Jonah on Twitter: "Just FYI, there will be no Friday G-file or solo Remnant this week. I'm okay, just can't get it done today. My sincere apologies."
Good that he let us know up front. Though I was kind of concerned about his "people vet" visit, I must conclude that it was not that big a deal but he has other work to catch up on.
Most responses on Twitter (I have figured out the trick of viewing them) say he should take care and feel better. One requests a quick Chester update; another wonders what we will do for verbs and adjectives. Another is from an 86-yr old "raging liberal grandma" who's "grown so fond of you, and respectful of your opinions. Take care, m'boy."
Having just finished the Remnant podcast with Stirewalt, I now know that Jonah had some minor elective surgery. Good for him for getting it over with. One will feel better about that, once one starts to feel better.
"In order to verify your email, please send us your credit card number, along with the three special numbers on the back. Additionally, please be sending us $30,000 dollars in cash. Not a check, as that is traceable."
"Verification" is one of those magic administrative jargon words that people figure they must comply with or else be arrested or something. Get a vocabulary, people!
I hate DEI. In fact, I have never liked any of the so-called “training” that companies provide that have nothing to do with employees’ actual jobs. We supposedly learned how to behave in public when we were children. Believing that the people your company hired, after reading their resume, testing and interviewing them, makes me wonder about the hiring process to begin with.
Okay, there are always going to be those exceptions, but the majority of people manage to work together without being “trained” in how to do so. Of course, I always found it interesting that various companies had some weird rule about something because ONE employee did something years ago that almost no one seems to truly remember, and it was easier to just say NO ONE can ever do that “thing” (or something similar) than reprimand or fire that individual in the first place.
A few years ago I was shopping at a JC Penneys, and the person at the register was a man/woman who was obviously a man who was either transitioning or cross dressing. 🤷♀️ I was not rude. In fact I was very polite, as I would have been to anyone else who was helping me. But, I certainly noticed, and I definitely told my husband about it. I also found myself feeling kind of sorry for him/her, but he/she had no way of knowing what I actually thought because there is no way anyone can control that unless companies want to start getting into brainwashing. Or is that next?
I think the training IS a part of the job. Especially when you deal with the public. For example in that JCPenney if the transitioning person were the customer then some guidance might be needed. Or not but it’s reasonable to me that a company thinks it’s warranted in a world where people have to be told not to eat Tide pods.
I kind of understand, but I guess I feel like so much of it is common sense. I don’t see the point in being obnoxious or bullying people. We used to think of it more in terms of “do unto others.” Why do we need to babysit everyone now? And if someone is dumb enough to eat Tide pods or put a plastic bag over his/her head, I think that’s a different issue.
That’s the thing, you aren’t going to “train it into them.” People are resentful that they are being compelled to attend those training sessions, and I don’t blame them. I read somewhere that these are the kinds of things that keep HR relevant. The last one I had to deal with was Quality Control, and that was a joke.
You’re right, it does keep them employed. I can’t remember where I read or heard about that. I can understand needing someone who keeps up with legal requirements, and assists with hiring and firing, but beyond that it seems to me that management should be able to take care of things like training. I’m talking about how to do an actual job.
The kiddies newly employed in Big Box World apparently have never heard of the concept of safety. It has to be explained (to all of us, ad nauseam) that you need to be safe because if you get hurt, it like, hurts, and that might cramp your style and stuff. Who knew? But then this may jibe with my observation that they don't know what a wastebasket is, either. Where were their parents? Out learning to fly helicopters?
A quote from Optimum's link: "The tool uses online modules and workshops to help users explore where their values come from and why people from different backgrounds might have opposing values." Why, I ask, must different values be described as opposing? Can they not just be different? Must everything be oppositional?
Do we work to live or live to work? If we are working to earn a living, perhaps we ought to focus more on our lives outside of work. If we are living to work, is that healthy?
This is not directed at DEI or any other acronym. Just a question. I read somewhere, years ago, that Americans work to live while Europeans live to work and I think the question offers an interesting distinction in how folks choose to live.
I know I've said this here before but I'll keep saying it. We have our differences but there is great value in looking at all we have in common -- probably much more than we don't. So, once more with feeling, https://youtu.be/5jnZMW8C6wA
Good one, Josh! I was always impressed when Rodney King said, “can’t we just get along?” I might not have it exactly right. But think of what he’d been through, and he was still able to ask that question.
"I don’t think I’m alone in believing that politics is mostly a cynical enterprise, with dramatic cover stories used for the adversarial teams to hide their main objective, which is merely to jockey for political power." Really? You think anyone here would agree with that? Or should that be nearly everybody. Back to reading your piece.
Blah blah blah Diversity is a good thing because everyone is unique in their experiences, points of view, *AND THE BRANDS THEY IDENTIFY WITH* blah blah blah blah
Never can get enough of a good thing, can you?
Whoa! Must be that extra cynicism pill I took this morning doing the talking.
Good morning. On the mothership today, a recounting of the Durham special counsel report into the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign in 2016. Also, 2 Supreme Court cases regarding social media and terrorism.
Looks like today's article here is not so much different, regarding DEI and totalitarianism.
I thought the article by David French that John M posted was really good. I didn’t grab it because I thought you probably would. I’ll see if I can do that now.
When I was there earlier it wasn’t too bad. But the more liberal people in the group are getting started now. I don’t need that, and only went back to get the post from JohnM about David French’s piece on Ukraine. That’s worthwhile.
My humble opinion. I’ve said this before but never try to change others minds. It will drive you nuts. Just engage with comments to see if any can change yours. You will have sharpened your own mind at least without making yourself crazy.
Today’s Special Animal Friend is the creeper, or Creepus Explodus. The creeper is a common hostile mob that silently approaches people and explodes (so it’s basically chaotic evil). Creepers are a major source of gunpowder, as well as the only known way of obtaining music discs outside of exploring structures.
Creepers spawn naturally in the Overworld on solid blocks with extremely low light levels (except in mushroom fields and Deep Dark biomes). When killed, creepers drop:
5 experience points
0-2 gunpowders
1 music disc at random (excluding Pigstep, otherside, or 5) if killed by a skeleton or stray
1 creeper head, if killed by a charged creeper
Creepers will chase anyone within a 16-block radius. They don’t voluntarily attack any other mob. When within 3 blocks of a person, a creeper stops moving, hisses, flashes and expands, and explodes after 1.5 seconds, destroying blocks in the area as well as likely causing serious damage to anyone caught in the blast radius. A creeper’s detonation is halted if all people leave its blast radius, including by knocking it back, going out of the creeper’s sight, or killing the creeper.
Creepers are known to jump down to attack people from behind. They can also climb up ladders and vines, but are not thought to do so intentionally. You can force a creeper to explode if you light it on fire. Creepers are not targeted by tamed wolves, iron golems or zoglins. However, they are still attacked by withers, snow golems, vindicators named "Johnny", and goats. When hit by a stray projectile (like a drowned's trident), a creeper retaliates if not already chasing someone, unless said projectile is a skeleton or stray’s arrow.
Notably, creepers are deathly afraid of ocelots and cats, and will flee if one is within a 6-block radius of it. Another strange attribute of creepers is that, if a potion is used on one, its explosion will cause the relevant status effect.
The creeper is considered a species of least concern by the IUCN.
Ah, you hit a spot with that one. I think TV news got us trained to watch weather forecasts and focus on them, but better to focus on what we do and, in many cases, rain or snow has no meaningful impact. It's just not that big a deal if it doesn't ruin my day.
The weather has a big effect on what I do on any given day working at the store--not only how I dress for it but what the plant-watering issues will be--so I pay a lot of attention to the forecast. Fortunately very precise forecasts are available, even down to a ZIP code.
Years ago, my hobby was motorcycle riding and I rode in rain and I rode in cold. It isn't just about the woodworking as I do go out, too. But I've noticed that the number of times I'm really impacted by the weather is few. I do, after all, have windshield wipers.
Jonah on Twitter: "Just FYI, there will be no Friday G-file or solo Remnant this week. I'm okay, just can't get it done today. My sincere apologies."
Good that he let us know up front. Though I was kind of concerned about his "people vet" visit, I must conclude that it was not that big a deal but he has other work to catch up on.
Most responses on Twitter (I have figured out the trick of viewing them) say he should take care and feel better. One requests a quick Chester update; another wonders what we will do for verbs and adjectives. Another is from an 86-yr old "raging liberal grandma" who's "grown so fond of you, and respectful of your opinions. Take care, m'boy."
Best wishes for a quick recovery to Jonah.
Having just finished the Remnant podcast with Stirewalt, I now know that Jonah had some minor elective surgery. Good for him for getting it over with. One will feel better about that, once one starts to feel better.
Just finished it, myself. I hope everything went smoothly for Jonah and that he's happy with his new nasal conformation.
Here’s to being a guy, and it’s not even Father’s Day! https://youtu.be/AnNjgwYzfzQ
In today's spam scam news, "Harbor Freight" is apparently looking for my "email verification." As if.
"In order to verify your email, please send us your credit card number, along with the three special numbers on the back. Additionally, please be sending us $30,000 dollars in cash. Not a check, as that is traceable."
"Verification" is one of those magic administrative jargon words that people figure they must comply with or else be arrested or something. Get a vocabulary, people!
Only a small vocabulary needed when confronted with this crap:
No
Of course, there's no rule against people with slightly larger vocabularies embellishing upon that a bit.
Except it's best not to respond at all to spams.
Yeah, I don't. But sometimes yelling epithets at the screen is fun.
I prefer mocking them to others.
I came across JohnM’s post, and it’s worth reading. I hope the link works here:
Worth Your Time II: 'Witnessing a Missile Attack in Kyiv'--David French
https://tinyurl.com/2h4mwf6w
Thanks. Worth reading.
I hate DEI. In fact, I have never liked any of the so-called “training” that companies provide that have nothing to do with employees’ actual jobs. We supposedly learned how to behave in public when we were children. Believing that the people your company hired, after reading their resume, testing and interviewing them, makes me wonder about the hiring process to begin with.
Okay, there are always going to be those exceptions, but the majority of people manage to work together without being “trained” in how to do so. Of course, I always found it interesting that various companies had some weird rule about something because ONE employee did something years ago that almost no one seems to truly remember, and it was easier to just say NO ONE can ever do that “thing” (or something similar) than reprimand or fire that individual in the first place.
A few years ago I was shopping at a JC Penneys, and the person at the register was a man/woman who was obviously a man who was either transitioning or cross dressing. 🤷♀️ I was not rude. In fact I was very polite, as I would have been to anyone else who was helping me. But, I certainly noticed, and I definitely told my husband about it. I also found myself feeling kind of sorry for him/her, but he/she had no way of knowing what I actually thought because there is no way anyone can control that unless companies want to start getting into brainwashing. Or is that next?
I think the training IS a part of the job. Especially when you deal with the public. For example in that JCPenney if the transitioning person were the customer then some guidance might be needed. Or not but it’s reasonable to me that a company thinks it’s warranted in a world where people have to be told not to eat Tide pods.
I kind of understand, but I guess I feel like so much of it is common sense. I don’t see the point in being obnoxious or bullying people. We used to think of it more in terms of “do unto others.” Why do we need to babysit everyone now? And if someone is dumb enough to eat Tide pods or put a plastic bag over his/her head, I think that’s a different issue.
So much of it is common sense and common courtesy. But so many people lack those to begin with. And I don't think you're gonna' *train* it into them.
That’s the thing, you aren’t going to “train it into them.” People are resentful that they are being compelled to attend those training sessions, and I don’t blame them. I read somewhere that these are the kinds of things that keep HR relevant. The last one I had to deal with was Quality Control, and that was a joke.
I'd maybe put that as it keeps HR folks employed. As to relevance, well...
You’re right, it does keep them employed. I can’t remember where I read or heard about that. I can understand needing someone who keeps up with legal requirements, and assists with hiring and firing, but beyond that it seems to me that management should be able to take care of things like training. I’m talking about how to do an actual job.
Please don't remind me about the Tide Pod incidents. I still feel ashamed to be part of my generation because of that.
The kiddies newly employed in Big Box World apparently have never heard of the concept of safety. It has to be explained (to all of us, ad nauseam) that you need to be safe because if you get hurt, it like, hurts, and that might cramp your style and stuff. Who knew? But then this may jibe with my observation that they don't know what a wastebasket is, either. Where were their parents? Out learning to fly helicopters?
A lot of parents today are simultaneously overly-protective and completely negligent.
Well said.
We've moved on from hovering helicopter parents to drone parents on auto pilot. Ain't technology grand?
Yep.
A quote from Optimum's link: "The tool uses online modules and workshops to help users explore where their values come from and why people from different backgrounds might have opposing values." Why, I ask, must different values be described as opposing? Can they not just be different? Must everything be oppositional?
Well, yeah. If you want to make any money or garner any attention out of it.
I always had only one value at work: Do the work and don't be a jerk while doing it.
No kidding!
Do we work to live or live to work? If we are working to earn a living, perhaps we ought to focus more on our lives outside of work. If we are living to work, is that healthy?
This is not directed at DEI or any other acronym. Just a question. I read somewhere, years ago, that Americans work to live while Europeans live to work and I think the question offers an interesting distinction in how folks choose to live.
Work to live for me. Not even close.
I know I've said this here before but I'll keep saying it. We have our differences but there is great value in looking at all we have in common -- probably much more than we don't. So, once more with feeling, https://youtu.be/5jnZMW8C6wA
Good one, Josh! I was always impressed when Rodney King said, “can’t we just get along?” I might not have it exactly right. But think of what he’d been through, and he was still able to ask that question.
and there's this: https://youtu.be/TwYFRlkTOIw
Both of those are good. ❤️
"I don’t think I’m alone in believing that politics is mostly a cynical enterprise, with dramatic cover stories used for the adversarial teams to hide their main objective, which is merely to jockey for political power." Really? You think anyone here would agree with that? Or should that be nearly everybody. Back to reading your piece.
Hold my beer. Or rather, just rip it out of my hand and give a tequila. https://vimeo.com/705910420/c25a776b83?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=29941093
Blah blah blah Diversity is a good thing because everyone is unique in their experiences, points of view, *AND THE BRANDS THEY IDENTIFY WITH* blah blah blah blah
Never can get enough of a good thing, can you?
Whoa! Must be that extra cynicism pill I took this morning doing the talking.
I don't like beer or tequila.
I like Mezcal more than tequila and bourbon more than Mezcal.
I like bourbon. Not enough to go buy it, but enough to drink a little if someone else bought it.
This is getting old quickly. I didn’t realize I couldn’t figure out how to treat others without help from all these different places.
Must… toe… the… party… line…
Without stepping on any toes.
DeSantis signed a bill banning DEI at FL public colleges. Boom. 🤛🏼👐🙌🏼👍🏼
Good morning. On the mothership today, a recounting of the Durham special counsel report into the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign in 2016. Also, 2 Supreme Court cases regarding social media and terrorism.
Looks like today's article here is not so much different, regarding DEI and totalitarianism.
I thought the article by David French that John M posted was really good. I didn’t grab it because I thought you probably would. I’ll see if I can do that now.
Thanks, I didn’t catch that:
Worth Your Time II: 'Witnessing a Missile Attack in Kyiv'--David French
https://tinyurl.com/2h4mwf6w
Thank you! I rarely read much of the comments these days but came across it this morning.
I saw the headline in my mailbox. I’m sure it will be very calm and uncontroversial. Dare I wade in on the comments?
When I was there earlier it wasn’t too bad. But the more liberal people in the group are getting started now. I don’t need that, and only went back to get the post from JohnM about David French’s piece on Ukraine. That’s worthwhile.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to many that I couldn’t avoid weighing in. I don’t think any minds will change so it’s probably pointless to argue.
My humble opinion. I’ve said this before but never try to change others minds. It will drive you nuts. Just engage with comments to see if any can change yours. You will have sharpened your own mind at least without making yourself crazy.
I don’t always agree with you, but you’ve made plenty of valid points in the comments. But you aren’t rabid and you don’t come off as lecturing.
Good advice. My mind has changed a lot doing exactly that.
Today’s Special Animal Friend is the creeper, or Creepus Explodus. The creeper is a common hostile mob that silently approaches people and explodes (so it’s basically chaotic evil). Creepers are a major source of gunpowder, as well as the only known way of obtaining music discs outside of exploring structures.
Creepers spawn naturally in the Overworld on solid blocks with extremely low light levels (except in mushroom fields and Deep Dark biomes). When killed, creepers drop:
5 experience points
0-2 gunpowders
1 music disc at random (excluding Pigstep, otherside, or 5) if killed by a skeleton or stray
1 creeper head, if killed by a charged creeper
Creepers will chase anyone within a 16-block radius. They don’t voluntarily attack any other mob. When within 3 blocks of a person, a creeper stops moving, hisses, flashes and expands, and explodes after 1.5 seconds, destroying blocks in the area as well as likely causing serious damage to anyone caught in the blast radius. A creeper’s detonation is halted if all people leave its blast radius, including by knocking it back, going out of the creeper’s sight, or killing the creeper.
Creepers are known to jump down to attack people from behind. They can also climb up ladders and vines, but are not thought to do so intentionally. You can force a creeper to explode if you light it on fire. Creepers are not targeted by tamed wolves, iron golems or zoglins. However, they are still attacked by withers, snow golems, vindicators named "Johnny", and goats. When hit by a stray projectile (like a drowned's trident), a creeper retaliates if not already chasing someone, unless said projectile is a skeleton or stray’s arrow.
Notably, creepers are deathly afraid of ocelots and cats, and will flee if one is within a 6-block radius of it. Another strange attribute of creepers is that, if a potion is used on one, its explosion will cause the relevant status effect.
The creeper is considered a species of least concern by the IUCN.
To those interested in the creeper's cultural impact, I present videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPJUBQd-PNM (warning: Minecraft parody)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABjzrNOPAAU
Good one, Jack! You are very creative!!
I had a creeper once. It was short, flat and had wheels to help me slide under a car or truck.
We call my dad a creeper but only because he looks at Facebook on my mom’s account.
I'll remember to bring an ocelot.
A cat!
And without the t on the end, it transforms into a useful sponge.
A cat is occasionally useful.
I had a girlfriend like that once.
I’d be offended, but they do exist! 😉
Good morning. I think it's raining. I couldn't take my usual sunrise pictures because of the clouds.
Cloudrise pics?
Nothing but gray.
Good morning.
Good morning. Raining here, too, rattling quietly down the gutters.
Good morning! Here's hoping the beachy clouds dissipate soon.
Those who are into telling us what the weather is "supposed to" do say it will rain a lot today.
I don't care. If I decide to do something outside, I'll do it.
Ah, you hit a spot with that one. I think TV news got us trained to watch weather forecasts and focus on them, but better to focus on what we do and, in many cases, rain or snow has no meaningful impact. It's just not that big a deal if it doesn't ruin my day.
The weather has a big effect on what I do on any given day working at the store--not only how I dress for it but what the plant-watering issues will be--so I pay a lot of attention to the forecast. Fortunately very precise forecasts are available, even down to a ZIP code.
It helps to have hobbies that aren’t weather dependent! We’ve had several nice days in a row, but I think it’s supposed to rain soon. That’s fine.
Years ago, my hobby was motorcycle riding and I rode in rain and I rode in cold. It isn't just about the woodworking as I do go out, too. But I've noticed that the number of times I'm really impacted by the weather is few. I do, after all, have windshield wipers.
Spoken like a hardcore roofing contractor! 😆🥶
The Hispanic remodeling guys working on the house next to this one were there at daybreak, as they have been each day.
That’s where I think weather would be challenging—those out of doors jobs!
Maybe a program like Dall-E could generate it for you?
It’d be close enough for government work.
Meh. The real sunrise or none at all.
Morning!
Good morning, although I see that was 3 hours ago. Great piece this morning, Marque!