Out of the Blue

Only two weeks to go until Christmas? Where does the time go? The answer, of course, is time goes into the internet. On that theme, the 'net seems to have eliminated the old "this many shopping days until Christmas" PSAs... with online shopping there are basically 14 more shopping days up to, and including, Christmas. Happy holidays!

Holiday Links: Thanks Ant.
Links: Greta Thunberg: TIME's Person of the Year 2019.
Stories: All the lonely people: Why more of us will feel disconnected than ever before.
Revered by Aztecs, Mexican hairless dog in style again in hipster era. Thanks Neutronbeam.
Science: Is Earth Getting Bigger Over Time? Thanks j.c.f.
Data from the International Space Station confirms: Lightning is insane. Thanks Neutronbeam.
Water is ‘common’ on alien worlds, scientists say in finding that could transform search for extraterrestrial life.
Media: Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trailer.
Rookie thieves pull off a very silly heist. Thanks Boing Boing.
Lamplocked.
View : : :
49 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
Newer [  1  2  3  ] Older
49.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 13, 2019, 10:35
49.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 13, 2019, 10:35
Dec 13, 2019, 10:35
 
After reading an article about Trump's obsession with the POTY award, and how he's got fake covers made depicting him as the winner for years he didn't win in

It makes me wonder why we even have awards like that. It's just pure ego stroking. Of course, I feel the same way about most awards. It's just politics instead of objective achievement

I mean even with this year's winner, I agree with her that we obviously need to do more for the environment, but other than be an activist, she doesn't actually...do anything. She's not a scientist developing new greener technologies. I keep thinking this is just another case where no one changes sides on this. She just convinces those who are already convinced and infuriates those who haven't. I

Get rid of awards like this.
48.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 12:52
48.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 12:52
Dec 12, 2019, 12:52
 
mark gil wrote on Dec 12, 2019, 04:57:
"The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future - deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease." -- The World Watch Institute

This is true but you will get no truck with most people telling them they cannot consume meat at all. Even in China they are now embracing Western dietiary trends. What we should focus on is more sustainable lifestock operations. Beef for example is very problematic from a climate change perspective. More consumption of chicken would significantly lessen our carbon footprint. That's something we should be pushing for more because we will get exactly nowhere telling people "no meat".

It is patently obvious that the "Greatest Generation" and the Boomers have had, and continue to have, zero regard for the future of those that will and have come after them. It is also completely unsurprising that the generations who came after them that must deal with their greed is now standing up and demanding change. That change will happen, no matter how much bitching, moaning, and pearl clutching occurs. The "Greatest Generation" is mostly dead and, thankfully, the Boomers are following them in rapid succession. That allows us, GenX, Millenials, and GenZ, to begin to tackle these problems without liver spotted hands greedily snatching at whatever resources are left for their sole enrichment.

I agree completely. What's more frustrating is that they've had access to all of the information for 30 years and yet in that same time they have exponentially increased the damage instead. We are already past the red line on warming and even the Paris accord would not have fully prevented serious problems in the next 50 years. Now we can throw all of that out the window, no one can really predict just bad the damage will be but we know it's going to happen no matter what. We've been completely let down by a generation in denial and our poor political leadership.
Avatar 51617
47.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 09:02
Kxmode
 
47.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 09:02
Dec 12, 2019, 09:02
 Kxmode
 
mark gil wrote on Dec 12, 2019, 04:57:
"The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future - deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease." -- The World Watch Institute

Well, considering humans received permission to consume meat after the Flood by the Almighty Himself, I call that statement woefully ignorant.

(Genesis 9:2) A fear of you and a terror of you will continue upon every living creature of the earth and upon every flying creature of the heavens, upon everything that moves on the ground and upon all the fish of the sea. They are now given into your hand.

(Genesis 9:3) Every moving animal that is alive may serve as food for you

(Genesis 9:4) Only flesh with its life — its blood — you must not eat.

The likely reason for this permission relates to the continuous degeneration from human imperfection since Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12). By Noah's day humans had reached a point where something their bodies could produce on its own by consuming vegetation was no longer be possible. Meat provided those essential nutrients. Case in point, I remember reading (or was it a video; don't recall which) a vegan said she went to her doctor for an exam, and her doctor discovered she became severely deficient in B12. They tried pills and nuts. However, nothing was working. He told her she would have to eat meat like chicken or fish. So she did that and recovered very quickly.
"...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
46.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 08:57
46.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 08:57
Dec 12, 2019, 08:57
 
mark gil wrote on Dec 12, 2019, 04:57:
"The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future - deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease." -- The World Watch Institute
While I do enjoy a juicy burger, my last comment on this was mostly just being jokingly glib, and I do understand that this industry has an appreciable effect on climate change.

That said, "social injustice"?? I think we need to pump the brakes a little.
Avatar 58038
45.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 06:23
45.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 06:23
Dec 12, 2019, 06:23
 
Cutter wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 22:28:
Typical Texan <redacted>.

The <redacted> part is for when Blue nukes Cutter's post for using the "r word" (as was done to me in the past).

Speaking as a Texan...bless your heart.

If you're from the South, you'll get it. If not, avail yourself of the search engine of your choice.

I have lived in Texas the majority of my life and what we have noticed this year is that we are living through the warmest "winter" since records began being kept. That's factual data that doesn't care about anyone's particular beliefs about climate change.

Miss Thunberg is bringing to the public consciousness the facts that we can no longer deny and must face head on. I applaud the young lady's efforts and wish her success in continuing to do so. The fact that a young lady has had to step up when every adult world leader has mostly buried their head in the sand and/or mouthed empty platitudes is a damning indictment of the uselessness and corruption of the generation that currently serves as the current crop of world leaders.

It is patently obvious that the "Greatest Generation" and the Boomers have had, and continue to have, zero regard for the future of those that will and have come after them. It is also completely unsurprising that the generations who came after them that must deal with their greed is now standing up and demanding change. That change will happen, no matter how much bitching, moaning, and pearl clutching occurs. The "Greatest Generation" is mostly dead and, thankfully, the Boomers are following them in rapid succession. That allows us, GenX, Millenials, and GenZ, to begin to tackle these problems without liver spotted hands greedily snatching at whatever resources are left for their sole enrichment.

However, I do not expect someone who has a well documented history of being a self-centered, myopic narcissist to understand that.
"Just take a look around you, what do you see? Pain, suffering, and misery." -Black Sabbath, Killing Yourself to Live.

“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Avatar 21247
44.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 05:30
44.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 05:30
Dec 12, 2019, 05:30
 
mark gil wrote on Dec 12, 2019, 04:57:
"The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future - deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease." -- The World Watch Institute
good thing they don't have a girl as a spokesperson.
"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
43.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 04:57
43.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 04:57
Dec 12, 2019, 04:57
 
"The human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future - deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities and the spread of disease." -- The World Watch Institute
42.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 04:50
42.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 04:50
Dec 12, 2019, 04:50
 
Ghostbusters doesn't look as bad as the grapevine restraint whereas I'd rather be in one than watch the last one again.
"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
41.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 02:22
Kxmode
 
41.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 02:22
Dec 12, 2019, 02:22
 Kxmode
 
jdreyer wrote on Dec 12, 2019, 00:36:
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 22:45:
Scottish Martial Arts wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 21:46:
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 18:06:
PEDOPHRASTY:

Argument involving children to prop up a rationalization and make the opponent look like an asshole, as people are defenseless and suspend all skepticism in front of suffering children: Nobody has the heart to question the authenticity or source of the reporting. Often done with the aid of pictures.

"Please don't bring in kids to incite empathy that's Pedeophastry. Talk facts"

I believe the word you're looking for is pederasty. But do carry on; it's quite humorous.

Nope.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pedophrasty
Because the urban dictionary is a credible source?

Fact: if it's not in Merriam-Webster, it's not an English word.
"...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
40.
 
removed
Dec 12, 2019, 02:17
Kxmode
 
40.
removed Dec 12, 2019, 02:17
Dec 12, 2019, 02:17
 Kxmode
 
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Dec 12, 2019, 08:03.
"...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
39.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 02:10
Kxmode
 
39.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 02:10
Dec 12, 2019, 02:10
 Kxmode
 
How people surf/ed the Internet / WWW (dates are estimated):

1991: Visit a Unix mainframe and use Gopher; navigate using consecutive command prompts.
1992/3: Install a WinSOCK in Windows 3.11 and use Mosaic
1995: Use Internet Explorer 6; type http://www.domain.(com/net/org); the public at large has a hard time communicating URLs
1998: Use Netscape Navigator; type http://www.domain.(com/net/org); the public is a little bit more conformable communicating URLs
2001: Use bookmarks; type www.domain.(com/net/org); the public is now more comfortable with URLs and know how to enter them
2008: Use bookmarks; type domain.(com/net/org)
2011: Type domain.(com/net/org)
2014: Click on most visited domain on start/google homepage
2017: Type two letters and browser autocompletes URL

It now takes two-seconds to enter the domain name since the browser uses a combination of browsing history and search engine to determine which site the user means. That's a form of machine learning A.I.
"...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
38.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 01:00
NKD
38.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 01:00
Dec 12, 2019, 01:00
NKD
 
Pretty amusing that some Australian would be a climate denier, given how much they stand to suffer in the next couple centuries.

But hey that's a problem for future generations right? No need for us to worry about it. Lets just kick the can down the road just like our parents did to us.
Do you have a single fact to back that up?
Avatar 43041
37.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 12, 2019, 00:36
37.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 12, 2019, 00:36
Dec 12, 2019, 00:36
 
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 22:45:
Scottish Martial Arts wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 21:46:
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 18:06:
PEDOPHRASTY:

Argument involving children to prop up a rationalization and make the opponent look like an asshole, as people are defenseless and suspend all skepticism in front of suffering children: Nobody has the heart to question the authenticity or source of the reporting. Often done with the aid of pictures.

"Please don't bring in kids to incite empathy that's Pedeophastry. Talk facts"

I believe the word you're looking for is pederasty. But do carry on; it's quite humorous.

Nope.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pedophrasty
Because the urban dictionary is a credible source?
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
36.
 
removed
Dec 12, 2019, 00:33
36.
removed Dec 12, 2019, 00:33
Dec 12, 2019, 00:33
 
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Dec 12, 2019, 08:03.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
35.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 11, 2019, 23:10
35.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 11, 2019, 23:10
Dec 11, 2019, 23:10
 
Kxmode wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 18:06:
WaltC wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 16:58:
Time Magazine's judgement leaves much to be desired, imo. Take a guess as to whom Time pimped as Time's Man of the Year in 1938?

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,760539,00.html

Time Magazine thought a lot of the man, apparently. Prior to the man's ignition of WWII in Europe, of course! But it's the magazine's uncanny ability to misjudge various International figures over the decades that has presided over its demise from a fairly robust magazine to its current print size of ~8-10 pages an issue, if it's that much. Some print comic books today contain more content.

It's for certain that Time probably hasn't thought about what it will do to the magazine's already tarnished reputation if in ten years, after she's done more than repeat the lines a few adults have instructed her to memorize today, Greta recants. E Tu', Time? Suppose she's resentful for being callously used in this fashion as a child by the adults around her? But I'm certain that Time hasn't thought that far ahead--like in 1938. With Time, today, it's seldom about news and almost always about some strange/bizarre politics the Time editors wish to push on some purely emotional, and irrational, level--and using children, of course, in lieu of fact and persuasive argument.

Greta is too young to drive on our highways, sign a legally binding contract, has yet to graduate from high school, cannot vote or serve in the military as either a volunteer or draftee, etc. and etc. ad infinitum because she is a minor child--yet Time thinks she's old enough and wise enough to steer the economic and environmental policy of planet Earth? Incredible.

"The tradition of selecting a "Man of the Year" began in 1927, with Time editors [contemplated] the news makers of the years." So in 1938 Adolf Hitler was that year's news makers. Conversely, in 2006, a vast swath of humanity were named Person of the Year for "representing individual content creators on the World Wide Web." That means you and I, and everyone on Blues News, have received a POTY award for complaining for video games and its culture.

Yup, every year someone that can't be bothered to understand the title brings up Hitler.
34.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 11, 2019, 22:45
34.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 11, 2019, 22:45
Dec 11, 2019, 22:45
 
Scottish Martial Arts wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 21:46:
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 18:06:
PEDOPHRASTY:

Argument involving children to prop up a rationalization and make the opponent look like an asshole, as people are defenseless and suspend all skepticism in front of suffering children: Nobody has the heart to question the authenticity or source of the reporting. Often done with the aid of pictures.

"Please don't bring in kids to incite empathy that's Pedeophastry. Talk facts"

I believe the word you're looking for is pederasty. But do carry on; it's quite humorous.

Nope.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pedophrasty
The Lame Stream Media in the USA these days is nothing more than a Democrat Party protection racket.
33.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 11, 2019, 22:42
33.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 11, 2019, 22:42
Dec 11, 2019, 22:42
 
jdreyer wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 21:50:
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 17:56:
Greta Thunberg: TIME's Person of the Year 2019.

When you can no longer defend your position.
You put children on the front line and dare your opponents to attack.

LOL, I have some beachfront property to sell you just north of Sydney, cheap!

You DAMNED BIGOT!!
You done hurtz muh feeeelllzzz again.
The Lame Stream Media in the USA these days is nothing more than a Democrat Party protection racket.
32.
 
removed
Dec 11, 2019, 22:28
32.
removed Dec 11, 2019, 22:28
Dec 11, 2019, 22:28
 
* REMOVED *
This comment was deleted on Dec 12, 2019, 08:02.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
31.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 11, 2019, 21:50
31.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 11, 2019, 21:50
Dec 11, 2019, 21:50
 
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 17:56:
Greta Thunberg: TIME's Person of the Year 2019.

When you can no longer defend your position.
You put children on the front line and dare your opponents to attack.

LOL, I have some beachfront property to sell you just north of Sydney, cheap!
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Avatar 22024
30.
 
Re: Out of the Blue
Dec 11, 2019, 21:46
30.
Re: Out of the Blue Dec 11, 2019, 21:46
Dec 11, 2019, 21:46
 
ventry wrote on Dec 11, 2019, 18:06:
PEDOPHRASTY:

Argument involving children to prop up a rationalization and make the opponent look like an asshole, as people are defenseless and suspend all skepticism in front of suffering children: Nobody has the heart to question the authenticity or source of the reporting. Often done with the aid of pictures.

"Please don't bring in kids to incite empathy that's Pedeophastry. Talk facts"

I believe the word you're looking for is pederasty. But do carry on; it's quite humorous.
49 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
Newer [  1  2  3  ] Older