@isotope239@mastodon.online
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isotope239

@isotope239@mastodon.online

I'm an irritated academic who is increasingly dismayed by the general lack of critical thinking skills displayed by the general public in the United States.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

RickiTarr, to random
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I used to babysit a lot, and I was kind of famous for getting kids to try foods they normally wouldn't. I was never pushy about it, just included them in the shopping/harvesting/cooking process, and asked them to try a little bite of everything, and to remember that your tastebuds change as you age, so keep on trying stuff.

This backfired on me occasionally though. Once as an adventure, we went to a Japanese restaurant, and I ordered the kiddos some Katsu (who doesn't love something fried with dippy sauce), and got myself a plate of sushi rolls and sashimi. Well, since I always asked them to try one bite of something new, they looked at me expectantly, so I let them try a bit of each. Turns out they were all in for sushi, and those little nerds ate most of my plate, and then they always wanted to go. Kids, I don't have sushi money every day!

isotope239,
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@RickiTarr Oh dear! What's the old saying? Be careful what you wish for or you will surely get it? 🙃

StillIRise1963, to random
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You’re not special. You’re not better. You’re not immune. Bad things can happen to YOU too.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@StillIRise1963 I've always assumed this to be true, even as a kid, just one of many others. Some of them have had better luck than me, others worse. I think that's what motivates me to try to help float everyone's boat or at least give others the chance to get their boat floating.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@StillIRise1963 Very very true. Speaking strictly for myself, somehow that doesn't bother me though. I know very well that each day could contain some event that will upend my life but I just... not exactly ignore it but try not to either expect it or assume I have any control over it. Now one thing I DO have control over is making sure I vote for political representatives who aren't viciously insane! 🙃

isotope239,
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@thepoliticalcat @StillIRise1963 Not a bad way to describe it. I don't think there's such a thing as karma (although I wish I did!) but I know that just striving to be kind and to pay it forward makes me feel good. Or at least a lot better than hating people and being nasty.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@thepoliticalcat @StillIRise1963 Good theory! I sure hope you're right! 🙃

isotope239,
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@thepoliticalcat @StillIRise1963 Well now, you didn't mention the Beatles before! In that case, there just might something in that karma idea! 😁

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Sometimes the way people phrase things is so telling. For instance, telling women they should be "taking care of" their husband and children. Another adult doesn't need taken care of like a child, what you want is for women to be a Sex Mom.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@RickiTarr I'm afraid it's not 'people', it's GOP politicians and voters. They know fine well that the type of antiquated culture they're trying to force down the majority's throat is extremely unpopular with the general public. It's the same lying playbook that has them rephrasing their anti-abortion rhetoric as 'protection' of women and children. Nasty bastards...

StillIRise1963, to random
@StillIRise1963@mastodon.world avatar

We’re going to find out if white women value contraception in November.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@StillIRise1963 My SiL. She'd be living in her car if she didn't have Social Security and Medicare. But she will trot right down to her polling place and pull the lever for <gag> tRump. So it ain't just contraception they're blind about.

isotope239, to random
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

Are there any other Tom Lehrer fans out there on Mastodon?

https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/22/my-songs-spread-like-herpes-why-did-satirical-genius-tom-lehrer-swap-worldwide-fame-for-obscurity?CMP=share_btn_url

isotope239, to random
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

Turn off the lights

Last year my elderly father apparently hit his head rather badly. At least that's what his home health aid thought when she saw the swollen red lump on his head. My brother and I immediately drove down to the dusty little town where his house is located to see about him. When we got there, he kept saying that he was fine but he also admitted that his head really hurt.

https://ruadhgrian.wordpress.com/2024/05/19/turn-off-the-lights/

RickiTarr, to random
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Would half chicken half ducks be called Chucks or Dickens?

isotope239,
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@RickiTarr Definitely Dickens! 🐓 🦆

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

What is your dream road trip? Where would you start? Where would you end up? What stops would you make along the way? It can be short or long, whatever interests you!

isotope239,
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@RickiTarr I'm so tired of the rampant increase in tailgating and speeding for car travel that I'd swap a road trip for a rail trip, something with an air of romance and intrigue ala Graham Greene: https://www.belmond.com/trains/europe/venice-simplon-orient-express/journeys/paris-to-istanbul-2025

This itinerary assumes that one has money to burn, but hey, we're talking about a dream journey here! 😎

isotope239,
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@RickiTarr My parents had that Canadian Rockies rail trip on their bucket list but never made it unfortunately. It's supposed to be spectacular!

Mrfunkedude, to random
@Mrfunkedude@mastodon.social avatar

You ever have one of those days where you are producing more wind then an ocean breeze?

No?

That's just me then?

🚶💨

isotope239,
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@Mrfunkedude And this is also a toot, right? 🙃

RickiTarr, to random
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What is the thing(s) that attracts you to a person romantically or otherwise?

isotope239,
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@RolloTreadway @RickiTarr 💯 Agree! Genuinely thoughtful and who actually listen to what a person is saying rather than just waiting for them to finish so they can talk, empathetic.

isotope239, to random
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

In the US ordinary people don't really notice how corrupt capitalism (the cancer stage of capitalism) is affecting their day to day life in all kinds of ways. They just notice that goods and services have gotten expensive but don't understand one of the major causes: private equity.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thomhartmann/p/is-private-equity-as-dangerous-to-615?r=1rtvr5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

StillIRise1963, to random
@StillIRise1963@mastodon.world avatar

As a mom on Mother’s Day, I wish for a better world for all children. We adults have to do the work to make it better.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@StillIRise1963 I'm not a mom myself, but I also wish for a better world for all children.

RickiTarr, to random
@RickiTarr@beige.party avatar

Where do you live and how do you feel about it?

Obviously, don't tell me exactly where you live, no actual addresses please! You can be as vague as you like.

I live in Central Missouri in the U.S.

Pros:

This is an absolutely beautiful place, green rolling hills, lots of rivers, lakes, ponds, and natural springs, cool caves to explore.

Lots of farming here, so great access to quality fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, and dairy.

It's relatively inexpensive to live here compared with other states, because it's a "flyover".

I'm close enough to three major cities, that it's an easy day trip, and I'm about halfway to anywhere in the U.S.

We have one of the best Conservation departments in the U.S. and this is one of the few things that is a bipartisan issue. Lots of awesome nature programs that are free or cheap, state parks, conservation areas, bird watching, hunting, boating, foraging available to everyone.

Cons:

Yeah, it's a big one, it is a RED STATE, while a lot of the cities are blue, there is a large rural population, that votes red. Abortion is not legal here. People often vote against their own self interest.

While I'm not against responsible gun ownership, lots of people aren't responsible, and people have access to guns that definitely should not.

We have very few employee protections here, while the cost of living is relatively low compared with other places, it's taken years to get to a $12 minimum wage, and it's still not enough.

isotope239,
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@RickiTarr I live in central New Mexico. (to be cont. 1/2)

Pros:

It's pretty if you like your landscape very sparse and not very leafy.

The central area is mostly BLUE STATE, so there's not that many obnoxiously huge trucks with offensive flags.

There's lots of interesting things to see such as Chaco Canyon or El Malpais (https://www.nps.gov/elma/index.htm).

Hatch green chili.

Cons:

NW and SE corners of the state are RED STATE, so yeah.

IMO, it's kind of boring. 1/2

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@RickiTarr I also live in NE Scotland very near the North Sea. (2/2)

Pros:

Beautiful scenery, especially along the sea shore.

Lots of history and archeaology all over the place.

The humidity really agrees with my skin.

Cons:

It does get quite chilly in the winter.

Fried haggis with the full Scottish breakfast.

IMO, it's a fascinating area. 2/2

Mrfunkedude, to random
@Mrfunkedude@mastodon.social avatar

The gaming gods are no longer with me.

My PS5 wont connect to Play Station servers using my home wifi but WILL if I hotspot with my phone.

My PC game controller decided it needed it's drivers updated and wouldn't you know it? The update made it so that my PC no longer recognizes the controller!

WONDERFUL! 🤡

My next step is to wipe my PS5 clean and reinstall the OS.

I am not happy.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@Mrfunkedude That disconnected connectivity awfulness just infuriates me whenever I run into it. I had to wrangle with the Bluetooth drivers on my headset for a couple a days a while back; the Bluetooth version on the headset worked fine... until M$ decided to update the OS drivers and bingo, the headset that had been working perfectly fine absolutely would not connect to the desktop. It makes me want to defenestrate someone...

fmhilton, to random
@fmhilton@mastodon.sdf.org avatar

These people are fucking insane.
It's like they have worms or something that eats the part that gives them logic.
https://www.rawstory.com/gop-lawmaker-ripe-and-fertile-teens/
" Rep. Jess Edwards voiced his opposition to a bill setting the minimum age of marriage to 18 — because it would induce "ripe and fertile" 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to have more abortions instead of settling down and having a family. "
What the fuck is this shit? Women are nothing more than cows to him.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@fmhilton Just look at that nasty little smirk on his face. The guy is, like so many of his ilk, a closet pedo. He likes 'em young and juicy.

isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@fmhilton I agree completely. The GOP (aka MAGA) as it is now is a steaming pile of sexual repression. It's interesting (in an awful sort of manner) how often the professed evangelical types are also positively nasty behind closed doors.

purplepadma, to random
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I think Tom wants to go out for a walk or something tomorrow, as the forecast is dry with sunny intervals. I expect it would do me good

isotope239,
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@purplepadma I think so too, some fresh air would at least make you feel better physically, that's something.

isotope239,
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@purplepadma That sounds very enjoyable, some cheery colour about the place never hurts.

purplepadma, to random
@purplepadma@beige.party avatar

Things I could do this coming week:

  1. Take the bus to the seaside and walk on the beach
  2. Take the bus to Biggertown and browse the charity shops
  3. Running
  4. Start my tapestry kit
  5. Follow a new path out to the woods
    Must try not to just lie in bed plotting my own demise
isotope239,
@isotope239@mastodon.online avatar

@Thebratdragon @purplepadma Oooo, great option! Or maybe take a run while plotting someone else's demise, do a two-fer!

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