Out of the Blue

If you have neighbors who garden, you've probably been gifted with produce at times. We have folks who occasionally leave us tomatoes and such when they have a big crop. Yesterday I realized another of our neighbors has quietly passed along a lot of his garden's output. Unfortunately this consists of three varieties of vine invading our yard from his. I mowed Saturday and was just doing some quick edge tidying on the lawn yesterday when I found a vine. Pulling at it became like pulling at a thread and unraveling an entire garment. A few hours later I was surrounded by huge piles of vines, bloodied and covered in sweat, but victorious, at least for the moment. These compress down extremely well, but I still ended up completely filling four lawn bags with debris. This was a very aggravating job which sidetracked my plan to wash the cars, but it was very satisfying to get to the root of things. At least in a manner of speaking, as most of these vines are still rooted on the other side of the fence. But at least I thwarted their invasion for the moment.

R.I.P.: ‘My Favorite Year’ Actor Joseph Bologna Dead at 82 - Variety.

Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play: Rocketpult.
Stories: Big Ben to fall silent in London at Houses of Parliament for repairs to Great Clock and huge bell.
David Bowie's FBI agent made an unexpected return to Twin Peaks. Thanks Devicer.
Science: Fleas test positive for the plague in parts of Arizona.
Media: Crushing Power Bank with Hydraulic Press - HUGE EXPLOSION. Thanks Digg.
Cyclist Enacts Swift Justice On Would-Be Bike Thief.
Motorcycle Drives Off Cliff.
The Funnies: Dilbert.
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28 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
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28.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 15, 2017, 14:35
28.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 15, 2017, 14:35
Aug 15, 2017, 14:35
 
RedEye9 wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 22:17:
But I'm all for tearing down the United States Capitol, that land could be put to better use as a skate park or an extension of the Smithsonian Institution.

Given the popularity of congress, I'm sure you'd find no shortage of people who would agree with that sentiment.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
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27.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 22:17
27.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 22:17
Aug 14, 2017, 22:17
 
Kxmode wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 21:03:
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 20:23:
And you don't understand there is no sentimental value attached to the Parliament buildings. I would bet you any amount of money that if you ran polls all over London and/or England tomorrow it would likely be close to 100% that people would say scrap it and build something better and much more cost effective.

I've not talked about Parliament. I'm specifically talking about the northern clock tower called Big Ben. When in my entire conversation did I ever mention Parliament?

However, since you seem to be so keen on bringing up "Parliament." I should remind you that parliament isn't the name of the building. Parliament is the name of the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom. Body members meet in the House of Lords and the House of Commons in separate large chambers within the Palace of Westminster (the actual name of the building). The entire palace is declared Grade I ("buildings of exceptional interest") by England and Wales since 1970 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. UNESCO sites tend to remain protected structures for conservation and posterity. So clearly the building absolutely has sentimental value within London, Britain, the UK, and the world.
This^
The canuck is off his rocker on this one.
But I'm all for tearing down the United States Capitol, that land could be put to better use as a skate park or an extension of the Smithsonian Institution.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
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26.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 21:20
26.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 21:20
Aug 14, 2017, 21:20
 
Quboid wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 18:16:
Brexit dominates everything and it's hard to look at any big expenditure as wise with so much uncertainty about what our economy will look like a few years. It's some measure of economic stimulus, but there are higher priorities. We haven't even started buying the land for the border controls we'll need in 19 months. It feels like we're treading water until someone senior in the government acknowledges the elephant in the room: this is a terrible idea. The undefined being negotiated by the unprepared in order to get the unspecified for the uninformed.
Was listening to a program on NPR about this and it was pretty amusing. Someone from the UK rattled off a list of some of the things which needed to be negotiated with the EU and how long each of those things themselves would in normal circumstances take to be fully negotiated. None of the time-lines were less than the time until Brexit is supposed to happen. And now ALL of them need to be completed. It can't be done in any kind of normal way. Which probably means there will be quick and dirty compromises which will likely be painful -- probably more so for the UK than the EU.

They also said something which rang true to me. Basically, it is in the EU's interest to make Brexit as hard and painful to the UK as they can. Why? Because they want to discourage other nations from doing the same thing. Which obviously is more bad news for the UK. It will be interesting to watch and see what happens. It may well come to be a defining moment in UK history one way or the other.
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
25.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 21:03
Kxmode
 
25.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 21:03
Aug 14, 2017, 21:03
 Kxmode
 
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 20:23:
And you don't understand there is no fucking sentimental value attached to the Parliament buildings. I would bet you any amount of money that if you ran polls all over London and/or England tomorrow it would likely be close to 100% that people would say scrap it and build something better and much more cost effective.

I've not talked about Parliament. I'm specifically talking about the northern clock tower called Big Ben. When in my entire conversation did I ever mention Parliament?

However, since you seem to be so keen on bringing up "Parliament." I should remind you that parliament isn't the name of the building. Parliament is the name of the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom. Body members meet in the House of Lords and the House of Commons in separate large chambers within the Palace of Westminster (the actual name of the building). The entire palace is declared Grade I ("buildings of exceptional interest") by England and Wales since 1970 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. UNESCO sites tend to remain protected structures for conservation and posterity. So clearly the building absolutely has sentimental value within London, Britain, the UK, and the world.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
24.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 20:23
24.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 20:23
Aug 14, 2017, 20:23
 
And you don't understand there is no fucking sentimental value attached to the Parliament buildings. I would bet you any amount of money that if you ran polls all over London and/or England tomorrow it would likely be close to 100% that people would say scrap it and build something better and much more cost effective.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
23.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 18:16
Quboid
 
23.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 18:16
Aug 14, 2017, 18:16
 Quboid
 
jdreyer wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 17:35:
Creston wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 17:31:
Kxmode wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 14:25:
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:36:
That's the problem with those old buildings. It costs far more to repair and maintain them then it would be to scrap them and build something new and efficient. It's just a huge waste of money for a public service building.

Have you never heard of sentimental value? It's not an "old building." For Londoners and England in general, Big Ben (the building and the clock) remains a part of the culture and heritage for over 150 years. I guarantee you if you asked any Londoner what you just said, they would be appalled at such a thought.

I lived in London for six months, and very few Londoners had much good to say about the Houses of Parliament and the shitheels that infest them. Big Ben, yes, but I think that if given the choice, the good people of London / the UK would choose NOT to pay SEVEN BILLION POUNDS for the upkeep of a building.
£7B buys a lot of rounds at the pub. Given the choice which would they choose?

It would be nice to fix up the existing buildings, even if it was expensive. But this expensive? It feels like we're being taken for a ride and that bothers me.

Brexit dominates everything and it's hard to look at any big expenditure as wise with so much uncertainty about what our economy will look like a few years. It's some measure of economic stimulus, but there are higher priorities. We haven't even started buying the land for the border controls we'll need in 19 months. It feels like we're treading water until someone senior in the government acknowledges the elephant in the room: this is a terrible idea. The undefined being negotiated by the unprepared in order to get the unspecified for the uninformed.
Avatar 10439
22.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 18:09
22.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 18:09
Aug 14, 2017, 18:09
 
Primalchrome wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 17:50:
RedEye9 wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 15:56:
You know Pence is tired of running around doing damage control as his boss becomes more tractable. Now all they have to do is take away the morons twitter account.
You don't think Pence just views himself as sitting in the bullpen waiting for the 70+ year old guy to throw his arm out of socket?
Don't you know it. Pence smiles every time don gobs downs an artery clogging cheeseburger or piece of fried chicken. You can hear him snickering in the background as he says "have a piece a cake Mr President"

This comment was edited on Aug 14, 2017, 18:34.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
21.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 17:50
21.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 17:50
Aug 14, 2017, 17:50
 
RedEye9 wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 15:56:
You know Pence is tired of running around doing damage control as his boss becomes more tractable. Now all they have to do is take away the morons twitter account.
You don't think Pence just views himself as sitting in the bullpen waiting for the 70+ year old guy to throw his arm out of socket?
Avatar 56308
20.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 17:35
20.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 17:35
Aug 14, 2017, 17:35
 
Creston wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 17:31:
Kxmode wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 14:25:
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:36:
That's the problem with those old buildings. It costs far more to repair and maintain them then it would be to scrap them and build something new and efficient. It's just a huge waste of money for a public service building.

Have you never heard of sentimental value? It's not an "old building." For Londoners and England in general, Big Ben (the building and the clock) remains a part of the culture and heritage for over 150 years. I guarantee you if you asked any Londoner what you just said, they would be appalled at such a thought.

I lived in London for six months, and very few Londoners had much good to say about the Houses of Parliament and the shitheels that infest them. Big Ben, yes, but I think that if given the choice, the good people of London / the UK would choose NOT to pay SEVEN BILLION POUNDS for the upkeep of a building.
£7B buys a lot of rounds at the pub. Given the choice which would they choose?
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
19.
 
Re: Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 17:33
19.
Re: Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 17:33
Aug 14, 2017, 17:33
 
Kxmode wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 16:26:
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 15:55:
There is no shortage of old and ancient buildings throughout Europe. While Londoners may be sentimental about Big Ben I seriously doubt any of them would object to seeing Parliament demolished and replaced with something far better. If it saves taxpayers money in the long run they'll always be for it. And let's not forget those buildings are paid for by the majority of people in a nation that never see them or use them, so why waste their money needlessly when they need it a great deal more in their own communities. What private companies do with their own money is their business, what governments do with our money is our business.


You're still not understanding the point of sentimental value. The very definition is "the value of something to someone because of personal or emotional associations rather than material worth." In other words, ancient buildings and landmarks may be financially inefficient to maintain by today's standards, but in the minds of many, they hold iconic and cultural values that are worth preserving regardless of high costs.
Oh, you! Stop being so logical.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
18.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 17:31
18.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 17:31
Aug 14, 2017, 17:31
 
Kxmode wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 14:25:
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:36:
That's the problem with those old buildings. It costs far more to repair and maintain them then it would be to scrap them and build something new and efficient. It's just a huge waste of money for a public service building.

Have you never heard of sentimental value? It's not an "old building." For Londoners and England in general, Big Ben (the building and the clock) remains a part of the culture and heritage for over 150 years. I guarantee you if you asked any Londoner what you just said, they would be appalled at such a thought.

I lived in London for six months, and very few Londoners had much good to say about the Houses of Parliament and the shitheels that infest them. Big Ben, yes, but I think that if given the choice, the good people of London / the UK would choose NOT to pay SEVEN BILLION POUNDS for the upkeep of a building.
Avatar 15604
17.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 17:26
17.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 17:26
Aug 14, 2017, 17:26
 
Mr. Tact wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 11:18:
Wow. Big Ben's regular hour ringing out for four years. Deeper in the article it claims the Parliament building needs 7 billion pounds ($11 billlon) of repairs. Really? I would have thought you could build that building several times over for $11 billion....
For $11B they could populate those two carriers they built with aircraft.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
16.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 17:23
16.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 17:23
Aug 14, 2017, 17:23
 
RedEye9 wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:15:
donald was forced to make a comment that made sense. must have been extremely painful. It only took the idiot 48 hours.
Not sure Trump even understands what went on down there. He just read what his chief strategist wrote. Just so happens that his chief strategist is white nationalist Stephen Miller.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
15.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 16:26
Kxmode
 
15.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 16:26
Aug 14, 2017, 16:26
 Kxmode
 
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 15:55:
There is no shortage of old and ancient buildings throughout Europe. While Londoners may be sentimental about Big Ben I seriously doubt any of them would object to seeing Parliament demolished and replaced with something far better. If it saves taxpayers money in the long run they'll always be for it. And let's not forget those buildings are paid for by the majority of people in a nation that never see them or use them, so why waste their money needlessly when they need it a great deal more in their own communities. What private companies do with their own money is their business, what governments do with our money is our business.


You're still not understanding the point of sentimental value. The very definition is "the value of something to someone because of personal or emotional associations rather than material worth." In other words, ancient buildings and landmarks may be financially inefficient to maintain by today's standards, but in the minds of many, they hold iconic and cultural values that are worth preserving regardless of high costs.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
14.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 15:56
14.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 15:56
Aug 14, 2017, 15:56
 
Mr. Tact wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 14:47:
RedEye9 wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:15:
donald was forced to make a comment that made sense. must have been extremely painful. It only took the idiot 48 hours.
He may have read the statement, but I guarantee he didn't write it and most likely doesn't understand why he "had to" read it.
You know Pence is tired of running around doing damage control as his boss becomes more tractable. Now all they have to do is take away the morons twitter account.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
13.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 15:55
13.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 15:55
Aug 14, 2017, 15:55
 
There is no shortage of old and ancient buildings throughout Europe. While Londoners may be sentimental about Big Ben I seriously doubt any of them would object to seeing Parliament demolished and replaced with something far better. If it saves taxpayers money in the long run they'll always be for it. And let's not forget those buildings are paid for by the majority of people in a nation that never see them or use them, so why waste their money needlessly when they need it a great deal more in their own communities. What private companies do with their own money is their business, what governments do with our money is our business.

"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
12.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 14:48
12.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 14:48
Aug 14, 2017, 14:48
 
PHJF wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 14:45:
By contrast, most Parisians would pay good money to see la tour Eiffel torn down.
Let me guess... because too many ugly Americans come to see it?
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
11.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 14:47
11.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 14:47
Aug 14, 2017, 14:47
 
RedEye9 wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:15:
donald was forced to make a comment that made sense. must have been extremely painful. It only took the idiot 48 hours.
He may have read the statement, but I guarantee he didn't write it and most likely doesn't understand why he "had to" read it.
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
10.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 14:45
PHJF
 
10.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 14:45
Aug 14, 2017, 14:45
 PHJF
 
Kxmode wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 14:25:
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:36:
That's the problem with those old buildings. It costs far more to repair and maintain them then it would be to scrap them and build something new and efficient. It's just a huge waste of money for a public service building.

Have you never heard of sentimental value? It's not an "old building." For Londoners and England in general, Big Ben (the building and the clock) remains a part of the culture and heritage for over 150 years. I guarantee you if you asked any Londoner what you just said, they would be appalled at such a thought.

By contrast, most Parisians would pay good money to see la tour Eiffel torn down.
Steam + PSN: PHJF
Avatar 17251
9.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Aug 14, 2017, 14:25
Kxmode
 
9.
Re: Out of the Blue Aug 14, 2017, 14:25
Aug 14, 2017, 14:25
 Kxmode
 
Cutter wrote on Aug 14, 2017, 13:36:
That's the problem with those old buildings. It costs far more to repair and maintain them then it would be to scrap them and build something new and efficient. It's just a huge waste of money for a public service building.

Have you never heard of sentimental value? It's not an "old building." For Londoners and England in general, Big Ben (the building and the clock) remains a part of the culture and heritage for over 150 years. I guarantee you if you asked any Londoner what you just said, they would be appalled at such a thought.
"...and in stonks, Fizzy Squeezy Stocklebocks leaped over Droopy Whoopy Bondfluffs, hitting 300-gigglebits to their 150-snorebucks. Meanwhile, in Whimsyland's market, the pancakes reached parity with pogo sticks."
Avatar 18786
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