Random random

[mike carey]

I didn't know that Nova Scotia sends a Christmas tree to Boston every year so obviously I didn't know why. It's a thank you note, and for those that don't know what for, check this out.

[+ Pensant]

In the Department of Random Things That You Miss Seeing Live, on the weekend a Luftwaffe A350-900 made an overnight stop in Canberra, arriving here after a non-stop flight of over 19 hours from Cologne. It flew back via Papeete.

https://onemileatatime.com/german-a350-round-the-world-flight/

I wonder if the German Navy is still called der Kriegsmarine?

[mike carey]

I wonder if the German Navy is still called der Kriegsmarine?

Lol. No, it was the Bundesmarine until 1995 but since then it's been the Deutsche Marine.

[rvwnsd]

You know you're gay when you see a headline reading "Mattel's New Merman Ken Doll Is Wearing a Harness & He's So Beautiful" and wonder whether it sings There's No Business Like Show Business.

[+ azdr0710]

[jjkrkwood]

You know you're gay when you see a headline reading "Mattel's New Merman Ken Doll Is Wearing a Harness & He's So Beautiful" and wonder whether it sings There's No Business Like Show Business.

 

The toy I never knew I NEEDED !

 

[mike carey]

This is an interesting map showing the population centres of each state in 1900 (blue) and 2010 (red). Most of them are surprisingly similar after 110 years, but three stand out, California, Nevada and Florida, with the centre of gravity shifting from SF to LA, Las Vegas growing from almost nothing and the growth of population in south Florida. The relative growth of the DC suburbs compared to the rest of Virginia also shows up clearly.

It's one of heaps of maps a geographer/demographer in Melbourne tweets. You can see more of his stuff at

[+ Charlie]

This is an interesting map showing the population centres of each state in 1900 (blue) and 2010 (red). Most of them are surprisingly similar after 110 years, but three stand out, California, Nevada and Florida, with the centre of gravity shifting from SF to LA, Las Vegas growing from almost nothing and the growth of population in south Florida. The relative growth of the DC suburbs compared to the rest of Virginia also shows up clearly.

It's one of heaps of maps a geographer/demographer in Melbourne tweets. You can see more of his stuff at

As a would-be demographer--it was my original career goal--I find this map fascinating. I can still figure out quickly the reasons for the move in most states, such as the shift in North Dakota from the farms in the east toward the oil fields in the western part of the state.

[+ Lucky]

You could share a laugh about your 'pumpkin-spiced President'

Is this the last post from @RealAvalon? He hasn't signed in for about 6 weeks. Anyone know why?

[Islesguy]

I have watched this clip at least 10 times and it always fascinates me. The fact that he was able to live long enough to appear on television and the kinescope of the episode survived allows for everyone to vicariously experience a monumental moment in American history.

[+ WilliamM]

Amazing, truly.

[+ oldNbusted]

I'm wonder how many people pick up on the "big bacon energy" phrase in the Wendy's TV ad and connect it to the original phrase "big dick energy"?

 

vox.com: How Big Dick Energy explains modern masculinity

[samhexum]

Sometimes you have to be your own hero.

What do you mean 'sometimes'? Some of us are such exceptional human beings that we are heroes (nay, inspirations) to ourselves and anyone we encounter during our daily exceptionalism.

[+ azdr0710]

[loremipsum]

Tried again to appreciate women’s bodies on Baywatch. Didn’t take.

[loremipsum]

Alice Roosevelt Longworth quote:

"If you haven't anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."

 

I know that quote, but always assumed it was Dorothy Parker.

[+ poolboy48220]

Dorothy Parker was indeed the queen of quotable lines, but I think RealAvalon is correct in that one's not hers.

[mike carey]

This one's a bit meta, a random post about something random.

[MikeBiDude]

@mike carey , you guys getting bored down under yet?

 

Pitch Drop Experiment

[mike carey]

A discussion from the radio last night with the authors of a new book Great Sexpectations in part about the differences between popular perceptions about sex and the reality. It's about a 20 minute listen.

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drawingroom/measuring-up-to-sexpectations/13256226

[mike carey]

An interesting observation about the use of cash rather than other payment methods. I endorse Simon's comment about cash being rare in Australia. I could count the times I've used it in the last 18 months on the fingers of one hand, I've even had an apparent 'how do we do this' response one time when I went to pay a <$5 purchase with cash (in part this is pandemic induced).

There was a comment in the thread about the decline in the use of cheques. They have also died here, except for sometimes when sending money by mail. You certainly can't use them in shops any more.

https://twitter.com/simongerman600/status/1410994185293996034?s=20

Edited July 2, 2021 by mike carey

[Luv2play]

3 hours ago, mike carey said:

An interesting observation about the use of cash rather than other payment methods. I endorse Simon's comment about cash being rare in Australia. I could count the times I've used it in the last 18 months on the fingers of one hand, I've even had an apparent 'how do we do this' response one time when I went to pay a <$5 purchase with cash (in part this is pandemic induced).

There was a comment in the thread about the decline in the use of cheques. They have also died here, except for sometimes when sending money by mail. You certainly can't use them in shops any more.

https://twitter.com/simongerman600/status/1410994185293996034?s=20

My use of cash has gone way down during the pandemic. The one major exception is fees for escorts, which remain the good old C notes.

I use so few cheques (checks for Americans) that I will probably never need to order any more from my bank.

[+ Charlie]

I haven't visited the ATM in months. The only time I use cash now is to pay my barber and the dog groomer. However, when I signed up for a reservation for our HOA 4th of July barbecue yesterday, I was told I couldn't buy the ticket with cash or a credit card--they would only accept a check!

[mike carey]

6 hours ago, Luv2play said:

The one major exception is fees for escorts, which remain the good old C notes.

Oops, I had meant to comment on that. Two of my most recent three hires preferred electronic payment, and the third was open to it. In the end I only paid one electronically.

[Luv2play]

6 hours ago, mike carey said:

Oops, I had meant to comment on that. Two of my most recent three hires preferred electronic payment, and the third was open to it. In the end I only paid one electronically.

I actually used electronic transfer on my last date with a provider. We had made the arrangement after the bank had closed for the weekend and we were doing an overnight so I needed lots of cash. He suggested the electronic over me having to go to the ATM where I would only be able to get 50$ notes, not C notes.

I felt comfortable doing that as we had seen each other previously and I had been to his place in Toronto and knew where he lived. He also told me his real name which he didn't have to do but was nice