairy products and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians consume dairy products but not eggs, ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy products and lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat eggs as well as dairy products. Vegetarians also do not eat products that contain gelatine or other meat-based products.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-05, 19:05:42
If you don't eat meat every day, somehow you are vegetarian... 

Hardly surprising from somebody who hails from the second largest beef producing country in the world. In Brazil people who don't eat beef every day are subject to arrest. Mr. Barulheira is a vaqueiro in spirit.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-02-05, 19:10:40
sicne
I knew you were a Pole - by your father's side, eh?;)
;D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-02-05, 19:21:19
.......But sicne a vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, no. I ate some smoked trout just a few days ago.......


Was it Friday, because then the Pope  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/thumbs/pope.gif)  wouldn't have a problem with that .... 'cuz any good Catholic knows Fish    (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/smellyfish smaller.gif)   ain't meat. (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chuckle002.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2014-02-05, 19:23:25
In Brazil people who don't eat beef every day are subject to arrest.

You got it. But it annoys me that everybody here is so used to eat beef. A Spanish teacher from Chile told me that she wonders how, in a country with such a huge seaside, the people almost doesn't eat fish - unlike in her country. Personally, I prefer fish, vegetables, and a little piece of meat (which I don't require).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-02-05, 19:36:14
"Used to eating". Nothing "personal".
(It can be seen as a case of paronymy: alike phrases which are not the same.)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-05, 19:47:55
Was it Friday, because then the Pope  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/thumbs/pope.gif)  wouldn't have a problem with that ....

I have no idea, but I didn't eat the entire filet in one day. :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2014-02-05, 20:14:27
When we came down out of the trees and added more meat to our diet, it caused our brains to grow bigger at a much faster evolutionary pace.  The protein in the meat was, of course, the cause of this and it has made us the wonderful and marvelous creatures we are today.  ;D  I wonder what we would look like if we had remained mostly vegan?   :o

 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-05, 20:31:36
High quality cooked game meat (and other cooked foods), mind you. Nothing like your average cheap factory farmed junk which can barely move an inch and is fed abysmal things. Factory farmed fish is comparatively better.

Anyway, don't forget that e.g insects and shellfish are also animals and contain plenty of protein.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-02-05, 20:40:31
I wonder what we would look like if we had remained mostly vegan?



(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FS6aMQGK.png&hash=2e7079f3d1886dc12e592d107d1a4d8f" rel="cached" data-hash="2e7079f3d1886dc12e592d107d1a4d8f" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/S6aMQGK.png)   (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/HeDidIt.gif)  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/sprint.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-02-06, 01:54:06
My diploma arrived in the mail this past Saturday.  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-02-06, 06:41:25
Congratulations Nick! (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/awright005.gif)

And if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like you've been here before?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-06, 07:36:26
My diploma arrived in the mail this past Saturday. 

Now, on to grad school?
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics.fansonly.com%2Fphotos%2Fschools%2Fole%2Fsports%2Fgenrel%2Fimport%2FBECILGHHLVKPPZQ.20080919145532.jpg&hash=22a39f9c97bb38458329a20dcbe326c6" rel="cached" data-hash="22a39f9c97bb38458329a20dcbe326c6" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ole/sports/genrel/import/BECILGHHLVKPPZQ.20080919145532.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-02-06, 10:21:55
The mail works on Saturdays? Not here, which is a good thing. At least I don't receive IRS and other taxes notifications on weekends. :)

By the way, our former prime minister had his engineering diploma emitted on a Sunday... what a diligent university that emits diplomas on Sundays...
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-02-07, 06:00:56

Congratulations Nick! (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/awright005.gif)

And if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like you've been here before?

Thank ya kindly, good Sir!  :cheers:

Indeed; very good taste in music you've got there my good fellow! :)


My diploma arrived in the mail this past Saturday. 

Now, on to grad school?
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fgraphics.fansonly.com%2Fphotos%2Fschools%2Fole%2Fsports%2Fgenrel%2Fimport%2FBECILGHHLVKPPZQ.20080919145532.jpg&hash=22a39f9c97bb38458329a20dcbe326c6" rel="cached" data-hash="22a39f9c97bb38458329a20dcbe326c6" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ole/sports/genrel/import/BECILGHHLVKPPZQ.20080919145532.jpg)

No, I've had quite enough of school for now. Got to start paying off student loans now, and get some other things I've been wanting to do, accomplished.


Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-08, 15:56:10
Here's some potentially interesting technology: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread992866/pg1
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2014-02-08, 21:26:25
Think of the possibilities if you made them for dolphins too. It'd be better than a horse and dog combined. Seems like military, exploration and recreational possibilities abound. 

Does anyone remember SeaQuest? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaQuest_DSV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaQuest_DSV)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-10, 10:31:28
Here's some potentially interesting technology

I suggest staying out of the water and on the beach.

(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTBbFDUlUocxsmc0Ykd85KdL8vD5Ucm1-YE7gNcHC32waSAEE9RiA)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-02-14, 01:33:47
My 4 day weekend begins tomorrow!  :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2014-02-14, 07:30:40
I am suppose to get my taxes back today. Also, 3 day weekend. Stupidly excited to order aftermarket parts for my car. I'm not a normal chick.  :-\
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-02-17, 13:27:45
Genetically modified potatoes 'resist late blight' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26189722)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-17, 13:28:28
Stupidly excited to order aftermarket parts for my car. I'm not a normal chick.  :-\

Sounds pretty normal to me. :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-17, 14:29:31
Genetically modified potatoes 'resist late blight'

One must exercise caution with new genetic technology. Can you 'ear me now, can you 'ear me now?
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F2%2F2e%2FVacanti_mouse.jpg&hash=e2eb637c7125855ed52f0dfb2948eb77" rel="cached" data-hash="e2eb637c7125855ed52f0dfb2948eb77" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/Vacanti_mouse.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-02-17, 23:04:25
A full paycheck gets deposited into my bank account Friday, after consecutive paychecks being less than full, owing to holidays. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-02-19, 12:45:39
Eating more yoghurt can reduce the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes, researchers at Cambridge have found. (http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/yoghurt-cuts-risk-of-type-2-diabetes)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2014-02-19, 14:47:24

One must exercise caution with new genetic technology. Can you 'ear me now, can you 'ear me now?
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F2%2F2e%2FVacanti_mouse.jpg&hash=e2eb637c7125855ed52f0dfb2948eb77" rel="cached" data-hash="e2eb637c7125855ed52f0dfb2948eb77" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/Vacanti_mouse.jpg)

Was that mouse designed for the NSA?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-02-19, 15:02:50
Was that mouse designed for the NSA?

He's no different from those working there.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-02-19, 15:03:16
Eating more yoghurt can reduce the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes, researchers at Cambridge have found.

Now you tell me...I have type 2 diabetes and I don't eat yogurt! Where were you when I needed you?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-02-27, 18:21:07
Cleaner stoves program is a success:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/building-cleaner-cookstoves/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-03-05, 04:46:32
Payday in 1 day!  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-03-05, 07:00:04

Cleaner stoves program is a success:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/building-cleaner-cookstoves/
I like it and love the Newshour, one of the few news portals that eschews  bullshit.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-03-09, 22:34:52
Got a full 8 hours of sleep today, up from my usual 4 a night for the past two months!

:cheers: :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-03-10, 09:52:33
Very good news! I've found a cabinet for hiding my most precious documents.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/embed/MKikHxKeodA?rel=0[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-03-11, 06:52:14
This is very good news even if a bit dated.
Quote
http://www.theonion.com/articles/50-of-americans-oppose-intervention-in-syria,33688/[/url]
From that piece...
Quote
50% Of Americans Oppose Intervention In Syria
AMERICAN VOICES • Opinion • ISSUE 49•35 • Aug 30, 2013

According to an NBC poll, 50 percent of Americans oppose the use of military force against Syria in the wake of a purported chemical weapons attack by the government of Bashar al-Assad, compared to 42 percent who support military action. What do you think?

“It’s true. Half of me wants to intervene but the other half doesn’t care.”
Hugh D’Aquino –
Film Developer

“Well, we have to bomb somebody.”
Jaleel Piercy –
Systems Analyst
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-03-12, 00:58:48
Stone me what has gone wrong with the ex-colonies? Some 50% have retreated from war starting?!  :yikes:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-03-12, 08:56:10
 :D I'd love to stone you. :devil:

Polling is complicated as this poll indicates. A growing number of Americans are sick of foreign "adventures". I've been there for a long time and welcome everybody who comes aboard.
Quote
Americans also opposed military intervention in Syria in a May Gallup survey. In that poll, by 68% to 24%, Americans opposed military action "to attempt to end the conflict" if "all economic and diplomatic efforts fail to end the civil war in Syria."

Don't ask me. I oppose cat killing and oatmeal.
(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/countsheep0.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Macallan on 2014-03-12, 09:02:58

Stone me what has gone wrong with the ex-colonies? Some 50% have retreated from war starting?!  :yikes:

That's what happens when they see too many kids they know come back in caskets.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-03-12, 09:42:25


Stone me what has gone wrong with the ex-colonies? Some 50% have retreated from war starting?!  :yikes:

That's what happens when they see too many kids they know come back in caskets.
I don't think so. We've seen thousands of caskets arrive since 1941 without this sort of reaction. World War II involved a sense of national imperilment. Korea and Vietnam were associated with a fear of international communism. That said, there was significant opposition to the Vietnamese war, particularly among younger Americans.

Few on the Left today are concerned about endangerment from Syrian problems. The Right is another matter, but only to a degree. Much of that opposition is fueled by the politics of congressional elections which are coming up this year. Even the rightists of the Tea Party are reluctant.
Quote
In Florida, Tea Party supporters are organizing to pressure Congress not to support the airstrike that President Obama has called for, in the event of a breakdown in the diplomatic efforts involving Russia. “We are calling our representatives and demanding they vote no on this,” said Billie Tucker, a founder of the First Coast Tea Party in Jacksonville, Fla.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-03-13, 09:02:18
Elephants scream "human!!!" (and farmers use beehives to keep elephants away instead of guns)

http://phys.org/news/2014-03-elephants-human.html
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-03-13, 21:34:52
Unfortunately jimbro the war countries you quote are a small selection and there have been a far bigger list of destabilsing and war matters. That there more who are getting fed up with war after war, etc is a good sign for the future and to be commended. The tragedy is that since the time I quoted what the Republican President Eisenhower said about corporate warnings, it has got worse. No-one took much notice of that incumbent of the White House when he said that because they thought he was wrong. Even he could not have imagined the change that a proportion of people have woken up to in more recent times. However changing their power and influence deeply embedded on the Hill is a mountain to climb.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-03-20, 10:52:00
The good news today is Reggie Watts.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0RU_Nyr4l4[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-03-23, 00:24:40
Never heard of him but as you are in a lot nice for you of course.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-03-30, 20:12:12
Upsee harness: Mother's invention to give disabled son chance to walk will help countless other families following worldwide launch (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/upsee-harness-mothers-invention-to-give-disabled-son-chance-to-walk-will-help-countless-other-families-following-worldwide-launch-9213997.html)
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fincoming%2Farticle9213909.ece%2FALTERNATES%2Fw620%2Fupsee-invention2.jpg&hash=802709cb4d5a7cd545585bc86e89957f" rel="cached" data-hash="802709cb4d5a7cd545585bc86e89957f" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article9213909.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/upsee-invention2.jpg)
Quote
A revolutionary new harness designed by a mother to give her wheelchair-bound son a chance to walk has been launched on a worldwide market.

Debby Elnatan, a music therapist whose son Rotem has cerebral palsy, said the idea for a support harness came from her own “pain and desperation”, but will go on to make lives easier for countless families across the world struggling with disability.

It was designed to enable Rotem to stand upright and, by attaching it to herself, Ms Elnatan and her son could take steps together.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-01, 06:24:09
 :cheers:
Quote
1. The Czech Republic consumes more beer per capita than any other country in the world.
Beating out Germany, Ireland and Belgium, the country drinks on average about 161 liters of beer per person each year, according to figures from The Economist. However, beer production seems to be declining, says the Czech Association of Brewers. Production has fallen 8% from last year, hitting its lowest level since 1989, the group said. If the trend continues, the country could eventually give up its stronghold on beer consumption relative to population.


http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20110324-travelwise-seven-surprising-facts-about-czech-beer
(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/banana050.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-04-01, 15:28:25
Quote from: BBC
3. In Prague, beer is cheaper than bottled water.
Beer prices get as low as 14 koruna a pint (that's $0.80 or 0.54 euros), whereas water costs about 35 koruna for a .33 litre bottle.


Prices are higher now, but that still applies. I used to run a restaurant, and made the calculation that a customer ordering one bottle of water, drunk it, and left would be more profitable than a customer drinking beer all evening. Nothing we sold was as profitable as water. I suggested we should start a water bar instead, selling nothing but water.

Then the crisis came in 2008 and people, having less money to share, stopped buying water with their wine, and the restaurant had to close.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-01, 15:51:29
I used to run a restaurant, and made the calculation that a customer ordering one bottle of water, drunk it, and left would be more profitable than a customer drinking beer all evening.

Water (bottled and served at restaurants) is even more expensive than gasoline.
Anyway, a bar or restaurant full of clients drinking beer will attract many other clients while a place with people drinking water will attract no one.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-01, 15:57:12

Quote from: BBC
3. In Prague, beer is cheaper than bottled water.
Beer prices get as low as 14 koruna a pint (that's $0.80 or 0.54 euros), whereas water costs about 35 koruna for a .33 litre bottle.
Nothing we sold was as profitable as water. I suggested we should start a water bar instead, selling nothing but water.
Forget that. How about a "truck bomb" in Munich.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvvztCmbbuA[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-04-02, 01:00:24
My meeting with my tax preparer went well!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-02, 09:08:54
tax preparer

Tax preparer? what's a tax preparer?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2014-04-02, 09:11:33
Two things every American has, no matter how poor:

- tax preparer
- shrink

Awesome stuff I learned from movies.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-02, 09:14:22
A tax preparer is an expert who helps people calculate the amount of money that has to be paid in taxes.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-02, 09:15:32

Two things every American has, no matter how poor:

- tax preparer
- shrink

- mother
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-02, 09:17:53
A tax preparer is an expert who helps people calculate the amount of money that has to be paid in taxes.

Thks.
How not to pay seems more useful to me. We have experts on that.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-02, 09:32:31

A tax preparer is an expert who helps people calculate the amount of money that has to be paid in taxes.

Thks.
How not to pay seems more useful to me. We have experts on that.

Everybody everywhere does that. Some are better than others, however.

Larry Ellison, a billionaire, and the CEO of the Redwood City-based Oracle Corporation is one of them.

Quote
Ellison will have to pay taxes on his $90.6 million (or more if Oracle’s stock price outperforms the options pricing model they used to guess the value of the shares he may purchase), but until he exercises the options it’s all deferred. So last year Oracle and Ellison temporarily sheltered $90.6 million from the tax man.


Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2014-04-02, 10:12:15

Two things every American has, no matter how poor:

- tax preparer
- shrink

Awesome stuff I learned from movies.

I assume that this homeless from Albuquerque who was shot to death because of illegal camping, had neither a tax preparer nor a shrink.

Warning, violent graphic video:
[video]http://youtu.be/6tpAZObNZfI[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-04-02, 10:29:35

A tax preparer is an expert who helps people calculate the amount of money that has to be paid in taxes.

Thks.
How not to pay seems more useful to me. We have experts on that.

Yes, and mine actually wrangled me a refund!

@ersi and @Jim: Well played, both of you. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-02, 10:40:02
Larry Ellison, a billionaire, and the CEO of the Redwood City-based Oracle Corporation is one of them.

It's always easy to billionaires not to pay taxes, any billionaire can do it....
The difficult thing my friend is to people like me not paying it, something that I dedicate much of my effort to. I regarded it as a duty. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-04-02, 10:43:12
It's always easy to billionaires not to pay taxes...
"to billionaires"
I guess it'd be "for...":sherlock:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-04-02, 21:34:52
Talking about taxes ...... I will be getting no Federal Income Tax Refund this year, & that's very, very good news!

I'm celebrating my second year of having $0.00 income derived from sources within the United States, so therefore this year I owe no Federal Taxes...zip..ziltch..nada.

Being that I no longer claim either of my USA residences as a primary 'permanent' residence --- I spent 9+ months in various locations overseas (in total) last year --- so the only taxes I paid in the States were local property taxes, sales taxes, & incidental fees.

In actuality I have no true primary country of 'permanent' residence (for tax purposes).

I presently maintain Citizenship in at least one (1) country other than the USA. 

For taxation purposes, all my liquid assets are deposited privately at various locations offshore.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-04-03, 08:22:14
Romania is doing well
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alisoncoleman/2014/03/27/europes-hidden-entrepreneurial-tech-hotbed-romania-powers-up/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-03, 08:26:43
Romania is doing well

Even Dracula embraced high-tech, no more true blood....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-04-03, 08:53:40
If I were Dracula, I'd have stayed in my comfy Romanian castle instead of moving to polluted late-19th-century London.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-04-03, 09:19:44
Romanian winters can be chilly, especially in mountainous Transylvania, so a Transylvanian castle wouldn't be very "comfy". Then again I guess a vampire wouldn't care so much.

Romania, and Bulgaria as well, has had that coming, lots of competent people, and while politics is not the greatest (http://www.romania-insider.com/romania-ranks-better-on-corruption-index-but-still-one-of-eus-most-corrupt/70676/),  I am confident of their long-term prospects, and EU has been good. The immigration talk about Romania comes from two source, that "Romanian" commonly is code for "Roma", a topic of its own, and that while Romania is moderately-sized, a bit larger than the Netherlands, they have a lot of farmers, and farmers spell trouble.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk7Sxpmr7wI[/video]


The world is getting even more web-wide. I noticed a couple weeks ago that one of the programs I use was made by a Bangladeshi programmer from Dhaka. That's good news too.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-03, 09:48:03
This video is the answer to the question Why do so many people hate pop music?
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk7Sxpmr7wI[/video]

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-04-03, 11:12:26
Well, [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60og9gwKh1o[/video]
may have been to YouTube roughly what
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwuy4hHO3YQ[/video]
was to MTV. The above video was posted August 2006 and October 2006 Google bought YouTube.


As you can see from this top 30 list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_viewed_YouTube_videos), YouTube has lifted world culture to a whole new level.


#1
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0[/video]

#2
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4[/video]

#3
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H_Zoh7G5A[/video]

#4
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM[/video]

#5
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uelHwf8o7_U[/video]

The good news in this post is clearly that Frenzie allowed the video tag.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-03, 11:21:53
they have a lot of farmers, and farmers spell trouble.

Indeed, farmers aren't as easy to manipulate as the urban herds. Besides, there's always arms in farms.

An interesting thing happening in Europe, at least in the southern places, it's a growing trend to people return to the fields and to live in a much more free and sustainable way.  People are tired of consumerism, police state vigilance and nazi rules.
However most people that lived for their entire lives in the cities and have an urban culture knows absolutely nothing from the countryside work and daily life.

We need more funds from the EU for teaching them so I can enter my project...  :)
Do you listen Mrs Merkel?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-04-03, 17:13:59
Met a couple of pop well knowns over the years and fine fellows jimbro.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-03, 18:30:46
My tastes have changed over the years. I just opened a set of CDs that I bought some time ago and played a couple of tracks. Just awful. However, you're talking about personalities. I've never met one but have shaken the hand of a multi-millionaire decades ago, a pizza magnate, who owns Little Caesars Pizza. There's one in Edinburgh. And that's not a poke at your favorite city in the world.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2014-04-03, 18:46:10

Romanian winters can be chilly, especially in mountainous Transylvania, so a Transylvanian castle wouldn't be very "comfy".

Well, the castle in Transylvania where Vlad the Impaler (Voivode of Wallachia/Dracula) was kept imprisoned and wherefrom he managed to escape wasn't very "comfy", not even during summer. ;)
Namely, by that time Transylvania was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.


The immigration talk about Romania comes from two source, that "Romanian" commonly is code for "Roma", a topic of its own, ...

Indeed, depicting Roma as Romanian is misleading and IMHO done on purpose.


and that while Romania is moderately-sized, a bit larger than the Netherlands, they have a lot of farmers, and farmers spell trouble.

Speaking of Romanian farmers:
Who will buy Romanian farmland? (http://www.arc2020.eu/front/2013/12/who-will-buy-the-romanian-farmland-landowners-speculation-on-new-years-eve/)
Romanian land market effectively liberalized on Jan. 1, 2014 (http://www.agerpres.ro/news-of-the-day/2014/01/02/romanian-land-market-effectively-liberalized-on-jan-1-2014-13-26-19)
Quote
Under the new law, Romanian citizens, citizens of other EU member states, citizens of states that are parties to the European Economic Area Agreement (EEAA), stateless persons residing in Romania, in an EU Member State or a state party to the EEAA, as well as legal persons having the nationality of an EU Member State or of a state that is party to the EEAA will be allowed to acquire land outside city boundaries.

Land grabbing at discount prices has just started.
Quote
According to the RO PAC Alliance, the bill on the sale and purchase of agricultural land by foreigners proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture amounts to a sort of "land expropriation", having rather the purpose of blowing into the sails of European speculators.
"Through incorporated companies, foreigners already hold in Romania between 1 and 1.2 million hectares of land, but so far we haven't seen foreigners effectively work these surfaces. It's still the Romanian farmers who do the tilling and the foreigners collect the subsidy provided by the EU. The output of this land does not enter the agricultural circuit either, but is directed to energy crops. ( ... ) The real disaster that grips the Romanian land market will be visible after the law is enforced," says RO PAC president and chairman of the Romanian Cattle Breeders Federation Claudiu Franc.

At present, the price of a hectare of farmland can start from 2,000 euros and can go up to 18,000 euros, but if the irrigation system is restored, these figures will shoot up towards the EU average of EUR 30,000 plus.

Romanian farmland is of very good quality, one of the best worldwide.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-04-03, 18:50:18
Romanian winters can be chilly, especially in mountainous Transylvania, so a Transylvanian castle wouldn't be very "comfy".

I can think of one or two better places to move than foggy, polluted London. :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-04, 05:47:38
China.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vip.it%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F10%2FCina-Smog-300x180.jpg&hash=e52f8ed847dbdb493e1645a2f2e123a2" rel="cached" data-hash="e52f8ed847dbdb493e1645a2f2e123a2" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.vip.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Cina-Smog-300x180.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-04-04, 07:23:20
I can think of one or two better places to move than foggy, polluted London. :D


Don't get me wrong, Transylvanian nature can be extremely beautiful. I once attended a wedding party in a Transylvanian cave that had been populated since prehistorical times. Excellent party, though getting there was too strenuous for my liking, wayward Taoists would love it, so I stayed in the cave complex until it was time to leave.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fportal.ncdenr.org%2Fimage%2Fimage_gallery%3Fuuid%3D1032d821-8462-436c-8501-c0120af8ebe0%26amp%3BgroupId%3D60329%26amp%3Bt%3D1307736748505%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fportal.ncdenr.org%2Fimage%2Fimage_gallery%3Fuuid%3D1032d821-8462-436c-8501-c0120af8ebe0%26amp%3BgroupId%3D60329%26amp%3Bt%3D1307736748505&hash=c4021db3ddec0ccdedeab907df3749fa" rel="cached" data-hash="c4021db3ddec0ccdedeab907df3749fa" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://portal.ncdenr.org/image/image_gallery?uuid=1032d821-8462-436c-8501-c0120af8ebe0&groupId=60329&t=1307736748505]http://portal.ncdenr.org/image/image_gallery?uuid=1032d821-8462-436c-8501-c0120af8ebe0&groupId=60329&t=1307736748505)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-04-04, 13:11:50
Schumacher's manifesting aliveness.
Retrieved from Siren FM
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-04-04, 22:21:59
Gun manufacturer Black Rain Ordnance Inc. (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/black-rain-ordnance-inc/) has released a “New York Compliant” AR-15 (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/3/bloombergs-worst-nightmare-gunmaker-releases-new/). 

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F4yta38v.jpg&hash=4fb16855de90c7f90a6ffe967f2ce1de" rel="cached" data-hash="4fb16855de90c7f90a6ffe967f2ce1de" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/4yta38v.jpg)

(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/cheerskj4.gif)  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/usa-flag-89.gif)  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/yahoo.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-05, 10:35:06

Schumacher's manifesting aliveness.
Retrieved from Siren FM

If you were looking for puzzlement, you did it. Is this something you channeled from Putin?
Maybe it has meaning in Russian.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-04-08, 02:11:21
Typical American about anti- Putin propaganda banged into ex-colonists "heids." Dear, oh dear!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-08, 11:10:00
Can you explain your love affair with Putin? What about him is so attractive?

Frankly, though, I don't give a damn. Whatever happens in Russia, Crimea and Ukraine are problems that I'm not concerned with. Same with German problems, Portuguese problems and David Cameron problems...Let's throw in Glasgow and Edinburgh problems, too.

All of the above are distractions.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-04-08, 12:50:13
All of the above are distractions.


That's your good news of today?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-04-08, 21:47:36
How dare you jimbro call my corner a distraction! Just because you live in a nice backwater you are getting uppity.  :'(
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2014-04-11, 06:28:20
Hillary Clinton survived a shoe attack during her speach in Las Vegas

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16T6UJW5oWY[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-11, 09:32:27
 :o Some damned heel threw it! :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-04-12, 00:41:48
That's usually a Muslim trait.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-04-12, 03:23:04
That's usually a Muslim trait.


Right you are there RJ.....geeez, you know your Musies rag-heads....guess its because yer surrounded by 'em over there! (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/taunt.gif)

Actually, since it was done to GB, it's caught on with all the disillusioned local lefties & Occupy pond scum cruds.

They don't know WTF it means, just that it's some sort of negative 'cause it was used at George Bush & they loved it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-04-12, 14:06:55
Not exactly today's, but recently - Google Chrome's got fixed.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-04-12, 22:08:57
Charges against baby dropped.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/pakistan-court-drops-case-against-baby-20140413-zqu4x.html
I have inside information that the authorities felt that the baby offered too small a target for a stoning and was too light to be hanged.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-04-12, 22:14:39
Oh, i nearly forgot about you jimbro and your thing about Putin. He is a moderniser stands up for his country, refuses to be bowed into sublimation by the leader of the West and it's minions. You do however fit in well with the general feelings of your countrymen however who in polls would prove to be anti-Russian. This is because of the media control and what they tell and do not tell. Looking at any Russian city now and surfing back to Soviet days is  like night and day. Doubt if most ex-colonists could tell one anything detailed about Russia as their leaders are still in a Cold War mentality as it helps justify armanents and the powerful industry behind it, etc.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-14, 11:47:53

Charges against baby dropped.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/pakistan-court-drops-case-against-baby-20140413-zqu4x.html
I have inside information that the authorities felt that the baby offered too small a target for a stoning and was too light to be hanged.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileyfaze.tk%2Fslides%2Fhi5z.gif&hash=bf4faca835a9cecd7f2f9095054794af" rel="cached" data-hash="bf4faca835a9cecd7f2f9095054794af" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://smileyfaze.tk/slides/hi5z.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-04-15, 01:18:16
Yep knew about that one. It is head shaking if this is advancement in the Third World.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-04-15, 20:48:57
I'm preparing a bicycle tour with full multimedia coverage for those DnDeers that doesn't go anywhere... :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-04-15, 22:25:49
Got my tax refund on Monday, and get paid my usual check on Friday morning!   :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-04-19, 09:22:56
Scores of abducted girls freed in Nigeria (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/04/scores-abducted-girls-freed-nigeria-2014418211533235456.html)
Quote
Education official confirms release of 44 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram fighters in restive Borno state.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2014-04-19, 10:56:05
......kidnapped by Boko Haram....


[VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlDYKjfnZ44[/VIDEO]  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/firefart.gif)

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-04-19, 11:12:09
It's not always possible to easily divide news into exclusive groupings of good or bad. Often the news is an admixture.

Fortunately, the West has moved away from religiously inspired killing, but in Africa and Indonesia the same is not the case.

Quote
Boko Haram says its aim is to impose a stricter enforcement of Sharia law across Africa's most populous nation, which is split between a majority Muslim north and a mostly Christian south.


Quote
After the predominantly Muslim Seleka militia took control of the Central African Republic under President Michel Djotodia in 2013, a period of lawlessness and sectarian violence continued. Following warnings of "genocide" by the UN and a controversial intervention force by MISCA, Djotodia resigned. Despite neutral Catherine Samba-Panza being made president, the Anti-balaka Christian militants continued sectarian violence, including reported targeted killings, against Muslim civilians.


Quote
INDONESIANS are reeling from one of their country's most awful incidents of religious violence in years. It happened on February 6th, in a village in Banten, the western end of Java, not far from Jakarta, a district where strictly Islamist parties poll well. Out of keeping with the more usual pattern of Muslim-versus-Christian attacks, this was a mob attack by Muslims against men who claimed to be their own fellows: members of a Islamic sect called the Ahmadiyah.


Remember Rodney King?
Quote
"People, I just want to say, can't we all get along? Can't we all get along?"
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member on 2014-04-19, 12:04:00
...the Anti-balaka Christian militants continued sectarian violence, including reported targeted killings...
It was very Christian of them.:rolleyes:
[psst]Should I be Pro-balaka????[/psst]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-04-20, 14:17:19

It's not always possible to easily divide news into exclusive groupings of good or bad. Often the news is an admixture.


The good news is that I made you a thread (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=311.new#new).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-02, 20:38:16
http://phys.org/news/2014-04-ancient-egyptians-pyramid-stones-sand.html
Quote
Physicists from the FOM Foundation and the University of Amsterdam have discovered that the ancient Egyptians used a clever trick to make it easier to transport heavy pyramid stones by sledge. The Egyptians moistened the sand over which the sledge moved.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-05-10, 22:05:16
I didn't know such a device existed.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/plane-parachute-gives-near-disaster-a-soft-landing-20140510-zr8uc.html
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2014-05-10, 22:33:14

I didn't know such a device existed.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/plane-parachute-gives-near-disaster-a-soft-landing-20140510-zr8uc.html


I had heard of it before. It's not common, though maybe it should be. A forced landing by a fixed-wing aircraft needs clear space which you may not have, a parachute could allow a near vertical descent and even landing in trees doesn't have to be fatal this way.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-05-10, 22:35:55
I didn't know such a device existed.

To my knowledge only can be used with that class of airplanes, very light airplanes smaller and lighter than a normal Cessna, for example.
It doesn't make any sense except in case of a structural catastrophic failure, (a broken wing, etc) which are extremely rare things to happen.

Cirrus are extremely expensive light airplanes, with high performance, kind the Ferrari of light airplanes, usually flown by people with too much money and too less airmanship.

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-05-13, 07:33:33
The party might be over, but it did last for longer than we expected.
The health benefits from red wine and chocolate are not as uncomplicated as we hoped.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/look-away-now-study-finds-no-health-benefit-from-wine-and-chocolate-20140513-zrbbm.html
I had chosen to believe that if a little chocolate does me good, a lot of chocolate does me lots of good.
Worked for months.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-05-13, 08:31:36
I thought the trick was to mix them thoroughly.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-05-13, 21:52:19
One newspaper said that a twenty minute walk a day is a great ife booster. I have been doing more than that for yonks.
Title: Parliament urged to revise commercial radio regulations
Post by: Banned Member [2] on 2014-05-14, 07:14:08
Quote from: MediaUK
[British ]Parliament is being urged to relax commercial radio regulations as the platform faces competition from digital services such as Spotify, Deezer and iTunes. Chairman of the All Party Group for Commercial Radio, Andrew Bingham MP (pictured), wants new ... (more) (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/musicweek/stream/~3/ZYyGDgejL-s/058409)

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musicweek.com%2Fcimages%2Fe2b8109974c6892a3e75d50284991f4a.jpg&hash=5a6835c8ea5c894881d69b281ca64c8a" rel="cached" data-hash="5a6835c8ea5c894881d69b281ca64c8a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.musicweek.com/cimages/e2b8109974c6892a3e75d50284991f4a.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-05-14, 15:55:34
Inmarsat offers free aircraft tracking in wake of MH370 (http://www.traveldailymedia.com/207324/inmarsat-offers-free-aircraft-tracking-in-wake-of-mh370/)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-05-19, 10:24:46
The European Bison reintroduced in Europe after more than 250 years (http://www.rewildingeurope.com/news/finally-back-on-stage-after-more-than-250-years/) :)

There's also a plan going on to reintroduce the mythic Auroch.
Some day we'll have mammoths...
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-19, 10:38:12
Some day we'll have mammoths...

If the genetic material is too far gone, just add some frog genes (http://jurassicpark.wikia.com/wiki/Filling_the_sequence_gaps).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Banned Member [3] on 2014-05-20, 08:02:53
ife
Quote from: Wiktionary
Italian
Noun

ife f

   1. plural form of ifa (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ifa#Italian)


Category:

    * (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Italian_plurals)Italian plurals

Frans, make the smilies BOARD wrapped up away by default at last!!!:irked:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-20, 08:18:34
I wrote some experimental code a while ago, but I've certainly got no time to wrap it up this week. There's also the issue of how to reconcile the fact that some people like all the smilies visible at once and others would prefer most of 'em to be hidden by default.
Title: The smilies board
Post by: Banned Member [3] on 2014-05-20, 08:38:25

I wrote some experimental code a while ago, but I've certainly got no time to wrap it up this week. There's also the issue of how to reconcile the fact that some people like all the smilies visible at once and others would prefer most of 'em to be hidden by default.

As usual -- in the profile.:idea:
Quote from: Scheickspier
To wrap or not to wrap - that is the question.

(By the way, you could lose doubles right about already now, huh?)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-20, 09:22:15
(By the way, you could lose doubles right about already now, huh?)

Meaning?
Title: Smilical Muttering
Post by: Banned Member [3] on 2014-05-20, 10:13:31
Was I being wrong?
Should that have been "THE doubles"????
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-20, 10:38:39
"right about now already" isn't very polite. In any case, what smilies do you claim are doubles?
Title: The doubles
Post by: Banned Member [2] on 2014-05-20, 11:16:23
By Norsk politeness? (Thank you for pointing out, anyway.)
Can't you see the doubles yourself, huh?
Quote from: everything
:) ;) :D :( :o 8) ??? ::) :P :-[ :-X :-\ :-* :'( :lol: :devil: :eyes: :love: :flirt: :happy: :blush: :sst: :wine: :beer: :cheers: :confused: :mad: :bandit: :worried: :insane: :awww: :bomb: :whistle: :hat: :yes: :up: :down: :irked: :idea: :no: :alien: :doh: :zip: :monkey: :banana: :ninja: :knight: :nervous: :left: :headbang: :yuck: :yikes: :sing: :furious: :heart: :cry: :frown: :star: :spock: :zzz: :cat: :drunk: :eek: :beard: :faint: :pirate: :coffee: :wait: :right: :ko: :bug: :angel: :cool: :rolleyes: :queen: :king: :wizard: :jester: :sherlock: :chef: :smurf: :psmurf: :troll: :troll: :cow: :pingu: :dragonfly: :hi: :bye: :rip:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-20, 11:32:14
I see one double (not counting the double troll in your post only), and I'd have already hidden whatever else you might be thinking of hours ago in about two seconds if you'd have been a little more upfront about what errors you might've spotted. :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2014-05-20, 12:11:35
I just had to look. I don't see any doubles. Josh, if you're seeing doubles I suggest you don't try to drive for a while.  :drunk:
Title: The doubles
Post by: Banned Member [2] on 2014-05-20, 13:51:46

I just had to look. I don't see any doubles. Josh, if you're seeing doubles I suggest you don't try to drive for a while.  :drunk:
Two yikes, for example. Two zips. Two cools. Two rolleyes. Two sads, two ???s. Two trolls, two dontfeeds.
Anything else?:rolleyes:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Luxor on 2014-05-20, 14:11:19
Two yikes,


One is "shocked" the other is "yikes".
Two zips


One is "lips sealed" the other is "zipped"

Two cools.

Yep!

Two rolleyes.

Yep!

Two sads

One is "sad" the other is "frown"

Just for the record of course.  :P 
Title: Re: Today's Smilies Trifle
Post by: Banned Member [2] on 2014-05-20, 14:27:40
Just for the record of course.   :P

Jerk.  :irked:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-05-20, 14:53:41


I just had to look. I don't see any doubles. Josh, if you're seeing doubles I suggest you don't try to drive for a while.  :drunk:
Two yikes, for example. Two zips. Two cools. Two rolleyes. Two sads, two ???s. Two trolls, two dontfeeds.
Anything else?:rolleyes:

That's more helpful, especially coupled with Luxor's reply. Thanks.

Edit: I think that should do it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-05-20, 18:46:55
And what is the problem of having a couple smileys in double?
Does wanting to make Frenzie to have more work than he already has justifies such maniac reclamation and besides completely off topic?
Fuck the duplicated smileys.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2014-05-20, 18:52:43

And what is the problem of having a couple smileys in double?
Does wanting to make Frenzie to have more work than he already has justifies such maniac reclamation and besides completely off topic?
Fuck the double smileys.


I think the "Gang of Joshes" is just trying to see how far he can go before he finally goes too far. Special note, pay attention, you know who you are: I am undoubtedly very patient but even I have my limits. The "Gang of Three In One" is close to breaching that limit. How others haven't acted before now is a wonder of the world.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-06-04, 19:36:34
Potentially good news.
A glimmer of hope for the world's honeybees.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/06/04/4018609.htm
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-06-04, 19:57:35
Hooray! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-06-04, 23:38:28
Another potential good news story
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-05/inhaled-oxytocin-could-prevent-thousands-of-deaths/5501518
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-06-18, 05:17:03
TIME, that arbiter of Science, Medicine, and Health, has decreed that our three-decade-long fear of dietary fats has been a mistake.
Indeed, this week's cover says, starkly, "Eat Butter".
I read the whole article in case there had been a re-think on chocolate, but so far so good.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-06-18, 06:08:55

TIME, that arbiter of Science, Medicine, and Health, has decreed that our three-decade-long fear of dietary fats has been a mistake.
Indeed, this week's cover says, starkly, "Eat Butter".
I read the whole article in case there had been a re-think on chocolate, but so far so good.

Quote
In recent years, large-scale epidemiological studies have found that people whose diets include dark chocolate have a lower risk of heart disease than those whose diets do not. Other research has shown that chocolate includes flavonols, natural substances that can reduce the risk of disease. But it hasn’t been clear how these flavonols could be affecting the human body, especially the heart. New findings from Virginia Tech and Louisiana State University, however, suggest an odd explanation for chocolate’s goodness: It improves health largely by being indigestible.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-06-19, 16:52:04
Ah good!  It's not the end of life as we know it  :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-06-19, 18:02:15
 :drunk: At least so far. :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-06-24, 09:02:06
A grocery store chain in France is now selling ugly fruit and veg.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2nSECWq_PE[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-06-25, 11:11:59
I don't know if this is good news per se, but there's now some quantifiable data about which countries are doing the most good. Spoiler: the number one is Ireland.

http://ideas.ted.com/2014/06/23/guess-which-country-does-the-most-good-for-the-planet/
http://www.goodcountry.org/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-06-25, 22:38:41
Long-time Senator Thad Cochran defeats Tea Party insurgent Chris McDaniel.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/primary-election-2014-108258.html?hp=l9_b1 (http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/primary-election-2014-108258.html?hp=l9_b1)

If Cochran beats Democratic challenger Travis Childers in the fall, and the Repubs re-take the Senate, Cochran will likely be the Head of the Appropriations Committee, which considering Mississippi is by far the poorest state in the nation, would be a boon to MS.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-06-26, 20:42:10
Meriam Ibrahim: Sudan 'apostasy' woman freed again (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28050753)

She's now in the US Embassy apparently.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-06-26, 23:26:10
It was interesting to note Colonel that that election sucess although tight was helped by Democrat supporters??

As for that Sudan disgrace - so much for the religion of peace.  I wouldn't trust that lot near a glass of Irn Bru.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2014-06-27, 01:07:13
It was interesting to note Colonel that that election sucess although tight was helped by Democrat supporters??

A similar situation exists here in California… (see here (http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/statewide-elections/2012-primary/faqs-primary-2012.htm)) Hence Jerry Brown and whoever was the most RINO candidate (or would-be Dem usurper!) will be our choices for governor this go-round.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-06-28, 22:00:43
Noted the link - thanks.

I have a long friend from my youthful days who comes from Glasgow (as does her husband) she isn't very impressed with the political system over there but votes with a sigh.  She voted Democrat as there was little opportunity for much else. On a slightly wider note I think the Reps have a problem at the next Presidential and the Democrats will probably go for that mouth, Clinton. She can lie greatly as politicans do (anyone remember her visit to the former Yugoslavia when she made up a sory of being under gunfire at the airport)Kind of restricted I reckon - sadly.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-07-01, 11:22:04
She didn't lie, Rj, she misspoke.  :lol:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-07-01, 19:37:02
First day of unemployment, as I just finished my contract job yesterday (had held it for 2 years) and I have already gotten an interview scheduled.

It is in November, but that is fine with me, as I have quite a bit to do b/w now and then.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-07-03, 03:12:03
Get a supply of grey uniforms and announce secession and I might go back over. Nah it is okay for pals overseas to have a Referendum but not in the land of the free.....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-07-09, 18:23:39

First day of unemployment, as I just finished my contract job yesterday (had held it for 2 years) and I have already gotten an interview scheduled.

It is in November, but that is fine with me, as I have quite a bit to do b/w now and then.

For you, Sir.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Ftiles.xbox.com%2Ftiles%2FpX%2FVm%2F0jc8P2NhbC9HFQQaXFJRGEY5L2FjaC8wLzMAAAABUFBQ-Ul1vg%3D%3D.jpg&hash=b1c2afc863a261c2a8b66d2ab19aee14" rel="cached" data-hash="b1c2afc863a261c2a8b66d2ab19aee14" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://tiles.xbox.com/tiles/pX/Vm/0jc8P2NhbC9HFQQaXFJRGEY5L2FjaC8wLzMAAAABUFBQ-Ul1vg==.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-07-26, 14:18:42
Cancer blood test moves closer after promising results (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28443865)

"It is hoped that in time the test could prevent costly and invasive procedures such as colonoscopies and biopsies."
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-07-26, 15:08:18
Good news, indeed. Let's hope that more that "might" is involved.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-07-30, 22:47:38
I have been on vacation since last Saturday, in Destin Florida. :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-08-13, 09:32:19
I have discovered what they put in pistachio nuts to make them addictive.
But I'm not telling.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-08-22, 08:39:55
Is it the discovery of the secret or the not telling thereof that is our good news?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-08-22, 08:46:28
I wonder who "they" are. :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-08-25, 05:05:37
It is supposed to rain most of today, after a week of 96-100 temps last week with ten tons of humidity!  :hat:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-08-25, 14:07:06
Typical. Ex-colonists just assume everywhere is American. Wear a hat and avoid easy brain damage over there.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-08-27, 17:57:43
I have always liked tomato juice!
Tomatoes 'important in prostate cancer prevention' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28950093)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-08-27, 19:02:12

Typical. Ex-colonists just assume everywhere is American. Wear a hat and avoid easy brain damage over there.

Typical. Non-ex-colonists just assume everyone is American.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-08-28, 00:03:44
Another senseless answer that only emphasises what I say. But one cannot expect anything else from a super nationalist and blinkered country that no sensible person would want to be like. Trying to be satirically popular is yet another characteristic of your ploy. You are dong and showing my submission well. Keep it up sonny.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2014-10-03, 11:53:43
Joshua Tree got jailed. There are scams, and slimy scams, but they don't come slimier than this one.

Fake bomb detector husband jailed for three years (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29477894)

Fake bomb detectors 'destroyed lives' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22204076)
Quote from: BBC
But his main market was Iraq, where lives depended on bomb detection and where the bogus devices were, and still are, used at virtually every checkpoint in the capital.

Between 2008 and 2009 alone, more than 1,000 Iraqis were killed in explosions in Baghdad. Thousands more were injured, including 21-year-old Haneen Alwan, who was two months pregnant and had gone out to buy ice cream when she was caught in a bomb in January 2009.

"My life was completely destroyed, everything gone in an instant," she said. "I lost the baby and my husband divorced me."

Haneen, who is receiving treatment in neighbouring Jordan, suffered horrific burns to her face, hands and chest and has already had 59 operations. She blames the bombers but she also blames Jim McCormick.

"When people passed through checkpoints using these devices, they thought they would be safe," she told the BBC. "But they are useless. The man who sold them has no conscience. He is morally bankrupt. How could he sell them just for money and destroy other people's lives?"

An answer to that question comes from a whistleblower who has spoken exclusively to the BBC's Newsnight programme. He went around the world with McCormick as he sold the devices, but then became suspicious and confronted him.

"I said to him, 'if this really doesn't work I can't be any part of it.' McCormick replied 'It does exactly what it's designed to. It makes money'," he said.

The court heard that McCormick began his business by buying a batch of novelty "golf ball detectors" from the USA for less than $20 each. In fact they were simply radio aerials, attached by a hinge to a handle. He put the labels of his company, ATSC, on them and sold them as bomb detectors for $5,000 each.

He then made a more advanced-looking version which he was to sell for up to $55,000. The ADE-651 came with cards which he claimed were "programmed" to detect everything from explosives to ivory and even $100 bills. Police say the only genuine part of the kit - and the most expensive - was the carrying case.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2014-10-26, 23:02:40
Leaving tomorrow morning at 3 AM tomorrow morning en route to my Texas vacation and job interview in a week!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-10-27, 08:46:09
Best wishes! :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-11-01, 20:34:24
And from the quiet Scotsman too.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-11-03, 20:58:30
Quiet!?!

Is there a new definition of quiet?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2014-11-04, 17:38:21

Another senseless answer that only emphasises what I say. But one cannot expect anything else from a super nationalist and blinkered country that no sensible person would want to be like. Trying to be satirically popular is yet another characteristic of your ploy. You are dong and showing my submission well. Keep it up sonny.


OK, since your response was to TT, I have to ask: What do you have against Australia? Further, how did Australia become part of the US without us knowing about it? Funny that you accuse others of not knowing world geography when you seem so short on that subject.

Hmmm... so now Australia is "super nationalist". Who ever would have suspected? Sneaky people, those Aussies. Gotta keep a close eye on them.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-11-05, 10:40:18
Others have asked about statehood for Australia...sort of.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120322202739AA2nnn0 (https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120322202739AA2nnn0)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-11-12, 18:01:21
Probe makes historic comet landing (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30026398)

The lander adjunct, Philae, of the Rosetta Spacecraft has landed on a comet and is starting to send data back to Earth.

It's a remarkable achievement, given the number of things that could have gone wrong with the mission due to its complexity. This is a programme that took around 30 years to come to completion, from inception to landing, the last 10 years being the time in space that Rosetta has taken to rendezvous with the comet. The lander Philae will stay attached to the comet as, in due course, it swings near to the Sun and hopefully will give unique data on the gasses that are emitted as the comet app[roaches the Sun. The Philae will not, however, survive that particular encounter!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-11-12, 18:49:16
Thanks, String. I sat down to post this bit of good news and you had already done it. We had been sitting around the screen at 3:00 A.M.,  not a little tense, watching it unfold. Amazing.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-11-12, 19:25:53
A fantastic achievement. Also see xkcd (http://xkcd1446.org/).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2014-11-12, 22:11:03
Rosetta Spacecraft has landed on a comet

I don't like the surface of that comet (see the photo at the article). Maybe we should wait for a more attractive one.
Comets are always passing by.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2014-11-13, 04:13:36
Well I got some good news.

My gas and electric supply company have a refund for me. I pay set amounts by direct debit monthly and each year you get a statement to see whether you owe them or the other way round. This time the bonanza is on my side. Adding to gas and electric they owe me comes to a whopping £300 and the best yet. Being a canny Scot has it's values.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2014-11-13, 07:12:29
Five or six years ago I discovered one day that my gas/electric service had been severed… I walked down to the provider's office to complain.
The pleasant person behind the counter looked up the particulars of my account and, gasping, said, "You haven't paid a bill in six months!"
I asked, "And how much do I owe — in total?"
Another gasp was clearly audible: "Uh — $76."
I ponied-up the cash and my service was restored within the hour.

Your milage may vary! But my experience has been that a business wants to get paid and to get good reviews, both. (Imagine the stink I could have made… :) )
Of course, if it's a government monopoly, all bets are off — at least as far as reviews are concerned.

RJ, you're like the schmoes who feel "lucky" when they receive their income tax refund checks! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-11-13, 14:05:12
Twenty-five years wall-free!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11219265/How-Berlin-has-changed-since-the-wall-fell.html
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-11-13, 15:12:35
Re the Comet mission -

For those that are interested and who can also get BBC television live or recorded, note that there is a programme on BBC 4 at 21.00 hrs (22.00 hrs (mostly) European time) entitled "The Sky at night" - see here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/schedules/bbcfour/20141116).
Quote
Rosetta: A Sky at Night Special
The Sky at Night

It is one of the most extraordinary space adventures in a generation - to land a spacecraft on a comet.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft has been hurtling through space for over 10 years, tracking down a comet called 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Now it is about to do something that has never been attempted before and land a spacecraft on the comet's surface.

This special episode of The Sky at Night puts the viewer right at the heart of the action, witnessing events as they happened from inside mission control. It reveals the latest images, explores the first groundbreaking science coming back from the comet and asks the astonishing questions that make this mission so captivating. Could Earth's water have come from comets? How do comets survive for so long? Could they have triggered the start of life on Earth?

The journey has been fraught with risk and at every stage the comet seems to surprise, but if the mission succeeds it will be a momentous day in the history of space exploration.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-11-13, 16:22:40
Twenty-five years wall-free!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11219265/How-Berlin-has-changed-since-the-wall-fell.html
Yes that Anniversary is worth celebrating and is Good News (mainly because it's my Birthday) but apparently it was all a big mistake!

Error that opened the Berlin Wall early (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/error-that-opened-the-berlin-wall-early-1439797.html)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-11-14, 14:43:29
Good news! You want good news? How about this?

Quote
It's now the third day in a row that Kim Kardashian has been the top trending term on Google News. But that's sure to change soon because it's Friday and what everyone's been waiting for is finally here: The G20!

:cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-11-14, 14:44:20
It seems that the probe did not have a "clean" landing since it bounced and travelled several hundred metres before it finally settled on the surface. It seems to have stopped in a tilted orientation and, worse, in a shadow so that the battery will not charge. The existing battery charge will last for about a day but before it is "curtains" but before that happens they may try to the probe by operating one of the screws intended to hold it in place in the hope that some of the tilt will be corrected. Someone suggested trying to fire the "harpoons" again - why not if you're going out, then go out with a bang. Whatever they could make it worse but since loss of battery is terminal anyway who cares. On the bright side it is reported that all of the instruments are working so that at least some data has already been sent back to earth. We should know by this time tomorrow.

In the meantime, for a giggle have a look at this rather charming animation from ESA which describes the initial landing process. I wonder what's in the sandwiches!

http://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Videos/2014/11/Once_upon_a_time_preparing_for_comet_landing

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-11-14, 14:49:58
Where did you get the info on the problem?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-11-14, 15:06:22

Where did you get the info on the problem?
A mixture of ex colleagues and the BBC (they have shown a number of interviews of people in the project team and associated scientists). So I should really add that what I wrote is certainly not complete but I think it gives the general picture.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-11-14, 15:10:41
 :wine: Thanks. :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2014-11-14, 16:04:47
More info:

Comet lander: Future of Philae probe 'uncertain' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30055383)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2014-11-25, 03:31:57
This is good news for some participants.
http://mpora.com/articles/crazy-rally-crash-unharmed
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2014-11-28, 16:10:25
Good news from Iran!

[video]http://youtu.be/7hlPWScJAcY[/video]

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2014-12-04, 03:02:20
I'm not the only one (…not even here!) who reads things he can't understand… Sometimes, the lack is remediated; sometimes, not. Still, I'm a firm believer that Man's grasp should exceed his reach.
(By attempting to understand what is beyond one's expertise, one is led to a wider ambit of concepts and a closer reading of what experts say… Imagine if our proto-sires said, "Ouch! Fire — hurt!" and left it at that.)
In what I would call an unprecedented move, a major publisher of Major Scientific Journals has — made a step in the right direction:
Quote
All research papers from Nature will be made free to read in a proprietary screen-view format that can be annotated but not copied, printed or downloaded, the journal’s publisher Macmillan announced on 2 December.
The content-sharing policy, which also applies to 48 other journals in Macmillan’s Nature Publishing Group (NPG) division, including Nature Genetics, Nature Medicine and Nature Physics, marks an attempt to let scientists freely read and share articles while preserving NPG’s primary source of income — the subscription fees libraries and individuals pay to gain access to articles.

ReadCube, a software platform similar to Apple’s iTunes, will be used to host and display read-only versions of the articles' PDFs. If the initiative becomes popular, it may also boost the prospects of the ReadCube platform, in which Macmillan has a majority investment.
(source (http://www.nature.com/news/nature-makes-all-articles-free-to-view-1.16460))
I'm not at all bothered by the lack of total capitulation to the IWTBF meme ("Information wants to be free"…). In fact, I'm encouraged: A major publisher recognizes that relevant papers are likely soon going to be required to be Open-Source. (Text, data, code; supplemental info…) This means that —despite the many inane and spurious attacks on legitimate science (made possible by the Web!)— the means to discern what's what will be available.
Even to the likes of me.


I'm grateful. (Although I'm probably too stupid to "get it" — or understand.)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2014-12-29, 10:18:44
Germans prove once again that fingerprint authentication is stupid:

http://www.zeit.de/digital/datenschutz/2014-12/fingerabdruck-merkel-leyen-hack-ccc-31c3
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2015-03-14, 16:52:56
For those that might be in need of a pick-me-up, the good news is that the world has seen it's first penis transplant (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/13/south-africa-man-penis-transplant).

The recipient is said to be very excited.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-03-14, 19:23:07
Good news indeed.
Not so good news: Putin's arsehole transplant was a failure.
The arsehole rejected him.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-03-14, 19:44:15

For those that might be in need of a pick-me-up, the good news is that the world has seen it's first penis transplant (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/13/south-africa-man-penis-transplant).

The recipient is said to be very excited.

Who was the donor?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2015-03-15, 02:46:09


For those that might be in need of a pick-me-up, the good news is that the world has seen it's first penis transplant (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/13/south-africa-man-penis-transplant).

The recipient is said to be very excited.

Who was the donor?

:lol: Cadaver? I don't think I'd be too thrilled about that.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-03-15, 04:39:03
I am reliably informed that some otherwise reputedly living specimens have all the expertise of a cadaver.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-03-15, 10:38:12
:lol:  Cadaver? I don't think I'd be too thrilled about that.

It pays to read the details, which I didn't do.

However, rejection can be a problem. I know a guy whose penis has been rejected by any number of women. And then there's this problem: Pick the wrong surgeon, and things can go very, very wrong.
(https://aqu52.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/penis-transplant.jpg?w=600)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2015-03-15, 13:17:55

:lol:  Cadaver? I don't think I'd be too thrilled about that.

It pays to read the details, which I didn't do.

Yeah, I wasn't that interested in reading the whole article.
However, rejection can be a problem. I know a guy whose penis has been rejected by any number of women. And then there's this problem: Pick the wrong surgeon, and things can go very, very wrong.
(https://aqu52.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/penis-transplant.jpg?w=600)

:lol: You can't trust just anybody.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-03-15, 18:52:32
What about a clitoris that be done yet?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2015-03-15, 19:43:09

What about a clitoris that be done yet?

You would think so considering genital mutilation is a thing in some countries. I don't believe it hads though. I would imagine that it would be hard to repair nerves, if it is even possible.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2015-03-15, 20:04:24
I have mixed emotions about the possibility of my willy wanking on without me... :-/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2015-03-15, 22:12:46

I have mixed emotions about the possibility of my willy wanking on without me... :-/

Don't donate your body to science. ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2015-03-15, 23:26:34
I am an organ donor... I guess I should see if they tallied me banana.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mandi on 2015-03-15, 23:54:55
As am I. I don't think I have much to worry about in that area. I don't believe penis' are a hot commodity either. Eyes are a though. Anytime someone dies we have to tape saline soaked 4x4s over their eyes if the state accepts them as a donor.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-03-16, 00:09:09
Well ensbb3 masturbation can be a problem too for women who have been mutilated by those mental savages. It would as said by Mandi not to be easy on the nerve end issue and a shame. I know what I would do with the oddities that damage women.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2015-03-16, 00:23:30
Well ensbb3 masturbation can be a problem too for women who have been mutilated by those mental savages.


Sure. And that's terrible.

But mixed emotions means I can see times where I'd be happy to donate my wanker (tho I meant more than just for spanking it) to someone, given I wouldn't need it. But then you can live without a wanker (or clit). Unfortunate? yes. Somethings in this world are just mine though.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-03-16, 01:02:37
I suppose someone should mention the doc who still pursues head transplants… (Lord knows, some are in dire need! :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-03-16, 19:30:34
Begorrah!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-03-16, 20:36:52
More good news. We've gone even more international.
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Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-03-17, 01:57:55
Expected that exclamation from tt92.........
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-03-24, 13:57:17
This seems like an appropriate place to offer this up for our international cooks at DnD.
Spicy Asian noodles are one of my favorites.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/asian-chicken-noodle-bowl-0226138.html?ic1=tbla (http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/asian-chicken-noodle-bowl-0226138.html?ic1=tbla)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2015-03-24, 15:20:08
I find it curious Jimbro that in the midst of a discussion about tallywackers, you should bring up the topic of limp noodles...hmmm.   :knight:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-03-31, 00:10:58
The school under the bridge.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/delhi-man-starts-school-under-train-line-for-disadvantaged-children-20150330-1masxt.html
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-03-31, 08:53:58
I find it curious Jimbro that […]

What I find curious is that you, James, have "adopted" RJ's vernacular.

By the same token, I too find it curious Jimbro… Still and hardly unusual.
But he's a religious, and hence unreliable… (He believes whole-heartedly in the Church of the Non-Existent…)
He's so convinced that there is no God that he thinks he has figured it all out!

What will or can he do with such knowledge?

Bah! Look who I'm talking to… :(
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2015-03-31, 10:20:54

This seems like an appropriate place to offer this up for our international cooks at DnD.
Spicy Asian noodles are one of my favorites.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/asian-chicken-noodle-bowl-0226138.html?ic1=tbla (http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/asian-chicken-noodle-bowl-0226138.html?ic1=tbla)

At least this international cook only got the advertisement.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-03-31, 13:36:20
What I find curious is that you, James, have "adopted" RJ's vernacular.

By the same token, I too find it curious Jimbro… Still and hardly unusual.
But he's a religious, and hence unreliable… (He believes whole-heartedly in the Church of the Non-Existent…)
He's so convinced that there is no God that he thinks he has figured it all out!

What will or can he do with such knowledge?

Bah! Look who I'm talking to…

Well, if this doesn't look like an Rj post I'm a wombats uncle.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2015-03-31, 20:50:13
He's so convinced that there is no God that he thinks he has figured it all out!

What will or can he do with such knowledge?


You don't believe in god; you simply like to argue for the possibility of it in spite of the irrationality of it all (like Ersi).  I believe you think that if there is the teensy weensiest bit of possibility for something, then it deserves equal weight.  You don't like people landing on conclusions for themselves because, for you, there are no satisfactory conclusions worth landing on, i.e. there is always something else to consider.  You sir, are convinced of nothing and so, you accomplish little or nothing--little wonder you drink (that wasn't nice). 

What will I do with such knowledge?  Be less encumbered, more self-reliant, just to mention the obvious.  Perhaps it seems to you as if Atheism is not an ethical stance, but it is the better morality for me.  Religion elicits 'good' in the 'good dog' sense of the word; as a feature of obedience, not as an result of rational choice.  That is not the kind of good any rational being would aspire to and certain interpreters, such as Augustine, believed that what was squandered in Eden was reason.  Have a nice day.   :knight:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-04-01, 06:51:29
What will I do with such knowledge?  Be less encumbered, more self-reliant, just to mention the obvious.

Less encumbered? :) You're "encumbered" with an incoherent —and a self-contradictory— bit of philosophy. One that you don't understand…

And whether or not there is a Supreme Being is beside the point. (I'll give you that much!)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2015-04-01, 17:36:03
Less encumbered?  :)  You're "encumbered" with an incoherent —and a self-contradictory— bit of philosophy. One that you don't understand…


Lol...what is so funny is that I am sitting under a palm tree enjoying a Mai Tai or two before lunch--somehow I don't feel excessively encumbered with incoherence.  Perhaps the best philosophy is not to be tied down to one (hint hint). 

You are right in that I don't muddle my mind trying to figure out who I am--I am who I am, take it or leave it.  I don't mind boasting that I am a bit charismatic and I talk as easily with friends as I do with people I've just met.  People say that I put them at ease quickly--you might even like me Oak.  Perhaps I don't come across here well because I try too hard and it's not natural; the fact that I was welcomed here with jeers and sneers didn't help much either, so I get a little cynical just like you and others here. 

I do know that I am quite happy, every day has adventure in it for me and I indulge in a little hedonism from time to time--so call me a fool, what would I care.  U happy?   :knight:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-04-01, 22:07:44
U happy?

Please don't "text" at me… :)

But by all means enjoy the beach, the babes on the beach and a few Mai Tais – before lunch! (I'm certainly not against hedonism simple pleasures… :) )
Perhaps the best philosophy is not to be tied down to one (hint hint).
One needn't be tied down… But —you'll admit— you've staked yourself over a philosophical ant hill with your insistence on an atheistic scientism and your rejection of free will.
(If you'll admit that you're only "playing" at such, I'll cut you more slack… :) )

Now: To answer your question.
Yes, I'm reasonably happy. I've lived without becoming depraved or rabid… And some of the joys of life have failed to evade me!
And I find ways to make myself useful.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-04-02, 05:46:51
And some of the joys of life have failed to evade me!

You keep them arrested? Smart philosophy of yours. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2015-04-02, 06:58:58
One needn't be tied down… But —you'll admit— you've staked yourself over a philosophical ant hill with your insistence on an atheistic scientism and your rejection of free will.

Come up to the sea level of reality where the water is crisp and clear, if you can-can.  Would you prefer conflict, religious political meddling, terrorism and the stifling of intellectual progress over a little atheism?   Atheism is a dirty, nasty, filthy, evil and despicable word to you (and many other bigots), and you're full of crap Oakdale.  Religion is so bad of an influence on humans and our ability to reason out our existence rationally, that it's not even funny--(blah-and-puke-till-I-die-a thousand-deaths-and-more, gag-gag-gag {and another gag}...I'm seriously dead...zonk).  Hellllloooooo???--u out der? 

(If you'll admit that you're only "playing" at such, I'll cut you more slack…  :)  )

Ok, ok--'nuf said and stop begging fer chrissakes. 

And I find ways to make myself useful.

Useful is good, mi amigo, it keeps me moving adelante,  (omg, 'mi  amigo'?...entonces dame un babraso, lol).  Have another hit.....of fresh air!!  

And some of the joys of life have failed to evade me!

Interesting sentence, care to make up an excuse for this?  Or perhaps elaborate on your hidden cryptic meaning that we plano mortals just can't understand? 

Dear dear Oakdale, there are many more dimensions to space-time than once realized, but you can't fit into any of them--u are too big. but I luv ya anyway.  42 y.o. aerobics instructor's good night song to me tonight--listen and weep and be happy. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCpkwAkNJj0)   :knight:   :cheers:



Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-04-02, 23:17:34
Atheism is a dirty, nasty, filthy, evil and despicable word to you (and many other bigots) […]
Atheism is an attitude that is neutral, except in combination with other specifically flawed ideas. Namely, scientism — the belief that the current state of scientific knowledge is the sum total of knowledge… And the peculiar psychology that the rejection of free will engenders. Put those three together and you've justified sociopathy, whether it was your intent or no!
(Mind you: I don't begrudge you your failure to live down to your ideals… :) In fact, I applaud it.)

I do somewhat object to being called a bigot, however. On what do you base that charge? (Or are you simply unaware of what some common words mean, in context? :) I have no animosity for atheists, per se. Militant (and especially proselytizing) atheists do annoy me… (But -at least- they seldom knock on my door Saturday mornings!)
and you're full of crap Oakdale

Nope! No constipation… I'm fairly regular. :)
Religion is so bad of an influence on humans and our ability to reason out our existence rationally, that it's not even funny--
Would you kindly point out an example of what "reasoning out our existence" is? And, then, give a few examples of what you mean by rationality.
Thank you — in advance: Because you and I will both be gone before you can. :) A rhetorical flourish -even at a teenybopper level- won't sustain your trope.
(omg, 'mi  amigo'?...entonces dame un babraso, lol)
That's a very curious "transition"… Perhaps you've had too many Mai Tais? :) 'sallright. Happens to the best of us!
(But "then give me ___" requires a meaning -a definition- for "babraso," doesn't it? I have to ask you, because the word is not familiar to me…)
Interesting sentence, care to make up an excuse for this?  Or perhaps elaborate on your hidden cryptic meaning that we plano [plain?] mortals just can't understand?
No excuse is required: I've been lucky, certainly more than I deserved to be…
there are many more dimensions to space-time than once realized
No: Your conception is limited by your scientism. Eleven or thirteen? :) A "dimension" is merely the means of quantification (…sometimes, mere qualification…) of a mode of analysis. Some are quite stubborn, though! :)

I, too, wish you well, James. And, as someone who's been "reading" James Joyce's Finnegans Wake for more than 40 years […there's only one interesting story I have, from that], I'm pleased by your "new" style of talking.
(Have you ever read Alfie Bester's short story Pi Man?)
————————————————————————————
I'd guess the Good News here is that most of us can still talk civilly to each other!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2015-04-07, 15:26:59
Would you kindly point out an example of what "reasoning out our existence" is? And, then, give a few examples of what you mean by rationality.

Why there is something, instead of nothing (and not the vice versa you adhere to), without reverting to 'whim' (which you love so well).   :knight:  :cheers:

EDIT: Oh, I meant 'abraso' of course. 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-04-07, 17:44:46
I, too, wish you well, James. And, as someone who's been "reading" James Joyce's Finnegans Wake for more than 40 years

You're a slow "reader", aren't you?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-04-07, 19:09:52
Maybe he has a lazy streak and why he is a slow reader?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-04-08, 06:37:55
Maybe I like to understand what I'm reading… (When I'm really drunk, I can almost understand it! But I don't like to get really drunk, very often.) Has anyone else here "read" that book? :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2015-04-08, 10:43:26
Nope. I'm waiting for the movie.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-04-08, 20:07:44
 :lol:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-04-15, 13:34:13

Nope. I'm waiting for the movie.
Wait no longer!
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cibQA_LNe9s[/video]

Or just give this a gander.
Quote
Sir Tristram, violer d'amores, fr'over the short sea, had passen-   4
core rearrived from North Armorica on this side the scraggy   5
isthmus of Europe Minor to wielderfight his penisolate war: nor   6
had topsawyer's rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse   7
to Laurens County's gorgios while they went doublin their mumper   8
all the time: nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe to   9
tauftauf thuartpeatrick: not yet, though venissoon after, had a   10
kidscad buttended a bland old isaac: not yet, though all's fair in   11
vanessy, were sosie sesthers wroth with twone nathandjoe. Rot a   12
peck of pa's malt had Jhem or Shen brewed by arclight and rory   13
end to the regginbrow was to be seen ringsome on the aquaface.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jseaton2311 on 2015-04-16, 02:47:30
(When I'm really drunk, I can almost understand it! But I don't like to get really drunk, very often.) Has anyone else here "read" that book?  :)

Difficult reading doesn't say much, it is just difficult and non-interpretive to the individual reader.  Difficult is not good in nature and less good in literature...yes, I read it--hated it.  Keep thinking about it for another forty years my friend and you will still get nowhere, I guarantee it.   :knight:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-04-16, 05:08:08
Difficult is not good in nature and less good in literature...yes, I read it--hated it.
Your first quoted phrase is mysterious… Would you care to elaborate?
The second conjunct is certainly arguable. But I'll let it pass.
That you hated it, I don't doubt. But did you actually read it through? That I do doubt! (I mean no criticism by that…) And your understanding may have been hampered by a lack of knowledge and training!
For instance: Are you familiar with Medieval vocal musical notation systems? :)

I'm not sure, yet, that I hate it. But I've liked some of it…

I specially liked this true story it gave me:
Having got a hundred pages into James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, I was intrigued. Before book II, I was merely bemused: It was more than passing-strange! Shortly into that second section began, I'd found an acceptable way to read this book: Drink bourbon!
Somewhat further in, I found that only a sufficient amount of bourbon would do… It had to be fairly precise: Else the pages blurred to unreadable.
Long story short: The Penguin Centennial Edition had more than a few double-stamped pages. That I could make my eyes bring them into focus with bourbon was a practical joke (on me…) that still makes me chuckle! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-04-16, 08:40:35
Our bits of learning lend little compass
to any understanding of any
thing. Indeed, we both seem daft. The many
pointing proselytizing essays as

exculpatory evidence of sense
are meager, and mostly beside the point.
Certainly, there is a compromise? Joint,
honest and sincere testament, hence,

the Gospel truth:

Well. I'll finish this later… Or one or more of you can!

I'm tired and need sleep,
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2015-04-28, 15:39:39
Anyone that knows me will know this is a matter dear to my heart.

Bournemouth will be promoted to the England Pre oar League (*) (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32491830)

It is a remarkable feat for a very small club. They play like tigers.

(*) unless they loose their 19 goal difference advantage in the last remaining game of the season.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-04-28, 16:32:02
Better than Finnegans Wake.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-05-04, 07:20:56
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-32417699

Quote
Physical activity has little role in tackling obesity - and instead public health messages should squarely focus on unhealthy eating, doctors say.

In an editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, three international experts said it was time to "bust the myth" about exercise.

They said while activity was a key part of staving off diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia, its impact on obesity was minimal.


Hear, hear!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-05-04, 21:33:42
I went to the gym this morning for some healthy exercise and stopped on the way back for a burger and fries. I feel a bit sluggish.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvbW_kM60aZQeSGJyWikLPlYLZ_J4nH0xi4YBG_lVTJiow0aZK-A)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-05-05, 06:39:38
You would never keep up with my new hiking boots.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-05-08, 02:06:04
It's midday, and soon I will decide what I will eat for lunch.
All over the world there are those who don't make that decision. The best they can hope for is to discover whether or not they WILL eat.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-05-08, 06:36:24
Yep and Jimbro and his good lady have to decide regularly whether McDonald's or Burger King.....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2015-05-08, 18:50:34

Yep and Jimbro and his good lady have to decide regularly whether McDonald's or Burger King.....

Says the UK's version of "Jared" of Subway.  :P :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-05-17, 15:01:35
Oh (groan) an ex-colonist working up to trying to be intellectually satirically flippant! Wonder what he will come up with next? Maybe giving up trying to rule the world, live off wars and deal with the inside of the country? Nah too practical.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-06-29, 10:50:14
There's good news in the worst of places, hence, The Bush Bazaar!
http://www.dawn.com/news/1097264 (http://www.dawn.com/news/1097264)
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.dawn.com%2Flarge%2F2014%2F04%2F533bc5bce808c.gif%3Fr%3D15281710994&hash=7757d671d3f13d29dab35efb6a2f0bbf" rel="cached" data-hash="7757d671d3f13d29dab35efb6a2f0bbf" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.dawn.com/large/2014/04/533bc5bce808c.gif?r=15281710994)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2015-06-29, 23:24:43

Anyone that knows me will know this is a matter dear to my heart.

Bournemouth will be promoted to the England Pre oar League (*) (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32491830)

It is a remarkable feat for a very small club. They play like tigers.

(*) unless they loose their 19 goal difference advantage in the last remaining game of the season.

Congrats string!  :cheers: :beer: :beer: :beer:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-06-30, 02:32:32
Well done jimbro a success news item....?!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-06-30, 20:13:09
Bournemouth will be promoted to the England Pre oar League (*)

I'm at a loss. What is a Pre oar league?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-07-04, 01:44:16
Today is July 4, and those of us from the U.S.A. will celebrate in as many diverse ways as there are diverse Americans among us.
One or two of us, who believe all Americans are the same, will find a reason to say mean-spirited and ignorant and ungrammatical things about America and its customs and for that I am sorry.
The U.S. is a magnificent country whose people and government generally behave in a humane and sensible manner and a country to which the world owes much. Rejoice in your milestone in your diverse ways: with quiet contemplation, with prayer, with parades, or with  a little bombast if the fancy takes you.
You've earned it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-07-07, 08:06:32
This could be good news depending on how well it actually works:

[video]https://vimeo.com/114904939[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-07, 12:56:26
If it looks like bullshit and smells like bullshit...

http://gizmodo.com/this-kickstarter-is-clearly-just-a-marketing-scam-from-1689640209 (http://gizmodo.com/this-kickstarter-is-clearly-just-a-marketing-scam-from-1689640209)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-07-08, 09:13:40
Those unrelated laundry ball things do tell us that most people use far too much detergent.

Anyway, ultrasonic cleaning is not bullshit, nor is miniaturization. I'm inclined to somewhat plausible for this one.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-08, 19:06:57
Good news from Johnny Depp.

https://www.facebook.com/IwakeupwithTODAY/videos/1030273113674020/ (https://www.facebook.com/IwakeupwithTODAY/videos/1030273113674020/)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-15, 08:12:12
Pluto, you are us!
https://www.newscientist.com/article/cheers-and-celebrations-as-nasa-hears-from-pluto-spacecraft/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/cheers-and-celebrations-as-nasa-hears-from-pluto-spacecraft/)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-07-19, 08:37:45
Hooray!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-19, 09:12:24
Check it out here...
http://space.io9.com/a-guide-to-pluto-everything-weve-learned-from-new-hori-1718799253 (http://space.io9.com/a-guide-to-pluto-everything-weve-learned-from-new-hori-1718799253)
===================
What's the advantage of Otter 0.9.07? Wondering if I should check it out.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-07-25, 22:29:49
Today's Good News

I've been posting too much today, I don't even know why... it was like some kind of itch, an allergic reaction...
Now, I'll stop. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-07-26, 08:35:49
Scientific guff there jimbro about Pluto. It is a dead, cold and empty place of no use to anyone. Like a Glaswegian forced to live in Edinburgh.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2015-07-28, 02:11:10

Scientific guff there jimbro about Pluto. It is a dead, cold and empty place of no use to anyone. Like a Glaswegian forced to live in Edinburgh.

I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly found this scientific bloviation to be both beneficent, and magnanimous.  :sherlock:


In other good news, 3 more full working days until I am done with this current job.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-28, 11:20:04
He'd be happier looking at pictures of King William 3rd of Orange wearing panties.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-29, 14:19:07
I'm listening to Hadyn's piano sonata number 13. That's good news to the ear. Shhhhhhh............
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-07-29, 16:57:18
The Sviatoslav Richter recording…? (If you listen to enough Haydn, you'll hear almost everything Beethoven wrote! :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-30, 10:02:12
Too late...I'm on to Weber's Der Freischutz Overture.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-07-31, 07:21:41
There's so much good music! Enjoy. (But consider that Richter decided to forgo composition, because he thought there was enough "bad" music already… :) )

How he came to this conclusion is quite beyond me!
I consider the Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto the best composition, ever! (The Chicago Symphony under Reiner with Cliburn at the piano.) But I've heard it badly played, even by great musicians.
And much of Brahms' orchestral work is pedestrian, to say the most. (We needn't take Tchaikovsky's opinion into account — he resented that "people" liked Brahms more than him! Luckily, they're both dead: We can just listen to what they wrote…)

But I've not written any grand pieces myself! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-07-31, 12:42:06
But I've not written any grand pieces myself!  :)

:yikes:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-07-31, 23:52:08
And much of Brahms' orchestral work is pedestrian

As a Rock'n Roll guitar player, assuming my incapacity to play real music and only playing a musical fraud, and I'm speaking seriously, I always enjoy to listen to classical experts.
What does it means a "pedestrian orchestral work" on Brahms? does it opposes to a "motorized orchestral work"? I see, it means rudimentary...
Nice, I'll say it at my next dinner with erudite music lovers, Brahms?? bah... pedestrian....
:lol:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-08-01, 04:14:25
Most, pedestrian. Some few, sublime! (1st and 4th Symphonies, for example… The 1st is "difficult" and is seldom played at the correct tempo. To you, that may be just a matter of taste; to me, it is the crucial component: If the First Movement is too fast or too slow, it is ruined…)
What does it means a "pedestrian orchestral work" […]
Something that is trite, entirely unsurprising and completely predictable. (Something that could have been written by anyone — and might as well have been.)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-08-02, 19:35:19
Hey you could be pedestrian!  :o
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-08-02, 20:10:34
Compared to Brahms (…or most any other classical composer, which I'll admit should include Baroque and Romantic periods as well…), I am indeed but a pedestrian composer. But I've done some good work… :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-08-03, 09:55:03
Far too modest, I'm sure.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileyfaze.tk%2Fslides%2FBigGrin003.gif&hash=12baee56b60f2a781b9d2ea315d3da2a" rel="cached" data-hash="12baee56b60f2a781b9d2ea315d3da2a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://smileyfaze.tk/slides/BigGrin003.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-08-04, 09:59:58
The Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy is twenty years old.
http://www.consciousentities.com/?p=2025
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-08-10, 08:26:14
Today a local supermarket is selling Lindt chocolate at half price.
It doesn't get any better than this.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-08-20, 14:36:04
I'm not sure if this is good news or bad news. Maybe we need an Indifferent News thread. Anyhoo, here we go.
Quote
A teenage girl has added a new chapter to the politicians-eating-things file after filming David Cameron tucking into a tube of paprika Pringles.
The PM was chomping on the £1.80 snack on an Easyjet flight to Portugal - sparking incredulity on social media.
Fellow passenger Ashleigh was amazed too, telling her Twitter followers: "Guys I'm crying he was eating Pringles."
"I found the experience humbling," she told BBC News.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-08-21, 04:03:49
Never tried them but might follow the leader.....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2015-08-24, 16:37:09
Today, instead of lingering, China's markets began properly falling so that it affects global stock markets. At the same time, China to allow pension fund to invest in stock market for first time (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/23/china-to-allow-pension-fund-to-invest-in-stock-market-for-first-time) - this is the way to invest more numbers and safer to burn the paper where they are written on. The well-developed and civilised first world has already been using this method for a century or so.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-08-25, 01:27:36
Two young Americans disarm a man on a train in Europe. He claims that just because he had a Kalashnikov, he is unfairly labeled a  a terrorist.
He claims to be nothing more than a thief.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-08-25, 20:58:37
I think that what was done to that fanatic on the train was outstanding and those involved fully acknowledged including the 2 young Americans but can I remind there were four involved including a British pensioner. So there were 4 given medals by the President of France not two.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-09-03, 21:23:25
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/10225109/The-worlds-friendliest-cities.html?frame=3428000 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/10225109/The-worlds-friendliest-cities.html?frame=3428000)

There might be some surprises here. For example, Edinburgh, the only British city on the list, is one of them, as is my neighboring city of Nashville, Tennessee.

Do any of you have candidates? We could make our own list.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-09-04, 17:35:08
If I had been there I would have given the fanatic a 'Glasgow kiss.'
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: tt92 on 2015-09-04, 20:49:40
 :jester:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-09-11, 14:31:36

If I had been there I would have given the fanatic a 'Glasgow kiss.'

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailydoseofqueer.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F04%2Ffacebook_gay_kiss.jpg&hash=443bd19266b0cb1fd938047a3d13b0ab" rel="cached" data-hash="443bd19266b0cb1fd938047a3d13b0ab" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.dailydoseofqueer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/facebook_gay_kiss.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-09-11, 18:57:47
The brighter folk know that is nothing to do with a Glasgow Kiss.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-09-11, 20:00:35

The brighter folk know that is nothing to do with a Glasgow Kiss.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: mjmsprt40 on 2015-09-11, 20:23:08
Jimbro's version may be more dangerous at that. Among certain-- Sicilian people, from what I understand-- the "kiss of death" may be the last endearment you ever get from a rival. After that, expect a tune to be played for you from the "Chicago Violin".

I looked up the "Glasgow Kiss" and--- it could explain a couple of things at that. Hmmmm--- missed your intended target and "Glasgow Kissed" a brick wall, did you? I'll bet that hurt a lot.

In the meantime, I've been put on alert to stay the hell out of Glasgow pubs if I ever chance to visit that city. My chances are probably better here in our finer--- and not so fine-- drinking establishments.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2015-09-11, 21:30:33
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrjR-RDmAeb6RQrOE2oCjhUOYsH6ZEN7DR6_p29JHlCA6934JGhg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-09-12, 17:26:07
Kissing a wall?? That would be laughed at.

No wonder the world finds Americans unintentionally funny. Many moons ago i said that I met a retired husband and wife from Philly on my way back on the train from DC to NYC and on my second visit two years later they asked me down for 2 days and I went. They asked daft questions like 'have you met The Queen' and I asked if they had met the President so they asked if that was a silly question. Then wondered how widespread colour television was in Gt. Britain. Now both had been journalists -one for a newspaper and the other the editor of the old Pennsylvania Railroad inhouse magazine. When you consider being from a middle class tradition and "educated" they were a bit short of common sense so you being from the same country mjsmsprt40 I make allowances for you. Well done mj you keep that tradition alive!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2015-09-25, 11:44:45
German murder victim alive after 31 years, Woman turns up 31 years after being declared dead (http://www.dw.com/en/woman-turns-up-31-years-after-being-declared-dead/a-18741207)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-09-28, 22:49:09
Catalonia will turn independent from Spain. :)

Nine centuries ago, as today, as forever, anything that turns Spain weaker is good news for us.
Beautiful, who follows next?  :lol:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-09-29, 02:22:09
The total vote re Catalonia was interesting but more importantly the province is very important to Spain. A goodly sum goes to Madrid from it and if the place decided to ignore Spain what about the banks? Emotion is one thing but practicality is something else.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2015-10-16, 17:28:50
Having worked on a cooperative space program with Russia myself this is good news for me personally, to know that the cameradie which developed then is still there and thriving in spite of today's tension between the West and Russia.

Europe and Russia mission to assess Moon settlement[/ url] (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34504067)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2015-10-16, 19:28:21

Having worked on a cooperative space program with Russia myself this is good news for me personally, to know that the cameradie which developed then is still there and thriving in spite of today's tension between the West and Russia.

Europe and Russia mission to assess Moon settlement (http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34504067)

How is this a good news for you personally? Are you planning to be among the first settlers?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-10-16, 22:33:32
How is this a good news for you personally? Are you planning to be among the first settlers?

Course not, the good news for him are that he was payed for working for the Russians. He calls it a "cooperative program".
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-10-17, 01:54:22
Forgive me, String, for butting in… I don't presume to speak for you but I think your point was clear, and cogent: It's good news for you, because people that actually do things -accomplish something- together do really matter. Not only their accomplishments remain — their insights about how people can relate to each other persist.
(Don't let that planting the American flag incident confuse you: The U.S. has always considered space, and the moon, to be like the open seas… :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2015-10-17, 06:43:43
The space project I was involved with was part of the overarching ISS effort, so NASA was also invoked, so I was working with the US as well as well as other countries.

Yes I have personal interest but the real message for all is that the cooperation is still continuing. That must surely be good for all.

At the moment there seems to be a danger of a new Space Race. If it happened it would be very destructive, these projects being so expensive and so prone to duplication of technology and facilities.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-10-17, 07:26:25
Other than replacing your final "to" with a "too" — I have no argument with what you've said.

What worries me is the weaponization of space, by those who've lagged behind… This is an area where I really wish international agreements could be reached. (America's so-called "Star Wars" defense was always thought to be a knock-en-down before impact or detonation scheme… But the Chinese showed us a decade or so ago that critical orbital infrastructure needs to be hardened…) There are enough countries which have the capabilities -to create and use nuclear weapons or to utilize low earth orbit as a platform for various nefarious purposes!
I think the time for cooperation is nigh! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2015-10-17, 07:59:38

There are enough countries which have the capabilities -to create and use nuclear weapons or to utilize low earth orbit as a platform for various nefarious purposes!
I think the time for cooperation is nigh! :)

That's right. The United States should remain the only power with such capabilities. Others must cooperatively stay out of it.

What worries me is the same display of policing mindset all over again: When we do it, it's okay, when they do it, it's evil. Just like in the nuclear race - bombing Japan was good (because we did it), but e.g. Iran should have no chance of enriching plutonium or whatever, they deserve sanctions and embargos instead.

The space is already weaponised. You did it. There's nothing to worry about now except that you shouldn't have done it. Other powers who try to be mighty too, they are inevitably going to emulate your clearly set example. There's been nothing to fear but yourself all along.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2015-10-17, 10:08:15

How is this a good news for you personally? Are you planning to be among the first settlers?

Course not, the good news for him are that he was payed for working for the Russians. He calls it a "cooperative program".

I was not working for The Russians but ESA which means that for part of the time, Portugal, having become a member of ESA in Nov 2000, you, Belfgrager, were paying some of my wages.

Thank you  :devil:
,
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2015-10-17, 10:18:22
@FTL too would work too!

Yes - we do need an international agreement to ban weapons in Space (naturally except for handguns!); There is more than enough litter up there without adding radioactive litter and debris from in-orbit launches.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-10-17, 11:04:43
I was not working for The Russians but ESA which means that for part of the time, Portugal, having become a member of ESA in Nov 2000, you, Belfgrager, were paying some of my wages.

Thank you   :devil:

:lol: yes, I know.

I don't mind doing it, I like to contribute to the European Space Agency. It's one of the only two things I think we, Europeans, should be united. The other being defending ourselves from the entire rest of the world.

By the way, the Chinese space program, unlike others, is considered a 100% military thing and top secret.

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-10-18, 06:52:35
we do need an international agreement to ban weapons in Space (naturally except for handguns!)
:)
But, seriously, in space everything is a weapon…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-10-18, 07:59:11
in space everything is a weapon…

Would you please stand over here for a couple of days while I throw this little bolt in such a way that earth's gravitational pull accelerates it to deadly velocity? :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-10-19, 02:39:56
"Psst! I used a bolt to scratch the face plate of your suit, Amigo! Guess what happens, next time you go EVA? :)"
Or a simple wax ring of oil placed around an oxygen tank's valve… You get the idea: There's so much that can easily go wrong in space that the mere thought of deliberate non-cooperation is all-but unthinkable…
(Of course, people do seem quite often to think the unthinkable. :sigh: )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2015-10-19, 10:10:32

There's so much that can easily go wrong in space


So can it on earth.
Speaking about a simple wax ring of oil or the lack of it: Dildo Death: Man Dies After Vibrator Gets Stuck In Backside (http://www.inquisitr.com/1412327/dildo-death-man-dies-after-vibrator-gets-stuck-in-backside/)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2015-10-26, 08:57:30
Speaking of space trash, the geostationary orbit seems to have become much less of a strategic real estate than believed e.g. 30 years ago.

This list (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_satellites_in_geosynchronous_orbit) is of low quality by Wikipedia standards, and presumably incomplete and unreliable. Even so there seems to be a sharp decline of such satelites, with only three geostationary and geosynchronous ones launched the last three years, Azerbaijan in 2013, Argentina in 2014 and 2015 (we didn't even get to the B list of nations).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-10-26, 22:11:07
Those seems to be bad news for the space rocket launching industry.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2015-10-27, 13:49:50
Way back, when people were still living in the space age, geostationary orbit was seen as a highly desirable location. This orbit 35,786 km above the equator would take exactly one star day (23h56m) to complete a rotation, the effect would be that it would look like the satellite would always be at a fixed, stationary, point from the ground. This meant that satellite receivers on the ground could point in that direction and stay that way. A satellite would also cover almost half the planet. Very simple, very desirable. Also limited to a single ring far above the equator, meaning that a satellite could easily interfere with the neighbours. The belt could easily fill up, and it would be vulnerable to space debris. 

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Geostationaryjava3D.gif)

Forward about 50 years and the advantage is more slight. Back then computers were slow and very expensive. Today they are ubiquitous and throw-away, and calculating an orbit is straightforward. That's the basis for GPS. Orbits closer to Earth means the light signals spend less time travelling to the satellite and back.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2015-10-27, 22:54:56
Orbits closer to Earth means the light signals spend less time travelling to the satellite and back.

After all that, all you say is that space trash is becoming closer to earth. Is that good news?

As far as it is known, military sattelites exceeds, by far, all those numbers. Populations all over the world reacts to this as lobotomyzed cattle. These are indeed good news...
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2015-10-28, 09:48:48
That is very good news because most debris is tiny and vaporises in the atmosphere, some is bigger and will make beautiful shooting stars, a very few would be so big as be extremely unlikely to hit you on the head when crashing to earth.

In the much higher geosynchronous orbit the debris will stay for a very long time. The orbit is not completely stable, it is perturbed by the moon and sun. Without thrusters to adjust the orbit the debris would veer off, which should increase the risk of hitting working satellites in that orbit.

The total number of satellites (in low orbit) is increasing. They also tend to get smaller, also a good thing.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2015-10-28, 16:44:30
In the much higher geosynchronous orbit the debris will stay for a very long time. The orbit is not completely stable, it is perturbed by the moon and sun. Without thrusters to adjust the orbit the debris would veer off, which should increase the risk of hitting working satellites in that orbit.


To decrease the risk of colliding with other geostationary objects, and because it takes far too much energy to degrade their orbit, they instead increase the orbital radius (push them back farther)when they go out of service so that it's less likely they get disturbed. I've heard some could remain for tens of millions of years.  
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-11-06, 07:53:43
Not something many people would appreciate, but Stanley Jordan appeared on a late-night talk show (Fallon's); and I was lucky enough to catch it!
(Here's a taste of what he does (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cI_RL_Eg-M).)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2015-11-12, 23:34:58
Quote
Recent research has determined that the famous Stradivarius violin owes its unique, esteemed sound to the last Maunder Minimum. The solar condition changed the texture of the trees that provided the wood from which the instrument was crafted. So lovers of classical music can place their orders for the next generation of incomparable violins, coming - giving the trees time to mature - in about 100 years.
(source (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Cold-sun-rising-30272650.html))
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2015-11-24, 09:14:34
The old maxim "a healthy body, a healthy mind" seems to be correlated to legs.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/brawn-and-brains/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-11-24, 19:57:43
Women have oft told me I am star so I try to avid any collisions.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2015-12-02, 18:44:04
This is what they had in mind. The acronym.
STAR:    Stop Talking And Read
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2015-12-03, 18:47:51
I do find it hard to deal with jealousy but such is life.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-01-06, 20:58:29
On the importance of interesting animal names

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/12/29/the-ninja-lanternshark-shows-just-how-far-a-great-name-can-take-a-new-species/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-01-08, 00:28:51
Speaking about animals, a species of chimpazee with 3 meters, 500 kg and 100 million years old was discovered in Asia. It was compared to King Kong even if only a tooth was found.
Since I forgot where I read it, you have to believe me, the same way I believe those I read. Good news indeed.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-08, 08:22:43
Typical European, Bel… :) (You can't stop them from being stupid: That's what you wanted them to be; that's what you trained them to be; and that's what you expect…)

The slight wrinkle in your "plan" is — people aren't stupid…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-01-08, 13:35:44
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Gigantopithecus_v_human_v1.svg/640px-Gigantopithecus_v_human_v1.svg.png)

source (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantopithecus)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-01-09, 21:41:01
Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán was arrested by Mexican authorities (after escaping from jail twice).
He was returned to the same prison he had escaped from...

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-10, 08:44:21
Mexican "justice"… The Spanish taught them how to apply it.
Corruption is built into the culture; of course, the poor Portuguese "cousins" have done better — well, not lately; but, you know, they're different… They speak a language only the Brazilians can sort-of understand! :)

Is there anyone here who still bemoans the demise of classical Latin?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-01-10, 15:15:14
Haha. So funny a Yank coming on here and yakking about some other country and built-in corruption. It is a lousy wet day here but that gave me a great laugh so thanks Oakdale.  :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-11, 03:54:29
yakking about some other country and built-in corruption
We're still pikers in the corruption department, when compared to at least half the world, RJ. But you knew that…
I still wonder why you have such animosity for America. (Maybe you'll write a book, someday. :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-01-11, 12:13:59
It would be hard to control the damn number of chapters!

On another more direct stance there is plenty of opportunity for getting a dig at your country. All those aspects that fall under the routine word "hypocrisy." Time after time we keep getting the greatest military the greatest country in the world an example of democracy et al. That hard fact is if you lot tried to be a little more modest then that hypocrisy word could be shoved to one side.Your internal history is as much like your global farce. Because of that inbuilt brained propaganda you are brought up on it does the country no good whatsoever and the decents over there are sidelined by the chest puffers who boast about everything to the point they do not realise they look silly.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-01-11, 17:02:53
We're still pikers in the corruption department, when compared to at least half the world, RJ.

It's time we admitted that we're bad people, Oak. Maybe we should open a thread "Americans Stink!"

Before that happens, though, I hereby declare myself a bad person. In fact a terrible person.

Please join me, Sir, and make Mr. Glasgow a happy person.

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-11, 21:02:49
I'll meet you half way, Jaybro: I've done more harm trying to do good than I have by intending harm… Such is life.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-01-15, 20:57:37
That's a start. Keep up the bad work!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-17, 23:21:45
The next ice age is postponed (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/01/13/scientists-say-humans-have-basically-canceled-the-next-ice-age/?postshare=1452712365874&tid=ss_tw) — by 100,000 years…

And Obama and co. can't undo it!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-01-18, 14:28:43
Not just Obama and co thanks to your system!  I can still recall years ago we were being told to expect a new ice age and now we are all going to be singed. Scientists? I would dump them all in Edinburgh!  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-01-20, 21:44:08
Doesn't like politicians. Doesn't like the U.S. Doesn't like Edinburgh. Now he doesn't like scientists. I wonder if he likes...
(https://us-mg6.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=2%5f0%5f0%5f1%5f1%5fAEnuw0MAAEmmVp%2f%2bnAQmgAEryAE&m=YaDownload&pid=2.2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=yahoomail)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-01-21, 00:35:16
I like Glasgow, where I live, organisations I am in, rail/tram simulator projectsmy personal history that got me into newspapers, radio, a book, getting the boots on for country hikes,  Plus Russia, Protestantism, decent Americans who are stuck with a political system controlled by money barons and widespread let-downs. So your desperate attempt has been outnumbered.

You muffed that one. :hat:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-21, 09:56:22
I don't think you like yourself, or your life. Else you wouldn't be so taciturn.

You have no love of learning and (…although that may not be the only reason) hence little… You have opinions on everything, backed up by your Telly-viewing — and little else, that I can see. (It's not like you can stop paying the tax that supplies it, eh? :) ) You have prejudices that you cling to (and some that you don't admit; even to yourself?) and will die with, because you've never had the ability to examine ideas… They couldn't teach you in school, and the government employed you as best it could — because that's what your form of government does.
-- "Sigmond" Oakdale
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-01-21, 22:11:48
I don't mind you being full of self-aggrandisement Oakdale but that is plain stupidity to even a juvenile on what you say about me. I list some of my positives and throw in public speaking and success in general activity and you work this out as me not liking myself. Get thee back to school and stop being a hermit. I do not hate Americans and with my history the word hate does not come up very often while at the same time making it abundantly clear that I have absolutely no time for the hypocrisy of the political system and the way the country is run. At the same time bellowing round the world at how great it is when the internals show a very contradictory stance as well as general intrigues!

That my positives well outdoes the questionable is nutjob but I won't blame the whole country for a waste of education in your corner.  :hat:

That some ex-colonists get petted lip does not detract either from my list which kicks the opposite into a single figure!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-27, 07:31:03
Quote
The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – a branch of the U.S. military – has announced a new research and development program known as Neural Engineering System Design (NESD). This aims to create a fully implantable neural interface able to provide unprecedented signal resolution and data-transfer bandwidth between the human brain and the digital world.

The interface would serve as a translator, converting between the electrochemical language used by neurons in the brain and the ones and zeros that constitute the language of information technology. A communications link would be achieved in a biocompatible device no larger than a cubic centimetre. This could lead to breakthrough treatments for a number of brain-related illnesses, as well as providing new insights into possible future upgrades for aspiring transhumanists.

“Today’s best brain-computer interface systems are like two supercomputers trying to talk to each other using an old 300-baud modem,” says Phillip Alvelda, program manager. “Imagine what will become possible when we upgrade our tools to really open the channel between the human brain and modern electronics.”
(source (http://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2016/01/22.htm#.VqhtIPGi5w-))

This doesn't -of course- presage the so-called Singularity… (At least, I don't think it will…) But it will, for example, obviate much of our How to Sit (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=162.0) conversations! :)

Hardware revolutions have far-ranging and unpredictable effects!
Provided, of course, that it works as promised…! (Oops. That's true, regardless of how it works… Predicting the future remains -shall we say- difficult?

Regardless, that's where we're headed:
Welcome to the future. It's been a long time coming; it'll be a long time before the dawn… (Lyric (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/crosby+stills+nash/long+time+gone_20241126.html); performance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DUqplxIcNk).) :)
(And what about that "long time gone"?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-01-27, 23:08:56
F***ing trans-humanist nazis.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-01-28, 02:16:32
Get to confessional!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-01-28, 10:15:47
Where's the good news, people? ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-01-28, 23:52:26
It's Oakdale's fault, posting about American nazi services wanting to connect human brains to computers as if this were good news.
There are no good news since fourty years ago, the thread is outdated, it can be closed.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-29, 00:39:56
American nazi services
? I guess -in your world, Bel- the term "nazi" is just another cuss-word… :)

But there is some good news, for America's Republicans: Donald Trump has decided not to participate in tonight's debate! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-01-29, 14:16:31

Where's the good news, people? ;)

It's Friday, and that always good!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-01-30, 02:17:20
Even to those who work through the week-end?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-01-30, 20:19:37
I'm working as we speak. But I played Blade & Soul most of the day. :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-01-30, 21:28:16

Even to those who work through the week-end?

If one enjoys one's work, can one really consider it work?  :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-02-05, 20:31:17
My Ole Miss Rebel football team pulled in yet another Top 10 recruiting class (for the football team)!

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/columnists/kellenberger/2016/02/03/kellenberger-ole-miss-continued-raise-program-bar/79769476/ (http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/columnists/kellenberger/2016/02/03/kellenberger-ole-miss-continued-raise-program-bar/79769476/)

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5KV2KVAqmM[/video]

(As Howie is a fan of marching music, figured I'd post that video with the OM alma mater, fight song, and timeless song).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-02-12, 09:55:59
Is this good news (http://news.slashdot.org/story/16/02/10/1415253/chinese-tech-group-offers-to-buy-opera-board-endorses), or bad…?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-02-12, 12:18:39
There seem to be a consensus among Chinese Opera users: the latter. 360 has their detractors. Think Norton with even worse business practices.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-06, 22:25:10
As of earlier today, * in response to HB 1232, I am an officially Ordained Minister in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster!  :cheers:


*= http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill-lgbt-discrimination-same-sex-marriage (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill-lgbt-discrimination-same-sex-marriage)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-07, 00:09:00
Well that elevation will 100% fit in with all the daft stuff that is so regular over the pond. Pity it is a figment of imagination as you would be feeling at home on a land full of nutjobs.  :devil: :whistle:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-04-07, 00:42:51
I've got you beat, Colonel! I've lived in the Land of Fruits and Nuts for more than 35 years, and I've been an "ordained" minister of the Universal Life Church — since my first wife, who worked for them, paid the $$… :)
She thought it was funny!

(I take it, when you say "officially" you mean self-proclaimed…which is to say unofficially. By all means, rectify that! Pay someone…)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-07, 01:28:27

I've got you beat, Colonel! I've lived in the Land of Fruits and Nuts for more than 35 years, and I've been an "ordained" minister of the Universal Life Church — since my first wife, who worked for them, paid the $$… :)
She thought it was funny!

(I take it, when you say "officially" you mean self-proclaimed…which is to say unofficially. By all means, rectify that! Pay someone…)

Cheers, fellow man of the cloth!

No, when I say officially, I mean I can now, officially, according to the state laws of the sovereign state of MS,  perform baptisms, last rites, casting out false prophets, etc.
http://www.venganza.org/ordination/ (http://www.venganza.org/ordination/)

:D

Perhaps you and I can perform an exorcism on Mr. Howie sometime?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-07, 01:32:18

Well that elevation will 100% fit in with all the daft stuff that is so regular over the pond. Pity it is a figment of imagination as you would be feeling at home on a land full of nutjobs.  :devil: :whistle:

I cast out the demon of the false zombie Jew from thine body, RJ Howie!
Go now, and be free from your demon.

Peace and Bacon be forthcoming to you, and may you be Touched by His Noodley Appendage!

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRgYFl_pZ0wV3W7o0syobh3P1kzg7LMaHlS_KguiAVhztmwtr08Jn966g)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-07, 02:14:21
*= http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill-lgbt-discrimination-same-sex-marriage (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill-lgbt-discrimination-same-sex-marriage)

Congrats, Dawg. Hrm, another bill out up by "constitutionalists" that's destined to be found unconstitutional especially that part about it allowing county clerk to deny equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the Federal constitution.  Also note what Ole Miss Law Professor  Michele Alexandre says about (http://wjtv.com/2016/04/06/ole-miss-law-professor-talks-constitutionality-of-hb-1523/) :

Quote
Alexandre says it’s unconstitutional because the bill singles our one group, specifically people of one sexual orientation. She goes to say, it appears the government is giving preference to one religion. Alexandre calls it a deep entanglement and says, “When the government starts making laws that seems to give preference to particular expressions of religion versus none or religious interpretations of what’s acceptable under a religion then it seems that the government is involved in such a way that they’re making statements about religion or preference of religion.”


So far, the bill seems to be in violation of both the First and Fourteenth Amendments. This thing is going down in flames.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-07, 04:00:09

*= http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill-lgbt-discrimination-same-sex-marriage (http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/mississippi-religious-freedom-bill-lgbt-discrimination-same-sex-marriage)

Congrats, Dawg. Hrm, another bill out up by "constitutionalists" that's destined to be found unconstitutional especially that part about it allowing county clerk to deny equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the Federal constitution.  Also note what Ole Miss Law Professor  Michele Alexandre says about (http://wjtv.com/2016/04/06/ole-miss-law-professor-talks-constitutionality-of-hb-1523/) :

Quote
Alexandre says it’s unconstitutional because the bill singles our one group, specifically people of one sexual orientation. She goes to say, it appears the government is giving preference to one religion. Alexandre calls it a deep entanglement and says, “When the government starts making laws that seems to give preference to particular expressions of religion versus none or religious interpretations of what’s acceptable under a religion then it seems that the government is involved in such a way that they’re making statements about religion or preference of religion.”


So far, the bill seems to be in violation of both the First and Fourteenth Amendments. This thing is going down in flames.

As the link you posted mentions, they actually asked the law school's professors what conclusion they would reach. It's fascinating to me that the state legislature/Governor were told this garbage would be unconstitutional, yet because that would get into the way of "The Way, Truth, and Light" of our "beloved" Emperor Governor's agenda, the legal advice was totally ignored.

Worst still, we the taxpayers will foot the fkcing bill for the "legal" defense of it.

But of course, when the Governor's Inauguration features an Invocation, Benediction, and a word from a Catholic priest who hopes a lottery will be put into place before giving said Benediction, this nonsense is to be expected. Well, that and when you have local and State Supreme Court judges, along with local mayors who insist on starting their day/meetings with Christian prayer, it's to be expected.

I have contacted the FFRF so much at this point, I think they have ignored me/given up on the state.

We literally are now the Western version of a Saudi Arabia, but with a decidedly Christian bent.

Send help please......  :(
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-07, 06:48:34
You assume southern boy that the demons are everywhere because you live in a place that has had them since the revolution.Tut, tut, no wonder your government has a sigh about education probs.  :hat:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-04-07, 07:14:35
Colonel, you've caught Sanguinemoon's disease… You now have a bachelor's degree? :) Congrats!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-04-07, 11:55:22
Colonel has BA? Everybody's so educated these days.

I am thinking about attempting PhD later this year. Simply because work sucks. Just before Xmas my department at work was closed down (only I was spared, because I am probably indispensable) and yesterday I was told that I have been sold. I have lost track who I am working for.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-07, 16:05:13
You've been… sold? ???  So I guess the good news is that you're thinking about going for a PhD? :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-07, 18:07:01
Inded, thank you, dear Oakdale.  :cheers:
I thought I had mentioned it some time ago, but I graduated in the fall semester of 2013.

@Ersi:  :cheers: to you as well, on attempting the PhD. Also, condolences about getting sold.  :(
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-04-07, 23:27:04
Everybody's so educated these days.

Am I the only one with elementary school graduation on these forums?  :o
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-08, 00:18:54
Mississippi has among the highest rates of poverty and unemployment in the nation, not to mention obesity and other health issues. Yet LGBT people are what they focus on and are afraid of. What the hell is wrong with the leaders in that state, besides just being sick in the head?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-08, 00:55:19
Very mature and intelligent outpouring....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-08, 03:37:38

Mississippi has among the highest rates of poverty and unemployment in the nation, not to mention obesity and other health issues. Yet LGBT people are what they focus on and are afraid of. What the hell is wrong with the leaders in that state, besides just being sick in the head?

If you care to see the source, listen to this bastage. Listen to what the announcers say in the beginning. So much poison of the mind to begin.......so many violations of the Establishment Clause......the listen later on with he mentions "As Christians, we can have no other.....".  Apparently we who hold no religious belief, as well as the other religious lot are not real people and don't exist.

People will hate to hear it put this way, but the disease of the mind, Christianity, is the source of all of these problems. The homophobia stems from it without question; the long-winded garbage of Leviticus, and of course, the NT bloviation of Romans 1:25-32.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lxbtLHNLU[/video]




ETA: At 21:45-21:48, what the hell is a battle flag doing there? FFS.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-08, 08:08:24

Everybody's so educated these days.

Am I the only one with elementary school graduation on these forums?  :o

I may have graduated from elementary school as well.  :yikes:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2016-04-08, 13:01:11

People will hate to hear it put this way, but the disease of the mind, Christianity, is the source of all of these problems. The homophobia stems from it without question; the long-winded garbage of Leviticus, and of course, the NT bloviation of Romans 1:25-32.

Even taking that into account, if someone takes the whole picture, the Scriptures speak stronger against oppression, corruption, unrighteousness, than against homosexual behaviour. Hence, the focus on homophobia seems biased on purpose: it's much easier to make a speech against LGBTs than to fight for justice.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-09, 00:59:12
Considering the arrogance of the country the colonel hails from a wee bitty of hypocrisy but then he is young and will improve.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-09, 01:45:07
Even taking that into account, if someone takes the whole picture, the Scriptures speak stronger against oppression, corruption, unrighteousness, than against homosexual behaviour.

(https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/12439166_1146568632040265_721419067555443574_n.jpg?oh=11ef5aef1a20460fe190927ac03d3aa5&oe=5774DA1B)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-04-09, 05:59:27

Even taking that into account, if someone takes the whole picture, the Scriptures speak stronger against oppression, corruption, unrighteousness, than against homosexual behaviour. Hence, the focus on homophobia seems biased on purpose: it's much easier to make a speech against LGBTs than to fight for justice.

Yes, the focus on homophobia seems biased on purpose: it's much easier to make allegations of homophobia than to deal with actual issues of justice.

@Colonel
Trust me, even if Christianity vanishes, as it has in most Europe between Germany and Russia, diseases of mind won't. There's no connection between the two.

Now you guys ruined the good news thread. I probably started it by announcing that I got sold. But there's no other way to put it. My line of work has been sold and my employee [edit: sry, that should read "my employer"] has ceased to exist without any information on whether it was a takeover or sell-and-run. I will probably find out about my new owner, if any, on the next payday, if any.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-04-09, 17:11:45
I will probably find out about my new owner, if any, on the next payday, if any.

Slaves aren't anymore what they used to be... you should rebel dear Spartacus :lol:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-04-09, 18:34:38
I will probably find out about my new owner, if any, on the next payday, if any.


Best wishes!
(https://media2.giphy.com/media/UKWxGMEPjRwCA/200.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-10, 03:04:03
Oh, the reference to a cake refusal and slightly misusing the incident.

At no time did the bakery family come out with a nasty attack on homosexuals. They were in fact very pleasant to the two enquirers and said politely to the two that they were not in favour of their sexual stance but meant no harm. As usually occurs the cake wanters went bananas and took legal action. A pub owner can put out someone who is overly drunk, etc but the baking family company were treated in a very different manner and vindictively. Something the bakers did not do. Maybe the 2 cake wanters could have tried a Muslim shop instead. The general thing is that benders tend to act as if they are generally on a persecution list but have in practice the same rights as everyone else and more so than any time in history. That fact is neatly and cleverly  danced around and the way they actt one would think that their tiny percentage of the population was made up. 
Persona;l;y as is known here, I am no fan of that minority and the main annoyance is they act as if they are a special minority. Back on Opera I once said it was the 'tyranny of the minorities' and it damn well is. Somehow anyone who does not agree with a particular minority is a bad guy well they can yak what they like. We ALL have rights.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-10, 09:37:01
The issue is government officals denying citizens setvice based on some religious objection, Howie. Do keep up. Yeah that law is going down in flames. Want to be a public servent, better be prepared to serve the public, many of whom will believe differently than yourself.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-04-10, 14:09:34
I may have graduated from elementary school as well.   :yikes:

I came close!
(https://media1.giphy.com/media/30PL7ReawkevC/200.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-11, 04:31:37
The point is for raccoon brain that queers have the same rights as anyone damn else but act as if they are special when they only make up a tiny part of the population. A whole vast swathe of the world is Muslim and we equally know that corner's stance on queers. So do try and practically keep up instead of your usual sneering dispositions with a limited brain power. You have always been a queer pusher and such is your right but it is as I point out a minority of numbers who take part in that tradition but people like you try to for some stupid reason try to indicate something else. The arrogance of queerdom is something else and they even stole the word 'gay'!

I have no time for that lot but as I also indicated no time for violence, etc but you chose to sidestep that one. You dance on clasping some man's hands and I will stick to women. My right too you know.  :hat:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-04-11, 05:14:23

The issue is government officals denying citizens setvice based on some religious objection, Howie. Do keep up. Yeah that law is going down in flames. Want to be a public servent, better be prepared to serve the public, many of whom will believe differently than yourself.

It's not as simple as that. Among the public, many believe that their crimes are not crimes because they are doing it with good intentions. (Heck, even some public servants believe this of themselves.) Some believe that two plus two equals three or five or any other random number.

The job of public servants is not merely to serve whatever one may believe. Their job is to inform of what is correct and to serve as a good example, and "correct" and "good" are defined in certain sources, such as in laws and regulations, independent of anyone's belief. It's only an aggravation of problems when some people push for laws and regulations to cease to make sense.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-11, 15:45:22
The point is for raccoon brain that queers have the same rights as anyone damn else

Really? Since when did straight, Christian people have to face the prospect of the county clerk denying their marriage on religious grounds, even the same clerk approved adulterous marriages (and in the case of Kim Davis, entered into several themselves...) Oh yeah, at least one of the bakers admitted to knowingly baking a cake for an adulterous marriage. Faith and belief has nothing to do with it. Bigotry has everything to do with it.

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-11, 22:24:34
My apologies for the slight transformation of this thread.

In any case, when the SCOTUS rules on the nonsense and declares it unconstitutional, I'll post a link to that, as it will be good news.

But of course, I'll also have to post in the Bad News thread to, as it will have costed several hundred thousand dollars of the state taxpayer's dime.


So, getting back on topic, today's good news is that it's been nearly 1 1/2 years since I quit smoking cigarettes!  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-12, 06:44:32
Woohoo! How do you feel?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-12, 08:39:04
Bigotry in the land of the free and home of the brave? Uh? Well that is a wee change from them fighting over that Constitution. Time after time one has a stream of people going on about that bit of paper being ignored or misused so good luck to you all!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-12, 15:16:42

Woohoo! How do you feel?

A great deal healthier. Things began to taste so much better after only 3 months.

I won't lie though, when I least expect it, I do get the occasional craving for a cig.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-12, 18:34:26
Taste better, huh? Well, I do recall that things taste kinda tobacco-y for up to like a day after having tried a cig.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2016-04-13, 06:23:32
So, getting back on topic, today's good news is that it's been nearly 1 1/2 years since I quit smoking cigarettes!  8)


Excellent job there Nick! ...... this August will be 8 years fer me sonny (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/booxu9.gif)  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chuckle002.gif)


(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/yahoo.gif)  Seriously, excellent job Nick!!!  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/cheerskj4.gif)   (https://i.imgsafe.org/8bf3f2c.gif)   (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/victorypi2.gif)

I still get cravings, every day, but when I do I just slide down a jigger of Gentleman Jack  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/shots.gif)   ...... yassaree, walkin' becomes darn near if not completely impossible, but sure beats hackin' my freekin' brains out on top of the woman I love at that special moment! 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-14, 00:08:20
Oh, ho, well done colonel you have got the terrorist supporter with you!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2016-04-14, 01:33:57
Oh, ho, well done colonel you have got the terrorist supporter with you!


Back in '82 there is one Scot Unionist I wished I could have instructed my lads to take down, but they chose their targets, & I just facilitated the know-how on how to dispatch them efficiently & precisely.....too bad......too bad.    (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/cleanteeth09.gif)

I can only live in the solace that I did the best I could, &
so did they .... so they did!  :cheers:  :cheers:   :rip: :rip:  :rip:   :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :rip:  :cheers:  :cheers: 

(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/march17b.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-14, 13:48:05
So, getting back on topic, today's good news is that it's been nearly 1 1/2 years since I quit smoking cigarettes!  8)


Excellent job there Nick! ...... this August will be 8 years fer me sonny (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/booxu9.gif)  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/chuckle002.gif)


(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/yahoo.gif)  Seriously, excellent job Nick!!!  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/cheerskj4.gif)   (https://i.imgsafe.org/8bf3f2c.gif)   (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/victorypi2.gif)

I still get cravings, every day, but when I do I just slide down a jigger of Gentleman Jack  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/shots.gif)   ...... yassaree, walkin' becomes darn near if not completely impossible, but sure beats hackin' my freekin' brains out on top of the woman I love at that special moment! 
Thank you much, SF! :cheers:

Thankfully the cravings don't come as often as they used to, but yes, I normally placate myself with an extra pint or two of beer to take my mind off the craving. Works 9/10.  :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-15, 09:56:39
You are thanking a terrorist? Damn unreal. Grow up.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2016-04-15, 10:56:28
You are thanking a terrorist? Damn unreal. Grow up.

You grow up you pompous ole crud.
                                                                                                                                                             (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/puppiss.gif)
That mans got more class & courage in one of his short & curlies than you have in your entire inbred lineage! 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-15, 23:58:07
(yawn). Now readers take note. This balloon boasts about his Americanism and how great it is and all the usual blah, blah. However at the same time supports a bunch of evil creep terrorists who are almost Marxist in their philosophy. That is two-faced and so hypocritical. Uses the US flag and the neo-Marxist sign to show a stance? No wonder the head shrinkers industry is a big thing over there. He can call me what he likes but the grey cells people here will ably see his hypocrisy. A democrat and a Bolshie??!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-16, 00:34:37
You are thanking a terrorist? Damn unreal. Grow up.
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7iMSxZZuTlUtPOl2DoXVPryFS1ns--d9nQ3iq_AKHCOFPU1sk)

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKCRdoZ4HHU[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-16, 01:45:00
This balloon boasts about his Americanism and how great it is and all the usual blah, blah. However at the same time supports a bunch of evil creep terrorists who are almost Marxist in their philosophy.
And yet all that happened is Smiley congratulated him on quitting smoking cigarettes :faint:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2016-04-16, 02:12:59
.......However at the same time supports a bunch of evil creep terrorists  [glow=green,2,300]Freedom Fighters[/glow]    who are almost Marxist in their philosophy........

See how tolerant us Irish-Americans are.

[glow=green,2,300]Freedom & a United Ireland comes before politics. [/glow]

I personally don't care what their politics will be after they attain their freedom from hundreds of years of English Tyranny & oppression.

The important bit is their freedom, freedom as a United Ireland, not how they can argue about meaningless & endless political posturing in a Socialistic Parliament.

About that I care not, for I don't have to live under such rot......Ireland belongs to them.

Let them do & live as they will.

I just ask they do me one pleasure.

That they shoot each & every Brit Unionist in their backs as they flee.....That would be worth the price of admission!! 
Then I could publish that in "Today's Great News"!  (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/biglaugh023.gif)    (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/cheerskj4.gif)


[VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYnrjhrkt-0#[/VIDEO]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-04-16, 09:23:11
Okay, Smiley — you and I both know the only thing that could even hope to unite the "Irish" is animosity towards the English! :) Shouldn't ya be thankin' 'em?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-04-16, 13:54:13
Paul McCartney: [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaO4XeHhwo8[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-16, 15:31:37
This balloon boasts about his Americanism and how great it is and all the usual blah, blah. However at the same time supports a bunch of evil creep terrorists who are almost Marxist in their philosophy.
And yet all that happened is Smiley congratulated him on quitting smoking cigarettes :faint:
Bit of a drama queen, the old codger is, isn't he?  :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-04-17, 04:31:43
@Krake,et al.: I prefer the Lampoon's '72 version from Radio Dinner… (Sorry, SF, but that's my opinion.)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: SmileyFaze on 2016-04-17, 06:39:50
@Krake,et al.: I prefer the Lampoon's '72 version from Radio Dinner… (Sorry, SF, but that's my opinion.)

@OakdaleFTL    Never, ever, heard that version, but in the end everyone is entitled to an opinion what songs they like.....Personally, I hold no claims to liking or disliking any particular PM & Wings song, but I pretty much agree with the basic message of the one Krake posted above.

Here's what Paul & his wife Linda said about the song & the issue back in 1972:

[VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj2w7oTJcNw[/VIDEO]

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-17, 11:28:30
Dear oh dear colonel, You trying to be mature has failed!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-17, 19:31:44
And all that Shinners stuff is baloney as they are a MINORITY in the republic of Ireland. The Irish have moved on from the silly days now they are more separated from the men in black and white collars who used to run the place.  Even former Prime Minster of Ireland Bruton recently said in a speech that the 1916 thing was not needed (!) so change days with a modern attitude.  In modern times when they had a referendum in the South they dropped the part of the Constitution that claimed Ulster. In addition the Dublin Government granted over £100,000 to lodges meeting in the country and the efforts in that minority religious tradition. Even the UK Government loaned Ireland 7 billions at a reasonable rate to assist the economic  rate.  So the Ireland that Smiley portrays if it is assessed does not exist and there is not that bullish SF rubbish to the fore. For me it is a good thing that Ireland has modernised and not following the Smileys of the world.

As for the arch creep mouth, raccy yapping on about the colonel' smoke stuff. It does not get away from what Smiley is in being hypocritical. He waxes on about the greatness of America and it's freedom and emocracy would-be stuff but openly supports a terrorist tradition and that is far more disgusting. So sod off racc and remember that the mental industry in the US is big so you should have no problem. I like the south of Ireland in these days a
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-18, 00:16:26
As for the arch creep mouth,
I'm an arch creep, and yet all I did was note that all Smiley did was congratulate the Dawg? Her Majesty Howie Queen of Drama speaks again. 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-18, 19:36:11
I think I want to be this guy in 7 decades.

http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/charles-eugster-fittest-oap-on-planet
Quote
Variety is key. I start every day with a protein shake because, as you get older, your protein synthesis no longer functions as well. I avoid sugar and eat lots of meat, especially fat. I've been on a fat trip lately. Fat! Piles of fat. Yet, I was in a supermarket the other day and was perplexed to find yogurt with zero fat. What on earth is that? The idea of the nutrition pyramid where, at the top, is a little fat and meat, and at the bottom a lot of carbohydrates, is, excuse me, bullshit. Humans are so unbelievably stupid that we have begun to tinker with food. Our theories of nutrition have resulted in a pandemic of obesity. Can you imagine a hunter-gatherer enjoying a low-fat yogurt? Let me tell you this, too: I read a report recently which said that a fatty diet also increases your libido.

[…]

Retirement is the biggest killer of old people, full stop. I prefer to call it involuntary unemployment. What I'm nearly bursting a blood vessel about is the fact that humans are blissfully ignoring the aging process. We recycle everything nowadays, except human beings. Our expiry date is 65, after which we're thrown on the rubbish heap and chemically treated. We are pouring the experience, creativity, and talent of people over 65 down the toilet. They should be able to found companies, be creative. They have nothing to do except sit about and get sick. This is a world problem and it needs to change.

I already think pretty much anything with added sugar is cloyingly sweet, so I could be doing worse.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-04-19, 17:18:30
I avoid sugar and eat lots of meat, especially fat.
Then this should appeal to you.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_aHpFhAKZj34%2FTEvOCtdzBdI%2FAAAAAAAAAeo%2FunsIv0sGlJ8%2Fs1600%2Fs1.jpg&hash=ab7d0c324dc64f8b5d1f99dbe6505ed2" rel="cached" data-hash="ab7d0c324dc64f8b5d1f99dbe6505ed2" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aHpFhAKZj34/TEvOCtdzBdI/AAAAAAAAAeo/unsIv0sGlJ8/s1600/s1.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-19, 17:26:55
Then this should appeal to you.
Not my quote. What I eat is lots of greens and vegetables (mostly seasonal), some fruit (mostly Granny Smith and seasonal), a bunch of fat (mostly cheese, also nuts, yogurt, olive oil) and the occasional bunch of fish and eggs. Well, and I ate a loaf of bread yesterday. Sourdough, of course.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2016-04-19, 17:42:27
I avoid sugar and eat lots of meat, especially fat.
Then this should appeal to you.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_aHpFhAKZj34%2FTEvOCtdzBdI%2FAAAAAAAAAeo%2FunsIv0sGlJ8%2Fs1600%2Fs1.jpg&hash=ab7d0c324dc64f8b5d1f99dbe6505ed2" rel="cached" data-hash="ab7d0c324dc64f8b5d1f99dbe6505ed2" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aHpFhAKZj34/TEvOCtdzBdI/AAAAAAAAAeo/unsIv0sGlJ8/s1600/s1.jpg)

So glad you brought that up!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Jimbro3738 on 2016-04-19, 21:03:32
What could I do? It made me gag.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-04-22, 18:42:51
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-countries-should-sign-paris-agreement-climate-change-ban-ki-moon?trk=mp-reader-card
Quote from: Ban Ki-moon
This Friday, a record number of countries will sign the Paris Agreement on climate change, the historic roadmap for moving to a low-carbon economy and achieving a sustainable future for our planet and its people.

In an overwhelming display of determination to address climate change, representatives of more than 165 countries will take part in the signing ceremony, breaking the record for the number of signatories on the opening day of any international treaty. The previous record was 119, set in 1982.

This level of commitment is remarkable and has exceeded my expectations. It proves once again how international cooperation can deliver for people across the globe.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-04-24, 19:23:14
Hopefully it will be positive.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: midnight raccoon on 2016-04-26, 23:40:36
Ban Ki-moon also explains also explains why switching to a green economy is good for business. (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20131021212930-204317422-tackling-climate-change-is-good-for-business?trk=mp-reader-card) 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-04-27, 01:28:24
Pontificating is not quite explaining… :) But I did notice that the Paris "talks" led to nothing more than words of commitment, with nothing backing them.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-04-30, 09:08:17
CERN’s Large Hadron Collider Shut Down by Weasel (http://cdanews.com/2016/04/cerns-large-hadron-collider-shut-down-by-weasel/)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-04-30, 12:03:11
Hardly good news for the formerly weasel-like-creature, nor for those having projects in the pipeline at CERN.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-04-30, 18:27:34
Are you saying it's bad news? Why so negative?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-04-30, 21:05:29
The Ole Miss baseball Rebels knock off LSU 8-2 today, to take the series from Satan's minions. #GoToHellLSUx

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JujNw_Fvolk[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-05-01, 01:56:40
Passingly pleasant.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-05-05, 02:24:18
No surprises here, @midnight raccoon :  HB 2 declared to be a civil rights violation. (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article75601912.html)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-05-05, 04:42:40
No. No surprises here… Is it safe to assume that neither of you have daughters? :( (That would be Sang and the Colonel.)

What you see as "good news" saddens me.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-05-06, 09:21:22
This is pretty cool. Old watermills can now be repurposed to generate (small-scale) electricity without the adverse effects of dams.

http://lifebyessent.be/nl/nieuw-de-draaikolkcentrale/

Yours for about €6000. If I lived next to a stream without any intent to move within ten years or so, I'd consider it. English propaganda here (http://turbulent.be/language/en/).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-05-15, 12:24:41
It was annouced today that between 06:45 07 May and 17:45 11 May, the energy consumption of Portugal was entirely assured by renewable sources of energy. More than four days, a world record. :)

It's funny to realize how four or five days can be so much. Or, in other words, how we are so dependant.
There's stil much more to do.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-05-15, 12:43:12
Another pretty cool electric construction in Belgium is the Coo-Trois-Points Hydroelectric Power Station (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coo-Trois-Ponts_Hydroelectric_Power_Station). In fact it's probably much cooler than a recent startup because it's been around for decades.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Waterkrachtcentrale_van_Coo-Trois-Ponts.jpg/1600px-Waterkrachtcentrale_van_Coo-Trois-Ponts.jpg) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waterkrachtcentrale_van_Coo-Trois-Ponts.jpg)

This surprisingly old facility (1969) allows for the storage of power, whether generated by traditional (nuclear) power plants or renewable energy sources. Within two minutes it can put an output the equivalent energy to that of the largest nuclear power plants (1200 MW) on the net for a total of six hours. Efficiency is about 75%, meaning about a quarter of the energy is lost pumping the water up for energy storage. A €600 million investment will add a third reservoir in the years to come.

It's funny to realize how four or five days can be so much. Or, in other words, how we are so dependant.
There's stil much more to do.
It's an amazing accomplishment nevertheless. :up:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-05-15, 19:15:06
Would enlighten you Frenzie by informing you ity should be "British" propaganda not "English." (!)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-05-15, 21:14:16
I meant the sales talk in English as opposed to Dutch. Propaganda was laying it on a bit thick. ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-05-17, 03:38:25
Ah, that's better boy!  :D

ps. I'm going to Holland for my third trip all going well n the summer  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-05-25, 21:33:13
In Florence, a road collapsed

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FznqOI1y.jpg&hash=853cbbacf1e8e108a5a2e2fe67cd5663" rel="cached" data-hash="853cbbacf1e8e108a5a2e2fe67cd5663" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/znqOI1y.jpg)

This is pure poetry. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-05-26, 08:02:31
Doesn't seem like good news, but it does make a surprisingly pretty picture.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-05-29, 13:56:13
Apt picture of modern Italy.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-05-30, 17:59:28
Grave of Aristotle found in his birthplace in Northern Greece (http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2016/05/26/grave-of-aristotle-found-in-his-birthplace-in-northern-greece/)

"Archeologist Kostas Sismanides has devoted 25 years in excavations and research in the area and now brought to light evidence that the grave belongs to Aristotle. Already in 1996 Sismanides had come to the conclusion that the grave in Stagira belonged to Aristotle but keep his excavation and research until he could fully document his findings."
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-06-06, 15:01:40
Did you know that he was gay?
 :D
But so was Pope Paul II.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-06-09, 23:29:21
Being a good news however I regret to inform my dear Ersi that Estonia lost against Portugal by 7-0 in football.
Maybe next time you should learn how to play the game before trying to play against us.:)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-06-10, 08:22:17
The good news is that now I know that Estonia still has a football team. I hadn't heard about them for a few years.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-06-10, 11:01:32
Go Devils! Damn those Italians! :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-06-10, 17:22:05
Being a good news however I regret to inform my dear Ersi that Estonia lost against Portugal by 7-0 in football.
Maybe next time you should learn how to play the game before trying to play against us.:)
Portugal? That's a province of Spain, isn't it?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: string on 2016-07-02, 12:55:14
Village saves running postman who was dubbed 'too slow' by mail bosses (http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/village-saves-running-postman-who-was-dubbed-too-slow-by-mail-bosses/story-29464843-detail/story.html)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-07-02, 17:27:52
Keep him in mind for the next postman olympics. I think it's in 2018.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-07-08, 23:37:14
Americans are putting chips in grasshoppers. Fantastic.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-07-09, 19:14:45
They're doing what?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-07-09, 22:41:29
http://www.dn.pt/sociedade/interior/gafanhoto-com-chip-no-cerebro-e-o-proximo-detetor-de-bombas-5272263.html
You just need to translate it which is an impossible task for you. Maybe with a chip in the brain like the grasshopper  :lol:

This may help you
http://labs.seas.wustl.edu/bme/raman/research.html
What for? homeland security of course.

Zillions of cyborg grasshoppers all over the place. More good news from America.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-07-11, 13:34:29
which is an impossible task for you.
It might be impossible to do a stellar job, but I reckon I understand the broad lines a bit like in e.g. Swedish (except Germanic languages come much more naturally than Romance languages).

Besides, even with nothing but knowledge of English one can start to string together something vaguely sensible out of the words one recognizes. Take this random paragraph for example:
Quote
A equipa, que inclui Srikanth Singamaneni, engenheiro de materiais, e de Shantanu Chakrabartty, investigador em computação, vai começar por monitorizar a atividade neural de gafanhotos para determinar os sinais correspondentes a cada odor, o que depois vai ser tratado em computador. E será a partir dessa base de dados que se fará o resto.
We can recognize the following English words: include, engineer of materials, investigator, computer, monitor, activity, neural, determine, signals, corresponding, odor, treat, computer (and in context, base de dados sounds suspiciously like database)

We already know from your message that gafanhotos must be grasshoppers, so at this point we've got a materials engineer and a computer researcher monitoring the neural activity of grasshoppers to determine signals corresponding to odors, which will be treated (analyzed or maybe inserted, one presumes) in a computer. From there they'll do the resto with a database.

Add in other languages, e.g., French équipe is team and probably the same word as equipa, vai is probably from the the same verb as vais (as in aller, to go), partir is depart, starting from, and your biggest enemy is false friends. ;) Our basic overview of what the text is probably about can then be amended as follows into an incubating translation, even though we don't speak Portuguese:

The team, comprised of (which includes) materials engineer Srikanth Singamaneni and computer researcher Shantanu Chakrabartty, will start monitoring (will go monitor) grasshopper neural activity to determine the signals corresponding to each (?) odor, which then will be inserted (treated) in a computer. And starting from this database the rest will be done.

Of course it would make more sense to skip the English entirely and just take French as the main point of departure, but I wanted to make a statement. Portuguese is not Chinese. :P

PS Spoken Portuguese, on the other hand, may well be impossible.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2016-07-11, 15:09:46
As bad as spoken English, sometimes. :left:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-07-11, 22:34:09
Of course it would make more sense to skip the English entirely and just take French as the main point of departure, but I wanted to make a statement. Portuguese is not Chinese.  :P
:lol:
Well done.
Of course you're not an American or, even worst, an English.

But there you have, Americans prepare to invade the planet with cyborg insects. For our safety...
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-07-12, 08:43:51
But there you have, Americans prepare to invade the planet with cyborg insects. For our safety...
Are all Europeans paranoid? :)
Or just the (our?) Portuguese? Of course, Brazilians are most of the Portuguese now — yet their sires reject them! (I await the return of the prodigal father… :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-07-12, 09:47:37
But there you have, Americans prepare to invade the planet with cyborg insects. For our safety...
:lol: we can breed our own cyborg insects. We have the technology.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-07-12, 23:46:37
we can breed our own cyborg insects. We have the technology.
Forget it, just use carnivorous tulips, that's enough against the American insects.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-07-14, 11:01:02
Can they be carnivorous cyborg tulips?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-07-14, 14:30:07
Can they be carnivorous cyborg tulips?
Who knows? Maybe if genetically engineered. :)
You should touch them only with ironclad gloves. :D
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-07-17, 15:55:14
After winning the European Football Championship, Portugal won the European Roller Hockey Championship by beating Italy at the final.

Roller Hockey is like Ice Hockey but much more difficult to play and players don't wear those sissy protections (except for the goal keeper).

If it continues like this, soon I'll be tired of winning European Championships...
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-07-19, 18:08:37
Well it is good so many people can be given a boost especially the state the country is in.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-07-19, 18:49:29
Can they be carnivorous cyborg tulips?
I just had a tulip salad. Or was it a two lip salad?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-07-19, 21:33:14
Think carefully especially when one is an eccentric.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-07-20, 15:51:59
Howie, you are perhaps the only (purportedly) English-speaking person to which I'd recommend Strunk and White's little book of do's and don't's… :) But, of course, it's too many words and you wouldn't understand anyway, even when they get it right!
So. Carry on! You're a debit to your race, sir.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-07-20, 17:47:00
Strunk & White is awful: the so-called advice has no connection to the reality of English. I'd recommend it to prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (https://www.pearsonhighered.com/program/Williams-Style-Lessons-in-Clarity-and-Grace-10th-Edition/PGM305536.html) is alright.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-07-20, 21:53:48
Strunk & White is awful
That was the point, Frenzie: Simple rules for simple minds!
(I prefer Karen Elizabeth Gorden's "The Transitive Vampire," when it comes to handbooks… :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-08-07, 11:22:27
Congratulations Brazil, extraordinary opening ceremony at your Olympic Games.  :yes:

(even if I suspect Barulheira is not too happy with that...)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-08-08, 08:12:59
While looking for something I found, I found something I wasn't looking for: This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXlfXirQF3A) version was new to me…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-08-08, 08:37:07
That's pretty cool. Btw, if you just paste the link on a new line it auto-embeds. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXlfXirQF3A
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-08-08, 09:00:23
…a click is too hard? :)
BTW: I'm old and tired… Your software is pretty good. Your "frienzi-ness" is something I've long appreciated.
(I remember when Lehrer's records came in brown paper through the U.S. Mail! — Yes, some of my progenitors were as perverse as me!)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-08-08, 09:24:08
Records through the mail? Hm, sounds dangerous. They're pretty fragile.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-08-08, 16:38:48
The mail, back then, was handled by people… :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-08-08, 17:03:48
…a click is too hard? :)
Yes, if the post around it is incoherent drunken babble. However small an effort, a click is still an effort and when there's no reason to make the effort, hardly anybody will make it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2016-08-08, 18:05:09
I'm not pleased to open mail messages whose subject does not make clear what it is all about.
Likewise, clicking on links that I don't know where they point at, is beyond me.
Playing videos with unknown content is a challenge to me.
You know... May brain was made up in times when download was waaaay too expensive.  :psmurf:
"This content is about XYZ which interests you" works way better than "Click here".
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-08-08, 18:10:29
You know... May brain was made up in times when download was waaaay too expensive.   :psmurf:
Where I grew up you paid for a dial-up connection by the second as if it were a regular phone call, not by volume. But yeah, on mobile I wouldn't click anything.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-08-08, 18:20:22
But yeah, on mobile I wouldn't click anything.
This was the case around the turn of the century when wap (wml) was a thing. I worked for a mobile phone service provider and my employer gave some devices to me and I could surf (and make phone calls) to my heart's content. I felt soooo superior to the rest of the world.

Now for many years I have a private mobile unlimited internet plan. There's so much junk on the net that I don't feel like surfing much, but I can handily update my computers through my phone.

Amazing progress. All good news. Fantastic.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2016-08-08, 18:36:56
Where I grew up you paid for a dial-up connection by the second as if it were a regular phone call, not by volume.
Here we had to pay for a pulse each 3 minutes. After all, volume mattered. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-08-08, 23:14:23
Amazing progress. All good news. Fantastic.
Estonian humor.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-09-09, 00:37:21
I start a new job on Monday.

It's a non-union (most unfortunately) factory job, but I am looking at $40,000 in year 1 and full benefits, and a 401k that they will match up to 6%.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-09-09, 01:09:44
Now that sounds positive and in the future give you the chance to holiday somewhere outside which is civilised...... :whistle:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-09-09, 02:17:54
Now that sounds positive and in the future give you the chance to holiday somewhere outside which is civilised...... :whistle:
Indeed. In the one week paid holiday that I get, half will be spent in Germany, and the other half in the UK. :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-09-10, 01:27:12
Good for you Southern laddie!  :wine: (diet version of Irn Bru)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-09-11, 09:51:53
In the one week paid holiday that I get, half will be spent in Germany,
You must hurry up!
The world's biggest beer festival aka Münchner Oktoberfest is starting on September 17.
Get involved!  :cheers:

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.pjstar.com%2Feye%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F09%2Foktoberfest01.jpg&hash=b58d4e457265a5f938ef5bc30bfbe541" rel="cached" data-hash="b58d4e457265a5f938ef5bc30bfbe541" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://blogs.pjstar.com/eye/files/2012/09/oktoberfest01.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-09-11, 23:42:37
The colonel will be dribbling just at the thought of one of those big glasses.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-09-12, 01:16:32
Nah! I think it's the hooters behind them… :) (They used to advertise such! Very subtle. And appreciated.)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2016-09-12, 11:15:49
Oktoberfest is starting on September 17.
Germans. Never too late. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2016-09-18, 21:12:24
In the one week paid holiday that I get, half will be spent in Germany,
You must hurry up!
The world's biggest beer festival aka Münchner Oktoberfest is starting on September 17.
Get involved!  :cheers:

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.pjstar.com%2Feye%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F09%2Foktoberfest01.jpg&hash=b58d4e457265a5f938ef5bc30bfbe541" rel="cached" data-hash="b58d4e457265a5f938ef5bc30bfbe541" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://blogs.pjstar.com/eye/files/2012/09/oktoberfest01.jpg)
lol, Well, I have to have been employed by the company for 6 months before the one week paid vacation kicks in.

Next year, however, there is a good chance I'll make it!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-09-20, 01:02:09
Well I got 6 weeks holidays annually. On top of that the Queen's Birthday, May Day, Easter weekend and of course a short break at the Festive time. Will be another opportunity for the colonel to get a break and pick the right places to go!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-09-20, 08:21:27
Next year, however, there is a good chance I'll make it!
  :beer:  :beer:  :beer:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-08, 13:07:21
Not sure if these are good news but the UN has a new Secretary-General, Portuguese António Guterres, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

I don't have a very good impression about him but one thing is certain, he managed to do a miracle by having non opposition by any of the five Security Council members. It was also a very good and astute move by the Portuguese diplomacy.
He's a socialist (by European standards) and his Catholic faith it's publicly known.

Future will tell if he can do more miracles.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-08, 16:32:52
Heard about that and maybe will make jimbro groan?.....!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-10-08, 22:22:25
Not sure if these are good news but the UN has a new Secretary-General, Portuguese António Guterres, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

He's a socialist (by European standards) and his Catholic faith it's publicly known.
As socialist as the British Labour Party or the German Social Democratic Party (SPD).
So far I wouldn't call it a miracle ...
Future will tell if he can do more miracles.
You mean miracles like Baroso did? If you ask me, he has best chances. ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-09, 07:42:51
The country is not doing so well in economics and much else and not a great background either for him is it? However in a broader sense it will be interesting to see how things are handled.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-10, 22:43:55
The country
Something you don't have English servant. Shut up waiter.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-11, 20:08:33
Interesting comment from a land that is an economic disaster and depends of EU handouts. Rattle the bowl louder boy things are not improving!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-10-13, 10:27:45
Quote from: Frenzie on 2016-08-08, 18:10:29 (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?msg=64524)Where I grew up you paid for a dial-up connection by the second as if it were a regular phone call, not by volume.
Here we had to pay for a pulse each 3 minutes. After all, volume mattered.  :)
When I grew  up there was no dial-up connection. :cry:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-10-13, 11:50:59
I guess it means we've somehow returned to good news, or something similar.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-14, 21:29:44
Hhhm jimbro. I can remember house phones with no dials......
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-15, 06:26:55
You mean the one where you say "Operator, please..." ???

Is this you?

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rd.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2016%2F03%2Fmay-2015-telephone-operator-730x1024.jpg&hash=12c013353397a7e133ad1cc2035c59e0" rel="cached" data-hash="12c013353397a7e133ad1cc2035c59e0" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.rd.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/03/may-2015-telephone-operator-730x1024.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-10-15, 08:40:47
No: You'd say "Bessie, please connect me with Floyd…" and she would!
I well remember the dial phones (…I'm a city boy); and I confess I miss area codes, where -when caller identification became standardized- you knew from the prefix where the call was coming from…
BTW: "The" phone was usually in the kitchen, on the wall. Only teenagers appreciated 40-foot extensions… :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-10-15, 10:04:19
BTW: "The" phone was usually in the kitchen, on the wall. Only teenagers appreciated 40-foot extensions...  :)
Interesting. We tend to put those things in the living room. The kitchen perhaps has a certain lesser intrusiveness to it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-15, 10:25:02
We tend to put those things in the living room.
Not in the time Oakdale refers to. The phone was never at the living room but at the entrance hall, so it will not perturb the family's life.
Then, the phone started conquering the entire house, then people's brains.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-10-15, 10:36:13
Sure, but that would be similar to how I grew up in a house from the '50s with a matching rotary phone. That doesn't mean things were still being built quite the same in the '80s. :P (Don't live in anything pre-'80s if you can help it; they had no concept of insulation in the past.) I'll ask my dad where their phone was back in the '40s.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-15, 10:54:37
When/Where I grew up, the entrance hall, just next to the house/apartment door, was *the* place for *the* phone. This applied to everyone who had a phone. A phone in the living room, next to the TV, was a later development. Just like TV itself was a later development. Before this development, there was radio.

I remember times when there was no TV and then my uncle acquired it for my grandmother (i.e. to his mother, to celebrate her birthday and his own successful job). It took more years until my own parents could afford a TV of their own. In my later life I have skipped possessing a TV of my own. I was happy enough with radio for a long while.

My grandmother never had a telephone in her house.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-10-15, 11:11:21
I, too, liked radio… (Still do!) But we're not so far apart, age-wise; which means that the Soviets kept your economy hobbled… Was it to control information? Or to prevent competition?
(These may not be distinct propositions…)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-10-15, 14:11:51
Oh, I've wandered into the nostalgia thread. The farm in North Norway had a dial-less bakelite wall phone, functional until the 70's. Then in a couple of decades in succession went through analog pulse exchanges, digital exchanges, and state-of-the-art AXE exchanges (really fancy in those days).

Then shortly after that a couple of enterprising Poles and an Australian decided that there was copper in them thar cables, stole a km or such of copper cables. They were caught of course, but the phone line was gone. As a replacement the phone company handed the bereaved customers a mobile phone each, and that was the end of landline to parts of the village). 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-10-15, 17:55:33
I, too, liked radio… (Still do!) But we're not so far apart, age-wise; which means that the Soviets kept your economy hobbled… Was it to control information? Or to prevent competition?
(These may not be distinct propositions…)
The Soviet/eastern economy wasn't doing that badly yet in the '50s. It's more that most of Europe was still rebuilding. And part of it is just your American perspective. I don't think TV has ever been quite as entrenched elsewhere as in America, see e.g. here (https://www.statista.com/statistics/276748/average-daily-tv-viewing-time-per-person-in-selected-countries/) for recent statistics. I can't even comprehend how one could possibly watch 282 minutes of TV per day, regardless whether that means "real" TV or stuff like YouTube and Netflix.

And anyway, Edward Bernays was much better at population control than the Soviets. :P
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-15, 18:16:09
I can't even comprehend how one could possibly watch 282 minutes of TV per day, regardless whether that means "real" TV or stuff like YouTube and Netflix.
282 minutes is just two movies. Or perhaps one with a whole lotta commercials all over it. But yeah, every day...

And anyway, Edward Bernays was much better at population control than the Soviets. :P
Correct. Soviets overdid it so grossly that it was quite transparent what they did and how. The brainwashing worked only on Russians with the right emotional predispositions. Not all Russians are predisposed that way.

Brainwashing works much better in America, where the manipulation is subtle, with appearance of choice and freedom, and by normalising loose ethics. Soviet propaganda always touted just causes, moral justice, which is why the mask of totalitarianism was easily revealed for anyone perceptive enough to notice the discrepancies in the society. It didn't take much perceptiveness. Even children understood it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-10-16, 08:55:36
282 minutes is just two movies. Or perhaps one with a whole lotta commercials all over it. But yeah, every day...
Sure, I've certainly watched two movies in a row, or binge watched a series. Sometimes I put on e.g. Karambolage while doing some exercises or something and where I sometimes listen to podcasts while washing the dishes you could put on the TV instead. But completely setting aside the fact that 4 hours of watching TV isn't something I want to do on a regular basis, I just can't comprehend how it's possible. All the stuff I just mentioned takes you from 1 to 2 hours, not to 4. Basically that would mean your regular day is work, eat, TV, sleep. I'm not sure I can even comprehend reading a (good) book for four hours every day and that's something I might actually want to do.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-16, 09:02:21
Basically that would mean your regular day is work, eat, TV, sleep.
The way of the brain washed slave. An entire life of that.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-10-17, 19:38:48
No place for sex in your life!?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2016-10-17, 22:51:39
282 minutes [...] per day[...]
[...]for sex in your life![...]
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8xAtR.gif&hash=24e7e778ccdeaa487e79517038feec08" rel="cached" data-hash="24e7e778ccdeaa487e79517038feec08" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i.imgur.com/8xAtR.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-18, 22:47:08
Mossul is under attack.
Thanks to Syria and Russia the Islamic State is going to be defeated.
Americans are out. Irrelevant Americans. The times they are a changing....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-10-18, 23:27:29
Thanks to Syria and Russia the Islamic State is going to be defeated.
Russia only means to keep Assad in power… It could care less about ISIS; and has shown that repeatedly. :( Their priorities are not ours. (Of course, with Obama -and, presumably, Clinton next- it's hard to say what "our" priorities are! :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-20, 05:34:48
Russia only means to keep Assad in power... It could care less about ISIS;
Keeping Assad in power is the way to erradicate ISIS. Remember what happened with Saddam and Kadafi.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-20, 08:53:37
Thanks to Syria and Russia the Islamic State is going to be defeated.
Russia only means to keep Assad in power… It could care less about ISIS; and has shown that repeatedly. :( Their priorities are not ours. (Of course, with Obama -and, presumably, Clinton next- it's hard to say what "our" priorities are! :) )
Prior to Obama, what were the priorities? What were W's priorities? To defeat Saddam in the particular way he did it meant creating ISIS. Now you say your priority is or should be to eradicate ISIS? Doesn't pass the laughing test.

You never had any priorities. You simply love regime-building in Middle East as a sweeping social experiment just for the fun of it. Repubs adore social experiments. Trump's candidacy is another social experiment to see how much absolute direct BS can the electorate swallow without thinking. Looks like they swallow pretty much all of it. Successful experiment. Mission accomplished. And lots of fun generated in the process. Celebrate that great country.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-10-21, 00:30:12
What were W's priorities? To defeat Saddam in the particular way he did it meant creating ISIS.
The Obama administration's failure to negotiate a status of forces agreement and our subsequent withdrawal led to ISIS…
"Repubs adore social experiments"! ersi, you seem to know next to nothing about American politics.

But I'll remind you of something: Saddam attempted to assassinate GHW Bush during the Clinton administration… More than enough reason for taking out the guy, eh? The Neocon nation-building stuff was botched, if it ever had a chance. But it was always a liberal (Democrat) notion.

If you want to know about our history of demagogues, you can go as far back as Andrew Jackson…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-10-21, 10:18:31
In String's absence there hasn't been a string of good chocolaty news lately in this thread.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-10-21, 10:48:04
You want good news? I'll give you good news! :yes:
"In 2012, Hostess, the iconic American bakery giant behind Ding Dongs, Ho Hos and Twinkies, was bankrupt, with plans to slash more than 18,000 jobs and close its doors for good amid a crippling nationwide strike.

Then, in 2013, a snack-cake savior appeared. The Missouri-based sweets maker was bought for $410 million by a partnership between private-equity giant Apollo Global Management and C. Dean Metropoulos, a billionaire turnaround artist known as "Mr. Shelf Space" for his revival of brands like Vlasic, Hungry-Man and Chef Boyardee.

Now, the iconic dessert titan is resurgent, selling its golden, cream-filled Twinkies across the world under the name Hostess Brands and turning down $2 billion offers from a pack of hopeful buyers. On Tuesday morning, the company reached its latest peak when Reuters, citing anonymous sources, suggested Hostess would head to Wall Street with an initial public offering that would value the company at around $2.5 billion."
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJySRoPO7gBZgq00MgxUGo6ouEeCvKXbRRApt4aHJVEIBub6G4)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-10-22, 05:22:26
Geeze, Jaybro… Posting actual good news in this thread? What were you thinking? :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-10-22, 11:12:53
Sweden and Germany have the best passports (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/how-powerful-is-your-passport-2016-rankings?).

Quote
A new ranking has revealed which nations have the most powerful passports. Passport Index (https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php) ranks our travel documents by measuring the number of countries that can be visited without applying for a visa.

The 2016 ranking puts Germany and Sweden at the top of the passport league. Holders of German and Swedish passports can visit 158 countries without the need to apply for a visa.

Last year, the United States and the United Kingdom shared the top spot. The US has now slipped to fourth place.

British passports have slipped to second place, where they enjoy the same status as France, Spain, Switzerland and Finland.


Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-22, 11:23:56
Nobody needs to visit 158 countries.
Afghanistan's passport, the "worst" one with 24 countries, seems to me more than enough for 99,999999 % of the world population.

Mass tourism is always bad news. Nothing but local population's prostitution.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-22, 19:37:07
Interesting picture there jimbro and reminds me that I sometimes like to eat things I shouldn't.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-10-24, 14:59:59
The map of passports by color is neat. https://www.passportindex.org/byLocation.php

A quick scan of the differences between the Netherlands/Belgium and the US suggests the major biggies are Brazil and Venezuela. I don't know about Venezuela, but I seem to recall that Brazil is a form of retribution.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-25, 00:32:17
Well I am glad that in due course our passport will change and shout hooray!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-25, 04:52:46
Weren't most passports in Europe blue until EU turned them red? Which European countries had red passports prior to EU? Was the red colour for passports in EU picked just to emulate SU or is there some other reason?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-10-25, 10:14:28
The Dutch passport was dark blue while the West German passport was dark green. The burgundy was decided in 1981, see http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:41981X0919:EN:HTML

Interestingly, the French passport, too, was dark blue. Because in my mind the Brits were opposed to burgundy on account of the French. Emulating the Soviet Union? Do you jest, or is that something Soviet propaganda proclaimed? :lol:

But yeah, that means the Netherlands, France and the UK had blue. I couldn't find Belgium or Luxembourg. Perhaps burgundy was chosen precisely because it was a color no one had?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-10-25, 11:54:58
Swedish was nice black waterproof (plastic cover) with inner pocket. Nice, but today's smaller passports fit pocket more easily.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-26, 00:36:53
British one used to be dark blue too so would be brilliant if we went back to that once out of the EU.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-26, 18:14:02
Afghanistan's economy is doing better than ever https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/23/afghanistan-opium-production-soaring-un-office-on-drugs-and-crime
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-27, 01:19:20
Yes and a dreadful situation considering all the Western military stuff in that mess of a country. Farcical.

Got a bit of more personal and local news re a lady who I went with decades ago and married someone who ended up a drunken waste of time.  Said she was made to remember me. Natural of course as women have always been fascinated by me (passing sigh).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-29, 08:36:19
Pope's going to visit Southern Sweden on Oct 31 (http://www.sydsvenskan.se/2016-10-28/hur-manga-tanker-se-paven-valkommen-till-gissningsfesten)

It's taken as a circus: The main act will be set up on Malmö Arena with warm-ups like Cirkus Cirkör and other performing artists. Tickets available for 100 kronor. And you can place your bet on how many people will show up for the event.

Not too bad news, so I suppose it's good.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-10-29, 08:46:58
So to speak, a Halloween party Swedish style. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-29, 11:03:05
Even not speaking Swedish, I was able to notice the bad faith of the article.
I wonder why in the hell the Pope decided to visit them. Some things needs to change regarding the way we deal with protestants.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-10-29, 11:28:30
I wonder why in the hell the Pope decided to visit them. Some things needs to change regarding the way we deal with protestants.
The plan seems to be exactly to change the way catholics deal with protestants.

Here's why the Pope is coming to Sweden (https://www.thelocal.se/20160125/pope-to-visit-sweden-to-mark-reformation-date)
Quote
Pope Francis will visit Sweden, a bastion of the Lutheran Church, to mark next year's 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation in Europe.
Maybe Francis will convert to Lutheran or something. That would be a change.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-29, 12:04:46
The plan seems to be exactly to change the way catholics deal with protestants.
I was referring to change this inter faith dialogue absurd. There's nothing to dialogue between Catholics and separatists.
Maybe Francis will convert to Lutheran or something. That would be a change.
Francis is a good man, says many right things and, as all other people, also makes many mistakes.
Can the Holy Spirit guide His Holiness in the Throne of Peter.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-10-29, 12:16:44
Can the Holy Spirit guide His Holiness in the Throne of Peter.
  • undefined
  • (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=21.msg66982#)
Holiness? Full of holes?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-30, 05:26:55
Yabadabadoo Belfrager! Yep you might want to con the Protestants but we use the grey cells and don't get mucked with all the rituals and stuff and a mixture of Christianity and non stuff from history boy!

Will put my sash on now and shout so open the window as my cry might reach you...."No surrender!" :knight:  :hat:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-10-30, 09:56:33
but we use the grey cells
Miracles... I thought you didn't believe in miracles.
Good news, another protestant converting. I'll thank to Virgin Mary for that.
and shout so open the window as my cry might reach you...
Jesus, come on Rjhowie, let your neighbours to sleep in peace.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-10-31, 03:28:29
They will sleep better if they realise the errors and false doctrines a lot produce.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-11-01, 10:41:11
First of November, holiday in Portugal. While the rest of the world works, we commemorate things more important than work.
All Saints day.  :angel:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-11-02, 12:24:42
A Protestant and a Catholic disagreeing. Any Muslims out there? Anybody!?!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-03, 01:28:53
Well jimbro there is a similarity as to what is happening in  the ex-colonies right now so spoils your effort.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-03, 05:02:21
The Chicago Cubs win their first World Series since 1908…! :)

And what a game it was! (Although, the way it was going, I was actually surprised it only took ten innings… :) )

And, for Sang's benefit: Here's one of the "right wing" blogs (http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/441719/baseball-goes-deep-extra-innings-game-seven) I read. (Bet you he can come up with "left wing" blogs saying much the same… America's pastime ain't really politics, ya know! :)  That used to be one of our advantages; perhaps, one of our virtues!
And if he was rooting for the Indians: My condolences. They played well. Maybe next year…)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-03, 06:43:44
I'm glad to be posting twice-in-a-row to this thread!

Drinking water is readily available, almost everywhere technology isn't eschewed…
Quote
One very promising innovation is hardly a blip on the radar screen. It is commonly known as desalination — the conversion of salt water into safe and reliable drinking water. It is now in use in 120 countries worldwide [which] have desalination[,] including Algeria, Chile, Spain, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Iran, Israel, South Africa, Portugal, Greece, Italy, India, China, Japan, and Australia.
(source (http://www.capoliticalreview.com/top-stories/urgent-need-to-re-think-states-failing-water-policies/?utm_source=CAPoliticalReview.com&utm_campaign=401aa37751-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b855a22bd3-401aa37751-302961965))
(Don't read the source if you aren't interested in the travails of California — for Belfrager: It's a U.S. state… :) I've lived there for more than 40 years; and I was born there — although I don't remember it.)

Supposedly, this is a big problem! And -given the available technology- one that shouldn't be. Eh? :(
I mean, if Portugal can manage it… (Of course, they do have an ocean near-by!)

Seriously: Why does anyone lack potable water today?

(Much the same reasons that countries can't feed themselves, I'd posit.)

My apologies: I've transgressed the unstated (and seldom followed) rule of this thread; I direct my apology to string himself, who had a noble admirable purpose… :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-11-03, 14:47:43
I mean, if Portugal can manage it... (Of course, they do have an ocean near-by!)
Better to not mis quote your sources of sources:
Quote
As of 2014, over 120 countries have at least one desalination plant. These countries include: the United States, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Aruba, Chile, Spain, Cyprus, Egypt, Grand Cayman, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Iran, Israel, Malta, Gibraltar, Maldives, Cape Verde, South Africa, Portugal, Greece, Italy, India, China, Japan, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Nice selection of countries, I and all my country fellowmen stayed curious for our imaginary desalinization plant. It must work like a charm, nobody has ever heard about it before.

Seriously: Why does anyone lack potable water today?
Two thirds of the world lacks potable water. More, in the future to come.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-11-03, 16:47:53
Seriously: Why does anyone lack potable water today?
Because reality has a well-known liberal bias.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-03, 22:07:37
I and all my country fellowmen stayed curious for our imaginary desalinization plant. It must work like a charm, nobody has ever heard about it before
Of course (http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/desalination-plant-in-alvor-a-success/1525): Ostriches neither see nor hear, when their heads are stuck in the sand…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-11-04, 00:02:02
@OakdaleFTL

Misattributed quote.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-04, 01:59:36
Sorry, ersi! (I don't know how that happened: I used the site's Quick Quote button…) At any rate, I've fixed the quote.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-11-04, 06:06:33
@OakdaleFTL

It happens invariably by pushing Quick Quote in another post than the post where the text is selected. You can try it for fun in the test section.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-11-04, 11:52:18
Of course (http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/desalination-plant-in-alvor-a-success/1525): Ostriches neither see nor hear, when their heads are stuck in the sand...
Congratulations, you've found the only source nobody reads but tourists at holidays in Algarve. A desalinization plant is not a kind of reverse osmosis domestic unit some luxury hotel uses for watering the garden at years of drought.

To find the only Portuguese desalinization plant that exists you need to leave Portugal and to go in direction of your country until the middle of the Atlantic ocean, to the Porto Santo island. Unlike the nearby Madeira, there's no fresh water in the island.
Since you never heard about Porto Santo before, I was right - no such production plant in Portugal. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-11-04, 18:17:36
I've lived there for more than 40 years; and I was born there -- although I don't remember it.
Sad when the memory slips like that. I've tried to banish the memory of my conception but just can't do it.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia4.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2Fl41m04gr7tRet7Uas%2F200w.gif&hash=aaa5d5b7e6cbe7ca914e92bdc01cef75" rel="cached" data-hash="aaa5d5b7e6cbe7ca914e92bdc01cef75" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://media4.giphy.com/media/l41m04gr7tRet7Uas/200w.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-05, 03:07:28
Hope you remember everything since then?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-05, 09:00:43
Congratulations, you've found the only source nobody reads but tourists at holidays in Algarve.
Google is your friend! But reality is your enemy… Desalination obviously doesn't exist as a proven technology, because…? Hm.
It doesn't happen in Portugal, if Belfrager doesn't notice it; and, if someone else does that Belfrager doesn't like, it doesn't matter… Because it's against his agenda: Which is what, in general terms? :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-11-05, 10:01:17
It doesn't happen in Portugal, if Belfrager doesn't notice it;
Pravda is my Russian middle name...  ;)

Today's good news: nothing special, I'll see tomorrow again.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2016-11-05, 23:38:22
Timothy Michael Dolan, the Archbishop of New York is preparing for Christmas while he enjoys his adorable sheep.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn1.spiegel.de%2Fimages%2Fimage-1067504-galleryV9-kvfc-1067504.jpg&hash=c3af0d3831d84e5b0a79c3f514a9ba39" rel="cached" data-hash="c3af0d3831d84e5b0a79c3f514a9ba39" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://cdn1.spiegel.de/images/image-1067504-galleryV9-kvfc-1067504.jpg)

In case someone might wonder what the heck is the good news of it - well, it's something US related without reference to Billary, the Donald, the CIA, the NSA, the Pentagon or the NATO. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-06, 19:06:35
A kind of long tradition from that spiritual corner.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-11-10, 19:14:01
He should have a drink in his hand...Scotch, perhaps?
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marysliquor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F07%2Fscotch.jpg&hash=8339b62dc4678afbd554dea6b345d854" rel="cached" data-hash="8339b62dc4678afbd554dea6b345d854" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.marysliquor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/scotch.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-10, 23:12:35
Nah! He can't abide anything stronger than Irn Bru… (And it has to be diet, to boot! He's afraid of losing his girlish figure? :) )
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-11, 18:50:10
Well if I wanted to be girlish I could be in your military Oakdale. In WW1 Scots soldiers were feared by the German troops (as that side admitted) which is more than can be said for your lot.  :P 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-11-12, 19:47:25
Is this good news or bad news, boys?
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAqmVycBUwY[/video]
Otherwise known as Putinville.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-11-13, 16:48:14
Here in Stockholm/Södertälje it's bad news. We've just had unusually and unseasonably heavy snow, and then next week there'll be warm weather, a bit of rain, and then on top a sprinkle of more snow. In other words we can look forward to slush and grime in massive doses, pretty much like in the beginning of that video.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-13, 23:10:26
Well for most u=ofus who have been educated such weather in winter is perfectly routine and normal. t
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2016-11-14, 11:17:13
It was earlier and more heavy than usual, but well, snow happens. It delayed my flight from Prague a little, but I've lived in inland areas. Stockholmers have been complaining non-stop, but it's really not a big deal.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fcached-images.bonnier.news%2Fcms30%2FUploadedImages%2F2016%2F11%2F9%2F03aff5ef-e0ac-4ca9-b6c7-7468835fb53c%2FbigOriginal.jpg%3Finterpolation%3Dlanczos-none%26amp%3Bdownsize%3D%2A%3A400%26amp%3Boutput-quality%3D80%26amp%3Boutput-format%3Djpeg&hash=ede3587a43f9f334dc0df86d646a868a" rel="cached" data-hash="ede3587a43f9f334dc0df86d646a868a" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://cached-images.bonnier.news/cms30/UploadedImages/2016/11/9/03aff5ef-e0ac-4ca9-b6c7-7468835fb53c/bigOriginal.jpg?interpolation=lanczos-none&downsize=*:400&output-quality=80&output-format=jpeg)

My gripe with Oslo is that, as the city is bowl-shaped, in a typical winter the outer parts have snow, the center is bare, and no matter the weather there will be a thaw/freeze belt somewhere inbetween. Living in Oslo wintertime means learning how to retain your balance on slippery ice.

Stockholm on the other hand is an archipelago between a lake and the Baltic Sea, and relatively flatter. It was Oslo-level slippery for a while, but the main gripe with Stockholm is slush. Some years seems doomed to a permaslush, where you wade through this grimy goo for months. This may be one of those years. It's pretty for a day or two, and then you'd rather go somewhere else for a while. 


(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/14564951_164398410692677_6115497640923758592_n.jpg?ig_cache_key=MTM4MjU5NTc4NjYzMDI5MDQwNA%3D%3D.2)


Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2016-11-16, 07:13:29
As a fellow lapsed Catholic, you should appreciate this (http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/re-vampires-john-h-watson-m-d), Jaybro!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-11-16, 20:10:49
As a fellow lapsed Catholic, you should appreciate this (http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/re-vampires-john-h-watson-m-d), Jaybro!
  • undefined
  • (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=21.msg67549#)
I like to think of myself as a successful escapee.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-17, 11:00:04
You are, you are.....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-11-17, 19:18:41
There's a new article about phonology making the rounds, which to me is usually good news: https://blogs.umass.edu/phonolist/2016/10/21/hall-hume-jaeger-wedel-2016-the-message-shapes-phonology/

Unfortunately I won't have time to read it until next week. I do think the phrase "language as a system of message transfer" in the abstract is a bit suspicious at first glance because it seems to sweep the social aspect of language under the table.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2016-11-24, 19:16:46
For those of us who are celebrating Thanksgiving, kill a turkey. :chef:
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fdbclipart.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F02%2FFree-turkey-clipart-and-animations.gif&hash=c6cf1698fa811d03a9d83da27f639cae" rel="cached" data-hash="c6cf1698fa811d03a9d83da27f639cae" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://dbclipart.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Free-turkey-clipart-and-animations.gif)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-11-24, 21:39:36
So what are you supposed to be thankful for?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2016-12-02, 16:16:13
I thought this was pretty cool.

Jeff Atkins, Can drinking tea help us understand climate change? (http://blogs.plos.org/ecology/2016/06/17/can-drinking-tea-help-us-understand-climate-change/), Plos One blog.
Quote
We were struggling making many litterbags, and we could not find the right fabric. I discussed this with Joost Keuskamp, the first author on the methods paper, during a tea break at a conference, we realized that the tea bag was actually a ready-made litter bag. I was writing my thesis at that time, and as an excuse to go out and do some field work, I started to bury tea on a sunny day. Later the idea was developed further in a course together with Bas Dingemans and Taru Lehtinen, and we came up with the idea to use different tea types as proxies for different phases in the decomposition process.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-12-02, 21:02:30
Still curious about the thanksgiving dinner thing......
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2016-12-12, 18:46:15
Mouse restaurant re-opened.

(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fsverigesradio.se%2Fsida%2Fimages%2F96%2F53fb415f-34e2-4be8-bf9b-9075522d101f.jpg&hash=cf858ae58bc7226910eed6cf652f5abe" rel="cached" data-hash="cf858ae58bc7226910eed6cf652f5abe" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://sverigesradio.se/sida/images/96/53fb415f-34e2-4be8-bf9b-9075522d101f.jpg)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2016-12-25, 09:56:57
It's Christmas.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2016-12-26, 02:50:57
It certainly is and I am waiting for a charming lady dishing out a kiss rather than me carrying mistletoe.....
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-01-08, 22:47:22
Another traitor is dead.
Can God have mercy for his sins, because we don't.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-08, 01:57:29
Twitter suing the U.S. government (https://politics.slashdot.org/story/17/04/06/2027232/twitter-sues-us-government-over-attempt-to-unmask-anti-trump-account) over order to "unmask" user critical of the Customs service and the current administration… They should prevail: It's an obvious 1st Amendment issue.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-08, 22:00:01
Well, that (http://www.redstate.com/jimjamitis/2017/04/07/trump-administration-loses-skirmish-alt-gov-twitter-resistance/) was fast… :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-04-09, 01:10:37
The good news continues with the fact that the wee smart alec, Nicola Sturgeon is over in the ex-colonies and sooking in with that waste of time, Hilary Clinton.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-12, 01:30:29
Quote
Lawsuit: Santa Clara Elections Run Afoul of Voting Rights Act

By Jennifer Wadsworth, SanJoseInside,  4/6/17

A new lawsuit claims the city of Santa Clara’s at-large elections violate state law by systematically discriminating against Asian-Americans.

The city’s winner-take-all system dilutes minority votes and has prevented Asian-Americans from ever being elected to the City Council, according to the complaint filed last week by retired social worker Wes Mukoyama. In 2016 alone, five Asian-American candidates lost despite the fact that almost 40 percent of the city and a third of its electorate is of Asian descent.

“Something is wrong when such a sizeable Asian-American population cannot elect candidates of its choice,” said Mukoyama, who’s represented by civil rights attorney Robert Rubin and the nonprofit Asian Law Alliance.

The California Voting Rights Act prohibits at-large elections in jurisdictions with racially polarized voting patterns, which, according to the lawsuit, persist in Santa Clara. Not a single Asian-American has won a seat on the council since at least 1951, when Santa Clara adopted its city charter.

“It is unconscionable that the city would allow such wide scale disenfranchisement of such a significant segment of its population,” said Rubin, who successfully resolved more than a dozen voting rights cases in California. “It is particularly troublesome because the discrimination is based upon race.”

Santa Clara spokeswoman Jennifer Yamaguma said switching to district elections would require a ballot measure to amend the city charter. But, she added, the city’s Ethics Committee has advised the council to reconvene the Charter Review Committee, which will ultimately decide whether to bring the measure to voters.

Rubin called the city’s initiatory action “window dressing.”

“They’re not promising to do anything,” he said. “They’re promising to study the issue, but we’re not interested in studying this issue. We want it resolved.”

Richard Konda, head of the Asian Law Alliance, said he’s not going to hold his breath either. Mukoyama brought the issue to the city’s attention more than five years ago. Though the city formed the Charter Review Committee to address the concern, Konda said, nothing changed.

“They’ve been aware of the problem for quite a while,” Konda said. “They’ve had a lot of time to fix this but haven’t. Santa Clara continues to be one of those cities where the council doesn’t reflect the diversity of the city.”

Rubin has sent multiple letters over the past year urging the city to correct course or risk a lawsuit, he said, but each one was ignored.

“People don’t give up power voluntarily unless they’re forced to,” Rubin said.

Click here (http://www.sanjoseinside.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Santa-Clara-Voting-Rights-Lawsuit.pdf) to read a copy of the complaint.
(I'd give the link; but I've already given the entirety of the post…)
This  will fail. Even in the 9th Circuit.

Wes Mukoyama is a typical Democrat: He seems to think that people should vote in proportion to their racial representation in the population… (We need quotas!) It seems to me that this is Howie's sort of "wider" democracy!
I'm sure we'll all wait with bated breath to see what happens.

Why is this good news? Well, the left is coming off the rails… (Many of us on the right knew they were, many years ago. But examples like this make it plain to everybody.)
Title: Population - who cares?
Post by: Barulheira on 2017-04-12, 11:48:57
So, it's not desirable that the votes represent the population.
How typically American.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-12, 17:48:17
So, it's not desirable that the votes represent the population.
By your reasoning (and Mukoyama's…), we don't need to vote: Just determine the race/ethnicity of the candidates and allot "votes" according to the latest census tally of the same!
Or did you miss the meaning of Mukoyama's complaint? :) He thinks he should be elected because he looks more like the majority, who didn't vote for him…
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2017-04-12, 19:26:58
Your reading comprehension is astounding.
When you reply to what I (or Mukoyama) actually said, we can discuss further.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2017-04-12, 19:47:40
They want proportional representation of course.
Title: Representation
Post by: Barulheira on 2017-04-12, 19:55:10
They expect that the representation should somehow reflect the population. They are not asking for quotas.
So, they are questioning why does it not happen to a reasonable measure.
My answer is simple: it's not the people who elects - it's the system.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-12, 20:32:06
I take issue with your definition of "represent"… It means something else here than "looks like" or "sounds like". The city Counsel (and Mayor) represents the entire city.
What the suit calls for is Gerrymandering based on race/ethnicity… (Or something else -left to the court to impose- that achieves the same result.) It's an old story: Don't win at the polls, sue.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2017-04-12, 21:02:28
Not my definition, but English https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proportional_representation

And English sucks. Everybody knows it. And winner-take-all is the worst gerrymandering system imaginable. Everybody knows that too, except Oakdale.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-04-13, 00:15:25
Hhhm - city Counsel? Perhaps should be City Council?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-13, 01:06:20
Suit yourself… :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-04-13, 01:15:36
We don't "practice" proportional representation… It's a system for children. :) ("Come now, boys and girls: Play nice! Everyone will get a turn!")
Your opinion of English is noted, ersi. I'll give it due weight… :)

On the example of RJ (and facilitated by jax), let's take this conversation here (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=2675.0)… :) 'K?

String's original topic deserves its precedence.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-04-13, 09:49:40
You can never admit wrong but part of the braining over there.  ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-04-30, 22:16:04
His Holyness, Pope Francis, survived without any armoured car in Egypt.
He went to embrasse our beloved Muslim brothers because we are all children of God.

This one has balls, that I recognise.
Now he comes to Fátima.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-04-30, 23:10:52
Oyr Muslim brothers?? (groan  :faint: )
Title: Oyr?
Post by: Barulheira on 2017-05-02, 11:44:07
Whoever Oyr is, he and his brothers are welcome here.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-05-02, 18:36:47
Well you speak for yourself and as Islam spreads it brings death, destruction wherever. In my country the authorities have had to admit a constant problem on people supporting militancy and working on bombs and such. It is the same and often much worse over on the European continent. One regularity is the danger and the numbers who support the idiots who live on such.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-05-02, 23:33:21
Whoever Oyr is, he and his brothers are welcome here.
You do know, Barulheira. that you're inviting RJ and his ilk to your country? :)

And BTW: Have you a local chapter of ISIS yet? (Yes, you know you do… At least you would, if you pay attention. Please understand, I don't want your country to experience the violence they perpetrate. But, if you don't care, you'll deserve what you get.)

So: I'll ask again, if we have contentious opinions, shouldn't we take to another thread?

(string, I again thank you for starting this thread, so long ago!)
Title: Muslims
Post by: Barulheira on 2017-05-03, 01:24:15
Muslims and ISIS aren't the same thing.
There are several Muslim communities in the larger cities, and we don't have been having trouble with them so far - at least not because of religious affairs. We have enough trouble with our own Catholic citizens. :right:
ISIS hasn't been around here, and they have better places to spread their terrorist propaganda elsewhere.
So: I'll ask again, if we have contentious opinions, shouldn't we take to another thread?
You're welcome.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2017-05-03, 05:27:32
You're welcome.
Good. You get the last word (I hope).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-05-04, 00:38:26
Because South America is too far away is an advantage but it does not water down the fact that Islam IS a global danger. They have flooded into places like Europe and my country and of course there are moderates in that corner but the number of supporters of militancy run into the tens of millions. Here ever week or two another person is arrested for planning something. Violence across Europe  is not the corner of Roman Catholics, Protestant or Humanism it is Islam. Mohammed was an evil git and his life style proves it hence the violence their immigrants bring with them. Moderate Muslims do a body swerve on that and we had two cities here in GB where the widespread sexual activity of groups of Muslim young men was widespread and a disgrace. They cannot get away with it with their own females but we "kaffirs"  -w ell the female ones are free game. By the end of this century my country and mainland europe will be a hell hole. :irked:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2017-05-04, 13:03:56
By the end of this century my country and mainland europe will be a hell hole.
ISIS is a pinprick, not an organization that  represents a major threat to any European nation. Within 10 years they won't be a threat to any nation, large or small. That will take us to 2027, at which date I'll be dead. Take me to task then...unless ISIS has conquered Scotland. Do you think that likely?
==========
"The start of 2016 saw the highest number of terrorism deaths in Western Europe since 2004, BBC research has revealed.
The first seven months of the year saw 143 deaths, which is also the second worst start to the year since 1980.
The Madrid train bombings in March 2004 left 191 people dead."
"In the first nine months of 2016, an estimated 27,875 people died in motor vehicle crashes on our (United States) roadways. That is an increase of about 8% compared to the 25,808 fatalities in the first nine months of 2015."
Ban cars!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2017-05-04, 13:25:35
Ban cars!
I'm largely for that in the form of self-driving cars. ;)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-05-05, 00:34:50
Dear Mr Retired Tennessee, either delusion or a grey cell exercise but whichevere you are wrong.

Every week here the management of the Metropolitan Police, etc have admitted that there is a routine investigation week in and out of suspected danger people. Recently a faulty bomb that did not explode on the London tube and another where a man got stopped in the city centre of London with a bag full of large knives, etc. Look at France and what is going on over there. Other places in Europe are getting serious problems and saying ISIS will not last means nothing. There have been very controversial marches down south in England with Muslims including posters calling for the death of anyone decrying Islam. Others warning that they will not give in and will rule here in time. Muslims re in growing numbers here and set in the seven figures and still rising.  You do not have to say you are an ISIS person to be a damn danger and as their families sprout they will continue to grow and it will be the hard truth at the rate they come in and breed they will determine where this country for one will go.

The Mayor of London who is a Muslim said a couple of years back that moderate Muslims had become 'Uncle Toms'. He has since withdrawn it as the usual stuff but there is an element of truth in that. Two cities as i have stated were festooned with young Muslim squads of their teen and twenty age groups having a field day on sexual assaults, etc on local non-Muslim girls. The police had been on the deliberate back foot as had the authorities and then the whole ting exploded.

Moderate Muslims by and large say little - an odd organisation only but they do little or nothing to do anything about the increasing numbers of their young who are militant interested. They don't want to be seen nipping at their religion founded by that evil Mohammed. He advocated violence, bodies mutilated as well as killing of un-believers. Those parts of the Koran are suddenly forgotten about by the moderates. Muslims do not become part of communities they set up their own or take over places to be their own so multiculturalism means damn all to them.  You live in a big country not as we do so the problem is greater here AND in mainland Europe.As Islam grows the proportion of the tendency to be violent grows with it so this island and Europe is in for a hell so do try and realise things are very different than your big place. Oh and I would remind that ISIS is not the only dangerous Islamic danger.  :knight:

I will not be here when this country gets saturated but it does not stop me feeling sad about the damn future.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Mr. Tennessee on 2017-05-05, 09:54:27
Hitler couldn't do it; The British Empire failed.
ISIS is doomed.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/middle-east/isis-revolutionary-state (https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/middle-east/isis-revolutionary-state)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-05-05, 18:10:38
And the world's present imperial country will fail too. None of which circumvents what we on this island are going to get in the future decades as I directly and practically indicated.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-07-09, 23:06:13
Islamic Sate is defeated.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-07-10, 01:43:46
Yeah in the battlefield Belfrager but they have wekk settled in Europe and a damn dangerous crowd of religious fanatics to a weir religion.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2017-07-10, 06:13:03
Islamic Sate is defeated.
At least they lost control of Mosul (what's left of it) and is losing control of Raqqa. That is good news. But the conflicts they took advantage of and exacerbated are still there.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-07-11, 00:43:27
And they cause problems everywhere else too including here in Europe. The number of people arrested here in GB on suspected terrorist efforts is well into three figures and look what has recently happened in London and Manchester. Even worse on mainland Europe. It is the worst religion for terror anywhere and they flock here for the social benefits, etc. Trying to get democracy and Islam together is a damn mountain to climb.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-07-11, 23:08:26
The good news was about IS to be defeated, the bad news is why it took it so long... the battle for Mossul, 260 days long, it's already considered the biggest battle after WWII.

IS by itself it's an impossibility, someone created them and has been supporting them. Who?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2017-07-12, 11:53:34
All this dwelling on the innards of the Islamic State moves it out of the purview of Good News. As fortune would have it we already have a califatalistic thread (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=511.0). 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2017-07-12, 18:07:32
Yep you are so right there IS a thread on that and should be kept there and not in this one. So to emphasise the good news I would inform that I took part in my annual Battle of The Boyne celebration parade in my city on the 12th July. Good weather, good crowd and good turnout to encourage my regalia! The three other parades in west, central and east of the country all had good turnouts to! :lol:

ps Going on today across in Ulster all over the place (big bonfires the night before)  :whistle:  :hat: .
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-08-10, 22:25:39
Good news at the silly season, I like to read the technical posts at the Otter forum that I don't understand. (not sure if they do...)
Much better than being massacred with celebrities "life".
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2017-10-19, 13:53:16
Certainly good news for some:
Quote
Acute alcohol consumption may have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language in people who have recently learned that language.
souce (http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269881117735687) :)

Don't forget to drink some beer during your German lessons, some wine during your French lessons and some whiskey during your English lessons. :drunk:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Barulheira on 2017-10-19, 15:33:09
If you want to learn Portuguese, you better drink some cool water. :left:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2017-10-19, 16:39:49
souce (http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269881117735687) :)
Did you drink enough before you wrote this?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2017-10-19, 16:44:13
Yeah, that English r is a tough one. Some drink might shake it loose. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-10-19, 23:02:44
If you want to learn Portuguese,
That's impossible, too much complex for them.
German is also impossible for us, too much boring.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2017-11-12, 09:43:13
Quote from: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41956191
Venus and Jupiter conjunction: Sky-watchers await dawn display

Jupiter and Venus will be visible to the naked eye close together in the sky before dawn on Monday.

[...]

Jupiter's four Galilean moons will also be visible to those with a telescope. Clear skies are needed...

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2017-11-12, 18:58:17
Clear skies. Hah!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2017-11-13, 23:02:09
Dark skies it's what is needed. Stop light pollution, disable electricity by night.
Mankind can't see the stars anymore.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2017-11-14, 18:58:33
I was referring to the clouds but that'd be nice too. :P

I miss the Milky Way. :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2018-08-02, 19:12:18
Fields Medal Is Stolen Minutes After It's Given in Brazil
Quote from: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/02/world/europe/fields-medal-theft-caucher-birkar.html
A 14-karat gold medal often described as the Nobel Prize for mathematics was stolen minutes after it was awarded to a Cambridge University professor at a ceremony in Brazil on Wednesday.

[...]

Within minutes of receiving the award, Dr. Birkar noticed that his briefcase containing the gold medal, his wallet and his cellphone was missing, the Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported.
It's good news that we hear something from Brazil
Title: Good news from Brazil
Post by: Barulheira on 2018-08-03, 15:01:41
I don't think so.  :left:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: krake on 2018-08-04, 08:38:42
There are also good news from Estonia. Good news for some, at least...

British study paints a sad picture of Russians in Estonia (https://news.postimees.ee/4385189/british-study-paints-a-sad-picture-of-russians-in-estonia)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2018-08-04, 23:45:16
Yes the situ in Estonia for Russians is sad.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2020-02-13, 08:05:32
I was very pleased with Bernie Sanders win in New Hampshire. The DNC is making the same mistakes the RNC did with Herr Trumpenfuehrer, and Bernie being the nominee looms ever closer. Only potential challenge I see is that rotten bourgeoisie, Bloomberg with his billions to waste.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2020-03-31, 14:58:24
I discovered a nice thing, Grammarly (https://app.grammarly.com/ddocs/735691394) (free version).
It's already working integrated in D&D. Now on I cheat and write like Shakespeare.  :)

Are you reading this rjhowie?  :irked:

I just have a doubt, do you want me to write in American English, British English, Canadian English or Australian English?   :lol:

Of course, it will record people's conversation, another police system controlling us. I'll uninstall it soon.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2020-03-31, 15:52:59
I just have a doubt, do you want me to write in American English, British English, Canadian English or Australian English?   :lol:
Jamaican! :up:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2020-03-31, 23:36:34
On good news a woman I know told me I was exceptional. Nice when a sensible woman knows the obvious.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2020-04-03, 06:05:50
I discovered a nice thing, Grammarly (https://app.grammarly.com/ddocs/735691394) (free version).
It's already working integrated in D&D. Now on I cheat and write like Shakespeare.

I thought I should translate that text to Early Modern English, to make it truly Shakespearean, but forsooth! those translators are ridiculous.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2020-04-04, 01:03:59
Well they re pleasing lesser brained folk eh?!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2020-04-04, 05:48:44
I just have a doubt,

That's not really American English there, I'm guessing you chose one of the others then?

It'd be more like "My only doubt is,"
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2020-04-04, 07:27:17
eh eh you're absolutely right ensbb3, it isn't American English and probably none of the other "something English".
I just wrote a literal translation from Portuguese way of speaking but using English words. The program didn't complain.

This moment, the programs indicates me to remove "absolutely" and to add "the" before Portuguese. I want the program to f****.

Anyway, I'm aware that many times I just translate Portuguese to English words without caring if the result is the correct way of speaking in English or not. The reason I don't care is because any other nationality speaks English even worst, the exception being for Frenzie and Ersi.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2020-04-04, 21:09:43
Anyway, I'm aware that many times I just translate Portuguese to English words without caring if the result is the correct way of speaking in English or not.
I've noticed and have no problems with it.


Please forgive me for having fun with this...
I want the program to f****.
Per your usual one might assume the proper translation (minus the extra "*") is: "I want to fuck the program". :)
Now I think you meant; "I want the program to fuck off". And I can agree, you did fine without it.

:cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2020-05-12, 00:44:49
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDjNX3nEfYo[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2020-08-23, 17:03:51
I discovered a nice thing
I had to try it: Bet my writing gives the program conniptions! :)
I just have a doubt, do you want me to write in American English, British English, Canadian English or Australian English?
I'd have had you replace the first phrase with something more idiomatic; but it's not unclear or ungrammatical.
As you know, I'm never wordy... So I'd suggest "Would you rather I wrote...."; that way you'd see that English does actually have more than the few paltry tenses primers generally list!

Your usage above of "absolutely" is entirely correct; about the "the" before "Portuguese," either way is okay -- except perhaps to Elizebeth Barrett Browning, who was probably thinking of islands... :)
The reason I don't care is because any other nationality speaks English even worst,
I'm never going to convince you that there's a difference between the comparative and the superlative, am I? :)
"from bad to worse; from worse to worst -- and that's as bad as it gets" should help (though I doubt it will!)

How, I wonder, did that program allow to type this entire post without molestation?
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2020-08-24, 02:24:17
Uninstalled Grammarly -- aparantly for the same reason I did so in December of 2017! For me, it's not worth the bother.
And I agree with ensbb3, Belfrager: You likely don't need it for any practical purpose.
Bernie being the nominee looms ever closer. Only potential challenge I see is that rotten bourgeoisie, Bloomberg with his billions to waste.
How does a seemingly unreconstructed Son of the South square his desire to see an unrepentant Socialist become his party's nominee with any rational political motive? Or is it just Orange Man Bad? :) (Don't get a case of the vapors, Colonel! We probably won't discuss politics further...)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2020-08-24, 23:44:05
This theme title reminds me of the greatness I did over the years in women who had the privilege of going out with me.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ensbb3 on 2020-08-27, 03:36:07
the greatness I did over the years in women who had the privilege of going out with me.

 :yuck:  :zip:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: rjhowie on 2020-08-27, 20:23:23
I do not mind you being passingly envious.  8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2020-09-05, 14:21:02
It occurred to somebody to survey how annoyed people are by advertisements.

Quote from: https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/7547231
– Det är nästan 60 procent som säger sig vara negativa till reklam. Men den visar också en markant förändring de senaste 15 åren på de som gillar reklam. Den har sjunkit från 44 procent år 2004 till 12 procent som det är idag i den mätningen vi har, säger Hanna Riberdahl.
Almost 60% of Swedes are negative to advertisements. The number of people who like ads (I did not know those existed) has declined from 44% in 2004 to 12% now.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2020-09-05, 15:00:57
That depends on what you mean by ads. I like contextually relevant ads perfectly fine, as is typical in magazines. Those are what I'd like to call actually targeted ads. They don't seem to invade; they almost fit in with the content. Good ads are informative in a slightly biased manner. "Look, there's a new variety of peanut butter!" (What about the already existing variety that's similar and cheaper? Well, it is an ad…) Would any of this cause me to say I like ads when only given a black or white choice, whether now or 20 years ago? Hard to say. It's not like radio and TV ads weren't mostly shouty and obnoxious already.

Newspaper ads are a lot more random but you know, whatever. By contrast, "targeted" ads are nearly random nonsense that pretty much persecutes you for once having clicked on something, possibly even worse if you were actually thinking about buying it. And they pop in after the page already loaded. And sometimes they move. And they're never clever or relevant to anything. YouTube makes sure to play you an extra ad if you paused the video for ten minutes.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2020-12-31, 11:37:53
Whether good or bad, it is that day of divergence again. (Public service for those of you not on the Lounge). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOzb4NdObKM
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2021-04-02, 03:00:50
Received my 2nd dose of the Moderna Covid vaccine today. :cheers:
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-02, 04:50:32
Congrats, Col.! (Think there's any chance the current admin. will -if the facts do- admit that Fla. and Tx.got "it" right; while Ca. and NY/etc. got "it" wrong? :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2021-04-02, 08:20:10
eceived my 2nd dose of the Moderna Covid vaccine today.  :cheers:

Poor Colonel, what have you done? now you'll start to be controlled like a Zombie (with the help of 5G network)....
 8)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Colonel Rebel on 2021-04-02, 13:17:56
Congrats, Col.! (Think there's any chance the current admin. will -if the facts do- admit that Fla. and Tx.got "it" right; while Ca. and NY/etc. got "it" wrong? :)
Highly unlikely.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-02, 14:51:52
Congrats, Col.! (Think there's any chance the current admin. will -if the facts do- admit that Fla. and Tx.got "it" right; while Ca. and NY/etc. got "it" wrong? :)

? These four states are all middling, Texas lowest among them with 13.2%, California highest with 16.9%, but no massive difference. 

(https://content.fortune.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/vaccine_map_030321-02.png)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-04, 05:26:17
Ah! You want rates of vaccinations... (Like they wanted rates of infection, earlier...; whichever number is scarier, it seems.) Not concerned for economic and social repercussions from over-reactions by political hacks, and their hangers-on... Which is to say, you didn't understand the question!
The Col. did.

Are you the sort of Dr. who considers death a "cure" of disease, jax?:)  It's a Rational Argument; it just happens to miss the the main connotation of the word.The lockdowns were and are good for political shenanigans; not much else. You've heard the expression "throwing out the baby with the bathwater"? How about "cutting off one's nose, to spite his face"?
Let's try just one more: "You reap what you sow..."

Fauchi is a dawdling doddering old fool who aught to have been put out to pasture a decade and a half ago; his minions can easily come up with bad and contradictory advice without him. But I'm sure he and Biden get along famously: Neither should be allowed out off his leash.

Cheers! (You don't live here.)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-04, 10:51:33
The virus kills people, not the vaccine. The virus kills the economy, not the lockdowns.

There are plenty of givens, citizens' health, age, and resources; level of overcrowdedness, quality of and access to the health system, and so on. Based on your givens, and available information, you try to shape the best policy.

You don't want to cede control to the virus, because when you do, health system is overrun, carnage follows and death and disability spikes. When that happens lockdown is the only option. Even when this hasn't happened, lockdown may be the best or necessary way to prevent this from happen (where "lockdown" these days seems to be anything from an actual Wuhan-style lockdown to modest constraints on business or personal activities).

The cure is not worse than the disease, except in a handful cases, but there have been plenty cases where the cure has been wrong, badly timed, or ineffectual. The opportunity cost, the pandemic not handled, has generally been higher than the cost of this cure.



Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2021-04-04, 11:28:21
The virus kills the economy, not the lockdowns.
Yes, if.
If transmission is the way it is said to be, yes. But I doubt very much that transmission occurs that way.

New "waves" of disease appears, with numbers rising geometrically, without people changing nothing in their behavior.
"Waves" also displace geographically, appearing and disappearing, regardless local government's impositions.

Therefore, I doubt very much that transmission occurs the way it is said and the lack of freedom imposed it's a farce and very probably a social engineering experiment.

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2021-04-04, 11:58:15
New "waves" of disease appears, with numbers rising geometrically, without people changing nothing in their behavior.
Just because the rules haven't changed doesn't mean people haven't changed anything in their behavior.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-04-04, 12:05:29
Quote from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu
The Spanish flu, also known as the 1918 influenza pandemic, was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. Lasting from February 1918 to April 1920, it infected 500 million people – about a third of the world's population at the time – in four successive waves. The death toll is typically estimated to have been somewhere between 20 million and 50 million, although estimates range from a conservative 17 million to a possible high of 100 million, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in human history.
The Spanish flu was devastating because there were no countermeasures taken. The Spanish flu was named the Spanish flu because Spain was the first and almost only country where the press freely reported on the pandemic and where the authorities attempted countermeasures.

The current pandemic with countermeasures attempted by most countries seems to end up about as devastating in terms of absolute numbers as the Spanish flu was, but quite different against the proportion of population of the globe. Around 1918-1920 the estimated world population was much below 2 billion.

Personally, I am not sure that it is quite the same disease. Amazingly, in my extended family (which happens to be quite numerous), not a single person has caught covid even while Estonia is spearheading the contagion in relative terms. However, there are a few cases among colleagues.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2021-04-04, 14:03:52
Amazingly, in my extended family (which happens to be quite numerous), not a single person has caught covid even while Estonia is spearheading the contagion in relative terms. However, there are a few cases among colleagues.
I'm not aware of any cases either. My colleague's sister apparently caught it though.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Luxor on 2021-04-04, 14:30:35
My sister caught it and was in hospital for two weeks. Then my Brother-in-law caught it and he has been seriously ill in hospital for over a 100 days now. Three times my sister has had a call to go into the hospital to say her final goodbyes, but he's still fighting.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2021-04-04, 18:09:45
Ah, the dreaded after effects. :/
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Luxor on 2021-04-04, 20:09:32
Ah, the dreaded after effects. :/
Seizures, Kidney failure, Immune system non-existent, to name a few, Think it's fortunate that he was in an induced coma for most of it.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-04-25, 11:53:02
Biden recognizes atrocities against Armenians as genocide
Quote from: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-turkey-government-and-politics-middle-east-europe-dbe6bc9ddac90c1393e6c33ff2220781
The systematic killing and deportation of more than a million Armenians by Ottoman Empire forces in the early 20th century was “genocide,” the United States formally declared on Saturday, as President Joe Biden used that precise word after the White House had avoided it for decades for fear of alienating ally Turkey.

Turkey reacted with furor, with the foreign minister saying his country “will not be given lessons on our history from anyone.” A grateful Armenia said it appreciated Biden’s “principled position” as a step toward “the restoration of truth and historical justice.”
A can of worms, but I prefer a frank head-on fact-based constructive solution-oriented can of worms.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-26, 02:36:28
"Ah feel your pain! All better now? :)" (Just another instance of the Clash of Prejudices. Seems racism is somewhat more widespread than some would have us believe...)
I think back to what Jimmy "J.J." Walker said: They keep fighting in Ireland, a land with no blacks and no Jews... White people are creative!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-26, 17:03:09
Genocides, and their recognition, matter. Though it should really be a matter for lawyers, not historians. The Armenian genocide is at that cut-off point. It matter much in my home town too, as Seyfo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seyfo) is a connected genocide in the transition from the Ottoman empire to the Turkish nation-state, and Södertälje is a major Assyrian city. Another Swedish city, Hässleholm, has taken in many of the diaspora from the genocide on the Yazidi.

The utility of the Genocide Convention (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide_Convention#Other_accusations), in my opinion, depends on genocide being a separate crime in kind from other atrocities. That might be hard in practice. 
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-26, 17:21:56
I stand, nodding, rebuked...
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-04-26, 19:14:50
Turks have been genocidal against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, and more recently Kurds. The issue with Kurds has been problematic in fighting against ISIS, making Turkey a weak link in NATO. If the issue does not get resolved, the weak link may break at some critical point. In fact it should, because it's weak. These issues with Turks are enough of a reason why they cannot ever join the EU.

I stand, nodding, rebuked...
I doubt it. You don't learn even from yesterday, much less from history. On a good note, for the time being it appears that at least you are not a holocaust denier.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-26, 22:15:29
I doubt it. You don't learn even from yesterday, much less from history.
It's quite a treat, to see such a judgemental jingoist play sage on a hill...:)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-04-27, 04:53:51
It's quite a treat, to see such a judgemental jingoist play sage on a hill...
It's simple: I am right, you are wrong. This has always been so in this forum. And you never learned from this.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-27, 05:56:17
It's simple: I am right delusional, hence, you are wrong.
In the old parlance: Fixed that for ya! :)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2021-04-27, 11:26:01
With so many important and urgent things Mr Biden should be concerned with it makes no sense to worry with what a NATO's member,Turkey, did more than one hundred years ago. There must be business going on.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2021-04-27, 11:27:07
It was an election campaign promise. That seems fairly cut and dry.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-04-27, 11:58:56
With so many important and urgent things Mr Biden should be concerned with it makes no sense to worry with what a NATO's member,Turkey, did more than one hundred years ago. There must be business going on.
Of course it is not nice to piss off a fellow NATO member, but the genocide is not a trifle and there are more like it ongoing (oppression against Kurds, occupation of North Cyprus).

All in all, Turkey is an outlier in NATO in a similar way as UK was an outlier in EU. We got rid of UK for less reasons...

Edit: By the way, The Young Turks (a tangentially ethnic Democrat-leaning media outlet in USA) have a complex but overall positive take on it.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5o4u4Wow3o[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-27, 18:46:26
Edit: By the way, The Young Turks (a tangentially ethnic Democrat-leaning media outlet in USA) have a complex but overall positive take on it.

Ana Kasparian has an Armenian background, so it's maybe not too surprising she was happy about Biden decision to just do it, unlike previous presidents.

Incidentally, the verbal gymnastics on the "Ottoman-era Armenian genocide" has made some around here dissatisfied. By avoiding fingering Turkey directly, Assyrian and Greeks were not explicitly included.

But currently the genocide on Rohingya in Burma should be the one to follow up on.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-27, 19:37:52
All in all, Turkey is an outlier in NATO in a similar way as UK was an outlier in EU. We got rid of UK for less reasons...
Erdoğan's Turkey is not Kemal Atatürk's Republic... I still remember it's refusal of fly-over rights [...let's not quibble over the word!) during the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Turkey today is still not accepted into the EU, and I see no reason to keep it in NATO.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-29, 09:20:32
Life after 95 or so doesn't seem very appealing though, but we'll see in due time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAAq1zSXCug
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-29, 10:28:31
I see no reason to keep it in NATO
I can think of one reason.


(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0IlVVHWQAAFZe3?format=png)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2021-04-29, 12:27:21
I see no reason to keep it in NATO.
Turkey belongs to NATO since 1952.
They always performed very well at all the exercises they were involved, so let's keep them this way.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-04-29, 12:29:49
They always performed very well at all the exercises they were involved, so let's keep them this way.
Recently there have been exceptions, such as they killed off Kurds who were doing the best job fighting ISIS https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/10/turkey-attacks-kurds-who-battled-isis-us-forces-just-days-ago/3934503002/

Moreover, in the Young Turks video I linked earlier, they say that Turkey has started trading with Russia for military equipment, something that I know from other sources too. So, things are not so lucid with Turkey. A Nato member arming the enemy, there should have been a line somewhere before this.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Frenzie on 2021-04-29, 14:15:01
Turkey belongs to NATO since 1952.
They've been somewhat problematic since Cyprus though.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2021-04-29, 17:14:59
A little more complicated... (https://katherinewikoff.com/2014/03/10/the-russia-ukraine-syria-connection-and-why-turkey-may-be-in-crisis-next/)
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: jax on 2021-04-30, 05:12:03
A little more complicated... (https://katherinewikoff.com/2014/03/10/the-russia-ukraine-syria-connection-and-why-turkey-may-be-in-crisis-next/)

That's a fair assessment, as in the map above. However like @Frenzie mentioned it gets more complicated yet with Cyprus and our Middle Sea, the 3C (https://3seas.eu/) biggie, including the part you refer to as the Middle East. Turkey's interests don't align closely with the EU's, nor with Russia's.


(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E0Ml6XuXIAYHMwy?format=jpg)

Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-07-19, 20:30:52
Armenia's vaccination plan is to vaccinate Iranians.

Quote from: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/armenia-becomes-vaccine-tourism-hot-spot-iranians-2021-07-19/
Armenia has approved three vaccines against COVID-19 - Russia's Sputnik V, China's CoronaVac and AstraZeneca's vaccine and initially offered all of them free to foreign visitors.

The Armenian Tourism Committee said more than 8,500 Iranian citizens had visited in June, up from 5,000 a month earlier.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: Belfrager on 2021-08-17, 12:00:28
La Vuelta - An Estonian cyclist got the red jersey, the first place. Let's see if he keeps it in today's stage.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2021-08-17, 19:27:03
Oh yes, I had to check the news to make sure it was not me (because, you know, I have a bicycle too) https://sport.err.ee/1608310124/taaramae-suurtuuri-liidrisargist-on-tunne-nagu-oled-maailma-naba
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2022-05-20, 15:51:20
Martin Shkreli is out of prison. (https://nypost.com/2022/05/19/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-spotted-since-prison-release/) If you did not know, he has his own episode in the Dirty Money (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_Money_(2018_TV_series)) series, so I'm not exactly sure if his release from prison is good news. I can recommend his finance lectures (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI_riscmviI) though.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2022-06-25, 16:56:28
Burger King veteran of 27 years gets goodie bag for never missing a day of work in viral video

Quote from: https://www.today.com/food/people/burger-king-employee-27-years-goodie-bag-rcna34968
Every now and again a story comes along that shows how much goodness there truly is in the world.

On Monday, subreddit r/ABoringDystopia posted a video of a Burger King employee named Kevin Ford, 54, who received a gift from upper management in honor of his 27 years on the job. In the video, which was originally posted on TikTok, Ford delves into the items he received from HMS Host, the company from which Burger King hires, which included a Starbucks reusable tumbler, a bag of Reese’s candy, pens and two rolls of Lifesavers, amongst other items. Additionally, managers at the Las Vegas Burger King where Ford works gave him a slice of chocolate cake to celebrate the milestone.
I had to look up what "two rolls of Lifesavers" could be. It's this:
(https://ingoodwetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/life-savers-hard-tube-good.png)

Indeed, so much good in the world!
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2022-07-10, 16:10:10
Demonstrators in Sri Lanka find the president's palace quite enjoyable.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R3LXtMZHJI[/video]
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2023-05-20, 19:48:29
An oligarch's confiscated yacht is being auctioned off, for pennies I presume https://antiguaobserver.com/antigua-and-barbuda-secures-license-to-auction-alfa-nero/

FBI has searched it. Maybe they broke some things, but otherwise it should be okay.
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: OakdaleFTL on 2023-05-30, 09:34:50
Yesterday was the American holiday, Memorial Day. It began as Decoration Day. And no more fitting description of its import can be found than Frederick Douglas' address (https://deadconfederates.com/2012/05/27/frederick-douglass-on-decoration-day-1871-2/) given in 1871.

And: As the nation celebrates a day honoring its military heroes, the importance of Memorial Day is rated higher than ever (https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/holidays/memorial_day_more_important_than_ever_americans_say).
Title: Re: Today's Good News
Post by: ersi on 2023-12-06, 23:02:13
Estonia's education not that good anymore, but still good.
Quote from: https://news.err.ee/1609185721/estonia-drops-to-fourth-in-latest-pisa-rankings
Although Estonia's 15-year-olds were only outperformed by their contemporaries from two other OECD countries – Japan and South Korea – in the latest PISA test (that excludes Singapore, an OECD partner country), the math and functional reading skills of Estonia's youth have fallen over the last four years. Teachers say this is mainly down to distance learning due to the pandemic, while the lack of sufficiently qualified teachers may also play a role.