Chat Showing 551-600 of 1,659

[Rebecca]

Insomnia. Yeah, I like to imagine that when I'm lying awake from 4-6 (until just before the alarm goes off) I could just get up and write or something. Not happening.

[Jay]

Joel wrote: "That's just a cartoon, Carolina. I have it on good authority Jay doesn't really look like that."

It's true. I wear orthopedic bifocals, which tend to make me look more like a Colonial printer.

[Will]

I've just bought:

Beating Insomnia

Not read it yet, but it seems good. Heard the author interviewed on the radio. I'll report back when I've read it.

Unless it is so boring that it sends me to sleep. Then I might need to ask for my money back

[Melki]

Hark! It's the first ice cream truck of the season - still playing Turkey in the Straw for some unknown reason. And, I successfully avoided the urge to buy a Choco Taco.

[Jay]

Melki wrote: "...I successfully avoided the urge to buy a Choco Taco."

Why?

Chocolate is certainly organic--growing on farms and in the wild--and can therefore be considered a vegetable.

A taco shell is generally made of grain, also recommended by nutritionists.

Seems like a healthy alternative to me.

[Melki]

Hmm . . . maybe if I run I can catch him.

[Melki]

So, the oldest boy gave me a rather heart-stopping Mother's Day card today. It said, To a New Grandma! Inside he wrote Just kidding! I did not knock up my girlfriend. I was tempted to call him a bastard or a son of a bitch, though neither of those epithets reflect kindly on yours truly. Luckily, the younger kid's card summed it up nicely. It said simply, Sorry Your Other Son is a Butt.

[Joel]

Melki wrote: "So, the oldest boy gave me a rather heart-stopping Mother's Day card today. It said, To a New Grandma! Inside he wrote Just kidding! I did not knock up my girlfriend. I was tempted to call him a ba..."

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[Jay]

While, to date, only Melki knows my secret identity as Indolence Man, I fear that I must now step out into the light. The last straw: one of the writing forums that I follow has posted a link to the following:

12 Habits Of The Most Productive People

Seriously????

This tripe is yet another form of control impressed upon the unwary writer. If this continues, we may find ourselves forced to finish our novels when we might just as easily have wedged six or eight more months of late night TV into our writing process.

Fear! Fear for your comfortable slippers!

1984 has arrived in the form of this insidious mind control.

[Melki]

Jay wrote: "one of the writing forums that I follow has posted a link to the following:

12 Habits Of The Most Productive People

Seriously????"

After that post, this cartoon seems appropriate.

[Jay]

Melki wrote: "After that post, this cartoon seems appropriate."

Nice!

[Joel]

Melki wrote: "Jay wrote: "one of the writing forums that I follow has posted a link to the following:

12 Habits Of The Most Productive People

Seriously????"

After that post, this cartoon seems appropriate.

"

Which is why I don't read anything with a link. Not even sausage packages.

[Melki]

Having once sat through a three hour meeting on how to improve productivity, and having been glared at for suggesting that the best way would be to not have three hour meetings, I tend to avoid business "improvement" advice articles.

I've also tended to avoid employment, as well.

[Joel]

Melki wrote: "Having once sat through a three hour meeting on how to improve productivity, and having been glared at for suggesting that the best way would be to not have three hour meetings, I tend to avoid bus..."

That's the most efficient thing of all.

[Rebecca]

Melki wrote: "Having once sat through a three hour meeting on how to improve productivity, and having been glared at for suggesting that the best way would be to not have three hour meetings, I tend to avoid bus..."

I could go along with that. I also largely avoid employment. Though I put myself in a position where I get to sit through too many multi-hour meetings. For the children, of course.

[Joel]

Rebecca wrote: "Melki wrote: "Having once sat through a three hour meeting on how to improve productivity, and having been glared at for suggesting that the best way would be to not have three hour meetings, I ten..."

I think we'd be better off selling the children for scientific experiments and doing things just for ourselves for a change.

[Rebecca]

Joel--I want to make sure that enough of them get a good education to patch me back together as I age.

[Joel]

Good luck with that!

[Rebecca]

Joel wrote: "Good luck with that!"
And I'm not sure if that's a comment on education in our country or the decline of my carcass. Or both. Could definitely be both.

[Joel]

A fascinating phenomenon: On an atypically-slow day I decided to waste some time on the internet, and with the entire universe at my fingertips I can't think of anything to look up.

[Melki]

Joel wrote: "A fascinating phenomenon: On an atypically-slow day I decided to waste some time on the internet, and with the entire universe at my fingertips I can't think of anything to look up."

I looked up those weird, bony structures you see in the background in a lot of British TV shows. Turns out, they're gasometers. - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ne...

[Joel]

I just assumed they were migrant welcome centers.

[Jay]

Has anyone every seen this?

The Whole Circle Rainbow

At first, I thought it was a trick of the camera lens, but apparently it's a real phenomena.

How to see a whole circle rainbow

And since I found you all a nice picture, let's skip the comments about old dogs learning new whatever...please.

[Rebecca]

Jay--you get the whole circle from a plane. I've had it explained once or twice, but can't replicate the explanation, but it makes sense.

[Joel]

Every time you turn on the t.v., one or another "Jaws" movie is playing on at least 16 different channels. I think every cable company should be allotted one designated "Jaws" channel - all "Jaws", all the time, sort of thing - and be done with it.

[Melki]

Last night was a big one for our family, as the youngest kid was given an award at the high school. Unfortunately, that meant we had to sit through attend a ceremony. (A friend warned me - "It's long and boring. Take your Kindle.") By some stroke of luck, my kid got the first award presented - a certificate and a hundred bucks. (Yay! That'll buy one textbook.) Then we sat. It took an hour for the presenters to work their way through two pages of the program. Since it was a beautiful evening, AND since there were eight more pages to go, my husband nudged my son and whispered, "Let's leave now." My son said, "No. It wouldn't be honorable." I nudged the kid and said, "We will take you someplace and buy you something."

My most honorable son practically ran for the exit.

[Lisa]

I have been getting spam mail from myself. I've changed all passwords on every site I could think of that I had a password to and yet it persists.

I contacted an "expert" in the subject and he tells me there's nothing I can do and that it probably isn't dangerous. Keyword: probably.

But it's a bit off-putting because I legitimately send myself emails all the freaking time. It's my favorite thing about my cell phone. When I'm out and about and know I'm in danger of forgetting to call someone or research something, I'll send myself a quick email from my phone so when I'm back at my desk: voila! I have a to-do list.

However, recently I'm finding (rather alarming) x-rated things I apparently want to do to myself. Then, this morning, after walking the dog in unseasonably warm weather, I received one that said "You're so HOT" in the subject line. It was right, I was actually sweaty. So I began to worry that perhaps I developed a split personality.

But after I peeped into the body of the email, the fear left. I realized I wouldn't want to do that with anybody -- nor was it possible for even a circus performer to do it to herself.

[Richard]

Lisa wrote: "I have been getting spam mail from myself. I've changed all passwords on every site I could think of that I had a password to and yet it persists.

I contacted an "expert" in the subject and he te..."

We might have to coin a new term to cover this: autospam

[Rodney]

Lisa wrote: "I have been getting spam mail from myself. I've changed all passwords on every site I could think of that I had a password to and yet it persists.

I contacted an "expert" in the subject and he te..."

It's probably a virus on your home PC, if your somewhat computer literate I can probably help you fix it. Message me if you want me to try.

[Jay]

Lisa wrote: "I have been getting spam mail from myself. I've changed all passwords on every site I could think of that I had a password to and yet it persists.

I contacted an "expert" in the subject and he te..."

I'm with Rodney. Either your home PC or your cell phone is infected. Possibly, both. A good internet security program (like Kasperskey) that will cover multiple devices is relatively cheap. Check for online reviews from PC Magazine, CNET, etc. to see who is leading the pack these days. (Most bang for the buck.)

A single scan should cure your problem.

On the plus side, you can make some side money selling cheap Viagra.

[Rajan]

What viagra

[Jay]

The backlash against technology replacing us in the workplace has posted an interesting behaviorist argument.

A behavioral explanation on why robots won’t replace humans

The question is: Is this an entirely valid argument?

From a historical perspective, I can't honestly recall a single instance of a corporation citing behavioral concerns as a good reason to settle for less money on the quarterly report's bottom line.

One example that we've all experienced: Look at how many stores now have a 'self-checkout' line that used to be manned by a cashier. And how often have you seen one cashier and six self-checkout lines handling the entirety of a store's business? That is, one person handles the problems and technology handles the day-to-day business.

Is there A REALISTIC behaviorist argument, other than handling problems, for keeping people on the payroll? That is, will largely, and often admittedly, sociopathic CEOs ever favor human interaction over raising profits and their stock price?

Perhaps, a fairer assessment: I find it difficult to believe the behaviorist argument retains validity with corporate executives who would gladly sell their own mother.

[Joel]

Companies do develop and track productivity metrics for many of their employees. They set objectives based on performance under optimal time management, and make projections based on something less than optimal time management. But robots will only improve productivity if they're denied access to social media. That's why major corporations are so afraid of AI.

[Jay]

Joel wrote: "...robots will only improve productivity if they're denied access to social media...."

Good point. I forgot to do a search for robot forums.

[Joel]

Is it Friday yet?

[Melki]

My youngest graduated from high school last night, which in our rednecky area of the woods meant that all the dads had to put on their "dress-camo" to attend the ceremony.

[Joel]

The kids' tassels dangling from their Caterpillar caps? Congrats on the graduation.

[Melki]

The kids' tassels dangling from their Caterpillar caps?

Snerk!

The kids are actually required to dress up - no jeans, no sneakers - or they don't get to "walk." I noticed for the girls this meant wearing their tiniest baby-doll nighties with their highest heels.

I'm pretty sure my son noticed, too.

[Rebecca]

Melki, as a member of the school board I attend our Middle School graduations. I hold my breath the whole time waiting for one of the girls to sprain an ankle, as they wobble across the stage in heels higher than they've ever worn.

[Melki]

Rebecca wrote: "Melki, as a member of the school board I attend our Middle School graduations. I hold my breath the whole time waiting for one of the girls to sprain an ankle, as they wobble across the stage in he..."

Considering they have to walk from the far end of the school, up a hill to the football stadium, and then across that awful, rubber fake turf stuff . . . well, let's just say it's good there's an ambulance waiting nearby.

[Joel]

And then, of course, there's the Senior/Junior Chain Saw Fight after the ceremony.

[Jay]

COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU!!

She was young, beautiful and full of life, but something ominous was stalking her, following her every step in brightest light and darkest shadow. Is our heroine the next victim? Would her fate be pain...degradation...

...Or, worse!

Don't miss a single thrilling, edge of your seat moment!

SHE FELL OFF HER SHOES

Not rated. Mature audiences may wear flats.

[Rebecca]

"Mature audiences may wear flats. "
That's pretty much it. I admire the (relatively few) 8th grade girls who have enough sense of themselves to wear flats.

[Joel]

Jay wrote: "COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU!!

She was young, beautiful and full of life, but something ominous was stalking her, following her every step in brightest light and darkest shadow. Is our heroin..."

The sequel to the chiller, "Stiletto in the Night"

[Kathy]

This is a perfect read for the humor club. Talk amongst yourselves. https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/09...

[Rebecca]

Cool, Kathy! I have to look at that!

[Rodney]

I agree, nice! Thanks Kathy

[Kathy]

I thought the irony was hilarious.

[Lisa]

Melki wrote: "My youngest graduated from high school last night, which in our rednecky area of the woods meant that all the dads had to put on their "dress-camo" to attend the ceremony."

Congratulations, Melki! I know we're supposed to congratulate the student, but high school parents deserve some recognition every now and then. My son will be a junior next year and my daughter a sophomore -- I'm starting a betting pool to see which of the three of us will be the sanest by the time my daughter "walks" in her stilettos.

[Jay]

I know this group has many writers, which is probably a fairly biased group when it comes to language. However, the younger crowd these days seem to be getting slammed for poor spelling due to text messaging being the rage. I think it's pretty obvious that the baby boomers don't have much ground to stand on regarding this issue. Am I werong rong wrong?